The Carer Digital - Issue #87

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S

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The Carer Digital

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THECARERUK

Issue 87

Amendment to Care Cap Puts People at Risk of Catastrophic Care Costs - Says Report

A proposed government amendment to the social care cap will put more people at risk of ‘catastrophic’ care costs, and will impact those with modest levels of wealth in the North and the Midlands, a report has found.

The government is proposing to change the legislation underlying the new £86,000 cap that people will have to pay towards their own social care costs.

The amendment means that receipt of means-tested support to pay for care will not count towards the cap.

A joint Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and Health Foundation report, funded

by the Health Foundation, reveals that the proposed government amendment would impact most strongly those older people with modest levels of wealth.

Those with wealth, including their home, of around £75,000 to £150,000 would face the biggest loss of protection as a result of the amendment. The result is that someone with around £110,000 in assets could lose 78% of their total wealth even after the cap is in place, while someone with £500,000 could use up only 17%.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

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

“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.”

ROSALYN CARTER

Editor

Peter Adams

PUBLISHED BY RBC Publishing Ltd Roddis House, Old Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1LG

TELEPHONE:

A very brief “column” from me today as I am in the West Country at a tradeshow!

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So the government has announced its highly anticipated “Levelling Up” white paper (see page 5), which is viewed as resolving existing arguments about health inequalities which have dogged previous governments for decades.

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As a child of the 60’s growing up in a heavy industry area, which pumped out tons of smoke/pollution into the air and toxic waste into the river Mersey, I can remember the glaring inequalities only too well.

I am no expert by any “stretch of the imagination” but suspect it is blatantly obvious that levelling up living standards is essential to people living healthier lives, particularly as they approach old age.

I did note the references to gaps in life expectancy, however, quality is as important, if not more important, as quantity, and the government needs to treat the causes and not the symptoms.

These start at an early age. I sat in on a seminar at a leading care show back in 2010.

The seminar, conducted by a leading dementia professor was about the alarming increase in dementia, now the world’s biggest cause of death.

My mother died in the early 90’s of Alzheimer’s. Hers was a particularly aggressive form and she sadly deteriorated quickly. At an early age too. The first signs were in her early 60’s (although relatively little was known then about the disease, which was often dismissed as “part and parcel of growing old”).

The professor said something which has stayed with me ever since and gave advice which I repeatedly pass on to the younger generation. It was along the lines of “there is no cure on the horizon, no ‘magic bullet’” adding that no drug had gotten past the second stage in trials and “Big Pharma” were no longer investing large sums into finding a cure.

But, he added “lifestyle changes” can dramatically reduce the chances of developing dementia in later years.

These were generally diet (eating healthier), not smoking, reducing or abstaining from

EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES alcohol, no illicit drug use, regular exercise, but, the caveat was, all this had to be done BEFORE the age of 34.

Sylvia Mawson David Bartlett Guy Stephenson

Why 34? That he could not explain, but below that age and one stood a good chance of reducing the development of dementia, after that, the “stage is set” and any changes made after that, although beneficial to general health, would not reduce the possibility of developing dementia.

TYPESETTING & DESIGN

He finished the seminar with the point - “ There are about 300 people here, 27 will develop dementia, and I know the names of every one”

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We all looked at each other alarmed, and he added “Exactly, the name is always someone else”. (No-one ever thinks it's going to happen to them.)

So I hope the levelling up paper addresses root cause and not quango-led appeasement by throwing money at the problem just to treat the preventable symptom!

Once again thank you for all your warm, uplifting stories, Chinese New Year, awards, celebrations, birthdays, local school initiatives, life stories, do keep them coming.

We like to share good positive news, it’s what we do, its what the sector needs, and I only wish that out mainstream media saw it that way too! Please do keep them coming to editor@thecareruk.com

Matthew Noades

Shelly Roche Published by

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 3

Amendment to Care Cap Puts People at Risk of Catastrophic Care Costs - Says Report (COONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) Given that levels of wealth vary substantially across England, those in the North East, Yorkshire and the Midlands, where wealth tends to be lower, would see the biggest erosion of their protection against large care costs, as a result of the proposed amendment.

In September, the government announced a cap on lifetime social care costs in England, beginning in October 2023 and set at a level of £86,000. When the possibility of a cap was first legislated for in the 2014 Care Act, total care costs incurred – including those covered by council funding for those with low assets or income – were to count towards the cap. However, in November 2021, the government proposed to amend the Care Act so that only the amount someone spends themselves would count towards the cap. This amendment is now being considered by Parliament.

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE BRIEFING INCLUDE: • Those with moderate income or assets, and who receive means-tested support to help them with care costs, would have to contribute to their own care costs for longer. Without the government’s amendment, someone needing residential care costing £700 per week would reach the cap after 3 years and 4 months, regardless of their levels of income and assets. With the amendment, someone with that care need who has annual income of £16,000 and assets of £100,000 would take almost 6½ years to reach the cap. With that income, but assets of over £175,000, they would still reach the cap after just 3 years and 4 months.

• Those experiencing costly care journeys, and who would be eligible for means-tested support, would make contributions for longer and spend more on their care. Under a ‘catastrophic’ cost scenario of a decade spent in residential care, someone with £106,000 in assets and annual income of £11,800 would be most affected. Under the government’s plans, their contribution towards their care would be £76,000, or 71% of their assets, compared with £44,000, or 41% of their assets, under existing legislation. Those with assets of over £186,000 would be unaffected.

These effects would impact most strongly on those in the second quintile of the wealth distribution: • The government’s proposed amendment would mean that a 10-year residential care journey would consume an additional 10% of assets or around £12,000, on average, for those in the second wealth quintile (those in households with wealth per person of between £83,000 and £183,000). This compares with negligible effects for the wealthiest

40% – those with assets over £298,000.

Levels of wealth vary substantially across England. Those in the North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and the Midlands, where wealth tends to be lower, would see the biggest erosion of their protection against large care costs, as a result of the proposed amendment: • Average per-person wealth among the 65-and-older population in the North East, where average house prices are £150,000, is around £150,000. This compares with an average of around £490,000 in London.

• If they were to spend 10 years in residential care, one in four individuals in the North East would have to contribute an additional 10% of their initial assets to cover their care costs, as a result of the amendment. This compares with just one in forty of those in London.

The government’s proposed amendment would not substantially change the number of people at risk of having to use their housing wealth to pay for a long period of residential care since most who would receive means-tested support and have some housing wealth would have to draw on it even under the system without the amendment.

PEACE OF MIND David Sturrock, a Senior Research Economist at IFS, said: ‘The new social care cost cap is important not just for those who end up having large care costs. Given the unpredictability of future care needs, it offers many people peace of mind and an ability to plan. The government’s proposed amendment would significantly reduce those benefits for those with moderate assets and income. This disproportionately affects those in the North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and the Midlands, given lower house prices and wealth levels in those regions compared to the South of England. This change seems to cut across the government’s plans to “level up” across regions.’

Charles Tallack, Assistant Director for the REAL Centre at the Health Foundation, said: “The government’s proposed amendment to the Care Act will, in effect, increase the time it could take for some poorer people to reach the £86,000 cap on care costs. So far Parliament has been voting in the dark on this issue, having had insufficient information about its impact and which groups of people would be affected. This independent analysis will help to shed light on this and ensure that as the amendment is further debated and voted on, peers and MPs can fully understand its impacts on people who need care.”

Healthcare Leaders Frustrated by Further Delay to NHS Recovery Plan Responding to reports that the NHS elective care backlog recovery plan has been delayed Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Healthcare leaders are keen to implement this delayed plan as soon as possible and it is frustrating that publication has once again been postponed.

“However, we also need to see some realism in the targets that are set for the NHS. Six million people are now waiting for treatment and there any many more millions of people we don’t yet know about.

These are people who didn’t come forward for treatment during the pandemic and have yet to do so and this is combined with high demand and levels of unmet need across the NHS in mental health, community services and primary care.

“Despite doing all it can to recover services as efficiently as possible it’s important to remember that the NHS is still under real pressure carrying nearly 100,000 staff vacancies and facing real constraints on the size and shape of its building stock.

“While the NHS must absolutely be accountable for how the taxpayer money it receives is then spent, setting unrealistic targets risks skewing clinical priorities.

“We must be careful that in setting targets we don’t deprioritise those that need treatment most urgently to instead treat those that have been waiting the longest – something which is not always one and the same thing.”

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Living with COVID-19 in a Post-Pandemic World

By Barry Price, QCS Specialist Contributor (www.qcs.co.uk)

QCS’s Barry Price, a consultant who has worked in the care sector for over 15 years, says that the combination of new antiviral drugs and remote monitoring technology could be a game-changer for the treatment of COVID-19 in both domiciliary, supported living and residential care settings, provided the right policies and procedures are in place.

“Our ability to contain and control COVID-19 has improved dramatically in recent months. This has largely been due to immunisation along with new anti-viral treatments, which the drug companies say significantly reduces the risk of hospitalisation for vulnerable adults.

Another breakthrough is that patients taking these drugs can be monitored remotely from their homes thanks to new technology in the form of mobile apps.

I caught COVID-19 at the end of January. It really opened my eyes into not only how effective the new antiviral treatments are. But also, how the application of monitoring technology enables people like me to stay at home when they have health issues.

The NHS is now offering new antibody and antiviral treatments to people with coronavirus who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill. I take a biologic medication for chronic psoriasis, an auto-immune condition – and I’m therefore considered at risk.

HOSPITAL STAY When I experienced breathing issues, I was referred to my local NHS coronavirus team (who had already informed me I was eligible for the antivirals) who offered me an appointment at the hospital. I was expecting to be administered pills, but I was given the medication by infusion and then monitored for any side effects. Apparently, this is 85% effective in keeping patients out of hospital, as opposed to taking it in tablet form, which is around 37%.

Once I had received the treatment, I was given a monitoring pack to allow me to recuperate at home. This involved downloading an app and a SATS monitor to measure oxygen levels. The app was not difficult to

use, was easy to install and to navigate. With it I recorded my symptoms and helped clinicians at the hospital track my condition – if it deteriorated, I would be re-assessed.

VIRTUAL WARD There was a ‘virtual ward’ at the hospital where the COVID-19 team worked. At one point, I got a call from them as my SATS level was low and it flagged up on their dashboard. After a telephone consultation, it was agreed that there wasn’t a serious issue.

In addition, every day for six days I received calls from the hospital team to ask me if I was experiencing any side effects from the medication, to discuss my remote stats and a general how are you doing call.

So although I was at home, I was made to feel safe as I was connected to healthcare professionals.

To access the new technology, patients require access to a personal smartphone (Apple or Android) to run the mobile app. The clinical team involved in observing the data and initiating follow-up consultations need a suitable laptop or desktop with an active internet connection.

HOME CARE LIKELY TO INCREASE The benefits of the system are that it contains the spread of the virus by keeping those with symptoms and those who are high risk at home.

(It is highly likely that without the anti-virals I would have previously ended up in hospital.) And hospitals can now monitor many people in the community remotely, which of course will free up much-needed beds.

What’s important when it comes to treating people at home under this new way of working is that domiciliary care and support workers will require a set of new policies and procedures to help them manage the change.

Following my experience, I started to research the different apps available. They aren’t just for COVID-19, but for many other conditions that are suitable for remote monitoring – from diabetes to heart conditions.

This explosion of viable technology alleviates operational pressures on the NHS. If people are being treated at home, the NHS might see reduced pressure on staffing numbers. If there are significantly lower number of patients on a ward, the question some might ask is do we still need wards?

Of course, the answer is ‘yes’, but it could mean in the future that new technologies will enable us to have the conversation and provide a wider range of treatment options. Even if more people are treated at

home there will still be clinical staff required to review and monitor remote support.

TRAINING Of course, with any new technology and its application, it throws up a serious dilemma for health providers. Staff will have to be trained as to how to use the applications – and how to upload the results such as SATS levels. Patients also will need to be trained on how to use the system. And there will have to be procedures in place if something goes wrong, such as false readings or monitors not working.

Although remote monitoring will take the pressure off the NHS, that pressure is likely to be felt elsewhere. There will definitely be a knockon effect on social care in the community. This is where QCS can help.

Its range of policies and guidelines include training plans with needs analysis for new technology adoption, as well as care plans for individuals which would include medication schedules and other important health monitoring information.

If more people are being cared for at home, where will the additional resources need to manage this come from? Of course, if a person is completely independent, as I am, then that’s not generally going to be an issue. But if a person presents with additional health issues and needs a carer to check in on them regularly, and perhaps to help with the remote care, staffing issues come into play again.

As well as additional training costs, Data Protection requirements and UK GDPR regulations will have to be considered as personal information is stored on a digital platform. Guidelines on how providers and staff share information and communicate with hospitals and how to foster this new joint working will also need to be drawn up.

So there will need to be new policies and procedures in place to manage this fundamental change in how advancements and remote monitoring in health care is delivered. But I am hugely optimistic that it is an important development that will positively impact many people and allow them to stay where they want to be – which is at home.

QCS policies and guidelines: • COVID-19 HUB • Training plans with needs analysis for new technology • Care plans • Cooperating with other providers To start a free trial with QCS, please visit www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer-free-trial.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 5

Government Launches Landmark Reviews to Tackle Health Disparities and Level Up Country Plans to enable people across the country to live longer, healthier lives are moving forward with the government’s announcement of leads for two significant independent reviews to tackle health disparities.

A review into potential ethnic bias in the design and use of medical devices will be led by Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, professor of public health at the University of Liverpool. The way medical devices and technologies are designed and used has raised concerns about the impact of ethnic background on a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare.

Separately, Javed Khan OBE, former CEO of children’s charity Barnardo’s, will lead an independent review of the government’s bold ambition to make England smoke free by 2030. Whilst the government has made good long-term progress in reducing smoking rates to their lowest ever level, there are an estimated 6 million smokers in England and smoking is still one of the largest drivers of health disparities.

Both independent reviews will form part of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ agenda to tackle inequalities in health and care, which will include the publication of a Health Disparities White Paper in spring and a Tobacco Control Plan later in the year.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “The pandemic has shown the resilience of the British public and brought communities together to look after each other in the most challenging times. But it has also exposed chasms in our society – particularly in health.

“Where someone is born, their background, their gender, or the colour of their skin should not impact their health outcomes.

“Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead and Javed Khan OBE both have vast experience in tackling health inequalities, and I look forward to the outcome of their reviews so we can continue to level up across society and make sure everyone – no matter where they live or come from – can live a long, healthy life.”

The far-reaching Independent Review into potential ethnic bias in the design and use of medical devices in the UK will: Identify systematic inequalities in registered medical devices Make recommendations on how these inequalities should be tackled Consider what systems need to be in place to ensure emerging technologies are developed without ethnic inequalities Improve global standards to better healthcare and tackle disparities The NHS is an expert in providing the best possible care with the devices currently available, and this review will improve the quality and availability of devices to diverse communities.

The independent review into smoking will provide independent, evidence-based advice that will inform the government’s approach to tackling the stark health disparities associated with tobacco use. It will also help the government decide on the most impactful interventions to reduce the uptake of smoking and to

support smoking cessation. It will assess the options to be taken forward in the new Tobacco Control Plan, which will be published later this year.

This comes as the Health and Social Care Secretary today set out his vision to make England a worldleader in cancer care as we learn to live COVID-19 – with renewed attention paid to innovative treatment and early diagnosis to radically improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Tobacco is still the single largest cause of preventable mortality and 64,000 smokers died from smoking in 2019.

Smoking causes a disproportionate burden on the most disadvantaged families and communities – rates vary dramatically across the country and remain very high in areas such as Manchester (20.8%) and Blackpool (19.8%), compared to Wokingham (5.5%) and Richmond upon Thames (6%). Rates are also persistently high amongst certain groups, including routine and manual workers (21.4%), and people with long-term mental health problems (25.8%). And although maternal smoking rates have recently fallen from 10.4% in 2019/20 to 9.6% in 2020/21, there is still work to do as nearly 1 in 10 women are smoking at the time of delivery.

Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead said: “There are growing concerns about the potential for racial bias in the design and use of some medical devices commonly used in the NHS, and that the treatment of patients from some ethnic groups may be less effective as a result. It is important that this review establishes the extent and impact of such potential racial bias and what can be done to remedy it.”

Javed Khan OBE said: “I am very pleased to be leading this review into such an important area of public health.

“My independent findings will help highlight key interventions which can help the government achieve its ambitions to be smoke free by 2030 and tackle health disparities.”

Dame Margaret brings with her extensive experience in tackling inequalities in health, and for many years has led the work of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Policy Research on the Determinants of Health Equity.

As a leading figure in the UK public and voluntary sectors, Javed Khan has led Barnardo’s for the past seven years. He is currently chair designate of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board. Javed was also a key member of the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce and specialist adviser to the Justice Select Committee’s Inquiry into prison reform.

Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said: “Tackling issues such as smoking and ethnic inequalities is a priority for OHID and a key part of the government’s levelling up agenda.

“These reviews will help determine what more can be done to reduce any ethnic bias in health diagnosis and treatment and drive down smoking rates, particularly in deprived areas, to support our bold ambition to be smoke free by 2030.

“I look forward to working with both Dame Margaret and Javed to ultimately help people live longer, healthier and happier lives.”

The pandemic has shone a light on the inequalities that exist across the country. As part of breaking the link between people’s background and their prospect for a healthy life, the Health Disparities White Paper will look at the factors affecting people’s health across the country, including risk factors, service access and experience and the biggest preventable killers such as cancer and heart disease, as well as the wider causes of ill health.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

“I’ve Worked In Several Roles – From Mechanic Through To Timberman – But Working In Care Is The Most Rewarding Job I’ve Ever Had” A former timberman from Neath is encouraging more males to consider a career in care after the time he spent looking after his niece inspired him to undertake an Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care.

According to Social Care Wales, men make up less than one in five (16.5%) domiciliary care workers, so there is a real opportunity for males to plug the skills shortage and take up a rewarding career in social care.[1] One way the sector is successfully working towards employing new talent is through the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Programme.

Josh Bendle was inspired to complete his Level 2 Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care after deciding he wanted to change career paths in his twenties.

He said: “Before my apprenticeship, I worked as a timberman and although I enjoyed the job, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do long-term. It wasn’t until I cared for my niece that I realised how much I enjoyed looking after others and wanted to explore a new job that I would find more rewarding. So I decided to change careers and started working in childcare, and later adult care, looking after people of all abilities.”

Despite starting his apprenticeship mid-way through the pandemic, Josh explains that it hasn’t had a detrimental effect on his work-based learning, and he’s been able to build upon his existing skillset.

He continued: “My understanding of the industry has improved massively since starting my apprenticeship and I’ve learnt how to help enrich the independent lives of others in all different aspects of care – from the elderly and those living with dementia right through to younger tenants with learning difficulties.

“My apprenticeship has not only benefitted me professionally but also personally in so many ways. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in primary school and since starting my apprenticeship, I’ve been properly assessed so I’m fully aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I’ve even been given a reading pen that has a built-in dictionary and helps me to articulate my words. The support I’ve received has been incredible.”

Though Josh says the pandemic hasn’t negatively impacted his work-based learning, he’s seen first-hand how disruptive it has been for those living in care.

“Sadly, the virus has stopped loved ones from seeing their friends and family, which makes my role as a carer all that more important. It’s really satisfying helping people and seeing what a positive impact the tiniest of things I do on a daily basis can have – whether it’s helping someone walk to the seafront or engaging in a short conversation.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked in several different roles, but this is by far the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I’d recommend an apprenticeship to anyone considering starting a new job or looking to change their career. As well as the tailored support, the combination of working and learning allows you to be financially independent while studying for a qualification.”

Josh now wants to inspire more men to consider a career in social care.

“Looking forward, it’d be great to see more men taking advantage of the incredible opportunities available in the social care sector right now. Having a good gender balance in the workforce is really important when it comes to delivering the best quality care for patients. For example, some male patients prefer to have male care workers supporting them with their personal care, or they might be more likely to open up to me about their health issues which is really important when it comes to understanding their needs and how we can provide the best care.”

Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething, said: “Apprenticeships are a genius decision, for both employers seeking to future-proof their workforces while nurturing the talent that exists within Wales, and for people who want a proven route into employment that provides the opportunity to learn while earning a wage.

“Apprenticeship Week Wales is an opportunity for us to increase awareness and engagement with apprenticeships in Wales, and shine a light on the opportunities available to people right now.

“I believe apprenticeships will be vital as we emerge from the pandemic. That’s why we have committed to creating a further 125,000 Apprenticeship places over the next five years. We are a small country, but we have big ambitions, and our aim is to create a culture in Wales where recruiting an apprentice becomes the norm for employers.”

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “It is fantastic to see the impact a social care apprenticeship has had. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn more about the sector, grow in confidence and ignite someone’s passion to help and support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

We need more people to follow in Chloe’s footsteps and I encourage others to take up an apprenticeship.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund. To explore what apprenticeship opportunities are currently available in Wales, visit the Apprenticeship Vacancy Service.

For more information about becoming an apprentice, visit www.gov.wales/apprenticeshipswales or call 0800 028 4844.

Awards Evening for Staff at Ashcombe Care Home Barchesters Ashcombe house hosted their first awards evening to celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 31 residents living at the care home. Categories included from ‘Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Team leader of the year’.

Staff were nominated by residents and fellow team members to receive awards and after what has been probably one of the most difficult times for the care industry we were delighted to be Able to host an awards evening to really celebrate those that have gone above and beyond in their role.

The idea came from the homes Administrator Karina Ismail who is very much the forefront of Ashcombe house wanted to say Thank you and well done to the team. Karina Said’ these awards are an amazing achievement, at Ashcombe we are very much an extended family and support each other through a whole home approach on a daily basis.

Residents had the opportunity to vote for staff members and really acknowledge those that go above and beyond their usual daily tasks

to make Ashcombe the wonderful home it is’.

The evening started with drinks and nibbles before the awards were announced. Gifts and certificates for each winning member were presented and it really was a wonderful evening. Everyone works so hard so was a fitting way to say Thank you.

Yash Gurung, Senior carer won Home supported of the year. Yash goes above and beyond organising staff, covering shifts and always takes everything in her stride making sure residents are always well cared for. Chija Pun won the homes Happiest Carer of the year, Chilja really is a joy to have on any shift and all the residents love her kind nature. Mellissia Irwin won our Senior carer of the year, Mel goes above and beyond for our residents treats them like family and will always be doing something to make someone feel good.

Karina Ismail said ’Every member of our staffing team deserves an award for their contribution to making our home so wonderful for our residents’. The Ashcombe awards is now going to be an annual event as staff really appreciated the gesture.

NRS Healthcare Launches New Online Store, Healthcare Pro NRS Healthcare, the UK’s leading provider of independent living aids and associated services, and an official supplier to the NHS and local authorities, has announced the launch of its new online store, Healthcare Pro. Part of the NRS Healthcare family, Healthcare Pro demonstrates the company’s commitment to serve healthcare professionals and the general public online, underlining its unrivalled in-house occupational therapy capabilities and professional expertise in helping people live independently in their own homes.

The new online shop, www.healthcarepro.co.uk (previously known as www.nrshealthcare.co.uk), offers over 4,500 independent living aids, from personal care, to bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and mobility, chosen and trusted by professionals. Additionally, the website includes a

new range of services, such as the Expert Product Advice and Home Living Consultations with Occupational Therapists, to better support all its customers with a more complete solution.

The company’s public sector and clinical services divisions remain unchanged and continue to operate under the NRS Healthcare brand

and at nrshealthcare.com With a dedicated Occupational Therapy team of 130 professionals, the company offers a go-to source for up-to-date information and guidance on daily living aids, offering peer-to-peer engagement, education and support as well as guiding customers to a ‘right first time’ purchase.

Clinical Services Director, Rachel Seabrook says: “NRS Healthcare is delighted to announce the launch of our new online store, Healthcare Pro. Through our 75-year heritage and position as an official supplier to the NHS, NRS Healthcare has a longstanding reputation as a trusted partner for healthcare professionals, who often recommend our website and products to the people they see.”

Rachel Seabrook continues: “Healthcare Pro focuses on our high levels of expertise, credibility and professionalism, improves the customer journey and shopping experience, as well as providing easy access to product advice, support and associated services.

We trust that this will give all our customers the added reassurance that they are shopping where the professionals shop.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 7

Multiple Long-Term Conditions in Midlife Increases Dementia Risk

Researchers from the UK and France have found that having two or more chronic conditions in middle age is associated with an increased risk of dementia later in life. The findings were published today (Wednesday 2 February) in the BMJ. The researchers used information from the Whitehall II study, a longterm health study that recruited people working as civil servants in the 1980s.

When volunteers joined the study between 1985-88 they were aged 35 to 55 and did not have dementia.

Researchers looked at people who did have two ‘chronic’ conditions, out of a list of 13 conditions.

The chronic conditions people may have had and were looked at in the study were: Arthritis Cancer Chronic kidney disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Coronary heart disease Depression Diabetes Heart failure

Hypertension Liver disease Mental disorders Stroke At the age of 55, 6.6% of study volunteers had two or more diseases.

Having two or more diseases at age 55 was associated with a higher risk of dementia compared with people without any of the 13 chronic conditions.

The number of people with two or more chronic diseases increased as people got older, with 32% of people having two or more diseases at age 70. This was still linked with an increased risk of dementia but the link was not as strong.

When the researchers looked at those with three or more chronic conditions, the time at which people developed the health condition had even more bearing on subsequent dementia risk.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “One in three people born today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime. Age, genetics, and lifestyle are all risk factors for developing the condition, but we know age is also a major risk factor for the development of other health conditions.

“In this research, scientists looked at whether people with more than

one chronic disease during midlife were more at risk of developing dementia in later life. While this group of volunteers is not reflective of the UK population as a whole, it is a large group that offers valuable insight into the relationship between multiple health conditions in midlife and dementia later in life.

“Large, long-term studies like this are good for highlighting links, but we need research to explore the mechanisms between individual conditions. This insight will enable researchers to design and deliver appropriate interventions that will reduce the number of people who go on to develop dementia.

“It is important to properly manage long-term health conditions and people who have concerns about any aspect of their health should speak to their GP. We do know that it’s never too early or too late in life to take action on brain health and there are things we can do to reduce our risk of dementia. This includes not smoking, only drinking in moderation, staying mentally and physically active, eating a balanced diet, and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check can all help to keep our brains healthy as we age. Find information and advice on brain health at www.thinkbrainhealth.org.uk”

Residents At The Grange Enjoy A Fun-Filled Day Out Arcade games, hot doughnuts and a delicious lunch was on the cards for residents at The Grange, on their day trip to Southend Seafront!

Days out with residents are always a great way to spend the day, a chance to explore their communities, which have so much to offer, and to have some fun. Runwood Homes’ staff teams, no matter their role, all support in taking their residents on trips out.

At the end of January, the wonderful team at The Grange, in Wickford, Essex took residents on an exciting outing to Southend Seafront, for a packed day full of great activities and things to do.

First, residents enjoyed a lovely chat and a lunch at a café. After the meal, residents enjoyed a sweet treat of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.

With clear blue skies and a shining sun, residents then enjoyed a stroll on the seafront, stopping for sugary sweet hot doughnuts and looking out

across the pier.

The fun did not stop there, the team then took residents to the arcades, where everyone had great fun trying out the impressive variety of arcade games.

Home Manager at The Grange, Marina Hudspeth, was thrilled to be able support the Southend seafront outing, and commented: “All of us at The Grange were so excited to offer a trip to Southend Seafront with our residents. Day trips offer great benefits and many different activities and experiences which might not be available within the home. Visiting the seafront and enjoying the fresh air is great for wellbeing and the arcade games were a lovely way to spend the afternoon. The residents really enjoyed the day and are excited for our next outing.”

In the evening, residents relaxed at home after a busy but brilliant day.

Everyone at The Grange looks forward to their next outing.

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

The Legal Implications of Sick Pay for the Unvaccinated Paul Kelly, partner and head of the Employment team at Blacks Solicitors (www.lawblacks.com), examines the introduction of new sick pay policies for unvaccinated employees and considers the legal implications for the sector.

Since December 2021, fully vaccinated ‘close contacts’ of somebody who has tested positive with COVID-19 do not have to self-isolate. However, as large numbers of people across the UK have opted out of receiving a vaccine, some businesses have introduced new rules around sick pay which could adversely affect the unvaccinated. The AA, Ocado, and Next are among a group of businesses who have chosen to cut sick pay for unvaccinated employees that are forced to self isolate due to Covid-19.

While the government has reconsidered mandatory vaccinations for front line health and social care workers, the issue of sick pay for those who have refused or are unable to receive a vaccination will remain an issue in any sector as long as self isolation restrictions are in place and Covid-19 remains a concern.

SICK PAY POLICIES In response to self isolation rules and citing a desire to mitigate the “biblical costs” of dealing with the pandemic, some large employers (including Ikea and Morrisons) have, following review of their company sick pay provisions, adjusted their policies to state that any unvaccinated employee who is off on sick leave because they have been identified as being a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and are therefore required to self-isolate for 10 days, will not be entitled to company sick pay.

Instead, these employees will only receive statutory sick pay, which is currently £96.35 per week, unless

they have mitigating circumstances (e.g. they are medically exempt).

It is important to note that, under these revised sick pay arrangements, if an unvaccinated employee tests positive for the virus and has to self-isolate in consequence, they will still be entitled to company sick pay (if the employer offers this). In those circumstances, the employee will be absent due to being ill, rather than having to isolate due to being a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS Employers contemplating such a change to their sick pay policies will need to first check their employment contracts carefully to assess what contractual entitlement (if any) their employees have to enhanced company sick pay. Such a major change in terms could constitute a breach of contract if imposed unilaterally and, therefore, consultation with affected employees may be required.

Businesses that introduce sick pay policies specifically for the unvaccinated are potentially exposing themselves to an abundance of legal claims. There is a theoretical route to a claim, in particular for indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The policy of paying unvaccinated staff reduced sick pay compared to other colleagues will place a particular group at a disadvantage, which is discriminatory. Tribunals will grapple with the question of whether such a policy is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

A real concern with this policy shift is that unvaccinated employees who are supposed to self-isolate will either continue to attend work when carrying the virus but being asymptomatic so as to avoid a loss of pay; or inform their employers that they are actually ill rather than self-isolating.

ALTERNATIVE MEASURES Other businesses have sought different ways to encourage vaccinations among employees with great success. Arranging for surgeries to attend the workplace and offer vaccine clinics may be a better approach that avoids potential legal claims. Pursuing a form of education before letting employees decide for themselves, and making it as convenient as possible to arrange a vaccine, are potentially more effective.

For more information, please visit www.lawblacks.com/business/employment-law/

The Alzheimer’s Show 2022, The Business Design Centre, Islington London The UK’s leading event for dementia runs on on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th March 2022 at The Business Design Centre, London. The two-day conference and exhibition showcases the latest information, advice, products and services for healthcare professionals and the public helping those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

New for 2022, the Virtual Dementia Tour will be delivering their complete training session involving an 8 minute simulation followed by a 75 minute debrief giving visitors the opportunity to fully understand the behaviour and needs of people living with dementia.

Spaces are limited and should be booked in advance.

A full conference programme features leading experts and professionals in three separate theatres, as well as daily question time sessions, panel debates, Q&A’s, practical activities, professional advice clinics,

interactive dementia experiences and a wide range of dementia and care exhibitors.

The Alzheimer’s Show is an unmissable event for those wanting to learn from leading experts, share ideas and information, develop a better understanding of dementia and further professional skills.

For further information and to book tickets visit www.alzheimersshow.co.uk.

Tickets cost £19.50 online, £27 on the door.

The full Virtual Dementia Tour costs £45 and includes entry to the show.

Health and Social Care Secretary Launches New 10-year ‘National War on Cancer’ In a speech at the Francis Crick Institute, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid has “declared a war on cancer” and launch a call for evidence to underpin an ambitious 10-Year Cancer Plan for England.

The Health and Social Care Secretary will set out his vision to make England a world-leader in cancer care as we learn to live COVID-19 – with renewed attention paid to innovative treatment and early diagnosis to radically improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to say: “Let this be the day where we declare a national war on cancer. We have published the call for evidence for a new 10 Year Cancer Plan for England, a searching new vision for how we will lead the world in cancer care.

“This Plan will show how we are learning the lessons from the pandemic, and apply them to improving cancer services over the next decade.

“It will take a far-reaching look at how we want cancer care to be in 2032 – ten years from now. Looking at all stages, from prevention, to diagnosis, to treatment and vaccines.

“We want to hear views from far and wide to help us shape this work. Please join us in this effort, so fewer people face the heartache of losing a loved one to this wretched disease.”

Huge strides in cancer care have been made in recent years – in the last 15 years, one-year survival has increased by more than 10% and for patients diagnosed in 2015, their survival rate was 72% after one year.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact.

While dedicated NHS staff ensured cancer treatment was maintained at 94% of pre-pandemic levels and 95% of people starting treatment did so within a month, there were nearly 50,000 fewer cancer diagnoses across the UK during the pandemic, including 34,000 in England (March 2020 to November 2021).

The Health and Social Care Secretary will today set out his determination to go further, building on the progress of the NHS Long Term Plan with a set of new and strengthened priorities, which include: • increasing the number of people diagnosed at an early stage, where treatment can prove much more effective; • boosting the cancer workforce;

• tackling disparities and inequalities, including in cancer diagnosis times and ensuring recovery from the pandemic is delivered in a fair way. For instance, the ‘Help Us Help You’ cancer awareness campaign will be directed towards people from more deprived groups and ethnic minorities; and • intensifying research on mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for cancer – this will be achieved through the UK’s global leadership and supporting industry to develop new cancer treatments by combining expertise in cancer immunotherapy treatment and the vaccine capabilities developed throughout the pandemic.

• Intensifying research on new early diagnostic tools to catch cancer at an earlier stage.

• Improving prevention of cancer through tackling the big known risk factors such as smoking.

Minister for Primary Care Maria Caulfield, said: “Half of us will have cancer at some point in our lives, and many more will have to support someone close to them who has it.

“We want to have the best cancer care in Europe and this call to evidence will help us develop a plan to achieve this. We want to hear from you – cancer patients, relatives and NHS staff – to see how we can best move forward to deliver better care and treatment.”

Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for the NHS, said: “The NHS is committed to saving more lives from cancer by finding more cases at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat in line with our ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan – it is this action that will ultimately help us to save thousands of lives sadly lost to cancer

every year.

“Despite the pandemic and thanks to the huge efforts of our staff, cancer services have remained a priority with well over two million checks in the last year alone and tens of thousands of people starting lifesaving treatment every month.

“From one stop shops for vital checks and revolutionary treatment options like proton beam therapy – we will continue to go further and faster in our mission to save more lives and ensure England is world leading in cancer care.”

A key part of the strategy will be building on the latest scientific advances and partnering with the country’s technology pioneers. The NHS-Galleri trial is evaluating a new test that looks for distinct markers in blood to identify cancer risk and has already shown how technology can transform the way cancer is detected. The test is being trialled across England, with thousands of people already recruited.

The government wants similar technologies to help form new partnerships and give the NHS early, cost effective access to new diagnostics. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, for example, have the potential to help the health service radically improve its assessment of cancer risk.

The government is already investing billions to tackle the COVID-19 backlog, diagnostics and technology over the next three years to provide earlier diagnosis and treatment. It is also aiming to build a world class cancer workforce to help the NHS’ recovery by developing new roles along with training and upskilling the current workforce.

Last year, the government offered free lung health checks at 23 locations across the country – with a further 20 new centres confirmed for 2022/23. The Faster Diagnosis Standard – 28 days from GP referral to diagnosis or all-clear – has also been implemented within NHS Trusts.

Today’s new call for evidence is seeking input from cancer patients, relatives and NHS staff to gain the deepest understanding of the issue possible and provide the best future for the country’s cancer care. The easiest way to participate is by visiting gov.uk/dhsc.

The call for evidence will run for 8 weeks, after which the government will factor in responses into its new 10-Year Cancer Plan which is expected to be set out in summer.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 9

Time to Level up Social Care with NHS says Care Providers It is time to level up the way social care is treated with the way the NHS is handled for the benefit of the vulnerable people who receive care, it was claimed today.

Providers want an end to social care being treated as the poor relation to NHS services and sufficient investment to bring it to parity.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) says the recent handling of mandatory vaccination was evidence of the Government using social care as guinea pigs.

Chair Mike Padgham said: “The whole ‘no jab, no job’ debacle was yet more evidence of the shabby way the Government treats social care in this country.

“They introduced it for care and nursing home staff in November, regardless of the impact it ultimately had on dire staffing levels in care settings.

“But when it came to the NHS it has now launched a consultation and it looks like it is to be scraped altogether. It seems once again that it is one rule for social care and one for the NHS. “The time for that disparity is over. Social care has demonstrated time and time again, especially over the past two years, that it has an equally vital role to play in caring for society as the NHS – it is time it was treated that way.

“If the Government is serious about levelling up, then levelling social care with NHS care would be a good place to begin.”

The ICG wants to see:

• A root and branch overhaul of the way social care is planned and funded • NHS care and social care merged and managed locally or nationally • Extra funding for social care, funded by taxation • Dementia treated and funded like other high priority illnesses • A fixed percentage of GDP to be spent on social care • Proper pay, conditions and career structure for carers • Social care businesses to be zero-rated for VAT. The Government has said that, subject to consultation and House of Commons agreement, it will revoke the mandatory Covid-19 jabs for NHS and social care staff.

It was due to come into effect in April for NHS staff and those providing social care in people’s own homes through homecare, with first injections needed this week.

The policy was introduced in care and nursing homes last November, causing thousands of staff to lose their jobs and preventing many thousands more from joining the sector.

Tupwood Gate Nursing Home Arranges Surprise “visit” to Paris for Residents Staff at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home brought a taste of France to Caterham with a Paris themed event day for residents.

With the nursing home unable to receive visitors until recently, due to the COVID 19 restrictions, staff at the home in Caterham, Surrey organised a mini “day out” to the French capital, inviting residents to sample French bistro inspired food and music.

Residents tucked into dishes such as ‘Poulet en Croute’ and ‘Tarte Francaise’ under a model of the Eiffel Tower, and staff dressed in clothing commonly associated with France.

Other activities included a French themed word game where residents had to create new words out of the term ‘Eiffel Tower’ and a quiz.

Tupwood’s Housekeeper Edgar Kissok A Yakan who is among staff who speak French, also recited poetry from the French poet Lamartine, and pictures were taken next to the Eiffel Tower too, as a souvenir of the event.

The event was such a success that Service Manager Paula Deadman is lining up more “away days” to places around the world. She said: “We definitely want to do more themed days and virtual tours, tying in with places that our residents have visited or lived in. It’s great for reminiscence, but the most important thing is that they have fun.”

“We have plans later in the year to take them virtually to India, Mexico and the Caribbean and have booked dancers and bands to come to entertain them on those days.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 11

NACC joins forces with HCA to Meet with Lord Kamall, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Department of Health and Social Care The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) is joining forces with the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) to meet with Lord Kamall, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences at the Department of Health and Social Care, to ensure the key challenges facing health and social care catering are understood and recognised as part of the Health & Care Bill.

Sue Cawthray, National Chair of the NACC, and Brian Robb, Chair of the HCA, will attend a crucial meeting with Lord Kamall to discuss the immediate issues and consequences in the health and care catering sectors, as well as tangible solutions.

The invitation to meet was made by Lord Kamall following a debate in the House of Lords in which Lord Hunt, President of the HCA, and Baroness Barker, Patron of the NACC, spoke in support of an amendment to the Health & Care Bill, calling for better funding, training, pay and recognition across health and social care catering.

The meeting, scheduled for 9 February 2022, will also be attended by Lord Hunt and Baroness Barker.

Sue Cawthray comments: “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with the HCA and provide a voice for health and social care caterers at this landmark meeting.

“This is a major step forward for us to be heard at this critical time, and to make a real difference to the future of care catering and its dedicated workforce. We are very grateful to our Patron, Baroness Barker,

for her unwavering support of care catering and her commitment to ensuring the vital work of care caterers does not continue to go unrecognised. Thanks to her informed and heartfelt contribution to the debate we have a valuable seat at the table and a chance to influence positive change.

“Our aim is to secure greater recognition of the essential role care

caterers play through the introduction of professional standards and an agreed framework, recognised by the CQC and ICGs, that give chefs in care catering real credibility. Training has to be mandatory, properly funded and regularly updated and refreshed, to ensure that it is accessed by all chefs across the sector.

“By training care chefs to a high standard so that they confidently cater for the many food-related challenges within older people – from dysphagia, food allergies and intolerances, and loss of appetite, to dementia and oral issues – and supporting them in working directly with care staff, we will ultimately reduce hospital admissions and improve the health and lives of those in care environments.

“Good food, nutrition and hydration that also take into consideration the individual dining needs of people, is fundamental to quality care.

Getting this right through adequate funding and robust, consistent training reduces, for example, the number of malnutrition-related illnesses and cases of choking that often result in hospital admissions, thus helping to reduce the pressure on the NHS. “Health and social care catering are intrinsically linked so it really is a case of together we are stronger. We look forward to creating a collaboration with the HCA that tackles these core issues head on and makes a real difference to the lives of the chefs and caterers that work in our wonderful sectors and, in turn, the residents, clients and patients benefitting from their expertise, talent and dedication.”

The Belmont Care Home Opens Its Doors And Welcomes First Resident The team at The Belmont are delighted to meet their first resident, as the home finally opens its doors to the community.

On the 7th of February, Heather received a warm welcome from staff members, including Sandie Preece, Home Manager and Tommy Fellows, Customer Relationship Manager. After settling in, Heather enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea with her family in the private dining area. Later, she received a special visit from children at the local school just opposite the home, who welcomed her with thoughtful, handmade cards.

The afternoon tea was a great success, so the team are pleased to provide every new resident with a delightful afternoon tea with their loved ones when they join the home. This will be just the beginning of the luxurious lifestyle that The Belmont offers. Residents will be encouraged to make use of the exceptional facilities and features at the home, including a Cinema Room, Spa Suite, Hairdressing Salon, Cocktail Bar, Exquisite Lounges, Library, Private Dining and Bistro Restaurants, all set over three spacious floors.

Residents will be treated with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion, and will be encouraged to

maintain their independence, connect and form new friendships, and take part in the wonderful activities that will be on offer. The Belmont will always aspire to create a nurturing and nourishing environment, understanding the individuality and uniqueness of each and every resident, truly believing that every resident has an active and important part to play within the home.

The Belmont team has already established meaningful connections with those in the community. The home is now a foundation partner for the Worcester Warriors Community Foundation, to further support those in the community living with dementia and to host future dementia café events. The team has also connected with the local school on a number of occasions, including hosting a magical Santa’s Grotto for the pupils over the Christmas period. These relationships will benefit the residents at The Belmont, contributing to an enriching and fulfilling lifestyle.

The team are looking forward to their official grand launch in March, where they will be able to showcase the quality service they are proud to provide, present the home’s beautiful facilities and meet more members of their community.

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

The Future Of Social Care: Training The Next Generation Employers who understand why providing opportunities for career development is so important and encourage staff to consider social care as a career rather than just a job will be more successful in recruiting and retaining talent. This will also drive the passion and dedication of staff when it comes to caring for society’s most vulnerable, and ensure people are committed to delivering best practice and learning new skills.

Investment in career opportunities will inspire more people to become interested in a role within social care, and make current carers feel supported in their ambitions. Showing compassion and interest in the personal development of employees will create a positive workplace culture and working environment which retains existing staff and attracts new talent.

INVESTING IN A TRAINING PLATFORM The social care workforce is absolutely vital. Without the work carried out by the incredibly skilled and talented people both in residential care settings and for vulnerable people living at home, the sector would simply not be able to successfully meet the needs of service users.

Care home operators and other care providers have a duty of care to provide training and career development opportunities to ensure that carers are equipped with the skills they need to look after the people they care for.

Helen Daly, learning, development & performance programme manager at Vida Healthcare discusses why training the next generation of carers should be top of the agenda, and initiatives that can be put in place to support this.

INCENTIVISING STAFF

There are lots of initiatives that can be put in place to support carers in their training, development, and skill set. One such initiative is unique and specialist training platforms which promote lifelong learning and establish carers as ambassadors for the people they care for.

A range of courses can be offered through training platforms, such as mentorship programmes for staff to support new carers, development programmes, student placements, and reinvigorated Care Certificate offers.

Vida Healthcare’s training platform features a dedicated app which provides regular activity updates and opportunities, alongside the latest research, development and best practice in dementia and social care.

THE NEXT GENERATION Over the years we’ve seen care homes go through significant changes. The 1980s saw the rise of private care, while today we’re see-

ing an emphasis on the provision of nursing care for residents with high support needs, particularly as they come to the end of their life.

With the majority of care home residents living with a chronic condition, the care homes of today can struggle to deliver care that is proactive, preventative, and unique to each individual. We’re therefore beginning to see specialist care providers becoming increasingly common which are more easily able to tailor their care to the specific needs of service users.

This should be reflected in the people recruited to the sector and the training opportunities offered. It won’t be possible to train the next generation of the social care workforce without bearing in mind the unique challenges and requirements of our population and the specialist care they require.

For more information, please visit www.vidahealthcare.co.uk.

Veteran Recalls King George VI’s Final Journey on the 70th Anniversary of His Death A former Grenadier Guard has recalled the role he played in the funeral of His Majesty King George VI, ahead of the 70th anniversary of the monarch’s funeral.

John Walmsley was a Sergeant in the King’s Company stationed at Victoria Barracks in Windsor, and in charge of escort detachment, when word came through that the King had died at his estate in Sandringham, on 6 February 1952.

The 95-year-old is now a resident at Royal Star & Garter’s High Wycombe Home. The charity provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

Aged 25, he accompanied the King’s coffin from a train station at Windsor, to the castle, and into St George’s Chapel, on the day of the funeral on 15 February 1952.

Looking back 70 years, John said: “In those days there were two stations in Windsor, and the train carrying the King came into the top station, near the castle. As soon as it arrived, I was there, as part of an escort which also included the Navy. We escorted the coffin, walking on either side of the gun carriage, all the way from the station into Windsor Castle itself and towards St George’s Chapel, ready for its burial. I had 15 men on one side, 15 on the other and that was my little detachment.”

But there were then tense moments when the coffin arrived at the chapel. “The steps to St George’s

Chapel are very steep, and the coffin was lead lined, so the lads who were carrying it had to practice in advance with weights inside it, to make sure they were prepared,” said John. “The coffin was walked up the chapel steps by the four men on either side. These men were strong and strapping, but the coffin was very heavy, and as they walked up the steep steps, it sloped a lot, and the boys were struggling with it. So the Warrant Officer behind it had to push the back of the coffin, by just easing it forward, up with the boys. We also had to adjust our march to the shuffle of the men who were carrying it. When the coffin went into the Chapel that was the end of the responsibility for us.”

Remembering the day, John added: “It’s a strange feeling, especially with the public all around you, and you’re aware that you’re taking part in a moment of history. But when you’re serving, you’re on duty, and it’s all planned and timed.”

John joined the Grenadier Guards in 1944, and served until 1967, rising to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. He served in post-war Germany, Palestine and Malaya.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who is Royal Star & Garter’s Patron, succeeded to the throne following her father’s death. John also took part in her Coronation ceremony, on 2 June 1953.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are taking place this year, culminating in a four-day bank holiday at the beginning of June to mark her 70 years on the throne.

Newly Appointed Manager Has Big Plans For Stowmarket Care Home A new home manager has been appointed at Stowmarket-based care home Chilton Meadows.

Amanda Delabruyere has worked in care homes since the age of 17 and has held many roles across the care industry, from direct care to training Health and Social Care students. Her 35+ years of experience have led her to understand the best practices and techniques for delivering high-quality care for vulnerable people.

Amanda believes that the best way to understand residents’ needs and achieve the most rewarding career in care is for staff to be hands-on.

“My most precious memories are of looking after people on the front line,” said Amanda. “There is nothing quite like the feeling you get caring for residents. It is so rewarding, and it’s my many roles over the years in the care sector that have really made me appreciate that.”

Amanda is also committed to developing her staff, ensuring that colleagues are equipped with ample coaching to help them become experts in the field.

Amanda said: “I want to make sure that my team get the most out of their careers.

So I have a real focus on training and development for employees that want it – perhaps due to my background in L&D. I think it’s extremely important to support people’s progression. With the right guidance, this is the perfect industry to build a rewarding career that you’re proud of. I am proof of that; I’ve loved my time in care.

“Encouraging people to see how far they can push themselves and their development means the world to me. In previous roles, it brought tears to my eyes to see how proud my trainees were of their work and how driven they were to progress their careers.”

However, Amanda believes that working in care is not just about experience and qualifications but building a genuine connection with others and passion for care.

She continued: “It’s about what people carry in their heart that matters the most.

Everyone who works in a care home is there because they are passionate about helping people live happy and healthy lives. I haven’t been at Chilton Meadows very long, but I love it because the team are so warm, welcoming and friendly. It doesn’t feel like coming to work; there is a real family feel here. It’s certainly a reflection of the team’s attitude to work. They care so deeply for each resident and always have their best interests at heart.”

Amanda now plans to continue making positive steps at Chilton Meadows and delivering the highest standard of care for their residents.

Chilton Meadows Bupa Care Home is situated in Stowmarket and welcomes residents in need of nursing or residential care, including those living with dementia and Parkinson’s. For further information, please visit www.bupa.co.uk/care-services

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 13

94-year-old Care Resident and Former Apprentice Chef Visits Old Workplace Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week A 94-year-old care resident and former apprentice chef turned head chef has returned to his former workplace ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, as he took a trip down memory lane to see what’s changed, and what hasn’t.

Ernest ‘Bill’ Hill, who is a resident at one of Island Healthcare’s homes on the Isle of Wight, took a trip to visit the clubhouse of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes – a place where he worked for 47 years, rising to head chef in the kitchens during that time having initially started as an apprentice aged 16 in 1944.

With National Apprenticeship Week taking place from the 7th to 13th February, the team at Island Healthcare were inspired to take some of their residents out to former workplaces to help generate positive memories and to allow them to reflect on their working achievements and enjoy remembering times gone by.

The Royal Yacht Squadron is a historic yacht club that’s been at the forefront of yachting as a sport since 1826 – the year of its first regatta.

Bill was a chef in the clubhouse, which is housed in a former castle and forms the social hub for the RYS – and it was here that Bill visited.

Upon arrival at the clubhouse, Bill was warmly greeted by the current head chef, Paul, who, following a spot of tea and cake in the Lady’s Dining room, showed Bill around, taking him down to the kitchens and talking him through the changes since he’d left, while Bill reminisced on the things that had stayed the same.

When Bill was heading up the kitchen team, they had two chefs and

During the tour, Bill was taken aback by how high-tech the place had become and didn’t recognise any of the latest equipment – something that shows how professional kitchens have progressed over the years.

But the visit certainly brought back memories, and Bill recalled some of the high-profile guests he’d interacted with over the years, including Prince Phillip, saying: “Prince Phillip used to come down to the kitchen – he always came on a Thursday during Cowes week! Lord Mountbatten always bought his friend David with him and always had a police officer on his motorbike outside. The police officer once stopped me and charged me £30 for speeding – so I said to him, don’t you expect any more breakfast from me!”

After an enjoyable afternoon of fond recollections and sentimentality, Bill said: “It was brilliant to go back – but the place has changed so much! It’s great to know that it’s thriving though and that my hard work over the years hasn’t gone to waste.”

Commenting on Bill’s visit, Ian Bennett, the Managing Director of Island Healthcare, who accompanied him on the tour, said: “It was wona part time kitchen porter, with two more joining during the peak time of Cowes Week. Now though, there are four full time chefs during the winter months, which rises to 22 kitchen staff during the height of summer – something that underlines the rise in demand for the venue’s services.

derful seeing Bill back in his old stomping ground. Although much of the kitchen equipment had changed, he still knew his way around and it was great to see it sparking so many happy memories. Having put so many years of hard work into the place, he was delighted to see that it’s gone from strength to strength.”

Veterans Welcome the Year of the Tiger as Royal Star & Garter celebrates Chinese New Year Residents and staff at Royal Star & Garter decorated their Homes to celebrate Chinese New Year on Tuesday 1 February. Flags and gold and yellow bunting were put up to welcome the Year of the Tiger.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

In its Surbiton Home, residents made Chinese lanterns and decorated hats. In the afternoon they took part in a Year of the Tiger quiz and an adapted Tai Chi session with traditional Chinese music.

At High Wycombe, residents took part in Chinese-themed word games

and bingo, while in Solihull there were also fun activities for residents to enjoy.

All three Homes served up delicious lunches, which included stir-fried rice, spring rolls, hoisin duck, shredded beef, fortune cookies and prawn crackers.

The charity celebrates special days throughout the calendar, such as UK patron saint days, Burns Night, Pancake Day and Halloween, as part of its varied Wellbeing Programme.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

How Smart Software Can Help us Beat the Care Crisis

By Paula Whitby, Managing Partner of CARAS Software (https://caras-solutions.co.uk)

Care providers have been hit with the worst staffing crisis ever along with a lack of support for their workers. Whilst also facing an ageing population, the UK’s care situation has hit a critical level. This lack of staff and resources not only puts immense pressure on the wellbeing of care workers, but also means that in some cases service users are receiving a sub-par level of care and are left feeling disregarded and forgotten. Utilising advancements in technology has become an ever-repeating trend in business. Whilst it is not a cure-all and many different factors contribute to the care crisis, I believe that harnessing technology will be pivotal to improving the current state of social care.

Pre-pandemic, 70% of the 10,000+ care providers in the UK operated their business on paper, meaning that everything from staff rosters, care notes and reporting was done manually. This means that for many providers it is impossible to build a realtime picture of staff movements and service user details, causing further delays and a lack of quality care.

Care management software solutions can provide crucial support to domiciliary care providers and help to reduce costs by improving efficiency.

Care management solutions allow you to collate live, dynamic data on your staff and clients and utilise this to increase efficiency and deliver better care, in addition to simplifying compliancy checks and report-

ing. These solutions allow you to save time and resources on repetitive tasks such as working through timesheets, invoicing, and payroll by automating these processes. I have worked with many clients who were able to free up full-time salaries because of these time savings. Therefore, enabling them to redirect funds into improving the quality of care that they offer or into increasing staff pay, leading to longevity and satisfaction.

It is no secret that today’s care staff feel undervalued and underpaid – a large cause of the care crisis.

Speculation around pay often comes from the guesswork involved with manually working out mileage and travel time between care visits. Every domiciliary care provider owes it to its staff to pay fairly for this time, and utilising the available technology is the best way to ensure calculations are correct. Many providers take advantage of care management solutions that automatically track and adjust pay based on travel time and I think that taking steps like this to ensure worker satisfaction will be a key contributor to creating a happier, motivated care force.

Another example of how not utilising today’s technology is detrimental to the care industry is in mobile access to care systems. Giving care workers access to your systems through integrated mobile apps allows them to track visits, enter care notes and communicate with HQ during visits. This not only allows managers to keep updated in real time and make quick decisions, but also means that staff feel the benefit from lone worker protection – another element that contributes to a happy, satisfied carer.

All in all, I want to help care managers realise the potential locked within their data and that there is a world of software out there, tailor-made to make their jobs easier whilst cutting costs and improving the wellbeing of staff. It’s time for our largely outdated industry to follow many others and utilise software and technology to the fullest – following this, I believe we will be well on our way to beating the care crisis.

Mummies the Word as Dorset Care Home Holds Egyptian Day Residents and staff at a Dorset dementia care home turned the clock back to Ancient Egypt with a colourful day of costumes, hieroglyphics and history.

Team members at Colten Care’s The Aldbury in Poole donned Egyptian-style robes edged in gold card with one, Clinical Lead Nimpha Salmon, even touring the home dressed as a mummy.

The day was the culmination of a season of themed activities including craft sessions focused on making and decorating bookmarks with characters from Egypt’s ancient writing system.

The fun was led by Companionship Team leader Sue Miles, who has studied Egyptology and visited the country five times, including making a two-day road trip up and down the banks of the Nile.

Sue said: “One of our residents, Pip Smith, told us about her fascination with Egypt and a wish to go there on her bucket list.

“In response, we thought we would bring a little taste of Egypt to her and our other residents.

“In the build-up to the themed day, we used our arts and crafts

time to go into hieroglyphics in some depth.

“On the day itself, colleagues were happy to dress up as Pharoahs and we invited residents to discuss facts and figures about Egypt’s geography and history, including how the pyramids came to be constructed and what daily life was like in ancient times.

“Residents also learned how to write their names in hieroglyphics using papyrus paper and went online for a virtual tour of the inside of the Giza pyramid and the British Museum’s collection of ancient Egyptian relics.”

Pip Smith said afterwards: “It was amazing, just like we were there.

A big thanks to everyone who organised the day. We all had a fantastic time, great fun.”

Alongside Bill’s visit, and given its success, the team at Island Healthcare also has plans to take other residents back to their former workplaces, including one who worked at Lloyd’s Bank on the island, and another who worked at a hotel.

Ontex Launches NEW Men’s Pants Range Incontinence experts Ontex have launched their new iD for Men Level 4 pants.

Providing extreme comfort and a perfect fit, the all-round stretch, elastified material has a thin and flexible core to ensure that the pants fit like real underwear, perfect for carrying on with day to day activities. The pant has been designed to stay in place, not lose its shape or become bulky even when saturated.

Thanks to the cotton-like material used on both the inside and out, it feels soft, all day long, so you won’t know you’re wearing an incontinence pant.

This fully breathable material means a healthy skin and no sweating.

Ontex exclusively specialises in products for continence management, including products for light, moderate and heavy incontinence in a range of unisex, female, male and junior styles. The products offer odour control and fast absorption, keeping liquid locked in the pad as well as anti-leakage protection. iD Men Level 4 come in a size Medium and Large and are available from iddirect.com, ASDA pharmacy and local pharmacies priced at £8.99 Ontex iD can be purchased from www.id-direct.com

Lower Meadow Residents Share their Love Stories, Ahead of Valentine’s Day With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, residents at Lower Meadow have been looking back on times in their life full of love and happiness.

Wellbeing Lead at Lower Meadow, Cindy Odell, wanted to start off the month thinking about Valentine’s Day, so has enjoyed chatting with residents about their families and their own love stories, as well as some famous ones too.

Resident Monica enjoyed talking about her grandparent’s love story, she enjoyed showing everybody a beautiful tapestry she made for her grandparents for

their Golden wedding anniversary, 70 years ago, when she was just fifteen. When her grandmother passed away, Monica kept the tapestry as a keepsake, to her, it is still a treasured item that takes pride of place in her room at Lower Meadow.

The title of the tapestry is The Blue Willow, and its design is often seen on plates. The design is so beautiful in fact, that when Monica first made it, she won first prize in a ladies’ magazine’s tapestry competition. The design on the plates represents the beautiful tale of the two doves; a famous Chinese love story. The resi-

dents enjoyed hearing about this story and how it connected to Monica’s beautiful tapestry.

Carol McDyre, Customer Relationship Manager at Lower Meadow, very much enjoyed listening to Monica’s story, and commented: “It was fascinating to hear Monica’s story, and to realise how long she has held onto the beautiful tapestry that she made for her Grandparents. Every resident has a unique story to tell, and it was so lovely to hear Monica tell hers with such love.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 15

Is This The End Of Mandatory Vaccinations?

By Richard Fox (partner) and Francesca Lopez (senior associate) in the Employment Team at Kingsley Napley LLP (www.kingsleynapley.co.uk)

Last week, the Government announced a consultation on whether to end the policy that all patient-facing healthcare staff should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Vaccinations have been mandatory for care home staff in England since November 2021. However, this policy was due to be extended on 1 April 2022 to all frontline health and care workers. This meant that unvaccinated staff had until 3 February 2022 to receive their first dose of the vaccine, such that they could be fully vaccinated by April 2022.

Noting that the Omicron variant is less severe than those before it (such as Delta), Health Secretary Sajid Javid has explained that the

population as a whole is now better protected from COVID-19, as a function of which the mandatory vaccinations policy for health and care workers is “no longer proportionate”.

The consultation is due to last 14 days, and will then be subject to Parliamentary approval. However, with concerns having been raised about the unintentional impact the mandate could have on staffing levels in the NHS and care homes sectors if it remains in force, and the Secretary of State having confirmed that “the Government [has] made [its] decision on this”, it seems reasonable to assume that the mandatory vaccinations policy will come to an end.

If it does, this presents employers who felt compelled to dismiss unvaccinated care home and NHS staff in an effort to comply with legislation in force at the time, or unvaccinated employees who resigned in response to it, with a problem.

Can, or should, employers rehire unvaccinated staff who they formerly dismissed? Can unvaccinated employees demand their old jobs back?

Employees may argue that they ought to be reinstated in the event the mandate ends, there being nothing preventing them from working in the healthcare sector. However, employers could argue that the reason unvaccinated staff were dismissed previously was because it was unlawful at the time for them to continue to be employed, and the employer is under no obligation (legal or otherwise) to rehire them.

The Government has not indicated whether those who resigned or were dismissed will be entitled to their old jobs back, nor has there been any indication as to how this could sensibly be achieved. Would these individuals be entitled to compensation for the period of time

during which they were unable to work? If so, who should compensate them? What about their loss of valuable employment law rights (workers need two years’ continuity of service to be afforded protection from unfair dismissal or to receive statutory redundancy pay, for example)?

The employer may have hired vaccinated staff in their dismissed, unvaccinated workers’ stead. What is to happen to those new members of staff in the event former employees can come knocking?

Whether an employer decides to rehire previously dismissed workers will depend on their staffing levels, and whether they need or want to rehire these individuals (some of whom may have had significant skills and experience). Hand in hand with this is an employer’s obligation to create a safe working environment for all employees.

Unvaccinated staff pose a greater health risk to colleagues and vulnerable care home residents than those who are vaccinated. Private care homes may come under fire from clients to employ only vaccinated staff and may feel they have to bow to that pressure. What happens in NHS care homes is a different matter albeit, as above, there is no indication that public care homes would be required to rehire formerly dismissed, unvaccinated staff.

The outcome of the Government’s consultation will be of interest to those in both the public and private sectors, and will not be limited to just those in healthcare. Employers in other industries may wish to rethink their approach to any mandatory vaccinations policies which they have implemented, so as not to appear out of step or unreasonable. After all, if those in frontline healthcare are no longer required to be vaccinated, it may be difficult for private employers to argue that their staff ought to be.

Sidmouth Care Home Shares Thoughts On Dignity with Shoppers Dignity has been a big topic of conversation for the residents and team at Malden House Care Home in Sidmouth, Devon.

To share their thoughts and opinions, they spent the morning of Dignity Action Day on 1st February at the Sidmouth branch of Waitrose, which is a dementia friendly company that likes to help out its community.

Tabitha Donovan, manager of Malden House, says: “Waitrose welcomed the idea of us visiting them for the morning, where we put up a stall and spoke to customers about what dignity is all about.

“We believe that dignity is all about treating others with respect, not passing judgement and understanding the unique qualities that make an individual who they are.”

She adds: “We had lots of feedback from the customers. The most

common answer we received when I asked what dignity meant to them was respect. We spoke to many people caring for a close family member, and it was a pleasure to share familiar experiences.”

Malden House is due to hold a stall in the town centre on Tuesday (8th February) to raise awareness of dementia. The care home is also planning a litter pick up along the sea front in the next couple of weeks.

Malden House is operated by Hartford Care Group Limited, part of a family-owned business, established more than a century ago in 1908, that runs 16 individual care and nursing homes located throughout the south of England.

The company is governed by its core principles of care, comfort and companionship in an environment that is safe and happy for all.

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

Councils Given Spending Boost to Build Back Better Councils in England will have access to a share of £54.1 billion in funding for the coming financial year including more than £1 billion of additional money for social care.

This is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding in 10 years, providing the stability they need to build back better.

This includes a one-off 2022/23 Services Grant worth £822 million for councils to spend as they see fit on local priorities.

The measures confirmed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove today (7 February 2022), will allow councils to maintain and improve the services they provide, while protecting residents from excessive council tax increases.

Last week’s publication of the Levelling Up white paper set out the government’s bold mission to transform the nation. Councils will be at the forefront of this ambition and we are making sure they have the resources to deliver the vital services their communities need.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Rt Hon Michael Gove said: Levelling up can only succeed if our local partners have the powers and resources they need to help transform their communities.

Today’s £54.1 billion settlement represents a real terms increase of more than 4.5% from last year and will make sure councils can improve local services, protect vulnerable people and build back better from the pandemic.

The final finance settlement includes: More funding for Social Care: The government is making more than £1 billion of additional funding available for social care, ensuring councils can improve conditions for carers and those in need. In addition, £162 million will be allocated to help councils and the social care sector prepare for adult social care reform, ensuring the system is fit for future generations.

Protecting taxpayers from excessive Council Tax rises: Residents will continue to have the final say over excessive council tax increases.

From next year, the amount council tax can be increased without a vote has been reduced to 2%, plus 1% for councils with adult social care responsibilities, with additional flexibilities for some authorities.

New Homes Bonus: £556 million has been allocated to English councils in 2022/23. This brings the total amount of funding awarded under the New Homes Bonus to £10 billion, which has seen over 2.3 million additional homes being built, of which more than 560,000 are affordable homes. Last year, we published a consultation on the future of the New Homes Bonus and sought views from the sector on a range of issues – from how effective the current scheme has been, to potential changes to how payments are made, ensuring the funding reaches the places that need it most. Our response to the consultation on the New Homes Bonus will be published in the coming months.

Lower Tier Services Grant: Providing £111 million to councils with responsibility for services such as homelessness, planning, recycling and refuse collection and leisure services. The funding floor has been updated so that no council will have less funding available in 2022/23 than this year.

Continued support for rural areas: The government recognises that there are often additional cost pressures of serving dispersed populations in rural areas. This is why we are maintaining the Rural Services Delivery Grant at £85 million Business Rates Retention pilots: Continuing the 100% Business Rates Retention pilots in Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Midlands and West of England and 67% Business Rates Retention for London councils, enabling them to control more of the money they raise locally.

Revenue Support Grant: An uplift to the Revenue Support Grant in line with inflation, worth over £72 million.

Last week, government also confirmed a £150 non-repayable council tax rebate to households in England in Bands A-D to help with rising

costs. The rebate to bills will be made directly by councils to households from April. Councils will also have a share of the £144 million discretionary funding that can be used to target additional support at those most in need. Councils are the best placed to do this, which is why the government has given this flexibility.

Responding to the announcement Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said: “We are pleased that today’s final Local Government Finance settlement confirms previously-announced extra grant funding and council tax raising powers in 2022/23 to help councils meet the extra cost and demand-led pressures they face to keep providing services at prepandemic levels. For that to happen, every council would have to raise council tax by the maximum allowed without a referendum at a time when they know how tough things are for many low-income working households.

“However, it is disappointing that the Government has not acted on our call for the final settlement to include further funding to tackle the existing pressures facing our local services, in particular in adult and children’s social care and homelessness support, nor provide investment in vital preventative and early help services. Councils are also increasingly unconvinced that the £5.4 billion allocated for social care through the new Health and Social Care Levy this year will be sufficient to fund adult social care reforms.

“With future years looking challenging, it is crucial that local services have a long-term, sustainable future which gives councils certainty over their funding. This includes the urgent need for clarity from the Government on which local government funding reforms will happen and when.”

The Residential & Home Care Show, 18-19 May 2022, ExCeL London Join us at The Residential & Home Care Show, the UK’s leadership event for delivering outstanding care, returning to the ExCeL London on 18-19 May 2022.

Free for all care professionals to attend, the CPD certified conference programme will focus on the big issues facing the social care sector including recruitment and retention challenges, new employment law, personalisation, integrated care, safeguarding, raising quality, dementia, CQC ratings, which technologies work and business development.

After an extremely challenging few years for the care profession, this will be the opportunity to come back together and refocus your mind. Promising to arm you with strategies, products and services, The Residential & Home Care Show will help you be in the best position to address challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.

Reasons to attend: • Free for care and healthcare professionals • Take away practical ideas and solutions you can adopt in your own organisation • Join thousands of Owners, Directors, and Senior Managers • Meet and network with 200 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and solutions • Build relationships between residential care providers, nursing homes, domiciliary care providers, NHS, local government, the voluntary sector and suppliers • Learn from 50 expert speakers who will share key case studies and deliver important panel discussions with more industry leaders and successful care business operators Visit the event website: https://www.residentialandhomecareshow.co.uk/TheCarerUK Click here to register for FREE: https://rfg.circdata.com/publish/hpc22/?source=thecareruk

Charlotte Set to Put Residents Centre Stage at Belong Macclesfield A theatre and drama professional has been appointed as the new experience coordinator at leading dementia care specialist, Belong Macclesfield.

Charlotte Parton, from Shropshire, will lead the Upton Priory care village’s experiences and activities programme for its residents and apartment tenants, as well as for its adult day care service for the wider community, known as ‘experience days’.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) alumnus will be drawing upon her wealth of expertise, having already worked extensively alongside schools, businesses and care homes, facilitating performances, arts workshops and craft sessions.

Further, whilst obtaining her theatre and community drama degree qualification, Charlotte played a key role in ‘More Than… Blanket Baths and Bedpans’ – a celebration of the history of the NHS in the city. The showcase of personal stories and memories of the service culminated in a community play featuring care home residents – something which Charlotte hopes to replicate with Belong’s customers.

Speaking of her appointment, Charlotte Parton, experience coordinator at Belong Macclesfield, said: “I

love using culture, the arts and heritage for the benefit of others and I’m a believer in inclusivity and equality; everyone should have the same opportunities and experiences, no matter their age or ability. It’s very exciting to be working with older people and those living with dementia and I’m looking forward to getting to know our customers and be able to provide activities that engage their passions.”

It was whilst honing her ambitions at university when Charlotte first became aware of Belong, owing to their partnership with Liverpool-based Bluecoat. The city’s centre for contemporary arts has previously commissioned artists for ‘art residencies’ in Belong villages across the North West to explore the use of arts in care environments. To-date, they have completed over 150 workshops, ranging from storytelling and sculpture, to music and dance. Academics have recognised high engagement, enhanced cognitive capacity and an increased sense of community amongst participants.

Charlotte continues: “When I saw Belong Macclesfield had an opening, I knew straightaway that it was definitely somewhere I’d like to work. Belong has a strong reputation and track record for involving the community in activity provision and I’m looking forward to continuing to carry the baton and build on past success.”

Caroline Ray, general manager at Belong Macclesfield, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Charlotte to the team. She is a natural leader and has the credentials when it comes to working with others, inspiring and supporting them to bring their ideas to life. We’re looking forward to seeing her working her creative talents with our customers. Watch this space!”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 17

Healthcare Industry Reacts to Inquiry into Rural Health and Care and Levelling Up White Paper The Levelling Up White Paper follows hot on the heels of the Inquiry into Rural Health and Care, launched on 1st February. This highlighted the various significant problems experienced by many rural citizens in accessing health and social care services. The Inquiry Report also emphasised the many factors that contribute to these access problems, ranging from poor digital connectivity to lack lustre public transport services. The funding of health and care in rural areas, in addition to poor community infrastructure, is at the heart of healthcare disadvantage. The National Centre for Health and Social Care (NCRHC) welcomes the commitment to levelling-up, but it must go beyond political rhetoric and result in meaningful action appropriate to local areas. The underpinning determinants of poorer access to health and social care are clear and the solutions obvious, including the use of a funding formula that recognises the true costs of service delivery in dispersed communities and coastal towns.

At the launch event Professor Sir Chris Whitty, The Chief Medical Officer for England commented “The health challenges of rural areas are distinct from those of urban areas, and they’ve received much less attention than they should have. So, I’m extremely grateful to the authors of this report, and those who’ve promoted it after doing so”.

We only have to look at the recently released statistics on delayed transfer of care (when a patient is medically fit for discharge from acute or non-acute care and is still occupying a bed) to see the impacts of the levels of service availability in rural settings.

Patients from predominantly rural areas experienced longer delays for both acute and non-acute care. Predominantly rural residents experience 3.19 delayed days per 1,000 resident population compared to 2.51 for predominantly urban and 2.75 for England overall. There was no difference in the providing organisation as delays were greater for Predominantly Rural areas whether the responsible organisation was the NHS or Social Care.

Levelling up is not just about socio economic, inequalities, or the north south divide – important though these are – they must also address rural disadvantage as well. And we need a place-based approach when it comes to looking at these dispersed and different communities in rural, remote and coastal areas.

Commenting on the Levelling Up agenda, NCRHC Chair Professor Richard Parish said: “Healthcare is often viewed somewhat inappropriately as a cost. In truth, health and wealth are indivisible. Poor health is undoubtedly a cost to society. However, good health is an economic asset, contributing to improved productivity and a more efficient economy. What is more, economic improvement is fundamental to better health. It is a virtuous circle. Better health contributes to economic improvement and in turn a more vibrant economy leads to improved health outcomes. It is a classic ‘win-win’ scenario. This point is recognised in the Levelling-Up White Paper which says “The UK Government’s goal is to tackle the stark disparities in health outcomes across the UK, ensuring people have the opportunity to live long, healthy lives wherever they live. Better health improves productivity and well-being.

“There is widespread agreement that poor access to health and social care in rural areas is inequitable and fails to deliver on the commitments made in the NHS Constitution. It goes without saying that it must be at the forefront of the levelling-up agenda. By definition, this means that if levelling up is properly designed and implemented many economically disadvantaged rural and coastal towns will get a better deal and their wider rural catchment populations will benefit as well.

But design must reflect the different challenges in rural areas and avoid a one-size fits all approach. We need different models of delivery, not just a tweaked urban approach, and we need better measures of impact and health outcomes. However, levelling-up for rural and coastal communities should not mean levelling down for our urban cousins.

“We look forward to seeing the promised ‘White Paper designed to tackle the core drivers of disparities in health outcomes’ which must be fully rural proofed reflecting the evidence in our Inquiry report”.

REACTION TO THE REPORT Described by international observers as the most comprehensive review of its kind, the three-year Inquiry into Rural Health and Care, published by the National Centre and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) at the beginning of February, has been received to widespread acclaim.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said: “This report identifies what many health leaders continue to tell us about the additional pressures experienced by health and care services in rural parts of the country.

“Filling workforce shortages is a particularly significant challenge facing rural healthcare services, which at its worst can add to waiting

times, limit the breadth of services available locally, and lead to some people having to travel further to seek treatment.

“While the introduction of statutory integrated care systems and the development of primary care networks will hopefully lead to improvements and allow healthcare planning to take place across bigger regions, there are still around 93,000 vacancies, which will take time and resource to fill. A detailed and fully costed workforce strategy is urgently needed.

“NHS leaders are committed to working together to tackle these challenges but if the Government is serious about levelling up the country, it cannot overlook the deep-rooted disparities between rural and urban healthcare provision and patient experience.”

Commenting on the Inquiry Overview, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said: “We welcome this report, which highlights the importance of understanding the distinct needs of rural areas, and ensuring structural, operational and financial challenges are taken into account in regulatory frameworks.

“This report reflects the complexity and diversity of the communities the trust sector serves, with rural areas facing unique challenges and opportunities, and requiring unique solutions.

“Delivering care across geographically dispersed communities is challenging for trusts across all sectors: whether large acute hospitals with isolated sites serving rural communities, ambulance trusts with large distances to cover or community and mental health trusts with a number of smaller settings based in rural areas.

“Workforce challenges are often significant, with recruitment and retention issues and a more mobile workforce. However, trusts also tell us that staff can be drawn to the supportive culture of working within smaller teams – and to the benefits of living in more rural locations themselves.

“Health inequalities are a priority focus for trusts, and a ‘one-size fits all’ approach is not appropriate. This report highlights the unique factors impacting health outcomes in rural, remote and coastal communities, and the health inequalities challenge facing these communities differs from the challenge faced by more urban populations. Efforts to address health inequalities must take into account these differences in context.

“Trusts in rural and coastal areas will continue to work hard to understand the inequalities facing their communities, and address them with their system partners. They play a crucial role in contributing to care pathways which meet the needs of their populations.”

Romance and Relationships with Polegate Residents Keith and Hazel, two residents at HC-One’s The Polegate, have been reminiscing with colleagues about their 68 years of marriage. They haven’t long been at the care home but have enjoyed many happy years together. Speaking this week to the Wellbeing Coordinators, they have been discussing romance and their relationship together.

One colleague had asked them how they have kept their relationship strong through all these years, Keith and Hazel said, “We always try to do things as a cou-

ple, try to not fall out with each other and love each other every day”.

They went on to speak about their wedding day, which makes them smile each time they tell the story and also discussed what they have achieved together as a family. Keith and Hazel have two daughters and really emphasise the importance of spending time together.

Daniel, the Home Manager said, “It’s been lovely having Keith and Hazel at the home, they have had such a wonderful life together”.

HC-One celebrates 15th Annual National Apprenticeship Week 2022 HC-One are participating in the 15th annual celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from the 7th – 13th February 2022.

The week brings together apprentices and organisations from across England to highlight and champion the amazing positive impact and difference that apprenticeship opportunities can make to the lives of organisations, individuals and wider society.

This year’s theme for National Apprenticeship Week is ‘build the future’ focusing on how apprenticeships are helping to build a talented workforce and investing in the country’s future workforce. The week encourages individuals to reflect on how apprenticeships help to develop the skills and knowledge that are required to achieve a rewarding career, and challenges organisations to develop a talented workforce that will be skilled and prepared for the future.

In partnership with Lifetime Training, HC-One’s apprenticeship training provider, throughout the week a number of stories about inspirational HC-One Colleagues who have successfully completed apprenticeships are being shared across HC-One’s social media channels and Lifetime Training sites. A video celebrating those that have achieved their apprenticeship with HC-One over the last 12 months, or are currently working towards doing so, will also be shared on social media channels.

Ellie McCarthy, Partnership Associate Care at Lifetime Training, commented: “Lifetime Training are proud to be partnered with HC-One to deliver apprenticeship opportunities to all HC-One Colleagues. National Apprenticeship Week is a great way to celebrate the apprenticeship achievements of HC-One Colleagues as well as raise awareness about the apprenticeship opportunities available at HC-One to allow continued career development as they work to progress their workforce and deliver the kindest possible care.”

HC-One Colleagues are also being invited to attend a virtual HC-One Apprenticeship Webinar to find out more about the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities across different areas of HC-One in England.

Nicola Neeson, Unit Manager at Aspen Court Care Home in Poplar, London spoke about achieving her Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship programme recently: “I embarked onto an apprenticeship programme as I wanted to be able to further my career and knowledge around care, which is my passion. The apprenticeship was a great learning opportunity, you see things from other per-

spectives and gain more in-depth knowledge. My career goal is to become a Home Manager. That’s what I am working towards.”

In the last 12 months, HC-One has seen 308 Colleagues in England alone successfully complete their apprenticeship programmes and are currently supporting a further 730 Colleagues to achieve their apprenticeship programme in the next two years.

Susan Beasley, HC-One’s Apprenticeship and Qualifications Manager, shared her delight at HC-One Colleague’s progression: “I’m extremely proud of each and every one of those Colleagues who have successfully achieved their apprenticeship programme with HC-One and those that have committed to completing an apprenticeship to develop their skills and knowledge and achieve their career aspirations.

“Apprenticeships are an important part of HC-One’s learning and development offer. Investing in apprenticeship programmes means our Colleagues are able to access high quality, accredited work-based learning qualifications, which are industry recognised.”

“Our apprenticeship programmes support our commitment to growing our Colleagues and to provide clear career progression pathways that offer long term, rewarding careers in the care sector.”

John Handley, HC-One’s People Director, said: “Learning new skills, trying new things, backing yourself to do great work – all these are true of those Colleagues who have achieved their apprenticeship with HC-One. I hope they are all as proud of themselves as we are of them, as we continue to invest in people who care about care.”

“They have truly committed to improving themselves through learning so that they can provide the kindest care to Residents living in our homes, as we strive to be the first-choice care provider in each of the communities that we serve.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

Care Home Sentencing a Salutary Reminder of the Importance of Fire Safety Responsibilities

By Hannah Eales, partner at law firm Kingsley Napley LLP (www.kingsleynapley.co.uk) specialising in fire and safety law On 5 January 2022, Bupa pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Bupa were ordered to pay a fine of £937,500 and prosecution costs of £104,000. This is the highest ever fine imposed for fire safety breaches under the Fire Safety Order in the UK. London Fire Brigade brought the prosecution following the fire in March 2016 at a residential Care Home in South East London in which a 69 year old man in a wheelchair sadly died in a fire whilst smoking unsupervised in a shelter in the garden of the Home. The victim had been prescribed a paraffin based emollient cream. BUPA policy required emollient cream users to have further precautions for smoking such as a smoking apron or to be supervised, neither of which were done.

Bupa pleaded guilty to a breach of Article 11(1) of the Fire Safety Order which states ‘(1) The responsible person must make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, having regard to the size of his undertaking and the nature of its activities, for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures.’

In particular, Bupa accepted that it had failed to:

• Ensure staff understood the risks from the use of emollient creams; • Warn residents using paraffin-based products not to smoke, or, require precautions to be taken such as the use of a smock or apron; • Instruct staff not to leave a resident using paraffin-based products smoking unsupervised; and • Carry out an individual smoking risk assessment of the resident as normal with the control measures in place.

The Judge approached the sentencing exercise using the Sentencing Council’s Health & Safety guidelines.

The Judge considered the culpability of Bupa to be ‘High’ reflecting the fact that the risks of emollient cream by smokers was well known by 2016 and Bupa had been specifically warned of the risk. In terms of seriousness of harm risked, he considered this to be ‘Level A’, but determined the likelihood of harm to be ‘Medium’. As Bupa falls within the category of a ‘large’ organisation and reflecting the fact that the breaches had actually caused a fatality, the Judge set a starting point of a fine of £1.5 million. He discounted 25% on account of Bupa’s guilty plea and discounted a further £250,000 to reflect the current pressures on the care sector, partly due to the pandemic.

This case serves as a valuable reminder to all care home managers and owners of the importance of complying with fire safety responsibilities and both the tragic personal and serious financial consequences when those responsibilities are not met.

Getting Your Fire Safety Right Passive Fire Protection maximises the time available to evacuate a property, and or prevent a fire from taking hold in the first place but it is vital it is completed by a reputable, competent and third-party accredited company.

With so much attention in the media, it is not surprising that it is attracting non-specialised contractors who, even with the best of intentions, may not be completing the works correctly.

Our aim is to provide a ‘Certified Solution,’ this means the processes and materials used in the repair have been tested in front of a furnace to ensure they can provide at least the specified protection time, dependant on the requirement. Where this is not possible, we consult our suppliers to establish an ‘Engineered Solution.’

The reality of employing a non-specialising contractor is that it is quite likely the work will be identified as inadequate during a fire risk assessment or fire authority inspection. The most common indicator of non-

compliant work is the use of pink Polyurethane (PU) foam fillers. Whist the cannister instructions will give you the assurance of up to 5 hours protection, this can only be achieved with strict requirements for installation. For most common repairs these requirements cannot be met and

the product cannot be installed. It is recommended by ASFP and BMTRADA that any installations of pink foam are removed and replaced with a true fire rated alternative.

We are often asked “Can I do the work myself?” As stated by the HSE, competence can be described as the combination of training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has and their ability to apply them to perform a task safely. Unless suitable training has been undertaken, it is unlikely that you or your maintenance staff would be able to demonstrate competence in fire stopping works. Fire stopping is a very specialised part of the building works.

We hold third party accreditation with International Fire Consultants (IFC) and are regularly audited to ensure we employ appropriate trained & competent staff, processes & procedures and only use suitable materials. We are also proud to be members of Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).

We are working hard to engage with the care industry to ensure you get the best advice and workmanship to ensure your buildings are safe for residence and staff as well as being compliant with current regulations.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 19

UK to Pilot World-Leading Approach to Improve Ethical Adoption of AI in Healthcare Biases in artificial intelligence will aim to be eradicated in a world first as the NHS in England trials a new approach to the ethical adoption of AI in healthcare.

Algorithmic Impact Assessment (AIA), designed by the Ada Lovelace Institute, will be piloted to support researchers and developers to assess the possible risks and biases of AI systems to patients and the public before they can access NHS data.

While artificial intelligence has the potential to support health and care workers to deliver better care for people, it could also exacerbate existing health inequalities if concerns such as algorithmic bias aren’t accounted for.

Innovation Minister Lord Kamall said: “While AI has great potential to transform health and care services, we must tackle biases which have the potential to do further harm to some populations as part of our mission to eradicate health disparities.

“This pilot once again demonstrates the UK is at the forefront of adopting new technologies in a way that is ethical and patient-centred.”

“By allowing us to proactively address risks and biases in systems which will underpin the health and care of the future, we are ensuring we create a system of healthcare which works for everyone, no matter

who you are or where you are from.”

This complements ongoing work from the ethics team at the NHS AI Lab on ensuring datasets for training and testing AI systems are diverse and inclusive. Taken together, this will result in better health outcomes for everyone, and in particular minority groups.

To ensure best practises are embedded in future technologies, the NHS will support researchers and developers to engage patients and healthcare professionals at an early stage of AI development when there is greater flexibility to make adjustments and respond to concerns. Supporting patient and public involvement as part of the development process will lead to improvements in patient experience and the clinical integration of AI. It is hoped that in the future, Algorithmic Impact Assessments could increase the transparency, accountability and legitimacy for the use of AI in healthcare.

Brhmie Balaram, Head of AI Research & Ethics at the NHS AI Lab, said: “Building trust in the use of AI technologies for screening and diagnosis is fundamental if the NHS is to realise the benefits of AI. Through this pilot, we hope to demonstrate the value of supporting developers to meaningfully engage with patients and healthcare professionals

much earlier in the process of bringing an AI system to market.

“The algorithmic impact assessment will prompt developers to explore and address the legal, social and ethical implications of their proposed AI systems as a condition of accessing NHS data. We anticipate that this will lead to improvements in AI systems and assure patients that their data is being used responsibly and for the public good.”

Following a commission from the NHS AI Ethics Lab, the Ada Lovelace Institute has today published their research which maps out a detailed, step-by-step process for using an AIAs in the real-world. It is designed to help developers and researchers consider and account for the potential impacts of proposed technologies on people, society and the environment.

Octavia Reeve, Interim Lead, Ada Lovelace Institute, said: “Algorithmic impact assessments have the potential to create greater accountability for the design and deployment of AI systems in healthcare, which can in turn build public trust in the use of these systems, mitigate risks of harm to people and groups, and maximise their potential for benefit.

We hope that this research will generate further considerations for the use of AIAs in other public and private-sector contexts.”

Welsh Disabilities Campaigner Recognised in New Year’s Honours A young campaigner for disabled people from Cardiff has been recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Josh Reeves, 24, who lives at Lewis Martin Court in Leckwith, Cardiff, launched the Don’t Call Me Special campaign in 2015 to help children understand disabilities and raise awareness of people living with both visible and invisible disabilities.

Over the past seven years, Josh has worked both locally and globally to change people’s perceptions of disability, starting in education settings.

In addition to his personal campaigning, he works part time for Leonard Cheshire as a campaign support officer.

Josh, who has cerebral palsy, was awarded the Point of Light award by Prime Minister Theresa May, and this latest accolade demonstrates the impact the campaign has had in less than a decade.

Josh said: “I’m ecstatic, shocked and overwhelmed at receiving the BEM. I had no idea I’d even been nominated, so to be told I was on the list was incredible news.

“I launched the Don’t Call Me Special campaign back in 2015 to

“Because it wasn’t being talked about, kids feared it a bit, and this led to children with disabilities getting bullied, and it didn’t sit right with me, so I decided to do something about it.

“I’m passionate about what I do, so I hope that this award will raise awareness and get the message about the campaign out to even more people.

“This journey has already taken me from Wales to Antigua to 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Who knows where it will take me next?”

Sarah Davies, manager at Lewis Martin Court, said: “We’re so proud of everything Josh has achieved so far with the campaign, and we’re certain he has great things to come in his future.

“Josh is an unstoppable force when it comes to helping children with disabilities and we’re delighted that he’s been recognised with a BEM this year.” help people, particularly children, see the person not the disability. It surprised me that at schools they were willing to talk about drugs, drink, smoking and sex, but disability was something of an elephant in the room.

Lewis Martin Court is a residential care home with nursing provision for disabled young adults with complex care needs in Cardiff. It is operated by Ambito Care and Education, which is part of Salutem Care and Education.

Paul Makes A Full Recovery Thanks To ‘Stirlings’ Care Home Love And Support Paul, who went to Stirlings care home after a fall last summer, will soon be returning home, thanks to expert care and encouragement by employees at the Wantage care home run by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) Seventy-three-year-old, Paul, who lives in Kennington, Oxford, had gone to the care home after a fall left him weak and immobile. He was also disorientated due to missed medication and low blood pressure. Following expert care and attention from the team at Stirlings Paul is now mobile and will go back to living in his home once domiciliary care has been arranged.

Paul said: “I am very grateful for the care and support I received from the care team.

My recovery is down to their encouragement and cheerfulness, along with my determination to get better.”

Paul, who has lived on his own for over 30 years, enjoys his independence. He was a book printer, having trained at the Oxford University Press. In his retirement Paul has been active and sociable, regularly catching the bus into town for some shopping and to catch up with friends in the pub. However, a fall at home stopped him going out and made coping with daily life very difficult.

Initially Paul was cared for in bed, and had his medication managed by carers at the

home. Within a few weeks Paul was joining fellow residents for activities like bingo and quizzes and making friends in the dining room. Speaking about the care team, Paul said: “Everyone has been very friendly and good to me. I’ve been really well looked after.

I’m happy with my progress now that I can walk with a frame. I don’t remember the first two weeks I was here, but I am grateful to be better now. I am looking forward to getting back to my own home, and I’ll be making friends with new carers.”

Paul spent his Christmas at Stirlings. He said: “It was lovely, we all sat down to eat together, on two long tables with all the trimmings. A very nice Christmas.”

Paul would reassure anyone concerned about moving to a care home not to be, he said: “They shouldn’t worry, you get looked after well here, really spoiled, I haven’t had to lift a finger.”

He quickly made friends with all the carers, as well as other residents. Some of Paul’s friends came to visit him, as well as his sister, who lives in Devon. The care team showed him how to use an iPad to stay in touch with his mates.

Home Manager Lisa said: “It has been wonderful to see Paul return to full health, from being poorly and disorientated, to the happy, chatty character that we see today.

He’s made everyone here smile and it’s been a pleasure to care for him.”

PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

Romford Care Home Launches Blue Light Breakfast Club for Local First Responders News of the Breakfast Club has already been spreading, with local

Romford Care Home in Neave Crescent, has launched a monthly Breakfast Club as a way of honouring and giving back to the local Emergency Services who every day make a difference to those living in the Romford and wider Havering community.

The breakfast club, which will be held on the first Friday of the month, was the idea of both the residents and team at the Nursing Dementia and Residential Home.

General Manager Michelle di Bella, spoke about the sentiment behind hosting the monthly club “The purpose of the Blue Light Breakfast Club helps foster a great partnership with the first responders of Havering and builds relationships, whilst ensuring we are openly supporting the great work that they do within our community.”

Each month, the event will be hosted by a member of the team, where tea, coffee, hot bacon baps and a variety of freshly baked homemade cakes and cookies made by the homes Chef Pauline Ibhawaegbele.

advertising and also support from leaders from all emergency services in the area; including the Superintendent at Chadwell Heath Police Station who put out a call to all units just before the first Breakfast Club.

The first Breakfast Club was hosted by Dorota Pukacz, home Administrator, where pots of steaming hot tea and coffee, crispy bacon with a choice of red or brown sauce served in freshly baked rolls and Chef, Pauline’s famous freshly baked cookies.

Customer Relations Manager, Tracy Smith who played a pivotal role in the organisation and success of the event was heartened by the response, “It’s amazing what a great response we got from everyone who turned up. The Ambulance crews were especially grateful as they all said how it’s very hard to get a hot drink between calls and they loved our reusable mugs and said they would now go everywhere with them.”

Aladdin’s Magic Shines Bright as Hampshire Care Home Residents Stage Panto Theatrically minded residents at a Hampshire care home have performed their first live production as a newly formed drama group.

The pantomime classic Aladdin ‘premiered’ at Colten Care’s Woodpeckers home in Brockenhurst much to the delight of actors and audience.

Residents at the New Forest home put forward the idea of forming a group at the end of last year.

At a meeting with staff, it was agreed to stage a pantomime as the Woodpeckers Players and rehearsals of Aladdin began.

Everyone involved felt they would have fun bringing to life the much-loved tale of the genie in the lamp, with its famous story elements such as a beautiful sultan’s daughter, a magic carpet, three wishes and an evil sorcerer.

Team members sourced novelty props and costumes while Colten Care’s Music and Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard lent her expertise to direct the show with a musical soundtrack and sound effects.

The cast featured five residents and three members of Woodpeckers’ Companionship Team.

After the show, performed in the home’s spacious lounge, performers and audience members declared it a success.

Resident Maureen Miller, one of two narrators, said: “It was great fun and went very well for our first performance.”

Resident Molly Wolstenholme from the audience agreed, adding: “I thought it was excellent.”

Home Manager Priya Joseph said: “This was a theatrical first for Woodpeckers. It has been lovely to see our resident actors and storytellers become actively involved.

“They clearly enjoyed every moment on stage and who knows where they might go next. Maybe the West End beckons!

“And we’re so happy too that fellow residents got to witness a live pantomime show in their own living room.”

TLC Benefit from Tympa's All-in-One Hearing Health Assessment System TLC Care provides care to hundreds of residents across North London, Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Surrey. Many residents in care homes suffer from hearing loss without being diagnosed, they may be completely unaware of their condition. Sometimes the residents who suffer from hearing loss are at risk of withdrawing from activities in daily life as they find it hard to engage with other residents and family members.

One of the biggest problems faced in the care sector is access to specialist services, such as ear and hearing health services. Care home staff lack the training and tools necessary to assess residents’ ears, so they must organise GP and hospital appointments. This requires extra staffing time and cost, increases the risk of falls, outside infection and distress to the resident, especially if they have dementia. What’s more, because the NHS is under a lot of pressure at the moment, most patients are facing substantial wait times before they can attend their appointment.

“There has always been a problem getting any sort of services because they are not classed as emergency services, getting somebody's hearing loss checked, it can take weeks, or even months.” – Pradeep D’Cruz, TLC Care Home Manager TLC Care continuously strive to deliver outstanding care and enhanced wellbeing to their residents. They were the first care operator in England to look for a better way to deliver this care to their residents. They wanted an innovative solution to provide in-house ear and hearing healthcare for their residents.

As a result, TLC decided to trial the Tympa system – a portable, all-inone hearing health assessment device. It enables residents to undergo digital otoscopy, microsuction wax removal and a hearing screener all in the comfort of the care home. TLC team members deliver the service so the resident already knows and trusts that person, and is happy to undergo an assessment. What’s more, residents can receive this care from anywhere within the home, whether that be from an armchair, a wheelchair, or in bed. In doing so, many of the associated risks of attending outpatient

appointments can be avoided.

“The familiar surroundings is what really makes her comfortable…every time we mention the hospital to her, it’s no, no I’m not going to the hospital. So having it looked after here and having some people that understand what the problem with the ear is, is a great thing for me.” – Son of TLC Care Resident Delivering this service not only helps to provide an extra level of care for residents but offers a unique upskilling opportunity for care home staff. TLC team members were directly trained by TympaHealth, who are a team of Audiology and ENT experts. Once signed off, TLC team members are empowered to deliver this service to their residents. What’s more they are accredited by ENT UK, The British Society of Audiology (BSA) and The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA).

Arguably, the most important part of this in-house service is the

“remote review” feature. If required, TLC team members can call upon expertise from Tympa’s team of Audiology and ENT experts. If a review is requested, an Audiologist or ENT will look at the patient’s images and video and can provide support with diagnosis, and guidance given. This means residents have access to specialist care without the need to wait for and attend an outpatient appointment. It is even possible to send images and video of a resident’s ear directly to a GP, who is then able to prescribe directly, without the need to assess the resident in person or wait for an appointment.

Thanks to this innovative new solution TLC can now provide an extra level of care to residents. It’s not just wax removal, but cleaning and maintaining hearing aids, carrying out regular hearing assessments, and providing instant access to care when needed. Residents remain engaged and active in the care home community and staff can more easily communicate with residents, making their job much easier.

After a successful trial using the Tympa system, TLC are now expanding from 3 homes to all TLC Care homes. It has been an overwhelming success and the residents, staff and family members all approve of the new service.

The Tympa system is revolutionising the way care home residents access ear and hearing health services. Bringing these services into the home ensures residents receive outstanding care whilst minimising any risks. The aim should be for this approach to be adopted more widely across the care sector so more residents can benefit from vastly improved ear and hearing health.

Find out how you can bring TympaHealth services to your care home at tympahealth.io/TheCarer or by contacting enquiries@tympahealth.com and one of the Tympa team will be in touch.

You can see the Tympa system in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDysiNR7_n0

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 21

Letters of Appreciation for Loved Ones at Morris Care Residents at Morris Care have been showing their appreciation for fellow residents and their loved ones for ‘Send a Card to a Friend Day’.

Held on February 7th, the event spread friendly cheer through the post. There were three postcard designs that residents could choose from to write a message and send to friends and family, both in their Home and further afield.

For those living with dementia, maintaining friendships can sometimes be difficult. Morris Care host a range of activities within its six Nursing Homes to help residents maintain their social lives and activity.

Writing letters can often ease stress for people living with dementia, and receiving them can be a source of comfort if the handwriting is from a loved one.

Morris Care social life activity programmes involve

meeting up with fellow Morris Care Nursing Homes, from afternoon teas to trips to the Zoo. Many residents enjoy keeping in touch with new friends that they have met on these adventures, so have sent them a postcard.

Claire Harris, General Manager at Isle Court Nursing Home, in Shrewsbury, says “Moving into a Nursing Home should be the start of a new chapter. It’s important that our residents have access to a full and engaging social calendar, and can continue to develop meaningful relationships with others.

It’s always lovely to receive a friendly message from a friend in the post, so it’s been wonderful to see the residents get involved. The past two years have been especially hard, but the smiles from those reading their letters makes it all worth it.”

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Exeter Care Home Resident Celebrates 101st Birthday

A resident at RMBI Care Co. Cadogan Court, in Exeter, has celebrated her 101st birthday.

Janet Wigmore enjoyed a party at the Home with fellow residents. The staff, determined to ensure that she had a memorable birthday, arranged a celebration at lunchtime with flowers, balloons and a delicious cake.

Janet was born in February 1921, around two years after the end of the First World War, when

films were still silent and a loaf of bread cost just 2 pence. She grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, where she attended the same school as Margaret Thatcher. In fact, their fathers were well acquainted with one another through the Home Guard.

Janet, who did not retire until she turned 70, was a radiographer. She trained in the “new, cuttingedge technology” of X-rays at Guys Hospital, London. She also worked in Kent, where the local vet agreed to X-ray sick animals thanks to her.

Janet married her husband, Roger, in March 1948 and they had two daughters together. She always took care of her family home’s garden in Exton, and nowadays she enjoys gardening at Cadogan Court, where she has helped transform a flowerbed for other residents to enjoy.

Kyler Rogers, Activities Coordinator at Cadogan Court, said: “Celebrating such an amazing milestone in someone’s life is always wonderful, and to see the delight and surprise on Janet’s face when she received her amazing cake, balloons and flowers was wonderful. It lifted the spirits of all residents and staff involved.”

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PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

A Nottinghamshire Care Home Receives More than 1,500 Birthday Cards for One of its Residents

A care home in Newark has been blown away by the support received from the local community after more than 1,500 birthday cards were delivered to one of their beloved residents.

Red Roofs Residential Care Home on Grange Road in Newark launched an appeal in January for Gladys Welch’s 101st birthday. The original target was set for Gladys to receive 101 cards from in and around Newark, but it soon turned into a global appeal. More than 1,500 cards from across the UK, Denmark, Northern France, the Isle of Wight and the USA arrived safely to the home for Gladys to open on 29th January.

Born in 1921 and originally from Collingham, Gladys lived in Bakers Mill – named after her mother’s family until she was 11. Later in life, Gladys worked at Webb Woollies before moving to Ransome and Marles, where she worked for a number of years. Whilst working at the factory during World War II, Ransome and Marles was bombed by the Luftwaffe, resulting in 41 fatal casualties. Gladys is a well-known bombing raid survivor and talks openly to staff about her life experiences and how she ran to air-raid shelters for safety.

Trish Smith, general manager at Red Roofs Residential Care Home said: “Wow. We cannot say thank you enough for everyone’s generosi-

“This last month has been absolutely incredible and none of us will

ever forget the memories we’ve created. We have been supported not only by those living in Newark but by people who haven’t ever heard of Red Roofs Residential. I am so pleased with the response and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who got involved and shared our request – Gladys’ 101st birthday and story touched so many, and we’re equally as touched.”

Ruth Hodkinson, Activities Coordinator at Red Roofs Residential Care Home said: “The whole of January has truly been overwhelming and we are delighted with the response to our appeal. I’d personally like to thank each and every person who kindly sent Gladys cards, gifts, cakes and flowers. ty. We have been receiving card deliveries since the beginning of January and they’ve completely filled our home! As soon as the cards began to arrive, Gladys opened them with a smile on her face, and we displayed them in our living areas – some of them are absolutely beautiful. One school sent in more than 300 handmade cards.”

“One of our residents put it very eloquently, ‘people really shared and sent their love.”

The care home was also approached by a number of entertainers who wanted to provide live performances for Gladys as well as a very special visit from Roy Briggs-Price and his miniature horse named Puppy.

Topping Out Ceremony for New Hallmark Care Home A major milestone has been marked at a new, 74 bed Hallmark care home in Angmering, West Sussex which will include 16 luxurious suites alongside several state-of-the-art facilities.

The site’s construction team were recently joined by Hallmark Care Homes’ chief operating officer, Aneurin Brown, Chair of Angmering Parish Council Nikki Hamilton-Street and several local councillors to mark the next stage of the build.

As part of the special event, the last roof tile was officially laid by Nikki Hamilton-Street. Guests then enjoyed refreshments nearby and a presentation from the care homes interior designer, regional hospitality manager and regional dementia practitioner.

Angmering Grange Care Home is being built by Savista Developments at a cost of £13 million on a 1.9-acre site at Pound Place, Roundstone Lane in Angmering. The home will provide resi-

dential, nursing and dementia care and create 100 jobs locally.

Aneurin Brown said: “This year we will celebrate 25 years of building and running multi-award-winning care homes. We are excited to be able to create a luxurious and engaging new care community in Angmering and are so grateful for the local support we have received so far.

Nikki Hamilton-Street said: “Angmering Parish Council were delighted to be a part of Angmering Grange’s topping out ceremony. We witnessed a high-quality building which we hope will bring employment as well as a care home to the parish. We are very much looking forward to working with them in the coming months prior to the opening later this year to assist their integration into our community, and for many years to come.”

HC-One Care Homes Celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Chinese New Year Festivities In celebration of Chinese New Year, HC-One care homes across the UK held parties welcoming the ‘Year of the Tiger’ on Tuesday 1st February 2022 taking part in a series of fun, cultural celebrations.

At Clarendon Hall Care Home in Humberston, Grimsby celebrated Chinese New Year by decorating the home for the special occasion in luxurious colours of red and gold, as well as a variety of décor including Chinese paper lanterns, streamers, origami animals and flowers.

Residents got involved in making the decorations for the home through participating in a wide range of activities, all centred around the theme of the ‘Year of the Tiger’ including making decorations and ‘stained glass’ to put proudly on display in the home’s windows.

Colleagues and Residents held a party which involved a selection of delicious Chinese cuisine and beverages to feast on. Residents enjoyed sampling the different dishes, along with a tipple or two, including traditional Chinese tea.

There were also some beautiful colourful fireworks on display, which everyone enjoyed watching whilst discussing some facts about Chinese New

Year.

Nicola Walker, Home Manager at Clarendon Hall Care Home, commented: “It was lovely to see the Residents trying the foods – there was nothing left for the staff to try!”

Residents at Aston House Care Home in Middlesex, marked the ‘Year of the Tiger’, by participating in a range of different activities and tasting a range of different delicious Chinese dishes, including hot and sour vegetable soup, spring rolls and vegetable noodles. Residents commented on how nice the food was, and how nice it was to try new and different dishes.

The highlight of the day and celebrations was when Eden, the Wellbeing Coordinator at the home offered to paint Resident’s faces.

The tiger was of course quite a popular choice amongst the Residents, some of whom commented that they wanted to become brave and have courage like a tiger.

Further celebrations took place in the lounge with Residents enjoying music, dancing and singing together. This boosted the mood at the home and Residents expressed how much they enjoyed the day.

Seema Sandeep-Jose, Home Manager at Aston House Care Home, said: “It was delightful to see our Residents enjoy themselves.”

At Woodlands View Care Home in Stevenage, Residents enjoyed participating in a crafts project to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Residents enjoyed some delicious Chinese cuisine including spring rolls and noodle soup, whilst they worked on some very bright and eyecatching paper crafts.

Residents enjoyed working on the designs, saying they loved the results.

Debra O'Hare, Home Manager at Woodlands View Care Home said: “It was lovely seeing the Residents celebrate Chinese New Year, their craft session created some wonderful designs.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 25

Well-Known Yorkshire Chefs Join Forces to Mark 10th Anniversary of ‘Meals on Wheels’ Scheme A collective of Yorkshire-based chefs joined Stephen Wilkins, Hospitality Manager at not-for-profit organisation, Harrogate Neighbours on February 1st 2022 to mark the 10th anniversary of Harrogate & Ripon Food Angels – a vital ‘meals on wheels’ service.

Stephen was joined in the commercial kitchen at The Cuttings, Harrogate Neighbours’ extra care scheme by award-winning chef and consultant, Stephanie Moon, former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant and private chef, Michaela Hanna, Jason Wardill, group executive chef at the newly refurbished, West Park Hotel in Harrogate and Matthew Wilkinson, development chef at Rudding Park Hotel.

The collective of high caliber chefs prepared a choice of three meals for 100 service users who receive nutritionally balanced, hot meals delivered to their door daily. One meal was a delicious chicken dish inspired by a recipe Michaela made when she appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals 2020, and another two dishes which were chosen by the service users in a poll and brought together the very best of Yorkshire. The desert was a Yorkshire Tea Loaf served with custard.

The award-winning service has delivered just under a quarter of a

million meals to vulnerable and older people living in Harrogate and the surrounding areas since its launch back in 2012. The amount of miles covered by volunteers delivering hot, homemade meals over the

last 10 years equates to circling the entire world 14 times!

Chef and consultant, Stephanie Moon added, “I was so excited when I was contacted to be part of this initiative. I absolutely loved the idea of making something extra special for the service users who rely so heavily on the volunteers and chef’s that prepare and deliver meals to them on a daily basis.

“I really enjoyed cooking alongside the other talented chef’s and then meeting the wonderful volunteers and recipients of the meals – it was a real pleasure delivering to their door.”

Sue Cawthray, CEO of Harrogate Neighbours commented, “We could not have reached this milestone year without the hard work and dedication from volunteers past and present.

“We hope that in the next 10 years we can grow and develop this vital service to reach even more people in need of a hot, nutritious meal delivered to their door.

“We’re so grateful of the exceptional chefs who joined forces to cook up a storm to mark this milestone for the service. It’s been a tough couple of years for the care sector as a whole, so it’s lovely to have something to celebrate.”

Sidmouth Care Home Shares Thoughts on Dignity with Shoppers Dignity has been a big topic of conversation for the residents and team at Malden House Care Home in Sidmouth, Devon.

To share their thoughts and opinions, they spent the morning of Dignity Action Day on 1st February at the Sidmouth branch of Waitrose, which is a dementia friendly company that likes to help out its community.

Tabitha Donovan, manager of Malden House, says: “Waitrose welcomed the idea of us visiting them for the morning, where we put up a stall and spoke to customers about what dignity is all about.

“We believe that dignity is all about treating others with respect, not passing judgement and understanding the unique qualities that make an individual who they are.”

She adds: “We had lots of feedback from the customers. The most common answer we received when I asked what dignity meant to them was respect. We spoke to many people caring for a close family member, and it was a pleasure to share familiar experiences.”

A Pudding Fit for a Queen!

Excitement is running high at Bushey House in Bushey where residents and staff have been cooking up a storm to enter the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pudding competition. Details of the competition were announced on January 10th and the home immediately got busy to come up with, what they hope, will be a pudding fit for a Queen.

The competition is being run by Royal Warrant holders, Fortnum & Mason, to create a pudding that the whole nation can bake for themselves and that will be served not only at Jubilee parties up and down the country, but to the Queen herself to celebrate her 70 years on the throne. Competition is fierce and only the best recipes will make it through to a live bake off judged by the Queen of Puddings herself, Dame Mary Berry, and Masterchef’s Monica Galetti in March.

Staff and residents at the home put their heads together and donned their aprons to come up with a scrumptious pudding that they think encapsulates the Queen’s reign and what it has meant to the nation.

Their fabulous pudding is called “A Rather Royal Summer Pudding” and

consists of delicious fresh ingredients such as succulent strawberries, raspberries and our very own home grown blackberries. Our Head

Chef Avni Fejzullau meet with residents to plan the pudding fit for a Queen. They came up with several ideas including The Elizabeth Sponge and The Majestic Meringue. Head Chef Avni and his team baked a selection and the residents at Bushey house chose their favourite pudding.

Blanca Novis General Manager at Bushey House said: “We’ve all had such a brilliant time taking part in this competition, it has been such fun.

Our staff and residents love the Queen and they love to bake so when they heard about the competition, they were all so excited to take part.

It has been a real collaborative process – thinking about ingredients from all over the world and coming up with a pudding that reflects the Queen’s years of service to this country. Not to mention all the delicious different versions we have had to taste over the last few weeks, it really has been no hardship!”

Martin Watson, resident at Bushey House said: “The Queen is an amazing lady, we all wanted to get involved in the pudding competition – it would just be wonderful if our recipe was selected. We had such a giggle coming up with the pudding, deciding what ingredients should go in and then coming up with the name. I definitely think we’ve got a winning recipe as the pudding has a secret ingredient, Dubonnet! We hear it’s a favourite of the Queens and can’t wait to find out what the judges think of our entry!”

JLA Launch New Apprenticeship Programme Critical equipment specialists, JLA, have announced the launch of a new Fire & Security Apprenticeship Programme aimed at bringing more engineers into the sector.

Four apprentices have already joined the programme with the company planning to take on over 20 new apprentices throughout 2022 across its key sectors of fire & Security, laundry, catering and installations.

Speaking at the launch of the 2022 programme, JLA HR Director, Lisa Winnard said: “We are really excited to launch our enhanced 2022 Apprenticeship programme during National Apprenticeship Week and to enhance it with our Fire & Security offering.

“The skills shortage in engineering has been well-documented with over 49% of businesses experiencing difficulties in matching skills, according to the Institute of Engineering and Technology. As part of our developing JLA Academy, we will play our part in developing the future generation of engineers, who will be key in providing services for our customers over the coming years. We are looking forward to welcoming new talent to JLA.” JLA is the UK’s leading provider of business-critical equipment in Laundry, Catering, Infection Control, Heating & Air Conditioning and Fire Safety & Security. It has offices across the UK, and a customer base

which includes care homes, hotels, pubs, restaurants, housing associations, schools, hospitals and government and custodial premises.

Winnard continues, saying: “We provide a holistic approach to training and development of our colleagues through our Apprenticeship programmes which offers a blend of training provided both on the job and on block study with a local college” “Through our JLA Training Academy, colleagues benefit from a 30-day onboarding programme together with a whole range of workshops covering topics such as customer service through to organisation and personal planning, which will be attended face to face at our Academy in Yorkshire or online through our state-of-the-art learning system, Thrive. Each Apprentice will be allocated a mentor to provide guidance and advice throughout the programme.”

“We are ready to welcome over 20 apprentices to the JLA Academy who will be supported by our professional training and engineering teams,” continues Lisa. “If you know someone who is looking for a career as an Engineer, and would like to talk to us about opportunities at JLA, please get in touch at recruitment@jla.com” Recruitment to the 2022 Apprenticeship programme has now begun.

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

Chinese Year of the Dragon Launched in Style at Dementia Care Home Chinese New Year was celebrated with traditions old and new by residents at a specialist dementia care home in Wellington, with Chinese lantern decorating, tea-tasting, a chopstick challenge and pan pipes.

Activities co-ordinator, Richard Dempslake, said: “We made Chinese New Year into a proper celebration for the people with dementia we support because the colour, sounds, tastes and opportunities for fun and creativity they can get out of it make it too good an opportunity to miss.

“We’re entering the Year of the Tiger, so in the lead-up to the day we worked with them to make tiger-striped Chinese lanterns, which they thoroughly enjoyed, ensuring we also took the activity to those residents who prefer to remain in their rooms so everyone would feel involved.

“The mood was set with relaxing Chinese-inspired panpipe music, Camelot House and Lodge was decorated throughout with our lanterns and other Chinese New Year decorations, and my colleagues Kathy Burge, James Wilson and I got into the spirit of the occasion with some themed costumes.

“Meanwhile chef Chris, who wanted to offer residents a tempting

taste of the Orient, devised a special menu and some delicious dishes

after chatting with people about what sort of food they’d like to try.

“This also inspired us to organise a ‘Taste the Tea’ quiz where residents had to guess the flavours of different teas through taste and smell – with flavours such as peppermint, strawberry and raspberry, blackberry and blueberry, lemon and ginger.

“One of the highlights of the day was definitely our ‘Chopstick Challenge’ – testing our residents’ skills in handling chopsticks – and let me tell you, I didn’t know how many different ways you can use chopsticks!

“Residents used them in every possible way, which we all found very amusing – the activity was a proper crowd-pleaser.

“The game had the added bonus of being a subtle therapy activity because it encourages participants to focus on their manipulative skills, which is something we build into our regular activities to help keep the hand muscles strong and protect against arthritis.

“To recover from all that excitement we then had a quieter audio visual session, using our pop-up cinema to show a digital firework display, which residents thoroughly enjoyed, and for snacks we handed out fortune cookies and prawn crackers.”

Burnley Care Home Celebrates CQC Inspection A Burnley care home has been praised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its latest inspection by the independent regulator.

Wordsworth House care home, on Wordsworth Street, had already been given an overall rating of ‘Good’ in all areas at a CQC inspection in 2019. Its latest inspection focussed on safety and leadership, both of which were found to be Good.

The CQC judges a care home on its levels of care, responsiveness, safety, effectiveness and leadership and incorporates comments from residents and their relatives.

The report highlighted the care home’s responsive approach to residents’ problems and ensuring residents feel their needs, interests and preferences are being met sufficiently.

Residents and visitors told the CQC representatives: “There is always plenty of staff around. They are helpful and seem to enjoy their job” and “The home is always clean, looks spotless, with nice touches like flowers on the dining room table”.

Staff were very positive about the respectful culture in the home. Their comments included: "It's a lovely staff team and we all work so well together; we all have the residents’ best interests at heart.”

Other comments from the inspectors included: • Infection control was well managed, and the home was clean and free from hazards • Person-centred culture was being embedded at the home • People and their relatives were happy with the way the service was managed • The manager and staff team were committed to providing people with high-quality care Rachel Clough, regional support manager for Larchwood Care, said: “We were delighted to welcome back the CQC and the reaffirmation of Wordsworth House’s rating. It is especially pleasing to note that our hygiene and covid protocols are highlighted as Good.

“The team at Wordsworth House do everything they can to ensure residents’ needs are met, which is acknowledged in the report by residents, their family and CQC inspectors. Well done everyone!”

Wordsworth House is a residential care home operated by Larchwood Care and is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for older people and people living with dementia.

Surrey Care Home Centenarian Receives 100 Cards from School Pupils to Commemorate Milestone Birthday A Surrey care home resident was delighted to receive 100 personalised cards from local primary school pupils to mark her 100th birthday.

Kings Lodge, a CHD Living Wellbeing Care Centre in West Byfleet, recently ensured birthday girl Violet Lee received many well-wishes from the local community by collaborating with Byfleet Primary school.

Cheryl Meyrick, the headteacher of Byfleet Primary, initiated a scheme where her pupils wrote and sent in 100 handmade birthday cards to personally wish Violet a wonderful day.

Kings Lodge’s Wellbeing Coordinator, Michelle Woodyatt, additionally established links with Mairi Mactaggart, a Community Champion at Morrisons Weybridge, who donated flowers, champagne, balloons, chocolates, cakes and cream scones to celebrate the special occasion.

The 100 cards and donations were presented to Violet at a small gathering spearheaded by Michelle, who put together a marvellous food spread comprising classic party food such as a selection of sandwiches, vol-au-vents and cocktail sausages on sticks.

Born on 2nd February 1922 to parents Ethel and Herbert Howe, Violet was raised in

Weybridge and fondly referred to as ‘Sis’ by her peers. A keen dancer, Violet frequented the local dance halls, which is where she met her husband, Joseph. The dancing duo later got married in 1944.

Speaking at her birthday bash, Violet said: “I cannot thank the team at Kings Lodge enough for giving me the most memorable 100th birthday. Receiving 100 birthday cards from Byfleet Primary pupils was the icing on the cake. I am so grateful to have reached the age of 100 and look forward to seeing what this year brings.”

Violet additionally had some valuable advice for her young family members and future generations, with her life motto being: “Work hard, respect others and have fun along the way.”

Michelle said: “We wanted to do something special to mark Violet’s milestone 100th birthday and are delighted to have received support from the local community to achieve just this.

“Violet couldn’t be more grateful for the pupils’ cards and Morrisons’ kind donations.

We at Kings Lodge aimed to throw her the party she deserved, surrounded by close family and loved ones. We hope Violet and her family enjoyed the celebration!”

Birmingham Based Care Home Celebrates Chinese New Year with Special Themed Dinner A Birmingham based care home celebrated the arrival of the Chinese New Year with a special themed dinner menu.

MHA Herondale and Kingfisher House prepared a beautiful lunch menu for their residents and included plenty of classics such as beef in black bean sauce, egg fried rice and prawn toast.

The home offers nursing and specialist nursing dementia care, with en suite facilities, for up to 79 people.

The meals were all prepared and cooked fresh in house by the kitchen staff.

Ryan Cheslin, activity coordinator said: “We celebrate the Chinese New Year every year and the residents love it.

“We do have one Chinese resident with us and she plays a huge part

in making sure we celebrate the Chinese New Year together.

“They all really enjoyed the food and we were very happy to see all the plates clean when they had finished.

“Usually we would decorate the home with lanterns and other bits, but unfortunately this time around we were unable to do this due to the covid outbreak.

“We also decorate the home with whichever animal is associated with that year, and hopefully next year we will be able to do this again.

“I want to thank all the staff members who prepared the food and helped in making sure we had an amazing time and most importantly helped in making sure our residents had a good time.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 27

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

MOWOOT II Combats Chronic Constipation MOWOOT II is a revolutionary non-invasive and nonpharmacological solution to chronic constipation.

Developed by a team of medical professionals, MOWOOT II delivers gentle abdominal massage that speeds up intestinal transit in people with chronic constipation.

Clinically proven and free from side-effects, MOWOOT II Chronic Constipation Therapy System fights constipation effectively, safely and comfortably without laxatives, enemas or colon cleansing supplements.

Comfortable during use, MOWOOT II treats and manages chronic constipation in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease as well as helps to combat medication-related constipation issues. MOWOOT II also fights chronic constipation in menopausal and post-menopausal women and elderly people.

In a published clinical study*, MOWOOT II increased evacuation frequency, softened stools, improved regularity, reduced gasses and bloating and relieved abdominal discomfort. Results showed that as many as 72.2% patients experienced increased bowel movements, 77.4% patients manifested reduction in constipation symptoms and 81.0% patients enjoyed better quality of life.

In just 10 to 20 minutes per day of abdominal massage with MOWOOT II, significant improvements were

noted only days after the first treatment, whilst regular applications of MOWOOT II delivered positive health benefits and better quality of life.

MOWOOT II – effective, safe and comfortable solution to chronic constipation! *McClurg D; Booth L; Herrero-Fresneda I. Safety and Efficacy of Intermittent Colonic Exoperistalsis Device to Treat Chronic Constipation: A Prospective Multicentric Clinical Trial. Clin Trans Gastroenterology 2020; 11(12): e00267.

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com

Skills, Knowledge, and Confidence Delivered Online Covid19 reminded us all just how important the NHS and care home staff are to our society. We are grateful for their hard work and bravery, and feel honoured to support them through our Laser Care Certificate course and CPD short courses. Working in the care sector is certainly demanding, so our objective is to make it convenient and straightforward for workers to upskill and acquire confidence in the process.

The Laser Care Certificate course provides knowledge to cover every standard included in the official Skills for Care specification. Every lesson includes bespoke video tutorials specifically for the Care Certificate course, as well as reading materials and good practice examples. Furthermore, a mandatory

quiz at the end of each lesson (which requires a 100% pass mark) ensures both competence and confidence. Managers are able to create their own accounts to enrol staff on the course and track their progress. All of the content is accessible remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet, enabling care professionals to make progress towards the certificate in a way that suits their circumstances.

Additionally, Laser delivers CPD short courses to equip staff with highly-relevant skills and knowledge so they can tackle new challenges or progress in their career. Two courses in particular – ‘Causes and spread of infection’ and ‘Infection control and prevention’ – were very popular during the pandemic.

Unlimited use subscriptions are available at affordable rates, for organisations wishing to take advantage of a large number of short courses.

Whether you are an owner, manager, or independent learner, please don't hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course platform, and/or the CPD short course offering. The Laser Learning team can be contacted on info@lasersys.co.uk or +44 (0)1753 584 112.

See the advert on page 11.

Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Edge Protector When specifying for a structure, it’s important to be aware of the level of wear and tear a door can be exposed to in a public building.

Door edges, in particular, can be easily damaged or worn down by regular use – which can then render them non-compliant for fire safety regulations.

To ensure that a project remains compliant, an architect can specify durable door edge protectors to add durability and longevity to doors.

Not only will specifying edge protectors increase the longevity of doors, they will enhance the cost efficiency of a project by reducing maintenance demands and the possibility of having to replace unsafe fire doors.

Yeoman Shield fire rated Door Edge Protectors are unique with a 2.0 mm Vinylac outer and a specially formulated 9mm PVCu reinforced core. They are FD30 (1/2 hour) and FD60 (1 hour) rated with intumescent seals that are in accordance to the fire door’s specification. Fire rated Door Edge Protectors are suitable for commercial applications such as residential blocks, schools and hospitals etc.

Door Edge Protectors can also be specified with different fire seals, from a plain intumescent fire seal

C&S Seating Ltd is 30 Years Old! Since 1991, C&S Seating have provided postural control equipment to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and medical equipment services nationwide and supply regularly to the NHS. With 9 different sizes of TRolls and Log Rolls, in a removable and machine washable, Waterproof Titex or Soft Knit material.

These rolls are used to control posture and position of the body in either supine or side lying. Our Knee & Leg support wedges are available in 2 sizes.

C&S Seating is the sole manufacturer of the Alternative Positioning Support – Available in two sizes and ideal when more control of the abducted

lower limb is required, which has removable side cushions and middle pommel.

Our popular and vibrant range of Soft Knit covers in a choice of 5 colours provide a softer alternative that fit easily over our standard Waterproof rolls. Ideal for the colder seasons and can also fit snug over our waterproof rolls for maximum protection and comfort.

Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit www.cands-seating.co.uk to request or download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation, speak to an advisor or to place an order.

Immersive Music Experiences for Care Homes Music can be an incredible tool for enhancing the quality of life and for evoking memories in people living with dementia and sensory impairments. At Silent Memories we provide wireless headset packages for care homes, providing a completely unique sensory audio experience for residents.

WHY USE HEADSETS?

Create a fully immersive experience through the power of headsets, helping develop a deeper sense of coherence, communication, and stimulation. The headsets contain 3 channels meaning 3 different types of music can be set up at the same time to cater for a range of musical tastes. Think meandering along to Mozart on channel 1, swinging to Vera Lynn on channel 2 or rocking out to Elvis Presley on channel 3!

By playing familiar tracks through headsets, memories and feelings can be stimulated. Music can be carefully chosen by loved ones and care workers to really enhance the experience for residents.

KEEP ON MOVING!

Care homes using Silent Memories have noted a distinct increase in engagement, animation, and stimulation amongst residents. Using headsets allows them to opt in or out of the sessions. The sessions can be taking place in a communal area and anyone not taking part won’t be distracted by the activity.

With a long transmission range, it also allows patients with limited mobility to take part in their own rooms.

WHAT THE CARE HOMES SAY...

"I have been astounded by the positive affects holding a ‘Silent Disco’ has had on my clients. Silent Memories have played within our care home setting and we have been surprised at the way in which the impact of intimate, personal music, especially tailored to clients, has engaged the most static, distant clients and really ‘brought them back to life’, and brought obvious pleasure and joy to many others.

Briony Sloan - Homecroft, Bradford Please contact the team at Silent Noize to find out how we can help improve the quality of living for your residents. info@silentnoizeevents.com, call 0203 727 5382 or visit www.silentnoizeevents.com/silentmemories See the advert on page 15.

Renray Healthcare Renray Healthcare has been producing high quality furniture for over 50 years and is one of the UK’s largest and leading suppliers to the healthcare sector.

Whether you require a fast efficient delivery of quality furniture or a full room installation and fitting service, we have the experience and resources to handle your contract.

We manufacture and assemble our products in our own purpose built factories in Cheshire and Europe to British Standards. Hence we are able to ensure your furniture is produced to the highest quality, working with you to plan and meet your projects time schedule and budget.

We understand you are purchasing furniture that is fit for purpose, stylish and will continue to perform well into the future, which is why we design and build our furniture with you in mind.

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Email: info@renrayhealthcare.com, www.renrayhealthcare.com or see the advert on page 3 for details.

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name” to a brush, fire and smoke variant.

Of course, for doors that are non-fire rated in an architect’s project Yeoman Shield also provide quality edge protectors without seals to enhance durability and reduce wear.

Source a full range of door protection panels and kick plates from a single supplier by choosing Yeoman Shield. Our door protection panels and kick plates offer the same lasting durability and quality as our door edge protectors.

Visit www.yeomanshield.com for details or see page 12.

At Cash's, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients’ brand equity through quality and innovation, from design to distribution.

Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels, woven badges, care labels, branded and promotional swing tags, garment accessories, packaging and barcoding. Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to our customers' brand

by assisting to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity.

Our industry leading eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost, improve efficiency and streamline supply chain management and will fully protect the integrity and accuracy of critical business data. The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and accessories.

Visit www.cashslabels.com or see the advert on page 29.

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

CATERING FOR CARE You Are What You Eat: Chef With Michelin-Star Experience Embeds Person-Centred Meal Times In Care Home

By Ross Baxter, Chef at Exemplar Health Care (www.exemplarhc.com) For many of us, mealtimes are an important part of daily routine.

They’re often much more than satisfying our appetite - they give us the chance to sit down with loves ones and catch up on the day’s events. And that’s no different for people who live in care homes. A good dining experience helps to increase nutritional intake and enhance social interaction.

Ross Baxter is the head chef at Exemplar Health Care’s Tyne Grange care home in Newcastleupon-Tyne. He joined the home at the start of 2021, switching from a role in the hospitality sector.

Ross’s previous experience at a luxury resort has helped him to embed a person-centred approach to meal times in the home.

His commitment to promoting choice and providing nutritious meals that meet people’s dietary needs, earned Ross a win in the ‘Care Home Chef’ category at the 2021 North East Great British Care Awards regional finals.

Here, Ross explains his journey from the hospitality industry to the care sector and how he’s changed meal times at the care home to promote choice and independence which leads to overall improved health and well-being for the residents.

A FRESH START I joined the team at Tyne Grange in 2021 after seven years as a chef in the hospitality industry.

I was inspired to make the move from the hospitality sector to the care sector because of my mother, who lived in care home.

When I visited her, I saw the impact that food has on those living in care homes, and it struck me that I had the capabilities to make a difference in people’s lives with my cooking. I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful with my skills, so this was an extremely important factor for me to consider when making such a move.

My past experience saw me working under the guidance of a head chef who had experience in Michelin star restaurants. I am always grateful to him for his mentorship and for teaching me my current skillset.

Through working at luxury resorts and hotels, I have gained experience of creating delicious and luxurious meals, based on what customers want.

When starting at Tyne Grange, I thought that the meals should be no different to the top-tier quality that I had been producing in my previous role. While I knew that working in the care sector would be different than working in a restaurant, I wanted to provide a restaurant-style experience for residents, and this is what I have done at Tyne Grange.

IMPORTANCE OF CHOICE Tyne Grange supports 20 adults living with complex care needs. Our approach to care focuses on supporting people to maximise their independence, build their everyday living skills and live their best life! In the catering team, we promote choice and independence at meal times, as much as possible.

We have set up our mealtimes to replicate a restaurant-style environment. Our meal times span an hour and a half which gives people ample time to come and enjoy their meal without feeling they’re stuck to a regimented schedule. This makes the environment and experience more relaxing.

Our colleagues provide hostess service, taking people’s orders and

serving their meals and drinks - just as would be done in a restaurant.

The menu consists of two choices and a third ‘weekly special’ which is chosen by our residents. We develop our menu based on feedback from weekly meetings. We have an open and transparent culture in which we listen to people’s thoughts and feedback, and use it to make meaningful change. This ensures that our menu is based on what people like and enjoy!

We have designed menus on each table, as well as a menu board, so people know their choices. We also produce menus in different formats, such as using coloured graphics and images, to meet people’s communication needs.

We make all the food fresh to order and have a choice of handmade desserts to follow.

If someone doesn’t want what’s on the menu that day, we ask them what they’d like and do our best to accommodate their request.

We’re proud that our approach to meal times has people at the heart of it. I take great pride in cooking healthy and comfortable food that people love! I’m so glad that I chose to start a career in social care. It’s extremely rewarding and I’m glad that I can use my skills to make a difference to people’s lives.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? Exemplar Health Care is a leading provider of specialist nursing care in England.

It has over 35 specialist care homes across England, and growing.

For more information visit www.exemplarhc.com.

The company is recruiting for several roles across its homes including Kitchen Assistants, Chefs and Catering Managers. Visit the careers section of the website to find out more: www.exemplarhc.com/careers/job-search

It's Made For You - Texture Modified Meals

Written by Consultant Allied Health Professionals for It’s Made for You: Caroline Hill, Registered Dietitian Sandra Robinson, Independent Speech and Language Therapist & Consultant Dysphagia Practitioner Texture modified foods are often recommended by speech and language therapists for people with dysphagia. Whilst there may be some people for whom this reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia, for many the reason for this compensatory measure is to reduce the risk of choking.

Evidence demonstrates that the risk of choking on solids increases with age.

This is for people with and without dysphagia. The number of care home residents living with dysphagia is between 50 to 75%, those with dementia up to 57% and those following a stroke up to 78%.

There is often some confusion between what constitutes a coughing fit and choking. Choking is defined as occurring when you cannot breathe, cough or make any noise.

People over 65 have seven times higher risk for choking on food than children aged 1–4 years. After falls, choking on food presents as the second highest cause of preventable death in aged care. A diagnosis of pneumonitis is positively correlated with increased risks associated with choking on food.

Foods that are fibrous, hard, firm, stringy, chewy, sticky, dry, crumbly, crunchy or shaped in such a way that they can occlude the airway (round or long) pose a choking risk.

Foods that are consistently associated with choking and reported on autopsy findings include; • meat especially on the bone • bread • sandwiches • toast • raw vegetables • crackers/rice cakes • hard boiled sweets • whole grapes • nuts and seeds • chewing gum • cheese chunks Sufficient stamina is needed to prepare the solids bolus for swallowing, with bite-sized pieces of meat

and bread requiring more than 20 chewing strokes per bolus.

This highlights how important it is that the many people with dysphagia need safe texture modified food, however it is prepared.

It’s Made for You provide a range of 80 delicious frozen meals and desserts for people with chewing and swallowing difficulties. Their meals comply with IDDSI Framework guidelines ensuring each meal can be prepared and enjoyed safely and with peace of mind.

Prepared quickly in a microwave or oven, It’s Made For You can really help make mealtimes delicious, nutritious and easy.

To find out more www.itsmadeforyou.co.uk.

As a speech and language therapist, Sandra recommends the It’s Made for You Range as this provides people on IDDSI diets with an increased choice of delicious meals, which significantly reduce the risks of choking. This means that mealtimes are far more pleasant and enjoyable.

As a registered dietitian, Caroline recognises that up to 50% of people with dysphagia are at risk of malnutrition. She recommends the It’s Made for You Range to ensure the provision of an adequate nutritional intake whilst consuming a safe and appetising textured modified diet.

References: Carrión S, Roca M, Costa A, Arreola V, Ortega O, Palomera E, Serra-Prat M, Cabré M, Clavé P. Nutritional status of older patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia in a chronic versus an acute clinical situation. Clin Nutr. 2017 Aug;36(4):11101116. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.07.009. Epub 2016 Jul 26. PMID: 27499393.

CE Safety. 2019. Report: The Un-Usual Suspects – Main Causes of Choking Deaths in the UK 2019. Online at: https://cesafety.co.uk/choking-deaths-report2019/ [Accessed May 2021] Cichero, J., 2018. Age-Related Changes to Eating and Swallowing Impact Frailty: Aspiration, Choking Risk, Modified Food Texture and Autonomy of Choice.

Geriatrics 3, 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics3040069 Kramarow, E., Warner, M., Chen, L.-H., 2014. Food-related choking deaths among the elderly. Inj Prev 20, 200. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2013040795 RCSLT. 2020. Giving voice to people with swallowing difficulties. [Online].

Available from: https://www.rcslt.org/-/media/Project/RCSLT/rcslt-dysphagiafactsheet. pdf?la=en&hash=18AEDA640CDABD6D2CAB1A9293E8F44ED4E9572A [Accessed: September 2020].

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

The First Line Of Defence The pandemic experience has been a stark reminder of the importance of strategic cleaning regimes within healthcare settings. John Brill from Nilfisk explains more.

Cleanliness within healthcare or care home settings has always been a top priority. But with the impact of the current health crisis still being felt, residents, patients, and staff need to trust that cleaning strategies create

safe care locations for use by people that are often vulnerable. Busy hallways, in-demand patient and treatment rooms, essential laboratories, and bathrooms fall into this category.

In such settings, cleaning is not just business critical, it is life critical.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the most frequent adverse event in healthcare delivery across the globe affecting hundreds of millions of patients every year. Such infections result in both significant mortality and financial losses for health systems, as well as being a cause of reputational damage.

According to a survey conducted by Nilfisk*, 95% of patients and visitors consider cleanliness in healthcare settings and hospitals to be ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important. While 10% of those admitted to a hospital have acquired a healthcare-associated infection.

The good news is that many of the infections which originate within a healthcare setting, and that subsequently impact patients and staff, are preventable through a rigorous and strategic approach to cleaning. It can underpin ambitions to provide the highest cleanliness standards across care locations through a combination of planning and the use of effective cleaning equipment technology.

ACHIEVING HIGH PERFORMANCE CLEANING

It should be recognised that there are several challenges which high performing cleaning regimes must overcome to prevent infection spread. These can include the need to clean large areas, the frequency of cleaning required, time pressures perhaps exacerbated by staff shortages, cost pressures, obstacles such as chairs, patient beds, and visitors, as well as having to work appropriately within noise-sensitive areas.

Looking at certain settings within a care environment and recognising the characteristics that can contribute to potential dangers, will help identify how best to implement a successful and results-orientated cleaning regime across the most frequently used areas.

Hallways are the main thoroughfares within a care setting. Patients, staff, and visitors pass through them multiple times a day and dirt, dust, and pathogens can be collected on shoes and medical casters or stirred up into the air and be transported. A clean hallway is the first line of defence against the spread of infections. Visible cleaning activity in these areas also helps to reassure patients and visitors that safety and cleanliness is a top priority.

Helpful tips for hallways include disinfecting the floors and all high touch areas after cleaning. Pay attention to entranceways especially in the winter, when water, snow, dirt, and salt may be tracked in. Clean up spills immediately to avoid slip hazards and periodically undertake deep or restorative cleaning activity. It is also important to thoroughly document all cleaning procedures for future reference.

Patient and treatment rooms are critical locations where the danger of a healthcare-associated infection sadly lurks. Research has demonstrated the strong link between room cleanliness and HAIs and is also linked to a patient’s overall experience of, and satisfaction with, the care they experience.

Like hallway cleaning strategies, patient and treatment rooms need to be attended to frequently to remove dirt and pathogens. Good practice around cleaning procedure documentation, periodic deep cleaning, and constantly ensuring equipment is cleaned and disinfected is essential.

Bathrooms are another important location that can contribute to the growth of germs. Regularly cleaned bathrooms not only minimise such an outcome, but also help to bolster patient, staff, and visitor confidence that well-being strategies are prioritised.

The role of effective cleaning equipment is essential in helping cleaning management strategies produce the best short and long-term results for busy and essential care settings.

High powered vacuum and floorcare solutions support bacteria removal, and floor scrubber dryers feature one-pass cleaning that remove slipping hazards. Equipment solutions that provide long run times, good ergonomics, and easy handling deliver uninterrupted productivity that underpins the operational efficiency of cleaning teams.

AREAS OF FOCUS

*Nilfisk 2019 study, Value of clean; BJA Education

Keep Your Home Infection Free with JLA As restrictions on visits to care homes start to ease, care home owners and managers are faced with the continuing challenge of ensuring their premises remains infection free.

Research carried out at the start of the pandemic by critical equipment specialist, JLA, highlighted that 40% of people are less likely to trust care homes with their loved ones as a result of COVID-19 and 57.3% view standards in care homes to be poor.

As a result of the pandemic, the public has much higher standards when it comes to cleanliness. Keeping customers, residents and staff safe and infection free is a priority for every business.

JLA understands the pressures care home owners and managers are under to provide effective infection control. A key priority is protecting your residents from infection.

The pandemic has reminded us just

how crucial continued infection control excellence is for care homes who want to keep their residents safe and reassure their anxious relatives. The easing of restrictions is welcome but care homes need to remain focussed on maintaining infection control excellence. Not only will it provide your clients and loved one peace of mind, but it’ll keep your reputation safe too.

JLA’s state-of-the-art infection control solutions, created by expert chemists keeps residents and staff safe and reassure their families.

We understand that care home needs to stay infection-free.

That’s why our experts are on hand 24/7 365 to help you find efficient infection control solutions that work for you and keep you CQC compliant. From our OTEX laundry systems that reduce your carbon footprint whilst keeping sheets virus-free, to room sanitisers that work in as little as 45 minutes, our critical equipment takes care of it so your staff can focus on what matters most – your residents.

Whatever critical equipment you need to reassure your residents and keep them safe this winter, we’ll take care of it.

For more information on JLA’s infection control services, visit https://bit.ly/3qOUEeF

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 healthcareassociated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem.

As a result, a wide range of infection control prod-

ucts and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.

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

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

Rensair Provides Extra Care at Rayners Care Home Air purification specialist Rensair has equipped Rayners residential care home with air purifiers to combat Covid-19 and other seasonal viruses.

Located in Amersham, South Buckinghamshire, Rayners is family owned and managed.

It offers residential care, assisted living and respite care for the elderly and prides itself on the ‘extra care’ it provides in the event of a resident becoming more dependent.

“In the face of Covid-19, our approach has always been to exercise maximum caution”, said Chris Matthews, Managing Director at Rayners. “We locked down before we were instructed to do so and, even now that the vaccination programme has been rolled out, we can never be complacent. Our duty is to care for our residents and we don’t cut corners.”

Rayners’ management conducted research into risk mitigation measures involving air purification and were impressed by Rensair’s patented combination of

technologies. Following a site visit from a Rensair expert, they ordered several units to cover all shared spaces, including lounge, dining and reading areas.

“We had come across HEPA and UVC separately and Rensair’s ‘double whammy’ combining both technologies in one compact unit appealed to us”, said Jim Matthews, CEO. “The entrapment of particles prior to destruction with UVC is important, otherwise stray virus particles may still get through the system. The other key attribute was powerful air circulation”.

Built in 1990, the Rayners establishment was the first purpose built care home in South Buckinghamshire and relies on natural ventilation.

“With winter in sight, we knew that elderly people and cold air don’t mix, so air cleaning is the smart solution” continued Jim. “The Rensair units offer the perfect balance of efficiency and quietness. Some of the pure UVC units we acquired earlier are clackety by comparison, without delivering additional air circulation.”

“The Rensair units are a resounding success”, said Chris . ”They filter and destroy all the other seasonal viruses and bacteria in addition to Covid-19 and give us clean air, truly a win-win situation.”

For further information visit https://rensair.com/industries/care-homes/ or see the advert on this page.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 33

LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

Keeping Care Homes Hygienic Textile Services Association provides support for care homes looking to improve laundry hygiene The Textile Services Association (TSA) has released guidance aimed at the care home sector to help explain how laundry helps control infections and how commercial laundries can help to raise hygiene standards.

This is part of the ongoing effort the TSA has made during the pandemic to help encourage high standards for hygiene in a number of sectors, including healthcare and hospitality. The advice is based on research carried out by De Montfort University, in association with the TSA, which was aimed at determining the survivability of coronaviruses on various fabric types and laundry processes.

This research demonstrated that while model coronaviruses can survive in water at 60°C for ten minutes, when combined with the agitation washing machines impart and detergent, no trace of the virus was found at 40°C and above. However, other pathogens like C.difficile, B.cereus, E.faecium and so on will require further thermal disinfection.

For care homes looking to maximise their hygiene, the knowledge that professional wash processes effectively eliminate the infection risk from pathogens and coronaviruses is good news. However, it was also determined that the tested strain of coronavirus can remain infectious on polyester fabric for up to 72 hours, and 100% cotton for 24 hours. It’s also possible for polyester fabric to transfer the virus to other surfaces for up to 72 hours.

With this in mind, the TSA recommends that care homes review procedures for laundry, including the loading and unloading of washing machines and the handling and storing of soiled and clean textiles, focusing on the need to reduce the chances of cross contamination. While each care home will have its own processes, common areas to focus on include

bagging soiled items, separate storage areas for soiled and clean textiles, ensuring that collection and delivery times for laundry are different, and putting in rigorous procedures for sanitising all at risk areas.

The pandemic has hugely increased the importance of maintaining the strictest hygienic standards in care homes. While some care homes may be able to implement the kind of systems required to guarantee the safety of their laundry needs, from resident’s bedsheets, clothes etc. to staff uniforms, the services offered by commercial laundries provide a simple solution to these logistical issues.

The TSA has created a technical bulletin outlining the government’s advice, as well as breaking down the kind of steps care homes should consider as part of any risk assessment they take to improve the hygiene of their laundry procedures.

As well as this, the TSA will be running an interactive webinar later in the year allowing operators to ask a panel of industry experts questions related to laundry hygiene.

The bulletin can be downloaded on the TSA’s website, from the healthcare section of the documents library, and further details about the webinar can also be found there.

The TSA is the trade association for the textile care services industry.

The TSA represent commercial laundry and textile rental businesses.

Membership ranges from family-run operations through to large, multinational companies.

Visit www.tsa-uk.org for more information.

Forbes Delivers a Streamlined Solution for National Care Groups A national care group needs to know that they are delivering a consistently high standard of care and in order to do this they need to ensure that they are working with service partners that they can trust. When it comes to laundry provision, centralised procurement and management teams want to know that they will have access to a streamlined process for all account and service management.

Established in 1926, Forbes Professional offers a nationwide delivery of a local-based service, with the security and reliability that comes from being a multi-award winning, CHAS approved business. We have an expansive network of depots and field engineers including our own in-house Gas Safe engineers. This enables a highly responsive service and maintenance response, which is mobilised via a dedicated hotline at our head office. We work

closely with clients to devise the solution best suited to their requirements; conducting comprehensive site-surveys, offering detailed CAD designs and always specifying the most appropriate, industry compliant machines. We choose our manufacturers extremely carefully to ensure that we are offering the highest quality of both product and service.

For the care sector, hygiene is always of paramount importance and our commercial laundry equipment fully adheres to the relevant WRAS and CQC guidelines for infection control. We are proud to be Miele National Partner which enables us to offer market leading, energy efficient machines including a wide range of heat-pump dryers.

All of our laundry equipment is available for rent, lease or purchase with maintenance. Our Complete Care rental solution gives access to premium equipment without upfront capital outlay and with no repair or replacement bills for the life of the contract. Clients are assigned a dedicated account manager who remains their point of contact, centralising all account management for a highly efficient process that keeps things simple for both procurement teams and care management staff. www.forbespro.co.uk info@forbes-professional.co.uk 0345 070 2335

Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name” At Cash's, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients’ brand equity through quality and innovation, from design to distribution.

Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels, woven badges, care labels, branded and promotional swing tags, garment accessories, packaging and barcoding. Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to

our customers' brand by assisting to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity.

Our industry leading eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost, improve efficiency and streamline supply chain management and will fully protect the integrity and accuracy of critical business data. The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and accessories.

See the advert this page for details.

For 10% discou nt on all woven an d iron-on nametapes, ad d CARE2022 at the checkout !

Valid to 30/04 /2022

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

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

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

cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing. Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers.” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home. These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call. In these circumstances, dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone”.

Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents. Pagers have been around for many years, are a relatively simple and cost-effective measure in reducing the levels of noise, and can be added to most Nurse Call systems.

Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning, e-medication, etc. Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call system. With the “Go” app, nurse call alarms are delivered immediately and silently straight to the handsets, alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the residents in the home.

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

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

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 35

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Can One Solution Be A Panacea For Health and Social Care?

By Stuart Barclay, UK Sales Director, Vayyar Care (https://info.vayyar.com/caretc1)

Bringing a telecare solution to market in a new territory can be a daunting proposition. As with many things in life, it’s as much as about who you know as what you know. The partners you choose are critical to success.

So when I was building a strategy for introducing Vayyar Care to UK nursing homes and social care providers, I knew I needed people I could rely on, not only in terms of procurement and distribution, but also installation, back-end support and more. Above all, they’d have to share our vision of providing a more comprehensive approach to care delivery.

Panacea Healthcare Group was the first name on my list. The word reflects exactly what we’re about: a solution for all difficulties.

That’s because Vayyar Care isn’t only a unique touchless fall detec-

tion sensor. It also gathers essential behavioural data such as time at rest and bathroom visits, helping caregivers spot signs of reduced mobility or medical issues like UTIs. And that’s not all.

Vayyar Care also eases the massive burden on carers, who’ve borne the brunt of everything that’s happened over the past couple of years, with the staffing crisis having only got worse since November.

Our ‘virtual caregiver’ gives them another set of eyes in each room, offering reassurance that residents or home-based clients are safe.

Constant visibility allows staff to save valuable time on every shift and provides the insights they need to improve risk assessment and create tailored care plans.

Panacea Healthcare Group is led by Billy Hosie, a gentleman I’ve worked with closely for the past four years. He understands just how transformative Vayyar Care is and what’s required to put it at the heart of revolutionising long-term care in the UK. His first comments to me were that Vayyar Care does exactly what it says on the tin – and plenty more. He instantly saw the value of putting all that activity data right at caregivers’ fingertips – as well as the fact that it’s a cost-neutral offering.

This is a smarter, more holistic and economical approach than deploying multiple single-purpose sensors such as floor mats, pres-

sure pads or PIRs. As for analog fall alert buttons and cords, many people just aren’t able to use them when required. Wearables only work if people are willing to put them on – and remember to do so. And while cameras can capture everything that’s happening, there are just too many privacy issues, especially in high-risk areas like bathrooms. Person-centred care has to put the concepts of dignity, privacy and independence at the core of everything.

Billy also feels as strongly as I do about the fact that after care homes deploy new solutions, they’re often left to figure things out for themselves. Entering the digital age isn’t easy for any organisation.

Care providers need a user-friendly, turnkey, end-to-end solution that’s interoperable and integrable with their existing resident response systems and a supplier who’s with them every step of the way, whether that’s on a capital or rental basis.

As Vayyar Care’s main UK distributor, Panacea Healthcare Group is crucial to our collaborations with leading NCS providers, as we move rapidly towards the rollout of new features like imminent bed exit alerts that will enable real-time fall intervention and true fall prevention.

If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch. stuart.barclay@vayyar.com

Assistive Technology Solutions from Medpage Medpage t/a Easylink UK is a company who have designed, manufactured, and distributed Assistive Technology solutions to aid independent and assisted living for over 35 years. We introduced the first wireless bed and chair leaving detection alarms into the UK market more than 25 years ago.

During the Pandemic, against all odds, we launched a new brand of fall prevention and detection products. TumbleCare. TumbleCare products are simplistic, but effective, people sensors. The sensors detect a person in or out of their bed or chair, or physically falling. A warning notification is transmitted by radio signal to radio pagers, nurse call station, or over the internet to alert designated carers. Our philoso-

phy over the years has not changed. To deliver quality, reliability, and performance at realistic prices.

We are key suppliers to the majority of Local Authorities throughout the UK and the NHS of fall prevention products. Our systems operate as stand-alone solutions or can integrate with most commercial nurse call systems. We offer attractive sales discounts for trade and volume buyers and provide free advice and help in developing a falls prevention strategy.

Visit our website www.easylinkuk.co.uk and view our guide on wandering and falls or telephone our sales office on 01536 264869.

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Specialist Pharmacist Leads Unique Pilot To Prevent Falls In Elderly Care Homes

By Liz Butterfield, Immedicare (www.immedicare.co.uk) Specialist Pharmacist The COVID-19 pandemic continues to shine a spotlight on how we care for our elderly. The negative impact of the pandemic on care home residents has been immense, but there have also been glimmers of hope and opportunities to make positive transformations that improve integrated care now, and into the future.

Nearly one year ago, NHS England asked primary care providers to increase their support for care homes.1 An important element of this was integrating a pharmacist into the care pathway and providing pharmacy and medication support such as structured medication reviews via telephone or video, supporting reviews of new residents or those recently discharged from hospital, and supporting care homes with medicines queries.

Recent data suggests that some medications and combinations of treatments can contribute to an elderly person’s risk of falling.2-4 It is also well known that falls are the leading cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people5,6 and the most frequent reason for calling the telehealth clinical assessors for support and advice.7 During the pandemic, there was a clear and urgent need to protect care home residents from hospitalisation and the risk of hospital-related complications and infections, including COVID-19.

To address the combination of these factors, Immedicare*, a clinical and technology partnership between Involve Visual Collaboration Ltd and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (ANHSFT), took action. The idea was to undertake a pilot in the Bradford District and Craven area to reduce the risk of falls recurring in elderly care home residents through proactive medication reviews, and by doing so, reduce the negative impact falls have on the resident and local health services, such as hospitalisation.

This was an area where I thought the expertise of a pharmacist, combined with the innovative technology of a telehealth service, could have a real impact. As a passionate advocate for the critical role pharmacists play in integrated care systems across the NHS, and with my experience in medicines optimisation for older people, I was keen to be involved in the pilot.

When a resident falls in one of the 690 UK care homes where the telehealth service is in place, they receive an immediate virtual clinical assessment from a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of specialist nurses based at ANHSFT. They determine whether the resident stays in their place of care or needs to be

admitted to hospital.

Before the pilot was introduced, there was a significant unmet need in Bradford District and Craven. From 125 care homes in the area where the service was in place, there were 1,420 calls between March 2020 and February 2021 relating to falls. Following a virtual assessment, 89.3% stayed in their place of care without onward referral.7 While it is hugely beneficial for residents to receive expert clinical care in their home, there is a risk their medications are left unassessed, and a future fall may occur again and result in greater harm.2-4 This is where my unique role in the pilot comes in as it is my job to assess residents that remain in their place of care following a fall and identify those that are at a high risk of falling again. I then work directly with local GPs and care home pharmacists to optimise their medication and reduce their risk of a second, potentially more damaging, fall.

The potential value of this approach is huge. Reviewing medications that are known to increase the risk of falls, and therefore reducing a person’s risk of falling, has significant benefits for the resident and local healthcare system. For the resident, it means protecting them from a stressful, disorienting hospital visit and reducing the risk of hospital-related complications and infections, such as COVID-19. For the local health system, it means reducing ambulance conveyances and emergency admissions. The approach is also fantastic for local care home and pharmacy communities, as it seeks to change the way care homes respond to their residents’ falls and ensure that a pharmacist’s input is a key component of the clinical assessment and rehabilitation plan.

While the pilot is still in its infancy, early feedback from care homes, GPs and pharmacists in the Bradford region has been extremely positive and impact data is currently being collected on medication reviews and treatment adjustments following a fall. *Immedicare is a secure, video-enabled, clinical healthcare service linking care homes to the NHS with 24hour access to a highly skilled, multidisciplinary clinical team based at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. The service has been adopted by 690 UK care homes to date.

References 1. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/the-framework-for-enhanced-health-in-care-homes-v2-0.pdf (Last accessed May 2021] 2. https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/file/933/download [Last accessed May 2021] 3. https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/12-cga-in-primary-care-settings-patients-at-risk-of-falls-and-fractures [Last accessed May 2021] 4. Freeland KN, Thompson AN et al. Medication Use and Associated Risk of Falling in a Geriatric Outpatient Population. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2012; 46 (9):1188-1192 5. https://www.nhs.uk/Scorecard/Pages/IndicatorFacts.aspx?MetricId=8135 [Last accessed May 2021] 6. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/falls-applying-all-our-health/falls-applying-all-our-health [Last accessed May 2021] 7. Data on Immedicare file.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 37

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:

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

When connected to a Nurse Call system or the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor it will then alert staff, sounding the alarm with a small amount of pressure thus enabling staff to investigate.

• Nurse Call Systems • Fire Alarm Systems • Door Access • Staff Attack • CCTV • Infection Control • Dementia Care • Electrical Contracting

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.

Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot.

Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls.

Having many years of experience in fitting and

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

Visit www.lctuk.com for details.

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

INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE

sales@lctuk.com 0800 8499 121 www.LCTUK.com

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Intelligent Care Software (ICS) If you are looking for a care management system which answers all of your quality, monitoring and compliance needs, then looks no further than Care is. Care is provides the intelligent software solution for care home and domiciliary care managers and owners looking to roll all of their care and management functions into one electronic platform. We know this to be true because unlike some other CMS’s Care is was conceived, designed, built and is managed by nurses, registered managers and care home owners.

The ‘CARE is’ suite includes care and support, care planning platform, our policy app with over 200 high quality policies which are updated regularly and which also includes our supervision, appraisals and

training record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits.

At Care is we can get you started on your journey from paper or another care management system with minimum fuss, plenty of support and all for what we believe to be good value for money.

With eMAR, mandatory training and a complementary care certificate coming in 2022, there has never been a better time to get on board. https://careis.net

Bizimply Helps Care Homes to Spend More Time Caring for Residents

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As care homes across the country struggle with soaring vacancy levels, it’s never been more important to have the right people, working in the right place, at the right time, to deliver quality care to residents.

Conor Shaw, CEO of workforce management specialists Bizimply, says: “Most care homes are currently running with 10% fewer employees than they’d like, so the challenge is to achieve 100% capacity from the staff team you have. It’s not about working harder, but smarter, with the support of helpful technology.”

Bizimply’s software allows managers to create staff rotas and payroll quickly, freeing them up to spend more time interacting with their teams and residents. The result is more motivated staff who provide higher quality care and are less likely to leave.

In addition, by creating rotas with Bizimply’s software, managers can give staff members their shift patterns further in advance, putting an end to the last-minute requests that cause stress for so many.

Shaw adds: “Nobody chooses a career in care to spend hours on administration. By automating routine tasks, care home managers and staff can concentrate what they love - caring for residents.”

A growing number of care homes across the UK and Ireland are now using Bizimply’s software to create staff rotas, payroll and more.

To find out more: www.bizimply.com/health-care/

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost containment and multientity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloudbased accounting system allows you to better understand your organisation and succeed in the future.

At Sage Intacct, we’re passionate about building accounting software that helps you better understand your business, maintain compliance, and succeed in the ever-evolving healthcare industry.

BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE

As healthcare grows in complexity, so does your organisation. You’re managing multiple locations and practices, navigating changing reimbursement methods, and initiating cost reduction initiatives, while manual processes are draining your productivity.

You need insight into your growing breadth of financial and operational data, and we’ve built our healthcare accounting software with you in mind. We provide compliant financials with continuous consolidation across multiple offices, practices and locations. Sage Intacct healthcare customers have increased profitability by 30%

with better insight for informed decisions, realised 25% improvement in efficiency gains, and taken departmental reporting from 10 days to 10 minutes.

REAL-TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS

Sage Intacct’s real-time reporting allows you to understand and measure performance for both financial metrics and operational outcomes. Because every transaction in the system can be tagged with dimensions, finance professionals can sort, view, filter, and report on the specific information they need. With greater insight, our healthcare customers have reduced board budget reporting from three weeks to one hour and have improved revenues by 25% without adding additional headcount.

TRUE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH OPEN API

True cloud technology with open API As an innovator in the cloud space, Sage Intacct’s multi-tenant, true cloud foundation brings robust technology infrastructure to your organisation, without the high costs of managing servers. Our open API lets you connect to existing systems or those you are considering in the future. This means you can leverage key data from electronic medical records, payroll, budget, CRMs (including Salesforce), and other systems to track key performance indicators.

For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www.sage.com/en-gb/cp/intacct-carehomes/

Mainteno Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Whether it’s managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno simplifies the day-to-day maintenance of almost any organisation.

Mainteno also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking.

Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving your organisation time and money.

USABILITY MADE AFFORDABLE

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

Mainteno was designed with practicality in mind.

The interface is so intuitive that basic operation can be learned in minutes, and you can be a power user in one afternoon.

Elegant usability usually means a hefty price tag.

However, our pricing structure means that for small organisations, Mainteno can cost as little as two cups

of coffee a month. No set-up fees, no lengthy contracts and a free trial, all mean that the system starts paying for itself straight away.

Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director says “Facing significant challenges of ever increasing quality and compliance demands upon time and resources as well considerable economic pressures, Summercare, an award winning provider of residential care and housing related support, sought to upgrade their systems for managing the property and environmental aspects of its service delivery. After an extensive period of investigation and research Mainteno was selected as the platform of choice for the entire organization based on its ease of use, very short-term contract, quick set up and ongoing support.”

Visit www.mainteno.com, Tel: 020 8798 3713 or email sales@redro.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87 | PAGE 41

INSURANCE FOR CARE

A Guide to Care Home Insurance The building itself is just as important. If, for instance, the premises suffer a flood, how would the building hold? Would water cause damage to furniture? Would residents need to be temporarily rehomed? In extreme cases such as a fire or explosion, a total rebuild may be necessary, which would not only cost a considerable amount, but it could leave the business unable to operate and your residents in need of rehoming.

BUSINESS INTERRUPTION Business interruption insurance may also prove invaluable. This insurance is aimed at covering any increased costs of working or loss in gross revenue, as the result of an unexpected event. So, if you do suffer a flood or fire, sourcing an alternative property to operate from or employing temporary staff can be covered. Business interruption insurance can help you to pay your bills, retain your staff, and maintain your supplier and client relationships.

KEY MAN COVER Care home insurance falls into the specialist sector because there is no ‘one size fits all’. Not only does your insurance need to protect the care you give, but you also need to consider the regulatory bodies you adhere to, protection for your staff, as well as covering the premises and its contents.

What’s more, care homes offer different types of care, from basic care and accommodation to respite, end-of-life and specialist care for dementia patients.

Whatever type of care facility you operate, there are some basic covers that should form part of your care home insurance solution.

LIABILITY Liability insurance should be considered essential for your policy. Liability encompasses various types of cover: Employers’ liability is a legal requirement for anyone employing staff either paid or unpaid. If, for instance, one of your carers suffers an injury or loss due to your negligence or the negligence of the company, the carer may sue you. This covers you for any compensation costs and legal fees.

Public liability although not a legal requirement, is similar to employers’ liability, relates to injuries or losses to members of the public. For instance, a resident’s family member may slip on an upturned carpet, or their car may be damaged by something you should have considered.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Unlike clinical treatment, care in a nursing home or care home is often to do with judgement as opposed to factual and evidential action. Your carers will be skilled in what they do and usually have several qualifications, but their decisions are often determined by best practice to ensure the resident or patient is as comfortable as they can be.

Unfortunately, this means mistakes can creep in. A single mistake can have a disastrous effect, and the patient or their family may claim for medical malpractice. This cover aims to protect your team’s professional acumen, offering in-depth support and dealing with the legal costs.

Key Man Cover (or Key Person Cover) provides financial cover, should something happen to key personnel within your business. Most likely this is you as the business owner, or members of an executive leadership team who you class as crucial to the financial success of your business.

If you or a key member of your team is absent due to the onset of a long-term illness or a permanent disability, or unexpectedly passes away, this form of life insurance could be vital to ensure the longevity of your business. Having key man cover in place reassures your team and those living within your care facility.

By preparing for a worst-case scenario, you will be protecting your care home from potential risk and safeguarding its future – Key Man Cover is an invaluable and affordable investment for every care home owner to consider.

Every care home is different, requiring different types and levels of cover based on individual needs. You need to partner with a reputable broker that will make sure that you have the right cover for your unique situation.

For an industry which works on prestige, reputation and word of mouth, the right insurance is essential. It maintains your biggest assets—your staff and the residents you care for—whilst supporting you should something go wrong.

At Barnes Commercial we offer specialist independent broking and risk management services for care home owners and care workers.

You can learn more about how we support our clients with expert broking advice on our website: www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk Telephone 01480 272727 Email: enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk

BUILDINGS AND CONTENTS Of course, your business is home for your residents or patients. Ensuring ample furniture is provided should be a necessity, from wardrobes and cupboards to tables and kitchen apparatus. If these are accidentally damaged, you are likely to need to replace them.

Specialist care home insurance We arrange tailored insurance programmes for care and nursing homes, hospices and domiciliary care providers, for both staff and business owners.

Our extensive knowledge of the care market will help to ensure you have the right protection in place for now and, for the future.

Secure robust cover that’s right for your business.

CALL NOW FOR A QUOTE

01480 272727

Impartial advice from experienced advisers

Exceptional service from a dedicated account executive

Let us help you to protect your business with a no obligation risk review today!

Market-leading products from A rated insurers

Send us an email: Visit our website: Follow us:

Support with claims

Guidance on risk management solutions including H&S and HR

enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk/care /barnes-commercial

Barnes Commercial Insurance Broker is a trading style of Barnes Commercial Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN: 844370. Registered address: 3 Fenice Court, Phoenix Park, Eaton Socon, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 8EW. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 11909011.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 87

PROFESSIONALS AND RECRUITMENT 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 809756 www.jjcarerecruitment.co.uk admin@jjrecruitment.co.uk

Aston Brooke Solicitors

Aston Brooke is a specialist in delivering legal advice to the UK health and social care sector and represents a wide range of care home groups, proprietors, and managers as well as industry bodies, staff, and residents.

Care Home Legal Advice Our team of specialist solicitors has an in-depth understanding of the healthcare industry and combines the experience of the healthcare market and its regulated fields to provide focused advice and solutions to a wide range of legal needs for the healthcare industry.

By combining the expertise of solicitors across our commercial and regulatory departments Aston Brooke offers a valuable pool of knowledge and resources in one place to the benefit of our clients.

Our legal services include: • Advice on Care Quality Commission (CQC) processes • Assisting Care Providers to make License Applications and Registration with CQC • Providing support for improving general overall

Standards of Service • Challenging Cancellation Notices • Providing CQC lawyers for help regarding CQC Inspections • Providing information about abilities and restrictions of the CQC, as well as guidance on how best to engage with them • Challenging CQC Compliance Failure • Commercial Contracting • Dispute Resolution & Litigation • Partnership Agreements • Commercial Property, Leases & Developments • Commercial Sales & Acquisitions • Refinancing • Employment Law issues and Tribunal work • Immigration Law issues • Negligence claims • Inquests & Hearings For further information or a free consultation, please contact us on 0203 475 4321 or see the advert on the facing page.

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance

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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 through to allowing groups to grow significantly in size

we assist at every stage of your business expansion.

Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements.

Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net