The Carer Digital - Issue #99

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

W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M

The Carer Digital

THECARERUK

THECARERUK

Issue 99

The Queen's Speech Another “Missed Opportunity” for Social Care Organisations and sector leaders from across health and social care have expressed their disappointment and frustration at the lack of legislation on social care in the government’s priorities for the year ahead but have welcomed the government’s plans to reform and overhaul the 1983 Mental Health Act. Care England has expressed disappointment at the failure to mention social care in the Queen’s Speech is a clear indication that social care does not have a

high enough priority in the Government’s agenda. Social care can be an important mechanism to deliver, both economic regeneration and levelling up. Care England said it believes that the Government needs to connect its various strategies and social care should be a theme that runs through the Government’s agenda for recovery.

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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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

It was disappointing but not surprising that the government failed to mention adult social care in yesterday’s (May 10) Queen’s Speech.

In last week’s issue we included a plea from campaigners in the sector, who called on the Government to add bold social care reform to the Queen’s Speech to demonstrate to the sector and to the wider country that adult social care was not being left to crumble.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) expressed concern that the Government believes it has ‘got social care done’ and is moving on.

ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “Social care is in crisis and the sector is struggling to deliver care to the millions of older and vulnerable adults who need it.

“We need to see some bold new proposals to save, revive and restore the sector and to properly reward those amazing staff who provide care.

“At least 1.6m people are living without the care they need, care and nursing homes and homecare agencies are closing and the whole sector is facing the worst staffing crisis in living memory. The care we deliver to the most vulnerable is suffering as a result.

“We desperately need to see in the Queen’s Speech that the reforms outlined in the Health and Care Bill are just the start and that the root and branch reform the sector needs is coming next.”

Yet there was no mention or reference to adult social care.

This is despite a survey which revealed that social care vacancies have continued to rise and remain above pre-COVID levels. After decreasing during COVID, vacancies are increasing and stood at 10.3% in April 2022, compared with 6.1% in April 2021.

It is rather astonishing, since the Migratory Advisory Committee (MAC) only a week ago called on the government to pay care workers a higher minimum wage of £10.50 and made permanently eligible for work visas under immigration rules to help tackle staff shortages, according to Government advisers.

The committee, which briefs ministers on immigration policy, urged the Government to adopt a string of recommendations “as soon as possible” in order to “alleviate the challenges facing the social care sector”.

I really don’t think that could have been plainer! Unfortunately the public seem to be nothing more than “soundbites”, after which as independent Care Group pointed out, the sector gets forgotten and left behind.

Editor

Peter Adams

The government will have to address the elephant in the room. There are mounting concerns from the public regarding adult social care with, according to reports, families increasingly opting to provide care themselves.

While I do accept that families will have the interests of a loved one at heart, attempting to look after a loved one at home is not without its challenges.

Particularly for family members who have multiple debilitating conditions.

Our ageing population need to be cared for by skilled staff who are engaged, understand the particular needs of older people and have time to care, which is not always the case with busy family environments.

So while the Queen’s Speech yesterday was a missed opportunity there will come a point when the government will have to get off the fence and provide dedicated funds, particularly to recruit and retain staff.

THE RESIDENTIAL & HOME CARE SHOW At the time of writing this today there are just 6 days left to the Residential and Home Care show at London’s Excel - www.healthpluscare.co.uk/Residential This is the first Residential and Home Care Show since 2019!

We here at THE CARER did exhibit at care shows late 2021, however that literally was within weeks of the country climbing out of lockdown.

They were great events, but a little subdued. People were rightly cautious.

Not so much now, so I do anticipate a very busy show. We, of course, are exhibiting and we warmly welcome you to our stand C15.

Tradeshows are a wonderful opportunity for us as publishers to get feedback.

We have always enjoyed a very busy shows, interacting with the sector on a multitude of levels – from frontline care workers, senior management, to multiple home providers, industry observers and professional organisations and of course suppliers and buyers.

So please do stop by!

LAST WEEK FOR UNSUNG HERO NOMINATIONS! This week is the last week for our Unsung Hero Award. We have extended a few days simply due to staff illnesses, and Friday, May 20 is the last day to get your nomination in!!!

Every home has one (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 at nominate@thecareruk.com Once again we are delighted to have received more heartwarming and uplifting stories from residential and nursing care settings around the country please do keep them coming to editor@thecareruk.com

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WEBSITE: www.thecareruk.com EDITOR Peter Adams SALES EXECUTIVES Sylvia Mawson David Bartlett Guy Stephenson TYPESETTING & DESIGN Matthew Noades PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Charlene Fox Published by

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 3

The Queen's Speech Another “Missed Opportunity” for Social Care (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST OVERLOOKED Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “The Queen’s Speech was an opportunity for the Government to set out the plan for further Social Care Reform, and to offer additional resources for a sector that needs further Government support in order to build back sustainability and capacity after the Covid pandemic. The lack of mention or reference to adult social care in this year’s State Opening of Parliament leaves a bitter taste for the care sector. The Government has set out its plan to fix social care, but with no mention of continued reform or additional financial support for adult social care, the Government has turned its back on a sector it promised in their manifesto. By failing to directly commit to supporting the sector, care providers are left unsure of how they will manage this current wave of inflation and additional pressures they are under, whilst the NHS will continue to suffer.”

Martin Green continues: “Government has overlooked an opportunity to invest in the future sustainability of the sector which supports some of society’s most vulnerable. The current plan for reform leaves care providers unsure of the financial security of their sector. Adult social care must return to the Government’s policy agenda to renew its commitments to ‘fix social care’. If this is not achieved, then the Government risks allowing the care sector to continue to walk precariously into a future at risk of collapse.”

WELCOME PROPOSALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH REFORM The Queen’s speech also included proposals to overhaul the Mental Health Act 1983 will be considered

by Parliament over the next year, the government will produce a draft bill designed to reduce the number of detentions, tackle longstanding racial disparities in the use of compulsory powers and end the detention of people on the sole grounds of them being autistic or having learning disabilities.

The draft bill will likely be considered by a parliamentary committee, a process that will inform the production of full legislation to reform the act – though it is not clear when this will be published.

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers said: "Trust leaders will welcome the announcement in today's Queen's Speech that ministers will publish proposals to reform the Mental Health Act. Reform here is long overdue and we are pleased, as we mark Mental health awareness week, that this is a priority for the government.

"We support proposed changes to the act that will give people a greater say in planning their care and recovery. It will be important for the bill to reflect consideration of the practical implementation of a number of proposals.

"A new Mental Health Act on its own won't be enough to guarantee high-quality mental health services or transform the way we deliver them for years to come. Mental health services are under severe strain from huge demand and limited resources.

"COVID-19 has left a significant legacy on the nation's mental health, particularly for children and young

people, and the effects of poor mental health are expected to last longer than in some other areas of care.

"The pandemic has taken its toll on overstretched NHS staff too, with the soaring cost of living now adding more pressure. Trusts are working hard to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce, but we need a long-term plan to attract and retain staff as well as more support.

"We must address too mental health inequalities between people from different sections of society – especially Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities for whom the pandemic has exacerbated longstanding inequalities – and work to improve their access to services and outcomes.

"Coming hard on the heels of the biggest health service reforms for more than 10 years under the new Health and Care Act, we look forward to seeing detailed government proposals to reform the Mental Health Act as soon as possible."

SERIOUS STRAIN AND UNDERFUNDING FOR SOCIAL CARE Cllr David Fothergill, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils play a significant role in delivering the Mental Health Act, both in terms of their statutory duties of assessment, and also supporting treatment and recovery. The new Act must recognise the crucial part councils play as local leaders.

“The LGA supports the reforms to the Mental Health Act, particularly the objective to give people a stronger say in their treatment and the intention to address rising rates of detention of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

“However, mental health and social care have faced serious strain and underfunding for several years, leading to severely impacted services and a high level of unmet and under met need. Mental health needs are also expected to rise significantly because of the impact of the pandemic.

“To ensure effective implementation, all reforms need to be fully costed and resourced. Councils’ mental health services must be adequately funded so they can continue to invest in support to meet existing, new and unmet demand.”

CALL TO MAKE RIGHT CARERS LEAVE Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said, 'The nation’s seven million unpaid carers bore the brunt of the pandemic. It is therefore astonishing that today’s Queen’s Speech did not contain the promised Employment Bill, honouring the manifesto commitment to bring forward measures to support unpaid carers trying to juggle caring and working.

'We had hoped for a clear announcement of legislation for a week’s unpaid leave for carers and a dayone right to request flexible working.

'Both of these measures, while only a start, would have been incredibly welcome to unpaid carers, not least because Carers Trust research found that almost half of unpaid carers say they have given up or scaled back on work due to caring. This in turn is causing financial pressures, a loss of life alongside caring, as well as depriving the economy of valuable experience, expertise and tax revenue.

'Given so many carers have already been pushed into acute financial hardship as a result of cost of living pressures, the urgent need to upgrade Carers Allowance and the continuing lack of investment in local carer services, it is no surprise that almost nine out of ten unpaid carers feel successive governments have ignored them.'

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NAPA Launches Free Platinum Jubilee 2022 Activity Resource 2022 marks the 70th year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and to celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four-day UK bank holiday weekend from 2nd to 5th June.

The bank holiday will provide an opportunity for care settings and local communities to come together to celebrate the historic milestone. To help them do so, Quality Compliance Systems’ activity partner, The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA), has created a special downloadable Platinum Jubilee 2022 resource. The 33-page webbased pack contains a host of resources to plan a creative celebration of the event.

Hilary Woodhead, Executive Director of NAPA, the UK’s leading activity and engagement charity, explains that the free resource came about through a consultation exercise with its members.

“The ideas were co-created after having conversations with people who provide activity and engagement in care services,” she says. “This then informed our thinking behind the development of the resource. It is designed to support Activity Providers in their practice, as well as reflecting and amplifying our person-centred approach.”

The resource is packed with information, activity ideas, design templates, and tips and guides for celebration events. It also includes clickable links to related assets such as as the Queen’s first radio broadcast and a video of her 1953 coronation. There are tools for use in reminiscence sessions such as photographs, quiz ideas, information about the Queen’s hobbies and interests including her love of animals, recipes and much more.

Natalie Ravenscroft, NAPA’s Wellbeing Support Manager and the lead for the project, explains that the team tried to take all suggestions and feedback on board when designing the pack. “It was important that we created an adaptable resource, and we added elements for people who might not want to celebrate the jubilee too.”

Adaptability is important to all that NAPA does. Its model of activity provision champions a person centred and person led approach to engagement and is founded on the principles of inclusivity.

“Everything we develop and provide is adaptable for people with any care and support needs and we are committed to promoting choice and independence,” says Hilary. A good example of this approach is the creation of The Shed, where NAPA’s members can access all the tools they need to support their practice.

She explains that “during the pandemic, we had several requests from our membership of 3,500 care services for direct access to resources that would help them in lockdown. Although we had an existing website with a huge archive, we needed something more responsive, with immediate access.”

So NAPA went through a period of digital transformation and developed a brand-new website, with the help of QCS, NAPA’s Dementia Best Practice Partner. “We now digitalise everything we do, through our fantastic partnership with QCS. It’s been amazing,” says Hilary.

QCS, the leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, and NAPA have

forged a collaborative relationship over the years. The QCS PAL Instrument, specifically designed to assess the cognitive and functional ability of those living with dementia, is ‘the foundation of activity and engagement for good dementia care’ according to Hilary and is recommended by NAPA to its members.

“If you can understand and relate PAL to your practice, then communication and engagement as well as activity provision all improve,” she said. Moreover, the QCS tool helps activity teams make the most of events such as The Platinum Jubilee celebrations, by ensuring that services can plan the right activity for each individual by assessing them across four different levels of ability.

NAPA also used the QCS PAL Instrument to create a colour coding key for its activities, to make it easier for providers to match a person’s cognitive ability to the level of participation support required. This ensures that NAPA’s 3,200 members benefit from an effective way in which to assess cognitive function and a myriad of activities to choose from, designed to work alongside the QCS PAL Instrument.

The QCS PAL tool is available for free download on the QCS website and it is part of the QCS Dementia Centre, which contains cutting-edge practical content that service providers can apply to real-world situations.

When it comes to the Shed, activity providers, care providers, family members – anyone who’s a NAPA member – can access its dedicated resources online. These include articles, blogs, activity Ideas, tips, tools, templates, webinars, Information about training, and daily updates.

All resources in The Shed are produced or co-created with NAPA members, advisors and partners, and are intended to inspire a person-centred approach to activity and engagement Content can be viewed, downloaded or printed.

According to Hilary, NAPA receives many enquiries about which activities are appropriate for people living with dementia. In line with their commitment to adaptability and inclusivity, she says that all NAPA activity resources are suitable.

“We have developed specialist resources about dementia. But what we’re trying to do is enable activity providers to think about individuals who happen to live with dementia, and how they might adapt their approach when working with them.

“It’s not that you need activities for dementia, it’s more about how they are relevant to the individual – which brings it back to a person-centred approach.”

NAPA is launching ‘The Dementia and Engagement – NAPA Activity Resource Pack’ as part of Dementia Action Week 16-22 May, as well as a PAL Masterclass webinar with QCS Dementia Specialist Jackie Pool on May 19th as part of the NAPA Professional Development Opportunities.

And for Jubilee-related events, it has launched “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Care Setting of The Year Challenge” awarded to a care service who goes above and beyond to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and with a prize of £1,000: https://forms.gle/uwmVAo4AxCaxMkzTA And a jubilee online concert, which will be downloadable from the website and available to watch with residents at any point over the Jubilee festivities, you can find out more here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/napa-presents-songs-to-celebrate-the-platinum-jubilee-tickets-327925312437 You can also download the PAL Instrument for free here: https://www.qcs.co.uk/thecarer_pal

Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay to visit Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme as Full England Route Revealed The Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay will visit Belong care village and the Belong Heritage Gallery in Newcastle-under-Lyme, as one of many stops on its final journey through England this summer, as the full route is revealed.

Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen's Baton Relay - a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. In England, the Queen's Baton Relay will provide the opportunity for communities to experience the excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of showstopping sport nears ever closer.

The Queen's Baton Relay is set to travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022.

The England leg has a busy schedule of activities and events planned, with opportunities to highlight

untold stories from Batonbearers who are striving for change in their community. On Monday 18th July, the Queen's Baton will visit Belong and the Belong Heritage Gallery during its journey through the West Midlands.

Funded thanks to National Lottery players, the Belong Heritage Gallery opened in 2018 and will house a new exhibition commemorating the life of local hero, Philip Astley, widely acknowledged as the father of modern circus. Performer and showman, Andrew Van Buren, and choreographer, Daniel Jones, will be leading the spectacle of dance, illusion and plate spinning as the baton makes its way through the village.

One of the confirmed community Batonbearers in Staffordshire is Tracy Paine, a co-founder of Belong villages, who was nominated for her contribution in transforming care settings for people with dementia.

Martin Rix, Belong chief executive, said: "We're really excited to be part of this historic occasion. It couldn't be more fitting that we'll have the opportunity to showcase Newcastle-under-Lyme's heritage as the original home of modern circus, and residents, colleagues and local school children are all looking forward to joining in the spectacle as the Queen's Baton follows its route through the Belong village and heritage gallery.

For more information on the Queen's Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr

Care Home Commemorates Glorious VE Day with Cadets!

Residents and staff at Upton Bay Care Home in Hamworthy, Poole, celebrated VE Day in style, with the help of the Poole Sea Cadets Band and enough scones to feed a small army.

Led by Band Master PO (SCC) Kevin Steele, the young Cadets, aged between 10 and 18 years, entertained with an afternoon of music from their impressive repertoire, featuring classic marching tunes and their own takes on favourites from the war years.

Upton Bay was delighted to welcome good friend of the home, The Mayor Councillor Julie Bagwell, to enjoy the afternoon with the community of residents and relatives. The Mayor is proud Patron of the Poole Sea

Cadets, as well as holding title of Admiral of Poole Port, in respect of the town’s maritime history.

“I am so proud of the young ladies and gentlemen in the Poole Sea Cadets – they have been involved in some brilliant projects this year and are such a credit to our town,” commented Councillor Bagwell.

The Upton Bay Chefs impressed with a dessert trolley showcasing over 100 homemade scones, with lashings of jam and clotted cream to accompany, plus Pimms a-plenty to keep everyone cool in the warm May sun.

“It was a privilege to enjoy the wonderful music of the Sea Cadets Band,” said Sophie Payne, Home Advisor at Upton Bay. “We are so grateful for the new relationship between our home and the Poole unit. Every resident of ours had a tremendous time singing, clapping and even dancing to the band’s beat!”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 5

Frontline Workers Now Hold the Power in Turbulent Jobs Market Traditionally overworked and underpaid, the UK’s frontline workers are taking back control when it comes to employment, using a volatile market to their advantage and finding jobs that work for them – according to a new global report.

Toma adds: “We found that there’s still a real lack of leeway in scheduling for many frontline employees – almost a third (32%) say they feel that asking to change a shift for personal reasons would be perceived negatively by their employer. A further 40% have had to go to work after requesting a shift change because there has been no cover for them.

“There are obviously more practicalities to consider with flexibility for deskless staff, particularly in customer-facing roles, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for it being non-existent.”

The Quinyx State of the Deskless Workforce 2022 report also revealed that, in the UK: • Only 49% of frontline employees have had a pay increase in the last year.

• 62% say they’ve received no training or educational resources to support their career development.

• 41% do not feel valued by their employer, and over a third of those (35%) say their boss views them as ‘disposable’.

• More than half (51%) say they have experienced understaffing in their workplace in the last 12 months – and 80% of those have felt stressed as a result.

• 60% have been to work sick in the last year as they felt they couldn’t afford to take time off.

• 64% feel uncomfortable speaking to their boss about how work-related stress is impacting their health.

Toma concludes: “There’s continued emphasis on the importance of workplace wellbeing – but this isn’t translating to the experiences of most deskless workers, unfortunately. One of the most heartening stats from our study is that the vast majority of workers – 71% – say they take pride in their work. These are the people who have kept everyone going over the last two years; employers need really to up their game and work on strong engagement strategies if they are going to hang onto their greatest assets – their employees.”

Maud Enjoys a Cup of Tea with Music Icon, Rod Stewart Maud lives at Ashlyn Care Home in Harlow, Essex. She is an active lady that likes to take trips into the local town and play an active part in her community.

Recently, Maud reached an impressive life milestone and celebrated her 100th birthday! It was a wonderful day filled with smiles, laughter and lots of special gifts!

During a recent trip to the local town, Maud received an extra special belated birthday gift.

of tea outside a local coffee shop. Maud was overjoyed and couldn’t believe she was sharing a table with Rod Stewart!

They sat and had a chat as they sipped on their tea. It was a magical moment seeing Maud and one of her musical idols enjoying some time together. Rod was delighted to hear about her recent birthday and gave her a signed picture as an extra treat.

Whilst walking along the high street, Maud and team member, Toni spotted musical Icon, Sir Rod Stewart. They were both surprised and star-struck to see him but went over and asked if he would sit with Maud and have a cup of tea, as a

Maud didn’t think her birthday celebrations could get any better but sharing a cup of tea with Rod and receiving a signed photo from him made this birthday even more special!

belated birthday gift!

Rod was friendly, approachable and happily said he would join Maud for a cup

This was a marvellous moment Maud will remember for the rest of her life!

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PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

How the Care Sector Can Recruit and Retain Staff Professor Martin Green OBE is an Expert Advisory Council member for P&G Professional and the Chief Executive of Care England.

Social care is facing many challenges, but one of the biggest is how to recruit and retain our workforce. The social care workforce is very large, consisting of over 1.4 million people (more than work in the NHS), but we also have a 34% turnover rate – and there are over 105,000 vacant posts.

Our workforce is the biggest asset in social care, and throughout the pandemic, they really showed both their commitment and professionalism. I heard of many occasions when social care staff went above and beyond the call of duty to support the people in their care.

The pandemic has left many social care staff exhausted and it is really important that as we start to develop a new future for our sector, we begin by giving staff the recognition they deserve. The legacy of Covid has to be a new deal for the social care workforce.

Not only have we lost staff because of the pandemic, but the

Government introduced a policy of mandatory vaccinations in care homes, though not in other parts of social care or the NHS, which led to about 30,000 staff resigning.

While it is very important that all social care staff are vaccinated, implementing the policy was very challenging for social care.

The UK's withdrawal from the EU also took another group of people away from our sector. There now needs to be a reappraisal of every aspect of the social care workforce, including planning and career prospects, to put staffing issues on a sustainable footing.

It is my view that we need new skills and competency frameworks, with very clear career pathways and portable qualifications that must be the building block for careers in social care. We also need to look at the quality of the social care offering and create good quality jobs where staff are well supported in order to ease the chal-

Taking Care of Your Needs Passive fire protection needs to be at the forefront of all our minds but what is passive fire protection?

Passive fire protection assesses a building in detail, poorly maintained fire doors, voids in ceilings & service shafts and penetrations made in walls, floors or ceilings can become conduits through which fire and smoke can spread. By identifying these failures within the fabric of the building, specialist repairs can be made to reinstate the compartmentation of the building to maximise the time available to evacuate the property, and or prevent a fire from taking hold in the first place.

For many this remains a concern and knowing where to start can be stressful. It is important that you do your due diligence and you seek out a trained, competent, third-party accredited company to work with you and to discuss your needs.

We are often told how a client has struggled to secure the services of a passive fire contractor. We have found many companies would prefer to concentrate on large, long term contracts rather than smaller

lenges ahead.

In order to make social care an attractive place to work, there are several things that employers need to do to ensure that social care is a destination of choice, both for younger people starting out on their careers or, indeed, for people who are changing from other sectors.

Social care is a very diverse sector, and there are so many different roles and professions in which you can develop your career. We not only need frontline care staff, but there are also good roles in logistics, catering, and of course, hygiene and infection control.

The latter was always an important part of social care delivery. Still, the pandemic has put into sharp focus the importance of having proper hygiene and infection control regimes, and the staff that deliver these crucially important services are a vital part of the social care workforce.

Working in social care is not easy, but it is very rewarding – and the rewards for staff come from the interaction between themselves and those they support. With this in mind, any repetitive tasks requiring staff to be taken away from frontline interactions with the people they support must be as easy and effective as possible. That certainly goes for the issues around cleanliness and hygiene; these are vitally important, but it is up to social care employers to make sure that they are as easy as possible for staff to complete.

Both staff and residents want the assurance that anything they are delivering is good quality, and that's why they use products that are tried and tested, providing both peace of mind and ease of use. P&G Professional products such as Flash Professional and Fairy Professional are simple to use yet highly effective. Staff and residents alike can feel assured that they will deliver the best possible cleaning solutions.

Choosing household name brands provides a sense of the familiar, given their consumer counterparts are seen in millions of homes and trusted by countless loyal customers. Professional brands adapted for the care sector provide comfort through a sense of reassurance thanks to their efficacy and reliability.

properties. We realised very quickly that we had an opportunity to provide a bespoke service for each of our clients taking care of individual needs. Over time we have become specialised in working within a live environment such as residential accommodation.

When the project is complete, it does not mean the end of our relationship, UK Passive Fire Solutions is part of East Riding Group Ltd. We can offer many other services to you such as UK Pest Control Service and our Hospitality, Kitchen & Hygiene Products (HKHP) UK Passive Fire Solutions work with you from start to finish. Call or email today to get more information and receive your information pack; email info@ukpassivefiresolutions.co.uk or call: 01262 469872.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 7

Research Reveals Need for the Sector to Change Approach CACI, the consumer and location intelligence specialist, is challenging the status quo with its latest research on senior living, a sector which last year saw a record-breaking £1.4bn investment*. Breaking misconceptions around location planning, the analysis also identifies the best opportunities for growth in senior living, and reveals a clear need for specialist accommodation providers to change their marketing strategies.

CACI’s research has shown that providers should be looking at areas with middle-aged populations, as well as those with more elderly populations. This will allow them to better target those who will be making decisions for elderly relatives, as well as tailor their offers to meet their preferences as they look towards their own care options. This will open new opportunities for expansion for providers across the sector.

The survey was designed to consider perceptions of the senior living sector, comparing the views of people who currently have a loved one in care with those who do not. In both instances, the majority of respondents to CACI’s survey – 66% of those with a loved one in care, and 61% without – believe that when making the decision on accommodation, proximity to family or a loved one is important. This compares with 31% and 14% respectively who think proximity to their existing home is important, suggesting that site selection should be focused on areas with a higher proportion of the elderly person’s support network.

In addition to this, for 75% of cases, the person in charge of deciding the living situation of an elderly person is a loved one. This emphasises the need to make a concerted effort to promote facilities to family and friends, as well as the elderly person, to gain the confidence of all decision makers.

Tom Clarke, Senior Care Lead at CACI, said: “This research sets out clear findings that will really help peo-

ple working in senior living deliver the best types of support for the future. We know there has previously been a thought that the best place to have care homes is closer to where older people live, on the basis that the transition would be easier. What we are seeing however is that decision makers, who are typically loved ones, have a preference to relocate closer to where they are instead. Having a support network close by is clearly important.

“What has also come to light is just how significant the desire is for older people to be able to stay at home. While this shouldn’t be seen as taking away from the other forms of senior living, domiciliary care is a growth market, and investment in it by both commercial and public sector providers is necessary to ensure the entire sector is future-proofed.”

The senior living sector has been subject to a notable amount of corporate activity in recent months, with big hitting investors seeking to take advantage of demographic trends and the ageing population. Patrizia, for example, is looking to make its debut in the UK’s booming retirement living market, following the footsteps of other big names including M&G and Nuveen. There is also increasing ambition from the government to address the market, firstly with their new plan for adult social care reform in England and the impending creation of a cross-department Older People’s Housing Taskforce. With growing investment, and a clear understanding of the need to deliver a more diversified post-retirement product, investors and developers alike need to understand the insights shaping the sector.

Care Home Residents and Team Members Enjoy a Boat Trip Around Southampton Water Residents and team members at West Cliff Hall in Hythe, Hampshire, enjoyed a boat trip around Southampton Water, which their care home overlooks.

The nine ladies and gentlemen and two team members were in the first group to have a cruise this year on board the M/V Alison MacGregor, a catamaran operated by Solent Dolphin which offers free boat trips taking disabled people out to sea, since Covid restrictions were lifted.

For this cruise, the boat took them from Hythe Marina, close to whether West Cliff Hall is located across Southampton Water, cruising under Itchen

National Seminar for Safety and Health in Care Services

ATTEND THE SEMINAR FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH HEALTH & SAFETY IN SOCIAL CARE A FULL DAY IN PERSON EVENT

“Protecting Your Services – Don’t Get Caught Out!” Tuesday 14th June 2022

The Incora Pavilion, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby DE21 6DA

Discuss : Debate : Engage : Learn (NOTE: Free legal surgery available throughout the day)

Full details on topics, speakers, venue and how to book

www.nashics.co.uk

e: events@nashics.org

t: 07840 160 030

Share best practice : Network with colleagues

Striving to promote excellence of safety and health in care services.

Bridge in Southampton and up the River Itchen as far as Bitterne.

Commenting on their cruise, West Cliff Hall Manager Aga Gierek-Tan, says: “Our residents and team members absolutely love to go cruising on the Alison MacGregor. We are so lucky to live beside Southampton Water which is one of the busiest waterways in England. Having the opportunity to enjoy the sights around the busy port and river is one of our special highlights of the year.”

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Unilever Away From Home Offers Free New Mental Health Course As Part Of Its UFS Chef Academy To coincide with Mental Health Week 2022 (9th – 15th May 2022), Unilever Away From Home is adding a ‘Mental Health in the Kitchen’ course to its recently launched Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Academy in a bid to tackle rising concerns across the industry.

Available to view now on the Unilever Food Solutions website, The ‘Mental Health in the Kitchen’ course comprises a series of engaging training videos to give chefs and hospitality staff practical advice on everyday changes they can make to encourage a better working environment for all. The films will include invaluable advice and support across several areas within mental health including selfcare, working environment, teamwork, and team management. They will also provide pointers on how to spot signs a team member may be struggling, as well as advice on facilitating conversations around mental health.

This latest course from the UFS Academy comes in response to the rising mental health concerns which continue to challenge the industry. In 2020, a survey by leading charity and Unilever #FairKitchens partner, Hospitality Action, revealed a picture of staff struggling to cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic alongside pressures typically associated with the sector such as long and unsociable work hours. In fact, over a third (37%) described their jobs as stressful ‘most of the time’ and 68% said stress levels had increased in their organisation in the past three years[1].

Another area that is influencing the mental health of those working in the sector is the significant recruitment and retention issues kitchens are facing as they struggle to meet demand with severely reduced staffing levels and inexperience. As of July 2021, 72% of hospitality professionals described staff shortages as the number one challenge as they reopened[2] and these shortages are also impacting the training and development of staff working in the sector. Further research revealed that over half of hospitality workers had not taken part in any development training since re-joining their work[3] which is a fundamental part when it comes to keeping people engaged and feeling fulfilled.

With a clear need for support as the hospitality industry gets back on its feet after several years of turmoil, Unilever Away From Home, introduced the UFS Academy in March 2022 to address wider training and growth issues across the industry. The platform, which will host the new ‘Mental Health in the Kitchen’ program, acts as a chef training portal and features free online culinary courses by some of the world’s best chefs. Created by Chefs, for Chefs, professionals can get tips, skills and techniques across a range of disciplines from preparation techniques to how to create plant-based dishes and learning more about business management and leadership. The overall ambition is to equip chefs through free and quality training to cre-

ate better and more successful working environments.

Alex Hall, Executive Chef at Unilever UK&I, explains: “The mental health of staff is critical to long term success across the industry – a healthy working environment makes for a healthy business. The challenges of working in hospitality are well documented, with stress levels amongst staff high pre-pandemic, but with increased recruitment and retention challenge, we are in danger of them rising even higher as the sector bounces back. We must do more to support the mental health and wellbeing of all, which is why we have developed a specific course to give people the tools they need to help make positive changes to the kitchen culture.

“The Mental Health in the Kitchen module is our latest instalment to our UFS Academy which offers free online courses from renowned Chefs across the world. The programmes arm head chefs, management and their teams with practical advice to develop themselves and their teams to create a positive nurturing environment where teams can learn and thrive together. Investing in your team is a great way to keep them engaged and motivated, knowing that their leaders are there for them builds a stronger more collaborative team for the future. We also need to consider the new generation and what they need from their leaders only then can we focus on the future of our industry. We will be adding more courses to our platform across the year and would encourage people to get involved and be a part of a positive change.”

FURTHER INFORMATION Unilever Away From Home capitalises on its scale and reach, to bring knowledge paired with inspiration to help chefs get creative in the kitchen and deliver food experiences that can’t be matched at home.

The brand is committed to being a ‘force for good’ within the sector promoting a working culture that allows employees to grow and develop. Whilst the UFS Academy focuses on upskilling Chefs and their teams, Unilever also co-founded the #FairKitchens global initiative - an online movement that fights for a more resilient and sustainable industry by sharing stories and real-world experiences that demonstrate how a healthier kitchen culture grows a healthier business. The #FairKitchens movement aims to recruit 17 million businesses from across the globe to join the conversation and bring about significant change across the industry.

The UFS Academy supported by the #FairKitchens movement are creating this positive working environment, putting wellbeing and development above all else.

For more information on The UFS Academy visit the Unilever Food Solutions website : UFS Academy - Online Chef courses for FREE (www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.uk) To find out more and ‘Become a Friend’ of #FairKitchens visit: www.fairkitchens.com

Freephone: 0800 917 7943 www.euroservice-uk.com sales@euroservice-uk.com Manufactured in the UK

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

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

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 9

Diabetes Almost Doubles Risk Of Death From Covid

People with diabetes were almost twice as likely to die with Covid and almost three times as likely to be critically or severely ill compared to those without diabetes.

However, the study conducted by researchers from the University of Aberdeen which reviewed data from hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, also found that good management of the condition can mitigate against the risks.

Specifically, the collaboration with King’s College, London, found that while diabetes presents a significant risk of severe illness and death with Covid, good control of blood sugar in these patients can significantly reduce this risk.

The researchers reviewed findings from 158 studies that included more that 270,000 participants from all over the world to determine how Covid affects people living with diabetes.

The pooled results showed that people with diabetes were 1.87 times more likely to die with Covid, 1.59 times more likely to be admitted to ICU, 1.44 times more likely to require ventilation, and 2.88 times more likely to be classed as severe or critical, when compared to patients without diabetes.

This is the first time a study, which has been published in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism looked at the risks of Covid in patients with diabetes while factoring in the patients’ location and thereby highlighting potential healthcare resources available as well as possible ethnic differences and other societal factors. Data was gathered from all over the world including China, Korea, USA, Europe and the Middle East.

The researchers found that patients in China, Korea and the Middle East were at higher risk of death than those from EU countries or the USA. The researchers suggest this may be due to differences in healthcare systems and affordability of healthcare which may explain the finding that maintaining optimal glycaemic control, significantly reduces adverse outcomes in patients with diabetes and Covid.

Stavroula Kastora who worked on the study alongside Professor Mirela Delibegovic and Professor Phyo Myint explains: “We found that following a Covid-19 infection, the risk of death for patients with diabetes was significantly increased in comparison to patients without diabetes.

“Equally, collective data from studies around the globe suggested that patients with diabetes had a significantly higher risk of requiring an intensive care admission and supplementary oxygen or being admitted in a critical condition in comparison to patients without diabetes.

“However, we found that the studies that reported patient data from the EU or USA displayed less extreme differences between the patient groups.

“Ultimately, we have identified a disparity in Covid outcomes between the eastern and western world.

“We also show that good glycaemic control may be a protective factor in view of Covid-19 related deaths.

“In light of the ongoing pandemic, strengthening outpatient diabetes clinics, ensuring consistent follow up of patients with diabetes and optimising their glycaemic control could significantly increase the chances of survival following a Covid infection.”

WE NOW SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF FURNITURE

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 11

Four in 10 in Need of Social Care in Wales Did Not Access Services During Pandemic Study Reveals As many as four in 10 people in Wales who may have needed social care did not access its services during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report.

Commissioned by Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) and led by Dr Simon Williams of Swansea University, the study explored public attitudes and experiences of social care in Wales two years on from the start of the pandemic.

The study, which involved a survey of 2,569 respondents in Wales and a series of focus groups, found that the Covid-19 pandemic hit social care hard, exacerbating the social care crisis, and intensifying pressure on the workforce.

The study’s key findings reveal that: • Four in 10 people who felt that they or someone in their household or close family needed social care during the past two years did not receive or make use of it.

• The pandemic was cited as a major reason why many of those who may have needed social care didn’t access it – either out of fear of contracting Covid or because they didn’t want to burden social care services that were experiencing significant pressures.

• Satisfaction with social care was variable, with approximately one-third either very or quite dissatisfied, and a little over half either very or quite satisfied with social care services for themselves or a household or close

family member.

• Among those who felt that they or someone in their household didn’t receive or make use of social care despite needing it, the most common reasons people gave included: lack of availability or staff shortages (22%), not fitting eligibility criteria (17%), feeling too proud to access care (15%) and the application process being too complicated (10%).

• Most of the respondents (86%) felt that the social care system in Wales needs reform, and 94% of said that it should be a priority for the UK and Welsh Governments.

In the focus groups, participants argued that there is a need for consistency in the social care received, more personalised care, better integration between health and social care, and a need for more investment in social care. Some felt that reform should see the integration of social care into the NHS, while others argued for the establishment of a separate national care service.

Dr Williams said: “It is concerning that approximately four in 10 of those feeling in need of social care did not receive or make use of social care services. Social care policymakers and providers should seek to understand and address what people feel are the main barriers to accessing or using social care, including increasing provision for those who need it, encouraging and enabling those who feel they need social care to apply, consider broadening the eligibility criteria where appropriate, and simplifying the application process.

“As with healthcare services, another challenge for social care services may be the need to address a potential backlog in those needing care, who were either unable to access services due to restrictions or staff shortages, or did not want to apply because they were concerned about infection risk or did not want to bother services.”

Care Home Residents’ Space Odyssey is Out of this World Intrepid care home residents took the chance to boldly go and have fun on International Space Day. Homes run by Colten Care in Hampshire and Dorset transformed themselves into universes far, far away.

At Court Lodge in Lymington, some clever redecorating turned the lounge into a walk-in space shuttle complete with night sky and lunar background.

One small step inside gave each exploring resident the chance to admire the moon and stars through a galaxy projector.

They also enjoyed launching toy rockets for a friendly space race, meeting a visiting

astronaut and sampling homemade space cakes.

At The Aldbury, Colten’s dedicated dementia care home in Poole, residents painted representations of the planets on cards which were used to model the solar system.

An alien visitor made an appearance as residents had their pictures taken against a spaceship backdrop, abducting the home’s gardener Brett Gill in the process.

Companionship Team Leader Sue Miles said: “It was a very creative day – hands-on, informative and lots of fun for everyone.”

Resident Joyce Holden said: “It really was out of this world.”

PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Combating Burnout by Creating Cultures That Heal

By Professor Lynda Holt MA, RGN, DipHE, CPBP, FinstLM, FRSA - CEO, Health Service 360 (www.healthservice360.co.uk) It can be tempting, but unhelpful, to catastrophise about the state of the care sector when reading the Health and Social Care Committee Report on Workforce Burnout and Resilience in the NHS and Social Care. We know staffing is beyond challenging, and many in the sector are already feeling the ‘emergency levels’ of burnout. We also know that chronic excessive workload is a major contributing factor to burnout.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some solid recommendations throughout the report, even if some have been rebuffed by the Government Response. But the challenge with it is two-fold.

First, most of these issues were a long time in the making – exacerbated by the pandemic, and Brexit for sure – but not entirely new and there really isn’t a quick fix. The population is aging, the demand for care increasing and both vacancy levels and turnover are high, but not universally.

Second and perhaps more important, is that it is very easy to get into a spiral of helplessness and feel you have no power to change things and in doing so you give away your agency, you are less likely to take any action and things feel increasingly out of control. Again, there are some great examples of innovation, as well as places where staff feeling valued and supported.

So rather than feeding the despair, what you really need is to understand what you can do, what you have some control over and what will make it better for you and your people right now. Of course, have your say on policy if that’s your thing – but don’t use it as an excuse to do nothing to make things better where you work if you need to.

If it feels like I’m adding to an impossible burden, I apologise – but you see every single one of us makes a difference, every day; and every single one of us has the power to change the things we have control over.

Some days this might simply be ourselves and they way we show up, what we choose to absorb and what we don’t. In making that choice we gain back a little control, reduce the overwhelm and slide fractionally away from burnout.

Burnout is just as much a local issue as it is a ‘national crisis’. In a UK 2020 study 41.8% of people claimed they were on the brink of burnout before the pandemic. So what can we do to aid recovery and bring those we work with, and maybe ourselves, back from the brink?

The evidence, pre and during the pandemic, suggests that workplace culture is a major contributing factor when it comes to burnout, stress and wellbeing. In the care sector many of these cultures are small, but impactful. It is each one of us that makes up the culture in the place that we work, and the majority of people aim to fit in the culture they find themselves in, sometimes at a very high personal price.

If you lead people, manage care or actually work with others, you have a responsibility to work towards workplace cultures that heal and not hurt. This can feel like a big ask at a time when you are feeling the strain, or believe it can’t be fixed. But here’s the thing, healing if not the same as fixing.

Healing is about courage, vulnerability and hope. It’s about being brave enough to explore culture, to understand where people are at, and then plot a course towards recovery, laced with possibility and some contingency for the rough sea you might encounter on your journey.

For recovery to take place healing has to happen. The culture within your workplace is probably the biggest factor in this healing. By culture I mean ‘the way we do things around here’, behaviour, attitude, levels of respect and trust. Get your culture right and people will follow you anywhere, get it wrong – or fail to

address issues causing harm, and you’ll never get out of choppy waters.

A healing culture makes space for recovery, it is not a cure for burnout, but it reduces the likelihood of it occurring or worsening. People have the opportunity to process what they’ve experienced and find resolution. This requires a few basic human needs to be met: 1. They need to feel safe, that they can trust you, their colleagues and the process, that there won’t be any repercussions for them personally 2.They need to feel they belong, that they are seen and heard for who they are, and that they, and their views or concerns, are valued 3.They need to feel significance, that their work matters and their contribution makes a difference Any one of us can start this process by modelling healing behaviour and making it safe for others to do the same. Pay attention to those around you, listen, communicate, and trust yourself to act with courage and compassion. But, and it’s a really important but, you need to get yourself out of rough waters first, it’s no good trying to pull others out of the sea when you are drowning yourself.

Find yourself some anchors, look after yourself, your mental well-being and your energy levels first, this is the only way you get to recovery. Think about the things that energise you, that you get lost in, that calm you, and that make you feel like ‘you’ – make sure you keep some of these in each and every day – even if it is only for a few minutes.

Here are three simple, but not always easy, steps towards recovery: 1. Reflect 2.Reconnect 3.Recommit

REFLECT: Explore what’s happened, give people space to talk.

If you pay attention, they will tell you what matters to them, how to make it better, and what not to do.

RECONNECT: In terms of healing cultures, belonging is the single most important thing. People want to be seen and their work recognised. They want to feel connected to something bigger than themselves, both in the work they do and their social interactions. They want to feel like they matter, that those around them care.

Think about the way you treat people, the possibility you create, connect people with the difference they make, with what they are part of and how their work matters and they will face choppy waters with you.

RECOMMIT: Be explicit about your expectations, (whether or not you are the boss), open the door for conversations about behaviour and boundaries, what’s ok and what’s not. Involve people in their own recovery, what do they need, what’s possible, create agency, a voice and enough freedom to act on what you or they can control – this is what keeps us on the journey.

Use these three steps for the big stuff and the little stuff. Keep it safe, be consistent, honour what you’ve committed to, ask for help when you need it and make it ok for others to do that too.

None of us can sit and wait for the storm to pass, we all need to act when and where we can to reduce the burnout faced across the care sector. Good luck on your journey.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 13

Deadline Extended to Nominate 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 Friday, May 20th 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 99

Care UK Calls for More Recognition for the Work Nurses Do in Care Homes As International Nurses Day dawns, Care UK’s most senior nurse, Rachel Gilbert has called on everyone to remember that nurses don’t just do an amazing job in hospitals or health centres but can also be found working round the clock in social care settings.

As professional lead to Care UK’s 1194 registered nurses working across its 152 homes, Rachel is a passionate advocate of nursing in social care. She said: “Nurses are a keystone of care home life; their thoughtful, skilled input helps residents in care homes to live their best life. This is anything from the way they get to know people so well they can spot if something isn’t right with their health, to helping care colleagues support people at the end of their life to pass away comfortably and peacefully in their own bed, rather than being rushed to an unfamiliar hospital. Yet still, for many people, when they think of celebrating nurses, their only image is the nurse on a hospital ward.”

Rachel added: “Increasingly, nurses are realising that social care nursing offers a very rewarding career pathway and care homes are true nurse-led care settings. In most cases in hospital, patients come and go swiftly but in a care home, residents can live there for a decade or more, and nurses have the privilege of building a relationship with them and their families and help to keep them healthy and enabled in a way that often isn’t possible in the community. I hope we can now spread the word

among the public about just how valuable social care nurses are.”

Rachel has previously welcomed the Government’s appointment of Professor Deborah Sturdy as England’s first Chief Nurse for adult social care in December 2020.

Rachel continues: “Deborah has been instrumental in raising the profile of the value of social care nurses – especially throughout the pandemic. I am proud to have been invited to sit on her advisory committee and I can see the difference that committee is making by having a voice in influential circles. Sadly, there is still more to be done.

I’d like to see the media, politicians, even television drama editors showing the incredible work nurses do in care homes and how so many of them rise to very senior roles like managing a care home. That way, society will have a more nuanced understanding of the breadth of roles us nurses can play and who knows, perhaps it will inspire young people to want to nurse in that setting.”

Rachel Gilbert RN, BSc (Hons) is Care UK’s Director of Care, Quality and Governance. A Registered Nurse, she is a member of Care UK’s executive board, serves on the Government’s Social Care Advisory Committee and is a judge in the upcoming Nursing Times awards.

Care UK employs almost 1200 nurses in its home teams, as regional directors and in a central support team that offers advice and guidance on everything from dementia to managing incontinence to front line care homes teams.

Ukrainian Nurse Praises Solihull Veterans’ Support Following Invasion A Ukrainian Nurse who came to England nearly 20 years ago has described the torment he has been going through since Russian forces invaded his country.

Yuriy Bukovych, a Lead Nurse at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, has parents, family and friends in the war-torn country, with many fighting on the front line.

The 46-year-old was a medic in the Ukrainian Army before coming to the UK to work in healthcare in 2003, and believes he would be fighting on the front line if he were still in his homeland.

Yuriy has been with Royal Star & Garter, a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, since 2011. He said the past few months had allowed him to understand what many residents in the Home would have experienced during WWII. He went on to praise them for the empathy, support and care they have shown him since the conflict started on 24 February.

The dad-of-two lives in Solihull. “It’s very difficult to digest what’s been going on. My parents live in Khust, which is in the western part, and is currently considered one of the safer parts of Ukraine. But there’s no safe place in Ukraine as such, and my parents have to go into bomb shelters several times a day,” he said. “I worry a lot about them - I don’t know if they’ll continue receiving their pension, if I will have to support them, if the city can cope with the hundreds of thousands of refugees it has. I worry about food supplies.”

Being a former Army medic, Yuriy knows many people who are now actively fighting Russian forces: “A lot of my friends are on the front line. One of them is highly ranked in the Army and I’m keeping in touch with him.”

Yuriy said he was unaware of the invasion until he received an email from Royal Star & Garter’s Director of People, Kate Silver. He said: “I woke up that morning not knowing what was happening. I saw on my phone that I had an email from Kate saying she was horrified with what she was seeing on TV, asking if I

was OK, and saying that the charity was there for me should I need anything. I put the TV on and watched in disbelief. I felt numb.

“In the first two weeks I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing – it was so vicious and unprecedented. I would never have imagined that this was possible in the modern world, in modern Europe. It’s difficult to explain how I felt. We share so much culture, history, language with Russia, and yet they can be capable of such evil to a neighbour. I’m still shocked and speechless.”

He has continued coming to work at Royal Star & Garter, saying it keeps his mind occupied and fully engaged. Several residents at the Home are WWII veterans, while many more lived through, and have memories of, the fight against Nazi Germany. Yuriy believes he now shares a new bond with them: “They have been watching this unfold on TV, saying how horrified they are and asking me if there’s anything they can do. It made me more aware about what residents had to go through during WWII. Before I could only imagine, but now it’s so real to me and I understand what they experienced. It brought back a lot of memories for a lot of people here. I had a 100-year-old holding my hand and asking if I was OK. It made me realise how special this place is, and how special the residents are.”

This was further demonstrated when the charity, staff and residents helped raise over £900 for The British Red Cross’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal, through a raffle, tabletop sale and cake sale at the Solihull Home.

“The support I’ve had from the very first hours of the very first day of this war from Royal Star & Garter has been mindboggling. It’s proof that everyone really cares and I’m very grateful for that,” said Yuriy.

Jamie Stubbs, Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, said: “It’s hard to imagine what Yuriy has been going through since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but he has continued to come to work and deliver care with courage to our veterans. Staff and residents pride themselves on being part of the Royal Star & Garter family, and I’m delighted we are able to support him, and raise much-needed money for the Ukrainian relief effort.”

Meet The Carer Team at The Residential & Home Care Show, 18-19 May 2022, ExCeL London

SEE US ON STAND C15 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 employ-

ment 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 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Operational Practices Helping to Ease Food Inflation With the prospect of rising food costs, Rachael Venditti from 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.

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.

OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND PROCESSES

CONSIDER ASKING YOUR SUPPLIERS FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR SAMPLING AND TEST YOUR OPTIONS.

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

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.

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

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PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Huntington’s Disease and Care

By Cathy Lyons, Trustee for the Huntington's Disease Association (www.hda.org.uk)

Making the decision to place someone you love into a care home is not an easy one to make. The decision has followed months, if not years, of stress and anxiety as we watch the individual struggle on independently whilst their abilities, quality of life and self-worth diminish. This is the same for anyone, facing any life-limiting condition, at any age.

Huntington’s disease is an illness caused by a faulty gene in our DNA (the biological ‘instructions’ we inherit which tell our cells what to do) and it affects the body’s nervous system. It causes changes with movement, learning, thinking and emotions. This is an inherited condition, which means that the person with Huntington’s disease and their family are very likely to have known someone else with the condition and will already know how their future might look. Huntington’s disease is rare, and many families will have encountered a lack of knowledge and understanding from their first points of contacts and help, such as their GPs, district nurses, social workers, and community carers. This inevitably leads to frustration and a general lack of trust towards those who should be relied upon; ultimately, families learn to rely on themselves.

Huntington’s disease usually begins to manifest in the mid-30s and those with Huntington’s disease are likely to be much younger than the average care home resident. Because of their family history, and because of their general fear and mistrust in the health system, the individual will often have expressed a wish not to go into care.

As the disease progresses, the complex symptoms become challenging; they may become unsafe physically, as well as in their thinking. Obsessions, compulsions and frustrations emerge, which lead to families developing many complicated routines and strategies so that their home life and loved one remain calm

and without incident. An integral part of the condition is that people with Huntington’s disease don’t like change.

Faced with their family’s prior experiences (and often many horror stories), a fear for the future, a lack of trust towards the health services, and the age of their loved one and their complex needs, families become compressed by the stress, fear and guilt and so making the decision to place the person they love into a care home can be inconceivable.

When families finally do reach out, when life at home has become unsafe or intolerable, it is a great relief for them to find care homes that state that they have specialist knowledge in Huntington’s disease. To the families this means that the home has a team of staff who have received training in the disease, that they understand the complex presentation, that they have access to a team that includes Speech and Language Therapists to advise on communication and the risks associated with deteriorating swallow, a Physiotherapist to advise on movement and safety, an Occupational Therapist to suggest appropriate equipment, a clear method of assessing risk and behaviours that escalate, links to a neurological specialist so that their conditions can be regularly reviewed and a comprehensive end of life policy and procedure.

At the Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA), we can offer training and support to any home that offers care to someone with this condition. Our Specialist Huntington’s disease advisory service can provide training for staff and we provide a three-day certificated course for professionals, which can help to develop a deeper understanding. If you are already investing significant time, resources and commitment in providing specialist care for people with Huntington’s disease then you would be able to join our HDA Quality Assured programme and receive accreditation for your home and staff team. We hope that this can give people with Huntington’s disease and their families some reassurance in facing some of the challenges they face.

If you would like to find out more about the HDA Quality Assured Scheme and how to support people with Huntington’s visit Website www.hda.org.uk/professionals Phone 0151 331 5444 Email info@hda.org.uk

Creepy Crawlies And Creatures Visit Gateshead Care Home Residents Gateshead’s Craigielea Care Home had some unusual guests when Discovery Zoo brought some of its creepy crawlies and creatures to visit residents.

The home played host to a range of animals and insects including rabbits, snakes and lizards as part of the home’s ever evolving activities programme. Residents learned all about the creatures before having a chance to hold the mixed menagerie.

Guided interaction between animals and people has been proven to cause an automatic relaxation response, relieve symptoms of dementia and prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Lindsay Turner, activities coordinator at Craigielea, said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors, especially the snake, tarantula and millipede. They’re not something you usually see up in Gateshead and for some of our residents it was the first time seeing them in real life.

“Discovery Zoo did a great job introducing the creatures to residents and explaining how to hold them.

Animal visits are always such a lift for our residents and it’s great to see them so excited.

“Stroking and holding the animals always puts a smile on our residents faces. It sparks their memories and I hear all about their previous pets or trips to the zoo with their families.

“We’re always looking for activities to entertain our residents and really look forward to being able to do more now that restrictions are relaxed.”

Paul Fenwick from Discovery Zoo said: “We love visiting care homes and seeing how much joy it brings to residents. We have some unusual animals that get people really interested, as well as things like rabbits and gerbils that people may have had as pets themselves. They are great for reviving memories, although just sitting and stroking an animal can be very relaxing too.”

Champion’s Award for Wishaw Care Home’s Squad of Football Lovers Residents at Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire are celebrating victory, after Fit-Baw instructors, Paul Mooney and Seamus Duggan, awarded them the Fit-Baw 90 accolade for their hard work throughout a 12-week fitness programme.

Residents practice Fit-Baw, a gentler form of football, as part of the home’s activities programme, designed to keep them healthy and happy as they socialise and exercise together. Working with their instructors, the Fit-Baw 90 programme saw them set targets to improve their strength, balance, and coordination together.

Activities Coordinator, Helen Miller teamed up with Paul and Seamus to run weekly sessions, where residents took part in arm and leg exercises using a football. Fit-Baw 90 ended with squad captain, Harry Gilmour, accepting the trophy on behalf of his team, as staff members and residents alike applauded their shared victory.

Helen Miller, Activities Coordinator at Beechwood Care Home said: “We work hard to plan new and fun activities for our residents because there’s nothing better than watching them enjoy a bit of banter and gentle exercise. We’ve plenty of laughter to go around while enjoying the beautiful game.”

Paul Mooney and Seamus Duggan, Fit-Baw instructors said: “The squad was always prepared and ready to work hard to achieve their goals. We were delighted to award them the Fit-Baw 90 trophy, a well-deserved win as the first ever care home to join our Hall of Fame and for all the progress they’ve made! We look forward to setting and beating new targets with them.”

Robby Steam & Vac by OspreyDeepclean®: The Ultimate Cleaning Machine 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.

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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.

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PAGE 20 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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.

Another benefit of the Miele Professional range is the connectivity. A new product due to be launched later this year by Miele will mean washing machines can be controlled by a smart phone resulting in no need to actually touch the display to select the desired programme and it can be programmed to 32 different languages, removing any issues with comprehension. They are also really quick too – reducing the turnaround time on laundry items whilst still providing the highest quality clean.

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prevention by providing you with the reassurances you need that the products are hygienically clean every time. Our Hygiene model Little Giant washing machines offer infection control programmes that ensure that the wash reaches the recommended temperatures and holding times to thermally disinfect linens. gets up to a temperature

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

Sweet Sounds Reunite Ex-Bellringer Joyce with her Village Church A care home resident returned to the Hampshire church where she used to ring bells, enjoying a special keyboard performance along the way courtesy of one of her care companions.

Talented musician Anna Boddy ‘pulled out all the stops’ on the organ at St Mary’s Church in Micheldever to play for the visiting party including delighted Joyce Croft.

The group travelled from Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton in Winchester on a minibus trip to enjoy the church and have a picnic.

Anna, a pianist, music teacher and university lecturer, gained permission in advance to play the organ when they arrived.

She even donned a wig to get into the character of Johann Sebastian Bach, playing a selection of the German baroque composer’s work and completing the performance with pieces by Beethoven and Elgar.

Joyce, who is from Micheldever and used to ring the St Mary’s bells with her husband, sat with fellow Abbotts Barton residents admiring the church and listening to Anna play while they all had a cup of tea.

Joyce said: “It was such a wonderful experience and I would love to do it all over again. We all loved the picnic afterwards too.”

Kirsty Sawyer, Companionship Team Leader at Abbotts Barton, said: “Hats off to Anna for organising a really special treat for Joyce and the other residents on the trip.

“It’s not every day you get to hear such amazing music performed just for you on a magnificent church organ.”

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!)

re Home t of Cloverfield Ca Marion Brocklehurs

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 Friday May 20th 2022 at

nominate@thecareruk.com

PAGE 22 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

National Care Hero Award for Bristol Care Worker Malcolm Hobbs, gardener at Able Care in Bristol has won a national social care hero award in recognition of his hard work.

The award has been made this week by Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care.

SSCH launched the monthly award programme this year to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 1.54m people working in social care in the UK. Malcolm, who was nominated for April 2022, is the fourth award winner.

Josh Hawker, relationship manager at Able Care, said: “Malcolm has recently joined our team, but it feels like he’s been with us years – he’s such a friendly, smiley presence in our gardens and they look spectacular with his work! We’re really lucky to be able to provide our residents with such beautiful grounds and Malcolm has allowed them their full potential, making sure all can relax in picturesque surroundings. Move aside Mr Titchmarsh!”

On hearing he had won the award Malcolm said: “What a lovely surprise, it’s nice to be noticed and rewarded, but I was only doing my job! Thank you very much.”

Malcolm will receive a £50 voucher for the grocery store of his choice, a box of chocolates, certificate, a SSCH hoody and Able Care will receive a bunch of flowers.

The prizes have been sponsored by VAT Solutions.

The social care workforce is often overlooked yet they keep the most vulnerable

people in our society safe and well. It is hoped that SSCH will receive significant support following research which found that the overwhelming majority of the public feel that social care staff are undervalued (81%) and underpaid (80%). The monthly care hero awards have been created to show that care workers are appreciated.

Nicola Richards, Founder of Support Social Care Heroes, explained the thinking behind the idea: “Social care staff often do not get the recognition that they deserve despite being valued by their managers and employers.

“Many care homes already have ‘employee of the month’ schemes and we really felt we should do something to bring all these nominations together from around the country to celebrate all our social care heroes and the amazing work they do.

“The pandemic has brought social care colleagues across the country together as we have supported each other like never before. I hope these awards will provide a positive boost to carers, managers and the wider care home teams.

“These awards are the first step in our long-term plans to ensure those who need care, and those caring for them, are valued by all in society.

“Our country’s social care heroes have been on the front line and in the headlines for almost two years and this new initiative will help show them that they are valued and recognise the work they do.”

Prince’s Walkabout Delights Dorset Care Home Residents It’s not every day the heir to the throne is in the neighbourhood, so team members and residents at a Dorset care home made the most of their chance.

The Prince of Wales was opening a new playpark in his Duchy of Cornwall community at Poundbury, just across the road from Colten Care’s Castle View home.

Companionship Team leader Katja Williams was having her lunch when she heard from a resident’s son that the Royal visit was taking place.

She, colleague Sue Goodwin and several residents grabbed a clutch of Union Jacks and went over to view proceedings.

Katja then found herself in a prime spot for her very own Royal audience, with the Prince – in grey suit, blue tie and sunglasses – taking time to speak with her and ask about Castle View.

Katja said: “I stepped forward and as I did he reached out and shook my hand. I told him that we were from Castle View and he said, ‘Oh yes, I have been there before, a few years ago’.

“He was genuinely interested in the residents, asking how we all were. He said

the trees outside our home were looking beautiful. He had apparently walked round the outside taking them all in.

Our residents were thrilled to see him.”

Asked how she felt afterwards, Katja said: “I couldn’t believe it actually happened. We were speaking just the two of us for a couple of minutes. I have no formal training in what makes a Royal greeting but he was very engaged and made it easy.”

Castle View residents spoke of their delight at seeing the Prince. Freda Cruickshank said: “It was excellent that he came and such a special moment for all the children who may have met him at the play park.”

And for Jan Saunders, it brought back memories of meeting the Prince many years ago when he was visiting a friend’s farm near Maiden Castle, an Iron Age hillfort south of Dorchester.

Jan said: “I remember we had coffee. We were all in a group and spoke to him for over an hour. I sat on a carpet while other chairs where occupied. He was terribly shy. He was only 24 years old at the time.”

Local Care Home Celebrates the 77th Anniversary of VE Day Bushey House Beaumont in Bushey marked the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in style by throwing a 1940s afternoon tea party to remember. The home was decorated in red, white and blue and residents and staff dressed up in their 1940s-inspired glad rags and enjoyed an afternoon of big band music and dancing with Fiona Harrison Soprano and Costume artist.

Head chef Avni whipped up a delicious selection of freshly-baked biscuits, sandwiches, cakes and pastries for the occasion, all washed down with pots of tea and a celebratory glass of fizz to mark the occasion.

Residents observed the national two minute silence and listened again to Churchill’s iconic speech

accepting Germany’s surrender and an address from the Queen.

They reminisced about their memories of VE Day and watched clips of the celebrations that took place outside Buckingham Palace and all across London.

Mary Jane Bague, General Manager at Bushey House said: “Many of our residents can remember the end of the war and we all know what it meant for our country so we wanted to celebrate the date and listen to our resident’s memories of the war and the experiences they lived through.”

Martin Watson resident at Bushey House said: “It was wonderful to reminisce and to celebrate with all the staff and residents here. We really enjoyed the entertainment and had a lovely party. We’ve all had such fun and lots of cake!”

New Winchester Care Home Reaches Major Milestone in Development with Topping Out Ceremony Winchester-based charity, The Brendoncare Foundation, marked another milestone in the construction of a 60-bedroom care home development in Winchester with a topping out ceremony.

Around 30 guests, including the Deputy Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Derek Green, and staff from the charity’s current home in Winchester, Brendoncare Park Road, celebrated the event at the site in Quarry Road, in the St Giles Hill area of Winchester.

Ian MacDonald, Home Manager at St Cross Grange, also came to the event, as residents and colleagues from the Greensleeves Care home will be transferring to Brendoncare St Giles View when it opens in autumn 2022.

Residents from Brendoncare Park Road and St Cross Grange will be the first people to move in to Brendoncare St Giles View and enjoy the beautiful views of the South Downs. To mark the occasion, a number of roof tiles were signed by residents and colleagues and handed over to Marianne Wanstall, Chief Executive of Brendoncare, to nail on to the roof as a permanent link between all the homes.

Brendoncare St Giles View was developed by Octopus Real Estate’s in-house healthcare development

team and has been custom designed for Brendoncare, who will lease and operate the new home.

The development is being built by Real and will include 60 purpose built en-suite bedrooms, as well as a café/restaurant, hair and beauty salon and community spaces.

Care services will include respite care, nursing and residential care, dementia care and end of life care.

Marianne Wanstall, Brendoncare’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to see our new home at St Giles View coming to life. This is the first new care home for Brendoncare in 4 years, and we are delighted to be expanding our residential, nursing and dementia care services in Winchester. It is great to know that once the home opens this autumn it will be supporting more people in the local area as well as providing social and friendship links for local community groups.”

“We are especially thrilled to welcome residents from Brendoncare Park Road and St Cross Grange to what will be their new home. We are very much looking forward to autumn when the first residents will be able to move in.”

The innovative development is due to open in Autumn 2022.

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Director of Wellbeing and Dementia Care at Sanders Senior Living Hosts Dementia Awareness Sessions for Worcester Community Summary: Paul Gaskell, Director of Wellbeing and Dementia Care, has delivered interactive dementia awareness sessions for Worcester community, at Sanders Senior Living care home, The Belmont.

To further become a supportive and informative resource and hub for the Worcester community, The Belmont team organised Sanders Senior Living’s Director of Wellbeing and Dementia Care, Paul Gaskell, to deliver several 90-minute presentations on dementia.

The sessions took place throughout the day on the 3rd of May and family, friends and members of the professional community all enjoyed attending. Paul prepared an informative presentation for the event, which encouraged lots of open conversation and discussion.

The points of conversation included discussing what dementia is and how we can help people who live with dementia, live well. Paul presented different ways to support and encourage those living with dementia, through cognitive stimulation, life story work and physical, mental and social activity. The attendees also engaged in empathy exercises to better understand what it’s like living with dementia, which can help in seeing life from their perspective. How space can be designed in a way that creates a calming, inclusive and sense of familiarity was also a topic of discussion.

Overall, the day’s event was a big success, and generated lots of interest. Family members, and friends from Age UK and the Dementia Café all attended and left lovely, positive feedback for Paul and the

team. Participants all left reviews stating the session was ‘informative’, ‘engaging’ and ‘friendly.’

Other participants said: “Lovely, friendly person. Gave information in a relaxed manner and gave us a chance to talk.”

“Glad I came. I now have an understanding of dementia which will help me to understand my dad’s symptoms.”

The event reflects the values and goals of the home and the wider Sanders Senior Living company to become a supportive pillar for the community, sharing valuable resources, knowledge and experience.

With such great interest and a brilliant response, the team are hoping to host additional sessions in the future.

Paul Gaskell said: “It was great to be able to lead an important presentation and discussion on dementia awareness for relatives and the wider community.

It’s so important that those in the community have a welcoming space to feel supported and to come away with the knowledge and confidence to further care for their loved ones. At the end of the session, I issued everyone with a range of information and handouts and my business card, inviting them to contact me if they wish any support or advice.”

Customer Relations Manager, Tommy Fellows, who organised the event said: “I am so pleased that Paul was able to come and support The Belmont community with such informative sessions on dementia. We received such lovely feedback from guests and with such success, we hope to hold sessions like this again soon. This event is just one of the ways we are striving to become a pillar of support for the Worcester

Celebrating the Most Famous Nurse in History on Nurses Day “The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs” - Florence Nightingale Members of the nursing team from Marie Louise House care home in Romsey, Hampshire, paid homage to the world’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale, ahead of Nurses Day on 12 May. Romsey-born Florence Nightingale is celebrated in a stained-glass window installed in Romsey Abbey. 'The Calling Window' is a feature of St George's Chapel and shows her seated on a stone bench in the grounds of her home, Embley Park. She said “God spoke to me and called me to His service.” Florence Nightingale is heralded as the founder of modern nursing as a result of her relentless work nursing soldiers in the Crimean War. During this time, she became known as "the lady with the lamp".

Marie Louise House is located within a short stroll from the Abbey and the nurses were delighted to have permission to view the window and take photographs. They spent time reflecting on the 4metre high artwork by Sophie Hacker, which is located so close to their place of work

that it will continue to be a source of inspiration to the nurses in their daily lives.

Marie Louise House care home will be celebrating its nursing staff with flowers and chocolates on Nurses Day. Nurses Day recognises and pays tribute to the incredible work of nurses who make such a difference to the lives of people by going above and beyond to deliver highly skilled and compassionate care, day in and day out.

Joyce Hlophe, Clinical Lead at Marie Louise House said: “We enjoyed a quiet moment with Florence while contemplating the direct effect her life had on us all. Nursing is one of the most challenging, but rewarding jobs you can do. Our team of nurses work closely together to provide specialist care for our residents to ensure their lives at Marie Louise House are as fulfilling as possible. Each resident is so unique and care is tailored to meet each individual’s needs and preferences. It’s an honour to enjoy such special relationships with them. Nurses Day is a wonderful way to make us feel recognised and valued.”

Care Home Residents Help Pack Parcels for the Homeless Elderly residents at a care home in Coventry spent the day assembling packs to distribute to the homeless. Residents at Clarendon House in Allesley Village took part in the heartwarming initiative as a way to help them 'have a sense of purpose and lead fulfilling lives', bosses say.

Charity Hand on Heart launched the campaign which has seen 1,700 essential item packs distributed to rough sleepers, asylum seekers and refugees, including those from Ukraine. Packs have been distributed in 25 locations across the UK including Birmingham, Leicester and London.

Each essential item pack contains 14 items including a polo shirt, t-shirt, underwear, socks, oral hygiene kit, wet wipes, deodorants, shower gel,

first aid plasters, blanket and a drawstring bag. In total, 23,800 items have been distributed at outreach food drives and food bank charities.

Hand on Heart’s co-founder Afzal Pradhan BEM said, “We are seeing increases in rough sleepers on the streets – which is expected to worsen with Covid-related support ending, and the significant rises in the cost of living.”

Afzal added, “The items in the spring essential packs are carefully thought out; from the jackets to keep our guests dry to new polo shirts that can be worn to job interviews. The items in the essential packs provides rough sleepers with some hygiene and dignity which we all take for granted.”

Award-Winning Care Home Welcomes Mayor after COVID Restrictions Ease Councillor Jill Bray, Mayor of Reigate, and Banstead celebrated the efforts of local healthcare workers with a visit to The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society last month (April 19) as visiting restrictions finally lifted for care homes.

Since being elected in 2021, Cllr Bray has made it her goal to recognise as many individuals and organisations as possible for their contributions during the COVID19 pandemic, including volunteers, healthcare workers and health professionals.

She spent time meeting staff members at the Society’s care home Belvedere House, showing gratitude for their tireless efforts throughout the challenging couple of years health and care workers have faced.

The Surrey-based care home operator and charity has provided housing, residential and nursing care to former seafarers, their widows, and dependants since 1865.

Cllr Bray, whose father was in the Army, took time to speak with the Society’s residents and tenants, sharing stories and playing games. Being an avid gardener, she also planted a pear tree in the orchard to mark the Queen’s Jubilee later this

year - a permanent reminder of the visit.

Belvedere House is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and modernisation project, with work due to complete in Summer 2022. Before departing, the Mayor also had a tour of the building work and was one of the first people to see some of the newly refurbished rooms and facilities.

Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, CEO at The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, said: “It is wonderful to be able to start welcoming visitors to The Royal Alfred again, after what has been such a difficult period over the last couple of years, especially for those who work in the care sector. Councillor Bray’s visit was very special for all of the staff and residents especially given her efforts to support charities, healthcare workers and family association with the Army. We were delighted to welcome her and show her some of our new facilities.

“We all hope that this visit marks the start of many more like this throughout the year, and I would like to thank Councillor Jill Bray for taking the time to visit The Society.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99 | PAGE 25

Care Home Residents Embrace Working on their Garden of Creativity Residents at The Aldbury, Colten Care’s dedicated dementia care home in Poole, have been adding to their recently created enchanted garden with stunning floral designs using painted pebbles.

Companionship Team Leader Sue Miles explained: “So far this year our residents have created an enchanted garden with fairies and fairy houses they have painted, and homemade windchimes and sun catchers.

“Now, they are creating floral decorations made out of specially arranged hand-painted pebbles, which are being placed around the grounds and are attracting a large number of compliments from families and visitors.”

Residents, some of whom usually shy away from creative projects, have already transformed 140 plain pebbles using bright acrylic paints.

Some people have also added their names to the pebbles and with the companionship team’s help have arranged them in groups of seven to

form eye-catching flower-shaped decorations throughout the flowerbeds.

Resident Tina Thorne said: “I'm not usually one for painting, but I do really enjoy seeing the colours transform the pebbles.”

Sue said: “This activity has struck a real chord with Tina, as she remembers it and asks me when we will be doing more painting. It has also encouraged her to take part in other craft activities recently, whereas before she had not been very keen. We have obviously awakened her inner creativity!”

Sue added: “The residents were eager to display their pebble flowers in the grounds, creating a beautiful display for all to see. This activity has been a huge success with everyone and will undoubtedly become an ongoing project here at The Aldbury.”

Hertfordshire Care Home Takes ‘Gentlemen’s Lunch Club’ on the Road to Promote Companionship Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (9th to 15th May), a Hertfordshire care home took its popular ‘Gentlemen’s Lunch Club’ on the road to provide space for its male residents to come together and discuss important issues in a comfortable environment – while enjoying a tipple or two.

Attended by eight residents and a staff member at Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin, the social outing marked the first time since the lunch club was formed over a year ago that male residents were able to open up about their wellbeing during a pub outing – which proved the perfect spot for a few hours of overdue drinking and eating.

Foxholes, a thriving and active care environment that has inclusivity at the forefront of its ethos, is always on the search for initiatives that enhance resident wellbeing, and following the success of last year’s outdoor visitation for family and friends within its gardens, has now officially reintroduced safe outings and day trips for its residents.

Making the short trip over to the home’s local pub, The Highlander, residents got in the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Week by opting to discuss varying topics from their wellbeing to hobbies and interests, as well as shared experiences with fellow male residents over a two-

hour lunch.

The group enjoyed fish and chips in the sunshine, with a tipple of beer, wine and cider also enjoyed by all in a bid to tackle the theme of this year’s annual awareness week, loneliness.

Loneliness is considered one of the most detrimental health concerns of today, and its influence on people’s physical and mental health was heightened exponentially throughout the pandemic. A sense of connection to other people and their community is fundamental in protecting someone’s mental health, which is why Foxholes deemed the return of safe outdoor gatherings as the perfect opportunity to address the issue.

Neil Gandencha, Estate Manager at Foxholes, who also attended the club’s much-anticipated relaunch, said: “Loneliness is affecting more and more of us across the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health, particularly since the pandemic. At Foxholes, we’re always open to new ideas on ways to improve our residents’ quality of life and with several of our male residents openly expressing their desire to host the popular lunch club outdoors in the community for the first time, it seemed like a no-brainer. It was one of the most enjoyable days out in a long time!”

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PAGE 26 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Former Red Cross Nurse Celebrates 103rd Birthday in Llanidloes A Llanidloes woman who worked for the Red Cross during the Second World War has celebrated her 103rd birthday at a local care home.

Residents and staff at Maes y Wennol care home in Llanidloes joined Nance Griffiths for a party with balloons, bunting and cake.

Born in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire in 1919, Mrs Griffiths grew up to be a nurse and worked for the Red Cross during the Second World War. During the war, Nance went to a New Year’s Eve dance and met her future husband when she was 21. The couple had three children together, one boy and two girls, and she has 14 grandchildren.

In addition to the party, her family treated her to a day out to celebrate her milestone.

Sandra Holt, the manager at Maes y Wennol – which is operated by Shaw Healthcare – said: “Nance is such a great personality in our home, often challenging us to a game of dominoes or darts – her competitive streak is as strong as ever. If she isn’t doing that, she’s focused on her latest book or tuning into an audiobook. She’s always keeping active.

“Nance is a hugely popular resident at Maes y Wennol and we’re delighted to have put on such a lovely event for her.

Salutem Celebrates Five Years As A Leading Care Provider Salutem Care and Education is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a leading care provider for people living with complex physical and mental disabilities.

As part of its celebrations, it will be donating £2000 to five charities: Mind, Mencap, Make a Wish UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Samaritans.

In 2017, the organisation, which operates 130 services across the UK, merged Modus Care, Clearwater Care, Pathways Care Group and Ambito Care and Education to create specialist care and education facilities to suit all requirements. It has also introduced 11 new services since 2019.

Part of the acquisition of Ambito care included former Scope services, comprising four education facilities, 30 care homes and 10 day services.

Over the past five years, Salutem has invested £13m to improve its services, including upgrades to IT infrastructure, development of the day and residential facilities, and the introduction of electric vehicles to its fleet.

A significant increase has come in the form of employee wage rises, which have increased on average by 50 per cent, from £14,356pa to £21,660pa. Salutem has also offered career progression to many of its staff being promoted through a structured leadership programme.

The team has worked closely with the regulators within both adults and children’s services, and with the

Welsh Inspectorate and schools and colleges regulators to ensure transparent and clear ways of working throughout the last five years. When inspected against national frameworks, 91 per cent of its CQC regulated services have been rated good or outstanding.

Throughout the pandemic, there was an additional requirement to care for and support incredibly vulnerable individuals and it invested £200k in PPE for staff. Salutem was also in a position to top up the pay of any extremely clinically vulnerable colleagues who were furloughed and forced to isolate to their full salary until they were able to return to work.

John Godden MBE, CEO of Salutem Care and Education, said: “The last five years have been an incredible journey for the team at Salutem, with the individuals we support and our amazing carers at the heart of everything we do.

“We have come a long way since 2017, but through our values, our commitment to care, and our passion for sharing best practice, we have grown into an organisation I’m very proud to lead.

“Our success over the past five years is testament to our employees at all levels, and I’m confident the next five years will bring more opportunities and accomplishments.

“Happy birthday Salutem!”

Residents at Hugh Myddelton House Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Residents at Hugh Myddelton in Southgate went loco celebrating Cinco de Mayo which takes place on 5th May every year.

Cinco de Mayo is a national day which celebrates freedom and liberty in Mexico. It marks the date in 1862 when President Benito Juarez sent troops to face the invading French army who were marching towards Mexico City. The day is hugely important in Mexico and is celebrated with parades, battle re-enactments, fireworks and parties around the country.

Residents watched videos of parades and celebrations in Mexico, trav-

poblano, a delicious rich sauce made of chilies and chocolate.

Ramona Stanciu, General Manager at Hugh Myddelton House, said: “We celebrate all cultures and religions and we try to mark as many cultural events as possible. Cinco de Mayo is a fantastic celebration and a great excuse for a party. We all had so much fun decorating the home with Mexican flags and pinatas and dancing to the Mariachi music” Dega, a resident said: “It is so wonderful to be able to mark occasions

elled virtually to different historic sites in Mexico, had a Mexican quiz and

like this and to remember the history behind the date. I really enjoyed

enjoyed a brilliant Mexican party with Mariachi music and buffet of tradi-

watching the celebrations in Mexico and the Mexican food our chef pre-

tional Mexican food including tacos, burritos, enchiladas and mole

pared was absolutely delicious!”

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.

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

PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

Antioxidants Linked to a Lower Risk of Developing Dementia Researchers from the US have found an association between the levels of specific antioxidants in the blood and a reduced dementia risk.

Scientists looked at population data gathered from a health survey (Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)) and examined the relationship between specific antioxidants found in the participants’ blood at the time of the survey, and how this affected people’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as well as other dementias in later life.

After excluding survey participants who did not fit the study criteria, researchers looked at 7,283 individuals aged 45-90. They also investigated a smaller group of individuals aged over 65 totalling 3,618 people.

Researchers in the study were able to include lifestyle and health related factors in their analysis as survey participants had completed detailed questionnaires to assess their diet, activity levels and other health factors such as smoking and drinking.

Researchers followed participants in the study for an average of 16 years and took blood to test for levels of specific antioxidants: vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C and carotenoids.

Levels of carotenoid antioxidants in participants’ blood including lutein and zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin were associated with a reduced risk of dementia in the follow up years. These antioxidants can be found in foods such as green leafy vegetables, oranges and papayas and so can be obtained through people’s diets.

Individuals in the over 65 age group showed a clearer risk reduction for all types of dementia, and this remained even when lifestyle and socio-economic factors were accounted for.

Dr James Connell, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Research suggests that oxidative stress can contribute to damage to brain cells in the diseases that cause dementia. While they may have protective effects, studies to date that have examined the link between antioxidants and the risk of dementia have generated mixed findings.

“This study looked at data from a large group of people and found that levels of antioxidants in the blood were associated with a reduced risk of dementia, but when other factors such as lifestyle, socio-economic status and physical activity were accounted for this effect was smaller. It is important that researchers continue to investigate the protective effects of antioxidants in the context of other risk factors and work to understand how they interact.

“The diseases that cause dementia develop over many years, but this study only looked at antioxidant levels at one point in time. While this research highlights a potentially interesting finding, it is important that research takes a long-term view of factors that may affect risk.

“While this research highlights a potential benefit from antioxidants, the only way to know if particular foods or dietary supplements containing these could help reduce dementia risk is through careful clinical trials in the future.

“We know that dementia risk is complex and comprises factors including, age and genetics as well as lifestyle factors such as our diet. Making positive lifestyle changes can reduce our risk of developing the diseases that cause dementia and there is information on simple steps we can take to do this through Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Think Brain Health campaign. Visit www.thinkbrainhealth.org.uk to find out more.”

Residents Set Sail at Bridgwater Care Home A cruise around the world with food and music from countries as diverse as Poland and the Philippines has thrilled residents at a specialist dementia care home in Bridgwater.

The creative ‘cruise’ included music, language, heritage, dress, food and drink organised by the activities team at Avalon Nursing Home, with each week dedicated to a different country starting in Romania, Poland, Germany, Philippines, Africa and ending in India.

Lisa Priddice, activities co-ordinator for Avalon, said: “We ‘stopped off’ at countries close to our residents’ hearts, beginning in Romania with exercises and dance sessions to Romanian folk music.

“We have lots of creative residents who are happiest when being able to express themselves with art, so they loved crafting with Romanian colours and images.

“During Polish week we decorated boxes with decoupage techniques using Polish folk motifs, and we also had a go at learning the Polish language, which had us all laughing at one another’s attempts.

“Residents and staff then celebrated the beautiful Philippines, where a few of our staff and residents have lived. We sampled handmade spring rolls and noodles as well as a sweet dish – cassava cake – followed by a fascinating ‘show and tell’ session.

“German week started with a morning cooking session: residents had fun rolling and twirling pastry into the desired shapes. This little activity is good for hand coordination and dexterity. And our residents had great fun with our beer tasting game, guessing which beer was English and which was German.”

Next stop on the residents’ round-the-world cruise was Africa, where tribal art, fashion and animals were under the spotlight, with inspiring sessions led by Avalon’s art therapist, Ewa Kuwałek, featuring vibrant colours and animal printed paper to

mimic the look of the African desert, and Avalon’s resident quiz master, Norman, brought the day to an entertaining close with a quiz about Africa which he prepared himself.

The home took the opportunity to include some focused fundraising for the Ukraine crisis appeal in the cruise schedule.

Lisa Priddice said: “We were keen to honour Ukraine and contribute to the crisis appeal.

Residents worked hard sorting and arranging parcels for anyone who might need them.

“Our fantastic chef Rob and assisting chef CJ prepared a fine Ukrainian menu packed full of flavours, including homemade chicken Kyiv with salad, Ukrainian soup and much more traditional Ukrainian cuisine.”

The cruise then proceeded to India, with residents engaging in beautiful craftwork, including the creation of Mandala suncatchers, which have been strategically placed around the home.

Lisa said: “One of the highlights of the cruise was definitely sampling luxurious Indian sweets and cuisine: residents commented how wonderful the food looked and tasted.

“Finally, we returned home to England with a delightful English tea party, garden games day, and other activities.

“Our residents really entered into the spirit of the cruise and so enjoyed talking about various cultures and how diverse and individual they are, so we’re now working on plans for more cruising events later in the year.”

The round-the-world cruise is part of a year-long programme organised by the team at Avalon, with activities devised to engage residents physically and through the senses in a way that is integral to quality dementia care.

Seven Derbyshire Care Homes to Close Seven council-run care homes are to shut despite a campaign to keep them operating.

Conservative-run Derbyshire County Council the homes were not fit for purpose and needed urgent repairs costing an estimated £31m.

Opposition groups and unions had said the move threatened the wellbeing of residents and jobs of staff, as GMB campaigners gathered outside holding a placard up to the window displaying the names and photographs of each individual member, demanding their public accountability.

However, at a meeting on Thursday, the council cabinet approved the plans, saying it was an “incredibly difficult decision”.

The affected homes are: • Ladycross House, Sandiacre • Beechcroft, West Hallam • East Clune, Clowne • Holmlea, Tibshelf • The Spinney, Brimington • Goyt Valley House, New Mills • Gernon Manor, Bakewell The fate of the homes has been a matter of debate for years, with the council performing a U-turn on earlier plans to shut them in 2020.

Earlier this year, the authority launched a consultation on the homes

but shortly after, the council announced residents would have to be moved out by September regardless of its outcome.

It said the homes were in such poor condition that “invasive work” such as rewiring and refitting of bathrooms was needed.

Prior to the meeting, a petition was handed into the council with 3,919 names on it opposing the closures and as soon as the decision was made both the Lib Dem Leader Ed Fordham, and Labour Leader Joan Dixon submitted requests on behalf of their respective parties for emergency meetings to allow full council to debate the issue.

Ed Fordham, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, had told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This report is a death nail for a number of care homes.”

Dr Joan Dixon, leader of the Labour group, said many elderly residents and their families felt “betrayed” by the move.

Up to 204 staff are now facing redundancy, a union had earlier said.

Unison said members had been kept “in the dark” about their futures.

The council has said it will commence a consultation with affected staff on 16 May. Natalie Hoy, cabinet member for adult care, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision and not one we have made lightly.

“We understand how upsetting this has been for everyone involved but our priority has always been for the safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families and our staff.

“We listened to people’s views but carrying out the work – including an invasive rewire at each home – with people still living in them simply wasn’t viable.”

However Cabinet member for Health and Communities Carol Hart condemned the claim as being ‘totally out of order’, arguing that if the move was handled well residents shouldn’t be badly affected.

The authority has offered to pay bill for residents relocating to suitable alternative accommodation at an estimated cost of £2m.

PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 99 | PAGE 33

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 protec-

tion 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 accreditation.

Tel: 0113 279 5854 | email: info@yeomanshield.com www.yeomanshield.com See the advert on 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 34 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

CONTINENCE CARE

Top Tips for Managing Incontinence from Ontex FLUID INTAKE 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.

DRINKS TO AVOID 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.

SMOKING 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.

DEHYDRATION 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.

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 inconti-

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

nence waste fast.

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 It has been great to get back out helping some customers face to face again but we are also aware of ongoing restrictions and the many pressures facing all.

Haigh's product development has continued regardless and with the launch of the Panaway M1 mobile bedpan disposal system, the team has also made a virtual 3D version for you to view from your smartphone via the link / QR code below.

Bedpans, commode pots, kidney dishes & urine bottles are simply and efficiently disposed using Haigh's proven technology now in an easy to deploy, mobile, plug and play format.

Panaway M1 gives unprecedented flexibility when it

comes to bringing the infection prevention benefits of disposable medical pulp to your site, as well as the sustainability and cost considerations associated with using very little electricity and no hot water. A perfect solution as an emergency stand-in when a bedpan machine or washer is unavailable or as a cost-effective solution whilst migrating a site to a disposable system.

If you or your colleagues have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to email or call us.

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 or visit www.panaway.com

PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 46 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 99 | PAGE 47

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 48 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 50 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 99 | PAGE 51

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 52 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 99

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 99 | PAGE 53

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