The Carer Digital - Issue #183

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Issue 183

“Show More Love for Social Care” in Upcoming Budget... ...As Chronic Underinvestment Highlighted

The Chancellor has been urged to prioritise and support the adult social care sector in his forthcoming budget next month, as the sector’s difficulties were emphasized in a letter to the government earlier this month.

The National Care Association (NCA) sent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak it’s “very own love letter”, highlighting the plight of the social care sector and calling for

review of the Treasury allocation for Social Care and Support services, focused on asking why Local Authorities and Health commissioners are not appropriately funded to support proportionate fee 24/25 budget uplifts to all providers.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

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

Today’s announcement that the government enjoyed a January surplus could not have come at a better time as we await the Chancellor’s spring budget in three weeks time.

In his 2023 budget social care leaders were left rather disappointed that the care sector was not been properly recognised, with sector leaders saying that there was nothing in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s speech to tackle the 1.6 million people who cannot get the care they need, and that last year’s Budget was a ‘further kick in the teeth for the care of the country’s most vulnerable’.

This year however is remarkably different inasmuch as we have an election looming!

Which is why we lead with a heartfelt plea to the Prime Minister from the National Care Association (NCA) who penned a poignant "love letter," urging the government to prioritize social care in the upcoming spring budget. This appeal comes at a critical juncture for the sector, grappling with chronic staffing shortages and persistently low wages that deter many from considering a career in care.

For years, successive governments have underfunded social care, exacerbating the challenges faced by providers and carers alike. However, amidst this bleak backdrop, there is a glimmer of hope with the recent announcement of £250 million in funding from the government to expedite hospital discharges. While this injection of funds is a welcome relief, it merely scratches the surface of the deep-seated issues plaguing the sector.

The social care sector is not only a lifeline for those in need but also a significant contributor to the UK economy, generating an estimated £50 billion annually. Its importance cannot be overstated, yet it continues to be undervalued and overlooked by policymakers.

While I do recognise the government stands surrounding immigration I do however feel it is disheartening to witness the government's recent changes to legal migration rules, which will prohibit dependents of overseas workers from settling in the UK. While it is understandable that the government seeks to control migration, these restrictions risk deterring crucial overseas workers who play a pivotal role in alleviating the current staffing shortages in the care sector.

Editor

Peter Adams

I don’t think anybody would fail to acknowledge the importance of encouraging UK residents to pursue careers in adult social care, highlighting its rewarding nature and ample opportunities for career progression.

However, we must also recognize the invaluable contribution of overseas workers who fill essential roles and bolster the sector's resilience, particularly at a time when we have over 150,000 vacancies.

It should not take a general election to motivate the government into heeding the calls of the NCA and prioritizes social care in the spring budget. Adequate funding, fair wages, and sensible immigration policies are not just matters of policy; they are a reflection of our society's values and commitment to caring for the most vulnerable among us.

We would also take this opportunity to remind you that we here at THE CARER are media partners and are exhibiting at UK Care Week at Birmingham NEC next month (March 20-21) - we are on stand F16.

Trade events for the adult social care sector provide all in my opinion definite diary dates, they are a platform with industry-defining content, live product demonstrations and interactive features set to support and equip those in the sector with the skills and knowledge to improve the lives of those they care for.

We are working closely with the organisers, who we have been media partners with four many years now and this year’s show features include the CQC Inspector Hub and the Virtual Dementia Tour which provides an immersive, interactive experience for social care business owners and management teams. The show will have hundreds of suppliers, speakers and like-minded professionals are also on hand to engage with visitors and share their visions and solutions for overcoming the challenges care home businesses are facing.

So, if you own a UK care business, have influence on key decisions in a care home or home care business, or are looking to expand your existing carebusiness then UK Care Week is the place to be, and please do stop by and say are hello, feedback is very important and we always welcome your views!

As always, I can be contacted at editor@thecareruk.com

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 3

“Show More Love for Social Care” in Upcoming Budget As Chronic Underinvestment Highlighted (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) The letter also sets out the “reality and implications” of the human cost this chronic under investment has on thousands of lifesaving services that we provide”: • We have over 152000 staff vacancies in the sector and will need an additional 500,000 by the 2030’s.

• Inflationary costs impact care providers as they do all citizens which include energy, food prices, interest rates etc.

• Social Care supports people with complex health care needs who would have been supported in the NHS 15 years ago.

SHORTFALL IDENTIFIED In January this year the government set aside an additional £250 million to speed up hospital discharges.

In a statement the government announced that thousands of extra medically fit patients were to be discharged from hospitals into community care settings, such as care homes to free up hospital beds and reduce pressure on the NHS. Nadra Ahmed, executive co-chair of National Care Association, said: “Our members are based throughout the country and are passionate and committed to ensuring the highest quality of services through respect, recognition and support for the people they support. Unfortunately, the ability to act in this way has been eroded beyond a sustainable position as we enter another financial year and to meet the circa £12 – £14 billion shortfall identified by independent analysts of the sector. We call on the prime minister today to prioritise social care and value our sector for the £50+ billion contribution to the public purse.

RAISING COUNCIL TAX This latest appeal to the government follows research from the County Councils Network (CNN) stating that “Virtually every local authority with responsibility for social care in England plans on raising its council tax by the maximum this April, with council leaders saying such rises are necessary to ensure their finances are sustainable in the long-term.”

Data compiled by the County Councils Network (CCN) reveals that out of 136 county and unitary local authorities in England who have so far published their budget proposals, 128 (95%) plan on raising their council tax by the maximum permitted – 4.99%.

These increases come despite councils receiving an emergency injection of £600m last month, following intense lobbying by CCN. County leaders said that the additional funding is welcome and would help safeguard frontline services, many of which are relied on by struggling households.

FUNDING GAP However, upper-tier councils in county areas are still under significant pressure. Despite receiving £240m of this additional funding – and planning savings of over £1bn – those county and unitary authorities still face a collective funding gap of £1.1bn over the next two years, even after council tax rises.

County leaders say they recognise that these ‘difficult’ council tax increases will add to residents’ cost of living, but with two-thirds of county authorities’ funding now derived solely from council tax, rises of up to 4.99% are necessary to protect vital services and help prevent financial insolvency in future years.

Councils say that the government’s extra funding next year – and their own council tax rises – gives them breathing space. But with a general election taking place this year, CCN argue the next government must set out a long-term financial plan for local authorities.

CCN’s annual council tax tracker, which analyses published or approved 2024/25 budgets of upper-tier

councils in England, reveals: • Virtually every council plans on raising council tax by the maximum 4.99% next year: a total of 128 local authorities out of 136 who have published proposals. No authority has declined to propose a council tax rise, with the lowest put forward 2.99%. A total of 17 authorities are yet to declare, whilst four authorities – Birmingham, Woking, Slough and Thurrock – have special dispensation to raise council tax by 10%.

• The number of authorities planning maximum rises is significantly higher than in 2023/24, with CCN’s tracker this time last year showing that three in four (75%) of councils intended to levy the maximum rise.

• These changes will mean that the average Band D household faces an increase of £103 over the year on average, but this will vary from area to area. Split across a year, this rise equates to less than £2 (£1.98) a week.

• Councils in county areas get 67% of their funding from council tax, which is higher than the England average of 56%. For some county local authorities, up to 80% of their funding is derived from council tax. This is because they receive lower government grants than other areas and are therefore more reliant on council tax.

TOUGH DECISIONS Last month, the government made available £600m extra to local government for 2024/25. With £500m of this ringfenced for social care, council leaders said the extra funding will make a tangible difference to protecting and enhancing local services, but extremely tough decisions remain in a climate where inflation is still historically high and demand for care services shows no sign of slowing down.

Measures put forward by councils in their budgets include spending on preventative measures in children’s services and adult social care, but savings here will only be realised in coming years. Other proposals include greater use of technology and digitisation, as well as investment in road repairs, town centres, and housing.

Alongside a long-term funding plan, CCN say the next government must undertake a comprehensive reform programme to help drive down costs. This includes overhauling the legislative framework for home to school transport, as well as intervening in the children’s social care market to cap private provider fees to reduce councils’ exposure to unaffordable costs.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING WELCOMED Cllr Sam Corcoran, Vice-Chair of the County Councils Network, said: “This year councils have faced extreme financial pressures, with local authorities having to make some of their toughest decisions ever due to rising costs and spikes in demand for care services. Last month, the government provided a very welcome £600m of additional funding for councils. This will make a tangible difference to protecting valued frontline services and in easing the pressures we face.”

“Despite this, county authorities still face a £1.1bn budget shortfall over the next two years. With council tax now accounting for two-thirds of the average county authority’s funding, we have little choice but to take the difficult but necessary decision to raise council tax by 4.99% to continue to protect services and ward off the threat of financial insolvency in the future.”

“No council leader takes the decision to raise council tax lightly as we know this will add to the cost-ofliving for residents, but councils have had little choice but to put up council tax due to the increased demands, particularly in children’s services. The next government must set out set out a long-term funding plan for councils while also undertaking a comprehensive reform programme to help drive down costs, especially for children’s services and home to school transport.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

The Vital Importance of Regular Fire Safety Planning In UK Care Homes

By James Rowland, Commercial Director at Neathouse Partners – a national provider of outsourced HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety services (www.neathousepartners.com) Care home fire safety is vital to the health and protection of care home residents and staff, especially as many residents are vulnerable, with individual needs.

changes in building occupancy, layout or regulatory requirements. Regular reviews of fire safety plans ensure their relevance and success, especially when moving vulnerable individuals during evacuation procedures.

KNOWING WHO YOUR 'RESPONSIBLE PERSON' IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005 This important piece of legislation places the responsibility of fire safety on the shoulders of care home management. This means that those running care homes must stick to fire safety measures, including undertaking frequent risk assessments, fire safety planning, training and evacuation procedures. Care homes are also subject to inspections by the fire and rescue service to ensure compliance with these regulations.

For instance, an inspection may be undertaken as part of a routine check, or may take place after a fire has occurred.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers how to detect and reduce the risk of fires, how to ensure staff are properly trained, and who is responsible in law for the fire safety of a building. If a care home breaches fire regulations, it could be fined, or management could face either having their care home licence taken away, or a custodial sentence in extreme cases.

RISK ASSESSMENTS ARE CRUCIAL It's important for care home management to stay on top of fire risks and hazards, which is where meticulous risk assessments come in. These assessments highlight potential fire hazards, assess the vulnerability of residents, and present strategies to mitigate risks. Risk assessments also look into the accessibility of evacuation routes for residents with mobility impairments, which is paramount to their safety.

A risk assessment is a simple task that can be easily carried out by a 'responsible person', and should consider hazards, people at risk, how to act and reduce risk, having a clear fire safety plan and regular review.

PLANNING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE Fire safety plans can quickly become out of date as circumstances and building occupants' needs change. Care homes must be flexible and adaptable in their fire planning, so that these plans keep up with

A 'responsible person' should carry out a risk assessment and keep it up to date. The responsible person is usually a site manager, care home manager, or it could be an external contractor that a care home hires to manage health and safety. The responsible person should establish general fire precautions, and identify sources of fuel and ignition, means of escape, fire warning procedures and fire fighting equipment such as extinguishers. Key considerations include: – Risk assessment – Means of escape – Raising the alarm – Fighting fire

ONGOING TRAINING The effectiveness of fire safety measures in a care facility depends on how prepared staff members are.

Regular training sessions can equip care home staff with the knowledge and skills needed to respond quickly and save lives in the event of a fire emergency. Staff training should cover fire prevention techniques, evacuation procedures, how to operate firefighting equipment like blankets and extinguishers, and how to evacuate residents with mobility needs. Staff should also be vigilant of fire safety at all times.

PREPARING TO EVACUATE In the event of a fire, residents need to be evacuated quickly, yet safely. Care homes need to establish clear and well-rehearsed evacuation procedures, taking into account the unique needs of their residents.

This includes designating evacuation routes, appointing responsible individuals to assist vulnerable residents, and conducting regular evacuation drills so that everyone is prepared. Alarms should be in place to alert staff, residents and the emergency services in the event of a fire incident.

Through risk assessments, careful planning, continuous training and strict adherence to fire safety legislation, care homes can uphold their duty of care to residents, providing them with the assurance of a secure and safe environment.

Elgar Court Care Home Makes A Wish Come True For Local Family Each day, Elgar Court Care Home celebrates a resident in their own right, by make them the ‘Resident of the Day!’ Elgar Court Care Home wanted to share this experience with the local community, so ran a competition in December called ‘Make A Wish this Christmas’. The newly opened Care Home had a number of entries and chose Maggie Hooper’s wish for a day out on a steam train for her train obsessed toddler! Maggie said “Oscar said ‘Choo Choo’ before he said mum!”

Elgar Court were happy to make the children’s wish come true and bought Maggie and her family tickets to ride a Steam train on the Severn Valley Railway and best of all, to meet the Gruffalo – their favourite book character! Maggie said, “My boys and I were lucky enough to win their make a wish competition, which we spotted on their Facebook following a visit to Santa at Elgar Court Care Home last year. We asked for a train ride for my boys who cannot get enough of trains. Naomi from Elgar Court arranged for us to not only get a train ride but to meet the Gruffalo, which luckily coincided with our youngest sons first birthday. We have had a lot going on the last few months and this was exactly the day we needed. We had the most

wonderful time, thank you so much Elgar Court for making our boys’ birthday so special!

Maggie’s other wish was for the local food banks to receive funds to support them in the new year, as they often see a decline in support following the Christmas generosity and with so many families struggling it’s needed so much. Elgar Court Care Home were happy to contribute towards this, by baking and decorating eight lavish Christmas cakes in the style of Christmas tree baubles, for the local food banks to give to families – which was also promoted by the Malvern Gazette and won the Barchester’s best Christmas cake award! Elgar Court Care Home will be pleased to continue gifting to foodbanks throughout the year.

Sarah Cadwallader, General Manager at the home, said: “We believe that every moment is worth cherishing. We want everyone to know how important residents and our community is to us here at Elgar Court Care Home. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team here in making wishes come true. And it was truly wonderful to see how happy it made the Hooper family”.

Lovett Care Introduces Alfred – The New Robotic Team Member at their Flagship Home - Fairfax Manor Growing Northwest care provider Lovett Care (www.lovettcare.co.uk) has collaborated with Bear Robotics and introduced Servi+ to their new home in Harrogate. The innovative robot helps support residents with maintaining independence and providing an additional “team member” in a fun and interactive environment.

Alfred, as named by the home, can be seen weaving his way through the home’s Orangery or Dining areas where residents and team members can return cups and plates back to another part of the home or even send a cup of tea to a bedroom.

Recent visitors to the home have received a demonstration of this cutting-edge technology and the home has shared the benefits of how this will enhance resident’s time in the home.

Chief Operating Officer Debbie Baker said.

“As a forward-thinking organisation, we remain committed to continuously enhancing our services through the adoption of innovative technologies that improve the quality of care and support for our residents”.

Head of Sales Emea for Bear Robotics, Malachy Ryan said.

“We understand the importance of helping care home residents live their lives to the fullest. That is why we have worked so hard in developing smart solutions to enhance the quality of communal senior living experiences.a Servi + is our state-of-the-art foodservice solution to help make any dining experience exceptional”.

Fairfax Manor in Harrogate, acquired from Angela Swift Developments in 2023, and will shortly be open to new residents. The home has been thoughtfully designed to offer an exceptional living environment with a range of outstanding facilities. The newly recruited team are in place ready to warmly welcome new residents.

Lovett Care also has homes under construction in St Helen’s, South Manchester and Kent. With the growing demand for quality elderly care these will all be welcome additions to their local communities.

For further information visit www.lovettcare.co.uk or www.bearrobotics.ai

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 5

One Fifth Of Care Workers Managing Multiple Jobs Almost a fifth (19%) of British care workers now have more than one job with different employers.

The finding is one of many in a new data report, The Big Shift: Navigating the Future of Work in the UK. With analysis by independent economist, Dr. Shashi Karunanethy, the report is based on data from Deputy’s scheduling software platform along with a survey of workers in 2023.

Spanning shift work industries including care, hospitality, retail, and broader service delivery, the report provides analysis of over 40 million shifts across more than 169,000 British workers and shows the impact of the costof-living on vital workforces typically associated with unpredictable work schedules.

“We’re seeing an unprecedented number of care workers holding multiple jobs, a phenomenon we refer to as poly-employment, and which is a response to the cost-of-living crisis,” said Karunanethy. “16% of care workers have two jobs, 1% have three and 1% have four or more.

With similar figures observed among other industries such as hospitality and retail, this is a significant trend. For many people it’s a tricky but necessary balancing act.”

Data reveals a major impact from cost pressures on care workers, with 44% reporting that their earnings have failed to match the pace of inflation and the rising cost of living. A substantial 46% say they have no money left over after paying their living costs and a further 29% say they are unable to cover their current living expenses.

Better pay is top of the wishlist for 51% of care workers, compared to 41% of those in hospitality and 44% in retail. A similar proportion said

they would be motivated to change jobs by better pay (52% of care workers compared to 47% of hospitality workers and 43% of retail workers).

Karunanethy commented: “As a direct consequence of the financial challenges in the UK, we can see more care workers are taking on multiple jobs to financially sustain themselves.”

The findings are supported by the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that over 1.2 million Brits hold two or more jobs.

The ability to fit in other commitments (46%) and schedule flexibility (45%) were highlighted as aspects of shift work that care workers like. However, this needs to be managed well to avoid any potential negative impact, with 22% saying that unpredictable schedules make it impossible to plan – one of their dislikes.

Deputy SVP, John Wilson said: “The challenges of polyemployment are often experienced by those in the shift work sectors such as care, hospitality, retail, and broader services in this country. These workers need predictable hours, sustainable work and financial security – which might not be available from a single role. Layered over this is the need for flexibility, particularly where workers may have other responsibilities such as caring for relatives.”

The figures contained in the research show that women predominate in most shift work sectors. This is most pronounced in the care sector with women contributing 74% of

102nd Birthday Celebrations For Patricia Celebrations have been in full swing at Chacombe park care home, as one of its residents reaches her 102nd birthday Patricia Ruck Keene was joined by Management team, staff and other residents came together, singing the birthday song, making her feel truly special. Her happiness filled the room, turning the day into a truly memorable celebration.

Patricia Ruck Keene was raised in France, educated in England, and worked as MI5 and I am married and got 4 children before coming to Chacombe park care home, where she is enjoying

a new chapter of her life.

Patricia Ruck Keene, said: she was surprised by the residents and staff singing her the birthday song, and with a cake specially made by the chef, she was overwhelmed with joy and happiness.

Jude Shibu, General Manager of Barchester Chacombe park care home added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone.

Patricia Ruck Keene is such a popular resident who always has an interesting tale to tell, and we look forward to hearing many more as she breaks into her 102nd Birthday.”

the shift work hours. In both the hospitality and retail sectors, women account for 51% of total shift work hours. However, in adjacent services such as delivery services and in-home care, the representation of women in shift work hours is slightly lower, at 45%.

Wilson added: “The trends emerging from this report underscore the urgency for organisations to develop hiring and retention strategies that are attuned to the varying needs of workers. A significant emphasis on work flexibility and supportive HR policies are emerging as key factors in attracting and retaining staff at all levels. Understanding and preparing for the future of work in the UK is increasingly crucial for building a resilient, inclusive, and innovative labour market.”

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

How I Became a Director of Nursing Despite Leaving School with Just Two O-Levels This week (Wednesday 21 February) is Mental Health Nurses Day, an opportunity to celebrate the unique contribution that nurses and support workers make to our profession.

A Registered Nurse for more than 20 years, David Wilmott has worked across a number of services including acute and mental health.

He is currently Director of Nursing at Cygnet Group, a leading independent health and social care organisation which provides services for young people and adults with mental health needs, acquired brain injuries, eating disorders, autism and learning disabilities within the UK. David has shared his story of how leaving school with little qualification didn’t hold him back in reaching his nursing ambitions.

I left school with two O Levels and I didn’t really have a career in mind, but nursing was in the family and my mum told me I’d be good at it. So I thought, ‘why not?’

I started as a Health Care Assistant at the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport, South Wales, in 1991 and I loved it, so I did three nights a week at night school to get my grades to train to be a student nurse.

I then spent 10 years in various clinical positions before moving into mental health commissioning and leadership. I joined Cygnet Health Care in 2018.

Having struggled academically at school, becoming a registered nurse was the proudest day of my life. It felt a real achievement.

After that, becoming a ward manager was the most amazing job in the world, because it gives you the unique ability to change the quality of care for patients. No doubt it’s one of the most challenging roles, but

also rewarding. It gives you the chance to recruit and develop nurses, influence standards and shape the quality of care. It was an immensely exciting time.

I moved into a leadership role because it provided a real opportunity to influence nursing care on a much larger scale. There’s scope to guide the direction of nursing within an organisation but also through wider networks such as the MHN Directors Council which influence national programmes of work.

In my opinion, making the workforce fit for the future is the biggest challenge facing the nursing profession. There are challenges around attracting people in to Mental Health nursing in particular. There’s no denying it is a tough job and incentivising people is key. When I went to university, I didn’t have to pay tuition fees, I had a bursary, but now nurses leave with huge debt. We are seeing spaces left unfilled in university courses and this needs to be addressed.

The pandemic elevated the status of nursing and the clinical expertise our workforce brings. It showed the highly skilled and numerous talents that we have across the profession. Nurses and care workers come from a host of backgrounds that truly represent the diversity of our society. Without a doubt, this is a career that has an impact on so many lives. I think the world realised how vital nurses are to us all.

I am proud that here at Cygnet there are lots of roles available in nursing and more career pathways opening up for support workers, carers and nurses. Wherever you are in your career there are opportunities so don’t be afraid to ask questions about how colleagues, friends or relatives got to where they are.

Other people’s successes can be an inspiration.

New General Manager At Friends Of The Elderly Malvern Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern-based Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court, have welcomed a new General Manager, Jo Bennett.

Jo joined Friends of the Elderly at the beginning of January. She has been working in the care sector for over 16 years and brings to the Charity a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of delivering exceptional care.

Having worked in the care industry for 16 years, Jo has held a variety of roles across the sector. “I spent quite a few years working as a Registered Manager for a diverse range of care homes; most recently, I worked in regional operations overseeing a number of large nursing homes, recommissioning company-wide dementia households and implementing digital platforms ” Jo continued.

“My passion has always been to create a welcoming and inclusive community where people truly feel a sense of home. This belief directs me every day, and I am so proud to lead a team that holds our residents’

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health, well-being and happiness at the heart of all we do.”

“As the General Manager for the three Friends of the Elderly Malvern care homes on one site, I make sure I prioritise my time to be available for each home as and when they need me so I can meet any needs or requirements as they arise,” Jo added.

“I started my career in care as an Activities Coordinator, so I totally appreciate how important meaningful engagement is to a person, celebrating each individual and providing stimulating, motivating and inspiring activities is key to well-being; and I try and attend as many of our wide and varied activities as often as I can across all three care homes.

Talking about Jo’s appointment, Friends of the Elderly’s Regional Director, Sam Redmond said: “Jo’s solid background in partnership working to bring about positive change is a great addition to the Charity. Jo’s experience has been gained through a number of channels including working on Leadership in Dementia Care with Worcester University and a raft of Appreciative Inquiry and Quality Improvement Projects with the West Midlands Safer Provision and Caring Excellence (SPACE).”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 7

Government Issues Changes to Legal Migration Rules for Family and Work Visas The government has issued a confirmation of visa ban for care worker dependants.

On 4 December 2023 the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, announced future changes to visa rules in what he described as a “fivepoint plan” to reduce immigration.

The Home Office released further information on 21 December, including some amendments to what had

originally been announced.

However, the Government has (19 February 2024) published the statement of changes to the immigration rules which confirm the details of the changes which are due to come into force on 11 March 2024.

THE CHANGES ARE: • Social care workers will not be allowed to bring dependants (that is, partners and children) on their visa.

• The minimum salary to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa will increase, with the baseline minimum rising from £26,200 to £38,700 (but not for the Health and Care Worker visa, which includes social care, or for education workers on national pay scales).

• Changes to the shortage occupation list to reduce the number of jobs where it will be possible to sponsor someone for a Skilled Worker visa on less than the usual minimum salary (which is the main purpose of the list).

• The minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa will rise in stages from £18,600 per year to £29,000 and ultimately around £38,700.

• A review of the Graduate visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities.

From 11 March 2024, newly sponsored skilled workers are work-

ers and home carers, and care workers, will no longer be able to be joined in the UK by their dependants.

However, there are transitional provisions that will protect those individuals already in the UK as skilled workers, or those individuals who have made their skilled worker applications before the changes come into effect on 11 March 2024.

Furthermore, for sponsors in England, there will also be a requirement to be registered with the Care Quality Commission and carry out a regulated activity.

Tom Pursglove, the minister for legal migration, said in a written statement to the House of Commons “On 4 December 2023, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary announced a plan to curb immigration abuse and cut net migration. This plan, alongside the package we have already introduced to restrict student dependants, is expected to mean around 300,000 people who would have been eligible to come to the UK under last year’s rules, would not be able to.”

“These changes include some of the measures announced in that package, namely preventing overseas care workers and senior care workers from bringing their dependants to the UK and requiring care providers in England who wish to sponsor migrant workers to be registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).”

“These measures will ensure we continue to protect our NHS and social care systems, while addressing significant concerns that have emerged since the introduction of the visa about high levels of non-compliance and worker exploitation and abuse within the adult social care sector, particularly for overseas workers employed within care occupations.”

“Care workers and senior care workers who are already in the route will be able to extend their permission with the same sponsor, and settle, without the CQC regulation requirement applying to them. They will also be able to bring dependants, including in cases where they change jobs to another sponsor who meets the CQC regulation requirement.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 9

New BMA Report Highlights ‘Broken’ Mental Health System A new BMA report, “It’s broken” Doctors’ experiences on the frontline of a failing mental healthcare system”, based on first-hand accounts of doctors working across the NHS, reveals a ‘broken’ system of mental health services in England. The current economic cost of mental ill health has been estimated to be over £100 billion in England alone*, but this report demonstrates that across the NHS, doctors are in an ongoing struggle to give patients the care they need because the funding is just not enough, there are not enough staff, and the infrastructure and systems are not fit for purpose.

The report makes plain that without a concerted effort from central government to resource mental healthcare based on demand (which continues to grow beyond what the NHS can respond to) as well as changes in society to promote good mental health, the future looks bleak.

The BMA carried out in-depth interviews with doctors across the mental health system, including those working in psychiatry, general practice, emergency medicine, and public health.

DOCTORS IN THE REPORT SAY: • “Mental healthcare in this country is dysfunctional. It’s broken.” – GP, Nottingham • “[Support for people with mental health conditions] is shocking. We would not accept this in any other area of medicine.” – Psychiatrist, Greater Manchester • “…patients always know that they can come into the emergency department…between spring this year and spring 2022 there was a doubling of Mental Health Act assessments in the emergency department.

Which I think is fairly indicative of more systemic issues and obviously it impacts on our workload.” – Consultant psychiatrist working in A&E, Oxford “Everybody wants to do the right thing. Everybody’s trying really hard, but we’re just not putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to saying we need to

invest in prevention and early intervention.” – Public health consultant, West Yorkshire Dr Andrew Molodynski, a consultant psychiatrist in Oxfordshire and the mental health lead at the British Medical Association, said: “As doctors struggling to provide mental health care, we know only too well that the system has crumbled. Some of our patients wait as long as four years for treatment, meaning too many people – including children – continue to fall through the gaps, and all the while funding remains insufficient. We’re having to make hard prioritisation choices that leave many patients without care and support that they urgently need. ”The demand for mental health services has changed dramatically, but funding has not kept pace. Mental healthcare funding must be based on what people need today, instead of being based on what we spent yesterday, which was inadequate even then. ”We need these changes to the system to be able provide good quality care and tackle the huge cost of mental health to people’s lives, the NHS, and the economy.”

The report finds that although in recent years the Government has placed some focus on mental healthcare, sadly there has been no overall improvement in services. It also finds that services are facing ever increasing demands and doctors are becoming increasingly distressed and frustrated as they are less and less able to provide the best care for their patients.

The report concludes that mental healthcare has not been provided with the funding or staff necessary to achieve the level of improvement needed for patients and the doctors who work within it. It also makes plain that trying to pinpoint just how much extra funding and staff are required is difficult due to a lack of consistent data on the prevalence of mental illness in England.

Moors Manor Care Home Celebrates 3 Years Moors Manor care home, in St Leonards, has held a party with a cream tea to celebrate 3 years of serving the local community.

Staff, residents and guests commemorated this special occasion with a party for residents their families and the local community to attend. We had entertainers Mike Sidaway and Steve Linne perform for everyone and we also served a prosecco cream tea for all to enjoy.

Moors Manor Care Home has built up excellent reputations within its local communities. The home regularly holds events and activities for its residents and surrounding neighbours.

General Manager, Gemma Chalkley said: “It is important to recognise the hard work of our staff here at Moors Manor Care Home. For the past 3

years, we have provided a caring home for our residents as well as the best possible environment for our staff. Today not only enables us to celebrate their hard work, but it's also an opportunity to thank the residents, their relatives and friends who have made Moors Manor such a loving home.”

Moors Manor care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Moors Manor Care Home provides residential care and dementia care for 66 residents from respite care to long term stays.

PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Sponsor Licence Revocation: High Court Ruling Suggests Mandatory Grounds for Revocation Should Allow for Element of Discretion

Article supplied by RWK Goodman (www.rwkgoodman.com)

As all sponsors should be aware, having a sponsor licence means complying with various sponsor duties and a breach can lead to the Home Office revoking the licence.

Two recent cases have dealt with the question of whether there is any discretion around revocation.

BACKGROUND In Supporting Care Ltd, R (On the Application Of v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 68 (Admin) the Claimant, a care provider based in London, successfully had the decision to revoke their sponsor licence overturned on Judicial Review.

The initial decision to revoke related to a single sponsored employee whom the Home Office concluded was not undertaking the role that she was purportedly sponsored to do, that of Senior Care Worker. Under the Home Office’s published guidance, this is a mandatory ground for revocation.

DECISION However, in finding that the Home Office fettered its discretion, the court noted the contradictions in the Home Office’s policy document, specifically: Annex C1 of this document sets out the circumstances in which we will revoke your licence – these are known as ‘mandatory’ grounds of revocation. If any of these circumstances arise, we may revoke your licence immediately and without warning. [emphasis added].

The Home Office had not satisfactorily stated why they had reached the conclusion they had with no consideration of whether revocation was reasonable nor proportionate under the circumstances.

The decision to revoke would meant that all 68 migrant workers at Supporting Care Ltd and their families would be required to leave the UK, causing significant distress to them and the individuals under their care

and would invariably have a negative impact on the provision of the provider’s services.

COMPARISON This raises an interesting contrast with the earlier decision in Prestwick Care Ltd & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 3193 (Admin). In this case, the wider effect of the decision to revoke failed as an argument because the claimant (also a care provider) had not made these submissions in advance of the decision; the original decision maker can only make their decision on the basis of evidence and information in front of them at the time.

Also, unlike in Supporting Care Ltd, the extent of the breaches in Prestwick Care Ltd were such that the proportionality argument also failed; during the compliance visit, the Home Office identified the following: • Five senior care assistants who were not performing the job that they had been sponsored to do; • A nurse having been paid less than the minimum salary rate during a period of training; • Non compliance with UK Employment Law in three further employees suffering breaches of National Minimum Wage Regulations.

Adrian Henderson, an associate in the health and social care team at RWK Goodman comments: “Licence holders should be aware that it is highly likely that at some point the Home Office will conduct a compliance visit on them; this can be with or without notice so employers should ensure that their internal systems are such that they are ‘audit ready’ and are fluent on the regulatory requirements and risks that may be present.

Whilst the court in Supporting Care Ltd indicated that mandatory grounds for revocation are never quite that, this should not be a cause for complacency amongst licence holders.”

Violet Home Care Ltd.

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.

WHO ARE WE?

OUR VALUES:

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.

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

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

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 or 01372 700315 See the advert on the facing page for details.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 11

Registrations for Care Home Open Week 2024 Registrations are now open for Care Home Open Week (CHOW) 2024, which takes place from 2430 June.

The event will also repeat the Great British Care Cycle Relay, covering 300 miles from Manchester to London. Cyclists stop at care services along the way. Each leg of the relay is around 20 miles and cyclists can complete as many legs as they wish.

Registrations are open via the Championing Social Care website The aim is to shine a positive light on the work of the care sector by encouraging homes to open their doors to the public, VIPs and local decision-makers.

In 2023, over 5,000 care services registered to take part in Care Home Open Week. That’s around a third of the total number of homes in the country.

More than 150 Members of Parliament visited homes during the week and the event had support from Government ministers and the Royal Family.

This year, the organisers plan to make it an even bigger event, encouraging an even broader range of care services to take part.

2023 saw also saw the inaugural Great British Care Cycle Relay which took place in the same week as Care Home Open Week. The Relay invites volunteers to join a cycle relay that will run from Manchester to London via stops in North Wales, stopping at care

services along the way to highlight how social care services are at the heart of communities up and down the country. Each leg of the relay will be around 20 miles in length and cyclists can join the relay for as many legs as they wish.

Both events will begin with high profile launch events on 24th June. Venues and additional details will be announced soon.

Mitesh Dhanak, Chair of the Care Home Open Week Committee, commented: “Care Home Open Week is a unique opportunity for the care sector to showcase the amazing work that it does for people.

Care services are at the heart of their communities and it’s a brilliant way of engaging with local communities and for us to raise the profile of care services across society. I’m thrilled, too, that we will be running in tandem with the Great British Cycle Relay once again. It really highlights the volunteer commitment that underpins our ethos as a sector.”

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.

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 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Can AI Ease Loneliness For Adults In Care?

By Jody O’Neill, CEO and Founder of Curam (www.curamcare.com)

By 2030 one in six people in the world will be aged over 60 (including me!). The WHO now outlines ‘loneliness’ as a key risk factor for the wellbeing of people in later life. As a potential solution, we’re increasingly seeing AI ‘companions’ championed for being virtual friends who will listen and talk to individuals. With loneliness and feelings of isolation rife amongst the elderly and vulnerable, it begs the question: could AI chatbots be beneficial in care?

In short, we would argue no. Here’s why…

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY Complex issues such as loneliness cannot be solved by technology alone. AI chatbots may seem like a promising solution, but they cannot replace the human element of companionship and care that is so essential, especially for those who are vulnerable and have complex needs.

Carers play a vital role in providing not only basic physical care but also emotional support and understanding. This is especially important for individuals with disabilities who may feel isolated due to their condition, or those with cognitive challenges and degenerative conditions such as Dementia.

Chatbots are not suitable for everyone. And in such cases, human empathy is necessary to interpret the needs and communicate effectively with the patient.

EMPOWER CARERS AND PATIENTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGIES The use of technologies such as AI in care must be evaluated to ensure it complements and enhances human connection rather than replacing it. This means there must be careful consideration when proposing how to fit technology into the roles of those who may be the people patients see and talk to most, as well as how it can be used to make the care journey better for patients.

Although chatbots cannot replace human carers, a combined approach of AI and other technologies can help care providers and facilitators.

For example, currently, a typical caring schedule often includes three in-person visits per day for each

patient. However, due to time constraints, caregivers may have to rush these visits. In this case, we would argue, that technology can be used to allow carers to perform a more thorough in-person visit and follow up with two video check-ins, based on the patient's needs (these video care calls can even, of course, be instigated from overseas).

Remote intelligent monitoring and predictive analytics can also be used by carers to capture an accurate overall picture of a patient’s well-being to design better care programmes in advance, rather than spending too much time during an in-person appointment on data capture.

As well as improving patient-centricity, AI has the potential to streamline services for care facilitators by taking on mundane tasks and freeing up the caregiver's time and talent for creativity and innovation. For example, the administrative work involved in the daily operation of care providers and facilitators. AI can handle emails, user inquiries, and information requests, enabling users to access information quickly so management can focus on solving more complex issues efficiently.

DON’T IMPLEMENT TECH FOR THE SAKE OF IT Ultimately, the current care system is dealing with legacy and complex technology which has held back much-needed innovation. While AI can be a potential solution, many care providers see AI as a cost-cutting solution without first addressing the underlying issue of an inadequate care model.

Digital transformation within the care sector should instead prioritise the needs of patients and carers rather than simply implementing technology for the sake of it. Technology should add value to the care journey, for example making it safer by vetting carers’ ID and training documents with banking-standard technology or reducing the time carers spend doing admin so they can focus on their vocation. Similarly, it should enable patients to access care easily and quickly, so that they aren't stuck in the hospital and have better care outcomes.

PATIENT-CENTRICITY FOR UNLOCKING AI’S POTENTIAL The successful implementation of AI in the care sector requires careful consideration of how it can meet the needs of patients. And for that reason, it’s not an effective way of combatting the loneliness of people in care. AI cannot replace the crucial interpersonal relationships between carers and patients that build trust, safety, and companionship.

However, it can help ensure carers have more time to put the needs of patients at the heart of their work.

The key to successful AI implementation in the care sector is putting the patient first.

Professional Pamper Day Is Wish Come True For ‘Radiant’ Lillian, 89 One of the south’s top professional makeup artists made a wish come true for an 89-year-old Dorset care home resident.

Lillian Ledger told staff at Colten Care’s Avon Reach in Mudeford that she would love a little indulgence and pampering to brighten up the winter.

The team invited award-winning Jess Robinson, who runs Model Makeovers in Bournemouth, to come in and give Lillian a special, one-to-one session.

A guest room at the Farm Lane home was transformed into a pop-up health and beauty salon for a relaxed afternoon of luxury.

It included careful application of natural skincare cleansers, creams and lotions as well as nail treatment.

Afterwards, a fresh and invigorated Lillian said: “I loved it. It was something so out of the ordinary for me, a real treat that made me feel so special.”

Jess said: “I spoke to Lillian beforehand and was completely guided by her choices. She said she wanted to look radiant. We went for a natural daytime makeover.

“It was all about making Lillian feel pampered and special and creating a natural radiant look for her, a little bit more glam than everyday but still so she felt like herself.

“She chose high-quality pink blusher, pink lips, red nails, shimmer mousse eye shadow and eyebrows shaped naturally.

“I found it very humbling to meet her. Her and her best friend Val who was there were both very sweet. It was like spending the afternoon with good friends. It didn’t feel like work.

“It was heartwarming. They were so welcoming and grateful. I enjoyed it so much.”

Companionship Team Leader Denise Marks said: “The pampering was lovely for Lillian, a true feel-good experience. She was indulged with natural makeup that enhanced her looks and added to her beauty. Jess explained all about the products she used, including how they are made and how ingredients are sourced.”

To complement the makeup artistry from Jess, Denise and colleagues laid on a sumptuous afternoon tea complete with bubbly and chocolates.

Afterwards, Home Manager Ruth Wildman presented Lillian with a framed photo from her makeover photoshoot.

Jess has more than 20 years’ experience as a makeup artist and works only with cruelty-free products.

Triton Showers Supports Urgent Safety Alert On Start/Stop-Button Showerheads Leading shower manufacturer, Triton Showers, has supported the call for third party suppliers of start/stop-button showerheads to provide clear warnings about their use with instantaneous electric showers.

This follows a recent safety alert issued by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), which outlines the potential consequences of using these showerheads with an incompatible shower. Electric showers have long been considered an energy efficient choice, drawing on cold water mains to heat water on demand.

However, using a showerhead with a start/stop-button feature restricts the water flow at the outlet without deactivating the heating elements, causing water within the appliance to quickly overheat to temperatures as high as 80°C. Once the shower is resumed, there is a serious risk of scalding water being released at a high pressure, which could lead to severe burn injuries.

Triton has reiterated the BMA’s concern that not all suppliers of start/stop-button showerheads are supplying clear warnings about their use with instantaneous showers – which amount for almost half of the UK’s showers – both at the point of sale and in product instructions.

David Tutton, Managing Director at Triton Showers, said: “As trends across social media and online marketplaces are driving a surge in demand for showerheads featuring a start/stop button, it’s essential that

users are aware of the potentially severe safety hazards that could occur when used with instantaneous electric showers.

“When operating normally, and with manufacturer-supplied showerheads, instantaneous electric showers have multiple safety devices to ensure safe operation, yet these features are not able to effectively run when used with start/stop-button showerheads. We are pleased to see the BMA actively collaborating with Trading Standards authorities to address the lack of proper labelling and warnings to ensure both consumer safety and awareness of the consequences of incorrectly installing this type of showerhead.”

Triton supports the BMA’s recommendation for consumers to exercise caution and prioritise safety when purchasing and installing third party bathroom accessories, in addition to avoiding the use of start/stop-button showerheads on electric showers. If consumers are uncertain around their shower type or compatible accessories, Triton advises consulting their shower manufacturer’s website.

Consumers have been advised to purchase certified accessories that conform to Regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fitting) Regulations 1999 and Electrical Safety Standards EN 60335-1 and EN 60335-235 for instantaneous electric showers.

Visit here to discover Triton’s range of suitable shower heads.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Staffing and Talent Attraction Remains Top Pressure for Health Leaders

Article supplied by Advanced (www.oneadvanced.com)

Talent attraction and retention remains the top priority for leaders in the health and care sectors in the UK, according to new report findings, as 53% of organisations struggle to find enough permanent staff to fill all rostering requirements leaving staffing levels at breaking point.

Over half (60%) of senior health & care professionals said attracting and hiring enough appropriately qualified people was the number one challenge now according to Advanced’s Health & Care Trends Report 2023/24. Again, more than half (52%) said that retaining staff at all levels was still a huge focus and 34% felt implementing more effective hiring and screening processes was still of huge importance.

The report found that the main retention challenge for senior leaders (58%) was around retaining staff, many of whom are leaving the sector for less demanding work. Forty-five per cent cited providing sufficient promotion opportunities to retain best staff, with 38% implementing effective performance management processes and 27% retaining older, experienced staff (consultants, GPs) seeking to retire early or reduce hours.

When asked about other barriers, over one in five (21%) said staff are working with outdated technology and processes that take too long, leading 54% of Health and Care professionals to say they have plans to upgrade their digital systems in 2024.

With new digital technology now at the forefront of conversations across all sectors, 19% of healthcare leaders say digital tools for faster and more accurate diagnosis will make the most impact in the future, while 18% cited technology that connects NHS providers more closely with ASC provision, aligning resource availability to reduce bed blocking. Other technological advancements that leaders believe would make a significant impact include:• 17% said they want more digital tools to help patients/clients manage long term, chronic conditions at home.

• 15% said that integrated data will allow services to share information for more effective future planning based on actual, local need.

• 12% believe digital tools would enable more efficient triaging and prioritising of care, AI & VR for enhanced

medical and organisational management training.

• 9% said an online platform would increase capacity for more remote consultations and appointments.

In 2023, the report found that 38% of organisations were using automation in many areas of non-patient facing processes such as updating records, analysis of patient info for trends, HR processes and finance. It also showed that 25% were using automation in many areas including patient facing processes such as telephone answering and automated emails, 21% were using it in some management processes such as HR and finance, and 16% were not using to any noticeable extent.

Senior leaders were also asked in what ways they believed automation could make the biggest improvements to processes, to which the top five answers were:• 46% said it saves patient time, reducing frustration.

• 44% said it saves staff time, enabling focus on higher value tasks.

• 42% told us it helps build useful database for better future planning and provision.

• 40% said it saves time for diagnosis/treatment, increasing success rates for better outcomes.

• 36% said it would facilitate communication with patients with access issues.

These challenges have left care providers calling for more government support, with 60% saying government policy could help alleviate staffing issues with an increase in pay for all employees, while 54% believe the introduction of more specific benefits such as tax incentives for health and care staff would help and 41% believe there should be an increase in pay at entry level and low levels.

"We commissioned this report for the second year running to gain insight into the challenges facing the care sector and to understand if they have moved on at all and what still needs to be done to solve them," said Ric Thompson, MD, Health and Care, at Advanced. "These results clearly demonstrate that the sector still needs a lot of support in managing and maintaining the quality of its most vital asset, its workforce, in order to gain better control of their organisations through a much more detailed and granular view of data freeing up more time of managers and staff to deal with the more pressing and urgent issues, and of course patient care."

“The pressures on healthcare delivery and care provision go hand-in-hand,” Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive, Care England comments. “Despite a net reduction of 13,000 vacancies in the care sector across 2022 – 2023, we have lost 57,000 domestic workers which simply isn’t sustainable. It is vital that we give these sectors all the tools necessary to retain and attract the best people in order to look after some of the most vulnerable in society while making sure those doing the job feel better prepared and cared for too.”

The report is available on request.

Twinkle, Twinkle – Is A Little Star At Friends Of The Elderly Malvern At Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern-based Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court, the residential, nursing and dementia care homes which are collectively known as Friends of the Elderly Malvern, Twinkle, the care home cat, has had a ‘purr-fect’ day celebrating National Love Your Pet Day with the residents.

Twinkle, an adorable and friendly long-haired Tabby Cat, has been living at Friends of the Elderly Malvern for over four years. “Twinkle is part of our care home family,” said Jo Bennett, the General Manager at Friends of the Elderly Malvern. “She loves interacting with the residents, especially if she thinks there is a treat involved. Funnily, Twinkle will always appear just before meal times, she must smell the delicious aromas coming from the Dining Room.”

Twinkle is friends with all the care homes’ residents and makes sure she does her daily rounds to check on everyone. “Twinkle has become rather fond of one of our new respite residents,” added Laura Smith, the Activities Coordinator at Bradbury Court, the dementia care on home the site. “She does like to go to the gentleman for fusses, it’s as if she knows he’s a cat person – they have become furr-m friends. I have also noticed that when Twinkle approaches and interacts with our residents who are living with dementia, their faces light up and she seems to bring them joy and happiness.”

Twinkle is a relaxed and pretty chilled out cat, but she does think she runs the care homes. “Twinkle

definitely thinks she’s the boss of the care homes,” added Laura. “She can be extremely vocal if she thinks she hasn’t been fed recently, on time or has enough on her plate for her liking. When Twinkle sees the staff members who usually feed her, she’ll make a beeline towards them and start telling them, in no uncertain terms, that she needs to be fed – right meow!”

At bedtime, Twinkle makes her way to the Bradbury Court office and snuggles up behind the chairs or, if the mood takes her, she’ll be in the Lounge, curled up by the piano.

Twinkle takes her role as Care Home Cat very seriously and, as long as it’s not raining, will patrol the care homes and the grounds.

Cats are expert communicators and have different behaviours that show they really like you, and Twinkle is an excellent ‘Cat Communicator’.

“Twinkle will demonstrate and show her love, trust and friendship to everyone she meets,” continued Jo. “She’ll give you a little headbutt, twitch her tail, curl up around someone’s leg and purr to her heart’s content. She’ll often be sprawled across the Lounge floor, showing her belly off, ready for cuddles – which she always gets.”

“We’re very fur-tunate to have Twinkle here at Friends of the Elderly Malvern. She’s a purr-ty and clawver member of the team and is loved not only by the care teams, but also by each and every resident,” concluded Laura.

Curam Forges New Partnership with Doctify to Advance Patient-centric Feedback in the UK Care Market Curam (www.curamcare.com), the largest care worker marketplace and home-care technology platform in the UK today announces a strategic partnership with Doctify (www.doctify.com/uk), the leading global platform for patient reviews of health and social care, to power enhanced trust and transparency in the UK care sector through patient verified reviews when choosing carers.

The partnership will address the critical need to improve patient experiences, where only 14% of households are satisfied with care services.

Providing more choice, confidence, and quality of care for patients and their families is therefore essential – and that’s exactly the goal of the Curam and Doctify partnership.

Doctify gives patients quick access to genuine, independent and verified reviews of carers to find the best carer to suit their needs for at-home care.

These are anonymised based on the experiences of other patients and cover aspects such as the quality of specialists, their services and treatments.

Patients can then click through to Curam to connect with the carers with the expertise and availability that they need in real time. Not only does this ensure that patients have complete control over their carer selection, and the opportunity to form consistent, trusting relationships, but Curam’s self-employed carers are

also able to earn around 50% more than they would in traditional care agencies.

Patrick Wallace, director of Curam said, “The cornerstone of care is the patient. But the UK’s care sector currently doesn’t reflect that, with the demand for fast, high-quality care far outweighing the supply. We’re on a mission to transform care into a sector that’s truly patient-centric and offers more rewarding careers for carers too. With our partnership with Doctify, we are providing even more transparency and confidence to patients and their families that they are receiving quality, personalised care.”

“Patient experience expectations continue to rise in the care sector. The sector must prioritise trust and transparency by putting the patient at the centre. We work with 32,000 healthcare providers to achieve this and are delighted to join forces with Curam. Through our partnership, we ensure that carers have access to meaningful feedback, strengthening their understanding of patient needs and improving their experiences while patients can find carers they feel confident in,” said Subhash Mishra, VP Business Development at Doctify.

Contact client@curamcare.com or 01387 730 766

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Call For Urgent Action To Combat Social Care Staffing Crisis In Wales Mary Wimbury, chief executive of Care Forum Wales A social care champion has called for urgent action to combat the staffing crisis affecting care homes across Wales.

Mary Wimbury, the chief executive of Care Forum Wales, says one of the main reasons for the shortage is underfunding of private and third sector run care homes and domiciliary care agencies which means they can’t afford to pay competitive rates.

She is urging local authorities and health boards to set realistic fees for the coming financial year to ensure that front line staff can be paid what they deserve.

According to Ms Wimbury, even supermarkets can offer higher entry level wages, making the retail sector a better financial option.

The problems in recruiting and retaining staff in the social care sector were also having a disastrous, knock on effect on the NHS. Welsh hospitals are at breaking point because of so-called bed-blocking with patients unable to be discharged after their medical treatment has been completed.

As a result, there are very few hospital beds available for incoming patients, many of whom have to endure being kept in ambulances outside or on trolleys for hours on end.

Ms Wimbury said: “Social care is a people business. We need people to care for people and enable them to live the best lives they can with the best care and support.

We need people with the right values and it can be a really rewarding job because you are engaging with

people’s lives and helping them enjoy those lives as much as possible.

“However, it’s difficult to keep up with the entry level wages offered by supermarkets and the like who can offer higher pay.

“The majority of care in Wales is commissioned by local authorities and health boards.

“We’ve obviously got the commitment from the Welsh Government that, at least, the Real Living wage should be paid but we’re currently discussing what the fees for local authorities and health boards are going to be paying across Wales for the coming year.

“We know they’re feeling pressure on their budgets but it is vitally important the fees they received by care homes and domiciliary care companies reflect the actual cost of providing care so that we can pay our staff what they deserve.

“It’s making sure that money gets through, gets to the front line and enables us to reward people for the valuable jobs they’re doing as well as possible and to keep them in the sector then they’re facing their own cost of living crises.

“Health and social care are flip sides of the same coin so social care is about that care and support that people need that can keep them out of hospital in the first place and enable them to come out of hospital more quickly when they’ve been in as well.

“Both parts of the system need to work together in order to keep people flowing through the system but also, enable people to have the best quality of life that they can.

“It’s A Little Bit Of Magic” - How A Hidden Hub In Cheltenham is Helping Combat Loneliness & Isolation for Older People in the Community At the heart of the Suffolk’s in Cheltenham is a project run by Gloucestershire charity Lilian Faithfull Care, which has become a real beacon of hope for older people in the area.

The Secret Garden Hub has been offering adult day care for over five years and its warm happy vibe is infectious. Three guests, who visit regularly, share what keeps them coming back.

Joy Ingram has been coming to the Secret Garden Hub since 2022. Joy is living with a rare health condition. Before her first visit Hub manager Mark visited Joy and her husband at home. Joy explains; “He said ‘we don’t have anyone who is particularly trained for your condition but we will get somebody trained.’ So he sorted out somebody out who could help me if I‘ve needed it and nobody else had done that.”

“Originally I came to give my husband some time off as he is my carer. I had lots of seizures, [but since coming here] they seemed to have stopped. I like chatting to the people here and the meals are always nice. I have actually changed as a person from being here and meeting people, I do like that.”

Roger Morris lives with dementia and explains; “Dementia - it’s a horrible thing to have as you don’t trust yourself. You don’t know if you are thinking correctly. I have to write lots of notes, things like that, to lead a fairly normal life. I come to meet people because I lost all my confidence and I hardly dare go out on my own. It’s a peculiar thing really as I used to be very sociable.”

Roger used to play rugby for Northampton as wing three-quarter (and had a trial for England).

“Well it was a completely amateur game in those games, training twice a week and once on Saturdays. We never used to get back home too early. When we played away the coach driver used say, ‘I’m leaving at midnight and if you aren’t there I’m going without you,’ and I did get left a few times!”

Roger visits the Hub twice a week and he shared why, “[Coming here] it’s the camaraderie, chatting and talking to people which is the most important thing.”

Mike Clayton started visiting after a serious health episode.

“When I came home [from hospital] everything had changed, I couldn’t do anything. Loneliness is a terrible thing, you need to know that you are not alone. There are other people in the world in the same position as you, and that, I think is a god send.”

Mike explained how coming to the Hub has aided his recovery and brought him a host of new friends.

“I didn’t know this place existed. But I am glad I found it. And so my loneliness disappeared. I look forward to it. I shall go back amongst friends now and enjoy the rest of the day. It is something I look forward to.”

Mike’s advice for anyone experiencing loneliness is, “Seek help, do not bottle it up look for these places where you can go, they are there, find them and then go and enjoy life.”

To find out more call Hub Manager Mark Norris or one of the team on 01242 506121 or email secretgarden@lilianfaithfull.co.uk and visit www.lilianfaithfull.co.uk

Marr Procurement: Continuing to Invest In Resourcing Solutions for the Care Sector Introducing Dan Ashenden our new head of M-Resourcing M-Resourcing are delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Ashenden to lead our M-Resourcing service with effect from 1 December 2023.

M-Resourcing offers a multi-faceted approach to solving complexresourcing problems facing the care sector. Whether you facespiralling staffing costs and pressures, or simply require a newapproach to managing this critical area for your organisation, ourcomprehensive resourcing solution reduces costs, brings controland allows you to plan for the future with confidence.

We knowfrom talking to our clients that managing their resourcing costs isstill a key priority and this important appointment underlines ourcontinuing commitment to the sector.

Christoph Marr, CEO of Marr Procurement: “Dan is a highly-capable leader and has incredibly valuable experiencefrom his years in the care sector, managing and delivering complex temporary labour

agency programmes. We areexcited to bring that experience to our clients.”

Dan spent 6 years at Priory Group "During my rewarding six-year tenure at Priory, I had the privilege of beingappointed as the inaugural UK Agency Manager, where I honed my skills in enhancing their PSL offering.

Thisexperience has provided invaluable insights into the principles of effective temporary agency management,reduction, and control. Now, as the Head of M-Resourcing at Marr Procurement, I aim to leverage this knowledge tointroduce innovative strategies for temp agency reduction to benefit our clients. My goal is to ensure the delivery ofa cost-effective and compliant offering, especially in the face of increasing sector costs.

With a rising demand andour commitment to fairness, our offering at Marr Procurement is poised to become even more beneficial.".

Marr Procurement is a professional procurement organisation serving the care sector, and founded on the values ofIntegrity, Fairness

and Quality. In everything we do, we believe in doing things better, ensuring fairness for clientsand suppliers alike, and always doing the right thing. Marr Procurement was set up in 2008 and has since servedmore than 50 care clients in delivering savings through sourcing over £1bn of spend.

Christoph Marr, CEO Marr Procurement: “At Marr Procurement we believe in seeking to level the playing field forclients, ensuring they have equal access to the best procurement services and outcomes.

This is what drives us everyday in serving our clients. The team I have built are each highly capable leaders in their speciality but, importantly,they all share a common belief in fairness and transparency. This means they are always seeking the right solutionfor our clients, where trust is at the forefront. Dan is a great fit for our business and for our clients and I amdelighted to welcome him to the team.”

Find out more at www.marrprocurement.com/m-resourcing/

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 17

Alzheimer’s Research UK Receives £3.1 Million From Omaze Mallorca Superdraw The Omaze Mallorca Superdraw, which ran over six weeks, had raised £3.1 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK. The £3,100,000 raised by the latest partnership with Omaze will support the charity’s Clinical Accelerator Programme, boosting clinical research for dementia across the UK and speeding up progress towards a cure.

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “We’re delighted that Omaze, and all those who entered the Omaze Million Pound House Superdraw in Mallorca, have raised a phenomenal £3,100,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK. “Nearly a million people in the UK have dementia, and we urgently need to find more and better treatments so that we can take away the fear, harm and heartbreak that this devastating condition causes.

“The vital funds raised will support our Clinical Accelerator Programme, which will boost clinical research taking place in the NHS and ultimately speed up progress towards a cure. This is an exciting step forward in our efforts to transform the lives of people affected by dementia.

“Thank you Omaze, and everyone who entered, for standing with us for a cure.”

This is the second time the charity has teamed up with Omaze. The

first partnership, in 2022, raised £1 million that helped Alzheimer’s Research UK to protect and continue progress in dementia research during the pandemic. This latest donation brings the total raised for the charity by Omaze to £4.1 million.

As well as raising funds for the charity, Omaze made one lucky winner a multi-millionaire, all thanks to a second-hand armchair.

Graham Dunlop (52) won the latest Omaze Million Pound House Superdraw – and is now the proud owner of a magnificent four-bedroom villa in Mallorca complete with swimming pool and stunning mountain views.

Graham entered the draw to support Alzheimer’s Research UK, after a chance encounter with a woman he was buying an old armchair from.

When Graham arrived to collect the chair, the woman insisted that she wanted to give it to him for free, asking only that Graham make a small donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK in place of payment – as her late husband had dementia.

Graham duly donated directly to the charity, but he decided to enter the Omaze prize draw as well after spotting it was supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK. A spellbound Graham said: “The reason I entered the draw is quite random really, I’d been after an armchair for my home office for a while and one popped up on Gumtree. I went to pick it up but when we arrived the woman refused to take any money for it. Instead she asked that we put something towards an Alzheimer’s charity, as her late husband had dementia. So I made a donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK, then saw that they’d also partnered with Omaze, so I bought an entry to the Superdraw on top – I didn’t give it a second thought and had totally forgotten I’d even entered.

“My wife didn’t like the look of my lucky chair at first, but of course she absolutely loves it now! You could say my £3 million prize cost me an armchair and a leg! I’ll bring the chair out here for sure, although it might look a bit odd next to the pool.”

He continued: “This villa is simply stunning, I love the design of the place and the views are spectacular, I just can’t believe it’s all ours – even if I jumped in the pool I don’t think it would sink in!

“We love Spain but never dreamed we’d ever own a place here – especially one like this! I might have to work on my Spanish a bit – although I can order a cerveza with no problems!

“I’ve got a large extended family that we’ve not seen for a while – I’m really looking forward to getting us all together out here.”

He added: “I’ve never won anything before – but this is worth waiting 52 years for! I’m not sure what we’re going to do long term yet – we’ll definitely be enjoying a few family holidays here – whatever we decide, this win is fantastic for our family’s future.”

James Oakes, Chief International Officer at Omaze, said: “Everyone at Omaze is delighted that Graham and his family have won this magical villa in Mallorca, whilst also contributing to the incredible £3,100,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Research UK. “Omaze gives people the chance to win amazing houses, like this spectacular property in Spain, whilst also introducing charities to vast new audiences that would otherwise be out of reach – it’s a real winwin for both charities and entrants. We’re incredibly proud that the Omaze community has raised more than £31 million for good causes across the UK.”

Ivy Court Walking Club Promotes Health and Community Ivy Court care home in Doncaster is delighted to announce the launch of its weekly walking club, providing residents with an invigorating opportunity to enjoy fresh air, movement, and camaraderie every Friday.

The Ivy Court Walking Club is designed to encourage residents to embrace a healthy lifestyle while fostering social connections within the community.

Residents, accompanied by dedicated staff members, embark on a refreshing stroll, promoting physical activity and overall well-being.

Stacey Dean, the Home Manager at Ivy Court, expressed her enthusiasm for

the initiative, stating, "I believe it is crucial for residents to experience a change of scenery, engage in weekly exercise, and breathe in fresh air. The walking club has already proven to be a tremendous success, and I anticipate its continued growth."

The walking club not only enhances the physical health of residents but also contributes to a positive and uplifting atmosphere within the community. As residents enjoy the outdoors and each other's company, the walking club becomes a foundation of Ivy Court's commitment to general care.

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

New Qualification To Boost Care Sector A new accredited qualification for care workers will help to improve perceptions of the sector and will boost retention.

That’s the opinion of a Lesley O’Connor, Head of Strategic Development at Realise, a leading training provider which offers numerous qualifications in the sector.

Lesley welcomed the Government’s £75m investment to help people progress in their Heath & Social Care careers.

The Government recently set out plans for a new accredited qualification and a national career structure for the adult social care workforce.

It says the qualification will benefit around 37,000 workers within the sector, while the defined career pathway will help people plan their future progression.

But Lesley said while the funding package would make adult social care a more attractive proposition, it would likely only make a small difference to the 152,000 vacancies within the sector.

“This Government investment to add accreditation to the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is very welcome and it will give the qualification additional value,” said Lesley.

“A clearly defined career pathway is also something I have championed for a long time and it offers people a clear route to progress their careers.

“It will also help to improve perceptions of adult social care as a whole. People still think of adult social care as looking after old people and everything that goes with that but the opportunities are far more varied,

including helping young people with disabilities and assisting with treatment and recovery from addiction.

“I hope it will encourage school leavers to consider adult social care as a viable, skilled career with progression opportunities rather than a stop-gap. It will undoubtedly help to raise the profile of the sector and will give people with limited qualifications the chance to build their skills.

“It’s well-known that people stay longer at places where training is available.”

People in adult social care jobs will be able to enrol on the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification between June this year and March 2025.

There will be other training initiatives available, including a new digital leadership qualification to help managers in the sector with the implementation of technology.

But Lesley warned that this funding must be followed up with decisive Government action to plug the gap in care sector vacancies.

She said: “There is a bigger conversation to be had at a time when there are 152,000 vacancies within adult social care. It is predicted we will need 440,000 care workers by 2035.

“While this is a good starting point, the Government must pledge future funding to support the long-term sustainability of the sector to attract many more people into roles at all levels. If decisive action is not taken soon, we could be facing unimaginable consequences over the next decade.

“Valuing the current workforce and giving them opportunities to upskill is important, but ultimately pay and conditions need to improve to attract new blood into the sector rather than going into retail or hospitality.”

Realise is one of the country's leading training providers, working with more than 1,000 employers and more than 10,000 learners a year throughout apprenticeships and adult education courses.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/realisetraining

Oakmont Lodge And Red Brick House Nursery Bridge The Age Gap With New Project Bangor-based Oakmont Lodge Care Home and Red Brick House Nursery School have joined forces with Linking Generations NI for a one-of-its-kind pilot scheme that will bring together children aged three to four with older people residing in the Dunluce Healthcare owned care home The scheme, which will run in conjunction with Apples and Honey Nightingale in England and Generations Working Together in Scotland, will investigate the positive benefits that can come from cross-generational socialisation.

Speaking of the home’s participation in the ground-breaking project, Ryan Smith, Chief Executive at Dunluce Healthcare, which owns Oakmont Lodge Care Home, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to spearhead a scheme that will, not only promote positive well-being amongst our residents, but will ultimately have a lasting impact.

“Ensuring quality care for our residents is a top priority, and we are pleased to be involved with an initiative that will foster community connections and meaningful relationships.

“Dunluce Healthcare has already seen the benefits of intergenerational socialisation through past projects in which local school children have visited our homes, and we look forward to developing this further

in partnership with Red Brick House Nursery.”

Ashley Robinson, Red Brick House Nursery, added: “As advocates for early childhood development, we are excited to take part in such a pioneering programme that will help create community spaces for both children and older people.

“We pride ourselves on childcare with a difference, and our involvement in projects such as this will help the children build valuable life skills including empathy and perseverance.

“The training and upskilling that Linking Generations NI will deliver will be invaluable to our staff members, and we’re eager to get started on the programme with Oakmont Lodge.”

The pilot has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Bringing People Together funding programme, which aims to build stronger connections across communities in the UK. Elaine Brownlee, Development Worker from Linking Generations NI, said: “Intergenerational activity is about more than bringing younger and older people together – it is a systemic approach to community development and wellbeing that recognises and values the contribution of all generations who live there.”

“We are delighted to have the support of Oakmont Lodge Care Home and Red Brick House Nursery

Former Nurse Turns ‘Undercover Boss’ In Efforts To Improve Care Quality A former nurse has turned ‘undercover boss’ in an attempt to improve quality and standards in care homes.

Sathi Raghavan, who worked as a registered nurse and midwife in both India and the UK before establishing her own business in the sector works shifts in homes to check care quality and suggest improvements.

The founder of Millennium Staffing which supplies staff to care homes, hospitals and other healthcare settings across the West Midlands joins care home teams and works alongside her staff who are oblivious she’s, their boss.

Sathi said: “It all started when I was working as a nurse in a care home and got fed up with agency staff coming in, many of whom refused to carry out the tasks they were needed to do to provide the best care.

“That’s what led me to set up my own specialist employment business.

And when I got my very first call from a care home asking for shift cover that evening, I rang the small team I’d recruited, and no-one was free.

“So, I put on a uniform and turned up and worked the shift. It gave me the opportunity to really understand the home, how the team works, their procedures and care levels so it’s something I’ve done ever since.

“I spend one or two days with all new homes so I can prepare and train my staff to meet the exact needs of that home, everything from the home layout to the full variety of tasks they should be willing and able to

do.”

And last month Sathi joined a care home night shift at 1am with agreement from the manager to shadow the team and watch her staff perform through the night and into handover.

She said: “I love it and it’s really inciteful. Not just as a way of seeing the team first hand but also at bringing an outside perspective and a chance to suggest ways for a home to improve its care and safeguarding.”

And her undercover missions have led to improvements across multiple homes including improved CQC inspection outcomes and using her medical background to improve care plans.

She has also suggested changes to staffing levels to improve care quality even if this means her staff are no longer needed.

Sathi added: “As a nurse I want to deliver the best care possible, so I’m personally invested in every care home and every resident. And that extends to my team.”

Now providing nurses, care and kitchen assistants, social workers, and other staff to care homes, hospitals and social care providers Millennium staffing has grown from Sathi on that first shift to almost 400 employees in under three years.

For further information visit www.millenniumstaffing.co.uk

Elevate Your Employee Benefits Program With Blue Light Card

Blue Light Card is offering those working in the social care sector the opportunity to take advantage of thousands of exclusive deals, discounts and savings from big name brands as part of its exclusive membership.

More than just a discount provider; Blue Light Card is a testament to your commitment to supporting staff wellbeing both inside and outside of working hours, by offering staff a vast array of benefits and perks. Offering a portfolio of over 13,000 partner retailers including big name brands such as Jet2Holidays, Nike, Apple, Schuh and Hotels.com, Blue Light Card membership presents a surefire way of enhancing your employee benefits program and standing out as an employer of choice.

Encouraging a healthy and sustainable work-life balance, Blue Light Card also grants members access to the hottest tickets in town. Blue Light Tickets hosts members only ballots, as well as first-come-first-served ticket launches to events up and down the country - offering your staff a chance to get free access to attractions, gigs, music venues, sporting events, festivals and more.

As the UK’s number one discount service for emergency services, NHS, armed forces and social care workers, Blue Light Card allows over three million members across the country to take full advantage of savings, discounts and benefits that are often unavailable to the general public. In 2023, Blue Light Card saved its members a huge total of over £330 million across retail, travel, entertainment, and more.

With more than 850,000 Blue Light Card members already registered as working in the social care sector, don’t miss out on your chance to partner with the country's leading specialist discount provider, aligning your organisation with a brand that resonates with the values of care, appreciation and recognition.

Registering for Blue Light Card membership as part of your employee benefit scheme is quick and easy. A card costs £4.99 and includes access to the Blue Light card app where members can easily find information about all live offers. Membership is valid for two years, giving members access to exclusive offers and discounts on shopping, tech, meals out and more, all year round.

If you’re working within social care for a company that appears on one of the below registers, you’re eligible for a Blue Light Card

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Never A Cross-Word At New Copford Place Care Home’s Residents Are Definitely Not Clue-Less When It Comes To Their Daily Puzzles At Friend of the Elderly’s Colchester-based residential care home, New Copford Place, residents have been celebrating this year’s National Puzzle Day by talking about, and engaging with, their favourite traditional and application puzzles. Whether it’s number puzzles, word searches, Scrabble, matching and memory puzzles or giant classic Jigsaws, residents enjoy a range of daily brain teasers.

Puzzles are part of New Copford Place’s wide and varied daily activities. “We tailor all our activities to meet each individual’s likes, preferences, hobbies and interests, and puzzles are a firm favourite,” said Daniel Sabau, the Registered Manager at New Copford Place.

“Our residents thoroughly enjoy all types of puzzles; whether they are played in groups, individually, on our large, electronic interactive ‘Tiny Tablet’ or sat comfortably around a table, there’s always some puzzling puzzle mystery taking place.”

New Copford Place’s interactive activity ‘Tiny Tablet’ enables residents to enjoy, experience and benefit from a wide catalogue of engaging applications. It is a large, easy to use device with a touchscreen, not too dissimilar to an iPad or smart phone, but on a much larger scale. The ‘Tiny Tablet’ is fully mobile and accessible and can be moved to a standing, upright position or turned flat, into a table top style.

“For National Puzzle Day, we thought it would be fun to find out our residents’ top three, all time, favourite puzzles,” added Chelsey Leather, New Copford Place’s Activities Coordinator. “ After having a chat, the residents decided that they had more than a top three. Their favourites – in no particular order – are Word Searches, Scrabble, Number Puzzles, Matching Puzzles and Memory Puzzles,” Chelsey continued.

“When it comes to a classic, traditional jigsaw, some of our residents enjoy doing the Relish Jigsaws which have been created for those living with dementia. They are designed to stimulate minds and evoke happy memories which are inspired by real experiences and are full of vibrant colours.

“Also, a couple of our residents really enjoy tackling more challenging jigsaws. I’m so impressed with how brilliantly they complete them; I certainly couldn’t do as well as they do,” added Chelsey.

“Puzzles are a very good pastime for our residents as they can improve mental speed and thought processes – and they are also a positive activity for improving shortterm memory. They can, of course be an individual activity, but they are also a great group activity which creates opportunities for engaging with others, chatting and conversations and making friends,” Daniel continued.

Other benefits of puzzles include helping relaxation as, by immersing yourself in a puzzle, it can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help to relieve stress. For the elderly in particular, the act of picking up puzzle pieces, turning them over and fitting them together can, sometimes, but quite a challenge. However, puzzles are a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes.

“One of our residents told me that jigsaws can be traced back to the 18th Century when European map makers put their maps on to wood and cut them into small pieces. They did this to create learning tools to teach geography – so really, interactive puzzles have been around for quite a few hundred years,” Daniel continued. “I really do learn something new from our residents every day.”

“Our interactive Tiny Tablet is another example of our commitment to provide exceptional standards of quality care through person-centred care, as all our residents can join in and take part in the group activities or use it on their own. It’s up to them – they can do what they want to do, when they want to do it,” Chelsey concluded.

The Day The Zoo Came To Cadbury Hall Each day, Elgar Court Care Home celebrates a resident in their own right, by make them the ‘Resident of the Day!’ Elgar Court Care Home wanted to share this experience with the local community, so ran a competition in December called ‘Make A Wish this Christmas’. The newly opened Care Home had a number of entries and chose Maggie Hooper’s wish for a day out on a steam train for her train obsessed toddler! Maggie said “Oscar said ‘Choo Choo’ before he said mum!”

Elgar Court were happy to make the children’s wish come true and bought Maggie and her family tickets to ride a Steam train on the Severn Valley Railway and best of all, to meet the Gruffalo – their favourite book character! Maggie said, “My boys and I were lucky enough to win their make a wish competition, which we spotted on their Facebook following a visit to Santa at Elgar Court Care Home last year.

We asked for a train ride for my boys who cannot get enough of trains. Naomi from Elgar Court arranged for us to not only get a train ride but to meet the Gruffalo, which luckily coincided with our youngest sons first birthday. We have had a lot going on the last few months and this was exactly

the day we needed. We had the most wonderful time, thank you so much Elgar Court for making our boys’ birthday so special!

Maggie’s other wish was for the local food banks to receive funds to support them in the new year, as they often see a decline in support following the Christmas generosity and with so many families struggling it’s needed so much.

Elgar Court Care Home were happy to contribute towards this, by baking and decorating eight lavish Christmas cakes in the style of Christmas tree baubles, for the local food banks to give to families – which was also promoted by the Malvern Gazette and won the Barchester’s best Christmas cake award! Elgar Court Care Home will be pleased to continue gifting to foodbanks throughout the year.

Sarah Cadwallader, General Manager at the home, said: “We believe that every moment is worth cherishing. We want everyone to know how important residents and our community is to us here at Elgar Court Care Home. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team here in making wishes come true. And it was truly wonderful to see how happy it made the Hooper family”.

Chichester Care Home’s ‘Community Spirit And Generosity’ Boosts Foodbank Foodbank organisers have praised residents and staff of a Chichester care home for what they describe as a ‘remarkable demonstration of community spirit and generosity’.

It follows a year of fundraising at Colten Care’s Wellington Grange which featured activities such as a summer fete, Christmas fair, dog show and craft and cake sales.

At a presentation at the Broyle Road home, a total of £776.38 was handed over to Joanna Kondabeka, Chief Executive of Chichester District Foodbank.

With her were Wellington Grange residents who chose the foodbank as their main charity to help over the past year and who personally supported the home’s fundraising by making crafts for sale, manning stalls at various events and sponsoring staff initiatives.

Joanna said: “We rely solely on the generosity of the local community and we are so grateful to the residents and staff of Wellington Grange.

“Their contribution is a remarkable demonstration of community spirit

and generosity.

“The money they have raised will go towards feeding and supporting households who are facing hardship at this time. This donation will help around 100 people.”

Among the Wellington Grange residents at the presentation was Cynthia Wearne, who said: “It was lovely to be part of the fundraising efforts this year, and then to finish it off with Joanna coming in and telling us where the money is going and who we will be helping with the donation.”

With them was Wellington Grange Companionship Team Leader Heather Pearce, one of the staff members who helped to facilitate residents’ involvement in supporting the foodbank.

Heather said: “It has been a privilege to raise money for such a worthwhile local charity. Residents chose to go for a local foodbank amid much public attention on the cost of living crisis and people struggling with things like feeding their own children. It felt right.”

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Kind-Hearted’ Care Home Matron Who Overcame Cancer Up For Lifetime Achievement Award A Knowsley Matron, who has successfully run St. Bartholomew’s Court Nursing Home for nearly 25 years, is up for a lifetime achievement award.

St. Barts’ Elaine Allison, described as ‘selfless’ by colleagues, is a finalist at the Our Health Heroes Awards, delivered by Skills for Health.

During her decade spanning career as Matron, Elaine has overcome numerous challenges, not least being diagnosed with bladder cancer and suffering a bereavement at the height of the pandemic in 2020.

Despite all the odds, Elaine continues to have the energy and commitment of people half her age.

Much of the care home’s staff has been with Elaine the entire time she has been Matron, which is unusual for the sector.

Testament to the bond Elaine shares with her colleagues, a number of St. Barts staff have brought their own relatives to be cared at the home as they know the strong leadership and clinical supervision that the team receives.

Speaking about their one in a million colleague, Michael Dutton, Deputy Matron at St Barts says: “Elaine is a kind-hearted, hardworking, committed manager. She is so self-

less that she donated a kidney to her brother. Elaine will listen to everyone’s troubles and find a workable solution; she has supported poorly staff with forms to ensure they receive the correct benefits in her own time, and this was once they were retired through ill-health and technically no longer her responsibility. If the word ‘leader’ had a picture, Elaine Allison would be it!”

Jocelyn Castaneda, RGN at St Barts adds: “Elaine is always the last woman standing.

She covers clinical shifts and is on call 24/7 (whether officially or not). Elaine will work days, nights, weekends. She has weekly meetings with the teams and stays late every Thursday to ensure that night team have sight of a manager; demonstrating her care and commitment to the entire team.”

The Chair of the Board of Trustees of St Barts, Natalie Myers comments: “As a voluntary board of directors, it is reassuring to know that Elaine is at the helm.

She makes sound, evidence based decisions, which is always resident focused. Elaine has excellent strategic vision and has embedded the core values throughout the business: honesty, empathy, achievement, respect and teamwork. This has ensured that care delivery has compassion and integrity at every point.”

Trowbridge Care Home Celebrates Carnival With Samba Drumming Residents at Goodson Lodge enjoyed Brazilian Carnival beats at a workshop run by Batuque do Barco earlier this month. Over 20 residents, volunteers and staff joined the energising music session at the care home, run by not-for-profit care provider The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT).

Shirley Kemp, resident, said: “The drumming was very enjoyable and energising. It was quite unusual. I never thought I’d be drumming in a care home!”

Shirley was delighted to take part in the Samba drumming, organised by the home’s Activities Team. It reminded her of the years she’d lived in Peru and South Africa with her husband who worked as an accountant for an American mining company.

Michael Grant, Director at Batuque do Barco (BDB Samba), ran the

Brazilian drumming workshop with fellow musician Cameron. He said: “We run workshops for community groups, corporate organisations and schools to educate and engage people in drumming and give them an active experience of Samba drumming.”

The duo brought around 30 percussion instruments including big bass drums, agogo bells, ganzás, repeniques and tamborins, so that everyone could join in the simple rhythmic sequence which Michael taught during the class. He said: “I love seeing people move past their initial reluctance and try something new, and then move to excitement and confidence as they join in the collective drumming ensemble.

“Samba drumming is accessible for all, no one needs any prior musical ability. From a simple foundation of basic drumbeats, over the course of the workshop we develop a carnival inspired rhythm.”

Care Home Residents Thanked For Supporting Humanitarian Mission In Kenya College students who volunteer to help some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable children have thanked residents of a Dorset care home for supporting their humanitarian mission.

Members of the Brock2Kenya group visited Colten Care’s Avon Reach in Mudeford to give a first-hand account of their latest projects with orphaned street children 4,000 miles away in the city of Nakuru, Kenya.

Staff and residents at Avon Reach, plus Colten Care colleagues and suppliers, are among the supporters of an annual trip for volunteers, providing donations of cash as well as clothes, shoes, educational materials and other much needed items for distribution to hundreds of Nakuru’s children.

In Kenya last October, 26 Brockenhurst College students spent 12 days on three separate projects, at a school, a nursery and a welfare centre.

Among their activities was helping to install flushable toilets and cleanwater sinks to try and cut the risk of children contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

They also took part in a daily feeding programme to help tackle severe malnutrition among the youngsters, gave lessons in literacy and numeracy, played games and ran arts, crafts, singing and dance sessions.

After being in the audience at Avon Reach for the update on Brock2Kenya’s work, resident Noeleen Braisby said: “I found it riveting, really fascinating to hear about all this. It made me realise the huge gulf between our lives here and the extraordinarily poor lives that some of these children in Kenya lead. Long may the mission continue.”

Those presenting to the Avon Reach residents were Adrian Butterworth, Progression Adviser at

Brockenhurst College and Trip Lead, and two students who were with him on the last visit as part of their educational enrichment options, Lexie Henderson and Bethany Cohu.

Adrian said a project in plan for October 2024 will be to build and install a further rain harvesting kit, involving a roof-mounted tank to provide water for toilets.

When that visit happens, it will mean that more than 100 Brockenhurst College students will have been to Kenya to help since Brock2Kenya began in 2019.

Adrian said: “We couldn’t do the mission without the help of the Colten Care residents and staff and our other supporters. Everyone’s help makes a massive difference. If we get can help one child in dire straits to get out of their circumstances, then it’s worth doing.”

Avon Reach’s connection with Brock2Kenya came about through Home Manager Ruth Wildman who is herself a volunteer on the annual trip.

Ruth said: “The highlight of the last trip for me was when the tap on the new plumbing system was turned on and we saw clean water coming through. That was amazing. But when you go into the schools, you can see that outside in the street there are many children who can’t get in. We give a few hundred children a chance but many more need help.”

After showing the Avon Reach residents a short film about their 2023 trip, Adrian handed round souvenirs including a Kenyan flag, a bush hat and a wood engraving of the Swahili saying ‘hakuna matata’, the name of a song in the film The Lion King that roughly translates as ‘no worries’.

Clive The Therapy Dog Brings Joy To Cambridge Care Home A Border Terrier, called Clive, has visited Waterbeach Lodge, north of Cambridge, to bring some extra joy to its residents.

Clive is a familiar face at Waterbeach Lodge, and pops into the Cambridgeshire care home every fortnight for an animal therapy session. Visiting from Therapy Dogs Nationwide, the four-legged friend was once again taken around the care home to interact with residents. As always, the 4-year-old pet was given a warm welcome. He enjoyed plenty of strokes and cuddles as well as some tasty treats, provided by his owner.

‘Animal therapy’ refers to the use of animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions, and Beverley Murray, Registered Manager at Waterbeach Lodge, says the benefits for her residents, are huge.

She said: “Interaction with different animals helps stimulate our residents’ brains and helps to keep them mentally active and engaged. Everyone loves having Clive visit – it’s

always a real pleasure. Thank you to Kathryn for bringing him in again today.”

Therapy Dogs Nationwide is a national charity where volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to provide comfort, distraction, and stimulation. Kathryn Brack, Clive’s owner, has registered the Border Terrier with the charity, and said it’s wonderful to see the positive impact he has on Waterbeach’s residents. “Seeing the joy, interaction and companionship Clive brings is incredibly rewarding, and for many of the residents he stirs up memories of pets they’ve owned – he’s a real conversational starter.”

Waterbeach Lodge is part of AgeCare UK and Director of Care, Jo Mason, is thrilled to hear how much its residents enjoy visits from their furry friend.

She said: “At Waterbeach Lodge, we foster a family approach, focusing on enabling residents to live well. It’s wonderful to hear that residents have benefited from another special visit from Clive.

I’ve heard good things about him and am looking forward to meeting him myself one day.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 25

Hospitals Under Pressure With Three Times More Flu Patients Than Last Year England’s top doctor has warned pressure on NHS hospitals this winter is “not letting up”, with thousands more patients in hospital compared to the same time last year.

New weekly figures show there were 3,372 more patients in hospital each day last week (97,934) than the same period in 2023 (94,562).

Despite the NHS having over 2,700 more beds compared to same week last year (103,557 versus 100,855) – including 99,887 core beds – bed occupancy is higher, with 94.6% of general and acute beds occupied in the week ending 11 February, up from 93.8% last year.

The weekly data, published today, shows that there were three times as many flu patients in hospital every day last week (2,390) than in the same week last year (737). While there was an average of 565 patients with norovirus and 3,232 patients with Covid-19 in hospital each day.

An average of 48,482 staff were off work each day last week, including 1,513 absences each day related to Covid-19.

Hospital capacity was exacerbated by 13,776 beds being taken up each day by patients who were medically fit for discharge because of delays sending people home or to other settings like social and community care, up from 13,498 last year.

The NHS started planning for this winter earlier than ever before with robust measures in place to manage demand – including more beds, new ambulances, and expanding measures such as care traffic control centres, virtual wards, urgent community response teams and same day emergency care.

There were 91,225 ambulance handovers to hospital last week, up 17% from 78,241 last year. NHS call handlers also answered 376,597 calls to 111, up 11% from 338,564 on the same week last year.

NHS National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “It is clear that the significant pressure the NHS has been experiencing this winter is not letting up, with thousands more beds occupied and three times as many flu patients as last year, on top of continued high demand for ambulance services and NHS 111.

“The robust measures in our urgent and emergency care recovery plan and early winter planning have ensured we have more beds in place this year compared to last, and innovations like our Virtual Ward Programme and same day emergency care units are helping. But there is no doubt staff are continuing to face one of their busiest winters ever.

HICA Group Announces Grassroots Football Team Sponsorship A leading social care provider in Yorkshire has announced its continued sponsorship of Orchard Park under 13s football team, a local grassroots club.

The sponsorship, amounting to £1,000, will be vital in acquiring new equipment, including bibs, footballs, and nets, as well as supporting the team’s winter training needs as they transition to 11-a-side matches.

The partnership with Orchard Park Under 13s team marks an important step in HICA’s commitment to supporting community sports and nurturing local talent.

Carl Dixon, the coach of Orchard Park’s under 13s, said: “We are extremely grateful that HICA has continued with their sponsorship and signed up to support the team for another two seasons.

“The support HICA has shown to the club since it was founded in 2022 has been invaluable in helping these young athletes grow and

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develop.”

Supporting local clubs and initiatives is part of HICA Group’s commitment to the region and aligned to its ethos of helping, where possible, people in the communities it serves.

HICA Group’s CEO Terry Peel said: “As part of HICA Group’s commitment to community engagement and enabling young people, the sponsorship demonstrates our investment in the future of our local communities.

“By supporting these young athletes, we are contributing to the development of skills that extend far beyond the football field. It’s about nurturing friendship, discipline, and a sense of belonging.

“Our involvement with the team is a testament to our belief in the power of sports to positively shape lives and strengthen community bonds.”

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Healthcare Management Trust Unveils Norden House in Littlehampton and comfortable, personalised living areas. The home’s layout and amenities are carefully planned to promote independence and community interaction while ensuring the highest levels of care.

“Our vision for Norden House was clear from the beginning; to create a specialist dementia care home that feels like a true home and filled with love, understanding, and state-of-the-art care,” stated Care Home Manager Annie Lewis.

“We are introducing a new model of care that is resident-led and centred around the individual needs of our residents, ensuring they live with dignity, comfort and joy.”

Image courtesy of Brackley Investments The Healthcare Management Trust has announced the opening of Norden House, a pioneering care home specialising in dementia, nursing and residential care, located in the scenic area of Littlehampton in West Sussex.

Norden House is designed to meet the needs of individuals with dementia, and is built on the foundation of a groundbreaking approach to dementia care, emphasising personalised attention and a deep understanding of each resident’s life story and preferences.

Norden House boasts modern care facilities that are second to none, including advanced safety and monitoring features, therapeutic spaces,

Dreams Come True For Care Home Residents Dreams are coming true for residents at a specialist dementia care home who are being supported by staff to revisit favourite activities they thought they were no longer able to do.

Ideas for entries for a wish-list entitled ‘If only I could’ have been put forward by staff members after individual chats with the people they support.

Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager at Butterfly Lodge, said: “It takes a bit of determination when you’re talking to someone with dementia but it’s not too hard to establish which activities they used to favour, and which ones they maybe fantasise about doing again.

“They’re not always complicated wishes, but obviously we have to do the appropriate planning to help make their dreams come true once we’ve found out what they are.”

Resident Molly Coyne had shared with Butterfly Lodge staff that she and her husband had ridden motorcycles throughout their marriage and used to go biking together for many miles on days out in their youth.

Sarah McCaffrey said: “Molly told us she used to own a BMW bike which was very similar to the bike ridden by Paul Hutt, our activities coordinator, so he brought his bike in and her wish was simply to sit astride it: she was absolutely delighted.”

For life-long Plymouth Argyle fans David Harris and John Walsh, a return to the team’s ground at Home Park was top of their wish list.

Sarah McCaffrey said: “Both gentlemen were season ticket holders all their lives and went to every match before their health deteriorated and family were unable to continue to take them.

“Health and mobility issues make it impossible for them to attend a full 90-minute match, but when the homecoming parade was announced last year, Kelly Tennant on our activities team contacted Argyle and arranged for them both to be able to go to Home Park and witness the parade.

“David’s daughter Tania and Kelly went with them, and the gents were so happy to be back at their old stamping ground. The experience clearly meant the world to them.”

Meanwhile for resident Audrey Cox, her dearest wish was to visit Marks and Spencer for a girly shopping trip.

Sarah McCaffrey said: “Two colleagues took Audrey to M&S and they all had a lovely time browsing the store.

“Audrey bought make-up, some new undies and other clothes, then they enjoyed a pub lunch together before returning home. She said it made her feel young again.”

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Bill Gets Back On His Bike

An 88-year-old motorcycle enthusiast, Bill Wall, is back in the saddle for the first time in over 10 years after a surprise visit to his home at the state-of-the-art Belong care village in Chester as part of a celebration of intergenerational connections.

Colleagues at the Nursery in Belong, the first fully integrated research nursery within a care setting, which is located at Belong Chester and operated by national charity Ready Generations, arranged for an ‘Indian’ make motorcycle to be brought in to the village as part of a surprise party for Bill.

The nursery team submitted an application to the National Association of Activity Providers (NAPA) ‘Living the Dream Fund’, part of its ‘Grow Old Disgracefully’ campaign, set up to help older individuals to engage in activities that challenge ageist stereotypes, to support the event.

Ready Generations co-founder Sue Egersdorff explains the idea behind it: “We wanted to do something for Bill to show how much we appreciate him, as well as celebrate the benefits of intergenerational connections for both older people and young children. Bill and the children have had a huge impact on each

other’s lives since the nursery opened. The sense of purpose provided by the nursery helped Bill to settle into his new home, and parents report significant advances in their children’s vocabulary, language and social and emotional skills from spending time with their older friends.”

The £25,000 Indian superbike was provided by Bill Smith Motors, in Chester, where Bill used to buy his motorcycles and spare parts. It was brought from their Christleton show room by David Davies, sales director, who presented Bill with books signed by former great grand prix road racer Bill Smith.

Commenting on the day, Bill said: “It was great to see the bike. I last rode mine when I was 75, shortly before I sold it, so it really brought back memories, and I was very touched by the gesture. The children really made my day. They were also able to sit on the bike and gave me a copy of Bill Smith’s autobiography, which they read from.”

Sue Egersdorff added: “I’d like to thank NAPA and Bill Smith Motors for making the event possible, and everyone who attended, making it so special and memorable for Bill.”

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

Care Home Residents Spread Goodwill And Positivity On Kindness Day Gifts, donations, good deeds and compliments – residents and staff at Colten Care homes chose a host of positive, heartfelt ways to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day. In line with the aim of the annual event – to encourage moments of goodwill and compassion towards ourselves and others – there were both individual acts and initiatives by entire homes and departments.

At Brook View in West Moors, residents and staff began early with an appeal at the start of the year for friends, family, colleagues and visitors to donate non-perishable food items.

These were gathered together and, on Random Acts of Kindness Day, presented to the nearby Castleman Community Larder which helps West Moors families struggling with food poverty.

Brook View’s Companionship Team Leader Lauren Parrett personally handed over the large collection of items, including tinned goods, pasta and cereals, to larder manager Michelle Bennett.

Lauren said: “Once our residents learned what the larder does and the

importance it has for families in need in our community, they knew they wanted to help the team there on Random Acts of Kindness Day. “We are so grateful to our staff, relatives, friends and visitors for enabling us, through their donations, to give something special back to our community.”

Brook View resident Sybil Conner said: “In these times, I wouldn’t have thought food banks would be necessary but then it goes to show how communities pull together for people who need that support.”

Thanking all at Brook View, Michelle said: “We want people to know they can shop within the larder and feel supported by the community.”

Among Kindness Day initiatives at other Colten Care homes, residents at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst and Canford Chase in Poole handed out gift bags to local people while a team of knitters at Amberwood House in Ferndown made blankets for a medical charity.

Poetry was the order of the day at Bourne View in Poole, with positive, inspiring messages in verse being shared among residents, staff, relatives and friends.

Hook Care Home Residents Delight In Nostalgic Journey To Beaulieu Motor Museum Residents of Old Raven House care home in Hook were treated to a delightful excursion to the Beaulieu Motor Museum, where they were transported back in time amidst an impressive collection of classic cars and buses.

The outing provided a wonderful opportunity for the home’s residents to reconnect with their past and share memories of the vehicles they once owned and the journeys they embarked upon.

The Beaulieu Motor Museum, renowned for its extensive array of motor vehicles from various eras, sparked lively discussions among the group. Residents shared anecdotes of family trips, the cars they prided themselves on owning, and the adventures those vehicles facilitated. It

was a heartwarming experience to witness the residents reminisce about such a significant part of their lives, brought vividly back to life by the museum’s exhibits.

Anne Turner, the manager of Old Raven House, reflected on the day’s success, saying: “It was truly heartening to see our residents so engaged and animated, sharing their stories and memories with such enthusiasm. Cars are so much more than just a means of transport; they’re vessels of our history, our adventures, and our cherished moments. This trip was not just a visit to a museum; it was a journey down memory lane for many of our residents.”

Wisbech Artist Visits Hickathrift House & Donates Paintings Gill Repper, local artist, and retired teacher has donated over a dozen spectacular paintings to Hickathrift House Care Home in Wisbech. Gill was warmly invited to come and talk about her artwork at Hickathrift House on the 9th of February for the opening of Hickathrift House’s first coffee morning. Gill then donated 18 pieces to those who attended, which will be displayed around the home and in residents’ rooms.

Gill Repper, who taught at St Audrey’s Convent and Wisbech Grammar School for 40 years, retired from teaching and has donated around 75 of her paintings to local care homes in Wisbech. Hickathrift House’s Head of Activities, Kat Colangelo, invited Gill to discuss her passion and artwork with residents and share tips as she saw her artwork at a local Farmers Market in December.

Over Hickathrift House’s Coffee Morning, Gill shared her paintings which depicted local scenes as well as favourite holiday destinations including Castle Rising, Wisbech Park and Devon. Residents listened to Gill over a cup of tea and then warmly clapped and shared appreciation for her artwork.

Elsie, a resident of Hickathrift House, commented, “They are just wonderful!

Gill is just amazing and ever so kind for coming to speak with us about them. It makes me appreciate the paintings even more”.

Kat Colangelo, Head of Activities at Hickathrift House, said: “We are delighted with Gill’s generous donation to our home, and would like to say a massive thank you. Not only the fabulous paintings but also spending the afternoon discussing them with residents. Gill’s stories sparked memories for some of the residents and at the end we were reminiscing about previous holidays, our childhood homes and trips to galleries”.

“The residents each picked a favourite and our maintenance man is busy hanging them in their rooms, exactly where they’d like them. We can’t wait to share the artwork and its history with the whole home and new residents.”

“Gill is only the first of many talented locals that we’d love to visit Hickathrift House for our monthly Coffee Mornings. If you have a passion or talent and would like to share it with residents, don’t hesitate to get in contact.”

Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care to Address Care Community at UK Care Week in March UK Care Week has announced their surprise guest for the 20th & 21st March at the NEC, Birmingham. Helen Whately, Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care, will deliver a keynote address set to ignite discussions on the current state of the care sector.

Appointed as Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care on 26 October 2022, Helen Whately brings a wealth of experience and a passion for driving positive change in the healthcare landscape. Her dedication to public service is evident in her previous roles, where she served as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and as Minister of State (Minister for Care) at the Department of Health and Social Care.

Notably, Helen Whately also contributed significantly

as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Her diverse background reflects a deep commitment to enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities.

Key takeaways will include insights into the future of health and social care policies, innovative strategies for improving the quality of care and delivery of the government’s vision for the care sector.

This addition to the programme makes UK Care Week 2024 an event not to be missed!

Across the 2 days, care professionals have the opportunity to dive into the latest innovations, learn from industry leaders, and celebrate the collective efforts to enhance the quality of care. Tickets are free, to register or for more information visit ukcareweek.com.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 31

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES BIOFROST Cold Therapy Gels The New “Jolly Journey” for Drug-Free Pain Relief from Little Islands ®

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BIOFROST® Gels: • BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel for pain relieving cold therapy • BIOFROST® Active Dual-Action Cold Gel with Heat Sensation combining cold with natural heat effects to treat back pain BIOFROST® Relief provides instant pain relief and activates body’s own healing through an optimal combination of natural ingredients, including ethanol, menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint and MSM. Reported benefits of BIOFROST® Relief include lasting pain relief, improved joint movements, comfort during sleep, fewer cramps, calmed nerve pain, reduced joint and muscle discomfort and faster post-activity recoveries.

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Baron Medical BARON MEDICAL in Bredhurst Kent & WESTERN EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES in Bristol, have provided a wide range of services to the Care Industry, both at home and abroad since the mid-eighties.

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Oxford Up

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The new “Jolly Journey” from Little Islands is designed to simulate an old-fashioned travel carriage, featuring real wood panelled wall, brass luggage racks, ornate wall lights and table lamp, opposite-facing seating for four, including cushions, ‘First Class’ antimacassars and period memorabilia.

The Jolly Journey creates a familiar and stimulating environment for ‘passengers’ to return to their fondest memories, sparking conversations of time gone by. Reminisce about travel and holidays with loved ones and friends over afternoon tea in your exclusive cabin, then maybe top it off with a jolly good ‘Sing Song’ on the way home.

Our Journeys begin with Steam Train rides through Britain, with other destinations being planned as the World opens up again. Bespoke Journeys can also be created, just let us have your ideas and we’ll see if we can fit them in with our filming schedule.

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Where To Start Caring For The Environment To help achieve climate-neutral building stock by 2050 the care sector is being challenged to reduce operational energy use. By increasing the use of renewable energy supply and prioritising on-site renewable energy sources the hope it to reduce both harmful carbon emissions and operational costs.

There is no doubt that being more sustainable comes at a cost. Whether in the form of new build projects or the refurbishment of existing, yet ageing facilities, understanding the necessary capital investment, operational savings and payback periods is key to developing a workable sustainability strategy.

Because of ubiquitous need for hot water, from basins to baths and showers, catering and wash down, addressing how this resource is secured is one of the best ways of making active carbon savings today.

Addressing the efficiency of domestic hot water (DHW) systems - whether through the implementation of heat pumps, solar thermal, direct electric water heating or even simple modernisation of existing gas appliances - helps properties meet sustainability goals in a practical and cost-effective manner. It also deliv-

ers improved year-round conditions for residents and staff, providing spaces better suited to delivering quality care.

For buildings already on gas and that rely on large amounts of DHW silent solar preheat is the preferable option.

For new build properties, the expectation is for specification to default to a mixture of heat pumps and direct electric afterheat. New system approaches, including prefabricated packaged plant rooms, also provide for better use of the spaces that already exist, without the need to undertake expensive and disruptive building projects. This is especially valid as demands for larger accommodation space comes at a premium.

Adveco can help achieve emission reduction targets. With more than 50 years of specialised expertise in designing, supplying, and servicing hot water systems for residential healthcare, Adveco is the single resource you need for independent expert technical guidance on choosing pre-sized or bespoke sustainable applications today to get you on the right path towards net zero operation. www.adveco.co See the advert on page 5.

Serve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroservice Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives!

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An over-sized multi-point push handle eases manoeuvrability for the caregiver, and the foot push pad provides a means of generating forward momentum when moving a patient. Optimum positioning of the swing-away seat pads and knee support help ensure comfort for the patient. Adjustable leg opening allows closer access around furniture, promoting improved patient positioning and general ease of use.

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Consort Claudgen Introduces Wi-Fi Enabled Heaters to LST Range Consort Claudgen’s innovation in the electric heating industry takes another leap forward by introducing Wi-Fi-enabled heaters to their low surface temperature (LST) range.

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The heaters connect directly to Wi-Fi, enabling users to control heating through the digital control panel on the heater or via the Consort Connect app. With a comprehensive 7-day timer, which allows 24 individual heating periods per day, and features such as a lock function, open window detection, and custom automation, users can tailor their heating needs to their preferences.

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BIM (Building Information Modelling) objects for the heaters are available for download from Consort’s website.

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PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES No More Stuck In The Basement, Family Gatherings Restored! S-Max liberates Mel and Phil S-Max has restored the freedom to get out and about for Mel and Phil Sanderson after months of being confined to living in their basement.

In 2022, Mel lost much of her mobility. Unable to cope with stairs, she and her husband Phil ended up living in the basement of their three-storey home in Hull town centre.

With no internal staircase, only a narrow turning flight of stone steps outside and strict building/alteration constraints (the property is Grade II listed), it became nigh on impossible for the couple to get out- whether for daily essentials or leisure- nor to socialise at home with friends and family. Phil was having to physically lift Mel up and down the stone steps, putting them both in danger of falling.

Phil was determined to find an answer. His research led him to AAT and its top-selling S-Max Sella stairclimber. Under the control of the care-giver, the mobile battery powered unit transfers its passenger safely and at a consistent rate up and down the steps- and beyond.

AAT visited Phil and Mel to assess the situation, that the S-Max Sella would safely deal with the steps and that Mel and Phil were both comfortable using it. Phil was so impressed he ordered one on the spot. AAT delivered it, set it up to their personal preference and trained Phil in how to use the equipment correctly and safely.

Under Phil’s control, with its integral seat and battery-powered kinematic climbing capability, S-Max Sella safely gets Mel around her home again. It gets her out of the house and into town.

“It really is a fantastic piece of kit,” says Phil. “Before we got the S-Max, we were basically

trapped in the basement.

“Once trained it is very simple to use. Now we can go out for leisure and appointments after months of being stuck inside. It even means we can have family occasions upstairs as we used to, with ease! I would recommend the S-Max for anyone who needs help getting up and down stairs.”

S-Max is the UK’s top-selling stairclimber, with an impeccable safety record built up over 20+ years for the thousands of units in use nationwide. Class 1 Medical Device certified the S-Max executes over 300 steps from a single charge. Its unique ComfortStep feature delivers a smooth, comfortable climb or descent, automatically adjusting to variation in riser height and gently braking on the edge of each riser to facilitate the process for the operator.

The standard S-Max unit attaches to most wheelchair models to enable them to be safely moved up, down almost any flight of steps. The S-Max Sella features an integral seat for people who are not confined to a wheelchair. AAT has developed a Universal Back for the units to achieve optimal flexible safety and physical support for the passenger.

AAT offers a comprehensive support service, including free no obligation assessment, setting up of the S-Max, training of its users, plus ongoing service & maintenance.

Full details including videos of the Sella stairclimber can be found @ www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella

LeisureBench Ltd is Proud to Introduce its New Sister Company SGM Recycled Plastics Ltd value. We believe we are the most competitive in the market.

Our in-house design team can design bespoke products for our clients and no job is too small or too big. Customer service is key to our success.

We welcome visitors to our factory showroom at Old Wharf Road, Grantham, Notts, NG31 7AA. SGM T: 0333 0112314 Calls charged at local rate.

E: support@sgmrecycledplastics.com SGM W: www.sgmrecycledplastics.com LeisureBench W: www.leisurebench.co.uk We all want to see less waste plastic and sustainability; our products are a small, but not insignificant, step in right direction. Thank you. See page 10 for details.

LeisureBench Ltd, is proud to introduce its new sister company SGM Recycled Plastics Ltd. Made from 100% recycled plastic, our new ranges are designed and manufactured at our new premises in Granthan using the latest technology.

From picnic tables to planters, the growing range of products are ergonomically designed for the commercial sector at affordable prices and most items come with a 25-year construction guarantee.

Introducing our new stylish side chairs available in several colours, they are both comfortable, and at a starting price of just £99.45 +vat in black, they represent excellent value for money.

Our new website www.sgmrecycledplastics.com has automated muti-buy discounting. Discounts start from as little as two of the same product for exceptional

Encanto and Cuba – Fabrics for Well-designed Contract Interiors Adding to the family of impervious contract upholstery solutions from Skopos, Encanto provides a burst of colour and texture into commercial spaces. Marrying the key attributes: antimicrobial, impervious, soil and stain resist, the 3 designs offer amazing performance without compromising on style. Following in the footsteps of Chamonix, Moritz and, most recently, Chamonix Deuxième, the choice within the collection is designed to compliment a range of different interior choices. With 38 new Skus, each design works beautifully alone or in combination, to create simple, contemporary and stylish contract furniture pieces. The fractured herringbone, Onda, injects a familiar yet unique texture, alongside a flexible small-scale check and our familiar Cuba linen design. The palette provides pops of colour or a choice of classical neutrals.

The three designs are provided are Halogen-free, Oeke-tex 100 compliant, with Crib 5 Flame Retardant backing, with 50,000 Martindale rubs, offering a beautiful choice for any contract interiors, whether office, education, care or high-end hospitality and cruise interiors. Along with many other Skopos upholstery fabrics, this collection comes under the Skopos Protect+ banner. Perfect for flagship interiors, with colours that compliment Skopos

drapery and bedding designs, view the full palette on-line and order a shade-card.

The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe, and meets IMO standards with the added benefit of the MED wheelmark, confirming suitability for marine/cruise-line interiors. Available immediately, with short lead-times for larger order quantities, Skopos are pleased to add this collection into their Accents range. For a copy of our Encanto shade-card pls contact our customer service team: sales@skopos.co.uk, or for free samples of our collections, visit our website: skoposfabrics.com.

Skopos are looking to become a ‘Carbon Neutral’ organisation in 2023, working towards PAS2060 status, as part of our drive towards a more sustainable future. For further information, please visit our website.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has more than 50 years’ specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high-performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality sector.

Images show Marmotte Magenta and Slalom Olive/ Orelle Elm, provided by Barons Furniture.

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Angloplas Dispensers Help 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 healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem.

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology.

Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first

proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.

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

You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 33

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

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 safe-

guard 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

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

How Can The Care Sector Maintain Robust Infection Control While Driving Sustainability?

Article by Christina Larkin, JLA's Chief Data and Marketing Officer (Website: www.jla.com Email: etagg@jla.com Phone: 0800 591 903) Christina Larkin is JLA's Chief Data and Marketing Officer, shaping the organisation's decision-making through analytics and insight. As ESG lead, Christina also inspires JLA's teams to put customer and sustainability-focused thinking at the heart of their actions.

As managers across the UK’s care sector continue to navigate the triple challenge of infection control, rising utility costs, and the drive for greater energy efficiency, what innovations and practices can be adopted to help future-proof care homes, protect residents and staff, and still enable organisations to meet their short and longerrange sustainability targets? In this piece on finding the balance, JLA’s Chief Data & Marketing Officer, Christina Larkin shares her thoughts on an increasingly pressing question.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CARE SECTOR MATTERS The Covid-19 pandemic has rightly seen the care industry – and the Care Quality Commission – place renewed focus on infection control.

From the laundry room to the kitchen, care home hygiene and safety are rightly non-negotiable, while compliance and residents’ safety remain everyone’s top priority.

At the same time, initiatives to drive efficiency, reduce waste and decarbonise the sector continue to gather pace, with net-zero targets and more accessible alternative technologies allowing organisations to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising care standards. The good news, then, is that energy savings are still highly achievable in care settings, and can even help to demonstrate to your residents (and their families) that you are taking steps to becoming a more sustainable business, which in turn enhances your reputation.

Of course, practically meeting these expectations will usually mean adopting a range of measures. These could be as simple as switching to more sustainable everyday consumables and reducing waste sent to landfill. It could mean upgrading boilers and associated heating equipment to more efficient, hydrogen-ready units. Or it could mean investing in more energy-efficient washing machine systems, which, thanks to technological innovations, will use considerably less electricity and hot water to disinfect a laundry load, and actually lower your day-to-day running costs.

Whatever the path you take, improving sustainability brings a myriad of benefits – and not only in operational efficiencies or cost savings. In fact, it’s increasingly the case that committing to sustainability means investing in your people’s wellbeing as well. By making positive changes and working on sustainability together, you can help to improve morale and reduce staff turnover, which allows residents to build even deeper relationships

with your care team. You’ll also be a more attractive proposition to talent across the industry, which further drives up standards.

And as more and more families begin to consider the environmental impact of facilities while making crucial care decisions, such a commitment to sustainability could well become the key difference between you and your competition.

ADOPTING BEST PRACTICE SOLUTIONS With commercial energy costs at record highs, we often hear of care homes seeking cheaper domestic washing machines for their laundry rooms. However, research shows that this can be a false economy. For one, domestic machines are much less robust, needing more regular repairs, while their smaller load capacities add up to needing more washes, at greater expense. More importantly, it is unlikely that they can achieve and maintain the thermal temperatures required to keep you compliant with the requirements of HTM 01-04. A commercial washing machine is far more likely to control temperatures effectively, as well as providing the correct holding time to achieve the full penetration of a load for disinfection.

Alternatives to thermal laundry infection are becoming increasingly widespread, too. One example is ozone disinfection technology, which uses the power of natural ozone gas to eliminate infection from laundry loads on an energy-saving cool wash. During a study with Leicester’s De Montfort University, JLA’s own ozone disinfection system, OTEX, was found to completely remove the coronavirus. It also helped to cut hot water usage by up to 80% and electricity by 60%.

As expected, regular servicing and proactive maintenance are more likely to extend the working life of your equipment. But when washers, dryers and other appliances reach the end of their life, it is always worth considering the latest developments to understand what they could save you in time, energy and money. This is because the most up-to-date technologies are likely to come with enhanced energy-saving features, and help you spread savings across the year.

Further utility savings can also be achieved through comparatively lowcost investments such as swapping double-headed taps for single-lever taps to help control hot water consumption, installing showerheads that use aeration to save water, adding reflective heat film to your windows to reduce energy loss, and – a classic – powering down any unused appliances.

ENERGY-SAVING INNOVATIONS ARE BECOMING MORE ACCESSIBLE As technology for the care sector continues to evolve, embracing it will be key to staying ahead. Enabled by internet connectivity and state-ofthe-art sensors, remote monitoring systems are now allowing providers to keep a watchful eye on your equipment, spotting issues early and dealing with them before they can cause disruptive downtime. Similarly, customers are getting fresh insights into the way their laundry rooms are running; from one dashboard, managers can easily view real-time data

without having to be on site. By creating a fuller picture of a laundry room’s daily use, these systems offer a smart way to plan resources, save time, and make decisions that reduce energy use. And as this technology expands, we expect to see more and more use cases opening up.

JLA’s own Connect service offers always-on monitoring for compatible laundry equipment. Some of its features include improving efficiency by estimating the amount of energy and water machines use, in addition to suggesting better times to run them for maximum savings. On top of that, JLA Connect offers a handy way to quantify and potentially reduce environmental impact with estimates of CO2 emissions.

JLA has also introduced its own Energy Smart Hub, which combines practical tips, data-driven insight and actionable advice that is already helping customers tackle rising energy costs and stay energy smart. We view this hub as a crucial resource offering honest comparisons between products while ensuring customers have the full picture on costs and benefits when they come to explore or invest in more energy-efficient equipment.

Our recently published sustainability report – a first in the commercial equipment industry – expands this transparent approach. The report not only explains the steps we’ve taken to save our customers 8 million kWh in electricity, and 276 million litres of water through OTEX, but formalises our sustainability strategy. We believe it is vital to outline our future goals as we continue to support thousands of organisations, like yours, that are the bedrock of the UK’s social infrastructure.

It is our hope that by adopting best practices, embracing new innovations, and sharing inspirational success stories, the sector can navigate today’s challenges while working towards a future of excellence in care and environmental responsibility.

MAG Laundry Detergents Maintaining cleanliness and comfort in care homes and nursing homes requires selecting the right laundry products. That's why many UK care homes trust MAG Laundry Detergents for their laundry needs. MAG's specially formulated commercial laundry detergents, stain removers, and fabric softeners are designed to address the most common soils found in senior care facilities. MAG's laundry solutions stand out in ensuring that your laundry and linen remain clean, bright, and soft. By washing with the high-quality laundry

products available at www.maglaundrydetergents.co.uk, you can offer your residents the freshness and cleanliness they deserve, helping you uphold the highest standards of care for your organisation.

To explore how MAG can support your care home, contact them at 01353 883025 or visit www.maglaundryequipment.co.uk

Forbes Delivers a Streamlined Solution for National Care Groups In the realm of national care, maintaining an unwavering standard of service is of paramount importance. The key to achieving this lies in forging partnerships with trusted service providers.

Established in 1926, Forbes Professional offers a cutting-edge solution that helps both small care homes and national care groups establish a streamlined process for all on-going service and account management. At the core of Forbes Professional's offering is a nationwide delivery model with a localised response; fortified by the security and dependability that comes with being a well-established company. Our extensive network of depots and field engineers ensures a highly responsive service and maintenance capability, activated seamlessly through a dedicated hotline at our headquarters.

Collaborating closely with clients, we customise solutions aligned with their unique requirements. Our approach involves comprehensive site surveys, detailed CAD designs, and the meticulous selection of industrycompliant Miele laundry appliances. Recognising the paramount importance of hygiene in the care sector, our

commercial laundry equipment strictly adheres to WRAS and CQC guidelines for infection control.

For those in the care sector, Forbes Professional offers flexibility in acquiring laundry equipment through rental, lease, or purchase options, all accompanied by comprehensive maintenance services. Our Complete Care rental solution stands out by providing access to premium equipment without upfront capital investment, coupled with a commitment to cover all repair or replacement expenses throughout the contract's duration.

National care groups partnering with Forbes Professional are assigned a dedicated account manager, streamlining all aspects of account management for a highly efficient and simplified process. This approach ensures a seamless experience for procurement teams and care management staff, reinforcing Forbes Professional's commitment to elevating the standards of care provision in the national landscape. www.forbespro.co.uk | info@forbes-professional.co.uk | 0345 070 2335

Laundry Specialists Lavamac Receive Sustainability Award

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 % 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 later in this feature further information on Lavamac.

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

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS Washing Machines for Residential Care Homes MAG Laundry Equipment, the award-winning supplier of commercial washing machines and tumble dryers, takes pride in its extensive support to over 10,000 care homes nationwide.

Maintaining clean laundry and bedding is of utmost importance for care homes, hospices, nursing homes, hospitals, and various healthcare organisations. MAG Laundry Equipment’s nationwide team of accredited engineers has successfully served thousands of care homes with their products, services, information, and support.

MAG's comprehensive product range encompasses commercial washing machines, tumble dryers, ironers, presses and detergents. With quality products dating back to 1922, MAG has continuously developed and

enhanced its equipment, making them some of the most reliable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective machines in the market. Care homes benefit from the peace of mind that their laundry machines can be promptly maintained and repaired, as MAG Laundry Equipment supplies, installs, and services equipment across England, Scotland, and Wales.

For those seeking high-quality wash results capable of removing stubborn stains, MAG is the go-to choice.

Their washing machines for nursing homes feature complete thermal disinfection as standard.

To explore how MAG can support your care home, contact them at 01353 883025 or visit www.maglaundryequipment.co.uk

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

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ACCESSIBLE BATHING Accessible Bathing in Nursing and Care Environments 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.

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 develop 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 39

NUTRITION AND HYDRATION

Is a Sustainable Diet a Nutritious and Healthy One and Is It Appropriate for Older Adults?

Tess Warnes, Dietitian at food procurement experts allmanhall (www.allmanhall.co.uk), explains

“In the most general terms, as a population our current diet is not sustainable or healthy. The most recent UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) data shows our intakes of saturated fat, sugar and salt are above the Government recommended levels. Whereas intakes of fibre, fruit, vegetables, and oily fish are too low.

In the UK, the Eatwell Guide provides a model for a healthy, varied diet. It is estimated that if everyone adopted this diet, nationally, it would lead to reductions in associated GHGE (-45%) and land use (-49%). It includes eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, wholegrain and higher-fibre starchy foods, and diversifying protein intake more towards plant sources such as beans and other pulses, as well as plant-based meat alternatives.

A recent study found increased adherence to the recommendation on reducing red and processed meat consumption was associated with the largest decrease in environmental impacts and carbon footprints.

This same study found if everyone in the UK consumed a diet in line with these recommendations, it would lead to significantly less type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes and cancer.

All the evidence shows moving to a more plant-based diet means a positive impact on our health whilst meeting nutritional requirements and sustainable eating can absolutely include small amounts of meat, fish and diary.

Is this suitable for older adults? Aside from specific requirements, if it is healthy, safe and appropriate for the individual, this is all very relevant for over 80s wanting to support the planet. David Attenborough is a good example!”

Learn more by watching allmanhall’s interview with ITN: https://allmanhall.co.uk/ References: https://www.carbontrust.com/our-work-and-impact/guides-reports-and-tools/theeatwell-guide-a-more-sustainable-diet https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/8/e037554

Müller Brand Favourites, now Plant Based Müller is now making the trademark taste accessible to flexitarians and those following a plant based diet, even when away from home.

The move highlights how Müller is investing to expand and optimise its portfolio of products to help foodservice operators meet the needs and desires of the out-of-home customer.

15% of customers now expect venues to offer dairy alternatives on their menus, signalling a growing shift towards plant based choices. With 8% of the UK population following a lactose-free diet, there is more demand for foodservice operators to provide the products guest love in plant based alternatives.

Jason Reed, Head of Food Service and Convenience at Müller UK & Ireland, said: " Making the nation’s favourite dairy brand accessible to more people both in and out of home is an exciting and natural move.

This marks a significant step for Müller, embracing evolving consumer preferences. With the launch of our bestselling varieties and a NEW flavour launch of Strawberry & Pomegranate Fruit Corner into our growing

foodservice portfolio following the success of the range launching into retail in July 2023."

The need for plant-based to be offered alongside dairy products is becoming increasingly important, especially around the breakfast occasion. 17 million more Brits are now opting for plant based yogurt alternatives for breakfast so our range offers a real solution for caterers in the hotel, workplace, education and healthcare sectors.

Featuring coconut milk as a base, the line-up now features popular classics, with Müller Rice & Müller Corner available in four exciting new flavour variations. Müller Fruit Corner Plant Based Strawberry & Pomegranate and Müller Crunch Corner Plant Based (now with Dark chocolate-coated cereal balls) are both offered in straight cases of 6x136g, while Müller Rice Plant Based Vanilla or Chocolate is available in straight cases of 6x170g.

To explore Müller's plant based offerings, visit www.mullerforcaterers.co.uk or reach out to the Müller for Caterers team via OOHQueries@muller.co.uk.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 41

PRESSURE CARE AND PATIENT HANDLING How to Approach Patient Handling In A Disability Care Setting Moving and handling is a complex and sensitive element of care giving, requiring care providers to be as knowledgeable and thorough as possible to get it right.

This applies in all settings, but even more so in disability settings when clients are often vulnerable and non-verbal.

When it comes to patient handling, care providers must respect their clients’ dignity – a fundamental aspect of quality care – and have the ability to adapt to clients’ changing needs to maintain a person-centred approach.

By Nick Horton, Managing Director, Select Lifestyles (www.selectlifestyles.co.uk) be a part of the community they live in. To avoid this, care providers should always work in partnership and communiunable to respond, as this maintains the client’s respect and dignity. cate with other healthcare professionals, such as social workers, doctors, Carers also need to make sure the correct equipment is always used – and dentists, to minimise this risk and ensure that clients receive the best not only to reduce risks but to make the job easier. People should be able possible care. to properly use equipment such as hoists, slings, standing aids, shower Another risk to consider is understaffing and busy workloads for carers chairs, grab rails, slide sheets and wheelchairs – to name a few. who are trained in patient handling. This must be avoided at all costs, as THOROUGH LEARNING AND TRAINING the quality of client care is greatly compromised if people rush tasks or The best approach for moving and handling training is through practical can’t complete them at all due to not having capacity. To minimise this, lessons. It’s a very hands-on element of personal care, so giving people care providers should have good rota planning to ensure the right staff practical experience will allow them to become familiar with the correct are always in place, as well as ensuring that patient handling training is processes and methods – something that is vital to ensure they pass the provided to the necessary people. training. Not only this, but in-person training allows learners to get imme-

CLEAR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

BEING AWARE OF THE RISKS When undertaking patient handling tasks, there are a multitude of potential risks for both carers and clients. For example, both parties could experience physical harm such as skin, tissue or ligament damage if processes aren’t followed and actions aren’t carried out with care.

For clients, there is the additional risk that, without successful patient handling, they could become isolated in their homes or rooms, unable to

In a disability care setting, carers should be aware that they are expected to follow the policies and protocols of patient handling for safety purposes. This includes carrying out risk assessments and a responsibility to follow support plans for individual clients, so everyone receives personalised care.

In addition, carers have a responsibility to communicate with clients and explain what they are about to do, even if they are non-verbal and

diate clarification on any questions they might have.

Compliance with patient handling training should also be monitored through practical assessments and regular on the job training, as well as through reviews and client feedback forms.

Patient handling is such an important element of care giving – it promotes the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities, at the same time as safeguarding the physical health and professional wellbeing of caregivers.

Prevent and Treat Pressure Ulcers with Levabo The Pressure Problem Leading lower limb and pressure care distributors Algeos has announced the launch of a new, innovative automatic lateral turning system, The Turn All. Designed and manufactured by Danish pressure care experts, Levabo, The Turn All was developed to support clinicians and carers in the regular turning of primary immobile patients with minimal disruption to the individual.

The new system fits between any standard care bed and mattress, is easy to install, and can be set to 30, 60, or 90minute increments across a 24-hour period to suit the service-users needs.

Supporting the body along its entire length, the Turn All utilises a 30-degree lateral positioning – as recommended by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel guidelines – to relieve tissue compression and

restoring blood flow.

Furthermore, a 5-degree lift on the opposite side of the Turn All counteracts shear, a tissue injury that can occur when the tissue between the bone and subfloor is displaced.

The Turn All system is the latest product to join the Levabo range at Algeos. Other products include the Heel Up, the Seat All, and the All Up all made from soft, flexible, heat and moisture absorbent non-woven material that stimulates the microcirculation of the skin.

Developed with Danish wound-care nurses and backed by a plethora of European data, each of the Levabo products is single-patient use, machine-washable up to 60 degrees, and can be reused for six to eight weeks, making them a cost-effective solution for the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers.

To find out more about the range of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment products from Levabo, visit the Algeos websiteat www.algeos.com or call 0151 448 1228.

Shockingly, pressure ulcers cost the NHS more than £3.8m every day; 1% of the total NHS spend in 2022/3.

Moreover, the NHS paid out £23.5m in associated litigation damages in 2021/22.

Pressure ulcers are blisters or open wounds, forming when pressure is applied to the same area of skin for a period of time. Annually, around 700,000 people in the UK will develop a pressure ulcer. As older people are a distinct risk group, they have a particular impact in community care settings, where individuals aged 65 and over make up 82.1% of the population.

They also result in longer hospital stays, by 5 to 8 days.

This is especially detrimental for elderly patients, leading to an increased risk of falling, sleep deprivation, infections, and even mental and physical deconditioning.

Overall, pressure ulcers are regarded as a measure of care quality. However, prevention education is minimal, care is time consuming, and suffers from staff shortages, which negatively impacts staff morale.

Fortunately, SSKIN is embedded in the NHS for pressure ulcer prevention. In particular, at risk individuals should be repositioned every 4 to 6 hours. Many care settings are therefore required to manage repositioning schedules, and provide advice and assistance to those at risk.

Unfortunately, the physical strain of moving patients can significantly impact staffing levels, with back and musculoskeletal problems accounting for 17% of staff sickness days in the NHS. Physical repositioning also deprives patients of sleep, impacting recovery, as sleep is vital for maintaining healing, and is essential for quality hospital experiences.

Encouragingly, implementing sufficient prevention can reduce pressure ulcers by up to 87%, with a cost saving of £513,000, and a 362-day reduction in the number of bed days per centre.

This reduces the impact on staff, while addressing overall quality of life.

At Wellell, we’re dedicated to raising societal and healthcare quality. Our range of air mattresses prevent pressure ulcers while decreasing caregiver workload, automating labour-intensive procedures and complex therapy workflows.

Our Optima Turn turning mattress, one of our Optima Series products, provides automatic and timer-controlled turning up to 30° supported by alternating pressure, multiple pressure relief therapy options and manually deflatable air cells for heel relief care, all easily accessible through the intuitive pump interface, streamlining patient handling and caregiver workload.

Contact us to learn more about this innovative pressure injury solution. Let’s work together to provide better treatment. uk.wellell.com

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

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.

SFIncS r/3 - A Fee Income System Especially for Residential and Nursing Care Homes SFIncS r/3 - A Fee Income System especially for Residential and Nursing Care Homes Designed to deliver simplicity and ease of use coupled with speed, flexibility and accuracy, SFIncS r/3 (Simple Fee Income System release 3) has a proven track record of over 12 years in use.

Originally developed and prototyped as an MS Access database, since 2017 SFIncS r/3 has lived entirely on the cloud, so is available 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

As a completely bespoke package, born of necessity and collaboration between seasoned software consultants with ties to the care industry, SFIncS r/3 offers innovations and capabilities not found in any other system.

Separation of sponsor and service user responsibilities permits unlimited sponsor/service user relationships, and as any number of charge codes may be defined, this allows complete flexibility of service user/sponsor /charge code definition.

Its unique continuous billing function is the most efficient means possible of defining recurring charges (an entry is only required when a change occurs) and both an ad hoc charge function and a

cashbox module are available for incidental expenses (either or both can be used).

Use of the balance forward accounting principle (which makes unnecessary invoice matching a thing of the past - though invoicing is included) plus super quick receipts entry using just ‘six clicks’ makes SFIncS r/3 almost effortless to use.

Paula, who owns and operates Monkstone House Residential Home in Porthcawl testifies to it’s incredible prowess: “With 41 partly private and partly sponsored service users, some of whom are multiply funded, it takes me only 30 to 40 minutes per week to keep both my accounts and fee income up to date! More importantly, I never need to worry about underpaid or overpaid fees - everything is always spot on. And the invoices and statements produced let me present the polished and professional image I need.”

SFIncS r/3 integrates easily with any accounting package, can be used by any type of care home and by single or multiple home operators alike.

For more information email benjones@intracare.co

Better by Design: A Fee Income System especially for Residential and Nursing Care Homes We've analysed every aspect of fee income processing to the nth degree and developed a bespoke solution that delivers simplicity and ease of use coupled with speed, flexibility and accuracy – all in one outstanding application package.

SFIncS r/3 is the ultimate fee income management and control system.

• Unlimited sponsor and charge code assignments allow complete flexibility of service user billing profiles.

• Perfect for all types of care homes - Nursing, Residential, Mixed, Specialist.

• Unique continuous billing functionality provides the most efficient charge definition possible.

Only charge start points need to be maintained and all sponsor charges for each service user (including historic) are shown on just one screen.

• Completely flexible invoicing. Invoice any sponsor at any time for any charges for any service user for any period of time.

• Super fast receipt entry including ‘Six clicks’ copy functionality.

• Balance forward accounting means you can forget laborious invoice matching.

• Ad hoc charges functionality.

• Cashbox module included.

• Works for multiple or single home operators.

• Integrates with any accounting system.

• Plus all the reports, views and graphs you’ll ever need.

• In use for over 12 years.

• Free training and help with system set up.

• Historic data loading option available (charges may apply).

• 30 day free trial.

For a demo, free trial or for further information please email benjones@intracare.co or visit https://intracare.co/

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 43

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Mainteno - Award-Winning Maintenance Management Software Mainteno is a complete, cost-effective CAFM software solution designed to simplify the day-to-day maintenance of any organization. Whether you're managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving you time and money.

With Mainteno, you can keep everyone in the loop and archive all your communications and documentation in one place, allowing for total control of your organization's assets. The software also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking for added convenience.

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 functionality 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 All-in-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 platform, designed to: • Save you time • Increase the efficiency of your teams • Improve the quality of care • Deliver better outcomes

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

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

Visit www.mainteno.com

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

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

ChatGPT and the Adult Care System - We Need To Be Aware Of The Limitations

Nourish Care’s Chief Product Officer Jeremy Baldwin on why the care sector should be careful in rushing to adopt AI

There are many great examples of AI being used to positive effect in health and social care leading some care providers to look at open platforms like ChatGPT to generate care plans and make calls on tech providers to build into their systems. I get the attraction but we shouldn’t rush in.

Yes, plans created through ChatGPT can read really well and appear person-centred, saving time, and improving the perceived standard of the plans generated, but there are significant data privacy, clinical safety and quality issues to consider. These relate to how and when the AI is being used, who or what is making the decision and who is responsible if something goes wrong.

A single care provider deciding to accept these risks in their own clinical safety cases is one thing while setting best practice by integrating into systems such as Nourish that are used at scale across the sector is quite another.

A common understanding of AI is technology performing human tasks and decisions. At the most basic level, asking the AI to perform a specific, usually administrative, but cognitive task like writing a report through to the AI automating decisions or tasks based on a set of rules and then to autonomous applications where the AI is doing both the decision making and action without intervention - care delivering robots, which begs the question, will the human be replaced? Can you take the human out of health care? Or perhaps put another way can the AI care?

In reality, this is all a long way off in the care sector, if it happens at all. The careful, considered and responsible adoption of AI will reap benefits but, as always, will take longer to manifest than we think.

Automation in our digital systems is nothing new. It’s core to Nourish and how we are developing best practice to help ensure that the right things happen at the right time.

What’s changed is the availability of open language models like ChatGPT. They are trained to understand natural language, intent, and context for the action or decision and can respond with human-style conversation. This makes them useful and attractive.

Using ChatGPT to give better structure to a care plan, and make it easier for others to consume is fine as is using it as a starting point for personalised care plans but not if it’s being used to generate the plan from scratch.

A ChatBot that makes it easier to access and understand information from a defined source — such as an individual’s personalised care plan and record — and is really powerful, but caution should be applied if this ends up being advice or recommendation based on data from multiple, open sources. Where is this data coming from? What happens if there is a conflict? Which fact (or more likely opinion) should I use?

Nourish is advancing rapidly and one of the biggest areas of growth is integrations. What will revolutionise care is the use of devices and wearables, along with home automation devices that allow us to improve care in community settings, particularly in people’s homes. It’s a huge technological leap. All of these things become part of the puzzle in being able to identify what normal looks like for this person and to be able to identify and monitor anomalies. This makes it easier to identify those at greatest risk, or urgent need and manage resourcing accordingly.

AI will continue to grow and Nourish is effectively creating a model of what good social care looks like.

We’re ideally placed to do that as we’re instrumental in providing digital care support in almost a quarter (24%) of the market, which gives us access to a huge dataset that is growing all the time. AI modelling of these data sets over time, will inform better practice but we still need human beings to make those important care decisions.

Automations that reduce the burden on care teams for administrative, reporting and compliance have to be a good - and safe thing. Automated workflows that guide and nudge on the next best action will lead to faster and better interventions, but caution is needed if this strays into the generation and application of treatment plans or response to an event.

This need to keep decision-making in human hands won’t hinder advancement. Those predicting that we will be cared for by robots and automated systems in a few years' time will be proven wrong. It’s not going to be futuristic care of the imagination, it will be slow because the system is slow. There is still a very long way to go and one thing I predict is that we’ll seriously underestimate the impact that AI will have on social care in the future.

ABOUT NOURISH CARE Nourish is the leading provider of digital care management software in the UK. Nourish was one of the first digital social care record suppliers to be recognised as an NHS Transformation Directorate Assured Supplier at launch and is accredited by PRSB as a Quality Partner. The easy-to-use technology provides care teams with person-centred tools, timelines, assessments and more to drive outstanding care and improve outcomes for those with support needs. Nourish works with more than 3,500 care services in the UK and overseas within residential homes, nursing homes, learning disability services, mental health services, and other care settings.

www.nourishcare.com

What To Consider When Choosing A Staff Attack System For Care Settings With reports revealing up to 85% of care workers experience abuse each year and thousands of serious attacks on carers recorded, the need for reliable, efficient staff attack systems in care settings has never been greater.

Protecting care workers is vital for staff morale and productivity, but also patient care and long-term treatment outcomes.

Choosing the right staff alarm system, therefore, requires careful consideration, and the weighing up of the following factors.

EFFICIENCY & SPEED Quick intervention is crucial when preventing a violent attack. In care settings, patients may become aggressive suddenly, with little to no warning.

The most effective staff attack systems work rapidly, allowing employees to summon assistance quickly and easily should they face abusive behaviour from a service user.

PRECISE Equally, the accuracy of a staff safety system is a key consideration. When an alarm is triggered, the response team should be informed of the exact location of the call – allowing for rapid intervention and thus prevention of harm.

This is particularly true for large facilities with multiple floors and rooms, and in cases where multiple alarms have been activated simultaneously. Pinpoint’s latest P2 Graphical Display Unit, for example, clearly demonstrates the call level and precise location of incidents on rotation, enabling responders to allocate support as required.

USER-FRIENDLY Staff alarm systems for care workers should be simple-to-use and easily accessible. In the face of hostility or violence, carers should be able to activate their personal alarm quickly and without alerting the

aggressor.

This was a key factor in the development of Pinpoint’s new P2 System, which benefits from a more sophisticated, discreet design. Worn on the staff member’s uniform, the P2 personal alarm is lightweight and easy to use. Employees simply press a button on the device to call for assistance and in more high-risk situations where a service user is becoming aggressive, the worker pulls a pin from the bottom of the device to sound an emergency alarm.

ROBUSTNESS Vandalism of safety systems is not uncommon in high-risk work settings, as service users can tamper with or abuse the devices out of frustration.

Choosing a robust safety system is therefore an important and cost-effective measure for care homes.

FOLLOW UP SUPPORT When looking into staff attack systems, it’s wise to consider how much follow-up support is offered by the provider, the length of the warranty period available, and whether repairs or assistance with maintenance issues is available. Doing this from the outset will prevent problems later down the line!

As rates of violence toward staff in Care settings increase, so too does the need for powerful, efficient staff safety systems. Choosing the right system will depend on the environment in question, the security needs of the staff and the threat posed by service users. Keeping the above factors in mind will serve as useful guidance for facilities looking to make the best choice for the safety of their employees.

Interested in learning more about Pinpoint’s P2 System?

Visit www.pinpoint.ltd.uk/staff-safety-system See the advert on page 13.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 45

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Silent Running - Tranquility in Care Homes Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment. Similarly, carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum. There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings, particularly those suffering from dementia, these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature, light, and of course noise. Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources, for example, telephones ringing, loud conversations in corridors, and call bells sounding, often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents.

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

the location of the call. In these circumstances, dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone”. Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents.

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

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

For more information email us at: info@c-t.co.uk or see the advert below.

Earzz Elevates Night-time Care!

Earzz Limited is a British business making AI-powered acoustic monitoring solutions that help the vulnerable and those who care for them.

Built with a deep commitment to enhancing the well-being of residents,

record referencing.

Earzz also offers Routine-based Audible Sound Detection -

‘Earzz’ listens, recognises, and alerts for critical sounds, making it an

Sends alerts for any audible sounds at specific times as set by

invaluable addition to residential homes and supported living facilities.

staff/carer/manager, especially valuable for night-time care for

The advanced system monitors residents at night, alerting staff and users to critical sounds for prompt care. With cutting-edge AI prioritising privacy—no speech recognition, no recordings.

Earzz also keeps digital records of important sounds in resident rooms - like coughing, gasping, and thuds from falls, that help track trends in resident health and enable easier handover for staff and

vulnerable residents, helping to reduce chances of falls.

Call +44(0)2038380090 to book a demo!

Visit www.earzz.com Or see the advert on page 19.

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

PAGE 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Prevent 55% of Night-Time Falls with Ally Ally, an AI-powered resident monitoring system is revolutionising night-time care with its immediate advantages for care home owners, staff, and residents.

Ally uses a wall-mounted sensor, easily retrofitted into rooms which send alerts to the Ally app. The AI processes sound and motion signals to notify staff when attention is required, for example if resident’s call out in pain, panic, or are moving. The result is enhanced safety, reduced disruptive checks, and improved sleep and well-being for residents.

In collaboration with NHS Digital, ICB’s and customer feedback, Ally demonstrates remarkable results: • 40% increase in night staff efficiency • 55% reduction in resident falls • 20% drop in hospital visits This leads to a substantial 9x return on investment, primarily achieved by affording staff more time for personalised care. Customer testimonials echo Ally's transformative impact:

“Ally’s Resident Monitor solution exemplifies how technology can deliver personalised remote monitoring that is proactive rather than reactive to incidents, ultimately enhancing the well-being of residents.” Melanie Dawson, Home Manager at The Lawns “The first indicator of a resident who contracted Covid was Ally picked up that she was coughing a lot in the night. She still had Covid, we still had to manage that situation, but because we were aware of it a little bit earlier, it helped us to feel more in control of the situation." Robin Hall at Oaklands Care Home The Care Quality Commission (CQC) recognises Ally's positive impact on care stating in their State of Health Care and Adult Social Care in England 2016/17 report “Acoustic monitoring enabled staff to respond more promptly and appropriately to people’s support needs during the night.”

Ally enhances care outcomes but also positions care homes using this as preferred choices for new admissions and staff. Join the revolution in night-time care, visit https://www.allycares.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ally-smart-care/

Blaucomm Ltd Arquella - Connected Technology, Connected Care Telecommunications & Networks 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.

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 sensorbased 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 or the advert on the facing page.

PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

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 Commercial Fall Prevention Systems 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 Professional-wandering-falls.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 49

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

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 systems 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

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

PAGE 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT First Free E-Learning Resource on Data Security and Protection for Care Staff Launched Care providers can now improve and assess their staff’s knowledge of data security and protection using a new elearning resource, specifically designed for the care sector.

Better Security, Better Care – the national programme supporting adult care providers with data security - has developed the course in response to a gap in the market.

Speaking about the new course, Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director of Better Security, Better Care, said: "Care providers told us that they struggle to access relevant training for their staff on data protection and cyber security. Our course content reflects all care settings and staff roles – from home care and residential services, to frontline care workers and administrators. There are lots of videos, case studies and interactive elements which enable staff to understand their role in keeping both print and digital data safe.

“Care providers also said that it can be challenging to meet the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) requirement to train at least 95 per cent of staff on data protection in the previous 12 months. This course has been specifically designed to meet that requirement.

“We have made the course completely open access, without any need to register or login because we want to maximise the number of people using it – especially staff in small care services. But it is also available as a SCORM compliant resource for providers who have a Learning Management System."

The course, which reinforces the Data Security Standards and the Care Certificate, includes four modules and one online assessment. Each module takes around 10 – 20 minutes to complete, and there is one single

assessment covering topics from all four modules. Staff can complete the modules in any order and over the course of several days.

Care managers, trainers and staff can access the course and corresponding user guides at www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/elearning The course modules are: Module 1: Data protection rights and responsibilities covers the importance of data security and protection in the care system and staff’s personal responsibility to handle data safely.

Module 2: Keeping data secure covers the importance of keeping data secure through good record keeping and data disposal, and how to share confidential data securely.

Module 3: Threats to data security looks at the threats to data security that employees might encounter, including common types of fraud and scams and how to safely use and keep digital and paper records.

Module 4: Data breaches explains what data breaches are, the causes of data breaches and what to do in the event of a breach.

Assessment quiz: The assessment includes 20 questions relating to all four modules. Trainees are required to get 80% or more correct in order to download the certificate.

The course, which was developed and tested in partnership with care providers, has been welcomed by the sector.

Dr Jane Townson, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance representing the 10 national care provider trade associations, encourages members to use the course saying: “Care providers are increasingly aware of how important it is to train their staff on good data and cyber security practice. But until now, there hasn’t been anything really tailored to the specific needs and circumstances faced by our sector’s staff.

“This new elearning course from Better Security, Better Care is the missing piece of the puzzle – and it complies with the training requirements in the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.

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 Care Provider Alliance encourages all care providers to use the resource to improve and assess their staff’s knowledge.”

Tom Rottinghuis, Data Protection Officer at The Forward Trust who was on the Working Group that developed the course said: “Our safeguarding manager and two of our counsellors … were particularly pleased to see that there is a focus on the need to share – as well as the need to protect – people’s information, and it really shows that data protection is not the enemy of safeguarding and care, but a crucial part of it. You can and must share information in order to ensure people get the support they need.”

“One of the most valuable aspects of the new resources is that they are short... Given the pressure our staff are under, and the high turnover, it is so valuable to have something that is clear, straightforward and flexible to use.”

Care staff who were involved in testing the course fed back: “This will help train all staff easily and at no cost. Very clear and easy, I look forward to using these modules for our staff!”

“I think it is really digestible, and has managed to strike the balance of including all relevant and necessary information whilst the training does not feeling too info heavy to digest.”

“These modules are tailored to the social care context and reflect real situations that a diverse variety of care workers face in different settings.

It’s visual and in plain English so it is very accessible to a wide range of staff including those with English as a second language.”

Visit www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/elearning

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.

Elevating Healthcare Staffing with Meridale In the complex world of healthcare, the backbone of any healthcare facility is its dedicated team of nurses, healthcare assistants, support workers, and many others. The quality of care provided to patients hinges on the expertise and commitment of these professionals. At Meridale, we understand this fundamental truth and have made it our mission to revolutionize how healthcare recruitment is handled.

EXCEPTIONAL RECRUITMENT SERVICES Meridale stands at the forefront of healthcare staffing because we recognize that the heart of healthcare lies in the people who provide it. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond mere lip service; it’s embedded in every facet of our recruitment services. We specialize in connect-

ing healthcare facilities with the finest talent available.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEEDS We understand that every healthcare facility has unique needs and constraints. Meridale takes the time to listen, comprehend, and collaborate with you to find solutions that align with your budget and meet your specific requirements. Our commitment to tailoring our services ensures that the candidates we recommend are highly skilled and a cultural fit for your institution.

FULFILLING STAFFING GAPS EFFICIENTLY In healthcare, time is of the essence. Staffing gaps can disrupt operations and impact patient care. With Meridale’s extensive network of

healthcare professionals, we can swiftly and adeptly fill these gaps. Our goal is to ensure that your facility operates seamlessly and that your patients receive nothing short of the best care possible.

In these challenging times, when the healthcare industry faces unprecedented demands, having a reliable and dedicated team is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Meridale stands ready to support healthcare facilities in their mission to deliver exceptional care. We are more than a recruitment agency; we are your partner in elevating the standards of healthcare staffing.

Contact 01902 240019 or see the advert below for details.

Do You Need Permanent and Reliable Care Staff?

At Caring People Recruitment we specialise exclusively in finding the RIGHT PEOPLE to work on permanent contracts in the UK healthcare industry.

RECRUIT OVERSEAS: For companies with a sponsors license, we can provide the highest calibre English speaking candidates.

You can choose to recruit face to face in the Caribbean (in Jamaica or St Lucia for example) or via video call from your own office. We offer free flights and hotels for our clients for all overseas bulk recruitment drives.

Candidates are all FULLY QUALIFIED in the care sector with a minimum of 2 years PROFESSIONAL care experience. Retention rates of above 98%.

RECRUIT LOCALLY: If it’s local staff that you are looking for, then look no further. Our team can

assist to fill your vacancies fast and reduce those agency costs. We 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.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183 | PAGE 51

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Grey Matter Learning Set To Support Over 180 Care Leaders Thanks To Skills For Care Funding Multi award winning eLearning provider, Grey Matter Learning, has kicked 2024 off with a bang after receiving funding from Skills for Care to deliver their suite of leadership and management online courses to over 180 care leaders.

The funding, which has been awarded by Skills for Care, will enable the training provider to offer their courses free of charge to social care professionals in leadership roles to support their career development and overall standard of care.

Their Lead to Succeed, Well Led and Leading Change Improving Care (LCIC) courses will run between January – March 2024, across a multitude of cohorts, with the first having already kicked-off.

Talking of the initiative, Commercial Director of Grey Matter Learning, Phil Hitchcox commented: “Normally, care providers must pay upfront for these Skills for Care courses, and we then support them to claim back the costs through the Workforce Development Fund.

But, this year, Skills for Care have taken a slightly different approach and released pots of money to enable training providers like ours to deliver this training at no cost to the care provider.

“We have seen a huge demand for these courses, mainly, we suspect, due to the ability to access this training with no upfront costs. We all know the struggles facing the social care sector right now, and the cost-of-living crisis has hit this sector like all others meaning budgets are stretched. So, Skills for Care taking this approach has been really well received by the sector and I hope to see such initiatives again in the future.

With an average turn-over rate of 28.3% and circa 152,000 vacant posts (Skills for Care), developing and retain-

In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse?

JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the health-care industry, such as health care assistants, senior carers, and nurses from overseas. We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings and advices.

WHY JJ? • We have very minimal processing fees.

• We assist you to get a sponsorship license.

• Qualified and experienced candidates from overseas.

Tel: 01704 808227 www.jjcarerecruitment.co.uk admin@jjrecruitment.co.uk

ing existing talent is key for the success of the social care sector. Only be showing clear career progression and opportunities will the sector attract and retain professionals. Phil went on to say that: “It’s alarming to read in a recent report published by EveryLIFE, Leaders of Tomorrow, that of those leaders they surveyed, a staggering 31% are not aware of any leadership training but 58% cite recruiting skilled/experienced staff as the biggest challenge faced by care leaders. That’s why we are so passionate about initiative such as these, as they are helping to tackle these issues head on.”

Through their online delivery model, Grey Matter Learning can offer care leaders the opportunity to access sector specific professional development, but in a way that works around their busy schedules and other commitments. With over 3,000 social care managers having successfully completed the Lead to Succeed programme alone, the training provider is no stranger to delivering high volumes of training at scale and pace.

Grey Matter Learning is a leading eLearning provider for social care, supporting thousands of care professionals annually to gain new knowledge and skills to help drive quality of care in the sector. Working with care providers and local authorities, Grey Matter Learning pride themselves on delivering a suite of courses that address the pain points within the sector, as well as equipping professionals with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need. More can be found here https://greymatterlearning.co.uk/ Skills for Care is the strategic workforce development and planning body for adult social care in England. https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Home.aspx

Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate?

It can be tempting to think that once the Care Certificate has been achieved it’s the end of training. The Care Certificate can demonstrate that staff have the minimum level of required training.

Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges presented by working in a difficult sector.

Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead However, it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring. Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia, or changes to the

legislative framework, there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with.

So, if you think the Care Certificate completes all the training, it might be time to think again.

So why choose Step Up Training and Care?

We provide training services that will build implicit trust, leading to confidence by clients looking to use your services.

At Step Up Training and Care, we know people are busy, work long hours and that a set 95 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers. We can tailor our learning pro-

grammes to meet individual needs, time our training to meet business commitments, working shift patterns and around family life.

Zoom Boom is here to stay, and we can accommodate teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom, remote, assessor based, one to one training sessions.

Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector, hence our flexible approach.

We empower people to learn.

Training beyond the Care Certificate - Can you afford not to?

T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk See the advert on page 11.

PAGE 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 183

PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT How you can help your clients pay for care?

If they are over 55 and a homeowner then a lifetime mortgage might be the answer to paying for care. It can release cash from their homes and use it to pay for care.

They could have extra visits or services they can’t presently afford, or install stair-lifts, hoists, wet-rooms etc. to make life easier.

Ideally suited to domicillary care but can be used to fund the needs of one party living in care. Best of all clients keep ownership of their home.

What’s in it for you? More money! More services, longer care periods.

To find out if it could work for you contact: 07789 885611 or e-mail money@lifetimemortgages.info Lifetimemortgages.info is a trading style of The Later Life Lending Network which is an Appointed Representative of The Right

Mortgage Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales no. 09832887 Registered address 70 St. Johns Close, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands B93 0NH.

Recruiting Success with CVMinder ATS Care recruiting is currently challenging. So, why is CVMinder ATS a great choice for Care Providers?

Stuart Haddow, MD, suggests that its Ambassador Customers make the biggest difference.

Ambassadors include senior HR leaders from the Care sector. “They have proven to be great at overcoming recruiting headwinds” says Stuart.

CVMinder’s Ambassador Customers also guide CVMinder product improvement programme.

Using that great guidance delivers a competitive advantage for all CVMinder Care customers. Jack Morgan of Local Solutions agrees. “CVMinder has made the process as smooth and as streamlined as possible. That’s is critical when recruiting in a

demanding sector like care. It gives us central control of everything and the management information we generate from CVMinder has helped to improve our recruiting approach. Without CVMinder our recruiting costs would be much higher and good candidates would be lost in the administration clutter.”

Donna Newell of The Kent Autistic Trust says “CVMinder ensures that we are being responsive to applicants and the demands of our managers.

Having a one stop shop means that we can post and update jobs at the touch of a button. Receiving all applications online and using filter questions enables our recruiters to shortlist batches of applicants swiftly.”

T: 01634 202 101 E: enquiries@cvminder.co.uk W: cvminder.co.uk/care

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size we assist at every stage of your business Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their 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

PLEASE MENTION THE CARER WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISING

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