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Health and Social Care Secretary Sets Out Social Care Strategy
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has set out the Government’s programme to address the social care challenge. Speaking to the Local Government Association at its annual conference in Bournemouth earlier this month, Mr Hancock laid out a seven-point plan to tackle the social care crisis. In his address Hancock admitted that the Government should have fixed social care by now, describing it as “one of the biggest challenges we face as a society.” He said; “You know we’re committed to publishing the social care green paper, but it’s been held up by the parliamentary logjam and a lack of cross-party consensus. Let me level with you: to tackle this great challenge as a society, we need to be frank about the
potential solutions. Of course, we need a sustainable long-term solution to the funding of social care. The best solutions to these sorts of long-term problems are cross-party, and social care has been bedevilled by a failure to build a cross-party consensus.” He added “Infamously, during the 2017 election campaign. But more recently too – when my colleague Damian Green recently proposed a scheme very similar to a plan supported by not one but 2 cross-party Commons select committees, by 10:42am on the day of the launch, the Shadow Chancellor had condemned it as a “tax on getting old”. "It’s not the first time narrow partisan politics has got in the way of a solution but let us hope it’s the last. “But this isn’t the only frustration. I imagine you share
my frustration too that the debate in public focuses almost entirely only on one part of the system. Care for people as they get old is incredibly important. But half of the cost is for people of working age – and that cost is rising – and the cost of children’s social care is increasing too.” He acknowledged that social care has for many years has not received the attention and support that it deserves. Weeks earlier former health and social care secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted in a TV debate that cuts in social care have gone too far. During a debate on Tuesday 18 June with fellow leadership candidates Hunt admitted the care system needed more money.
(Continued on page 3...)
PAGE 2 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
VIEWPOINT Welcome to the summer edition of The Carer. At the time of going to print we are two days away from finding out who will be our next Prime Minister, will be Jeremy or will it be Boris? Boris seems to be the clear favourite, but whoever comes in faces, of course, the challenge of Brexit. However, the elephant in the room for either Jeremy or Boris and their successors is the funding of social care. We recently exhibited, and were media partners, Editor at The Residential and Home Care Show at Excel London. One of the great advantages in attending the care shows is not only getting to mix and mingle with our valued advertisers, but also attending seminars listening to experts and meeting “hands-on” and frontline care homeowners and care workers. The feedback is often a mixture of genuine pride and compassion but also sometimes anger and frustration. Funding is always the top topic of conversation. However, while we all know funding has been cut, have we ever asked ourselves just by how much? Government spending on adult social care in England fell from £345 per person in 2010/11 to £310 in 2016/17. In 2010/11, adult social care spending per person on was a third lower in England than in Scotland. By 2016/17, the gap had widened to 43%. I suspect, like most reading this, that the situation will never change perhaps in the lead up to elections promises will be made to increase funding, but will in all likelihood not be kept! When speaking people working in the care sector, I found many quite philosophical about care funding. In simple terms it has to come from somewhere and given the increased life expectancy then it has to come from ourselves. We have to plan for our long-term care - there is no magic money tree, and failing to pay for it ourselves on never ending debt is passed on to the younger generation. This is borne out by research from AIG Life, which shows nearly half of adults would be willing to save into a special fund to pay for any care they might need in later life as the debate over how to afford the UK’s social care system intensifies. Around 48% of adults say they would back paying into a special fund for care in later life which can be left to family when they die, making it the most popular of six options tested through the nationwide study. Selling homes to fund care was the least popular option – just 20% said that would be an acceptable way to fund social care. AIG’s research shows adults accept they will need some form of care in later life – just 11% are confident they will not need any support in old age and on average people expect they will need either care at home or in a care home after their 76th birthday. The other really interesting feedback I got from front-line professionals is that we have to take better care of ourselves. I remember reading an article in a broadsheet where Health Secretary Matt Hancock had “triggered a row” by urging people to take greater responsibility for their own health to tackle the rising toll of illness from diseases such as cancer and obesity. The temerity of it imagine merely suggesting people seriously consider taking better care of themselves and possibly avoiding future long-term conditions would cause such an outcry! I find these outcries rather ironic, particularly when I sat in on a seminar from an eminent dementia professor several years ago, who said exactly the same thing. Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the possibility of getting dementia later in life he said, and yes, there was no outcry!
Peter Adams
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Health and Social Care Secretary Sets Out Social Care Strategy (...Continued from page 1) Hunt, now Foreign Secretary but formerly the country’s longest serving Health Secretary, said “I think having been responsible for health and social care that some of the cuts in social care did go too far.” Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he further admitted "I'm very happy to accept, as I do, having been responsible for the health and social care system, that we didn't put enough money into social care. What a Prime Minister has to do is make those judgements as to what is necessary to deal with the economic crisis we faced in 2010 - the worst financial recession since the Second World War. And on the whole I think that George Osborne and David Cameron got those judgements right. Laying out a seven-point plan which Hancock said can be worked on “right now” as the Government works towards the Spending Review, he highlighted the need to develop Integrated Care Systems, bringing together the NHS and local government, and pledged to make up to £3 million available this year for care managers to access learning and development so they can improve their skills. He also highlighted the Government’s recruitment campaign to attract the right people into social care and announced a rise in the Carers Innovations Fund from £0.5m to £5m to support informal carers, adding that the Government aimed to provide an additional 5 million people with personalised care within the next decade. “That means you will have more choice about your care, more control over personal health and social care
budgets, and more connection to your community,” he said. Commenting on the delayed Social Care Green Paper, Hancock said: “You know we’re committed to publishing the Social Care Green Paper, but it’s been held up by the parliamentary logjam and a lack of cross-party consensus.” Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, said: “More than 12 months has passed since the Government announced yet another delay to the publication of its social care green paper. Those who rely on vital care and support cannot wait any longer. “That is why the Government needs to commit to meeting our 10-week deadline, before the party conferences start, to finally publish its much-delayed and long-awaited green paper outlining what the future funding options and possible solutions to this crisis are.” July marks one year since the LGA produced its own green paper, following repeated delays to the Government’s version. The LGA’s new publication was launched at its Annual Conference ‘One year on – the LGA green paper for adult social care and wellbeing’. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign aims to influence the forthcoming Spending Review and highlight the growing risk to vital local services if the Government does not take action to secure the financial sustainability of councils. Cllr Hudspeth added: “Local government stands ready to host cross-party talks to kick-start this process and make sure we get the answers and certainty we need, so that people can continue to receive essential care and support.”
Celebrations at Military Charity’s Homes for Armed Forces Day Residents at The Royal Star & Garter Homes have been awarded HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges in recognition of their military service. The badges are issued by the Ministry of Defence to veterans who have served their country, with spouses given special badges bearing the Charity’s crest. They were given to residents at the Homes in Surbiton and Solihull as part of the lead-up to Armed Forces Day, on Saturday 29 July. The Royal Star & Garter Homes cares for exServicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia. The badges were applied for by the Charity and given to residents – or the spouses of veterans who have died – who have moved into the Charity’s Homes in the last
year. Nearly 60 residents received their medals at Surbiton and Solihull, including day care guests at the West Midlands home. The High Wycombe Home celebrated Saturday’s Armed Forces Day with a stall at Wycombe Air Park, which featured a stunning air show. The Charity also marked Armed Forces Day with services near its iconic former Home. On 24 June a
wreath was laid at the Bromhead Memorial in Richmond Cemetery, which is dedicated to former residents of The Royal Star & Garter Homes, and a service was also held at The Memorial Chapel of St Mary at the Star and Garter Building on Richmond Hill on 27 June. Each of the Charity’s three Homes also raised the Armed Forces Day flag. Charity Chief Executive Andy Cole attended the Richmond services and handed out Veterans Badges to residents in Surbiton. He said: “Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to remember the courage displayed by all Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, both past and present. It was an honour to present our residents with Veterans Badges to mark their service to the country.”
PAGE 4 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
Dementia Suffers Spend Almost £15bn of Their Own Money Waiting for Care Reforms New analysis published by Alzheimer’s Society reveals people living with dementia have had to spend almost £15bn of their own money on social care since Government reforms were first promised in Mar ch 2017. Alzheimer’s Society’s shocking analysis builds on a damning picture supported by a number of emerging reports including the new ADASS budget survey, and Healthwatch dementia care review report. All the evidence shows that, since the promise of the Green Paper on social care reform in March 2017, the dementia care crisis has reached absolute breaking point – and is financially punishing people with dementia, their families, and the NHS: • People affected by dementia have spent almost £15bn (£14.47) of their own money on social care since March 2017, compared to less than £10bn (£9.3) by Government • Since March 2017 people with dementia have spent more than 1 million unnecessary days stuck in hospital beds, despite being well enough to go home, at a cost to the NHS of over £340 million In the two year period, the total number of people over 65 diagnosed with dementia has increased by 33,000 in England, adding significantly to all those struggling to get the dementia care they need. People with dementia are faced with higher costs for their care, costing an average 15% more than standard social care. Typically, people with dementia spend £100,000 on their care, yet if you develop cancer or heart disease your care is covered by the NHS. The inequity and injustice of people battling to get quality
care, and get it at a fair price, on top of battling the devastating effects of dementia, can’t go on. Jeremy Hughes, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘This shocking sum of money spent by people with dementia over the last two years trying to get access to the care and support they desperately need is utterly unacceptable.’ ‘And the amount and quality of care they’re getting for it – those who can afford it – just isn’t good enough. The results are people with dementia and their families falling victim to this dreadfully broken system. Hundreds of thousands of people affected by dementia in this country are facing financial punishment, just because they happened to develop dementia and not some other disease. The evidence of the gross inequity continues to pile up, and yet still the Government does nothing. ‘We need an immediate cash injection through a dedicated Dementia Fund, while the Government works out a long term solution to finally end this crisis in care. With diagnosis rates of dementia at an all-time high, action can’t come soon enough.’ Alzheimer’s Society is calling for urgent investment in a dedicated £2.4bn Dementia Fund to end the dementia penalty people face when paying for care. The Dementia Fund would sit within the NHS – Alzheimer’s Society recommends that the money for the fund should come from the so far £3.5bn unallocated funding for community care attached to the NHS Long-Term Plan. The Fund would cover the additional social care costs people with dementia are asked to pay because of the complexity of their health condition.
Hugh Bonneville Celebrates the Role of Arts in Care at Blenheim Court On Saturday 29th June actor Hugh Bonneville known for Downton Abbey, Notting Hill and Paddington visited Caring Homes’ Blenheim Court in Liss, to lead in the opening of a family fun day. The local care home took part in National Care Home Open Day, which this year celebrated the role of Arts in Care. The day was designed to promote the arts through music, acting, friendship and making connections, bringing the community together over shared experiences. Delighted to be at the event, Hugh shared; “‘Places like Blenheim Court play an increasingly important role in
our society, providing care and support for our loved ones. What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of everyone involved.” Hugh was a huge hit with guests, spending time talking with each resident and taking a tour of the home whilst also visiting one of the
older residents in her room. He entertained the guests by joining the Ukulele Band and posed with many who asked for selfies and photos. The event was also fundraising through the running of a raffle for The Rosemary Foundation, a local charity in Petersfield offering palliative care for the local community; “Hospice at Home” and Puddle Ducks, the local pre-school nursery in Liss, who are hoping to create a garden area for the children. Funds raised totaled £641.00, which delighted representatives of the charities involved.
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 5
Pharmacists Recruited for Care Homes To Prevent “Over-Medication” An army of experts have been recruited by NHS England to help prevent care home residents being given too many medicines as part of a package of measures to improve older people’s health and care in the NHS Long Term Plan. Care home residents are prescribed an average of seven medicines a day, with many taking 10 or more, costing the NHS an estimated £250 million each year, with charities voicing fears that a generation of older people is being subjected to a ‘chemical cosh’. The NHS is putting in place medical and clinical experts, including 200 new clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, who will support care home residents to improve quality of life, cut hospital stays and reduce over-medication. They are working as part of a £20 million programme to reduce unnecessary medication of patients and make sure they are getting the right treatment that is being rolled out across the country. The additional staff are being brought in alongside the national roll-out of a programme in the NHS Long Term Plan – and already in place in 14 parts of the country – giving everyone living in a care home improved GP support and more visits from specialists like dieticians and clinical pharmacists. Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health at NHS England, said: “Older people deserve the best possible support and with many care home residents living with complex conditions, bringing in extra expert health advice will mean the NHS can reduce avoidable drug
use, improve care and free up vital funding for better treatment. “People want to know their mum or grandad is being properly looked after and helping them to live well and with the best possible quality of life is key to that. “Strengthening the ties between GPs and care homes made a huge difference to residents’ health when we tested the scheme and the NHS Long Term Plan will mean older people in every part of the country soon will benefit from tailored, specialist support in their care home.” Around 400,000 people live in England’s 17,000 nursing and residential care homes with one in seven residents aged 85 or over. Elderly residents in particular often have one or more long-term health conditions – for example dementia, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. They spend around two million days in hospital each year and account for about 250,000 emergency hospital admissions. Some 35%-40% of these admissions are thought to be avoidable through action such as tackling over medication. The new programme will also help to reduce the number of visits to A&E caused by older patients’ medicine use – studies suggest one in 10 older people’s admissions to hospital is linked to their medicine intake, with the majority of these thought to be avoidable with better care and support.
Care Home Resident Achieves Life Goal of Meeting TV Star Mrs Brown A 72-year-old Resident who idolises TV star Mrs Brown had her wish come true when a HC-One care home surprised her with a visit to Mrs Brown’s Boys. Mrs Brown’s Boys is one of the most iconic comedy shows in Britain and has attracted many fans throughout the years. One of them is Peggy. Dublin born Peggy is very much like Mrs Brown and has been following the Irish TV show since it first aired in 2011. Peggy who has been residing at Brandon House Care Home in Coventry for two years made a wish to meet Mrs Brown, so the care team ensured this wish was granted. Knowing nothing about the visit until she was dressed up as her idol Mrs Brown, Peggy was presented with tickets from Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Simon Day. Peggy said she was “so overwhelmed”
by a day she described as being “very special.” HC-One’s Brandon House care home manager, Sheryl Davis, wanted Peggy to have the full experience and therefore arranged for Peggy to meet the cast after the show. She said: “It was incredible to see Peggy’s reaction after she dreamt of seeing Mrs Brown’s Boys live at the studio. “We always like to go the extra-mile for Residents and make their wishes come true, no matter how small or unusual. “Peggy talks about Mrs Brown with passion, so we were really excited to be able to make her dream of meeting her come true. “We managed to keep the visit a complete surprise, so it was incredible to see her cry tears of joy when she found out she was going to the show.”
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‘Social Care Funding: Time to End a National Scandal’ Lords Report Published £8 billion should be spent immediately by the Government to restore the quality of and access to adult social care in England to acceptable levels. It should then introduce free personal care, funded through general taxation, over a period of five years. These are the main conclusions of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee’s report, Social care funding: time to end a national scandal. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, said: “Social care is severely underfunded. More than a million adults who need social care aren’t receiving it, family and friends are being put under greater pressure to provide unpaid care, and the care workforce continues to be underpaid and undervalued. “The whole system is riddled with unfairness. Someone with dementia can pay hundreds of thousands of pounds for their care, while someone with cancer receives it for free. Local authorities are increasingly expected to fund social care themselves, despite differences in local care demands and budgets. The reduction in social care funding has been greatest in the most deprived areas. And local authorities can’t afford to pay care providers a fair price, forcing providers to choose whether to market to those people who fund their own care or risk going bankrupt. “Fixing underfunding is not difficult. The Government needs to spend £8 billion now to return quality and access in the system to an acceptable standard. Fixing unfairness is more complicated, but the Government has ducked the question for too long. They need to publish a White Paper, not a Green Paper, with clear proposals for change now. We think that change should include the introduction of free personal care, ensuring those with critical needs can receive help with essential daily activities like washing, dressing and cooking. “Our recommendations will cost money, but social
care should be a public spending priority. By 2023/24, the NHS funding will have increased by £20.5 billion per year. This is more than the entirety of local authority adult social care expenditure.” The Committee found that publicly funded social care support is shrinking, as diminishing budgets have forced local authorities to limit the numbers of people who receive public funding. Funding is £700 million lower than 2010/11 in real terms, despite continuing increases in the numbers of people who need care. More than 400,000 people have fallen out of the means test, which has not increased with inflation since 2010. The Health Foundation and King’s Fund estimate that to return quality and access to levels observed in 2009/10, the Government would need to spend £8 billion. To address unfairness in the system the Committee proposes bringing in the entitlement for social care closer to the NHS by introducing free personal care, such as help with washing, dressing or cooking. This is simple, fair, and not much more expensive than other proposals for reform. Those in care homes would still pay for their accommodation and assistance with less critical needs like housework or shopping. Those receiving care in their own homes would not have to pay accommodation costs, which may encourage care users to seek essential help with personal care early. This model would cost £7 billion per year according to the Health Foundation and the King’s Fund, only £2 billion more than the Government’s 2017 “cap and floor” proposal. Additional funding for social care should come from national government which should raise the money largely from general taxation. The money should be distributed to local authorities according to a fair funding formula. The report will be available on the Committee’s website shortly after publication.
National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services The National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services is celebrating our 15th Anniversary this year Our membership has grown steadily since its inception and now reaches throughout the UK. We aim to promote and improve safety and health in care practice by providing a sharing and networking forum while encouraging the development and adoption of the highest professional standards for individuals and organisations. We maintain and develop a relationship with other standard setting bodies, government departments and agencies whilst at the same time developing partnerships with care associations and work with enforcers to help them understand the complexities of delivering a safe and caring service.
You will: • Network with colleagues responsible for Health and Safety; • Learn from each other instead of reinventing the wheel; • Share your own ‘best practice’ experiences and hear about others; • Attend dedicated Conferences, Seminars and Forums on health and safety at member rates; • Enter our Safety in Care Awards • Participate in local networkers free of charge; • Display a ‘Member of NASHiCS‘ logo on your promotional material; • Network with suppliers of services and equipment for advice and support; • Receive regular mailing and emails covering latest developments and safety alerts/news; • Access current information and links on key safety topics; • Receive monthly issues of our e-News; Full details www.nashics.org or 07840 160 030 or see the advert on page 9.
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 7
Make Social Care Free And Save NHS £4.5 Billion A Year, Says Think Tank Free care for all over-65s would remove fears about savings for millions and put dementia patients on same footing as those with cancer Introducing free social care for everyone over 65 would save the NHS in England £4.5 billion a year by enabling more elderly people to receive care in the community, according to a leading think tank. Millions of people should be spared the risk of high costs in old age by providing social care free at the point of need, just like health care, IPPR recommends.. Under IPPR’s proposal, older people who could afford to would still pay for their own accommodation costs but not for personal care, no matter where they receive it. The reform – similar to the system already in place in Scotland – would more than double the number of people receiving state-funded care. The report argues that the change would: •Create parity between cancer patients, whose care is all free from the NHS, and those with dementia, many of whom must pay for all their care. • Increase the number of people with access to statefunded care from 185,000 to 440,000 (if it was delivered and fully taken up today), reducing unmet need and relieving pressure on unpaid informal carers. • Help shift hospital patients back into the community, and deliver a higher quality and better integrated service, resulting in potential savings to the NHS of up to £4.5bn per year.
Acknowledging the extra investment needed to provide free social care, the report notes that spending on adult social care for the over 65s would rise from £17bn a year today to £36bn in 2030, before NHS and other savings are factored in. However, £11 billion of that increase would arise even within the existing system because of the growing elderly population, and there would be benefits to the wider economy, including jobs for the estimated 70,000 new full-time workers needed to meet current demand. The report argues that free social care for the elderly should be funded from higher taxes, with a rise of two percentage points in income tax needed. Recent polling in England by the charity Independent Age, cited in the report, found 74 per cent of adults supported free personal care for everyone who needs it, with 69 per cent willing to pay more tax for this. Harry Quilter-Pinner, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR and lead author of the report, said: “If you develop cancer in England you are cared for by the NHS, free at the point of need for as long as it takes, but if you develop dementia you’re likely to have to pay for all your own social care – running up potentially catastrophic costs in the last years of your life. This makes no sense.” “By investing in personal social care so it is free at the point of need for everyone over 65, we can provide a better and more integrated care system, one that’s fairer to us all and saves the NHS £4.5 billion a year.”
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Do You Know The Carer’s Next Unsung Hero? Once again we here at The Carer are looking for an Unsung Hero! To say that the healthcare /social care system finds itself increasingly under scrutiny would be stating the obvious, often finding itself in the news for all the wrong reasons. This results in the hard work and dedication that those working in the sector often in extremely challenging situations going unnoticed! Over the past couple of years we have sought, in some small way to put that right that by inviting residential and nursing care homes to nominate somebody in their home who they believe is that “unsung hero” Every care home will have somebody (very likely more than one) who goes that extra mile, and often receives little recognise or reward, and, over the past two years we have had a phenomenal response to our unsung hero award, with some absolutely heart-warming and uplifting stories. Previous winners include Wayne Philips of Select Lifestyles who is renowned for his mentoring of new staff, giving up his own time covering days off, sickness, getting involved in many fundraising activities helping
raise £15,000 for cancer research in 2017, and Tina Higginson of Sambrook residential care home in Newport, described as a “workaholic” often exceeding daily shifts working as housekeeper trainer and a qualified carer and is ascribed by care manager Neil as “the backbone of our organisation” So, once again we have a fantastic luxury break for two in a choice of over 300 hotels for that lucky unsung hero winner. Our past winners have both chosen to go to Liverpool for their luxury break which is our editor’s hometown! No catches no rules no gimmicks, simply nominate somebody in your care environment who you think has done something you feel has made an impact and gone that extra mile and is worthy of a nomination. They can be from any department, frontline care, laundry, maintenance, kitchen, administration we will leave that up to you. We will be drawing a winner in August 31, so please get your nomination with a short paragraph on why you are putting your nominee forward and please send to:nominate@thecareruk.com
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THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 9
Gen Z: The Answer To Staff Shortages In The Care Industry? A study conducted last year revealed that the level of vacant roles and turnover rates within the care sector are the highest they’ve ever been. One of the main factors for this is the ageing population - more people are reaching ages 85+ and are suffering from more complex health issues. Higher levels of dependability means the need for social care services is intensifying and there isn’t a large enough workforce to meet this demand. The population of people aged over 65 is forecast to increase by 40% by 2035 and as a result, an additional 650,000 jobs will be required to meet this demand. Almost a quarter (24%) of the current workforce are aged over 55 - meaning that they are likely to retire within the next 10 years - a harsh reality that is putting more pressure on staff shortages. So why not target and utilise a younger generation? Enter Generation Z - a generation renowned for their dedication to hard work, loyalty and desire for independency and job stability. As it stands, there are currently over 110,000 vacant roles within the care industry, alongside an estimated turnover rate of 30.7%. The high level of staff shortage is putting the sector in crisis and adding increased pressure on an already overstretched industry. People are entering care at a younger age more recently - whether this be to retirement villages, assisted living or aged care facilities - and employment levels are failing to meet the necessary requirements. So, what can employers be doing to attract and retain staff within the care industry? Gen Zs’ unique traits should encourage employers within the care industry to adapt and explore new avenues to fill worker shortages. In this article, Blueleaf discusses the challenges and potential solutions faced by the industry, what can be done to meet the demands of the staff shortage crisis and how to attract Gen Z to a career within care.
UNDERSTAND RECOGNITION IS THE KEY TO RETENTION
It is clear that employers are struggling to find, recruit and retain suitable people to the sector and within specific roles. Recognition is the key to retaining staff - by recognising and rewarding hard work, your workers will feel valued. Feeling valued, recognised and respected is within some of the top reasons for employers staying at their current place of work, so is definitely an aspect to take advantage of. Unlike millennials, who enjoy working collaboratively as a team and sharing successes, Gen Zs prefer to be judged on their own achievements and have their individual talents recognised and showcased.
DITCH ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS AND AGENCIES
A quarter of the workforce (25%) were on a zero-hours contract (335,000 jobs), and as Gen Zs crave job security, this is not an appealing aspect to them. Not only do zero hour contracts encourage a low sense of commitment and collaboration amongst workers, they also offer a huge income risk and uncertainty of what a worker will earn month to month.
The Care Show 2019
Caring is a rewarding career but it’s not without its difficulties. Get free expert guidance tailored to the unique challenges of working in the care sector at The Care Show 2019. The Care Show provides expert-led CPD accredited conference sessions, hands-on training, the latest technology and solutions and networking opportunities to help you provide the best possible care. It can often feel like you’re too busy to take time out, but spending just one day at The Care Show will help you save time through efficiencies and finding the best possible
Due to such a high level of staff shortages, many care establishments are turning to agencies for temporary staff. This is an expensive and tedious process and one that can be avoided with sensible hiring decisions. According to Thomas International, the average cost of recruiting a new employee is circa £30,000, so is a large cost in an industry with such high turnover rates. Recruiting and retaining competent staff will not only reduce costs but will boost productivity. If people within the care industry work hard at repositioning it as a rewarding and viable career options amongst Gen Z, the need for zero hour contracts and agency staff will slowly deteriorate; which will reduce costs and boost productivity.
PROVIDE RELEVANT TRAINING
In addition to offering permanent and stable working hours, Gen Zs are also looking for an employer who can provide structured career progression. This generation has grown up in a world where everything is customisable; through the click of a button, they can identify their personal preferences and mould their experiences to suit these and this is an attribute they are looking to adopt within their career. As well as feeling recognised and valued, career growth, learning and development is an important factor amongst talented employees - so promoting this within a care career amongst Gen Zs is advantageous. Gen Zs are less money-driven than millennials and are looking for more than just a salary, making them the ideal candidates for a role within care. They are seeking meaningful jobs which will offer opportunities for advancement alongside the opportunity to learn new skills.
CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF UTILISING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
This generation is more tech-savvy than their millennial predecessors, so take advantage of this to enhance productivity. Older generations are reluctant to change and don’t want to switch to electronic systems; administrative work hinders employee’s ability to focus their attention on residents, but certain software solution systems have the ability to strip out old paper-based processes. Adopting and implementing cloudbased solutions and other forms of technology to enhance productivity, encourage employee well-being and increase productivity is definitely something to consider. Care management software solutions can help to reduce the pressure on employees by assisting with budgeting, day-to-day care planning, new client assessments, electronic care planning and record keeping. The staff shortages aren’t just related to direct care roles, which make up 76% of jobs within adult social care, there are many vacancies within managerial roles such as line managers and supervisors, as well as care and ancillary staff - within both local authorities and the independent sector. This reality means that the staff shortages are causing an impact on patient care and is a problem that needs to be solved sooner rather than later. Repositioning the care industry and the various different roles as a valued, rewarding career option amongst Gen Zs is one step towards solving the staff shortage.
solutions for the future. Registration is now open to join over 3,300 care providers on 9th-10th October at the NEC, Birmingham for the UK's largest completely care focused event. This year there are some exciting new opportunities including: • Get advice on boosting your CQC rating in the dedicated Business, Compliance and Regulation Theatre. • Gain more time to care by integrating new technology, or motivate staff, in the Technology and People Theatre. • Home Care has a bigger focus – We are
delighted to announce UKHCA are incorporating their England Care Conference into the Care Show, meaning there is more content, more suppliers and more specialists to help this growing sector. • Join dedicated care home managers and owners, as we share best practice and information from across the sector. Gain access to The Care Show 2019 by registering now for your FREE conference pass at - https://www.careshow.co.uk/dbh. We look forward to welcoming you to The Care Show in October. See the advert on page 19 for details.
DripAssist™ Infusion Rate Monitor The award winning DripAssist™ is the simplest IV infusion management device. DripAssist™ makes it simple to be in control of IV infusions with required accuracy and precision. DripAssist™ monitors and manages IV gravity drips easily, simply and quickly without expensive infusions pumps. It is portable, easy to set up and can be used with any tubing set and size. Calibration and maintenance are not required, and you can learn to use the DripAssist™ in less than 5 minutes. DripAssist™ is an innovative device that counts IV drops accurately for constant and reliable monitoring of the IV infusions. An alarm alerts you, if the drop rate changes or when the infusion bag is
empty. The monitor always knows the exact volume infused, hence enables safe and precise IV medication dosing. DripAssist™ is accurate and always reliable and helps you manage IV drips speedily and without loss of valuable nursing time. Affordable, cost-effective and simple to use, the DripAssist™ monitors and manages specialty and traditional IV drips for safe and accurate IV medication dosing in a wide range of care settings and across different healthcare environments. DripAssist™ improves patient safety and increases therapeutic successes of intravenous infusions. Supplied by Win Health Medical Ltd 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See the advert on page 7 for details.
National Health and Safety Conference for Social Care ATTEND THE CONFERENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH HEALTH & SAFETY IN SOCIAL CARE
Wed 11th & Thurs 12th September 2019 Expert Speakers : Share Best Practice Networking : Safety in Care Awards Suppliers Exhibition : Interactive : Breakout Sessions
Discuss : Debate : Engage
Further details,venue,booking:-
www.nashics.co.uk e: events@nashics.org
t:
07840 160 030
Striving to promote excellence of safety and health in care services.
PAGE 10 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
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Carers Suffer 6,000 Serious Injuries from Violence Care workers suffered more than 6,000 violent attacks resulting in serious injuries during the last five years, shocking new official figures show The horrifying statistics, which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, are being released as GMB’s Annual Congress begins in Brighton this week Between the financial years 2013/14 to 2017/18, 6,034 violent attacks on care workers resulting in serious injury were reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 5,008 workers were so seriously injured they had to take at least seven days off work. “These statistics are the tip of the iceberg – they only include the most serious injuries, and our members have to deal with violence on a daily basis. A further 1,026 carers suffered a ‘specified’ injury – which can include fractures, loss of sight, brain damage, loss of consciousness, asphyxia, or amputation. The true rates are likely to be much higher, as the HSE warns that ‘non-fatal injuries are substantially under-reported.’ Violent attacks account for a third of reports for residential care workers – compared to just 7 per cent of reports for all workers. GMB, the union for care workers, has helped launch
an All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care (APPG Social Care) to look at the care system, funding and state of staffing in the sector. The union also entered into an agreement with care provider HC-One last summer to launch Careforce, a dedicated campaign to look at professionalisation, skills and the prestige of the care sector. Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “Our members often tell us about the abuse they have to face at work – and these figures back them up. “These statistics are the tip of the iceberg – they only include the most serious injuries, and our members have to deal with violence on a daily basis. “But care work is much more than a job – our members love their work and want to carry on doing their best for those they look after. “Unfortunately, our members are sometimes put under unacceptable pressure to keep working after an attack when they should be receiving care themselves. “Care is crucial. For each of us individually, our parents, grandparents, kids, friends and neighbours, but too often the sector is overlooked and the people working in care treated less than the frontline professionals that they are.”
Street Party to Remember Those Who Fought On D-Day AN INDOOR street party was held at a Runcorn care home to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Staff at Simonsfield Care Home, on Boston Avenue, dressed as land girls for the occasion and residents donned Union Jack headscarves. The home was also decorated in Union Jacks, while everyone enjoyed food, drinks and a sing along. They were treated to entertainment from singer Sharon Wallace, who made headlines earlier this year after creating knitted sleeves to stop those with dementia potentially harming themselves by
removing their cannulas. Debbie Smith, home manager at Simonsfield Care Home, said: “Despite most residents being too young to be involved in the forces at the time, many recalled memories from when they were younger about
the D-Day landings and the War. “Commemorating D-Day and the Second World War can be a somber occasion, as many recall losing family and friends but, having discussed the upcoming anniversary with residents, they wanted to celebrate and remember those who fought in the War. “Everyone had a fabulous time at the street party and said it was a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed so much.” Resident Marg Jones added: “I remember how brave the land girls were. What a lovely tribute to them with everyone making a real effort.”
Health Secretary Backs Campaign for Care Home Cameras Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock has thrown his weight behind a campaign to install cameras in care homes. The campaign by newspaper Daily Express and the Care Campaign for the Vulnerable calls for the installation of CCTV cameras in care home communal areas. Mr Hancock, who is the first minister to publicly back the campaign, said: “I think this is something we need to look at and I can see the case.I back the Daily Express Respect for the Elderly campaign.” Jayne Connery, the director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, said: “It is now imperative Mr Hancock confirms that legislation will soon be on the statute books and that all future care organisations partnering with the NHS and local authorities will be required to have such systems in place.” The move by the minister was welcomed by Jayne
Connery, director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, who said: “It is now imperative Mr Hancock confirms that legislation will soon be on the statute books and that all future care organisations partnering with the NHS and local authorities will be required to have such systems in place.” CQC Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, Kate Terroni, opposes making CCTV a necessity in care homes, however. She said: “The need for the use of CCTV in a care setting should be an exception rather than a rule for all. The risk of breaches to an individual’s rights to dignity, privacy and respect must be considered. What is key here is that those who are in charge of running care homes have enough staff who are suitably skilled, trained, supported and valued to do their job well and to always meet the needs of those who rely on good, safe care.”
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Damian Green Calls for N.I Tax Increase For Over-50s To Fix Social Care Crisis People over the age of 50 should be forced to pay at least £300-a-year more in National Insurance contributions to help solve Britain’s “pressing” social care funding crisis. He said he wants the care system to adopt the model of the state pension with everyone entitled to a basic “safety net” of support. In a new report for the Centre for Policy Studies, Green who as First Secretary of State commissioned the Government’s social care green paper – puts forward a “bold and comprehensive proposal” to secure the future of social care. ‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ argues that the current system is financially and politically unsustainable, opaque, unfair, and actively discourages local councils from investing in social care and housing for older people. With the number of over-75s set to double from the current level of 5.3 million in the next 40 years, the need to address this problem is – as the King’s Fund warned only days ago – moving from urgent to critical. The paper sets out that any reform of social care needs to: • Provide sufficient funding to plug the gap created by an ageing population • Be fair across generations and between individuals, ensuring that no one is forced to sell their own home and ending the ‘dementia lottery’ • Increase the supply of care beds and the provision of retirement housing • Secure public and cross-party consensus It argues that the care system should adopt the model of the state pension – with the Government providing enough support for a decent standard of care via a new Universal Care Entitlement, while encouraging and incentivising people to top up this provision from their savings or housing wealth via a Care Supplement. The result of this is a sustainable system likely to be supported both in Westminster and beyond – not least because it protects councils from the soaring costs of care. It also fixes the warped incentives introduced by the reforms of the 1990s, which by handing coun-
cils responsibility for care costs led to new care home provision stagnating. ‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ demonstrates that the Care Supplement will be affordable and attractive to millions of those reaching retirement age, ensuring a steady flow of private wealth into the care home system. It also suggests a range of methods to fill the immediate funding gap in the social care system, estimated at approximately £2.75 billion. These include, in decreasing order of preference: • Taxing the winter fuel allowance • Diverting savings from the Spending Review • Potentially imposing a 1% National Insurance surcharge on those over 50 Responding to a report by the Centre for Policy Studies putting forward proposals to secure the future of social care, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This report is another important contribution to the debate around how we tackle the crisis in adult social care and we look forward to seeing the Government’s green paper deliver similarly concrete ideas. “The LGA took action and launched its own cross-party adult social care green paper to start the desperately-needed debate around the future of care. “It is now incumbent upon national politicians of all colours to cooperate and be part of a wider movement for change in the national interest. “Social care and wider council services provide vital support every day to support people in the lives they want to live. But with people living longer and more people with disabilities needing support, increases in costs and decreases in funding, the current system of adult social care is at breaking point, and faces a £3.5 billion funding gap by 2025 just to maintain existing levels of provision. “It is absolutely vital the Government uses the social care green paper and forthcoming Spending Review to set out how it plans to tackle this crisis and ensure that there is a sustainable funding solution that can deliver the prevention, care and support that people need.”
novacare Urge People Of Scotland To Consider A Career In Care Following Announcement Of The Latest Delayed Discharges in NHSScotland Figures Following on from the announcement of the latest Delayed Discharges in NHSScotland Figures, published by the Information Services Division, novacare; the care industry's most powerful online recruitment platform is urging the population of Scotland to seriously consider a career in care. The figures published on the 4th June confirmed that there were 40,994 days were spent in hospital by people who’s discharge was delayed in April 2019. Of those delayed at the April 2019 census point, 1,145 were delayed more than three days with health and social care reasons accounting for 74% of these delays, highlighting a huge shortage in care providers across the UK. Co-Founder and CEO of novacare, Stephen Wilson comments: “Although this is a decrease of 1% compared with 41,453 days
in April 2018 according to the official figures, it clearly reinforces the fact that as a country, our NHS system is still in a state of crisis when it comes to the issue of bed blocking and we really need to work as a nation to solve this. “What makes this situation even worse is that in almost all cases, delayed discharges are never the individuals fault and more often than not, it boils down to the fact that it’s the Health & Social Care Partnership’s responsibility to ensure that people have the correct follow on care and support in place for when they return home, which in many instances is simply not there.” According to FullFact.org, ‘many in the NHS have blamed local councils for the delays in discharging patients, arguing that the social care system isn't up to the task. Most local authorities, dealing with cuts to their budgets, have reduced their spend on social care at a time when demand is only rising.’ Stephen Wilson continues, “Delayed discharges (DD) have a serious impact on the
individual, their family, care provider, NHS and local authority. Not only do extra unnecessary days in hospital cost the NHS valuable time and money, but there are also a number of individuals who will seriously suffer from spending too much additional time in hospital. “Every day spent in hospital robs people of their independence and skills. They are more likely to need higher levels of support as a result of too much time in hospital as skills and abilities are often lost or forgotten. Patients being separated from their families can also be distressing, particularly where they are the main care provider or their family are unable to visit them in hospital.” novacare is working to support local authorities, NHS and service providers to recruit high quality staff more efficiently, reliably and cost effectively. The Edinburgh based software company aims to solve the key problems faced by the industry by putting the user at the heart of its products. For more information about novacare visit nova-care.uk
Minister Calls for Better Rewards For Care Workforce Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care Caroline Dinenage has asked carers for their views on how their employers can better reward them. The appeal by the Minister is part of a government drive to improve recruitment and retention. Speaking at the ADASS Spring Seminar, the Minister said: “Many adult social care providers provide outstanding packages of employee benefits, but it is time to ensure better access across the country. Our adult social care staff deserve to be recognised and feel valued for the incredible, life-changing work they do, and I know that this isn’t always the case. “I want our brilliant adult social care workforce to share examples
of employee benefits and rewards schemes offered by their employers. This is their chance to have their say and help shape national policies that could benefit staff working across the sector.” Ministers want to hear what schemes are currently being offered by employees and what further rewards carers would like to see provided, such as flexible working arrangements; ‘Employee of the Month’ awards; cycle to work schemes; and discounts on shopping, holidays, cinema, gym, dining, etc. New ADASS President Julie Ogley said: “People who work in adult social care are highly skilled, valued and committed, but unfortunately do not always get the recognition and rewards they deserve. This challenge will help to improve this and encourage greater recruitment and retention of our vital workforce. “Every minute of every day, social care workers make an essential difference to all of those in our communities who need care and support, transforming their lives. “Social care staff deserve to be rewarded fairly for the work they do, which needs to be part of a long-term sustainable funding solution for the sector as a whole.”
Grahame Gardner Launches Exclusive Hospitality Range Leading workwear provider Grahame Gardner has introduced a brand new hospitality and catering range after joining forces with renowned international supplier, Tibard. The Leicester-based firm will now stock a full range of items aimed at the catering and hospitality sector such as spas, hotels, caterers, care homes and catering companies. The new range includes premium quality chef jackets, trousers and hats, alongside waist aprons and Tibard’s premium Oliver Harvey aprons. Simon Ward, Group Sales Director for Grahame Gardner, said: “We are delighted to team up with Tibard to provide this extended range for our customers. We have always provided garments for those in the catering and hospitality sector, but we are thrilled to now be able to offer a much more comprehensive and high quality range. “Grahame Gardner has over 100 years’ experience
in the workwear and uniform sector and the key to our success has always been understanding our customers, knowing what they want and pushing the boundaries to deliver those requirements in an ever-changing market. Our new Advance and Tibard ranges reflect our desire to keep innovating and it is a really exciting time for our whole team.” This announcement comes hot on the heels of the relaunch of Grahame Gardner’s Advance collection an innovative range of garments which bring state-ofthe art fabrics together with the latest printing techniques. Enquiries and orders can be made by calling 0116 255 6326 or via email at sales@grahamegardner.co.uk, or for further information, visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk or see the advert on page 6.
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PAGE 14 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
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Human Cost of Failing To Address The Crisis In Adult Social Care Thousands of older and disabled people and their families face being severely impacted by home care and care home closures, fears over the future of the care market and the need for councils to make even more difficult budget savings, social care leaders say. Many people who use adult social care services receive great care and support to live good lives and die with dignity. Yet too many are struggling without enough, or no help, with care workers, managers and councillors to make increasingly tough and challenging decisions. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) reveals in its annual budget survey of members how the failure of successive governments to address long-term funding for adult social care is negatively affecting the people who rely on these essential services, their families and those who work in the arranging and delivery of care. Since the beginning of the decade, adult social care directors in councils across England have had to make a staggering £7 billion of savings, and need to find a further £700 million for 2019/20, just as demand and needs are rising. In an illustration of the scale of the crisis, a fragile and failing care market has seen more than 7,000 people affected by care home closures and home care providers closing or ceasing to trade in the last six months, more than double the number affected last year. Behind each and every one of these closures there is an individual whose care has been directly affected, with consequences for both themselves and their families. Lack of certainty from government about continued funding for adult social care from April 2020 onwards, including the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund which provides more than £5 billion, will force Directors of Adult Social Services and their councils to make incredibly difficult decisions. These could include giving notice
to providers, such as care homes and home care services whom older and disabled people depend on, unless we urgent clarity is received on future funding by September this year. In the survey, an overwhelming majority of adult social care directors said they felt “fairly or very pessimistic” about the financial state of the wider health and social care economy in their area over the next 12 months, an increase on the previous year’s survey. Only 10 per cent said they felt optimistic, a reflection of directors’ disappointment at a continued failure by government to publish a long-delayed and desperately needed green paper on the future of social care. Emergency, one-off funding injections have not been enough to give directors confidence in their ability to meet future requirements, with an estimated 1.4 million people aged 65 and over with unmet needs according to Age UK. Continuing financial uncertainty is also making it difficult for councils to commit to longer-term solutions needed to prevent people from requiring care in the future. ADASS is calling on the Government to provide the following: • A long-term, sustainable funding solution for adult social care • Funding from the Spending Review to be for at least two years and to continue until whatever is in the promised Green Paper can be produced and implemented • Adequate funding to meet an increasing number of people’s needs in the ways they want • A proper debate with the public about the priority of social care • A continued focus on recruitment and retaining of a caring, skilled and valued workforce • A vibrant care market which gives people choice and control • Investment in new, asset-based approaches and prevention President of ADASS, Julie Ogley, said:
“Older and disabled people need dignified, high quality care and support. We know that when this is properly resourced, it works. “Every minute of every day, heroic care staff are making an essential difference to the lives of the people they look after. Many receive great care and support throughout and to the end of their lives. “Sadly however, as this budget survey shows, we are still desperately lacking the sustainable, long-term funding needed to provide vital services that will support people to live as independently and healthily as possible “Too many older and disabled people and their families still struggle without getting the help they need. Social workers, managers and councillors are having to make incredibly difficult decisions based on dwindling resources, which should not be allowed to happen in a modern, compassionate society. “We cannot be expected to keep relying on emergency, one-off funding just to keep services going while not knowing about how much might be available for the rest of this year, let alone next. Despite these immense challenges, the 150 adult social care directors across the country who provided these results have shown what they have been able to do in order to make savings, while continuing to keep the interests of the most vulnerable and elderly in our communities at the very heart of every decision they take. “Good care and support transforms lives, helping people to live good lives, or the best they can, in a variety of circumstances. It enhances health and wellbeing, increasing independence, choice and control. It is distinctive, valued, and personal. “Our message from this survey to the new Prime Minister, whoever this may be, is very clear: Make social care an immediate priority. A thriving economy and a caring nation requires it.”
Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) QCS Joins CIH’s Group of Founding Partners Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) becomes Care Innovation Hub’s latest Founding Partner with technological expertise. QCS joins CIH’s group of Founding Partners coming together to drive innovation and creativity for transformation in care. These include Home Instead, Hallmark Care Homes, Walden Care and WCS Care. QCS provide regulatory compliance, quality assurance & care management for Dental Practices, GP Surgeries & Care Providers. With instant updates and an easy-to-use online interface, QCS provides fast access to up-to-date policies and procedures. Mat Whittingham, CEO of QCS said: “We are delighted to be supporting this exciting and innovative new initiative. Everyone
working in the care sector wants to provide outstanding care. With the fresh new thinking created by the care innovation hub, I believe that we can find new tools to help every care service fulfil that ambition” Mat continued: “We are delighted to be supporting the Care Innovation Hub and their mission to bring fresh new thinking and problem solving to the care sector.” Navin Mayani, CEO of CIH commented: “QCS come with a specific skillset that can support entrepreneurs from tech backgrounds to think critically about their idea and how it can apply to care.”
How To Adapt Your Environment For Dementia Care
By Russell Pillar, Director of Care Interiors at Spearhead Healthcare
With one in 14 UK citizens over the age of 65 suffering from dementia , it’s clear that the care sector and society as a whole needs to develop a much greater understanding of cognitive conditions and how to care for sufferers in ways that promote their wellbeing, independence and dignity. We know that the physical environment has a far-reaching impact on those with dementia. A recent blog by the dementia research centre at the University of Stirling stated: “Creating well designed desirable products and spaces, that take into consideration how people interact with their environment in its entirety, can considerably improve the lives of those living with dementia.” Let’s look at some examples of this in practice.
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
Sight loss and dementia frequently go hand in hand, with peripheral vision especially affected. This means that rooms should be set up to enable carers to approach patients from the front so not to startle them, and also with the bed positioned opposite the door so they can see who is entering. Clear signage and simple room layouts will aid patients with impaired vision and poor short-term memory. Ensuring that rooms and corridors are well-lit, avoiding flowery patterns on fabrics, and using colours - and contrasts – appropriately can all contribute to reducing confusion and make everyday tasks more manageable. For instance, coloured plates can make food more easily distinguishable, and black floor mats should be avoided as they could be misinterpreted as a hole. This explains why wooden or coloured fall prevention mats are a sensible idea.
LOSS OF DEXTERITY
It is best practice to use adapted cutlery and crockery for those with dementia. In fact, according to the expert dementia training organisation The Virtual Dementia Tour, the latest thinking is that care homes should encourage early stage dementia residents to use the ‘built up’ style of cutlery from the beginning so that if their condition worsens, they can already use it
properly and will be able to do so for longer. We would always advise using ceramic crockery as opposed to plastic, which can give the impression of treating residents like children. In bedrooms, dementia-friendly wardrobes and dressers with large handles can be very helpful.
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Nerve damage in the extremities of the body is a common affliction as we age, and especially in dementia sufferers. For instance, washing and shaving can cause pain, meaning that it’s essential for carers to use gentle cleaning aids (such as wet and dry wipes) and soft bed linen. Memory loss Memory boxes or cabinets used to display photographs and other objects of sentimental value from a resident’s past can make them feel more at home and at ease. They also provide a way for carers to learn about the histories of those they are caring for and engage with them on a more personal level.
AUDITORY PROCESSING ISSUES
It’s increasingly apparent that the auditory environment within a care home can significantly help (or hinder) residents who struggle to filter out background noise. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) notes that “noise that is acceptable to care staff may be particularly distressing and disorientating for a person with dementia, especially at busy times of day such as shift change-over and mealtimes.” For instance, something as simple as a clock that doesn’t tick can make a big difference. Call systems are a common source of agitation, and care homes should choose ones with the option of reducing or even completely silencing the alert within the patient’s room. Every level of the care sector has much progress to make in understanding dementia and adapting care to better meet patients’ needs. The physical environment, from interior design to furnishings and equipment, is only one aspect of care but it plays a vital role and even small changes can make a big difference to quality of life. www.spearheadhealthcare.com
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CQC Calls for Improvements To Oral Health In Care Homes The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the findings of an in-depth review on the state of oral health care in care homes across England. The review draws on one hundred inspections of care homes on which CQC inspectors were accompanied by inspectors from dental regulation. It reveals that three years on from the publication of NICE guidance on oral health in care homes, steps are often not being taken to ensure that people get the oral health care they need to ensure that they are pain-free and that their dignity is respected. Key findings include: The majority (52%) of care homes visited had no policy to promote and protect people’s oral health Nearly half (47%) of care homes were not providing any staff training to support people’s daily oral healthcare 73% of residents’ care plans we reviewed only partly covered or did not cover oral health at all – homes looking after people with dementia being the most likely to have no plan in place. 17% of care homes said they did not assess people’s oral health on admission Whilst two-thirds (67%) of the care homes that CQC visited said people who used their services could always, or nearly always, access NHS dental care, the report did reveal a lack of dentists who were able or willing to visit care homes. Other challenges people faced involved local dentists not accepting new patients and the length of time it took to get an appointment with an NHS dentist – even for a procedure such as getting dentures fitted. Of the homes visited, 10% reported they had no way of accessing emergency dental treatment for people. 34% of homes told us they had no or limited access to out-of-hours services. Some care home managers stated that they had to call GPs, NHS 111, or even take the person requiring emergency care to A&E. CQC is calling for a cross-sector approach to tackle the concerns raised by this report, and highlights examples where this has been achieved. The review
includes case studies of productive, joined-up relationships between care homes and local dental practices, including dentists providing routine check-ups, ongoing treatment and emergency care, both in and outside the care home. The recommendations include a call for mandatory staff training in oral care, oral health check-ups for all residents upon admission, better signposting to local dental services and the convening of a multi-agency group tasked with raising awareness among people living in care homes, their families and carers of the importance of day-to-day dental hygiene and the need for routine check-ups. Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said “Oral health has a huge impact on our quality of life and we need professionals across a number of sectors to make changes to ensure it is given the priority it needs in care home settings. “Oral health cannot be treated as an afterthought. It can make the difference between someone who is free from pain, enjoys eating and is able to confidently express themselves through talking and smiling – and someone who is in pain, unable to enjoy their food and who covers their mouth with their hand when they smile because they are ashamed of their poor oral hygiene but unable to address it themselves. No one should have to live like that. “Care home managers must recognise the significance of oral health – and professionals including GPs, dentists, dental hygienists and community nurses need to work together to elevate the importance of oral health in care homes and to prioritise this as part of their work. “The changes needed can only happen with the efforts of all parts of the health and care system coming together, helping people who use services, their families and carers to be aware of the importance of oral care. By working in partnership, we can make a positive impact on the quality of life of people living in care homes.”
Therapy Donkeys Are Mane Attraction at Skelmersdale Care Home Residents at a care home in Skelmersdale have been enjoying animal therapy thanks to a visit from a new equine friend. Stocks Hall Skelmersdale Care Home welcomed 10 year old trained therapy donkey, Snowy, into the home to give residents and their families the chance to meet and enjoy a multi-sensory experience with the gentle natured animal. Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to be very beneficial in elderly care, as physical contact with the animals encourages communication and can reduce stress and anxiety and even improve motor skills and selfesteem. Home Manager, Sue King said “Therapy donkeys have been carefully
selected for their superb temperaments and they are exceptionally calm and quiet. They can provide great therapeutic value, especially to those living with Dementia.” “Donkeys seem to have a special way of knowing just what a person needs. They instinctively know when to approach someone who is a little shy or to hand back if someone needs a little space. They will stand for ages to be groomed and cuddled and will happily be led around.” “Snowy really lifted everyone’s spirits and is just adorable. He was even able to visit the bedrooms of people who are severely ill and bed-bound, spreading much joy around the home.”
Alternative Positioning Support (APS) The Alternative Positioning Support (APS) is recommended for use where more control of the abducted lower limbs is required than can be provided by the T Roll or Log Roll, or for reasons when the T roll is not appropriate or acceptable, for example with limited abduction. How The APS Is Assembled Widths can be adjusted as required, using removable pads (above). Adjustment If greater control of abduction is required, the additional pads provided with the pommel may be used to decrease the width between the side supports effectively increasing alignment of the lower limbs.
**The APS is a unique product, designed and produced solely by C&S Seating Ltd.** Available in 2 sizes (small or large). Full dimensions available in our full colour 16 page brochure or website at
www.cands-seating.co.uk info@cands-seating.co.uk | 01424 853331
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TO TO ADVERTISE ADVERTISE IN IN THE THE CARER, CARER, PLEASE PLEASE CALL CALL OUR OUR SALES SALES TEAM TEAM ON ON 01202 552333
PAGE 18 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
PAGE 20 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The Right Solution For Your Bedroom Doors Building regulations for residential care home – Part of approved document ‘B’ indicate that ‘the specification of door closing devices for fire doors should take in to account the needs of residents.’ Critically designed to support the integral passive fire protection within a care home - Exidor¬¬’s Guardian door closer is the only electromagnetic closer specifically designed to meet the needs of residential care facilities. An innovative advancement from traditional swing free closers the Guardian offers two unique features aimed to improve the physical safety of residents and staff as well as the passive fire safety of the care
facility itself. Anti-Slam: Whether accidental, deliberate or caused by a draught, doors can slam shut posing a real risk to residents and staff. The Guardian has been specifically developed with an anti-slam function which controls and slows the motion of the door.
Adaptawear Men’s Magnetic Shirt! Adaptawear are pleased to announce that its bestselling Men’s Magnetic Shirt is back in stock in all sizes and colours! NO MORE BUTTONS - this smart, classic looking men’s shirt incorporates special hidden magnets along the front panel that fasten effortlessly and removes the need to struggle with buttons. Magnetic fastenings may be easier to manage if you have restricted movement or stiffness in your hands or fingers and is perfect for customers who suffer from Arthritis and Parkinson’s. Features: • Hidden magnets that fasten effortlessly down the front and on the cuffs
C & S Seating
Drift Resistance: Unbalanced doors or draughts cause doors to swing open or closed, often resulting in residents wedging doors open and invalidating them as fire doors. Exidor's Guardian offers a low level control on the door, which stops it from drifting from its open position, at the same time as allowing it to operate freely to the user. As they are linked to the fire alarm system, they only close when you need them to. Exidor contact details: Sales Office: 01543 578661 Email: sales@exidor.co.uk www.exidor.co.uk or see the advert on page 19.
• False buttons along the front making this shirt look like any other • Front left hand side pocket • Long sleeved with adjustable cuffs • Made from machine washable polycotton • Available in sizes S – XXL in Light Blue or Black Check Please note: Unsuitable for Pacemaker users and suffers of Deep Brain Stimulation. 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. See page 7 for details.
C & S Seating are proud to be the national supplier of 24 hour postural management and control products for over 25 years. Initially developed by the Company founders and a consultant specialist physiotherapist, using on-going feedback from healthcare professionals we now have a wide selection of positioning equipment available. We assemble and supply 9 different sizes of T-Rolls and Log Rolls (ranging from paediatric to adult) in a machine washable wipe-clean Titex or Soft Knit covering as standard. Our Knee supports and width adjustable APS systems are also available in 2 sizes.
Quality ID Cards Established in 2010, Quality ID Cards Ltd is committed to providing an unrivalled service when purchasing high quality ID, loyalty and business cards as well as in-house production systems, and maintenance and service packages. Are you looking for high quality ID Cards? Then look no further than Quality ID Cards. We design and distribute all types of identity cards and accessories throughout the UK. With complete flexibility in our service, we can design
Fire Doors Don’t Have To Be A Hindrance For The Elderly Isolation has been linked to depression, mental health and even high blood pressure. Age UK reported that 3.9 million older people regarded TV as their main form of company. How can care homes combat the effects of feeling isolated considering their often overstretched workforce? For elderly, moving around can be difficult; heavy fire doors make it difficult to move from one area to another. This leads to residents staying in one place for long periods of time, increasing their feeling of isolation. Many care settings resort to propping their fire doors open, which is an illegal and dangerous practice, as it allows a fire to spread unhindered. Dorgard fire door retainers provide an easy solution to removing the barrier fire doors cause the frail and elderly without compromising your adherence to fire safety legislation. Dorgard fire door retainers give you a legal way to hold
your fire door open. On hearing the sound of your fire alarm the door retainer will automatically lift the holding plunger, allowing your fire door to close. Your type of setting will determine which of the Dorgard fire door retainers is right for you. If you are a small to medium setting with normal or low noise levels, then the original Dorgard will suit your needs. For settings where the noise level is louder you may benefit from the improved sound recognition of the Dorgard SmartSound and for large sites the Dorgard Pro is ideal. Dorgard Pro gives you the possibility of managing up to 500 fire doors in one system and has the option of wiring into your fire alarm panel. It also provides a ‘one glance’ check that the entire system is functioning correctly. For more information call 0800 978 6287 visit www.safelincs.co.uk or see the advert on page 16.
Our new popular Soft Knit range of covers in a choice of 5 vibrant colours provide a softer alternative that can be fitted easily over our standard waterproof rolls. Ask our friendly sales team about our inflatable TRolls that are designed for short term use and ideal for holidays and aqua therapy aid. The inflatables also prove a valuable tool for Physio’s and OT’s during the assessment process. All fabrics meet the UK Flammability standards and carry a CE mark. We are also ISO 9001 regulated. Contact us on 01424 853331 or visit us at www.cands-seating.co.uk to download a brochure, pricelist or order form, request an individualised quotation, speak to an advisor or to place an order. See the advert on page 17 for details. and produce a single card or hundreds of cards for your workforce. Whatever your requirements are, you can rely on our team to meet them. We ensure that you are fully satisfied with our services, and offer a full guarantee should anything ever go wrong. How we work: • Discuss your requirements • Agree on design and specifications • Cards manufactured • Fast delivery • Exceptional customer service and support At Quality ID Cards, we ensure to provide high quality services. Contact us for details on 0800 072 6009 or visit www.qidc.co.uk or see the advert on page 4.
Discover Quality Footwear That Flatters Swollen Feet Do you struggle to find shoes to fit your feet? Cosyfeet, the specialists in extra roomy footwear, can help. Wider and deeper than anything on the high street, their British designed footwear is expertly crafted to fit and flatter swollen feet, making them the go-to brand for people with hard-to-fit feet. Their ethos is simple. They believe that swollen feet should have the most comfortable, stylish footwear possible. That’s why they combine the latest trends with premium materials, expert shoemaking and advanced foot comfort technology. It’s also why they’re recommended by over 11,000 healthcare professionals. The beauty of their footwear is in its simplicity. They offer a roomy, one width fitting which can be adjusted to fit a range of swelling, so you don’t have to worry about complicated foot measurements. Lots of thought and care goes into their designs, including minimal seams, easy openings and removable footbeds so you can even wear your own orthotic. They also offer a range of stretchy, Elastane shoes and boots which won’t put pressure on painful swelling, bunions or problem toes. Thanks to innovations such as their ‘Hidden Depth’ design, Cosyfeet fits swollen feet with ease but still looks stylish and streamlined. Cosyfeet is made by experienced craftsmen who mix traditional skills
with state-of-the art technology. They use premium materials and time-honoured techniques to create products that are comfortable, durable and a pleasure to wear. Their leathers are hand finished, for an enhanced appearance, and are beautifully soft and supple while the linings in their shoes maximise breathability and help maintain a healthy environment. Their soles are lightweight, flexible and durable while their cushioned footbeds enhance your underfoot comfort. Cosyfeet are a forward-looking company, keen to adopt the latest technologies and trends. Recently, they’ve developed footwear with a shockabsorbing Cushion Active™ system which protects knee and ankle joints when you’re on the go. They’ve also embraced the current trend for wool, along with the benefits it brings to swollen feet, with their range of Purewool™ shoes and slippers. And if you enjoy the great outdoors, we recommend a look at their range of CosyTex™ footwear which is windproof, breathable and 100% waterproof. Cosyfeet offer VAT exemption if you have a chronic medical condition and a money-back guarantee if their footwear doesn’t work for you. For more information visit cosyfeet.com or call Cosyfeet on 01458 447275
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT The Risks Posed By Poor Medicines Management Can Result In Serious Or Fatal Illness also responsible for the care of others in their locale, and mistakes with medicine can pose a real risks and possible fatalities. Almost half of over 65s in England take at least five different drugs each day, according to a 2017 study conducted at the University of Cambridge. The increasing rates of polypharmacy, taking multiple medications simultaneously, means that prescribing for the elderly is becoming an increasingly important aspect of clinical patient care. Furthermore, every patient will have different requirements, ranging from giving a patient medication occasionally to treat a minor illness or, giving multiple pills every day to treat a chronic medical condition, and it is important to handle those prescriptions the right way. Safe dispensing, the correct dosage and the secure storage are all important aspects of medication management when dealing with patient care. The wrong dose can be harmful, missed doses can cause side effects or stop the medicine working, and the administration of incorrect drugs can be fatal. It is a carers duty to ensure that patients needs are understood and administer the correct drug and the correct dose at the correct time. There are an estimated 426,000 people in the UK are living in residential (including nursing) care homes; 405,000 of these people are aged over 65 years. The care home population is commonly associated with multimorbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic medical conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), England’s health technology assessment body, estimates that 66% of people aged 65 years or over have multimorbidity and 47% have three or more conditions. Dementia, stroke, advanced cardio-respiratory disease, cancer and arthritis are the most common conditions associated with older care home residents. Health and social care staff often manage medicines on behalf of people using their services. Providers must promote the safe and effective use of medicines in care homes. This includes prescribing, handling and administering medicines. Failing to do this poses real risks to people who may be vulnerable, including:
• Older people • People with reduced mental capacity, reduced mobility, a sensory impairment • People who rely on help to take their medicines If a care home is registered to provide nursing care then it should be the medical practitioner or registered nurse who administers medicines, however, in certain circumstances where health care assistants (HCAs) or assistant practitioners (APs) have undertaken appropriate training and have been considered to be competent then they may administer certain medicines. While the focus of any care role is on the patient, care professionals are
THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE CARE ASSISTANT
The Department of Health and Social care published guidance on the administration of prescribed medicines by care assistants in care homes. Administration of Medicines in Care Homes (with Nursing) for Older People by Care Assistants, is written for care home providers. The guidance states that care assistants should only administer medicines that they have been trained to give and that this will generally include assisting people in:
• Taking tablets, capsules, oral mixtures • Applying a cream/ointment • Inserting drops to ears, nose or eyes • Administering inhaled medicines. The guidance states that: • Any care assistant accepting the delegated task of administering or assisting with medicines must take responsibility for ensuring that his or her actions are carried out carefully, safely and correctly — this includes understanding that ensuring the correct dosage is administered is a crucial component of medicines administration for all staff • Once a care assistant has accepted the delegated task then he or she is responsible for administering the medicine as per the prescription and within his or her organisation’s protocols and guid-
ance • Care assistants need to be aware of their responsibilities if a resident declines to take his or her medicines — these responsibilities should be included in training and in care home policies and procedures.
STAFF TRAINING AND COMPETENCE
Care assistants undertaking the role of medicine administration must be appropriately trained and competent. The guidance sets out what should be included in the training. It states that, as a minimum, training should cover:
• The supply, storage and disposal of medicines • The safe administration of medicines • Quality assurance and record-keeping • Accountability, responsibility and confidentiality. Care assistants should also be trained in the procedures and policies for reporting any error or incident in the administration of medicines. Training should highlight issues which are commonly associated with medication administration errors, such as:
• Administering and managing inhalers and liquid medicines are much more likely to give rise to medication errors than tablets or capsules • Antibiotic administration may be particularly prone to error with doses being missed over the course of treatment • Allergy and drug sensitivities should be checked prior to administration of medicines • Medication administration errors are more common in the morning • Interruptions during the preparation and administration of medicines are associated with medication errors. The guidance states that training should be followed by a formal assessment process to demonstrate competence. This should be repeated regularly as required.
(Continued on page 22)
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MEDICATION MANAGEMENT The Risks Posed By Poor Medicines Management Can Result In Serious Or Fatal Illness (Continued from page 20) THE SELF-MANAGEMENT OF MEDICINES IN CARE HOMES
National standards place great importance on the right of a service user to take responsibility for their own medication when possible. Self-administration of medication is important in the promotion of self-management of long term conditions and should be supported wherever possible. Department of Health guidance also includes further advice on the rights of care home residents
to manage their own medication and drugs. It states that in cases where it is appropriate for a resident to manage his or her own medication, residents should be offered this choice, with appropriate support from staff. Residents in care homes with nursing have the same rights to choose to manage their own medicines, including the right to refuse medication, as people living in their own home or in care homes without nursing. However, the paper reminds care managers that where a resident does not have the capacity to make these decisions under the Mental Capacity
MED e care eMAR and Care Planning Solutions MED e care eMAR and Care Planning solutions – our eMAR and Care Planning solutions enable care providers to be: • Compliant to regulations • To realise greater staff efficiencies which can be reinvested into direct resident care • To use the data provided via our “Care Intelligence” to further drive quality improvements. MED e-care provides cutting edge eMAR and Care Planning solutions, supporting you to deliver, record and analyse excellent care at every stage of the resident care lifecycle, whilst meeting regulatory requirements and driving quality improvements. Our solutions combine to create a flexible and bespoke electronic care record that allows you to deliver the highest standards of person-centred care to your residents as well as reflecting the needs of your carers and nurses and your organisation.
Act 2005, then a best interest’s decision will have to be made on his or her behalf. Under the Act, a person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that capacity is lacking. The paper states that care home staff should therefore regularly assess whether an individual resident has the capacity to make specific decisions about his or her care and treatment, including whether he or she wishes to manage his or her own medicines.
Our solutions are seamlessly integrated with each other to create one resident record, improve efficiencies and ensure a robust care plan. We also interface with a wide range of external systems so that you can share relevant information with GP’s, Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. Our unique Care Intelligence solution gathers all of the data in the system and provides you with detailed automated reporting regarding the provision of care and medication management, to help you to easily monitor and improve every single aspect of your care. After more than twenty years of service across the globe, our solutions are robust and mature so you won’t have to worry about any unwelcome surprises. MED e-care’s web-based solutions, supported by a free 24/7 Support Helpdesk, provide you with the confidence to focus on care, safe in the knowledge that our solutions won’t let you down. Please contact us for more information or to book a free, no-obligation demonstration to see how our fully customisable electronic eMAR and Care Planning solutions support care organisations in delivering person-centred care and to achieve outstanding patient outcomes. Visit www.mede-care.co.uk or see the advert on the facing page.
Person Centred Software Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Mobile Care Monitoring includes an intelligent mobile solution for evidencing care interactions, electronic care planning and reporting from Person Centred Software. Our solution enables over 1,400 care homes in the UK to evidence care as it happens with our icon-driven app, which creates more than 2 million care notes every day. Our solution reduces paperwork and gives carers more time to care, improving care quality and the care cycle overall. Supporting CQC inspections, including the new technology KLOEs, we help providers to be recognised for innovative, transparent and person-centred care. Andrew Long, CEO of Oakdale Care Group says, “Person Centred Software’s Mobile Care Monitoring system played a significant part in our achieving an Outstanding rating at Kingfisher Court’s first CQC inspection.” Evidencing care using our easy-to-use app, carers can quickly create meaningful care records that typically saves an hour a day on paperwork, so they can spend more time with residents. This equates to saving 3 days a month each on administration and record-keeping. Our philosophy is person-centred; providing benefits to everyone involved in care by delivering exceptional tools. Book a demo with us: 01483 357657 hello@personcentredsoftware.com www.personcentredsoftware.com See the advert on page 21.
Rosemont Pharmaceuticals are the specialists in liquid medicines. With an unrivalled range of over 70 licensed liquid products and 50 years’ dedicated experience, we are the trusted experts. Rosemont aim to deliver effective medication management for patients who suffer from swallowing difficulties. Difficulty swallowing can affect patients of any age but certain patient groups can be more susceptible. Rosemont are well respected by the healthcare industry and have been involved in developing guidance regarding caring for patients with swallowing difficulties. We have also recently launched the only range of licensed liquid medicines approved for PEG/NG tube use. Trust in Rosemont to support you & your patients. We guarantee delivery within 48 hours in over 99% of orders and within 24 hours is available on request. We have a dedicated and knowledgeable UK based customer service team who provide support for our customers. For our full portfolio of products visit us at www.rosemontpharma.com or download our FREE reference guide & dosage calculator app from your chosen app store. See the advert below for details.
New Survey Finds That Slow Tech Adoption Is Impacting Pharmacy Services A new survey has found that 87% of pharmacists believe the profession has been slow in its adoption of new technology when compared to other sectors1. The survey, commissioned by Omnicell UK, also revealed an over-riding consensus that automation within pharmacy could improve both patient and care home services. 80% of pharmacists believe that automation can improve patient services and 72% of pharmacists believe it can improve services for care homes. In fact, nearly threequarters (73%) of those polled believe that there should be an increased focus on the use of technology and automation on the pharmacy agenda. Underpinning the results is a worrying belief by 93% of those interviewed, that funding cuts are the most significant threat to the immediate future of community pharmacy. This was followed by additional concerns on changing regulations like FMD, Brexit and recruitment issues. The survey results have been released as part of a new campaign by Omnicell UK to raise awareness of the importance on the use of technology to improve patient safety and support pharmacies in a challenging marketplace. The campaign ‘We are Automation’ demonstrates how technical solutions can help to free up staff time. This reduces administrative and manual tasks enabling staff to spend more time on face to face patient care and new revenue streams. Unsurprisingly, the survey also found that work pressures and stress are key areas of concern for the profession. The vast majority of pharmacists (90%) believe that these are caused by Government funding cuts and over three-quarters (76%) believe that the scale of the patient/staff ratios is a key contributing factor with too few staff dealing with an increasingly high volume of patients. With increased pressures and time-constraints on pharmacies, the survey goes on to explore the importance of additional revenue streams for pharmacy businesses. 88% of those interviewed believe that introducing technology to support the business could help pharmacists to explore additional patient services and new revenues – with 66% believing that it would enable them to pursue care home pharmacy contracts. Every year, an estimated third of the 47m medication errors2 within primary care occur in the dispensing process. Pharmacists questioned believe that automation provided them with additional confidence in: • Patient safety (77%) • Providing patients with increased face to face time (75%) • Stock re-ordering (72%) • Managing complex patient medication regimes (57%) Paul O’Hanlon, Managing Director of Omnicell UK & Ireland adds; “Technology plays a pivotal role in reducing medication errors and improving patient safety. Whilst the sector has been slow when compared to other industries in harnessing new technology solutions and recognising the benefits – it’s heartening to see that looking to the future there could be an increased focus on the issue, helping community pharmacies to survive in an ever-challenging market.” For more information please visit Omnicell.co.uk
PAGE 24 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE The Future Of Care: How Technology Is Impacting The Industry When it comes to utilising technology and staying ahead of digital trends, the care industry is not necessarily well-recognised for this. However, with everything becoming increasingly more automated or digitised, care homes need to be adopting the latest technological advancements or risk being left behind. From software solutions which help out with administrative work, to smart home capabilities which can enhance staff productivity and robotics which have proven results in increasing health, there are many advancements which care homes should be considering. Assistive technology in care homes allow both residents and employees to realise benefits and have an important role to play in improving the standards of care provided and those that work within care establishments. Less time spent on back-office tasks means more time can be spent on compassionate care for residents. Blueleaf take a look at the specific technologies currently available and how they can be used in care homes across the UK whilst uncovering the potential benefits.
ROBOT CARERS COULD BE THE FUTURE FOR LONELINESS WITHIN THE ELDERLY
Robotics are perhaps the most exciting piece of technology that has the potential to exist within and enhance the care industry. Some care homes across the world have already discovered the benefits of robotics which are helping both employees and residents alike. Living in a care home can help often lead to feelings of extreme isolation and certain robotic technologies are helping to tackle this issue. Loneliness very much manifested in the elderly lifestyle due many feeling individuals feeling cut off from society. There are two million people in England over the age of 75 who live alone, and over one million often go over a month without speaking to anyone. It may not seem like a big deal, but the truth is, loneliness can be just as damaging to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day can be, with mortality increasing by 26%. Pepper the robot, an assistant at an Advinia care home was manufactured by SoftBank Robotics as part of a trial, and has the ability to greet residents and set reminders for them to take their medication. The robot also has a function which allows residents to access messages from loved ones, and even play their favourite songs through the use of images, voice and video. It is predicted that these little machines that are equipped with artificial intelligence will eventually have the ability to recognise the needs and emotions of vulnerable residents, taking the strain off caregivers.
COMBATING PRESSURE ULCERS THROUGH ENHANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Although not a new invention, dynamic pressure care mattresses, which can help to prevent pressure ulcers are becoming more innovative. One of the latest advancements surrounding this technology is lateral rotation therapy, which gently tilts the patient from side to side every 10 minutes to alternate the pressure. This is ideal in situations where manual turning is difficult. The treatment of pressure ulcers cost the NHS a staggering £1.4million every single day. They are a significant healthcare problem, with over 1,300 new ulcers reported each month and if left untreated, they can lead to sickness, a reduction in quality of life, and an increase in morbidity. Fortunately, dynamic pressure care mattresses reduce the risk of ulcers as they are designed in a way to eliminate skin damage. They are a component of an overall care plan for each resident. By investing in these, not only will residents be more comfortable and the strain on carers will be reduced, care homes will also be saving the NHS an extortionate amount.
SMART HOME DEVICES ACTING AS MEMORY AIDS FOR DEMENTIA CARE
More than 850,000 people suffer from dementia in the UK and it is the country's biggest killer. While home remedies such as consuming a mediterranean diet, ditching cigarettes and working out regularly have proven benefits, there have been many technological developments over the last few years that have increased the ability to care for dementia. There is also a wider understanding across carers around how to care for dementia residents, with some of the most effective methods involving improving memory through everyday activities. Assistive technology that can aid dementia can also often help residents feel safer in their environment, and help with recollection of memory. Devices that offer automated prompts and reminders can help with simple everyday activities, such as taking medication and locking doors. The ever-advancing abilities of smartphones and tablets, alongside the range of apps available, provide major opportunities for dementia care. Devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant can also act as a virtual assistant; from asking what the weather is like, to creating an entire ‘smart home’ system which plays music, controls the central heating and lighting. One care home in Germany has seen substantial benefits following the introduction of dynamic lighting with dementia patients. The lighting aids with day-night sleep rhythm, helping residents to rest and feel less agitated. In addition to aiding the care of dementia, smart home capabilities can also relieve stress from caregivers, while helping care homes to save money and time.
DIGITAL SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS CAN REDUCE ADMIN TIME
As a result of increasing pressure in care homes due to resources and rising costs in staff, there has been a continual search to discover ways in which administrative and operational processes can be optimised with the industry. Administrative work hinders employee’s ability to focus their attention on residents, but certain software solution systems have the ability to strip out old paper-based processes. This type of technology can help to reduce the pressure on employees by assisting with budgeting, day-to-day care planning and even supply chain management. Care management software solutions can also help with new client assessments, electronic care planning and record keeping.
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED AS PATIENT MONITORING EQUIPMENT
One of the latest introductions of technology in care homes is wearable technology. These devices enable caregivers to accurately track residents, without interfering with their day-to-day lives. In the past, budgetary restrictions mean most care establishments can only afford sub-par equipment and medical supplies; forcing them to make do with what they have. Fortunately, medical monitoring technology is ever improving, making it much more affordable and accessible. Patient-worn devices use wireless technology to transmit data and alarms to where they're needed by sending out nano-pulses, this innovation is able to detect micro movements and vibrations such as breathing and heart beats; and can detect falls by analysing a resident’s distance, speed and movement. Pressure mats can be synced up to a device which will notify professionals when a user has fallen out of bed, meaning they can attend to them straight away whilst smartwatches give caregivers the ability to locate dementia residents who may have wandered off, and can also track vital information such as heartbeat, without the need to invest in extra equipment. For the wearer, there are benefits for the wearer too - they can make emergency calls, and guide them back to their home address.
Mainteno Is A Complete, CostEffective Solution For Facilities and Maintenance Management Whether it’s managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno simplifies the dayto-day maintenance of almost any organisation. Our award-winning software keeps everyone in the loop and archives all your communication and documentation in one place. For total control of your organisation’s assets, Mainteno also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking. Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving your organisation time and money.
USABILITY MADE AFFORDABLE
Mainteno was designed with practicality in mind. The interface is so intuitive that basic operation can be learned in minutes, and you can be a power user in one afternoon. Elegant usability usually means a hefty price tag. However, our pricing structure means that for small organisations, Mainteno can cost as little as two cups of coffee a month. No set-up fees, no lengthy contracts and a free trial, all mean that the system starts paying for itself straight away. This what Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director had to say about the system. Facing significant challenges of ever increasing quality and compliance demands upon time and resources as well considerable economic pressures, Summercare, an award winning provider of residential care and housing related support, sought to upgrade their systems for managing the property and environmental aspects of its service delivery After an extensive period of investigation and research Mainteno was selected as the platform of choice for the entire organisation based on its ease of use, very shortterm contract, quick set up and ongoing support. The organisation uses our comprehensive software solution to streamline the management of its property and environment. This has achieved greater efficiency for the company. The Mainteno system was the obvious choice based on it being easy to deploy and operate and with an extensive range of inbuilt processes and reports that meant we could start realising benefits very quickly. We are confident the system will provide us with improved accessibility and communication across the organisation and will improve the efficiency and quality for frontline care services. Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director Visit www.mainteno.com, email: sales@redro.co.uk or call 020 8798 3713.
Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Simple to use, easy to maintain and very affordable.
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Reporting tasks and faults Asset tracking and value reporting Invoice management Add multiple images and documents Detailed analytical reporting Dashboard reporting showing live status of all tasks Management of all planned maintenance schedules Compliance testing and inspections Traffic light detailed reporting for audit purpose Audit reporting Direct allocation of work to relevant parties Can be used for help desk Supplier performance management and reporting Warranty and insurance management Can be used on any web enabled device Link tasks to calendar Create check lists for compliance purposes Contractor Quotes and Invoice Management Contractor Login upload function
www.mainteno.com 020 8798 3713 sales@redro.co.uk
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 25
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE New Patient Call Alarm from Pinpoint The new WristPIT from Pinpoint is a bespoke patient call transmitter designed to be worn on the wrist. This wrist-worn personal infrared transmitter (WristPIT) is easily accessible and allows patients to activate a call for assistance even if they are away from their bed or a fixed callpoint. Pinpoint’s renowned PIT technology (usually worn by
staff for personal safety) has, for the first time, been designed around patient use. The WristPIT can withstand showering and brief submersion in water and also incorporates antimicrobial product protection, reducing the ability for bacteria to grow. Pressing the clearly labelled call button on the WristPIT notifies the personnel on duty that a patient is
requesting help and informs staff exactly where the patient is. The call button is recessed and surrounded by a bump guard to prevent false alarms. Pinpoint Alarm systems are installed in thousands of medical/care facilities throughout the UK and USA. The new WristPIT is backward compatible and easily integrated into existing Pinpoint Systems. In addition to being water-resistant, the WristPIT has been designed to withstand harsh environments and user tampering, meaning suitability for facilities where service users may be at risk of self-harm. www.pinpointlimited.com or see the advert on page 4.
Medpage - Affordable Caring Technologies 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 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.
Giving the Finger to Poor Punctuality Fusion supplies a truly comprehensive Time and Attendance package with an intuitive, secure and instantly accessible database resulting in accountability and consistency whilst providing informed planning for managers and staff. Our biometric Time and Attendance device populates timesheets, verifies hours worked to shift and exports to your payroll software, thereby improving punctuality and efficiency at the same time connecting people to the information they need as they need it, reducing errors and improving compliance. You can use a combination of clocking options to suit the way your care business works. Using a
physical characteristic rather than simply using a swipe card or PIN, ensures the employee is actually present. This avoids issues such as “buddy punching”, a term used to describe when other employees clock in and out for one another. The software also provides valuable absence, rota and training information to provide managers with realtime staffing information and reporting with ease. Real time dashboards and reports can be viewed 24/7 by HR, operations and finance teams. See immediately who’s clocked in or out, hours worked, sick or on holiday. Fusion integrates management systems and
business processes to increase profitability. Developed by our team of software innovators Fusion software is a reliable and flexible business tool. The system integrates into your daily working life to replace and streamline many of your laborious and time consuming tasks. We use state-of-the-art web based technology with an easy to operate modular software system to enable you to manage the increasing demands to provide huge amounts of management data with total security via SSC and IP checking. Fusion Care Solutions are a market leader in the provision of cloud/web based software including time & attendance, service user/resident billing and care plans enabling providers to meet their goals and obligations by managing systems, processes and care with transparency, best practice and high standards. Contact Fusion Care Solutions Ltd. 01133 979 555 or email: dave.healey@fusion4care.com
Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot. Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls. Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining Nurse Call
Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs. They can specify not only the best system for the 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.
TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Workforce Scheduling Solutions Ltd Workforce Scheduling Solutions deliver Electronic Time & Attendance systems worldwide, using the latest Face Recognition technology. Why should care homes move from paper to electronic time sheets The industry is under considerable financial pressures. An efficient electronic booking on/off system that will schedule, provide budgets, calculate hours worked, overtime and absence such as sickness and holiday entitlement will save Time and Money. How is time and money saved by doing things electronically? Collecting payroll information from paper timesheets can be slow, prone to errors, and very labour intensive. Staff rosters can be produced as far in advance as practical and accurate within budgeted hours. Staff book on and off-duty electronically, thus eliminating any time errors. Wage queries are virtually eliminated and immediate checks can be made without wading through
reams of paper which invariably are inaccurate, misfiled or even 'lost". There are many systems on the market - Why facial recognition is important and how it works Some systems use tokens, which can be lost or left at home, requiring management involvement in the booking on/off procedure. Fingerprint systems can be beaten and Social media is awash with ways to copy fingerprints. Face recognition combined with a staff PIN is simple to use and manage using touch screen technology and web cams. Staff see their image displayed immediately when booking on or off and confirms their identity visually. It provides the best deterrent available as it builds a greater 'image knowledge’ of each employee, a picture is worth a thousand words. Eliminates 'buddy punching' where employees can book colleagues on/off duty using someone’s tokens, swipe card or even fingerprint. How is data protected? With the correct security setup computer systems provide more data protection than paperbased records which can be easily removed or stolen. GDPR covers all data including paper records and therefore the chances of infringing the rules and incurring fines is greater with paper. Telephone 03333 444562 or visit
Edison Telecom Ltd Edison, who are probably better known for innovating solutions for Private Hospitals and Mental Health Trusts, have recently been helping with more complex problems experienced in care homes. The most recent being a 20 year old Intercall system which has been upgraded to the latest specifications including the 30 million event logging and, even more importantly, making the system reliable; all without switching the system off other than to swap the power supplies. Edison have picked up the pieces left by the wireless manufacturers who do not want to support their legacy products and even smaller projects the same
manufacturers do not feel it is worth their while to even quote for. Supplies of legacy pagers are now finally coming to an end, although Edison still might be able to repair your pagers. Edison have taken on a software/hardware engineer who can produce interfaces so that the existing paging
can be changed to work with paging available from many different suppliers including Edison. “Falls” is a current topic that Edison have tailored a package for a client so that: The Over door light illuminates outside the room when set; If the User/Patient sleeps peacefully all night, Staff do not have to be on watch. If the User/Patient exits the bed: The light comes on in the room, helping to prevent falls The lamp flashes outside the room; A pager beeps; The nurse call display shows the origin of the call; The User/Patient receives the care they need as promptly as possible. Tele 01252 330220 Web www.edisontelecom.co.uk
SAVE MONEY WITH
EDISON TELECOM LTD
NURSECALL REPLACEMENT ROOM UNITS In Stock are many wired and wireless parts
New and Grade A refurbished Upgrade your central displays with
CALL LOGGING OUT OF BED (FALLS) POCKET PAGING KEEP C.Q.C. HAPPY
bojo@edisontelecom.co.uk
ALDERSHOT 01252 330220
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 27
PAGE 28 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Intelligent Care Software Intelligent Care Software CEO Steve Sullivan has worked at all levels of care provision from carer to nurse, registered manager and operations manager to CQC Compliance Inspector. He worked directly with care home owners
to develop CAREis and address the daily issues, challenges, and frustrations experienced in care service management. CAREis is a complete care management solution that is easy to use, intelligent, intuitive and fast to implement. CAREis ensures care is person centred and delivered as
planned with reduced administrative costs. Incidents are monitored and can be reviewed using CAREis generated reports. Audits can also be completed within the software with actions created and added to the online action plan. eMAR ensures medication records are safe and accurate. Policies are ‘easy read’
and ensure staff can see what they need to do with links directly to CQC guidance and other relevant advice and regulation. The Office feature helps you plan rotas and homecare visits with reports generated to export to your accounting and payroll software. Please give us a call on 01424 400060 to discuss how CAREis can help you manage your service or visit www.careis.net.
Leecare - We Deliver More Than Software Pandora Care Management Systems
At Leecare, we start each day with a purpose and a mission — to help our customers be the best they can be, so your residents can experience the best possible quality of life. Leecare’s industry leading care software and EHR platform, Platium 5, improves care delivery, which makes you stronger. Deliver the highest quality of care, improve your business performance, and simplify the complex processes related to regulatory compliance. Be connected to your care network. Ensure that your team has the right information at the right time, and that the intelligence of the health record follows each resident.
NYTON HOUSE – RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME CHICHESTER UK
Our organisation spent a great deal of time researching the Care Software market to find a solution that fitted our requirements. What was important for us was to find a platform that supported care compliance, evidenced personal
centered care and had the ability to integrate eMar and Care Planning in one place. Each platform has its own strengths but in LeeCare we found a really robust clinical platform that offered a comprehensive set of organisational reporting tools to help evidence compliance and support internal auditing. To date, we have only touched the surface of the system’s capabilities. Our phased deployment started with P5 & P5 Mobile forms before moving onto P5 Exec. So far the support and engagement from LeeCare has been excellent and we look forward to continuing our partnership. Harvey Hillary – Director – Nyton House Limited
The decision to implement a senior care platform or switch from an existing system may feel like a daunting process. Let us put you at ease. As the definitive leader, we have the unparalleled expertise to help you make an informed choice without any unnecessary pressure. For further information see the advert on page 29 or visit www.leecare.co.uk
How Flexible Is Your Nurse Call System? Fitting a nurse call system can often be disruptive, time consuming and expensive; but not with Aid Call’s wireless system. Aid Call utilise wireless technology because there is no need to install cables to any of the call points and the impact is minimal, which is reassuring at a time of increased pressure on resources and environments. Wireless systems also have lower installation and operating costs over a traditional hard-wired system, as well as being quicker and easier to install. Wireless configuration offers complete flexibility and mobility, which makes our system infinitely changeable and expandable, allowing for the constant ability to deal with ever changing priorities and demands. Our system is safe, reliable and costeffective. It can be designed to suit individual requirements and needs and adapted to work within your budget. It also has a variety of features which can help to maximise staff efficiency and improve the overall quality of care
offered to your clients and patients.
TOUCHSAFE PRO DISPLAY PANEL The Display Panel conveys a mass of important information at a glance. This includes call type, call location, patient name, nurse identity and call response time. Varying colour displays and alarm tones correspond to different call types to help staff to easily identify priority levels. All calls will display on the panel. In the event of multiple calls, automatic system triage will display the calls in order of urgency. On multiple-panel systems the panels can be set up with zones so only calls from specific areas are displayed on the panel located within that area. Now with touchscreen capabilities, your nurse call system can be operated with ease. Antimicrobial additives prevent the growth of harmful micro-organisms on all of our devices and these are guaranteed for the lifetime of the product. Visit www.aidcall.co.uk or see the adverts on pages 1 & 6 for details.
For care home software to be truly effective and essential, it needs to be able to bring all aspects of running a care home together. There is absolutely no point in having software for nursing records, then different software for finance and then completely different software for Human Resources; you get the picture? It sounds like more trouble than its worth. However, Pandora have designed and created care home software that has all the essential elements in ONE place Human resources All employee records are easily accessed at the touch of a button. No rummaging through filing cabinets and archives.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Audits are easily completed when all the data is easily accessible. With our care home software all you need to complete audits and reviews is in one place.
FINANCE
The software includes a finance module which not only manages all the purchase orders, budgets and other payments. It also links to rotas so you can be absolutely sure employees are paid according to the shifts they have completed.
NURSING TEAM
Let's be honest, nurses are always busy. Always. So this module is absolutely essential to the smooth running of the care home. All service user information can be accessed from one area. All notes can be
updated easily, and all care staff can see care plans, reports and records.
OPERATIONS
The operations element of the care home software is so valuable. Therefore it keeps everything else running smoothly.
MAINTENANCE
We know that when running a care home, there is always something to fix or repair. With this module you can log each maintenance request and set a priority and deadline. You can then see the status and monitor to see where resources are being taken up. Put very simply, Pandora will benefit all areas of your care home business. www.pandoracare.co.uk or see the advert on page 24 for details.
Care Vision - Shaping the Future of Care Shaping the future of care - with a wide range of services, Care Vision offers a spectrum of solutions that will bring all your care home needs under one roof. Only a care home manager knows just how complex and challenging care management is. Care Vision has been built on the principle, that simplifying means unifying: the many types of tasks and departments that share space under your one roof should also share one integrated system. From E-mar to food prep, housekeeping, health & safety, HR and family visits. Care Vision is designed to save time whilst meeting and going beyond CQC requirements. Rishi Jawaheer has been a director of the Jawa Group for over 12 years. The family’s first dementia care home was established in the 1980s, in London. Consulting with carers, families and professionals Rishi has created Care Vision. A solution built
from the challenges of providing care and recording required information in real situations. Care vision has been designed to meet the complex needs of individuals using the service, from the perspective and skill level of carers. The quality of the record keeping satisfies the regulators. Care Vision works with providers to create a tailormade solution that suits your service. Care notes can be entered in a few clicks at the point of service. Using icons and speech to text but also having the ability to easily edit makes this a fantastic tool for a modern-day carer. By using Care Vision, you can save up to 2-4 hours per week, per resident in staff hours. That means if you have a care home of 20 residents you can save up to 40-80 staff hours per week, 160320 staff hours per month. That’s equivalent to 1-2 fulltime staff. To find out more, check out the film on www.carevisioncms.co.uk or see the advert on page 26.
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 31
LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS Unrivalled Laundry Equipment Service With Virtual Technician ! ®
The OPL Group have been supplying and servicing commercial laundry equipment for almost 50 years and service response has always been key to our success. With technology evolving and the company looking to be more efficient, the OPL team have developed the Virtual Technician®. This allows The OPL Group to track, report and monitor the status of your laundry equipment providing seamless, constant monitoring of your laundry facility, greatly assisting businesses with slow or unreliable lines of fault reporting to keep you up and running. With OPL’s Virtual Technician®, you will always have a virtual engineer on-site, diagnosing faults and reporting directly back to The OPL Group’s service desk saving your business valuable downtime. What’s more, our machine integration means it’s easier than ever before – no more worrying about complicated controls or screens as there aren’t any! What Are The Benefits? • Eliminates avoidable call out charges and minimise down time.
• Faults reported directly to The OPL Group who analyse them quickly and efficiently. • Testing and diagnostics can be carried out remotely allowing functions to be tested. • New wash programmes can be created to suit site specific requirements on demand and uploaded remotely. • New coin settings can be set and uploaded remotely. • Chemical programmes can be created to suit specific requirements on demand. • Chemical levels can be monitored with new chemicals dispatched automatically. • Affordable low fixed monthly costs. For an affordable service solution whilst minimising unnecessary call out charges, the OPL’s Virtual Technician® is available at a fixed monthly cost giving total peace of mind and Superb Service Support – wherever you are! For more information email us at sales@theoplgroup.co.uk or call us on 0845 077 65 65 to discuss setting up OPL’s Virtual Technician® for your business.
Complete Laundry Solution for the Care Sector The laundry facility is a central process within any care home and it is vital to ensure that the correct procurement decisions are made. Within the care sector legislations prohibit the use of domestic washing machines, as they do not meet the stringent hygiene requirements. It is essential to choose a trusted service partner that will provide appropriate commercial laundry equipment in order to ensure adherence to logistical and regulation requirements. Established in 1926, Forbes Professional has a solid understanding of care sector requirements and delivers comprehensive commercial laundry solutions to care homes across the UK. Proud partners of Miele, Maytag and Primus, our machines provide both sluice and thermal disinfection to
fully comply with CQC and WRAS regulations. To complement our washers, tumble dryers and rotary ironers, we also offer auto-dosing equipment as well as on-going detergent provision. Our Complete Care solution gives access to premium commercial laundry without upfront capital expenditure and with the security of our first class engineer response service and no call out or repair costs. A multi site care home operator:
‘Forbes’ team of engineers are always helpful and friendly and if they cannot fix the machines on site they will always take it away and return the same day.’ Installation and commissioning are carried out by our experienced engineers, who also provide any necessary user training to ensure that the equipment is fully optimised. On-going account management, service requirements and detergent provision are handled centrally from our head office as part of a streamlined process that keeps things simple for our clients. Care Home, Cambridgeshire: ‘Forbes’ engineers are very knowledgeable…Very fast response to call out and repair. ’ Contact Forbes Professional on 0345 070 2335 or email info@forbes-professional.co.uk
Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
PAGE 32 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS 3 New Faux Leather Fabrics for Contract Interiors Skopos is excited to bring to market 3 new flame retardant, Crib 5 faux leathers. With 3 distinctly different finishes, the faux leathers provide a neat and elegant finishing touch for a variety of contract interiors. With an antiqued/ aged effect, in a range of leatherlook colours the Kiri design mimics the sophisticated feel of leather. With a clear emboss Hiako is offered in a range of colours, suited to a variety of contract interiors. Hiako pushes the palette for designers to include both colours and neutrals into any contract scheme. With clear simplicity Tama delivers a bold and confident statement. The emboss on Tama vinyl is light and understated, pushing the boundaries of
Linen & Moore
Freephone: 0800 917 7943 www.euroservice-uk.com sales@euroservice-uk.com
Linen & Moore manufactures and distributes an extensive range of essential, elegant and durable health care bed & bath linen products. We have gained our customers’ trust through our timely delivery and exemplary customer service. Our brand is a reflection of our culture which embodies continuous improvement in order to achieve maximum customer satisfaction.
colour to include vibrant shades, as well as neutrals, to potentially appeal to a younger audience. With all 3 qualities waterproof, wipe-clean and offering an antimicrobial finish – applications are well suited for care environments. Skopos Fabrics Ltd are dedicated to design, service and best performance. Our full service or fabric only option provides choice for our customers, with expertise in design, make-up (curtains, cushions and bedding), fitting and installation. Our Bespoke design and colour matching service provide the opportunity to create unique solutions. View the new Faux Leathers on the Skopos website: www.skoposfabrics.com
Why Linen & Moore? Our core strength lies in our ability to manufacture and distribute high value health care products with the help of a highly skilled & experienced technical team and leadingedge manufacturing processes. Browse the range of comfortable and quality wholesale bedding in poly cotton, 100% cotton & flame retardant. Available in different sizes hospital sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, mattress toppers, waterproof mattress protectors, duvets, pillows, hypoallergenic, antimite and dust cotton pillow protectors,
Cotton blankets, towels, terry and waffle bathrobes, bath mats, shower curtains, kitchen towels, oven cloths, waiter cloths, glass cloths , table covers, napkins & chef aprons are ideal for use in hospitality sector Trade discount membership • 10% off on orders above £1000.Free delivery over £100 • Get 5% cash back when customers purchase £15,000/year • Gold member for service and quality by Feefo with the 5-star rating by the customers. Contacts 01491571053 trade@linenandmoore.com www.linenandmoore.com See the advert on page 17 for details.
One Stop Shop For All Your Soft Furnishing Requirements PM200
QZ2
PO 300
B007
B09
WM6
B39
BZ 006
We at Furnish Ltd are sensitive to the particular needs of this specialist sector and consider it a privilege to be helping our elderly to lead more comfortable lives where the aesthetics of bedrooms and living spaces really do make a difference. We carefully take into account the needs of the individual facility whether it is a residential retirement home, a nursing home or a dementia care home which will have its own set of requirements in terms of the safety features of its blinds, curtains and soft furnishings. We offer a complete managed service from site survey through manufacture to installation by our in-
house staff and work with clients on existing or new homes where we will often be involved in the early stages of design and specification. We take a consultative approach and are always ready to advise on complete schemes as well as individual areas. Come along to see us at the Care Show, stand C85 between 9th & 10th October 2019 to discuss how we can assist with your requirements or gain an overview of the wide range of products we can supply to the care sector. Furnish Ltd Email: info@furnishltd.co.uk Tel: 08447 365 319 Web: WWW.Furnishltd.co.uk
PAGE 34 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
FOOD AND NUTRITION The Physical, Social & Who Are Inhouse Manager? Psychological Causes of Malnutrition in Older Adults
One in ten older people in the UK are suffering from, or at risk of malnutrition. This relatively unknown, yet significant issue, costs the NHS £19.6 billion per year.1 Malnutrition impacts a person’s wellbeing leading to further problems, such as an increase in hospital admissions, increased dependency and increased risk to life. The most common causes fall within the physical category. These include medical conditions which result in a lack of appetite, such as cancer and liver disease, or conditions which disrupt the body’s ability to optimally digest food, Crohn’s disease for example. Older people often struggle to consume meals due to physical hindrances such as poor dentition, dysphagia or mobility issues. Social factors can be extremely instrumental in the development of malnutrition. For older adults in care, the upheaval of moving into a home can cause a loss of identity, confidence and subsequently isolation. With mealtimes being a social occasion, a lack of interaction around food may discourage eating and lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is also associated with several psy-
chological issues. Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or a change in mental state due to bereavement can affect a person’s appetite and interest in eating. If insufficient nutrients are consumed, a change in mood and energy levels will occur and a negative cycle will ensue. Due to the complex nature of malnutrition and myriad causes, there are no blanket measures to prevent its occurrence. However, once the causes of each case are recognised, there are steps which can be taken to manage, treat and prevent reoccurrence of these. These steps fall broadly into two categories; clinical and social interventions. Clinical interventions include screening, monitoring and the involvement of healthcare professionals. In a care setting, it is essential staff undergo regular screening of residents and are trained in recognising when to involve various healthcare professionals. The social factors are more challenging to address. Successful interventions include lunch and activity clubs, which serve the dual purpose of providing older people with a means of eating, whilst offering them a chance to socialise. Where possible, family and friends should be encouraged to make visits during mealtimes, to help preserve the social aspect of eating. The physical, social and psychological causes of malnutrition are often interlinked and in many cases, can develop into a downward spiral. Only with improved professional training and public awareness will older people receive the help they need and deserve to live their lives long and to the full. Apetito can help your home with your residents' nutritional needs - call today on 01225 560463 or visit www.apetito.co.uk 1 http://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/economic-report-short.pdf
Great Ormond Street Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, Risedale Group and NHS Scotland. All the businesses are supported by the head office in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling in Scotland. Inhouse Manager has been supporting the catering services of leading providers of Inhouse Manager is part of Healthcare, Education, Leisure, Castle View Ventures Group, a Retail, Education and Local family business founded in 1964. Government for over 20 years. Castle View’s original focus The latest version of our cloudwas contract catering, giving us a based Inhouse Manager Catering strong pedigree in this area. The Software was released in April company has grown to become a 2019. Our aim is to bring you the group of businesses focusing on highest standard of catering softcatering services and health & ware, that meets your needs, is well-being. These companies are comprehensive, secure and comlocated across the United plies with the latest data protecKingdom, serving diverse clients tion laws. As our software is including over 40 local authorities; online, there is no impact on your IT systems, it is always up-to-date high street supermarkets and
and available wherever you are, either online or via our mobile app. We launched our Nutrition and Allergen analysis module in 2018, which focuses on the macro-nutrients. In August 2019 we will be launching a revised module to include micro nutrients such as Zinc and B vitamins. We also have additional modules Ward/Group/Suite ordering and Bed/Individual/Personal ordering. With these modules you will be able to improve your residents, patients, customers and school’s dining experience. We are proud members of many professional organisations such NACC, HAC and LACA. Reader enquiries - Tel: 0333 123 6987 or visit www.inhousemanager.com
Get Cracking for British Egg Week - 7-13 October British Lion eggs is calling on UK food businesses to get cracking and make plans for British Egg Week, which is running from 7-13 October with a Protein Power theme. A well-established date on the foodie calendar, it provides retailers, caterers, wholesalers and manufacturers with the opportunity to boost their egg sales and capitalise on the continued popularity of eggs. Retail egg sales grew by 4% YOY in 2018, the equivalent of around 240 million extra eggs. “Millennials are driving the growth of eggs as more and more are won over by their nutritional benefits and versatility. The protein in eggs is
one of the most motivating benefits for young professionals and families, which is why we are focusing on Protein Power as our British Egg Week theme,” says Andrew Joret, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council. The trade can drive awareness of their egg offering with product displays, recipes, promotions, meal-deals, special menus and events. “British Lion eggs will be supporting British Egg Week with social media content and promotions, including a challenge to see if it’s possible to break an eggshell holding it top to bottom, which is apparently impossible,” adds Andrew Joret.
PAGE 36 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
FOOD AND NUTRITION Nutricia - Life Transforming Nutrition Building on more than a century of nutritional research and innovation, Nutricia continues to transform lives through the power of nutrition, including those suffering from dysphagia. Nutricia supports those caring and catering for dysphagic patients with Nutilis Clear, a food and fluid thickening powder designed to maintain the original appearance of clear drinks and liquids. Available in an IDDSI labelled, 175g re-sealable tin, Nutilis Clear is suitable for dysphagic patients who are lactose intolerant, on a lactose-free diet, vegetarian, and vegan. For more information and to find recipes for dysphagic
®
patients visit www.mynutilis.co.uk Nutricia is also a proud supporter of The Chefs’ Council, a unique partnership of experts working to make food safe, nutritious and pleasurable for people who have been diagnosed with dysphagia. As their pledge to support the work of the The Chefs’ Council and The Dysphagia Act, Nutricia runs chef training days that offer guidance to those catering for dysphagic patients on providing safe, nutritious and pleasurable meals and drinks. For more information on the Chefs’ Council and The Dysphagia Act visit www.mynutilis.co.uk/dysphagia-act
®
Pro-Cal powder from Vitaflo International Vitaflo® International Ltd. are a medical nutrition company dedicated to developing high quality, innovative specialised clinical nutrition products for Metabolic Disorders, Nutrition Support and other areas such as Renal Disease and Ketogenic Diets. Malnutrition is recognised as a significant burden on the NHS and in the community, estimated to affect over 1.3million people over the age of 65, and the huge majority of these people are those living in the community, either at home or in residential care/ nursing homes1. Vitaflo have two great products which can help support those with malnutrition: - Pro-Cal® powder is a powdered, neutral tasting food fortifier. It is a blend of protein, fat and carbohydrate which can be added to a variety of food and drink. It enhances the energy and protein content with minimal effect on taste, volume and texture. Pro-Cal powder is available in boxes of single serve 15g sachets,
meals, desserts, snacks, and smoothies. We are currently developing a Pro-Cal powder catering recipe book which we hope to launch later this year to further support the use of this product in care/ nursing homes or hospital catering. For more information or to order samples of Pro-Cal powder, please contact your local Vitaflo representative or speak to our team of dietitians and also in tubs. The 12.5kg or 1.5kg on our nutritional helpline on tubs are ideal for use in catering facil01517024937. ities such as care/nursing homes or See the advert on page 33 for furhospital kitchens. One 15g sachet or ther details. one 15g scoop provides 100kcal and Pro-Cal shot® and Pro-Cal® powder are 2g of protein. foods for special medical purposes. Must be used under medical supervision. Vitaflo dietitians alongside our inAllergens: Pro-Cal shot contains milk (milk house chef work hard to develop a protein, lactose) and soya (soya lecithin). Pro-Cal range of supporting items to help powder contains milk (milk protein). with the use of these products. These Pro-Cal shot is suitable for use from 1 year of include “Handy hints” providing quick age. Pro-Cal powder is suitable for use from 3 years of age. and easy tips on how to add these 1 Maltnutrition in the UK, The Malnutrition products to food and drink. We also Taskforce: have more detailed recipe books to http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resourc give further support for making es/malnutrition-factsheet/ (accessed 18/7/18)
Number of Vegans in UK Care Homes Skyrockets By 167% In 5 Years The number of vegan residents in UK care homes has almost trebled over the last five years, according to new research. Research commissioned by Vegetarian for Life (VfL), a charity dedicated to supporting older vegans and vegetarians living in care homes as well as independently, polled a representative sample of 1,000 care homes across the UK, concluding that residents following a vegan diet in UK residential care homes have risen by 167 per cent since 2014. According to VfL, there are more than 11,000 care homes for older people in the UK, and more than 7,000 vegetarians and vegans in those homes. The organization says the ‘rapid rise in vegan residents in particular has sparked VfL to urge care facilities to be prepared if a vegan resident moves into the care facility’.In the wake of this research, Amanda Woodvine, chief executive at VfL, said there is now more need than ever to ensure there is adequate vegan meal options available to those in care homes. She said: “It’s great that more people are choosing a vegan lifestyle, but it just goes to show that we have a lot of work to do to ensure that there are adequate meal and snack options at care homes nationwide. “It can be daunting for catering staff at care homes to plan meals if only one resident is plant-based. But VfL has a vast amount of resources available to make this as easy as possible; there are recipes on our website for mealtimes as well as special occasions such as birthdays and barbecues. We also offer fully-funded live cooking demonstrations from our team of roving chefs.” Vegetarian for Life was set up back in 2007 by trustees shocked by the story of an elderly woman who had been an animal’s rights campaigner and was vegetarian. When she went
into a care home after developing dementia, she was given food containing meat, with staff claiming they felt it was acceptable because she ‘would not know any different’. In a similar case, a few years ago, the daughter of an elderly woman with dementia at a care home in Wales, took her complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, after finding she was regularly fed meat despite being vegetarian. Ms Woodvine, said: “Sadly this is quite a common approach. But all individuals have a right to varied and nutritious meals, and respect for their previously held beliefs and cultural norms.” As well as it being a total lack of respect for the person’s beliefs and way of life, eating meat after years of being vegetarian can really mess with a person’s digestive system as meat is harder for older people to digest, and even more so if they are not used to it. Catering for vegetarians and vegans in care homes can be patchy, with some care providers offering a range of interesting, nutritious meals and others giving residents a rotation of cheese and egg dishes, according to VfL. The charity recommends that people going into a care home make sure they fill in an advanced care plan to ensure their chosen diet is respected and not compromised.
PAGE 8 | THE CARER | SPRING 2019
PAGE 38 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
WASHROOMS AND BATHROOMS Counting The Cost Of Care There is an opportunity to potentially almost double the effective use of available funds in stretched care budgets. Where appropriate, provision of assistive equipment can enable the care recipient to be independent, and in control, whilst freeing care staff for duties where their physical support is essential. Closomat’s care package restores the client’s ability to go to the toilet without help. In a ‘year of care’ scenario, it costs between 25- 50% the cost of providing care staff to provide the same assistance- to help the client on and off the toilet, and/or to clean them(1). The technology is a one-off cost, that will enable independent, consistent cleanliness and hygiene for years. The care support is an ongoing, year-on-year cost. Beyond the financial implications, the provision of enabling equipment further enhances the recipient’s mental health and wellbeing, thus having a positive impact in PROM(2) and HRQoL(3) terms. It can improve hygiene, reducing incidence of skin complaints. It eliminates manual handling, with all the associated positive benefits for care recipient, staff. Closomat’s care package comprises its brand-leading Palma Vita floor-standing shower/ wash dry toilet, and/or Aerolet toilet lift.
The Closomat shower toilet has integrated douching and drying, so there is no need to manually clean after toileting. A range of operating mechanisms enables its tailoring to individual needs, initially or retrospectively as capability deteriorates. The Aerolet toilet lift is in essence the WC equivalent of a riser recliner chair. Fitted over the WC, the unit replicates the natural motion of sitting down and standing up. It automatically and smoothly lowers the user over and onto the toilet and then raises them to standing, whilst ensuring their centre of gravity and thus balance remains stable. It is all controlled by the push of a button via integral arm supports, which simultaneously provide additional bracing as the resident transfers from wheelchair or frame to the toilet. Uniquely, Aerolet is available in a choice of tilting or vertical lift options. “In appropriate situations, it’s a win: win situation,” says Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager. “There is growing awareness of the potential to make better and greater use of assistive technology in the care sector, and to take a more holistic approach to care provision. In its truest definition, assistive technology is any aid which enables a person to undertake ADLs(4) independently: our care package does just that, giving independence and control over a very private, intimate ADL.” Full details of Closomat’s care package can be found on its website www.closomat.co.uk
Reducing The Risk Of Falls In The Bathroom Statistics show that care home residents are three times more likely to fall than their community dwelling peers and ten times more likely to sustain a significant injury as a result (Department of Health, 2009). The bathroom is a high risk fall area, so here Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, shows how care home managers can overcome two of the most common causes of falls in this space.
THINK FLOORING:
Use anti-slip flooring - use non-slip vinyl safety flooring that has a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) rating of ≥36. Also ensure that anti-slip protection continues from the flooring to the shower tray. AKW’s Braddan level access shower tray can be recessed into the floor and comes with a slip resistance surface. Use colour contrast to avoid slips and falls - consider colour contrast for those with sight loss, mobility issues or dementia. Excellent colour contrast can be achieved with magnolia coloured walls and AKW’s Cerulean blue cut-toorder, anti-slip, vinyl safety flooring.
THINK LIGHTING:
Avoid shadows - the avoidance of shadows, dark areas and glare is key to safe movement around a space. Using a mix of task-specific lighting and overall ambient lighting ensures good light levels for showering, washing and moving safely around the space. Spotlight tasks – Tasks, such as showering or shaving, are best lit using narrow beams of light. AKW has created a bathroom lighting pack that contains everything needed to light a standard UK bathroom (with additional products that can be purchased separately for larger spaces). A free guide on how to light accessible bathrooms, created by AKW in conjunction with occupational therapists, is available at: www.akw-ltd.co.uk/lighting. Also, visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk for more information on AKW’s anti-slip flooring and shower tray ranges. For more information, please contact AKW on01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk
Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms will be Displaying its Complete g360 Accessible Bathroom and Wet Room services at the Care show. The Care Show, 9–10 October . Part of the Gainsborough Healthcare Group, Gainsborough is now delivering a first in the healthcare sector with its new G360 total solutions. Built on three decades of UK bath manufacturing, G360 encompasses all aspects of specialist bathroom and wet room implementation – from concept to completion and beyond. Senior representatives from Gainsborough will be available throughout The Care Show to explain why these services deliver multiple care and commercial benefits. CQC excellence in the bathroom whilst maximising budget for sustainable care is possible with G360. These unique turnkey capabilities, which are 100% client and bather focused, provide: Peter Eckhardt, CEO, Gainsborough Healthcare Group, comments: “G360 represents a step-change within long-term care. Care home and hospital procurement now have a single source for infinite accessible bathroom and wet room possibilities. Our showcase at The Care Show will demonstrate the strength and depth of our trusted capabilities which are proven to deliver amplified ROI for healthcare providers. Equally, Gainsborough’s
proven synergises with building contractors and developers will also be highlighted – we are the number one choice for a truly holistic approach.” Alongside the high specification wet room feature, Gainsborough will be demonstrating its popular power-assisted Gentona and Sentes baths. The high performance Gentona is an ultra-efficient hi-lo bathing solution that facilitates safer moving and handling and greater dignity for bathers. This ultra-efficient solution is proven to reduce operational costs and utility consumption by 25% which represents a significant saving over multiple installations. In terms of infection control, the Gentona incorporates worldpioneering antimicrobial BioCote which delivers 99% 24/7 protection against harmful microbes. For bathers with more complex needs, the reclining Sentes will also be on display. This bathing solution facilitates greater postural support and uncompromised access, either via ceiling tracks or mobile hoists. Bathers who can actively transfer benefit from spacious access with the vertical rising side entry door. Once positioned on the integrated seat, bathers can be reclined and semi-submerged in temperature controlled water which is economically managed for optimum usage. TEL: 01527 400 022 or visit www.gainsboroughbaths.com
Renaissance Assisted Baths
installation companies for fitting the baths, who also offer service and maintenance contracts, if required. The picture shows our Excel 600 height-adjustable bath with detachable seat and transporter. Our range of accessories such as air spa, chromotherapy lighting and bluetooth audio systems are all designed to enhance the bathing experience. We have a long-standing supply relationship with one of the country’s largest care home groups, but we also pride ourselves on being able to give the same level of service and support to a single care Home or an individual living in their own home. On the domestic front, as well as the assisted baths, we manufacture a range of easy access baths for those who don’t require the support of an assisted bath, but find it difficult climbing in and out of a standard bath and want to retain bathing facilities. For further information on our range of products please visit www.renaissance-assistedbaths.co.uk or contact our head office on 0191 534 6061
Armour Plastics, the manufacturers of Renaissance baths, have been producing baths for over 35 years. Based in the North East, we have factories in Sunderland and Washington and our engineering division enables us to design and produce all our own tooling and bath moulds as well as supplying tooling and machinery to clients all over the world. The Renaissance range of Assisted baths has a model to satisfy most clients’ needs. From a simple fixed bath designed for use with either mobile hoist or ceiling track hoist through to a height-adjustable bath with detachable powered swing seat and transporter, there is an option to suit you or your resident. Our Assisted baths are Wrasapproved and being made from acrylic are hard-wearing and retain their excellent finish for many years. We offer a free of charge survey service to establish the best bath for you and to ensure it will work in your bathroom. We use independent
PAGE 40 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL ®
Pjama Incontinence & Bedwetting Solution for Adults and Children Pjama® garments are reusable and washable incontinence and bedwetting long and short pyjama pants. Unique and patented, the Pjama® are suitable for adults and children. Designed to be effective, discreet, convenient and comfortable for use at night and during resting or convalescing, the Pjama® garments are washable, reusable and environmentally friendly. Pjama® garments absorb and contain fluids, hence the
Pjama® make coping with urinary incontinence and bedwetting simple and easy. There is no need to sleep on absorbent bed pads or waterproof mattress protectors, because the Pjama® pants protect the bed from wetness. There is no need to wear underpants as the Pjama® are most effective, when worn directly on the body. After wetting accidents occur, the Pjama® pants continue to be dry on the outside, but become moist on
the inside. The wetness alerts the wearer to the wetting accident and the need to change into a dry garment. Wet Pjamas® can be stored in a the waterproof Pjama® bag for hygiene until machine washing. Pjama® pants are made in 4 adult sizes and 5 children’s sizes. All fabrics are Oeko-Tex certified. Supplied by Win Health Medical Ltd - 01835 864866 www.win-health.com or see the advert on page 7.
Spearhead Unveils The Complete Cleaning Solution For Care Homes Spearhead Healthcare has unveiled a brand new look for its popular cleaning programme – the Platinum Plan – along with a number of updates and refinements to the products, training and documentation to help care homes achieve outstanding levels of hygiene while saving time and money. Spearhead’s Platinum Plan provides care homes with a complete cleaning and compliance solution designed to minimise the cost, time and risk associated with routine cleaning, infection control, paperwork and adherence to all the relevant industry standards and regulations. The Plan encompasses three core elements. First, in-depth training on COSHH regulations; second, a comprehensive documentation package neatly contained within a ring binder that gives managers all the paperwork they need, in one place, ranging from usage guidelines and cost sheets to templates for cleaning schedules, logs and
risk assessments. Third, a range of high-performance cleaning chemicals, specially developed for the care environment, all colour-coded and available as concentrates designed to keep costs to a minimum. The new refinements to the Platinum Plan include: • Updated training to keep care homes fully up to speed with the latest developments and best practices in infection control. • Redeveloped documentation for cleaning and training such as new logs and records to ensure that the highest possible standards of auditing and accountability, ready for inspections. • New products such as the Multi-Surface Spray Polish, which reduces the need for multiple (unnecessary) products, in line with COSHH guidelines, and makes cleaning more economical. • New product sizes to meet the needs of a wider range of care homes, such as a 5-litre High Strength Machine Dishwash and High Strength Machine Rinse Aid. • Redesigned branding and packaging across
all products and paperwork, with particular emphasis on extending the successful colour coding scheme to indicate where and when each product should be used, and to easily locate the matching documentation. Russell Pillar, Director of Care Interiors at Spearhead says: “It’s clear that the only way to prevent and contain infection outbreaks, while meeting regulatory requirements, is to implement a highly systematic and rigorous approach to cleaning, training and documentation. The three go hand in hand. Anything less endangers the health of residents and carers, not to mention the reputation of your home. “For this reason, hundreds of care homes across the UK rely on Spearhead’s cost-effective Platinum Plan to cover all bases for them. I’m confident that our customers and prospects will appreciate the visual makeover that we’ve given the Plan, which – in tandem with our new products, expert training and updated guidance on documentation – will contribute to making cleaning and compliance an easier task to manage.”
Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry. Although these are designed to keep the workplace tidy and uncluttered they are, more importantly, built knowing the control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a priority for healthcare providers, and who are employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem. As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are emerging on the market, including antimicrobial technology. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which
is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%. For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags. You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk and clicking Hospital, Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code.
PAGE 42 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
ODOUR CONTROL Eliminating Odours In Care Homes The environment in residential and nursing care homes is vital to the overall care and wellbeing of residents and peace of mind to their families. As such maintenance and cleanliness is a key concern. In fact when visiting prospective nursing homes there is one distinct observation that can be vital in the decision making process: offensive odours, particularly where there are many people – some of whom may have continence issues – confined to limited space and odours may build up if not managed properly. A Surrey nursing home was several years ago closed by inspectors with one of the reasons cited being an “overpowering” smell of urine. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) ordered its immediate closure after an inspection found it was “dirty and unsafe” and that residents were at “significant risk of harm”. Furthermore, your care/nursing home is your business, and as the saying goes, first impressions really do matter! If your business doesn’t create the impression that you want it to, it will inevitably have a long-term impact on your success. Smells can arise for very specific reasons, with Some of them predictable: loss of bladder and bowel control, medicinal ointments and other pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents to name a few, however, some are more surprising, like dehydration, occurring because of changes in
the pituitary glands that regulate thirst, older people are commonly dehydrated. This concentrates their urine, which makes even the smallest amount smell strong. Dehydration also causes dry skin, which can shed off easily and smells stale. A recent study highlighted that the one biggest concerns for care home visitors and residents is an environment that isn’t clean, or doesn’t smell clean. The way a care environment smells when you enter, can immediately tell you about its level of cleanliness, hygiene and safety. However, there is more to be noticed other than an unpleasant smell. While odour is obvious, an overwhelming or heavily perfumed fragrance can also be the sign of an attempt to mask foul and harmful odours. With odour and stain control being such a significant issue in long-term care and retirement facilities, the focus on actual odour elimination is essential for the health, safety, and comfort of residents, visitors, and staff. In order to create an environment that smells clean, fragrant and fresh, it’s imperative to identify the cause, that way you can target the cause of the odour, neutralising it, instead of simply attempting to mask it with heavy scents.
ODORBAC TEC4 THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CLEANING INNOVATION IN THE LAST 30 YEARS
According to the manufacturer 2Pure, OdorBac Tec4 is
probably the most significant cleaning innovation in the last 30 years. So, what is different about OdorBac and what does it do? James Law, Commercial Director at 2Pure explains in more detail “Before OdorBac, there were really only two ways of dealing with bad smells. You either masked them with a scent, or used enzymes. One doesn’t do anything to the source and the other can be very slow and rendered useless by other cleaning chemicals. OdorBac encapsulates odour molecules and then changes their molecular structure so that they are no longer an odour. This happens in a fraction of a second and if you get the product to the source of an odour, it’s gone for good.” In industrial applications (think landfill sites, sewage treatment works), OdorBac is sprayed into the air using specialist machinery. In use, the product was likely to land on people, animals and be absorbed into the ground. The design brief therefore had to be for a product that was safe and green from the outset. This unique odour treatment isn’t the products only use however. Law continues “Conventional chemistry dictates that you need some form of an acid, an alkaline or a solvent to effectively clean different surfaces. OdorBac turns that on its head with a single product that can be used to clean an entire building. Bathrooms, glass, hard floors, carpets, upholstery, stainless steel can all be cleaned with just one product to an exceptional standard. While you’re cleaning, you’re also removing unpleasant odours so the areas that have been cleaned just feel so fresh.” So OdorBac can handle daily routines. When James is asked about problem areas, he laughs “The issues are where OdorBac really excels and that is why we have a near 100% adoption rate. Even after all this time it still surprises me – only recently it removed a stain on a tiled floor that had been there over 10 years with just a short contact time. In simple terms if a stain, or heavily soiled area isn’t removed with OdorBac it simply isn’t going.” One of the very first companies to recognise the advantages of switching to OdorBac was Care UK which is the UK’s largest independent provider of health and social care. Director, Jon Bicknell says, “It was obvious from the first test that OdorBac offered far more than our existing product suite, and we have now been using it in all our homes for nearly four years. Our regular residents’ families surveys tell me all I need to know about OdorBac. The satisfaction scores have increased every single survey!” 2Pure are offering a completely free 1 week supported OdorBac trial when you contact them and mention ‘The Carer’.
RESIDENT INCONTINENCE WASTE SOLVED BY JALKIN
Have you truly considered how human waste can impact the efficient running your site, from start to finish? At Jalkin we are delighted to be launching an end to end proposition specifically tailored for the care environment, focusing particularly on immobile and incontinent resi-
dents, waste handling, cleaning protocols and processes, associated infection control management right through to drainage, treatment and disposal, where you pass the responsibility for your waste on to a third party. Whether that is the Environment Agency, your local Water Company or a Waste removal organisation, the Jalkin team bring relevant experience. This end-to-end approach has been successfully trialled with tangible metrics focused on the cleanliness of the resident’s and staff environment as well as fundamentally reducing related day to day costs. We have put this package together based on closely listening to the needs of our customers and have been pleasantly surprised by the response to date. Addressing the whole human waste path from start to finish not only brings typically unseen economical efficiencies but also supports our customers to addresses many of the environmental and compliance issues that are more and more stringent, particularly with the introduction of the 2020 drainage and discharge requirements that require prompt attention across the country.
A GREAT SOLUTION TO CLEANING UP ACCIDENTS
The Urine Off brand introduces a welcome solution to a common care home and nursing problem. Often accidents are cleaned up by quickly grabbing the nearest thing, resulting in reels of soggy paper towel or mountains of dirty bathroom towels that are messy and inconvenient to deal with afterwards. A common practice is to press down on the towels with the sole of your shoe which in turn spreads the contamination throughout the building when you walk away! Now you can use Zorb it Up Absorbent Sheets! Impregnated with Zorb it Up technology, which turns liquid to gel, the sheets absorb incredible amounts of fluid including urine, vomit and diarrhoea. Simply lay the sheet over the mess and press down to ensure contact, leave until the liquid has been absorbed then pick up easily and hygienically. The sheets have a plastic film backing which provides a sanitary barrier, ensuring that the soles of your shoes or your hands never come in contact with the contamination Zorb it Up is also available in a powder form which solidifies liquids into gel.
www.2pureproducts.com Tel 0191 217 1717 www.incomaster.com Tel 01183 703 307 www.urine-off.co.uk Tel 01273 455545
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 43
DEMENTIA CARE AND TRAINING
Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation Combine Photographs And Music To Stimulate Memory As the numbers of older people affected by Dementia grows and the pressure on the Care Sector increases, it is inevitable that more and more older people will live alone or with family. The sector is being warned to prepare for this: NICE have recently published Quality Statement QS184 which highlights the benefits of non medical interventions – gardening, pottery, music, singing etc - to stimulate memory and reduce social isolation and loneliness experienced by older people.
In 195O, David, aged 18, and his fellow National Servicemen, were fighting the Communists in Korea. What he experienced and saw, both good and bad, is deeply embedded in his memory. In particular he is able to recall the close relationship he enjoyed with his comrades. David, now in his 80s, lives alone and has Dementia. His family have created a montage of photographs taken during his time in Korea, accompanied by popular music of the period to which he listened on Forces Radio. The music is a trigger which restores his memory.
The Silver Song Music Box system has proved very successful in group settings – care homes, dementia units, dementia cafes – but does not reach older people living at home who are lonely and socially isolated. To meet this need Sing For Your Life have developed the Silver Song Memory Box. The Memory Box enables family and friends to use smart technology to create an album of photographs of memorable events - holidays, weddings, christenings, reunions etc which are linked to songs and music which were popular at the time . The song accompanying the illustration is “A Donut and a Dream” sung by the Mills Brothers. The completed montage of photographs and music is then viewed on the television.
SILVER SONG MEMORIES Building on the success of the Silver Song Music Box which enables groups of older people to enjoy participatory singing, Sing For Your Life has developed The Silver Song Reminiscence self build system which provides cognitive stimulation for older people living at home alone or with the family.
The system costs £150 complete
BENEFITS The combination of photographs and appropriate music stimulates the release of endorphins which restore memory and comprehension thereby reducing loneliness and social isolation. Contacts: pip@singforyourlife.co.uk
Hampshire, Thames Valley East Anglia heather@activitiesforhealth.co.uk South West England carolyn@sightgroup.com Wessex stuart@singforyourlife.org.uk All other areas
For more information call 07709 625487 email info@singforyourlife.org.uk or go to www.singforyourlife.org.uk
PAGE 44 | THE CARER | SUMMER 2019
DEMENTIA CARE AND TRAINING Engaging With And Attracting Early Talent Into Social Care Is Essential For Succession Planning It is estimated that 24% of all social care workers are aged over 551 and will retire gradually over the next ten years, creating around 320,000 job vacancies within the care industry. One way for care organisations to tackle this issue before it becomes a serious crisis, is to attract young people into vacant job roles. Care organisations need to acknowledge the benefits of attracting young people earlier. This includes promoting the exciting career options available with the sector, as well as engaging with young people much earlier on in the decision-making process. There are currently an estimated 760,000 young people (16 to 24 years) not in employment, education or training (NEET)2 couldn’t some of these fill the current 110,000 vacancies in the care sector3? So, what can care organisations do to attract this young audience?
BE INNOVATIVE IN YOUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGY
Employers need to consider different ways to interest this age group. Different aspects of the job will appeal more to a younger workforce, so it is important to tailor job adverts and recruitment strategies to attract younger candidates. Try introducing social media advertising and develop relationships with local schools and colleges. You can do this by giving assembly talks and hosting stands at careers fairs, all of which can be a great way to interact directly with potential employees. Try using your young employees to act as ambassadors and showcase how rewarding and successful a career in care can be. Changing application processes to suit a younger target is also advisable. Make applications simple to fill out and send off – limiting time-consuming forms which need posting. Consider changing the language used in your adverts to attract 16-24-year olds – make it less-formal and consider listing desired skills rather than qualifications so that it removes any barriers to allow a wider candidate pool.
USE ‘VALUES-BASED RECRUITMENT’ IN YOUR HIRING PROCESS
Values-based recruitment (VBR) takes a holistic approach to the hiring process and helps employers to find the right candidates with the right skills for the role who will provide a high level of care. Research completed by Skills for Care found that on average employee turnover was 5.6% lower for employers using a valuesbased approach to recruitment, compared to the traditional approach.
VBR allows employers to assess the values, behaviours and attitudes of a candidate, rather than having the necessary qualifications and/or direct work experience. The staff you want to hire should be compassionate, responsible and empathetic. Interview questions should ask candidates to give examples of ways their personality and behaviour reflects these skills; this could include caring for a relative or friend, volunteering for a local charity etc. Although it does take more effort to begin with, there are many benefits to switching to this type of recruitment strategy. It has a positive impact on staff retention, as well as improving the quality of care within a care organisation.
WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Children and teenagers need to be made aware of a career to aspire to work in that particular industry. If organisations aren’t reaching out to young children promoting different career paths, they may not hear about these opportunities until it’s too late. Care organisations are approaching young people of school-leaver or university age, but by this time many have already decided on their immediate future. If the sector wants to see an increase in the number of 16-24-year olds applying for roles, we must focus on educating the future generation on the options available in social care before they have made their decisions. Many Health and Social Care college courses require students to complete a minimum number of hours work experience within a social care setting before qualifying. Build bridges with local schools and colleges creating mutually beneficial relationships; these could be your future employees! For more information about Early Talent Recruitment visit: cohesionrecruitment.com or call: 0121 713 6956.
Utilising Government Funding To Improve Care Training Recent reports have suggested that as many as half a million care workers don’t have the sufficient training needs for their job role. Staff training can be a big expense for employers, but if staff haven’t got the right
skills, service users can be at risk and problems can arise when CQC inspections occur. Many care homes and services can’t individually access or don’t have time to research the support in place to help train their staff with qualifications that will give them the knowledge to provide the best possible care. Government funding is available to employers who want to upskill their staff, providing the opportunity to put employees through nationally recognised and accredited qualifications.
Wright Care Solutions Ltd Wright Care Solutions Ltd. an award winning Advisory Team, originally established in 2006, moving to a Limited Company in 2012. Our services include: supporting homes to reach compliance with CQC, CCG and Local Authority Quality Monitoring Teams. We achieve this by visiting your care environment to review the services that are offered. The visit can be informal or if required the visit can be in the form of an external audits or a mock inspection. We also provide Regulation 17 visits and can support with increasing occupancy, marketing of the home and we have experience of commissioning new builds. During the last 3 years there has been an increase in homes engaging us to support with reaching compliance following receipt of an adverse CQC inspection. We have a “hands on” approach and provide advice, support, action plans and reports, but where needed, roll up our sleeves and support to put things right. This may
Learning Curve Group is a national training provider, and one of the biggest suppliers of flexible learning to the care industry. We can support you in utilising funding to offer training programmes to develop your staff knowledge in a range of key sector areas. Courses are completed flexible, learner-lead model without having to attend a class - providing a great opportunity for CPD. Call 01388 741 336 or Email: training@learningcurvegroup.co.uk
include undertaking competency checks with staff, providing audit tools or other documentation required. Julie Wright, Lead Advisor, is a qualified nurse with an in-date PIN number and 40 years’ experience in the sector. Her particular areas of expertise are in the fields of Mental Health, Dementia Care and Environment and Learning Disabilities. Recent contracts include: • Supporting a care group in the South of England to reach compliance through audits, action planning and mentoring. • Supporting a Care Home issued with a “Proposal to Cancel Registration” and ‘Inadequate’ CQC rating, to move to a “Good “rating. • Supporting a “Good” rated care home to move to “Outstanding” with CQC. • Working with a group of homes by undertaking external audits- a fresh pair of eyes - to overview an already ‘Good’ rated service. • We work with Independent care homes, small groups, medium sized groups and large groups. For a full details of services available and a free quote call Julie Wright on: 07825 983228 or e-mail: enquiries@wrightcare.co.uk
Virtual College Virtual College has worked with subject matter experts to create certified statutory and mandatory training for those working in the health and social care environment, to help their organisation and employees meet their training obligations. Staff working in a healthcare environment need to ensure that they undertake statutory training to ensure they can do their job safely. Our course packages are designed to provide effective learning for staff to ensure they understand how to work safely in a healthcare environment.
At Virtual College we offer two packages Clinical and Non–Clinical training each package gives you ten courses suitable for the healthcare environment. All courses are mapped to Skills for Health’s Core Skills Training Framework. As a result, they meet National Occupational Standards, GMC/NMC Standards, CQC – Essential Standards of Quality & Safety and NHS Litigation Authority Standards. Courses are all CPD certified and meet the Care Certificate standards where applicable. Our Training Packages will save you £100 compared to buying these courses individually. If you’re looking for specific training, you can purchase any of our 25 courses individually to supplement your training requirements or increase your knowledge in a specific area. See the advert on page 43 for details.
Jolly Trolley - Winner of Product Innovation of the Year Winner of Product Innovation of the Year by the Design in Mental Health Network, the Jolly Trolley brings the power of music and singing to everybody, wherever they are in a Care Home; and by care staff just as easily as by the activities and wellbeing team. This simplicity of use and portability combined with the variety of inbuilt content, allows it to be used day and night, every day of the week. CQC are now looking for smaller, meaningful activities able to be delivered by everyone in the home as well as the larger social events that link communities together, just like living at home. The
Silent Memories Music therapy is a well established form of treatment for patients, particularly those suffering with dementia. It can help evoke memories and create a deeper sense of coherence and communication, whilst allowing residents to communicate on a different level with care workers and family members. Here at Silent Memories we offer an innovative form of music therapy, whereby rather than playing the music out loud for all to hear, it is played through our wireless headsets directly to the patients. All music is carefully selected by the residents, care workers, family members and
Jolly Trolley makes all this possible, encouraging communication and participation in a person centred manner. Music, song, dance, reminiscence, exercise, occasions, Church Service, games, quizzes, relaxation and Life Stories, all wrapped up in a Fun ‘Ice Cream Cart’ with sensory lighting and battery operation, the Jolly Trolley has it all. To find out for yourself the benefits the Jolly Trolley can bring to Life in your Home, call us on 0800 093 8499 or email hello@littleislands.org or see the advert on page 3. our DJs. When listening to music through our headsets we have noticed a distinct increase in engagement, animation and stimulation amongst patients. Often the music seems to evoke memories and allows the residents to become completely immersed in the sessions. Using headsets allows residents to opt in or out of the sessions. The silent disco can be taking place in a communal area and anyone not taking part won't be distracted by the activity. With a long transmission range it also allows patients with limited mobility to take part in the sessions in their own rooms. For more information on how we can help your clients recall memories and help to enhance the quality of life through the enjoyment of music please get in touch.: info@silentmemories.co.uk or 0203 727 5382
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 45
DEMENTIA CARE AND TRAINING Curve Learning and Development WHY CHOOSE CURVE?
Our team has over thirty years’ experience in designing and delivering top courses. We know that the more our trainees enjoy the training, the more easily they take in and retain the material. Smaller private companies, large multi-site organisations and local authorities all have something in common; teams learn best when they’re truly engaged in the process. To make things as easy for you as possible, we come to you and train your team on its own, familiar site. If you’d rather that we trained your team at our West Yorkshire-based training centre, drop us a line and we’ll tell you which courses we can deliver here. With Curve Learning, your team will be totally absorbed!
TRAIN THE TRAINER
Our range of train the trainer courses will equip your training team with the skills, knowledge and materials required to deliver all your mandatory training courses. Most of our courses in this area comprise of two day’s training with the first day spent developing delegate’s practical training skills and awareness of training theory. The second day focuses on the specific subject that you would like to deliver. The Level 3, CPD accredited training skills day of each course covers the following: • The training cycle • Effective presentation skills • Managing group dynamics • An introduction to learning styles • Effective questioning skills
• Designing inspiring training material • Evaluating your training delivery. The second day is specific to your chosen subject and will take you through our Level 3 accredited front line course.
FACE TO FACE
We are able to deliver training direct to your staff on site at your premises at any location in the UK, or here in West Yorkshire within our fully equipped training room. By taking this approach you leave us to worry about the development of your staff while your time and resources are spent elsewhere. We are able to provide over 40 CPD Accredited courses ranging from Moving & Handling, The Mental Capacity Act & DOLS, Infection Control, Medication Awareness etc. to more specialised training such as Positive Behaviour Intervention with Physical Interventions, Pressure Area Care, Epilepsy Awareness and Diabetes Awareness. Almost all of our courses can be delivered in a halfday format which allows you to maximise your investment by having two different courses in the same day, training up to 30 people.
E-LEARNING
We offer a suite of Level 2 CPD accredited online training courses. All courses are designed to help you meet your developmental requirements in a cost effective, easy to use way. For more info call us on 01924 842787 or visit www.curvelearning.org.uk
End of Life Training with North London Hospice North London Hospice is a registered charity that cares for those with a potentially life-limiting illnesses who have specialist needs. We provide physical, emotional and spiritual care to patients and families, friends and carers. Our Education department offers courses for all levels of health and social care professionals. Level 2 Award in Emotional Resilience - 21st and 28th August (both dates must be completed) You will learn how to engage with people and how to listen to and understand their emotions and values in relation to death and dying. This is an interactive and experiential course that offers the opportunity to develop skills
and personal insight in providing emotional support and will gain you a nationally recognised qualification. £275 for accredited, £195 unaccredited Dementia at the End of Life -17th September Confident Conversations in End of Life Care - 5th November £95 (3 for 2 on these courses for care homes) More details about all these courses can be found here: https://www.northlondonhospice.org/for-education/education/courses/ If we are too far from you we can also come to your care home to deliver bespoke courses on palliative care. Call us on 0208 343 6382 to discuss your individual needs.
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A Skills for Care endorsed provider, Curve Learning offer accredited training in over 40 subject areas. For a full list of subjects available please visit our website at www.curvelearning.org.uk or call us for a chat on 01924 842787. We provide classroom training that is CPD Accredited to Level 2 or 3; Level 3 Train the Trainer programmes or Level 2 eLearning courses. We are able to deliver training anywhere in the UK, but also have a number of external events planned in addition to courses at our head office in West Yorkshire. eLearning: 28 accredited courses available with annual or monthly payment options. Prices are extremely competitive for this flexible solution. Staff can simply print their own certificate after completion of each course.
SPECIAL OFFER: Upcoming Level 3 Train the Trainer events: Level 3 Supervision and Appraisal • 13- 15 August, Leicester Only £50 + VAT per person • 17 – 19 September, Milton Keynes 15th August, Wakefield • 21 – 24 October, Southport • 18 – 21 November, Southport Courses to be covered include M&H, First Aid, Safeguarding, Medication, Infection Control & Food Hygiene. We also have a number of events planned at our training centre each month. For more info visit our website at www.curvelearning.org.uk/course-calendar For more info call us on 01924 842787 or visit www.curvelearning.org.uk
THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 47
PROPERTY AND PROFESSIONAL Specialist Property Advisors To The Care Sector With nearly forty years experience in the discreet sale of Care Homes nationwide, principal directors Grayson and Dawn Taylor offer a service which is second to none in the Care sector. Their proven track record is confirmed by numerous client recommendations, and a continuing trust built up over the years with additional purchases and resales. The combination of specialising solely in the discreet sale of Care Homes of all sizes, and sites/developments for C2 use nationwide, along with a very personal approach to business and breadth of knowledge in the care sector, gives them an edge which practically no other com-
Global Business Finance Global Business Finance was established over 29 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 sup-
pany can match, and which no ordinary estate agent can ever hope to emulate. Their dedication to the long term Care Sector and commitment to providing both a professional and personal service to all their clients, is the cornerstone on which Lamont Johnson is founded. And unlike some agents, whose tendency nowadays is to charge substantial upfront fees of £1,500 to £1 0,000 along with excessively expensive commission charges, Lamont Johnson apply a fair and proportionate rate, with a NO UPFRONT FEE policy. Tele- 01937 842 758 / 07920 475 440 Web- www.lamontjohnson.com
port 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 have extensive knowledge within the sector and fully understand the requirements of the clients that Global introduce. With over £1.8bn in completed care home loans you should strongly consider Global Business Finance to represent you for your next loan application. Reader Enquiries - Tel: 01242 227172 Email: enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.com
£1.7 Million Care Home Development Site On Market A Northamptonshire development site with planning consent for construction of a 72bed care home is being brought to market by national property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH). LSH has been instructed to commence marketing the 2.17-acre greenfield site at Long Buckby following the appointment of LPA Receivers, with the proposed scheme potentially bringing investment and new jobs to the county. Offers in excess of £1.7 million for the freehold are being sought for the site, which may be suitable for alternative uses subject to planning. Richard Lingen, associate director at LSH in Birmingham, is running the sale process on behalf of the Receivers. He said: “This is a rare opportunity to purchase a sizable 2.17-acre greenfield site in Northamptonshire. Outline planning consent has been secured for the
development of a 72-bed care home with an additional 10 extra care units and seven extra care bungalows. “The site is conveniently located in the village of Long Buckby, between Rugby and Northampton, and just 500 metres from the local train station with direct trains to London and Birmingham. “We are expecting strong interest from the care sector as the proposed scheme offers the opportunity to build a luxury facility that will serve the local population and bring new employment opportunities to the area.” He added: “The site potentially offers scope for alternative uses, and previous applications have been granted for commercial development and we understand that applications for residential purposes would be looked upon favorably by the local planning authority.” The site is adjacent to the recently completed and popular Buckby Meadows residential development, completed by Bovis, which saw the construction of over 130 new homes. Interested parties are encouraged to contact LSH at the earliest opportunity. Call Richard Lingen on 0121 237 2322 or email rlingen@lsh.co.uk for more information.
Managing The Performance Of Staff rent legislation and the law.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Sadly, the care home profession is too often in the media for the wrong reasons. Earlier this year, many reported on an “alarming rise in reports of care home abuse”. Stories such as these often overshadow much of the excellent care that so many care homes provide. However, they are also a reminder that things can go wrong. What can Care Homes do to ensure, as best they can, that serious incidents don’t occur, and what should they do if they find themselves at the centre of a serious event?
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT OF STAFF
Managing the performance of staff is key. Good management promotes a supportive workplace culture and the health and well-being of staff, all of which has a positive impact on the quality of care you provide and the success of your business as a whole. Unfortunately, mistakes do occur, and sometimes they are serious enough to justify a formal warning or even dismissal. In the care home sector especially, mistakes can have a serious impact on the very people you care for, and their wider families. When staff do not perform to the standard required, it can negatively impact those in your care, and cause wider reputational damage for your business. For these reasons, effectively managing poor performance of staff can go a long way to preventing serious incidents occurring. Should a mistake be made, handling the situation correctly is important if you are to minimise damage to your business and reputation whilst also being fully compliant with cur-
The importance of having the right policies and procedures in place can’t be overstated, as is effectively communicating these policies and procedures to all staff. If management aren’t consistent in their approach to capability and/or disciplinary proceedings, you can run the risk of an employee seeking compensation for unfair dismissal or discrimination. For this reason, it’s advisable for all managers to have training to fully understand how to manage any poorly performing staff, handle capability and disciplinary problems, and to ensure that the handling of poorly performing employees is consistent, no matter who is involved. Legislation As well as following correct procedures, you also need to be aware of regulatory requirements. This is especially important should any serious incidents occur. For example, if there are any allegations of abuse, the Care Quality Commission must be informed and, in certain circumstances, the police notified. Ensuring management have a thorough understanding of the regulatory and legal requirements surrounding serious incidents will ensure that, should a serious event occur, it is handled correctly, and well.
HIGHLIGHT POSITIVE PERFORMANCE Of course, good people management isn’t just about managing poorly performing staff. Rewarding those who are performing well is equally as important. Having clear job descriptions can provide an excellent benchmark against which performance can be evaluated. It’s also an effective way of making clear to all employees what is expected of them. Recognising and rewarding good performance can pay dividends in boosting staff morale and inspire those who aren’t performing well, all of which helps create a workplace culture where everyone aspires to perform at their best. By Emma Edis, specialist in employment law, Moore Blatch www.mooreblatch.com @MooreBlatch
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