The Carer Digital - Issue #97

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The Carer Digital

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Issue 97

Discharging Hospital Patients to Care Homes 'Unlawful' High Court Rules

Government policies on discharging patients from hospital to care homes at the outset of the pandemic were “unlawful” because they failed to consider the risk to elderly and vulnerable residents from non-symptomatic transmission of Covid, High Court judges have ruled.

When the pandemic broke in March 2020, ministers sought to free up space in hospitals, with 25,000 patients discharged to care homes without having Covid tests.

This occurred between mid-March and mid-April, according to a report by the National Audit Office, despite concerns that Covid-19 could be spread asymptomatically.

Today’s (April 27) ruling comes after two women took the government to court, saying Covid patients were discharged from hospitals back to care homes

without testing.

Dr Cathy Gardner and Fay Harris, whose fathers died, said it caused a "shocking death toll" of residents.

The women said key policies of discharging patients from hospitals into care homes were implemented with no testing and no suitable isolation arrangements in the homes. Speaking outside the High Court Ms Gardner said the ruling vindicated her belief that the government had “neglected” care home residents during the campaign and justified “our campaign to expose the truth.”

“It is also now clear that Matt Hancock’s claim that the government threw a protective ring around care homes in the first wave of the pandemic was nothing more than a despicable lie,” she said.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

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

Today’s (April 27) High Court ruling will prove to be a seismic event which will have far-reaching consequences, not only surrounding the Covid pandemic, but also in dealing future pandemics, and possibly wider events.

One of the questions which I believe should be asked, and not only of the government but also “experts” we saw on our TV screen almost every day, should be “how could you have got it so catastrophically wrong”?

What we are reading today may never have come out had two women who lost fathers in care homes not taken the government to court.

To fund High Court action they opened a crowdfunding platform, where the public desperate for answers and to see the government held to account gave generously.

Lawyers for Ms Gardner, 60, and Ms Harris, 58, argued that the government did the “very opposite” of claims by the then health secretary Matt Hancock, that “right from the start we have tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes”.

Sadly, that is true. High Court judges said the risk of asymptomatic transmission had been highlighted by people including Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, in a radio interview as early as 13 March 2020.

“Non-symptomatic transmission would mean that one elderly patient moved from hospital to a care home could infect other residents before manifesting symptoms, or even without ever manifesting symptoms,” they said.

Transferring untested patients into such a vulnerable environment had devastating consequences.

I watched this week a BBC documentary surrounding the sheer injustice to those sub postmasters/postmistresses wrongly accused of theft due to a deeply flawed and faulty software system introduced by the then government in the late 90s.

It has been described as the biggest widespread miscarriage of justice in British history. Between 2000 and 2014, the Post Office prosecuted 736 sub-postmasters and subpostmistresses - an average of one a week - based on information from a recently installed computer system called Horizon.

Some went to prison following convictions for false accounting and theft, many were financially ruined and have described being shunned by their communities. Some have since died.

I sat and watched astounded, not so much at the flawed software, but at the revelations of how evidence was concealed, whistleblowers silenced, investigative attempts by forensic accountants thwarted - eventually leading to their dismissal and how post office and the government refused to accept clear proof, and how they were prepared to let innocent people be prosecuted and jailed rather than admit wrongdoing and take responsibility.

While an enquiry completely exonerated those prosecuted and they have been com-

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pensated, nobody has been held responsible, which is a concern on any inquiry into the Covid pandemic.

However, today’s ruling will have, I think, enormous implications for the forthcoming inquiry.

EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES Sylvia Mawson

I really don’t think there is any hiding place after today.

David Bartlett

It was also refreshing to see that The UK healthcare property market is buoyant and

Guy Stephenson

according to a report saw significant investment volumes in 2021 totalling £2.34 billion, with particular interest from overseas and private investors says property adviser Knight Frank. (See page 26).

Strong transaction volumes totalling £2.34bn were, the report says, considerably above the five-year average of £1.5bn, whilst positive occupancy data from operators in the final quarter of 2021 reveal a return to pre-pandemic patterns.

Which makes today’s ruling even more significant. Families must be reassured that care homes are safe environments loved ones, and there can be no repeat of the events of 2020-2021.

Once again we are delighted to have received more heartwarming and uplifting stories from residential and nursing care settings around the country, so please do keep them coming. Oh and one more thing - we have launched our latest “Unsung Hero Award”.

Every home has one (and probably more)! That dedicated worker from any department who goes above and beyond, who can sometimes go unnoticed, and deserves a reward!

A small gesture on our part but it has been well received so please get nominating! See pages 13 and 21 for details.

TYPESETTING & DESIGN Matthew Noades PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Charlene Fox Published by

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 3

Discharging Hospital Patients to Care Homes 'Unlawful' High Court Rules (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER)

the threat to life and health posed by the pandemic and specifically sought to safeguard care homes and their residents."

Ms Gardner added the former health secretary should be “ashamed” of the “despicable lie” and called on him to apologise.

She also demanded that Prime Minister Boris Johnson “accepts responsibility” for Covid policy that was devised “on his watch”.

Fay Harris, who brought the case with Dr Cathy Gardner said: “I am very pleased with the judgment today. It brings some comfort to know that the Government have been shown to act unlawfully.

“Their actions exposed many vulnerable people to a greater risk of death – and many thousands did die. It has only increased the distress to me and many others that the Government have not been honest and owned up to their mistakes.

“I have lost precious years with my wonderful dad. I left him fit, well and happy on the 22nd March 2020 when his home went into lockdown. He should have been safe and protected, but I never saw or spoke to him again. Many people died of Covid in his care home. I hope this judgment will help the thousands of other families who have lost parents due to this Government’s reckless and unlawful policies.”

CARE SECTOR WAS LET DOWN AS VIRUS STRUCK

CARE POPULATION “UNIQUELY VULNERABLE” Jason Coppel QC, a barrister representing the two women told Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Garnham that between March and June 2020, when Matt Hancock was Health Secretary over 20,000 elderly or disabled care home residents had died from Covid-19 in England and Wales.

Mr Coppel said the fathers of Dr Gardner and Ms Harris were part of that “toll”. “The care home population was known to be uniquely vulnerable to being killed or seriously harmed by Covid-19,” “The Government’s failure to protect it, and positive steps taken by the Government which introduced Covid-19 infection into care homes, represent one of the most egregious and devastating policy failures in the modern era.”

In their ruling, Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Garnham determined that, despite there being "growing awareness" of the risk of asymptomatic transmission throughout March 2020, there was no evidence that then Health Secretary Matt Hancock addressed the issue of the risk to care home residents of such transmission.

Before the ruling was announced the government had said: "Every death is a tragedy and we worked tirelessly to protect the public from

Major lessons have to be learned from the way the care of older and vulnerable adults was treated when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK, providers said today.

Reacting to the judgement, the Independent Care Group (ICG) said the sector had been badly let down.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “At the start of the pandemic, care and nursing homes were told to continue as normal as the risk to residents was not high.

“We were told to keep accepting hospital discharges even though it turned out, many were coming in to our homes without being tested first.

“The result was that Covid-19 got into care settings with devastating effect and many lives were lost as the pandemic was merciless when it reached those who were older, frail and with other medical conditions.

“Even so, the Government was slow to react, continuing to focus resources – in particular PPE and testing – on NHS settings, rather than care and nursing homes.

“We were badly let down and the Government did the exact opposite of throwing a protective ring around the sector.

“Many lives were tragically lost and our thoughts are with their loved ones - we will never forget them.

PAY TRIBUTE TO CARE STAFF Mike Padgham added : “And we pay tribute to the amazing care staff who battled through the pandemic and have been left physically and emotionally scarred by the past two years.”

He said the vital thing now was for lessons to be learned and for the care sector to get the overhaul it needs.

“Even before the pandemic, social care was in crisis and Covid-19 found a sector on its knees, with a dire shortage of funding, a staffing crisis and poor morale – little wonder that Covid-19 had such an impact on the sector,” Mr Padgham added.

“Despite this, care providers worked miracles in keeping their residents safe and were just as much a frontline against the pandemic as their NHS counterparts.

“As we digest today’s ruling and emerge from the pandemic, social care deserves the reform it has been seeking for more than a genera-

tion.

“We deserve to see the sector properly funded, merged with NHS care and with a workforce that is properly paid – recognized, respected and rewarded.

“That is the least we should expect after such a devastating two years.”

RULING HELPS BRING VITAL CLARITY Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of The National Care Forum (NCF) said: “During the first wave of the pandemic it was apparent that people who receive care and support, work in care and deliver care services were not on the government’s radar. The lack of prioritization meant that testing, PPE, staffing, funding and research all came too late. The impact of hospital discharge in relation to the spread of Covid within care homes has long been disputed by the government, but this ruling helps bring a vital clarity to the situation that recognizes that people who receive care and support needed more protection and should have been at the forefront of government decision making, which they patently were not.”

PROTECTIVE RING “ NON-EXISTANT” Helen Wildbore, director of the Relatives and Residents Association, said: 'This ruling confirms what people living in care and their families have known all along - the protective ring was non-existent.

'Older people were abandoned at the outset of the pandemic, let down by the very systems designed to protect their rights.

The GMB union said the Government had shown 'callous disregard' for care homes following the ruling.

“CALLOUS DISREGARD” Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer for care, said: 'Today's judgment is a terrible reminder of callous disregard this Government has shown for care home residents and workers.

'Transferring untested hospital outpatients into enclosed facilities where carers were denied access to proper PPE and even sick pay was always going to have tragic consequences.

'GMB members nursed much-loved residents as they died from this awful virus, while all the while worrying about their own safety and how they were going to pay the bills.

'If any good is to come out of this pandemic then it must include urgent reform of the sector.'

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Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS): What Do They Mean, How Can Care Providers Be Ready?

By Rachel Griffiths, Human Rights and Mental Capacity Consultant to QCS (www.qcs.co.uk) Rachel Griffiths, Human Rights and Mental Capacity Consultant to Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), the leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, discusses what the new Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) system means for care providers.

It sometimes feels that the LPS have been hanging over us for ages.

Last scheduled for implementation in early 2022 but delayed, the new safeguards are set to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

And although we still don’t have an LPS implementation date, it’s looking likely that it will be towards the end of 2023. That gives care providers plenty of time to prepare for the changes. But to do so, they need to be clear what the new safeguards mean.

I delivered a webinar hosted by QCS on 26 April, where I explained the main changes, the implications for different providers and where to find out more. The following is a summary.

THE ‘ACID TEST’ FOR DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY We need to start by being clear about what this means. A person is deprived of their liberty if: • They lack capacity to consent to the arrangements to give them essential care and treatment (in other words, their care plan) and • They are under complete and effective supervision or control (meaning, do staff know at all times more or less what the person is doing, or often has to stop them doing something they want to do), and • They are not free to leave (they may go out with staff or relatives, or even alone, provided staff allow this, but cannot decide to go and live elsewhere).

PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE’S RIGHTS: A GOOD THING It is an excellent thing that we’re trying to protect the rights of people whose care plans are so restrictive.

The intention behind the current deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) and the new LPS that will take over from them, is to create a clear and understandable process, laid out in law, that governs when and how people can be so restricted in health and care settings. It must also, importantly, allow the person, or someone representing them, to challenge these restrictions, to court.

WHY ARE DOLS TO BE PHASED OUT? Many people find that DoLS are bureaucratic, inflexible, and difficult to use. People might be deprived of their liberty in a range of settings, but the DoLS scheme can’t protect the rights of people who under 18 or who are deprived of their liberty anywhere except a registered care home or hospital.

People in supported living settings, or shared lives or extra-care housing schemes, and young people are excluded, just by the way the DoLS system is set up. Their rights can only be protected by someone, usually the commissioner of their service, applying to the Court of Protection. And this is expensive and can be stressful. So people in a range of community settings, and 16- and 17-year-olds, risk missing out on the protections that will be provided more cheaply and in a simpler way by LPS.

The LPS scheme will apply like the rest of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) to anyone aged 16 or over, who is deprived of their liberty to be given essential care or treatment. It also applies in any setting: this means supported living, shared lives or extra care housing schemes, and also to people in their own homes or living with their families.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DIFFERENT CARE PROVIDERS? Care providers will have no managerial responsibilities for LPS, they just need to know when and how to engage with the process. For care homes, accustomed to working with DoLS, the changes should be very manageable. Staff will need to learn about the new language and new processes, and they may come across new NHS responsibilities. For example, the ‘responsible body’ for people receiving NHS continuing health care will be the Integrated Care Board, which will take over from a clinical commissioning group (CCG).

Supported living providers, and others who support people in the community, need to get their heads around the concept of deprivation of liberty and how the safeguards will work. Home care services may become aware of situations where a person is deprived of their liberty in their home, perhaps by relatives; these providers need to know how and when to draw the attention of the local authority to such situations.

Children’s homes and fostering schemes will not often be depriving 16- and 17-year-olds of their liberty, but must learn to recognise deprivation, and know how and when to seek authorisation, again from the local authority, if they cannot find a less restrictive way to provide care.

HOW CAN CARE PROVIDERS GET READY? Care providers should remember that LPS are an integral part of the MCA, and make sure they are working within the five principles.

It’s important to recognise restraint (rather than just calling it ‘support’) and think about whether any restriction is both necessary and proportionate. With any restrictions, it’s good practice to brainstorm to think if there might be a less restrictive way to keep this person safe and give the care or treatment they need.

A major part of LPS is the ‘necessary and proportionate’ test: are these restrictions necessary to prevent harm to the person, and a proportionate response to the likelihood and seriousness of this harm? This is a great tool to enable excellence in practice.

LPS are a step forward in protecting human rights in health and care settings. They will enable care providers to balance giving people as much freedom as possible to live as they choose, while finding the least restrictive ways to keep them safe and give them the care they need.

To watch the LPS webinar for free, visit https://www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer-webinar QCS policies on the Mental Capacity Act, including restraint and deprivation of liberty. https://www.qcs.co.uk/the-road-to-liberty-protection-safeguards-lps/ To find out more about QCS and start a no obligation free trial, please visit www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer-free-trial

LPS: SIMPLER, MORE FLEXIBLE, AND A FAR WIDER SCOPE

Hallmark Play Garden to Unite and Delight Children will be begging their parents to visit older relatives this autumn thanks to a pioneering partnership between Hallmark Care Homes Foundation and London Play. The play charity will be unveiling what is hoped to be the first of many ‘Play Gardens’ at multi-award-winning care provider, Hallmark’s newest care home Midford Manor, when it opens in Bath later this year.

Announced to coincide with Global Intergenerational Week, the Play Garden will offer a perfect setting for children and older people to come together in joy following more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shaped by future care home residents and local children, the design of the garden will be inspired in part by memories of residents’ own childhood play experiences.

Children will also be involved, with a “Design Your Own Playground” competition for schools running throughout this spring.

Older people’s reminiscences will be captured in an illustrated ‘Book of Midford Manor Play Memories’, to be housed within the play structure for older residents to read to younger visitors to the play garden.

It is hoped that the Midford Manor Play Garden will be the first of many such play gardens to feature in care homes across the country – bringing wide-ranging benefits to young and old alike. It is widely accepted that children who regularly mix with older people see improvements to their language development, reading and social skills, while older people are less likely to suffer loneliness and will experience

better physical and mental health.

Paul Hocker, director, London Play sais: “Every future Play Garden will have the imprint of childhoods past while offering a new generation a place to create their own play memories, in the company of their much-loved older family members.”

Stephen Burke, CEO of Hallmark Foundation said: “We are delighted to fund London Play to create the country’s first Play Garden. It will promote intergenerational interaction in the new care home and encourage a family friendly environment where children will love visiting their older relatives.

It’s a win-win for all generations and we hope it will encourage other care homes to use their outdoor space creatively.”

General Manager of Midford Manor Care Home, Carol Britton said: “A Play Garden will be invaluable to our residents and their families, it will encourage families to come more often and the visit will be a more pleasant and enjoyable one. We are delighted that Hallmark are pushing the boundaries and raising the bar and that we will have the opportunity to add a new and exciting level of innovative engagement to and with our local community. Making care homes accessible and inviting for all generations is absolutely imperative.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 5

Growing Calls for Evidence-Based Research into Social Care Staff Experiences Developing a greater understanding of social care workers’ professional experiences is key to help better support them, leading industry experts have said.

In health and social care there is a growing understanding of the link between workforce experience and outcomes for patients and people who draw on care and support. The NHS measures experiences of its workforce annually, via the National NHS Staff Survey, coordinated by Picker on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement. In social care there is currently no equivalent. Last year the Health and Social Care Committee highlighted 44% of staff in NHS acute and community health organisations reported work related stress but could not offer comparable figures for social care. The report recommended extending the NHS Staff Survey into social care.

Earlier this month, the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee also called for evidence on what is required to create a fair, resilient and sustainable care system. The committee is focusing on the invisibility of adult social care and its consequences, better support for carers and putting co-production at the centre of care.

Picker recently hosted a round table to explore what is needed to fill the information gap around experi-

ences of the adult social care workforce nationally. Attended by senior figures from organisations including the National Care Association, GMB Trade Union, King’s College London, the Homecare Associations and independent care homes, it concluded the key to supporting social care workers is to build a strong evidence base.

Chris Graham, Chief Executive of Picker, said: “Social care saw its profile increase significantly during the pandemic. The consensus within the social care profession is there is now a need to capitalise on that and highlight the career opportunities and rewards that exist within the profession.

“Equally it is important to learn from the opportunities alongside the challenges of Covid-19 to better understand new ways of working and how policy could support modern approaches to social care. There is more that can be done to improve social care staff retention and morale, by adjusting culture and structure.

“Our roundtable debate reached a consensus that stronger data about the composition and experience of the social care workforce could offer a range of benefits both to people working in the sector and the profession’s profile. Social care is a specialist service and would benefit from a differentiated approach to help understand what is required to support its workforce.”

Sittingbourne Care Home Welcomes Four-Legged Friend to Provide Happiness and Connection to Residents Residents at a Sittingbourne care home felt the powerful connection of animal therapy when a four-legged friend visited to provide joy, comfort and mental stimulation.

Pets As Therapy canine, Dexter, recently visited Nellsar’s Hengist Field Care Home, Kent, where the long-haired Working Cocker Spaniel used his ability to make friends in his role as a registered therapy dog.

Accompanied by his owner, Teresa Abery, who is Hengist Field Care Home’s Business Support Officer, Dexter made the familiar journey to the care home in a bid to provide comfort, companionship and laughs for all those who wanted to benefit from interacting with the friendly canine.

Dexter, whose sweet and gentle temperament makes him a family favourite at Hengist Field, recently passed his Bronze, Silver and Gold Good Citizenship Dog Scheme, which enabled the four-legged pooch to be assessed and meet the criteria to be a registered PAT Dog. Among Dexter’s favourite residents are David and Mary, whom he enjoys roaming the care home in search of affection and cuddles – to which they happily oblige. Another resident, Maureen, has also built a

strong emotional connection with Dexter, walking him around the home and petting him in the main lounge, a simple action that can make a world of difference to residents’ mental health.

Neli Koleva, Hengist Field Care Home Manager, said: “When Dexter visits the home, everyone becomes a lot happier.

He’s brought so much joy and love to our residents and has become the main talking point at the home, allowing residents and staff to reminisce about their dogs or other pets they had or have.”

“The unique experience has proven to be an excellent way to bring our residents some joy. Especially beneficial is the positive impact Dexter has on those in the home who are living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society recently referred to animal-assisted interventions as having the ability to vastly improve self-esteem and confidence in people with dementia. It can also promote quality of life and encourage independence. It is lovely to see our residents smile and interact with him whilst he happily accepts a cuddle and a pat. We cannot wait to see Dexter again soon!”

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Major New Report Outlines Plan to Harness the Power of Music to Transform Health, Wellbeing and Communities

Music for Dementia and UK Music have joined forces to publish a new report which outlines a blueprint to use music to help improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. The report also spells out the support needed from a variety of sectors to ensure its recommendations come to fruition.

The Power of Music report, which will be officially launched later today at Universal Music UK, has been created to amplify – to government, business and the general public – how music can be used to improve the lives of those dealing with illnesses such as dementia, depression, and other debilitating conditions. At a time when health and social care services remain under intense pressure, it demonstrates how the use of music can support staff, create financial savings and help to achieve improved health and care outcomes.

Crucially, the report outlines a series of ambitious but achievable recommendations which can be quickly implemented to deliver positive change. It calls on Government to work with health, care, music, philanthropy and third sectors to invest in and capitalise on the positive changes the power of music can deliver.

Its publication follows a year-long study by UK Music, the collective voice of the UK music industry, and Music for Dementia, the leading health and music campaign, supported by The Utley Foundation, which produced the report following indepth consultation with key stakeholders from charities, government and the health and social care sectors as well as musicians, music therapists, people living with dementia and their carers.

The Power of Music report sets out four key recommendations: • The appointment of the UK’s first Power of Music Commissioner to champion and coordinate all the work in this area – setting up a new Government taskforce and a Life With Music Consortium to spearhead positive change.

• A major public awareness campaign to show how the power of music can change lives, improve health and bring communities together – supported by a new online information platform, development of which is being led

by Universal Music UK. • Support frontline workers by providing better training on the role of music in health and care – in particular by establishing an accessible training module to help practitioners understand how best to use music as part of the care they provide in their work setting.

• Extra funding to help make music accessible to all delivered by new investment partnerships between Government, industry and philanthropists.

Music for Dementia Campaign Director Grace Meadows said: “The pandemic has shown us how we urgently need to reimagine health and social care in the UK. Music has a critical role to play in this and while we’re committed to making this happen, we can’t do this alone. We need leadership, public engagement and funding at the very least, including the appointment of a Power of Music Commissioner who will turn our recommendations into action.

“One of our biggest challenges is that many people still don’t fully appreciate the power of music, but we could begin to change that within a year. We’re calling upon the Government and leaders in the fields of health, care, music, charity and philanthropy to work together to ensure the greater use of music in social prescribing and make it a key tool in public health strategies.

“As a country we can change the lived experience of millions living with dementia and wider health issues. We can do it quickly, simply and we can do it now for a relatively small investment. It just needs commitment and a determination to work together. Let’s do it.’’

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: “Every day, more and more evidence emerges about the extraordinary health benefits of music and its potency as a non-pharmacological intervention.

Whether it is in improving wellbeing and quality of life, boosting mental health or supporting dementia care, music has an incredible power to improve people’s lives.

“When used correctly, music can be a miracle medicine – and while there are thousands of people across the country who have seen this first-hand, there are millions more who have yet to enjoy its benefits.

“With bold leadership, cross-sector collaborations and a joined-up approach, we can harness the extraordinary power of music and ensure that everyone in our country can have access to the huge benefits music can bring.”

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, who wrote the report’s foreword said: “Music can be a powerful tool. It is clear to me that more should be done to understand the social value of music, and the unique opportunities it presents to alleviate long-term and chronic conditions, including learning disabilities, depression and dementia. I look forward to working with the creative and health sectors to harness the power of music and boost its untapped potential to support health and wellbeing.”

James Sanderson, CEO at The National Academy for Social Prescribing [NASP], said: “At NASP we are passionate about heath and wellbeing and have witnessed first hand how involvement in the arts can improve people’s quality of life. This report demonstrates the impact music can have on those living with dementia and we look forward to supporting The Utely Foundation and Music For Dementia with their four step framework to harness the power of music.”

Care England, Chief Executive Professor Martin Green OBE said: “I welcome the publication of the Power of Music Report, which shows the important role music plays in improving the quality of life of people living with dementia. This report is a call to action for the care sector, and identifies some very clear and tangible ways in which care providers can use music as a vital tool in delivering quality care for people living with dementia” The report already has the support of Universal Music UK, the UK’s leading music company, who are leading on the creation of a dynamic, interactive online resource that will complement existing health and care models.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 7

Government ‘Out of Touch’ on Social Care Crisis Care leaders have accused the Government of being ‘out of touch’ after it denied there was a permanent crisis in social and NHS care.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, rejected claims that a failure to fix social care and address staffing issues in both social and NHS care had created a permanent crisis.

More than 20,000 patients could not be discharged from hospital last week because there was no care available for them in the community.

The provider organization the Independent Care Group (ICG) said Mr Javid’s words proved that the Government was out of touch.

Its Chair, Mike Padgham said: “With the greatest of respect to Mr Javid, I have been delivering social care for 32 years and he has been Secretary of State for 10 months.

“I can say that there has been a shortage of staff in social care for all of those 32 years, but it is the worst it has ever been right now.

“If he doesn’t believe me then I will invite him, as I have done on many occasions, to visit a social care provider here in North Yorkshire and to see for himself the daily battle to get enough staff to cover shifts either in care and nursing homes or to go out and provide homecare.

“Former politician Ed Balls spent time with us last year and saw exactly what it is like delivering care on

the front line. Mr Javid would do well to follow his lead and get a better understanding of the situation.

“Social care provision is crumbling before his very eyes and that is having a dire, knock-on effect on the delivery of NHS care, as can be seen from the ever-increasing delayed discharge numbers.

“As Andrew Cozens and many, many others with years of experience in the sector have said, the Government has not ‘fixed social care’ – nowhere near.”

The ICG is also angry that the Infection Control Fund, introduced to help social care providers to cope with staffing issues brought on by the pandemic, was axed at the start of April, with nothing put in its place. It has called on the Secretary of State to reinstate the Fund, as has happened in Scotland so that providers are better supported.

In a letter to Mr Javid, Mr Padgham said: “Covid-19 infection rates remain high and social care staff, in common with everyone else in the community, are becoming ill and are unable to come to work.

“However, because the Infection Control Fund has stopped, care providers are no longer able to pay those staff for the three days’ sickness that have to elapse before Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the Government kicks in. Because of the tight margins, the majority of providers operate under, they cannot make up the shortfall.

“As a result, there is a very real danger that some of these staff are choosing to come to work, even though they have Covid-19, because they cannot afford not to be paid.

“This will potentially have a devastating impact upon care settings, with the obvious risks of spreading Covid-19 to their residents, homecare clients and colleagues.”

The Sporting Memories Foundation Join Local Care Home Residents for a Trip Down Memory Lane Staff and residents at Barchester’s Southgate Beaumont Care Community in Enfield were delighted to be part of a project with The Sporting Memories Foundation for sporting memory sessions and a trip down memory lane to mark 10 years of uniting people through sport.

The Sporting Memories Foundation is a charitable organisation that was set up over a decade ago. They use the power of remembering and talking about sport, along with physical exercise to tackle dementia, depressions and loneliness.

General Manager, Beatrice Godfrey, said: “We are very grateful to the Sporting Memories Foundation for all their support. It was lovely to hear residents reminisce about their sporting memories from yesteryear recounting stories from memorable games they have attended to the sports they played themselves.”

Zoe Grindley, Life enrichment coordinator at Southgate

Beaumont said: “We were delighted to be involved. The kits they have sent us are great. They have given us some wonderful tools to help with gentle exercise as well as beautiful photos of sporting activities to stimulate memories of times gone by.“ Marjorie Taylor, resident at Southgate Beaumont: “It was great looking at the photos as it reminded me of so many childhood memories. My family were big Tottenham Hotspurs fans and it bought it all back to me and the time we spent down the lane.” “ We spent the afternoon sharing tales and funny stories. The team at Southgate Beaumont always arrange really interesting events, there is always plenty to do.”

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PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

The Future of the Laundry in Infection Prevention Simply complete the survey and fill in your details to be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a Miele Triflex Vacuum Clean at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5KBMJ3L The laundry room in any care home is a crucial part of the day-today operations. The job of handling both soiled and clean linen normally falls to the front-line care staff as very few establishments are big enough to have a dedicated laundry team or laundry manager.

Because soiled linen is a breeding ground for infection, the way this is handled by the care team is crucial to infection prevention and control in the care home and helps to protect both residents and staff alike.

As part of the mandatory training that is provided to all care staff on an annual basis, the handling of linen is described at length but in the everyday operation of a care home it can be difficult to ensure that the very highest of standards are being achieved. Space can be a limiting factor as many organisations have very small laundry facilities so being able to effectively separate clean and soiled laundry can be practically quite challenging. Time is also a major factor in the daily workings of the laundry room. Without a dedicated laundry team, front-line care staff are performing the duties of a laundry team as part of their daily tasks so being able to take the time and care over the specifics of the laundry operation is not always a priority.

At Miele Professional we understand the challenges that care staff face when it comes to providing the very best in infection prevention and control in the laundry versus the reality of providing high standards of care for some of our most frail, elderly people. Our laundry equipment is designed to help take some of the guesswork out of infection

high enough to thermally disinfect the wash.

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The Carer and Miele are offering you the chance to win a Miele Triflex vacuum cleaner for taking part. We want to know your experiences of working in the laundry, what challenges you face, what could make your life easier, how the equipment works for you, what could make it better for the sort of work that you do, what training you have access to and how Miele Professional might be able to provide you with more support.

Simply complete the survey and fill in your details to be entered into the prize draw at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5KBMJ3L

New Intergenerational Project Benefits Young and Old A Herefordshire day care facility and a primary school in Birmingham have joined forces to launch an intergenerational project ahead of Global Intergenerational Week [25 April – 1 May 2022].

Leadon Bank in Ledbury has started an initiative called the “Getting to know you project” in partnership with Welford Primary School. The project will involve a wide variety of activities, from creating a ‘getting to know you’ book to painting and home baking, all designed to help the older and younger generations to connect with each other.

Welford Primary School serves an incredibly diverse community, with children from a variety of cultures and backgrounds – something that is being embraced by the project. Members of Leadon Bank day care have responded by forming a choir and hope to perform the song ‘Getting To Know You’ by Julie Andrews for the children.

Caroline Merrick, a senior day care worker who coordinated the partnership with her daughter, who works at the primary school, said: “Many of our members have little or no exposure to multicultural life in modern Britain, so this project is a great way to show all the many different traditions in our country

today.

“The benefits for us and the school are really shining through – many of our members find it hard to see their own self-worth, but through this project so far, we’ve seen their self-esteem grow.”

Natalie Merrick, of Welford Primary School, said: “We are delighted to be working with Leadon Bank. The children are really enjoying getting to know the day care members and love learning from them – and are especially grateful for the soft toys donated to their Australia-themed display!”

Lauren Nelson-Jones, manager of Leadon Bank, added: “We are all loving this work and are so passionate about the results of bringing these two diverse age groups together.”

Global Intergenerational Week seeks to inspire individuals, groups and organisations to fully embrace intergenerational practice - connecting people of all ages, especially the younger and older generations. Intergenerational activity has been proven to have many benefits, including the reduction of loneliness and isolation and enhances learning and skill sharing across all age groups.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 9

Long-Covid and Illness Drives 400,000 More People from the Workforce A new IPPR report, published to mark the launch of a new Commission on Health and Prosperity, warns that the UK’s deep health inequalities and ineffective policies mean people are living shorter lives, with more years spent in poor health, and face greater barriers to staying in and getting on at work.

New IPPR analysis shows that there are now more than a million workers missing from the workforce compared to the pre-pandemic trend and about 400,000 of these are no longer working because of health factors, such as long Covid, disruption to health care and declining mental health. Unresolved, this will drag down economic activity this year by an estimated £8 billion, the researchers warn.

The report shows that the relationship between health and the economy goes much further than just keeping workers away from their jobs, it is also a decisive factor in the UK’s terminally low productivity, low growth, and vast regional inequalities.

New analysis by IPPR and leading health analytics company Lane, Clark & Peacock (LCP) shows that health and the economy are two sides of the same coin: • Health and regional inequality - People living in the most economically deprived parts of the country - including Blackpool, Knowsley and Barking & Dagenham - can on average also expect to fall into poor health in just their late 50s, five years earlier than the national average and 12 years sooner than people living in the healthiest area in the country, Wokingham. This is largely down to factors like low quality housing, bad jobs, low wages and chronic stress, the report argues.

• Health and productivity - Local level analysis reveals that someone living in North East Lincolnshire can expect to fall into bad health eight years earlier than the UK average, while the output of their work is also valued at £8 less an hour than the average. The report argues this is a vicious cycle – factors like lack of job opportunity and poverty can harm people’s health; in turn, poor health can undermine people’s work and a place’s productivity.

• Health and poverty - If rates of child poverty and unemployment in the unhealthiest local authorities (e.g. Blackpool, Kingston upon Hull, Stoke) met rates in the healthiest local authorities (e.g. Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham, Richmond upon Thames, we would see 430,000 less children in poverty and 420,000 more adults in work.

To remedy this injustice, IPPR calls for a new post-pandemic approach to the nation’s health to ensure people can enjoy living healthy lives longer and to heal the nation’s fractured and anaemic

economy. The think tank is launching a new cross-party Health and Prosperity Commission to explore how good health can be the foundation for a fair and prosperous economy.

The researchers argue that for too long politicians have treated spending on health as a cost to be contained, rather than as a keystone of a thriving, prosperous economy.

HUGE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL New modelling by IPPR shows the economic potential that decisive government action to improve health could bring: • Levelling up - If health standards in all local authorities were brought up to be at least in line with the healthiest 10 per cent of places, we would see gross value added per hour worked increase by 1.5 per cent - or 46 pence per hour worked, by each worker, on average. Given the UK’s stagnant productivity growth, this would be a major increase. The most significant productivity gains would be seen in places like Blackpool (3.9 per cent boost to GVA/hour worked), Kingston upon Hull (3.8 per cent) and Inverclyde (3.7 per cent).

• Boosting the national economy – In the 1960s, Japan was the least healthy G7 nation, but is now the healthiest. If the UK met the health outcomes of Japan, people would stay in good health for four additional years on average. As a result, the UK’s overall productivity could be boosted by 1.2 per cent.

The UK’s poor health outcomes and unequal stagnant economy are not inevitable, or the result of anything innate about the country or its people, but the result of policy choices, according to IPPR. Policy makers must now set about putting the building blocks of good health in place - good work, quality housing, local public health services, a well-

funded and staffed NHS - to improve people’s lives and wellbeing, and to unlock the UK’s full economic potential.

The IPPR Health and Prosperity Commission, chaired by leading surgeon Lord Ara Darzi and former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, will now work for two years to better understand the interconnections between health and the economy and to set out a blueprint to harness the full potential of better health for all. Other members of the cross-party commission include Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Sir Oliver Letwin, along with senior figures from health, business, economics, and trade unions (full list of commissioners in notes).

Dame Sally Davies, former Chief Medical Officer and co-chair of the Commission on Health and Prosperity, said: “A fairer country is a healthier one, and a healthier country is a more prosperous one. While the restrictions have eased, the scars of the pandemic still remain deep on the nation’s health and our economy.

Not only are we facing a severe cost of living crisis, driven in part by pandemic induced inflation, we’re also experiencing a workforce shortage driven by poor health that’s holding back the economy. It has never been more important to put good health at the heart of our society and economy – and our commission will bring forward a plan to do just that.”

Lord Ara Darzi, a leading surgeon, independent peer and co-chair of the Commission on Health and Prosperity, said: “As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, we find ourselves at a crossroads. We can continue with a trajectory of poor health, low public investment, and poor growth. Or we can commit to driving a rapid improvement in total health and, in turn, leverage that health for greater prosperity and security. The commission will represent a broad coalition from health and care sector leaders, to economists, business leaders, politicians and scientists to demonstrate the wellbeing and massive economic benefits of better health for all.”

Sir Oliver Letwin, former cabinet member and member of the Commission on Health and Prosperity, said: “Historically, Britain has succeeded economically when it has combined innovative technology with improvements in public health. The Victorians made huge investments in sanitation and public health partly as a way of promoting social justice, but also as a way of boosting productivity. It is time to rekindle that spirit and deliver a new era of better health, greater health equality and greater prosperity.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 11

BMA ‘Despair’ at MPs’ Rejection of Workforce Amendment in Commons Responding to MPs rejecting an amendment to the Health and Care Bill1 that would have placed a much-needed legal duty on the Westminster Government to be transparent about the number of staff health and care services need in England, Dr David Wrigley, BMA council deputy chair, said: “Frontline health and care workers will despair at the Government’s now repeated refusal to demonstrate its commitment to safely staff our hospitals, GP practices and other health and care services.

“Any doctor or colleague will tell you that the NHS is desperately understaffed – as will patients who also bear the brunt of long waits and staff shortages. Without a shared national picture of the numbers of staff we need, now and in the future, we won’t know whether we are training enough healthcare staff to meet the needs of the population. It is incredibly simple. Yet the Government continues to refuse to commit to producing such an assessment.

“As we said last week when we urged the Health Secretary to reconsider and back this amendment, supported by more than 100 influential and expert organisations and politicians from across party lines, many will now rightly be asking “what exactly has the Government got to hide”?

“The BMA will continue to vociferously demand better workforce planning for the NHS, and we now urge peers to not let this issue drop, pushing back against the Government when the Bill returns to the House of Lords tomorrow.

“The Government still has an opportunity to listen to frontline clinicians.

Today we have seen ministers compromise on a separate amendment2, providing some safeguards that should help ensure decisions over services are made in the interest of local patient need and not for political reasons.

So, it is incredibly disappointing that they have not shown willing to do the same for guaranteeing we have enough staff to provide safe, timely care.”

The National Association of Care Catering Extends Deadline for the Care Chef of the Year 2022 Competition The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has extended the deadline for entries for the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition to Friday 6 May 2022.

The prestigious competition has been shining a spotlight on culinary talent across the care sector for 22 years. Open to all chefs and cooks working in care settings, it recognises, showcases and celebrates their sector-specific knowledge, skills and flair.

Focusing on the importance of food, nutrition and positive mealtime experiences as part of quality care, entrants are challenged to create an appealing and delicious two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £3.00 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced. The menu must also feature at least one product from Unilever Food Solutions’ sector-relevant catering range.

All paper entries will be judged by a central judging panel and the successful chefs that make it

through to the next stage will compete at the regional heats in June/July 2022. Here they will have 90 minutes to produce their dishes and demonstrate their skill set and knowledge under the watchful eyes of the competition judges. The judges will be looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods they are using and how they benefit the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation, and hygiene best practice.

The two highest-scoring competitors from each regional heat will compete for the title NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022 at the national finals on Wednesday 5 October.

The NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022 competition is supported by main sponsor Unilever Food Solutions and event sponsor The Worshipful Company of Cooks.

For more information on the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022 competition and to download the entry form visit https://bit.ly/CareChef2022

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Operational Practices Helping to Ease Food Inflation With the prospect of rising food costs, Rachael Venditti, Business Development Manager at allmanhall (www.allmanhall.co.uk), the leading independent food procurement specialist, looks at how caterers can become more efficient in their operational practices to ease the pressure of food inflation.

OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND PROCESSES Firstly, consider revisiting your existing operational practices with a real focus on their financial benefit. During the pandemic kitchens had to adapt to an ever-changing environment that was outside of their control and devised systems that could cope with the guidelines laid down by the Government. Many of these changes have remained following the relaxing of rules, but now would be good time to revisit these changes to see if further improvements can be made to enable a more cost effective and efficient operation.

Kitchen practices can be enhanced and made more efficient by reviewing, and where possible improving, your team’s skills, through upskilling. For example, a talented chef who is skilled and motivated in the kitchen will be more cost effective than bringing in pre-packaged products.

Consider reviewing how your teams are approaching stock management to see if there are opportunities to minimise holding stock and reduce wastage. Food waste can be a big unnecessary expense, along with being an environmental issue, whether this is kitchen waste or waste from meals, so review and improve how wastage is recorded and managed.

Give consideration to your long-term capital investment strategy with regard to equipment. Using modern equipment can really drive cost efficiencies. New technologies may seem like a big cost upfront

but will ultimately generate a return on investment as they use less energy, cook more efficiently and support waste reduction and help your catering team to optimise yield.

RECIPES AND MENUS Real impact on food costs can be made through smart and effective recipe engineering, with restricted menus. Now more than ever, it is time to make adjustments that have no negative impact on quality or taste but can shave off unnecessary costs. Recipes are an important way of managing costs, improving quality, managing dietary requirements, ensuring consistency and reducing wastage.

Consider reviewing the product specifications of the products you use without reducing the quality of a finished dish. For example, are

class 1 vegetables really needed if they are being chopped up and put into a dish or could wonky vegetables be used instead. High spend categories such as meat can be reduced or substituted, replacing 95vl mince with 90vl, and vegetarian dishes offered as an alternative.

Review the need for luxury items and use own brand rather than branded goods. Consider asking your suppliers for alternatives for sampling and test your options.

By undergoing a recipe review you can challenge your recipes and assess whether ingredients be reduced or removed without compromising the dish.

Start to think about your menu cycles with the food cost for each dish taken into consideration. You will quickly identify those high-cost dishes and whether they can be adapted to reduce overall menu costs.

Understanding changes in product pricing helps to influence your recipes and menus. For example, eggs and poultry are a particular risk area at present. Ensure you stay abreast of these things and adapt your menu accordingly.

Communicating and sharing the challenges associated with rising food costs with your team and, importantly, your diners is really important. This will help to provide further understanding and will support any menu changes or required tariff increases you are compelled to introduce as food inflation steadily rises and impacts your costs.

Another alternative is to outsource to a procurement provider, who manage suppliers, undergoing analysis and insight updates throughout the year on food pricing, and can deliver dietetic advice and menu design.

Food inflation is a reality for this year. Coping strategies, addressing the things you can control, are therefore going to be key. Re assessing operations and menus may help your catering budgets and food purchases go as far as possible.

Care Home Enjoys ‘Welly’ Good Day of Dorset Delights All things Dorset brought smiles and laughter to residents of a care home in a market town.

Colten Care’s Outstanding-rated Newstone House in Sturminster Newton staged a dedicated Dorset Day complete with recreations of traditional pursuits such as Knob Throwing and Welly Wanging.

To help set the scene, team members decorated the lounge with yellow and white Dorset flags, also known as the Saint Wite Cross, named after the county’s patron saint.

Residents then took part in some gentle rivalry, throwing Knob biscuits at a target and launching Wellington boots into the air to evoke the atmosphere of a country fair.

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A team quiz about Dorset gave residents from different areas of the county the chance to pit their knowledge against each other while local food and drink producers donated Dorset ciders, ales and apple cakes for all to sample.

And with Newstone House built on the site of Sturminster Newton’s former creamery, there was naturally an opportunity to sample local artisan cheeses such as Blue Vinny.

Companionship Team Leader Karlene Duffy said: “Many of our residents were either born in Dorset or moved here early in their lives so we thought we would celebrate that.

“We had never tried a Dorset Day before but everyone was really happy to get involved.

“It all went off brilliantly and the cider and cheese were especially well received.”

Resident Rita Clay agreed, adding: “It was a very interesting day with lots of history, nice food and laughter. I particularly loved the cider.”

The home’s Dorset Day fun was timed to coincide with St Wite’s feast day, honouring the Saxon woman sometimes referred to as the ‘goddess of Dorset’ whose 13th century shrine still exists at Whitchurch Canonicorum near Bridport.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 13

Are YOU The Carer’s Next Unsung Hero?

Once again we here at The Carer are looking for our next Unsung Hero!

A super deluxe luxury hamper will be the prize for the lucky winner!!

March 23 marked the country’s second National Day of Reflection, as people from across the country join together in a minute’s silence at 12noon to reflect on those who have died and show support to the millions.

No sector was impacted as much as adult social care, and National Care Forum CEO Vic Rayner put it very well when marking the first anniversary last year when she said: “In amongst all of this [ The Pandemic] the country turned its focus to social care – often because that is where the epicentre of impact of this deadly virus has hit home. It has been care workers who have borne the brunt of supporting people in homes and communities – day in day out – seven days a week. It has been care providers who have had to change and flex the way that they provide care to cope with the ever-changing understanding of how to provide care in a COVID-19 environment. Critically, it has been people living in care homes who have lost so much – so many of whom have tragically lost their lives to COVID, while huge numbers have been unable to see loved ones throughout this terrible year.”

Regular readers will know we launched our Unsung Hero award 10 years ago when we were celebrating our 10th anniversary, and it proved to be so popular we have been running it ever since. When the pandemic broke, and we began reporting on a daily basis on how COVID and

restrictions were impacting care homes, staff and residents, and we were reporting on a daily basis the dedication of care staff and the difficulties they were experiencing.

So, we decided to add on a few more awards!

And, we received hundreds of nominations each time, heart-warming, heart-breaking and inspirational stories, making it almost impossible to choose an overall winner, so much so that each time we tagged on runner-up prizes!

We are thrilled to announce our latest unsung hero award!

Every care home will have somebody who goes that extra mile, which, due to pressures of work can sometimes go unrecognised or rewarded.

A small gesture on our part and we aim to put that right! Once again, a luxury hamper awaits our next “Carer Unsung Hero”.

No-frills, glitz or glamour, just send us your nomination with a paragraph or two, and please do give a little background/detail of what your nominee has done, and why you think your nomination deserves to be rewarded.

Your own Unsung Hero can be from any department, frontline care, laundry, maintenance, kitchen, administration gardening– we will leave that up to you!

Nominations close Monday, May 2 please send to:- nominate@thecareruk.com

An Introduction from MSD Independent I would like to introduce myself . My name is Mark Durbidge and I have been in the Distance Learning environment for the past 12years and have built this business to where we are today. I started originally with a market leading Company and moved on to starting my own business finding and enrolling people onto the courses.

Our job is to introduce people to our Government funded courses to the Care Sector including Care Homes and Providers. We have enrolled over the years many people , and they have benefited in accomplishing a level 2 NCFE Cache certificate in one or more of our courses. Care Homes and Agencies also benefit as these courses are free through the funding.

As with everyone else it took a downturn during the pandemic as we were unable to visit Care Homes or Agencies , so we started doing telephone and online enrolments. This proved very successful and we are continuing this service and now offering the original visits and group enrolments.

We had a new website built during this time which has also been a great success as it contains detailed information regarding the courses we have

available from Mental Health, Mental Health First Aid, Autism, Dementia, Medication, Business Administration.

Also our partner Colleges around the country supply experienced , qualified tutors to help where necessary students who may struggle a little. This is a great asset to people.

Once people are enrolled we always send out a hard copy of their chosen course and they have the option of writing out the assessment or electronically submitting to the relevant College. The courses have been developed to a very high and informative standard and are highly recommended

by Care Homes and Colleges alike..

These courses are free to people providing they complete them . Colleges do ask for a small admin fee from those who register and do not complete the course.

Please contact me direct if you wish to have more information . I can be contacted on my mobile number 07943 743748 or email me direct on mark@msdindependent.co.uk.

Alternatively our web site is www.msdindependent.com

Fully Funded Nationally Recognised and Accredited Qualifications

We are a Company that finds learners for Colleges and Learning Providers. MSD Independent offer market-leading fully funded

Courses for a wide range of Certificated Health and Social Care qualifications.

These cover a diverse mix of subjects, such as Autism, Mental

Health, Mental Health First Aid, Dementia Awareness, and the

Safe Handling and Administration of Medicines as well as many more. Also we have fully funded courses in Safeguarding, Business Administration, and Digital Services.

The courses are available

through several Colleges we work with so staff will get

access to qualified tutors to help them if needed, plus longer submission times than many providers.

Learners are able to further their own continuous professional

development which may also improve their career prospects and can then progress on to further qualifications in Health & Social care or other related subjects.

Visit our web site www.msdindependent.com Email mark@msdindependent.co.uk

Call us on 01656 502059 and speak to one of our dedicated Team We are here to help

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

What are the Benefits of Comparing Energy Prices for Care Homes?

By Ava Kelly of Love Energy Savings (www.loveenergysavings.com)

If you run a care home, it’s important to keep close control of your outgoings. Yet with healthcare and care home facilities heavily reliant on gas and electricity, these costs can spiral.

One of the quickest ways to reduce these costs and get them back under control is to compare energy prices. By switching energy suppliers, you can make real savings on your energy costs. Here, British Business Energy looks at the key reasons for using an energy comparison service to find a better gas and electricity tariff.

WHY IS COMPARING ENERGY PRICES SO IMPORTANT? Businesses who fail to switch or renegotiate their energy deal will often be moved onto expensive out-of-contract rates by their supplier.

These rates can be up to 80% higher than the average negotiated rates.

If your care home is classed as a micro business, you will receive a renewal letter from your supplier detailing what your prices will be and how you can compare the latest prices. However, suppliers are not required to send renewal letters to larger businesses. This means it’s vital to keep note of your renewal window to find the best energy deals available to you.

COMPARING ENERGY PRICES DOESN’T NEED TO BE COMPLICATED When you compare energy prices online, you will only be required to provide a few simple details about your business and your energy requirements. You will then be provided with the latest energy quotes from a wide range of suppliers.

Once you’ve selected your energy tariff, the entire switching process will be handled for you. This includes arranging the switchover date with your new and old supplier with no interruption to your energy supply.

YOU CAN ACCESS BETTER PRICES THAN GOING IT ALONE Energy comparison services and brokers have developed strong relationships with suppliers. This allows them to negotiate preferred rates with suppliers that may not be available to regular customers.

You will also have access to a much wider range of suppliers than you would when going it alone. This means you could find cheaper rates from a smaller, independent supplier that you wouldn’t have otherwise considered switching with.

With a simple process and great rates available, comparing energy prices could help your care home make real savings on its gas and electricity.

St George’s Day Celebrated by Royal Star & Garter’s Veterans Residents at Royal Star & Garter celebrated St George’s Day. The veterans enjoyed concerts and tea parties to celebrate the patron saint of England on Saturday 23 April.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and has Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

At the Solihull Home, entertainer Debbie Mills sung for the residents at a St George’s Day concert. Decorations were put up around the Home and residents enjoyed a range of

activity workshops, including quizzes.

In High Wycombe, veterans marked the day with a party and tucked into sandwiches and snacks.

In Surbiton, special activities on the day included St George’s Day cupcake-making led by the Home’s chef Rida Diab.

Royal Star & Garter celebrates special days in the calendar such as Burns Night, Valentine’s Day, and other UK patron saints days.

Age Just a Number: Life Story of a 98-Year-Old Care Home Resident Keeping Fit with Daily Exercise Des McDonald, a 98-year-old resident at Signature at Parklands Manor, has been keeping fit with long distance walks and exercise classes at the care home in Chertsey.

Des has resided at Parklands Manor since September 2021 and has been averaging a mile and a half walk daily around the lake, while also joining in exercise classes and fitness activities hosted by the home.

Born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1923, Des became the youngest student ever to gain admission to the University College Dublin, where he studied medicine at aged 17.

Throughout the Second World War, Des was responsible for sourcing, cutting and storing timber to be burned for cooking and heating at his family home. It built him with the physical strength and work ethic that he believes is largely responsible for his longevity and good health ever since.

Des met and married Teresa while still at university, before emigrating to England to begin a career in the health sector, working in medicine and general practice. Des and his family went wherever his work required, including Rotherham, Essex and Middlesex.

A distinguished career as a partner in a health practice followed, and before retiring at 65, Des had helped

innovate the practice with improvements across infant care, child development, contraceptive care, immunisation, chest problems and the testing process for cancers.

Des and his late wife Teresa, whom he lost in 2010, have three children, seven grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, with another one on the way this year.

Speaking on life at Parklands Manor, Des said: “I am very happy living at Signature at Parklands Manor. The staff are excellent, kind and considerate. The management is first class and our manager, Neil, must be congratulated for his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, and the restrictions that occurred as a result.

“We are lucky to have the lovely lake. I like to keep fit, so walk around it daily, and enjoy other exercise classes, doing crosswords, playing scrabble and Rummycub with my friends.”

Judy Urmossy, a Client Liaison Manager at Parklands Manor, added: “We are all very proud of Des. It is great to see him doing so well and truly proving that age is just a number. Along with his fellow residents, Des makes the most of our exercise classes and enjoys the wide-ranging activities we offer at Parklands Manor.

Health and Safety Matters – Keep Up to Date The National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services ( NASHiCS ) focuses on all health and safety matters affecting the social care sector. The association has goes from strength to strength and has a growing membership across many providers and organisations covering the UK. Keeping up to date regarding Health and Safety matters is vital. The more you know, the more you can plan and the more you plan, the less you are susceptible in turbulent times.

Through the association you can Network with colleagues responsible for Health and Safety, share your own ‘best practice’ experiences and hear how others have overcome challenges.

Attend dedicated events, on health and safety at special member rates; and participate in national and local Networkers, Conferences and Seminars, in-person or virtual.

Advertise job vacancies free; and benefit from special member offers and rates from suppliers of goods services and equipment.

Receive regular update emails covering latest developments and safety alerts/news; while giving access to current information, links on key safety topics; and monthly our highly praised e-News.

Matters cover range from fire safety, training, infection control, lone working, falls prevention, first aid to stress, legionella, case law, regulation, people moving people and mock courts to mention just a few. See our website for report on past events – www.nashics.org We have national links with other organisations, government bodies and enforcement agencies. Our aim is to promote and improve safety and health in care practice by providing a sharing and networking forum for debate, and discussion.

Joining NASHiCS is a great and easy way to keep informed and aware. Health and Safety is an essential and matters to everyone involved with social care now and in the future.

Find out more – administrator@nashics.org | www.nashics.org | 07840 160 030

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 17

Music Therapy Sounds like a Big Hit for Belong Music therapy sessions that help people connect, communicate and engage, have struck the right chord with residents at Belong Morris Feinmann care village, who have been creating their own concerts as part of a flourishing relationship with the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins.

Classical cellist and student music therapist, Awen Blandford, is currently working with Belong’s Didsbury customers – many of whom are living with dementia – to translate their personal experiences, memories and observations of the world through the power of music.

By working with them one-to-one and in small groups, the Royal Northern College of Music postgraduate encourages residents to contribute however they please, then closely listens to their movement, breathing and vocal sounds to help build and produce performances with them.

Angela Luckett, cultural and religious coordinator at Belong Morris Feinmann, provides more detail: “It’s very much about our residents and apartment tenants leading the sessions and Awen has been fantastic supporting them. Recently, we performed a cross between Frank Sinatra and a Christmas carol – it was certainly a curious mix and the key is that it was shaped by customers, and that’s what’s important.”

Belong enlisted Nordoff Robbins as part of their ethos of promoting the wellbeing of customers through meaningful occupation in line with their interests. The not-for-profit dementia specialist found the charity to

also share their approach to using music and the arts to unlock memories, reduce isolation and help people regain their sense of identity, no matter what their stage of dementia.

Speaking of her experience, Awen Blandford said: “I’m thrilled to be on placement as a trainee Nordoff Robbins music therapist with Belong Morris Feinmann. What's lovely is connecting with individuals whatever their abilities: whether it be using facial expressions or physical movements to inspire a musical conversation.

“Music is an alternative form of communication, a shared experience, a mood booster, and it can engage people where words alone often can't. I'm looking forward to developing my skills and musically meeting more of the wonderful residents here.'

Angela Luckett added: “The impact on our customers has been remarkable. The music has provided stimulating activity and the opportunity to socialise, reminisce and share happy emotions. It has a gentle lure that brings you in – you just can’t help it. Watching the sessions is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

The collaboration follows a number of musical delights Belong has promoted for its customers. Past endeavours include opera workshops, visits from local choirs, and performances from the renowned Northern Chamber Orchestra and Manchester’s Chetham’s School of Music.

Care Home Residents Turn Sleuth to Solve a Murder Residents of a Winchester care home used all their powers of deduction to unmask a killer who struck during a stormy night.

Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton hosted a murder mystery evening which saw a family reunion become the scene of the shocking homicide.

Colten Companion, Sarah Kingston, explained: “Our residents learned they were part of Malachai Stout’s somewhat dysfunctional family who had begrudgingly gathered in the ancestral home for a family reunion.

“When a storm rages during the night, knocking down power and telephone lines, the main road to the nearest village is blocked by a mud slide making it near impossible for anyone to leave.

“Then, at first light it is noticed that the door of Malachai’s bedroom is open and his crumpled lifeless body is on the bed. Since it isn’t possible to call the police or for any assistance the ‘family’ decides to get to the bottom of the mystery.”

Abbotts Barton residents were given either a character to play or acted as investigators as the clues were revealed.

They had a profile of their character for background and were encouraged to adlib whenever they wanted to, with often hilarious results.

Companion, Immy Fletcher, said: “We had scripts and props and the residents really threw themselves into it.

“Penelope, Malachai’s daughter was played by Frances Burns, whose dramatic licence had the room in hysterics as she handed out boxes of tissues to soak up ‘tears of grief’.

“Penelope’s rather put-upon husband Harrison (played by George Smith) had resorted to drink to drown out the suffering of his marriage – and constantly reminded his fellow residents of the fact during the evening.

“While our very own Barbara Langdon-Mudge played the granddaughter Sabrina and gave the part the gusto and energy expected from a young social media influencer!”

At the end of the evening everyone was asked in turn to decide who had committed the heinous crime.

The consensus was that the butler had done it. But, Winifred Stout, Malachai’s wife played by Mary Short, confessed all.

Mary said: “It was a brilliant evening. Frances was undoubtedly the star of the show!”

Frances, who enjoyed murder mystery evenings with her own family before joining Abbotts Barton, said: “I can’t believe someone killed my father. I was sure the butler had something to do with it.”

While George joked: “I’m not sure I’m going to sleep tonight. There could be another murder.”

Companion Sarah concluded: “It was a brilliant evening. We laughed so much and it was a pleasure to hear so many residents talking about how much they had enjoyed it.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Top Tips to Introducing Exercise for Your Care Residents

By Gym Provider Anytime Fitness UK (www.anytimefitness.co.uk) Giving care residents the opportunity to participate in physical activity should be seen as a major priority. As well as the physical benefits they can enjoy, it can be a real boost mentally and give them something to look forward to during their day.

The health and fitness experts at leading health club provider Anytime Fitness UK (www.anytimefitness.co.uk), which has over 185 gyms across the UK and Ireland, have provided their top tips for introducing exercise in a care home setting: • Make exercise functional – functional exercise is physical activity that aims to directly make daily activities easier. Care home residents that are inactive or sedentary throughout their day can lose both strength and muscle mass quickly which can make daily tasks more challenging.

Simple chair-based exercises such as seated body twists, standing up and sitting down and arm raises can be inclusive for everyone and have great benefits for motility • Make it a group activity - group exercise is a really effective way to

increase the social benefits of exercise. With loneliness often being a challenge for care home residents, group activities give them an opportunity to engage with each other and improve their quality of life. These classes could be led by someone from the care home, or the care home could bring in a dedicated health and fitness expert – it’s important that those leading any exercise or physical activity are always fully qualified and trained • Get outdoors where possible – we recently completed a survey with mental health charity Samaritans which saw people name walking as the most beneficial activity for their mental wellbeing. Getting outdoors and being active will help residents get that all-important Vitamin D which can strengthen bones, as well as the cardiovascular benefits of walking which include strengthening your heart and improving circulation If your care home is interested in having a health and fitness expert from Anytime Fitness, you can contact our Wellness Team by visiting https://www.anytimefitness.co.uk/employee-wellness-contact/.

Hartford Care Celebrates Exceeding £20,000 Target for Macmillan Cancer Support Care home provider, Hartford Care, based in Basingstoke, is celebrating exceeding its fundraising target for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Hartford Care’s teams chose Macmillan as their charity partner in 2019, setting a £20,000 fundraising goal for its 16 care home teams and head office to achieve. The teams are thrilled to have beaten that and raised a whopping £23,346.17 in total.

The fundraising activities included: - A ‘Longest Day Golf Challenge’ undertaken by Sean Gavin, Hartford Care’s CEO, along with three fellow golfers which raised nearly £2,500.

- A gruelling ‘Tough Mudder’ which three of Hartford Care’s head office team members completed successfully.

- A wide range of events organised by the 16 care homes such as a 32-mile relay run around the Isle of Wight, a sky dive, charity car washes, fetes and coffee mornings. There was also a 10-mile sponsored walk and two-day wheelchair push through the New Forest. Two team members also ‘braved the shave’ while several homes took part in Macmillan’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’, which Macmillan organises every September.

Because of Covid, Hartford Care decided to extend the time for its Macmillan fundraising from one year to three years.

Commenting on exceeding its £20,000 target, Sean Gavin says: “This is a remarkable achievement by all Hartford Care’s care homes and head office teams.

“We could not have picked a more challenging time to start a major fundraising campaign. But, as always, our amazing teams excelled themselves by organising events such as drive-through coffee mornings to minimise the risks during the pandemic.”

He adds: “I could not be prouder of all our teams and the way they exceed expectations and go the extra mile in helping others through their numerous events - especially during a time which was extremely difficult for all of us.”

Ryan Howarth, Macmillan Cancer Support’s Relationship Fundraising Manager, said of the team’s achievement: “We are so grateful to Hartford Care for all the fundraising they have done for us over the past three years and the commitment they have shown. The money raised helps us with our vital work to support people affected by cancer.

Ryan continued: “Sadly, the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is increasing every year and that means Macmillan’s support for people living with cancer is in more demand than ever. At Macmillan, we know how cancer can affect everything. We’re here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, but we can't do it without the amazing people who fundraise for us.

“Hartford Care’s generous donation could fund 66 Macmillan grants, pay for a Macmillan nurse for 20 weeks or support our Cancer Information and Support team to run our Macmillan Support Line phone service for four days – dealing with 1,012 calls and web enquiries from people who need practical and emotional support, or help to navigate cancer services.”

Robby Steam & Vac by OspreyDeepclean®: The Ultimate Cleaning Machine, Proven By Independent Scientific Research The healthcare sector requires rigorous cleaning methods to maintain the highest levels of hygiene to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, residents, and staff.

The National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness, first published in May 2021, outline modern methods of cleaning and infection prevention and control, whilst imparting important considerations for cleaning practices during a pandemic.

In principle - healthcare environments should pose minimal risk to patients, staff and visitors. Compliance to these standards are mandatory by April 2022 for all healthcare settings.

How can you ensure compliance?

Invest in a manufacturer who has been guided by scientific research and medical sector expertise to equip your cleaning team with the right tools for the job.

We were the first company to formally assess the efficacy of dry steam cleaning in healthcare environments. Partnering with the NHS and University College London Hospitals, our machines achieve up to a 5log reduction.

The Robby Steam & Vac is an all-in-one machine, ideal for maintaining hygienic standards of housekeeping. The dry steam, delivered at 4.5 bar, eliminates the need for harsh chemicals and the powerful integrated vacuum can be used simultaneously, ensuring surfaces are left touch dry and ready for use, removing harmful pathogens and allergens for fast and effective deep cleaning, every time.

To ensure your care home is properly equipped to deliver hospital levels of clean, we have a great offer, exclusively for The Carer readers.

Our Care Home Complete Cleaning Bundle includes: - 20% off our Robby Steam & Vac - all 21 accessories incl. brushes and nozzles - a black metal trolley for improved manoeuvrability - a cleaning sign All for FREE! To claim this offer give us a call on +44 (0) 1242 513 123 or email us at info@ospreydc.com quoting “Robby Cares”.

The Care & Occupational Therapy Show 2022 A brand new show is set to take the care sector by storm this year.

Inspired Motive acquired the ‘South West Care Show’ during the pandemic and have rebranded the show to make it more encompassing.

With over 30 years of experience in the event industry, Inspired Motive will be hosting the Care & Occupational Therapy Show. The visitors will include buyers from Care Homes, Domiciliary care companies, Care Groups, NHS, Trusts, Individual Carers, and Individual Practitioners also. Attracting 3000+ visitors, it will truly be a festival of business for the care community.

Their goal is to enable companies across the UK to exhibit innovative products that will aid care sector professionals to enhance their brand/services, with 175+ Exhibitors, 30+ Industry Leading Speakers and a Live Demo Area, the show is perfectly positioned to put you on the road to success.

The show will also be appealing to Occupational Therapists as there will be services exhibited by those that cater to that market too, making it by far the largest care event in the South West.

The show has already confirmed impressive keynote speakers from the likes of Care England and Care Quality Commission with more to be announced in the coming weeks. They already have some great exhibitors at the show, from the likes of - Albert Goodman, Motor Tech, Appetito, Nourish, Oysta Technology and Reval Continuing Care. All of the show’s seminars are CPD accredited so you can also earn your CPD points whilst attending the show.

All tickets for the show are free and will be released over the coming weeks. You can keep an eye on show announcements and ticket availability via their website www.careexhibition.co.uk If you are interested in exhibiting your own products/services at the show, please contact Luke Outram on 02045 178 888 or email - luke@inspiredmotive.co.uk.

Driven By Health With care are official show media partners and we very much look forward to seeing you all there.

PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

AHRC Awards Over £100k to Tackle Bonds Between People with Young Onset Dementia A pioneering new research project, which will address the impact of diagnosis on the bonds between people with young onset dementia and their caregivers using creative approaches, has been awarded £113,000 in funding by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The study, led by the University of Derby in collaboration with the University of Northampton, will research the impact of a series of arts in health workshops for people with younger onset dementia and their caregiver(s), with the aim of improving quality of life, family relationships and ability to manage a dementia diagnosis for participants.

Arts in health programmes focused on engagement through music, dance, and museums, are widely used to support people with dementia in later life and/or in care homes, but there has been little focus on using the arts for those under the age of 65 who live in the community.

Researchers at Derby and Northampton will invite two groups of five pairs (a person diagnosed with younger onset dementia and their caregiver(s)) to attend 10-weekly artsbased workshops, with support provided by drama, dance and storytelling experts, and a volunteering dementia expert from Dementia UK. The arts-based workshops are based on a method called Neuro Dramatic Play (NDP) developed by pioneering drama and play therapy Professor Sue Jennings. NDP is an attachment-based model that builds resilience and the ability to cope using creative play. The workshops will draw upon a range of activities, including drama, role-play, storytelling, sound and music making, movement and rhythm, to create images, scenes and stories.

The potential for these arts techniques to be used at home, between or after the workshops with the aid of a personalised toolkit, will also be explored by the project.

Commenting on the study, Dr Clive Holmwood, Lead Investigator for the project and Associate Professor in the Discipline of Therapeutic Arts at the University of Derby, said: “Myself and co-investigator Dr Gemma Collard-Stokes, are really looking forward to working collaboratively with this important group of people and the University of Northampton on this arts-based research, which will meaningfully support the attachment between the carer and the person being cared for.

“Our hope is to take our findings from this initial project and continue to develop this research and toolkit to develop so it can have further national and international impact.”

Dr Alison Ward, Associate Professor in Health Research at the University of Northampton, added: “I’m delighted that this important piece of research with the University of Derby is underway. When we think of dementia we tend to picture older people and their carers and the impact dementia can have on them.

“But dementia can have equally devastating outcomes for younger people and those who care for them.

We hope this important research will improve our understanding of the role art can play in supporting younger people diagnosed with dementia.”

The project will run for two years, completing in March 2024.

Local Care Home Help Community to Become Scam Aware Understanding the importance of supporting both residents and the local community, Barchester’s Bushey House Beaumont Care Home in Bushey hosted a free Scam Awareness Talk on 20th April and invited members of the community to attend.

Bushey House Beaumont Care Home linked up with the Bushey and Radlett Safer Neighbourhood Team to deliver the talk. PSCO Carole and PSCO Thomas from the team attended and gave an invaluable insight into how to spot and avoid the increasingly elaborate scams facing our society today. The talk was attended by residents of Bushey House Beaumont care home as well as from the assisted living and the local commu-

nity.

General Manager, Mary Jane Bague, said: “We are very grateful to PSCO Carole and PSCO Thomas for giving the talk. They gave us information on the latest scams, advice on how to spot them and how to protect ourselves from being scammed. Everyone found it very useful.”

Barbara Peters a resident at Bushey House said: “It was very nice to meet the PCSO’s. The information was very useful and I feel more confident on how to spot a scam.

It was also very interesting to find out more about their role as a PCSO. They do a wonderful job looking out for our community.”

DO YOU KNOW THE CARER’S NEXT UNSUNG HERO? Regular readers will know we here at the Carer have been awarding an Unsung Hero regularly since 2016!

Now, in these unprecedented and testing times we are Say hello looking for another to some Unsung Hero! previous (How we wish we could winners! reward you all!)

Care Home urst of Cloverfield Marion Brockleh

A Super Deluxe Luxury Hamper for the lucky winner!

Court n of Chamberlain Suzanne Goodma

Thelma O’Leary of Fern hill House Care Home

Tina Higginson of Sam brook care home

A no-frills, no glitz or glamour competition - all we ask is for you to send us a paragraph or two nominating your Unsung Hero from any department with a brief description of how they've gone that extra mile and deserve to be recognised.

✓ Do you know our next Unsung Hero?

Email your nomination to us by Monday May 2nd 2022 at

nominate@thecareruk.com

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Empathy Study: Are We Exploiting Nurses' Willingness to Help?

Nurses are empowered by patients, helping, and their own work community – limited possibilities, low wages, lack of respect, and leadership problems, however, prevent them from successfully managing their work. This data is available in the empathy study conducted in Finland by Medikumppani Oy and NayaDaya Inc. in cooperation with the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer) and TE Services’ Network of Healthcare and Social Welfare.

The study, gaining close to 900 responses, was conducted to reveal the Finnish health care professionals’ emotions and the causes behind the emotions in relation to their own work. With the help of science-based empathy analytics, the study showed the impact emotions have on employee behavior, engagement, and resignation.

Among nurses, 38 % expressed only positive emotions toward their own work while 33 % expressed only negative emotions. The respective percentages among doctors were 62 % and 11 %. Polarization of emotions is equally common among nurses and doctors: in both groups 24 % of respondents experience positive and negative emotions toward their work at the same time. Four percent of all respondents expressed no emotions.

The most common emotions nurses feel toward their work are disappointment, interest, and pride. Doctors expressed most often interest, pride, and contentment.

Among nurses, the younger the respondent in question, the more negative the experience seems to be.

Nurses Are not Provided With Sufficient Possibilities to Succeed Among nurses, the most positive and engaging aspects of work are patients, helping people, coworkers, and own tasks. The patients evoke most often compassion and helping evokes pride. Topics that are polarizing, yet more negative, crippling and cause resignations include the overall perception of own profession as well as the prevailing conditions providing diminished ability to succeed at work. Own profession evokes most often pride, but also regret and disappointment. The idea of succeeding at work most often evokes guilt.

Among nurses, the clearly negative topics ultimately causing resignations are wage levels, workloads, lack of time and respect, poor leadership and decision making as well as personnel resources. Somewhat surprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic itself was indicated with a very weak signal only.

These results vary significantly between the nurses and doctors. Experiences, emotions, and engagement levels are dominated by positive topics in doctors’ work: patients and helping, own profession and the meaning of work, significance and respect, coworkers, own expertise, and interest toward medicine. The only somewhat negative topic was the workload. Covid-19 pandemic was not mentioned at all. ”Everybody has a right to succeed in their own work environment. At nurses’ work, the basic human conditions are not met. Nurses are forced to carry the load of guilt for reasons they have no influence or authority over. Their experiences at work are dominated, among other things, by low wage levels, excessive workload,

and lack of respect,” says Chairperson Silja Paavola from the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer).

Empathy – a way to sustainably developed healthcare One step closer to this change is empathy, our ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes. “Through the empathy analytics we understand what strengthens the healthcare industry’s attraction and retention and what, on the other hand, destroys them. Especially, we know where to target our improvement actions.

We now need responsible leaders and actions to change the inhuman circumstances, attitudes, and leadership styles both in public and private sectors,” highlights CEO Teija Koskinen from Medikumppani Oy who ordered the study. ”The empathy study brings visually and concretely forth this multidimensional entity and the challenging systemic problem. The results strongly argue for the fact that the significance of work must be kept as the focal point when organizing work. People are not machines – their performance requires having an experience of significance. We must take this seriously if we continuously want workers for the care giving sector in the future,” notes development manager Ville Luukkanen from TE Services’ Network of Healthcare and Social Welfare. ”The study reveals that helping patients and having good relationships with colleagues have a particularly emotionally supporting effect on nurses. On the other hand, there are many drawbacks that weigh the support down having even crippling and alienating effects. The study raises a question: are we, as a society, exploiting the nurses’ willingness to help and their sense of guilt – or are we providing adequate resources for them to succeed in their work and for sustainable development of health care instead?” ponders CEO Timo Järvinen from empathy analytics company NayaDaya Inc. The Empathy study was carried out by Medikumppani Oy and the empathy analytics company NayaDaya Inc. together with the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer) and TE Services’ Network of Healthcare and Social Welfare.

The emotion data was collected from healthcare professionals through an open online questionnaire with the support of cooperation partners during March 8-March 20, 2022. Total of 866 persons, of which 648 were nurses and 110 were doctors, responded to the study. The respondents had a choice of one or two emotions or an option of ’no emotion’[1] to express their experiences. Total of 1508 responses were given.

The NayaDaya® Empathy Analytics™ is based on the scientific theory of emotions[2], research[1], and algorithm[3].

[1] The empathy study method is based on the pre-existing scientific research independently conducted and published by the Geneva Emotion Research Group at the University of Geneva.

[2] Scherer, K.R., Fontaine, J.R.J, & Soriano, C. (2013). Components of Emotional Meaning. Oxford University Press.

[3] A scientific algorithm that predicts positive, engaged, and prosocial behavior, developed by NayaDaya Inc.

Local Care Home Celebrates the Queen’s 96th Birthday in Style The staff and residents of Hampton Grove care home in Peterborough had a truly royal time marking the date of The Queen’s 96th birthday on 21st April. We were delighted to welcome Queen Elizabeth II (albeit in cardboard) to join us as we held our ‘right royal tea party’ in her honour. Having her watch over the occasion made the whole day even more special!

Head chef and the hospitality team whipped up a tasty selection of freshly-baked biscuits, pastries and cakes for the occasion, all washed down with pots of tea. Residents took part in a variety of

from today and over the years.

We all agree she looks as beautiful now as she did in her younger years.

Krzysztof Krzysztofiak, General Manager at Hampton Grove said: “Our residents love a party and they love the Queen so they all enjoyed the tea and cakes and reminiscing about her reign and the many birthday celebrations they have attended in her honour. The Queen is an amazing lady who has

royal–themed events including watching old news-

been through so much lately so it was a wonderful

reels and catching up on the official photography

way to remember her and pay our respects.”

Belong Appoints New Chief Executive Specialist dementia care provider, Belong, has appointed Martin Rix as its new Chief Executive, to lead the next phase of the care village operator's expansion as it prepares to open three new villages over the next three years.

Rix joins from Norfolk-based Norse Care, where he was Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for services in 36 care homes and housing with care schemes. He brings experience of overseeing specialist dementia and nursing settings and managing operations supporting around 1,600 residents and tenants and a similar number of employees.

He also brings extensive experience of development projects and property consultancy, as a Chartered Surveyor and Civil Engineering graduate.

Chair of the Board, Nicola Brooks, said: "We are delighted to welcome Martin to Belong's executive team. His appointment as Chief Executive followed a rigorous recruitment process and we have every confidence that, in Martin, we have found someone with the leadership

skills and integrity to take the organisation forward into a new era of growth as we emerge from the pandemic."

His appointment follows the retirement of former Chief Executive, Tracey Stakes, in January 2022. Since then, Belong's Chief Operating Officer, Stacey McCann, and Chief Finance Officer, Chris Hughes, have jointly covered the post as an interim arrangement.

Speaking about his new brief, Rix said: "Belong villages are a leading light within the sector, making a significant contribution to driving standards and creating opportunities, particularly for people with dementia.

"With a number of new villages close to completion, it's a very exciting time to be joining the organisation, and I'm looking forward to working alongside an incredibly dedicated and talented team of people as we continue to innovate into the future."

This summer will see Belong open its first intergenerational care village in Chester, featuring an on-site children's nursery fully integrated into the village model. The organisation's first coastal village will open next year in Birkdale, followed by Belong Wirral Waters in 2024, set to become the heart of a dementia-friendly neighbourhood as part of a wider quayside regeneration project.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 23

Holistic Programme to Help Care Home Residents with Dementia Five care homes in Wolverhampton are getting a new holistic programme which uses technology to help those suffering with dementia and other diseases.

Social-Ability, a social venture aimed at supporting the lives of people living with cognitive challenges such as dementia, has introduced a “Happiness Programme” to care homes and day services.

The partnership with Wolverhampton Council and Durham County Council will be introduced to five care homes in Wolverhampton, along with ten care homes and day centres in Durham.

This technology facilitates social, sensory, and cognitive activity, encouraging residents to play games with each other, with the aim of improving their wellbeing through keeping them active and social.

Managing director of Social-Ability, John Ramsay, said: “We are thrilled to announce the further distribution of the Happiness Programme across care homes in Wolverhampton. Our initial trials in Wolverhampton were received very well by residents and care workers, and it is fantastic to see the council commit to further investment in an important area.

“We look forward to supporting even more care homes in Wolverhampton, and to making a difference in the lives of residents and their families.”

Care manager Julie Green said: “The impact of the Happiness Programme at these locations has already

been amazing.

“At one day centre, an individual took to the word search game straightaway, displaying an ability to read and spell that we did not even know they had. We are all overjoyed at the benefits that this technology will have for the people who use our services.”

Dementia is particularly widespread in UK care homes, and the condition is expected to grow in the coming years, more than 920,000 people in the UK are living with dementia – a number expected to rise to over a million by 2024 (Alzheimer’s Society, 2019).

The vast majority of people with dementia are aged 65 and over, accounting for over 880,000 people. However, an estimated 40,000 people under 65 are living with dementia in the UK. John Ramsay, Managing Director of Social-Ability, said,: ‘We welcome the investments from Wolverhampton and Durham councils to bring the Happiness Programme to local care homes and day centres. It is fantastic to be delivering positive, feel-good change all across the country and hear from care staff and residents about the substantial difference the technology has made. We look forward to continuing our relationships with these councils and hope to further expand the programme across the country.’

A Right Royal Brew - Local Care Home Enjoys Double Celebration Magnolia Court Care Home in Golders Green marked the Queen’s 96th birthday on April 21st in style by brewing up a storm for National Tea Day and having an afternoon tea party.

Head chef Crischan Dumaquita whipped up a tasty selection of freshly-baked biscuits, pastries and cakes for the occasion, all washed down with a selection of different teas. Residents took part in royal and tea-themed sessions including writing cards to thank the Queen for her dedication and service. Tea tasting and learning facts about tea growing and production.

Octavian Stanciu, General Manager at Magnolia Court said: “Our residents love nothing more than a good cuppa so they all really

enjoyed the choice of different teas, cakes and events for National Tea Day, and, as a nation who truly loves their tea, it was great excuse for an afternoon brew and a natter. It was also a lovely way to say thank you to our longest reigning monarch.”

Ann White resident at Magnolia Court said: “The Queen is an amazing lady who has given us so much, it was a wonderful way to remember her and pay our respects.”

Tammie Comey, Life Enrichment coordinator said, “As it was such a sunny day we held the tea party outside and enjoyed the garden. We made fruit tea flavoured lollies, it was fun guessing the flavours.”

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

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PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Greensleeves Care Welcomes New Legal Right To End-Of-Life Care Earlier this month, it was announced that end-of-life care would become a legal right, after an amendment was made to the government’s Health and Care Bill requiring the NHS to provide services for palliative care in every part of England.

Care home charity, Greensleeves Care, welcomes this reform as the start of a much-needed societal shift towards embracing the topic of palliative care instead of shying away from what is an understandably difficult conversation.

Palliative care campaigners and charities promote the idea of ‘dying well,’ which in a care home involves not only clinical but social wellness at the end of a resident’s life, through involving their family and having open conversations about their end of life wishes.

Greensleeves Care homes have long since recognised the importance behind this new legislation and are hopeful that it will encourage a societal shift in attitudes towards death and dying. A lack of communication around the dying process can often result in people’s wishes not being carried out, whereas having a clear plan in place surrounding an individual’s end-of-life care can empower residents and their families.

The team at Greensleeves Care home, Mount Ephraim House, previously won a 3rd Sector Care Award for their approach to palliative care.

The award referenced the team’s individualised end-of-life care plans, which are created both with the resident in question and their family and include information such as life histories, care-oriented requests, and funeral plans.

Home Manager, Karen Cooper, said at the time: “We don’t shy away from death in the home - it’s part of life.”

There are many organisations which provide high-quality palliative care training to care settings. Broadlands, a Greensleeves Care home in Oulton Broad, is accredited by the Gold Standards Framework, which aims to enable a “gold standard of care for everyone, with any condition, in any setting, given by any care provider and at any time in a persons’ last year of life to ensure people live well before they die, and to die well in the place and the manner of their choosing.”

Other Greensleeves Care homes are part of what is known as the ‘Six Steps’ programme which enhances end-of-life care through facilitating organisational change.

The charity has also established a working group under the Centre for Quality on End of Life Care, whose work involved a visit to an Outstanding-rated London hospice of which Greensleeves Care’s Chair of the Board, Dallas Pounds, was the former CEO. Greensleeves Care also has its own accredited end-of-life training which is delivered across all homes.

Greensleeves Care’s approach to death and dying is to honour and remember fellow residents after their passing which in turn promotes healthy grieving. Homes will install in-memoriam plaques, benches or murals, or hold events such as ‘remembrance teas’ whereby the departed resident’s life is celebrated.

Residents’ families are also invited to keep in contact with the home after their loved one has passed away, and many even come back to volunteer at the home.

Gareth Harding, Activities Co-ordinator at Harleston House, a Greensleeves Care home in Lowestoft, discusses his approach to talking about death at the home, saying: “We have a memorial garden and have many rose bushes with plaques on that residents are supported to look after.

We will also hold a remembrance service within the home with flowers, candles, photos and the opportunity for residents and colleagues to pay their respects and share fond memories.”

WWII Veteran Paints Famous Care Home Cat

WWII Veteran Bill Gladden, 98, from Suffolk, has been painting all his life and particularly loves painting dogs and horses to raise funds for his beloved Taxi Charity.

On a recent trip to The Netherlands with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, Bill heard about a very special cat who was enriching the lives of staff and residents at the Diagrama Foundation, Edensor Care Home in Clacton on Sea. Dave the cat had arrived at the home as a kitten in 2021 when the Care Home asked residents to share something they would like for a ‘Wish Tree’. Diane, one of the residents asked for ‘a cat to love and care for’ and a little tabby kitten, who they named Dave, arrived.

From the moment Dave came to the Care Home, he really caught everyone’s attention including the BBC who made a video of him which became one of their most watched videos of 2021. When Bill heard that the Care Home was preparing a 1st birthday party for Dave, he offered to paint a portrait of him.

WWII Veteran, Bill Gladden, said, “We were talking about Dave over dinner one evening and when I heard about what a difference he has made to the lives of the residents and the staff I asked if they might

like a portrait of him. I am often asked to paint people’s pets and if they like what I have done all I ask is that they donate to the Taxi Charity.”

Lindsey Milliken, Deputy Manager, Edensor Care Centre, said: “We were over the moon when we received a phone call to say a WWII Veteran wanted to paint Dave’s portrait. We sent a photograph of Dave to Bill, and we were delighted when the gorgeous portrait arrived in time for Dave’s first birthday. Bill has been incredibly generous, and we cannot thank him enough. Many of our residents live with dementia or complex medical needs and Dave has made such a difference to life here. The residents and staff love Dave’s portrait which we will be framing and hanging in pride of place in our lounge.”

Bill will be travelling with the Taxi Charity to commemorate Dutch Liberation in The Netherlands in May, and D Day in Normandy in June and will no doubt be asked to paint more animals by those he travels with.

To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers veterans visit www.taxicharity.org

Member of the Senedd visits Pembroke Dock Care Home for Staff Celebration A Pembroke Dock care service has welcomed a Member of the Senedd for a staff celebration.

Samiel Kurtz visited Pembroke Dock care home on 21 April to thank staff for their hard work and commitment throughout the pandemic.

The celebrations included marking four long-service achievements with two of these staff in attendance - Rich Butler, a senior cook, who has worked at the service since it opened in 2008 and Lin Davies-Thomas, a support worker, who has worked at the home for 14 years.

The pair were presented with prosecco and flowers as well as certifi-

cates as a thank you for their continued support.

Service manager of the Shaw healthcare-operated home, Sarah Lees, said: “With the sense of family that is fostered within Surehaven I could not be prouder of the team here. Throughout the challenging times everyone stepped up and went above and beyond to support all our residents, each other and the resident’s families.

“I am delighted that all staff have been recognised for all they do and that we were able to host this celebration.”

Lakeland Dairies’ Reimagine Colcannon Chef Competition Extended, Offering Winner £1000 Amazon Gift Card Prize The Lakeland Dairies Colcannon Competition has been extended until the end of April.

The competition encourages chefs to create a modern twist on Colcannon and simply post an image of their creation and a brief description of the dish on the Lakeland Dairies website.

One lucky chef will win an amazing £1000 amazon gift card.

Celebrating Lakeland Dairies Irish provenance, Chefs are being encouraged to present their idea of Colcannon and explore Lakeland Dairies range of high-quality professional dairy products; Lakeland Dairies Real Dairy Whipping Creams, Pure Irish Butters or Millac Gold Cream Alternatives for a deliciously creamy finish.

Jean Cattanach, marketing controller at Lakeland Dairies says: “We have been amazed at the level of entries to date but there have been a number of calls for more time, due to the recent pandemic,

so we have decided that we will keep the competition running until the end of April. There is still a chance to enter and win this wonderful prize.”

To help inspire ideas, Lakeland Dairies have created a free Reimagining Colcannon Inspiration Guide, simply download a copy here: https://bit.ly/3uBbShR Judged by Lakeland Dairies and the Craft Guild of Chefs, the competition will consider the creativity and visual appearance of the Colcannon dishes entered.

So, get creative and reimagine Colcannon for a chance to win!

Website:

www.lakelanddairies.com/foodservice

Facebook: @lakelanddairiesfoodservice Twitter:

@lakelandFS

PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

Overseas and Private Investors Eye UK Healthcare Market The UK healthcare property market saw significant investment volumes in 2021 totalling £2.34 billion, with particular interest from overseas and private investors attracted by the underlying demographic shift resulting in higher demand and opportunities for development, according to global property adviser Knight Frank.

The outlook for the UK healthcare property sector remains positive according to Knight Frank’s latest Healthcare Capital Markets report.

Strong transaction volumes totalling £2.34bn were significantly above the five-year average of £1.5bn whilst positive occupancy data from operators in the final quarter of 2021 demonstrate a return to pre-pandemic patterns.

The UK healthcare sector is increasingly being targeted by a wide range of investors, attracted by long-term secure income and more stable higher returns than in many core property sectors with healthcare offering an average annualised return of 9.5%. Overseas capital has significantly increased over the past five years, in 2021 accounting for 51% of all healthcare property transactions, followed by REITS and private property companies each accounting for 19% and 18%.

With portfolio deals accounting for over two thirds of transactions in 2021, the year ahead is set to see an active transactional market with transactions totalling approximately £115m by mid-February including PGIM’s acquisition of six care homes for circa £70m and Allegra Care’s acquisition of two homes with a combined 133 beds.

Though there have been healthy investment flows, the sector is still facing the challenges of inflation and supply-chain issues. The new National Living Wage of £9.50 from April 2022 is set to apply further upward pressure on these averages, especially in the hourly rate of carers whilst the increase in the price of raw materials such as aggregates, timber, and steel as well as rising food and utility costs will also be major talking points in relation to the delivery of quality care facilities. With labour shortages and Brexit also contributing factors, investors will need to focus on inflationary pressures despite the attractive pull factors of the

sector.

Julian Evans, Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank, commented: “We are seeing great growth potential for the UK healthcare property investment market, with the demand for best-in-class properties only set to increase as the population continues to age. As is typical across most sectors now, the properties with viable ESG credentials will be the ones which are most appealing to investors and sustainable in terms of the returns they can deliver.

“However, there are a number of headwinds around inflationary costs and supply chain issues in addition to staffing shortages and the industry is watching closely at how much support the imminent social care levy will provide. Development remains essential to meeting future demand levels and currently quality stock availability is a significant barrier to this, so it is through further development that astute investors can enter the market and capitalise on the sector.”

As part of the Healthcare Capital Markets report Knight Frank surveyed a pool of investors with approximately £50bn of healthcare assets globally under management on their view on the state of the market. Comprising institutional, REIT, private property companies and overseas investors, those surveyed revealed that they have over £6bn in capital available and committed to deploy into healthcare strategies. Adult care and elderly care assets were signposted as the investments with the most potential and the demographic shift emerged as the key driver behind these investment decisions.

Knight Frank expects that the investment momentum into the sector will likely continue as overseas capital and REITs remain active in searching for assets to balance a diversified portfolio along with institutional investors chasing social impact. Investors will continue to pursue ESG based strategies, therefore Knight Frank predicts that due to growing understanding of the social aspect alongside the emergence of the proposition of sustainable finance from lenders, it is likely that healthcare assets will emerge as strong contenders in this space.

Senior Citizens Link With Young Engineers To Celebrate World Creativity & Innovation Day Staff and residents at Barchester’s Cubbington Mill care home in Leamington had a wonderful time celebrating World Creativity & Innovation Day on 21 April 2022.

The residents were super excited to be the first to trail a new and innovative interactive problem solving session using LEGO. Our residents were tasked with creating their very own motorised fairground carousel courtesy of Lead STEM Instructor Maninder Kaur Laxhman, Young Engineers Warwick.

Young Engineers Warwick offer a series of programmes and workshops that provide theoretical knowledge and practical implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Now in their golden age our residents were unsure if they had the skills to create such a fascinating model. On handling each piece they were taken back to their younger days using plastic building blocks.

Maninder was amazing, she guided the group through every step. Working with the small building block pieces was, at first, a challenge for some, but soon they all found the dexterity and motor skills to handle and solve the puzzle. The joy on their faces in completing the model and flicking the switch to see every carousel come to life was ground-breaking.

It goes to show, whatever your age, learning new skills can enrich your life for the better. We look for-

ward to working with Maninder and the Warwick Young Engineers on tailoring future workshops for the residents within each of our homes.

General Manager, Laura Russell, said: “We have all been inspired by Maninder and her workboxes full of Lego! It was so interesting to see how our residents would react and interact with the small plastic blocks, many have reduced dexterity yet excelled with minimal support. Watching the carousels in motion was a triumph for all participants.

Our residents love to learn new things so they were really keen to get stuck in.”

Christine Clarke a resident, said: “I’ve not tried to use Lego since my children were young, I’m surprized how easy I found reading the instructions and managed to get the carousel spinning.”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

We are welcoming new residents into our homes to ensure that we are there for those that need care and support. Please do give us a call on 01926 430 351 if you are looking for care or need any further help.

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

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

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Hygienic Warewasher is Central to Care Home‘s Efficiency When choosing a commercial dishwasher for a healthcare environment there are a number of factors to consider including the plumbing and electrical supply, the financial outlay and the physical space available. Most important however are the industry and individual care-home’s specific hygiene requirements.

Forbes Professional always conducts a comprehensive site survey to ensure that the right machines are specified for each site. They are proud partners with Miele, whose commercial dishwashers are fully WRAS compliant and comply with all the necessary industry regulations. For a care environment, Forbes’ latest range of tank dishwashers enable an impressively fast throughput, which is invaluable for a busy kitchen. However, for some care homes a specialist hygiene dishwasher is required in order to ensure that the highest levels of hygiene are maintained. Miele PG8059 HYGIENE freshwater dishwashers deliver a particularly high temperature final

rinse that is maintained for 5 minutes to ensure the ultimate hygienic clean.

With a default temperature of 85c they more than exceed the Department of Health’s recommendations of a twominute cycle at 82c. During lockdown, Forbes continued to install and service these machines for a number of NHS hospitals as they meet the most stringent hygiene standards.

Forbes Professional’s experienced account managers provide all the necessary advice to ensure adherence to the relevant operating parameters.

Under their complete care package, clients avoid capital outlay and the fixed monthly payments are entirely deductible pre-tax profits. Clients also have the peace of mind afforded by a first-class engineer response service, at no extra cost for the duration of the contract.

Contact info@forbes-professional.co.uk, 0345 070 2335 or www.forbespro.co.uk or see the advert on page 25.

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.

Visit www.cashslabels.com or see the advert on page 23.

Temporary Catering Facilities For Events & Kitchen Refurbishments Mobile Kitchens Ltd specialises in the hire or sale of temporary catering facilities and foodservice equipment.

Ideal for events or to provide temporary catering facilities during your kitchen refurbishment, our versatile units and equipment offer an efficient and economic solution to the caterers’ needs.

Production Kitchens, Preparation Kitchens, Warewashing Units, Dry Store Units, Cold Rooms and Restaurant Units are available as individual units in their own right or they can be linked together on site to form a complete complex.

Alternatively, we can offer modular, open-plan facilities, usually for larger, longer-term hires.

We offer a free design service, and project management from concept through to delivery and installation on site, plus full technical support throughout the hire period.

The standard specification of our smallest

Production Kitchen unit includes a six burner oven range, salamander grill, twin basket fryer, upright fridge, hot cupboard, single bowl sink unit with integral hand wash basin, plus ample power points to plug in Microwaves, Food Processors, Toasters etc. Internal equipment can be interchanged and clients can effectively specify their preferred layout.

We have many tried and tested design layouts and would be pleased to put forward our recommendations for your project.

So if you’re planning a refurbishment or need to cater for an event then why not give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide advice and put forward a competitive proposal.

For further information or to arrange a site visit, email: sales@mk-hire.co.uk or call us on 0345 812 0800, or visit our website: www.mk-hire.co.uk or see the advert on page 23.

Reduce Your Operating Costs!!

The first 10 CARE HOMES to respond will receive a FREE SURVEY to identify potential savings and recommendations for how you can realise: · Precise control of engineering and building services to reduce costs: • Plant room, water tanks, hot and cold distribution, heating and ventilating, lighting · Laundry services to achieve hygienic standards HTM0104 compliant: Optimum processing of bed linen, towels, staff uniforms and residents clothing · Health and Safety standards for your residents, staff and the building(s): HSG220 is the recognised guidance for implementation in CARE HOMES ACoP L8 and HTM04-01 compliance to ensure Legionella control Public Health England Covid 19 guidance on PPE and operational procedures · Sustainability, carbon footprinting to achieve a 'net zero' emissions strategy

Call or Email NOW: 07831 873355 admin@opeque.com Opeque can assist in reducing energy bills, complying with legislation, managing health and safety and achieving a sustainable operation.

Over years, Opeque has worked with various industry sectors, from tyre manufacturing to laundries, schools to hotels and hospitals to care homes, optimising their manufacturing procedures and facilities management.

Applying industrial engineering principles, we address productivity, resource efficiency, quality control, health and safety and asset management, bringing people, utilities, equipment, and buildings together to realise product excellence.

We have worked with many care homes to provide laundry services and water hygiene and it is from these close relationships that we believe we can further assist your CARE HOME to reduce operating costs. or see the advert on page 6.

Just Imagine Being Whisked Away by Rail on an Iconic Steam Journey… Any Time – Any Place!

Escape FIRST CLASS by rail through the misty mountains and glittering lochs of the Scottish Highlands OR wind through the Settle to Carlisle railway on one of the most scenic and impressive railways in the UK, all in pure comfort with familiar faces and a cup of tea to hand...

“The Jolly Journey” creates a familiar and stimulating environment for residents to be whisked away with friends and family in an exciting steam carriage anywhere in the UK. Get your posh frock on, grab your handbag and enjoy the indulgence of the journey of a life time reminiscing about old times of travelling, holidays and sparking conversations about times gone by. Lunch can be served in the First Class carriage followed by afternoon tea and then a Jolly good SING SONG! The ‘Jolly Journey’ is a complete pod that is supplied and installed by our Little Islands team in just one day. It requires just 5 sqm metres of floor space; we can also theme the area around to create a traditional Victorian railway wait-

ing room. Featuring real wood panelled wall with brass luggage racks, ornate wall lights, gold cushions, antimacassars and period memorabilia. A table with brass lamp, opposite-facing seats which are designed to look and feel just like an oldfashioned travel carriage. A 55-inch 4K TV large clear window shows footage filmed in full HD with sound aboard live railway journeys from around the UK. The result is the residents can all enjoy a nostalgic day out day after day. Visitors will come more often and stay longer when joining in a live experience like ‘The Jolly Journey’. Children would love visiting and look forward to an exciting experience as opposed to being bored just sat in the lounge of the care home! The main thing is that the resident’s wellbeing and mood has been lifted supporting their mental health.

Give us a call to find out more information – The Little Islands Team on 0800 093 8499 or visit www.littleislands.org You can view a demonstration at www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEruZVNUV1k

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 97 | PAGE 31

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Gailarde - Wholesale Supplier To MOWOOT II Combats Chronic Constipation The Care Home & Healthcare Sector Gailarde is a family run business established in 1979 to provide household textiles specifically manufactured for the contract trade. Our core principals of putting our customers’ needs first has helped us to grow into one of the UK’s largest suppliers to the contract market.

Gailarde have been successfully supplying the care home and healthcare industry for over 40 years, supplying both the public and private sector. We are proud to hold a framework agreement as a supplier to the NHS for wipeable pillows, duvets and flame retardant bed linen.

Our best selling bedroom collection includes flame retardant and easy care linen, as well as our core offering of specialist pillows and duvets designed with infection control features. Our bathroom range features superior towelling, shower curtains and bathroom accessories.

Our competitive homeware range, features table

linen, tableware, kitchenware and cleaning supplies. We are also pleased to offer inventory, ready-made and build your own packs suitable for housing associations and supported living schemes.

For refurbishment plans and new build projects, we supply a wide selection of furniture, including beds, mattresses, sofas, chairs and dining tables all compliant with care home and healthcare regulations. Our Soft Furnishings collection is ideal for transforming rooms.

By using fabric from the leading suppliers, we can supply cushions and bedspreads through to runners and curtains, in a variety of styles and designs.

As a customer you will have a dedicated account manager, on hand for any questions.

For all enquiries, please give our friendly team a call on 020 8905 2776. Alternatively, please email our care home and healthcare specialists directly: jo@gailarde.com or shelley@gailarde.com www.gailarde.com or see the advert on page 8.

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 reg-

ularity, 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

Herriot by Skopos – A Timeless Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentry Wool-Look Collection for Care Upholstery

Care homes are crucial for our society, so it’s important to ensure they’re a safe setting to help staff carry out the best possible care.

With many family members and friends visiting their loved ones daily, InVentry is essential to track who’s entering and leaving your care home. Visitors are met with a simple signing in process and their information is stored directly in the system. This not only allows you to track who is onsite at any given time, but it ensures an even faster sign in during repeat visits.

You can also ensure that the contractors you have onsite have the skills to do the job safely by asking custom questions before they sign in, with options to include documents they may need to read upon arrival, ensuring health & safety and the security of

your site is always maintained.

InVentry can even help you become CQC and Care Inspectorate Compliant as our software allows you to receive star-rated feedback from those who have visited your care home. You can store this feedback within your system and note any actions taken to improve your processes and procedures!

Head to our website: www.inventry.co.uk or see the advert on page 11.

Consort Claudgen launches Consort Connect app Consort Claudgen have launched Consort Connect app which allows users to have complete control over their heating remotely via their smartphone or tablet. The app is free and downloadable from Google Play or Apple Store. It can control Consort’s Wi-Fi enabled heaters and SL heaters connected to an SLPBWIFI wireless controller. It gives quick access to four operating modes and provides a 7day timer with twenty-four heating periods per day. It is easy to set up and users can configure the settings of all connected heaters on

the app. Users can also view the energy consumption statistics. Other features include a lock function, open window tracking and response capability, and custom automations. There is a selflearning control ability utilising occupancy and temperature sensors, however, this is only available on the SLPBWIFI controller and Consort heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensor.

For more information, contact our sales at 01646 692172 or visit www.consortepl.com or see the advert on page 6.

AKW Launches Upgraded Doc M Range and Installation Compliancy Guide AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its ugraded Doc M sanitaryware range for public-use accessible toilets and washrooms.

Committed to ensuring that compliance is as straightforward as possible, AKW has also launched a design advice guide alongside the range, to make compliancy as straightforward as possible.

Ensuring toilets and washrooms conform to Document M of the UK Building Regulations involves buying and correctly installing the appropriate products. As well as giving examples of how a fully compliant Doc M washroom or toilet area should be designed and installed, the guide also includes the latest AKW Doc M pack options.

There are 10 AKW Doc M packs to choose from and they range from fully compliant Doc M washrooms (including hand dryers, soap dispensers Etc.), to individual toilet cubicles. As well as traditional styling, there are two contemporary Doc M packs that feature stainless steel rails to fit in with any modern design aesthetic.

Designed with hygiene in mind, the packs include an AKW Navlin Doc M close-coupled or low-level

rimless, raised-height toilet pan, a water-saving cistern and direct flushing system. The ergonomic, soft-close toilet seat and the grab rails are also available in a range of colours, to enable high colour contrast between surfaces for those with visual impairments. All of the Doc M packs feature either fixed or fold-up rails, and the washroom options are available with easy to use taps and British Standard BS 8300 wash basins.

Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW comments: “Our upgraded AKW Doc M packs offer specifiers even more choice when it comes to installing a public-use accessible toilet or washroom. Each pack has been designed for maximum comfort and ease of use and also comes with recommendations for how and where to fit the products to ensure compliance. Our Doc M guide has also been created to help make the whole process even more straightforward and can be downloaded at www.akw-ltd.co.uk/documentation/catalogues-brochures-guides” For more information, please contact AKW on01905 823298, email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk.

Skopos recently introduced the launch of the new upholstery collection, Herriot, perfect for upholstery solutions within Care. Four timeless designs brought together in a woollook quality, developed specifically for the contract sector with the added benefit of a waterproof layer, antimicrobial protection and soil resist. Inspired by the natural wilderness of the Moors and Dales, Herriot is a nod to the simplicity and beauty of the Yorkshire countryside, with a natural texture and favoured classic design cues, which bring sophistication and class to contract furniture. Herriot is one of many Skopos upholstery collections specifically developed for Care Interiors and has been developed using new

back-coating technology, minimising the use of chemicals in a move towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly flame retardant contract upholstery solution.

Herriot upholstery fabrics achieve 40,000 + Martindale rubs for inclusion into high traffic contract areas, across all sectors. Sitting under the new Skopos Pro-tect Plus umbrella, with the added benefit of an antimicrobial finish, this collection supports best practise hygiene goals within caring interiors.

Free samples of all of our fabrics are available via our website, or by calling our sales team 01924 436666 or visit www.skoposfabrics.com or see page 11.

Wall & Door Protection for a Caring Environment For 55 years Yeoman Shield wall & door protection systems from Harrison Thompson & Co. Ltd. have been delivering healthcare providers with a solution to costly and unsightly impact damage to interior walls & doors. This proactive approach to impact damage can show a year on year saving on maintenance time and budgets.

Offering a comprehensive range which includes, protection panels, protection rails, handrails and fire rated door protection systems, offered in over 48 colours, gives customers a wide choice to realise functional and aesthetic requirements.

The ability to incorporate colours, signage and images, into Yeoman Shield’s core products can be beneficial to mental health environments be that creating a calming atmosphere or a practical assistance in wayfinding.

The Guardian Handrail can also be supplied in an

anti-ligature option safeguarding service users.

Fire doors are never more important than in a residential setting catering for those more vulnerable.

Yeoman Shield offer a full fire rated door protection system that when installed can prevent compromising impact damage and by doing so extends the functioning lifecycle of fire doors.

To complement these products is the company’s newly launched Fire Door Services giving reassurance to the building’s responsible person by offering fire door assessments, remedial and door replacement works all carried out under FIRAS & FDIS accreditation.

More information on Yeoman Shield’s range of product and services can be found at www.yeomanshield.com or see page 10.

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.

Telephone: +44 (0)1606 593456,

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

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

CATERING FOR CARE Carte D’Or Launches The Perfect Base To Create Flavour-Filled Desserts For Your Residents To Enjoy The key to a delicious dessert is the right ingredients. As a chef, you need quality, adaptability, and versatility, to create efficiency in the kitchen and variety on your menu. Carte D’Or have got you covered with all this and more, with their range of powdered dessert bases offering endless possibilities for your dessert menu.

Carte D’Or have teamed up with Aaron Watson, Head Chef at Primrose Bank Care Home and winner of the NACC Care Chef Of The Year 2021, to demonstrate just how adaptable, controllable and reliable their range can be.

Alongside Executive Chef at Unilever Food Solutions, Alex Hall, Aaron has created a series of recipes that are easy to create and will really impress. These include a refreshing ‘Eaton less Mess’, soft doughnuts, a classic baked Alaska and fruity strawberry ice cream – all made using the Carte D’Or Strawberry Mousse and perfect for a movie night or warm summers day.

Alex and Aaron have used the Carte D’Or Panna Cotta mix to make a rhubarb & custard, black forest, and raspberry panna cotta. All these recipes are quick, simple, and packed full of different flavours –

which is ideal when catering to various individuals’ preferences! Aaron commented: “You have to think of each resident as an individual, rather than thinking a dish will be suitable for everybody. You have to personalise it to each person”.

Finally, Carte D’Or Crème Brulée is used to make an apple tart, coconut crème caramel and the classic Queen of puddings. The latter utilising leftover ingredients such as breadcrumbs, which are usually seen to go to waste. It’s made in 4 simple steps; just whisk, mould, chill and serve your delicious pudding. The coconut crème caramel is a play on Aaron’s winning dish from the 2021 NACC Care Chef of the Year competition and he highlights the importance of having these exciting dishes for residents: “Obviously, the food we put on the plate is a really important part of the residents’ day to day lives, mealtimes are one of the main times of the day, where all the residents can come together and interact”.

To learn more and watch the full recipes visit www.ufs.com/cartedorincare

Catering for Your Residents with Bidfood An estimated 70% of residents in care are affected by Dementia. The term actually describes a group of symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, mood changes, and difficulty with day-to-day tasks. It’s more likely to occur as we age. It’s a difficult phase of life for residents affected by dementia, and it is important to help them maintain their independents, dignity and a daily routine.

The reduction in cognitive function caused by dementia can make eating and meal occasions difficult and it can be challenging to serve the right food in the appropriate way. Some top risks and challenges include: • Risk of malnutrition • Not recognising food • Resisting being fed • Limited manual dexterity • Change in temperament Creating uplifting resident mealtimes tailored to those who are living with dementia is so important as mealtimes are a familiar, stimulating and important part of the day. However, for those who have problems holding a knife and fork, or holding their attention for a period of time, mealtimes can be stressful and challenging. Some of the tips that can make a real difference are: • Stimulating the senses: if residents can hear the sound of food preparation, or the table being laid, smell the food as it’s being prepared, and see activity in the kitchen, the familiar sounds, smells and sights as well as tastes may prompt their memory and help to stimulate the appetite.

• Introducing finger foods: these are an ideal way to help residents retain independence and dignity, making it easier for them to eat with their hands or to eat on the go, whilst walking about. Introduce finger foods over a few days to get the person used to a new way of serving food.

• Think smaller, frequent meals: these can help maintain nutrition levels and are easier to eat than three big meals a day.

• Create memories with meals: themes and celebrations not only lift the spirits, but can help your residents recover memories. Music is a great way to engage residents at mealtimes and spark nostalgia and memories.

• Two finger food recipesFinger foods are an ideal way to help residents maintain their independence, dignity, and a daily routine.

SMOKED KIPPER SCOTCH EGGS: These scotch eggs are a perfect snack to provide your residents. Delicious, and a great finger food for your residents with dementia.

Serves 10 40 minutes Ingredients: Free range medium eggs x 12 Hot & cold mix mashed potato 150g Water 50ml Whole milk 600ml Boned Scottish kipper fillets 200g Natural breadcrumbs 300g Plain flour 100g Method: 1. Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the eggs for 8 minutes. Then cool the eggs down as quickly as possible before taking the shells off carefully.

2. Place the other 2 eggs in a bowl with 200ml of milk and whisk together.

Set to one side.

3. Place the rest of the milk and water in a pan and bring to the simmer.

Place the fish in and poach until just cooked.

4. Then flake the fish into a bowl and add the mashed potato mix. Combine well, and then add the warm milk to the bowl until the potato swells and becomes firm. Allow to cool.

5. Wrap the potato and fish mixture around the eggs and allow to chill.

6. Place the bread crumbs on a tray along with the flour. Firstly, roll the eggs in the flour, then dip into the egg mix, then roll in the breadcrumbs (this process may need to be repeated).

7. Then place the Scotch eggs on a tray and either deep fry until golden brown and reaching temperature, or place in a hot oven until cooked.

BRIE AND BLUEBERRY TART: This brie and blueberry tart is a perfect combination of sweet and savoury. An easy recipe guaranteed to satisfy any resident's taste buds.

Serves 10 30 minutes Ingredients: Puff pastry sheets 280g Brie 200g Frozen blueberries 100g Thyme 5g Squeezy clear blossom honey 20g Method: 1. Defrost pastry and blueberries.

2. Preheat the oven to 180° then grease a muffin tray.

3. Lay the puff pastry out and cut into 10 equal squares, then

place into a muffin tin.

4. Cut the cheese into 10 equal parts and place on top of the pastry, then top with the blueberries.

5. Wash and pick the thyme and sprinkle over the blueberries.

6. Place in the oven and bake until the pastry has a crisp base and the cheese has melted.

7. Then allow to cool slightly before drizzling with honey and serving.

DYSPHAGIA We all love to sit down for a nice meal, but when you have dysphagia, the meal itself can be a danger. Dysphagia is more common amongst the elderly but can affect people of all ages. It affects our ability to swallow which can lead to food or drink entering the lungs leading to significant risk of choking or pneumonia. It can be a common reason for hospital admission for care residents and can even be fatal. Catering for those living with dysphagia means helping them stay safe when eating and drinking as well as helping them retain pleasure in mealtimes. Modifying meals, for example by pureeing, means running the risk of losing up to 50% of the nutritional content, and they aren’t always pleasing to the eye.

Specialist ranges of texture-modified dishes can help here, for example Simply Puree which is available through Bidfood. This range is individually created for people with dysphagia, and each meal complies with IDDSI textures. This means that you can prepare them safely and with reassurance that each one has consistency in nutritional content.

Having dysphagia may mean a person consumes less, so a pureed diet should be fortified to maximise the calorific value of each spoonful.

Instead of using water therefore, try full fat milk or cream, melted butter or oil, sauces, gravy, honey, or juice for dilution. The first taste is with the eye, so to ensure meals are also visually appealing, make up modified consistency foods separately, then pipe them onto the plate while still hot and serve immediately. Use stronger flavours so that the food is still tasty when diluted and pureed, and make sure you taste food before serving- would you like to eat it?

It’s also vital to make sure you’re regularly monitoring residents’ intake closely, including a nutritional assessment and weight check weekly to ensure that they are not losing weight, and are receiving sufficient nutrients. Make sure those who are preparing food are fully trained and aware of the risks related to swallowing difficulties, and the correct way to prepare modified consistency foods, and to thicken fluids for patients with this need.

The International IDDSI Diet Standardisation tool is a global standard with terminology and definitions to describe the texture modified food and thickened liquids used for individuals with dysphagia of all ages, in all care settings and for all cultures. The Simply Puree IDDSI guide is a free easy to use tool to help you understand and cater for the different IDDSI textures.

Read the Simply Puree IDDSI Guide at https://tinyurl.com/bddvdwxj

Support Vegetarians This Dementia Action Week: 16–22 May 2022 This Dementia Action Week, Vegetarian for Life, a charity supporting vegans and vegetarians in later life, is encouraging carers to consider how they support people’s beliefs.

What happens to the beliefs and values of those with dementia? If a person struggles to remember ideas that mattered to them, how do they continue to practice their values?

This year, Dementia Action Week coincides with National Vegetarian Week – a time to reflect on how carers can and should support people to maintain their beliefs.

The charity Vegetarian for Life (VfL) works with vegans

and vegetarians in later life. Many have been committed to meat-free diets for decades, often motivated by ethical desires to prevent harm to animals. Many fear, if they need care, that they may lose their ability to choose diets free from animal products.

This fear is not unfounded. An Inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism highlighted many instances where dietary practices linked to beliefs were not supported in care. In some instances, people who had been vegan for decades were regularly being fed

meat.

In many ways, this concern goes beyond just respecting a person’s past wishes. Recent dementia research has considered the ideas of identity and personhood. Simply because a person struggles with memory, does not mean that their beliefs, and right to hold values, have disappeared.

Dementia research begins to suggest that even when the condition is advanced, people should be supported to interact with ideas and concepts that are important to them.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 30...)

PAGE 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

CATERING FOR CARE Support Vegetarians This Dementia Action Week: 16–22 May 2022 (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28) This may support them to retain a sense of identity in a care setting, especially when interacting with carers. In such cases, the carer actually supports the person to retain a sense of themselves, even as their condition progresses.

Practically, the question remains over how carers can be aware of the values held by those they care for. In some cases, people have families to explain beliefs that have guided a person’s life. However, VfL strongly recommends that people document their future wishes.

In its Self-Advocacy Guide, VfL provides a template Statement of Wishes, allowing people to document their dietary beliefs. This statement includes sample wording, clearly explaining to carers how to support people on meat-free diets if they appear to be choosing meat based dishes. This may involve offering alternative meals and fortifying foods with plant based alternatives.

Alzheimer’s Society also provides a template advanced statement to allow individuals to document their values.

When values are documented, it is important that care providers reference these views and act accord-

Halo Hydration More than 70% of us are dehydrated at some point during the day - this can cause drowsiness, lack of focus, tiredness, confusion, muscle soreness and a dry mouth. We know water is boring, but it’s one of life’s necessities…there is however an alternative. Adding just one HALO sachet to your glass of water makes it not only delicious, but makes it highly nutritious, and makes your water work harder for you!

Instead of trying to drink the recommended 2 bottles of water per day, simply mixing one sachet of delicious HALO Hydration to your glass of water gives you the

ingly. To support providers, VfL has produced a Memory Care Pledge, encouraging people to investigate and acknowledge individuals’ dietary beliefs.

The pledge consists of five simple good practice points that care establishments can follow to ensure that vegetarian and vegan residents experiencing capacity issues or cognitive losses will be offered a choice of meals, drinks and snacks that uphold their ethical beliefs.

Good practice recommendations include offering a resident the opportunity to eat at a vegetarian-only, or vegan-only table when possible, and in the event of an ‘accidental’ choice to eat meat, offering an alternative that upholds their philosophical beliefs. These recommendations are suggested because Vegetarian for Life is aware of vegetarian residents experiencing issues with capacity or cognition, who may otherwise pick meat from others’ plates.

Beliefs are central to our identity and personhood.

Dementia Action Week should be a time to focus on how providers can best support those with limited capacity to maintain beliefs and values that define them as people.

For more information, visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk or call 0161 257 0887. same amount of minerals that drinking 4 litres of mineral water does!

Each HALO Hydration sachet contains a daily dose of Vitamin C, B Vitamins, magnesium, sodium, zinc, potassium, calcium, and an array of trace minerals, with only 1g of natural sugar and ZERO artificial ingredients. These are the nutrients that your body needs to hydrate properly, which, in these amounts, are not found as readily in a modern-day diet.

Sir Andy Murray is a huge HALO fan and says: “HALO is the healthiest way to hydrate”. If there was ever a person to listen to, it’s 2 time Wimbledon Champion and father of 4, Sir Andy Murray.

With summer fast approaching and dehydration becoming a factor for everyone, why not try HALO to help boost your hydration.

Visit www.HALOhydration.com

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL

Robust Testing for Airborne Illnesses Urged Across the Care Industry to Protect Residents and Staff Airborne illnesses beyond COVID-19 and influenza must be part of prevention strategies in care homes to reduce hospitalisation of residents this winter, according to healthcare company Abbott.

While the nation is increasingly familiar with COVID-19 symptoms, as well as influenza, there are airborne diseases that are also putting people at risk. Respiratory Syncytial Virus – known as RSV – is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While COVID-19 and influenza testing are becoming common practice, visitors entering care homes with RSV may go undetected.

The vital role testing plays in protecting both care home residents and staff is supported by Care England, the leading representative body for care providers in England.

"It is helpful to raise awareness of other airborne diseases that care home staff, residents and visitors might be unfamiliar with. Before the pandemic, not many people had heard the term ‘coronavirus’, but increased awareness has helped most understand why safety precautions and testing are of paramount importance in the care sector," commented Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive at Care England.

"We are fully aware of the immense pressure care homes are under as we head into the winter season, but the first line of defence against lesser-known airborne diseases – like RSV – is ensuring care staff are aware of it, increasing education on the symptoms, and ensuring testing is in place wherever possible," added Green.

RSV symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, temperature, sore throat, and wheezing[i]. For those aged over 65, RSV accounts for 175,000 appointments with general practitioners, 14,000 hospitalisations and 8,000 deaths per year in the UK[ii]. There are currently no specific treatments for RSV infection and management is purely supportive through oxygen sup-

plementation; therefore, prevention of contracting the disease is essential.

To detect RSV, care home providers should look to utilise kits that scan for airborne diseases – like Abbott’s ID NOW – a portable instrument used for front-line testing in health settings. It quickly provides results for COVID19, influenza A & B, strep A and RSV, with positive results shown in a little as five minutes, and negative results in 13 minutes.

Gabriela Zackova, director of Dementia and Wellbeing at Loveday & Co Care Homes has recently added an ID NOW testing device.

Gabriela said: "We’re excited to be using this point of care test for our staff, residents and their visitors. Last year, winter was one of the hardest times for our sector, not only due to the increased pressure to keep people safe, but also for our residents, who were separated from the people they love which had a significant impact on their wellbeing and mental health."

"ID NOW is a small, lightweight machine, about the size of a toaster, that will allow us to make even better decisions about risk levels for numerous viruses, enabling us to provide a more robust screening process for everyone at the facility."

Abbott has been a global leader in COVID-19 testing throughout the pandemic.

"While many staff and visitors will self-test for COVID-19 at home before entering the premises, it is vital precautions are taken for other airborne illnesses. By utilising a diagnostic testing device onsite, we can slow the spread of illness, better protect vulnerable residents, and minimise the risk of catching potentially life-threatening illnesses this winter," added Sam Lloyd, general manager, Infectious Diseases at Abbott’s rapid diagnostics business in the UK and Ireland.

For more information on Abbott’s ID NOW testing instrument, visit: www.Globalpointofcare.abbott/idnow

Fragrance Solutions for Care Home Environments At Oxy-Gen Powered®, we understand the sensitivities and challenges associated with the caring business, especially when it comes to providing a clean, safe and odourless environment for your valuable members.

The Oxy-gen Powered range is designed to counter the unpleasant, tough odours that can present themselves despite a thorough cleaning regime.

They are effective for odour elimination, yet safe for health.

The Oxygen-Pro uses patented technology that ensures a precise dose of fragrance oil is released consistently and continuously, guaranteeing the same level of freshness throughout the cartridge life, silently and discreetly. Oxygen-Pro is a true nonaerosol, continuous Fragrancing and Odour Elimination System.

Our air-care systems contain the proprietary odour neutralising agent, Neutra-Lox, which eliminates malodours rather than masking them. We can offer nonfragrant cartridges that simply eliminate nasty odours or a fantastic fragrance range that will not only eliminate those bad odours but will emanate continuous, clean, fresh-smelling fragrances into the air.

The system is easy to use and is Carbon Footprint approved. In an independent study, the product has

been assessed and verified for emissions and energy consumption and was found to have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to aerosol products on the market. Changing cartridges is hassle-free and, more importantly, they are recyclable at the end of the cartridge life.

The Oxygen-Pro system is an ideal replacement for environmentally harmful aerosols, gels, liquids and other fragrance systems. There are no allergens, no added VOCs, no propellants, no solvents, no alcohols, just continuous, clean fresh fragrance all day, every day!

Email: fdtuk@oxygenpowered.com or tel: 01270 766676.

Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry.

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

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which

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

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

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

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

CONTINENCE CARE

Top Tips for Managing Incontinence from Ontex FLUID INTAKE

SMOKING

Drinking sufficient fluids each day is essential for maintaining a healthy bladder. If you don’t drink enough your bladder will become overly sensitive. You should try to consume at least 1.5-2 litres (or 6-8 glasses) of fluids each day.

There are a number of health risks associated with smoking. A ‘smokers cough’ can place extra pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor, increasing your chances of experiencing stress incontinence.

DRINKS TO AVOID

If you don’t drink enough your bladder will become more sensitive to smaller amounts of urine, which means you will go to the toilet more frequently.

It is advisable to avoid certain types of drinks, such as tea, coffee, cola and chocolate, as they contain caffeine which can irritate the bladder. An irritated bladder becomes overactive, which makes you feel as though you need to empty your bladder when it is not full.

HEALTHY EATING Your diet should be balanced, not too high in fat, with plenty of fibre, and contain at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Healthy eating is also important because being overweight can make bladder problems worse.

DEHYDRATION

INFORM YOUR GP

It is a good idea to notify your GP if you are experiencing bladder weakness for the first time or if you already have bladder weakness and it has become worse.

RECOMMENDATIONS: KEEP A BLADDER DIARY Maintain a record of every time you experience bladder weakness.

Ontex Launches New Odobin Incontinence experts Ontex have launched the innovative new Odobin for use in care homes. Odobin removes bad incontinence odours in order to improve the experience of those living, working and visiting your care home.

The Odobin has many important features, which make it the perfect partner for your establishment.

FIVE KEY FEATURES Ergonomic – Odobin allows you to throw away incontinence waste easily and ergonomically.

Fast – It is quick and easy to handle the Odobin – think of it as your personal assistant for removing incontinence waste fast.

Note the activity you were performing at the time, the types of beverages and the quantity you consumed beforehand, as well as the extent of the leakage.

Limiting fluid intake may actually increase the frequency of incontinence. Drinking a total of 6 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day is recommended. Unless advised to do so by your health professional, never restrict fluids to control incontinence.

RECOMMENDED DIET* • 40% Fruits and vegetables • 30% Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods • 12% Meat, fish, eggs, beans • 8% Milk and dairy foods • 1% Oils and Spreads * https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

Hygienic – Odobin provides the most hygienic way to remove incontinence waste.

Odourless – Odobin is adept at removing up to 75 litres of the unpleasant odours of incontinence waste to ensure they don’t hang around the care home.

Silent – The wheels on Odobin have been designed to ensure a silent operation, which is particularly important for those working a night shift who don’t want to disturb residents.

For more information email Ontex at salesandmarketing@ontexglobal.com

Introducing The World’s First Movable Bedpan Disposer Panaway® M1 A game-changing evolutionary step towards transforming waste management in elderly care, hospices and hospitals.

Haigh, a respected leader in waste disposal technology, is launching Panaway® M1 – the first-of-its-kind movable bedpan disposer helping hospitals and care homes safeguard their patients, offering a mobile, cost effective, energy efficient and environmentally friendly solution to medical waste disposal.

Originally developed to deal with issues relating to sluice room flexibility, site access and maintenance response caused byCOVID-19 restrictions, the innovative design has been a game changer helping healthcare organisations rethink their infection prevention strategies.

An estimated 95%* of the UK NHS sites now use disposable medical pulp products for managing patient waste, with disposable (single-use) systems rapidly becoming established worldwide as best practice to prevent infections and crosscontamination within the healthcare environment. Panaway® M1 gives care organisations all the convenience, accessibility and benefits of a modern sluice room where and when it’s most needed - without compromising on safety. Easy to set up and relocate, Panaway® M1 is supplied with all fixtures and fittings required to use in a wide range of locations.

Leading the way in performance, versatility and ease of use, the Panaway® M1 is economical and energy effi-

cient, using less energy and water than other washing systems. With no hot water required, it is good for the environment - and the paper pulp is eco-friendly, hygienic and highly cost effective.

Quiet, quick and easy to use, the Panaway® M1 disposes of pulp product and contents in less than a minute. It aims to make the life of the user as straightforward as possible, freeing up time for patient care.

Panaway® M1 is an invaluable addition as an emergency stand-in when a bedpan machine or washer is unavailable or as a cost-effective temporary solution whilst migrating a site to a disposable system.

Jacob Shepherd, Managing Director at Haigh, said “We have been bowled over by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from Panaway® M1 trials. This is the tool site operators wished they always had when it comes to patient waste and the associated infection prevention procedures. Even sites that do not currently use disposable pulp can see benefits without having to switch from washing systems all in one go.

We’ve already seen some neat ways Panaway® M1 has been used that were completely new to us and we are genuinely excited to see how this further develops over time.”

For more information about renting, purchasing or a trial of Panaway® M1 contact Michelle Marriot on +44 (0)7500 626463 or email info@haighmed.com

PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

CONTINENCE CARE Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth, real cotton and flock backing The Children’s Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a discreet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving, or out and about

Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK. Although a widespread problem, incontinence remains a taboo topic.

Embarrassment often stops people from talking about it, let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them. So, without the correct help and support, the problem often remains unsolved, which has a negative impact on people’s lives.

COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE

IQ CATHETER

Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help sufferers of urinary incontinence. But unlike other providers, our products are often designed and tested by both end users and healthcare professionals to ensure effective and user-friendly solutions that work. This means your incontinence issues can be managed independently, without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on your ability to live life to the full.

Read about four of our most popular product ranges, which are all available on prescription.

SHEATHS We offer 5 types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag. They are made from either latex, or synthetic materials and available in a range of sizes. We also offer skin friendly tapes, straps and adhesives, hair guards, measuring tape as well as Preventox, which cleans and protects the skin, so you are always comfortable and have the best fit possible.

LEGBAGS

We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities.

Perfect for being outdoors, and packed full of unique features and benefits, you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence issues.

The shape of our Discreet Thigh Bag allows for it to be worn high up on the thigh area and can even be hidden under shorts, skirts and even swimwear

Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent Self-Catheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use, soft, flexible and easy to lubricate is essential. That’s where our IQ-Cath shines, plus, new for 2022 are male/paediatric and female single-use hydrophilic catheters which are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use.

Nephsys For people who have had a Nephrostomy, and tubes are already in place, our NephSys system can drastically improve their lives. As well as providing a secure and sterile solution, which consists of an adjustable, elasticated belt; drainage bags and suspenders to secure the bag to the belt in the chosen position, the system is also comfortable and discreet.

For help, support and advice, call 01604 595696, email helpline@manfred-sauer.co.uk or visit www.manfred-sauer.co.uk for more information about each product, or to order a free sample.

Texible Wisbi Smart Care Support Monitoring incontinence of a resident is often difficult and undignified. If that client also has dementia or is liable to fall out of bed, ensuring that they are safe is also challenging and time-consuming.

The innovative Texible Wisbi Home Smart Incontinence and Bed Exit Sensor Mat will detect if the bed has been wetted and send a notification via the free Texible app to the caregiver. This allows the caregiver to change the bedding as soon as possible, preventing pressure sores caused by laying on soiled sheets.

The Smart Incontinence and Bed Exit Sensor Mat also detects if the person has left the bed, allowing the caregiver to monitor someone at risk of falling out of bed.

The Texible Wisbi Smartphone app connects the bed pad control box to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. You can download the free app (suitable for both Android and Apple devices) and you will be able to see both the continence and occupancy status of your loved one at all times, wherever you are. This gives you

peace of mind and allows you to carry on your day, or get a good night’s rest, without constantly stopping to check your resident or worrying if they are ok.

For bed users who can toilet themselves, the app allows you to adjust the amount of time that your resident is out of the bed before it alerts you, so that it only sends the caregiver a notification if the user has been out of bed for more than the normal time.

Texible Wisbi is hygienic, washable and very easy to use. The sensor mat can be machine washed at 95°c, and each mat has a lifetime of 100 washes. The pad will absorb up to 700ml/m², providing excellent absorption.

See the advert below or visit www.willowdesign.uk.com for further details.

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING

Smart Synergy: Why Two Leading-Edge Technologies Are Set To Transform Care

By Stuart Barclay, UK Sales Director, Vayyar Care (info.vayyar.com/careTC2) COVID-19 derailed the plans of many start-ups and for a technology supplier serving the nursing home sector, the challenge might well have proved insurmountable.

Unable to physically access care homes, Arquella was prevented from piloting or deploying their cuttingedge nurse call system, the only such solution featuring a unique embedded care app. Fortunately, the company was able to use the enforced hiatus wisely, by integrating Vayyar Care’s transformative touchless technology.

Arquella instantly saw the value of Vayyar Care’s unprecedented fall detection accuracy, its ability to gather rich activity data, and easy interoperability. The convenience of its app-based functionality was also key. It would allow carers to receive real-time updates on their mobile devices, allowing them to work more efficiently and react more rapidly to emergency scenarios.

In fact, enhancing staff effectiveness is a core purpose of the integrated offering. Since the start of the pandemic, care providers have had to do much more with severely limited resources. Vayyar Care’s recent survey of the sector confirmed that staff recruitment and retention is the most significant challenge for two-thirds of care providers.

Data revealing response times and how long staff spend in rooms will allow them to receive the support they need to do what they do best, increasing long-term employee satisfaction.

The response from Arquella’s customers has been exceptionally positive. They intuitively understand the benefits and appreciate the opportunity to replace legacy devices such as floor mats that trigger frequent false alerts, wasting time that frontline carers can ill afford. That’s why the accuracy of Vayyar Care’s fall detection is a true game changer — for both staff and residents.

Older adults are far more safety-conscious and technologically aware than they were just a couple of years ago.

They now demand fall alert and monitoring solutions that ensure safety without compromising their dignity, privacy and independence. What’s more, they’re no longer willing to settle for solutions such as hard-to-reach buttons and cords, wearables that often cause embarrassment, or cameras that inevitably intrude on their personal spaces.

The pace of digital transformation in care is increasing, partly thanks to the efforts of CQC and the government, and partly due to the challenges presented by COVID. Communities must ensure that care is person-centred and enables proactive interventions and to do so, they need solutions that automatically gather real-time data which can easily be shared between caregivers. That data will also be used to demonstrate the quality of care and its outcomes.

The sector requires data-driven, digital alternatives to outdated analogue technologies and Arquella is a key player in the ecosystem we’re enabling. The company is looking forward to its first in-market installation in the coming months, supported by distributor Panacea Healthcare Group.

The offering will play a pivotal role in transforming operations for care homes across the UK and unlocking true personalised outcomes for residents.

To find out more, please email me at stuart.barclay@vayyar.com

Why 4,438 Daily Falls in UK Care Homes Deserve Our Attention A’ “Responding to falls in care homes: two innovations” report by Dr Mark Hawker and River Rea from Involve, discussed how best practice in post fall management can provide time and cost savings to the wider health and social care system.

Combining benefits of assistive lifting technology and video-based clinical support could return costs savings of up to £3,911 per fall, whilst also safeguarding residents’ lives.

Across the 15,000 + care homes registered by the Care Quality Commission there are between 270,000 – 1,620,000 falls per year. As one of the most frequently reported accidents among residents, falls represent a pressing issue for providers of care, particularly as demand for places is expected to rise as the population ages.

Author, Dr Mark Hawker says, “the risk factors for falls in care setting are diverse and the multiplicity of elements influencing the likelihood of falls makes them incredibly difficult to eliminate entirely. For the individual, the consequences of a fall are numerous and distressing, while the repetitive lifting requirement of carers puts them at risk of musculoskeletal injury.

“The pilot studies we’ve examined demonstrate that by giving care home staff the tools to empower

safe lifting reduces the time residents spend on the floor after a fall waiting for an ambulance and help to arrive. Organised and safe post fall care is better for the resident and more cost effective for the NHS.” The report goes on to discuss the importance of reducing the risk of spreading infectious diseases by eliminating avoidable contacts. There are clear benefits of using technologies that reduce the number of external contact such as those that would be required to pick up a resident following a fall. While difficult to quantify, the reduction of contacts with healthcare workers such as paramedics, GPs and district nurses with residents is seen as essential during a pandemic.

Mangar Health CEO Simon Claridge adds, “we have been working with NHS Ambulance Trusts for nearly 20 years and yet this report has been incredibly eye opening for us. We know lifting fallen care home residents is a daily challenge to prioritising ambulance calls, yet equipment and technology could easily lift the considerable pressures they are under and save the NHS millions annually.

“We would like to call on NHS England, NICE and CQC to review the dynamics involved in a resident fall detailed in this report and consider alternative care models in a post pandemic environment.”

Falls Prevention Programme Features in World Health Organization Report A trailblazing programme designed to reduce falls in older people has received international recognition after being highlighted in a World Health Organization report.

The Falls Management Exercise programme (FaME) targeted those at risk of falls in Leicestershire, Rutland and Derby, delivering specialist classes led by postural stability instructors over the course of 24 weeks.

The classes were shown to improve balance, walking speed and reduce fear of falling, all the while helping to increase physical activity and reduce falls. Those taking part were also provided with techniques for getting down and up from the floor, should they have a fall.

The success of the initiative, which saw the number of falls reduce over time, led to a blueprint being developed to allow health providers roll out the programme across the country.

Now the FaME project has been given a global platform after being featured in the World Health Organization’s Step Safely report, which is designed to support practitioners, policy-makers and researchers in the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries.

It identifies that each year in England, more than 200,000 emergency hospital admissions and four million bed days result from falls and

fractures among those aged 65 years and over, costing the health service approximately £2b.

With the NHS facing pressure as a result of falls, researchers from the University of Nottingham put together an Implementation Manual for Commissioners to allow the FaME programme to be rolled out across other areas. They estimate widespread adoption of FaME could save the NHS more than £700m.

The research was funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands.

Following publication in the WHO report, those behind the FaME programme are delighted the initiative could have a far-reaching, global impact.

Dr Liz Orton, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and Consultant in Public Health, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better platform to share the impact of the FaME classes, which have been several years in the making and have shown such positive, encouraging results.

“Exposure in the WHO report is hugely beneficial - the more people working in this field who hear about this preventative programme, the better.”

Professor Adam Gordon, Professor of the Care of Older People, University of Nottingham and Lead for the Building Community Resilience and Enabling Independence theme for ARC East Midlands, added: “We’re extremely proud to have been part of a project which is now receiving world-wide recognition and is being showcased to clinicians and researchers working at the forefront of this field.

“With the blueprint now in place for other areas to implement FaME, we look forward to seeing its impact on those vulnerable to the often debilitating effects of a fall.”

NIHR ARC East Midlands funds vital work to tackle the region’s health and care priorities by speeding up the adoption of research onto the frontline of health and social care. The organisation puts in place evidence-based innovations which seek to drive up standards of care and save time and money.

NIHR ARC East Midlands is hosted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and works in collaboration with the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network. It has bases at University of Leicester and University of Nottingham.

PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Silent Running Assistive Technology Tranquility in Care Homes 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 philosophy 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.

Edison Telecom - Specialist Solutions For Your Nurse Call Systems We here at Edison Telecom Ltd have been providing specialist solutions to your call system requirements tailor-made to each customers needs for over 25 years, says director Bob Johnson.

Is your current Nurse Call “legacy”, obsolete, so full of software bugs or commercially not viable for your current supplier/maintainer to maintain?

We may have just the part and expertise that you are looking for to give your nurse call a further extension to life, adds Bob, “Edison will treat your nurse call with the same compassion that you give to those in your care. There will come a time when your equipment is beyond repair but Edison are experts in extending the life of obsolete systems.” www.edisontelecom.co.uk

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

A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers. The University recommends “fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building. Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is. At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person’s ability to concentrate. It can affect their attention levels and capacity to

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

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

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

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

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

www.nursecallsystems.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 45

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 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

44% of Care Employees Are Considering a Job Change This Year Close to one in every two care sector employees are thinking about a role change this year, according to new research published by workforce software company Sona.

In a survey of 750 staff working in care in the UK, 30% said they are looking at a new role within care, and 14% could quit the sector entirely. Given the existing employment gap in care, these figures suggest that providers should be looking to ease the burden on their recruitment teams by prioritising programmes to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Respondents were asked which aspects of their work they feel are very important in any decision to switch employers. Salary (62%) came third, after relationships with residents and patients (63%), and more flexible schedules (62%).

The research showed a clear correlation between working patterns and satisfaction at work. 54% of staff with more unpredictable hours are considering a job change this year, compared to 39% of those with predictable hours. Almost 20% of respondents who work unpredictable hours are considering leaving the sector.

The findings were revealed as part of Sona’s Rethinking Retention report, which also looked at the factors most likely to make staff feel happy about working for their current employer. More recognition from management (92%), better internal communication (91%), having more freedom to choose their working patterns (90%), and better mental health support for employees (90%) were top of the list.

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.

Richard Upshall, Product Director for Health and Social Care at Sona, said: "The possibility of more staff leaving the sector is very concerning given that recruitment is already a big challenge. However, our research shows that the most important contributors to happiness at work are all things employers can control. The status quo is clearly not sustainable, so providers should give themselves permission to radically rethink how they support, engage and motivate their staff. That includes looking at the role technology can play in creating more flexible working patterns, enhancing team communication and recognition, and supporting staff wellbeing.”

For more information, please visit www.getsona.com/rethinking-retention

ABOUT SONA Sona’s mission is to put technology in the hands of frontline staff that transforms how they manage their work and engage with their employer. Designed for the specific needs of modern care organisations, Sona’s ‘people operating system’ combines powerful productivity tools with a sleek, simple and intuitive user experience. Features include live schedule view, absence management, instant messaging, and an innovative shift booking platform that matches shift vacancies with employees willing to take on more hours. Trailblazing providers are revolutionising the way they manage, engage and retain their staff with Sona. Customers include Advinia Healthcare, Creative Support, and Praxis Care. www.getsona.com 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

PAGE 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Autonomy and Consent in Care Sam Hussain, Founder and CEO of the care management platform Log my Care, delves into the importance of consent in social care.

Too often in care settings we hear the question “Why did no one tell me?” No care provider wants their clients to feel unheard or uninformed, that’s why autonomy in care is so important.

In many care situations, service users may already feel like they’re losing control simply because of the circumstances that led them to seek support. Involving them in decision-making around their care can help them retain as much autonomy as possible.

REDUCE RISK Although there’s an element of risk with every activity in care, by giving consent, a client accepts those risks.

For care providers, a signed record of this consent can be invaluable, should those risks become reality.

Not getting consent right can lead to complaints, criminal liability and more. However, consent obtained correctly can protect those providing care.

IMPROVE CARE QUALITY AND BE PERSON-CENTRED

Consenting to care means that people are at the heart of the plans put in place to support them. This is an opportunity to initiate discussions with clients about the care that might benefit them, and help tailor care plans to suit them.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT Finally, having a record of consent is a legal requirement that regulatory bodies, like the Care Quality Commission or the Care Inspectorate, check diligently, and will affect how they evaluate a care service as a whole.

HOW LOG MY CARE CAN SUPPORT YOU TO MANAGE CONSENT Log my Care’s consent management feature allows care providers to easily manage their clients’ consent records. Service users can digitally sign consent and lack of capacity forms directly on the platform and reminders can be scheduled to review these records at a later date.

See the advert on this page for further details.

‘Work Smarter’ To Tackle Care Recruitment Crisis, Advises Bizimply The recruitment crisis continues to hit care homes hard. According to the latest ONS figures, to 31 March this year, vacancies in the health & social work sector, which includes care, stood at 216,000 – a 6.5% increase on the previous quarter and massive 65% up on the previous year. Care home owners and managers are learning how to run their business with a staff vacancy rate that is here to stay for a while.

Conor Shaw, CEO at workforce management specialists Bizimply, says: “Tackling the staffing crisis means ensuring your teams are working not harder, but smarter.

“Technology such as ours can be really helpful, allowing managers to create staff rotas and payroll easily and quickly, so they can spend more time with their teams, which raises morale and motivation. It can also

reduce the reliance on agency staff to fill the gaps.

“The other benefit is that managers can give staff members their shift patterns further in advance, putting an end to last-minute requests to work.

Improving your employees’ work-life balance can go a long way to making them feel more valued in their job and less likely to leave.”

Shaw adds: “Nobody chooses a career in care to spend hours on administration. By automating routine tasks, care home managers and staff can concentrate on doing 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: https://www.bizimply.com/health-care/

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 49

CYBER SECURITY How To Prevent Phishing Cyberattacks In Your Care Facility are because of actions inadvertently taken by employees.

Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated than ever and email recipients are finding it increasingly difficult to spot imposter emails.

Whilst you have little control over what’s happening externally with BEC, there are some steps that you can take to help prevent this cyberattack impacting your business.

Implement the five tips below to help prevent Business Email Compromise in your care business:

1 MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Cyberattacks are on the increase and a favourite and growing approach is via email, which we call phishing. Cyber security company Nexor reported that there was a 31% increase in cyber related cases across May and June 2020, with the healthcare sector amongst one of the most targeted industries.

According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 carried out

by Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, among the 38% of small to medium sized businesses identifying a breach or attack, 83% had phishing attacks, 27% were impersonated attacks and 16% had malware (including ransomware).

There are many forms of email phishing, but they all have one thing in common – to cause disruption to your business. One form of phishing attack known as ‘business email compromise’ uses compromised email credentials or imitates a legitimate email address in order to encourage the recipient to take action. It’s usually targeted at an individual or small group and relies upon the ability to look like someone in a senior position within a company or a trusted external provider. The aim of the attack could be to transfer funds, make a payment or share sensitive information – patient data for example. It’s exceptionally easy to fall prey to business email compromise or any phishing attack.

In fact a report by Beazley PLC, highlighted that a staggering 90% of data breaches occurring in the UK in 2019 were caused by human error! This means that most incidents that occur in a business setting

Introduce multi-factor authentication into your systems. This is an authentication method that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors in order to gain access to a resource such as an application or online account.

MFA will protect the user and therefore your business from an unknown person trying to access data, such as patient data, personal information or financial details.

In addition to this, you could also create a rule for all new emails that come into the business from external sources. With this in place all external emails would be clearly identified, acting as an additional prompt for the recipient to make sure it’s a legitimate email.

SET UP Take a close look at the procedures in place for the set-up of new accounts. How do you verify their details and address? Look at how you manage any changes they request, to ensure that they are genuine.

IS IT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR CYBER RISK?

2 STAFF TRAINING Carry out staff training on how to detect and avoid phishing emails.

The Barnes Risk Management Hub has online learning resources that can be utilised for this purpose, and is an easy way to educate staff in what to look out for.

3 REINFORCE FUND TRANSFER/PAYMENT PROCEDURES Review and reinforce your fund transfer and payment procedures to identify areas that may be vulnerable. This could involve an authentication requirement for people or businesses that are not within your network.

At Barnes Commercial, we can help with a comprehensive risk review, including your vulnerability to cyberattacks and create a programme of covers that are best suited to your needs. As an independent broker we provide completely impartial advice on the best solution for your specific needs.

Telephone 01480 272727 Email: enquiries@barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk www.barnesinsurancebroker.co.uk

4 LIMIT USERS Reduce or limit the number of people that can authorise financial transfers and payments. The fewer people with the ability to carry out these tasks, the lower your risk of compromise becomes.

5 REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR SUPPLIER/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT

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 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & TRAINING

THEMA Healthcare

"I have got 12 years experience in the care industry working in different settings as a nurse or nurse manager. During this time I have realized and understood what clients expect from a truly reliable healthcare professional.

"With this in mind, we aim to provide to our clients the people for the job. Our goal is to create long term business relationships with our clients based on trust and providing high efficiency services as we will take time to listen and understand what is important to our clients.

"Understanding the importance of flexibility, continuity and stability we will always have the best interest of both client and our staff at heart.

Claudiu Nicolae Burtica, Director, Thema Healthcare THEMA Healthcare Ltd. supplies Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants to Care Homes, Rehabilitation Centres, Hospitals, Private Clinics, GP

Surgeries and Domiciliary Care Providers.

At THEMA Healthcare we complete full checks on all our staff and we make sure their mandatory training is up to date.

We offer exclusive contracts which means you will get the same staff.

We cover short notice calls (without a contract with us) but we also offer the option for lock booking our staff for longer periods, days, weeks or even months in advance.

THEMA Healthcare covers for short notice sickness, summer holidays period, annual leave, long term sickness and we help care providers until they recruit their own staff.

07894070385 info@thema-healthcare.co.uk www.thema-healthcare.co.uk

Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate?

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

Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges presented by working in a difficult sector. Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead However, it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring.

Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia, or changes to the legislative framework, there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with.

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

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

So why choose Step Up Training and Care?

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

At Step Up Training and Care, we know people are busy, work long hours and that a set 9-5 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers. We can tailor our learning programmes to meet individual needs, time our training to meet business commitments, working shift patterns and around family life.

Zoom Boom is here to stay, and we can accommodate teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom, remote, assessor based, one to one training sessions. Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector, hence our flexible approach.

We empower people to learn.

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

T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk

STEP UP Training and Care At Step Up Training and Care we offer: • Tailored learning journeys and programmes • A flexible blended approach of one to one, in-house, classroom, practical assignments and online assessment methods • Training that will lead to higher quality of care delivery • Training led by tutors and assessors who are specialists in health and social care • Level 3 diplomas that are accredited to Highfield Qualifications

T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 97 | PAGE 51

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & TRAINING 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?

Solicitude Training Training packages are engaging and bespoke to individual organisations to ensure that they are relevant to that particular service and therefore optimise learning and include accredited as well as awareness courses. Solicitude Training is a registered centre with Qualsafe.

Training can be delivered virtually, face to face or via e-learning or through a combination. The benefit of using a blended approach is that it can reduce delivery time (and therefore cost), but knowledge can be checked during the face to face delivery, to ensure that not only have the staff gained the knowledge, but that they can apply it to practice.

E-learning courses are flexible, can be done from the comfort of the individual staff members own home and at a time that suits them. This enables all individuals to learn at their own pace, without any pressure, to keep up with other staff. The on-line courses are designed to be engaging, interactive and

• 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 relevant to the individual to help staff learn and retain knowledge and so content is designed to enable staff to relate theory to practice.

A well-trained workforce is an essential requirement to enable outstanding care to be delivered and these e-learning courses are designed to support the whole employee life cycle from induction through to career development, which in turn empowers staff to feel valued and continue their personal and professional development.

E-learning enables services to ensure that all staff are compliant with their training in a cost effective and timely manner. With multi-buy discounts available, this enables services to reduce costs and budget for the years training. Packages can also be purchased that facilitate blended learning, enabling all learning styles and needs to be accommodated.

For further information you can contact Solicitude Training on: Tel: 01256 242272 Email: info@solicitudetraining.co.uk Website: www.solicitudetraining.co.uk

Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance

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