Caring uk April 2024

Home pioneers new ‘fall risk’ reduction pilot

PORTSDOWN View care home in Bedhampton is recruiting residents to a pioneering ‘fall risk reduction’ programme aimed at improving residents’ strength, confidence and independence.

The home has launched ‘Steady Strides’, a 12-week physical resilience course for residents.

In house-personal trainers and staff will run two 40-minute training sessions a week.

Designed by Connaught Care, classes will involve a combination of lower body strength training to support walking and standing; balance exercises to increase confidence whilst in motion; and muscular endurance exercises to increase resilience and strength.

Extensive walking practice will also play a key role.

The three month programme will also provide valuable data to the operator on how to reduce falls and improve safety across its portfolio of homes. Managers will be able to calculate the average fall rate and how this can be improved over the course of Steady Strides.

Resident feedback will chart real time improvements to their mental wellbeing and confidence.

The programme has been modelled on the Otago Exercise Programme in New Zealand, which found that strength-based training can lead to a reduction in falls of between 35 and 40 per cent.

Stephen Orwin, Connaught Care’s

life enrichment and wellbeing coordinator who is running the programme, said: “A bad fall can have a devastating impact on anybody’s life, and even just the fear of falling can discourage people from participating in the activities they love. Strength-based exercises are crucial for restoring a lost sense of confidence, whilst making residents genuinely stronger as well.”

The results of the pilot will inform the work of a ‘falls steering group’ at Connaught, which will compile data on falls from every one of its homes.

By gathering data from multiple different settings, the steering group will develop a new companywide strategy for improving the wellbeing and safety of residents.

Dorota Ozturk, deputy manager at Portsdown View, added: “This is such a critical issue but we are the first to systematise a programme, as far as we know.

“Astonishingly, people living in care are three times more likely to fall than people living at home, and we see every day the impact that mobility issues can have on a person’s quality of life. Helping our residents get up and moving about in a structured programme like this could be a gamechanger, and we can’t wait to see the results.”

The class is optional but open to all residents regardless of current mobility.

RIverside House Care Home in Morpeth has unveiled

named Marmalade, which has already leapt into

hearts of residents. Marmalade is an animatronic cat that looks, feels and sounds like a

soft fur, soothing purrs and pleasant meows. Designed to provide comfort to those living with dementia, Marmalade responds to petting, hugging and motion much like a real-life cat would thanks to a network of sensors and its VibaPurr technology which provides sound and vibration to replicate a real cat’s purr. The robotic feline allows Riverside’s residents to flexibly enjoy elements of pet therapy, which has been proven to provide wellbeing benefits and calm those with dementia.

Residents enjoy VR experience

RESIDENTS at Vale View Heights, a 50bed care home in Sidmouth, East Devon have enjoyed the unique experience of diving under the ocean from the comfort of their sitting room with virtual reality headsets provided by the Ocean Conservation Trust at Plymouth Aquarium.

As part of its broad activities programme Vale View Heights has a ‘Magical Moments’ list for residents, where they say what they’d most like to do or what they’ve always wanted to accomplish.

Resident Dennis Friend, 100 next year, said he’d love to return to Plymouth Aquarium so the team at Vale View Heights set about making his dream a reality.

Fortunately, the Ocean Conservation Trust at Plymouth Aquarium offered to deliver a virtual reality workshop to residents at the home, meaning many more residents could enjoy the experience too.

A team from Plymouth Aquarium helped 12 residents don their headsets and experience life under the sea for a few hours with programmes such as ‘In the shark tank’ and ‘Under the ocean’. They also brought with them various objects from the seabed such as dolphin skulls, ribs and dorsal fins as well as a wolffish skull.

Activities coordinator Janet Stanley said: “It was a real pleasure to be able to provide the residents with such a unique and unusual activity.”

its latest therapeutic companion, a robotic cat

the

real cat, with

Former driving instructor Derek takes drive down memory lane

A DRIVING instructor who taught hundreds from Peterlee to Hartlepool in a career spanning almost two decades took to the road once again – more than 15 years after retiring.

Derek Sinden, 83, qualified as an instructor in 1988 and ran the Peterlee School of Motoring until his retirement in 2007.

After moving to Bannatyne Lodge Care Home in Peterlee, staff learned how he helped hundreds of drivers from the area pass their driving tests.

Activities coordinator Dawn Minto arranged for driving instructor Mick Jones, of Mick Jones School of Motoring, to take Derek out on the route he used to take learners and to the Hartlepool Test Centre.

Derek had driven the route thousands of times in his Nissan Sunny, so the experience brought back fond memories.

He said: “Mick took me to Hartlepool and, on the way, we drove along the routes I used to use for the learners. It was great.

“We talked about the changes to the tests and about the different manoeuvres, especially how to parallel park, as no one ever wanted to do that.”

Derek was born in Hartlepool and moved to Peterlee in 1963.

At

After taking over the Peterlee School of Motoring in the late 80s, he appeared in the local newspaper when he invested hundreds of pounds upgrading his Nissan Sunny so he could instruct drivers with disabilities.

Dawn added: “We thought it would be nice for Derek to get back in a car and be taken on his old route by Mick, who gladly agreed.

“You could see it meant so much to Derek and he was beaming from ear to ear when he returned to the care home.”

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Former driving instructor Derek Sinden on a drive along his former learner’s route by current driving instructor Mick Jones.

Scheme creates future leaders

A CARE group has launched an innovative initiative to help its colleagues develop leadership skills, business prowess and empower future changemakers.

Aria Care Group has launched its ‘Inspiring Leaders’ development programme to support staff members committed to becoming high-impact leaders. The programme aims to foster engagement, build strong relationships and drive business success.

Having launched recently, 12 delegates – including home managers and regional directors – are already working towards improving their leadership qualities.

Kelly Howell, chief people officer at Aria, said: “We are absolutely delighted to launch our very first ‘Inspiring Leaders’ programme.

“We are committed to developing and nurturing our colleagues and

such, we’ve launched this programme to inspire and enable our leaders of the future. The programme covers a wide variety of topics which will enhance knowledge, build confidence and truly inspire our future leaders to be the best versions of themselves.”

Through a series of interactive workshops – a number of which are delivered by in-sector experts of their field – delegates will be given the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey and gain the skills for effective communication, strong business and commercial acumen as well as regulatory knowhow.

In addition to business knowledge, those taking part will learn how to reflect on their own practice, identifying factors like the strengths and challenges of their unique leadership style and the impact they may have on others.

Operator unveils pay increase of up to 12 per cent

WORTHING’S largest social care charity has confirmed its commitment to employees by announcing its carers and support workers will receive a pay rise of up to 12 per cent.

From April 2024, all care rates of pay at Guild Care will be at a minimum of £12 per hour.

This is above the Government’s compulsory National Living Wage which rises by 9.8 per cent to £11.44 per hour when it comes into force in April.

Overall, this will benefit more than 240 employees in a care role or support role and represents a significant investment for the charity.

Alex Brooks-Johnson, CEO of Guild Care, said, “Our priority whilst setting the budget this year was to increase our care pay rates as much as possible.

“While Guild Care is a not-for-profit charity, we firmly believe the value of the work of our carers should be reflected in their pay packets as far as we are able.

“In recent months we have been working closely with our highly experienced Board of Trustees to enable this investment in our care employees.

“These new, higher rates of pay for care and support workers would not have been possible without the continued hard work of the whole organisation as we recover post-Covid and get this amazing charity back on our feet financially.

“Government funding for social care continues to decline, and despite the headline grabbing announcements about investment in social care, we do not see any impact of this.

“But thanks to the innovation, drive, and determination of our team, we

are able to make this investment in our people.”

The increased rate will apply to everyone at Guild Care in a care role, including new employees once they have passed their probationary period.

It will also include support workers in the diverse range of day services provided by Guild Care for people living with dementia and children and adults with learning disabilities.

Leanne Jones, HR director at Guild Care, added: “We appreciate that pay, amongst other things, is an important part of employee’s terms and conditions so it was important for us to do the best we can to improve this element, particularly given the rising cost of living.

“As well as increasing pay, we are also reviewing all financial and nonfinancial benefits for the people who do so much to care for others across our charity.

“We hope that through continued improvements and growth, along with hopefully a fairer level of funding from Government, we will be able to make a similar investment in our housekeeping roles in the near future.”

Guild Care CEO Alex Brooks-Johnson.

Forbes Professional

In his latest in a series of regular columns, care provider Mike Padgham, who is chair of the Independent Care Group, gives us his personal take on the big issues facing social care.

When did we stop caring about each other?

WHEN did we stop caring about each other?

I ask, because it seems to me that healthcare and public services – the things we rely upon to enjoy a decent quality of life – are becoming less of a priority every day.

Every political decision seems to revolve around how we can, as a country, try and spend less, on our hospitals, on our roads, on everything that is required. And at the heart of this is the desire to tax us less. All the political parties jostle to be the party that takes the least from us in direct taxation or National Insurance.

“Read my lips,” said George Bush in 1988, “no new taxes”. And that is the mantra for all politicians, terrified that being seen as a party that increases taxation will result in extermination at the polls.

But why?

Don’t get me wrong, nobody wants to pay more in taxation or National Insurance. We all want to keep as much of what we earn as we can. The argument for being a low taxation economy – of keeping more money in the economy to fuel economic growth is a good and sound one. And a high tax, high spend reputation never won anyone an election.

But doesn’t there come at time when, for the good of the country, we have to loosen the purse strings a little and say, we have to spend some money on looking after one another.

If you own a house and the roof starts to leak, you have to repair it, otherwise your home will fall to pieces and you’ll have nowhere to live. You call in the roofer and pay the bill – even though you would probably prefer to keep those pounds in your bank.

I’m not a pools winner like Viv Nicholson who vowed to “spend, spend, spend”, proceeded to do so and went bankrupt.

But there must come a time when our politicians are honest with us and say, “if you want shorter hospital waiting lists, quicker appointments with your GP, homecare visits for your mum or a residential care bed for your grandad, you are going to have to pay for it”.

It isn’t just health and social care. Our local authorities have been cut to the bone on all their services, with some declaring themselves bankrupt. You only have to drive into town to see that our roads, like our NHS and our social care, are not being properly looked after.

At the recent budget there was investment in the NHS but it was a £3.4bn upgrade of the computer systems – designed to save £35bn. There was little mention of investment to look after people better and no mention whatsoever of social care, which continues to be the forgotten child.

In September 2021, when he was

Chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced a 1.25% National Insurance levy to “build the modern, more efficient health and social care services the British public deserves”.

Hooray, we all cried, at last something concrete was being done to help the sector, particularly after the horrors of covid.

But our joy was short-lived and as soon as he became Prime Minister, Mr Sunak killed the levy and pushed any social care reform back until at least 2025. It was argued by many commentators that he had never favoured the policy in the first place.

As we approach the next General Election, all the main political parties continue to be very wary of saying what they plan for social care. The Liberal Democrats promise some free personal care, a higher wage for staff and more support for unpaid carers. Labour promise to concentrate social care reform on improving pay and conditions for the workforce, and the Conservatives are so far saying very little about the sector.

None of this is the root and branch reform, the urgent creation of a National Care Service, that we so desperately desire. Social care minister Helen Whately recently derided the idea of a National Care Service, suggesting a preference for the current system.

I have argued many times before that money invested in social care,

on looking after people properly in their own home or in residential care, saves money for the NHS by keeping people well and out of hospital.

But no, instead, they let social care wither and as a result, hospital discharges grow and problems mount for NHS care because vital community support just isn’t there anymore.

Nobody mended the roof whilst the sun was shining even though the water has been getting in for years and the foundations are rotten too.

Our political party leaders have too many nightmares about being a “tax and spend” party and losing the election or about social care policies from the past – the 2010 Labour ‘death tax’ or the 2017 Conservative ‘dementia tax’ - that damaged election hopes.

Heaven forefend that someone is actually honest with the voters and tells them that we will need to increase taxation or National Insurance so that you can be treated sooner in hospital or not have to sell your home if you need care.

Would it really be so awful for a political leader to stand behind a lectern, and say, “we need to invest in health and social care to look after people properly and this is what it will cost?”

I don’t think it would.

But I’m not expecting to see anyone do it anytime soon…

Project bridges age gap

OAKMONT Lodge Care Home and Red Brick House Nursery School in Bangor have joined forces with Linking Generations NI for a one-ofits-kind pilot scheme that will bring together children aged three to four with older people residing in the facility.

The scheme, which will run in conjunction with Apples and Honey Nightingale in England and Generations Working Together in Scotland, will investigate the positive benefits that can come from crossgenerational socialisation.

Ryan Smith, chief executive of Dunluce Healthcare, which owns Oakmont Lodge, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to spearhead a scheme that will, not only promote positive well-being amongst our

residents, but will ultimately have a lasting impact.

“Ensuring quality care for our residents is a top priority, and we are pleased to be involved with an initiative that will foster community connections and meaningful relationships. Dunluce Healthcare has already seen the benefits of intergenerational socialisation through past projects in which local school children have visited our homes, and we look forward to developing this further in partnership with Red Brick House Nursery.”

The pilot has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Bringing People Together funding programme, which aims to build stronger connections across communities in the UK.

Welsh care homes were caught up in nightmare Covid “experiment”

A SOCIAL care champion said care homes in Wales felt they were caught up in a nightmare “experiment” when Covid struck in 2020.

According to Mary Wimbury, the Covid inquiry had flagged up once again that Wales and the rest of the UK was under prepared to deal with a pandemic.

She was speaking after the UK Covid-19 inquiry moved to Cardiff to scrutinise the Welsh government’s handling of the emergency.

In the early stages, said Mary, protecting the NHS had been treated as the paramount priority while social care hadn’t been given enough consideration.

One of the catastrophic consequences was that admitting untested hospital patients into care homes had in some cases led to the virus spreading rapidly, leading to the deaths of many vulnerable elderly residents.

Mary said: “During those early weeks we were talking to our counterparts in care associations across the United Kingdom and I think all of us felt the focus was very much on the NHS and there wasn’t sufficient focus on care homes in particular.

“We felt more planning could have been done in advance in relation to the different types of pandemics and how we would react to them.

“It’s definitely the case we were pressing for testing in particular for people being admitted to care homes from hospitals before that was implemented.

“While testing was announced earlier in England but we were also hearing from counterparts in England was that, although it had been announced, it wasn’t necessarily happening on the ground because the infrastructure wasn’t there.

In the three-year period from January 2020 there were nearly 1,500 excess deaths in care homes in Wales.

The lack of a rigorous testing regime

World of fun as care home celebrates cultural diversity

TEAM members from a dozen countries have helped a Winchester care home celebrate cultural diversity.

Colleagues from Europe, Africa and Asia partied with residents at Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton on a vibrant day of multicultural festivities.

The fun featured music, dancing, national costumes, traditional culinary treats and displays highlighting different regions and customs.

Abbotts Barton home manager Dee Lovewell said: “Our staff are of many different nationalities and we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate that with our residents.

“Across both clinical and nonclinical roles, our team’s experience, skills and knowledge, informed

early on and shortages of personal protective equipment like face masks, gloves and aprons had contributed to the problems.

On the other hand the Welsh Government had adopted a more cautious, considered approach than the UK Government and only announced new infection control measures when the necessary infrastructure had been put in place.

Financial support provided by the Welsh Government for the social care sector was also significantly higher in Wales than in other parts of the UK.

“One of the differences we saw during the pandemic was that Welsh Government wanted to get the logistics in place before announcing something,” Mary added.

“Testing was absolutely crucial and what we were hearing from members across Wales in the early days was that they were being put under pressure by the NHS to admit people without testing.

“We know that testing would have helped but we also know that in the early stages when people were incubating Covid they wouldn’t have necessarily tested positive. It would have helped in some cases but not in all of them.

“At the time it felt very much like we were living in an experiment and we were finding out about the disease as we went along.

“It was the sector’s worst possible nightmare because the virus was most dangerous to frail elderly people.”

Mary concluded: “We started asking questions in February 2020 about preparations in terms of the care sector and it became clear in the early days of the pandemic in the March that we needed an extension of testing and access to sufficient PPE for staff working in the social care sector, as well as funding to implement the infection control measures that were necessary.

“There were gradual steps as different measures were introduced. Initially, we go the extension of testing for new admissions to care homes and for symptomatic care home residents.

“At the start there was a rule that you could only test five people in a care home and once you had five tests you couldn’t have any more. Clearly, that didn’t make sense going forward.

“Then we moved on to testing all staff and residents when there was an outbreak and finally to all residents and staff being tested regularly.”

“What the inquiry gives us an opportunity to do is to think about what could have been done better in advance so that, heaven forbid, if we were to have another pandemic in future we can be better prepared.”

Three

anniversaries

by their mix of backgrounds, truly enriches our home and our standards of care for residents and their families.

“The day started with presentations from Poland and Ukraine followed by a gala display in the afternoon.

“We had traditional music and dancing from Nepal and India and food from all nations to sample.

“Residents toured the room looking at the displays for each country. They even got up to dance with staff when we played South African music.

“Everyone was still buzzing from all the excitement the following day.”

Countries represented among the team at the home include Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, Ukraine, Poland and Estonia.

celebrated at home

CHERRY Trees Care Home in Kimberworth Park welcomed Mayor of Rotherham Councillor Robert Taylor to celebrate at a party held for three 25th anniversaries. Run by Orchard Care Homes, Cherry Trees marked 25 years of providing residential and dementiafriendly care.

Deputy manager Marie Dearnley and resident Michael Melber have worked and lived at the home respectively since it first opened its doors in 1999.

Marie started her career as a care assistant in the night team and worked her way up the operator’s ‘Step up the career ladder’ scheme.

She said: “I have loved working here in all that time.

“Every day is different and I am proud of being able to offer the best possible care to those who need it.

“I can’t quite believe the Mayor and Mayoress made the journey over to Cherry Trees to celebrate with us. I am overjoyed.”

Visitors, colleagues and those who call Cherry Trees home danced and sang together with live entertainer Paul Barry, who performed some favourite songs and cracked some timeless jokes. Care home colleagues put on a huge spread with wine and spritzers for all to enjoy and mark the happy occasion.

Mary Wimbury

Abbotts Barton home manager Dee Lovewell dances with resident Doris Short.

Association launches its Care Chef of the Year competition

THE National Association of Care Catering’s Care Chef of the Year 2024 competition has opened for entries, officially starting this year’s search for the best chef working in the sector.

The prestigious competition has been celebrating the culinary talent across the care sector for 24 years.

Open to all chefs and cooks working in care settings, it recognises, showcases and celebrates their sector-specific knowledge, skills and flair. The NACC Care Chef of the Year 2024 competition is once again supported by Unilever Food Solutions as the main sponsor and event sponsor The Worshipful Company of Cooks.

Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “I always look forward to this competition as it is one of the best opportunities of highlighting the fantastic skills of the innovative and creative chefs who find such job satisfaction working within the care sector.

“It is also an inspiration to others who may be thinking of embarking on a worthwhile career in care catering.

“Great dining experiences are at the heart of everything we do, so there is no better occasion to showcase our talented chefs from around the country. The competition will again be overseen by the amazing head judge, Steve Munkley, who provides constructive feedback after each regional heat.

“That

alone should be enough to encourage everyone to enter and celebrate

the culinary excellence the care sector offers. I wish anyone who enters the best of luck.”

Focusing on the importance of food, nutrition and positive mealtime experiences as part of quality care, entrants are challenged to create an appealing and delicious two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting.

The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £4.50 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced.

The menu must also feature at least one product from Unilever Food Solutions’ sector-relevant catering range.

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

to the next stage will compete at the regional heats in June.

Here they will have 90 minutes to produce their dishes and demonstrate their skill set and knowledge under the watchful eyes of the competition judges.

The judges will be looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods they are using and how they benefit the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation, and hygiene best practice.

The highest-scoring competitors from each regional heat plus wild cards selected by the judges will compete for the title NACC Care Chef of the Year 2024 at the national finals on Tuesday, October 1 at Loughborough College.

The deadline for entries is May 6.

A Bridgwater & Taunton College student studying health and social care has been so impressed by the dementia care home she teamed up with for her student placement she has applied to join them as a full-time employee. Student Madi Davis has spent 137 hours at the town’s Avalon Nursing Home since she started her studies in 2022, working as one of a cohort of placement students who regularly visit the home. She said: “I very much enjoyed my time at Avalon during my placement, the residents and staff were very friendly and welcoming and I look forward to working with them in the future.”

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The social aspect of care and the importance of an events calendar

By Samuel Court

THROUGHOUT our care services our team has witnessed first-hand the negative impact of social isolation on individuals’ physical and mental well-being, regardless of the high level of personal care provided.

The opportunity to engage with the community and form connections with like-minded individuals can transform someone’s quality of life from simply existing to truly living, fulfilling one of the fundamental goals of care: optimising the quality of life...

A catalyst for change

The Covid-19 pandemic put a lot of pressure on the care industry and its clients, especially during lockdown.

Although it was necessary to protect vulnerable individuals and those in need of care, the lack of social interaction and resulting isolation has had a negative impact.

During the pandemic, 7.2 per cent of people felt lonely ‘often’ or ‘always’, with the elderly and widowed populations being affected the most.

As we learned more about the situation, our team applied an innovative approach to home care that extended beyond the limits of the household by

Sophia

Cornelius,

creating Nexus Events.

We seized the opportunity presented by an unprecedented event that forced us to view the world from a different perspective.

Community wellbeing – one event at a time

Nexus Events was established to combat the sense of isolation that arose due to the lockdown.

The service focuses on the well-being of its clients and the need to socialise in an accessible space.

Initially, the programme was created

as a response to unforeseen circumstances, but soon it became apparent that care clients were routinely excluded from social events due to inaccessible venues or a lack of safe transport.

Therefore, we tailored the Nexus Events programme to reflect our clients’ long-term needs, which include:

n day trips to natural landmarks.

n beauty spots.

n shopping trips.

n meals and tea outings.

n church services on demand.

n support for overnight stays.

By providing our clients with a wide range of social activities, we go beyond the typical social care offering, allowing those who require care to continue to live their lives and enjoy a fulfilling social life.

Safety and security

For care providers aiming to deliver a comprehensive service, accessibility is paramount.

Alongside organising events for a variety of tastes, from adventure-lovers to homebirds, we also provide ongoing care support for those attending our events and safe transport to and from the venue.

The goal is to assure clients and loved ones that they are safe and

Advertiser’s announcement

having their needs met while having the opportunity to socialise and build a network of those who understand their situation. All elements of our events are designed to provide a safe experience that accommodates a range of needs – recognising care requirements without centring them at the cost of socialising.

Making diversification work for clients

Despite the disruptive and troubling beginnings of Nexus Events during Covid-19, it served as a vital catalyst to identify an ongoing problem and suggest an innovative solution. What was initially a temporary programme has enabled us to understand our clients’ needs beyond the ordinary and create something that caters to their well-being and individuality in the long run.

Most importantly, when expanding into other areas of care provision, we must consider our clients’ overall well-being and mental health to ensure that we deliver the highest quality of care possible.

To create an inclusive community, care providers must take the lead and provide opportunities for their clients to seize life by the hand.

n Samuel Court is a director at Nexus Care Services.

development dietitian for apetito – leading meals provider into care homes, talks about the importance of ‘eating for health’ for residents in care homes across the UK.

Feeding wellness – the vital role of good nutrition for residents

THE importance of care home residents eating for health cannot be overstated.

Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in the overall well-being and quality of life for individuals in care homes, especially considering that residents often have unique health challenges and needs.

Here are several reasons that highlight the importance of ensuring that care home residents are eating for health:

Mobility

Good nutrition is essential for maintaining physical health as we age. There is a natural decrease in muscle mass with age, but the rate of loss is accelerated for those who are malnourished. Muscle mass is essential for strength and balance, which play a key role in mobility and supporting residents to perform activities of daily living. Maintaining muscle mass or reducing the amount lost as we age will enable residents to remain independent with their own care needs for longer. Protein provides the building blocks for

our muscles and therefore is a key nutrient involved in maintaining muscle mass.

Skin health

Residents who are less mobile and spend more time sitting are at greater risk of developing pressure sores. Poor nutrition will not just amplify this risk but cause protracted wound healing. Energy and protein are essential for the prevention and management of pressure ulcers1

Mental health

Poor nutrition doesn’t just have

negative consequences to physical health but mental health too. Research suggests that the inadequate intake of specific nutrients could negatively affect mood and be associated with depression. For example, B vitamins, which are found in leafy greens, meat, and dairy products, play a role in the production of brain chemicals that affect mood, meaning lower intakes of B vitamins may be associated with a higher prevalence of depression2,3

Hydration and health

Dehydration is common in older adults due to physiological changes in the aging process, for example reduced sensation of thirst. Dehydration can have serious health consequences including adversely affecting mental performance, increasing tiredness, and impacting mental functions such as memory and concentration. It’s also associated with increased risk of urinary tract infections and one of the main causes of acute kidney injury, both of which may require hospital admission for treatment4

In summary, promoting healthy eating habits for care home residents is crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-being, preventing health issues, and enhancing their overall quality of life. It requires attention to individual dietary needs, preferences, and any medical conditions to provide personalised and effective nutritional care.

References:

1. Posthauer ME, Banks M, Dorner B, Schols JM. The role of nutrition for pressure ulcer management. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2015 Apr;28(4):175–88. doi:10.1097/01. asw.0000461911.31139.62

2. Mahdavifar B, Hosseinzadeh M, SalehiAbargouei A, Mirzaei M, Vafa M. Dietary intake of B vitamins and their association with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms: A cross-sectional, population-based survey. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2021 Jun;288:92–8. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.055

3. Wu Y, Li S, Wang W, Zhang D. Associations of dietary B vitamins intakes with depression in adults. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. 2023 Apr;93(2):142–53. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000720

4. Dehydration in older people [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 8]. Available from: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/life-stages/ older-people/malnutrition-and-dehydration/ dehydration-in-older-people/

Sophia Cornelius

Samuel Court

Society open to all providers, regardless of their rating

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE OUTSTANDING TO JOIN THE OUTSTANDING SOCIETY.

Yes really, we just shouted that because it’s true, so true we’ll say it again.

You do not have to be outstanding to join, you just have to want to share and learn from others in the sector who are focused on being the best they can.

It is open to all providers of adult social care, regardless of their rating.

Membership is free to all, so join today by emailing comms@ theoutstandingsociety.co.uk

We at the OS are counting down the days to Care Show London, the event that is bringing the beloved Care Show spirit to our nation’s capital.

London ExCel will be the UK’s premier destination for leaders in Social Care looking to improve the quality of their service, deliver personalised care, achieve outstanding ratings, and transform the care sector.

We are again hosting the Learning Lounge where you can get involved in a variety of panel discussions with a wealth of industry knowledge and take away ‘Golden Nuggets’ for your tactical toolbox from industry expert voices. Some of our session titles include:

n Vulnerability in leadership –the secret ingredient.

n Risky Business, Coroners Court. What happens? and

n Duty of Candour – Crystal Clear Reporting.

We are looking forward to

welcoming speakers from the CQC, NMC, DHSC and UKHSA as well as many of our partners.

Join us on stand T10 to talk about everything positive in the sector at the event that ensures the hottest and most important topics in adult social care are tackled.

You can book your tickets here. At the show on day two, we have the opportunity to update on the VIVALDI Social Care project in the Care Key

Note Theatre – more than 500 care homes across England have joined the pilot already, with spaces still available to get involved in this work to reduce infections and improve lives.

Due to the high level of interest in VIVALDI Social Care, this project is being phased.

Phase one will include providers who use Nourish or PCS. We are working with other digital suppliers to include them later in 2024.

Due to the workload for teams using paper-based systems and the security of the data, the project does not allow homes to participate if they are paper-based only.

The Outstanding Society website includes detailed information about how to get involved in the project, including a practical animation helping you to explain to the people you support, key information about how data will be used etc.

If you want to be at the forefront of new research, please e-mail: info@ vivaldisocialcare.co.uk

Zoe Fry, Director of the OS

The OS is a Community Interest Company, free to all providers irrelevant of their rating. It is a platform to share and celebrate best practice, help others to improve and promote careers in social care. Please contact Sonia – info@ theoutstandingsociety.co.uk for more information or follow the links below

Celebrating the care sector: The Care Show London 2024

THE Care Show London is bringing the beloved Care Show spirit to our nation’s capital on April 24 to 25, and will be the UK’s premier destination for leaders in social care looking to improve the quality of their service, deliver personalised care, achieve outstanding ratings, and transform the care sector.

This two-day conference and exhibition event provides the perfect opportunity to stay up to date with policy, regulation, and best practices, network with fellow care professionals and meet with leading service providers for the sector.

With a comprehensive conference programme, designed specifically to address the current priorities and challenges in the care sector, you cannot afford to miss out.

Topics and trends

For the spring 2024 event, there is a big focus on celebrating the voice of care and providing positive takeaways to current challenges.

The conference programme has been carefully curated with the assistance and full support of an Advisory Board, representative of all areas of social care.

Free to attend for all care professionals, the CPDaccredited programme will be delivered across six theatres which include two exclusive learning areas from our partners The Outstanding Society and Care Providers’ Voice.

n Care Keynote Theatre

Discover how other businesses are navigating the new assessment framework, gain top tips on how to secure the best funding from your local authority, and join the discussion around the importance of social care in public policy, and developing and professionalising the workforce pathway. Hear from the CQC and learn from those who know best what the future of care looks like.

n Technology Theatre

Focus on the importance of cultural transformation and a people-centred training approach, uncover how to access government funding for your new digital endeavours, how to maintain your cybersecurity measures, and how to harness the

power of AI. Practice digital inclusion, master social media, and stay up to date with CQC data requirements as we move forward into the exciting new technological world of care.

n People, Workforce and Wellbeing Theatre

Learn how to deal with difficult conversations, cultivate a harmonious mentally healthy workplace, and navigate the newly arising challenges around international recruitment. Develop your leadership skills, your training programmes and celebrate the value of the younger generation as part of the workforce, and so much more.

n Business Theatre

Here you can expect to refine your business’ learning and development budgets, enhance your sales and marketing practices, and focus on the sustainability of your business for a greener future. Join the discussion around refurbishment vs new build and follow the journey of raising finance, to setting up a franchise.

Speaker highlights for April 2024

n Professor Vic Rayner – chief executive officer, National Care Forum.

n Professor Oonagh Smyth – chief executive officer, Skills for Care.

n George Appleton – head of policy, Care England.

n Nadra Ahmed – chairman, National Care Association.

n Angela Boxall – CEO, Majesticare.

Session highlights for April 2024

Wednesday, April 25

11.45am to 12.15pm – ‘An update from the CQC’ –Care Keynote Theatre.

12.15pm to 1pm – ‘What now? Navigating the challenges around international recruitment’ –People, Workforce & Wellbeing Theatre.

3.15pm to 4pm – ‘Green horizons: embracing sustainability through an ESG lens’ – Business Theatre.

4pm to 4.45pm – ‘The new Single-Assessment Framework: making it work for you and your organisation’ – Care Keynote Theatre.

Thursday, April 25

10.05am to 10.35am – ‘Professionalising the workforce: how far does a register take us?’ – Care Keynote Theatre.

11.45am to 12.30pm – ‘Meeting the call for new CQC evidence: a tech shopping list’ – Technology Theatre.

2pm to 2.45pm – ‘Retaining top talent: understanding the employees’ experience’ – Business Theatre.

3pm to 3.30pm – ‘Communication and supporting people with learning disabilities: are we a voice or a microphone?’ – People, Workforce & Wellbeing Theatre.

Why you should attend

We can achieve more when we work together towards a collective goal.

n Reinforce your professional network.

n Learn how to overcome challenges by listening to colleagues’ experiences.

n Share your expertise with others.

n Talk to suppliers to understand how technology can help you, and so they can learn what your priorities are as a care business.

n Reignite your passion for caregiving by engaging in conversation with like-minded peers.

n Celebrate and be celebrated.

Don’t forget to book your free ticket at www. careshowlondon.co.uk/caringuk

Fusion

CoolCare

G65

Workforce management, care planning and resident invoicing trusted by thousands of users, from single site operators to large multi home organisations. We will provide you with the best end to end software in social care. Each of our modules can be taken standalone or combined for a solution that caters for all. We will do all the hard work for you. Once you’ve made the switch we will be here to train and support you. All customers receive free product upgrades and features which are typically released every few months. www.fusionEcare.com

OM Interactive

OM Interactive’s ground breaking interactive Mobii table/floor provides adults in care with meaningful person-centred activities that encourage movement, positive outlook, social opportunities and shared laughter with powerful visuals, colour therapy, games, quizzes, music and reminiscence content. The many applications include; virtual aquariums, physical/target games, butterfly meadows, childhood memories and nature colouring; something for everyone. The system is fully mobile and height adjustable. https://omi.uk/

M10

CareHomeLife

CareHomeLife is a supplier of consumables and equipment to care homes, providing care home essentials that prioritise people, planet, and pocket. Our story starts and ends with people. We’re people who care homes can rely on, driven by an unwavering purpose – to make it possible for people who work there to keep life running smoothly, to make care home life better for those who live there. We go the extra mile for our customers, so that they can get the most from their budgets whilst providing the best care to their residents. carehomelife.co.uk

F76

Arquella

L30

Arquella provides advanced technology solutions that simplify and improve care in residential settings. Our approach to connected care means integrating our proprietary software and hardware solutions, making administrative tasks easier and allowing caregivers to dedicate more time to what truly matters: exceptional care. Our innovative products, including Arquella Connect, Call, Move, and Sense, integrate seamlessly to enhance care delivery and resident satisfaction, offering real-time care insights. www.arquella.co.uk

We’re delighted to have a stand at this year’s Care Show, demonstrating our product and exploring how CoolCare can benefit your care home. Our team will be showcasing how you can increase your admin efficiency through digitalisation and automation, and exploring how our technology can increase staff productivity with its timeliness and accuracy. The aim of our product is to relieve pressure on your team and allow them to spend more time with the residents. Email sales@coolcare4.co.uk or call 0113 385 3853.

CareLineLive

G45

CareLineLive’s cloud-based all-in-one homecare management software improves efficiency, capacity and compliance in home care agencies by digitising workflows and automating processes such as rostering and payroll. Homecare agencies can save time and money, and carers spend less time on paperwork allowing them to spend more time delivering better care. CareLineLive is a DSCR / NHSX Assured Supplier which means agencies can save up to half their first year’s costs when moving from paper based records to a digital social care records system.

The Outstanding Society

L41

T10

The Outstanding Society’s purpose is to serve as a platform for sharing and celebrating best practices in social care while supporting others to enhance standards and elevate the visibility of the sector. Our collective goal is to offer complimentary memberships, providing unrestricted access to our virtual events, newsletters, podcasts, and an array of valuable resources. This initiative strives to create an inclusive platform, ensuring that everyone can access information, celebrate innovation and exchange best practices. www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk

Ally

Ally is an evidence-based resident monitoring system helping care homes transform residents’ lives. Research shows care homes using Ally have slashed bedroom falls by 63 per cent, decreased hospital visits by 56 per cent, improved residents’ sleep time by 50 per cent and given carers back 30 per cent more time to care. Ally combines AI with sound and motion sensors to identify residents’ needs when they are alone in their room – alerting carers to residents in pain and discomfort, calling for help, moving around or confused/upset. www.allycares.com

K24

Homes harness town’s community spirit

TWO Keith care homes have joined forces in a bid to bring the local community together through a series of fun and inclusive activities.

Glenisla and Weston View care homes, both part of the Parklands Care Homes group, have formed the Keith Cares Club which aims to tackle social isolation in the town, bridge the generational gap and foster closer connections between their residents and the wider community.

The initiative is being spearheaded by longstanding friends and colleagues Shona Conlin and Brenda Harper, managers of Weston View and Glenisla respectively.

The two, who met at Buckie High School in 1980, have been friends for more than 40 years and colleagues for more than 10.

Shona said: “Keith is known – quite rightly – as the friendly town but we know that some people in our community still feel isolated.

“The Keith Cares Club is an opportunity to connect our community through fun activities that will appeal to people of all ages.

“We’re both passionate about supporting our local community, bringing people closer together and sharing moments of joy.

“Our goal is to create spaces where people can come together, celebrate life’s simple pleasures, and forge lasting friendships.”

Events include a spring tea, tombola, charity dance and, later in the year, breakfast with Santa.

Both homes will also have a presence at this summer’s Keith Show.

Proceeds from these events will support the homes’ comfort funds, which provide activities and entertainment for residents, and help fund future community activities.

The club’s first event is a spring tea at Longmore Hall, Keith, on April 6 from 10am to 12pm.

Digital transformation – a call to action

TO ALL care providers who have not yet embraced digital this is a timely call to action.

Digital solutions offer transformative change.

The ability to have both your care and business records collated from one simple and straightforward point of entry in an easy to understand format is great for you, your business, your stake holders and your regulator.

Fusion’s development in providing over 14 years of digital technology to the care sector has proven to have driven higher standards of both care and efficiency by spearheading

enhancements in time consuming input, reporting and care processes proven by numerous outstanding CQC reports achieved by our tech savvy clients.

It is no longer possible to deliver care to an acceptable standard without a digital record of the care an individual has received.

Continuity of care for all won’t be 100 per cent effective until everyone’s onboard, but for some the decision making is slow and frustrating and it’s taking too long to realise the benefits, digital is not going away so embrace the change today.

Digital technology should be a prime objective promoting new ways of working.

Effective investment is key. Many times, decisions to procure are weighted towards cost not value for money.

Test the marketplace, compare systems, apply due diligence and

rather than being sold a system for the wrong reasons, buy one that delivers to your expectations.

Fusion is one of the only suppliers of an end-to-end care management system so no need to look any further for care planning, staff management and resident administration one point of entry, one system.

Release the potential of your business by empowering your team to let them focus on what really matters, quality care. We will deliver, get in touch today.

Email info@fusioncare.co.uk or visit us on stand G65 at London Care Show.

Gordons Partnership welcomes new healthcare regulatory solicitor

GORDONS Partnership Solicitors has added Samantha Burges to its health and social care provider team.

Having worked at Ridouts Solicitors for 12 years, Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge in regulatory compliance, crisis management, and dispute resolution to the firm.

Samantha has successfully advised clients on matters related to regulatory enforcement with a focus on the CQC and Ofsted.

She has also provided guidance on local authority safeguarding, funding and fee disputes, inquests and public law challenges.

Samantha’s clients typically include care home and homecare providers, children’s homes, GP practices, dental practices, hospitals and more.

She said: “I’m delighted to join the growing health and social care provider team at Gordons Partnership.

“Throughout my career I have worked solely for providers in the sector offering pragmatic, commercially focused advice and supporting them to have their voices heard and I’m excited to continue this important work.

“I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues, working with the wider Gordons team to expand the offering to my clients and having a meaningful impact on the sector.”

Gordons Partnership prides itself on fostering a work environment that promotes professional growth and collaboration.

The health and social care provider

team embraces a combination of legal expertise, innovative thinking, and a dedication to providing exceptional client service.

The firm’s culture emphasises the importance of understanding the unique challenges faced by clients in the health and social care sector, and supporting them in maintaining long term professional working relationships with regulatory bodies.

Neil Grant, Partner and head of the health and social care provider team, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Samantha to the team. I worked with Samantha at Ridouts Solicitors, and in the years since she has become an industry leader in the provision of regulatory and commercial advice to care providers.

“Samantha’s appointment means that Gordons Partnership is further positioned to provide comprehensive and expert advice to clients in the sectors in which we operate.

“Her extensive experience and deep understanding of regulatory compliance, crisis management, and dispute resolution make her a valuable asset to the firm and its clients.”

Neil Grant, Partner and head of Gordons’ health and social care provider team, with senior associate Samantha Burges and solicitor Lucy Bowker.

Advertiser’s

Brenda Harper (left) and Shona Conlin.

Teams praised as care standards improve

TWO Moray care homes recently acquired by the Parklands group have shown a notable improvement in care standards in a matter of months, according to the findings of the independent regulator.

In March 2023 the operator was appointed to manage Weston View in Keith and Wakefield House in Cullen after Craigard Care Limited went into administration.

A new management team was given the explicit task of raising care standards at the homes.

Five months later the homes were formally integrated into the Parklands group, ensuring continuity of care for almost 70 residents and safeguarding around 80 jobs.

Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes, said: “The turnaround at Weston View and Wakefield House, in just a matter of months, has been astonishing.

“Through leadership, focus and determination, both homes have made tremendous and tangible progress in a very short period of time. It has involved a huge team effort, but the results of that hard work are clearly evident.

“These are early days, and we have a lot of work ahead at both homes to further improve care standards.

“However, I am absolutely delighted with the progress we have made.

“I couldn’t be prouder of both homes for the dedication and professionalism they have shown during this testing transitional period.

“We have never faced a situation

before where we’ve had to step in –almost overnight – to safeguard two care homes, but both teams have shown exceptional commitment.”

Both homes recently underwent routine inspections by the Care Inspectorate – their first since being transferred.

Inspectors assessed both against five key criteria: support for residents’ wellbeing, quality of leadership, performance of the staff team, the homes’ setting, and the effectiveness of care and support planning.

At Weston View, inspectors observed that ‘staff were welcoming, warm and working hard to meet people’s needs’ and that ‘there was a culture of trying to make people’s life and experiences better.’

Their report found that care plans

were detailed and person-centred.

‘This ensured that the needs, thoughts and wishes of people were at the centre of the care and support provided by staff and staff were providing consistent support,’ it said. Inspectors found ‘there was a supportive culture within the service. Senior staff and management provided guidance and reassurance to the staff team.’

The report added: ‘Staff told us they were pleased with recent positive improvements within the service. Leaders directed care well and staff felt supported in their role. As a result, the staff team worked well together to improve outcomes for people.’

The report also noted efforts to reduce reliance on agency staff which

ensured more stability for residents.

Weston View received a grade five (very good) rating for the quality of leadership, the home’s setting and how well care and support is planned. It was rated grade four (good) for the way it supports people’s wellbeing and for the performance of its staff team.

By contrast, following its last limited inspection in November 2022, Weston View was rated grade three (adequate) for the quality of its leadership.

Meanwhile, at Wakefield, House, inspectors described a ‘whole team approach that was very focused on community engagement, families and involvement.

This resulted in many positive outcomes.’ Inspectors also noted ‘significant improvements to the outcomes for people and the morale of staff’ since the home had been acquired by Parklands.

The report also acknowledged Parklands’ ongoing refurbishment efforts - as a result of which

‘Wakefield was welcoming, homely and a nicer place for people to stay.’

Inspectors also noted ‘a significant amount of work’ had been undertaken to ‘ensure a leadership team was recruited and developed, to support and direct care during each shift.’

Wakefield House was rated four (good) in each of the five criteria assessed.

It was judged adequate (grade three) against the same set of criteria during its last inspection in February 2023.

The team at Wakefield House.

First two events are a huge success

ST MELLION in Cornwall and Webbington Hotel to the south of Bristol played host to the first Caring UK regional conferences of 2024.

At St Mellion the packed audience heard from National Care Forum’s digital transformation lead Beverly Futtit, NAPA head of professional development Sue Trischitta, apetito development dietitian Sophia Cornelius and Alive training and delivery manager Nicola Taylor. Nicola introduced the audience to the empathy suit that allows the

person wearing it to understand firsthand what it may be like to live with dementia.

Joining Nicola and Sophia at Webbington Hotel the following day were National Care Forum policy director Liz Jones and Sanjay Dhrona, MD of The Close Care Home and director of The Outstanding Society.

The conference was complemented by an exhibition featuring more than 20 key suppliers to the care sector.

Script Media director of operations Dominic Musgrave, who chaired

both events, said: “Our first ‘A Positive Outlook for Care’ conferences of the year were a huge success, and we thank everyone who found time in their busy schedules to come along and attend the events.

“We must also thank our fantastic line-up of speakers for their informative and thought provoking presentations, as well as our exhibitors for their continued support.”

There are four remaining conferences this year.

The next two will take place at Blackpool Village Hotel and Ramside Hall near Durham on May 8 and 9.

Holiday Inn, Barnsley and Dunston Hall near Norwich will round off this year’s events on July 10 and October 30 respectively.

To exhibit at any of the above events call Bev Green on 01226 734288 or to book a delegate place call Carole Rice on 01226 734412.

For further information or to book a delegate place online visit https:// www.caringukconferences.co.uk

CQC’s assessment framework – where are we now?

By Samantha Burges

CQC’s new assessment framework has now been rolled out to all registered providers that receive ratings.

This means any relevant provider receiving an inspection from now on should expect it to be carried out under the new framework.

How has CQC’s assessment process changed?

The four point rating system and the five key questions remain the same, other than that big changes have been made.

The KLOEs, prompts and ratings characteristics have been replaced by 34 quality statements grouped under the five key questions. CQC has additionally developed six evidence categories which describe the types of evidence inspectors and assessors will be gathering (both on-site and off-site) to make an assessment. A scoring system has also been developed to help support transparency and consistency of judgements. CQC has published information on the ‘key’ evidence categories for each sector group linked to the quality statements and said it will collect information from all these evidence categories for the first assessments under the new approach and following new registrations.

Outside of these instances, CQC will be able to pick and choose which

evidence categories it sees fit. One of CQC’s intentions behind the new framework is to better help ensure consistency nationally in relation to its quality assessments. However, this practice introduces a big element of subjectivity to the whole process that doesn’t help achieve this aim. CQC no longer refers to ‘inspection’ and has instead adopted ‘assessment’ to describe its provider monitoring activity. This reflects a move away from the previous focus on on-site inspection visits and a shift towards a varied evidence gathering approach including remote data collection to inform its assessments. On-site visits will no longer be the main focus of inspection activity although they will be carried out when required.

One of the six evidence categories - Observation (which will always be carried out on-site) – is listed as a ‘key evidence category’ for most of

the ‘Safe’ quality statements for care homes and supported living services. However, it’s not listed as a key evidence category under most of the other quality statements. Conversely, there’s a big focus on feedback and all quality statements have some form of feedback collection listed as a key evidence category.

It would be prudent of providers to review how they seek, collect, record and analyse feedback and see how these processes can be strengthened. This can help them get on the front foot of a CQC assessment, sharing relevant feedback with inspectors. In particular, positive feedback can help counterbalance negative findings.

What to expect from a first assessment?

Despite the roll-out having been carried out in stages over the past few months, only a handful of new style reports have been published to date.

The reasoning for this is unclear, however the existing reports shed some light on what providers can expect. CQC has indicated it’s using a preliminary set of ‘priority’ quality statements for each service type. These have not been published but it is understood they include the following ‘Safe’ quality statements (alongside others):

1. Involving people to manage risks.

2. Safe and effective staffing.

3. Safeguarding. Importantly, when a specific quality statement has not been looked at a

score is determined with reference to a service’s previous inspection ratings. This is then used to help inform the ratings for the latest assessment.

This poses a clear issue for providers who have improved since their last inspection, particularly those in the Inadequate and Requires Improvement camps.

If positive findings are noted in the first assessment, these may not be properly reflected in the ratings if CQC only looks at a small percentage of quality statements. Instead, the previous inspection findings could negatively skew the ‘new’ ratings.

This approach could impact public confidence in face-value ratings and can have a significant impact on a provider’s business. Providers should consider challenging CQC if they find themselves in this position.

Moving forwards CQC intends to define a set of priority quality statements for each service type on an annual basis.

The intention is for these to be assessed as a minimum in each assessment, although CQC states it can be flexible depending on the circumstances. It is unclear when more information on priority statements will be published but details on planned assessment frequencies should be published by July 2024.

n Samantha Burges is a senior associate at Gordons Partnership Solicitors.

Nicola Taylor from Alive demonstrates the empathy suite on a delegate at St Mellion (left). Delegates also heard from the likes of Sanjay Dhrona from The Outstanding Society (centre) and apetitio development dietitian Sophie Cornelius.

Advertiser’s announcement

Samantha Burges

‘Role models’ Nicole and Sioned hailed

TWO women from Gwynedd have been hailed as “role models” after rising through the ranks to top jobs at a care home.

Nicole Davies, 27, and Sioned Jones, 26, signed up with the Step into Care programme which was run by the Pendine Park organisation in partnership with the Prince’s Trust nearly eight years ago and have never looked back.

They completed a three-week course which included a week’s work experience at Pendine’s Bryn Seiont Newydd in Caernarfon which specialises in dementia care.

Nicole has now been promoted to head housekeeper at the home and Sioned is responsible for health and safety there.

The pair received glowing praise from Julie Morgan MS, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, during a visit to Bryn Seiont Newydd when she revealed they had met before.

She said: “It’s been great meeting staff who are committed to delivering such important services. Seeing Nicole and Sioned, who I met when they were part of the Prince’s Trust scheme, has been inspiring and reminds us all that social care is a rewarding career where you can develop and progress.

“They’ve been nurtured, given great training and are doing an excellent

job. They came here on work experience and found a great career they feel passionate about. It’s lovely to see young people flourishing and being so fulfilled.”

According to Nicole and Sioned, neither of them knew what they wanted to do after completing their college courses.

Nicole said: “I had no idea what I wanted to do and I thought I would

Paramedics experience homes in NHS project

STUDENT paramedics have been gaining practical experience working in care homes across Kirklees as part of an NHS Education funded project.

More than a dozen first year students from the University of Huddersfield spent two weeks at several Hill Care Group homes in and around the town.

The Paramedics in Social Care Environments project gave the paramedic science students the opportunity to learn the essential skills of caring and communication to complement their clinical training.

Wearing their paramedic uniforms, the students worked alongside care home staff to support basic personal care, mealtime experiences, activities, and other day-to-day care.

With consent from residents and their families, the students also had the opportunity to meet other care professionals and take part in

discussions with GPs.

Lynda Hodgkinson, development and governance director for the Hill Care Group, helped organise the placements for the University of Huddersfield students.

She said: “Being involved in the PISCEs project has been a great opportunity to provide insight to the student paramedics of what happens on a day-to-day in our homes.

“The students have all engaged brilliantly with their placements and we hope this is the start of an opportunity to work collaboratively with the University of Huddersfield further, supporting the development of future paramedics and other health care staff.

“Our care homes have also benefitted greatly from the placements, with really positive feedback given by the home managers.”

take up the offer of the Prince’s Trust and found I really enjoyed it. I’m really glad that I took that three week course because it really helped me. “Then I applied for a full-time job at Bryn Seiont Newydd and here I am. I was very shy when I came here but now I’m much more confident.” Nicole started with the housekeeping team as a care support worker and quickly

became a supervisor and later head housekeeper. She is responsible for a large team of staff and training new hires.

“I was promoted head housekeeper in July 2020. That was when we were still in lockdown because of Covid-19. That was a very difficult time but we all worked as a team and did really well to keep it away from here.”

Sioned also started with the housekeeping team before spending some time as a carer at Bryn Seiont Newydd.

She said: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I never really thought about the care industry until I signed up for the course with the Prince’s Trust.

“I began in housekeeping but then I worked in care support. Coming into an environment such as Bryn Seiont Newydd was scary at first but I soon got into it.

“The best thing about working at Bryn Seiont Newydd is getting to know residents and engaging with them. It’s so important to help them remain as independent as possible.

“When I thought I’d like something a little different I moved into health and safety. I’ve done the training and I look after all aspects of health and safety. It is very different here at Bryn Seiont Newydd to elsewhere but is just as important. I think the role suits me very well.”

Community defibrillator installed at care home

A COMMUNITY defibrillator has been installed in Falmouth thanks to a residential and dementia care home.

MHA Langholme has installed a defibrillator to be used by the community in the grounds of the home.

The defibrillator will be accessible for anyone in the area needing to use it and will require a code from the emergency services to activate it.

Home manager Maria Browne said: “This is a brilliant initiative led by MHA and something that will benefit so many people.

“Working with and supporting the community is something we are always keen to do, and this is just one example of this.

“Recently we also unveiled a

words of wisdom bench, which contains quotes from residents and has become the talk of the town with onlookers and members of the community taking an interest in it.

“The defibrillator is registered with the emergency services and will require a code from them when someone needs to use it.

“We have two in close proximity now in Falmouth and I think it’s a great asset to the area.

“A defibrillator can be lifesaving and to enable not just our staff, residents and family members but also our community members to have access to something which can potentially save their life is always a good thing.”

MHA is hoping to install defibrillators across all its homes.

Deputy Minister Julie Morgan MS with Nicole Davies and Sioned Jones.

Susie Lammiman, a student paramedic at University of Huddersfield, and 92-year-old James “Billy” Gill, a resident at Aden View Care Home.

Group acquires adult care centre

The HICA Group recently took over the

of Swan House Day Centre in Bridlington for an undisclosed sum.

The centre helps to improve the independence and social engagement of service users who have a range of learning disabilities.

Terry Peel, HICA’s CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Swan House Day Centre into the HICA family.

“This partnership not only expands our service offerings but also strengthens our resolve to support individuals in leading fulfilling lives as valued community members.

“It aligns perfectly with our broader mission to support and enrich local social care services who do a sterling job in delivering compassionate, person-centered care.”

The acquisition marks a key extension of HICA’s portfolio, demonstrating the provider’s commitment to broadening its spectrum of care and support services within the community.

HICA stepped in to ensure the continued operation of the day care centre formerly owned by John and

Susan Ropero. With the Roperos retiring, the Group wanted to ensure the day centre stayed open given the valuable role it plays in the community.

The centre is renowned for being a vital social hub for individuals with learning disabilities, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment

where service users can develop lasting friendships, enhance their social skills and feel a sense of belonging within the local area.

Swan House currently employs three people, with the acquisition providing job security and the ability to expand the team when needed.

HICA Group has a well-established presence across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire with care homes and services in East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, and Doncaster.

In Bridlington, the purchase of Swan House adds to other support facilities HICA operates in the area which include Red House, a 48 bed residential care home that provides specialised dementia care and physical support to older people, and Kirkgate House residential care home that provides care and support to 28 adults with learning disabilities.

Group opens new £23m Bath home

A NEW £23m care home which features a cinema, café, hair salon and it’s very own gym supported by an in-house physiotherapist has officially opened in Bath, Somerset.

More than 100 guests, including the Mayor of Bath Councillor Dine Romero, were invited to experience Hallmark Midford Manor, a new, 80 bed residential, dementia and nursing facility.

Local businesses and care professionals alike were encouraged to tickle their tastebuds, enjoy demonstrations from some of the home’s 80 new team members and view their facilities which include 14 luxurious suites, which form part of a unique retirement living offering called The Residences.

Residents who live at The Residences have access to a premium suite with a kitchenette, and exclusive amenities such as a cocktail bar, fine dining restaurant with a grand piano and nearby finishing kitchen and concierge services.

Commissioning manager at Hallmark Midford Manor, Jenny Mann, said: “We had a fabulous time, introducing our new home to the Bath community and 80 dedicated team members, who are passionate about supporting residents to thrive in later

life.

“Much thought and consideration has gone into Midford Manor to help residents live active, independent and fulfilled lives. We have lots of spaces residents and their loved ones can enjoy quality time together and make new memories.”

Other features at the home include a sensory room to support residents living with dementia, a craft room and celebrations area which will be used for family gatherings and special events.

Outside there is a summer house, gardening club area with raised planters, and a little one’s play area to be used by visiting grandchildren and St Martin’s Garden Primary School next door.

The event was concluded by speeches and a performance from a string quartet.

Managing director at Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, Aneurin Brown, added: “I am so proud to be part of the team who have grouped together and have made Midford Manor the beautiful home that it is today.

“We are looking forward to making Midford Manor a part of the community whilst continuing to build on our reputation of providing 26 years of industry-leading care.”

Apartments get the green light

PLANNING permission has been granted for 77 retirement apartments and a new convenience store at Edwalton, near Nottingham.

Developer Charterpoint and not-forprofit housing provider Anchor have received reserved matters planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council for the scheme.

The 2.2 acre site will feature a threestorey retirement apartment scheme providing a range of one and twobedroom apartments plus a singlestorey convenience store.

Charterpoint has now completed on the deal to sell part of the site to Anchor.

Anchor will carry forward and operate the retirement development, which will also include a range of residents’ amenities and a courtyard garden. Charterpoint will develop the remainder of the site for the convenience store.

Charterpoint CEO Adrian Goose said: “We are very pleased to have received reserved matters planning consent for this key plot in Edwalton and to have subsequently sold part of the site to Anchor.

“The area around the site has grown considerably in recent years, with new housing, retail and commercial developments. Our plan for the site will bring a new convenience store to the neighbourhood.

“It will also provide much needed

affordable retirement apartments for the community, operated by Anchor, which will help to free up larger family homes in Edwalton, West Bridgford and the wider area.”

Based close to the development site, in Wheatcroft Business Park, Edwalton, Charterpoint is a senior living and mixed-use specialist that has developed a portfolio of similar projects throughout the country.

Patrick Duffy, Anchor’s director of new business, added: “We are delighted to have acquired this site from Charterpoint.

“This is a key new development for us to work in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council to provide affordable homes for older people locally.

“We look forward to working with Charterpoint to deliver the wider scheme for the local community.”

The plans for the Edwalton site were designed by Brewster Bye Architects.

Operator purchases 66-bed lakeside site for £2.88m

LNT Care Developments has purchased a 66-bedroom care home site in the development of St Andrews Park, Halling, from Aspire LPP for £2.88million.

Commercial real estate firm Colliers negotiated the deal, which also includes the lease of a new 3,830 sq ft Tesco store currently under construction within the two-acre site. Situated close to a residential development and overlooking St Andrews Lake in the borough of Medway, the site is four miles south of Rochester and just over an hour to London by train or car.

Keeley Sharp, strategic land director from LNT, said: “LNT Care Developments is proud to build

industry leading care homes that provide great places for residents to live and that generate employment opportunities for local communities.

‘Our care home in Halling will become an integral element of the St Andrew’s Lake development by providing 66 residential care beds along with a range of luxury wellbeing facilities for the elderly population.”

Planning permission has already been secured for the development of a three-storey care home complete with en-suite wetrooms.

LNT expect to start its own works on site this quarter and hand over to its operating partner and begin welcoming residents by the first quarter of 2025.

A CGI of the new development.

Specialist lender Leumi UK has refinanced two more luxury care homes for long-standing client Cinnamon, increasing total facilities to £42.5million. In addition to Lakeview Grange in Chichester and Heathland House in Dorset, which were refinanced in 2023, the new funding refinances Watermeadow Grange in Exeter and The Gables in Worcestershire, bringing the total portfolio funded by Leumi UK to 251 beds. Stuart Norris, commercial director at Cinnamon, said: “Cinnamon is pleased to have completed the refinance of our latest luxury care home openings. Leumi UK’s excellent track record, long-term outlook and specialist expertise in healthcare property made it an easy decision to expand our relationship.”

LNT Care Developments has purchased the site in Halling.

The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Dine Romero officially open’s Hallmark Midford Manor with managing director Aneurin Brown, commissioning manager Jenny Mann and chair Avnish Goyal CBE.

First-of-its-kind intergenerational living scheme launched in London

RENTED retirement homes provider

Birchgrove and student letting platform Hybr have announced an industry-first intergenerational living scheme which will see students and key workers live alongside retirees in the same purpose-built, privately rented retirement development.

Ayrton House is a new 60 apartment rental retirement community in Mill Hill, North London.

When launched in October this year, 16 apartments across the third and fourth floors will be offered exclusively to trainee doctors and nurses from the local hospital, university post-graduates and graduate scheme students.

The pioneering scheme has been designed to generate a vibrant community by harnessing the benefits of intergenerational living, with several pieces of research highlighting how the model is physically and mentally beneficial for both the young and elderly.

Birchgrove chief executive Honor Barratt said: “Traditionally, intergenerational living took the form of generations of the same family residing together in a single household.

“Today, we are pioneering a new model: one that brings different generations together within the same purpose-built housing development.

“It’s a unique approach, one that

we’re hugely excited about, and that we believe will really benefit both young and elderly residents alike.”

A 2019 UCL study highlighted how increased social contact for elderly people is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, while an Ageing Research study has highlighted how intergenerational living benefits the elderly by giving them a greater sense of purpose and combatting loneliness, in turn leading to a greater

life expectancy. Further research has also demonstrated how younger people benefit from living with elderly people – by enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the older generation, and increasing their tolerance, empathy and understanding.

The students will live at Ayrton House on short-term tenancies running until June 2025, sharing

communal facilities with the development’s retirees – including full access to the gym and the same subsidised rates in the restaurant.

Furthermore, the rent on the 16 student units will be approximately 50 per cent of market value.

The project therefore means that students will have access to affordable, high-quality accommodation at a time when nearly two thirds of all students are struggling to pay their rent.

At the end of the tenancies in June 2025, the 16 student units will be vacated and restored to first use state, before being let to retirees.

Ayrton House is Birchgrove’s third development in the capital, and the ninth in their portfolio.

The £36m development is the centrepiece of “Ridgeway Views” residential scheme, a 47 acre, 528 home project in Mill Hill’s conservation area, and will offer residents a restaurant, club room, licensed bar and wellness suite, as well as landscaped gardens.

For more than 80 years the historic art deco National Institute for Medical Research, designed by the original Wembley Stadium architect Max Ayrton, was located on the site; the new development pays testament to Ayrton’s original design both in name and by reproducing the original building’s iconic green copper roof.

New £13m home’s successful launch

AN open day at Dawlish’s newest care home gave members of the community a preview of the facilities at the £13m development, and a chance to meet the team.

Claremont Manor, a 71-bed care home with five-star facilities, hosted an event for the new team to welcome visitors with entertainment, home tours, goody bags as well as some food tasters inspired by dishes from the home’s menus.

Home manager Carla Bowman said: “Claremont Manor has already been warmly welcomed by the community and we were delighted to see so many people at our open event, with many families so impressed they asked about availability.

“It was also a fantastic opportunity to bring our new team together –there is so much excitement and anticipation around bringing this beautiful new home to life and getting this new community within a

community established.”

Claremont Manor is the latest addition to the Maria Mallaband Care Group portfolio of more than 80 care homes across the UK and will offer residential, dementia and nursing care when it opens officially in the near future.

With its luxury features, including large en-suite rooms, landscaped grounds, a hair and beauty salon, a cinema room, a wellness suite, private dining and leisure suite as well as a grandchildren’s room, where families with younger children can enjoy time together, it has attracted great interest locally.

As well as inviting people in, the home’s fledging team has already been out and about locally, working with The Strand Centre Food Bank, attending the bi-annual EAT Dawlish market showcasing Hug on a Plate, and sponsoring the Dawlish Celebrates Carnival last August.

New dementia care suite opens at home

A NEW specialist dementia care suite has opened at a Cheltenham care home, and it is already making a difference.

The Dragonfly suite at Royal Court has been refurbished from an existing residential living care corridor into a dedicated wing for those living with dementia.

The Lilian Faithfull Care run facility also has an established dementia wing called Bluebell.

Manager Fiona Gillon said: “Within 24 hours of the Dragonfly Suite opening we could see a positive change with the residents.

“They all seem so content – it’s more like being in your own home. It’s comforting and the staff also love it.

“It is enabling our residents do ordinary things that some of them haven’t been able to do for a long time.

“There are two staff on in the suite each day and they organise the day around our seven Dragonfly residents.

“The other day the staff planned a baking activity in the afternoon so in the morning they took the residents

Group opens third Lancashire home

DANFORTH Care has continued to expand its portfolio with a new facility opening in Lancashire, making it the group’s third in the county in the last 12 months.

The grand opening for Meadow Croft took place recently, with Rossendale House and Pear Tree House already open to the public.

The three have created a total of 180 jobs for their respective areas and housed 198 residents.

Each role within Meadow Croft comes with a fully funded DBS check and full support in completing an NCQ qualification if desired. All jobs have permanent contracts and come with uniforms.

Home manager Diane Langford said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Meadow Croft House officially open in Garstang, Lancashire.

“It was a pleasure showing off this fabulous new care home, and we can’t wait to serve the wonderful community here in the village.

“Like all Danforth’s homes, Meadow Croft is A rated for energy and will operate without gas, going pure electric to be as eco-friendly as possible.

“An underground energy system running miles below the care home will heat the home’s hot water, provide underfloor heating and air cooling for the residents as an added bonus.

“With 80 per cent of the available roof space lined with solar panels, the home will be making its own electricity, and selling what it doesn’t

need back to the grid.

“We are incredibly proud of all the work done to ensure this care home will be a happy, eco-friendly place to live for decades to come. We care deeply not just about our residents and staff, but about our planet as well.”

During the opening, guests got the chance to tour the state-of-the-art facilities within the home, which was built by LNT and contains 66 en suite rooms, as well as an on-site cinema, restaurant, salon and library.

Guests were also served refreshments made by the care home’s in-house chefs.

Each of the rooms has an en suite fully equipped wet room, as well as a flat screen TV and a mini fridge.

Residents can also enjoy restaurant quality meals cooked daily by the chef and team, and a personalised activity schedule.

out to the shops buy the ingredients.”

The Dragonfly suite consists of seven apartments around its own lounge, dining room and secure gardens –separate to the main home.

Residents needing extra care and support are able to flourish in the calm family sized environment. It suits those who might otherwise feel lost in a larger home or find a busy environment overwhelming.

Ceremony takes place at £20m extra care scheme

A GROUND-breaking ceremony has taken place to celebrate the commencement of work at Housing 21’s first extra care development in Kirklees.

The ceremony, which marked the start of construction, was attended by representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council, Homes England and Robertson Group.

The development will comprise of 80 homes: 61 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent.

The £20million scheme is being delivered by Housing 21, a national provider of retirement living and extra care, in partnership with Kirklees Council.

Homes England are providing a grant of more than £7million. Robertson Group are the main contractors working with Brewster

Bye Architects.

Bridget Faughnan-Bing, Housing 21’s development and delivery director, said: “We are delighted to announce the start of construction on our first extra care scheme in Kirklees.

“It will be a great addition to the housing choices for older people of modest means in the area.”

“This development will provide homes that will enable local older people to live independently for longer and still remain within the community that they know and love.”

Once open, the scheme will provide residents with a selection of modern communal spaces including a residents’ lounge, on-site café/ bistro and hair salon, which will be available for use by the neighbouring community.

The development is scheduled to complete in spring 2026.

School children from Garstang Community Academy bury a time capsule.

Key representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council and Robertson Group at the Cleckheaton extra care scheme ground-breaking ceremony.

£9.8million loan to support purchase of vacant home

SPECIALIST development finance lender Atelier has completed financing to assist with the acquisition and refurbishment of a vacant care home in New Southgate, North London.

The £9.8m loan will be used to reconfigure the care home internally and refurbish the building to provide up-to-date care facilities.

Rav Kudhail, lending manager at Atelier, said: “This is our second transaction to support a UK-wide care home operator with the acquisition of an existing asset which will be refurbished and operated by our borrower once

complete, providing high-quality care facilities in the area.”

A report from the Greater London Authority last year highlighted that a decade-long care home creation project was needed to address the capital’s ageing population, and with the over 65s population estimated to grow by 11 per cent over the fiveyear period to 2027, the new facility will help address an undersupply of care home beds in the area.

The news follows two development loans provided by Atelier over the past two months to build a new 131bed home in West Yorkshire and for a 60-bed home in Cheshire.

Deputy Mayor opens Swaffham day centre

DEPUTY Mayor Paul Darby declared Swaffham’s new over 55s day centre open.

Radis Community Care and its team at the neighbouring Old Maltings Extra Care Housing Service have worked hard to give the John Chapman Day Centre a new lease of life.

It will be offering a free introductory session, and will be open between 10am and 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, with the aim to help the people of Swaffham make meaningful connections, combat loneliness and improve their health and wellbeing.

Cinita Head, service manager at The Old Maltings, said: “Having a safe place to attend that is filled with likeminded people multiple times a week provides people with the opportunity

to make friends and stay connected.”

“Some people, especially as they get older, thrive off of routine, and having somewhere to attend at the same days and times each week, can be really beneficial. Not only that, but we hope it gives them something to look forward to on a weekly basis.”

From dancing and knitting, providing a safe place for like-minded people to make new friends and stay connected, as well as a hot and healthy lunch, the John Chapman Day Centre is both run and managed by Radis Community Care.

The open day provided an opportunity to share important information with the community, enabling them to learn more about the services on offer whilst also meeting Radis’ team of carers and staff.

Albert

Lilycross

Melrose

Transform laundry management within your home

IN THE demanding environment of any care home, the reliability and efficiency of laundry appliances is paramount.

Yet, all too often, care homes find themselves grappling with the challenges of appliance repair and maintenance, resorting to thirdparty engineers and facing costly and disruptive downtime.

Forbes Professional recognises these challenges and is proud to offer solutions that revolutionise laundry management for care homes.

In addition to rental solutions, Forbes offers reactive service contracts to care homes whose existing machines breakdown.

This grants care operators swift access to a nationwide network of qualified engineers when the in-situ laundry equipment is not beyond economical repair or due an imminent upgrade.

Forbes Professional’s multiaward winning service support

enables care homes to rest assured knowing that any issues with their laundry appliances will be promptly addressed by expert technicians. With sustainability and client satisfaction at the core of their operation, Forbes are always committed to prolonging product life

span and minimising downtime and disruption to daily operations.

When the time comes to upgrade existing laundry equipment, Forbes’ rental solution includes a same/next day engineer response at no extra cost for the duration of the contract.

Aside from the logistical benefits,

a key advantage in renting Miele’s highly efficient and reliable commercial laundry appliances from Forbes is the elimination of costly upfront capital outlay.

Avoiding substantial investments in purchasing equipment enables care homes to allocate their resources more efficiently, focusing on delivering exceptional care to residents. Whether choosing Forbes Professional for a maintenance contract or a rental solution, care homes can optimise their laundry management processes and enhance operational efficiency.

With their commitment to reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction, Forbes is proud to support care homes in delivering excellence in care while ensuring a seamless and hassle-free laundry experience.

Call 0345 070 2335, email info@forbes-professional.co.uk or visit www.forbespro.co.uk

Spring into savings with Gompels – your partner in care

AS SPRING heralds new beginnings, it’s the perfect time for care home owners across the UK to reassess their supply needs and ensure they’re getting the best value and service.

At Gompels we understand the challenges you face in maintaining the highest standards of care while managing costs effectively.

That’s why we’re dedicated to offering not just products, but comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of care homes.

With decades of experience as a specialist wholesale supplier, we

pride ourselves on our exceptional stock availability, competitive pricing, and speedy delivery.

We believe that every care home deserves access to high-quality supplies without the hassle of delayed deliveries or inflated costs.

Whether it’s essential cleaning supplies to ensure a hygienic environment, personal protective equipment to safeguard both residents and staff, or day-to-day consumables, Gompels is your onestop shop for all your care home needs.

Our commitment to care doesn’t stop at our products.

We’re here to support you with expert advice, helping you find the right solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also enhance the well-being of your residents.

With Gompels, you’re choosing a partner who stands by you every step of the way.

As we step into spring, take advantage of our latest offers and discover why thousands of UK care homes trust Gompels for their

supplies.

Experience the difference with our next-day delivery service, ensuring you have what you need, when you need it.

Don’t miss out on our exclusive deals valid until May 31, and see for yourself how Gompels can make a difference in your care home.

Interested in opening a credit account? Contact sam.paines@ gompels.co.uk to discuss your requirements in more detail. Visit us at gompels.co.uk or call 0345 450 2420 to place your order .

Fee income system for residential and nursing care homes

DESIGNED to deliver simplicity and ease of use coupled with speed, flexibility and accuracy, SFIncS r/3 (Simple Fee Income System release 3) has a proven track record of more than 12 years in use.

Originally developed and prototyped as an MS Access database, since 2017 SFIncS r/3 has lived entirely on the cloud, so is available 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

As a completely bespoke package, born of necessity and collaboration between seasoned software consultants with ties to the care industry, SFIncS r/3 offers innovations and capabilities not found in any other system.

Separation of sponsor and service user responsibilities permits unlimited sponsor/service user relationships, and as any number of charge codes may be defined, this allows complete flexibility of service user/sponsor /charge code definition. Its unique continuous billing

function is the most efficient means possible of defining recurring charges (an entry is only required when a change occurs) and both an ad hoc charge function and a cashbox module are available for incidental expenses (either or both can be used).

Use of the balance forward accounting principle (which makes unnecessary invoice matching a thing of the past – though invoicing is included) plus super quick receipts entry using just ‘six clicks’ makes SFIncS r/3 almost effortless to use.

Paula Aplin-Jones, who owns and operates Monkstone House Residential Home in Porthcawl, said: “With 41 partly private and partly

sponsored service users, some of whom are multiply funded, it takes me only 30 to 40 minutes per week to keep both my accounts and fee income up to date

“More importantly, I never need to worry about underpaid or overpaid fees – everything is always spot on.

“And the invoices and statements produced let me present the polished and professional image I need.”

SFIncS r/3 integrates easily with any accounting package, can be used by any type of care home and by single or multiple home operators alike.

For more information visit https://intracare.co/get-started/ or email benjones@intracare.co

Broker launches insurance division and welcomes director

INDEPENDENT boutique finance broker Montane Finance has launched a specialist insurance division aimed at supporting the healthcare and hospitality sectors. To head up this new division the firm has announced the appointment of Adam Lee.

He said: “We are excited about the opportunities this new division represents for our clients and feel ideally positioned to capitalise on new business opportunities.

“The creation of our dedicated insurance division aligns directly with the Montane Group and reflects our commitment to becoming the insurer of choice for the healthcare and hospitality sectors.”

Montane Insurance is based in

offices in Winsford, Cheshire and will provide insurance solutions to clients predominantly across the North West and Midlands, as well as nationally. The firm has also acquired a sector related insurance book which means the business is fully operational from day one and can service clients’

insurance requirements.

A senior insurance professional with 20 years of experience, Adam’s career has seen him work across different sectors, with a focus in the commercial, healthcare and hospitality industries.

He joins Montane Insurance, which has the infrastructure, support and capacity of an experienced insurance broking team. He has been working alongside the team at Montane Group for the last three years to support their clients’ insurance needs.

Montane Finance managing director

Scott Murcott said: “The launch of an insurance division specialising in healthcare and hospitality is a planned and logical step for the Montane Group as we continue to

grow the business.

“We’re responding to increased demand from our clients to deliver a proactive and full service offering to their funding and insurance needs.

“We’re thrilled to welcome a skilled insurance professional like Adam to the team. Building Montane into a full service independent broker is an exciting proposition, and I am looking forward to growing the business further and welcoming more new members to the team in the future.” Montane Finance has been steadily growing having recorded an uplift in revenue in the past 12 months and dealing with more than £100m of lending cases to a wide variety of businesses across the North West and beyond.