The Carer Digital - Issue #145

Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

I would firstly take this opportunity to invite you to join THE CARER in the forthcoming Coronation celebrations!

We are looking to include a supplement in next week’s digital issue, and also to appear in our printed issue of how the residential and nursing care sector celebrated this historic Coronation of King Charles I have a photograph which I hope to put up on our website of my own parents at a street party in my home city of Liverpool in 1953!

I don t think there is anywhere in the land that celebrates a great British tradition better than a residential or nursing care environment! Regular readers may remember that we invited care homes around the country to share their Afternoon Tea Week celebrations with us that great quintessentially British tradition We were delighted to say we were inundated and you helped us fill five pages which can be seen here:

https://issuu com/thecarer/docs/the carer digital issue 113/28

The coronation of a monarch is the greatest of all British traditions and this is for my generation, a once-in-a-lifetime event!

So please do share with us your Coronation celebrations! We want photographs comments stories details of activities menus special events anything and everything you will be doing over the Coronation weekend!

Our lead story once again raises the significant issues facing the sector in particular remuneration, and the government’s decision to cut its previous pledge of £500 million toward workforce funding by 50% to £250 million

Given the current state of the economy the government clearly finds itself between a rock and a hard place with respect to adult social care funding

As we report in our lead story taxpayer funds are limited That said we led last week’s issue with a dire warning by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services that the sector is coming to the end of the road

The report pulled no punches stating that care worker pay should be raised charges for services cut and people be provided with clear rights to support as part of a shift to a more personalised, accessible and fair adult social care system

The report also highlighted that significant investment and political will are required to realise this ambition from a context of significant unmet need, workforce shortages and lack of choice for people needing care and carers

Outgoing ADASS president Sarah McClinton said it came at a time in which the adult care system was “close to breaking point” with millions “in pain or distress because they aren t getting the care they need and family and friends picking up the pieces are being

pushed to the edge

Regular readers may also recall we reported a warning by the Care Quality Commission that the government must fund better pay and training for adult social care staff to tackle a deepening workforce crisis that is undermining the quality of services

They described the health and social care systems as “gridlocked” amid shrinking capacity and increasing unmet need for adults services evidenced in the fact that according to the NHS Confederation, two in five people are not able to leave hospital when ready in large part because of a lack of social care

This really is unsustainable, which again was the message we received at the recent UK Care Week trade show in London s Excel

The Carer yet again enjoyed many visitors to the stand many of whom work in adult social care and various departments and various organisations covering residential and home care

The message was always the same - funding and pay The can has successfully been kicked down the road for many years now with successive governments relying on the dedication and goodwill of the sector generally

But with labour shortages being what they are concerns are growing that other sectors will successfully poach staff offering better pay, easier hours and less stressful jobs We did report in 2022 that a care home manager commented that a newly opened Nottinghamshire Amazon warehouse was able to attract care staff to work for them with offers of 30%+ more pay

Cutting the workforce fund is frankly yet another kick in the teeth for the sector!

One more thing, we want more Twitter followers! So please do follow us we are delighted to say we have over 10 000 followers now and we are hoping to get that up to 15,000 by the end of the year!

I can always be contacted at editor@thecareruk com

Editor Peter Adams

Care Workers “Should Be Rewarded But Funds Limited” Says Care Minister

(CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

She told the Health and Social Care Committee: What we did in the run-up to setting that (April announcement) out was look at the overall pot of money allocated to reform and say well what s the best possible use of this funding, in the light of, as I said a moment ago, the extra pressures on social care the impact of inflation the level of demand that we are seeing

LIMITED POT OF TAXPAYER MONEY

“And I think what we need to do is, we need to do reform hand in hand with making sure there s enough funding going into the frontline provision of care

Enough funding going to local authorities which in turn can be used to increase fees and in turn we know for providers fees mean that they can pay staff as they need to

And to me reform needs to go hand in hand with funding the frontline ”

Ms Whately conceded that there was a limited pot of taxpayers money to be looked at

On April 25th Labour MP and former leadership candidate Rebecca Long Bailey pressed Ms Whately on the announced workforce cuts when she asked: Frontline charities such as United Response and Age UK have responded that the Government’s plan falls far short of what is needed, including holding back the promised £250 million in social care workforce funding Can the Minister promise that will be revisited with urgency given that one in five over-80s have some unmet care needs and we are facing the highest social care vacancy rates on record?”

The Care Minister replied I can assure the hon Member that not a penny of funding is being cut from adult social care We are driving forward our reforms to the adult social care system, which have the workforce at their heart We are introducing a new career path for the social care workforce new care qualifications and new training, boosting the adult social care workforce and making sure people in that workforce get the recognition and rewards they deserve

CALL FOR URGENT ACTION

The Minister s appearance before the Health and Social Care Committee comes at a time of growing pressure on the government to take action to address the crisis in the social care sector With an ageing population and rising demand for care services many experts are calling for urgent action to improve the pay conditions and status of care workers As the government prepares to release its long-awaited social care reform plan the eyes of the sector will be on whether it delivers on its promises to support the workforce and address the challenges facing the sector

Last week Sarah McClinton president of ADASS issued a stark warning that the sector had “run out of road she said: After decades of false dawns on reforms and funding never in my professional career have I seen the adult care system so close to breaking point Millions of people are in pain or distress because

they aren t getting the care they need and family and friends picking up the pieces are being pushed to the edge

We ve been trying to patch-up social care for years but we ve run out of road We need to act now to save social care We don’t expect the government to wave a magic wand but we do need the political will to invest in a long-term plan to ensure good care is available to everyone everywhere

And the government must back local leaders and local people to take charge of fixing care in their communities because they know what’s needed What s impressive in this report is that despite the odds we ve faced – the pandemic the cost-of-living crisis chronic underfunding –local people are showing what’s possible But they need the backing of the whole country to make it happen everywhere

Various organisations within the sector as well as charities and bodies representing people who need social care have repeatedly called for better investment to help improve wages and retain skilled staff

LOW PAY

On the issue of care worker pay Labour MP Paul Blomfield asked Ms Whately: “They are the lowest paid workers in this country Are you happy with that?

Labour MP Rachael Maskell told Ms Whately: “We've got 165,000 vacancies currently; we know that the average wage of somebody working in social care is 21p an hour less than somebody working in retail can you understand why social care just isn’t a choice, physically can’t be a choice - because of the low wage that people are on?

She called for care workers to be given “parity of esteem” with NHS staff and put on the health service’s Agenda for Change programme - the national pay system for all NHS staff apart from doctors dentists and most senior managers

However, Ms Whately replied: “I don’t believe we would be in a position to do that”, and told the committee that while the national living wage had risen by almost 10% to £10 42 an hour she does not want people always to think of social care as being sort of a national living wage job”

I think people should be rewarded for what they do and I want there to be an opportunity for there to be career progression within social care, for instance, and when people gain more skills I think that should be recognised She added £7 5BN INVESTMENT

Despite the criticism Ms Whately remained resolute in her commitment to supporting the social care workforce She emphasized that the £250 million investment would be used to provide targeted support to care workers including training mentoring and other forms of professional development She said that while pay for social care workers is determined by their employers the Government had delivered the biggest funding increase in history for adult social care in England with up to £7 5 billion over two years which is intended to enable local authorities to invest in social care

Deafness in the Mental Health Community

It s the third most common disability in the world yet research shows deaf people are twice more likely to experience mental health problems than hearing people

This week is Deaf Awareness Week and the experts from Cygnet Hospital Bury which provides specialist mental health support to deaf people have shed light on why members of the deaf community are more prone to mental health conditions and how treatment is adapted

Clare Shard is Head of Interpreting Services for Cygnet Health Care and Victoria Hamilton is a Forensic Psychologist in Training Cygnet Hospital Bury run by the leading health and social care company

Cygnet provides highly specialised services for men and women who are deaf or hard of hearing The individuals cared for may have complex mental health needs including mental illness personality disorder autism spectrum disorder or a learning disability

Victoria Hamilton, talking about the challenges facing the deaf community experiencing mental health struggles and how these can be overcome

One of the biggest challenges to providing effective mental health treatment to the deaf community is misdiagnosis of deaf people by professionals unfamiliar with deaf mental health care

Deaf people s general access to information can be an issue as there

aren’t always the necessary resources such as British Sign Language (BSL) patient leaflets and interpreters aren t also available to help access GP appointments

There can also be assumptions about deaf people’s existing knowledge because a lack of incidental learning can preclude deaf people from some skills and information There is a lack of resources in terms of professionals who can sign as well as a lack of deaf workers generally in mental health care There are very few assessment tools and manualised interventions validated for use with deaf people

Very often some of the underlying causes of mental health difficulties can be more difficult to resolve for deaf people For example, with loneliness and isolation, when they return to the community there is a risk they will relapse due to a return to similar circumstances as there is a lack of community provision for deaf mental health and social networks Often patients get ‘stuck’ in services and experience delayed discharges due to a lack of available community placements

In terms of how these challenges can be overcome at a societal level we need better education for deaf people better access to health information more BSL interpreters and we need to encourage more people to become trained in deaf awareness and BSL within primary care settings It would be helpful to have more published research about deaf mental healthcare more validated assessment tools and of course more community services for deaf people

Within Cygnet Hospital Bury we ensure that our care planning and support is individualised and we attempt to meet each patient’s communication needs For example, we make BSL DVDS live action role plays filmed role plays picture visuals, visuals with BSL signs included etc All treatment offered at Cygnet Hospital Bury is adapted from validated hearing programmes We ensure that deaf professionals are involved in policy and assessment/treatment decisions and importantly we have deaf professionals within our MDT here

In terms of whether treatment provided to deaf people is any different to that provided to the hearing community treatment often needs adapting due to language barriers and this ideally would be delivered in first language rather than via interpreters There are often assumptions that deaf people

have a certain level of understanding which in reality is missing therefore treatment can take longer as we are backfilling some knowledge before interventions can begin

For example, understanding of the Law and Criminal Justice System and concepts like symptoms can be limited as these are never taught to deaf people and in hearing culture these are often learned through watching TV or overhearing conversations between others from which deaf people are often excluded Due to high comorbidity of developmental disorders and other associated difficulties e g language deprivation syndrome treatment phases can last much longer for deaf inpatients They may require shorter sessions or more sessions to cover material they may also require more repetition to learn concepts

Clare Shard talking about how the Interpreting and Translation

Team work at Cygnet Hospital Bury to empower deaf service users

Cygnet Deaf services is one of the longest serving departments based at Bury The Interpreting team are part of the original provision established in 2001 and we have adapted and grown as the hospital site has expanded

The Interpreting and Translation team are proud to be able to work closely with all our colleagues on site, in particular the MultiDisciplinary Teams of the wards that have deaf patients We make sure that we work collaboratively to ensure that access to assessment, treatment and therapy for service users plus information and training for deaf professionals, is consistently delivered to a very high standard

Underpinning service delivery is not just the expected requirement from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS England and other statutory requirements but also something I am extremely passionate about Cygnet values in particular the value of Empower

Within health and social care empowerment is described as a process in which people gain greater control over the decisions and actions that affect their lives

Empowerment is important to everyone involved in care including the service users their families loved ones and care workers Empowering service users enables them to have greater understanding of how to navigate the health care system and with this knowledge they can confidently ask for information they need They will also develop self-awareness and become an equal partner in their health care with their Responsible Clinician and care team

The World Health Organisation Equality Act 2010, Mental Health Act 1983 and the NHS Accessible Information Standard also support the values and goals of empowerment within Bury deaf services, and the Interpreting and Translation team work closely with colleagues in psychology, nursing, medical, social work, occupational therapy and SALT (Speech and Language Therapist) to adapt existing materials and information that is often inaccessible to deaf service users due to British Sign Language (BSL) being a visual spatial language with no written equivalent

Materials are adapted into visual format BSL DVD or easy read versions if necessary All information is personalised and individualised to meet the access needs of deaf service users who may have learning disabilities cognitive difficulties or language problems Information is framed within a social model of culture language and identity which again empowers deaf service users to engage in their recovery and discharge in a language that is accessible and relevant to their own personal experience

Excelcare Residents Show Off Their

Residents across the Excelcare Family took part in its very own annual gardening event dubbed the ‘Plantathon’ last month

The Plantathon is a competitive gardening competition, which challenges residents and team members to spend the day renovating their outdoor space and getting their gardens ready for summer

The Plantathon also encourages residents to spend the day surrounded by nature, showing off their skills and learning some new ones too This in turn has a positive effect on their wellbeing and the thought

Skills for the

Left to right is Clare Shard (Head of Interpret ng Services) Tracy G bson (BSL nterpreter) Jack e Maxim (BSL Interpreter) and Trevor Borthwick-Hare (Translat on Specialist)

Upcoming Coronation is a Historic Moment to Share!

The upcoming coronation of King Charles III is a historic moment for the United Kingdom, and for those living in adult care homes it is a particularly special occasion This momentous event is an opportunity for care homes to come together and celebrate, creating a sense of community and shared heritage

One way to celebrate this important day is to choose a theme for the festivities This could be based on a particular era or style such as a medieval banquet or a vintage garden party Alternatively the theme could be based on the coronation itself, with decorations and costumes inspired by the traditional regalia and ceremonies associated with the occasion

To really get into the spirit of the day, care homes could create a special menu based on British cuisine or dishes from the commonwealth from the traditional to the exotic

For those who require special diets there are plenty of delicious and nutritious alternatives that can be enjoyed by all

Parties are always a fun way to celebrate special occasions and the coronation of King Charles III is no exception Care homes could organize a variety of activities such as games, music, and dancing, to get residents in the party spirit For those who are unable to participate in physical activities there are plenty of other ways to join in the

celebrations, such as by dressing up in costumes or enjoying a special afternoon tea Speaking of costumes another way to get into the spirit of the coronation is to encourage residents to dress up in traditional British attire, such as bowler hats, waistcoats and long coats For those who require assistance with dressing care home staff can help to create the perfect look ensuring that everyone looks and feels their best on this historic day

Overall the coronation of King Charles III is an opportunity for those living in adult care homes to come together and celebrate their shared heritage and culture By organizing themed menus parties costumes and other activities care homes can create a sense of community and joy that will be cherished by residents for years to come

For our issue for Wednesday May 10 we are hoping to include a “supplement surrounding the King s coronation and how the care sector celebrated

So please do tell us and let us share how your care home/ environment celebrated this historic occasion

We want to hear about your themes activities and costumes plus menus and anything else you can think of, let's make this a right royal supplement to remember! Contact us at editor@thecareruk com

Deaf Awareness Week is This Week

It is Deaf Awareness Week (1-7 May 2023) and RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf have hearing loss or tinnitus are calling on everyone to be deaf aware!

People who are deaf or have hearing loss have individual communication needs and you should ask how best you can communicate with them

RNID is encouraging people to use E A R to help them remember simple tips they can use to make communication easier:

Environment – reduce background noise or move to a quieter area And make sure the room is well lit if the person relies on lipreading

Attention – use simple gestures such as pointing, waving or a light tap on the shoulder to get someone s attention Face the person you re speaking to so they can lipread, and speak to them, not their interpreter or anyone else with them

Repeat and rephrase – if someone doesn t understand you try repeating what you said or rephrasing it in a different way If this doesn’t work you could write it down or speak to a friend or relative if they ask you to

Following

E A R can make the difference between your friend family or colleague being part of the conversation or left struggling on the side-lines

For support or information please visit www rnid org uk

Making the Most of the International Recruitment Fund

By Tijen Ahmet, business immigration expert at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau (www shma co uk)

Care providers need to act quickly to secure their share of the £50 million International Recruitment Fund which is only available across England until 2024 This fund has been created by the Government to help ease the costs of hiring from overseas and cut unnecessary red tape, and whilst it might seem like a short-term solution to the longstanding issue of crippling staff shortages care providers should seek to understand exactly what it covers to maximise the opportunity 88 per cent of home care operators and 87 per cent of care home providers have reported recruitment challenges

These challenges have been caused by a multitude of factors including the end of free movement following Brexit, the lasting effects of the global pandemic poor long-term planning from the Government and the cost-of-living crisis are piling pressure on the sector As a result existing staff are having to take on more internal responsibilities as the scope of their role stretches potentially placing those who need care at risk The Health and Social Care Committee predicts that if staff shortage trend continues 500 000 jobs will need to be filled by 2030

The International Recruitment Fund plans to alleviate these pressures and can be used for administrative costs that will help facilitate a person s move to the UK including support with sponsorship licences and

worker visa applications In addition it can also be used to help with the logistics of settling the employee in a new country, including finding them affordable housing, helping to pay for a UK driving licence DBS check or National Insurance number

The funding will be granted by local authorities who in collaboration with care partnerships will distribute it to care providers in their areas Care providers should therefore proactively reach out to Local Authorities to ensure that they will be considered for funding as while a £50 million sounds plentiful with thousands of care providers across the UK competing over the same pot, it ultimately may not stretch too far The first round of funding has already been allocated across regions with the South East and North West assigned £2 5 million and £2 million respectively

The Fund itself is not unlimited and the government is yet to announce further measure beyond 2023 if at all This means it is vital to for care provider to understand the the financial support available to them to increase the chance of being successful Care providers should consider seeking professional immigration advice to help their international recruitment drive to ensure that the legal immigration requirements are met first time to avoid costly mistakes

The International Recruitment Fund is intended to give the sector a boost by cutting bureaucracy and unnecessary complexity within the process The biggest hope however is that it attracts the talent that the sector so desperately needs by making the positions more appealing if employers can help with settling an employee once they have relocated While the Fund will certainly go some way to support the sector in the short term more needs to be done to ensure there is a long-term strategy that will lift the burden from the sector and help to end the shortage

Hugh Myddelton House Gets their Dancing Shoes On

Hugh Myddelton House care home, in Southgate, bopped and shimmied their way to a good old knees up as residents and staff celebrated International Dance Day

Celebrated every year on April 29th – the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre creator of modern ballet – International Dance Day is the perfect day to get your dancing shoes on and really get moving

Staff and residents at the home marked the day with a whole host of dance-related fun activities Residents were given the cha-cha-chance to learn new dance styles from around the world They were joined by the Iberian Folkloric dance and music association who put on an amazing show and encouraged everyone to join in Elsa the dance leader of the Iberian dance group celebrated her 80th Birthday yesterday and everyone

sang happy birthday to her

General Manager Jade Shea said We ve all had a brilliant day today Our resident’s loved finding out about different dance styles from around the world and having a go at learning new steps The Iberian Folkloric dance was such fun and very energetic I am still catching my breath Winnie Bruce, resident at the home said: “I have always loved dancing, it took me back to being a teenage again My family used to all get together and dance at the weekend I used to enter competitions when I was young you know It has been wonderful to reminisce about those days and wonderful to have my family here with me to enjoy this day of dance

NHS Vaccinates Half of Care Home Residents in Three Weeks

The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has vaccinated more than 150,000 older adult care home residents in England in just three weeks since the campaign began – over half of all those eligible

Roving teams of NHS staff have visited more than 6 000 care homes –almost three in five – to offer the spring jabs since the campaign launched on Monday 3 April with the targeted visits

As of Tuesday 25th April, 153,460 care home residents have taken up the offer – 50 2% of those eligible

NHS teams will continue to visit the remaining older adult care homes in the coming weeks to offer protection to all residents

The NHS has administered more than one million spring vaccinations in total just over a week since the offer was first made available outside of care homes

Around 6 6 million people in total are eligible in line with JCVI guidance which includes people 75 and over those aged five and over with a weakened immune system and care home residents

Everyone eligible is able to get vaccinated by booking an appointment online or through the NHS App at one of thousands of local sites including community pharmacies and GP practices

There are more than 540 000 appointments available over the rest of this week and next

It is the first time that millions have been sent their initial invitations through the NHS App where they can also book an appointment as the NHS continues to expand its technological capabilities

Text messages and letters will also be sent to those without the app or not actively using it

The NHS – now in its 75th year – has administered more than 145 million covid jabs over several vaccination campaigns since Maggie Keenan became the first in the world outside of a clinical trial to receive the vaccination in December 2020

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said:

“Our fantastic NHS staff continue to deliver covid vaccines with speed and precision prioritising those who are most vulnerable from covid once again and vaccinating more than 150 000 care home residents

I am really pleased to say that just three weeks into the campaign we have visited more than half of older adult care homes, vaccinating more than half of all eligible residents, and I would encourage anyone due a spring dose to book an appointment at the earliest opportunity and join the more than one million giving themselves maximum protection for the months ahead ”

Dr Mary Ramsay Head of Immunisation at UKHSA said:

“The highest hospital admission rates for Covid-19 continue to be among the over-75s so it is important everyone in this age group keeps their immunity topped up by coming forward for their spring booster

“The virus has not gone away and we continue to see thousands of cases reported every week so topping up your protection is particularly important for groups who are more vulnerable

Health Minister Helen Whately said:

NHS vaccination teams are doing an incredible job already giving the majority of care home residents the protection they need from covid through the spring booster programme

“As well as care home residents the offer of a booster is also available to people aged over 75 and those with weakened immune systems so if you re eligible do book an appointment and join the more than one million people who ve already been jabbed this spring ”

This latest vaccination is being offered to those considered most at risk following advice from the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose

The last spring vaccination appointments will be offered on 30 June

Sustainable Social Care… Why and How?

banks/funds (both as individuals and as organisations) will mean that your money isn’t being used to fund fossil fuels Link for green alternatives / banks genuinely engaged in sustainability instead of greenwashing can be found here:

https://makemymoneymatter co uk/act-now/

2 If you have solar panels or are considering getting solar panels speak to your accountants because, depending on different variables, it s possible they can be included on your balance sheet as appreciating assets (ie assets which increase in value over time) rather than depreciating assets Your accountant will be able to give you more information about whether this is applicable to your situation or not and they ll know how to update your accounting estimates on your financial statements accordingly

1 What are the key KPIs that matter the most to you and your residents teams and families? Pick 3-5 and focus on them You can’t do everything all at the same time no one has the time for that so pick the areas which are either most important to you and/or the ones which you feel will have the greatest impact Publicise the chosen KPIs and provide regular (monthly/quarterly/annual) updates to all stakeholders so you hold yourself/your organisation publicly accountable

After the success of the Grace Cares panel discussion of Breaking the Mould for Joined-up Sustainable Health and Social Care across this year’s Health plus Care Show, the panelists thought it would be beneficial to pull together an article This is a summary of the outcomes of the session with their top tips for delivering sustainable care from all four of their perspectives covering homecare care home care change consultancy and the Institute of Health and Social Care Management

Whether we like it or not the government has set a UK commitment to sustainability that has to be met by 2050 change has to start now or we will fail to meet our targets We are all going to experience at first voluntary but ultimately compulsory change as practices that need to be put in place now to hit the 2050 commitment Change is coming

A YouGov survey conducted in August 2021 found that 87%102 of NHS staff supported the NHS Net Zero ambition It may be reasonable to assume that care workers would give a similar response to questions asked about their own sector but have not yet been asked

We all agree that with rising costs and environmental changes, we need to be more waste and carbon aware Both health and social care and people working at all levels ultimately need to adopt a more sustainable way of delivering services

We need to be considering the impact of care delivery on the environment society and the economy

The demand for social care is growing rapidly driven by demographic changes such as an aging population and an increase in chronic health conditions This demand is placing significant pressure on care services, which are already struggling to meet the needs of individuals due to budget cuts and staffing shortages

Additionally, the social care sector is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and other forms of environmental impact The sector uses large amounts of energy equipment and resources to provide care and this can lead to waste and pollution Health and social care activities protect and restore health and save lives But what about the waste and by-products we generate?

HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY IN SOCIAL CARE?

Achieving sustainable delivery in social care requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the environmental social and economic impacts of care delivery Some of the key strategies for achieving sustainable delivery in social care include:

FINANCE

1 One of the biggest impacts you can have on the climate crisis is based on who you bank with and which pension provider you use for your team s pensions Switching banks and pension providers to greener

3 Adopting sustainable purchasing practices You can reduce your environmental impact by adopting sustainable purchasing practices such as energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, and waste reduction and recycling programs An example of this is what not-forprofit Grace Care s are striving to achieve by thoroughly decontaminating and executing high levels of quality and risk checks to give care equipment a new lease of life and avoid needless landfill Are all the suppliers you buy from hitting sustainability targets or carbon neutral or literate? Ask them all for a copy of their sustainability plans and credentials

LIFESTYLES AND RESIDENTS

1 Meat-free Mondays where you include a vegetarian (or vegan) dish from a different country or culture in the world each week Make each Monday a themed day which matches the culture/community/country that your vegetarian dish is from each week Have themed activities which align with that theme Eg, residents and teams dress up in the traditional outfits of that culture (could even turn it into a fashion show), they could cook/bake items from that culture (eg make vegetarian pizzas samosas dumplings etc) they watch films from/about that culture listen to music from that country/culture learn how to write their name in a new language learn how to say fun phrases in a new language etc

2 Look for sustainable innovations for activities you’d already be doing Eg if someone likes bird watching you can buy a smart bird feeder which takes photos of every bird that feeds from the feeder Those photos can then be viewed on iPads/tablets either as individuals or in group settings and mean your residents can still enjoy bird watching from the comfort of inside/from their bed ie still enjoy bird watching even if the weather is poor outside or even as their physical mobility declines

3 Prioritising preventative care: Investing in preventative care can help you to reduce the demand for more costly and intensive care interventions helping to reduce the overall environmental social and economic impact of social care

4 Engaging service users: Service users can play a key role in promoting sustainable social care delivery by providing feedback and suggestions for improvements as well as by adopting sustainable behaviours in their own lives

STAFF

1 Supporting a skilled workforce: Providing adequate training and support for care workers can help to attract and retain skilled staff improving the quality of care while also benefiting the wider economy

2 Offer incentives for care workers who adopt or put forward more sustainable processes such as walking or cycling to work or suggest a positive change to delivery procuring or approach DATA AND TECHNOLOGY

2 Figure out a way to measure the areas which are most important to you / will have the biggest impact You need to have quantifiable measurements Whether it’s number of trees planted, number of wheelchairs saved from landfill kilograms of food waste recycled instead of going to landfill etc think about what you can consistently measure and keep track of

3 Delete your old or unnecessary emails Unsubscribe from subscriptions you never read or open Delete old emails that aren t needed Digitisation is great but the more you digitise the more energy is needed to store and maintain all those data records So delete anything that s not needed

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

1 Same as with any other new project or strategy you re trying to implement, whether it’s improving digitisation, a new dementia strategy or improving oral hygiene have sustainability champions Choose the people in your teams who are most passionate about sustainability and support them to lead a culture change

2 Make your most important sustainability KPIs and goals visible to your teams, eg add them to existing online dashboards, discuss them in daily meetings post them on staff notice boards etc If they don t know them, they won’t know what they need to work on or towards

3 Make it fun! Create competitions get everyone involved and have rewards for when they meet certain milestones or goals Whether it s one home versus another or one team vs another a bit of healthy competition is good for everyone and will drive them to meet the necessary goals faster Eg you can compete on which home is best at wast

4 Collaborating with other sectors You can collaborate with other sectors such as health housing and transport to develop integrated approaches that address wider social and environmental issues

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Researchers from McKinsey & Company found that companies which pursued sustainability with the genuine aim of creating additional value for society (not just attempts at greenwashing) generated higher profits for their organisation in both the medium term (3-5 years) and in the long term (5-10 years) than those which did not pursue sustainability So not only are you making the planet better supporting your staff and service users but you’ll also make higher profits

Achieving sustainable delivery in social care is essential By adopting sustainable practices supporting a skilled workforce prioritising preventative care engaging service users and collaborating with other sectors social care providers can work towards a more sustainable cost effective higher revenue generating and resilient future Be the change you want to see

Article contributors:

Amrit Dhaliwal - Walfinch Home Care

• Lucy Buxton - LJB Coach Consultancy

Jade Maloney - Institute of Health and Social Care Management

Jasmeet Rai - RCH Care Homes

Hannah Montgomery - Grace Cares

Leicester Home Unveils a New Sensor y Room for Residents and Staff Following Great North Run Success

A Leicester home has unveiled a new sensory room following a successful fundraiser, where staff members took part in the Great North Run In September last year Salome Mapfeka Jade Bown, Yvonne Tooms, and Chris Hughes took part in the Great North Run All four of them work at MHA Aigburth and decided to raise funds so the home could

residents and we are very happy with the outcome

“The room was quite dull before and to see how it is now is a huge change

“We wanted to offer a relaxing space for residents and having a sensory room is very important as it stimulates the mind and has already proven to be very effective

“There is a good balance of light and we allow four people to be in the room at one time as we don t want it to become overcrowded

The room is open to all staff and residents and again I would like to thank everyone who supported the cause and enabled us to go ahead with what we had planned

More Bill Discounts for Energy and Trade Intensive Sectors

Some businesses could see their bills slashed by as much as 20% off predicted wholesale prices thanks to further government support launched 26 April for sectors using high amounts of energy

Applications have now opened for energy and trade intensive sectors that are most affected by the unprecedented rise in global energy prices to claim further discounts on their bills between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 – helping deliver on the government’s priority to halve inflation

Ministers are urging companies to check their eligibility and submit their applications at the earliest opportunity as the government continues its unprecedented support package that has protected businesses and as of April has saved them £5 9 billion on energy costs – over £30 million a day

Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability

Amanda Solloway said

We are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel for global energy prices as Putin’s grip on the market weakens – but our vital energy and trade intensive industries remain uniquely exposed to these challenges

We stand firmly behind British business and that s why we re protecting them with an additional offer of support so they can continue to thrive I urge businesses to check their eligibility and submit an application right away so they can get the help they need

Businesses are advised to check GOV UK as soon as possible to find out their eligibility and what they need to do to apply Discounts could be reflected in bills from as soon as June with support backdated to 1 April This could save some around 20% on predicted wholesale energy costs

Heat networks with domestic customers can also now receive a new sector-specific support rate to make sure households do not face disproportionately higher bills compared to customers supported by the Energy Price Guarantee Heat suppliers will need to apply for this rate and are legally obligated to pass on the discount to their customers

This is just one of a range of ongoing schemes supporting households and businesses with energy costs at this time – which the government is urging all eligible customers to apply for and take full advantage of

The Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme is providing top-ups starting at £750 for organisations using large quantities of kerosene heating oil, such as such as farms, hotels, charities and public buildings like schools and hospitals

Organisations have until 28 April to apply for this support via GOV UK

This scheme is also offering £150 payments to organisations using alternative fuels

A minority of those eligible will also need to apply for this extra support by 28 April if they have not received payments automatically through an electricity supplier

Care England Re-Issue Gas and Electricity Tender for Care Providers

Following the fantastic success of the 2022-23 Care England Energy Tender Care England has launched the second round to offer care providers the opportunity to secure the lowest possible energy prices for gas and electricity renewals between 2023 and 2026 which now includes LPG

Professor Martin Green OBE Chief Executive of Care England says: With another volatile year ahead Care England remains concerned about energy renewal costs and wants to support care providers to secure the best value for money possible for gas and electricity as some energy suppliers and brokers remain unreasonable with prices, additional charges, deal availability, seek excessive upfront deposits and charging hefty risk premiums coupled with a low appetite to offer competitive deals, Care England is seeking to help the care sector achieve the best possible energy rates for the sector with the help of our energy specialists by maximising energy supplier interest through aggregation whilst minimising excessive risk premiums and offering benefits beyond what providers can achieve in isolation

ROUND ONE REVIEWED OVER 21,000 ENERGY BILLS AND DELIVERED:

Energy savings of up to 36% over incumbent brokers and up to 27% lower than the same supplier book prices

Recovery of more than £3 8m of VAT and CCL

• Free Gas Smart and Advanced Meters supporting the ability to monitor consumption and reduce energy usage and receive accurate invoicing

Combined energy consumption to access products not available to SMEs

Re-examination of credit rejections and preferential contracts offered which would normally be rejected

Access to platforms not accessible to all brokers to ensure the whole market’s lowest possible quote

Care providers with energy contracts that expire between now and 2026 who wish to participate in round two to secure the lowest possible energy price available at their renewal date and to benefit from support and solutions not available to individual organisations on their own, should register their interest here and complete the expression of interest link Feedback from participants of round one can be reviewed at https://www careengland org uk/energy-feedback/

Martin Green continues: “Round one of the Care England Energy Tender proved to deliver exceptional value beyond what could be achieved due to our aggregated buying power and our partner s knowledge of the care sector

We would encourage all care providers who are experiencing challenges with their energy costs to consider participating in round two to take advantage to have their bills reviewed to recover overcharges, and to benefit from advice and guidance on when contracts are best placed to secure the lowest price energy and addition offer and to take advantage of facilities not open to individual providers on their own ”

Bring Joy and Connection to the Lives of Older People

Alive Activities have been engaging Care Home residents training carers and connecting communities for over 13 years With person-centred care at the heart of everything they do all their offerings are tailored to the people that they work with Alive are experts in bringing meaningful engagement to older people From training to activity audits gardening to intergenerational links find out how Alive can support you and your residents

TRAINING

Alive offer a range of inspiring training courses on topics that they know to be essential in providing person-centred care Training from Alive will give your staff the confidence and ideas to cater for individual needs and interests They also offer bespoke courses, including coaching programmes, which will be uniquely built with you to cater for your home s specific requirements In person or remotely a common theme throughout all of Alive’s training is encouraging the “whole-home approach” to activities; giving all staff

the skills to engage ALIVE ON DEMAND

Alive s newest service Alive on Demand is designed to assist Care Home Staff in providing meaningful engagements both in group and 1-2-1 activities It is a dementia-friendly video streaming platform with supporting materials including quizzes and crafts, that easily transforms each topic into well-rounded activity Designed to spark conversation and evoke memories you can easily search for topics of interest or use the filter options to select videos by level of dementia and duration For those living with more advanced dementia Alive offer “calming videos designed to immerse in relaxation and calm

“It is like having an activities expert in your back pocket!”

For more information to book in a demo or discuss training options please call 0117 377 4756 or email info@aliveactivities org Visit www aliveactivities org to find out more

Advinia Healthcare Celebrate Success at ‘Care Sector’s Got Talent’ Final

Hillview Care Home operated by Advinia Healthcare is celebrating after winning the ‘Care Sector s Got Talent’ final held in Derby Arena The winning duet a note-perfect performance of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper s Shallow was sung by Michael

Gallagher Wellbeing

Senior Care Assistant

and Charlene Reeves

Coordinator

The annual talent competition showcases the diverse talents of care home staff from across the UK and this year Advinia Health Care had two finalists with Craig Smith from Newcarron Care Home also putting on a fantastic performance with his Elvis tribute

According to organisers the standard of competition was exceptional and the panel of judges were impressed by Michael and Charlene’s chemistry the way they supported each other and the beauty of their voices blending The judges praised the duo’s performance, saying it epitomises all that is great about social care

Both Michael and Charlene have been working in the care sector for several years and they were thrilled to represent Hillview Care Home in

the competition

Speaking about the win, Michael said, “The care sector is phenomenal and it was an honour to be a part of the competition ”

Charlene added Performing in the final was an amazing experience and we felt like superstars We want to do it all again!

As winners Michael and Charlene not only received the title and prizes but will also be performing at the Care Sector s Grand Fundraising Ball in London in September The event raises funds for two great charities, Alzheimer s UK and the Care Workers Society

Paul Lawson Customer Relations Manager at Advinia Healthcare said

We are proud of our staff for the many talents they possess

Congratulations to Michael, Charlene, and Craig on their performances in the competition The company is committed to promoting and supporting the diverse talents of its staff and ensuring that all residents receive the highest quality care

Hampshire Care Home Residents Welcome Ducklings To The World

A trio of ducklings have been brought safely into the world thanks to some tender love and attention from residents at a New Forest care home

The new arrivals stole the limelight at Belmore Lodge in Lymington after hatching out of their eggs in an incubator

Resident Dorothy Elson said: “Some of us had ducks when we were younger so this took us down memory lane

“It was truly wonderful to see them emerge and experience their first few days of life ”

Companionship Team Leader Sharon

Semple said: “We think we had one boy and two girls - as the two girls were very bossy!

“We had various names for them but we settled on Ian for the boy and Julia and Ginger for the

girls

“We gave them their first bath a few days before they left us It gave us an excuse to have another lovely cuddle with them when we were drying them off

“It was brilliant for our residents to have the eggs and incubator here There are lots of residents at Colten Care who grew up on farms or had animals when they were younger and they love the idea of seeing chicks being born

“Julia Ginger and Ian have now gone to live with a friend of one of our team members We know they will be well looked after and we’ll be staying up to date on their progress ”

Residents and staff at other Colten Care homes have also been hatching chicks and duck eggs this spring with several new arrivals being born in incubators at Court Lodge in Lymington and Newstone House in Sturminster Newton Dorset

The babies tend to stay for up to two weeks before going to a permanent home

G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution

Genee is a UK leading manufacturer of innovative affordable interactive technological solutions

Genee plays an integral role across all major industries including health care to support patients residents and staff

Having supported Care Homes through the pandemic The G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution is one of Genee’s most impactful solutions yet The solution includes; the G-Touch Interactive Screen, Electric Mobile Trolley and a Wireless Battery Pack It s portability specially designed and simple to use interface as well as its multitude of applications are specifically built for residents and staff in mind

Don t just take our word for it The Dove Haven Care Grouphave said the following:

We have recently implemented the Genee Interactive touch tables into our homes with great results!

Our residents really enjoy playing on the touch table, singing karaoke as well as solving puzzles and completing quizzes individually or in a group environment We find the table really improves the mood of our residents and helps them work and play together around the touch table at the same time They are great in aiding our residents living with sensory impairment and encourages their general rehabilitation and independence We have been able to increase activity time and availability without increasing our staff’s workload

The difference that these tables have made is amazing! Residents have embraced the technology and every day we find new ways to use it The benefits of the Interactive tablehavebeen shown to improve residents' mood and greater physical social and cognitive activity and positively impacts on relationships with care staff friends and family

With the table being portable it does not restrict where it can be used The service users are attracted to it due to the size of the screen and the portable aspect of it When service users are having 1:1 time with our activities co-ordinator other service users are watching and

wanting to get involved The table is easy to use and can be used by all ’’

The G-Touch Wireless Care Home Solution comes with 5 years’ on-site warranty as standard with no additional costs Our dedicated team will bring the equipment to the care home assemble and install the solution and test everything on site We will also support you with free online training to ensure your Care Home gets maximum use of this incredible solution

Interested to find out how affordable we are? Get in touch today and reference the code ‘#TheCarer’ +44 (0)1902 390 862 sales@genee-group com www genee-group com

Care Home Residents Receive Royal Seal of Approval as they Celebrate 72nd Wedding Anniversar y

Two residents at Care South’s Bideford care home, Kenwith Castle recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary marking the momentous occasion with a telegram sent by King Charles III Barbara met Keith at Sheffield University when she was 18 years old and it was love at first sight for both After six wonderful years of courtship Keith proposed to Barbara who gleefully accepted Barbara and Keith married in 1951 in a beautiful church ceremony in Urmston Manchester when Barbara was 24 years old and the couple went on to have a picturesque family life with two wonderful children Barbara and Keith moved to the south of England later in life and now reside in Care South s Bideford care home Kenwith Castle When staff and their fellow residents learned that they would be celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary they ensured it would be a wonderful day for the happy couple to remember

Love was in the air for all as the couple shared a delicious slice of anniversary cake and were gifted

some beautiful flowers by Care South to celebrate their special day The couple were also presented with a royal telegram from his majesty King Charles III, which read: “My wife and I were so pleased to hear that you are celebrating your seventy-second wedding anniversary on 24th March 2023 This brings you our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on this happy occasion ”

Activities Assistant Catherine Bennett at Kenwith Castle said: It was so lovely to be able to celebrate this spectacular achievement with Keith and Barbara and it was the icing on the cake to receive the royal telegram from our King, ahead of the impending Coronation ” Barbara added: We had a quiet church wedding with just a few friends and my sister was maid of honour After a nice meal Keith drove us to the lake district and it snowed which was magical We had a lovely day celebrating our 72nd wedding anniversary and thank you to the staff at Kenwith Castle for helping to make it such a memorable day to remember ”

Taking Care of Fire Safety

By Rob Yates, Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK & Ireland for Siemens (www.siemens.co.uk)

All buildings have their own specific requirements in terms of fire safety and risk assessments are the primary method of ensuring that a fire alarm system meets those needs Care homes are no different, although the nature of the elderly occupants and their mobility issues need to be a particular focus in selecting an appropriate method of protecting the occupants and the care home itself from the threat of fire

In the majority of buildings evacuation plans are a core element of fire safety procedures and while this is also true of a care home the fact that it may be impossible to evacuate some of the residents has a direct impact on the requirements outlined in the respective standards In BS5839-1 for example the following clauses need to be considered:

If occupants need assistance from staff to escape and there are more than 10 sleeping persons the system should be addressable Residential care premises should be provided with automatic connection to Alarm Receiving Centres (ARC) • Signals to Alarm Receiving Centres cannot be delayed from residential care homes ADDRESSING THE SPECIFICS

Given all of the above it is easy to appreciate that early detection of a fire incident is particularly important in a care home Many care homes operate with older conventional fire alarm systems Picking up on the first point these need to be upgraded to addressable systems to enable the location of an incident to be identified quickly In doing so it is important to consider the options in terms of cost implications associated with this migration Some systems will require replacement of not only the devices but also reconfiguration of the wiring into a loop Others do not thereby offering considerable savings in installation costs

The ability to identify the location of an incident quickly can be further enhanced through powered floor repeater panels allowing the situation to be reviewed without needing to go to the location of the main fire panel The ever-increasing use of cloudbased technology (see final paragraph) can take this a stage further with apps available which allow monitoring of fire safety on a mobile phone

In many applications delays in sending a fire alarm signal to an ARC are often deliberate to allow time to investigate to see if it is a false alarm or of a scale that can be tackled safely with a fire extinguisher However, as is clearly stated in the British Standard this is not the case in a care home

Turning to the issue of false alarms as indicated in the extract from BS5839-1, the requirement is for a maximum of 1 false alarm per 20 detectors annually Obviously zero false alarms is an even better scenario in an application where an alarm can cause panic confusion and considerable disruption Systems are now available which will provide a guarantee of no false alarms with multi-criteria detection technology which detects a fire incident quickly without being impacted by deceptive phenomena such as toasters or steam Crucial to this is drift compensation whereby the sensitivity of the detector is automatically adjusted to reflect the build-up of dust or dirt without importantly affecting response times

CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGY

Increasingly as in so many of our day-to-day activities the internet and the cloud are becoming pivotal in the latest fire detection solutions Digitalisation has made significant advances in terms of ease of use of fire safety systems User interfaces are becoming ever more graphics-based with the swipe click drag and drop approach so familiar from our mobile phones

Online portals can provide an overview of a care home’s fire safety or for those organisations operating a number of facilities across all connected sites Multisite dashboards can provide locations of all sites in one place, with a status bar indicating the respective status of each in real-time with a simple colour-coded approach to identify sites where problems may be occurring

‘Interoperability’ is a phrase that has been around now for some time in terms of building management systems and it is gathering momentum as digitalisation increases This is the potential to connect multiple systems which can then compliment each other An example would be a CCTV camera able to zoom in on a fire location or record the operation of a call point while a lift can report return status or louvres can be automatically activated in the event of an alarm activation to aid smoke ventilation

Care homes offer their own specific challenges in terms of fire safety By understanding those challenges and adopting a fire safety approach which reflects them residents and the buildings themselves can be effectively protected

Sher wood Lodge Psychologist Scoops Top Award

A Mansfield psychologist who supports men with learning disabilities said she felt “honoured and privileged” to win a prestigious Psychologist of the Year award Dr Rebecca Gibbs is Lead Forensic Psychologist for the East Midlands region for Cygnet Social Care She is based at Cygnet Sherwood Lodge on Rufford Colliery Lane Mansfield which supports up to 26 men with learning disabilities and associated complex needs who may also have behaviours that challenge Dr Gibbs was singled out during the Cygnet Annual Psychologists Conference and National Awards 2023 where she scooped the top prize

Organised by Cygnet Health Care one of the UK’s leading health and social care companies offering services to those with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism the Psychologist of the Year award was awarded to the person who made the greatest contribution to their service

Presenting the award Dr Shaun Keegan Regional Director of Psychology at Cygnet Health Care said: Bex has come through the ranks and has had a significant and outstanding impact at a local and regional level in the delivery of an excellent service Her leadership is exemplary and she is highly respected amongst her peers She shares her expertise and knowledge wherever needed

and exudes joy with her work

In short she is seen by all her colleagues as an asset to Cygnet

Upon receiving the award

Dr Gibbs said “I am very honoured and privileged to have been awarded the Psychologist of the Year

“Thank you to those who nominated me and more importantly thank you to all my fantastic colleagues who continue to support and work alongside me in our important roles as mental health professionals ”

Dr Tony Romero CEO of Cygnet Health Care said: “These awards recognise the achievements and difference our motivated compassionate and value-driven psychologists make for our services users every single day

We have seen so many wonderful examples of how they, alongside their teams, go above and beyond for the benefit of the individuals in their care

As CEO I am proud to count these exceptional individuals as colleagues who exemplify our values at Cygnet

This accolade is testament to Rebecca s hard work, commitment and dedication At Cygnet Health Care we strive to provide the highest quality and standard of care and always put our service users at the heart of what we do This is demonstrated impeccably by Rebecca ”

CQC Appoints James Bullion Interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care

The Care Quality Commission has appointed an interim chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care

James Bullion is to join the regulator in the coming months the CQC has announced He will replace Kate Terroni who was appointed interim deputy chief executive last month

Mr Bullion is currently executive director of adult social services at Norfolk County Council and a member of Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board where he oversaw the transformation of adult services

He was also president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services in 2020-2021 and has recently been working with the Department of Health and Social Care on plans to improve hospital discharge

The government is yet to confirm plans for how the CQC will inspect

ICSs but HSJ reported last month ratings will not be issued until at least summer 2024, as current legislation only requires the CQC to review and assess ICSs and not rate them

Commenting on Mr Bullion’s appointment Ms Terroni said: “It’s fantastic to have James join the team at the point we go live with our new powers to assess local authorities as an experienced DASS and having been involved with the development of our approach ”

Mr Bullion said: I am delighted to be joining CQC at such an important time for the organisation, councils and people drawing on services as we strengthen the national assurance arrangements and reform social care

“I am grateful to Norfolk for supporting this, and hope to bring my experience and understanding of being a DASS as well as my national work as ADASS past president and on social care discharge to the many talents in CQC ”

Alpaca Trail Stirs Memories for Dorset Care Home Resident Joan

Residents from a Dorset care home followed a countryside trail to a picturesque New Forest viewpoint in the company of three alpacas

The party from Colten Care s Newstone House in Sturminster Newton set off from the animals’ outdoor pen in Sandy Balls holiday village taking them on a path up to the True Lovers Knot sculpture overlooking Fordingbridge and the Avon Valley

The alpacas - Pip Dude and Chino - were led by Newstone House residents Joan Drake and Winnie Marriott under the guidance of Away Resorts Activity Leader Curtis Munson

Joan said afterwards: What wonderful memories It reminded me of the days when I was raising animals on my farm I found myself getting quite emotional by the experience

Karlene Horswill, Companionship Team Leader at Newstone House thanked Sandy Balls General Manager Jon King for arranging the walking experience for residents free of charge

Karlene said: A huge thank-you to the Away Resorts team for giving us such a unique opportunity They made our residents feel

RAISING THE STANDARD OF STAIR

SOLUTIONS

extra special on the day

“Curtis was an amazing host who took the time to make sure the residents felt confident handling the alpacas

These animals are well-known for their gentle and easy nature creating a calming effect on the people around them That ensured it was a lovely gentle experience for us

“The smiles and memories given to these residents will last a long time and I am really grateful

Jon said: “We are glad the residents had a great time and it was our pleasure to have them here

Alpacas originally hail from high altitudes in South America They have three stomachs and are one of the camelid species, closely related to the llama

Their wool is typically made into carpets, dresses, scarves, duvets and pillowcases and is even suitable as roof insulation material

Being quite large alpacas are used on some farms to protect flocks of sheep from the attention of foxes

The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact, easy to use, powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commercial settings

Offering innovative designs, all of the company’s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces, for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition, all of its Stair Climber’s come with a two year manufacturer’s warranty

Why Workforce Health Should Be at the Centre of Social Care

By Dr Lara Shemtob, general practice, occupational health and the department of primary care and public health at Imperial College London (www imperial ac uk)

This month, reports that the government are set to halve the £500 million they pledged to invest in the social care workforce came as a blow to the sector There are currently around 250 000 vacant posts across health and social care with more than 160 000 unfilled post in social care The NHS and social care are dependent on each other to work efficiently While the NHS is facing its own challenges a functioning social care system is necessary to keep people well in the community and to discharge them safely home after acute treatment

Workforce health is relevant to recruitment, retention, safety and productivity of staff Working in social care has similar challenges to working in health care- including hazards and risks around manual handling infection and mental health of staffcausing issues including work-related stress and burnout But while NHS workers have access to occupational health services to help keep them well and keep working access for social care workers is likely to be more limited

What is occupational health and where does it fit into social care?

Occupational health is all about the relationship between work and health: how our health affects our work and how our work affects our health

Occupational health teams support people working while living with ill health such as through recommending changes to the workplace or the role When someone is not well enough to work, occupational health can put a plan in place to get them back to work when their health and function improves Occupational health clinicians also help organisations assess and manage hazards and risks in the workplace Occupational health was excluded when the NHS was first set up which means access varies from

employer to employer Even the most generous estimates suggest around 50% of workers do not have access to any occupational health support People working for organisations with <250 employees are less likely to have access to occupational health compared to workers at large private sector organisations, or the public sector People who are in insecure employment and on zero hours contracts are least likely to have access to occupational health

The social care sector is made up of more than 18 000 employers mainly private sector small and medium sized enterprises with at least 25% of the workforce on zero hours contracts This profile of organisation is unlikely to be providing occupational health support to its workforce Pay for a social care worker is around £8000 less than an NHS healthcare assistant But pay is not the only working condition Workforce heath matters too

HOW DOES THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR MOVE FORWARD?

Because of how heterogenous the social care sector is we do not know exactly what is happening in terms of work and health issues and work and health support in each organisation Evidence tells us that occupational health support keeps people working increases the safety and productivity of staff and improves safe service delivery Yet all stakeholders stretched in resourcing any change As well as the financial barrier to getting support, small business owners say they do not have the time to invest in identifying their own needs

The Spring Budget 2023 highlighted the gap in the occupational health landscape and suggested some solutions but we are still very far away from universal access Meanwhile the government s response to the health and social care committee enquiry on burnout suggested extending the NHS staff survey to social care which will help us clarify what is happening across the social care sector

Integrated care systems could be a way of bridging the gap between health and social care organisations

We need parallel workforce planning across health and care, and as part of this we should be growing occupational health services to meet the needs of the social care workforce as well as the needs of the NHS workforce

There is a long way to go but understanding where we are is important Are you a stakeholder in social care with a view on this? It would be great to hear from you via this stakeholder scoping inquiry

The King’s Coronation: When Royalty Came to Royal Star & Garter

His Majesty The King has been one of a number of royal visitors to come to Royal Star & Garter during its 107-year history

Prince Charles, as he was then known, came to the charity’s former Richmond Home in 1982

Several members of the Royal Family visited the historic Home on Richmond Hill and in later years the royal visits have continued with the charity s President, Princess Alexandra, coming to new Homes in Solihull Surbiton and High Wycombe

Here is a look at some of the times members of the Royal Family have been welcomed to Royal Star & Garter

1917: The charity had been formed just one year earlier when Queen Mary expressed concern for the severely injured men returning from First World War battlegrounds She charged the British Red Cross Society with finding a permanent haven for severely disabled young men returning from war Residents first moved into the old Star & Garter Hotel on Richmond Hill, and were visited by The Queen and her daughter Princess Mary of York in 1917

1924: It soon became clear that the Star & Garter Hotel was not fit for purpose so work began on building a new Home on the site In 1924 the magnificent building was opened by King George V and Queen Mary

1928: This year saw two Royal visits King George V returned to the Home, before the Duchess of York later The Queen and The Queen Mother attended the Exhibition and Sale of Work The exhibition saw residents sell handicrafts that they had made

1952: The Queen Mother was back at the Home in 1952, to open the annual Exhibition and Sale of Work, which was usually opened by a member of the Royal Family In this year she was accompanied by her younger daughter Her Royal Highness Princess

Margaret

1958: The late Queen who became our Patron in 1953 following the death of her grandmother Queen Mary made her first visit to the Home as monarch in 1958 During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II would make three more visits to the Home – in 1971 1978 and 1989 She continued to show genuine interest and support to Royal Star & Garter throughout her life and in 2016 congratulated the charity on its centenary anniversary

1972: His Royal Highness Prince Philip visited the Home on Exhibition Day 1972 He was welcomed to the Home by Chairman of the Governors Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John

1982: The future King visited the Home in 1982 where he chatted and shared jokes with residents During his visit, Prince Charles also shared memories of his time in the Armed Forces with veterans

1991: Diana, Princess of Wales, visited the Richmond Home in September 1991 She was greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Richmond and presented with a posy by one of the staff nurses She visited every ward and it is reported she spoke to every resident in the Home Princess Alexandra: Her Royal Highness became our President in 1964 She was a regular visitor to the Richmond Home and later to the newer Royal Star & Garter Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe

Revitalise Respite Holidays Launches 2023 Summer Season

Revitalise the national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and their carers is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the launch of their 2023 summer season

Revitalise is a unique provider of respite holidays for those who need 24-hour care supported by skilled care and nursing staff All centres are fully accessible with specialised facilities and equipment The group has two centres, based in Southport and Chigwell and caters for adults with a variety of different disabilities

Revitalise centres offer breaks in a relaxed holiday-style environment in which guests can unwind in beautiful settings with access to a wide range of daily activities and evening entertainment There are opportunities to visit new places make new friends, participate in wellbeing activities like manicures and reiki or just enjoy some much-needed time off

Emily Sheardown Reservations Manager says A Revitalise holiday offers an important lifeline to disabled people and carers who need a break and deserve a proper time away from the day-to-day

Summer prices start from £680 for a three- or four-night break Care support packages are priced additionally based on individual support needs Revitalise are launching a campaign in May to highlight the lack of respite care on offer and the urgent need for funding so that more people can take a break

Booking:

Call: 0303 303 0145

Email: bookings@revitalise org uk

Book online: www revitalise org uk/book-now/

Scottish Labour Unveils Plan for Older People’s Commissioner Following Pandemic

South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth is to bring forward a bill to the Scottish Parliament to create a dedicated commissioner for older people in Scotland

At present children and young people have standalone commissioners in each of the four nations of the UK including Scotland while Wales and Northern Ireland have commissioners for the older people Colin Smyth plans to bring forward a bill to create a similar post for Scotland

His plan is backed by 90 per cent of those aged 65 or over as well as more than 30 organisations including the charity Independent Age

There are currently around one million people it that age category in Scotland with the figure expected to rise to 1 4million by 2040 And the latest data shows that one in seven – in total around 150 000 older people –are living in poverty

Colin Smyth said: Covid-19 had a profound impact on all our lives but for older people it was just devastating

“A day rarely went past at the height of the pandemic without a constituent raising with me their heartbreaking experiences of not having access to their loved ones in a care home because we couldn t get our act together over testing; the removal of social care packages; the pressure of Do Not Attempt Resuscitation decisions; the loneliness and isolation and the appalling death rate among those in later life

“I even remember phoning a local factory who I knew used PPE to ask if they could give some to a local care home who feared running out

“Even now I get so many cases every day from constituents whose older relatives are stuck in hospital because we don’t have enough carers and suitable housing for them to go home to

I think we will look back on that dark period with a sense of shame at the way so many older people were let down I kept asking myself that when all the big decisions were being made who independent of Government but with the ear of Ministers, was championing the human rights of older people and making sure their voice their views were being listened to

Frankly the answer was no one and for me changing that is reason enough to bring forward this proposal

“Our older people are an incredibly valuable asset for our country but far too often they are unappreciated I want to see that change

A public consultation on the proposal will be launched at the end of May to run for three months and hopefully to bring forward a Member s Bill to Parliament by the end of the year

THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSIONER WOULD BE:

• Raising awareness of the interests of older people in Scotland and of the need to safeguard those interests

• Promoting the provision of opportunities for and the elimination of discrimination against older people in Scotland

Encouraging best practice in the treatment of older people in Scotland

Keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law affecting the interests of older people in Scotland

The Commissioner would also have the power to carry out investigations into how services provide for older people

Staff Member at Derby Home Celebrates 15-Year Work Anniversar y and Hopes Current Role Is One She Retires From

A staff member at a Derby home celebrated her 15-year work anniversary and says she hopes to retire where she is Helen Matthews joined Methodist Homes (MHA) in 2008 and started her journey by working as a care assistant at Maple Leaf House in Ripley

After two years in the role the opportunity for an activity coordinator came up at MHA Willowcroft in Spondon, which she grabbed and it's something she is still doing 13 years later

She says she always wanted to work in care and nursing her mum helped her to understand the importance of working in care

To mark the occasion Helen was presented with her 15-year service certificate and flowers

She added: I always wanted to work in care and as my children grew up I was

able to do this

“Working for MHA, whether that's at Maple Leaf House or Willowcroft has been great it s been a great experience and long may it continue

“The 15 years have flown by, it's been a journey and naturally there have been changes but I am very happy with what I do

“Working in care you do have to have some attribute regardless of the role

I feel you have to be a good listener be open and honest and enjoy the company of people

“Our residents are of a different generation and you have to be able to work with them to ensure their needs are met

“I am very settled here at MHA Willowcroft, I like what I do, the staff and residents are great and I have no plans to move and hope to retire here

Recognii Offers New Way To Entertain Residents With Later Stage Dementia

The first film created especially for people living with later-stage dementia is offering care homes an inexpensive and accessible new way to entertain residents ‘Treasure Box’ by Recognii is an hour-long series of uplifting plot-free and visually engaging short clips, all set to some of the nation’s best-known music, songs and theme tunes

Each scene has been designed to capture short attention spans and specially adapted to overcome the common visual and cognitive processing problems associated with the condition

The company’s founder Sarah Harrison says Treasure Box was designed to be an essential resource for dementia care providers providing safe engaging entertainment for communal relaxation areas or a flexible tool for more focused one-to-one or group activities

She explained: Treasure Box can be enjoyed as a complete film but there are also deliberately slow transitions between each of the clips to allow for sensory readjustment and to give staff time to pause the film and reminisce or chat with residents about what they have just seen ”

Recognii contains the sort of content the company s research showed had most universal appeal among sufferers, from happy children, appealing animals and gentle humour to musical interaction, the natural world iconic people and places, puppetry and lots more

Treasure Box is available on USB stick for use in Smart TVs and laptops, and also in traditional DVD format They retail at £23 99 for the USB stick or £19 99 for the DVD

Dr Lucy Pollock gerontologist and author of bestselling ‘The Book About Getting Older’ said “This is just lovely Treasure Box is the sort of thing that can be watched over and over by people living with significant dementia In the same way that small children like replaying their favourites these images with music become very soothing with familiarity Even those with significant dementia can find repeated routines comforting

To accommodate the visual processing problems experienced by many people with advanced dementia the team took a deliberate approach to the way the content is filmed

Sarah explained: To make everything as visible as possible we filmed against plain backgrounds with high colour and tonal contrast and predominant use of red and those primary colours research shows are most easily recognised We also took care not to feature unnecessary detail, busy patterns, shadows or reflective light sources ” Each plot-free clip contrasts strongly from the last to draw wandering attention back to the screen, and in keeping with the visual approach, music and vocal arrangements are simple and dialogue is kept to a minimum

CASE STUDY:

Acacia Lodge Care Home in Oxfordshire is a purpose-built residence in the centre of picturesque Henley-On-Thames with 55 en-suite rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens

It is part of The Future Care Group, a leading residential, nursing and dementia care provider with 18 high-quality homes across the UK

Acacia Lodge lifestyle assistant, Alex Owens, purchased Recognii to use on their dementia floor after reading about the innovation in The Daily Telegraph Lifestyle lead Wendy Fricker said At Acacia Lodge quality of life is at the heart of everything we do and we are continually looking for new and varied ways to ensure each of our residents stays engaged happy and relaxed

We were very impressed with the Recognii concept The short simple clips helped a great deal holding our residents attention and keeping them watching eagerly for the next scene The content is very well thought out and they loved the mix of singalongs smiling children animals and bright colourful images Thirteen out of our 16 residents with dementia engaged and joined in with every sequence which was just amazing to see Wendy now uses Recognii as part of a ‘cinema-style’ experience handing out popcorn tea cakes and fizzy drinks for residents to enjoy while they settle down to watch with care staff She also uses it as a discussion and reminiscence tool with smaller groups or for focussed one-to-one activities

Wendy said “Recognii is a welcome addition to the stimulating and diverse programme of activities and events at Acacia Lodge We can t wait for the next volume and will be putting in our order asap!”

More information and demos are available through the Recognii website at www recognii co uk

Care Bodies Merge to Strengthen Representation

The National Care Association (NCA) and Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA) have announced that they are merging the two organisations both established in the 1980’s

The merged organisation will be called the National Care Association and with over 1100 individual members will be the largest trade association in the country Ian Turner Executive Chairman of RNHA and Nadra Ahmed CBE Executive Chairman of NCA will continue in their roles and co-chair the new representative body They intend to manage the merger without interruption to current services and activities

Ian Turner Executive Co-Chairman said: The new NCA is the natural choice for all social care small and medium sized providers We know our members do not have middle management to translate policy into action within their services; hence we are used to performing that translation As small and medium providers, we understand the need for advice and guidance to be practical for small businesses

Together we can strengthen our representation at Government level enhancing the

services to our memberships ’

Nadra Ahmed CBE Co-Chairman said We believe in the interest of our memberships, a strong and united force should emerge for all providers from this bold decision by our boards We face considerable challenges a further delay in any promise of reform and funding challenges making it critical that the interests of small and medium sized providers are fully represented at both local and national levels We are often dismissed as a fragmented sector with no single voice – this merger will challenge government on any such assumptions ”

The new NCA Board will strengthen our expertise by identifying lead Directors to take responsibility for policy in each part of the ASC i e in nursing residential care care at home supported living learning disability and mental health Our Experts will focus our approach on each unique service area whilst being able to bring together common areas that affect all service types

Local Day Ser vice Achieves Gold Accreditation for Excellence in Dementia Care

A day centre for older people in Colchester has achieved one of the highest industry standards in dementia care

ECL s Marylands Older People s Day Service has been awarded the Gold Accreditation from the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Sterling

The day centre that supports over 50 customers in the Colchester area 90% of whom have dementia diagnoses received a score of 96 91% in its assessment to achieve the full gold award

Under the leadership of ECL Day Opportunities Area Manager Kate Ferris the ECL Marylands team has worked hard over the last 18 months to implement some amazing changes to the centre to enhance the customer experience and bring the centre up to DSDC Gold Accreditation standards

ECL Colchester Marylands Service Manager Sherry Mills said: We are delighted to have received the DSDC Gold Accreditation We ve been striving towards it for many months and it s great to have achieved our goal I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Marylands We have an amazing team at the

service and this is testament to their commitment to providing person-centred care and delivering excellent dementia support to our customers and their loved ones

As part of the changes, the service invested in a major building makeover and new equipment

The centre now boasts welcoming themed rooms such as a cinema room a games room a dedicated nursery for doll therapy a bus stop and a meditation/prayer room for staff customers and family members All featuring dementia friendly contrast from flooring to walls, dementia signage way finders and dementia

accredited furniture

ECL Colchester Marylands has also worked hard to nurture relationships with the local community and local health and social care partners It has introduced regular carers days in collaboration with the Dementia Alliance to provide the opportunity for local people caring for a loved one living with dementia to network with other people in similar situations and speak to experts who can offer advice and support

The centre also holds a monthly Memory Cafe for people living with dementia and their loved ones pro-

Memories of Monarchy: Reflections from Residents at Boutique Care Homes

Over the past century, the United Kingdom has experienced significant change and the monarchy has been a constant presence throughout From the reign of King George V to the current monarch Charles III, the royal family has played an integral role in the history of the country

During this time the UK has gone through significant social and political changes, including the two World Wars the decline of the British Empire and the rise of the digital age Through it all the monarchy has remained a symbol of national identity and continuity

We spoke with residents at Boutique Care Homes about their memories of the monarchy their favourite moments and events and their advice for the future King Charles Here are some of their reflections:

Patricia Godfrey born in 1923 a resident at Brampton Manor Newmarket recalls King George V fondly He was an excellent man I remember him coming through Frome, people were lining the streets, cheering and celebrating He was so popular; it was lovely Patricia also remembers the Queen s coronation and the party in her village

Pamela Beckett, born in 1922, a resident at The Burlington, Shepperton remembers watching the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to the Duke of Edinburgh on television Pamela also recalls meeting the royal family members since she lived in Windsor, "I had a friend who was part of the orchestra I remember watching Philip playing polo and he broke his polo stick!

Diana Dickenson, born in 1940, a resident at Chartwell House, Broadstairs remembers going to the state opening of Parliament with her mother when King George was on the throne We stood in the mall in the late 40s to watch the golden coach go by I also remember the King dying I was at school and they called us all into the school hall and solemnly told us that we now had a queen "

Diana also remembers Princess Diana's appointment as the Colonel in chief of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment My husband was in the Middlesex’s regiment and it was amalgamated into the PWRR The ceremony took place at Howe Barracks in Canterbury I remember

standing next to Princess Diana She turned round and said Come on ladies let s find the loo let s take our tights off It s far too hot for these ’"

When asked what they think the most significant event or moment of the past three monarchs' reigns have been, Patricia Godfrey says that it was King Edward VIII s abdication for Mrs Simpson It was the talk of the land!" Diana Dickenson thinks that the invasion of Ukraine and the threat of nuclear war would have worried Queen Elizabeth II quite considerably prior to her death Pamela Beckett remembers when Diana Princess of Wales died "I remember seeing her being taken up to Scotland; it was so sad

The world has undoubtedly changed a lot since the birth of these ladies and the role of the monarchy has also evolved Diana stated that the monarchs have not altered much during her lifetime, but Charles has made an impact in wildlife protection especially in Kenya She also pointed out the significance of the Duke of Edinburgh award which has “had a big influence on young people particularly in the London boroughs

Patricia, on the other hand believes that the world has become more open and people do what they want now However she also noted

that the public's respect for the monarchy has changed "The Monarchy used to be more in with the people she said I m not sure the public respects the monarchy as we once did

When asked about the most important quality a monarch should have Diana highlighted honesty and sincerity She also mentioned the importance of a good memory stating that keeping information without mixing it up is “quite an art form ” Patricia echoed the same sentiment about sincerity suggesting that if a monarch possesses this quality then “they will be okay ”

Both Diana and Pamela when asked about their favourite memory of King Charles praised his down-to-earth nature Diana described Charles as “a man of the earth” who enjoys gardening “if he talks to flowers he can’t be all that bad ” Pamela added that she found him to be a very modern man

The monarchy has undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping the identity of British citizens Diana believes that the way the monarchy enunciates has influenced how the British speak and are proud of their nationality “Charles, in particular, has done well in promoting the culture of Great Britain

Lastly when asked about their advice to King Charles Diana suggested that he keeps his eyes and ears open and evaluates everything he is told for himself I think he is quite capable of that she added Patricia meanwhile encouraged him to follow in his grandfather s footsteps, who was friendly with everyone and would make time for anyone

The monarchy has undoubtedly played a role in shaping the identity of the British people, and as the world continues to change, the role of the monarchy will continue to evolve With the succession of King Charles it will be interesting to see how he takes on the role and continues to shape the monarchy s legacy

All of the residents interviewed commented that they are eagerly awaiting the celebrations planned to mark this momentous occasion of King Charles coronation

Stories Bring Generations Together at Belong

Generations came together for an inclusive storytelling session led by internationally acclaimed performance storyteller Richard O Neill assembling around a virtual camp fire complete with tipi and fairy lights at the Nursery in Belong located in Belong Chester older people s care village

The audience ranged in age from eight weeks to 92 years and comprised care village residents, nursery children their parents and siblings The nursery is run by national charity Ready Generations working in partnership with Belong to ensure a fully integrated approach to creating intergenerational experiences and opportunities

The stories centred around the adventures of three wooden puppets carved by Richard himself After delighting audiences with tales of their adventures children and older people were invited to work together to make their own puppets from twigs and scraps of material, and tell stories about their creations They then paraded their creations around the care village led by a drummer

Doreen Barnes apartment tenant at Belong Chester, who attended the storytelling session said: “It was a lovely time with the children watching their imagination come to life Storytelling is an age-old way of communicating that will never die We learn and gain new skills from people s stories, helping us to relate to others and make sense of the world ”

Commenting on the intergenerational storytelling session and the benefits for participants Ruth Sandbach Nursery Manager at the Nursery in Belong said: Richard s storytelling was really well received by both children and older generations and the venue was full The nursery has been established to encourage connections and friendships between generations, and storytelling is a key part of helping relationships to flourish Richard is a keen supporter of the nursery and visits us regularly with his puppet friends to tell stories and hear the fabulous stories our children and older people create together

Care Homes’ Fun Video Chain Wishes King Charles III Good Luck

A not-for-profit group of 61 care homes run by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), which covers nearly 3000 residents and has a special link to the monarchy has filmed a special video chain for His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort to wish them well ahead of the Coronation

From faux fur to nimble knitting, the video chain shows residents and carers from OSJCT care homes miles apart trying and passing on unique versions of St Edward s Crown – the crown used in coronation ceremonies – which they hand-crafted especially for the historic occasion

OSJCT has a special link with King Charles III As reigning monarch The King will become the Sovereign Head of one of the charity’s two historic sponsoring orders, The Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem His Majesty met care home residents and employees at the Trust when he officially opened OSJCT Athelstan House in Malmesbury Wiltshire in November 2008 OSJCT care homes have enjoyed visits from several other members of the Royal family over the years, including The King’s father when Prince Philip opened OSJCT Hayward Care Centre in Devizes Wiltshire in May 2015

Bea Beevor Activities Co-ordinator at Windsor Street Care Centre in Cheltenham, one of the OSJCT homes featured in the video chain said: The Coronation is a rare and exciting moment in history, which our residents are keen to witness and take part in So as the preparations and decorations have been coming together for the Coronation weekend, many of our residents and colleagues were very enthusiastic in taking part in a special video message to The King Together we had fun creating our own magnificent version of St Edward’s Crown and trying it on for size

We know the real crown is very heavy so we wish the King good luck on the big day!”

Ewa Cwiklak Activity Lead at OSJCT adds: The excitement has been building as our homes and extra care housing schemes prepare to celebrate this momentous event Taking part in special occasions like this is important for residents’ social mental and physical wellbeing and provides meaningful occupation and engagement Certainly seeing and celebrating the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III will remain in the memory of each of us!”

To view the full videovisit: https://vimeo com/821191594?share copy

Unpaid Care in England and Wales Valued at £445 Million Per Day

– Economic value of family members providing care increases by 29% in a decade

Fewer unpaid carers overall providing higher hours of care

–

New findings from Carers UK and the University of Sheffield show that unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute a staggering £446 million to the economy in England and Wales every day –that’s £162 billion per year

The value of unpaid care is equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales which in 2020/21 received an estimated £164 billion in funding

Unpaid carers are those looking after relatives or friends who have a disability illness mental health condition or who need extra help as they grow older

Despite increases to NHS funding over the last 10 years increases to social care funding have not kept pace and the care system is now relying ever more heavily on unpaid carers to prop it up

Providing increasing hours of unpaid care family members have no choice but to give up work or reduce their hours to do so also putting their physical and mental health needs to one side

The economic value of unpaid care in England and Wales in 2021 – now estimated to be £162 billion – is almost a third (29%) higher than the value of unpaid care in 2011

The statistical analysis reveals that unpaid carers are, as individuals providing more hours of care than they were 10 years ago While the latest 2021 census data shows there are fewer carers in England and Wales than in 2011, the number of hours of care they provide has shot up – leading to their higher economic contribution

Helen Walker Chief Executive of Carers UK said:

It is deeply concerning that the increase in the value of unpaid care over the last decade is a result of fewer carers providing more hours of care The ever-declining availability of social care means there is shrinking support for families to pull on – and they are left without a choice but to put other areas of their life on hold and provide more care

“Having to care round the clock for a loved one has significant implications for people s ability to stay in paid work remain financially resilient and maintain their health Lacking adequate support, unpaid carers feel they are being taken for granted

“The Government must show that it values and supports unpaid carers by investing in and delivering quality care services for families in the longer-term Carers need a funded National Carers Strategy and recognition within the NHS For hundreds of thousands of carers on low incomes they are desperate to see their financial support urgently reviewed ”

Leading the research Professor Matt Bennett Deputy Director of the Centre for Care at the University of Sheffield said:

The economic contribution made by unpaid carers has increased by 29% in the last decade and paints a stark picture of the savings they make to health care budgets Without unpaid carers, our health and social care systems would collapse

“In fact, our work shows that people are providing more hours of unpaid care than ever before We hope policy makers see the urgent need to act to support unpaid carers

Care Home Residents Celebrate Eid

Barchester’s Hugh Myddelton House care home in Southgate celebrated the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr which took place on Friday 21th April Eid al-Fitr means the feast of the breaking of the fast and traditionally begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon which marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the month of Shawwal the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar

General Manager Jade Shea commented: “Eid is such an important event in the Islamic calendar we all enjoyed watching Eid celebrations around the world and taking part in the ceremonies at our local Mosque

Dega resident at Hugh Myddelton House said “It was really interesting to find out all about Eid and how it is celebrated We have people of all religions here and it is wonderful to be able to take part in different religious celebrations ”

The Value of Care Home Workers: Recognizing and Supporting Essential Staff

Working in a care home is a challenging job that requires physical mental and emotional strength Caregivers provide care for vulnerable elderly and sick people which can be stressful and painful at times In this article we will discuss the challenges that caregivers face at work and we will also look at how innovation and new products can help reduce the burden on carers care home-owners and managers, and contribute to the growth of the care home industry

Teams comprise of many elements that can help to make a team great the individuals within the team their passion for their chosen vocation the thought of helping others and feeling they have made a difference on a daily basis but also the systems and medical devices that can transform their daily duties; permitting them more time to care and less time on resource hungry processes especially at a time where care workers are generally in high demand across the UK with the much publicised staffing shortages

*According to the ONS there were almost 1 5m estimated open job adverts as a daily average during December 2022 Using data from the jobs search engine Textkernel it said healthcare accounted for almost 190 000 or 12 7% of all vacancies Healthcare also accounted for the two occupations with the largest number of job adverts nationwide with 31 870 adverts for support workers and 21 170

DIRECTOR

for nurses

With such an undeniably high number of job vacancies in the sector the need for smarter systems that reduce the burden on each carer and the care homes in which they work, is essential for the future of the profession and the care home industry

Innovation is crucial for the future of care Manufacturers such as Wellell Inc can through their products help care home owners and managers to reduce the burden on carers with new tools to make their job easier and improve the quality of care for residents

With innovative products such as Wellells all-in-one Optima Turn Mattress”, offering automatic continuous patient turning for pressure injury prevention and healing the management of limited staffing resources can be made easier, helping to maintain those great care home teams and aiding staff retention Afterall a happy healthy workplace leads to a happy healthy workforce and as the ONS has identified the need for carers is outweighed by carers currently available in the UK marketplace

Empowering Positive Action Within Care – Care Roadshows 2023

Care Roadshows are returning in 2023 arriving in Glasgow Birmingham Liverpool London and Cardiff Registration is now officially open and welcomes senior professionals within the care sector particularly those working with older adults

Each show includes free access to an exhibition including between 40-60 exhibitors and entry into a series of seminar and panel discussions that cover topics such as dementia technology vs human connection and raising the profile of the care sector The events also offer fantastic networking opportunities and the chance to improve the performance of your care practice or business

Founder and Managing Director Emma Barrett shared “Care Roadshow has grown greatly since its launch back in 2011 The 2022 Roadshows reached record breaking visitor numbers and we are anticipating an even higher growth rate in 2023 ”

“This year, we’ve set our mission statement as empowering positive action within care It s about time we stopped talking about changes and started taking immediate action We hope to bring influential members of the care community together at our events in an intimate setting where positive conversations can take place

TRUSTED CARE STAMP

With over 100 events targeting the UK social care sector it is very difficult for care providers to choose which events to attend Broadway Events the company who run Care Roadshow have recently joined forces with CloserStill Media (who also run social care events) to launch a Trusted Care Event stamp The stamp indicates events that are focused on improving the sector and wanting to make an active difference within social care You can read more about this here

There is great anticipation for the release of the Care Roadshows 2023 programme Register for your free ticket here to be the first to know when programmes are relased

DATES OF THE 2023 SHOWS:

Care Roadshows Glasgow – Hampden Park Stadium – 18th April

Care Roadshows Birmingham – Villa Park Stadium – 23rd May

Care Roadshows Liverpool – Aintree Racecourse – 25th May

Care Roadshows London – Epsom Downs Racecourse – 17th October

Care Roadshows Cardiff – Cardiff City Stadium – 14th November

Follow this link to find out more: www careroadshows co uk

Call to Include More People Aged Over 60 in Clinical Trials

A new report from the International Longevity Centre (ILC) a specialist think tank on longevity urges action to ensure medicines are tested on the people they are supposed to help

The Trial and error report urges regulators pharmaceutical companies and researchers to prioritise age diversity at all stages of the clinical trial process Older people are prescribed more medications more frequently than other age groups Yet they are consistently underrepresented in the trials testing the safety and efficacy of medicines

Between 2006 to 2016 60% of all community prescriptions in England were dispensed to people aged over 60 A 2014 study found that a third of trials excluded people purely on the basis of age; another study in the US from 2022 found that trials that were inclusive of older adults still did not recruit the oldest old in sufficient numbers Some steps have been taken in the right direction since then, but ILC argues that the action being taken does not reflect the scale of the problem

Based on in-depth expert interviews and a roundtable discussion, this new report unpicks why age diversity lags in trial design Among the barriers to age parity the report finds that added costs (in terms of clinical time and resources) of recruiting older patients was prohibitive to inclusion particularly since many older patients have existing health conditions Another barrier is arbitrary exclusion of participants on the basis of their age – this could be direct in trial protocols or indirect through the decisions of the trial team to recruit (or not recruit) age-diverse cohorts

The ILC report suggests practical steps towards improving age diversity in trial cohorts For example agerelated data is not consistently gathered across all trials, particularly those testing medications for conditions not associated with ageing Doing so would help us better understand where older patients participation is lacking and which trials successfully include significant numbers of older people

Esther McNamara Senior Health Policy Lead at ILC and author of the report explains:

This issue has rumbled on for many years; regulators patient groups researchers and pharmaceutical companies agree that a concerted effort is required to include more older people in trials These are the people who can ensure that the best treatments are found for the conditions that affect them most We spoke with a range of expert stakeholders to reach conclusions and make recommendations in our report which if implemented, could support huge changes that better serve older patients ” These new initiatives by the US and UK government agencies are timely, but we urgently need guidelines for clinical trials to put age diversity on a par with gender and ethnicity We make recommendations in this report that affect stakeholders at all stages of the trial process Only once these changes have been made will clinical trials generate the evidence that older patients deserve when they are prescribed medicines Emma Thorp, Chief Commercial Officer at RBW Consulting, a certified B Corp company specialising in life science search and recruitment who provided support for the project as part of their ongoing CSR programme said: “We are proud to have partnered with the ILC on this project Against the backdrop of the United Nations decade of healthy ageing it felt like the right time to drill down into the needs of older people as part of the movement to make clinical trials more representative

“It’s our hope that this work will support our clients and the industry in general with inclusive trial design

The more we can identify and share practical solutions the more progress we will make and our hope is that this work will sit alongside the excellent efforts of others to make real change happen ”

Miles Witham: University of Newcastle Professor of Trials for Older People

“This report reinforces the fact that we can’t tackle this issue with isolated initiatives – we need a broadspectrum approach right across regulators researchers industry and patients in order to bring about the required change ”

The full report can be downloaded here https://ilcuk org uk/trial-and-error/

Gordon and Brenda’s Stor y Shows Love Is Truly Blind

Gordon lives at Waterhall Care Home in Bletchley Milton Keynes and during the recent Easter celebrations, he recalled the memories he had of meeting his wife Brenda during the Easter of 1957

Gordon was a young man in 1957 but was looking for a lovely woman to settle down with One of his good friends said he knew a woman who would be perfect for him and so proceeded to set up the pair for a blind date Both Brenda and Gordon were nervous but also excited to meet each other at their local cinema to watch 10 000 Nights

When they both met they instantly felt an attraction and really enjoyed the evening together This marked the start of a whirlwind romance, which led to the pair getting engaged just 5 weeks after meeting Gordon was very grateful to his friend for introducing them and making their meeting possible as they could really see a life together

Eight months after meeting, on 14th December 1957, Brenda and Gordon married in a special service surrounded by their family and friends To celebrate their marriage they took a one-day honeymoon trip to Leigh-on-sea to take in the views and enjoy some

delicious food

They soon got back to work and began their married life together Brenda was a hairdresser by trade whilst Gordon worked as a paramedic in the Bletchley unit

One year Gordon was working a shift at Christmas and unexpectedly had to deliver a baby This is a proud memory that still he holds dear to this day

In 2017 the pair celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and on this day renewed their vows to each other They are still as much in love to this day as they were when they blindly met at the cinema all those years ago

Their relationship shows love is truly blind and unexpected connections can form into lifelong relationships

Their advice for a long and happy married life is “Never say cross words to each other

Creative Care Homes Celebrate the World of Art

Care homes across Dorset have chosen creative ways to celebrate visual art and culture

Residents at Colten Care homes in Poole, Sherborne West Moors and Longham have all enjoyed activities talks and presentations inspired by the annual Unesco World Art Day

Abbey View in Sherborne showcased the work of 96-year-old artist and resident

Rosemary Dodd

Alongside an exhibition of several of her paintings Rosemary was interviewed in front of an audience of fellow residents by her daughter Roz and friend and auctioneer Matthew Lacey Rosemary was especially active as an artist in the 1960s Two of her pieces adorned the walls of the Royal Society of British Artists summer exhibition in London in 1966 and she recalled being invited later to a Women of the Year luncheon in Dorchester

Rosemary said she was delighted to have the opportunity to exhibit her work at Abbey View and speak about her talent and enthusiasm for art to an audience

She said: I have always loved art and colour From my earliest memories as a child I loved to draw I am so happy I have had the chance to have an exhibition in my lifetime ”

Companionship Team member Bev de Bruyn said: “During question time from a full house of residents Rosemary radiated such joy and passion It was delightful to watch her being interviewed and to hear her insights ”

At Brook View in West Moors residents were treated to a talk and art demonstration by New Forestbased equine illustrator and author Alan Langford They watched and asked questions as he sketched and coloured a picture of a horse As he worked he explained the different techniques he was using Resident Paula Merels said: “It was fascinating to see the painting coming to life before our very eyes It was fun and educational

At the end of the visit, Alan donated his picture to the residents They were absolutely enthralled by Alan’s session, how quickly he built up the picture and his surprise gift at the end said Companionship Team member Jo Vardy Alan has kindly offered to return to hold an art masterclass hearing that we have some keen painters among us especially residents Patricia Upshall and Pam Roberts who were transported back to happy memories of days when they were creating art themselves

At The Aldbury, Colten Care s dedicated dementia care home in Poole residents celebrated World Art Day by decorating canvas squares in ten different artistic styles They added lettering so that when the squares were put in a sequence they spelled out the name of the home

The session was an opportunity to discuss art history and the influence of movements such as cubism, surrealism impressionism and pop art

Resident Joyce Holden completed a Mona Lisa-inspired paint-by-numbers square, saying afterwards “My own masterpiece I m proud of that

And fellow resident Jeanette Macklin said: “We had great fun It was nice to learn all about the different artists ”

At Colten Care s Bourne View in Poole residents made and decorated bookmarks for distribution to local libraries and community contacts

The focus at Fernhill Colten s dementia care home in Longham near Bournemouth was on creating a ‘tree of life’ artwork reflecting the four seasons of the year

World Art Day has been celebrated internationally every year since 2012 on the April birthday of renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci

Former Scaffolder Andy Finds Dream Job

Entertaining Residents at Avocet Court Care Home

After 40 years working outside in all weathers scaffolder and hod carrier Andy Lawson was ready for a new career path

He saw a flyer for a recruitment open day at Avocet Court Care Home, in Ipswich, and went along hoping to be interviewed for a carer role

Andy s beaming smile and engaging personality caught the attention of recruiters and they discussed him joining the Lifestyles team

After a successful interview, and revealing he was a talented singer, Andy was offered the job He joined the team last month and is working on the home s Harlech Community providing engaging activities for residents living with dementia

“I come to work smiling I smile while I am here and I go home smiling It really is the most rewarding job when I see residents getting involved I know I have made a connection

I didn t know such a role existed said Andy who moved down south from Scotland 40 years ago “When I heard this was an option the smile on my face grew even bigger

Andy has built a reputation for himself as the king of snakes and ladders using a giant set of the traditional board game to allow multiple residents to join in and he is often found singing along to the radio

“It may seem like just a game but I get them throwing the giant dice about, so it becomes a physical activity as well

“We always have the music on in the background, hits from the 1950s and 60s because that brings back

memories of happy times for our residents ”

Play your cards right is another of his favourites and Andy is using skills from his former life to build some raised planters from scaffolding planks so the residents can get involved in gardening

“I am looking forward to doing more outside, it is so important that we get out and make use of the garden space here

Andy has been spending time getting to know each individual, understanding their life history so he can introduce activities that resonate with the residents

It has amazed me how our residents immediately enjoy recalling their past; they tell me about their jobs interests and their hobbies In Lifestyles we have a unique role where we make a difference to someone s day by giving them the chance to do activities which they simply couldn't enjoy at home ”

Andy said he would encourage anyone considering a career in care to make the jump, saying it was the best decision he could have made

Jenni Rowan Resourcing Manager for Athena Care Homes said: At Athena we are passionate about finding people with the right attitude skills and values for each of our roles

We immediately recognised the value Andy could bring to our residents lives with his positive attitude and bright disposition, and knew he would be an ideal candidate for the lifestyles role We have enjoyed watching him develop and become an invaluable part of the team at Avocet Court

The Folding Lady Raises Over £8,000 for Friends of the Elderly

Tik Tok sensation Sophie Liard the internationally renowned ‘The Folding Lady’ has raised over £8 000 by conquering this year s TCS London Marathon to support Friends of the Elderly, the charity which runs care homes, day care services and a grant giving service for older people living in poverty throughout England

Sophie chose Friends of the Elderly as her cause due to her strong family ties with the charity and when she learned of the charity s grant giving service for vulnerable older people, she decided it was the perfect cause to run the demanding 26 2 miles for

Sophie started her gruelling training programme back in September 2022 and with help and guidance from her trainer Sophie Bankes all her hard-work endurance and commitment paid off as she completed the iconic marathon in six hours and 55 seconds

Sophie said: I ve mentioned before that Friends of the Elderly has always been a charity close to my heart as my Mum, Gran and Aunt have all worked for the charity In fact, my Aunt Cheryl Rothschild is currently the charity s Director of Care Homes and my Gran Ann Essam is an Activities Co-ordinator at Friends of the Elderly’s Redcot residential care home in Haslemere

Talking about her epic achievement Sophie continued “As I crossed the Start Line I didn’t go fast off I just kept to my pace When I was about two miles into the course I felt good – especially as we were running downhill and at six miles I had a lovely surprise as my husband, Jacob, was there cheering me on I kept to my plan, had my gels and kept going, making sure I took water from most of the stations

“When I was coming up to Mile 12 just before Tower Bridge, I realised I hadn’t stopped but thought that I d need to slow to a fast walk soon as my legs had started to shake I kept going as by this time I d smashed my Personal Best for a half marathon Then at Mile 15 I hit a slight road bump I had to stop to get my knee strapped up as it was absolutely killing me Whilst the strapping didn t really help much it did help me psychologically so on I went

“At this point I thought to myself – ‘I woke up this morning and chose pain today’ – so I don’t know why I was surprised but I told myself I just had to get over the Finish Line which strangely I always knew I d do “I’d been listening to my Marathon Motivation playlist whilst I’d been training and had it with me on

Sunday as the song selection is perfect But on Marathon Day I didn’t have the music on very much as there was so much going on in the crowds bands and music playing people cheering – it was a really uplifting atmosphere and drove me on ”

Sophie began her marathon at Greenwich Park then circled around Charlton She then passed The Cutty Sark and headed through Deptford and Rotherhithe The course then took Sophie across the Thames over Tower Bridge before sending her east through Canary Wharf, then doubling back towards The Embankment and The London Eye Then Sophie made the long approach to Buckingham Palace down Birdcage Walk to the Finish Line on The Mall

“I thought to myself ‘I can’t wait to finish’ as I was coming up to Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament and only had about a mile to go; but crossing that Finish Line and knowing that I’d raised money for such a wonderful charity, made it all worthwhile Oh, and I got a medal too Sophie concluded

Mark Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at the charity said “I would like to say a huge thank you to Sophie for taking on The TCS London Marathon on behalf of Friends of the Elderly Her fantastic commitment and drive throughout her training and the actual marathon itself have been outstanding Sophie has raised such a great amount for Friends of the Elderly which will help us to continue to support older people to live well in later life Thank you again Sophie ”

Sophie s book –

The Folding Lady: Tools & Tricks to Make the Most of Your Space & Find After Value in Your Home – has sold thousands of copies worldwide and is available at most good book stores or from Amazon at: http://ow ly/Z2lA50MP83w

Sophie has appeared on numerous television programmes both in the UK and overseas and has a devoted ‘Folding Fam’ following of over five million on Tik Tok Instagram and Facebook

If you d like to follow Sophie s Marathon Journey please visit: Instagram: http://ow ly/G41E50MP7Ua

TikTok: http://ow ly/qzGR50MP7Y8

If you d like to donate to Sophie s Marathon effort and raise vital funds for Friends of the Elderly you can do so at JustGiving: http://ow ly/k2c750MP80y

Continence Care in Residential Care Settings

Incontinence presents as a common problem for a considerable number of people in adult social care and describes an accidental or involuntary loss of urine or faeces

It is common among elderly people however many elderly people feel ashamed and embarrassed about incontinence concerns This can mean they are often very reluctant to ask for help For people who need incontinence help this can really impact the quality of their life and overall well-being

Women are more often affected by incontinence with 75% of those over 65 reporting urine leakages

For elderly people in care homes, 30-50% of them will need incontinence care 60-70% of people living with dementia or Alzheimer s disease will be incontinent Incontinence is a symptom of underlying problems which with assessment and investigation can be identified and treated Even when a remedy is not achievable optimum methods of incontinence management can produce social continence', helping to lessen embarrassment and maintain patient dignity

According to the British Geriatric Society the main causes of incontinence are:

Urge incontinence (detrusor overactivity) In this condition the patient is unable to prevent involuntary bladder contractions which cause urgency with little or no warning of incontinence The sufferer may respond to this urgency by frequent visits to the toilet day and night Urge incontinence is often made worse by anxiety or fast bladder filling for example after diuretic medications

• Stress incontinence (pelvic floor weakness) A small leakage of urine occurs on physical exertion such as standing lifting coughing or sneezing and rarely occurs during sleep at night This is the commonest cause of incontinence in middle aged women and is seen in some men after prostatectomy

Overflow incontinence (retention of urine) The patient will have a large post-void residual urine volume and may complain of continuous dribbling incontinence or symptoms like stress incontinence Recurrent urinary tract infections are common and the condition is made worse by constipation or anticholinergic medication

Overflow incontinence can be caused by diabetes and some types of nerve damage It also occurs in men with prostatic obstruction

Outflow obstruction This almost always occurs in men who may complain of difficulty in starting micturition, poor urinary stream and dribble after micturition, perhaps with a feeling of inadequate emptying

Functional incontinence (e g poor or painful mobility, loss of dexterity, impaired communication mental confusion and depression) Incontinence is due to inability to reach and use the toilet

Residents in long term care settings have special needs and the standard of continence care provided varies between each area and between homes and requires specialist products to help those suffering with continence issues

MANFRED SAUER UK

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer UK Ltd has provided a range of innovative urology and continence care products to help sufferers of urinary incontinence But unlike other providers their effective and user-friendly products are often designed and tested with input from end users and healthcare professionals

Listed below are some of their products all available on prescription

SHEATHS

Manfred Sauer offer five different types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag

LEG BAGS

Manfred Sauer supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities:

• Discreet Thigh Bag can be worn high up on the thigh area and hidden under clothes Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult

Comfort Leg Bag range comes in a variety of materials from velvet smooth real cotton and flock backing

Children s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions

CATHETERS

When performing ISC you need something that is simple to use soft and flexible Manfred Sauer s IQ-Cath male female and paediatric single-use catheters are ready for use immediately and the protective sleeve on the male and paediatric catheters facilitates a no-touch technique

NEPHSYS BAG AND BELT SYSTEM

For people who have had a Nephrostomy NephSys can drastically improve their lives As well as providing a secure and sterile solution the system is comfortable and discreet

Contact Manfred Sauer s helpline team on 01604 595 696 or visit www manfred-sauer co uk for more information about each product or to order a free sample

MoliCare® Celebrates 40 Years of Incontinence Protection, Ever y Day

MoliCare® the global incontinence brand is celebrating 40 years of supporting people carers and healthcare professionals with solution-based pads pants and skincare products The product range has been designed to help the everyday needs of those living with incontinence and bladder weakness, with the care of the skin at the heart of the MoliCare® brand

Incontinence is a condition that affects 1 in 4 women in the UK For a condition which is so common there is still a sense of embarrassment and isolation that leaves people feeling lonely and unsupported In fact 68% of those living with incontinence feel that it has had a negative impact on their quality of life and just over half believe that urinary incontinence is a taboo subject Therefore it is vital that there is an increase in societal support as well as a wide range of simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® has developed a range of pads and pants which feel like underwear Over the last forty years the brand has continued to focus on protection security, and comfort as the core criteria for its product performance MoliCare® believes in plain talking backed up by their healthcare professional expertise to create simple solutions for people living with incontinence

MoliCare® continually strives to address the needs of its customers; from nurses through to care givers family members and people living with incontinence

They have developed an easy to remember acronym - ‘SAS - to simplify the product selection process

S – Style There are various styles such as large and small pads, or complete pull up mobile pants to suit various levels of mobility There are also products for men and women based on anatomical differences and urine flow

A – Absorbency MoliCare®’ s droplet guide makes selection straightforward

S – Size, MoliCare® s in-depth sizing guide ensures that products selected are a comfortable and secure fit HARTMANN, the company behind MoliCare®, continues to invest in and develop in their products This

includes the introduction of new technology to the MoliCare® Premium Form range of large shaped pads that now features a new absorbent core known as ADL (Acquisition Distribution Layer) The ADL layer contains super absorbent polymers treated with Citrate which neutralise the urine, for better skin health In addition the ADL layer now features a new channel set within the pad to help to distribute urine Both innovations improve the feeling of dryness by over 70%, again demonstrating MoliCare® s commitment to skin care

As part of MoliCare®’s holistic approach to incontinence the brand has developed a range of specialist skincare products which are skin friendly pH balanced and are gentle on delicate sensitive skin Used together MoliCare® provides a complete skin care and incontinence management solution

Amy Jaworska MoliCare® B2C Channel Manager comments; as a global manufacturer and expert in the field of Incontinence and Bladder Weakness, we are delighted to be celebrating 40 years of the MoliCare® brand supporting people living with incontinence

MoliCare® invests in the research design and development of our premium incontinence products to ensure they meet the highest quality reliability and protection for people living with incontinence We also support loved ones carers and healthcare professionals alike with the right support for the people they care for, because the individual s wellbeing and quality of life is at the heart of everything we do

MoliCare® is a leading global brand of incontinence products manufactured by the HARTMANN Group MoliCare® works in partnership with Healthcare Professionals to develop clinically effective products advice and innovative Home Delivery service solution packages to meet lifestyle needs

For more information and to order please call 0800 028 9470 or Visit www hartmanndirect co uk/incontinence-products

Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

CYBER SECURITY

Why You Should Consider A Cybersecurity Strategy In Your Care Facility

cure so review your current security strategy to ensure that you have the proper policies and best practices in place to meet any required standards or obligatory regulations This should include a review of your security operations network and data security to check that you are protected from exploitation and have prevention and monitoring procedures in place

Carry out a cyber security assessment to identify the types of attack that you may be vulnerable to and assess how prepared your business is to respond to an incident Consider your ability to detect malicious activity, the procedures you have in place to contain an attack and what your incident response process is

Create a best practice guide to help prevent your exposure to cyber threats and share with all employees This should include the use of strong passwords which are updated regularly Software and systems should also be checked regularly, and updates actioned when due The use of two-factor authentication when available should also be implemented

employees for a coordinated calm and fast reaction to an unexpected cyber event

Cyber attacks are on the increase and the healthcare sector is one of the most targeted industries According to a recent survey conducted by email security firm Agari 67% of healthcare organisations in the UK have suffered a cybersecurity incident over the last 12 months Of all healthcare cyber incidents in the last year 48% have been the result of malware or viruses introduced to the network by third-party devices

To help protect your care home or care facility from the threat of a cyber related incident we recommend putting a robust cybersecurity strategy in place to sit alongside your insurance programme You should create a cyber risk assessment and action preventative measures including a best practice guide This will help to reassure your employees customers suppliers and any third parties that you are as ready as possible in the event of a cyber threat

To identify areas of weakness or vulnerability you should assess the security of your information or data Prevention is always better than

Ensure you are following the most up to date guidance on GDPR and that your data protection officer has all the latest information It s a legal obligation of any business to ensure appropriate and proportionate security is in place to protect any personal data held, to safeguard the rights of individuals You must also report any data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours of discovery

Provide your staff with Cyber Security Awareness Training so they can spot suspicious looking communications understand how hackers get in and the importance of strong passwords Educating your entire organisation helps to minimise potential attacks and can also help to reduce internal security incidents It’s also a good idea to create a robust reporting procedure to ensure that all employees are aware of any potential or recent Cyber attacks

With more of us working from home, you should make sure your remote working methods are protected and procedures are adhered to by all

Put together a business continuity plan and share with key

Your immediate response to an event will be key to the overall impact on your business Consider how you will contact everyone that may have been affected as a result of a data breach to help retain your customer database customer confidence brand reputation and trust

Don t wait until you have experienced a cyber attack to put measures in place be proactive and help protect your business now We can help you to develop a robust cyber security strategy as part of your complete insurance programme managing your exposure to cyber risks

Speak to us about arranging cyber liability insurance or carrying out a cyber risk assessment by calling us on 01480 272727 or emailing enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker co uk

Find out more about cyber liability insurance at www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk/cyberliability

FOOD AND DRINK

Discover The Power Of Chefs’ Most Trusted Bouillon*

With 25 years' expertise in special diets and nutrition for the elderly Chef Preston brings you the latest insights on providing nutritionally dense dishes for residents

Meanwhile two Michelin-starred Chef Tom has developed a range of classic recipes with a modern seasonal twist, each utilising products from the Knorr Professional Bouillons range in a different way

Knorr Professional s Bouillons are available in Powder Paste and Jelly formats offering chefs versatility and flexibility in usage and application plus consistent depth of flavour every time

Chefs Tom Kerridge and Preston Walker have joined forces with Knorr Professional Bouillons to launch a new training hub for chefs This new online platform The Base contains exclusive recipes video tutorials and training tools that will help other professionals working in Care Homes to improve their skills in the kitchen

Anglia Crown - Popular Dishes for Ever yone

Anglia Crown offer a wide range of hot and cold desserts that are ideal for a wellbalanced, nutritional diet, including choices that do not contain gluten Our Crown Choice and Advantage ranges include some fifty-eight dishes, including our new warming Ginger Chocolate Chip Sponge and delicious, comforting custard that goes with almost any hot dessert

Our Crown Choice cold dessert includes the perennial favourites such as Chocolate Cake, whilst our Crown Advantage range also offer ‘reduced sugar’ desserts All individual Crown Advantage desserts come in packs of eighteen whilst the Crown Choice desserts come in packs of 3 and 6 allowing accurate portioning and cutting down on any potential waste

Many of the Anglia Crown dishes can be teamed up with fresh fruit allowing for additional choice Items such as our Carrot Cake or Vanilla Cheesecake can be accom-

Chef Preston Walker said: I m so proud to be partnering with Knorr Professional Bouillons to create and share recipes and tips that will genuinely help improve the skills of chefs working in this exciting sector GET

panied by whipped cream garnished with seasonal fresh fruit

Our hot desserts are high in energy our hot portions of 170kcal and above provide energy and protein dense options and when served with custard provide over 250 kcal per serving Our cold desserts of 250 kcal and above also meet the energy guidelines in the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Nutrition and Hydration Digest (2017) requirements

VEGAN SUITABLE CHOICES

At Anglia Crown we pride ourselves with the array of vegetarian and gluten free dishes that we offer including an impressive range of desserts This was recognised with us being named at the Vegetarian Wholesaler of the Year 2022 at the VfL Awards for Excellence in Veg n Care Catering

All the Anglia Crown hot desserts are suitable for vegetarians Most of the Anglia Crown vegan products have been registered with the Vegan Society including some thirteen of the dessert dishes ” Anglia Crown are here to help take the strain out of your menus throughout the year Visit www angliacrown co uk for further details

Nutritional Support for Effective Diabetes Care for Older People

Diabetes currently affects a whopping 4 9 million people in the UK And with the condition more commonly prevalent amongst the elderly population catering to those with medical conditions such as diabetes is incredibly important

Effective diabetes care for older people requires nutritional support to help maintain healthy blood sugar level and reduce the risk of complications However Bidfood has recognised through customer insight that catering for diabetes within the care sector is especially challenging as care homes continue to operate under tight budgets and are feeling the impact of rising food costs

Consistently creating nutritious and delicious meals tailored to residents’ individual requirements isn’t always easy especially when you are juggling time budgets stock levels and the skill level of your staff So to help navigate these challenges Bidfood has launched Caterers Campus an online learning platform exclusive to Bidfood customers that takes the hard work out of supporting your team – so you have more time to focus on your residents

Designed by our chefs for your chefs the specialist diabetes module includes understanding the causes and symptoms how to cater for diabetes as well as inspiration to help with menu planning all to aid and equip care home staff with the right information and guidance they need Made up of over 30 chapters the unit also features a knowledge test at the end to really make sure everything has sunk in

To accompany Caterers Campus we ve also devised a comprehensive guide to help carers support residents with diabetes Packed full of advice our guide will fill you with confidence when discussing diabetic care with your team members and residents

Bidfood’s Culinary Development Chef for the care sector Wayne Wright has put together a full seven day meal plan to help inspire those in the care setting when catering for diabetes Here are some of his top tips:

* Be careful with the carbs try to not overdo it by adding in too many

* Make healthy swaps like whole grain sweet potatoes wholemeal flour and lean cuts of meat

* Instead of adding sugar and salt for flavour add herbs spices lemon and lime juice

* Lastly, remember to keep an eye on the portion sizes

See the advert on the previous page for further information

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Gain Valuable Insight With Adveco For Gas To Electric Decarbonisation Of Care Homes

Care homes intending to replace existing gas-fired domestic hot water (DHW) systems with more sustainable electric technologies as part of a decarbonisation strategy should invest in data gathering first recommends hot water specialist Adveco

Live Metering is a simple to install non-invasive onsite service provided by Adveco that generates consistent six minute data 24 hours per day from existing hot water systems to accurately understand actual usage including critical peak demands and their profile shape Adveco s specialist engineers will visit to fit the meter and assess the site The data will then be processed and a report generated with design recommendations for a replacement system that meets the exact needs of the building

The most consistent issue we see in healthcare hot water systems is oversizing whether through lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable back up to ensure system continuity The result of oversizing is always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation, and ongoing excess operational costs associated with higher energy demands and therefore greater carbon emissions As the

Is Your Care Home Ready for its 2023 CQC Inspection?

care sector seeks to adopt greener building operations, replacing old gas-fired systems with like-for-like electric is another guaranteed way to gain an oversized system If the replacement system is oversized operational costs climb as the price of electricity per kW remains high Should demand exceed a building s available amperage of electrical supply project installation costs will inevitably soar or even stall the project This can be avoided by understanding your actual hot water demands and designing the replacement to meet those specific needs This is why accurate data is so valuable

The recommended replacement design by Adveco will show carbon reduction and outline new operational costs Accurate to the actual demands of the property live metered designs avoid excess capital costs associated with oversizing and ensures operation within the limits of the existing electrical supply of the building

Organisations which opt to purchase the recommended replacement system from Adveco will receive a 50% refund on the cost of implementing the initial Live Metering service

Talk to Adveco about booking metering at your property https://adveco co/products/live-metering/ See the advert on page 6 for further details

Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising. Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

T&S Grab Rails

As we age or face physical challenges our mobility becomes limited and basic tasks can become challenging Our company specializes in providing high-quality support rails in both stainless and mild steel catering to a wide range of

Our Animal World

Our Animal World is an educational and therapeutic mobile zoo providing both informative and therapeutic experiences for care homes disabled residencies hospices parties schools and events in Suffolk, Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Essex, North and East London

Laura runs all the sessions and is a fully qualified teacher with significant SEN experience and an Animal

Assisted therapist diploma

Animal visits to care facilities have shown specifically to decrease the agitated behaviours of residents who have dementia and can help combat depression ADHD schizophrenia loneliness autism and PTSD Therapy increases residents social interactions too

Our Animal World are set apart from other similar companies by their purpose-built van which houses 16 individual animal enclosures Each has their own

light source and heat source as required We can also add our 6m x 3m gazebo to the back to extend the spacethis allows up to 30 different species to be brought out in one go This allows Our Animal World to pull up anywhere without the need of going into a venue, although for most care homes we usually set up in a communal area such as a café or lounge

Our Animal World houses over 40 different species of animals including a variety of reptiles amphibians invertebrates mammals and birds We are insured for up to £10 million DBS checked exotic vet and council checked and licenced by Mid Suffolk District Council For the full list of animals or more information visit www ouranimalworld com email us info@ouranimalworld com or call us on 07519 340 788 See the advert on page 5 for details

For any care home, the laundry process is critical to maintaining stringent hygiene standards and is therefore service area that will be closely evaluated upon inspection by the Care Quality Commission In order to ensure that your care home has efficient and CQC compliant procedures in place Forbes Professional advises that imperatives go beyond the need for commercial laundry equipment that provides the requisite disinfection

The CQC state on their website that for care homes to achieve their Good rating there is an expectation of a designated room for storage and managing laundry They will also require that ‘laundry processes follow national guidance and correctly manage’ and clean ‘used and infectious laundry to minimise risk of infection Efficient segregation of clean and soiled laundry is essential at all times with a clean and dirty flow system to

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Ser vices Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors

Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are considerations of the design and maintenance of any building but especially residential Article 17 –RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be maintained in a suitable condition order

If you are the Responsible Person it s imperative you appoint a competent person to assist in meeting your duties under the fire safety order to ensure fire safety measures including fire doors are kept in working order

Yeoman Shield’s Fire Door Services can help to take the guess work out of fire door maintenance by providing fire door inspections condition reports, remedial work and fire door installation all carried out by FDIS and/or FIRAS accredited team members Having a good maintenance routine will dispel some needs of fire door replacement therefore being more cost effective

ation of Yeoman Shield Fire ction products can also be in the long term financially beneficial by halting impact damage from the start eliminating many repairs in the future and again will extend door lifecycles

Installing Yeoman Shield door protection products such as door protection panels door edge protectors and PVCu glazing bead units will not affect the integrity of the fire door as all products have been tested in situ to the current standard required

Vulnerable frames and architraves can also be protected from impact with Yeoman Shield to prevent dangerous splintering and splitting as well as abolishing the time-consuming, repetitive need for repainting

For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield com or visit www yeomanshield com or see the advert page 10

Joerns Healthcare Ups the Anti with Next Generation Stand Assist

Joerns Healthcare s new Oxford Up is a uniquely designed active manual stand aid supporting assisted standing seated transfers and patient rehabilitation Previewed at the Moving and Handling People Conference and OT Show in the latter half of 2022 it commanded a lot of interest and positive review from those who matter

The Up will form part of the Oxford Professional series complimenting the already established Switch Journey and Ascend stand assist solutions Suitable for clients who require some assistance when standing but are able to participate and contribute effort to the process the Up can also be deployed as a useful rehabilitation aid

Manufactured using a combination of steel and aluminium framework the Oxford Up meets or exceeds all applicable design and regulatory standards and unlike other stand assist products it quickly and conveniently dismantles into three separate components This significantly eases storage requirements and facilitates onward transportation in the boot of a car

Reassembly takes a matter of seconds and the Up is ready for use again

Owing to its unique and robust design the Up successfully achieves a safe working load rating of 200kg (31st) Careful attention to component geometry including the single upright mast section, allows for a fully contained footplate, ensuring patients have no risk of toes overhanging the edge and potential conflict with the rear castors or foot opening pedals

Injury reduction fall prevention and ergonomic principles were fundamental considerations during the development phase A large multi-point push handle aids manoeuvrability for the care giver and the foot push pad a common feature on Oxford Professional series products provides a means of generating forward momentum when moving a patient Optimum positioning of the swing-away moulded seat pads and knee support help ensure comfort for the patient Adjustable leg opening allows closer access around furniture promoting improved patient positioning and general ease of use

High-grade castors offer excellent manoeuvrability across many floor surfaces and ensures a smooth and comfortable transfer for both the patient and carer The centralised singular upright mast when compared to comparative products with dual seat posts results in softer transitions over room thresholds and different floor types It effectively serves to dampen the vibration felt through the seat pads culminating in more comfortable and less disconcerting transfers for patients Where additional seated support is required the Oxford Deluxe Standing sling (With Clips) is fully compatible with the Up and available in three standard sizes: small medium and large

please contact

Surestop

Making a home safe secure and comfortable can be difficult for those with cognitive impairments long term injuries or medical conditions that cause mobility issues

One of the biggest risks to the home is water damage A brass stopcock is the last line of defence from water damage They are often inaccessible or in a hard-to-reach location What s more they are susceptible to seizing up If someone is unable to turn off their water in an emergency or when they leave their home even a small leak could cause significant dam-

Just Bowl

When residents enter a care home their daily routine inevitably changes and consequently several forms of physical activity are no longer possible One such activity that is synonymous with older adults is bowls Sadly for many residents when they enter a care home they will no longer be able to enjoy a roll up on a sunny afternoon However the Bowls Development Alliance is helping to change that by introducing Just Bowl into the care sector Just Bowl is a fun easy to play form of bowls that can be used in care homes rehabilitation centres and just about anywhere else Ian McCombes the Just Bowl Manager explains ‘We work with our partners to offer a bespoke training package which is supplemented by our exclusive equipment We provide aftercare support and guidance to ensure that Just

C&S Seating Ltd

C&S Seating Ltd have provided postural control equipment to residential homes, hospices, medical equipment services and NHS trust hospitals nationwide since 1991

With 9 different sizes of T-Rolls and Log Rolls in a removable and machine washable Waterproof Titex or Soft Knit material These rolls are used to control posture and position of the body in either supine or side lying Our Knee & Leg support wedges are available in 2 sizes

C&S Seating Ltd is the sole manufacturer of the

age to a property

Surestop is a unique device, which works on water pressure No electrics or batteries, enabling the safe management of water use With a flick of the switch, the Surestop instantly turns off the water to a sink toilet, bathroom kitchen, or the entire property

It is easily installed and a low-cost safety measure that should be considered in every property

The Surestop can be installed by itself or with a remote switch

The Surestop is WRAS approved and is limescale resistant so will never seize

A Surestop is peace of mind for you and your home

Telephone 0121 280 1685

Email enquiries@surestop co uk

Bowl is being utilised to its full potential

The team have also been working with Sheffield Hallam University to conduct research to identify what impact Just Bowl has had on residents The findings showed that Just Bowl encouraged inclusivity as 83% of the participants had a disability and 75% of the participants were aged 81-101 years of age It also helped to increase physical activity levels with research showing the average levels increased by 40 minutes per week Just Bowl also created a sociable and fun atmosphere as residents were able to bond whilst playing the game which subsequently lead to an improvement in mental wellbeing and happiness and a reduction in anxiety

Additionally the research established that exercise self-efficacy increased following participation in Just Bowl which suggests that participants felt more confident in their ability to be physically active

For further information on Just Bowl please visit us at UK Care Week at stand E40 or contact Ian on 07741873233 or ian@justbowl org

Alternatively see the advert on the front cover of this issue

Alternative Positioning Support – also available in two sizes which has removable side cushions and middle pommel for when more control of the abducted lower limb is required

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours provide a softer alternative ideal for the colder seasons and are designed to fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit www cands-seating co uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation speak to an advisor or to place an order

See the advert on page 19

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name”

have been trading since 1846 and have built up a reputation for superior value for money quality personalised and non-personalised items for many different outlets

We supply to Nursing and Residential Homes Schools

Scout Cub Guide and Brownie Groups as well as to the small or large business entrepreneur Our range of Designer name tapes add a professional look to garments crafts or other hobby items

Many of us have loved ones relatives or friends who need specialist care in a Nursing or Residential Home

Do you know someone who struggles to find shoes or slippers to fit? Cosyfeet the specialists in extra roomy footwear can help Wider and deeper than anything on the high street their British designed footwear is expertly crafted to fit and flatter extra wide and swollen feet

Now spring has arrived Cosyfeet s newest collection boasts a fabulous range of styles in a choice of delicate powder blues fresh florals and bright colours to see you through the season in style Get ready for the bright and breezy days ahead with supportive fabric styles so you can walk in cotton-soft comfort there s also a great selection of ontrend but comfy sandals Discover their new Sport

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Natural Pain Relief

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy

Gels are natural drug-free topical cold therapy gels for muscular and joint pain chronic arthritic pain postactivity muscle tension general aches and overuse disorders Easy to use and fast acting BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels relieve pain reduce inflammation and swelling without drugs and drug-related side-effects

BIOFROST® Gels:

BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel for pain relieving cold therapy

BIOFROST® Active Dual-Action Cold Gel w th Heat Sensat on comb ning cold with heat to treat back pain

BIOFROST® Relief provides instant pain relief and activates body’s own healing through an optimal combination of natural ingredients including ethanol, menthol eucalyptus, peppermint and MSM Reported benefits of BIOFROST® Relief include lasting pain relief, improved joint movements, comfort during sleep, fewer cramps calmed nerve pain reduced joint and muscle discomfort and faster post-activity recoveries

Skopos has 50 years experience of supplying specialist contract fabrics and soft furnishings to Care interiors With new collections launched each year many Skopos fabrics are antimicrobial coming under the umbrella of Skopos ProtectPlus including waterproof upholstery options (specifically for care) soil and stain resist fabrics and printed fabrics for all types of Care environments Skopos can offer a fabric-only service or a full service; with site measure product manufacture and installation The Skopos team produce approximately 25 000 made-up items each year including bed-throws cushions and pairs of curtains all manufactured by a highly-skilled team of machinists cutters and pattern makers; items that are delivered and installed into different contract environments

BIOFROST® Active is a dualaction fast-acting cold gel with heat sensation for effective relief of muscular and joint pain Containing 10 natural herbal extracts (i e Arnica Burdock Roman Chamomile Garlic Watercress Ivy White Nettle Pine Rosemary Menthol)

BIOFROST® Active relieves chronic pain releases muscular tension loosens stiff joints and effectively treats back pain Benefits of BIOFROST® Active include easier joint movements effective pain relief in treated areas discomfort-free sleep fewer cramps and reduced post-activity muscular and joint fatigue

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are usable standalone or alongside other pain relieving therapies (i e medication, physiotherapy, etc ) BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are suitable for people of any age, including elderly and disabled people living independently or in nursing care

BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels are Class 1 Medical Devices made in Finland

Win Health Medical Ltd: T: 01835 864864866

E: biofrost@win-health com

W: www win-health com

See the advert on page 3

blackout/dimout fabrics

With a target reduction of energy consumption at the forefront of everyone s agenda Skopos are also pleased to have included a new wide-width double-sided blackout lining into their core offer As an optional choice on all Skopos made-up curtains the Reflection lining can be used in 2 different ways depending on the environment it is specified for On the most-part in the UK the lining will be used with the silver side facing inwards towards the room minimising any heat loss through the curtain With the silver side facing out the lining helps to reflect heat thereby keeping the room cooler The lining can facilitate a substantial reduction in energy bills

Skopos also offers a Bespoke design service for statement interiors that are unique to your environment or brand

In this busy environment clothes and personal items can easily get misplaced if they are not named otherwise this can become very stressful for the resident, relatives and the Care Home itself

Our woven clothing name tapes are extremely robust and are sewn on to garments to ensure that they stand the rigorous washing processes necessary Self-adhesive labels are easily applied to name shoes and books and make marking treasured items effortless to most other non-fabric items

We have recently introduced several new items such as magnetic name tags and personalised hi-vis jackets along with updated gifts such as personalised mugs and mousemats Check out the ad on page 9 for our offer code

Visit www cashslabels com

As with all Skopos prints customers are able to order designs across base-cloths for upholstery, curtains and bedding Qualities include waterproof upholsteries velvets drapery linen-effect qualities and

For samples of any of our collections www skoposfabrics com or see advert on page 5

Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions

The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solutions, which have been specifically designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities

The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact easy to use powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commercial settings Offering innovative designs all of the company s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces for safe storage and are easily transported and charged In addition all of its Stair Climber s come with a two year manufacturer s warranty

The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main

mission; to improve quality of life, through its range of high-quality and custom devices with built-in seats

The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair carrier model is designed to cater to individual customers specific needs and works with all stair types Furthermore the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages making them suitable for everyone and offers a free assessment for customers

If you would like to find out any more information please see the details below T 01787 379160

www thestairclimbingcompany com

See the advert on page 15

Consort Claudgen Includes Wi-Fi Enabled Heaters in LST Range

Consort Claudgen s low surface temperature heaters range now includes heaters that are Wi-Fi enabled These heaters connect directly to Wi-Fi and heating can be controlled from the digital control panel on the heater or Consort Connect app Features include a 7-day timer with 24 heating periods per day lock function open window detection and custom automations Users can also view the energy consumption statistics of all connected heaters Additionally LST heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensor have a selflearning control ability which uses in-built

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Legionella is a bacterium that can cause a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires disease The disease can be contracted by inhaling small droplets of water contaminated with the bacteria which can be found in various water systems, such as showers, taps, and air conditioning units

Residential care homes where vulnerable individuals are often housed are particularly susceptible to Legionella contamination In these environments residents may have weakened immune systems due to age illness or medication making them more susceptible to infection As a result it is essential that care homes have regular Legionella testing and risk assessments in place to ensure the safety of their residents

Legionella testing involves taking samples of water from various sources throughout the care home and testing them for the presence of Legionella bacteria A risk assessment on the other hand involves identifying potential sources of contamination and evaluating the level of risk they pose to residents This includes factors such as the age and condition of water systems the presence of dead legs or unused outlets and the frequency of use of certain water systems

By conducting regular Legionella testing and risk assessments care homes can identify potential sources of contamination and take the necessary measures to prevent the spread of Legionella bacteria These measures can include flushing and cleaning water systems implementing temperature control measures

and introducing regular disinfection procedures

In addition to protecting residents from the risk of infection, regular Legionella testing and risk assessments can also help care homes comply with their legal obligations

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their activities including residents of care homes The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 also require employers to assess and control the risks associated with hazardous substances, including Legionella bacteria

It is also worth noting that failing to carry out regular Legionella testing and risk assessments can have serious consequences In 2019, a care home in Nottinghamshire was fined £4 000 after a resident contracted Legionnaires disease which was traced back to the care home s water system This highlights the importance of regular testing and risk assessments to prevent such incidents from occurring

In conclusion regular Legionella testing and risk assessments are essential for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents in residential care homes

By identifying potential sources of contamination and implementing appropriate control measures, care homes can protect their residents from the risk of Legionnaires disease and comply with their legal obligations

‘Beyond Covid’, What is the Future Strategy?

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (IPC)

Beyond Covid , what is the future strategy for Infection Prevention and Control Risk Management and Safety Culture Excellence in your Care Home? Government guidance exists; we can help you implement the correct procedures

Energy and Operating Costs

Professionally qualified and competent, we can reduce operating costs, maintain regulatory compliance and even negotiate your energy rates

With a whole new approach!

Legionella risk assessments have been a legal requirement since 2001.

Do you have an up to date one? If not, contact Steve on 07415713982 or office@stokefield.services

We have qualified risk assessors carrying out the work to BS8580 10% DISCOUNT if you place an order quoting Caterer Licensee & Hotelier

All other water hygiene management carried out including:

• Disinfections, domestic and process water sampling

• Softener installation and maintenance

• ACOP L8 monitoring

Experienced in the healthcare food hospitality and many industrial/commercial sectors we will advise on the application of our validated products

Our team has access to clinical expertise and an experienced carer and nurse brings a reality check to our approach

Antimicrobial fabric treatments; laundering of bed linen towels staff uniforms and residents clothing gives residual anti-viral and anti-bacterial quality which prevents infection transmission

Ozone generators for water treatment laundry processing room/air purification and fabric/clothes etc cleaning; validated systems are available for sale or rental

Copper Silver ionisation and other systems to control Legionella Pneumophila Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and other bacteria; water systems survey will determine the necessary equipment

Copper cover antimicrobial surface treatment; the a copper coating applied to existing surfaces, door furniture taps etc using proven technology

Laundry machinery, process specification and hygiene quality; we analyse your laundry operation and make recommendations

Buildings and Services M&E installation and maintenance services; Energy survey to identify cost reduction opportunities; can incorporate a carbon footprint and Net-Zero strategy report to enhance your sustainability image

Energy and Utility supplies procurement; negotiate existing or new tariffs

richard@opeque com

07831 873355 www opeque com

Omnitex Hygiene Products

Omnitex represents all round protection and hygiene products Launched in 2015 it has quickly become a brand synonymous with high quality, used everyday by thousands of individuals and healthcare facilities throughout the UK and Europe All products are manufactured in ISO9001 and ISO13485 certified facilities

Omnitex Body Cleansing wipes are a large size which the ideal thickness for a comfortable cleaning experience Bulk pack of 80 wipes with our unique enriching formula and microwaveable

Microwaveable for a warm bed bath

Lightly fragranced and with a honeycomb texture on Wipes facilitating better cleaning coverage absorbency and hygiene

If following the 8-wipe bed bath protocol each pack will allow for 10 cleanses Cost saving Pack of 80 wipes One wipe for each area of the body : Face, Neck,

Medical Grade Masks Shoe Covers, Disposable Aprons, Mob caps & Gloves

Omnitex also includes a premium range of Incontinence Bed Pads and Mobility Consumables

Contact 0141 778 6017 sales@omnitex-uk com or visit www omnitex-uk com

Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are more importantly built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies including hand hygiene cleaning training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem

As a result a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market including antimicrobial technology Angloplas range of dispensers are produced in the world s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and

mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA E Coli Legionella Salmonella and mould by up to 99 99%

For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags

You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www angloplas co uk and clicking Hospital Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code

Haigh Engineering

Haigh Engineering is excited to share the success of the latest iteration of bedpan machine, Panaway DS, following its initial roll out across multiple healthcare facilities The feedback received from both users and facilities managers has been overwhelmingly positive and we are pleased to see that the Panaway DS is delivering great value for money through improving sluice room up time and the niche but critical matter of ensuring patient waste disposal compliant Users consistently commented on the Panaway DS s ease of use and dependability when it comes to disposing of medical pulp items and patient waste With the intuitive interface and easy-to-follow instructions sites can perform routine maintenance tasks in house reducing the need for specialist technicians allowing for more efficient timely and cost-effective maintenance Additionally the backward compatibility of the machine has made

the transition from older models seamless with little or no need for costly sluice room re configuring and staff retraining

Facilities managers have been particularly impressed with the Panaway DS s focus on ensuring sluice room up-time With simplified installation maintenance costs and Haigh's well known product reliability the Panaway DS helps departments hit challenging SLAs that are critical to keeping the ever present infection risks associated with waste management under control With the alternative being washing bedpans pots and bottles with steam and hot water high energy costs are meaning that the benefits of bedpan macerators have never been greater Haigh s online cost calculator has been an eye opener for many customers seeing just how many thousands of pounds a year they benefit from by using these types of machine instead on top of the core infection prevention benefits

Complementing Haigh s movables approach to sluice room equipment Panaway DS is proving to be the logical step forward for existing and new customers alike meeting the demanding needs of everything from busy NHS acute wards to private elderly care sites where immobile at risk residents require the highest standard of care The team at Haigh Engineering is looking forward to continued developments in providing our clients with the best for the sluice room

If you would like to find out Haigh's Panaway DS can improve your site please contact the team on info@haighmed com or call 01989 763131 - Option 2 www haighmed com

Buyer Beware Specify CHSA Accreditation

BY LORCAN MEKITARIAN, CHAIR OF THE CLEANING & HYGIENE SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (WWW.CHSA.CO.UK)

Buyers and users of cleaning and hygiene goods and services in the care sector need products that are fit for purpose They need to know product claims are legitimate, realistic and relevant and that ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ They also want to do the ‘right thing’ and move towards environmentally and ethically sustainable solutions But those working in the care sector already have many challenges to deal with, including staff shortages, higher demand and tighter budgets Low-cost solutions are tempting but buyers lack the time, resources and expertise to audit their cleaning and hygiene suppliers and the products they manufacture and sell The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association represents manufacturers and distributors supplying cleaning and hygiene products in the UK Our Accreditation Schemes can provide the solution Our Standards, Your Guarantee

The commercial pressures we all face today are immense Interest rates have steadily increased in recent months and the Bank of England may have to go further to control inflation The war in Ukraine continues It’s impacting the cost of energy, which may have stabilised but is still relatively high This adds to the pressure on care homes, increasing their need for low-cost solutions At the same time it is hugely increasing costs for our members particularly our manufacturing members The opening up of the Chinese economy is also hitting prices Its growth rate may not have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels but the rapid opening up has put pressure on raw materials, driving up the cost

Balancing these economic pressures with delivering good quality fit-for-purpose products is not easy In the past the unscrupulous squared the circle by cutting corners A few sheets shorter or a little narrower with the soft tissue Thinner plastic for the sacks Lower absorbency for the cotton mops Our Accreditation Schemes were set up specifically to protect buyers of cleaning and hygiene products from this type of sharp practice and over the 26 years since the establishment of our first Scheme their impact has been impressive

There will always be rogue traders operating outside our Schemes who are more interested in making a quick buck than in trading ethically It’s a problem made worse by the pandemic, particularly when it comes to cleaning chemicals Extraordinary claims were made for these products, for example that they kept an area clean and sterile for days if not months The truth is different A product may keep a surface sterile for days but only in laboratory conditions with very specific testing protocols In the real world inhabited by people it’s not possible New methods of application were also developed Misting was proposed as quick and effective, but the truth is it is more suited to applying cleaning chemicals in operating theatres than care homes These claims are still made today

The fog created by these misleading claims is now being added to with all sorts of environmental claims that often amount to nothing more than greenwashing A typical example is claims of biodegrability Given the right conditions everything biodegrades into its natural elements but it could take thousands of years The claim means nothing without information on conditions and timeframe Chemical-free cannot be true because everything on earth is comprised of chemicals Non-toxic is meaningless The toxicity of a cleaning product relates to its effect on humans when in direct contact In the real world this depends on what they are for and how they are used For instance, toilet bowl cleaners tend to have higher levels of harmful chemicals than all-purpose kitchen cleaners but because of where and how they are used there is no increased risk to the user

How are hard pressed buyers in the care sector supposed to navigate these challenges and get fit-for-purpose product with good environmental credentials at the right price?

We can help Setting and maintaining standards is in the DNA of the CHSA We set up our first Accreditation Scheme in 1997 and now have six They are for manufacturers of paper-based products plastic-based products cotton-based products and cleaning chemicals for general manufacturers and for distributors of cleaning and hygiene products

The Schemes integrity is maintained by the Independent Inspector In 2022 he conducted more than 139 audits In the process, he inspected over 1,500 labels, tested over 507 product lines and physically tested 4 170 individual products

Every CHSA member has also signed the CHSA’s rigorous Code of Practice, which incorporates the Competition and Markets Authority s Green Claims Code It requires them to “maintain a high standard in the conduct of its business”

THE COMBINATION OF OUR CODE OF PRACTICE AND ACCREDITATION SCHEME MEMBERSHIP MEANS EVERY MEMBER:

• Trades ethically and sustainably; Provides quality, fit for purpose products; and Makes sure what s on the box is what s in the box

OUR ADVICE TO BUYERS WHO WANT TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS IS SIMPLE ‘BE CAUTIOUS ’

1 Be sceptical It if sounds too good to be true it probably is

2 Ask for supporting evidence The manufacturer should be willing and able to show you data sheets or other relevant evidence to support claims

3 Ask for the CE declaration and any other test reports to show conformance to specification

4 Buy from a reputable supplier with a track record

5 Finally, specify CHSA Accreditation Our Standards, Your Guarantee

@CHSACLEANING | WWW.CHSA.CO.UK

Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years

FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR

Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions!

Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers® The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad This results in less work for nursing staff improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

Safer for patients; less work for staff

Bed and chair pads ava lable One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems

A variety of opt ons including: Call button Pager

Floor sensor mat Wireless door/w ndow exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT

Lotus Care Technology

The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining

Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier

Visit www lctuk com for details

MONITORING

Medpage Falls Management Products

Medpage is a family ran company with a huge heart and resources gathered over our 38- year trading history The majority of the technologies we design manufacture and distribute originate from enquiries received from healthcare professionals and personal family care observations Our product portfolio provides a wide variety of care solutions for epilepsy, dementia, senior care special needs and sensory loss

Our latest innovation currently in use in several Hospitals presents an effective fall monitoring detection and reporting solution The MPCSA11 is a complex software driven sensor monitor made to be user and operator friendly This device has already proven successful in hospital and care home trials by reducing patient falls while also reducing false positives from a safe

patient The device can monitor and interact with up to three sensor products: bed and chair occupancy pressure pads PIR movement detection sensors and proximity signal products

In use a patient or resident rising from their bed would be considered a falls risk but what if they are simply moving to sit in a chair close to their bed? A standard bed monitor would raise an alarm alerting care staff, who would arrive to find the person safely seated The MPCSA11 would only generate an alarm if the person was out of their bed or chair for a selectable time duration Learn more www easylinkuk co uk/mpcsa11

See the advert on page 5 got details

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes

Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment Similarly carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum

There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings particularly those suffering from dementia these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature light and of course noise Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources for example telephones ringing loud conversations in corridors, and call bells sounding, often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort

in residents

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers The University recommends fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person s ability to concentrate It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers ” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call In these circumstances dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative zone Each zone can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required

Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents Pagers have been around for many years are a relatively simple and cost-effective measure in reducing the levels of noise and can be added to most Nurse Call systems Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning e-medication etc Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the Go app with their Nurse Call system With the “Go” app nurse call alarms are delivered immediately and silently straight to the handsets alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the residents in the home

Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less stressed also, this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve Clearly the positive ramifications of a quiet Care Home run deep Get in touch today to find out how we can help your home become a quieter calmer, and more tranquil environment

For more information email us at: info@c-t co uk

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Mainteno is a complete cost-effective CAFM software solution designed to simplify the day-to-day maintenance of any organization Whether you're managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process saving you time and money With Mainteno, you can keep everyone in the loop and archive all your communications and documentation in one place, allowing for total control of your organization's assets The software also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking for added convenience

Mainteno s interface was designed with practicality in mind allowing basic operation to be learned in minutes and making it easy to become a power user in just one afternoon Despite its elegant usability Mainteno is surprisingly affordable with no set-up fee or lengthy contracts

Mainteno adapts to any organization's maintenance needs and offers a FREE TRIAL so you can see how it can benefit your organization before committing Try Mainteno now and experience the time and cost savings it can provide for your facilities management With Mainteno, you can enjoy a complete CAFM software solution that simplifies your maintenance processes and saves you money, all while providing the flexibility and ease-of-use you need to stay productive

Visit www mainteno com

Digital Employee Recognition Scheme Increases Morale and Productivity

Terryberry offer an all-in-one benefits reward and recognition platform including milestone and service awards lifestyle savings salary sacrifice cycle to work 24hour GP helpline and pension contributions in an easy-to-use platform

It is commonly accepted that workplace morale is intrinsically linked to productivity and retention With the current cost-of-living crisis rocketing basic food and energy bills Terryberry is helping UK businesses ride the storm

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform incorporates four aspects into one integrated digital hub: employee benefits milestones and service awards social recognition and wellness

The employee benefit section allows managers and HR staff to incentivise staff through a range of benefits from private healthcare life insurance and GP helplines employee perks such as retail discounts and wellbeing schemes such as cycle to work schemes

We all want to know we re doing a good job; positive recognition bolsters self-esteem and super-

chargers dopamine It s a win-win scenario: employees feel good will stay in their jobs and continue working hard Managers benefit from a happy workplace with staff who feel valued and will go the extra mile

The last section is wellness with Terryberry offering services to support an employee s physical mental and financial wellbeing Through support with Mental health and wellness to online gym classes and help with managing your finances

The 360 Employee Recognition software and platform offers HR departments and business leaders an integrated digital hub to look after the basics: everyday workplace morale with customised calendar events for Christmas Birthdays and retirement occasions This leaves more times for managers to come up with valuable team building sessions whether that s in the boardroom or in the pub!

To start prioritising your employees’ wellbeing today, see the details below

T +44 03448262008

www terryberry com/gb

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

workflows were a key factor in their decision to select PASS

Self sufficiency: With a relatively young IT literate workforce they were keen to work in an environment where they could make simple changes to their digital care management system inhouse without having to go back to the supplier each time

They therefore particularly liked the Document Builder function in PASS which gave them the option to build and customise documents and assessments themselves

THE IMPACT

everyLIFE technologies was founded on a passion for empowering care agencies to deliver the highest standards of personalised care easily and efficiently

Through a secure cloud-based digital care software solution PASS was designed with the input of the industry and now supports over 80 000 people With complete care plans, care plan tracking, care records and online as well as offline alerts we work to make critical data accessible secure and usable for your team

THE COURT NURSING HOME BENEFITS FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF PASS

As well as offering care for older people The Court Nursing Home also supports those with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions physical disabilities and sensory impairment Amongst their staff they employ four registered nurses

WHY PASS?

In moving from paper to digital Court Nursing was seeking a solution that would allow them to streamline their working practices and realise improved operational efficiencies

Flexibility: The powerful core functionality of PASS, along with its flexible approach that supports customisable alerts documents assessments and

With the introduction of PASS Court Nursing has benefited from:

Realtime access from within PASS to their service user s GP records without having to contact the surgery or pharmacy

All of their service users documents stored electronically together in one place

• Ability to create and populate documents from within PASS

• Creating their own bespoke documents

• The Smart Observations function within PASS, making use of the Fluids observations feature for example

"GP Connect has provided continuity of care between ourselves and the GP, giving us access to up to date notes regarding the care of our users

In short PASS GP Connect helps us to cut out the middleman meaning that as nurses we can work more efficiently giving us more time for direct patient care

Rebecca Knight Registered Manager For further information visit www everylifetechnologies com

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Don’t Get Lost On Your Digital Journey

The next 12 months is going to see big changes in the residential care sector With around 50% of homes still using a paper system to plan and record care, The NHS Transformation Directorate have big ideas which whilst exciting are daunting to those without the proper tools to make these ideas a reality

So where to begin? Finding the right software provider might appear to be the ideal starting point Will the provider meet all your requirements within budget and customise the software to fit with your own processes? It s only once you have made this decision that your journey will really begin

There is little information and guidance out there on how to implement a new system into a residential care setting, where do you start? As with any journey you need a route plan

unique to our customers and are committed to working together to provide the best service for them We understand that the care landscape is always changing and improving, whether via new processes or new technologies We keep up to date with what our sector needs to ensure we are providing the best and most cost effective service possible

Again, let’s ask: So where to begin? Now we know the answer Find a system provider who will share their experience and knowledge with you and get you to your final destination smoothly and safely

From implementing systems into homes for over 20 years we not only know how to help plan your journey, but we ll be there as your co-pilot too Every step of the way So jump on board and get ready to take off!

For further information on the Blyssful Cloud Care System visit www ablyss co uk

Getting Digitisation Right, Ever y Step Of The Way – Top Tips From The Access Group

Care providers across the UK are digitising their records and processes to free up time improve safety and care quality and even staff satisfaction

When selecting and implementing a piece of care software it is easy to be wowed and carried away by all the advanced features, the impressive analytics, the powerful automation and all the potential that unleashes

However, unleashing that potential requires successful selection, implementation and ongoing use of the system

Care providers often tell us that the involvement ‘buy-in’ and enthusiasm of staff across their care services was crucial to achieving this

Here are a few tips on what to do help you get this right at each stage of the process

SELECTING A SYSTEM:

People working in different roles can offer very different perspectives For example a care worker may spot potential flaws and issues or hidden benefits that might not be apparent to management until it is too late

Create a working group involving staff from different roles within your organisation especially those that will have day to day use of the system you are procuring

You don’t need to involve everyone of course, just at least one representative from each role in your service that will have direct contact with the system you are selecting

From these working groups, draw up a checklist of your must-haves and red flags from your new system It doesn’t need to be an overly complex or extensive piece of work that saps your time and causes delays You just need something that outlines:

What our key goals/objectives are – what we want to get out of using this piece of software

Any key functionality or features any system we choose must have

Any characteristics of a system that we feel would not be a good fit for us BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION:

Once you’ve chosen the right system it is crucial to communicate regularly and openly with everyone across your care services Make it clear why you are implementing this new system, which should come out of your list of goals and objectives

How will it benefit service users, your care service and staff themselves? How will it enable them to provide better care and make their jobs easier or less stressful?

Communication should be two way Be open to questions and concerns from staff Listen as they may have thought of a potential hurdle you haven t spotted yet Respond because often these concerns are shared by colleagues and addressing them properly will help people feel comfortable and confident about the change in ways of working

DURING IMPLEMENTATION

During the implementation of your software maintain the approach to communication outlined above You should also identify ‘champions’ people who are especially enthusiastic about the software and the change it brings Often it s best if champions are care workers especially when care workers are using the software directly

These champions should not only act as an advocate of the software to colleagues, but also as a person who can confidentially hear the concerns or challenges that people are having and work with management and/or the software supplier to address them

YOUR NEXT STEP:

If you want to learn more about the full range of care software available to you then we can help At The Access Group we provide a complete ecosystem of care management software with everything you need to improve efficiency safety and care quality in your services

Contact us for an informal conversation whenever you are ready

See the advert on the facing page for further details

The CAREAudits System

The CAREAudits compliance auditing tool is now being used throughout the UK and Ireland in numerous locations by all care service providers Carers and managers are checking everything from CQC Compliance and Safety to Medication Audits Training and Maintenance as well as service users quality and wellbeing

The system allows care providers to audit or check just about everything and manage all areas requiring actions (or non-compliances) in its Web Portal Encrypted date and time stamped evidence including photos is seamlessly auto attached and recorded in the system Management see in real time exactly were best to focus their attention and resources and how they are meeting their compliance requirements

The system has over 150 easy to use example audits to select from which you can easily add to or edit your own audits in minutes ensuring simple instant updates of ever-changing requirements App care auditors can use CAREAudits

with virtually no training it’s that simple The Care Auditor s Hands Free Operation guides the user through each audit each question and answer with its own help text standard answers and standard actions required ensuring

The UK has seen a rise in Social Prescribing Services with many NHS Trusts and local authorities now offering services that connect patients with community activities and voluntary groups

Social prescribing is an alternative to traditional healthcare models, which aims to improve health outcomes by connecting people with the wider community It is also a preventative treatment that can be used alongside other treatments to reduce the need for medication

Social prescribing is one of the most effective ways to provide healthcare to people struggling with mental health problems and it s a practice that has been growing in popularity for the past few years However it s also a relatively new field and there aren t a lot of people who have been trained in this area

If you re looking for a new job or are planning to retrain a career in social prescribing this article will give you an overview of what s involved and how to get started

WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING?

Social prescribing is a form of community-based health care that helps people with social or emotional problems improve their health and well-being It involves the assessment of someone's needs, matching them with appropriate services and then supporting them to use those services effectively

Social prescribing has been shown to help people access the right support at the right time and can help to reduce the use of acute services It also improves outcomes for patients as they are more satisfied with their care and experience fewer repeat visits to the hospital or A&E

Social prescribing is a way of helping people access services and support they need but may not know about or have the confidence to access alone It can be used as a treatment for people with long-term conditions or mental health problems such as depression or anxiety Social prescribing can also address loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the community

Social Prescribing is an opportunity for GPs and other health professionals to work with local organisations, such as community groups and voluntary organisations, to help their patients improve their health and well-being The aim is for patients to maintain good health by accessing meaningful activities and meeting their needs

There are three main components: the person who makes the referral; the link-worker who helps the individual choose what kind of help they need and where to find it; and the activity itself

One of the biggest challenges in social prescribing is finding people who are knowledgeable qualified and willing to do it It s also important that they have a good understanding of their local area as well as being able to work with other agencies and professionals

Social prescribers are trained to assess the needs of their patients and connect them with services that can help them address those needs

It s a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on not only physical symptoms but also mental health financial stability and other factors

If you re interested in becoming a social prescriber yourself there are three steps you should take:

1 Learn about social prescribing and its principles so that you can understand what it means to be a social prescriber and how it differs from other approaches to healthcare

2 Complete an accredited training course from Need2Succeed this will ensure that you know what your role as a social prescriber is and how best to serve your community

3 Look for opportunities within your area or network with others working toward similar goals this will help you build a support system while also helping others become interested in social prescribing themselves!

If you d like to learn more about our online distance learning courses or specialist training opportunities don t hesitate to contact us today!

Visit https://need2succeed co uk/national-qualifications/level-3-certificate-in-social-prescribing

Appreciating Our People

BY JARROD KELLY, CONSULTANT AND TRAINER, MEANINGFUL CARE MATTERS

(HTTPS://MEANINGFULCAREMATTERS COM)

Without a doubt the success of a team rises or falls on the people who make up that team Of course there are other factors which can affect a team’s success; lack of resources understaffing and a stretched budget to name a few I ve seen teams pull together in incredibly tough circumstances and hit goals or targets that seemed almost impossible I’ve also seen teams who are over staffed and very well resourced yet they struggle to achieve even the most basic targets that their roles demand

In the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Dr Paul White found that 79% of employees who quit their job, cite lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving Why is it then that so many managers and leaders fail to show meaningful appreciation to their teams? Well, in my experience, most are trying to show appreciation in one way or another, but it is often completely ineffective A failure to understand how to appreciate people well can be frustrating for the leader and soul destroying for the team members

& RECRUITMENT

Here are four tips to help make sure your appreciation hits the mark

KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL

Some people respond well to a small gift but others just want to be told they re doing an amazing job I know people who feel on top of the world when their boss sets aside a few minutes to have a coffee with them and show an interest in their life It won’t be the same for everyone but an effective leader will take time to learn what makes their individual team members feel valued

MASS APPRECIATION HAS LIMITED EFFECT

Saying well done to your whole team is great, and we should do it, but it doesn’t acknowledge the achievements or contributions the individuals have made In some cases where there are one or two lazy team members it can actually lead to resentment from their high performing co-workers Why should lazy employees be rewarded in the same way as hard-working ones? Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a gesture of mass appreciation (like a staff Christmas party) will make the whole team feel valued

THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS

What works today will be less effective tomorrow For example if you give your team members a £100 gift card at the end of the year to say thank you it s likely to be well received the first year If you do it again the next year they ll be appreciative but not as much as the year before By the third year they re expecting that £100 gift card and it s now considered an entitlement rather than a bonus Make sure you mix things up so appreciation remains unpredictable and comes as an unexpected surprise rather than a scheduled entitlement

GIVE APPRECIATION, NOT JUST RECOGNITION

Recognition is given for a job well done What about appreciating someone for who they are not just what they do? This is much less common but so much more powerful It might sound like this; I so appreciate the enthusiasm and life you bring to the team We really value your energy and the team would be poorer without

Apprenticeships Partnership Could Help Create ‘Managers Of The Future’ For Care Sector

The co-founder of an award-winning management transformation programme believes a new class of apprenticeships could help create managers of the future for the care sector

Laura Ashley-Timms Chief Operating Officer of Notion, believes apprenticeships that increase people management capacity in learners could be transformational for the future of care sector management

Speaking at the start of National Apprenticeship Week Laura says: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) now requires a specific ratio of manager level staff to patients in each care setting But there is a shortage of care workers with the required Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care This reduces capacity in care settings which means hospitals are unable to discharge patients into those appropriate care settings which increases

demand for NHS beds If more care workers were able to access that qualification via an apprenticeship, it would increase care setting capacity and alleviate pressure on the NHS

“These areas are strategically important for the UK economy and for UK society as a whole Creating more and better managers, especially in the adult care sector has the potential to relieve pressure on the NHS Announcing their partnership Qdos Training Ltd and Notion have been working together to integrate STAR® Manager into their management and leadership apprenticeships that are the first to fully embed Notion’s innovative (and now research-backed ) Operational Coaching™ and management approach into selected Level 3 and 5 management and leadership apprenticeships

The partnership is initially focused on three apprenticeship programmes Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor Level 5 Operations / Department Manager and Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care ”

Speaking of the partnership, Laura Ashley-Timms said

We ve always wanted to partner with a quality apprenticeship provider because we see apprenticeships as a powerful way of unlocking untapped talent and potential within organisations of all types Qdos

Do you have team members who struggle to work together?

Often it can seem team members are poles apart and have different objectives. As we ’ ve worked in the care industry over recent years, we ’ ve found the Ever ything DiSC tools to be a game changer for teams

Training is an exceptional provider and has a very impressive programme completion rate

Deborah Johnson Engagement Director at Qdos Training says of the partnership:

“We share Notion’s absolute passion to create the managers of the future Most of us are accidental managers and may not have ever been shown how to manage people let alone learned how to communicate in a way that invites the highest levels of collaboration in the workplace STAR® Manager is a unique approach that enables our apprentices to put into practice the people management and leadership theories they re learning The programme enables them to be more than just managers and instead become brilliant people leaders ”

STAR® Manager was recently subjected to one of the largest academic studies of its type The study carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Government s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy found statistically significant proof that the programme improves retention rates and transforms management capability at scale in as little as six months

Website: https://starmanager global/what-is-star/

Contact: hello@STARmanager global

Meaningful Care Matters can assist in developing leadership skills in a person- centred, feelings first, and emotion- centred way MCM is the only health and social care provider registered internationally as a partner with Everything DiSC It has Leadership Coaches ready to support individual needs in becoming aware of emotional intelligence factors to enhance leadership skills.

Ever ything DiSC helps people to understand themselves and appreciate the differences in other team members We may have different motivators and stressors, varying priorities, ways of interacting and working styles

Check out the three tools we can use to help your team work together in a more cohesive way

How

does it work?

Each participant completes an online questionnaire which then produces a comprehensive personalised report helping us to tailor the training to your team’s needs Contact us today to discuss how we can help you through individual coaching via Zoom or group training sessions in person using the Ever ything DiSC tools

Contact us today to find out how we can help your team admin@meaningfulcarematters.com

01273 242335

Check out more information on our Website: www.meaningfulcarematters.com/coaching-tools/

PROFESSIONAL , TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Braemar Finance Business Barometer – Care Homes

Braemar Finance recently conducted its latest Business Barometer research which examines current Care Home sector trends and the view of business-owners about a range of issues, from the cost of doing business to recruitment and retention

In this piece, we get under the skin of the data to find out more

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

The cost of energy has had – by some distance – the most impact on Care Homes’ income with 56% selecting this option Staff pay rises (16%) supply costs (12%) and fuel increases (10%) are the next most cited

Unsurprisingly 89% of Care Homes said they were taking measures to reduce their energy use, including, in order of most popular measures:

Turning off the lights overnight

Replacing equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives

• Looking at alternative heating and energy sources

Lowering the heating

Changed energy supplier

Insulating your building

Unfortunately, a quarter of Care Homes confirmed that they had considered closing their business as a result of rising costs and 33% said that they had made redundancies because of the impact of rising costs

Seven out of 10 firms surveyed admitted to passing on additional costs to their customers either partially (60%) or fully (10%)

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Looking at staff vacancies and the impact of the recruitment and the retention crisis 61% of Care Homes replied that they currently have a

vacancy to fill the highest of all the professions polled A further 49% said they ve struggled to fill vacancies in the past 12 months

When asked how long it took to hire a candidate results indicate it typically takes up to four months:

Less than a month

Sixty percent of Care Homes say there is a skills crisis in the sector and a similar number are currently finding it more difficult to fill vacancies

Looking ahead to recruiting in the future, respondents said:

I won’t have a problem recruiting adequately skilled staff 33 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my sector

43 00%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in my region

10 50%

I will struggle to recruit because there is a skills gap in the UK

13 00%

THE UK’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The majority (93%) of Care Home businesses surveyed responded that they were either very (43%) or somewhat (50%) concerned about the UK s current economic performance Despite this 16% expected to expand in the coming 12 months against 21% who think they will contract; 62% hope to stay the same – only 1 5% think they ll close their door permanently

The Eden Alternative - What Is It?

The Eden Alternative is a modern philosophy of care designed to enhance the wellbeing of residents and staff in care settings the quality of their ‘lived experience and their fulfilment

It aims to build a truly positive culture; underpinned by close partnership working between residents the team and family members

How does it work? It provides training to Care Homes manage-

ment and staff and encourages Homes to train their own ‘in house trainers to run the training

Eden has been running in over 20 countries on 5 continents for nearly 30 years and started in the USA It began operating in the UK in 2005 Eden UK runs both face-to-face training and online courses, which both lead to the accreditation of candidates as Certified Eden Associates of which there are over 2,000 in the UK and 20 000 worldwide

The Certified Eden Associate Courses online course run over 7 weeks x 1hr each week using the same material as the 3-day Eden Associate courses and comprise 5 elements (online training with Eden trainers digital workbooks video clips assessment of learning and development of a project to develop implementing innovative ideas)

Over nine in 10 (91%) of respondents confirmed they d been impacted by rising inflation and 70% admit it s likely they ll apply for funding within the year

THE ENVIRONMENT

Despite the economic headwinds they re facing 67 5% of Care Homes are working to limit their environmental impact and 77 5% have considered climate change and other environmental factors within their business plans

82% believe that they can help tackle climate change and a further 18% believe they can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Half of respondents are looking to invest in new technologies over the course of the next year and 65% of Care Homes stated they feel keeping up-to-date with modern technologies is a key differentiator for customers and a reason they may choose their Care Home over a competitor 80% of Care Homes are confident about being able to keep ahead of technological developments within the profession

Braemar Finance has been established since 1992 and offers a range of tailor-made finance solutions to the Professions, including Care, Dental, Veterinary, Optical, Legal, Accountancy, Medical, Pharmacy and Funeral

For more information visit https://www braemarfinance co uk/care Methodology

Courses run continuously and a new one starts at the beginning of each alternate month e g March May July etc

For Homes or Services that choose to become an Eden Accredited Home annual validations of how Eden features with the life of the Home/Service are undertaken In recognition of the progress achieved by the care provision, an award of Platinum Gold, Silver or Bronze can be achieved

Eden UK is based at 11 Plantation Terrace Dawlish Devon EX7 9DS and can be contacted on 01626 868192 or 07483359472

The key advantages to the Eden approach are:

• It improves occupancy

It improves recruitment and retention

It improves team and resident wellbeing

Geoffrey Cox LLb MSc ,

We shall at the Health Care Plus show at Excel London on 26th-27th April 2023