The Carer Digital - Issue #173

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Issue 173

Social Care Exempt from New Immigration Pay Thresholds… …But Long-Term Concerns Remain

CARE providers have given a mixed reaction to new proposals designed to cut immigration, announced this week.

Home Secretary, James Cleverley, announced new immigration measures expected to come into effect in spring 2024, which included: • The minimum salary requirement for a Skilled Worker visa will increase to £38,700 from £26,200. However, this will not apply to those coming to work under the health and care worker visa route. This is a relief for care operators, as the increased would be impossible to pay given current local authority funding con-

straints.

• Care Workers will not be permitted to bring their dependants to the UK, reversing the current rules. Given that most workers bring their dependent children, a ban on doing so is likely to make working in the UK less attractive and they may look to other countries instead. This is likely to reduce the number of overseas care workers coming to the UK at a time when there is a significant shortage of staff

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital!

This week’s announcement by Home Secretary James Cleverly of a set of new immigration rules with the intention of curbing immigration, has been met with a mixed reaction, and overall with a measure of concern by sector leaders.

The issue surrounding immigration generally is a “political hot potato”, ostensibly to address concerns over population growth and employment.

While the government's stance on immigration is a matter of national debate, the ramifications of these rules on the adult social care and residential and nursing care sector cannot be ignored.

One of the most concerning aspects of the new Editor regulations is the prohibition of dependents accompanying overseas workers. It is to be applauded that the government did not increase the threshold on salaries for the adult social care sector, however, this policy, supposedly designed to streamline immigration processes, threatens to exacerbate an already critical issue in the adult social care sector – the alarming shortage of skilled professionals.

The adult social care sector in the UK is, as we know, facing an unprecedented recruitment crisis, with vacancies reaching record levels. The demand for care workers is soaring, driven by an aging population and increasing care needs. In this context, the government's decision to disallow dependents from accompanying overseas workers is perceived as a bit of a disaster.

Many skilled professionals from overseas are attracted to work in the UK's adult social care sector, seeking to contribute their expertise to a system in dire need. However, the prospect of being unable to bring their dependents along may serve as a deterrent.

Family plays a crucial role in an individual's decision to relocate, and by excluding dependents, the government risks alienating talented individuals who would otherwise consider contributing to the UK's social care system.

The importance of overseas workers in the adult social care sector cannot be overstated. These professionals bring diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives, enriching the sector and enhancing the quality of care provided to vulnerable individuals. By discouraging overseas workers through restrictive immigration policies, we run the risk of perpetuating the existing shortage and compromising the quality of care available to those who need it most.

Furthermore, the timing of these immigration rules couldn't be worse. As the adult social care sector grapples with a shortage of staff, the impact of the ongoing global pandemic has placed additional strain on an already stretched workforce. The resilience

Peter Adams

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Fax: 01202 552666 Email: sales@thecareruk.com of the sector depends on attracting and retaining skilled professionals, not pushing them away with policies that undermine the value they bring to our communities.

The government really should reconsider the implications of its immigration rules on the adult social care sector. While controlling immigration is a valid policy goal, the unintended consequences of deterring overseas workers by excluding their dependents may create a crisis that the sector can ill-afford. It is essential to strike a balance between immigration control and ensuring the continued strength and sustainability of the adult social care system. Our communities depend on it.

WEBSITE: www.thecareruk.com EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES

Another crisis in the making is news on page 5 that almost one in five council leaders

Sylvia Mawson

and chief executives in England surveyed by the Local Government Association think it is

David Bartlett

very or fairly likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a Section 114 notice this year or next due to a lack of funding to keep key services running.

It comes as a surprise to nobody, as Professor Martin Green has pointed out providers are being asked to do more for less. Some councils such as Nottingham and Birmingham have already issued a section 114 and according to the reports it is increasingly likely next year more will do the same.

According to a survey by the County Council’s Network (CNN) 70% of CCN councils are now unsure they can balance their books next year, compared with 40% in a survey

Guy Stephenson PRODUCTION & DESIGN Matthew Noades PRODUCTION & WEB ADMIN Charlene Fox

conducted before the Chancellor’s statement last month.

Increased demand in adult social care is a major driver in overspend according to reports, and again this will be an issue we hope to elaborate on in the coming weeks, with comments from industry/sector leaders and organisations on what parties going into the next year’s general election should propose to avert any impending crisis.

Once again we have this week had some wonderful uplifting and heartwarming stories from care homes throughout the UK, so please do keep them coming! We are always delighted to share the stories.

I can always be reached at editor@thecareruk.com

The Carer is published by RBC Publishing Ltd, 3 Carlton Mount, 2 Cranborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5BR. Contributions are welcome for consideration, however, no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage. Views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Whilst every care is taken when compiling this publication to ensure accuracy, the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects, errors or omissions therefrom. All rights reserved, reproduction is forbidden unless written permission is obtained. All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 3

Social Care Exempt from New Immigration Pay Thresholds (...CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) In the year ending September 2023, 101,000 Health and Care visas were issued to care workers and senior care workers, with an estimated 120,000 visas granted to associated dependants.

Care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG) said stopping overseas care workers from bringing dependents with them would deter those workers from coming.

But the ICG did welcome news that the sector would be exempt from the increase in the minimum pay for people coming into the country from £26,200 to £38,700 which would have made it harder to recruit.

NEED FOR OVERSEAS STAFF ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “The banning of dependents is bound to deter many from coming to work for social care providers in this country, which is a blow.

“There is no doubt that will reduce the numbers we can recruit at a time when we need those overseas staff to help us deliver care whilst we have 152,000 vacancies in the sector.

“Exempting health and social care from the minimum pay threshold will help and we also welcome the clarification on the 20% pay reduction and the fact that to obtain a sponsor licence, providers need to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

“Overall though we continue to be dismayed by the Government’s approach to social care staffing. Whilst on the one hand it is looking to reduce the sector’s reliance on overseas workers it is not doing anything on the other hand to help us recruit more from this country.

“We need to see a proper workforce strategy that brings sufficient funding into social care that makes it an attractive place to work compared to other sectors and aids the sector to recruit the levels of staff we need.

BALANCE NEEDED Professor Vic Rayner, CEO of NCF commented: “Adult social care faces systemic shortages in frontline workforce, and even with the 70,000 or more international workers joining last year, Skills for Care reported 152,000 vacancies in the sector in October. This is unsustainable for any sector, never mind one upon which millions of people rely for care, each and every day.”

“Last summer the government heralded the arrival of international workers, and indeed funded a programme to support local authorities to encourage the recruitment of staff through this mechanism.

However, today, it would appear that it wants to restrict the essential arrival of care workers who have been, and remain, fundamental to care.”

“The National Audit Office issued a damning report last month which laid bare just how little work had gone on centrally to move forward the already cut reform work on social care. Out of an overall stated workforce budget of over £260 million, only £1.7m had been spent – and ironically this had been on supporting international recruitment plans the government now seem to be overturning.”

“The government must not put at risk the ability of international care workers to become valuable team members, with vital skills and expertise that are fundamental to the delivery of care. What is needed is a balance between international workers coming into the UK, recruited through ethical practices, and better pay, terms and conditions for all care workers fully funded by the state.”

HARDER TO ATTRACT STAFF Devia Gurjar, Chief Charity and External Affairs Officer at learning disability charity Hft, said: “Over the past year, more than 70,000 people have been recruited into adult social care from overseas, all of whom play a vital role in addressing the high vacancy rate being seen in the sector “While many care providers have made use of international recruitment, it has by no means been a ‘silver bullet’ for all, due to the cost and complexity of the system. With dependants of international workers now limited under the new changes, it will be even harder for care providers to attract staff from overseas.

“This is all happening in the context of a sector which has seen a reduction of 53,000 domestic workers over the past year.

“If the Government has chosen to move away from international recruitment to alleviate high vacancy rates, it is imperative that it steps up to drive domestic recruitment by ensuring that a career in social care is respected and properly remunerated,” said Mrs Gurjar.

GOVERNMENT “MAKING IT HARDER” Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England said: "The government recognised the important role international recruit-

ment plays in the adult social care sector. Immigration is something which has been shown to save sectors in the past; immigration saved the NHS post World War 2. In a similar way now, immigration is saving the social care sector.

Over the last year, we have seen a reduction of 53,000 domestic workers working in the care sector, but we have also seen an increase of 70,000 people from overseas starting in care-providing roles in the adult social care sector.

With dependents being limited by the new changes, the government is making it harder for care providers to recruit foreign workers. If the government now wants to move away from international recruitment as the solution to fixing the social care workforce crisis, it must act swiftly and invest in improving the pay and conditions to drive domestic recruitment."

DEEP CONCERN Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, and chair of the Cavendish Coalition, said: "The government’s announcements will cause deep concern across social care and health.

"Whilst there is recognition that social care and health staff should be exempted from visa earning requirements applied to the wider economy, the move to prevent workers bringing dependants will be met with real dismay.

"The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have at a stroke made the UK a less attractive place for much needed social care and health staff weighing up where they might choose to work.

"Their actions make the job of caring the most vulnerable members of society that bit harder, and in doing so they again underestimate the value of good care services to the economy as a whole’ “The government must fully disclose its calculations on how these changes to visa rules will impact on recruitment levels and waiting times across both social care and health."

James Sage, Partner and Head of the Health and Social Care team at RWK Goodman said: “While the announcement is not as detrimental for the sector as some had predicted and feared (given that the increased minimum salary requirement doesn’t apply), the changes are likely to have an impact on the ability to recruit overseas workers, who are desperately needed in the sector.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

Helping Care Homes Reduce Energy Costs This Winter The cost of living crisis is putting the squeeze on business across the UK as many battle with inflation, higher interest rates as well as rising energy bills. Here Nathan Daniels, managing director of BFSUK (bfsuk.co.uk), outlines what care homes can do to reduce their energy costs this winter.

Balancing budgets while continuing to offer a high quality service to residents is one of the biggest challenges for care home operators today. To approach the challenge, it is vital for care home providers to introduce an energy efficiency strategy to reduce costs and deliver long-term energy security.

The challenge is more acute as residential homes must ensure a continuously warm environment for their residents with radiators in almost constant use during the winter months. This means that, according to the Energy Savings Trust, heating can account for as much as 70% of a residential care home’s energy bill. Improving the efficiency of the heating provision should therefore be a top priority for any operator looking to achieve energy bill savings.

Improving the efficiency of heating can be complex, so should start with an energy assessment survey to see where significant heat loss and energy waste occurs to prioritise areas that need immediate attention. An energy assessment can also include a heat load calculation which will provide an insight of the existing heat demand of the property, as well enabling you to investigate the potential for alternative heating solutions.

Each care home is different so one solution may work for one and not the other. However, there are some options worth considering that can be applied in most circumstances.

When it comes to improving the heating it would be well worth exploring the potential for heat pumps.

These can come in the form of an air source heat pump or a ground source heat pump, and work most effectively when supplying heat to a shared system, for example, as a replacement for an old communal

boiler.

When determining which system to use, it is also necessary to consider the heat delivery system, i.e. how the heat is delivered to individual rooms. Heat pumps are most efficient when connected to an underfloor heating system, but they can work well with radiators provided they have a large enough surface area.

Heat pumps work best when providing a consistent level of ambient heat throughout the day - rather than a short blast of high temperature heat as delivered from a gas-fired boiler. To maximise performance it is essential that the thermal efficiency of the care home is optimal before installing the system.

The Carbon Trust can also help towards the installation of energy saving equipment, with grants available of up to 30% of the project cost (to a maximum of £10,000).

Next to improving the energy efficiency of your property, the most effective way to drive down long-term energy costs is by introducing on-site renewable energy technologies. These include rooftop solar panels that will provide the opportunity to generate your own clean renewable energy.

Solar panel systems typically last for 25 years or longer, during which time your care facility will be able to generate free electricity from the sun, replacing electricity that does not have to be purchased from an energy supplier. The energy generated can also be stored in batteries for use at times of peak demand (e.g. dinner preparation), and can also take advantage of ‘Time of Use’ tariffs, where the price of electricity fluctuates throughout the day.

Once the big ticket items of energy generation and use are addressed, a continual programme of energy efficiency projects can be implemented when budgets are available. One of the biggest winners is ensuring that there is cavity wall insulation and topping up loft insulation to the recommended minimum of 300mm.

All windows should be double glazed at a minimum, complemented with effective air-tight seals and thick curtains. Doors should be modern energy efficient models with adequate draught exclusion and a modern energy efficient lighting system, composed of low-energy Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) should be installed. LED functionality has improved and costs have recently come down making them an increasingly important option that can achieve cost saving of 30%.

Developing a longer term energy efficiency strategy will help care homes take a holistic view and put plans in place to deliver them. Working with a strategic partner like BFSUK can ensure all elements are delivered through a single provider bringing potential further savings across the board.

Oakland Care Come Together With Community for Tree Planting Initiative Oakland Care come together with community for tree planting initiative this tree planting event.

Team members from across three Oakland Care homes have come together to help plant over 400 trees as part of a major community initiative.

The Essex Forest Initiative (EFI) is a county wide tree planting scheme which was launched back in 2019. Aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change by providing and improving green spaces for people and communities, it incorporates a bold commitment to planting 375,000 trees over the course of a five-year period.

As part of their efforts the EFI have been actively seeking the support of the community to help towards achieving their goal.

Oakland Care and their team members have been among those key players, having already linked up with the EFI for a range of tree planting events across Essex in January 2023.

Eager to help maintain the momentum of the programme into the new year, team members from Oakland Care’s Lambwood Heights, Elsyng House, Woodland Grove, and head office were delighted to extend their support at the latest planting event at Alderton Junior School in Loughton on 24th November.

As the UK’s ‘greener choice’ of care homes, the volunteers were not only able to offer crucial support with the planting but were able to discuss best practices and share advice for other environmentally friendly steps everybody can take to help combat climate change.

Oakland Care are the only carbon neutral care group in the UK and actively drive a range of inclusive and effective green initiatives within their homes. Much of these efforts have brought team members and residents closer together, driven by a collaborative cause that creates a long-lasting impact in social care and beyond.

Aaron White, Head of Business Services and Sustainability, said: “I am incredibly proud of all our team members across Oakland Care who came together to support this tree planting event. Our efforts will help leave a lasting impact on the area and not only benefit the environment but support a local school at the heart of the community.

It was a perfect way to continue our sustainability journey in 2023 and was another big step towards not only EFI’s planting target, but our own goal of planting 1,000 trees every single year as a care home provider.”

Jaime Carvalho, Forestry and Woodland Officer at Essex Forestry Initiative, added: “The Essex Forest initiative is a county wide tree planting scheme with the aim of mitigating the effects of climate change. In doing that we also provide and improve green spaces for people and communities.

“This is why planting in schools is so rewarding not only because we are allowing spaces for nature flourish but also for the opportunity to raise awareness and educate younger generations about the importance of trees. Having volunteers, such as parents and corporate groups, like we had today from Oakland Care, really make a difference in improving our environment, little by little, one tree at a time.”

Cleva: Simplify Expenses and Boost Your Income with an Award-Winning Shopping and Expense Card Cleva, an award-winning shopping and expense card provides an easy way for organisations to shop on behalf of their vulnerable and elderly clients.

Through ‘single card switching’ technology, it allows carers or support teams to effortlessly handle the finances of multiple clients with just one card. This not only simplifies processes but also reduces administrative burdens significantly – Cleva clients are now saving over 70 minutes of admin time, per client per month!

UNLOCK NEW REVENUE STREAMS Cleva is also proven to boost revenue by enabling organisations to offer a chargeable shopping service to clients, creating a valuable additional income stream. With time and resource saving as well as an extra income opportunity, it makes Cleva an indispensable tool for enhancing the financial health of organisations.

SECURE SPENDING FOR VULNERABLE USERS

For vulnerable users who want to spend their own money, Cleva provides access to choice and a way for them to spend in a monitored and safe environment, with no risk of becoming overdrawn or overwhelmed. Bespoke spending controls can be added to each vulnerable users’ card, and their carer or support team can also have a Cleva card to help with spending, if needed.

TRANSPARENCY AND SAFEGUARDING Cleva goes beyond financial efficiency and fosters a safe and transparent environment for both carers and organisations. With complete accuracy and visibility in the app and management platform, false allegations of theft become a thing of the past. When surveyed, 100% of organisations felt more confident in safeguarding their employees at work thanks to Cleva.

Crowned winner of the 2023 National Care Awards, in the Tech Innovation of the Year category, Cleva really is showcasing the power of technology merged with care experts in an underserved industry.

Ready to find out more? Click here: clevacard.com/thecarer

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 5

Section 114 Fear For Almost 1 In 5 Council Leaders After Cashless Autumn Statement

Almost one in five council leaders and chief executives in England surveyed by the Local Government Association think it is very or fairly likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a Section 114 notice this year or next due to a lack of funding to keep key services running.

The LGA estimates that councils in England face a £4 billion funding gap over the next two years just to keep services standing still but last month’s Autumn Statement failed to provide the additional funding needed to protect services from further cuts.

This is despite councils of all political colours and types warning that growing demand and cost pressures are threatening their financial sustainability.

In 2024/25, councils will be able to increase general council tax by 3 per cent without the need for a referendum. Those with social care responsibilities will again be able to increase the adult social care precept by up to a further 2 per cent again.

This means that councils continue to face the tough choice about whether to increase council tax bills to bring in desperately-needed funding to provide services when they are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households.

THE LGA SURVEY – OF COUNCIL LEADERS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVES – ALSO REVEALS: Half are not confident they will have enough funding to fulfil their legal duties next year (2024/25). This includes the delivery of statutory services.

Nearly two thirds of council leaders and chief executives said there were no announcements in the Autumn Statement that they thought would help them deal with their council’s financial position.

The LGA said the circumstances that have led to a Section 114 notice so far have been unique to each local area and the pressures they face.

However, all those that have had to curb spending in this way have faced the same underlying pressures – councils’ core spending power falling by 27 per cent in real terms from 2010/11 to 2023/24, the impact of the pandemic, rising demand for services, in particular statutory services like social care and homelessness support, and the extra costs to provide them.

The LGA said the Government urgently needs to use the forthcoming provisional Local Government

Finance Settlement to provide councils with sufficient resources to set balanced budgets next year without having to make drastic cuts to services.

Cllr Shaun Davies, LGA Chair, said: “The lack of funding for local services in the Autumn Statement has left councils facing a growing financial crisis.

“No council is immune to the risk of running into financial difficulty. As our worrying survey shows, many now face the prospect of being unable to meet their legal duty to set a balanced budget and having Section 114 reports issued.

“Local government is the fabric of our country, with councils providing hundreds of services that our communities rely on every single day. For many people, these services are a lifeline.

“If councils cannot thrive then our communities cannot thrive. If social care services that councils provide cannot cope with demand, then pressure on the NHS will grow further. If council housing teams can’t succeed, then all of our hopes for new homes will not succeed.

“While councils have worked hard to reduce costs, find efficiencies and transform services, the easy savings have long since gone. The Government urgently needs to act to address the acute financial challenges faced by councils.”

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says: “The results of the LGA survey make for unsettling reading, but it won’t come as a surprise to anyone in the social care sector. Local authorities have been underfunded by central government for years, compromising their ability to adequately fund social care and ensure it is fit for the future. Social care providers are being forced to reduce capacity to ensure that they are still able to deliver high quality care for an ageing population with increased levels of dependency. They’re forced to do more for less. Part of the support Care England offers to providers is our new publication ‘Savings, Solutions and Sustainability’, which is designed to help providers reduce costs and sustain future provision. This alone can’t solve the problem of inadequate funding for adult social care, so we will continue to call on central government to ensure local authorities have sufficient funds to meet the care needs of their populations.”

Share Your Christmas Celebrations with THE CARER to Win! Christmas is coming and we here at THE CARER are offering care homes the opportunity to win A PRIZE FOR YOU AND YOUR CARE HOME. We invited Care Homes around the UK to share your Christmas celebrations with us here at THE CARER for Christmas 2022 and we are inviting you to do the same this year!

This years’ prize is £100 in Marks & Spencer vouchers for a lucky care home winner!

A no-frills competition, nothing complicated, or we invite you to do is send

in your Christmas celebrations, anything between December 24 and 31st, parties, menus, activities, fundraising and we will pick a winner - it really is that simple!

So please do send to nominate@thecareruk.com with a small paragraph of what you did along with some photos and we will share them with our readers in a special Christmas care Home supplement!

One of our lucky entrants will then be chosen to receive the grand prize!

Entries close at midnight on Friday 5th January 2024.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

How Immigration Policies Shape the UK’s Social Care Landscape

By Mandie Sewa, Head of Immigration at Brevis Law. Mandie Sewa is a highly experienced Solicitor having worked in the field of immigration, nationality, and human rights law for 20 years. (www.brevis.co.uk) It's no secret that the UK's social care system heavily relies on the dedication and hard work of migrant workers. They have been the backbone of the sector for many years, providing essential care and support to the UK’s most vulnerable communities. Adult social care is a significant economic contributor to the country’s economy, adding approximately £51.5 billion per annum in England in 2021/22 and social care has a bigger workforce than the NHS, construction, transport, or food and drink service industries.

Yet the social care sector is under-resourced in terms of manpower.

The industry body Skills for Care reported in October 2022 that the number of vacancies in the sector had risen by 52% in just one year, with about 165,000 posts left unfilled. And with increasing demand for carers among a growing and aging UK population, by 2030 the number of additional care staff required is expected to rise to approximately 600,000.

We believe the current shortage in skilled workers in the sector is directly linked to the UK’s restrictive immigration policies that have deterred qualified professionals from entering or remaining in the sector. And any future staffing gaps of the scale expected in the future can only be resolved by reducing or removing these restrictions, so that the sector can recruit and retain the staff it needs from overseas.

Numerous changes have been made to UK immigration policy over recent years, as part of an attempt to cut immigration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands. The stringent immigration policies implemented have created a hostile environment for those who wish to work in the social care sector.

The UK social care sector was already facing numerous challenges pre-Brexit, including acute staff shortages. The ending of freedom of movement in 2020 exacerbated the issue as many EU citizens returned to their home countries. At the same time, the economic consequences of Brexit combined with Covid and the worst cost of living crisis for a generation created an additional need for health and care for the vulnerable in our society – all at a time when the available pool of candidates was as its lowest.

The recruitment crisis in the sector could not be resolved from domestic sources alone, so changes in the immigration policies had to be made.

Early last year, the government therefore opened a welcomed new immigration route, expanding the health worker visa scheme to include care workers. More than 123,500 people have arrived to work as care workers and senior care workers since the route was opened. Without these workers many care homes would have been forced to close. However Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has recently announced plans to restrict overseas health and care workers to bringing only one relative each to the UK. And troublingly, some reports suggest the Home Office could ban them from bringing dependants altogether - as has already been announced for some international students. Other plans being considered include a cap

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on the number of NHS and social care workers hired from abroad, and changes to the minimum salary overseas workers must be paid. None of these changes appear to be good news for recruiters in care who currently rely on sourcing workers from overseas. So why are they being considered?

Discussion about limiting dependants comes amid heavy pressure from the right wing of the Conservative party to reduce net migration. The Tories have repeatedly promised to bring the figure down to the ‘tens of thousands’. Targeting health and care workers is an obvious choice: they are by far the biggest users of the skilled worker visa route, with 143,990 arriving via a health and care visa last year, along with 173,896 dependants.

But even before any further restrictions aimed at reducing net migration are implemented, it is evident that the UK social care sector will continue to need migrant care workers to fill gaps in the workforce. And this demand, alongside an increasingly restrictive immigration infrastructure, has unfortunately created the perfect environment for the emergence of an unregulated and informal ‘grey’ market of care in the sector.

The Immigration Act 2016 was introduced as a measure to address irregular migration. However, the Government failed to consider the potential impact this may have had on people vulnerable to exploitation.

Restricting the rights of migrants and their access to services, and even criminalising some migrants, increases the vulnerability of people to exploitation and re-trafficking. Affected people often fear coming forward because of the risk of criminalisation. This very situation has been highlighted in a recent BBC report that detailed a surge in calls from overseas care workers to a confidential modern slavery helpline.

A number of organisations have criticised the Government’s move to more restrictive immigration polices.

Unison has claimed that they ‘demonise’ migrant workers, while Migrants’ Rights Network said: “Separating families for the sake of arbitrary figures is cruel”. And the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has argued that restrictions on dependants would “rip families apart” and “make people’s lives worse” as “low paid migrant workers are being treated as disposable economic commodities”. Even the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee has stated that implementing policies to reduce migration without addressing workforce problems in social care could “massively harm” the sector.

So the consequences of the Governments’ new anti-immigration policies are far-reaching and devastating. Elderly, disabled, and vulnerable citizens are left without the quality care they deserve. The strain on existing social care workers increases exponentially, leading to burnout and compromised services. The sector is struggling to meet the growing demand, and the consequences are felt by those who need it the most.

The bureaucratic hurdles, exorbitant fees, and complex visa requirements have deterred many skilled and compassionate individuals from pursuing careers in this field in the UK. As a result, we are witnessing a severe shortage of qualified professionals, leaving our social care system in a state of crisis. We must recognize the importance of immigration in sustaining and strengthening our social care system. We need to advocate for more compassionate and inclusive policies that attract and retain skilled professionals, regardless of their nationality.

Looking ahead, the future of social care in the UK appears bleak. Without significant changes to immigration policies and increased support for the sector, the crisis will only worsen. The aging population and the rising demand for care services make it imperative that we address these issues urgently.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 7

CIPFA Calls For Fair And Sustainable Social Care Charging Reform The current adult social care charging system is unfair, unpredictable, and complex, according to The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) new publication [Charging for adult social care in England: reform and routes forward] which calls for an approach to funding adult social care where adequate funding is provided in the shortterm for services to recover and to deal with current challenges, and a commitment to adequate long-term funding to make services fit for the future.

Reform should specifically ensure that any reforms are equitable and do not benefit or disadvantage one group in society over another, and that local authorities are fully funded to implement the reforms.

With the delay of the implementation of the Government’s proposed adult social care charging reforms from October 2023 to October 2025, we have the opportunity to take stock of the reforms and to consider possible routes forward.

Dr. Will Burns, CIPFA Social Care Policy Advisor said: “The wider social care system is facing a myriad of challenges to do with workforce, unmet need, increasing demand, and the risk of market failure. Without stable and adequate long-term funding, effective public financial management is hindered. Short-term funding arrangements have impeded long-term planning, development, innovation and investment in social care. Charging reforms need to be fully funded for local authorities to implement them successfully.

“AMONG OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, WE’RE CALLING ON GOVERNMENT TO: Produce a new impact assessment for social care charging reform Provide a long-term social care funding settlement Improve access to social care Introduce a cap on care costs that includes local authority contributions.”

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PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

No More Tick-Box Training - How New Technology Has The Potential To Revolutionise Training In Social Care

By Michael Manuccia, CEO, FuturU (https://futuru.ai) Earlier this year, the Government announced it was halving its £500m investment in the social care workforce. An investment that was designed to boost the knowledge, skills, health and wellbeing of staff. Now, with workforce funding tighter than ever, it’s clear we need to bring education and training across the social care sector into the 21st century.

We owe it to carers to equip them with the skills they need to feel confident and deliver excellent care. Smaller care homes often rely on a single individual to deliver all the necessary training. Meanwhile, larger care homes are investing in expensive and rigid learning management systems. Neither approach fully meets the needs of the carers, many of whom fund parts or all of their own training.

Those working in the social care sector deserve better. Care homes have a right to more flexible and affordable options when it comes to training their staff. Meanwhile, staff who have gone above and beyond for years deserve to feel empowered and confident when it comes to their learning and career growth. But, time is short and budgets are tight: how do we make this happen?

SHIFTING HOW WE LEARN Over the past few years, a lot of learning in social care has shifted online. But while that’s made training a lot more accessible, the reality is that most e-learning generally isn't fun or engaging. From tedious “how-to” guides to GDPR training videos that you keep putting off, current learning formats simply aren’t working.

We now have the means to deliver online learning that’s much more immersive and interactive, much like a video game. Gaming is fun and engaging, and something that everyone can get involved with in some form or another. In fact, these same techniques are already beginning to shape the future of social care education. Training experiences can allow you to enter into a simulated world with different storylines and rich characters - but with the added bonus of building practical skills and knowledge.

The great news is that you don’t need a Virtual Reality headset to access these kinds of online learning experiences. We can bring this learning into the care home with devices that staff have on them today.

Before long, care home workers will be able to practise essential skills such as safe patient handling, CPR, and patient interaction, directly from their smartphone or computer and in the flow of work. The benefit of this type of training content is that it’s more relevant to daily care work, and can be repeated multiple times until mastery - ultimately improving the quality of care.

PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW “GOLD STANDARD” While many consider in-person training to be the “gold standard”, it can be expensive, challenging to scale and is heavily reliant on individual trainers. All too often, that valuable training time is spent going over the basics with staff instead of allowing them to demonstrate their capability and ensure their confidence.

Let’s maximise that valuable time!

Fortunately, online learning offers far greater flexibility when it comes to onboarding and training new

staff. However, we need to get smarter about how it’s implemented. Many care homes are still forking out thousands of pounds on clunky learning management systems, creating up-to-date course content, managing assessments and certificates - often through multiple providers.

Technology that is able to integrate these different elements will become the new gold standard for hiring, training and ongoing professional development within social care. It will complement in-person training to allow for those in the sector to really hone in and master their skill at a time that works for them - allowing for better care outcomes.

Another exciting development is the ability to create custom online training content at the click of a button - thanks to advancements in content creation tools and generative AI. For care homes, this means developing a higher volume of tailored training experiences for a fraction of the price. For learners, this means a wider range of mandatory and non-mandatory training that will enhance their professional development, which can be accessed on the go.

REVOLUTIONISING ASSESSMENTS Of course, training is only one piece of the puzzle. Why invest in better training if we’re still using archaic forms of assessing competency like multiple-choice questions? Do multiple choice options appear regularly when you’re interacting with a care recipient in real life? We need more applicable ways to assess people’s skills and knowledge, both in person and online, while also reducing the waiting times for assessment days.

Fortunately, technology - in particular AI - has the potential to assess people’s skills and knowledge quickly and consistently. AI has been the subject of many c-suite and board level conversations, presenting social care with a real opportunity to change the way in which training is delivered. Often, in-person assessments of physical skills can be subjective, with moving and handling being a prime example. Technology that can track a person’s physical movements in real-time could make it easier to know whether they have adopted a safe position and removes bias from the assessment process.

In the near future, technology may also be able to improve soft skills, such as communication with a care recipient. Of course, this will require a personalised approach to training those skills. For example, combining different learning formats (written, video, audio) with simulated practical scenarios. This would make it possible to assess a broader range of skills based on multiple data points, to determine whether someone has gathered relevant experience and knowledge to do well in their role.

Without a doubt, technology has the potential to completely disrupt how social care professionals learn from education all the way through to ongoing training and development. With so many pressures on our current social care system, we need to get smarter about how we train and champion our social care workforce, so they can continue to deliver the best care. Going into 2024, we’re likely to see more widespread adoption of these types of technology-led approaches in social care. The care homes that invest now will reap the biggest rewards.

Care Home Group Offers 40 Staff Members ‘Namaste Care’ Training To Enhance Its Specialist Dementia Care Offering A family run care home group has trained 40 members of staff to effectively deliver a Namaste Care Programme in a selection of its care communities, as it looks to further enhance its dementia care offering.

Nellsar Care Homes, which operates 13 homes across Kent, Surrey and Essex, has offered comprehensive training to staff across three of its homes — teaching them to focus on the needs and wishes of each individual resident.

Residents living with dementia often become very frail and can find it difficult to communicate with other people. The Namaste Care approach looks to engage people at a physical, sensory and emotional level, using activities such as music, aroma, touch, visual stimulation, drinks and snacks.

Namaste, the Hindu term for ‘to honour the spirit within’, is designed to use inexpensive supplies that would not require additional carers or dedicated spaces. The two basic principles of the programmes are creating a calm environment and providing all activities and interactions with an unhurried, loving touch approach.

One of the homes that has embraced this care model is Bromley Park, in Beckenham, which recently

had a visit from Joyce Simard, founder of Namaste Care International (NCI). This offered the home an opportunity to showcase the benefits of the care model and yielded some great feedback from Joyce and Nicola Kendall, University of Durham NCI Associate Director, who accompanied her on the visit.

Commenting on the efforts of Bromley Park, Joyce said: “It was a pleasure to visit Bromley Park when I was in the UK for a conference. I was able to watch staff offering Namaste Care to residents and was impressed with the loving touch they used. I write and speak about Namaste Care all the time, however, to see it being implemented firsthand always warms my heart! Thank you Bromley Park for making Namaste Care a part of the lives of so many people.”

Commenting on the implementation of this care technique, Viv Stead, Recreation and Well-Being Manager at Nellsar, said: “We are over the moon with the impact the Namaste training has had already across the three homes. It allows our care teams to offer the ultimate person-centred approach to dementia care and we hope to continue offering this training across all of our homes. We will also be encouraging family members to join us, as we know what a powerful impact it can have for loved ones.”

Blueleaf Launches Christmas Furniture Campaign and Urges Care Homes to Beat the Rush Blueleaf, the nationwide business that helps care homes deliver better outcomes, has launched a new campaign to encourage care homes to consider their Christmas furniture needs now, so that orders can be delivered, and be in place, ready for the festive period.

Ellen Brown, Sales & Marketing Director of Blueleaf, says that it’s important for care managers to consider their Christmas needs well in advance: “Furniture plays a huge part in not only making the right impression for visitors, but also ensuring the comfort of residents and their families during their stay,” she explains.

“We know that Christmas is a busy period for all care homes, so if any homes think they may need to replace or add furniture to prepare for an increase in visitors, now is the time to place an order.”

Ellen says that furniture is in high demand at Christmas: “Some items have extended

delivery times and others will be subject to availability, and that’s another reason to get in touch with us now so that we can help your care homes to plan its needs and avoid being disappointed.”

The campaign reflects Blueleaf’s continued focus on providing products and support for care providers to enhance resident comfort. Earlier in the year Blueleaf relaunched its Stock 7 range – an updated range of bedroom refit solutions that can be delivered and installed from UK stock within seven working days.

To view Blueleaf’s full range of furniture, or to book an appointment, please visit: www.blueleafcare.com/ our-services/products/care-home-furniture

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Creative Health Could Help Ailing NHS Health and Social Care Systems Report Reveals The National Centre for Creative Health and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing have published a major report, the Creative Health Review: How Policy Can Embrace Creative Health, evidencing that creative health needs to form an integral part of a 21st-century health and social care system to reduce health inequalities, increase life expectancy and build social capital.

Creative Health – defined as creative approaches which have benefits for our health and wellbeing, and can include activities such as visual and performing arts, literature, or creative activities in nature as well as innovative approaches to health and care services – is shown to help prevent ill-health and support the management of long-term conditions, offering patients effective, non-clinical approaches that reduce reliance on healthcare services and result in cost savings, as well as improving quality of life. The Creative Health Review outlines the immense benefits of creative health and advocates for its immediate, widespread adoption.

The report makes crucial recommendations to support the UK Government, elected mayors and policymakers in maximising the potential of creative health, with a dedicated cross-departmental Creative Health Strategy at the centre.

“We want government to recognise that creative health should be part of the bigger picture not just for health and social care, but across a wide range of its responsibilities including education, justice, levelling up and the economy. Creative health isn’t limited to one sector; it’s about working together.” – said The Rt Hon. Lord Howarth of Newport CBE, Chair of the National Centre for Creative Health and Co-Chair of the AllParty Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing The report demonstrates, through growing evidence and by showcasing innovative approaches and activities, that creative health proactively prevents illness, promotes wellbeing, and helps to manage long-term conditions.

It outlines the profound significance of creative health in addressing the formidable challenges our health

and social care systems face, and shows where creative health can assist. The prevalence of mental ill health in children and young people is worryingly high, and mental health conditions are causing more adults than ever to be unable to work. Health inequalities are among the worst in Europe and the gap is widening, with life expectancy falling in some of the poorest areas of the country. These issues should be addressed as a matter of social justice, but there are also broader implications for the economy, through increased costs to the health and welfare system and a loss of productivity. The report sets out a roadmap for policymakers to provide a more creative and healthier future for all. These challenges demand a new approach. One that is forward-thinking, preventative and person-centred.

The report examines successful models across the UK where partnerships between arts, health, social care and education are yielding positive results without high costs.

The Rt Hon. Lord Howarth of Newport CBE, continues: “Creative health demands effective and sustainable partnerships across government, including local authorities, healthcare systems, grassroots organisations, and the cultural and VCSE sectors.

“Many of the policy opportunities to secure the benefits of creative health are devolved to combined authorities, and this allows Metro Mayors to use their local powers to integrate creative health into their strategies to improve population health. For example, in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire we are seeing admirable partnerships emerging with creative health as key in a whole system approach to improving personal and community wellbeing, resilience, and social connection.

“Our ambition is for creative health to be integral to health, social care and wider systems, including education. I look forward to creativity being recognised by the general public, healthcare professionals and policymakers as a resource to support health and wellbeing across the life course, and its benefits being accessible to all.”

Day Care Service Raises Over £1000 For Charity A day care centre in Ross-on-Wye has hosted a coffee morning raising over £1000 for St Michael’s Hospice, Hereford.

Staff at Woodside, Gloucester Road, were joined by guests from the local community including the mayor of Ross-on-Wye, councillor Louis Stark and CEO of Shaw healthcare, Russell Brown.

Also at the event was 89-year-old Sheila Whittingham who worked the first night shift at Woodside when it opened 40 years ago.

The team hosted a raffle for St Michaels Hospice, which is an independent charity that supports those with life limiting illnesses and are in need of end of life care.

Service manager of Woodside, Heather Aubrey, commented: “Everyone has been so generous with donating prizes and purchasing raffle tickets. I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible to raise such a fantastic amount of money for such a worthy cause.”

Michael Keel, St Michael’s Hospice chief executive, said: “At St Michael’s Hospice, we rely heavily on the support of our community, so fundraisers like this one from Shaw healthcare are vital.

“We would like to thank everyone for attending this event, and Shaw healthcare for raising funds for St Michael’s.”

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NHS Urges People To Get Winter Jabs with 2 Weeks Until Online Bookings Close With just two weeks until online bookings for COVID and flu vaccines close, the NHS is urging anyone still eligible for these vaccines to book an appointment and get potentially lifesaving protection ahead of Christmas.

The NHS online booking system, NHS App and 119 phone service will be closed for flu and COVID vaccine bookings from 15 December, making 14 December the last day to make a booking.

There are still hundreds of thousands of appointments available each week across England offering extra protection to those eligible who have not yet come forward.

This season saw the fastest ever start to the NHS flu vaccine rollout on record and more people than ever before – over 4.5 million people – have received their flu and COVID vaccines in the same appointment, for extra convenience.

As of 30 November, a total of 11,404,669 COVID and 16,190,661 flu vaccinations have been administered by the NHS in England since the beginning of the autumn campaign – including 61.5 percent of people ages 65 and over having received their COVID vaccination, but there are still thousands more people who can safeguard their health this winter.

A record number of sites continue to offer the vaccines this winter, making it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.

Vaccination is the best way for people to ensure they and their families are protected against flu and COVID this Christmas when the viruses spread more easily as people spend more time indoors. It takes about two weeks following vaccination to build up the maximum defences against the viruses, so it’s important to book in early.

It is crucial to get this protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID before, as immunity fades over time and the viruses change each year.

Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening for NHS England, said: “It only takes a few moments to book your flu and COVID vaccines online – with thousands of eligible people having already taken up the offer this year and record numbers booking via the NHS app – but with just two weeks to go until online bookings close, we’re urging those who haven’t yet come forward to do so.

“NHS staff continue to deliver vaccines at more sites than ever before, and we’ve seen record numbers choosing to have their flu and COVID vaccines at the same time, making it even easier for people.

“We’re getting closer to the festive period when lots of people will

be coming together with their families and friends, and getting vaccinated is the best way to keep you and those around you from getting seriously ill during the colder months – so, if you haven’t yet taken up the offer – now is the time to do so, nobody wants to be unwell at Christmas”.

The 119 service, which provides booking support for those unable to access online services, will also close for bookings on 15 December, but it will continue answering queries until 22 December.

Over four million COVID-19 vaccination appointments have been booked on the NHS website, NHS App, or by calling 119, and now is the time to take advantage of these platforms, which are the easiest way to book until online bookings reopen next year.

It’s still possible to book your vaccinations after 15 December through local NHS vaccination services, like pharmacies or walk-in sites. However, there will be fewer COVID appointments, and you may need to travel further.

People can continue booking the COVID vaccine through local services until 31 January. After that, COVID vaccinations will close, and people will be required to wait for a future seasonal campaign unless they develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens the immune system, in which case a clinician may advise vaccination sooner.

For those eligible for a free flu vaccine after 15 December, it will still be possible to book one by contacting their GP surgery or by finding a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccination if you’re 18 or over.

The free flu vaccine offer will then close after 31 March.

However, getting it as soon as possible is encouraged to ensure protection over the colder months when flu is often in greater circulation.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Getting vaccinated as soon as possible will help reduce your risk of getting seriously ill with flu or COVID-19 this festive season. So in amongst getting sorted for Christmas, make time to prioritise your health by getting vaccinated to ensure you stay Winter Strong and keep your plans on track.

“Aside from protecting yourself, ensure your children are vaccinated too against flu. Each winter thousands of children

require treatment in hospital for flu or its complications. Many of these episodes can be prevented by a simple vaccine. As well as helping to keep your child healthy, the flu vaccine also helps stop the spread of flu in the family and wider community – helping to protect those who are more vulnerable and the elderly such as grandparent”.

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How Technology Co-Created with People Living with Dementia Can Help to Maintain Independence

By Simon Lord, Head of Innovation, Alzheimer’s Society (www.alzheimers.org.uk) The past few years have seen artificial intelligence (AI) fully integrated into society with a range of benefits for improving everyday activities – from smart speakers through to Chat GPT, which recently celebrated its first birthday.

Although these technologies can be life-changing, few of them are designed for those living with dementia, despite their enormous potential to help the millions affected worldwide.

While researchers are making encouraging progress in developing treatments which could slow the progression of early stage Alzheimer’s disease, alongside this, we must take advantage of emerging technologies that can ensure all people living with early stage dementia can remain independent for longer.

TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE Current dementia technologies range from household items such as non-spill kettles, to financial products such as Sibstar, a flexible debit card to ensure people don’t overspend on their weekly shop or make duplicate cash withdrawals. But given the rapidly evolving technological landscape, there is much more that dementia products could, and should, do.

Many existing products and technologies have been developed to help families and carers monitor or look after the person living with dementia, rather than empowering or supporting the person themselves.

For example, sensors or cameras built into a home can already flag that someone has had a fall but are not able to proactively prevent it.

While monitoring technologies remain important, advances in the past few years have seen the development of solutions that can help someone beyond this monitoring – enabling independence by giving them the tools and confidence to carry out daily activities as they would have done prior to symptoms.

AI’s potential to help people living with dementia has been recognised by the Longitude Prize on Dementia, a £4m prize funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, to drive the creation of personalised tools that are co-created with people living with the early stages of dementia.

Recent research from the Longitude Prize on Dementia shows that two-thirds of GPs want to prescribe this type of technology for their patients and 77% believe that people with dementia will live longer if they can remain in their own home.

Technologies that use AI and machine-learning software have great potential to empower people living with dementia today.

PROMISING SOLUTIONS Earlier this year the prize announced 24 teams as semi-finalists, all of which offer solutions that will help people living with dementia stay in control of their lives and support them to adapt better as their condition progresses.

For example, semi-finalist Animorph is developing CrossSense, a wearable augmented reality cognitive aid that combines different sensory inputs such as sight and sound to help people retain their memories for longer and improve their recall. The original idea behind this was inspired by the often extraordinary memory of people with synaesthesia.

CO-CREATION IS KEY For any type of technology to tangibly improve the lives of users, it must be designed with a good understanding of how it will be used and the types of people it will be used by.

The Longitude Prize on Dementia requires all innovators to consider the progressive nature of dementia so that it can lead to technology that effectively adapts to an individual’s changing condition and cognitive function. An important part of this is ensuring that people who have lived-experience of dementia are consistently involved in the competition design, as well as the judging and assessment process.

Co-creation is essential to ensure that new technologies developed through the prize truly meet people’s needs and can adapt to individuals’ lifestyles and remain effective as their condition progresses over time.

No two people experience dementia in the same way.

EMBRACING TECH AS A SOLUTION Dementia is one of the biggest health and social care issues of our time, and there is no cure yet. But by embracing the latest advances in technology, AI and machine learning that have been shaped by invaluable input and testing by people affected, we can use co-created technology to help people living with dementia to live independent, more fulfilled and ultimately, longer lives.

To find out more about the Longitude Prize on Dementia please visit www.dementia.longitudeprize.org

Phyliss Marks A Century With A Heartwarming Family Celebration at Waterfield House On Saturday the 25th of November, Waterfield House care home shared lots of

The Wellbeing Lead, Vicki, reflected on this momentous occasion and said: "It has

laughter and heartfelt conversations as Phyliss, one of their most cherished resi-

been an honor to celebrate one of our longest residing residents on her 100th birth-

dents, celebrated an incredible milestone - her 100th birthday, surrounded by her

day along with her amazing extended family. Phyliss is a very determined (and stub-

extended family and the dedicated team.

For years, Phyliss eagerly awaited this momentous occasion, sharing her anticipation and excitement with everyone around her. Her enthusiasm was magnified when she received a heartfelt 100th birthday card from King Charles.

Phyliss's extended family, along with the caring staff, came together to honour this remarkable milestone.

born) lady, and she was determined to see her 100th birthday. She loved seeing family who she had not seen in a while and meeting her new Great Granddaughter for the first time."

Phyliss's resilience and zest for life served as an inspiration to all, making this celebration a truly meaningful and unforgettable experience at Waterfield House.

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Discharging Patients into Care Homes Would Be ‘Appropriate’, Covid Inquiry Hears The Covid inquiry has heard from a top government adviser that that discharging positive Covid patients into care homes would be “entirely clinically appropriate” while not welcomed by families.

People with Covid-19 were discharged to care homes over fears about the NHS getting “clogged up”, the Covid inquiry heard.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, England’s deputy chief medical officer during the pandemic and now head of the UK Health Security Agency, told the inquiry of how an email she sent in mid-March 2020 described the “bleak picture” and “top line awful prospect” of what needed to happen if hospitals overflowed.

Dame Harries said: “Whilst the prospect is perhaps what none of us would wish to plan for, I believe the reality will be that we will need to discharge Covid-19 positive patients into residential care settings for the reason you have noted.

“This will be entirely clinically appropriate because the NHS will triage those to retain in acute settings who can benefit from that sector’s care.”

“The numbers of people with disease will rise sharply within a fairly short timeframe and I suspect make this fairly normal practice and more acceptable, but I do recognise that families and care homes will not welcome this in the initial phase.”

The email has shed new light on the government’s awareness of the crisis in care homes at an early stage of the pandemic. In 2022, the discharge of Covid patients back into care homes without testing was ruled in the High court to gave been illegal.

Dame Harries, who is now the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, defended the email, claiming it was a “high-level picture”.

“If people were not thinking through what the likelihood was in the rise in numbers of cases, I don’t think we could have sensible conversations about managing risks,” she said.

Dame Harries was questioned on whether care homes had been given enough support, and whether the need to protect people inside care homes had been adequately communicated alongside her advice in the email.

“Guidance was updated very regularly, but I do think there was a problem which is I think that the NHS and social care should be seen as a total continuum, they are all part of the healthcare system, and sometimes one bit gets developed separate from another,” she said.

“I’m really keen to emphasize my email was a high-level view, so people were aware of what was kind of coming over the hill, but the hill was still a little way away.”

The email was a reply to Rosamond Roughton, who was the director general for adult social care at the Department for Health and Social Care at the time.

Ms Roughton had asked: “When we introduce the shielding policy, what should our approach be to allowing patients to be discharged into care homes who are symptomatic of Covid-19?”

Ms Roughton’s email continued: “My working assumption was that we would have to allow discharge to happen, and have very strict infection control? Otherwise presumably the NHS gets clogged up with people who aren’t as acutely ill.”

And she acknowledged it was “a big ethical issue for care home providers who are understandably very concerned and are already getting questions from family members”.

The inquiry later heard how Professor Dame Jenny along with other top health experts wrote to cabinet secretary Simon Case in May 2020, when he was Number 10 permanent secretary, voicing concern that people may believe they “could go back to normal” wearing face coverings made from T-shirts, when there was no evidence to support this.

She added: “The problem we had there was that there appeared to be a view permeating through, and a real concern and risk, that it was being conceived that if you did one metre social distancing and you wore a face covering slung round your cheek, or whatever it might be, that was fine.

“So, there was a risk that in encouraging face (masks) people would stop doing the thing that was really important, which was distancing and all the other things.”

Yorkshire Care Homes Come Together For Talent Show The Freedom Centre in Hull hosted a spectacular talent show recently bringing together residents and staff from care homes across Yorkshire and beyond.

HICA Group, a not-for-profit care group, organised the event for its care homes which was held in front of a full house with members of the local community watching the performance alongside relatives and friends of the residents and HICA employees.

From renditions of ABBA’s Dancing Queen and songs from The Greatest Showman to saxophone soloist performances and poetry reading, the show featured approximately 14 singing and dance performances from residents and HICA’s care team.

Residents and staff at Hull-based residential homes The Hollies, Wilton Lodge, Isaac Robinson Court and Elm Tree Court were joined by other care homes within the Group including those from Cranwell Court in Grimsby and The Birches and The Wolds Care Centre in North Lincolnshire.

Terry Peel, CEO of HICA Group, said: “The event was fantastic, hugely rewarding, and residents and staff

showed great enthusiasm.

“They put in so much work and effort into rehearsals and some of them were performing for the very first time.

“Not only did it show how inclusive and caring we are as an organisation but it also showcased the array of talents we have among us, and I’m very proud of everyone involved in bringing the performance together.

“Such events have great benefits for our residents, improving their self-confidence and general wellbeing – it was a pleasure to watch.”

HICA Group, with its commitment to high-quality, person-centered care, operates a network of residential and nursing homes. It also offers home care services and caters to the specific needs of around 1,500 service users across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Justine, a resident at Wilton Lodge, said: “Performing for our families and friends was such a lovely experience and I enjoyed every minute.

“We put a lot of time and hard work into practising and I feel proud of what we achieved.”

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Here's How to Please All Ages with Christmas Dinner Professional chefs at Danforth Care (www.danforthcarehomes.co.uk) have come together to share their Christmas dinner tips

Greta Hoxha, Head Chef at Heatherton house says “As different age

Chefs are sharing their insight into preparing meals for those living with dementia this Christmas.

For many households, Christmas dinner is the biggest meal gathering to take place within the year. Often involving extended family and friends spanning an age gap of up to 100 years, it’s a wonderful yet inevitably stressful affair.

To help Britain put on a spread to please everyone at the dinner table this Christmas, the chefs at Danforth Care Homes have put together their top tips, including what to cook for a relative living with dementia.

groups or generations have different likes or dislikes, it is important to know and respect these. It’s also important to let people choose what to eat but give them the option to try new dishes”.

4. STAY CLEAR OF SPICE AND CHOKING HAZARDS With toddlers and very elderly people, small pieces of food can be a concern for choking.

Make sure the dishes you're preparing (or individual portions you’re serving) for these age groups are free from any potential choking hazards. Sticking to milder flavours is also safest in ensuring everyone

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE It can be tempting to over complicate a Christmas dinner, under the pressure of making something perfect. This is usually where things start to go wrong. The main goal is to get the family or group together for a wholesome meal, and when cooking for a large group, keeping it simple and hearty is one of the best ways to cater to everyone, old or young.

Dawn Louise Brown, Head Chef at Rossendale House, says: “There will be some aspects of a Christmas dinner that will appeal to everyone. Buttery mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and nicely seasoned carrot and swede mash will very rarely fail. Some meat could be separated and slow cooked in the gravy for the older and younger generations, making it easier to eat”.

2. MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED With different generations, tastes and requirements at the table, involving everyone is important. Getting people into the kitchen to help, especially any family members living with dementia, can increase their engagement with the dishes, and evoke happy memories of meals gone by.

from old to young has an enjoyable Christmas meal, the chefs advise.

DINING WITH DEMENTIA We asked the chefs at Danforth what type of meals to prepare for those living with dementia, and how to make sure your loved ones have a happy and comfortable Christmas.

Dawn Louise Brown explains “Traditional recipes are often a hit with Dawn shares “It’s very important to allow everyone to feel included and to feel like they are a valued member of the group. I think that the key to success is to not treat a Christmas gathering as homogeneous group of people, but as individuals, who may require a few special touches to make it a meal to remember.”

3. DO TRADITIONAL WITH A MODERN TWIST Inevitably, there will be guests at the table who’d like to try new dishes, and people who’d rather just stick with the traditional meal. To keep everyone happy, choose traditional dishes which can be split later in the cooking process, so one stays traditional, and one has a modern twist. This way, you save time by making one base dish that can be tweaked to fulfil the desires of the whole group.

older residents as they provide a link to the past. It is an opportunity to reminisce and remember. Taste is often a powerful sense in eliciting strong memories and feeling. Lots of residents will talk about food their mum would make, or food that they would make and enjoyed. We listen and make these dishes for them.”

“When making dinner at home for your loved one living with dementia, allow them as much autonomy as possible and empower them to be involved. This makes it easier for them to be engaged and comfortable. I would prepare a couple of meal options and allow the person to see each option to choose. Keep portions small, with the option for more, and keep the environment calm and not too overstimulating.”

Music, Exercise, Animals and Art Celebrated at Yorkshire Care Home A dementia specialist care home in Yorkshire, Lofthouse Grange and Lodge Care Home is championing the benefits of diverse therapies after measuring the impact of additional movement, entertainment and stimulation activities experienced by those living within its community.

Lofthouse Grange and Lodge Care Home provides residential and dementia care to the people of Wakefield, and is part of the Orchard Care Homes portfolio.

For people with dementia, art, music and shared activities can be a powerful way to unlock positive feelings and help to connect with other people The care home has implemented a varied therapy schedule, aiming to enrich the lives of those in the community and to make a positive impact on the overall physical and mental well-being of its people.

Every resident at Lofthouse Grange and Lodge is invited and encouraged to participate in a timetable of exercise, music, animal and arts & crafts therapy.

This includes armchair exercises once a week and bi-weekly visits from an exercise therapist, singalong sessions where residents are encouraged to dance, performances by local singers twice per month and musical activities using pom poms and balloons. Guests and staff are invited to bring in their dogs regularly for residents to meet and pet and the community also cares for and hatch-

es chickens, which go on to be adopted by a local farm. A farm experience takes place annually, allowing residents to engage with a range of animals and is planned to take place again in spring 2024.

Arts and Crafts is arguably the most popular activity amongst residents, taking place three times per week and involves painting the wildlife seen in the home gardens and seasonal activities such as pottery plate classes, with creations going on display for Halloween and Christmas. Residents are currently learning wreath making and are also devising their own autumn candle holders for use over the next few months.

John Costella, whose wife Mary now lives at the care home, said, “At the beginning, Mary wasn't too pleased about moving into a home and I was quite anxious too. But I cannot complain about a thing, we were put at ease right away and Mary is calm, which is a really big thing. We have lived together since 1976, so to have her settled down so well and so quickly is fantastic.

Mary says she loves it here, which makes me feel a sense of reassurance.

Every member of staff from Management to the cleaning staff has a smile on their face and cannot do enough for you. They are always on hand and happy to jump to Mary’s needs, even just a cup of tea, no job is too small. I can’t praise them enough; they do an amazing Job.”

New TV Hearing Loop Offers Personal Entertainment For Residents with Hearing Loss Residents who struggle to hear can enjoy in-room entertainment, in clarity and without disturbing their neighbours, thanks to a new ‘home’ hearing loop.

An estimated 75 % of care home residents have a degree of hearing loss. The HLD4 from Contacta amplifies programmes from the television or music from a sound system meaning residents don’t have to turn the volume up to unacceptable levels.

The HLD4 hearing loop driver is a sleek, compact unit that sits easily alongside a TV. It sends an audio signal directly to a resident’s hearing aid via a loop pad placed underneath their seat cushion. It cuts out background noise allowing them to enjoy high quality, clear sound at their preferred volume and tone settings.

Residents who don’t use hearing aids but who could still benefit from the HLD4 can tap into the sound using Contacta’s newly launched RX-30 hearing loop listener, a rechargeable unit used with headphones.

“Communal living can be challenging when people have hearing loss and the HLD4 is a perfect solution,” said Shelley Rolfe, Head of UK Sales at Contacta.

“It is an attractive addition to a resident’s room and gives staff peace of mind that residents can enjoy their favourite programmes, music or audio books without causing a disturbance to their neighbours.”

The HLD4 can also be used with a room loop - cabling discreetly laid just beneath the carpet edge or along the top of skirting board - allowing residents to get the same sound quality no matter where in the room they sit.

Straight-forward to install, the unit memorises the user’s personal sound settings and even has an optional external microphone that will amplify voices of other people in the room, a phone ringing or a doorbell.

“Having these units could be a great selling point for care homes,” added Shelley.

“Being unable to hear clearly can be very frustrating but the HLD4 gives residents comfortable, independent listening. Our installation team of trained engineers can install any number of these units and can provide a regular maintenance programme to make sure these, and other hearing loops homes may have installed, work as they should at all times.” www.contacta.co.uk

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

Who To Trust In Digital Marketing

By Mike Knivett, MD of SEO agency Artemis Marketing (https://artemis.marketing) Using digital marketing to promote your organisation is a must these days. Digital marketing is a broad term which covers all online technology, such as search engine optimisation (SEO), social media and online adverts. A survey conducted by Lottie revealed that 94% of care seekers use the internet when looking for care.

Care providers therefore can’t ignore the importance of digital marketing, but the question is: how do you know which suppliers to trust?

It might seem shocking, especially to those in the highly regulated care industry, but anyone can legally set themselves up in business as a digital marketer and declare themselves an ‘expert’.

It’s an unregulated industry with an absence of an official watchdog to oversee or benchmark quality.

This lack of regulation can leave care providers exposed to potential vulnerabilities. Unless you have a background in digital marketing, how can you differentiate the trustworthy from the tryhards? What are the warning signs to look out for that your SEO ‘expert’ might not be all they seem, and how can you protect yourselves from charlatans who are good at the talk, but fall down at the walk?

Mike Knivett, a digital marketing veteran with 20 years’ experience and MD of Artemis Marketing, shares his advice on what to look for in a supplier to help ensure you get the results you deserve: Beware of over promising While it’s tempting to believe that SEO works like magic, it really doesn’t. Effective SEO takes time — it doesn’t happen overnight. The results when they come can be transformational for a business, but they don’t happen immediately and a supplier who tries to tell you otherwise is to be avoided.

SPEAK TO EXISTING CLIENTS

A digital marketer who is confident that their work is of a high quality will allow you to speak to some of their existing clients so you can hear about their experiences first-hand. Anyone who makes excuses about not being able or willing to share who their clients are, probably has a lot to hide.

LOOK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT GUARANTEES Digital marketing is an art not a science. While an experienced supplier can use their skills and experience to recommend the best approach, what they can’t do is tell you exactly what will happen once they start work on your campaign. Large claims such as “We’ll get you to the top of the search engine by the end of the month” isn’t a promise. At best it’s a hope; at worst it’s a lie.

HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY So much jargon exists in digital marketing that it can sometimes sound like a foreign language. While your supplier should know their stuff, when they’re talking to clients about their campaigns, they should communicate in a way that’s accessible for everyone. That goes for reports too — if their written reports read like gobbledygook, ask them to translate it into layman’s terms and provide context to make it clear what the results mean in real terms. A good supplier will happily oblige.

CHECK OUT REVIEWS A key advantage of living in a digital world is that low quality suppliers have nowhere to hide. Online reviews written by previous clients quickly show who’s provided a good service and who future clients should be wary of. Check out customer reviews on sites such as Google Reviews, FreeIndex and Trustpilot.

Look for patterns in customers’ comments to get a good idea of which suppliers consistently perform well.

IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE Once you have a shortlist of digital marketing companies who seem to fit the bill, take a meeting with each of them, making sure you get to meet the people you’d be working with day-to-day. This will give you a sense for the human beings behind the outfit. Choosing someone you believe you’d enjoy working with will make a huge difference to the success of the campaign. If everything else is equal, opt for the supplier you can see yourself getting along well with.

Local MP Rishi Sunak Visits Northallerton Care Home Prime MinisterRishi Sunak visited a Northallerton care home and helped elderly residents dress the Christmas tree.

Mr Sunak, who is also the MP for Richmond (Yorks), chatted with residents and staff and helped hand out cream cakes and tea during his visit to Beechwood Care Home, in Romanby Road.

A group of residents from fellow Hill Care Group home, Sycamore Hall Care Home, in Ripon, also came along to meet Mr Sunak.

Resident Margaret Smith, 87, handed him Christmas cards made by residents. She said: “What a nice man. I am glad he liked the cards.”

Mr Sunak also wrote a festive message to residents and placed it in a bauble before hanging it on one of the care home’s Christmas trees.

Residents Penny Tyreman, 85, Jean Spiller, 87, and Juliet Riordan, 82, joined in with dressing the tree. Mr Sunak assisted Juliet when she placed er bauble on the tree.

Joanne Porter, activities coordinator at Beechwood Care Home, said: “It was such an honour to have the PM visit Beechwood.

“The team were thrilled to meet him. Our staff members from overseas were especially impressed as the PM took time to chat to them.

“The PM was very patient and kind with Juliet as he helped her to put her chosen bauble on the tree. It was also great to see him getting involved in handing out cream cakes and cups of tea.”

Residents and staff presented the PM with a Bettys of Harrogate gift box containing sweets, treats and a tin of premium tea. The gift box also contained a watercolour painting of a Christmas tree by resident Maureen Brooks, 87, a lifelong artist.

Mr Sunak said: “It was a great pleasure to be involved helping to get Christmas underway at Beechwood. The home has a special, caring, atmosphere and the staff do an excellent job supporting residents.”

Sheffield Day Services Supporting Dunelm’s Delivering Joy Campaign Kind-hearted staff at Sheffield Day Services have donated gifts to those in need as part of Dunelm’s Delivering Joy campaign.

Now in its fourth year, the campaign aims to help people who may not otherwise receive a gift to open on Christmas Day. The idea is simple – customers can collect a tag from a local Dunelm store with a gift request from a local good cause, including schools, care homes, refuges, and charities. Customers are asked to return the tag, attached to a gift which can be from any retailer, and Dunelm will ensure the gift is delivered before Christmas.

Generous staff at Cygnet Social Care’s Sheffield Day Services have been hard at work supporting the important cause, with dozens of gifts donated.

Last year’s Dunelm campaign saw the number of donated gifts across the UK soar from 20,000 to more than 60,000 and this year looks likely to top that.

Manager Helen Ullyatt said she was pleased her team were able to play a part in spreading festive cheer.

She said: “The amazing staff at Sheffield Day Service wanted to spread some joy for people in the community that would otherwise go without. It is an incredible gesture of goodwill.

“I’m so proud of the staff team, as always they have gone the extra mile to support a great cause. At a time when we are all feeling the pinch, they wanted to spread some happiness.

“Some of the gift requests are incredibly simple, suggesting that the potential recipients are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

“Children have been asking for new underwear, teddies and hair bobbles for school, amongst other items. Many people put winter essentials at the top of their wish lists with items such as hats, scarves, socks, toiletries and festive food items like selection boxes.”

Digitising a Wellness Culture in Care People prefer to visit care homes with a wellness culture. The pervading peace of mind improves mental health, leading to a sense of well-being, reduced staff sickness, happier residents and better productivity. Wellness culture is a catalyst with real business benefits, while directly contributing to stability and better continuity of service.

Culture is engendered from the top, often being a management strategy and forming part of quality programmes. It may seem surprising to some, but digital tech can have a major part in delivering a wellness culture.

Care Homes are frequently bombarded with wellness ideas and opportunities but, how many wellness service providers deliver physical wellness monitoring as part of a wellness strategy. For some, having a wellness strategy is a tick in a policy box which is a shame as it is so much more valuable and can deliver smiles, well-being, peace of mind and better profitability. Wide, inclusive wellness programmes incorporate physical wellness monitoring as this is the basis of well-being and is a demonstration of a wellness culture.

Delivering physical wellness checks has become so much easier with systems such as HealthCheckerPro™ from Flourish PPI which incorporate digital wellness monitoring facilities that automatically alert to symptoms associated with more than 37 different illnesses. This rapidity can be crucial by

reducing medical response times, leading to faster recovery. HealthCheckerPro™ is completely contactless, effortless to use and really, really fast, completing a wellness check in under 1 second, helping to keep the duty Care Home Manager alert to sickness. This digital system stores the data from every check and has a real management benefit for care home operators with multiple homes as all wellness checks can be monitored live, simultaneously across every home together with any alerts. There are even automated daily reports, and, as the system can also be used for access control, all attendance data can form part of fire records.

This new digital technology presents new opportunities which not only include true wellness monitoring but provide a host of efficiencies that make the care workplace a better one for all . Taking this approach is not expensive either as HealthCheckerPro™ systems start at just £12.82 per week so, true wellness monitoring is a ‘no brainer’ and helps to bring smiles and joy every day, everywhere.

Steve Hathaway is Business Development Director for Wincheeter based company, Flourish PPI, a brand of Dijital Technologies Ltd, a pioneering digital tech organisation in the Care Home sector.

See the advert on the facing page for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 17

Councils Need Support And Funding For Adult Social Care Assurance Process Councils need support and funding for adult social care assurance process The new assurance process for council adult social care services is time and energy intensive, interviews with the pilot councils show.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales is calling for a guarantee of adequate new burdens funding for the process, as well as sufficient advance notice of the assessments for councils.

With five pilots completed, the Care Quality Commission regulator will begin a new assessment regime which will see councils handed an overall rating of either ‘inadequate’, ‘requires improvement’, ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ as part of a new system of adult social care assurance introduced by the Government. Following interviews with those pilot councils, it is evident that a significant amount of work is required to prepare and execute these assessments.

Adult social care has faced over a decade of underfunding and unmet and under-met need has grown as a consequence. With no extra money announced for adult social care in the Autumn Statement councils will struggle to keep up with demography, pay and inflationary pressures. There is also concern that the implications of underfunding councils may not be taken into account in the ratings given.

The LGA says that the Government should guarantee of adequate new burdens funding for the process including committing to reviewing and increasing the funding if necessary. The learning from the pilots must be carried through into full rollout.

Additionally, councils in the first tranche of assessments need to be notified as soon as possible given the significant amount of preparatory work required in advance of assessment team on-site visit Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “While councils are very willing to participate in this process, the current precarious position of adult social care must be recognised.

“Despite unmet and under met need remaining concerningly high, councils received no additional funding for adult social care in the Autumn Statement.

“The added workload these assessments are causing for councils must be addressed and councils should be given appropriate additional funding and support in order to participate in them effectively.”

Cathie Williams, Chief Executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said: “The pilots have shown the assurance process takes up a huge amount of time and energy within local authorities, at a time when social care teams are already under pressure with growing numbers of people needing care and support, budgets under severe strain and high levels of vacancies.

To ensure assurance doesn’t take away from support going to people who need social care, the Government must provide local authorities with additional funding and resource to carry this out.

“We’re also keen to work with the Department of Health and Social Care on what support will be available for councils following assessments, as that will be vital in maximising the impact of this new assessment programme.”

Century Celebrations For Chorleywood Resident Celebrations have been in full swing at Chorleywood Beaumont as one of their much loved residents reaches her centenary in style.

Flora Richards was joined by staff, her family, friends and other residents as she received a card from the King in recognition of her landmark birthday. A champagne reception was held at the home and everyone celebrated while Flora opened her many cards and gifts.

Guests also enjoyed not just one but two special birthday cake made by the home’s

rendition of Happy Birthday and toasted Flora’s good health.

Flora, said: “I am so over whelmed by everyone’s cards and kind wishes and so many lovely gifts. The staff have arranged an amazing party I have a wonderful time with my family and friends and the cake was delicious.”

Ramona Stanciu, General Manager of Barchester’s Chorleywood Beaumont added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable lady as she reaches this amazing milestone. Flora is kind and caring and is such a popular resident who always has

head chef Chris Pigera and the Chorleywood Beaumont’s community choir The

an interesting tale to tell, and we look forward to hearing many more as she moves

Beaumont Songsters, led by Warren from Christ Church Chorleywood sang a rousing

into her next century.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

Lessons Learned From Covid Nightmare CAMPAIGNERS say the Government needs to reform the way social care is run to protect the sector from a future pandemic.

The social care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG), wants to see an end to the current “fractured and confusing” management of social care and the creation of a National Care service to bring the sector and NHS care under one roof.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “Hearing the covid inquiry – and in particular the evidence from Matt Hancock – has proved what we already knew, that the current system, of having NHS care controlled by central Government but social care managed by local authorities, simply doesn’t work.

“It hampered the Government response to the pandemic and was one of numerous factors that left the sector vulnerable to covid, with devastating consequences.

“The disappointing thing is that despite that experience during the pandemic, nothing has been done to address that and the Government still isn’t able to properly co-ordinate social care in the same way as it does the NHS.

“In 2020, social care was on its knees, under-resourced and understaffed after decades of neglect and managed in this fractured and confusing way.

“Any attempts to throw a ‘protective ring’ around care were thwarted by discharge of untested patients into care homes, a lack of PPE and a lack of tests. Had the Government had oversight on social care as it has the NHS, we may have had a more effective, co-ordinated approach.”

Mr Padgham says the outlook for care remains challenging.

He added: “We are going through a crippling staffing shortage, huge increases in the cost of living and other costs and no sign of any respite or reprieve. The result is a loss of providers, an ever-reducing capacity in the sector which means more than 1.6m people living without the care they need and which contributes to delayed discharges at hospitals and increased waiting lists.”

“I haven’t heard anything in the covid inquiry to suggest that lessons have been learned. Mr Hancock said the pandemic began with a social care sector in need of reform where the reforms hadn’t happened. I can tell Mr Hancock that the reforms still haven’t happened and we are in a worse place than ever.”

Mod Community Pulls Together To Fulfil Jimmy’s Dream For Jimmy Reynolds, the dream of a lifetime has come true as the Mod recently received the welcome surprise of two dozen fellow Mods, along with their iconic scooters, on his doorstep.

The 70-year-old resident of Belong Atherton is receiving palliative support at the care village and had shared his ambitions to rekindle his passion with his carers, who put the wheels in motion to make happiness happen for their customer.

As a result of their efforts, kind-hearted Mods from Wigan Scooter Club and Bolton Two Hats Scooter Club jumped on their scooters and made their way to the Mealhouse Lane village to meet their new friend, take him for a ride around the local area and enjoy the chance to ‘talk shop’ and share their stories.

Speaking of the experience, Jimmy said: “When I saw what my carers had done, I was both shocked and overwhelmed. This was a great thing, and I am grateful to all that gave up their time to do this for me.”

Modernists, commonly known as Mods, are baby boomers who made their mark frequenting jazz clubs, donning fine Italian suits whilst their trademark Lambretta and Vespa scooters were parked outside. Today,

the subculture continues with a more casual approach to fashion, with Parkas and Harrington jackets and boots key wardrobe staples, with scooters enduring the key part of the lifestyle.

Kim Calland, experience coordinator at Belong Atherton, explains more about how the plan came together: “A big part of our role is supporting our customers to do the things they want to do, so we sat down with our wonderful Jimmy to find out more.”

Jemma Sharratt, village nurse manager, continues: “Straightaway, we hatched a plan to make his wishes happen, reaching out to my former university lecturer, Dean McShane – also a Mod – who put a shout out to his community to visit Jimmy and the response was overwhelming, we couldn’t believe it when so many of them braved the rain and turned up on our doorstep. We can’t thank them enough for their generosity.”

Following the happy event, tweeting on social media platform, X, Dean McShane said: “A huge thank you to the amazing people from the scooter clubs and Belong who gave Jimmy a dream day! He went out in the side car and was given full Mod 5-star treatment. Faith in humanity restored, up the Mods!”

TLC Care Making A Positive Impact Through Support For A Worthy Cause!

TLC Care’s four care homes – Kailash Manor Care Home, Cooperscroft Care Home, Cuffley Manor Care Home, and Karuna Manor Care Home – came together to champion the causes of ADD Vance – The Autism and ADHD Trust and AKT.org.uk in a recent charity dinner evening. Hosted by the Mayor of Hertsmere, Chris Mayers, the event featured an engaging raffle, delightful dinner, and a collective effort that successfully raised over £200.

ADD Vance, a registered charity founded in Hertfordshire in 1996

by Anne Ross, aims to provide vital support for families affected by ADHD and Autism. Beginning as a telephone helpdesk in Anne’s home, ADD Vance has evolved to encompass support groups, training, and coaching, boasting a dedicated team of over 20 trainers, coaches, admin staff, and volunteers. The charity’s commitment to empowering families reflects TLC Care’s own dedication to individualized care in their residential and nursing facilities.

In tandem with ADD Vance, TLC Care also rallied behind AKT.org.uk, an organization dedicated to securing safe homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16-25. AKT strives to offer support to LGBTQ+ young people at risk of homelessness or experiencing a

Violet Home Care Ltd. WHO ARE WE? We are an established domiciliary care agency in the UK. We understand that many individuals would prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, rather than moving into a care facility. That's why we offer a range of home care services, tailored to meet the unique needs and prefer-ences of each client.

OUR SERVICES: Our team of compassionate caregivers are trained to provide a range of services, from assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing, to managing medication and providing specialized care for those with dementia or other health conditions. We work closely with each client and their family to develop a personalized care plan, designed to meet their specific needs and goals.

hostile living environment, underscoring the shared values of inclusivity and care that TLC Care homes embody.

The charity dinner witnessed the attendance of key figures from TLC Care Homes, including Marion Wak-Williams (Cuffley Manor Home Manager), Richelle de Beer (Cuffley Manor Business Development Manager), Dawn Cawley (Cooperscroft Business Development Manager), Raj Kerai (Kailash Manor Business Development Manager), and Payal Chhabra (Karuna Manor Home Manager).

Beyond their commitment to wellbeing of the community, TLC Care Homes continue to redefine standards in residential care.

Residents in their homes across North London and Hertfordshire experience a unique blend of independence and luxury. The tailored care plans, emphasizing both physical and mental wellness, are a testament to TLC Care’s commitment to individual well-being.

Whether it’s dementia care with individually designed well-being programs or respite care that addresses immediate needs while fostering community and comfort, TLC Care Homes stand as beacons of compassionate care.

OUR VALUES: We believe in a person-centered approach to care, which means that we focus on the unique needs and preferences of each client, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Our caregivers are trained to provide support with dignity and respect, and to encourage clients to remain as inde-pendent as possible, while still receiving the care and assistance they need. We also understand the importance of companionship and socialization, especially for those who may be living alone.

For this reason, we offer a range of social activities and outings, to help clients stay engaged and connected to their community. At our domiciliary home care agency, we believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity and re-spect, and we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Whether you or a loved one are in need of long-term care or just a few hours of assistance each week, we would be honored to provide the support and care you need to live your best life at home.

Contact us at: www.violethomecare.co.uk Info@violethomecare.co.uk 01372 700315 See the advert on the facing page for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 19

Guarded Welcome For Winter Care Cash Boost Care providers have given a guarded welcome to the announcement of an extra £40m to help provide care this winter.

They say the money is welcome but warn that it is another temporary ‘sticking plaster’ when wholesale reform is needed.

The Government has announced £40m to speed up hospital discharges, boost social care provision and prevent avoidable hospital admissions.

The social care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG), gave a guarded welcome to the news.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “Any extra money coming to local authorities to ease pressures this winter has to be welcomed and I am pleased that the Government has heeded warnings about the challenges care providers are facing.

“The money will, in the main, help provide more homecare and will ease some pressures.

“However, this is another piece of knee-jerk, piecemeal funding that does little to tackle the underlying problems within social care.

“We need proper reform that will provide better funding for the sector, pay staff properly and ensure adequate social care provision all the time, not just an emergency sticking plaster when hospitals are bursting at the seams.

“And it is important to say that, once divided across quite a long list of local authorities in need, that extra

money doesn’t go very far. We must also ensure that it is spent on the delivery of care at the sharp end and not lost in bureaucracy as has happened before.”

Deighton, Director of the NHS Confederation’s Acute Network said: “Health leaders will welcome access to any funding that can help to bolster services in the community as we approach winter. With hospital bed occupancy and other pressures already very high they hope that the release of this funding for local authorities will support preparations that the NHS has been putting in place already to keep people well.

“While the NHS is committed to working hand in glove with local authorities to support people over winter, our members are eager to see a shift from these emergency pots of rescue money being needed and a towards more multi-year funding allocations that will help public services plan more effectively.

“This year, this worry is compounded by the cost of industrial action which is estimated to be at over £1.4 billion. Whilst the department announced £800 million to cover some of this cost last month, the majority of this needs to be found from existing budgets and indications are it will need to be clawed back from central digital and capital funds.

“This will stymie the ability of NHS leaders to reach the stretching productivity targets set out in the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan and in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement for all public services.”

Special Guest Celebrates ‘Topping Out’ At Yate’s Multi-Million-Pound New Care Home Yate’s newest care home, set to open next year, has marked its latest construction milestone with the help of a special guest.

The Care UK team and representatives from Kori Construction, were joined by the Mayor of Yate, Councillor Cheryl Kirby, and the Deputy Mayor of Yate, Councillor Ben Nutland, who placed the final roof tile on the roof of Ladden View, on Fletcher Road.

The purpose-built care home – which is expected to welcome the first residents in autumn 2024 – will provide full-time residential and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, for up to 75 older people, with facilities including its own cinema, hair salon and café.

Angela Zuraw, Regional Director for Care UK, said: “As one of the most recent additions to an expanding portfolio of residential care homes, Ladden View, our second home in Bristol, highlights our dedica-

Maintain and encourage healthy living and a good quality of life.

Violet Home Care are an established domiciliary care agency in the UK. We understand that many individuals would prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, rather than moving into a care facility.

That's why we offer a range of home care services, tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of each client.

tion at Care UK to enhancing the provision of residential care in the region.

“As we get one step closer to opening the doors to locals, it was fantastic to welcome the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Yate and, once the home’s interior is complete, we can’t wait to give Councillor Cheryl Kirby and Councillor Ben Nutland the grand tour.”

Jordan Connachie, Managing Director at Kori, added: “When designed well, physical spaces have been shown to contribute to individuals living longer, more fulfilling lives. Ladden View is well on track to be able to offer this benefit to its future residents in Yate. The construction is going well, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to hand the reins over to Care UK’s seasoned team next autumn.”

At Violet Home Care we aim to provide quality health care service, to enable people stay in their homes.

We recognize that everyone has different needs and hence require personalized care.

Some of the many services that we can provide: • Live in Care • Overnight Care • Sleep Patterns Evaluation • Shopping e.g. grocery or personal • Help with medication • Meal Preparation • Washing & Ironing • Outings to friends, family, and walks • Cleaning the home

PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

Over 10,000 Autistic Adults Are Not Receiving The Social Care They Need The Government is failing autistic adults, with over 10,000 people not receiving the care they are legally entitled to, putting them at risk of breakdown, admission to mental health hospitals and worsening life chances. Lack of funding from Government means the Care Act 2014, which states that eligible adults must receive support, is being broken daily.

Autism Alliance’s Breaking Point Report is based on an audit by economists Cordis Bright and surveys of autistic adults and their families. It reveals 77% of autistic adults reach crisis point before care is provided. Cordis Bright’s analysis also shows for the first time that the cost of closing the gap in specialist care provision for autistic adults is likely to be between £70 million and £140 million, equating to between just 0.4% and 0.7% of current adult social care spend in England.

Autistic adults can have hugely diverse needs and experiences.

Recognising this, social care plays an essential role in helping autistic people live happier, healthier, longer, more productive lives. The gap in care revealed in Breaking Point relates primarily to autistic adults with a moderate learning disability.

Effective support can vary from helping with personal care to arranging hospital appointments. Specialist care providers that understand autism and use person-centred approaches can help autistic adults live well in their communities, enable some to work, and prevent the escalation of need that frequently leads to crisis, and ultimately to avoidable mental health hospital admission.

There are over 1,300 autistic people currently detained in mental health units, when they could be living well in their communities. It is widely recognised that for most autistic people, care in an inpatient unit is rarely helpful and can be deeply damaging. Baroness Hollins’ four-year report recently spelled out that autistic people with learning disabilities are being “warehoused” in hospital wards and concluded: “There is an urgent need for radical reform to address the crisis in care for disabled adults of working age.”

THE BREAKING POINT REPORT ALSO REVEALS: • 48% of autistic adults receiving social care feel it doesn’t meet their needs • 44% of autistic adults wait more than 2 years for social care provision

• 58% of autistic adults receive poor support during the process of trying to get social care • 56% of autistic adults don’t try to get social care because they don’t think they’ll get it The Breaking Point Report calls for Government to close the funding gap either through additional investment, or by shifting existing funding from crisis inpatient services to the right support in the community. (4) It also recommends closer partnerships between local authorities, local NHS services, care providers, the Care Quality Commission and mental health services to address barriers preventing autistic people and their families accessing specialist care and support.

Adam Micklethwaite, Director of the Autism Alliance, says: “The human cost of the failure in social care is unacceptable, and autistic adults and their families are at breaking point. Government must act to end this human rights injustice.

“Investment is vital, but we also need reform: better understanding of autism and more support for specialist care providers. The principles of good care for autistic people would improve care for everyone, and the voices of autistic adults and their families should be a guide to wider reform of social care.”

Sir Robert Buckland KC, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Autism and the APPG on Learning Disability, says: “Despite many commitments to improve the lives of autistic people, plans to build the right support in communities are not working. Autistic people should not have to reach crisis before support is provided and should never be detained in mental health hospitals.

“The injustices faced by autistic people and people with a learning disability need to end. The Government should urgently consider its plans, and all parties should, as a priority, set out how they can make real progress on this in the next Parliament: which must include plans for a new Mental Health Bill which should have been part of this year’s King’s Speech.”

Alex Rook is a respected human rights lawyer at Rook Irwin Sweeney whose work focuses on achieving social justice. He acts for individuals, charities and companies in the full range of judicial review cases, with particular specialisms in health and social care, procurement, mental capacity and human rights law.

Alex says: “We are regularly instructed on behalf of autistic adults and/or their families, where local authorities are not meeting their legal duties in accordance with the Care Act, and where a lack of funding appears to be the main obstacle. Autistic people and people with a learning disability often bear the brunt of this lack of funding because their specific needs go unmet. It is clear that at the national level, serious discussion is required about how the social care system can fulfil its functions as defined in the law.”

Belong Achieves Gold Standard For End-Of-Life Care Dementia specialist Belong has earned the Quality Hallmark Award for demonstrating best practice in end of life and palliative care for its customers, following Gold Standards Framework (GSF) assessments at its Warrington and Newcastle-under-Lyme villages.

Assessors from the national organisation responsible for training and quality standards in the sector praised the not-for-profit group’s ‘village living’ model as conducive to high care standards and helping to promote the independence of people as much as possible. Activities provision, focus on exercise and falls prevention awareness, and relationships with external bodies, such as music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins, were amongst the examples of strengths highlighted.

The report commended ‘clearly dedicated staff’ who work alongside families to prepare for the final stages of life, prioritising dignity, compassion and a person-centred approach. Family communication and Belong’s in-house Admiral Nurse were also cited as key indicators in the appraisal which summarised: ‘whole team support for residents and families at end of life, from housekeeping team to reception and all

care staff.’

The evaluations also took into account family testimonials, including one wife of a resident, who said of the carers: “They don’t just care for the residents, they do actually love them … [we are] very appreciative of all the support offered to us. When things are not good, they are always there.”

Speaking of the accolades, Sue Goldsmith, Belong’s chief operating officer, said: “Dealing with the subject of death is often still taboo, but we recognise how imperative it is that we support customers to experience a good death. This starts with being able to open channels of communication, both with residents and their families, to prepare well for end of life. Providing exceptional care that meets people’s preferences is never more important than at this difficult time.

“We are therefore pleased to be accredited with two sets of top scores for the GSF Quality Hallmark Award, which serve as testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams who have perhaps one of the most challenging but rewarding of jobs.”

Making Chat Work in Independent Care Homes Rising costs and staffing pressures are weighing on independent care homes, and regular breaks may not be, well, quite that regular.

That’s why the comfort of a coffee break is now more important than ever. NESCAFÉ has been a constant in homes up and down the country for years, and it may not only be a trusted companion for staff needing a moment, but equally, a tradition of joy and connection for residents.

GOOD PEOPLE Independent care homes are demanding, and good people are the heartbeat that keeps them going. From the staff who create the warm, welcoming atmosphere, to the residents and visitors whose chatter make it feel like home. But as the median hourly rate for care workers decreased by 1.5% between March 2021 and March 20221, keeping staff motivated is crucial.

NESCAFÉ can not only provide that warming comfort in stressful times, but spark conversation when it’s needed most. It’s important for staff to take those deserved moments of respite and enjoy the coffee chats that can help transform co-workers into friends; and get any concerns off their chest.

GOOD COFFEE 80% of UK households buy instant coffee, particularly those aged 65 and older.2 When placed inside the care home – whether in a cosy lounge or on a corner table in a staff room – that welcome aroma of coffee fills the air. As the nation’s favourite coffee,3 NESCAFÉ champions meaningful coffee break conversations, helping the wellbeing of care home staff and residents alike. Because good people deserve good coffee.

GREAT CARE Research says that taking part in meaningful social activities helps people maintain thinking skills better in later life.4 What NESCAFÉ does, with its rich history and warm presence, is provide a catalyst for such meaningful moments to happen.

So, in the midst of care home challenges – from financial to emotional – the promise of NESCAFÉ surpasses just coffee. It can create a homely environment which makes for a happier team, happier residents, and ultimately, a happier home.

TRY NOW AND CLAIM at https://hashting.promo/nescafecarehomeslanding/CAREHOMES-TCC

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

Trip To Illuminations For Resident At Bolton Home After Nearly 50 Years Since Last Visit A resident at a Bolton home went to see the Blackpool illuminations with her daughter, almost 50 years since her last visit.

Ellen Marshall lives at MHA Beechville and “jumped” at the chance to visit the tourist attraction, something she did back in 1974 with her daughter Julie.

The activity coordinator at the home Diana Bellusci then arranged for a trip for the mother and daughter as part of her Seize the Day. The initiative encourages residents to re-experience activities or events from the past or to do something they would like to do for the first time.

As part of the trip Ellen has a fish and chips supper at Bispham Kitchen as well as some sweet treats in the form of Blackpool fudge and rock.

Speaking after the trip Diana said: “Ellen literally jumped at the chance to visit the illuminations when I told her they were on until the end of the year.

“She told me she had not been for almost 50 years and the last time she went was with her daughter.

“I then asked Julie if she would like to come with us and she was more than happy to do so.

“Ellen was in a great mood on the coach and joined in with me and the rest of the staff by singing on the journey.

“Julie then told me it was in 1974 both her and her mum had last visited the illuminations.

“They both really enjoyed the night out, Ellen was really appreciative and kept thanking me for organising the trip for her.”

Mad Hatters Tea Party at Weald Hall Weald Hall Care Home in Epping recently hosted an imaginative Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for its residents, with a focus on promoting nutrition and hydration. The event was honoured by the presence of Epping’s Mayor, Christine Burgess, and Deputy Town Mayor, Cherry McCredie.

Mayor Christine Burgess delivered a speech on the importance of nutrition and hydration.

Mayor Burgess was particularly impressed by the creative catering at the party, which included teapots made from melons and toadstools crafted from tomatoes and cheese and food labelled “eat me” in classic Alice in Wonderland theme. She commended the staff for their innovative efforts, stating she had never seen anything quite like it.

The event was not just about nutrition and hydration, but also about fun and engagement. Live music filled the air, and staff, residents, family members, and Deputy Town Mayor McCredie took to the dance floor, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Weald Hall Care Home Manager, Danielle Barham, explained that she is always seeking inventive ways

to ensure the residents maintain a nutritious diet. She emphasised that proper nutrition and hydration are critical aspects of care, as they help prevent health problems.

The event was thoroughly planned by the lifestyle team, Charlie and Leigh, who ensured every detail was considered. Staff members got into the spirit of the event by dressing up as characters from Alice in Wonderland, with senior staff member Claire delighting residents as the Cheshire Cat. The beautifully renovated care home provided the perfect backdrop for the themed event, which concluded with a screening of Alice in Wonderland in the home’s cinema room.

The day was made even more special when resident Roy had a surprise visit from a greyhound from the local shelter where he used to volunteer. Roy was overjoyed to spend time with Len, the glossy black greyhound, and reminisce about his time spent with the breed he loves so much.

Blueleaf Partners with Lisbeth Nursing Home to Deliver Better Outcomes in Continence Care Lisbeth Nursing Home, an award-winning care home in Great Wyrley near Walsall, is making significant improvements in continence care for its residents after signing a new partnership agreement with Blueleaf Care, the nationwide supplier of care home products, services, and supplies.

Incidents of moisture lesions, which cause distress to thousands of residents across the UK every day, have been virtually eliminated at Lisbeth Nursing Home, not only delivering better patient outcomes, but also reducing the need for additional creams and cleaning products, reducing unnecessary costs, and supporting a more sustainable operation.

Opened in April 2021, Lisbeth Nursing Home has already made its mark in the local community and beyond, meeting the needs of three local authorities in Staffordshire, The Black Country and Wales. Most recently it featured in the list of the Top 20 care homes in the West Midlands following a survey by carehome.co.uk Care Home Manager Andrea Walker, who has run the 40-bed home from the beginning, says the decision to switch to Blueleaf has helped further improve an already exceptional level of resident care: “We use the complete range of TENA products from Blueleaf, having assessed the individual needs of all of our residents on a one-to-one basis,” she explains.

“Blueleaf has not only helped us in delivering a quality product, but also in guiding us to select the right prod-

Saying Hola and Bonjour to Memories A pioneering language learning programme, recently launched in London, is set to open up new opportunities for residents in care and retirement homes. Developed and operated by Speak Like A Native, this innovative initiative has been on hold for three years.

CEO Stuart Rubenstein says, “We’ve been running language courses in nurseries and schools for years but Covid meant we’ve had to wait until now to start in care homes. It’s very exciting to begin rolling it out and seeing how positive the initial reception is.”

He explains that what makes this course so special is that it’s not about turning up and teaching a few words in Spanish or French. “We create a space where residents can connect the language with memories, which might be food or culture, school experiences, family or holidays. The lessons are very fluid and follow the pace of those participating. We personalise everything and make it a very special hour for all involved.”

Among the early adopters of Speak Like A Native is Alan Morkhill House in North Kensington, part of the Gold Care Homes group, which now has Spanish for beginners as one of its regular weekly events.

Suraiya Islam, activities co-ordinator at Alan Morkhill House, explains why she’s become a fan of Speak Like A Native. “The language sessions benefit our residents in numerous ways; they help them grow, stimulate their brains, increase their desire to learn and try something new, improve their attention span, slow down cognitive issues, improve memory function, boost their self-esteem and give them a sense of pride.”

ucts for each resident and training our staff to get the most out of the products they use. It is this partnership approach, and a shared goal of delivering better outcomes, that is having such a positive impact on our residents.”

In terms of the home’s association with Blueleaf, as well as continence care it will, in the future, be sourcing all of its products via the Blueleaf team. This includes all paper products (toilet rolls, hand towels etc), hand soaps and sanitisers, cleaning products for the laundry and kitchen, and various medical consumables (such as wipes, gloves, needles etc).

“Online ordering is easy, and by creating a ‘favourites list’ within Blueleaf’s shop I can re-order products very quickly,” Andrea continues. “Anything I need, Blueleaf can source and deliver on time, when I need it. The team, led by Roy Edwards, is also always on hand if I need any product advice.”

Roy Edwards, Business Development Manager at Blueleaf Care, say that the collaboration with partners Essity, and the strength of the TENA brand, are having a positive impact on improving clinical and financial outcomes for Lisbeth House: “We take great care choosing the right partners and products to support our clients,” he says, “and it is a pleasure to work with them to help Andrea and her team deliver an even greater quality of care to their residents.”

For further information please visit www.blueleafcare.com

Rubenstein and his wife, Greta Grinfeld, set up Speak Like A Native to take away the fears of language learning for people of all ages and to promote the positive benefits of being multilingual. “However,” as Grinfeld points out, “this course is different to what we offer children or young adults. In care homes, it’s obviously not about passing exams or career prospects but about reminiscing and the joy that can be found today in learning and discovering something new. We all like challenges and all deserve to feel proud of what we can accomplish.”

Grinfeld adds that the most important aspect is that the residents have fun whether it’s sharing stories or having a go at Spanish or French pronunciation. Islam agrees and says that “Our residents look forward to the sessions every week.”

She puts this down to the good rapport the Speak Like A Native teacher has built up with the participants. “They’ve become friends with the residents, and the experience has had a positive effect on everyone taking part.”

Care homes interested in finding out more about setting up a taster should get in touch with Speak Like A Native at help@speaklikeanative.com.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 23

Heart-Breaking Christmas For People With Dementia As One In Three Left Cut Off Christmas will never be same for 65% of current carers who say dementia has “robbed” them of a carefree and joyful festive season, a new survey from Alzheimer’s Society reveals today.

The results from the survey lay bare the devastation caused by dementia, highlighting the emotional and physical impact of the terminal disease on families at Christmas. The charity is releasing these figures as it launches its Christmas Appeal.

It found that since 2022, one third of people with dementia are cut off and unable to visit loved ones, while one in four (24%) people with dementia are no longer able to take part in any Christmas activities and a quarter no longer recognise family or friends. Tragically, one in five (21%) are unable to hold a conversation with loved ones.

The charity also reports that caring for a loved one with dementia at Christmas is taking its toll on carers, with over a third (38%) saying they felt more emotionally drained, and a quarter (25%) felt more physically exhausted. Worryingly, nearly one in ten (9%) said they were at ‘breaking point’.

Nicky Moorey, 67, from Somerset, has been married for 35 years to Adrian, 77, who has dementia, said: “When you see your loved one unable to participate in the festivities like they used to, it generates a feeling of great sadness and loss at a time of year that should be filled of smiles and laughter.

“Adrian has always been the life and soul of Christmas but since he was diagnosed with Lewy Bodies Dementia in 2017, Christmas has lost its sparkle and recently his physical condition has deteriorated rapidly.

“As a carer you end up doing everything. It’s lonely and isolating, I used to have to feed him and help him open his presents. Now he’s living in a care home, making this our first Christmas without him.

“Christmas won’t be the same without Adrian at home. Dementia has left a massive hole in our lives which we can never replace, we all miss him and wish he was here around the table with us.

“Dementia is very overwhelming, but we had support from a wonderful Dementia Adviser from the Alzheimer’s Society called Michael. He helped us come to terms with the situation and provided lots of

resources and advice, he made a massive difference to the whole family.”

Kate Lee, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society said: “One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. Christmas should be joyful but for many of the 900,000 people living with dementia and their families, their Christmases have changed forever.

“Too many people are facing dementia alone. We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for help.

“Over a quarter of carers (27%) we spoke to say the greatest Christmas gift they could receive would be talking to someone who understands. Our Dementia Advisers are just a call or a click away. They can give someone the guidance, advice, and empathy they desperately need.

“If you’re able to, please help us be there for everyone living with dementia this Christmas whatever the day brings, by donating to our Christmas Appeal.”

Meera Syal CBE and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador said: “I know only too well the devastating impact of dementia after my father died due to the condition, and earlier this year I also lost my mother to a rare form of dementia.

“Our family cared for our parents for over a decade and so understand how emotionally draining and physically exhausting this can be for carers. It’s devastating to know how many other people up and down the UK have reached breaking point.

“I encourage everyone who can this festive season to donate to Alzheimer’s Society’s Christmas Appeal.

You will be making a difference to the lives of thousands of people affected by dementia, and that is the greatest gift of all.”

Alzheimer’s Society vows to help end the devastation caused by dementia. For support or to donate to the ’12 Days of Christmas’ appeal visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/Christmas

Cheshire Care Home’s Memories of a Famous Cartoonist Cathrina said: “Tony was a brilliant artist and he used his personal experience of

The owner of Chapel House Care in Cheshire has fond memories of award-winning

his dad’s dementia to publish a book of cartoons on the illness. He also connected

cartoonist Tony Husband who died recently.

to carers and those living with the disease.

Tony, a Private Eye cartoonist who famously drew sixty cartoons a week, and

“He created a number of designs for our carers’ cards and we loved them all. He

chronicled dementia, died last month at the age of 73.

will be much missed.

Admiral Nurse Cathrina Moore, who is also the owner of Chapel House Care in

“The cards are a reminder to families supporting a loved one with dementia

Puddington, Cheshire, had known Tony for a number of years.

symptoms that they are appreciated and valued. Our Admiral Nurses meet so many

The cartoonist, who wrote a book called ‘Take Care, Son. The story of my dad and his dementia’, had created a number of cartoons for the Admiral Nurse Service run

amazing families and we feel it’s important to recognise their amazing compassion

by the non-profit subsidiary of Chapel House Care.

and commitment to others.”

Manufactured in the UK

Freephone: 0800 917 7943 www.euroservice-uk.com sales@euroservice-uk.com

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND STYLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents.

How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?

Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!

Euroservice trolleys are an attractive and practical alternative to clinical aluminium trolleys given that antibacterial spray can be used freely to sanitise them.

Get in touch with our friendly, experienced sales team

Visit the website at

www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors Serve Afternoon Tea in

HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors protect the elderly and disabled people from fall-related hip fractures.

Designed to protect elderly people from fall related hip fractures, HipSavers are a leading brand of soft hip protectors. Used in the NHS since 2002, HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors are user friendly, affordable and cost-effective personal protective garments.

Soft, comfortable, effective and compatible with incontinence protection, HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors are perfect for use in care homes and by elderly people living independently.

HipSavers should be worn day and night for 24 hour protection and especially during physical and recreational activities, when accidental falls, slips and trips can lead to hip fractures.

Available as comfortable underwear or long casual pants in several sizes for men and women, HipSavers feature soft protective airPads permanently sewn into the garments over the hip areas prone to injuries and fractures.

HipSaver TailBone models have an additional protective airPad over the coccyx on lower back for protection during swaying, accidental knocks, bumps and backward falling.

Machine washable at high temperature and tumble drier friendly, HipSavers are practical, hygienic and durable.

HipSaver Soft Hip Protectors - affordable protective garments for the elderly and disabled people!

For more information, contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See the adverts on page 3 and the front cover.

Yeoman Shield Fire Door Services 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 and 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.

The implementation of Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Protection 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.

C&S Seating Ltd

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 6.

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

Fire Resistant Wallcoverings with 24/7 Anti-Bacterial Protection Muraspec is an international leader in wallcoverings, with a remarkable heritage dating back to the 1850’s. We take great pride in catering to a diverse clientele worldwide, including care homes and residential sectors.

All our wallcoverings use up to 30% recycled content, and are designed & manufactured in our UK factory, with Euroclass B fire ratings - the highest fire certification for the UK and Europe.

Any Muraspec wallcovering can contain antimicrobial protection (if requested), which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi, and moulds. It's also effective for the lifetime of a product and doesn’t wear off or leach out.

Additionally, we're thrilled to offer a range of dementia-friendly wallcoverings, which were developed in consultation with the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling.

According to the DSDC, getting a design right can

make a fundamental difference to the lives of people with dementia. It improves their life experiences and can even increase their life expectancy.

We are committed to designing and producing market-leading and innovative wallcoverings, and the DSDC-selected ranges are the first in the UK to be approved as dementia friendly. The ranges also suit different budgets and interior spaces, as well as providing a unique combination of choice, durability, quality, and sympathetic-yet-stylish designs to work with.

Furthermore, if you're facing a tight deadline for your wallcovering project, you can count on Muraspec for the shortest lead times in the industry.

Contact us now to arrange a visit from one of our friendly Key Account Managers on 03705 117 118 or customerservices@muraspec.com. www.muraspec.com See the advert on page 13 for further information.

Style with Euroservice

Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives!

Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?

Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents!

Visit the website at www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.

Or see the advert on page 23.

Baron Medical BARON MEDICAL has provided a wide range of services to the Care Industry, both at home and abroad since 1987, originating as a Consultancy in 1987 to Yorkshire Regional Health Authority, and probably one of the oldest Companies in this sector.

Now working alongside Western Equipment Supplies in Bristol our combined 60+ years enables to have unique purchasing arrangements with various bodies within the industry.

We have close links to the NHS, giving back much needed revenue, whilst also working with diverse clientele at home and abroad to countries less fortunate than ours.

Understanding the financial constraints often faced by care organisations and individuals, we offer flexible

pricing options. Whether you're looking to hire or purchase our beds, our prices are available on request and we absorb VAT costs to ease your financial burden.

For those considering bulk purchases, we can offer generous discounts on orders of 5 or more beds, or to help cash~flow, rent a bed for as little as £35 pw, reducing further for quantity or a long-term extended payment term.

Call 0800 954 8801 - Text 07768 800 188 Or email: Maureen (or) Brian@BaronMedical.co.uk www.hospitalbedsuk.co.uk See the advert on page 15 for further information on how Baron can help your business.

Exclusive Antimicrobial Scrub Technology

by Grahame Gardner and Micro-Fresh® The range, exclusive to Grahame Gardner, incorporates cutting-edge technology MicroFresh® to help keep healthcare workers safe whilst maintaining unrivalled comfort.

The garment fabric, which is 65 per cent polyester and 35 per cent cotton, is incorporated with innovative Micro-fresh® technology at point of manufacture. The antimicrobial technology not only kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria beyond 50 washes but is also proven to reduce the spread of human coronavirus by 99.2 per cent.

With wash resistant antibacterial protection, Micro-Fresh® also boasts odour prevention, providing longer lasting freshness for the wearer. The scrubs are hypoallergenic, gentle on skin and vegan friendly.

The exclusive scrubs are available in two fits – unisex and female – the scrub top is available in six colourways: Oasis, Navy, Eau de Nil, Bottle, Smoke

Grey and Blue 18 each with a classic contrasting white trim, the trousers are available in core colours Navy, Bottle and Black.

Grahame Gardner also offer all six scrub colours in their Made to Order range with a bespoke choice of trim colour.

The scrub top design features multiple pockets, including two waterproof chest pockets and a wearers right hand hip pocket, which also has a pen divide and an elastic loop for a clip-on hand sanitiser. The trousers have a drawstring waist, and also side and a back pockets.

The range is exclusively available to purchase here: www.grahamegardner.co.uk/healthcare/ microfresh-scrubs.html www.grahamegardner.co.uk info@grahamegardner.co.uk See the advert on page 7 for further details.

MOWOOT II for Life Free from Constipation MOWOOT II for Life Free from Constipation MOWOOT II is a groundbreaking non-invasive and non-pharmacological solution to chronic constipation.

Developed by a team of doctors and other healthcare professionals, the MOWOOT II performs gentle abdominal massage that speeds up intestinal transit in people suffering with chronic constipation.

Clinically proven, safe and effective, easy to use, relaxing and side-effects free, the MOWOOT II Abdominal Massage Therapy System combats constipation, allowing the sufferers to enjoy the freedom of a healthy life.

Easy to use and comfortable, MOWOOT II treats and manages chronic constipation in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease patients and when constipation is caused by drugs and pharmacological interventions. MOWOOT II also helps people combat idiopathic chronic constipa-

tion, such as suffered by menopausal and postmenopausal women and the older and elderly people.

In clinical studies, MOWOOT II was found to increase evacuation frequency, soften stools, improve regularity, reduce gasses and bloating and relieve abdominal discomfort.

Just 10 to 20 minutes per day of relaxing abdominal massage therapy with MOWOOT II produces noticeable improvements.

Significant results are experienced few days after the first treatment. Regular applications ensure lasting improvements and better quality of life.

MOWOOT II – the effective solution to chronic constipation and the way to a healthier life!

For more information, contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See the adverts on page 3 and the front cover of this issue.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 25

CYBER SECURITY

Why You Should Consider A Cybersecurity Strategy In Your Care Facility

Cyberattacks 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 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.

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 employees for a coordinated, calm and fast reaction to an unexpected cyber event. 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/what-we-cover/cyber-liability/

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Swiftclean Puts Your Care Home in Control of Grease and Legionella Swiftclean is a family-run business which has been established for over 40 years. Formed to provide specialist compliance cleaning services for ventilation system hygiene, Swiftclean is now one of the UK’s foremost providers of kitchen extract fire safety cleaning, legionella control services, fire damper testing, indoor air quality monitoring and ventilation system cleaning.

WHY SWIFTCLEAN? We do the job properly, giving you peace of mind: We tackle many new projects where dirt or grease has been allowed to build up - all our ventilation cleans are carried out to comply with BESA TR19® or TR19® Grease.

Our legionella control services provide clean water: We provide legionella control services to ensure L8 regulations compliance, preventing legionella outbreaks and maintaining a healthy water supply.

We help safeguard your insurance: Our unique cloud-based digital delivery system produces detailed compliance documentation to help safeguard your insurance, preserve your business and protect your brand reputation.

We save you time and money: By using us for both ductwork and water hygiene services, you can make the best use of your budget, as well as your valuable time.

We’re big enough to reach you, small enough to care: We provide nationwide coverage in England, Wales and Scotland, through one team with the same exemplary high standards.

We’re highly experienced, we know what we’re doing: Our expertise has been built up over more than four decades and we’re at the cutting edge of industry progress. Our Managing Director is directly involved with BESA and we’re an award-winning, ISO registered company. We’re experienced and reliable; you can count on us to do the job properly.

We would love to hear from you. Please feel welcome to contact one of our team members on 0800 243 471 option 1 www.swiftclean.co.uk

Angloplas - Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection 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 healthcareassociated 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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 29

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Skin Health and Surface Hygiene Expert, GOJO Urges Organisations To Be Prepared This Germ Season Skin health and surface hygiene expert, GOJO urges organisations to be prepared this germ season.

GOJO, THE INVENTORS OF PURELL™, and the hand sanitiser category itself, is advising organisations, particularly those in the care sector that look after the elderly and the vulnerable, to take steps to lessen the impact of seasonal viruses this winter.

Preparedness can save lives – last year’s influenza programme prevented around 25,000 hospitalisations in England . This autumn and winter, COVID-19, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are likely to be co-circulating which, according to Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson, who leads WHO's High-threat Pathogen team, ‘would increase the risk to vulnerable populations and put further pressure on health services.’

Whilst flu vaccines are a powerful weapon, good hand hygiene is a critical measure in the battle against winter infections. For healthcare and long-term care settings, which support vulnerable patients, GOJO recommends paying extra attention to their specific needs.

Chris Wakefield, V.P. European Marketing and Managing Director UK & Ireland, GOJO Industries-Europe

Ltd. comments: ‘As a founder member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Private Organizations for Patient Safety group, GOJO is a strong advocate of making hand hygiene second nature to everyone. Hospitals and care homes need to ensure that the protection solutions they select are suitable for everyone with a facility – staff, visitors, and patients alike.

‘For example, consider touch-free dispensers that are easier for the elderly and infirm to operate, and ensure that the formulations are suitable too. They must not only have proven efficacy against germs, but should be gentle enough to care for resident’s delicate skin as well as that of busy healthcare workers, who clean their hands repeatedly during a shift.’

Widely used in the NHS, PURELL® is a trusted brand in healthcare facilities around the world. Its solutions encompass fast-acting, effective formulas that care for skin, state of the art dispensers, and dedicated support such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited training.

For a tailored, effective, total solution for your setting, or for more information on the benefits of partnering with GOJO, please call +44 (0)1908 588444, email CustomerExperienceUK@GOJO.com, or visit www.gojo.eu/uk

edencleen from Cleenol

• No animal derived products • Cruelty free • Minimal petrochemical derived products • No parabens, formaldehyde, CMI/MIT, triclosan, phosphates, chlorine bleaches, optical brighteners, quaternary ammonium compounds • VOC free and phosphate, EDTA, NTA free • Recyclable / recycled packaging • 100% bio-based surfactant - made by using bio-based ethylene oxide which is manufactured from biomass ethanol.

• Bioethanol, naturally derived acids, sugar-based surfactants, bio-based solvents, low impact preservatives Combining carefully formulated products, with appropriate packaging, using recycled material or recyclable componentry, the range’s mostly colourless liquid and low fragrance usage are designed to convey a transparency and straightforwardness of our approach which will be a hallmark of all edencleen products and associated services. edencleen’s new range represents just the start to a fully refreshed solution to meet the most demanding of customers expectations.

See the advert on this page for further details.

Over the course of our history, we at Cleenol have always produced products that offer a perfect balance between cleaning performance and efficiency with an attention to reducing the environmental impact that our products may carry.

Edencleen has been designed to reflect in part our vision for a cleaner, safer world, that touches not only the environmental aspects of sustainability, but has as an aim, a social ambition to leave the planet in the safe care of and for future generations.

The range covers the essential needs to cover 80% of daily cleaning and include: a washroom cleaner and toilet gel cleaner and urinal deodoriser, an all-purpose surface sanitiser, a degreaser and a washing up liquid, a no rinse floor degreaser, a window cleaner and a laundry detergent and fabric softener. edencleen products have been developed around the following principles and ingredients • RSPO certified palm oil derivatives

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

WASHROOMS & ACCESSIBLE BATHING

Accessible Bathing in Nursing and Care Environments op appropriate care plans.

The risk assessment should take into account the resident's physical and cognitive abilities, mobility, sensory impairments, medical conditions, medication, and history of falls or injuries. The assessment should also consider the design and layout of the bathing facilities, including the type of bath or shower, flooring, lighting, temperature, water pressure, and grab rails. Based on the assessment, the care team can develop a care plan that addresses the resident's individual needs and preferences, such as the frequency and timing of bathing, the use of aids and equipment, and the involvement of family or caregivers.

TRAINING AND SKILLS

Accessible bathing in UK care and nursing homes is essential to provide residents with the best possible care. It is vital to ensure that the bathing experience is safe, comfortable, and respectful of their dignity and privacy. In this article, we will explore various aspects of accessible bathing in care and nursing homes, including health and safety, risk assessment, training, injuries, aids and equipment, technology, flooring, infection control, and patient dignity and guidance.

HEALTH AND SAFETY The safety and health of residents are crucial in accessible bathing.

Bathing environments should be free of hazards that could cause harm to residents or staff. Regular checks should be carried out to ensure that the facilities are safe, and any issues should be promptly addressed. Loose or broken tiles, damaged or worn flooring, and broken fittings should be fixed or replaced immediately. Appropriate signage should be used to remind staff and residents of the safety guidelines when using the bathing facilities.

RISK ASSESSMENT A risk assessment should be carried out before residents use the bathing facilities. This assessment should identify any potential risks or hazards, including mobility and other health conditions that may affect the resident's ability to use the facilities safely. The risk assessment should also consider the type of equipment required for residents to use the facilities safely. For example, some residents may require handrails, shower chairs, or other equipment to assist them in the bathing process.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS Bathing is a routine activity that most people take for granted.

However, for people with mobility or sensory impairments, bathing can pose significant risks of falls, injury, and other complications. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a thorough risk assessment of each resident's bathing needs and capabilities to identify potential hazards and devel-

Providing safe and effective bathing requires specific skills and knowledge, such as manual handling, infection control, first aid, and communication. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that all care staff who are involved in bathing residents receive appropriate training and support. The training should cover topics such as: • The importance of hygiene and cleanliness • The risks of infection and cross-contamination • The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) • The use of aids and equipment, such as hoists, shower chairs, and bath lifts • The techniques for assisting residents with personal care, including washing, drying, and dressing • The management of challenging behaviours or communication difficulties • The monitoring of the resident's health and well-being during and after bathing • The reporting and recording of incidents or concerns.

The training should be delivered by qualified and experienced trainers who can tailor the content to the specific needs of the care home and its residents. The training should also be regularly updated and reinforced to ensure that staff maintain their skills and knowledge.

INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS Despite the best efforts to promote safety and minimize risks, accidents and injuries can still occur during bathing. The most common types of injuries are falls, burns, scalds, and skin tears. Therefore, it is essential to have robust procedures in place for reporting and managing incidents, including first aid, medical treatment, and investigation.

The care home should have clear protocols for responding to emergencies and incidents, such as the availability of first aid kits, defibrillators, and emergency contacts. The staff should be trained in basic first aid and emergency procedures, and there should be designated first aiders and fire wardens on duty at all times.

TECHNOLOGY Technology can play a significant role in accessible bathing, with innovations such as digital showers and temperature-controlled taps providing increased comfort and safety for residents. For example, some taps can automatically turn off if the water temperature gets too high, reducing the risk of scalds.

FLOORING The flooring in accessible bathing facilities should be slip-resistant to reduce the risk of falls. It is essential to ensure that flooring is regularly maintained and replaced if necessary to prevent accidents.

INFECTION CONTROL Infection control is crucial in accessible bathing. Staff should follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of infections, such as regular cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and surfaces. Residents with infections should be isolated to prevent the spread of illness to others.

PATIENT DIGNITY AND GUIDANCE Residents' dignity and privacy should be respected at all times during accessible bathing. Staff should ensure that residents are treated with respect and that their dignity is maintained throughout the bathing process. Residents should also be given guidance on how to use the facilities and any equipment to ensure that they feel comfortable and safe.

CONCLUSION Accessible bathing is an essential aspect of providing quality care to residents in UK care and nursing homes. Health and safety, risk assessment, training, injuries, aids and equipment, technology, flooring, infection control, and patient dignity and guidance are all crucial considerations when designing and maintaining accessible bathing facilities. By prioritizing these aspects, care and nursing homes can ensure that residents receive safe, comfortable, and respectful care during the bathing process.

AIDS AND EQUIPMENT Accessible bathing requires the use of specific equipment and aids to assist residents. These may include handrails, shower chairs, bath hoists, and walk-in baths. It is vital to ensure that the equipment is regularly maintained and that staff are trained in its correct use.

NEW: Omnicare Digital Shower for Level Access Bathrooms Triton has unveiled its new Omnicare Digital solution, designed for safer showering in level access bathrooms.

Expanding its industry-leading collection of Omnicare electric care showers, the latest launch from Britain’s leading shower manufacturer has Bluetooth compatibility, enabling it to automatically pair with a Whale Instant Match pump, evacuating wastewater from showers where gravity cannot do so.

Ideal for both new build and retrofit applications, the product joins Triton’s existing Omnicare, Omnicare Ultra and Omnicare Design products to form a complete range of inclusive thermostatic showering solutions.

Packed with innovative features, the Omnicare Digital switches off instantly if power to the pump is cut for any reason, preventing flooding. Quiet in operation, the unit controls the pump’s speed based on flow rates, so gulley suction noise is minimised.

With a small footprint, the pump can be installed in various locations, including bathrooms, airing cupboards and other accessible locations – making it easier and faster for contractors to fit and maintain. A 7m pairing distance through Bluetooth wireless technology also offers flexibility for the pump to be sited outside the bathroom area.

Triton’s latest launch has been developed to support the continuing trend of multi-generational living amid an ageing demographic. Last year, CBRE found that 1.8m UK households now contain two or more adult generations.

Ashley Cooper, Marketing Director at Triton Showers, said: “An increasing number of people are living in multi-generational households, whether due to a shortage in housing stock, cost-of-living crisis, or the population living longer. Therefore, properties must be adapted accordingly, allowing people of varying ages with different needs and abilities to share facilities.

“We launched Omnicare Digital for this type of application, further strengthening our collection of thermostatic care showers. The new model helps users with reduced mobility and can be specified in wet room applications, while still offering all the safety features that are included across our Omnicare range.”

British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) Care Mark approved, all models in the Omnicare range have a maximum temperature setting of 43°C and are equipped with thermostatic temperature control to prevent scalding and sudden drops in water temperature, regulating within +/-1°C. Additionally, to help users of all abilities wash easily and safely, Omnicare products are Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) accredited and included audible feedback and tactile controls such as a looped lever handle and soft press start/stop button.

There are additional accessories that can be paired with the Omnicare range to mitigate against slips, trips and falls, including multi-purpose grab riser rail kits and remote start/stop controls.

Triton’s Omnicare Digital shows the manufacturer’s continued commitment to sustainable showering solutions. In Triton’s latest research, it found that an electric shower can cost nearly a third less than a mixer.

Ashley added: “We’re always looking at impact on the planet, whether that’s from our own manufacturing processes or changing the behaviour of those using our products.

For more information about Triton’s Omnicare range, please visit: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/care-showers Contact details: Call: 02476 324 776 Email: specification@tritonshowers.co.uk Web: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/care-showers

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 31

WASHROOMS & ACCESSIBLE BATHING Access And Mobility Bathrooms Access And Mobility Bathrooms is a family owned and run bathroom adaptation specialist that offers a design, supply and installation service for walk in Showers, Wet rooms and Walk in baths.

• Specialist in maintenance free wall panels.

• All building works carried out.

• Free home visits, consultations and quotations. Installed within 8 weeks of order.

As Member of the British Health Care trades associ-

ation, we abide to a code of practice that protects you from pressure selling, over pricing and ensures quality of work and products.

Enquiries welcome from privately funded customers and business to business.

For further information call 01626 903181, email info@accessmobilitybathrooms.co.uk or visit www.accessmobilitybathrooms.co.uk

Upgrade Your Air Freshener System To Keep Washrooms Constantly Fresh

The challenges with current air fresheners Washrooms are the biggest source of complaints, accounting for over 45% of the complaints that facility managers receive.1 In addition, recent research from Tork tells us that 67% of employees say they’re more likely to complain about a washroom than any other aspect of their office.2 Therefore, it’s crucial that washrooms are run efficiently to ensure a standard of cleanliness that makes people feel cared for.

A new air freshener that distributes scent evenly and continuously Tork has launched a new system that makes keeping your washrooms constantly fresh much easier. It uses a unique, high-tech technology that is propellant free to neutralise odours continuously and evenly.

Research shows that the most important factor customers state when selecting an air care product is the “long lasting performance”3. The Tork Constant Air

Freshener can last for up to 90 days before needing a refill, with a range of scents that eliminate bad odours, creating a consistent, fresh washroom experience, which helps facility managers to avoid washroom complaints.

A system that is easy to maintain and refill 71% of cleaning staff agreed that if washroom dispensers were quicker and easier to refill, they would have more time for other cleaning tasks2. The Tork Constant Air Freshener dispenser is certified ‘Easy to use’ for speedy refilling.4 Its flexible placement at reachable heights also allows for easy maintenance.

Refills and battery changes can also be planned into existing cleaning routines to save staff valuable time.

IoT connected dispensers With Tork Vision Cleaning, the world’s leading data-driven cleaning solution, cleaning staff will now know exactly when and where to refill all Tork dispensers in the washroom. The new air freshener dispenser will enable them to keep the dispensers replenished and save time by avoiding unnecessary checks.

It’s easy to provide a great washroom experience with smart, sustainable hygiene management from Tork.

For more information, please visit Tork.co.uk. For more information on Tork air freshener, please visit Tork.co.uk/airfreshener.

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

WASHROOMS & ACCESSIBLE BATHING

How Care Homes in the UK Can Save Money and Improve Residents' Mental Well Being Gary Seale, MD of iDry Ltd, manufacturer of in shower body dryers is baffled.

It's fantastic to hear about iDry's success and the growing demand for its innovative products, but the success isn’t being seen in the country of manufacture! The company's expansion into international markets, especially securing its largest ever export order heading to Holland, speaks volumes about the global appeal of their technology, the ever present demands to cut costs and improve patients well being, all well documented and accepted.

Gary Seale, is optimistic about the overseas reception, especially in the care sector. Yet the UK seems to lag behind Europe.

Gary asks, don’t UK care homes want to reduce care hours, improve the well being of patients and reduce costs too?

The emphasis on cost savings and environmental impact is noteworthy. iDry's technology not only provides efficient drying solutions but also addresses economic and ecological concerns. The comparison of the cost of laundering towels versus the cost of a five-minute session with the body dryer highlights the practical benefits.

The case study below highlights how a 30 room assisted living complex actually had a payback on their iDry Apres units of only 7 weeks, releasing over 117 hours of direct care every month, Surely that sort of saving should be snapped up by Care home owners?

Gary continued, out of a study of over 800 people in Bury Town centre over 93% had never heard of an in shower body dryer, out of the remaining 7% I genuinely think most were being polite and hadn’t got a clue.

Whether direct contact, assisted bathing or attended bathing, the iDry can provide users with amongst other things their DIGNITY being returned even in miniscule amounts.

CASE STUDY When Tonnie Bieleman wants to vacuum his apartment in the De Klokkenbelt residential facility in Almelo or turn on the lights, he tells his Google Home. He is dependent on care 24/7 I can do my thing quietly and don't have to hurry because someone is waiting who has to go to the next resident.'

THE INSTALLATION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH The Klokkenbelt is a residential location of InteraktContour, an organization that provides care and support to people with NAH in a large part of eastern and central Netherlands. The former care home in

Almelo has recently been completely redesigned and made suitable for future-proof habitation. Large-scale use of modern technology has been made with the help of the Innovation Impulse for Full Life. This helps make the lives of clients like Tonnie more attractive, more independent and safer. The innovations also save employees time, giving them more time to focus on clients.

'By conducting a needs survey among clients and by actively participating in healthcare, we discovered how technology can support healthcare, Because the installation alone is not enough. It turned out to be a project in itself to make innovations part of the healthcare process.'

The iDry Apres Body Dryer saves per patient over 23 hours of direct care every month Because people like Tonnie are becoming more self-reliant, technology also influences the way healthcare is organised. For example, in unplanned care, the number of calls from residents for everyday minor matters decreased by hundreds per month. After all, no one has to come for simple things like operating the lighting or curtains anymore. But it also turned out that many hours could be saved in planned care, sometimes with larger and less mundane adjustments. For example, with the Body dryer that Tonnie received in his bathroom, he can now dry himself after showering. This saves over 23 hours of direct care every month.

Employees now spend that time on other things.

"They now help me get out of bed in the morning, for safety reasons," says Tonnie. 'I can then shave independently in 45 minutes, take a shower and dry myself with the help of the Apres body dryer. Only then do I alert care again, and then they come and help me get dressed.

Previously, a healthcare provider had to be present all the time. In the meantime, he can now work with someone else.' Apart from the time savings and the regained independence, the innovation in his bathroom also helps Tonnie feel better physically and more important mentally , he has got back a sense of dignity 'I have a lot of cramps in my arm and leg. It's nice to have warmth there and to be able to do that calmly and relaxed, without feeling rushed.'

Tonnie cannot emphasize enough how important it is for him that he is once again in control of his own life, partly thanks to technology. He went through a deep valley after two cerebral infarctions and a double pulmonary embolism destroyed him eight years ago. 'I was a project leader and managed many people every day. And suddenly I was completely dependent on others, after 49 years of being able to do everything myself. Then you really go crazy.'

Tonnie moved to an InteraktContour residential location in Lelystad five years ago, now lives in the Klokkenbelt and is very happy with the innovations he has there.

THE MORE INDEPENDENT THE RESIDENTS, THE MORE POSITIVE 'Things are really going better now. My disability no longer changes, but this technique makes my life enormously more pleasant. I can regain some of my dignity. It may seem simple to others, but it really means a lot to me. Now when my wife comes to visit in the evening, it's fun again. And it also changes the relationship you have with the employees. I no longer have to call them for every little thing, and because of the time savings that everything yields, there is also time for a conversation. That is real progress.'

Marieke van den Berg, e-health task holder at Klokkenbelt, also sees this. And it works both ways, she says. 'The more our residents regain their independence, the more positive they become. This makes them feel better about themselves. Cutting costs and saving time by innovating is a bonus, but the fact that residents can do things again that they could do before also gives us a lot of satisfaction. This leads to less stress and improves the quality of care.'

For further information on iDry and how they can save your facility money while also improving your residents' wellbeing , visit www.idry.me or call 0800 933 0020.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 33

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

Revolutionising Care Homes with Forbes Connect: A New Era in Commercial Laundry In the fast-evolving landscape of care homes, Forbes Professional takes a significant step forward with the introduction of Forbes Connect; featuring state-of-the-art Miele washers, dryers, and dishwashers. This innovative new offering seamlessly integrates technology to deliver an unparalleled connected laundry experience for care facilities.

At the heart of Forbes Connect is a ground-breaking 24/7 intelligent remote monitoring system, providing both our engineers and our clients with real-time insights into the operational status of Miele laundry machines. This transformative feature ensures a pro-active approach to maintenance, further reducing any downtime and enhancing the overall efficiency of laundry operations.

Our dedicated team of engineers operate from an expansive network around the UK and are ready for intervention should issues be digitally identified. This proactive approach minimises disruptions and helps us remotely identify faults to increase first time fix rates. It also optimises the lifespan of Miele commercial laundry machines, offering care homes peace of mind and uninterrupted service.

When a fault is detected, Forbes Connect ensures a prompt response by sending notifications directly to

our customer service team. Leveraging advanced logistics, our team efficiently allocates engineers based on proximity and availability, guaranteeing a swift resolution to any laundry machine issues.

In line with the global push for sustainability, Forbes Connect goes a step further by monitoring temperature and water resource usage. This invaluable tool not only aids care homes in achieving their sustainability targets but also sheds light on the true efficiency of Miele commercial laundry machines. Care facilities can now make informed decisions to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on the quality of service.

Forbes Connect is another step in our commitment to revolutionise the laundry experience in care homes. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, we empower care facilities to deliver impeccable service seamlessly, ensuring that residents' comfort and well-being remain at the forefront of every operation. Welcome to the future of commercial laundry with Forbes Connect and Miele – where innovation meets care. www,forbespro.co.uk info@forbes-professional.co.uk 0345 070 2335

Laundry Specialists Lavamac Receive Sustainability Award Chester based Laundry professionals Lavamac Ltd, official distributor of Lavamac industrial laundry equipment has received the prestigious Bronze Sustaibnability award in recognition of their policies and procedures based commitment to maintain a sustainable business for ourselves or customers and the environment The three main points Lavamac have been recognised for are: 1. Air source heat pump dryers , connected load 3kw as opposed to 30Kw for a 16kg electric dryer and 25-30 kw for Gas , clean efficient and saving the planet available from £10995 fully refurbished to £16995.00 new both with 24 months parts and labour warranty and the option to extend and cost effective annual premium ?

2.Refurbished Equipment, we completely rebuild any current model of Primus , Lavamac or Ipso washers , dryers and ironers . I full ground up restoration leaves these machines as good ( if not better than ) New ! sold , rented of leased these machines are between 40-50% of cost of their new equivalent with a warranty as new 24 months parts and labour ( see attached literature on our product range ) 3.Intelligent washings machines ( In conjunction with our partners www.countrywidehealthcare.co.uk ) we can potentially reduce chemical usage by up to 35% and labour by 30 %

Additionally • Our offices in Chester utilise Solar Panels and we create more electricity than we consume • In 2024 we are committed to replacing all service vehicles with Hybrid models • In 2024 all cars will be upgraded to EV models • We have implement a new software system ( Big Change ) removes paper documentation and utilising smart technology will reduce road mileage between calls and improve response times A delighted Jeremy Hartigan CEO of Lavamac Ltd said: “I am extremely proud to announce that Lavamac have been awarded a prestigious Bronze Sustainability Award by the UK Groundworks Trust. This award demonstrates our commitment to promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility within the sector. This award is renowned for honouring businesses that demonstrate exceptional dedication and innovation, and we are thrilled to be recognised for our resolute focus on offering sustainable products and services while raising awareness about the importance of environmental concerns within the sector”.

See the advert below for further information on Lavamac.

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS Washing Machines for Care Homes MAG Laundry Equipment, suppliers of commercial washing machines & tumble dryers, is proud to have supported more than 10,000 care homes across the nation.

Clean laundry and bedding is critical for care homes, hospices, nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare organisations. With a nationwide fleet of accredited engineers MAG Laundry Equipment has successfully assisted over ten thousand care homes with their products, services, information and support.

MAG’s product range includes commercial washing machines, tumble dryers, ironers, presses and detergents. For 100 years, since 1922, MAG’s products have been developed and improved to become some of the

most reliable, energy-efficient and affordable machines on the market. Care homes have peace-of-mind that their laundry machines can quickly be maintained and repaired as MAG Laundry Equipment supply, install and service equipment across England, Scotland and Wales.

If you are looking for high quality wash results that remove stubborn stains then speak with MAG for their recommendations. Complete thermal disinfection is a standard feature on their washing machines for nursing homes. To find out more about how MAG can support your care home telephone 01353 883025 or visit the www.maglaundryequipment.co.uk website.

Preserving Identity and Preventing Loss: Cash's Apparel Solutions' Century-Long Legacy

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

Cash's Apparel Solutions has been at the forefront of manufacturing woven nametapes for over a century, serving the nursing home sector and beyond. Their nametapes have become synonymous with preserving identity, preventing lost garments, and delivering personalised identity items and gifts.

Preserving dignity Cash's woven nametapes provide a simple yet effective solution to labelling clothing in nursing homes minimising distress caused by lost garments, fostering an environment where residents are seen and respected for who they are.

Cash's has earned a global reputation for reliability and quality. Their woven nametapes are sold and utilised worldwide, serving as a testament to their effectiveness.

In addition, Cash's Apparel Solutions goes beyond their renowned nametapes. Their expertise in weaving and personalisation allows them to create a diverse range of identity items and gifts. From personalized badges to custom keyrings and promotional products, Cash's demonstrates their versatility in meeting unique customer needs. By offering tailored

solutions, they celebrate individuality, making a significant contribution to the spirit of personalisation and fostering a sense of belonging.

A Century of Excellence: Cash's century-long presence in the industry showcases their enduring commitment to excellence. They have adapted and innovated, embracing modern technology and evolving customer demands. Cash's unwavering dedication to their craft and the nursing home sector demonstrates their genuine concern for residents' well-being and comfort.

In conclusion, Cash's has established itself as a leader in manufacturing woven nametapes, personalised identity items and gifts. With their century-long legacy of quality, reliability, and attention to detail, Cash's continues to make a significant impact in the nursing home sector and beyond. By preserving identity, preventing loss, and embracing personalisation, Cash's Apparel Solutions truly embodies their commitment to enhancing safety, dignity, and individuality in care facilities worldwide.

Visit www.cashslabels.com

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS Improving Laundry Sustainability An efficient and effective laundry operation is essential for the hygienic operation of every care home. It remains nonetheless a considerable and unavoidable user of water and energy. Reducing energy and water consumption offer the potential to reduce environmental impacts and improve the long-term sustainability of the home. Realistically though, how much room is there for improvement?

Some of the latest laundry tech offers a lot.

Girbau’s next generation Genius smart washers are designed to lower water, detergent and energy consumption while boosting productivity. These innovative high spin washers can achieve up to 450G extract force for astounding levels of water extraction, faster drying and lower energy use. Tests on the Genius GS7018 found that it used 2.5 kWh for a full 18kg load cycle, compared to 3.5kWh for a comparable washer from a leading competitor. For a typical machine completing eight cycles per day, that’s a saving of over £900 a year, based on an electricity price of 31p per kWh. An optional integral weighing system measures every load and automatically adjusts programs to further optimise cycle time, lower water and chemical usage

and improve productivity. The new unique Care Plus Drum extends linen life and decreases tangling. The drum perforations also provide faster dispersion of water.

Genius washers offer unmatched durability and a high degree of programmability with high-speed spinning and automatic chemical dosing. The impact-resistant, full colour 10.5-inch waterproof screen is the industry’s largest. It features user-friendly icons that can be used while wearing gloves.

Girbau’s Sapphire remote-control software that is standard on Genius washers gives easy, flexible and versatile control. You can manage the laundry, compile production reports and analyse data remotely in real time from any device. Sapphire can also be used to configure washers to operate and record the use of thermal disinfection programs, essential in every care home.

For energy efficient drying, Girbau’s premium ED series dryers ensure all items are dried safely, uniformly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Their unique Transflow technology combines radial and axial airflow for maximum efficiency, reduced cycle times and lower energy costs. Cabinet insulation and a double-glazed door also prevent heat escaping.

Girbau is also currently working with care providers looking to entirely decarbonise their laundry operations by switching from gas to electric dryers and sourcing 100% renewable electricity.

Tel: 01462 427780 | Email: sales.uk@girbau.com | Website: www.girbau.com

MAG Laundry Detergents Gillman’s Appliance Specialists When it comes to maintaining cleanliness and comfort in care homes and nursing homes, it is crucial to choose the right laundry products. That's why many care homes in the UK trust MAG Laundry Detergents for their laundry needs.

Their specially formulated commercial laundry detergents, stain removers and fabric softeners are designed to tackle the most common soils found in senior care facilities.

MAG's laundry solutions are unmatched in ensuring that your laundry and linen remains clean, bright, and soft. With the high-quality laundry products found at www.maglaundry-

detergents.co.uk you can provide your residents with the freshness and cleanliness they deserve, helping you uphold the highest standards of care for your organisation.

A true family run business established in Gloucester in 1969

by Erika and John Gillman.

We pride ourselves on product knowledge, customer service and being a truly family run independent business.

We work closely with our commercial manufacturers to provide the highest quality service.

purchase or lease purchase basis.

COMMERCIAL WASHING MACHINES

COMMERCIAL IRONING & FINISHING MACHINES

We provide commercial and industrial washing machines to many industry sectors such as Care homes, Schools and Colleges, Vets, Holiday parks and the Hospitality sector.

We can supply machines from 6KG upwards on a rental, purchase or lease purchase basis and even put maintenance on your existing machines, contact us to learn more.

We provide rotary ironers from 1 meter wide to 3.2 metres wide with Gas, Electric or Steam heat and can provide feedings, folding and stacking machines.

In addition to rotary ironers we can also supply vacuum ironing tables, formers and drying cabinets.

COMMERCIAL TUMBLE DRYERS

With a team of 18 in house service engineers equipped with vans containing a comprehensive stock of spare parts we have a very high "First Fix" rate meaning a fault is diagnosed and repaired on the first visit.

Fully trained installation team with CHAS, Gas Safe, Construction line and F-gas commercial refrigeration accreditation.

For further information, please see the advert below.

We can supply commercial and industrial dryers that are Electric, Gas or Steam heated; and commercial heat pump and condensing models for sites where ventilation proves a challenge.

We work with Care homes, Schools and Colleges, Vets, Commercial laundries, Holiday parks and the Hospitality sector and can supply machines from 6KG and upwards on a rental,

COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY & DISHWASHING CHEMICALS As well as providing the machines we can also provide a complete range of laundry chemicals such as detergents, conditioners, destainers, emulsifiers and even Electrolux Professional Lagoon wet cleaning chemicals.

COMMERCIAL SERVICE & REPAIRS

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

DEMENTIA CARE Rise & Shine Game Promotes Mobility and Wellbeing In an effort to combat the nationwide issue of reduced mobility among senior citizens, an exciting game called "Rise & Shine" is making waves in healthcare and social care communities.

Developed with the goal of encouraging physical activity in elderly individuals, this innovative game consists of 30 uniquely designed tiles, adorned with playful illustrations by renowned artist and sculptor Bob Olley.

The game is designed to be played in group settings, with healthcare staff identifying participants who would benefit from engaging in physical activity. After receiving their tiles, participants join in activities suited to their needs, such as chair exercises or walking. Once the activities are completed, tiles are placed into the "Rise & Shine Post-

box." As the game progresses, a draw determines the winner, who receives a small prize.

Rise & Shine has been trialled successfully at Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside District Hospital. Feedback from both patients and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, with improvements in mobility and morale noted among participants.

By incorporating Rise & Shine into their routines, caregivers and healthcare providers can play a crucial role in keeping our elderly community active, engaged, and mobile, ultimately enhancing their wellbeing and independence. www.riseandshinegame.com or see the advert on the front cover.

Activities to Share

Tired of the same old song and dance when it comes to planning engaging activities? Well, fear not!

Activities to Share is here to sprinkle some excitement into your daily routine.

If you've been feeling like you're stuck in a creative rut, we've got the antidote.

Picture this: a wonderland of activity ideas, free downloads that are basically the golden ticket to fun, and a treasure trove of products that'll make your heart skip a beat (in a good way).

We get it – after a while, even the most fantastic activities can start feeling a bit blah. That's why we've scoured the corners of creativity to bring you fresh, fabulous ideas that'll have you and your crew grinning from ear to ear.

Our website, activitiestoshare.co.uk, is your go-to haven for all things fun and engaging. Need a burst of inspiration? We've got your back. Looking for

activities tailored to different abilities? We've got that covered too!

But wait, there's more!

We've teamed up with carers and activity coordinators across the land to ensure that every product and idea we offer is topnotch and practically oozing with fun. And if you've got a creative itch that needs scratching, we're here to help you bring your unique ideas to life!

So, don't let boredom sneak in. Join us on this adventure of "going the extra smile" because, let's face it, smiles are the best currency around here.

See all of the above here at www.activitiestoshare.co.uk

Inspired Inspirations: Revolutionising UK's Care Sector with the Tiny Tablet In an era where technology infiltrates every aspect of life, it's paramount for care establishments to harness its potential for enhancing the quality of life for those they care for. One pioneering name stands out in this endeavour - Inspired Inspirations. This innovative company has been leading the transformation of care

through its state-of-the-art Tiny Tablet touch screen activity tables.

The impact of the Tiny Tablet across the UK's care sector is nothing short of transformative. Crafted with precision, these activity tables are designed to meet the unique needs of individuals in care settings. The interactive features and user-friendly interface offer residents an engaging experience that transcends the limitations often associated with traditional care environments. From stimulating cognitive functions to enhancing social interactions, the benefits are manifold. Residents can revisit old memories, connect with loved ones, explore the world, and engage in enriching activities, all with just a touch.

But what truly sets Inspired Inspirations apart is not just their groundbreaking product but their holistic approach to integrating technology into care. Recognising that the most advanced tools are only as effective as the hands that wield them, the company prioritises the training of care staff. They believe in empowering caregivers with the skills and knowledge required to maximise the potential of touch screen devices.

Their comprehensive training modules ensure that care professionals are well-equipped to provide those being cared for with meaningful, enriching interactions using the Tiny Tablet.

Further amplifying their commitment to quality care through technology, Inspired Inspirations has penned an invaluable guide titled "Project Wellbeing: Unleash the Power of Technology in Care". This book is a testament to their deep expertise and dedication to the cause. It offers readers insights into the best practices for integrating technology into care settings and ensuring that residents reap the myriad benefits. By sharing their vast knowledge and experiences, Inspired Inspirations is fostering a care community that is both tech-savvy and deeply compassionate. This can be ordered from Amazon, or Inspired Inspirations own website www.inspired-inspirations.com In conclusion, as the UK's care sector faces unprecedented challenges, companies like Inspired Inspirations are paving the way for a brighter, tech-enabled future. Their remarkable Tiny Tablet touch screen activity tables, coupled with their dedication to staff training and knowledge dissemination, position them as true trailblazers.

For care establishments looking to embrace the future and offer unparalleled experiences to the people they care for, a partnership with Inspired Inspirations is not just recommended, it's essential.

See the advert on the facing page for further details.

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISERS

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MANAGEMENT Frequency Precision - Sensors and Pressure Mats to Monitor Those in Care Technology has made people more connected with the world around them and the revolution in assistive care devices has made it possible for the elderly to spend their last years in a comfortable and familiar environment. These devices have also made it easier for home carers to provide quality care for their loved ones while managing their own lives. They allow you to care for your elderly whether they are travelling in the city for errands, staying alone at home, or staying in the same home as you. They are also helping nursing homes provide better care for them with discrete monitoring and quick responses to emergencies.

If you’re looking for these kinds of assistive care devices for your loved ones or nursing home, Frequency Precision produce some of the best sys-

tems available to help you with elderly care and mobility monitoring, ranging from bed, chair and floor sensor mats through fall monitoring and GPS tracking to fully integrated nurse call plug or wireless systems.

Phone: 01837 810590 Email: contact@frequencyprecision.com Website: www.frequencyprecision.com

point then add a 2-1 adapter In addition The Floor Pressure Mat has a heavy non slip backing, It comes professionally sealed so can easily be cleaned for liquid spills and is fully serviceable.

And carries a 12 Month guarantee 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 our NEW WEBSITE at www.lctuk.com for details.

Lotus Care Technology

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

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.

Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected, The Nurse Alert Mat can help protect residents especially at night that are at risk of falls and accidents.

This Nurse Alert Mat can be placed typically at the bedside or at the door threshold and plugged into the call socket of the Nurse Call system or the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor.

It can then alert staff for example before the resident is up and about, sounding the alarm with a small amount of pressure thus enabling staff to investigate.

Need to add a pear push lead in the same call

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 41

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MANAGEMENT

Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Monitoring Solutions 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 available One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options, including: Call button Pager Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts

TREADNOUGHT ®FLOOR SENSOR PAD

The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition. Our anti-bacterial floor

sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad. Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside, in a doorway or other locations to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering. An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.

FEATURES INCLUDE: Connects directly to most nurse call systems High Quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold separately): Anti-slip mesh for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details or visit www.fallsavers.co.uk.

Medpage Advanced Domestic and Blaucomm Ltd Telecommunications & Networks Commercial Fall Prevention Systems Blaucomm’s Nurse Call Messaging Service (NMS) is the market leading solution to remove the dependency on noisy nurse call panels and pagers, through its intelligent software, which delivers the alerts straight to the care staff who need them.

Care homes are rapidly introducing smartphones for digital care planning and eMar - now, the same devices can be used to receive the nurse call alerts they need for the residents under their care.

Furthermore, Blaucomm NMS is deeply linked into Person Centred Software MCM, so call bell data is linked straight to care plans. This unlocks a huge benefit to care homes to enhance the staff performance with how they accept and respond to residents, which ultimately promotes better response times and visibility for management to audit their performance.

The best part is that Blaucomm NMS links into your existing nurse call system - we work with all major brands such as Aidcall, ARM, Courtney Thorne, C-TEC, ENS, Intercall, Medicare, SAS and TeleAlarm.

Care operators are constantly recognising Blaucomm NMS for its reliability and dependability to

their care operations, which is why we’ve been chosen time and time again over other solutions.

Head of IT Trudi Harrow at WCS Care had this to say about Blaucomm NMS: “We find Blaucomm is a genuinely fantastic company with a reliable product.

"We would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to replace expensive pagers and silence those annoyingly loud nurse call screens!”

To find out more about Blaucomm NMS, visit www.blaucomm.co.uk/healthcare See the advert on the front cover for more details.

Medpage Limited has manufactured care aid technologies for 40 years and our brand is widely used in hospitals and commercial care establishments. We supply fall prevention and detection systems to suit most requirements to ensure patient safety and regulation compliance. We are a major contributor and supplier of equipment to the hospital patient discharge project, where Assistive Technology items are issued to aid independent living and keep people safer at home.

We offer expert technical advice, support, and product guidance for customers unsure of their requirements. Our reputation for delivering quality services, quality products, competitive pricing, and our passionate commitment to developing new and improved technologies is acknowledged by the majority of Local Authorities in the UK.

Our latest fall prevention system based around our MPCSA11 sensor controller was successfully tested in Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Enfield and Barnet NHS, Potters Bar, Edgeware, and is now adopted and implemented as part of their falls management programmes.

The CSA11WBCK system is unique in that it allows a patient with mobility to freely transfer from bed to chair and into a monitored area, such as the washroom, without causing an alarm so long as the patient is detected by a sensor, bed, chair, or movement. If the patient fails to return to their bed or chair the alarm outputs become active alerting radio pagers, nurse call trigger, or dispersed alarm dialler.

To find out more about Medpage fall prevention systems visit www.easylinkuk.co.uk Professionalwandering-falls.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MANAGEMENT

Arquella - Connected Technology, Connected Care ARQUELLA, a leading care technology provider, offers solutions to enhance the quality of care in nursing and residential homes across the United Kingdom.

Arquella is passionate about making a difference in the quality of care provided to nursing and residential homes across the United Kingdom. Through the power of technology, we have developed cutting-edge solutions that are accessible and supportive, putting people at the forefront.

As part of a nationwide initiative driven by a £25m UK government funding pledge to enhance the quality of care and support individuals’ independence, Arquella is proud to be at the forefront of the digital transformation in the care sector.

Falls in care homes are a significant concern in the UK, with residents three times more likely to fall than older people living in their own homes. Arquella’s innovative solution, Arquella Sense, utilising sensor-based technology, and Arquella Call, a digital nurse call system, will improve reactive care and reduce risk.

Arquella Sense uses discreet wall or ceiling-mounted sensors to monitor fall risk behaviour 24 hours daily, alerting carers via mobile handsets. The technology aims to intervene before falls occur, increasing safety and providing a cost-effective solution to cumbersome mats.

Arquella Call is an app-based digital nurse call system that delivers in-depth digital records and future-proof functionality. It integrates seamlessly with other software applications, offering actionable data to help shape care delivery and adjust staffing levels.

Arquella is at the forefront of a digital transformation revolution in the care sector.

Technology is more important than ever in providing insights and actionable data to inform decisions and improve lives.

For more information about Arquella’s products and how they can benefit your care home, please call 0333 242 7505 or visit their website at www.arquella.co.uk

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, emedication, 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 or see the advert below.

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Providing Next Gen Data For Next Gen Residents The next generation of tech-savvy residents will play a vital role in shaping digital care. Phil Brown, Chief Product Officer at KareInn (www.kareinn.com), discusses how a focus on prevention, and person-centred care planning, will further help accelerate the digital transformation of social care.

Today’s generation of residents are the first to see the benefits digital can have on the quality of their care. Although care homes across the country are still at very different stages of their digital transformation journeys, the sector agrees that technology can change experiences and outcomes, for the better.

From streamlining information management, improving care coordination, and enabling more personalised and efficient healthcare services, we are seeing every day, how digital is improving outcomes for people. But as new, or ‘next gen’ residents enter care homes – residents with a different understanding, experience and expectation of digital – how can we ensure technology will continue to accelerate the transformation of care delivery?

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY NEXT GEN RESIDENT? The tech-savviness of the older generation can vary significantly depending on several factors. Things like exposure to technology and access to learning opportunities, all play a part in a resident’s understanding of, and attitude towards digital care. Generally, older adults have been adapting to technology at a faster pace in recent years due to its increasing prevalence and user-friendly designs. Many have embraced tech in their everyday lives with enthusiasm. Like younger demographics, they use smartphones, tablets, and other devices to stay connected with family and friends, access information online, and engage in social media. Many even understand how and why their data is collected.

DRIVING TRUE PERSON-CENTRED CARE The CQC’s Regulation 9 says that care providers must make sure that each person receives appropriate person-centred care and treatment, that is based on an assessment of their needs and preferences.

Engaging residents and their families in the digital process, and showing them the benefits of it, will help to

Pass Profile 2023 PASS supports over 1,000 care providers every day, giving them access to market leading care management tools hand in hand with unlimited 24/7/365 support from our dedicated and friendly PASS team.

Assured by NHS Transformation Directorate, PASS provides a secure platform that allows you to plan, record and evidence the care you deliver. The only assured solution built specifically for the home care sector, it provides comprehensive real-time functional-

gain their support and feedback throughout a care home’s transformation process. This is person-centred care in its truest form, and involving people in all decisions about their health is the best approach to ensuing the next gen resident is engaged with digital care.

Many forward-thinking care homes are now using resident and family portals – a secure online place where family and friends of those being cared for stay informed about the care they’re receiving – to capture and share the critical information that deepens the positive outcomes for residents. Portals promote inclusive and transparent care, they also promote resident-led care as needs, concerns and wishes can be communicated and available to care providers in real-time.

Portals also enable a more fluent and meaningful dialogue with family members, putting records and precise information about care and wellbeing at their fingertips. It also can help communicate about mealtimes, activities and what the resident got up to that day, their mood, and what actions were taken to address any issues.

PREVENTION RATHER THAN PROBLEM SOLVE We know that digital care planning in care homes can lead to a more efficient, coordinated, and person-centred approach to residential care, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents and improving the working environment for staff. But we also know that a lot of the challenges care staff are facing can’t be solved by digital care planning apps.

We all know care providers are doing all they can to become more digital, but the adoption of technology in care homes may vary depending on factors such as budget, regulations, and the willingness of both the workforce and residents to embrace the new. Some care homes, particularly in rural areas or with limited resources, might face challenges in providing robust internet connectivity. Concerns about data security and privacy may also influence the decision to implement internet access in some care facilities.

Because of these and many other challenges, we need to be more focused on prevention. Our aim is to arm people with all the necessary information so that they can identify potential risks and address them proactively.

Whether it’s early identification of health issues, more efficient medication management, fall prevention, better insight into nutrition and hydration, digital care is designed to promote a person-centred approach to prevention.

The next generation of tech-savvy residents is poised to have a significant impact on shaping digital care. By driving adoption, expecting personalised care and actively participating in care innovation, their impact will help accelerate the digitisation social care and help it achieves its integrated, digital care planning ambitions. platform, designed to: • Save you time • Increase the efficiency of your teams • Improve the quality of care • Deliver better outcomes

ity and allows you to share progress against outcomes with customisable, exportable reports.

CARE PLANNING AND ROSTERING FROM A SINGLE PLATFORM To meet the wider needs of the PASS community Allin-one PASS has recently been launched , bringing advanced rostering functionality to our established digital care planning platform. As a result advanced staff scheduling, payroll and invoicing functionality is now seamlessly linked with care planning and reporting, reducing the technical complexity, risk and overhead associated with integrating two separate systems.

As a result, PASS now provides an all-in-one suite of digital care management tools, available from a single

INTEGRATED HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Our commitment to the continual evolution of PASS is further illustrated by the addition of GP Connect. The first product of its type to offer this feature, PASS is still one of only a handful of digital care management solutions to have completed this NHS Digital integration, and is the only one offering it to the home care market.

PASS GP Connect provides authorised social care staff with realtime access to their client’s GP records. It makes medical information available when and where

it is needed, leading to improvements in both care safety and outcomes: • Visibility of allergies, vaccinations and medications, especially useful for clients unable to reliably share their personal information • Using medical information to inform care planning • Ensuring that the right medication is delivered to the right person in the timeliest manner. In one case, this allowed the administration of antibiotics on a Friday evening, aiding the service user’s swift recovery from infection Available to all PASS users at no additional cost, PASS GP Connect is significantly more efficient than waiting for a GP response. It’s also a positive step forward on the path to the DHSC’s goal for widespread digitally enabled care and is in full alignment with their ambition for joined up care for everyone.

Get in touch: www.everylifetechnologies.com hello@everylifetechnoloiges.com

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 45

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Taking Control of Time and Attendance in Social Care The social care industry faces unique challenges when it comes to managing time and attendance. Ensuring that the right skilled care worker is in the right place, while also juggling staff absences, can be a daunting task.

However, there is a solution that can streamline these processes and give you greater control over absence management: Advanced Time and Attendance software.

One of the key features of time and attendance software is skills mapping.

In social care, it's not always possible to simply roster in another employee to cover a shift. With skills mapping, you have the ability to set parameters that ensure the replacement staff member has the necessary skills for the specific client. So, when a care worker calls in sick or can't make it to their next client, you can seamlessly find and allocate another staff member with the right skillset.

Shift swapping is another valuable tool offered by our time and attendance software. If a care worker is unable to fulfil their shift or make it to their client visit, the shift can be easily swapped with another equally qualified care worker. This ensures continuity of care without disrupting the rest of the schedule.

Additionally, team members may even be able to trade shifts between themselves with approval, reducing the administrative burden on care coordinators.

To make the management of schedules and absences more efficient, time and attendance software offers self-service capabilities. Employees can access cloud-based software at any time to manage their schedules, sickness, and annual leave. This empowers them to take ownership of their own time and reduces the time and effort required for managers to keep tabs on who is where, when, and for how long.

Managing rosters, absence, and payroll in the social care industry can be complex, but it doesn't have to be complicated. With Advanced Time & Attendance solution, you can efficiently configure your rotas, update shifts, and track absences. The software provides real-time data and productivity insights, helping you make informed decisions and optimise your workforce.

Taking control of absences in social care is crucial for maintaining the quality of care provided to clients. Advanced’s Time and Attendance software offers the tools and capabilities needed to streamline processes, allocate skilled staff members, and empower employees to manage their own schedules. By implementing a Time & Attendance solution, you can prioritise client needs while ensuring efficient and effective workforce management.

For more information on Advanced Time and Attendance, you can visit our website www.oneadvanced.com or call 0330 311 6077. See the advert on the back cover of this issue for details.

WhosOffice Online success Helps Care Sector with Shift Planning and Staff Leave Management Kent -based WhosOffice.com is helping the care sector manage staff shifts and leave planning. Currently used by many businesses to manage staff holidays and shift rotas online.

WhosOffice’s CEO, Reg Groombridge, has seen a noticeable shift in the way companies are managing essential HR tasks like coordinating staff time off and shift patterns.

“All companies, including large care homes, hospital pharmacies and the care sector generally are more sensitive than ever to key staff not being available at vital times during a shift. Management, including local managers, need to have a clear vision of whos on shift, day off, who’s on leave or even off sick and be able to plan tasks accordingly to the correct staff.”

“As there continues to be pressure caused by the shortage of skilled and qualified personnel, you need online systems that your whole team can use to see accurate information, wherever they’re located – at head office, care home based, onsite or on the move.”

Knowing who’s on shift or available to cover a shift is the key to success along with who’s qualified to cover certain essential roles and tasks.

“The switch to digital shift planning is driving investment in HR tools like WhosOffice because there can be less face-to-face interaction between staff. Its easier to have an online system that gives everyone from the ground up a clearer picture of who’s on shift, who’s available and qualified to take on tasks that must covered.

Particularly in the care sector you can’t just lean across the desk and ask someone if they’ve booked next week off or when they are next on shift.

“There’s also a need for companies to provide a good employee experience. When recruitment is a challenge, you can’t afford to lose your most valuable people – and a basic mistake like miscalculating someone’s holiday allowance or not logging their time off request can have a huge impact on people’s loyalty to your business.”

“Likewise, it’s important to protect the health and wellbeing of your workforce, to mitigate the risk of someone going off long-term sick.

We’re seeing more companies using the WhosOffice absence management feature to track staff sick leave, so they can identify people who may be struggling with their physical or mental health and offer appropriate support.”

Ever-rising employee expectations have created a stronger business case for investing in HR technologies. When WhosOffice launched in 2015 it was one of the very first online staff shift and leave planners, and many businesses still used paper forms or spreadsheets to track time off. Now, companies of all sizes are modernising their operations to help them attract and retain the best people.

“Fortunately, essential HR tools have become much more affordable in recent years, which means SMEs can use the same, sophisticated software as much larger companies.”

Contact details WhosOffice.com +44 (0)1227 812938 support@whosoffice.com

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT The UK Care Market: 2023 Review

• In H1 2023, 45% of closed care home deals we were sold to care providers for ongoing care use and 55% were purchased for residential conversion

OPERATIONAL COSTS Analysis of our consultancy data - which looks at profit and loss accounts from the hundreds of formal valua-

By Rob Kinsman, Regional Director - Healthcare, Christie & Co (www.christie.com) tions - shows a significant increase in costs for care home providers between 2021 and 2023. This clearly reflects We recently launched our 2023 Care Market Review report which analyses a range of topics relating to the UK healthcare business market. Here are some of the key highlights…

HEALTHCARE CAPITAL MARKETS Entering 2023, the care market adapted, with buyers returning albeit with yields adjusting to reflect higher costs of capital and the changing market environment.

Positively, despite the macro-market challenges, there is good demand for care home opportunities, with investors attracted by the strong needs-driven underpin of the sector coupled with long-term index-linked cashflows.

LAND AND DEVELOPMENT The underlying business case for purpose-built care homes remains robust, with a continued need for future-proof market-standard beds in many locations across the UK. Despite operators still facing significant headwinds, the UK care home development market remains active and continues to transact a high volume of new-to-market beds. Sentiment remains positive, with more operators prepared to take leases on new build assets as a way of achieving growth, resulting in an upward movement in rental levels over the 12 months to June 2023.

We are starting to see more domestic and international capital entering the market, attracted by the defensive characteristics of needs-driven Operational Real Estate and the excellent ESG credentials new care homes offer investors. This additional liquidity, accompanied by the continued imbalance between demand and supply of market-standard beds to cater for the rapidly ageing demographic, will support sustainable levels of transactional activity for consented care home development sites in both the short and long-term.

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS When analysing the UK’s elderly care going concern market between 2019 and H1 2023, we found: • Instruction volumes had rebounded, sitting 70% ahead of where they were in H2 2022 • There was a rise in the number of larger care homes (60 beds or more) going up for sale • Only 3% of our transactions were to first-time buyers, this is around a third of the proportion in 2022 • There was an increasing number of transactions concluded by the larger companies and corporates • Independent buyers remain our most active buyer group, accounting for 34% of Christie & Co healthcare deals in 2022 and 36% in 2023 • In 2022,13% of the sales we completed were on a closed basis, this increased to 18% in H1 2023

Policies and Procedures Within Social Care The delivery of safe care is the paramount responsibility of social care providers. Central to achieving this is the governance framework adopted by service providers. And at the core of this framework are policies and procedures. These enable the provider to comply – and evidence compliance – with relevant legislation and regulations, as well as facilitating best practices, supporting business needs, and assisting in recognising and managing risks.

Good governance care itself is an integral part of health and social regulation, Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 stipulates that care providers must have systems and processes in place that ensure they can meet the requirements of Regulations 4 to 20A. Policies and procedures not only ensure that providers are compliant with this regulation and working within the law; they also enable providers to drive improvement and protect the people who access services and receive care.

Providers also have a legal duty of care to the people they employ. Policies and procedures should provide clear guidelines to staff on how the organisation operates, as well as informing them of best practices and processes to be followed.

the wider economic challenges with labour supply constraints and rising energy prices, and the care sector has a greater exposure to a material shift in these costs.

We found that registered managers’ salaries, on average, increased by 13% between 2021 and 2023. There are even greater wage pressures on kitchen staff, with head cook wages increasing by an average of 14%. The situation with maintenance staff is also acute, with wages rising by 18%. An analysis of utility costs shows that heat and light costs have also increased by an average of 19% on a per-occupied bed basis.

LOCAL AUTHORITY FEE RATES We conducted and analysed a Freedom of Information Act survey - covering all local authorities across England, Wales, and Scotland. This revealed: • An average residential fee increase in England of 9.5% compared with 5.4% in 2022/23 • An average nursing fee increase in England of 8.1% compared with 6.8% in 2022/23 • Fee rate levels remain a challenge in some areas, with the increases being insufficient to offset inflationary cost pressures • The burden on the self-funded client base is likely to rise, with the majority of providers achieving private fee increases of 10% or more

OPERATOR SENTIMENT We also interviewed a cross-section of local and regional providers and found that 46% of operators have achieved a reduction in agency usage over the last 12 months, whereas 28% stated agency usage had increased.

Private fee rates increased across all country regions, with 43% of operators reporting a 10% or above increase in private fee rates. Only 9% of respondents reported increases of under 5%, compared with 31% with local authority fees. Additionally, 38% of operators said that their occupancy levels have increased, while 70% stated that it has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

THE FINANCE LANDSCAPE Historically, whilst in low interest rate margins, lenders have applied a higher interest rate or a ‘stressed margin’ to calculate affordability. However, we are now operating in a new stressed rate environment, which has made lenders look in greater detail at a business’s ability to service their current levels of debt, as well as any potential increases.

Results of a survey of local and regional providers conducted by Christie Finance in July 2023, found that 38% of respondents are looking to buy a care business in the next 12 months, 30% of which will seek finance to do so.

When asked about the confidence they have in lenders to support their plans, 46% said they are very confident, 18% said not confident, and 36% remained neutral.

Policies should be reviewed annually as a minimum to ensure they are still fit for purpose and align with legal and regulatory requirements. They should be reviewed not only by employees of the business, but also by experts in various subject matters (e.g., infection control or medicines management).

For many small- to medium-sized providers, there may not be the in-house skills, knowledge, and experience to complete such a robust annual review. Many choose instead to purchase their policies and procedures from a reputable provider like W&P Compliance & Training, who will also complete reviews and ensure their policies and procedures remain up to date. This way a provider not only ensures they remain compliant; they also benefit from best practice policies and procedures that provide a solid foundation for safe working practices and – ultimately – protect and support service users and staff.

Ben Erskine – Director at W&P Compliance & Training www.wandptraining.co.uk | Tel: 01305 767104 See the advert on page 2 for further information.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 173 | PAGE 47

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT Immigration Tightrope: Do You Need Permanent Keeping Care Homes Compliant and Reliable Care Staff?

Rising costs and operational challenges are putting care homes and domiciliary care providers under strain, as they try to comply with Home Office sponsor licence regulations. A growing concern is the disparity between the work hours stated on foreign workers' Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) and the actual hours given, which can adversely affect their visa status. According to Gavin Webster,

Director of Immtell, this issue reflects the sector's broader pressures rather than deliberate neglect.

Non-compliance with CoS terms can lead to severe Home Office sanctions, potentially causing staff to find new sponsorship or leave the UK, and disrupting the provider's services. Inadvertent breaches often result from the sector's tough conditions and confusion over compliance rules.

Webster emphasises the importance of careful navigation of sponsor duties to avoid significant consequences. He suggests that regular audits by immigration consultancies can prevent issues from drawing Home Office attention.

To remain compliant while providing essential services, care providers are advised to seek expert advice. Immtell offers support through info@immtell.com and online at www.immtell.com.

Proper guidance helps balance operational sustainability with legal responsibilities, preserving their vital community role.

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recruit from top to bottom; regional managers, care home managers, nurses, carers, chefs, kitchen staff and cleaners.

We are a family business committed to providing our valued clients with a complete and personal service. We guarantee that our candidates will enhance the levels of care that being provided by your business.

CONTACT US NOW: Email: Ben.livermore@caringpeople.com TEL : 0785 24 29 294 See the advert on page 9 for further details.

objectives of purchase, development and refinance.

We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further.

From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net