The Carer #38 Autumn 2017

The publication for Nursing and Residential Care Homes www.thecareruk.com £1.75

AUTUMN 2017

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OTHER FEATURES

INSIDE

THIS Cleaning & Nurse Call

ISSUE

Issue 38

Hygiene

Alarms

Accessible Bathing

Pages 24 - 25

Pages 26 - 27

Pages 28 - 30

Sluice Rooms Page 31

Dysphagia

Laundry Services

Furniture & Fittings

Dementia Care & Training

Page 32

Pages 33 - 35

Pages 36 - 41

Pages 42 - 43

Editor's Viewpoint Products & Services Property, Finance & Professional

2 44 45-47

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Care Home Bed Provision to Hit Crisis Levels By 2022 THE CARE home market may not have enough places to help older people in need by the end of this Parliament, according to new research.

Analysis of care home data across England reveals that 87% of councils won’t have enough places to meet potential demand by the end of this parliament.

The shortfall is predicted to be particularly bad in 14 local authority areas, half of which are London boroughs, according to campaign group Which?. Its research suggests these areas could face a 25%+ shortfall in the number of care home places needed.

Which? found that Bracknell Forest, in Berkshire, is set to see the biggest shortfall with 53% more care places needed by 2022 than are currently available. Lewisham (48%), Haringey (38%), Hartlepool (35%) and Milton Keynes (33%) are also predicted to fall short in providing enough places in five years’ time.

However, there are a small number of council areas that are likely to see a surplus in the number of care home beds they provide. Bexley is estimated to have 26% more places than anticipated demand by 2022, while Peterborough (17%), Stoke-on-Trent (14%) Portsmouth (13%) and Trafford (10%) are also expected to exceed demand.

Overall the research – which compared elderly care bed counts with what would be provided if the current trend continues – suggested there will be an estimated shortfall of 42,000 elderly care home beds in England by 2022.

As such, it said urgent action must be taken to address the problem though it is understood that it can take up to seven years to plan, build and open a new care home.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an inquiry into care homes and Which? is calling for it to make strong recommendations to the government to tackle this issue.

Alex Hayman, Which? managing director of public markets, said: “It’s heartbreaking that families who have no choice but to move a relative into care then have the additional stress of not knowing if they can find a space in a suitable home that’s close to loved ones.

“It is vital that the CMA looks at the potentially huge local disparities in provision, which could reach crisis point if nothing is done.”

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, the older people’s charity, said: ‘This research is yet more evidence of a social care system which is straining at the seams as the ageing population continues to grow.’

Responding to research, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “These findings reinforce our warning about the urgent need to reform adult social care and deliver a long-term sustainable solution that delivers a range of high quality care and support for the growing numbers of people who will need it.

“While the £2 billion announced in the Spring Budget for social care was a step in the right direction, it is only one-off funding and social care services still face an annual £2.3 billion funding gap by 2020. But councils need to be given the freedom

and flexibility to spend the additional funding for social care in the places where they feel it will be most effective.

“It is absolutely critical that the Government uses the Autumn Budget to bring forward its consultation for social care announced in the Queen’s Speech, and that it works with local government leaders in delivering a long-term sustainable solution for social care. To tackle the problems we face tomorrow, we must start planning today.

“This must address the issue of long-term funding, but it must also create the conditions necessary to ensure the development of the right kind of care and support services, that can meet the demand of an increasing number of adults with care needs.”

‘Unheeded Warnings Set to Spark Crisis’ The Independent Care Group says it has been warning for more than a decade that underfunding would eventually mean people going without the care they need in care homes and their own homes.

Chair Mike Padgham said: “We and many, many other bodies, politicians and experts have been warning for more than a decade that serious underfunding of social care was going to leave this country short of the care we need and now we see the evidence of that happening.

“We know there are already more than a million people in this country going without the care they need and this latest report warns that the situation is going to get much, much worse in the next 20 years unless urgent action is taken.”

Property experts JLL warned in a report on social care capacity, that there was going to be a huge demand for care homes, with an extra 139,000 beds needed over the next ten years and 351,000 by 2036. In that period it warned that an increase in the workforce of 540,000 care home workers would be needed. It also warned that over the next 20 years the country would need a further extra 682,000 people to work in care settings other than homes, including homecarers.

BBC You and Yours reported in August that there would be a 3,000 bed shortfall by the end of 2018 – 70,000 beds by the end of 2026.

Mr Padgham said efforts to bring the crisis to the attention of the Government fell on deaf ears.

“I have twice written to the Prime Minister and to the Minister responsible for social care, Jackie Doyle-Price, inviting them to visit the frontline of social care to see for themselves the challenges the sector faces, but have so far hit a brick wall,” he added.

“Providers have suggestions to help the crisis, including merging NHS care and social care to provide a more cohesive care system, providing incentives to get more providers and staff into the sector and making greater use of the independent sector to provide more cost-effective care.

“We are promised a Green Paper on care this autumn, but as these latest figures demonstrate, the need for action is urgent as people are going without care now.”

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THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

VIEWPOINT HELLO AND welcome to the Autumn issue of The Carer!

Once again, I would firstly like to begin by welcoming new readers to our publication. To give our new readers a brief background we are a “free to trade” business publication for residential and nursing care homes. We are distributed to all proprietors, managers, and procurement professionals EDITOR within the care industry, bringing news and views, professional comment from industry experts. All that we would ask is that when replying to any of the advertisers in our publication, either directly or online, please mention that you saw the details in The Carer! Oh and please follow us on Twitter - we tweet lots of news, stories, awards and fundraising events, sent in by many of our readers and all linked back to our ever popular website www.thecareruk.com. You can also sign up for our twiceweekly digital newsletter too!

I would also draw your attention to the bottom of this page!

Social care is an industry under intense scrutiny, with people and organisations often quick to judge and slow to praise. My mother, and Alzheimer’s sufferer, was in a nursing home for over two years during the end of her life, and the close family member worked in social care, in care homes for several years. I recognised then and now in my many years as editor of this publication just how demanding the job can be, often as I say above under intense scrutiny.

Days are often long and tiring, with situations and challenges that take people outside of the “comfort zone”, and I think it is safe to say that no one day if the same!

During the Christmas period tens of thousands of loyal and dedicated care workers will be working - I think the statistic was about 170,000, during a time when they will of course prefer to spend time with family and loved ones.

So, we here at The Carer would like to make somebody’s Christmas that little bit more special!

Every care home will have numerous members of staff who deserve recognition. People who often go that extra mile time and time again, people who you know you can count on, people who care and enjoy what they do.

We would like to reward one in December, with £100 of Marks & Spencer vouchers. All you have to do is nominate someone you think deserves to be recognised. Unfortunately, we can only pick one!

You can email nominate@thercareruk.com or write to us at The Carer, Suite 4, Roddis House, 4-12 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth Dorset BH1 1LG or call us on 01202 552333.

A worthy winner will be picked on December 18th and £100 in Marks and Spencer vouchers will be dispatched the same day, just in time for Christmas.

Please don’t forget to include full postal details, and a very brief description on why you feel your nominee deserves recognition.

Best of luck!

Peter Adams

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

01202 552333 (6 lines)

Fax: 01202 552666 Email: sales@thecareruk.com

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

Everybody reading this will recognise that the care sector is hard work in often challenging circumstances.

Sometimes society can be a little too quick to judge and slow to praise!

We here at The Carer invite you to nominate a staff member from any department who you feel deserves recognition and reward. Simply email us at nominate@TheCarerUK.com, nominating your staff member, and a brief description and why they deserve to be congratulated. On December 18 we will be picking out a worthy winner, who will win a festive £100 in Marks & Spencer vouchers in time for Christmas!

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

Global Experts Seek To End Damaging Dementia Psychosis Cycle A NEW research report calls for a change in approach in the treatment of psychosis in dementia, to find alternatives to highly damaging antipsychotics.

Up to two thirds of people with Alzheimer’s disease experience psychotic episodes, yet the distressing symptom is still widely under-recognised and is challenging to treat. Current antipsychotic treatments have little impact on alleviating symptoms, yet can have devastating side effects, leading to 1,660 unnecessary strokes and 1,800 unnecessary deaths in the UK every year.

Psychotic symptoms are linked to faster cognitive and functional decline and accelerated death rates.

Both psychotic symptoms and treatment side effects are more extreme in other types of dementia, including Parkinson’s Disease Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. In these people, commonly prescribed antipsychotics can be particularly damaging, quadrupling risk of stroke and death.

Now, an international group of experts, including researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School, is calling for new approaches to clinical trials to yield effective new treatments for the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The effort aims to facilitate a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these symptoms, which include psychosis, agitation, apathy, depression and sleep disturbances. These ideas are summarized in a new paper, “Neuropsychiatric Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease: New Treatment Paradigms,” published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.

The expert group was convened through the

Alzheimer’s Association Research Roundtable – an ongoing effort that brings together experts in the field from academia, industry, and government to address ways to overcome barriers to drug development.

Clive Ballard, Professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School, is the lead author for the paper’s section on psychosis. He said new treatments that worked in a different way to current antipsychotics are yielding promising results in relieving symptoms without adverse outcomes, but said outcome measures needed to be standardised to ensure they were meaningful to both clinicians and people with dementia and carers.

Professor Ballard said: “We have been stuck in this damaging cycle of prescribing antipsychotics for people with dementia, despite the fact that there are minimal benefits and lots of harms as a result. We now urgently need new drugs and new non-drug interventions, so we can improve treatment of these distressing symptoms to millions of people worldwide.

“At Exeter we are already developing specific psychological therapies, running clinical trials of novel drug approaches and using-cutting edge genetic techniques to identify new targets for safe and effective therapies and to allow us to use current treatments in a more focussed way.”

Psychosis and other neuropsychiatric symptoms are often among the first signs of dementia, yet are often not recognised as a warning sign. Together, these symptoms cause substantial distress for both people with dementia and their caregivers, and contribute to people moving into residential care earlier, placing financial burden on the social care system.

HC-One Care Home Resident Born During WW1 Celebrates 101st Birthday BORN IN the midst of World War One, Mary Fowler from Fife has celebrated her 101st birthday with residents and family at HC-One’s Balfarg Care Home.

Mary celebrated her big day with a party in the home, enjoying entertainment from Stevie Watson, a piper from Scotia Pipers and folk band The Sangsters, as well as a buffet and champagne.

Born on 16th September 1916, several historical events took place during Mary’s year of birth, including the Battle of the Somme

and The Easter Rising.

Care Home Manager, Sharon Watson, commented: “It was a pleasure to celebrate the birthday of a lady who is so dear to all of us at Balfarg. Mary has led a very interesting life and is an inspiration to us all. We’re delighted that we were able to give her such a special day.”

Mary married Peter, a coal miner in 1939 and they went on to have four children, two girls and two boys. A resident at Balfarg Care home since March this year, Mary has become the home’s agony aunt and is always willing to help others.

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THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

Breathing Space for Social Care as HMRC Stops Pursuit of Fines for Minimum Wage Failures THE GOVERNMENT has announced a reprieve for care providers facing potential fines for failing to pay the minimum wage to staff during overnight “sleep-in” shifts. This follows a media campaign led by Mencap, who argued it would face a financial crisis if forced to pay the minimum wage for its workers.

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The government will waive financial penalties faced by social care employers who have underpaid their workers for sleep-in shifts, where those shifts took place before 26 July 2017. It will also suspend all HMRC enforcement activity concerning payment of sleep-in shifts until 2 October 2017. In the meantime, the government will work with representatives of the sector to come up with a longer-term solution.

The legal side of the issue This has had the potential to catch out social care employers ever since the minimum wage was introduced in 1999. Only in recent years has it crept into the consciousness of more and more employers and workers.

The minimum wage regulations are not at all clear about whether a carer working a sleep-in shift is deemed to be working, and so entitled to be paid the minimum wage, throughout the shift or only when awake and attending to service users.

A 2014 employment appeal tribunal (EAT) ruling held that a care worker supporting three disabled adults in their home at night was entitled to the minimum wage while asleep because she could not, for instance, pop out for a late night movie or fish and chips.

This led to the government changing its guidance in 2015 to state that “a worker who is found to be working, even though they are asleep, is entitled to the [minimum wage] for the entire time they are at work.”

HMRC’s investigation of care sector practices Citing the revised guidance, HMRC has been investigating whether social care providers have been correctly paying the minimum wage. HMRC can issue civil penalties to employers who are found to have underpaid staff.

Such penalties normally include the arrears of pay owed to the employee as well as penalties payable to HMRC.

A further EAT case in April 2017, involving Mencap, seems to have encouraged HMRC’s approach. Mencap lost its appeal against a ruling that it was wrong to pay a support worker £29.05 for a nine hour sleep-in shift, which equated to just under £3.23 an hour. The minimum wage is £7.50 an hour for workers aged 25 or over.

This led to the warning from Mencap about the impact of this on the financial challenges already facing many social care providers. The government appears to have taken this on board in issuing the waiver.

However, care providers should be aware that the reprieve only applies to HMRC enforcement actions.

Employees and former employees can still take employers to a tribunal to claim for the underpayment of wages where they have not been paid the minimum wage throughout sleep-in shifts.

For those employers who are paying sleep-in shifts at a flat rate that falls short of the minimum wage, as Mencap were, the temporary reprieve will be welcome, but this may have made it more likely that workers will become aware of the issue and seek higher wages and reimbursement.

Employers need to look at how their pay is structured to ensure compliance with the minimum wage for sleepin shifts, but also in a way that it is financially viable.

Employers may have to consider drastic measures such as reducing rates for daytime shifts in order to pay the minimum wage for sleep-in shifts.

Going forwards It is not at all clear what the longer term solution might be.

There does not seem to be any suggestion that the minimum wage rules will be changed to make the common practice of paying a flat rate for sleep-in shifts lawful.

Any such change would be seen as an attack on the rights of low paid, hard-working carers and are likely to come up against stiff opposition.

The waiver of potentially large fines and the breathing space given to social care providers to take advice and reconsider how they pay their sleep-in shifts is to be welcomed in the short term. However, a long term solution that is affordable and fair to providers, workers, local authorities and service users seems to be some way off.

Ben Stepney is a Senior Associate in the Employment Team at the law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP (ben.stepney@ts-p.co.uk).

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AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

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Majority of the Public Support Tax Rises for Adult Social Care IF WE fail to plan now by continuing to focus on the short-term, the next generation of older people will not have access to care that meets their needs – that is Future Care Capital’s (FCC) view, a national health and adult social care charity, in its latest report Securing the future: planning health and care for every generation. The charity has also commissioned a UK-wide poll through Ipsos MORI to gauge public opinion about preparing for and managing future care needs.

The verdict of FCC’s latest report is clear – there is no long-term plan for health and adult social care and the result is a ‘care deficit’. FCC believes that crossparty consensus in respect of Future Care Guarantees could underpin a new Care Covenant and National Plan for health and care as well as cement the support of the general public. This would offer greater security for everyone in our society.

There are three key themes focused on in the report – intergenerational fairness and the economics of ageing, health and care futures, and planning ahead. FCC invited leaders from the public, private and third sectors to look ahead and consider how policies and spending decisions across Government that impact health and care outcomes could better reflect the challenges and opportunities we can expect to face in the next five, ten and fifteen years – including: Lord Filkin CBE (Chairman, Centre for Ageing Better): "There should be a national debate about how to pay for adult social care in the future, and a plan which underlines the value of our living longer, to reduce the growing care deficit."

Professor Raymond Hill (President Emeritus, British Pharmacological Society) with Alzheimer’s Research UK: "Whilst progress is being made by those seeking to develop new drugs and treatments for illnesses like dementia, there will be cost implications as and when those efforts bear fruit, which we should plan for now."

Dr Bertie Müller (Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales): "Developments in broad-ranging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robot surgeons, nano implants and automated vehicles are encouraging – some might help us to compress the length of time we live with one or more health conditions, whilst others are expected to facilitate independent living. However, we urgently need to involve the general public in a debate about the ethical implications of such technologies for health and care service provision in future."

The report also calls for a more concerted effort to be made in the short-term to adapt homes and the public realm so that they are ‘designed for age and mobility’, together with recognition of the economic contribution of carers to the overall economy and measures to improve carers’ ‘work-life-care’ balance.

Based upon the developments contributors outlined,

FCC recommends such Guarantees include: A new funding formula Government will introduce a new funding formula and national entitlements to health and adult social care services that are funded by the state.

Championing independent living Government will work with industry to introduce and uphold an Independent Living Guarantee enabled by a transformational programme of investment in ‘pre-care’ measures.

Careforce planning Government will provide leadership and work with education and service providers to build the capacity of the ‘careforce’.

FCC believes greater certainty is needed to assist individuals in planning for their future health and care needs. A key issue is the perceived general lack of understanding and consensus amongst the general public when it comes to the scope of state funded adult social care services and who should pay for them.

FCC worked with Ipsos MORI to explore public opinion in respect of this important policy area. They asked 16-75 year olds across the UK for their views about adult social care and planning for later life.

Key findings: • The majority of people say that people should be required to plan ahead – 67% agree that people should be required to plan and prepare financially for later life, whilst 49% agree that they should be required to plan and prepare financially for adult social care services they might require later in life.

• Half or more of people surveyed support the following income tax rises in order to increase the amount of funding available for adult social care: The additional rate (from 45p to 50p) – 58% support; 18% oppose The higher rate (from 40p to 43p) – 57% support; 18% oppose The basic rate (from 20p to 21p) – 50% support; 25% oppose • The UK public regard a focus on the ‘careforce’ as one of the most effective ways to reduce future pressure on the social care system – 76% say that Government increasing the number of health and social care workers would be effective and 71% think that providing greater support for unpaid carers would be effective.

The challenge of providing adult social care flows from our rapidly ageing population. It is important that the Government acts now before care services become increasingly rationed and the quality is impacted. This should be achieved through a cross-party consensus on future health and care provision. Money alone is not the answer, future provision will need to be shaped by a new strategic vision set out in a National Plan. The Government’s forthcoming green paper on adult social care affords it a prime opportunity to act now.

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THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

How to Achieve Compliance with GDPR Enhancing Elderly Lives Through BY 25TH May 2018 most organisations will have to become compliant with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It may seem like a long time away, but there are now only a few months left to ensure that your organisation complies.

What will change with GDPR? GDPR replaces the Data Protection Act 1998, and is a piece of legislation with much more power to protect people’s data and will be enforced by the UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO). Under GDPR, you will have to not just be compliant but be able to evidence how compliance is achieved. To become compliant with GDPR it is necessary to have a reason for holding personal data, and that reason must be documented. The penalty for noncompliance is also more severe with potential fines of up to €10m or 2% of your organisation’s turnover.

Does GDPR apply to care providers?

Yes. GDPR applies to anyone that processes personally identifiable data about any individual. ‘Processing data’ includes storing, writing and reading information. Care providers have sensitive data stored, updated and read in care plans, along with other personally identifiable records.

How can electronic records help?

A digital solution is safer

than paper and more likely to comply with GDPR. Paper records are extremely difficult to keep secure. With electronic records, you’ll be able to control who has access and keep records secure, while increasing the value of your records.

There is a shortcut to becoming compliant with GDPR. You will still be responsible for ensuring compliance, but if your data is managed by a third party, and the data processing is managed by the third party, you can ask the third party to document how they manage GDPR compliance.

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Find out how we can help you with GDPR In September 2017 we released a whitepaper detailing how care homes can prepare for GDPR. Sign up to receive our whitepaper to find out what we’re doing to prepare for GDPR and how that can help you achieve compliance with GDPR: www.personcentredsoftware.com/gdpr Find out how Mobile Care Monitoring can help in your care setting: care@personcentredsoftware.com, 01483 604108 or see the advert on page 22.

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Engineers are trained to a high standard through inhouse training and specific product training provided by equipment manufacturers.

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Human and Animal Relationships

By Julie Rayner, Care, Quality, Governance and Compliance Director at Hallmark Care Homes ANIMALS CAN bring joy to many care home residents and there are several health benefits of pet ownership and interactions. The general benefits include; an improved mood and decrease in stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, less risk of heart attack, and an increase in motivation and exercise. This is not new news.

However, it is important that Care Home Managers are able to determine whether the care home can accommodate a pet, whether they can provide on-going care of those pets and what the requirements are for welcoming visiting pets into their home before any decisions are made.

Hallmark Care Homes has recently implemented a policy that ensures that all of the important questions about pet ownership and visiting animals are asked before coming to a decision. We have developed this policy, because we know in some cases, the benefits of pet ownership and interaction with companion animals outweigh the cons. Also, when a resident moves into a care home, we are sympathetic to the resident and understand that giving up a pet and their day to day relationship with it could have a devastating effect on that person’s health and well-being. Moreover, by doing risk assessments and asking all the important questions early on, care providers can be confident that they have made the right decision, in line with the residents’ best interests.

Historically, the General Manager is responsible for the day to day management of pets within the care home and for ensuring the safety of residents and team members. In addition to this, the General Manager should also ensure that all relevant risk assessments are in place, that they are up to date and applied in practice. It is the team member’s responsibility however to notify the General Manager of any known allergies that may affect them when they come into contact with pets in the workplace.

Our Pets and Visiting Animals Policy, outlines a framework around the care home process for pets moving in with residents, pets living in care homes, visiting animals as well as infection prevention and control. Since the policy’s implementation in February 2016, the process for pets and visiting animals has become more streamlined and we have introduced our own resident PAT dogs into our care homes, which has had an amazing effect on the residents’ well-being. Moreover, we have also supported a resident to look after her dog and bring it into the care home.

The most important consideration for General Managers within this policy is that the subject of the residents’ pets is discussed at the pre-admission stage. This must then be documented, explored and discussed with the wider care home team, taking the residents’ care needs and wishes into consideration as well the current

and type of animals already resident in the home before a decision is made.

Generally, most care homes can only accommodate small household pets for the reason that larger pets and exotic species require substantial support from the care home team. There is also no guarantee that the care home can continue to care for the residents’ pet in the event the animal outlives the owner, so this possible outcome must be discussed prior to the resident moving in. In terms of costs, understandably the resident and/or their family are responsible for paying all food and vet bills relating to the animal.

In terms of visiting animals, animals such as PAT dogs and cats and encouraged in care homes as their presence can positively impact on residents enjoyment of life. They are also registered with the Pets as Therapy charity and hold appropriate liability insurance. Team members’ animals have not undergone the same vetting procedure as PAT animals do, therefore it is essential that a robust risk assessment is completed and any mitigating actions applied prior to welcoming the pet into the home.

As with all animals, care must be always taken to ensure that residents and team members observe strict handwashing procedures after holding any animal, especially prior to handling or eating food. Pet excrement should also be cleaned appropriately and immediately to reduce the risk of infection and sickness.

To support our policy, a guidelines document for the care of a pet in a care home has been developed. This outlines what information the General Manager should obtain from the resident, family, or representative regarding the pet, what should be discussed in the meeting regarding the care of the pet and what support the care home will provide for the pet. In order to implement our policy, all team members will continue to be made aware of this via team meetings.

As we all care for vulnerable adults, Hallmark Care Homes’ feel we have a responsibility to share best care practice. Every effort must be made to ensure that new residents are not separated from their much loved companions and only by working together can we help to secure a future for the care sector, where the health and well-being of each resident is held above all else.

If you have any questions regarding Hallmark Care Homes Pets and Visiting Animals policy, please contact Julie Rayner directly at Julie.Rayner@HallmarkCareHomes.co.uk Julie has over 20 years’ experience working for the National Care Standards Commission, the Health Care Commission and CQC and as an Inspector, Area Manager and a Compliance Manager.

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

Adult Social Care Contributes £42 Billion To the English Economy THE ADULT social care sector contributed an estimated £41.8 billion to the English economy reveals ‘The State of the adult social care sector and workforce’ report published by Skills for Care.

Skills for Care produced this estimate of the contribution made, in 2016/17, by the adult social care sector made to the English economy by using pay, hours and total jobs data from their National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC) in conjunction with data on private sector profits, indirect effects like the sector’s extensive supply chain and induced effects including money spent by people working in adult social care.

The report also reveals that the workforce continued to grow. The number of adult social care jobs was estimated to have increased by around 1.5% (20,000) between 2015 and 2016 with the number of adult social care jobs in England as at 2016 estimated at 1.58 million and the number of people working in adult social care estimated at 1.45 million.

The report published annually provides high quality data and analysis for decision makers on key areas like recruitment and retention, workforce demographics, pay, qualifications and training, personal assistants who work for people who have their own budgets and future forecasts for the size and structure of the workforce.

Other key findings include: • Around a quarter of the workforce (24%) were on a zerohours contract (325,000 jobs). This percentage has remained relatively stable between 2012/13 and 2016/17, going down by two percentage points over this period.

• Skills for Care estimates that the staff turnover rate of directly employed staff working in the adult social care sector was 27.8%. This was approximately 345,000 leavers per year, while almost three quarters of all workers remained in their roles.

Despite high turnover overall, approximately a quarter (26%) of employers have a turnover rate of less than 10%.

• Approximately two thirds of new starters were recruited from within the adult social care sector, therefore the sector retains their skills and experience.

• Adult social care has an experienced ‘core’ of workers.

Workers had, on average, eight years of experience in the sector and around 70% of the workforce had been working in the sector for at least three years.

• Skills for Care estimates that 6.6% of the roles in adult social care are vacant, this gives an average of approximately 90,000 vacancies at any one time.

• The average age of a worker was 43 years old and a fifth (305,000 jobs) were aged over 55 years old.

• The majority (83%) of the adult social care workforce were British, 7% (95,000 jobs) had an EU nationality and 9% (125,000 jobs) a non-EU nationality.

• The proportion of the adult social care workforce with a British nationality has been consistent over the past five years (from 2012/13 to 2016/17), rising one percentage point over the period. The proportion of EU (non-British) workers has risen two percentage points and non-EU workers has fallen four percentage points over the period. The result of the EU referendum appears, so far, to have had little effect on these trends with the number of EU nationals continuing to increase and the number of non-EU nationals decreasing.

• Since the introduction of the mandatory National Living Wage on April 1 2016, care workers pay in the independent sector has increased at a higher rate than previous years. Pay increased by 28p (3.8%) between 2015/16 and 2016/17, before the introduction of the NLW the pay had increased by an average of 12p per year between 2011/12 and 2015/16.

Skills for Care CEO Sharon Allen said: “There is no doubt that adult social care faces some really challenging times ahead and if we are to meet them head on then we need to make informed decisions based on the sort of quality data and analysis this detailed report provides.”

Nine in Ten STPs Developed Without Adequate Input ACCORDING TO research published by Care England and the Good Governance Institute, only five of the 44 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (11%) include independent care home or social care providers as partner organisations.

While the vast majority of STPs (93%) mention care homes, the quality of in-depth discussion is extremely variable, with very few including strategies for reviving this struggling sector or enabling homes to provide integrated care for older people. It is widely recognised that better care home provision would reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and delayed transfers of care, which together place significant pressure on the system.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “It is essential that care home providers are given ‘a seat at the table’ if the STP goals of bringing more care into the community and reducing hospital admissions are to be fulfilled. The care sector urgently needs to be more involved in the transformation and integration agenda in order to ensure the sustainability of the sector into the future, improving the health and wellbeing of the older

population as well the performance of the health and social care system as a whole.”

Despite the rising incidence of dementia and mental health problems among older people, only two STPs include specific strategies on how these conditions can be effectively managed in the care home setting. A further nine go into some level of detail on these issues, as opposed to simply stating that problems exist.

Andrew Corbett-Nolan, Chief Executive of the Good Governance Institute, said: “Our new report shows that there is significant progress to be made in terms of properly involving care home providers in STPs, particularly when it comes to dementia and the mental health of older people. We know from other sources that good work is taking place in the six NHS England Enhanced Health in Care Home vanguards and that they are already seeing improved outcomes for care home residents, but in most cases this work is poorly represented in their written STPs. That makes it difficult for other organisations to learn from and deploy their best practices in terms of joined up working, innovative work-streams, smart use of technology and robust governance processes.”

PAGE 7

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THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

Why It Is Important To Factor Profit Into The Cost Of Care DO YOU know how important it is to factor profit into the cost of care?

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Contributions are welcome for consideration, however, no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage.Views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Whilst every care is taken when compiling this publication to ensure accuracy, the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects, errors or omissions therefrom. All rights reserved, reproduction is forbidden unless written permission is obtained.

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Richard Shore, Finance Director of Caresolve, says too many care homes are not paying close enough attention to the financial aspects of running their businesses.

Here he gives his advice: Why is it important to factor profit into the Cost of Care?

A standard cost of care calculation will generally cover items such as staffing costs, other direct costs and overheads. This is true whether the cost calculation comes from you as a provider, or as a template for completion from, for example, a Local Authority as part of an annual review of fees.

The issue of profit (or cost of capital) is often less straightforward.

It is important providers understand the level of reasonable profits they should be looking to make, and to be in a position to have appropriate discussions with commissioners about why this is also important for them to consider properly.

Providers are often hesitant or nervous around having a discussion with commissioners around the need to make profits, what level of profits should be made by a business, and why this is the case. There may be a feeling that commissioners would see profit and being directly related to what an owner takes out of the business, when this is not the case.

Commissioners do not always give the issue the prominence it deserves when looking at fees and can be dismissive of it.

We have seen templates from Local Authorities which completely ignore a detailed discussion of profit – stating they will ‘apply a fixed percentage to all returns from providers to account for return on capital employed’. This is unsatisfactory.

What does ‘Profit’ include?

Profits made on care home businesses would be used to cover the following items: • Interest on bank debt.

• Repayment over bank debt (which traditionally will be over a 15 to 20-year period).

• Capital Expenditure (including, for example, new beds, new boilers, kitchen equipment, significant refurbishments – none of this is properly accounted for as an ‘overhead’).

• An adequate return for the owners time spent in the business.

• An ability to build reserves of cash within the business to cover any unforeseen events.

• A return on the amount of capital (asset value) invested in the business.

Why is this important?

What is your annual budget for capital expenditure?

Have you any large projects on the horizon (next 1 to 3 years for example)? Do you have significant levels of equipment in the home nearing the end of its useful life?

How will all this be funded? Standard models for calculating ‘overheads’ would include repairs and maintenance but not these items. These are funded from profits, either directly or by way of funding further debt to buy assets on a HP agreement for example.

Any care provider funded by bank or other debt will almost certainly have profit targets (Bank Covenants).

Failure to meet those targets will over the longer term have consequences for continued availability of funding and the viability of the business. Failure to meet those targets by a significant margin will impact ultimately on the ability to repay debt.

This factor is likely to be relevant to all debt funded homes.

As a provider, how much time do you spend within your business on a weekly basis? What do you feel this time is worth, and is the business in a position to reward you adequately for your time and efforts?

Does your current fee structure leave sufficient free cash to enable the business to cope with unforeseen events? What if there was an unexpected drop in occupancy combined with a need to utilise a lot of agency staff over a short period of time, and a key piece of equipment failed?

Why is this important for commissioners?

A stable care sector requires investment. It requires this investment in order to maintain and improve on quality standards over time, and ultimately to have a sustainable provision of social care.

Profit is a vital part of this alongside other cost elements.

Can any commissioners attract or even expect investment in the future if they do not properly account for a reasonably level of profit within their fees?

Whilst we understand there are many non-financial reasons providers work in the sector, would good providers ultimately leave the sector if they feel they could make more money with their time (and assets) elsewhere?

Conclusion Profit is an important element within the calculation of the true cost of providing care. There are many reasons behind the need to make a reasonable level of profit and these can form the basis of a detailed calculation and subsequent discussion with commissioners, and we do not feel that providers should be unwilling to have this discussion.

A reasonable level of profit should be able to be confidently explained and justified.

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 9

People Unwilling to Sacrifice Their Home To Cover Social Care Costs AS THE Government prepares to consult on how best to cover the costs of social care, new research from Aegon sheds light on people’s attitudes towards what proved to be a particularly controversial topic ahead of the General Election.

Predicting whether you’ll personally need social care in old age is very difficult. But only 1 in 5 (21%) said this was quite or very unlikely. Almost twice as many (38%) said they were quite or very likely to need it. The remaining 2 in 5 (41%) couldn’t say how likely it was they’d need it.

Who should pay for care costs?

When it comes to meeting the costs, two thirds support sharing the cost between individuals and the government. Only 1 in 4 (26%) believe the Government should pay all costs, perhaps recognising that this could place an unreasonable burden on future taxpayers as more people need social care in old age. This finding was consistent across all age groups, showing positive signs of agreement on a topic which could divide generations.

Individuals willing to shoulder care costs but reluctant to sacrifice their home As part of the deal on funding care costs, almost 9 in 10 (87%) believe there should be an overall limit on how much any individual needs to pay before the Government contributes. It is believed the Government will include a cap in its consultation.

The Conservative Manifesto set out plans to including the value of the person’s home when assessing whether the individual had sufficient assets to be paying towards their care. Aegon’s research found this may prove unpopular with 3 in 5 (61%) against including the value of the home. Objections were highest among older groups, with almost three quarters (73%) of those above age 65 against. This fell to half (53%) of 18-34s, perhaps reflecting the lower incidence of home ownership in this age group.

People interested in ways to prepare for care costs Encouragingly, Aegon’s research has found that 56% of people would be very or quite interested in using a solution to funding long term care in advance.

Surprisingly, the interest was strongest among 18 – 30s (72%), casting doubt

over the perception that people leave thinking about funding social care until it’s too late.

When given a range of options regarding how they were likely to make advance provision for social care costs, two fifths said they would use their pension (43%). Selling their home or equity release was picked by less than one third (31%), reflecting many people’s reluctance to use their home. One in 5 (22%) expressed interest in some form of social care insurance policy, with the same percentage saying they would cash in ‘other savings’. The least popular option was a new Care ISA, favoured by only 18%.

Steven Cameron, Pensions Director at Aegon said: “We should celebrate the fact that on average, people in the UK are living longer, but at the same time we need to face up to the growing crisis around how we pay for the increasing number of elderly who’ll need some form of social care. As the Government prepares to consult on this controversial but hugely important topic, our research has shown a keen interest across the ages in finding a fair solution.

“Only one in 4 people believe the Government should cover all costs, with the remainder accepting the need for individuals to pay their fair share. But a huge 9 in 10 (87%) believe there should be an overall maximum an individual should ever face paying, suggesting the Government needs to honour its pre-Election promise to include an overall cap in its consultation. Taking people’s house value into account when determining if people have sufficient assets to be paying for care may prove controversial with a clear majority of people unwilling to sacrifice their home.

“Encouragingly, the majority of people (56%) express an interest in making advanced provision for social care. Saving through their pension is the most popular route, favoured by 2 in 5 people, but to turn this into reality, people will have to increase contributions paid in.

Selling or releasing equity from their home was chosen by less than a third of people. While insurance policies and a dedicated ‘care ISA’

New Research Shows Huge Support For Cameras In Care Homes

THREE QUARTERS of people would be more likely to choose a care home for a family member if independently monitored surveillance cameras were in place, according to new research.

The Panelbase* survey, carried out for Care Protect, found that 75% of those questioned were in favour of this form of monitoring to safeguard residents.

Philip Scott, founder of Care Protect, said: “At a time when many care providers are suffering significant financial constraints and the media are regularly highlighting issues of abuse and poor care standards, this research demonstrates the public support for innovative solutions.

“This is demonstrably working in practice. Care homes using events only camera surveillance technology have reported a significant increase in occupancy and improvement in care standards.

“The care industry can no longer bury its head in the sand about what is happening as even in the best homes, individual cases of poor care delivery can occur.

“Understandably, the use of cameras in a care setting is an emotive subject and I am sure any debate will trigger concerns about intrusion into people’s privacy. However, such fears should not stifle an

informed debate about technologies that can materially improve safeguarding for vulnerable people.

“By explaining how the technology can work in the interests of both service users and employees, I believe any apprehensions can be overcome.

Individual privacies and liberties can be protected and respected by using intelligent cameras, which provide monitoring on an ‘events’ only basis.

“In addition, any camera system could and should operate independently of providers, with third party trained health and social experts reviewing any events.

“It should be recognised that even in the best homes, individual cases of serious abuse can occur and that surveillance systems not only protect service users, but also staff if they are wrongly accused of abuse.

“Technological advances and monitoring systems have the potential to boost confidence in the sector and drive up standards as well as protecting staff and service users and this needs to be recognised by providers, commissioners and industry regulators in the same way as three quarters of the public do.”

Further details of Care Protect can be found at www.care-protect.co.uk *Panelbase survey questioned 1,010 people in September 2017

are viewed as less attractive, there is a need to develop a range of options if we are to meet individual preferences and encourage as many people as possible to plan ahead.”

Responding to the survey Glen Garrod, Vice President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), said: “This report is a useful contribution to the ongoing debate to finding a sustainable solution to funding adult social care which successive governments have failed to identity.

“Clear and wide-ranging options for consultation about putting the social care system on a more secure and sustainable long-term footing beyond 2020 need to be brought forward at the earliest opportunity for wide public consideration.

“This should aim to secure the right balance between the protection of private assets from catastrophic care costs and adequate public funding for those who have never been able to acquire such assets.

“We look forward to contributing to the discussion with Government and all interested parties in finding a long-term solution to funding for adult social care to future-proof this essential service for current and future generations.”

PAGE 10

THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

Hospices Offering More ‘Outstanding’ Care Than Other Services Regulated By CQC HOSPICE CARE across England has the highest percentage of services rated ‘Outstanding’, according to a new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The State of Hospice Services in England, 2014 to 2017 published during Hospice Care Week has found that 25% of hospices are rated as Outstanding (51 services), with a further 70% (142 services) being rated as Good. This is in comparison to around 6% of NHS acute hospitals, 4% of GP services and 2% of domiciliary care agencies, nursing homes and residential homes being rated Outstanding.

In particular, inspectors found that hospice leaders and frontline staff displayed a strong commitment to providing truly person-centred, compassionate care and support to people using their services, and their loved ones, as well as developing strong relationships with other services in the area.

However there is more to be done to make sure that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to high-quality end of life care. Hospice services rated as Outstanding were found to be striving to overcome such inequalities and share their expertise to drive better care in other services. For example, inspectors found that St Ann’s Hospice in Salford has engaged with its local transgender community to help understand their specific anxieties and concerns as well as operating an ‘Exchange Programme’ with its local NHS Foundation Trust so nurses from both can spend time in the other’s setting and expand their skills. Also, Dorothy House Hospice Care near Bath runs a dedicated partnership project to support homeless people at the end of life and worked with Royal United Hospital on projects to support people to leave hospital more quickly, if the hospice could offer them care away from the acute setting.

While there are only 217 hospice services registered with

CQC in England, hospices across the UK care for around 200,000 people a year in hospices and the community with terminal and life-limiting conditions, and their families, as well as offering bereavement support to a further 40,000 people.

Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission, said: “People often access hospice care at a time when their complicated health and social care needs have to be met alongside compassionate emotional support. This is not a simple thing to do.

“It was clear from our inspections that the vast majority of hospices have the needs of people and their families at the centre of their work. It is particularly encouraging to see services committed to continuing improvement reach out to groups they had little contact with in the past to understand the obstacles they have faced and how they can support them better now and in the future.

“To see dedicated staff have such careful consideration of the whole person and their needs was a privilege for inspectors and something I would encourage other services to learn from.”

Jonathan Ellis, Director of Policy and Advocacy, at national hospice and palliative care charity Hospice UK, said: “We are delighted that more than nine in ten hospices have been rated good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, highlighting the remarkably high standard of care they provide. It reflects the expertise, passion and commitment of hospice staff and volunteers and the strong leadership and positive work culture within the sector.

“At a time when there is growing public concern about the quality of care that people receive in the health and social care system, hospices are demonstrating that it is possible to deliver expert care with compassion. Many hospices are working in partnership with other local services to help make sure that everybody gets the care they deserve and need, wherever they may be cared for.”

Future Healthcare 2018, London FUTURE HEALTHCARE, the International Healthcare Exhibition and Conference taking place on 13-14 March 2018, at Olympia London, has today announced its partnership with Healthcare UK, the UK government organisation responsible for promoting the best of the British healthcare sector overseas.

Healthcare UK is the joint initiative between the Department of Health, NHS England and the Department for International Trade. It helps UK healthcare providers in the public sector and in the private sector to do more business overseas. Working closely with the UK’s diplomatic and international trade networks, it promotes the UK healthcare sector to overseas markets, and brings together the best suppliers in the UK with the best trade opportunities worldwide.

Event Director, Dawn Barclay-Ross commented: “It is a great honour to be working with Healthcare UK, and we are delighted to be organising this event in association with

the Healthcare UK team. This key partnership will further strengthen our unique platform on which UK companies can collaborate with overseas markets” Deborah Kobewka, Managing Director of Healthcare UK said “There is a natural synergy between this event and the work that we do at Healthcare UK. I have no doubt that this event and our partnership with Future Healthcare will help UK companies to do more business overseas”.

Future Healthcare 2018 is expected to host in excess of 4,000 attendees from 65 countries with exhibitors from 25 countries.

For further information regarding exhibiting, visiting and sponsorship opportunities at Future Healthcare 2018, please call +44 (0) 203 740 4666 Email: info@futurehealthcareuk.com or visit www.futurehealthcareuk.com For further information regarding Healthcare UK and its work around the world, please contact Humphrey Pring at Humphrey.pring@trade.gov.uk or visit www.gov.uk/healthcareuk

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

Number Of NHS Nurses Falls For First Time Since 2013 THE ANALYSIS, by The King’s Fund’s Director of Policy Richard Murray, shows that there were fewer NHS nurses in post in April this year compared to the previous April, the first year-on-year monthly fall since April 2013. The trend has continued in May and June, with 316,725 nurses in post in June, 703 fewer than in June 20The analysis, by The King’s Fund’s Director of Policy Richard Murray, shows that there were fewer NHS nurses in post in April this year compared to the previous April, the first year-on-year monthly fall since April 2013. The trend has continued in May and June, with 316,725 nurses in post in June, 703 fewer than in June 2016.

The key factor in the fall, according to the analysis, has been a significant reduction in EU nurses joining the UK register since the EU referendum and changes to language testing requirements, together with an increasing number of EU staff leaving the NHS. The number of NHS staff leaving as a result of ill-health and work-life balance has also increased sharply over the last few years.

The analysis follows Jeremy Hunt’s announcement of plans for a 25 per cent increase in the number of nurse training places and the government’s decision to scrap bursaries for student nurses, which initial indications suggest has resulted in a reduction in successful applicants. The fall in nurse numbers raises questions about the NHS’s continuing ability to ensure patient safety, a key focus for Jeremy Hunt during his time as Health Secretary, and the ability of the NHS to cope with a challenging winter ahead.

• During the early 2000s, the number of nurses grew significantly as NHS spending increased; • From the beginning of the decade to March 2013, the numbers declined as the NHS entered a prolonged funding squeeze and implemented an efficiency drive; • From April 2013, the number of nurses increased again as hospitals recruited more staff and were effectively allowed to run financial deficits following the Francis report into the failures of care at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust.

The analysis also underlines the mismatch between increases in the numbers of nurses and rising demand for NHS services, with emergency admissions rising over 14 per cent since 2010, a period during which the number of nurses has increased by just 0.7 per cent.

Richard Murray, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said: ‘There is good evidence that having enough nurses is essential for delivering safe care, and so it is worrying that the number of nurses is going down at a time when services are already overstretched and the demand for care is rising.

‘This means the NHS is less equipped to cope with the demands of a winter that was already threatening to stretch the NHS to the limit.

‘While last week’s announcement of an increase in nursing training places is welcome, it will take years for this to translate into extra nurses on the wards. Workforce planning has been neglected for too long in the NHS, and the fact that the EU referendum result appears to have tipped the balance highlights how fragile the workforce situation has become. A new workforce strategy is desperately needed.’

The key factor in the fall, according to the analysis, has been a significant reduction in EU nurses joining the UK register since the EU referendum and changes to language testing requirements, together with an increasing number of EU staff leaving the NHS. The number of NHS staff leaving as a result of ill-health and work-life balance has also increased sharply over the last few years.

The analysis follows Jeremy Hunt’s announcement of plans for a 25 per cent increase in the number of nurse training places and the government’s decision to scrap bursaries for student nurses, which initial indications suggest has resulted in a reduction in successful applicants. The fall in nurse numbers raises questions about the NHS’s continuing ability to ensure patient safety, a key focus for Jeremy Hunt during his time as Health Secretary, and the ability of the NHS to cope with a challenging winter ahead.

• During the early 2000s, the number of nurses grew significantly as NHS spending increased; • From the beginning of the decade to March 2013, the numbers declined as the NHS entered a prolonged funding squeeze and implemented an efficiency drive; • From April 2013, the number of nurses increased again as hospitals recruited more staff and were effectively allowed to run financial deficits following the Francis report into the failures of care at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust.

The analysis also underlines the mismatch between increases in the numbers of nurses and rising demand for NHS services, with emergency admissions rising over 14 per cent since 2010, a period during which the number of nurses has increased by just 0.7 per cent.

Richard Murray, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said: ‘There is good evidence that having enough nurses is essential for delivering safe care, and so it is worrying that the number of nurses is going down at a time when services are already overstretched and the demand for care is rising.

‘This means the NHS is less equipped to cope with the demands of a winter that was already threatening to stretch the NHS to the limit.

‘While last week’s announcement of an increase in nursing training places is welcome, it will take years for this to translate into extra nurses on the wards. Workforce planning has been neglected for too long in the NHS, and the fact that the EU referendum result appears to have tipped the balance highlights how fragile the workforce situation has become. A new workforce strategy is desperately needed.’

The Local Entertainer... With the Powerful Voice!

INTRODUCING LOCAL entertainer, Tony Letts, previously the lead singer of Majesty, the band, they have entertained the local area for over 40 years and still holds the local record for being the longest-established band in Bournemouth.

As now, solo singer Tony works in many local Clubs; Hotels; Restaurants including Care and Nursing Homes and is recognised for his variation of different songs, ensuring that he entertains all ages. He will provide entertainment with fun and laughter at every gig ‘thrown-in’.

This gentleman has a dynamic personality along with a formidable powerful voice that will have you

dancing and singing along… guaranteed! His speciality is Tom Jones, Roy Orbison as strong ballads, with a repertoire of songs to suit all types of events and special functions with additional songs from the likes of Matt Munro, Frank Sinatra Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Simply Red, and, The Beatles, Chuck Berry and the American Boogie Woogie, and many more!

To hear Tony sing from the comfort of your own premises, please visit Facebook: Tony Letts – Singer, or contact Tony on; 01202 300033/55 or mobile: 07966 411291.

(E mail: tony@internalaffairs.co.uk).

So if you want classic rock ‘n’ roll or traditional Ballroom dancing… Tony covers it all.

The Key Safe Company To Visit Community Care Live MECHANICAL LEADERS in key safes, The Key Safe Company will be showcasing its range of access solutions at Community Care Live held at the Business Design Centre in London.

Community Care Live, which is being held on Tuesday the 26th and Wednesday the 27th of September, is the UK’s largest, free-to-attend social work event and features innovations such as a new Legal Learning Hub, and also extensive training sessions.

During the two-day event, visitors to the show will be able to witness first hand and discuss with a team of experts the industry-leading Supra C500 KeySafe™, which will be exhibited on stand 6. The UK’s only mechanical police accredited key safe, the Supra C500 has been tested to the same security standard as an external door. The passcode-protected metal box provides a highly secure method of externally storing keys to the exterior of a property and can hold up to five keys.

The Supra C500 recognised through the Secured by Design initiative due to achieving the LPS1175: Issue 6, security rating 1. The product has an accredited certification from The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), the leading international Certification Body in the fields of security and fire protection. The product has undergone rigorous tests devised by security experts to demonstrate a comparable attack resistance to a domestic front door.

Already used by the majority local authorities and thousands of UK householders, the Supra C500 can be used to allow access to care teams, occupational therapists and other support staff, without the need to carry sets of keys, allowing

more time to be spent with patients.

A brand new product being is showcased on the stand which is a portable ECG device to detect early warning signs. The WIWE uses a unique intelligent algorithm, which evaluates the properties of the ECG wave to calculate if there is a risk of Atrial Fibrillation related stroke and sudden cardiac arrests (SCA). The handheld device is designed for personal use and allows remote patient monitoring with the opportunity for results to be sent to a GP or specialist when further analysis is required.

Also available on stand will be the One Touch Personal Alarm. This is a personal monitoring system, which, unlike many traditional services, allows the wearer to travel outside of their home. It operates using a roaming SIM and allows the end user to alert up to three contacts in the event of an emergency and activates a two-way conversation with the responder, who can alert relevant family members or care professionals.

Nicola Parsons, Head of Marketing for The Key Safe Company, commented: “We are looking forward to showcasing our iconic products at Care Community Live this year. With a whole host of products on stand, visitors to the show will be able to learn more and also get to know about us as a company and how safety and security inspires our products.

“Our iconic care products are fast becoming essential resources for carers and care teams, allowing them to reach their patients in the quickest possible time.”

For further information, advice or support on any of the products from The Key Safe Company, please visit: www.keysafe.co.uk

Dunham-Bush LST Radiators Deliver Safety And Warmth To Luxury TWO HUNDRED and twenty three Dunham-Bush System Low Surface Temperature radiators fitted with SAV/Danfoss PT 40 flow and pressure monitoring thermostatic valves have been installed at Manor Grange luxury care home in Corstorphine, Edinburgh. Manor Grange focuses on caring for people suffering from dementia from the age of 65 years upwards and provides support for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr James Culbertson, Director of The Keenan Consultancy based in Edinburgh, who undertook the design of the heating system at the home said: “We were tasked with providing a system design for a care home with eighty three luxury bedrooms. Safety is of paramount importance in buildings such as care homes, hospitals and nurseries, where occupants are deemed at risk and may be vulnerable to accidental scalding from heat emitters’’.

NHS Estate Health Guidance ‘Note Safe Hot Water Temperatures 1998’ recommends that heating devices should have a maximum surface temperature of 43°C when operating under design conditions. This recommendation

includes radiator grilles.

Dunham-Bush System LST radiators fully comply with these recommendations and in addition, the Dunham-Bush LST radiator’s innovative design provides the installer with a quick and simple installation process and the end user with a cosmetically desirable product with easy access for maintenance.

Manor Grange is a luxury care home located in the leafy suburbs of Edinburgh, surrounded by beautiful gardens and overlooking Carrick Knowe Golf Club.

The ethos at Manor Grange is that its residents should live an enriched and independent life in a supportive and caring environment.

Mr James Webb the care home manager said: “This approach is more than simply meeting care needs, it’s about caring for the health, well being and interests of the resident as a whole, working closely with both residents and their families to create a detailed and bespoke care plan”.

This all encompassing approach includes high standards of cuisine to meet specific requirements and preferences.

For further information please visit www.dunham-bush.co.uk

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 13

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AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 15

Is The Care Home Industry Haemorrhaging Money On Energy Bills?

THE INTENSE and almost round-theclock demand for energy and water in the care sector is putting a strain on care home owners that are facing a challenging economic climate and increasingly tight budgets.

Cutting costs and managing outgoings has become more important than ever. But often it is difficult to understand just where savings can be made, and even more time-consuming to analyse the market and assess current energy packages with suppliers.

Arming care home owners with practical knowledge to implement energy solutions to reduce their energy usage is key, as well as ensuring they are getting the best deal from their energy supplier.

Sourcing expert support to lower energy bills Enlisting the expertise of a utility management specialist can take the strain off care home owners. They can decode the energy and water markets, explain the differences between tariffs, and let businesses know the best time to purchase their energy.

When choosing a specialist, find out which energy suppliers they are connected to and what commission they get. The more supplier partnerships the broker has with the ‘Big 6’ and smaller energy providers, the better, and remember that an independent broker is more likely to maximise sales, instead of negotiating the best deal, if they’re being paid by a supplier. Good brokers will also be signed up to the Utilities Intermediaries Association (UIA) – the main trade body for energy brokers which aims to improve the professional image of the sector.

How to reduce energy usage In environments like care homes where demand on utilities is exceptional, ongoing savings can be made through lighting efficiencies and renewable energy. Inefficient care homes will leak money so energy efficient measures should be considered to help reduce energy bills.

Lighting can account for up to 30% of total energy usage and significant savings can be made by swapping to LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) with payback times tending to be very short. Additionally,

many care homes find even efficient lights can be very wasteful. Modern lighting responds well to daylight or movement sensors providing further savings on lighting costs.

Using solar technologies is another solution, as care homes require a lot of hot water throughout the day and electricity usage is also at its highest during the day. Solar PV or thermal technologies can be installed in unused roof space. A major advantage of this method is care homes can still benefit from incentive schemes. Wind power can also be an effective method for care homes that have land around them.

Case study A leading Scottish care home group, which has six homes providing high quality care for both adults with learning disabilities and older people, implemented a strategic programme of energy efficiency measures after completing a detailed review of four of its properties. The audit led to significant cost savings for the care home chain, including switching to biomass fuel.

A spokesperson for the care home in Dundee said the audit identified savings that would reduce the company’s energy bills and release funds for capital investment in its care home stock. “The review looked at our heating and lighting systems, plumbing and insulation and identified the potential for additional savings by switching to biomass.

“There will obviously be a cost attached to implementing these measures but, with the exception of the biomass, the reduction in energy bills will give an estimated payback of just 12 months. That will leave us with a long term saving that we can plough back into improving our properties, something that will be extremely important if we are to sustain our position as a leading provider in the sector.”

The first step to ensure care homes are equipped to maximise their energy efficiency is to enlist the help of an expert to carry out an energy audit. The expert can then make recommendations for bespoke energy efficient measures. Becoming more energy efficient and identifying ways to cut costs in the longer term will help prepare care homes for when rising energy costs can be a problem, especially during harsh winters.

Lucia Harney-Dey is I&C Development Director at Orchard Energy www.orchardenergy.co.uk

More Than Half Of Councils To Overspend Adult Social Care Budgets MORE THAN half of councils expect to overspend their adult social care budgets this year by up to nearly £21 million each, while all local authorities face having to help pay a potential adult social care bill of nearly £270 million to fund six years of backpay for sleep-in shifts, according to a new survey published today by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).

The poll shows that sleep-in pay costs are the second biggest concern – after ring-fenced investment money – for directors of adult social services directors in England as they approach winter pressures facing the sector.

The survey found that the average cost – for councils, providers and selffunders, per council area – to pay for six years of backpay for sleep-in shifts is £1.78 million. If this figure was applied to the 151 councils in England providing adult social care the total would amount to £269 million.

The potential bill comes as more than half (53%) of Directors forecast an overspend on adult social care budgets this financial year. The average estimated overspend is £2 million, with the highest at £20.8 million.

Other findings in the Autumn Survey of Directors, published during the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC), which opened today in Bournemouth, include: 67% of councils reported provider closures in the first five months of the financial year (April to August) 48% of councils reported homecare providers handing back contracts (April to August) – an increase from 37 per cent who said the same over a six-month period in the main ADASS Budget Survey earlier this year 94% of councils reported they had experienced quality challenges (April to August) – an increase on the 74% who said the same in the main ADASS Budget Survey Councils say the hardest care service to obtain a place in is a nursing home (52%), followed by home care (46%) and a residential home (20%) Only 52% of councils believe their agreed delayed transfer of care targets are realistic for both social care and the NHS 16 councils were fined for delayed transfers of care in 2016/17, with individual fines as high as £280,540. Ten councils paid the fine. In 2017/18, eight councils have been fined, with fines as high as £99,970. Six councils have paid the fine Only 18% of councils are confident (14%) or very confident (4%) that their Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) will deliver its aims

Margaret Willcox, ADASS President, said: “Our latest survey findings should act as a fresh wake-up call to government that adult social care is coming perilously close to becoming unsustainable.

“The extra £2 billion in funding, while welcome, is simply a short-term fix and cannot hide the fact that by the end of this financial year, £6 billion has been cut from councils’ adult social care budgets since 2010 – with demand for our services growing all that time.

“This is simply unacceptable and needs to be addressed, not only in the Autumn Budget, but also in the promised consultation on the future of adult social care, because we cannot continue without sufficient and sustainable resources.

“Our latest survey makes this clear and paints a bleak picture. More than half of councils are already forecasting an overspend in adult social care budgets for this financial year and their top two concerns are both funding-related.

“Dedicated care workers deserve recognition and reward, but the Government needs to fully fund historic back-pay for care workers who have done sleep-in shifts or this could severely impact on the care of thousands of older and disabled people. Councils continue to prioritise delayed transfers of care, but the idea of imposing further sanctions on already cash-strapped councils seems frankly bizarre.

“Sustaining the increasingly fragile homecare sector gets more difficult by the day and is another major concern.

“Despite the significant challenges facing the sector, adult social care has a great deal to be proud of. The recent annual Adult Social Care Survey highlighted people’s happiness with both their choice of services and those they receive, while the latest Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report shows that nearly four in five adult social care services were rated ‘good’ and many others have improved, although we recognise that more needs to be done.

“However, the time is ticking on the tipping point for adult social care. If councils are to be able to provide personalised, reliable care for people when and where they need it, the Government needs to bring forward its forthcoming consultation on establishing a long-term solution for adult social care, which supports the needs of young adults as well as older people.

“ADASS stands ready to work with Government to help establish a better social care system for the rising numbers of people who need it now and in the years to come.”

Care Home Staff Walk Over 10 Miles To Raise Funds For Charity CHESTERFIELD care home staff marched over 10 miles to raise funds for the fight against dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Memory Walk was organised by Holmewood Care Home, on Barnfield Close.

They were joined by David Tomlins, son of resident Margaret Tomlins.

The group walked from the home to Chesterfield town centre and back – raising £188.47.

The money will go to the Alzheimer’s Society, the focus of a wider fundraising campaign by the Hill Care Group, which operates Holmewood Care Home.

Kathleen Richardson, home manager, said: “The walk was a very fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

“We’d like to thank all those who donated, as well as the staff and volunteers who took part to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

The funds will add to a total of more than £10,000 raised by Hill Care’s homes across the north of England over the past year.

The campaign has been in support of Hill Care’s managing director Wendy Waddicor, who cycled over 340-miles from London to Paris for the charity.

Workforce Scheduling Solutions Now With Face Recognition Workforce Scheduling Solutions has joined forces with Reliant Consulting Services (RCS) to deliver Time & Attendance systems worldwide, USA, Europe & Australia, using the latest Face Recognition technology.

We has been in the business of Time Management for over 20 years, and has a vast experience in software development. We developed “Face Recognition” as an alternative to card, fingerprint, and key fob systems ensure that each member of staff can only book themselves on and off duty. “Face Recognition is not expensive and we have many customers using this technology very successfully. It has the advantage of not requiring any interaction by the staff, no cards that can be lost and their face is discreetly recorded each time, so no mistakes!!”

DutyHours™ and TimeCap™ are easy to use and will dramatically reduce time and costs to produce staff payroll. It is suitable for a single home or for organisations that have multiple homes and centralized payroll.

Last minute changes to employee schedules are handled fast and efficiently and it will dramatically reduce pay queries. Staff simply clock in/out with their unique PIN and they can look up their time sheets showing work done or work planned in the future.

We have introduced the concept of “Check Calls” in which employees are required to make regular calls through the night and weekends.

During a recent CQC inspection at one of our customers, this feature impressed the inspector as being visual evidence of the actual employee working.

The system creates an electronic timesheet of which job, where, when, which department and accurately calculates and controls pay hours including Bank Holidays, Sickness and other absence. It will identify allowances such as overtime, weekend and night shift working and export the hours for your payroll or for your accountant.

Call Workforce Group on 0333 447 044 for more information and a demonstration of the system.

See the advert on page 14 for further details.

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 17

Care Home And Sheltered Housing Residents At Risk As Basic Fire Safety Measures Still Absent SHOCKING NEW research has revealed just how little action has been taken since the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, which killed around 80 people.

The research, released to mark Fire Door Safety Week (25 September - 1 October), shows that since the fire in the West London block in June, just 10% of social landlords and 23% of private landlords have been in touch with tenants in person to discuss fire safety measures.

Basic fire safety measures are lacking with four in ten (40%) renters saying there is not a clear fire escape route displayed in their building, and more than a third (39%) admit they have seen fire doors propped open.

More than two in ten people (21%) have noticed damage to their building’s fire doors and almost a fifth (18%) of renters have reported a fire safety infringement or concern to their landlord but almost a quarter (24%) waited weeks for a response.

The majority of tenants (55%) say they do not feel fully prepared on what to do in the event of a fire and almost a quarter (24%) of adults surveyed feel more nervous/anxious about living in a rented apartment since the tragedy and the issues it exposed with regard to fire safety.

This Fire Door Safety Week, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has put together a free toolkit of resources to provide information and fire safety advice, including a downloadable ‘Responsible Person’ poster.

Further information for care home and sheltered housing providers can be found at firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/care-homes-and-sheltered-housing/ Hannah Mansell is spokesperson for Fire Door Safety Week, as well as BWF technical manager, chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and a trustee of the Children’s Burns Trust. She says: “This new research shows that landlords and building owners still have a long way to go meet their fire safety responsibilities. It is astounding to learn that in the last three months so little has been done to address the concerns of tenants and residents.

“Many people do not realise that the real job of a fire door is to hold back fire, smoke and toxic gases, delaying the spread around a building and keeping the vital means of escape route clear. They only work properly if they are specified, manufactured, installed and maintained correctly, and of course, closed when a fire breaks out. This is especially important in high rise buildings, houses of multiple occupancy and other types of shared sleeping accommodation.

“Checking fire doors should be part of a regular fire risk assessment.

This should examine all aspects of fire safety management, including active and passive fire protection measures, signage, means of escape and the specific fire plan procedures.

“There needs to be crystal clarity about the Responsible Person and a total transformation of attitude towards fire safety of tenants in rented accommodation. Our focus for Fire Door Safety Week in this pivotal year is to ensure all landlords and tenants have the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe.”

Dany Cotton, London Fire Commissioner who oversaw the fire and rescue service’s response at Grenfell Tower, says: “London Fire Brigade fully supports Fire Door Safety Week. This is an important campaign which drives home the potentially life-saving role that fire doors play in buildings, especially residential buildings such as tower blocks. It is extremely concerning that the lives of the public and our firefighters are still being put at risk by poorly maintained fire doors and people acting irresponsibly by removing self closers or by keeping doors wedged open.

“Good fire doors help stop fires from spreading. Fires that spread put more lives at risk and I would urge everyone to check that their fire doors are properly maintained and kept shut. Remember they don’t just protect you, but everybody in the building.”

Paul Fuller CBE, chief fire officer of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and chairman of the Fire Sector Federation says: "It is simple. Proper fire doors save lives, but only if they are correctly made and installed, and certainly not if they are wedged open or in disrepair. Too often our officers walk into a building and see fire doors in an appalling state. We do what we can to advise and enforce the responsibilities of a building owner, but it is time for the Responsible Person to really step up. That's why we are supporting Fire Door Safety Week - there can be no excuse, all the resources you need to promote door safety are there on the website and free to download."

Fire Door Safety Week, a national campaign now in its fifth year, is run by the BWF, the BWF-Certifire Scheme and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme, in partnership with the Government’s Fire Kills campaign. It aims to raise awareness about the role of fire doors in preventing life changing injuries and the legal responsibilities of managing fire door safety.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, on 30 August the Government issued new advice for tenants and residents, outlining the following steps to take regarding building safety: • In the first instance, contact the landlord or building owner with any concerns.

• If still concerned and not receiving reassurance, then contact the relevant local authority or local fire and rescue service for advice.

• Contact the Department for Communities and Local Government building safety team by emailing: housingchecks@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Free Fire Door Seminar For Care Home Owners and FMs CARE HOME owners, managers and facilities managers can now access fire door training from HOPPE UK. Fire doors are a life-saving feature in any building, but in a care home they give residents and members of staff vital protection in the event of a fire. Fire doors are designed to hold back flames and smoke allowing evacuation and access routes to remain clear for fire and rescue services.

In order to withstand fire, a fire door should be third party certificated through a scheme such as BWFCertifire and must be fitted with correctly specified ironmongery including specific hinges, handles,

locks and signage.

In support of Fire Door Safety Week, HOPPE UK is offering care home staff a CPD seminar focussing on ironmongery on fire and escape doors, delivered in-house by one of its technical experts to help staff understand the critical role of fire doors and the importance of correctly specified door hardware.

The RIBA approved seminar covers: the role of fire and escape doors; the appropriate hardware to use; maintenance and inspection of ironmongery on fire and escape doors and the consequences of ignoring risk.

To book a free CPD session, call Andy Matthews head of sales for HOPPE (UK), on 01902 484 439 or email andy.matthews@hoppe.com.

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People-Focussed Solutions For Fire Safety WE ALL agree on the importance of protecting residents in care settings from the spread of fire, but has something got forgotten along the way?

In focusing on the fire safety regulations elderly and frail residents can often be overlooked.

When assessing your fire safety provision, ensure you do it in a way that focuses on the user.

Taking into account the mobility of your will ensure that you don’t cause a new problem when solving another.

Fire doors fitted with a closer are often heavy and difficult for the elderly to negate. Fitting your fire door with a Free-Swing door closer can resolve this issue. These types of door closer take the weight out of your fire door, allowing it to feel and act more like a regular door. This enables elderly residents to open fire doors easily and maintain as much of their independence as possible.

For more information contact Safelincs tel: 0800 612 6287 email: support@safelincs.co.uk www.safelincs.co.uk See the advert on page 16 for further details.

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 19

Care Catering Sector Secures Its First CQC Report Delays ‘Serious Hindrance Accredited Professional Catering Qualification To Care Providers’

THE FIRST professional catering qualification for health and social care catering – Level 2 Award in Professional Cookery in Health and Social Care– developed by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC), Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) and the awarding body of the Institute of Hospitality (IOH), has been officially approved on the Ofqual Regulated Qualification Framework.

Organisations will be able to apply to become approved centres to offer the qualification from January 2018.

The qualification is designed for people who cater for patients and residents in a health and social care setting and focuses on developing their awareness of diet and appetite issues that may arise in this environment.

The qualification tackles the important subjects of nutrition and hydration and food modification in health care settings. Learners will study the impact of nutrition and hydration on health and wellbeing, how it relates to population subgroups, and understand the roles of multidisciplinary teams, national standards and guidelines.

They will also learn about the effect of dysphagia on patients and how to plan, prepare, cook and finish food for patients with the condition.

The Level 2 Award in Professional Cookery in Health and Social Care is part of the IOH suite of hospitality industry qualifications and complements existing NVQ qualifications in professional cookery.

Neel Radia, the national chair of the NACC officially launched the accredited qualification to delegates at the NACC Training & Development Forum on Thursday 5 October in his welcome address.

Neel said: “We’re thrilled to be able to announce to NACC, HCA and IOH members, and the wider care sector, that at long last there is a qualification that recognises and supports the specific knowledge and skills needed to cater for people in health and social care environments.

The Level 2 Award in Professional Cookery in Health and Social Care is the result of hard work and a strong, committed collaboration between the three associations.

“The absence of a health and care catering qualification has been a long-term cause for concern and this is a huge step forward for our sector. Our chefs and caterers are incredibly talented and knowledgeable and this qualification gives them the official training and recognition they deserve, and as new recruits enter the sector it will ensure that we can continue to raise standards in care catering.”

For more information about the Level 2 Award in Professional Cookery in Health and Social Care qualification, education centres and learners should visit www.instituteofhospitality.org/qualifications/uk/level_2

It’s Official – Runny Eggs Back on The Menu!

PREGNANT WOMEN, babies and elderly people can now enjoy dippy eggs again for the first time since the 1980s – as long as they have the British Lion mark on.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today (11 October 2017) changed its advice on eggs, confirming that British Lion eggs are safe to be eaten runny, and even raw, by vulnerable groups such as infants, children, pregnant women and elderly people. These groups can now enjoy the nutritional benefits of eggs, without having to fully cook them.

The new advice follows a year-long risk assessment by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and is the result of extensive food safety measures introduced within the British Lion Code of Practice since its launch in 1998.

Andrew Joret, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, which runs the British Lion scheme, welcomed the new advice: “This is a real success story for the UK egg industry. Our producers have maintained the highest standards for two decades to ensure the superior safety of British Lion eggs and we are delighted that FSA has now confirmed that these eggs are safe enough for even vulnerable groups to eat runny or even raw.

“We know that the previous advice has deterred many women from eating eggs when pregnant, and from giving them to their babies, as well as denying older people the

pleasure and nutritional benefits of a ‘dippy egg’ and home-made mousses and mayonnaise. The advice is particularly good news for these groups and will also enable care homes to put many traditional egg dishes back on their menus.”

Heather Hancock, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency, said: “It’s good news that now even vulnerable groups can safely eat UK eggs without needing to hardboil them, so long as they bear the British Lion mark. The FSA has thoroughly reviewed the scientific evidence about the safety of these eggs, and we’re confident that we can now change our advice to consumers.

“The major reduction in the risk of salmonella in Lion eggs is testament to the work carried out by egg producers. The measures they’ve taken, from vaccination of hens through to improving hygiene on farms and better transportation, have dramatically reduced salmonella levels in UK hens.”

Dr Juliet Gray, registered nutritionist, said: “The new advice is very welcome news. Eggs are highly nutritious, containing many key nutrients including high quality protein, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, choline and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are particularly important for many vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, babies and elderly people and several of them are not found in many other foods.”

See the advert on page 13 and insert this issue for further details.

THE CARE Quality Commission (CQC) which oversees the regulation and inspection of care providers in England and Wales has published its 2017 annual report.

The report gives an insight into the success - or otherwise - of the CQC in achieving the targets set out in their strategy document from May 2016.

This all comes against a background of a tightening budgets and a necessity for the CQC – as with other publically funded bodies - to make more of their limited resources. While much of the report takes stock of the regulator’s financial performance and steady progress against its targets, one area that will likely be an issue or real contention among care providers is the admission that the speed at which the CQC publishes its inspection reports has simply not been up to standard.

While this issue is certainly not new, it remains a source of considerable anxiety for providers who often face a long wait – the CQC target is 50 days - for any meaningful feedback following an inspection. However, according to the regulator’s own figures, the CQC has only met their publication target in 8 out of 10 cases.

This significance of this figure is best understood when it is considered that the CQC carried out 15,519 inspections in the last year, all of which had corresponding reports.

That means more than 3,000 care providers we forced to wait more than 50 days for their inspection report.

In the interim, the only feedback that the providers can draw upon is the verbal feedback received directly after the inspection. This is then written down in very brief, broad terms and does not cover anywhere near the same amount

of detail as goes into the full report. This often results in the provider not knowing what their rating will be or – perhaps more significantly - where any problems lie, until they receive the full report.

What is more, this limited information can sometimes bear little to no resemblance to the final report. This happens far too often and, in extreme circumstances, can either panic care providers into costly and – ultimately – unnecessary changes, or, promote the idea that there is little to no improvement required, making the final report a complete and highly unpleasant shock.

I would suggest that for this vacuum of information to last 50 days – let along any longer than that – is a serious hindrance to care providers in their ability to address any problems in detail and draw up an action plan. What’s more, I have seen instances where the CQC decides to take enforcement action against the care provider – such as a warning notice or even notice of proposal to cancel registration - before a report has even been published.

Another often overlooked issue is the care users themselves and their families. If we consider that it can take 50 days or more before a care homes is revealed to be ‘inadequate’, families will be understandably angry that their loved one has may have been receiving sub-standard care for close to two months, waiting for the full report to be published. Any delay outside of the 50 day target must surely be seen by them as unacceptable?

There is also the financial cost to consider. For providers any delay often exacerbates already difficult financial circumstances. Care providers are already facing a squeeze on their front line budgets, but in circumstances where the provider’s ability to generate revenue – such as care homes in ‘special measures’ which have a restriction on the number of admissions they can take - any delay over this matter could be financially disastrous.

Most People are Getting Good, Safe Care But Future Quality is ‘Precarious’ THIS YEAR’S CQC State of Care report shows that thanks to the efforts of staff and leaders, the quality of health and social care has been maintained despite very real challenges and the majority of people are receiving good, safe care.

However, it also warns that the health and social care system is at full stretch and struggling to meet the more complex needs of today’s population, meaning that maintaining quality in the future is uncertain.

The report sets out our analysis of the quality of health and social care across the country based on the first full round of rated inspections covering almost 29,000 services.

It shows that as of 31 July 2017, 78% of adult social care services were rated good as were 55% of NHS acute hospital core services; 68% of NHS mental health core services and 89% of GP practices and that many services originally rated as inadequate have used the findings of our inspections to make changes and improve their rating.

But, there are also clear warnings from the changing nature of demand – increasing numbers of older people who are physically frail, many with dementia, more people

with long term complex conditions – all of which is placing unprecedented pressure on the system.

In acute hospitals, this means more people waiting over four hours at A&E; more planned operations cancelled, and people waiting longer for treatment. In adult social care, the number of beds in nursing homes has decreased across most of England and domiciliary care contracts are being handed back to councils because providers say the funding is insufficient to meet people’s needs.

Commenting on the report, Sir David Behan, Chief Executive of CQC, said: “The fact that the quality of care has been maintained in the toughest climate that most can remember is testament to the efforts of frontline staff, managers and leaders. Many providers have used our inspection reports to improve, and we have seen improvements in safety in particular, although this area remains a big concern and focus for us.

However, as people’s health and care needs change and become more complex, a model of care designed for the 20th century is at full stretch and struggling to cope with 21st century problems.

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AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

New Projects to Encourage LCT CleanEx Diversity In Adult Social Care Skills for Care has launched four innovative projects to encourage adult social care employers to ‘look past the label’ and recruit people from traditionally under-represented groups.

Employers are facing increasing competition for high quality staff and the projects challenge them to think differently and more creatively about their recruitment practices.

The four projects explore how employers can meet the recruitment and retention challenge by tapping into the huge potential of people who are under-represented in adult social care – many of whom have the right values and behaviours to work in our sector.

Thinking differently might include recruiting people include people who experience mental ill-health, homeless people, ex-offenders, recovering addicts, military veterans and the long-term unemployed.

The projects link closely to the Department of Health’s See Potential campaign that aims to put individuality, diversity and life experience at the heart of adult social care recruitment.

Skills for Care CEO Sharon Allen said: “Given we know we will need to find people to fill up to 275,000 new job roles by 2025 then looking at how we tap into the untapped potential of underrepresented groups makes perfect sense especially as they will bring lots of skills and life experience to our sector.”

The four projects are: inspirative Development Ltd – Enabling homeless and socially excluded people to fulfil their potential in the social care sector

Inspirative Development will work with the YMCA to support homeless people through a pre-employment work programme.

Lincolnshire Care Assocation (LinCa) – Inspire to Influence: A recruitment project to work with under-represented groups LinCa will work with local Jobcentres, schools and colleges to identify 17-24 year olds from under-represented groups, including care leavers, with the right values and behaviours to do a work-based placement in the sector.

Association for Care Training (ACT) – Recruiting for potential from under-represented groups ACT will support people in Herefordshire from underrepresented groups, including both young (18-24 year olds) and older people (over 50’s) who have been out of work or training for over 12 months, to complete the Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care over a 12 week placement.

Care Plus Group – Employability Services Health and social care voluntary placement scheme The Care Plus Group already provide employment opportunities for all ages through a multi award winning ‘pathway model’ of initiatives, which include voluntary placements, apprenticeships and internships.

Find out more To help employers who want to think differently about how they recruit people, Skills for Care’s Finding and keeping workers website has lots of practical resources to help you attract, take on and keep workers with the right values and behaviours to work in your organisation and the adult social care sector.

Visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/finderskeepers

OVER 85 per cent of stands are now booked for the UK’s only exhibition dedicated to laundry, cleaning and textile care. It’s our 4th biennial event and we’re excited that this will be our biggest and best yet.

Come along to meet with, and learn from, over 65 leading suppliers and specialists from across the industry.

They’ll all be on hand to show you their ideas, products and innovations from laundry detergents, cleaning solutions and textiles, to demonstrating the very latest equipment and technology in

PAGE 21 action.

At the 2018 event we’ll be bringing you inspirational speakers for you to listen to and learn from - those that have not only made their name in industry but have surpassed their own goals. Our headline speaker will be announced shortly.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network with your peers, talk and share ideas and see and buy the latest products and technology to help grow your business.

Many exhibitors will be offering special show only prices and incentives too.

So make sure you save the date!

Prize draws will take place on both days. Pre-registered attendees will be in with the chance of winning some brilliant prizes.

Pre-register now at www.lctcleanex.co.uk and fill out the form on the ‘Visit’ page.

Victor Manufacturing Limited FoR MovinG, storing, and holding hot and cold foods, UK equipment producer, victor Manufacturing can help.

With 70 years of manufacturing experience, Victor is able to deliver an extensive range of catering equipment suitable for a wide range of organisations, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals, sporting arenas and educational establishments.

The product range includes gas & electric hot cupboards, hot plates, kitchen passes, heated plate dispensers and warmers, counter top servery units, pie heaters,

pasty warmers, heated drawer units, refrigerated salad wells, deli bars & counters, patisserie units, heated tiled, ceramic & glass top carvery counters, bespoke and custom food servery counters, mobile heated and refrigerated servery units as well as a comprehensive range of drop-in gastronorm compatible hot and cold food service modules.

The entire range of Victor products are all handled and managed efficiently through the company's comprehensive network of national and local distributors.

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Care Home Farm Trip Brings Back Memories For Resident Joyce A FARM trip for elderly care home residents in Stockton on Tees brought back old memories for Joyce Marsay.

The former farmer showed fellow residents how to milk a cow at visitor attraction Newham Grange Country Farm – the first time she has performed the task in over 60 years.

A new exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to experience milking a cow – despite there being no real dairy cows on the farm.

The simulation felt very familiar to Joyce, 96, however, who is now a resident at Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, Ingleby Barwick.

As a farmer’s daughter, Joyce used to help look after the family farm and tended to the animals on a daily basis.

She said: “It’s strange going to milk

a cow after all these years. It felt very lifelike.”

Joyce was one of several residents from the care home to visit Newham Grange, in Middlesbrough, which has been a working farm since the 17th century.

In more recent times, it has turned into a popular visitor attraction, with a wide variety of animals on show, rides and other activities.

The residents fed and watched a Shetland pony, sheep and pigs, as well as more exotic animals such as wallabies and llamas.

Kirsty Walsh, activities coordinator at Ingleby Care Home, said: “While Coulby Newham is just outside Middlesbrough, it really feels like you’re way out in the countryside, on a proper farm.

“It’s great to know that lovely places like Newham Grange Country Farm are so close by for our residents to enjoy.”

Everybody reading this will recognise that the care sector is hard work in often challenging circumstances.

Sometimes society can be a little too quick to judge and slow to praise!

We here at The Carer invite you to nominate a staff member from any department who you feel deserves recognition and reward. Simply email us at nominate@TheCarerUK.com, nominating your staff member, and a brief description and why they deserve to be congratulated. On December 18 we will be picking out a worthy winner, who will win a festive £100 in Marks & Spencer vouchers in time for Christmas!

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

VODG Call on Government to Fund Social Care to Be Strong & Sustainable SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS’ failure to properly fund social care is leaving millions of people at risk of losing vital support, according to a new analysis published recently.

Ahead of the Autumn Statement, VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group), the national body representing leading not-for-profit disability support providers, has published True Costs: Why we cannot ignore the failure in social care funding.

The report is a warning to government that the chronic under-funding of social care must be reversed. It pinpoints three key challenges faced by voluntary sector providers of adult social care, which mean that funding is insufficient.

VODG’s report stresses that demand for services is rising; by 2025 there will be 11.7 million disabled people in England. This group of people, representing more than 20% of our population, is also ageing, which means that more older people will need disability-specific support.

Action is vital as the need for support is growing just as funding for that support is dwindling. Since 2010, for example, cumulative adult social care savings have amounted to £6.3bn, according to the Association of Directions of Adult Social Services. Voluntary sector providers are disproportionately affected by such budget

cuts because the people they mainly support are publicly funded.

In addition, staff turnover is high and increasing in the adult social care sector, at 31% in 2016 up from 25% in 2015. And national figures show that in 2017, were an estimated 90,000 vacancies across the adult social care sector at any given time.

The report acknowledges that adult social care has won some additional funding (for example, the Improved Better Care Fund and the Adult Social Care Precept), but this is a drop in the ocean given the demand, rising costs and workforce issues.

In addition, there are other pressures on the sector like the average hourly rate paid to providers increased with the introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW). The retrospective requirement to provide NLW back-pay to sleep-in shift workers for up to six years would ruin many providers and impact on many individual disabled people who employ personal assistants through personal budgets. Finally, Brexit has the potential to create much instability, as VODG has previously argued. An estimated 90,000 (7%) adult social care jobs in England are filled by EU workers.

If social care support fails, there will not only be harmful implications for the millions who use these services, but on the NHS as demand increases for emergency care.

Quantum Care Grants 99-Year-Old Ernie’s Wish To Relive His Naval Career QUANTUM CARE has helped make a 99-yearold World War Two veteran’s dream come true by granting his wish to relive his illustrious naval career as the guest of honour in a visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Ernie Searling, a World War Two veteran who served in the Royal Marines, was given the chance to visit the Dockyard by his care home Heath House as part of Quantum Care’s Silver Wishes initiative.

Silver Wishes celebrates 25 years of Quantum Care providing high quality, not-for-profit, care across Hertfordshire with the aim to grant as many wishes to their residents as possible.

Ernie had signed up to the war effort on the 3rd September 1939 – the day that World War Two was declared – and spent a period of this time based in Portsmouth before being sent abroad and then joining the regular forces after the war.

Upon arrival to the docks, and in true VIP fashion, Ernie was given a personal tour around the dockyard, which included viewing HMS Victory and the UK’s newest aircraft carrier, before being given a surprise boat trip

around the docks.

After a fish and chip lunch Ernie, dressed in his regimental blazer and medals, ended the day with the presentation of a coveted Blue Beret by The Veteran’s Society, which he will proudly wear during the Armistice Day Parade in London.

Debbie Gilard, Communications Lead at Quantum Care said: “ It was an absolute delight to be able to make Ernie’s wish come true and accompany him on this trip. Seeing him able to relive his naval career, and especially his joy at going out to sea again made everything worthwhile.

He was treated like a rock star by the staff at the docks and the public – many of whom came to shake his hand and thank him for his service.

“We would like to thank Portsmouth Historical Dockyard, the Veteran’s Society and Royal Navy Chaplain Keith Robus for helping us to make the day a success.

The aim now is to make more wishes come true for more of our residents as part of our Silver Wishes initiative.

Our residents have asked for everything from a hot air balloon trip to meeting Barry Manilow and we would love to make even the most ambitious wish come true.”

PAGE 23

The NACC Celebrates Excellence At The NACC Awards 2017 THE NATIONAL Association of Care Catering (NACC) crowned the winners of the NACC Awards 2017 at a gala dinner last night, which also celebrated the association’s 30th anniversary.

The winners of the eight prestigious awards exemplified excellence, innovation and exceptional service in the care catering sector and a commitment to improving standards and experiences for all, from service users and their loved ones to the people on the front line.

This year’s inspirational winners were recognised and celebrated by their fellow NACC members and industry colleagues at the special event held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.

The 2017 NACC Awards winners are: • Care Establishment of the Year Award: John Wills House, St Monica Trust The judges described John Wills House, which provides palliative care, nursing care and dementia care, as a model for success in dealing with the range and complexity of care provided.

• Meals on Wheels Award: West Sussex County Council, Meals on Wheels Service West Sussex County Council makes Meals on Wheels available to all of its 850,000 residents and during the past 12 months the service has grown by 10%, now providing 150,000 meals a year, plus 20,000 to Day Centres. The judges praised the outstanding service of which West Sussex residents can be justifiably proud.

• Catering Team of the Year Award: Gracewell of Horley Park Catering Team The judges commended the ‘supremely well-led team’ that, in a short period of time, has been re-motivated from a state of low morale and raised standards overall, improving residents’ quality of life through its attitude, consistency and personalised approach.

• Catering Manager of the Year Award: Stuart Keown, Dining Service Coordinator, Sunrise of Banstead As Cluster Dining Service Coordinator, supporting four other sites, and a Food Safety Trainer, Stuart promotes efficiency and resident-led service, consistently going the extra mile to achieve excellent standards.

With no sign of slowing down and studying for his Level 4 in Management, the judges declared his commitment and boundless energy as an example to all.

• Our Care Catering Hero Award: Joy Whitlock, Head Chef, Harton Grange Head Chef at Harton Grange, Joy is also

Barchester Healthcare’s Hospitality Champion of the Year. Consistently giving her time to make sure the residents receive the very best of everything, she is often thanked and praised by residents’ families for looking after their loved ones so well. The judges agreed that she is a diamond.

• Region of the Year Award: South West Region The South West region stood out to the judges for the quality of its regional meetings and its specific work in targeting prospective new members.

• Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award: Roger Bayliss The Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award recognises the work and commitment of an individual that has made a lasting contribution to the NACC. Admired by his colleagues, Roger has been a member of the NACC since 1990 and still contributes to the life of the association in the role of National Treasurer, a post he has held for four years.

• Chairman’s Award 2017 – Era Varellas Neel Radia, the NACC Chairman, awarded this special recognition to Era for her inspirational, long-term support of the care sector, working for the London Borough of Haringey, and the NACC. And, also for the encouragement and support she has given him since he joined the association. A NACC member for over 20 years, including South East regional chair for four years, Era has been instrumental in helping to write and structure important guidelines and in promoting the NACC wherever she goes – including Australia!

Neel Radia, national chair, NACC comments: “What a night! Heartfelt congratulations to all our award winners in our 30th anniversary year. Every single one of them, and all the finalists, exemplify exactly what is so great about the care catering sector. They all have an unwavering commitment and desire to raise standards of catering through innovative and exceptional service, and ultimately improve the lives of the people they are feeding.

“I know for a fact that the judges had a tough time selecting the overall winners from such a fantastic pool of entries. Observations by the judges, such as ‘a model for success’, ‘a supremely well-led team’, ‘commitment and boundless energy’ and ‘outstanding service’, sum up perfectly the award-winning characteristics that are plentiful within our sector.

Catering for the elderly and vulnerable requires specific skills, knowledge, responsibility and care, and the NACC Awards are proof that we continue to push the boundaries and raise the bar.”

New Online Hand Hygiene Training For Care Home Staff A NEW evidence based online hand hygiene training course is now available free of charge and offers one hour of CPD. This course is divided into four modules which include a summary of guidelines, an introduction to the skin, a hand hygiene video and a section about improving compliance. At the end of each section, there is a series of multiple choice questions so that participants can test what has been learnt. The course is fully referenced and based on the most up to date guidelines, research and evidence.

The training has been designed to specifically address the hand hygiene issues relevant to health-

Duplex Cleaning Machines IN CARE homes the knowledge that cleaning can be combined with a proven infection control program is a vitally important factor to take into account when considering a cleaning machine purchase.

Duplex Steam machines are unique in their class with their ability to clean and sanitise all types of floor surfaces including carpets, Altro,

SWR (Specialist Waste Recycling) • Interested in saving money on your waste bill?

• Keen to access the best bin collection services near you?

• Looking to increase recycling rates?

• Considering one supplier for all waste streams?

Talk to SWR for a free, no obligation review of your waste services.

Why choose SWR? • Collections available across the UK • Extensive waste network, providing access to the best services available locally • Competitive prices negotiated to provide cost saving

care staff working in care homes. Additional trainees can be added to any registration. This helps save time and enables the training coordinator to track the progression of other trainees.

Although it is recognised that good hand hygiene is essential to protect both staff and residents from cross infection, evidence suggests that many healthcare staff do not decontaminate their hands when required or use the correct technique. This one hour of training will help improve standards of hand hygiene through an increased understanding of the vital role it plays in delivering care.

For further information about this course please email: ukmarketing.sm@schuelke.com Or visit: www.schuelke-learning.com/course/ introduction-to-hand-hygiene-for-care-home-staff vinyl, ceramic tiles, profiled rubber and wood without the need to change brushes.

The Duplex is the only cylindrical brush floor cleaning machine with steam injection which kills the bacteria which can cause odours leaving carpet fibres revitalised and smelling fresh. On hard floors, particularly profiled and safety flooring, the Duplex leaves surfaces dry in seconds helping to reduce the risk of slips and trips and is approved by Altro.

We carry out free, no obligation demonstrations on a nationwide basis and offer comprehensive, certificated on-site training. Duplex Cleaning Machines UK Ltd 01227 771276 sales@duplex-cleaning.com • One monthly invoice and single point of contact for all waste streams, simplifying arrangements whilst saving time • Best in Class customer service and 99% collection success rate • Consolidate clinical waste, recycling (glass, cardboard, food) and general waste in one contract; SWR also provides cleaning and pest control services SWR (Specialist Waste Recycling) is a waste contract management company. We manage commercial contracts across the UK for a broad range of customers, from Bristol Airport to NHS Scotland, UPS, Greene King pubs, Dobbies Garden Centres and MacDonald Hotels. With a focus on recycling SWR has the flexibility to optimise services to best suit the requirements of each organisation.

Call: 0800 432 0550 / Email: sales@swrwastemanagement.co.uk

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.

There you can use the easy online shopping system, or alternatively if you are NHS or an account customer, via an emailed or faxed purchase order. You can also view and/or download the latest catalogue and price list.

KalGUARD Offers Maximum Benefits For Limescale Control HIGH PERFORMANCE CLEANING MACHINES

Proven Infection Control.

Clean and sanitise all types of floor surfaces.

The only cylindrical brush floor cleaning machine with steam injection.

01227 771276 sales@duplex-cleaning.com

Limescale control is recommended for any business located within a hard water area, and especially those that rely on the availability of hot water, such as restaurants, care homes, schools, leisure facilities and hotels.

If left unchecked, limescale can lead to problems such as higher energy bills (British Water estimates that just 1.6mm of limescale can increase a heating system’s fuel requirement by up to 12%), as well as premature repairs, breakdowns and replacement of secondary hot water system components and appliances, business downtime,

and unnecessary, unplanned capital expenditure.

To inhibit the buildup of limescale, KalGUARD® from Sentinel Commercial is a scientifically- and independently-proven limescale control device which uses unique driven electrolytic technology: the only powered device-led methodology to be recommended by UK Building Services Compliance Guide to Part L. WRAS-approved KalGUARD is able to treat an entire system when installed on a rising main before pump and booster sets, providing a value-engineered solution to limescale control. Once commissioned, KalGUARD requires only a bi-annual service if the system filter is fitted.

KalGUARD is available in a range of sizes, from 22mm through to 108mm.

To find out more about the benefits of KalGUARD, call 01928 704330 or alternatively visit www.sentinelprotects.com/about-kalguard

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

The Rug Doctor Pro hot water extraction system process is proven for its ease of use, user friendly design and 100% reliable results. The system also includes high efficiency money saving cleaning concentrates specifically formulated to maximise the performance of Rug Doctor Pro cleaning machines.

Rug Doctor Pro will benefit your nursing or care home: • It can clean carpet, upholstery, carpeted stairs, vehicle interiors and mattresses • It is a high performance and powerful cleaning machine • It has a pedigree of proven reliability and durability • It's easy to use - no training required • It comes with a range specially formulated professional cleaning chemicals • It's time saving • It is of the highest product quality - BS tested and approved

For more information, please contact Rug Doctor Pro on 01903 235558 or email commercial@rugdoctor.co.uk

www.rugdoctor.co.uk

Rug Doctor Pro THE RUG Doctor Pro hot water extraction system process is proven for its ease of use, user friendly design and 100% reliable results. The system also includes high efficiency money saving cleaning concentrates specifically formulated to maximise the performance of Rug Doctor Pro cleaning machines.

Rug Doctor Pro's Quick Dry cleaning technology dries up to three times faster on both Mighty Pro and Wide Track machines allowing carpets to be ready faster for foot traffic to be resumed.

Rug Doctor Pro will benefit your nursing or care home: • It can clean carpet, upholstery, carpeted stairs, vehicle interiors and mattresses • It is a high performance and powerful cleaning machine • It has a pedigree of proven reliability and durability • It's easy to use - no training required • It comes with a range specially formulated professional cleaning chemicals • It's time saving • It is of the highest product quality - BS tested and approved When you order a Rug Doctor Pro machine you will receive a full 12 Month warranty.

Setting up an account is really easy, simply visit the shop on the Rug Doctor website at www.rugdoctortrade.co.uk , enter your details and start shopping!

For more information, please contact Rug Doctor Pro on 01903 235558 and ask to speak to their Commercial Sales Team or email commercial@rugdoctor.co.uk

AUTUMN 2017

THE CARER

PAGE 25

Ontex - Personal Hygiene Solutions Truvox ‘Cuts The Cord’ With AwardonTex iS a leading international producer of disposable personal hygiene solutions for all generations. offering a comprehensive range of continence products, supported by a dedicated team of professionals providing leading levels of customer service.

Recognising the importance of face-to face contact with customers, Ontex have invested in a large team of qualified

nurses who offer and training and support (on their iD and Lille branded products) to Care Homes and the NHS. Ontex is a key supplier to over 300 NHS organisations and is currently NHS Scotland’s preferred supplier Their quality, value-for-money products are also distributed in more than 110 countries through retailer private labels and leading brands including iD Expert and Lille. id-stockists.com | lillehealthcare.com | ontexglobal.com Please see the advert on page 9 for details.

Getting A Handle On Germ Control New P-Wave® products push the boundaries of washroom hygiene.

Washroom hygiene specialists, P-Wave has announced the launch of two new patented systems to help reduce the spread of germs from door handles in high risk areas, such as kitchens and washrooms.

The new P-Hold fits over the existing door handle – it comes in three sizes and takes just 30 seconds to install – and the PPlate replaces the existing push plate when there is no handle.

Both systems are long lasting and low maintenance. They don’t require films, sleeves or gels and instead utilise silver ion technology which interrupts bacteria’s cell’s

ability to form the chemical bonds essential to their survival. Silver has long been used in hospitals for its anti-bacterial properties, but there has never previously been a cost effective way to use it more widely in this way.

Dave Carson from P-Wave said, “No matter how exemplary we are about our own personal hygiene, most of us approach the exit door with no small sense of dread. We all know that not everyone washes their hands after using the toilet for instance, so what germs will the door be harbouring? With our new systems, that worry can be a thing of the past!”

Further information is available at: http://www.p-wave.co.uk or call 01444 220 999 or email info@p-wave.co.uk.

Winning Valet Battery Upright Vacuum INNOVATIVE MODEL now available in UK! Cleaning teams can now ‘cut the cord’ and vacuum more quietly and productively following the arrival of the UK’s first cordless commercial vacuum cleaner.

The award-winning Valet Battery Upright (VBU) – now available from Truvox International – is a light yet powerful upright vacuum, designed for maximum productivity.

Powered by a lithium ion battery, the VBU provides more than 60 minutes’ continuous runtime. In the Cleaning Show 2017 Innovation Awards, the machine won in the carpet cleaning category.

Built to Truvox International’s robust standards, the Valet Battery Upright weighs only 5kg. A convenient carry handle makes it easy to transport between cleaning jobs.

Ideal for daytime cleaning, the machine works quietly and safely around people and obstacles with no risk of trips or snagging – or interruptions to switch power sockets.

A battery level indicator ensures the user knows when their machine will need re-charging. A full re-charge takes no more than 2.5 hours. The battery delivers 312W of vacuum motor power and a 3,000rpm brush speed.

The vacuum floats evenly over all flooring surfaces thanks to a self-adjusting nozzle, while a squeegee improves cleaning results on hard floors. Performance and productivity also benefit from an edge cleaning feature and full suction when the VBU is laid flat to clean under beds and furniture.

High filtration is provided by a HEPA 13 media bag. Replacing the dust bag is simple. The compartment unzips and the bag is automatically sealed as it’s pulled from the bag holder.

Support videos on the Truvox website guide users on operation and maintenance of the VBU. For more information call 023 8070 6600, email sales@truvox.com or visit www.truvox.com

Hang About for Personal Hygiene!

Cairn Care Launches Online Training Hub for Care Homes

INFECTION CONTROL product specialist, Cairn Care, has launched an online training hub to help care home staff to learn about effective infection control, continence care and health and safety.

Packed with a bank of training materials, it aims to provide a useful resource for managers looking to create a proactive working environment. Accessible free of charge and available 24/7, it offers downloadable easy-to-follow cleaning schedules, infection control plans, advice posters, and basic workplace training tools.

In addition, it contains useful information to help care home customers use Cairn Care’s products correctly and effectively.

This is because the training hub forms only part of Cairn Care’s new website, www.cairncare.co.uk, which also comprises of a new online store dedicated to the UK residential care sector in the UK. The website store has been developed in response to sustained growth in both the care home industry and ecommerce sector and will sell premium, hospital grade infection control products, continence care and other healthcare consumables.

Offering secure online ordering via credit/debit card and PayPal, www.cairncare.co.uk will allow busy

care home staff to place orders quickly and simply.

With individual account logins, customers will also be able to see earlier orders, helping them to identify previously used products and order quantities, as well as to place repeat orders at the click of a button.

Marketing Manager, Donna Bedford said: “We have been supplying the care home sector with premium incontinence and cutting-edge cleaning products for many years, so our long-term relationships give us an insight into the demands of the industry. As such, we saw that training and information is crucial to support our care home customers.

“In addition, there is a definite move towards care homes wanting to order consumables online. This is partly because time is at a premium for care home managers and staff and online ordering means that they are no longer restricted to office hours.

“What’s more, as payment details are held securely, any team member can place orders online with the option to replicate past orders for ease. This all makes online ordering so convenient that we are anticipating the ecommerce function to quickly overtake telephone ordering.”

To see Cairn Care’s training hub or to view and order their products online please visit: www.cairncare.co.uk

Polysafe Flooring Offers Sustainable Slip Resistance At Stockmoor Lodge Care Home SAFETY FLOORING from UK manufacturer Polyflor was chosen to help create a safe yet homely interior design scheme for Somerset Care’s latest care home, Stockmoor Lodge in Bridgwater.

Stockmoor Lodge is a modern, purpose-built nursing home with specialist dementia care provision that can accommodate up to 90 residents. Designed by The Drawing Room Interiors Ltd of Sutton Coldfield and furnished by YTM Furniture of Pontefract, this state of the art care home opened in March 2017.

Three safety flooring collections featuring sustainable wet slip resistance were used throughout communal areas and bathrooms within the care home – Polysafe Wood fx PUR wood effect flooring, Polysafe Hydro Evolve flooring for continually wet areas and Expona Control PUR luxury vinyl tiles.

The Sun Bleached Oak, Rustic Oak and Tropical Pine wood effect designs from the Polysafe Wood fx PUR safety flooring collection were selected by The Drawing Room Interiors Ltd for installation in lounge/ dining areas, activity rooms and the on-site hairdressing salon.

Polysafe Wood fx is a hard wearing sheet vinyl flooring which combines the authentic reproduction of wood with sustainable wet slip resistance to reduce the risk of slips and trips in residential or commercial areas. The vinyl includes virtually invisible aggregates which provide traction for underfoot safety without compromising the high clarity look of the floor. Ease of maintenance in high footfall areas is important and Wood fx’s cleanability is enhanced with Polysafe PUR, a cross-linked and UV cured polyurethane reinforcement to achieve superior cleaning benefits.

Expona Control PUR luxury vinyl tiles were chosen to create impressive design floors for the care home’s reception area and café. The Warm Grey Concrete design was fitted in a diamond layout and paired with a black grouting strip in reception, whilst the Light Elm design was used to create a herringbone pattern in the café. The innovative Expona Control PUR range of LVT safety flooring combines the design benefits of an LVT with the sustainable slip resistance of an HSE com-

pliant safety floor suitable for commercial environments.

Subtle shades from the Polysafe Hydro Evolve safety flooring range (Colorado, Amazon and Blue Nile) were selected to provide sustainable wet slip resistance for both residents and carers in each bedroom’s en-suite bathroom, which feature walk in showers and adapted bathroom facilities. Polysafe Hydro Evolve is specifically designed to provide barefoot and shod slip resistance in continually wet areas thanks to its pimple emboss and built in safety particles.

The Polysafe Wood fx, Polysafe Hydro Evolve and Expona Control safety flooring ranges are all fully HSE Compliant and classified as low slip potential, achieving 36+ on the Pendulum Wet Test and meeting the 50,000 cycles abrasion test which assures slip resistance for the guaranteed life of the product.

Diana Cellela, Director of The Drawing Room Interiors Ltd commented, “These Polyflor safety flooring products were ideal for creating a safe yet non-clinical living environment for Stockmoor Lodge’s residents which was in line with the dementia-friendly design principles we work to. We have used a range of Polyflor’s flooring products on various care home projects and are continually impressed with the variety of beautiful designs offered and the performance delivered once installed.”

Safety flooring samples for any Polysafe range can be ordered free of charge on the Polyflor website or by calling the Polyflor Samples Direct Hotline on 0161 767 2551.

Polyflor flooring contains recycled material and is 100% recyclable via the Recofloor vinyl take back scheme.

As a manufacturer of flooring suitable for dementia care facilities, Polyflor has recently become a member of the Dementia Action Alliance who are committed to transforming the lives of the 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK. Polyflor is also a longstanding partner of the International Dementia Design Network at the University of Salford. More information about dementia friendly flooring can be found in Polyflor’s “Specialist Care” brochure, available at www.polyflor.com.

Further details of Polyflor’s extensive range of resilient vinyl flooring are available from Tel: 0161 767 1111. Fax: 0161 767 1128. Website: www.polyflor.com Email: info@polyflor.com

JUST BECAUSE someone may need help in the bathroom doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice style.

Closomat, Britain’s market leader in supported intimate care (www.clos-o-mat.com), has taken that to heart. Its new look Lima Vita wall-hung toilet enables people to take advantage of the aesthetics and household cleaning benefits of a wall-hung WC, and simultaneously benefit from enhanced personal hygiene.

The Closomat Lima Vita offers all the hygiene benefits of its floor-standing counterpart, the Palma Vita, Britain’s bestselling automatic shower toilet.

The Lima Vita looks like, and can be used as, a conventional WC. It has hidden advantages over a traditional toilet. Its built-in washing and drying facilities save the user having to manually clean with toilet tissue, with all its potential hazards in terms of ability to tear off toilet paper, and use it effectively. The douching delivers the best washing & drying performance available in bidet toilets, to leave the user consistently and hygienically clean and dry.

Being wall-hung, it can be installed at just the right height to suit. There are no lips attaching it to the floor to trap

dust and germs, so bathroom cleaning is simplified around and underneath. It also means, if there is underfloor heating, there is no risk of expensive pipework being damaged when the unit is fitted.

Appreciating that people’s needs change over time, Closomat has designed the Lima Vita so it can be adapted to accommodate those changing needs, with a range of accessories to facilitate operation, and use.

“Just because someone may need help, they shouldn’t have to sacrifice style,” observes Robin Tuffley Closomat’s marketing manager. “The Lima Vita delivers even greater hygiene than a traditional loo, with flair.”

Closomat’s range of toilets are all manufactured in the UK, in part at the first ceramics factory to be opened in The Potteries this century, and hand-finished in Manchester. The product range is complimented by a nationwide team of service engineers, and a UK support centre that harnesses over 55 years’ of expertise in helping people optimise their independence, privacy and dignity in the bathroom.

For details Tel 0161 969 1199; www.clos-o-mat.com; e:info@clos-o-mat.com; www.facebook.com/clos-o-mat; twitter: @closomatuk

PAGE 26

THE CARER

Lincoln Care Home Celebrates After Winning Employee Awards BLAIR HOUSE, a Lincoln-based home for adults with learning disabilities, is celebrating after its employees had their work recognised and celebrated at a national awards ceremony.

More than 200 people gathered at The Heythrop Park Hotel in Oxfordshire for the annual PRIDE Awards, which aim to reward the achievements of outstanding staff members from amongst the 19,000 workforce, at more than 400 facilities managed by the Priory Group, the mental healthcare specialists.

Blair House’s staff team won in the ‘Making a Difference’ award category, and were presented their award by Priory Adult Care Chief Executive Office, James Willis.

Mr Willis said: “Priory’s ‘PRIDE awards’ allow us to recognise people who are doing something exceptional.

Many amazing things go on in our care homes every day and the excellent team at Blair House can be very proud of winning in their category. It was fantastic to celebrate the very best of Priory Adult Care – those people who make a real and lasting difference, daily, for those in their care.”

Catherine Brooks, home manager of Blair House, which is run by Priory Adult Care, part of the Priory Group, said: “I am so glad the team won the award. I think the staff team went above and beyond, showing dedication, commitment and passion at a difficult time.

As their Manager, I am so proud of them and have told them so, but I felt it would mean so much more if our company recognized their actions with a ‘PRIDE’ award. I am so pleased that the team has won this prestigious award.”

AUTUMN 2017

The Carer Announce Partnership With The Dementia Care & Nursing Home Expo THE DEMENTIA Care & Nursing Home Expo is the only dedicated trade show for care home owners, running alongside the well-established Naidex at NEC, Birmingham on the 25th & 26th April 2018.

With the UK population of those older than 85 set to double over the next 25-30 years, there has never been a more urgent time to reinvent a care industry that isn’t working. The show is specifically designed to revolutionise the care, residential and nursing home sector.

Attracting over 3000 care home owners, managers and senior decision makers across the two-days.

Every attendee present at the event is there for the sole-purpose of sourcing state-of-the-art products, technology and trends that can help grow and improve their care home business. As a show, we aim to not only reinvent and expand the technological capacity of the industry while also helping care home owners increase the amount of beds available to residents, but also help care and nursing home businesses improve the level of care and facilities they can offer their residents, thus, creating more choice for the individual. We believe that by increasing the

supply of beds, this will in turn improve standards across the industry through increased competition, pushing out those businesses that don’t have the resident’s health and wellbeing at the heart of their company’s principles.

Additionally, each exhibitor has been exclusively chosen, because the products and services they offer are proven to help improve levels of care throughout the industry.

Alongside our valuable exhibitor line-up, the show provides an unrivalled expert insight into the care industry through CPD accredited seminars. The seminars, led by our exclusively selected speakers from the UK’s top care homes, valued associations and organisations, will provide unparalleled advice on how to obtain, among other topics, an outstanding rating from CQC. The Dementia Care & Nursing Home Expo encourages and instils innovation, education and inspiration, whilst striving to facilitate growth and improve the level of care in an industry that is in demand to grow significantly.

Both the Carer and Dementia Care & Nursing Home teams look forward to welcoming you to the NEC, Birmingham on the 25th, 26th April 2018.

Register for your FREE ticket at www.carehomeexpo.co.uk

Care Home Residents Enjoy Dementia-Friendly Screenings at Local Cinema Firefighters and A Giant Minion At Care Home Fun Days DOVE COURT residents are now able to enjoy a monthly movie-going treat, thanks to dementia friendly screenings at The Light Cinema in Wisbech.

The home, which is on Kirkgate Street, Wisbech, is able to take some of its residents with chaperones to the local cinema, to see fun films from the past in an adapted environment.

The screenings also include refreshments and sing-a-long entertainment to help improve the lives of those living with dementia and memory loss.

Residents from the home have already enjoyed Cole Porter musical Kiss Me Kate and Judy Garland classic The Wizard of Oz. Future events are set to include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Meet Me in St. Louis, White Christmas and Jailhouse Rock.

In addition to their cinema trips, residents have also been trying their hands at flower arranging with activities co-ordinator Michael. The residents Ruth, Mary, Janet and Margaret created some beautiful arrangements with a mixture of carnations to brighten up the Jasmine Lounge.

Nicole Thompson, Home Manager at Dove Court, said: “At Dove Court, we are committed to providing stimulating and interesting activities for our residents. It is important to us to offer enjoyable and fun events that keep the mind active, particularly for our residents living with dementia.”

“We are delighted that our local cinema has started to host dementiafriendly screenings, as this means our residents can enjoy a trip to the cinema without it becoming distressing for them. It’s an absolutely brilliant scheme, and I hope more cinemas start them up in the future.”

A MINION and the Cleveland Fire Brigade were just some of the visitors to the end of season family fun days at Stockton on Tees care homes.

Star of the animated movie franchise, Kevin the Minion paid a visit to The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane, to charm residents and visitors.

At Mandale House Care Home, on Acklam Road, firefighters from Thornaby Fire Station dropped in to thrill younger visitors and residents alike.

Marking the start of Autumn, the family fun days included classic fair games such as bottle hoopla, stalls selling delicious home baked cakes, face painting and a balloon artist.

The homes, both operated by the Hill Care Group, raised over £1,100 between them.

The funds will go towards creating a café at The Beeches and purchasing sen-

sory equipment for residents at Mandale House.

Michael Allen, home manager at Mandale House, said: “We had a brilliant day with lots of our residents’ families and friends turning out to help us raise funds.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to Thornaby Fire Station for visiting the home as well.

The youngsters had a great time meeting the firefighters and exploring the truck.”

Helen Wood, home manager at The Beeches, added: “Our end of season family fun days are held by Hill Care’s homes across Teesside, bringing lots of fun, warmth and laughter to the start of autumn.

“We had a great time at The Beeches, with lots for our residents and visitors to see and do, including meeting a real-life minion. Our thanks go to everyone who came along.”

Aid Call Work Together With Bushell House BUSHELL HOUSE is one of the longest standing residential care homes in the UK, with a rich heritage that dates back to 1722. Situated in the beautiful village of Goosnargh, three miles north of Preston, Bushell House now homes up to 31 respite, convalescence and permanent residents, after opening its doors in 1743 as a charitable trust to care for the elderly.

The trustees of Bushell House maintain the Georgian retirement homes extensive history whilst ensuring its residents are still provided with the best possible care.

Responsibility for that care largely falls to Sue Barr, the Registered Manager for Bushell House, who often attends healthcare conferences to keep up with the latest developments in carer technology.

As the care home has been using Aid Call products for over fifteen years, Sue frequently visits the Nurse Call providers’ exhibition stand, which is where she was introduced to the new Touchsafe Pro wireless Nurse Call

system. Having been considering an upgrade to the current Bushell House system for some time, Sue requested further information about the new system, which ultimately prompted her decision to upgrade.

Planning Bushell House’s local Nurse Call and Assistive Technology specialist, Stuart Barclay, worked closely with Sue to ensure the Touchsafe Pro Nurse Call system would meet the needs of all her staff and residents. The installation and maintenance of the system was carefully planned to accommodate the requirements of all the individuals that depend on the service.

Sue said: “Stuart has always been exceptional in looking after us over the years I’ve worked with him. He’s provided us with an excellent maintenance package that goes along with the system and ensures we never have any problems at all.”

For further information on Aid Call, see the advert on the front page or call 01670 357 431. Alternatively visit www.aidcall.co.uk

The NursecallShop.co.uk KAM Systems have been supplying, installing and maintaining Nurse Call Systems across the UK since 2005.

Our approach to providing solutions together with excellent after sales support and service has given us an excellent reputation. Many of our product solutions have been developed from experience of working in the technology and care sector for many years. KAM’s online store

Nursecallshop.co.uk recently returned to the Care and Dementia show after a successful launch in 2016. At the recent the Care & Dementia show KAM Systems displayed the i2 wireless DIY Nurse Call System, Universal Call Logger, Pendants, Bedside Monitors, Chair Sensors and an array of other Nurse Call products and accessories.

For further details please visit www.nursecallshop.co.uk and see the advert on this page.

Alarm Radio Monitoring ARM IS the UK's premier wireless Nurse Call & Staff Alarm system designer, manufacturer, supplier and installer, offering a comprehensive range of Nurse Call, Staff Alarm, Lone Worker, Fire Alarm, Door Access and Telephony bespoke systems.

With over 30 years experience in the design & development of wireless Nurse Call & Staff Alarm/Lone Worker systems, Alarm Radio Monitoring has established itself as a key player within the wireless solutions market to the public & private healthcare sectors.

Wireless Solutions are ideal for environments that do not lend themselves to running in cables, for example listed buildings or busy environments, whereby closing as area of a building is not deemed financially viable. Wireless systems also offer the flexibility & ease for future expansion.

Our new HTM 08-03 Nurse Call system is the only fully

HTM 08-03 compliant wireless Nurse Call system. The new wireless HTM 08-03 version of our Nurse Call system is ideal for replacing old hardwired Patient Call Systems in Hospitals with minimal disruption to both Patients & Staff.

No need to replace the whole Bed Head services, the ARM HTM 08-03 compliant wireless Nurse Call system can be fitted on to the existing Bed Head Services panel. Every system comes with a full 12 month manufacturer's warranty and FREE 24/7 Engineer manned telephone support, no need for an expensive maintenance contract to be taken out.

Take the ongoing cost out of your operation with our unique return to base service exchange policy and low cost of ownership/leasing options.

Whether you need a combination of a Nurse Call system, Staff Alarm system, Fire Alarm system, Door Access we have a team to help design a package that will meet your requirements.

For further details see advert this page or visit www.arm.uk.com

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Importance of Nurse Call Systems THE SAFETY of residents in a residential care home environment should be the principal and most important factor to all staff. Care homes execute a number of procedures to ensure residents remain safe and secure at all times, these can range from surveillance systems to nurse call systems.

Nurse call systems are now found in many homes and hospitals and are the most common choice for ensuring residents nursing needs are monitored.

Florence Nightingale developed the first nurse call system in 1860, a patient rang the bell which alerted nursing staff, yes it was that simple! Now, as technology plays an ever more important role in the care environment, as part of the drive to improve care standards and patient experience, nurse call systems continue to play an important role, which is becoming more crucial as the sector comes under increasing scrutiny.

Contained in the Care Quality Commission guidelines for inspection, are areas inspectors check when they are inspecting the standards within a home or care provider. There are five questions asked of all care services. They're at the heart of the way the CQC regulate and according to the CQC, they help to make sure they focus on the things that matter to

Medpage Limited MEDPAGE LIMITED have manufactured quality affordable caring technologies for over 30 years. We specialise in providing bespoke design and development solutions for patient care.

We were challenged recently to develop an alarm solution for a wandering resident in a care home on a limited budget. The alarm was to operate independently from the house nurse call system and required to

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 car-

people.

• Are they safe? Safe: you are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

• Are they effective? Effective: your care, treatment and support achieves good outcomes, helps you to maintain quality of life and is based on the best available evidence.

• Are they caring? Caring: staff involve and treat you with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

• Are they responsive to people's needs? Responsive: services are organised so that they meet your needs.

• Are they well-led? Well-led: the leadership, management and governance of the organisation make sure it's providing high-quality care that's based around your individual needs, that it encourages learning and innovation, and that it promotes an open and fair culture.

With residents in care homes requiring assistance at a moment’s notice, and at a time when there may not be a member of staff around to provide immediate attention, nurse call systems can help to ensure these questions can be answered successfully on inspection and ensure residents’ needs are met and maintained.

See this feature for details for the industry’s leading suppliers of Nurse call Systems.

send notifications to the carer mobile phone with time and dated incident reports. This we did with 100% success. The alarm is now a mainstream product sold nationally.

Reassurance and confidence in a supplier is paramount to a successful business relationship, especially where healthcare is concerned. You can rest assured that when you buy and use our products you are connected with a company with backbone and a passion to offer care technologies that deliver performance and quality.

Visit our website for further information about our products www.medpage-ltd.com or Telephone 01536 264869 to request our new catalogue. See the advert on page 2 for details.

ing 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 enviromental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier.

For a site consultation or friendly advice call them free on 0800 8499 121 or local 01822 613258.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE CARER, PLEASE CALL OUR SALES TEAM ON

01202 552333

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AUTUMN 2017

Soft-touch technology for the care sector but when the push-button is pressed, the mechanism is de-pressurised. This greatly reduces the required force from 6kg down to 2kg. Consequently, the user experiences much less resistance when pressing the push-button.

SCALDING SAFETY

FACED WITH an ageing population, how many care home taps and toilets are suitable for the older generation? From a facilities management perspective, water saving and low maintenance are key considerations, but what about the functionality and comfort for someone with limited mobility?

Hot water at 60°C causes third degree burns within 5 seconds for adults, and even sooner for those with sensitive skin. To prevent serious scalding, all DELABIE mixers have a pre-set maximum temperature limiter, which can be adjusted during installation. Taps and showers in care facilities should be supplied with preblended water from a TMV3 approved thermostatic mixing valve such as the PREMIX NANO. Serving 1-2 taps or 1 shower, the NANO’s minimum operating flow rate is 3 litres/minute, ideal for under basin installation.

off after 7 seconds. This, coupled with a flow rate limiter set at 3 litres/minute to attract BREEAM points, reduces water consumption considerably. Similarly, a shower mixer with a flow rate of 8 litres/minute which shuts off after 30 seconds can result in 80% water savings compared to a standard domestic shower.

LOW MAINTENANCE Intensive use and frustration can result in unintentional damage and/or high levels of maintenance. Tapware in care facilities should be robust, durable and able to withstand misuse and abuse. DELABIE’s taps and showers with soft-touch technology are made from solid brass with reinforced fixings to prevent rotation. The mechanism is designed to withstand over 500,000 operations. A grub screw on the push-button provides easy access so the cartridge can be removed, cleaned or exchanged.

FEELING THE PRESSURE Conventional push-button taps use hydraulic pressure to close the tap, however, they require 6-7kg of force to activate the water flow. This can be difficult for those with reduced mobility.

DELABIE has developed Soft-touch technology to overcome this problem. The mechanism still relies on dynamic pressure to close the valve,

DELABIE’s soft-touch technology is ideal for facilities catering for the older generation.

Those with reduced mobility can easily operate the taps, maintenance is minimal and there is no compromise on water efficiency or user safety. Soft-touch technology is available for taps, showers and WCs, so every generation can use the facilities safely.

SOFT-TOUCH DIRECT FLUSH WCS

Delabie UK Ltd, Henderson House, Hithercroft Road, Wallingford, OX10 9DG

Soft-touch technology is also available for direct flush WCs and can be operated by people of any age. The flush is instantly available for successive flushes and there is no

Tel. 01491 824449 Web www.delabie.co.uk

WATER SAVINGS People with limited attention spans or memory issues often forget to turn the tap or shower off. Over the course of a year this can result in significant volumes of wasted water. The alternative to mechanical taps is a nonconcussive, time flow tap with automatic shut-

delay while the cistern refills. Since there is no cistern, there is no stagnant water, scale buildup or impurity deposits – factors that encourage bacterial development. Furthermore, the direct flush valve is also water efficient. The TEMPOFLUX 2 dual flush valve has a 3/6L flush, which can be adjusted to 2/4L.

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Height Adjustable Baths Designed By Caring Professionals For Professional Carers BATHING CARE experts Dennis Goodes and Ray Metcalf have joined forces to launch ‘SilverSurfers’ height adjustable baths. Over 60 years of experience in the bathing care market across design, manufacture and sales have gone in to designing this unique range.

Every bath is handcrafted in the UK by time served craftsmen using traditional methods to exacting standards and constructed by a specialist team of engineers. The range incorporates the

very latest one touch technology making them safe and simple to use. The high quality baths are styled in an Art Deco design with a luxurious finish.

Each bath is individually tested then dispatched direct to site where a highly trained service team can install and commission, if required.

For a brochure or a discussion with Dennis about your specific requirements call 01590 647 479 or visit www.assistedbathing.com

Gainsborough Showcases Operationally Efficient Baths with BioCote Anti-Microbial / CRO Protection at Care Show GAINSBOROUGH SPECIALIST Bathing demonstrated its new anti-microbial BioCote technology alongside the ultraefficient Gentona and reclining Sentes bath at the Care Show (stand D10, 10-11 October, NEC, Birmingham).

Gainsborough is regarded as the innovator in the care bath sector with operationally efficient solutions and holistic service support. Its advanced baths with hi-lo functionality and bather transfer systems are proven to deliver utmost care and performance in today’s challenging care environment.

Its new BioCote technology provides 99.99% protection against Influenza H1N1, E.coli, Salmonella and antibiotic resistant CRO, CRE, VRE and MRSA.

With BioCote integrated during the manufacturing process microbes cannot survive or breed on bathing surfaces so vulnerable service users are protected 24/7. It is effective for the lifetime of the product and cannot be washed off or worn away – delivering continual reassurance for bathers and care providers without the need for time-intensive deep cleaning.

Malcolm Farmiloe, Managing Director, Gainsborough Specialist Bathing commented: “Gainsborough continues to take the lead in care innovation with the introduction of BioCote. Our BioCote showcase was very popular at the Care Show as it significantly reduces the threat of CROs and CREs which is a current challenge in many care environments.”

Visit www.gainsboroughbaths.com

Simple Affordable Solutions for Bathing Needs TO ADVERTISE IN THE CARER, PLEASE CALL OUR SALES TEAM ON

01202 552333

AHM inSTALLATionS are specialists in providing bathroom and kitchens that have a unique difference. The firm, based in Lincoln and newark, specializes in creating rooms to facilitate independent living...

Being able to live independently is a vital part of dignity in later life. That’s why Lincoln and Newark based AHM Installations has spend over 25 years perfecting the design of rooms to facilitate those with mobility problems.

The firm’s specialism means that AHM Installations are well-placed to provide advice with unprecedented expertise and product knowledge. But moreover, its

team of in-house fitters and specialized tradespeople provide a trustworthy service that facilitate the same peace-of-mind during the design and installation process as you’ll experience after the creation of each new room.

In addition to complete kitchens and bathrooms, the firm can also provide heating solutions, and can install stairlifts for mobility over different floors.

AHM Installation have more than a few ideas for making life easy, whether you’re looking to configure a kitchen or bathroom.

For more information on AHM Installation’s bespoke kitchens and bathrooms, call 01522 500288 or 01636 821443 or see www.ahminstallations.co.uk.

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Care Homes Are Seeing The Business Case For 5 Year “No-Bills” Guarantee On Bedpan Washers MANY CARE homes are seeing the benefit to investing in reusable systems for their sluice rooms rather than single use alternatives. There is obviously a clear advantage in terms of hygiene, however owners and managers are also realising the business case for having a 3 and 5 year “No-Bills” guarantee with the machine.

Maplehurst Nursing Home is one of a group of homes, providing high quality nursing care, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by dementia.

It recently purchased a Meiko Topic bedpan washer.

Campbell Lyle, the Director of Maplehurst Nursing Home com-

mented “One of the big selling points for us, was Meiko’s comprehensive 5 year warranty package.

"Knowing that we will have a reliably functioning and maintained machine for years to come is one less thing to worry about.

"We found the sales process with Meiko proactive and the installation team professional and knowledgeable. Our care team has provided good feedback about the washer, specifically with regards to its ability to fit different sized pans.”

There's no doubt that a bedpan washer-disinfector is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a dirty utility room. But when you're faced with tasks where every single step needs to be intuitive and perfectly hygienic, you need plenty of support in other areas, too. That's why MEIKO offers a fully compatible range of accessories for bedpan washerdisinfectors and combined care units. With our help, you can turn the utility room on your ward into a shining example of top-notch hygiene.

Our extensive range of accessories for washer-disinfectors offers the most

professional and reliable way to adapt our cleaning and disinfection technology to your specific requirements – whether you're building a new hospital or renovating or refurbishing your existing facilities. All MEIKO accessories are fully compatible with all the systems we offer.

Thanks to their ergonomic design and reliable operation, our accessories for MEIKO bedpan washer-disinfectors and combined care units simplify the myriad workflows on your ward, making life easier for staff.

Meiko offers a free site survey and consultation. The 3 and 5 year “No-Bills” guarantee includes planned maintenance and urgent response to technical issues.

For more details email jabraham@meiko-uk.co.uk or visit www.meiko-uk.co.uk

Planning The Ideal Sluice A New Benchmark For Room and Controlling Infection Macerator Infection Control

SLUICE ROOM design requires an approach that meets the specific needs and rigorous standards required in healthcare facilities to enable them to meet modern infection control standards as efficiently as possible with careful consideration of all factors relating to infection control, access, layout and flow of work. Most critically, it requires a design specification that helps to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) resulting from crossinfection from body fluids and human waste.

The location of a sluice/dirty utility room within a healthcare facility and its contents are vital in aiding infection control. The wrong location and you run the risk of exposing patients and fellow clinicians unnecessarily to cross infection from transporting human waste around the building, also increasing the chances of

spillages. The layout of the room is also critical, the clinician should follow a linear path around the room rather than crisscrossing from clean to dirty areas in the room. The correct design of a sluice/dirty utility room should allow the users dispose of infectious materials, wash hands and leave the room clean, encouraging the dirty in - clean out theory.

With over 25 years of experience we are the only UK manufacturer able to offer the full range of sluice room products, providing comprehensive and meaningful advice and support throughout planning, design and specification processes, allowing us to tailor solutions to your requirements. Our products offer the latest technology with antimicrobial silver nanotechnology material and patented hands-free technology, ensuring the highest standards of hygiene and efficiency.

Reader enquiried - Tel: 01202 731555 or visit www.ddcdolphin.com

PULP MACERATORS process human waste.

With their internal workings exposed every time the lid is opened, there’s a risk of potentially hazardous microbes being emitted into the clinical environment, increasing the risk of cross-infection.

While the external surfaces of a macerator are cleaned in line with standard procedures, there’s no specific protocols for cleaning/disinfecting the inside of the macerator.

But this risk can be effectively managed.

Haigh has collaborated with antimicrobial technology experts TECcare to develop a unique macerator disinfection system. It combines their exceptional Quattro macerator with TECcare CONTROL disinfectant, which is effective against a wide range of air and

surface pathogens without corroding or damaging the macerator’s internal working parts.

A recent case study at a hospital in south-west England confirmed that adding TECcare CONTROL to the Quattro rinse cycle eliminated hundreds of thousands of living microbes from within the macerator. Swab testing confirmed that all 100,000 viable bacteria were eliminated from the 11cm2 swab test area using the system.

Eliminating bacteria eliminates the infection risk.

From a microbiological safety perspective this has probably created the cleanest macerator on the market. But critically Quattro with TECcare CONTROL is the only maceration system proven to give 24 hours protection against all known hospital-based pathogens.

For further information call 01989 763131 or visit www.haigh.co.uk

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Administering Medicines Safely To Choking is a ‘Constant Fear’ for People With Swallowing Difficulties Care Sector Workers - Quickly DAVID WRIGHT, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, and lead educator on the course ‘Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines’ on the FutureLearn social learning platform shares his advice for carers, nurses and those interested in swallowing difficulties and medicines.

Dysphagia is the scientific term used to describe a person who has swallowing difficulties often due to conditions such as a stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s chorea.

The ageing process itself dries the mouth and results in weakened muscles associated with swallowing, and medicines can in some cases dry the mouth, making it harder to swallow. Whilst dysphagia is a symptom, as opposed to a disease, it can seriously affect someone’s quality of life, particularly if it prevents them from socialising or even just joining the family at the table for dinner. identifying swallowing problems and what to do next The administration of medicines is often overlooked and left to the carer to have to decide how best to give them to the person they are caring for. Without proper advice, this can result in people not getting the most from their medicines, or possibly suffering from side effects.

When dysphagia is identified, the main concern is usually whether the individual is able to consume sufficient food and fluid to maintain weight and hydration. The signs of dysphagia include coughing or spluttering when drinking or eating, a ‘gurgly’ voice after eating or (drinking due to liquid being in the lungs), always chewing medicines before swallowing, taking a long time to eat and drink, losing weight and regular chest infections.

Frequently, carers think what they are seeing is normal or hadn’t considered dysphagia as a possible cause. If dysphagia is suspected then this should always be communicated to the doctor so they can decide whether it needs assessment by a speech and language therapist, who will identify where the problem with the swallow lies and what needs to be done to make it safe. If this is the case then the medicines also need reviewing.

Taking a closer look at the patient’s medicines The first question to ask is whether the medicines are still needed. Dysphagia symptoms can become more apparent after taking some medicines and therefore it may be worth considering only administering the medicines which are really likely to improve or maintain quality of life. This can be discussed with the individual you are providing care for and their doctor.

Alternative ways of administering medicines If swallowing is not believed to be safe then it may be appropriate to find other routes to administer the medicines,

such as the tongue, gums, skin or lungs. If the oral route is still believed to be appropriate for giving medicines, then dispersible or liquid medicines may be appropriate.

However, whilst liquid medicines are designed for alleviating dysphagia, their consistency may not be appropriate if they are too ‘thin’ and therefore more likely to go into the lungs. You may also find resistance to the prescribing of liquid medicines as some can be very expensive and place a very large burden on the doctor’s drug budget. In a health system with a limited budget this, understandably, must be taken into account.

Avoid tampering with medicines The last choice is always going to be tampering with the tablet or capsule to make them easier to swallow, either by crushing or dispersing them in water. Whilst this may in many cases not cause too many problems, there are many tablets and capsules whereby tampering with them could make them less effective or more dangerous. Some tablets and capsules are designed to be taken once or twice a day by designing the medicine to release the drug slowly. If you inadvertently crush or disperse these medicines then the whole dose can be released very quickly, increasing the chances of side effects. This efficient response of the body to a high dose can also result in a period where the amount of drug in the body is too small to be effective. Consequently, medicines which are designed to release doses slowly should never be tampered with.

Some medicines have special coatings to either protect the stomach from the drug, the drug from the stomach or to release the drug after the stomach to where they need to work. Tampering with these medicines is also likely to harm the individual.

Medicines can have special coatings because they are unpleasant to taste and others because contact with them could harm the administrator. In all of these cases it is not appropriate to crush or administer the medicine and therefore carers should seek advice.

Your pharmacist will be able to provide advice on the availability of alternative medicines and the safety of medicine tampering if you ask them.

As a carer it is important to always report any suspicion of dysphagia so that it can be assessed and the administration of food, liquid and medicines can be reviewed to ensure that they are safe.

You can learn more about the topic in more detail in ‘Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines’ on the FutureLearn platform.

There are also websites available, such as www.swallowingdifficulties.com, which will provide more information on what is available and when drugs are specially coated.

Respond with Deckoker AFTER RETURNING from exhibiting their Anti-Chocking device at the recent Care Show, the makers of dechoker revealed that as well as being a constant fear within the care profession, 75% of choking deaths in 2016 were attributed to the over 60s ‘Inhalation and ingestion of food was by far the largest cause of choking deaths last year’ Said Matt Oakley of Dechoker UK. ‘Our customers in the Care Home and Nursing sector told us that meat was the most likely foodstuff to cause an obstruction.’

Contributing factors are the speed at which a choking incident can arise, the frequency of choking events and the issues surrounding

how best to respond were all reasons given as concerns by the care sector.

‘Speed is all important when someone is choking as no oxygen is entering the body. This can lead to brain damage in around 10 minutes, or even trigger cardiac arrest.’

The dechoker is designed for a quick response and can be deployed within seconds. In certain circumstances it can be used when the patient is upright and seated which makes it particularly useful in certain environments where existing protocols may be difficult to administer.

Visit dechokeruk.com or call 0330 223 1320 for further details.

HotmixPro Gastro – Special Diets at Your Finger Tips • Are your Dysphagia patients missing out?

• Are you struggling when producing therapeutic and texture modified diets?

• Are you maintaining appetising flavour and colour of fresh ingredients?

Safe -The 2 litre heavy usage mixing bowl sits within a fully insulated stainless steel casing easy to Clean – All stainless steel construction and dishwasher proof mixing bowl easy to Use - Operates exactly to programme at a touch of a finger efficient - Speed range from 0 -12,500rpm allows blending, small and large amounts, to

just the right texture Financial Benefits – Precise temperature setting dramatically reduces waste by maximising nutritional values as well as helping your residents to sustain their best health levels Memory - The integrated SD card can store numerous ‘Special Diet’ recipes HotmixPro Gastro is an essential support for every busy hospital and care home kitchen Limited Space or Limited Budget?

HotmixHome (junior version of HotmixPro) will be YOUR answer – just ask! invest in the Best Visit www.barbel.net or call Phone: 01629 705110, or Email: info@barbel.net

QUICKLY RESPOND IN A CHOKING EMERGENCY • Uses suction to remove the obstruction from the airway • Can be used when patient is seated • Works on food and liquids • Deploy in seconds

£149.95 inc VAT

dechokeruk.com 0330 223 1320

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Scandinavian Laundry Technology Without Detergents, Endorsed By WWF Has Come To UK ®

DIRO Climate friendly laundry technology without detergents, praised both by the World Wildlife Fund and the UN Network for Clean Seas.

UK-BASED start-up water filter company, Smart Water Filters Limited (SWF®) recently secured an exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreement for DIRO® - the innovative Cleantech product from a Scandinavian water filter company Scandinavian Water Technology AB (SWATAB). The product is a climate friendly laundry technology without detergent chemicals that was endorsed in May by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for its unique features, and its positive impact on the environment. DIRO® got WWF’s award for “Climate Solver 2017”.

The agreement covers the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. DIRO® is a filter system that is placed between the incoming cold water and washing machines, making detergents totally redundant.

Tested by SWEREA IVF and has a proven cleaning effect according to the EU Ecolabel test for detergents. Allowing for reductions in energy consumption by 80 per cent on commercial washing cycles and by 40 per cent for the drying processes.

Mark Higson, SWF’s managing director said: “Our vision is to promote an allergy

Do you want to reduce your CO2 footprint? Do You strive for a more detergent-free life?

Free no obligation cost comparison for UK businesses verses your current laundry process.

Per Hansson (pictured left) inventor of the patented DIRO® method. Here with a DIRO® system which has been installed into a care home property.

and environmentally friendly, detergent-free lifestyle in the UK. We are very pleased to announce that we have recently strengthened our relationship with SWATAB even further, by converting our previous distribution agreement in to a manufacturing and distribution agreement of the DIRO®, in order for us to specifically tailor the system for the UK market.

“Beyond cost savings for consumers who no longer need to purchase detergents and softeners, DIRO’s benefits are significant. Cutting down on chemical detergents leads to lower acidification in water sources. The DIRO® system reduces energy consumption by up to 40 per cent. And the service life of machines will be longer because, with ultra clean water without detergents, no residue or limescale build up occurs.”

®

DIRO can reduce energy consumption by 80 percent on commercial washing cycles and by 40 percent for drying processes.

Reduce your carbon footprint and processing times.

Protect the health of your employees and end users.

Dramatically cut washing and drying costs

Increase the lifetime of your washing machines and dryers.

DIRO® is tested according to the requirements of the EU-Eco Label tests for laundry detergents.

+44 (0)1234 889743

The patented method of operation is divided into three main sections.

info@smart-water-filters.com

www.smart-water-filters.com

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Top Tips For Establishing A Safe and Efficient Laundry New Community Extra Care Facility Chooses Forbes and Miele Throughout the care sector, soiled linen is one of the principle vehicles for potentially harmful bacteria. For those coming into contact with items such as bedsheets, towels and clothing every day, that means prolonged exposure to potentially dangerous articles. Here, Amanda Symmons (née Dufrane), Care Segment Manager at Electrolux Professional, discusses how to deal with contaminated laundry and limit the risks involved.

What does contaminated laundry mean?

In the UK, contaminated laundry can refer to any item of linen which has either been fouled by human waste, or infected by somebody with a contagious illness.

Interestingly, our definition of contaminated laundry is different to the rest of Europe, where they have separate processes depending on whether linen is fouled or infected.

Here, regardless of whether a resident has wet the bed, or contracted a healthcare associated infection (HCAI), the linen will be considered ‘red bag’ washing.

How are infections transmitted?

Infections are generally transmitted either through the air, through food, through insects or through contact – by which we mean things like linen. This makes linen one of the main ways bacteria and viruses are spread around in the healthcare environment.

Who has occupational exposure to contaminated laundry?

When it comes to who is at risk of contaminated laundry, there are two key things to think about: one is that if you work in a care environment and you are handling fouled or infected linen, you could be exposed to any bacteria that it might be contaminated with; just as important is that within a care establishment, the majority of people will be elderly residents or patients who are more vulnerable to infection.

How can these risks be reduced?

Because humans and animals are where bacteria and viruses originate, the best way to reduce the risk of infection in a care home is to reduce the amount of contact between staff members and clean linen – the latest guidance recommends that items are handled no more than four times once washed.

In order to protect both staff and residents, is vital that those working in a care environment ensure that all linen remains harmless at every stage of its journey – from the time it is collected when dirty, to how it is transported and stored once clean. Part of that is wearing the correct protective clothing, such as disposable gloves and aprons, when handling contaminated laundry in order to reduce the exposure to potentially harmful micro-organisms.

How should staff deal with soiled linen?

In order to help operators with managing the full laundry process, Electrolux Professional has established its own system of ensuring linen is cleaned properly, and kept clean until it is ready to be used again. The eight-step process is based around the Risk Analysis Biocontamination Control (RABC) principle, which helps to identify the dangers within any given environment, and establish the correct target levels and tolerances for each potential hazard.

With that in mind, a laundry cycle management system gives operators

detailed help with each stage of the journey, explaining how linen should be collected, transported, washed, dried, packed, transported and ultimately stored once clean.

Why should care homes use colour-coded bags for laundry?

The obvious benefit to using a colour-coded system is that it will allow the segregation of different types of laundry materials. Because items most at risk of causing infection can be separated from an early stage, it is much easier to ensure each one is accurately identified and dealt with accordingly – dramatically reducing the risk of infection to staff and vulnerable residents.

How can staff ensure linen is disinfected?

One of the easiest ways to ensure linen is disinfected is to make sure that items are washed at high temperatures for enough time that any potentially harmful microbes are killed. Specifically, a cycle must reach either 93°C for one minute, 71°C for three minutes, or 65°C for at least ten minutes in order for thermal disinfection to have fully taken place.

Because those temperature requirements are so precise, getting the right equipment can be vital. Many of the latest commercial washing machines come with dedicated thermal disinfection programmes, making the process much easier for busy care home staff. Better still are the various process validation tools on the market which are able to record and store important temperature data. Not only does this give peace of mind that every wash has been hygienically cleaned, but it also allows an establishment to rule out laundry as a cause of infection days, weeks or even months down the line.

As we’ve already discussed however, it’s also crucial that linen is not re-infected once clean. One of the safest ways of doing so is to opt for a barrier washing system. Barrier washers are built so that items are loaded from one side of the machine when dirty and unloaded from a separate, clean side when the wash cycle is complete. This eliminates the need for operators to re-enter an unhygienic environment and, consequently, minimises the risk of linen being re-contaminated once it has been cleaned.

TempCheck – a new weapon against infection With laundry processes vital to the fight against infection, Electrolux Professional has unveiled a new tool designed to help operators validate thermal disinfection.

Compatible with both new and pre-existing models of the leading manufacturer’s full range of machines, TempCheck is a game-changing piece of equipment which allows operators to check that thermal disinfection has taken place, no matter which type of laundry they have.

The compact control helps care establishments of all sizes to establish a safe and efficient laundry process. With the ability to store Validation Reports for up to 1,000 cycles, TempCheck is perfect for healthcare facilities requiring full transparency of HTM 01-04. What’s more, the device also records productivity data to help operators ensure machines are performing at their most efficient, both financially and hygienically.

To find out more about TempCheck or Electrolux Professional’s other marketleading commercial laundry equipment, visit electrolux.co.uk/professional.

THE CARE SECTOR is such that its organisations are hugely diverse in their purpose, and it is Forbes Professional’s role as service providers to establish our clients’ specific requirements. A laundry operation within a care environment often needs to perform many functions and our site surveys establish precisely what each project requires.

Commercial machines will process the necessary large loads whilst fully complying with CQC and WRAS regulations. However, there is also often a demand for residents’ self-service laundry equipment.

We were recently approached by a community care, health and well-being

centre that was looking for a complete solution for their new laundry function. As ever, we worked closely with our client to ensure that the solution maximised on the space available whilst catering to all areas of their multipurpose organisation. Our Miele stacked washers and dryers were the ideal space saving machines for resident use, whilst Miele’s larger machines provided the care facility with their requisite hygiene wash. As always, the equipment was fully installed by our team of manufacturertrained engineers, and our client will be supported by our first-class service response.

Forbes Professional 0345 070 2335 Info@forbes-professional.co.uk www.forbes-professional.co.uk

FowlerUK - Commercial Laundry & Catering Equipment THE ORIGINS of FowlerUK go back to 1966 when the father of the present managing director, David Fowler, set up a business to supply and service white goods in the local community. In 2005 David took over the running of the business and decided to focus exclusively on the supply and maintenance of commercial laundry and catering equipment. The business continued to trade on family values such as reliability, care for others and trustworthiness.

The secret to FowlerUK’s success lies in building a personal connection with each customer. The most important element in this is recruiting people who fit with the company values, and who demonstrate these to customers and colleagues on a daily basis.

FowlerUK is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial laundry and catering facilities in the Care Industry, supplying and maintaining equipment in care homes and hospitals nationwide. The product range that FowlerUK has made available is extensive and varies through different specialist requirements specific to each industry.

FowlerUK are constantly searching the markets for new technological developments to assist in saving their customers money as well as providing the same fantastic results.

The results of FowlerUK’s determination to stay true to its family roots are impressive; the business has seen annual turnover double in the last four years. FowlerUK is undoubtedly a local business making a national impact.

For further information call 0800 619 9337 or visit www.fowleruk.com

Simplify Your Laundry Setup with Berendsen LAUNDRY MIGHT not be first and foremost in the minds of care home managers, however, when things go wrong, it can impact residents and staff on many levels if not resolved quickly. An inhouse laundry service is a time and space intensive process which is why many care homes choose to outsource it to an external provider.

External providers offer care homes the ability to improve the quality of their linen, as well as manage infection control. Berendsen is an expert in outsourced laundry provision and as such has strict procedures in place to offer the best possible service. Here is how the process works: • Clothing - The latest electronic track and trace technology is used to safely wash,

dry and iron (if required), pack and return clothing.

• Linen - For flat linen items, a needs analysis is carried out which establishes how much and what type of linen is required by the home, based on usage, bed changing policies and residents’ needs. The level of linen stock is then calculated, including a buffer for unexpected usage. Berendsen also provides a rental service for linen in-cluding towels, bedding and kitchen linen, which saves additional capital costs for the care home.

• A service schedule is agreed, which outlines the number of deliveries and collections the care home will receive each week.

• Clear communication ensures linen stocks meets the needs of the care home.

When linen is required a delivery is sent with sufficient items to top stocks back up to re-quired levels.

Learn more at www.berendsen.co.uk/care

AUTUMN 2017

HotelContractBeds - Crib 5 Compliant 100% Waterproof Mattresses WITH OVER 30 years of experience behind us, we at HotelContractBeds, are one of the leading suppliers of contract approved bed frames and mattresses within the UK. We manufacture our own products, priding ourselves on providing the highest quality possible whilst being competitively priced against the industry. Not only do we supply all the standard UK sizes for bed frames and mattresses, we also offer an affordable bespoke service that will enable you to get the exact custom bed and mattress required for your specification.

Our special Nautilus fabric is of great interest to residential care homes, halls of residence, boarding schools and the like. The fabric is 100% waterproof and stain-resistant, ensuring fantastic longevity for the product.

What’s more, our Nautilus waterproof mattresses are hypoallergenic, antibacterial, anti MRSA and antifungal, making them one of the most hygienic choices on the market for any commercial environment for both children and adults. The Nautilus fabric is also extremely breathable which means the mattress won’t leave its user hot and sticky during the night as opposed to other waterproof mattresses. Even during

the hottest of nights, the Nautilus fabric will keep you cool and comfortable.

Every mattress featured in our online catalogue can be covered in the specialist Nautilus fabric, just call us for more details.

We are a firm believer of being as flexible as possible for our clients. That’s why we work on a no minimum order value policy. This means you may order as much or as little as you need and this won’t incur additional costs. What you see is what you pay. This way of working allows us to maintain the supply for larger companies whilst also offering the best products to the smaller and independent companies.

Delivery is free of charge for all mainland UK orders with an estimated time of 3-5 working days. And what’s more, you can be assured that every contract bed manufactured and supplied via HotelContractBeds - including our memory foam mattresses, sofa beds, zip and link beds and divan sets - complies with BS5852 and Crib 5, ensuring that they pass stringent fire safety inspections. Call our friendly sales team on 01234 834693 or visit our website - www.hotelcontractbeds.co.uk.

Tel: 01234 834693 Email: sales@hotelcontractbeds.co.uk Website: www.hotelcontractbeds.co.uk

THE CARER

New Look, New Designs By Christopher Guy Interiors CHRiSToPHeR GUy interiors are specialists in their field of contract furnishings and interiors, whether you need to replace tired looking chairs in your dining areas or looking at the bigger picture and refurbishing the whole building (including wall art and the little things like pictures floral arrangements) they can take care of everything with their free interior design service.

Christopher Guy Interiors completed 19 New Builds by the close of 2016 and are now looking at an even greater number in 2017.

There are

many new fabric ranges being launched this month and Christopher Guy have included them in their 2017 design portfolio, so all your furnishing needs will be covered in the very latest fabric designs from the UK and Europe to give your home the “Premier Look” Every piece of upholstered furniture is made in house “In Yorkshire” and delivered to you on their dedicated transport for extra piece of mind.

Christopher Guy Interiors are traditionally 30% cheaper than their competitors and with extra special deals on selected products there's no better time to buy.

Ring their customer care team for details Tel: 01274 660 123.

See the adverts on pages 38-39.

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

Euroservice Trolley Manufacturers WITH OVER 35 years of experience in the sale and manufacture of wooden trolleys for the catering trade, Euroservice trolley manufacturers have now acquired a worldwide reputation and still offer an extensive /comprehensive range of top quality wooden trolleys manufactured in the UK. Top quality is a priority in the production of all of our products and Euroservice are specialists in the manufacture of sturdy and beautiful looking trolleys which will grace any environment from the small privately owned restaurant to the splendid 3 to 5 star hotels, resorts and Residential homes.

Thanks to a careful marketing strategy and recommendations, the UK manufactured Euroservice range of trolleys have become the first choice for trolleys in many catering establishments. Reliable and appealing trolleys are always needed in catering establishments and Euroservice trolleys are sure to contribute to the smooth running of any operation and will

enhance the level of service through their sheer visual appeal.

The fast growing range of UK manufactured Euroservice trolleys is now well known in the catering and nursing care industry in the UK and exported to many other countries including Australia, South Africa, the Middle East , the Caribbean , Scandinavia and other European countries.

The increasingly popular bespoke service enables you to design your own trolley with the added bonus of our expert advice, if needed. However, if your needs are more immediate we can provide standard models in record time.

Standard virtually off the shelf models include the mini bar trolley, the sweet trolley, the cheese trolley, the drinks trolley, the flambé trolley, waiters station and dumbwaiters as well as room service wooden trays.

Euroservice’s excellence in the manufacture of wooden trolleys is backed by a personal, efficient and friendly service second to none. We are always busy researching the needs of the market and launch new ranges according to market demands. Whatever your needs you can be assured that Euroservice can cater for them and we look forward to your call.

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

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AUTUMN 2017

A New Dawn From Franklite

FRAnKLiTe LiMiTeD have been known for their quality of product and service in the decorative lighting market for over 40 years and, over recent years, the Company has built an astonishing reputation for quality LeD lighting.

Recently, Anovocare’s Cloghran Nursing Home in Dublin asked Franklite to create a design that would incorporate as much LED as possible whilst avoiding glare problems that can be created by some poorly designed downlights.

Franklite’s range of quality recessed downlights offer a modern, simple lighting scheme with clean lines and

an unobtrusive way to illuminate spaces.

The chosen LED lighting for the nursing home was well positioned to provide ambient lighting and more focused task lighting. As intended, the results were magnificent and can be viewed on our website.

Franklite have a team of professional and knowledgeable personnel who can demonstrate Frankled technology and discuss individual requirements.

Call 01908 691818, email info@franklite.ltd.uk, visit www.franklite.net or www.frankled.com See the advert on page 41 for details.

Safe and Affordable Long Term Care Solutions From Drive Devilbiss THE RECENT acquisition of Sidhil by Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare means the long term care sector now has access via one supply point to an expanded range of high quality, high performance products developed specifically to match the challenging requirements of this market.

“We have an extensive range of products designed to provide a comprehensive and affordable choice for long term care environments,” states Darren Kinsalla, National Sales Manager, Long Term Care for Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. “From Sidhil’s long-established Bradshaw beds through to the Drive Casa range, we have profiling options to meet all requirements, from standard singles though to four foot wide beds and bariatric options.

In addition, our beds can be supplied with a choice of specialist surfaces, from static mattresses though to alternating dynamic therapy systems, as well as spe-

cialist products like our Hybrid Power mattress which has the versatility to double as both a static and dynamic surface to optimise pressure area care.”

Darren’s team has also been looking closely at individual issues faced within long term care, particularly in terms of affordability and safe, correct use of products.

“As an example, all our hoist slings now feature a woven label with clear directions for use. With these products subject to decontamination processes and high temperature washing, printed labels fade and the products are discarded when instructions are no longer legible. Our hoist slings are lasting up to ten times longer, saving significant sums of money. In addition, we include a QR code which, when scanned by a smartphone, leads directly to a training video, promoting safe and correct use of our products,” he confirmed.

Tel: 0845 0600 333 www.drivedeilbiss.co.uk

Yorkshire Care Equipment Launch the Lento Care Chair YORKSHIRE CARE Equipment have announced that it is launching its own care chair – the Lento.

With its name meaning ‘to flex’ in Latin, the company estimate that the Lento will suit the needs of approximately 80% of the population.

Padraig Finn, band 6 physiotherapist at Yorkshire Care said: “The Lento is a single chair that can cater for optimal postural support in many people with even the most complex postural presentations. We’ve designed the Lento to have adjustable seat height, depth, and width, as well as tilt-in-space, backrest recline and leg elevation. All those things considered,

the Lento is exceptional value for money.”

Yorkshire Care’s work with occupational therapists, physios, and other healthcare professions over the years has made the business uniquely qualified to develop the Lento. The versatility of the Lento allows care facilities to provide excellent support and comfort to their patients with just one chair, minimising the need to keep buying and hiring new chairs.

Tom Hulbert, Yorkshire Care’s CEO said: “As a family-run business, we’re taking an ambitious step by creating our own product. The Lento is just the beginning for our own Yorkshire Care product range.” www.yorkshirecareequipment.com enquiries@yorkshirecare.com 01423 799960

YTM Group - Market Leading Contract Furniture Manufacturer

YTM Group Ltd is a market leading contract furniture manufacturer, designing and creating high quality furniture across the care, hotel and education sectors in the UK. From design to installation, our focus is to create cabinet furniture and upholstery products of only the highest quality, flawlessly engineered to meet the needs of the market.

Established in West Yorkshire in 1981, we have over 30 years of experience in the development and creation of specialist furniture products. As a UK manufacturer, we combine the technical knowledge and expertise of our dedicated team, with our passion for aesthetically pleasing interiors and functional design. We strive for innovation in every way, keeping abreast of industry trends, our imaginative team of forward thinking designers ensure we bring new ideas to the marketplace ahead of our leading competitors.

We control our supply chain from the initial design brief through to the end product. The creative personalities of team members, combined with the industry leading soft-

ware we use to develop original product designs, allows us to create bespoke products that our clients love. Our furniture is manufactured on site from our own extensive production facilities. This allows us to maintain complete control over our own manufacturing processes, guaranteeing complete accuracy and quality in the goods we produce. Our skilled installation team ensures that each project culminates in stunning interiors in which our products integrate seamlessly.

At YTM we provide a comprehensive product portfolio.

We also complement our products with an accomplished service offering, including space plans, project management and installation and a bespoke design and manufacture service. We understand the competitiveness of the marketplace and work closely with our clients to understand their vision; to create a solution that is unique to them, a solution that is equally as inspirational as it is appropriate to ensure that they stand out from the rest.

For more information about YTM, about who we are and what we do, see advert page 36.

Visit www.ytmgroup.com

Appropriate Seating Makes a HUGE Difference to People’s Quality of Life THE CHEST can open up to facilitate breathing, the head is supported in a comfortable position so communications is improved because eye contact can be made and it’s just easier to speak when you are not hunched over looking at the floor. Eating, drinking and digestion are facilitated, and, of course, there’s the simple pleasure of being able to sit comfortably in a supported position.

Many people have to spend a lot of time in bed because ordinary chairs and wheelchairs do not give them enough support, but with the right seating choice, a bedridden person can re-join their friends and

family in daily life.

People with kyphosis and many elderly people sit in inappropriate chairs which do not support them. Their head slumps forward or to the side - chin to chest. Gravity can trap people in these destructive postures and can have some very damaging, sometimes life-threatening results.

The pictures below highlight which chair/seating position is the most comfortable and beneficial to aid posture.

The HydroTilt is slightly tilted and Grandma is sound asleep in a safe, supported positon.

Contact CareFlex Specialist Seating to arrange a no-obligation assessment or product demonstration.

Julieanne Fewings 0800 018 6440 enquiries@careflex.co.uk

Consort Claudgen Launches Improved Low Surface Temperature Heaters CONSORT HAS introduced new low surface temperature heaters with a digital heating control which offers a 7-day programme with 3 heating periods per day.

The concealed digital control located on the side of the heater includes an easy-toread display, four large control buttons with audible and tactile feedback and an electronic lock to prevent tampering with the controls. These heaters comply with NHS Estates Health Guidance Notes with a maximum surface temperature of 43°C, making them perfect for environments with vulnera-

ble people such as children and elderly residents. The PLSTiE models are equipped with intelligent fan control which detects the temperature in the environment and automatically adjusts its fan speed to quickly achieve a warm airflow temperature. This allows the heaters to immediately blow hot air, even when initially powered on in a very cold room, for the user’s comfort.

For more details on Consort Claudgen’s LSTE and PLSTiE models, visit www.consortepl.com or contact Sales at 01646 692172.

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The Power Of Drama, Music And Dance Geopace Training In Helping People With Dementia THE BETH Johnson Foundation (BJF) and older people’s charity, Anchor, have launched a new report that recommends the innovative use of drama, music and dance in care homes to help people living with dementia.

‘Experiences of Being’ details the use of drama, music and dance in 17 care homes across Surrey run by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people. The report shows the positive effect it has, particularly for those living with dementia, the biggest cause of death in the UK. The study, funded by the Beth Johnson Foundation, found that creative activities can soothe and stimulate at the same time, bring back memories from the past, and help to engage underused but still active areas of the brain.

With research from Dementia UK showing that one in three people born in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime, the study was commissioned in response to the need to improve the quality of life for those living with the condition.

For six months, Anchor trialled the integration of drama, music and dance workshops into its dementia care offering the sessions at 17 of its care homes in Surrey, with over 200 residents benefitting from the scheme. With many proven benefits, all participating

homes have since introduced the workshops to the list of activities full-time.

The benefits included improved wellbeing and an increased quality of life. Positively impacting mental health, the workshops strengthened the self-esteem and self-confidence of residents. While musical activities helped improve cognitive ability and memory recall.

On a physical note, the sessions inspired increased movement and physical exercise from residents through the encouragement of dance or subtle actions with hands or feet.

BJF and Anchor hope the report encourages all those working with older people across the UK to consider the use of arts-based activities to bring positivity and creativity into the lives of those living with dementia.

Linda Marlowe who played the part of Sylvie Carter in EastEnders for over two years (Sylvie had dementia) said: “I had done some research back before I got the role of Sylvie because there was a one woman show I had intended to do about somebody with dementia, and I visited this beautiful care home down in Cornwall. I was there for three days spending time with the residents who had dementia to various degrees. This was invaluable in playing my role in EastEnders. I am now committed to promoting the use of drama and the arts to make a positive difference to help those who are living with dementia”

Our Lived Experience Training Now Available as an E-Learning Course THE AWARD-WINNING Healthwatch Essex training course, ‘Introduction to Lived Experience’, has been made available as an elearning course for the first time.

‘Lived experience’ describes people’s first-hand accounts of health and care. How they experience services is affected by their own personal circumstances, for example, whether they have a family or whether they are in work. The course allows health and care professionals, commissioners and volunteers the opportunity to learn how to engage effectively with the public.

“The training course came out of our Ambassador training programme,” explained David Sollis, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Essex. “Anyone who volunteered to help out the charity was trained so that they understood the principles of good engagement.

“Healthwatch Essex bases all its work on patients, carers, families and staff lived experience. We capture this through our award-winning research, engagement, and information teams. Captured well it can be used to influence the commis-

sioning, design and delivery of services.”

Produced in collaboration with training partner, VST, Healthwatch Essex has teamed up with company ProTrainings, to produce an online version of the course, with the aim of making it more easily accessible to busy professionals and volunteers alike.

The course helps participants understand the importance of knowing and engaging with their community, active and positive listening techniques and the principles of inclusion.

“It has been designed to equip people with the skills they need to collect and represent the voice of whoever they engage with,” explained David. “We’ve made sure that the content of the course has been independently certified so that it conforms to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines and it comes with a Certified CPD Statement as well as a ProTrainings Certificate and an Evidence Based Learning statement.”

The course can be accessed via the ProTrainings website at www.protrainings.eu for just £24.95 + VAT (group rates are available).

GEOPACE TRAINING is the UK’s leading provider of Phlebotomy Training Courses delivering accredited and nationally recognised training to the highest of professional standards.

All courses adhere to CHS132 – the National Occupational Standard for Phlebotomy and to Skills for Health guidelines HSC376 as well as following WHO guidelines.

Courses are available as classroom, eLearning or

Blended Learning (hybrid) and cover all levels of experience from novice through to experienced phlebotomist.

Geopace Training have developed a reputation for excellence in training, delivered to a wide and varied audience of students and organisations including Colleges and Universities, Hospitals, Care Homes and GP Practices as well as individuals. Group training onsite provides a very cost effective method for staff education and CPD. For further details Tel: 01525 713377, Website: www.geopace.com Email: info@geopace.com

Creative Learning Solutions OVER THE last two hundred years life expectancy has doubled within the UK, and now around 10 million of the population is aged over 65 years. Even greater population growth has been seen among those aged 85 years and over.

Unfortunately, these extra years are not necessarily ‘healthy’, and this has had a detrimental impact on the quality of life for some older people. The elderly are especially vulnerable when it comes to poor food safety, inadequate nutrition and the inclusion of potentially allergenic ingredients included in meals provided.

Food safety Food poisoning can lead to gastroenteritis and dehydration, or potentially even more serious health problems such as septicaemia and kidney failure and can be serious for older people because they have a weaker immune system. nutrients

For most people, energy requirements decrease with advancing age. This is due to changes in body composition and partly because people become less active as they get older so getting the right balance of nutrients is essential.

Allergens A number of factors in the elderly contribute to their risk for developing allergic related conditions. These include frailty, coexisting medical problems, memory issues and use of multiple prescribed and non-prescribed medications.

There is a potential solution in the form of innovative online Training Programmes, developed by Creative Learning Solutions which allows staff to gain recognised certificates in Food Safety, Food Nutrition and Allergens Awareness without leaving the workplace quickly and effectively to a required standard and at a time which suits them.

For further information call 01752 83 77 77 or visit clsolutions.co.uk

The UK Stroke Forum: Equipping You To Support Service Users To Live Their Lives To Their Full Potential POTENTIALLY 45% of the residents in your care home will have had a stroke and around a third of stroke survivors experience some level of complex communication difficulty. It’s important that care services understand the types of communication challenges faced and adapt to meet people’s individual needs.

Although the biggest steps in recovery are usually in the first few weeks after stroke, the brain’s ability to ‘re-wire’ itself, known as neuroplasticity, means it is possible to improve for months or years. Being able to communicate is a critical part of recovery and carers need the right skills and training to support conversation and help set goals that ensure service users are empowered to live their lives to the full.

This November the UK Stroke Forum is offering a great value training opportunity for adult social workers and carers at its annual conference in Liverpool.

For just £55 delegates will gain an understanding of communication difficulties and develop techniques to support service users. Delegates will use this knowledge to implement goal-setting best practice to maximise recovery.

You can book now at www.ukstrokeforum.org.uk or call us to find out more on 01527 903911. The UK Stroke Forum conference is the largest multidisciplinary stroke conference and exhibition in the UK. Network with other professionals, hear the latest thinking in stroke research and develop your practice.

AUTUMN 2017

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SING FOR YOUR LIFE Expansion

THE SILVER SONG MUSIC BOX system has been developed by Sing For Your Life to enable Day Care Centres, Residential Care Homes and Hospitals to provide participatory singing sessions for older people. Singing brings people together and The Silver Song Music Box provides an inclusive activity that delivers excellent cognitive stimulation therapy and an effective reminiscence experience.

Supporting the recommendations of The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) NG32 and QS137 which recommend singing to be beneficial for older people living with long term conditions or who are lonely or socially isolated, Sing For Your Life is expanding its services in Southern England by increasing the Resources in Sussex and South Devon by opening new hubs in Cuckfield and Torbay.

The benefits of singing have also been endorsed by the Care Quality Commission and Inspectors will be influenced by the existence of an appropriate music programme in a care home.

SFYL acknowledges support by the Woman of The Year Foundation which has facilitated this development.

The new hubs will create more community singing groups as well as enabling singing to be provided in care homes and hospital dementia units. The unique Silver Song Music Box is loaded with over 200 originally recorded versions of popular songs as well as hymns and Christmas Carols. More than 250 singing groups have been created using this system which enables singing to be provided by Activities Organisors who are not trained musicians. Singing can therefore be provided whenever or as often as required.

“A Song a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”

BENEFITS

Research has revealed that singing stimulates the release of endorphins which restores memory and comprehension; it helps restore balance and strengthens the facial muscles of those who have Parkinson’s Disease or are affected by stroke, and it helps those who have respiratory diseases (COPD).

But above all it is an enjoyable activity which fights social isolation and loneliness.

Contacts: pip@singforyourlife.co.uk heather@activitiesforhealth.co.uk music2u@hotmail.co.uk

stuart@singforyourlife.org.uk

Hampshire, Thames Valley East Anglia South West England

North Wales & West Midlands All other areas

For more information call 01183 755004 or go to www.singforyourlife.co.uk

PRODUCTS & SERVICES The Perfect Gift this Christmas! Adaptawear’s Iona Open Back Nightie!

YOU MAY have experienced the pleasure of receiving flowers? Being given flowers and enjoying living with flowers have been shown to have a positive impact on wellbeing – reducing feelings of worry, anxiety and depression, and increasing feelings of compassion to others.

MeadowSweet has created an unique service so that someone you care about can enjoy living with beautiful flowers all year round.

• Our flowers bring ‘the outside in’, evoking special memories of gardens, nature and the changing seasons.

• Our exquisite British flowers and foliage are a different design each week, packed full of textures and fragrance.

• Posies include hidden gems that

you’re unlikely to find elsewhere – think scented roses, sweet peas, herbs, bluebells and cornflowers…

• Posies arrive boxed and expertly-arranged in a reusable vase, ready to display.

• They are perfect to bring life, colour and soul to a bedside, windowsill or coffee table.

So why not give some sweet-smelling happiness to a loved one this Christmas with a fantastic gift subscription from MeadowSweet – currently available in Dorset. Weekly posy deliveries, along with other products and frequency choices are available through our website.

Please see our advert on Page 3 and visit www.meadowsweet.co.uk for further information.

CareZips™ Incontinence Dignity Trousers CareZips™ are a new adaptive trouser garment that preserves dignity of incontinent people and aids carers in delivering better care.

Fitted with unique 3-zip fastening system, the CareZips™ make changing of personal incontinence products more dignified and comfortable for the wearers and easier and faster for the carers.

CareZips™ feature 3 strategically positioned zips, 2 of which run from the waist to the knees on both sides of the body and the 3rd zip from inside of one knee all the way up and down to the inside of the other knee. The 3-zip system makes access to the abdomen and crotch during diaper changes fast and easy. There is no need to undress

or pull the CareZips™ down.

CareZips™ are unisex and available in 7 sizes for good fit. Made in popular colours, CareZips™ fabric is soft and wrinkle resistant with stretch for extra comfort. Washable and non-iron, the CareZips™ are perfect for wearing every day.

When worn over hip protectors for incontinent people (i.e. HipSaver QuickChange, HipSaver OpenBottom, HipSaver EasyFit), the CareZips™ improve dignity and comfort and help to prevent fall-related hip fractures.

CareZips™ Incontinence Dignity Trousers improve lives of the most vulnerable people and their carers!

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com ot see the advert on page 7.

Please Get In Touch If You Need High Quality ID Cards Or Name Badges From Just £1.50.

PLEASE SEE what our customers say about us; “The quick turnaround and quality that Chris and his Team produce time and time again is simply superb nothing is too much trouble. I 100% recommend QIDC to anyone looking for quality id badges.” (Simon Walton (Field Manager – Channel Assist) “So pleased we chose QIDC to produce our ID cards, each order is high quality, budget-friendly and super speedy.”(Lizzy Jewel - Marketing, Communications and Events Officer - Safer London)

“Great service, fast, efficient, quality products but inexpensive – win, win all round” (Lea Roberts - Commerce and Finance Director - BCAS Biomed) “QIDC have served us very well for many months now. They always deliver promptly a high quality lD Card for our Charity volunteers.

Communication is excellent and the service second to none" (Denise Randall - Chairman – The Edward Foundation) Visit www.qidc.co.uk or see the advert on page 3 for further details.

NEW TENA Men Premium Fit Underwear Added To Incontinence UK! INCONTINENCE UK is pleased to supply the newly refreshed discreet TENA Men Premium Fit Underwear which is an upgrade to the TENA Men Level 4.

New features include different sizing to reflect male trouser size in inches. Now available in 2 sizes Medium and Large as opposed to the one size.

TENA Men Premium Fit Underwear has been designed specifically for the male anatomy and the breathable, soft, stretchy cotton-like material makes it look

and feel like everyday underwear so you can carry on a normal active lifestyle (unnoticeable under clothing).

Disposable incontinence pant which is easy to pull on as it is to pull off. For moderate incontinence.

For more information on the TENA Men Premium Fit Underwear and the TENA Men (Level 1 - 3) insert pads do take a look at our Incontinence UK website.

For more information on the full Incontinence UK’s Product Range please visit www.incontinenceuk.co.uk. Carer readers please quote CARER17 for 10% discount off your first order.

Giorik Easyair Combi Joins Euro Catering’s Product ‘Starfleet’ EURO CATERING has announced the arrival of another star product within its extensive portfolio – the brand new, intuitive Giorik Easyair Combi oven.

Dealers nationwide are already taking advantage of the opportunity to find out more about this latest oven from Italian masters, Giorik, by booking themselves a site visit to Euro Catering’s headquarters in Daventry, or to its development kitchen in Lutterworth. The price of the unit is placed very competitively in the marketplace.

The Giorik Easyair Combi is hot-off Giorik’s production line in Veneto, Northern Italy and is creating waves across Europe, as a medium-duty combi oven that accepts data via a USB port making it easy to upload recipes, up to 99 pre-set menus can be stored!

As the catering industry will see, Giorik has achieved its mission of providing The Easyair. It makes Giorik combis up to date with the increasing modern technology. It is also stackable two-high, using a stacking kit.

Available in both gas and electric, it has programmable touchscreen controls and nine phases of cooking are available in each programme. It will give the operator the flexibility of multi-shelf cooking, supported by individual timers, and also offers Delta T cooking, including a core probe as stan-

dard.

The Easyair has four cooking modes: hot air only; hot air with adjustable humidity (particularly good for baking); steam only, or combination cooking.

When it comes to clean-down, it has the inbuilt automatic wash programme with a choice of three wash cycles – soft, medium or hard. It also facilitates cleaning by having a double-glazed door with inner door opening, radiused inner corners and removable oven racks.

With a cook and hold function, LED lighting, and automatic fan rotation from a 3-speed cooking fan - for even cooking and consistent results - it offers all to any catering operation.

Euro Catering’s sales director, Justin Towns, says: “We are delighted to welcome the GIorik Easyair Combi to our starfleet of equipment. This is set to be a hugely popular combi oven, because of the variety of kitchens that it will suit and thanks to the peace of mind of knowing it comes with a 24-month labour and parts warranty, from a manufacturer with 25 years’ experience. It definitely holds the recipe for success.”

More details can be found at www.euro-catering.co.uk and enquiries about dealer visits can be made on 01455 559969 or by emailing sales@euro-catering.co.uk Seen the advert on page 20 for more details.

ADAPTAWEAR ARE pleased to announce that its best-selling Iona Open Back Ladies Nightdress is back in stock!

Ideal for sufferers of stroke, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, motor neurone disease and post viral fatigue syndrome sufferers. It also reduces distress for dementia sufferers who get agitated when clothes go over their heads.

Palliative nurses can dress or change a lady simply by gently rolling them into the nightdress. This pretty feminine nightie is designed for ladies unable to wear a traditional 'over the head' nightdress due to a variety of medical conditions.

Iona's special features: • Generous overlap at the back ensures dignity • Shoulder opening, ideal if upper body movement is limited

• Can be put on without the need to disconnect medical equipment • Can be opened flat and put on from a lying or seated position • Soft cotton rich seersucker fabric • Available in blue or pink in sizes 10 – 26 Excellent Customer Feedback!

• "This seersucker fabric is amazing, quick drying and less bulky at the back so makes it much more comfortable to lie on! The carers love it and my Mum looks very pretty."

• "The Iona nightdresses are perfect, so soft and fit beautifully whilst helping immensely with my mother's care, who sadly is bed bound from a severe stroke". JF, Oxfordshire For more information on Adaptawear’s Product Range please visit www.adaptawear.com. Carer readers please quote TC141 for 10% discount off your first order.

Footwear for Residents with Swollen Feet DO YOU have residents with swollen feet who can’t find shoes or slippers to fit? Cosyfeet may be able to help. Their footwear for men and women is roomier than anything you’ll find on the high street.

Recommended by over 11,000 health care professionals, Cosyfeet footwear can fit a range of swelling as well as bunions, problem toes, bandaging and orthotics. All their styles have an extra roomy fitting of EEEEE+ for women and HH+ for men along with flexible fastenings that can be adjusted to fit a range of swelling.

Cosyfeet offers a great choice of footwear including leather shoes, waterproof boots, dressy heels, summer sandals and supportive slippers. They also have a collection of

stretchy shoes that won’t put pressure on swelling, bunions or hammer toes.

To complete your residents comfort, Cosyfeet has a fantastic range of premium-quality socks, hosiery and foot care products. Look out for their exclusive extra roomy socks and hosiery. Made with more material throughout, they fit swollen feet and legs with ease. They also have seam-free, diabetic-friendly socks which won’t irritate or rub vulnerable feet.

Cosyfeet are based in Somerset and have over 30 years’ experience of fitting swollen feet. They offer a No Quibble Money Back Guarantee and free returns so your residents can order with confidence.

Visit www.cosyfeet.com or ring 01458 447275 for free catalogues or see the advertisement on page 15.

Waterproof Bedding Protection That Doesn’t Feel Waterproof CAREWELL LIVING’S waterproof bedding protection range is high quality and discreet – they really do have to be felt to be believed. They take a much needed, but also much maligned product and transform it into comfortable, soft, undetectable piece of bedding that is breathable.

Absorbent and waterproof, they are a great natural alternative to sweaty plastic under sheets. The undetectable layer of polyurethane that makes these bedding protectors waterproof also acts as an antiallergy barrier, protecting against dust mites – a major cause of increasingly common conditions asthma and

hayfever.

Available in both brushed cotton and Tencel fabric, in fitted and flat sheet styles – it’s difficult to see how something that feels so luxurious can be so practical. Tencel is made from sustainably sourced naturally hygienic wood cellulose fibres, its natural waterproof and absorption properties draw moisture away to keep you cool at night, whilst inhibiting bacteria, mould and mites.

Their cotton protectors soft to the touch, naturally absorbent and breathable without negotiating on their practicality.

For more information on Carewell Living bedding protection, please visit www.carewellliving.com or see the advert on page 11.

The Rhino UK Edition 6 Multi-Sensory Catalogue THE TEAM at Rhino UK are delighted to announce their new Sensory Catalogue!

Watch this space for a catalogue full of 300+ new, exciting, super-sensory solutions with the very latest in technology and innovation, available now!

The NEW sensory catalogue will feature: • 950+ Sensory Resources • A Multi-Sensory Room Guide – what room is best for you?

• Sensory Icons – what equipment is best for you?

• Recommended Products for those with autism or dementia

Be the first to receive a copy of the NEW Edition 6 catalogue by sending your name, postal address, email address and a contact telephone number to sales@rhinouk.com or call 01270 766660.

The Rhino UK team continue to ensure they guide you through your buying decisions, to guarantee you invest in the very best solution for your needs; from a fully equipped multi-sensory room to our portable Sensory Voyager or individual sensory toys – contact the Rhino UK Team today for a FREE consultation and let us help fulfil your needs.

T: 01270 766660 E: marketing@rhinouk.com www.rhinouk.com

Enhancing the TV/Radio Experience with Assistive Listening Devices for Hearing Loss THERE ARE over 11 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss - 1 in 6 of the population, including 4 million people who wear hearing aids. In particular hearing loss affects the elderly, often shying away from the simple enjoyment of the television due to the inability to hear it. However, a simple Assistive Listening device means watching TV or listening to favourite music and radio programmes can become a pleasure again.

With the aid of Assistive Listening devices, sound can be significantly increased with the aid of unique amplifiers. One example is a personal amplifier that won’t affect the volume for everyone else. With the aid of specially designed wireless headphones, volume can be increased to

an individual preferred level without affecting others in the room.

For people who are listening on their own or want portability to listen in the garden or another room, a sound amplifier is a good choice, with a base connected directly to the sound source transmitting to a portable sound system that acts as a boom box.

Amplicomms, a specialist in assistive technology and renowned in this field, offer a variety of products with many solutions available depending on the requirements.

There is no reason to compromise.

These simple solutions will enhance the listening of favourite music, TV and radio programmes, hearing every word loud and clear. Hear the world, enjoy sound and be a part of the conversation.

The products mentioned are available from: http://www.amplicommsonline.co.uk or Tel: 01737 247571

Do you need professional legal advice for your care home? Our highly trained and dedicated team are ready to help.

• Advice on CQC Regulations • Sponsor License Suspension & Revocation • Tier 2 Visa Queries • Buying & Selling Care Homes

Get the right legal advice – call us on 020 3475 4321 for a free initial consultation A S TON B R OOKE S OLI C I TOR S – working with you to deliver the best results for your care home

C o n ta ct n u mb er: 0 20 34 75 4321 E- mail a d d res s : in f o@ a s t on b roo k e.co.u k Web s ite: w w w.a s t on b ro ok e.co.u k

PAGE 46

THE CARER

AUTUMN 2017

Unhappy With A Complaint? Respond With Care THE NURSING and residential care sector is under constant scrutiny, with standards being assessed regularly to ensure residents are happy, healthy and comfortable.

However, despite best efforts to provide quality care and environment, every professional within the sector will at some point receive a complaint – whether it be from a resident or a resident’s friend or family member.

Often, such a complaint will be triggered by something trivial and so it may seem unjustified, an attack on your reputation. Perhaps you think it is merely a tactic being used to delay or avoid payment. Understandably, criticism can be hard to swallow, especially when the future of your business depends on positive feedback and word-of-mouth recommendation.

Gemma Carson, Head of Wright Hassall Solicitor’s dispute resolution team, explains why engaging in a war of words is likely to do more harm than good: “People often react impulsively to a complaint by responding with an irate email. However, this could spell disaster and cost the business dearly.

“When emotions are running high, it can become quite easy to end up getting involved in a fiery debate via email or over the phone.

“Problems arise when allegations or threats are made which overlook the terms agreed when the commercial relationship was originally entered into.

EAD

“Various measures can be taken to avoid making matters worse. One effective strategy is to save your email as a draft as opposed to impulsively sending it after reading the original complaint.

“Give yourself time to cool off before revisiting the email, and then make a judgment on how best to respond to the complaint. Emails sent in the heat of the moment often have a nasty habit of biting back, so it’s good to give yourself time before emailing a response.

“It is also important to check whether a service agreement and/or a contract exists between the parties. If there are any agreements in place, check them carefully to clarify what they actually say as you may be able to respond to the complaint by highlighting relevant contractual terms.

Take care of it quickly “It’s important to proactively deal with a complaint instead of ignoring it.

Responding to a complaint promptly can be the difference between an amicable resolution, and a more stressful and time consuming one.

“Meeting face-to-face can often help air issues before they escalate. Either raise the matter directly or before doing so, seek legal advice.

“Where issues cannot be resolved easily, if at all, retain all supporting documents and correspondence relating to the complaint. early intervention can help “Early intervention can entail more collaborative methods of dispute resolution, offering significant benefits over traditional adjudicated court proceedings, including: • Speed: A dispute can often be resolved swiftly.

Nursing & Residential Home Specialist Agency Eddie Dribble - the best known name in the private care industry

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Emanuel A Dribble 26 Arthur Road New Malden Surrey KT3 6LX Tel/Fax 020 8942 0852

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• Costs: A significant reduction in costs of dealing with a dispute.

• Flexibility: More flexibility and commercially focused resolutions for resolving disputes.

• Relationships: Parties more likely to preserve working/commercial relationships.

• Publicity: Allows a confidential resolution process.

• Concurrency: Often these approaches can be used alongside other methods of dispute resolution, if necessary.

When to get professional help “A serious legal dispute does not need to have emerged before taking legal advice.

“Seeking dispute resolution advice can be very effective when an issue first arises. Whilst lawyers do not necessarily need to take an active role, they can offer legal guidance focused on strategy and diffuse potential disputes, whilst preserving the commercial position for the future.

“The most important legal factor to consider is that any rash statement or decision to stop providing services - sent by e-mail in haste - can potentially cause a serious breach of contract. If this should happen, the affected party may be entitled to terminate the contract and bring legal proceedings against you for damages.

“So, consider the consequences before sending that inflammatory e-mail - it could be a huge mistake that ends up costing valuable time and money.

“If legal proceedings are threatened and seem the only option, seek experienced lawyers, well-versed in commercial disputes who demonstrate a commitment to an early, pragmatic, commercial and cost-effective resolution.”

The Importance of Preparing for a CQC Visit THE CQC was established in 2009 as an independent regulator of Health and Social Care in England. Their primary role is to ensure that care homes are providing people with safe, high quality care.

The CQC exist to help care providers reach their maximum potential and maintain high standard of care. This is achieved by carrying out yearly inspections to ensure that care homes are compliant with the regulations set by the CQC. Unfortunately, these days a visit from the CQC is often dreaded by both care homes managers and staff who feel they are under constant scrutiny despite their best efforts. It is true that in recent times, many care homes have come under the ire of the CQC as a growing number of care homes have been found to be providing an inadequate service of care. The constant bad press in the media have further exacerbated the issue, with care home managers often left feeling they are in a no-win situation.

It is common knowledge that the majority of care providers throughout England are struggling to maintain high standards due to annual budget cuts within local councils, which further compounds their efforts to improve. However, it should be noted that lack of funding cannot be used as an excuse to explain poor performance, although it is accepted that it does contribute partly. Those who manage and work in the care home sector have a duty to be compliant with the regulations set by the CQC in order to provide not only residents,

but also staff with a safe environment in which to live and work as well as providing high quality care.

The CQC provide an invaluable service in ensuring that these standards are met and maintained. In cases where care homes have been found to need improving, they offer constructive feedback to help bring standards up. It is for this reason that the CQC should be seen as an ally rather than another problem for care providers to deal with.

As a care home manager there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you are prepared for an inspection and do not get caught off-guard.

You can allocate dates throughout the year to check that your records are kept up to date and that your employees are also maintaining their records and are aware of policy guidelines.

Another very useful exercise you can do is to arrange a ‘Mock Inspection’. These practice runs help give care homes an idea of what to expect during a real CQC inspection, and help you prepare adequately.

Use your inspection as an opportunity to further enhance your service. A ‘Good’ or much coveted ‘Outstanding’ rating can help to boost morale, even in trying times, and will encourage you to maintain excellent standards of care.

Aston Brooke Solicitors can help you arrange a mock inspection to prepare you for the real thing. Our specialist solicitors will guide you through the entire process and advise you on what to expect so that you can organise yourself in time for a visit from the CQC. Please call us on 020 3475 4321 for advice.

See the advert on page 45 for details.

New Carers Insurance Goes From Strength to Strength Surewise.com’s Carers Insurance policies have received much praise in recent months from their customers, allowing them to increase their presence in the industry rapidly, much by word of mouth. Just some of their recent positive reviews include; "Simple and affordable! Thank you!" Mrs S. "Highly Recommend, easy to use, competitive prices, good range of cover options." Mrs B. "Got my help exactly as I needed. Thanks very straightforward." Miss D. "Really easy and simple to follow.

Only took a few minutes." Mrs O. Surewise.com director, Stuart Bensusan, said ‘We’re delighted with how well we have been received into the Carers Insurance market. We

Brent King-Healthcare Finance BRENT KING specialise in arranging business mortgages and commercial property finance for residential, nursing homes, and other commercial properties. We have strong relationships with many lenders, which enable us to obtain some of the most competitive funding in the market. We have facilities for up to 75% of Market Valuation or 100% with suitable additional security.

Brent King has an existing client base that ranges from the small owner operator up to emerging groups that have varied requirements in commercial mortgages and property lending. Therefore whether you are extending and upgrading your existing business or on the acquisition trail and looking for a commercial loan, it would be of benefit to discuss what could be achieved on your behalf in the future.

We have been involved in many situations where a change in the registered category of care can solve occupancy problems. The Government

Global Business Finance GLoBAL BUSineSS Finance was established over 26 years ago by the firm’s present senior partner, Mark Widdows, and since then has arranged over £1.8bn in loans for healthcare clients.

The firm works exclusively in the care sector providing a very personalised service, as the firm knows every client is individual with individual requirements. Mark and his team spend time getting to know each of their clients in order that they can ensure all needs are met and the loan facility tailored to their client’s individual requirements.

Global offers national coverage and with the support of email, fax, regular telephone conversations and face to face meetings the firm are able to put together a professional and comprehensive bank application. The bank managers that Global work with are all specialist healthcare managers who

were very conscious that not all Carers are able to afford the high premiums we saw being offered when we launched our policies and we were very pleased to be able to bring a product in that provides either low monthly payments or one off annual premiums.’

Mr Bensusan added ‘Our partnership with SAGIC, The Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation to provide the underwriting for this product is really unique in bringing a provider that really understands the Care Industry. The fact that all SAGIC’s profits are returned to The Salvation Army to help people in need makes us even more proud of what we are achieving’ Last year alone, SAGIC were able to return £944,777 back to The Salvation Army.

See the advert on the facing page for details or visit www.surewise.com initiative for Care in the Community has caused many established care homes to have increased vacancies.

Staff motivation exercises and incentive schemes have assisted in cutting costs. We have good working relationships with many investors for business expansion, including specialist banks, construction professionals and business angels.

David King has over 30 years experience as a lender and broker/consultant He has specialised in the Residential Care/Nursing Home sector and offers clients confidential and Independent assistance David was a care home owner himself for four years until 2007, increasing the value of the business by 50%. He comments that changes were made to the day to day operation to maximise staff moral and focus on fees and costs.

An initial appointment can be arrange for a confidential meeting at the business lasting no more than an hour. We would prefer to start with a viewing of the property and accommodation to confirm the layout and configuration. A private meeting will follow for us to confirm any initial observations and we will ask for any challenges currently facing the home.

See our advert page one or visit www.bk-hcf.com have extensive knowledge within the sector and fully understand the requirements of the clients that Global introduce.

Mark Widdows, the firm’s senior partner, trained as an accountant before establishing the brokerage in 1989, other key executives are his wife, Sally-Ann, who specialised in nutrition before becoming a registered care home manager and Rupert, his son, who is also a qualified care manager and holds a degree in dementia with the leading Bradford Dementia Studies Group through Bradford University. The family own and run two care homes so fully understand all aspects and issues of care home owners which brings a unique ability to the firm to work with clients and convey their needs to the bank that is lending.

With over £1.8bn in completed care home loans you should strongly consider Global Business Finance to represent you for your next loan application. See their advert in this issue on this page.

Reader Enquiries - Tel: 01242 227172 Email: enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.com