Caring UK March 2012

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March 2012

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.190 • £4.75 In association with

Industry wary of TripAdvisor style websites

By Dominic Musgrave THE first TripAdvisor style online ratings websites for UK care homes have been launched.

An independent searchable database at www.goodcareguide.co.uk gives people the opportunity to rate care homes and homecare agencies in England.

Individuals are able to rate providers for their quality of care, facilities and value for money, as well as make positive or negative comments.

The people behind the website say it will provide “real, honest feedback on what is available” in the care sector, but NCA chief executive Sheila Scott has her concerns.

She added: “We have a number of questions: How will they ensure that it is only residents and their families that will comment? And how will the comments be moderated to ensure that they are nor libellous?

“If a care home is ruined by a malicious comment, which is conceivably possible, then it's not just our member and their staff but the vulnerable people who are put at real risk, and that is our concern.

“NCA has not been consulted about any of these websites and we are very concerned about the impact that they could have on social care as similar websites have

sometimes had on hotels and restaurants.”

A similar site has been launched by senior NHS manager Emma Challans, who works at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, which will feature ratings by residents, their friends and relatives.

Emma, who has devised the Care Home Advisor site with a colleague in her own time, said it is in response to the needs of patients, families and carers.

She added: “I and my co-developer have both experienced the challenges, difficulties and importance of selecting the right care home, in the right place, at the right time. We hope Care Home Advisor will help and support those needing care and those supporting them.

“Quality and safety are paramount when selecting a care home. Every day, care homes across the country are failing to achieve core quality standards in the delivery of safe, effective care.”

The website will cover care homes, nursing homes, retirement homes and domiciliary care providers. It will also have an advice centre and a forum for people searching for information on care homes.

What do you think? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or call 01226 734407.

Home becomes film set for video

Actress Dame Judi Dench has criticised care homes and suggested families should take in elderly relatives instead. The sight of pensioners being left with little to keep their minds busy was, she said, particularly distressing – and a prospect that made her desperate to carry on working. Her comments have led to her being invited to visit a care home by a North East operator.

Full story: Page 3.

A DORSET nursing home doubled as a film set for the production of an internet video on how to help stroke patients outside hospital.

Professional actors joined medics at Colten Care’s Avon Reach home in Mudeford to role play scenarios in which members of the public help people experiencing strokes. The filming will support an NHS elearning course designed to improve the assessment skills of nurses, paramedics and other health workers.

The project is funded by the National Stroke Improvement Association and South Western Ambulance Trust.

Elizabeth Benson, Colten Care operations manager, said: “The aim of the film is to enable a much more accurate diagnosis of strokes, especially the more subtle signs, so stroke patients can be taken to specialist centres more quickly.”

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Karl invites Bond actress Judi to visit his homes

By Dominic Musgrave THE head of a North East care group has invited actress Dame Judi Dench to visit one of his homes following her outburst in the national media.

Best known for her role as M in the James Bond films, she lambasted ‘inhumane’ care homes, suggesting families should take in elderly relatives instead in an interview for Saga magazine.

The sight of pensioners being left with little to keep their minds busy was, she said, particularly distressing – and a prospect that made her desperate to carry on working.

For 12 years she and her actor husband Michael Williams shared their home near Stratford-on-Avon with his parents and her widowed mother, Olave.

Reacting to her comments, Karl Beckett, managing director of Wellburn Care Homes, said: “Dame Judi is more than welcome to visit any of our homes so she can see how the quality of life of our residents is of paramount importance.

“We have a varied activity programme designed to stimulate both mind and body and residents have full freedom in our homes. We pro-

mote a real home from home experience and our residents are at the heart of everything we do.

“It is easy for Dame Judi to say families should look after elderly relatives but unfortunately in today’s society it is not as simple as that.

“We all lead busy lives juggling work and family commitments and when we are talking about people who may suffer from mental or physical disabilities, residential care can offer a lifeline. We are about looking after the whole family and not just the residents in our homes.”

The comments followed an Age UK report ‘Care in Crisis’ that accused councils of ‘age discrimination’ for underfunding vital services for older people by at least £500m a year.

The charity said pensioners were being unfairly disadvantaged because councils were making swingeing cuts to care and hitting pensioners with higher charges.

The report concludes councils should be spending £7.8bn a year – around £500m a year more than current figures – on older people’s social care merely to maintain the ‘inadequate’ levels of provision in place when the Coalition took power.

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 Email: tb@whpl.net Assistant Sales Manager: Heather Welsh Tel: 01226 734480 Email: hw@whpl.net National Sales Executive: Mandy Edwards Tel: 01226 734692 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.uk Fax: 01226 734477

Publishers Script Media.

47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Email: info@caring-uk.co.uk

Editorial Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jhalkerston@whpl.net Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@whpl.net

Bupa care homes have teamed up with the Tetley Tea Folk and are calling on communities to create a special ‘Communi-tea Cosy’ for Gaffer.

The aim is to raise awareness of the group’s Communi-tea Week (March 12-18), a nationwide campaign which uses the theme of tea to tackle the problems of isolation and loneliness in older people. The tea cosies, which can be either knitted or designed on paper, need to be submitted to Bupa by the end of Communi-tea Week for the chance to be crowned “Gaffer’s Communi-tea Cosy”. Tracey Fletcher, Bupa’s customer services director, said: “Five designs will be selected at the end of Communi-tea Week to go through as finalists to a public vote on Tetley’s Facebook page.

Reporter: Helen Williams Tel: 01226 734694 Studio Manager: Stewart Holt Tel: 01226 734414 Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ wharncliffepublishing.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur.

You can now follow us on Twitter at caringuk

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As the UK recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, Caring UK reports on how an increasing number of providers are reaping the benefits after offering them in their company.

Business accolade for homecare firm

The Elms resident Betty Ellis with West Cheshire College apprentice Zoe Davis.

Group launches pilot scheme A NORTH West care provider is developing the skills of young people in the sector through the launch of three pilot apprenticeships in health and social care.

As part of its work with West Cheshire College, student Jacob Wilderspin, is currently working on a 12-month placement at CLS care home Wealstone in Upton, while Katey Eaton and Zoe Davies are in the middle of their 12-month placements at The Elms in Crewe.

The students have received mandatory training and they are

currently working as extra members of staff.

Each apprentice works closely with an individual mentor, who has been assigned to support their development.

CLS managing director Robert Black said: “It is important to encourage the younger generation to take up jobs in the care sector.

“Offering vocational training, such as the apprenticeships, will ensure that the workforce of the future has the practical skills and qualifications needed to work competently in the care industry.”

A HOMECARE provider that has taken on more than 100 apprentices in the North East, many of whom have progressed to more senior roles in the organisation, has won the first apprenticeship ambassador accolade at the Northumberland Business Awards.

Sponsored by Zodiac Training, the award recognised how the Carewatch branches in Alnwick, Northumberland and Durham have integrated apprentices into their business.

It specifically recognised the role apprentices have been able to play in growing the business and enabling the two branches to deliver over 24,000 hours of care and support each month.

The award was received by David Wilkinson, Carewatch’s training and human resources manager for the two branches and their 230 staff.

He added: “I’m very excited that a care provider has won this award, as it highlights how care has become an increasingly attractive career option for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We have put training and our apprentices at the heart of our business, and proved how doing so

can enable a business to develop and grow.”

Carewatch offers a range of services designed to help people maintain, and retain, independence, dignity and security, in their own homes. The apprenticeship programme helped branch growth and they are now the largest provider of care and support in the region.

Founder and manager of the two branches, Yvonne Shillock, is an enthusiastic supporter of the Government backed apprenticeship scheme, which identifies and introduces good candidates to the firm. She said: “It is good to see younger people and more men coming into our industry. At a time when we are growing so quickly to meet the care needs of local people, we are delighted with the quality of applicants that we see.”

“We are also extending our care services to support the independence of people of all ages with learning disabilities; so now we can offer even more career options to our people.”

The branches are part of Carewatch’s nationwide network which helps people retain their independence in their own home.

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Group highlights apprentices’ value SANCTUARY Care homes across the country highlighted the value of apprentices in the workplace during National Apprenticeship Week.

The group currently has nine apprentices in its homes and schemes up and down the country who are getting valuable hands on experience during their 12-month programmes.

They shadow members of the dedicated teams to learn about their areas of expertise and tutors from local colleges and training providers visit them to support their development.

Steve Wood, Sanctuary’s group director – care and support, said: “We take great pride in finding the best people to work for us and employing apprentices is an excellent way to achieve this.

“By supporting people in the communities in which we operate, we can help individuals get a meaningful career.”

Beach Lawns Care Home in Weston-super-Mare has three apprentices and plans to take on two more in the coming weeks.

Leanne Williams started work at the home five weeks ago as part of her apprenticeship in business and administration.

She is working in the reception and will also be getting experience in a variety of other roles, including

Jack Plane

Jack celebrates new position Leanne Williams spending time with carers and the home’s activities leader.

The 19-year-old said: “I’m a caring person so wanted to work in a friendly, caring environment. I have had a great experience so far and am enjoying being part of a team and learning a lot. Doing an apprenticeship gives you hands on experience which enables you to enjoy it more.”

Rebecca Shipton, who is doing an apprenticeship in health and social care at the home, added: “The residents are just so friendly and so grateful for everything you do for them.”

AN employee at Hallmark Care Homes’ head office marked National Apprentice Week by accepting a new position within the company.

Jack Plane has accepted a role in the developments team after originally joining on an apprenticeship scheme last October.

He was charged with front-of-house duties as well as providing ADHOC support to all head office departments.

Jack was finding it difficult to find work after finishing college and so decided to enrol at a local company who specialise in finding apprentice work for 16-19 year olds.

In turn, Hallmark signed up to the scheme as part of their commitment to ‘giving back’ in the community and

their strategy of encouraging young people to work in the care sector, as well as nurturing talent for the future.

Cathrine Robinson, a member of the HR department at the Billericaybased company, said: “It’s important that we encourage young people to work in the care sector, whether it’s in catering, care work or business support.

“The apprentice scheme has worked really well for the company and, of course, for Jack himself. I’d encourage all employers to consider this route when recruiting for new staff.”

Jack will report to the company’s land and development manager and provide support on Hallmark’s stateof-the-art new build projects and refurbishments.

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Memories flood back at home’s nostalgia event

By Dominic Musgrave

The syndicate at St Edith’s Court toast their success.

Home celebrates lottery win A SYNDICATE of 32 care home workers are celebrating bagging £130,853 after matching five numbers and the bonus ball in a recent Lotto draw.

The staff from St Edith’s Court in Leigh-on-Sea have each banked £4,089.15 and believe new syndicate leader Lawrence James has bought them the massive dose of good luck.

While it has been running for more than 13 years, care home team leader Lawrence only took over the reins at the end of January. The winning ticket was the first he had bought while in charge.

He said the group had had a few small wins in the past. “It may sound

silly as I’ve never won anything before but I’m ever hopeful and do believe I’m lucky,” added Lawrence.

“Bizarrely, I was applying to take part in Million Pound Drop Live when I got the text telling me the syndicate had a big win. Maybe next time it will be millions…I’d better apply for another game show next week.”

“While it may not be a huge sum of money to some people, this means a lot to us and is a tremendous indication of a great year ahead,” A planned wedding in April, a trip to Spain and a 32” flat screen TV are among the items the syndicate members plan to spend their winnings on.

MEMORIES of days which made Britain great came flooding back at a 1940s nostalgia day for residents at a Warwickshire care home.

The event at Mockley Manor in Ullenhall paid tribute to an era which shaped the nation, and was a chance for the residents to reminisce and swap stories of the real-life Dad's Army day, including several who did crucial work during World War ll.

Staff set the scene by dressing in typical 1940s fashions and got residents in the mood for memories by showing the feelgood film Buck Private featuring comedy legends Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

Photographs of residents in their younger days were also on display, and there was a chance for a singalong with Bromsgrove-based vocalist Dawn Beverley, who performed classic boogie-woogie numbers made famous by forces’ favourites The Andrews Sisters trio.

Another taste of nostalgia came from traditional 1940s sweets including Pontefract Cakes, Catherine Wheels and Walkers Toffee.

Sarah Sidebotham, activities co-

ordinator at the home, said: “Although it was a difficult time, it was also a time of great unity and community spirit when everyone helped each other and those are the memories we are hoping residents will share.

“Many of our residents would have been in their 20s at the time when they were starting out in life, getting married and having children, so to them the 1940s are the good old days, despite the hardship and sacrifice.

“I love hearing their stories but it's great for them to be able to discuss things with others who lived through the same time and can understand from the same experience.

"One of our ladies used to test aeroplane engines during the war, another helped with the bombmaking effort and one of our gentlemen was on the frontline fighting with the RAF so there will be plenty to talk about.”

The 1940s day is the latest in a string of activities for residents at the home, run by Redditch-based Alpha Care Homes. Residents and staff recently celebrated Chinese New Year with oriental-style snacks, crafts and decorations.

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Sue Sweeney performs the ribbon cutting to open the new bar at St Marks Court with manager Nikki Mould, care assistant Marie Bainand and Joe’s son Dennis.

New bar opens in resident’s memory A LOUNGE at a Gateshead care home has been transformed into a fullyworking bar for residents to enjoy.

The new facility at St Marks Court has been named Joe’s Bar after a former resident who died last year. Joe Chester’s son, Dennis, attended the opening alongside local comedienne Sue Sweeney, who cut the ribbon.

A donation to recognise the outstanding care Joe received at the home has been received from his family, which will be used later in the year to develop a beer garden, so residents can enjoy their drinks outside during the summer months.

The bar has been made as authentic as possible, complete with tables, chairs, optics for spirits, drip trays, beer mats and a range of glasses.

Joe served in the Durham Light Infantry in his younger days and Dennis brought a framed photo of him in full military gear to place on the bar as a tribute.

Nikki Mould, manager at the Bondcare-owned home, said: “The bar is a fitting tribute to Joe, who loved a tipple. Several pubs in the local area have helped us create the right atmosphere.”

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Company bring theatre to home’s residents

By Dominic Musgrave RESIDENTS at a Banbury care home are enjoying a series of themed events brought to them by a London theatre company.

Ladder to the Moon encourages both staff and residents at Chacombe Park to stage familiar productions to create positive emotional experiences for people living with dementia and those supporting them in a care setting.

So far, residents have recreated a Cinderella production where a horsedrawn carriage appeared at the front of the home to bring the fairytale story to life. Acting out other scenes from classic films has also had residents enthralled.

And resident Monica Pope and her carer Jessica Harman re-enacted the opening scene of South Pacific.

Jessica said: “The Ladder to the Moon training programme was great fun as the build up to the shoot was exciting, highly interactive and stimulating for the residents and staff.

“Together we helped to build props, talked about the musical, had a singing session and watched the film.

The day was amazing and it felt like a big family party.”

The next Ladder to the Moon experience is going to focus on The Sound of Music, where goats will be

Monica Pope with her carer Jessica Harman. making a debut.

Sally Matthews, health service advisor at the home, said: “These types of activities enhance the daily lives of residents and the staff working here by promoting meaningful relationships with dignity.

“The theatre production days are an excellent way to continue to build on techniques we use to stimulate and interact with our residents in a natural way.”

Are you trying a new activity at your care home? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@scriptmedia.co.uk or telephone 01226 734407.

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HRH Prince Charles chats to Script Media group editor Judith Halkerston.

The day that Caring UK welcomed a Prince ...

CARING UK had its first Royal visitor last month when Prince Charles visited us and met the team behind the leading publication for the independent care home sector.

His Royal Highness met managing director Michael Hewitt, group editor Judith Halkerston and sales director Tony Barry who showed him our portfolio of magazines as well as new technology associated with Script Media’s corporate video division.

Digital media producer Simon Rodman demonstrated some of the techniques used, including green

screen, to produce broadcast quality videos.

Judith said: “It was a real honour for us to welcome the Prince to the Caring UK offices and we were all thrilled to meet him.

“He seemed genuinely interested in the work that we do and was very friendly and put everyone at ease.”

Prince Charles also visited other divisions of the Acredula Group, Script’s parent company, including the Barnsley Chronicle, Pen and Sword Books and Yorkshire Web.

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National award for Ben’s elderly therapy business Monarch Healthcare celebrated another successful year with its annual awards ceremony. Parkside won the best home accolade, while Mandy Miller was named employee of the year. She is pictured receiving her award from operations manager Jacki Perry and guest Paul Witter.

A YOUNG entrepreneur who started a new exercise therapy business for people in care homes has won a total of £16,000 in business awards for his idea.

Ben Allen, 26, from Scarborough, says the business has been a “runaway success” and he is now negotiating for new contracts and recruiting more staff for his company, Oomph Wellness.

The national business runs a wide range of classes for residents in nursing and residential homes, including chair-based exercise like chairobics and cheerobics (chairbased cheerleading moves with pom poms), dance classes like ‘Strictly Fun Dancing’ and personal training for individuals.

Sessions aim to be physically beneficial while giving residents the opportunity to socialise and have fun.

Oomph, which stands for ‘Our Organisation Makes People Happy,’ now runs about 300 sessions each month in North Yorkshire, East Riding, West Yorkshire and Lancashire, reaching 6,000 people.

Established in May 2011, the business is growing rapidly and Ben is looking for fitness instructors with REPS Level 2 qualifications to join his 17 staff.

Ben studied sport and leisure management at university and worked in Spain and Australia after being headhunted by the European

Institute of Fitness.

He said: “I realised that people in care homes are often understimulated and in need of social interaction and creative expression.

In fact, 68 per cent of elderly people living in social care do not perform any kind of voluntary movement and 30 per cent do not get any visitors.”

Oomph Wellness, which also works with young adults who have a range of disabilities, recently won £15,000 in the UnLtd 2012 Awards - for individuals with innovative entrepreneurial projects - beating off 378 other established businesses.

Ben also won £1,000 in the Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards and is using this money to create new marketing materials for the national care conference. He is now in the running for the £10,000 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

He said: “The business has been a runaway success so far and we need more personal trainers. We carry out in-house training with our instructors who come to us in either a subcontracted role or as employees.

We reinvent classes every three months but at their core is fun, laughter, and of course safety.”

Ben is now negotiating for a further 100 contracts in southern England and launching a falls prevention qualification with the Wright Foundation.

Rooms bring back memories A GRAMAPHONE, sewing machine and companion set are just a few of the items that make up the reminiscence room at a Bristol care home.

Another area at Coombe has been devoted to things that the residents can safely touch and feel, which assistant manager and dementia champion Ann Elson says is particularly popular with those people who have dementia.

She told Caring UK all of the items

in the two rooms have been donated or collected by the staff.

She added: “Like all homes we have limited funding so all that is in the two rooms is what we have collected over the years.

“A lot of the residents may not be able to tell you what they had for dinner, but they can remember using some of the items we have in there and the words of songs from their days when we have entertainers here.”

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Thirty homes recognised for end-of-life care provided

By Dominic Musgrave THIRTY care homes have been rewarded again for the quality of care they provide to residents nearing the end of their lives.

Three years after first being recognised for their gold standard end-of-life care, the group of facilities were praised again, while a further 71 homes were presented with the Quality Hallmark Award for the first time.

The GSF in Care Homes Quality Hallmark Awards were presented

by Alan Rosenbach, special policy lead to the CEO of the CQC at a ceremony in London.

Eight of the homes achieved the highest possible rating – Beacon.

To be recognised as a Beacon, a home must achieve at least 12 excellent ratings in the 20 GSF standards.

Helen Brewster of The Cedars in Lincolnshire, awarded Beacon status for the second time, said: “We are constantly looking at way of improving our residents’ lives.

“I believe everything we are doing, the majority of homes could and should provide – it’s a God given right that people should get this level of care. Everyone deserves that.

“GSF provides the framework for us to provide that quality of all round care for all our residents. It means focusing on what is important for them – personally, socially and clinically.”

The GSF care homes programme helps homes to embed a new way of working with improved communication with other health and social care professionals and greater co-ordination of care.

Implementation helps the care home workforce benefit from increased confidence and there are significant cost savings too.

Geraldine Banham, home manager at Swallows Meadow Court, said: “GSF has helped us to ensure all our residents have the choices they deserve and we can deliver the type and level of care that they want.

“And people are starting to choose us because we are a GSF accredited home. A mark of the quality of our care is that the hospice is now referring patients here.”

Reaccredited care homes: Beacon – Beckside, Lincolnshire; Cornmill, Lancashire; Hyde, Stockport; Swallows Meadow Court, West Midlands; White Rose House, West Yorkshire; Donnington House, West Sussex; Melrose, West Sussex; The Cedars, Lincolnshire.

Commended: Eschcol House, Cornwall; Eversleigh, Warwickshire; Grosvenor House, Lincolnshire; Swinton Hall, Manchester; The Beeches, Cornwall; The Lakes, Tameside; Carrington Court, Lancashire; Pentlow, Sussex; Stamford Court, Cheshire; The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, West Sussex; Whiteley Village, Surrey.

Pass: Fairlie House, London; Heatherstones, West Yorkshire; Linden Lodge, Tamworth; The Cedars, Worcestershire; Westley Court, Worcestershire; Lynhales Hall, Herefordshire; Meadowbank House, Manchester; Moss Cottage, Lancashire; Orchard House, Surrey; Woodside House, Norfolk.

Hudson the puppy met a fellow top dog when he visited his human namesake at Colten Care’s Avon Cliff nursing home in Bournemouth.

The five-month-old golden retriever was named after Ian Hudson, managing director of the care home provider, which sponsors his training as an assistance dog for the disabled. Staff and residents at the home picked the name when they chose the voluntary group Woofability as their main charity for the year.

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Home fined after resident's fatal fall from window Staff at Three Bridges in Larchford dressed in 40s’ inspired outfits for a special reminiscence event for the residents, from the left: Care assistant Gemma Hughes, residential unit manager Karen Critchley, home administrator Mary Durkin and unit manager Abbey Daiwey.

THE owners of a Wrexham care home have been fined £66,000 after a resident fell 12ft from his bedroom window and died.

Stanley Tilston, 79, was a resident at Plas Rhosnesi Nursing Home in Wrexham. On the morning of June 1, 2008, he was found lying on the ground outside with serious head injuries. He died in hospital a few days later.

Chester Crown Court heard that he had told staff and his family he wanted to leave and repeatedly tried to break open the window’s chain restrictor, which he succeeded in doing on two separate occasions.

A week before the incident, Stanley’s son visited the home and reported that his father had broken the restrictor and was planning to leave the home. However, staff failed to move his father to a vacant ground floor room.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the company had failed to complete a risk assessment on the risk of residents falling from windows, and failed to implement and review its window restrictor policy.

After the hearing, inspector Sarah

Baldwin-Jones said: “This incident was entirely avoidable. The chain window restrictors fitted at the home were unsuitable because they were not robust and could easily be defeated.

“Hallmark Healthcare Ltd identified this important safety issue in 2007, when they issued a maintenance manual to all their care homes, which said chain restrictors should not be used.

“They should have fitted window restrictors that could not be easily defeated and moved Mr Tilston to a ground floor room. This was not done.

“Homes need to conduct regular monitoring of window restrictors and have a system of review for any damage identified. These necessary actions would help reduce the likelihood of further tragedies like Mr Tilston’s.”

Previously known as Hallmark Healthcare (Wrexham) Ltd, Care Homes Wrexham Ltd. of Woodbank Crescent, Radford Way, Billericay pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £66,000 and ordered to pay £43,287 in costs.

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Care homes nationwide have celebrated National Storytelling Week. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Children from Kids 1st Hexham and residents from the nearby Acomb Court listen to stories told by nursery manager Sarah Scandle.

Stangrove Lodge resident Mary Hatton with pupils from Edenbridge Primary School.

Homes tell tales to mark event NORTH East family run businesses Helen McArdle Care and Kids 1st Nurseries brought together two generations to read stories that have been popular throughout the lives of residents and their families, and that are now popular still with children.

Helen McArdle, chairman and founder of the two companies, said: “Storytelling is something that everyone enjoys, whatever their age, and it is lovely to see two very different generations come together and find a common interest.

“It is interesting that the children are still enjoying stories that the residents have enjoyed for over 60 years.”

And a tall tale or two were told at

Nightingale Hall Nursing Home in Richmond, North Yorkshire to mark the twelfth annual event.

The theme for the afternoon was poems from the Victorian era and staff got into the spirit of things by dressing up in clothes from that period.

Activity coordinator Janice Spark said: “We wanted to do something to mark National Storytelling Week because life stories and reminiscing form an important part of the activity programme at Nightingale.

“People with dementia, for example, can respond particularly well to discussing their past and it can have a positive therapeutic effect on them.

All the residents enjoyed listening to the poems and it was a lovely afternoon.”

Residents from Abbeyfield Kent Society’s Stangrove Lodge joined forces with the youngsters from Edenbridge Primary School to celebrate the special occasion.

Pupils read stories to residents gathered in the reading lounge, including The Grateful Elephants and The Scorpion. This was followed by year five pupils, who read a range of stories and adapted them to create their own, enhancing them by accompanying the story with music.

Sarah Simmons, Stangrove Lodge care coordinator, said: “When I heard

about National Storytelling Week I knew I’d have to get the school involved.

“The children’s visit really lit up the home and the residents loved hearing them read their stories, in particular the efforts of year five, which were very interesting indeed. The residents are already looking forward to their next visit.”

And Mornington Hall Nursing Home in East London was one of many owned by Bupa to take part.

Supporting the group again this year was The Readers Organisation, a charity that works across the UK to bring people together for read aloud sessions.

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A skunk called Flower and a barn owl named Tula were among recent visitors to Western Park View nursing home in Leicester. Activity coordinator Dawn Ma invited local company Animals for Parties to entertain residents as part of the activity programme. They brought feathered and furry friends for the whole day, including an albino pygmy hedgehog, a pink toed tarantula, a giant African land snail and an African bullfrog. Residents assembled in the lounge in small groups to hold some of the animals and hear fascinating facts about them.

Donation helps home buy TVs A WARRINGTON care home is to purchase two new televisions for its residents after receiving a donation from a local chiropratic clinic.

CLS’ Westy Hall received £736 from Alba, who selected the home as its charity of the month.

Home manager Katya Lyon said: “We like to maintain excellent

communications with local businesses within the community, and it’s fantastic that Alba appreciates the work we do.

“Everyone at the home is extremely grateful for the donation and we look forward to using the money to purchase something that all residents can enjoy.”

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Putting people first and ensuring they have a good quality of life is the key to a successful career in the care sector according to the new manager of a Huddersfield care home. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Managerial role for Mark at new £4.7m care home CELEBRATING 24 years in the care sector, most of which has been with Meridian Healthcare, Mark Birchenough will start his new role when the £4.7m care centre The Oakes opens in the spring.

Built on the site of a former care home, the purpose built home’s facilities will include 60 en-suite bedrooms with walk in showers, raised bed attractive gardens, a cinema room, nail bar and hairdressing salon. It will offer both residential and dementia care, and has specially designed facilities for residents with dementia related conditions.

Mark said the new role will be the next step in what is a stimulating and rewarding career.

He added: “I always wanted to work with people and originally thought I would become a social worker. I started work as a care assistant thinking I would just do the job for a year.

“Twenty four years on and I am still working with older people albeit as a manager rather than a care assistant.

I stayed because I genuinely like older people and get a real sense of achievement in being able to improve their lives.

“Things have improved hugely over time though. Care homes have moved away from being institutions to being comfortable homes for residents with their well being at the heart of all we do.

“Two days are never the same and it can be very demanding at times, but at the end of the day we are helping to give older people comfort, security and hopefully fun times, when they most need it.”

Mark, who lives in Denton, will oversee up to 60 staff, ensure resi-

Mark Birchenough dents are being looked after to the highest standards and manage the home’s budget and marketing.

Joining Meridian as a care assistant in 1988, he has been promoted through the company and over the past 18 months has managed Acacia Court in Leeds.

I Mark is appealing for sporting memorabilia from the past ahead of the home’s April opening. He aims to create a sporting ‘wall of fame’ and memory boxes containing a mixture of objects relating to the town’s football and rugby heritage that will get a conversation flowing between residents. He said: “There are certain areas that we are concentrating on, such as old programmes, ticket stubs, shorts, scarves, hats, photographs and postcards.”

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CARINGNEWS

Home’s nurse to raise money for typhoon victims Residents and staff from a Yeovil care home celebrated their recent award-winning successes with a party. Yvonne Rodber, activities co-ordinator at Grovelands, was presented with the outstanding learner award at the Care Focus Somerset Awards.

And, at the National Care Awards, care assistant Jo Reynolds was presented with the care newcomer and the staff were awarded the care team 2011 accolade. Guests at the get-together included the town’s mayor and the home’s handyman Philip Chandler, deputy mayor Clive Davis and coun Ian Martin.

How to pay less tax IF YOU own, have bought or are selling a care home or nursing home then you need to talk with a tax expert.

For a building purchased for £650,000, tax savings in the region of £90,000 are common, while for larger establishments worth maybe £2m, savings of £360,000 are not unusual.

Even the most common of items can be worth substantial money to you: door handles, plugs, lights, and computer terminals can all add up to pounds in your pocket.

Refits, refurbishments, extensions and new builds are common in your industry and, while you would expect to claim for new carpets, would you claim for water pipes and electrical wiring?

Typical claims take just 10 weeks.

Enquiries: For a copy of ‘The Property Owners guide to Capital Allowances’ contact Howard Givney on 01233 640985, email info@tax-ideas.co.uk or complete an online form at www.tax-ideas.co.uk

A CARE home nurse who narrowly escaped being caught up in a typhoon that killed a 1,000 people in the Philippines has launched a fundraising campaign to help survivors.

Arlene Elana was on her way home for a holiday when Typhoon Sendong struck, causing flash floods and landslides that devastated the town of San Francisco, in Agusan del Sur province, where she was brought up.

Now colleagues at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham, North Wales, are rallying round to raise much-needed cash to help the area – where thousands remain hungry and homeless – return to normality.

According to Arlene, the typhoon left a trail of destruction through her family’s town, although her own relatives, and those of her husband, survived.

She said: “My mum, sisters and brother still live there. We set off from Wrexham for the long journey back to the Philippines and it was while we were actually travelling that the typhoon struck.

“It isn’t so much the actual typhoon, it’s the mud slides and flooding that follows. The death toll is now well

over 1,000 people and many children have been orphaned. It is terrible to see so many homeless children wandering around.

“It was heartbreaking to witness such devastation. The government is now looking at where they can relocate people so they can move them away from the worst hit areas.”

Arlene and her husband, Armingol, who also works at Pendine Park as a care supervisor, took their two boys with them to the Philippines to visit their respective families.

She said: “In a way I am glad I went home when I did otherwise I would be worried sick about my mum and the rest of our families. At least I know they are all right and, other than a bit of roof damage and trees blown over in their gardens, they are fine.

“However, I can’t stop thinking about all the children who are now orphaned and are without homes.

That’s why I have decided to try and raise some money to send back home in the hope it can help the relief effort. We are looking at what else we can do. Perhaps a sponsored walk or swim.

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CARINGCARE SHOW PREVIEW

Staff training the topic for Tracy’s talk

Speakers revealed for Care Show’s seminars

FOCAL Point Training and Consultancy director Tracy Powley will be speaking at the Care Show about ‘How to develop your staff without spending a fortune”.

Investing in staff development can mean the difference between a home that excels and one that does not.

But as care businesses continue to face financial pressures it is important that any money spent on training is used effectively.

In her seminar Tracy explores how managers and staff can use a range of learning opportunities to develop their skills and looks at how to ensure those opportunities really bring results.

Come and hear some practical guidance on developing your people without breaking the bank on March 27 and 28 in the My Business Theatre and have a chat with us on stand WW196.

CARE Show Bournemouth has announced a stellar line up for its 2012 seminar programme.

Taking place on March 27 and 28 at Bournemouth International Centre, the leading trade exhibition will provide two full days of free education for visitors from across the south of the UK. Event director Chris Edwards said he is particularly enthusiastic about the panel debates, of which there are more than ever before.

He added: “The thought leadership provided by our speakers is second to none and will be complemented even further with the inclusion of several insightful panel debates where audiences will have the chance to submit questions and take part in industry debate.”

Featured in the MyBusiness Seminar Theatre will be a panel discussion on the Southern Cross situation and how the new businesses emerging from its re-structure are doing. Martin Green, ECCA chief executive, will chair the debate with panellists including John Fahy, MD of Assisted Living South West and Bhavna Jones, head of service development at HC One. The MyBusiness theatre will host two further panel debates; one on care home construction and another

Caring UK will be exhibiting at Bournemouth.

Come and visit us on stand W206.

CQC chair Dame Jo Williams speaking at last year’s Care Show. on the increasingly topical issue of long term care.

Also within this ever-popular theatre, visitors will hear from N&C Phlexicare, Savills, Axis Partnership, Christie and Co and Shakespeares, each offering expert commercial business management advice.

The growth of social media within a business context has urged the Care Show team to organise a presentation in the Keynote Theatre led by a panel of experts covering best practice, do’s and don’ts and the potential pitfalls of social media use which business

users should be aware of.

Visitors are encouraged to attend the debates with questions in mind as the floor will be opened for audience questions at the end of each session.

The Care Show discussion group on LinkedIn also provides the perfect platform for pre-show debate and questions for the panels.

The Keynote Theatre opens with a presentation from Alan Rosenbach, special policy lead at the CQC. The inspectorate’s seminars traditionally draw some of the largest audiences, with professionals keen to hear the latest compliance and enforcement updates.

The NCA will also feature in this theatre with Nadra Ahmed OBE providing an overview of what we can expect to face as an industry in the coming years and how to prepare for it. The RNHA and RCN are both also set to address the Keynote audience.

Finally, the Best Practice and Dementia Care Theatre will host a multitude of thought leadership.

This includes contributions from Sylvie Silver of NAPA, outlining the ‘Go 4 Gold’ campaign they are running, aimed at increasing activity levels in the elderly. There will also be practical sessions regarding medication management, nurse call systems and fire safety.

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CARINGNEWS

The Tin Shakers will raise money for charity.

Staff band to tour homes A NEWLY formed band made up of care staff is to tour a provider’s homes in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to raise money for charity.

The Tin Shakers will play 60s and 70s covers when it visits Barchester’s homes in the two counties, with all money raised going to the group’s independent Charitable Foundation.

The band, named for its commitment to fundraising, had its first gig at the Cricklade House Hotel in Wiltshire.

It is made up of drummer Malcolm McDonald, a regional maintenance coordinator at White Lodge care home in Swindon, chef Ollie McDonald and admin assistant Sarah Jacka from neighbouring Hunters Care Centre in Cirencester, director of acquisitions Jim Fogden and interior designer Sarah Scott.

Helen Maiello, senior regional operations director, said “We are con-

stantly looking to strengthen the excellent links we have between our Barchester homes and the communities they serve.

“The band is a great example of bringing people together for a good cause.

“In addition, 10 Barchester homes in my region have been selected by Barchester’s Charitable Foundation to each receive a maximum of £2,000 this year.

“The money will be used to fund local projects with community groups and small charities within a 25-mile radius of their care home, which will encourage even more community engagement.”

Barchester homes in the two counties will be able to book the band to entertain residents, their relatives and friends of the care home. The payment for the band’s performance will be donated to the charity.

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CARINGNEWS

Ena Dooel with Mill Lane’s 1950sinspired artwork.

Homes get arty for project RESIDENTS of homes run by a care group have been channelling their creative energies for a communal art project.

The majority of the 23 homes under Healthcare Homes’ umbrella took part in a Through the Decades task.

Activities co-ordinator Nadine Forde explained that each home was given a different decade and asked to illustrate key moments through the medium of art.

She added: “They could use whatever methods they wished, such as collage, paints, watercolours, cross stitch or charcoals.

“For example, Bilney Hall near Dereham was given the 1930s, Claremont House in Caister-on-Sea

the 1940s and Mill Lane in Felixstowe the 1950s.

“It was a really fun opportunity for residents to work together and with their relatives and the homes’ staff. It helped them explore their talents, remember their own pasts and celebrate history all at the same time.”

Following the success of the art project, residents are now embarking on a poetry challenge.

Nadine added: “Each home will be asked to write a poem on any subject.

As we have seen with Through the Decades, these projects are a great way to get residents interacting with each other and creating something together.”

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Price decrease blamed on recession and uncertainty

By Dominic Musgrave THE ongoing economic crisis and uncertainty surrounding Southern Cross caused care property prices to fall last year, according to a new report.

According to Christie and Co’s annual Business Outlook 2012 publication, which uses average price information taken from care transactions brokered by the company, there was a 3.3 per cent dip in 2011 following a 0.4 per cent increase the previous year.

Richard Lunn, head of care and education at the group, said 2011 will go down as a year with two markets in care.

He added: “As well as operating in the same gloomy economic environment as everyone else, the care sector had to

contend with the cloud cast over it by Southern Cross.

“In many respects the sector emerged from the situation with much credit as what may have proven disastrous instead saw 450 care homes reassigned to landlords in a consensual and solvent manner, and the care of 31,000 vulnerable people transferred to new operators with no effect on the continuity of their care. Before the full implications of the Southern Cross situation were understood, there were positive signs for corporate care transactional activity — especially following the bright end to 2010.

“On the private vendor side, and after a quiet start to 2011, activity increased to the point where the number of transac-

tions brokered by Christie and Co were on a virtual par with 2010, which itself saw a 21 per cent increase in individual care home deals over the previous year.”

Richard’s predictions for the forthcoming year are: Major operators will rationalise their estates as they improve quality through turn-key acquisitions.

Fee profile and bank sentiment will see more older stock come to the market at affordable prices as vendor aspirations on price meet those of buyers.

Distressed sales will again dominate and provoke huge demand in a market fuelled by the requirement for quality.

There may be some market hesitancy leading up to the re-financing of Four Seasons Heath Care.

Caring UK Commerce section brings you all the latest property, business and training news every month.

In this issue: Former nurse

takes over reins at Tenby care home Page 26

Former milkman

hopes to deliver with new home Page 27

Home owners

sitting on sizeable tax rebates Page 28

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Former nurse takes over reins of Tenby home

By Dominic Musgrave Balhousie Care Group has made its first acquisition in Fife by taking over the former Southern Cross run Forth View Care Centre. Around 53 residents and 55 staff have transferred to the company, which has renamed the home Balhousie Forthview Methil Care Home. It is managed by Katherine McCauley (pictured above). The modern facility was purpose-built around four years ago and can care for up to 60 residents in individual rooms with en-suite showers.

Tax reclaims for care home owners...

CAPITAL allowances are among the most valuable and least exploited methods of reducing property owners’ income tax or corporation tax liabilities.

Capital allowances arise from capital expenditure on purchasing or constructing a new property along with extensions and refurbishments.

We comprehensively survey the property which allows us to identify any qualifying items that, for numerous reasons, have previously not been claimed.

Don’t delay as the government are considering closing this opportunity for retrospective claims. Call now for your free appraisal.

Have you made a Vat reclaim? If you were operating between 1993 and 2002 call now to start making your claim.

We will quickly identify the validity of a claim without obligation. If it does not proceed there will be no fee.

Enquiries: Telephone 01246 293011 or visit www.salmon-business.com

A FORMER NHS nurse has invested more than £1m to purchase and refurbish a 28-bed care home in Pembrokeshire.

Rob Hunt has taken over Belmont Court in Tenby, which provides residential and nursing care and employs 35 staff.

He said “ I have always been involved in the sector but never felt it was a viable business proposition to provide the levels of service I wanted to provide under the existing fee structure.

“However, the outcome of the recent judicial review held in Pembrokeshire means that fee income will hopefully increase to a level where higher standards of care and quality can be provided and maintained.

“Demand for quality services with dedicated care is set to increase across the region and placements are already limited at the moment so our investment at Belmont Court is vital to help meet Tenby’s projected care needs and for the success of the business.

“The refurbishment and investment will continue to enhance the reputation of our service. We already have strong occupancy rates at the home which is an indicator that we are doing the right things for our residents and their families.”

Rob said he would like to extend the home further over the next few years, subject to planning approval.

He added: “We aim to create a hospitality based care facility, a hotel with extras. Most people when asked, don’t wish to live in a care home but would happily spend a couple of months in a Tenby hotel, with views of South Beach and Caldy Island.

“The best thing about running your own business is the empowerment to make swift decisions to improve services for your guest. Satisfaction from happy resident guests and family members makes all our efforts worthwhile.

“However there is also an enormous responsibility knowing that both resident guests and employees depend on your ability to make the business a success.”

Barclays Corporate supported Rob with the purchase.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Ex-milkman hopes to deliver with new home

By Dominic Musgrave A MILKMAN turned care home operator is hoping to deliver with his latest acquisition.

Tudur Williams, a helicopter pilot and entrepreneur, bought his first home in 1992 after being offered the opportunity to purchase the facility during his regular morning milk round.

He now runs two homes — the Torestin Care Home in Haverfordwest and the Cartref Care Home in Llandysul — and recently acquired Brynderwen Care Home in Llangunnor, near Carmarthen.

He said: “I was the care home milkman and one day the owner just asked if I wanted to buy the place,” added Tudur. “After some deliberation and negotiation over the price I decided to take the plunge and have never looked back.

“Demand for quality dedicated care is set to increase across the region and placements are already limited at the moment so our investment into the business is vital to our success.

“The refurbishment and investment into Brynderwen will continue to enhance the reputation of our service. We already have strong occupancy rates at all my homes which is a strong indicator that we are doing the right things, for our residents and their families.”

Tudur Williams with Barclays Corporate relationship director Kath Whitrow.

The latest acquisition, which takes the group’s total number of beds to more than 100, came through a £750,000 investment supported by Barclays Corporate.

Tudur said planning permission is in place to increase capacity at the home and that he hopes to create an additional 20 rooms over the next two years.

He added: “We have even recruited Welsh language staff to improve the levels of service to some of our residents whose first language is Welsh.”

Jobs saved as owner found for Afton Court ADMINISTRATORS have sold Afton Court residential care home in Bridlington, saving 16 jobs and ensuring the continued care of 19 elderly residents.

Chris White and Andy Wood of The P&A Partnership, who were appointed joint administrators of Afton Court Limited in November 2010, have sold the home to Tamby Seeneevassen, owner of the East Riding-based Hexon Group.

Chris said: “It has been a particularly challenging administration

because we have had to run the home on a day to day basis for 14 months and improve the quality of care for residents.

“When we took over Afton Court the CQC found several serious compliance issues during an inspection.

“We took immediate steps to address these issues and we are pleased that a further inspection prior to the sale of the home reported a significant improvement in the quality of the home.”

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CARINGCOMMERCE

£5m home opens its doors A NEW £5m specialist care centre has opened its doors in Accrington with a Mayoral seal of approval.

The care centre at Springhill Care Home is a three storey, 24,000 sq ft development which includes 46 beds over five separate facilities.

It is a separate, dedicated service from the rest of the home with its own entrance, reception areas and specially trained staff designed to provide specialist facilities and care for people with dementia and promotion of mental wellness. The official opening saw members of staff joined by senior healthcare dignitaries including ECCA chief executive Martin Green and the mayor of Hyndburn, councillor Colette McCormack.

Ken Nolan, chairman of Springhill Care Group, which also operates homes in Skelmersdale and Bristol, along with supported living service Affinity, said: “This development, which follows a long period of listening to what people told us they would like, reflects our commitment to meeting and exceeding those needs and expectations now and in the future.”

Care home owners sitting on sizeable tax rebates ...

By Mark Tighe IN recent months a growing number of commercial property owners have been switching onto the lucrative tax rebates that can come from unused capital allowances.

The good news is that of all commercial property categories, care homes are getting some of the biggest tax rebates of all. What’s more, we estimate that nine in 10 care home owners will be due a rebate.

In most cases, these rebates will be in the region of tens of thousands of pounds, in some cases – in the case of bigger care homes – even more.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

What exactly are capital allowances and why are such huge rebates due?

Capital allowances are basically a form of tax relief available to anyone incurring capital expenditure buying, building or making adjustments to commercial property – such as a care home.

The problem, historically, has been that identifying capital allowances within commercial properties is extremely complex and a very specialist area, so much so that even accountants only scratch the surface.

For example, while a care home owner’s accountants will claim on

more obvious items such as fire extinguishers and flooring materials, in the vast majority of cases they will not drill down to the items where the far more significant costs to the care home lie.

These might include air conditioning and heating systems, fire alarms and water sprinklers, (emergency) lighting and security systems, stairlifts, integrated sanitary units and specially fitted bathrooms.

A specialist capital allowances firm, by contrast, will have a different skillset and a more detailed understanding of capital allowances law and practice than most accountants. And by carrying out an in-depth forensic survey of the property, it is able to uncover far more valuable capital allowances that will have gone unclaimed.

So what kind of money are we talking about? This will naturally vary from case to case but we recently claimed back £42,000 on behalf of a client who owned a care home worth £650,000. And this is after higher rate tax and our own tax-deductible fee – in other words, that’s cash in the bank.

What makes capital allowances even more attractive is that it is possible to claim for unused capital allowances

Mark Tighe from previous years in any later year’s tax return, as long as the assets are still owned in that later tax year.

Different firms will charge different amounts and in different ways but we only charge a fee if we uncover at least £50,000 of unclaimed capital allowances, which means there is no risk and no up-front cost for the care home owners who approach us. In other words, you only pay if we make you a sizeable amount of money in the first place.

Mark Tighe is managing director of CA Tax Solutions.

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CARINGDEMENTIA

Fitness sessions launched

PEOPLE with dementia and their carers in Wiltshire are taking part in a fitness group designed to boost both physical and mental wellbeing.

Movement for the Mind is a gentle fitness club set up by independent charity Alzheimer’s Support.

The idea is to provide physical activities for people with dementia together with their family carers who may feel unable to take part in other organised activities.

The charity’s development manager Stephany Bardzil said: “There is growing research evidence that physical exercise is beneficial in preventing and mitigating the effects of dementia.

“Our club builds on that, and also provides a supportive social network for people in similar circumstances.”

The sessions are different each month and include gentle exercise, dance, country walks and Tai Chi. Each is led by an expert who has also been trained in dementia care, and carefully structured to meet the needs of members.

Homes introduce new therapy

By Dominic Musgrave A NEW therapeutic communication activity has been implemented at a South East and Anglia group of care homes.

All 12 Carebase homes now use Sonas as part of an extensive activity schedule, a therapy which is primarily for older people with dementia but for also those experiencing extreme social isolation.

Other activities at the homes include dancing, gardening and cooking, as well as visits to the home from zoos, entertainers and local school children.

Head of dementia, Suzanne Mumford, who implemented Sonas, said the residents are also kept busy with day trips to local attractions including petting farms, museums and country homes.

She added: “Sonas focuses on sensory stimulation, including music and touch, in the belief that the senses are the gateways to communication, and is delivered through group and individual sessions.

“The therapy fits perfectly with Carebase’s person-centred approach to care. Structure and repetition are essential features of the programme, which is recorded on a CD/cassette.

“This fosters familiarity, confidence and an environment in which the person’s communicative potential is activated. Crucially, it enables the practitioner to have a complete focus

Resident Margaret Norvill with activities co-ordinator Michelle Seal from Carebase’s Amber Wood facility. on the participants.”

A signature tune is played at the beginning and end of the session. The care home member of staff uses this to go around the group and welcome each resident by name. Next, all senses are engaged by doing activities set to music, which include seated exercises, taste, smell, touch (a light shoulder massage) and lively music with instruments.

Suzanne added: “There is also a section where the residents are encouraged to complete proverbs

and listen to poetry.

“If the group members have anything to contribute such as a poem, proverb or song, these are then read out to the group.

“The session ends with the signature tune, which is used to say good-bye to each resident individually.

“The sessions last between 30 and 45 minutes and are held two or three times a week, giving the residents something to look forward to.”

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CARINGDEMENTIA

‘Seek specialist care’ says Anne THE manager of a Surrey care home is urging relatives and friends of dementia sufferers to seek out specialist care provision to safeguard the comfort of their loved ones.

Anne Kasey, who runs The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society’s home in Banstead, made the comments after a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found dementia care knowledge to be lacking in many hospitals across the UK. The home opened a dedicated dementia wing last year and created a film about the unit for the website with Angela Rippon whose mother died from the condition. It also launched a respite care service at the start of 2012 after identifying the need from frequent enquiries.

She said specialist dementia support offering continuity should be provided if medical care and support is to prove beneficial for both the carer and patient.

“Triggering memories is key to dementia care and we use our patients’ personal items such as photographs and trinkets from their past to create comfort and familiarity in the home,” added Anne. “These items are also placed in our memory boxes, which are transparent and hung by the door to enable them to easily identify their own room.

“Communication is key to dementia

care, and our nurses have learned a series of therapies to trigger memories through conversation including memory mapping. We also run regular reflexology sessions which have been known to reduce agitation.”

Research has found that music can also help to unlock memories and connect with loved ones, reducing feelings of isolation and improving confidence and self-image. Singing and music sessions help relax residents’ minds and take the fear out of the condition.

Anne added: “The positive effects of music on dementia sufferers is well documented. The part of the brain that manages music is not affected as severely by dementia, which means patients can remember songs and music very clearly, therefore boosting their confidence.

“We have observed a definite uplift in the mood and confidence of our residents after implementing singing and music sessions, which suggests it is having a positive effect on their wellbeing.”

The report, issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, claims two thirds of hospital staff say they have not been trained sufficiently in the care of dementia patients despite figures showing one in four hospital beds is occupied by people with the condition.

Work has begun on a new care home in Kent to provide care for older people, including those living with dementia.

The new development, which is being built by Denne, part of the Leadbitter Group, in Orpington, on behalf of Care UK, will incorporate the latest innovations in residential care to provide 84 bedrooms together with state-of-the-art facilities. The home will feature a shop, hairdressing salon, café and library, all set around a tranquil, indoor village space.Further design aspects will include the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof and a combined heat and power unit, which will help to achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating for the project. The home is due for completion in early 2013.

Puzzles making a difference ACTIVE Minds puzzles have made a massive difference to the residents’ lives at a Middlesex care home, the activities manager has claimed.

Wendy Ward, who works at Barchester Healthcare’s Ashford House, has used the different products for its 54 residents, who all have some form of dementia, for the past few years.

These include 11-piece jigsaw puzzles and aqua painting - reusable pictures that come to life by simply adding water.

Wendy said: “We have residents here in wheelchairs or limited mobility and the beauty of the images are that they can be used by anyone by simply adding a few drops of water.

“They have enabled me to introduce a lot more activities for the residents who are in the later stages of their dementia.”

Active Minds owner Ben AtkinsonWilles has recently won £15,000 from Unltd to develop new dementia activity products.

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CARINGNEWS

Investors award Extra scrutiny for London for North West borough’s care homes based provider MERIDIAN Healthcare has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People ‘Gold Award’ – the highest accolade awarded to companies achieving the IIP standard.

The accolade is held by a small handful of companies in the UK – just over one per cent of companies accredited with IIP achieve the award according to assessors.

It was introduced in 2009 and has since been awarded to only 14 care home providers in the UK. The IIP team interviewed around 90 employees and gathered evidence from seven of Meridian’s 29 care centre sites. They were selected by Investors in People for observation, review and interviews.

According to the IIP Assessors, Meridian: “are to be congratulated on their performance in achieving continued recognition against the IIP standard and on the additional achievement of Gold Status. The organisation continues to demonstrate a high level of commitment to delivering a first class service to residents through application of Investors in People principles.”

Meridian has 99 per cent of staff qualified or registered on NVQ programmes, well above the 50 per cent national standard required for the care sector.

The company also has a large number of care centre managers appointed following internal training

Sharon Wood and development programmes.

Sharon Wood, quality assurance manager, said: “The assessors were extremely positive about how we help employees develop their skills and to progress their career with us. It’s a great message to send out to anyone interested in working in the care sector.

“At the end of the day we are a people organisation, investing in our people is crucial to delivering excellent services to our residents.

“The Gold award isn’t something organisations achieve overnight. It reflects our ongoing commitment to our employees and to our residents.”

CARE homes in a London borough are receiving extra scrutiny from councillors.

In addition to reports by council officers and the CQC, elected members in Bexley are also surveying how the residential homes are doing, in a bid to ensure vulnerable people are well provided for.

The visits, which last approximately two hours, are arranged in advance and relatives of residents living in the homes are informed about the visits, so that they can give their own comments to Chris Taylor, chairman of the council's adults' services overview and scrutiny committee and his colleagues.

Among the residential care homes councillors have visited so far are the three homes in the borough that used to be owned by Southern Cross.

Chris said councillors are taking a close interest in the standards of care and continuity of staff maintained by the new owners of the homes.

He added: “We have put in place a regular programme of visits to residential and nursing homes because the care provided to our vulnerable residents is one of our priorities. Reports of our visits are discussed in public and published on the council's website.

“We hope they will be a useful addition to the range of information that is available for people who are looking at the options for residential

care for members of their family.”

A training programme has also been launched to give councillors more detailed knowledge of residential care and to build on the work they have done so far.

Chris added: “We look at the homes as local people with a keen concern for how they care for the loved ones of the people we represent.

“And because the council also funds the care of many of the residents, we also ask questions to check that council taxpayers are getting the best possible value for money.”

The visits normally involve between one and three councillors, accompanied by an officer from social services.

Among the issues they consider are: Reports on the home published by the CQC and the progress made in implementing any action plans agreed with the Commission.

Care provision.

Staff training.

Care plans.

Food, nutrition and dietary plans.

Arrangements for dispensing medication.

Flexibility given to residents, for example, over bedtimes.

Hospital discharge checks.

Activities provided within the home.

Arrangements for managing challenging behaviour.

Risk assessments.

Inspectorate head steps down CYNTHIA Bower has resigned from the role of chief executive of the CQC. She will remain in post until the autumn and the recruitment process for her succcessor will begin shortly.

Cynthia said: “After almost four years leading CQC, I feel that it is now time to move on.

“The process of setting up an

entirely new system of regulation has been intensely challenging – but we have accomplished an enormous amount.

“I’m confident that CQC will continue to build on the progress already made, delivering increasing benefits to people who use services by shining a light on poor care and I am proud to have played a part in this.”

Springfield House manager Lisa Hall and Helen McArdle Care MD Mark McArdle.

Event beats the weather THE winter snap failed to spoil an open weekend at a new care home which has been built on the site of a former hotel in Low Fell.

Springfield House from Helen McArdle Care is a 68 bed care home with 21 one and two bedroom retirement apartments on the same site. The home offers a wide range of facilities for both residents and apartment owners including: The Orangery Restaurant, The Tea Rooms, an internet cafe, GP’s surgery, function room with bar, beauty salon and gym.

Chairman and founder Helen McArdle said: “My vision for

Springfield House and Eslington Mews has developed over a period of time, but I was waiting to find the right location to bring it to life. This community has been designed so that people can live as independently as they want with as much support as they need, and I can’t wait to see residents and their families enjoying and benefiting from the facilities and services that we are providing.”

Not only will Springfield House open up many opportunities for older people in the local area, but it will also provide 60 jobs, some of which have been filled by staff that worked at The Springfield Hotel.

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CARINGNEWS

Award winners from Elder Homes Group’s annual ceremony.

Group recognises staff ETON Park in Nottingham was named outstanding achievement home of the year at the annual awards ceremony organised by owners Elder Homes Group.

The home was recognised for filling its beds better than most last year, with continued improvement in what they do for their residents, such as new activities in place, places to go out and visit, an in-house shop for residents to purchase goodies from, and new nature trail adjoined to the home which was opened by the city mayor.

The group owns 13 homes nationwide.

Other award winners: Manager of

the year - Marlene Stewart (The Links, Bradford); nurse - Cheryl Ade (Bridge Burton and Trent Court, Burton-on-Trent); senior carer - Ann Horrocks (Edensor, Clacton-on-Sea); carer - Melanie Roberts (Millington Springs, Nottingham); administrator Deborah Whitham (Duchess Gardens, Bingley); cook - Cheryl Eades (Epworth House, Rotherham); activities co-ordinator - Sarah Sturgess (Bridge Burton and Trent Court); domestic - Linda Barret (The Links); quality home - The Links; newcomer - Brian Taylor (St Ives, Bingley); resident/relative - Jeff Hindle (St Ives); most consistent home - Bridge Burton and Trent Court.

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CARINGLAUNDRY

Dispelling the myth of effective infection control ELECTROLUX Professional Laundry Systems is a world leader and at the forefront of technology.

The company is committed to providing and developing innovation solutions for the care sector.

Healthcare establishments can rest assured that the best defence against the spread of micro-organisms and cross infection can easily be achieved by using a Barrier Laundry System.

Keeping linen clean requires excellent and consistent practice and discipline. Using Electrolux Barrier Washers makes this simple. Dirty linen is loaded on one side and clean linen is unloaded from another door opening into a separate room, giving functional separation and assisting in Risk Analysis and Bio-Contamination Control (RABC) under the European Standards RABC EN 14065.

By creating a functional separation between clean and soiled textures throughout the whole laundry process, the Barrier Concept represents the optimal way to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and avoid the risk of

recontamination. Combined with the Electrolux Certus Management Information System™ (CMIS) an innovative software programme available exclusively from Electrolux, the Barrier Laundry System provides the highest level of control and traceability. With CMIS, operators will enjoy the monitoring of consumption data and operating costs to gain a full understanding and control of their process. And also because CMIS will provide users with the automatic recording of vital data for every load, it is the ultimate tool for implementing the RABC method.

In addition to a Barrier Laundry a traditional laundry can be as effective with the correct layout and laundry flow in place. The key is ensure the laundry is operated effectively with accurate use of temperature washing and dosing of chemicals.

With the CQC’s new standards implemented in 2010, hygiene and infection control must remain of the upmost importance to healthcare establishments.

Onsite laundries have benefits for care homes MANAGING your laundry onsite to decontaminate soiled uniforms not only ensures you are strictly adhering to company policy for infection control, but also means you have access to plenty of spare uniforms if staff become contaminated during their shift.

While thermal disinfection of laundry is the preferred failsafe method, not all textiles are suitable for exposure to such high temperatures.

Miele’s range of commercial washerextractors and dryers have specially designed programmes to cater for all garment types, especially those containing Lycra or polyester which may not endure thermal disinfection processes.

The machines are also designed to

care for the fabric, prolonging the quality and lifetime of your uniforms.

The powerful Miele PW 5105 10kg washing machine comes with programmes that conform to the requirements of The Care Standard Act 2000.

Octoplus machines offer short programme running times, even in disinfection programmes, and a selfcleaning hygiene programme is also available to ensure the machine itself meets the utmost standards.

Miele’s revolutionary HoneycombTM washing drum, forged from high-grade stainless steel with a unique convex pattern, significantly enhances cleaning performance and reduces fabric wear, and leaves uniforms feeling fresh and soft after every wash.

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Single use more beneficial THE popularity and proven effectiveness of disposable single use bedpans, bottles and bedpan macerators has increased due to the tangible benefits and savings for care staff, residents, overheads and the environment.

Bedpan macerators are used extensively in UK care homes as the preferred bedpan handling method, with Haigh providing the market leading range of macerators.

An increasingly innovative range of pulp item types are available, all of which can be efficiently disposed.

The benefits of using the single use system with bedpan macerators compared to traditional metal or plastic pans cleaned with bedpan washer disinfectors: Reduced infection – new disposable

bedpan or bottle each time; reduced cross-infection; bacteria isn’t presented to resident via bedpan; infection cycle is broken; no sterilisation required; human waste simply disposed.

Cost and environmental savings – uses cold water only; Haigh macerators use 50 per cent less energy per cycle compared to alternate macerators; less maintenance; disposes of sustainable pulp items; improved care home environment due to reductions in odour and noise.

Time saving – no scrubbing, rewashing or unloading required; simple and fast operation; more time for patient care, less installation time; less disruption during downtime, maintenance and servicing.

Acquisition boosts firm THE Everyday Care System from BPS is going from strength to strength since the acquisition of part of the business from Systema Solutions.

John Richardson, director of both companies, said: “We have made significant investment in the online product and numerous new clients have come on board as well as existing users moving to the hosted service.

“The comfort of knowing your system is being managed by an IT specialist is really appreciated by busy care home owners and managers. We look after all updates and back-ups

and ensure there’s enough capacity to keep you running.

“We even have the option to use the iPad/2 as a mobile device as well as numerous other devices – meaning you can enter your data at the point of care.

“At BPS we also recognise the need for being price competitive, so we have a low monthly user licensing model with no minimum commitment and low set up costs.”

Recent developments have included the CQC requirements for mental capacity and the introduction of fast interactive care assessments.

Latest guide launched THE third digital edition of leading healthcare and equipment manufacturer James Spencer and Co Ltd’s Professional Buyers Guide is now online.

Giving fingertip access at the touch of a computer key to the firm’s massive product portfolio, the environmentally friendly electronic version has been universally welcomed by NHS and care homes procurers since the launch edition last July. Company chairman Richard Spencer said the digi-catalogue is ever evolving.

He added: “We have added a whole new section called

‘Community’, which has a plethora of new products, including a very economically priced bariatric range, coupled with a revised selection of fabrics which are modern, comfortable and purpose designed for healthcare use.”

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

New disposal Menu costs forecast Company waste system to remain high ... helps homes available to comply PYROPURE®, a new system for disposal of healthcare waste, will be available later this year.

It is an easy-to-operate, chestfreezer sized unit installed at the home which sterilises and completely destroys whole bags of waste, avoiding the need for storage and collection, thereby saving costs.

It uses a quiet, heat-based process and will also produce clean hot water which can be piped within the home for heating, washing or laundry, offsetting electricity or gas bills and adding to the savings available. By destroying waste on site there are significant environmental benefits compared to transporting it in trucks and landfilling it, and the recovery of energy from the waste adds to these benefits by substituting the fossil fuel involved in electric or gas heating.

The product will be on display at the Care Show (stand S89).

Changes could up income OWNERS feeling the effects of the financial downturn or funding cuts should consider whether their home could be altered to increase occupancy levels and income.

There may be a demand in the local area for a service type that the home does not supply. Additional bedrooms in the correct registration category might be all that is required to increase occupancy and boost profits.

Forrester Associates are specialists in care home architecture. They work with service providers to devise schemes which will allow the home to attract more users and generate increased profit levels. Forrester carry out a free initial survey to assess the property’s potential for alteration and can then prepare detailed drawings for approvals, tenders and construction. They will also supervise the construction if required.

FOOD inflation will remain a key issue for the industry, according to buying specialist Lynx Purchasing.

Along with high prices for prime cuts of beef, pork and lamb, as well as the most popular fish species, Lynx also expects the cost of alternatives such as beef trim for making burgers to stay high.

Managing director John Pinder said: “We saw some rises in the price of many catering products during 2011, and all our market intelligence suggests some will remain firm during 2012 and others are likely to increase further over the next few months.”

Based on the latest prices from suppliers, Lynx’s forecasts include: Going up...

Continued strong demand for all beef cuts keeping prices high.

Good quality lamb is in short supply now, while high demand for new season lamb will keep prices high into the spring.

Increasing demand for pork from Asian markets will drive pork prices, including gammon and bacon, up between six and seven per cent.

Haddock prices will rise by around five per cent and cod by about per cent.

Prawns are set to rise by about six per cent due to increased demand from the Far East and constricted fishing in the north Atlantic.

Scampi will be up by around three per cent due to a lack of landed raw material.

Coming down...

Salmon prices should come down by up to 15 per cent in the next few weeks as increased volumes from Chile balance global demand.

Dairy: the continuing Eurozone crisis has suppressed market forces and brought caution and volatility to

John Pinder global commodity markets, which in turn could affect dairy markets in the coming months.

Butter and cheddar world wholesale prices have fallen considerably; however while this has led to a 10 per cent decrease for butter in UK wholesale market, cheddar has remained unchanged.

Milk prices have remained fairly constant even though farm gate prices have been increasing throughout 2011.

“For businesses with fixed costs, these continued high prices are hitting margins,” said John.

“Operators need to plan menus with care and consider using more costeffective products, as well as making sure they check prices before putting them on menus.

“For example turkey, which understandably saw prices peak in the run-up to Christmas, is better value now as demand declines, and so is a good choice for carveries and roasts at this time of year.

“Coley and pollock are in good supply with no increases forecast, and so are very cost-effective in any white fish recipe.”

Ink and toner solutions by Zest ZEST Solutions has launched a budget-busting online tool helping businesses save money and time on cutting a substantial overhead.

‘Your Zest Online’ satisfies the budget conscious company who are looking to curb the increasing price of printer toner and inks as it allows businesses to purchase direct via

their website using PC or smart phone.

In addition a reporting tool allows businesses to set their own purchasing budgets.

Like any quality online store ordering is secure, convenient and reliable. Next day delivery saves time too.

Mat added to collection Northampton home C-TEC has added a floor pressure mat to its new and highly innovative range of Quantec dementia care products.

Designed for use in care facilities housing patients suffering from the condition, the QT644 floor pressure mat is typically placed at the side of a bed and will trigger a call if it detects foot pressure to alert staff to wandering patients.

With its tough durable PVC finish and non-slip rubber base, the mat trades at just £77.40 and can be connected to C-TEC’s Quantec addressable call system via a QT637 Enuresis/general purpose interface socket or the remote jack socket on a QT602 master call point.

showcases designs HEALTHCARE interior design specialist Just Imagine Contract Interiors recently completed work on a 106-bed care home in Northampton.

Cliftonville is a residential, nursing and dementia care home operated by Avery Healthcare. Adjacent to Northampton hospital, the local Primary Care Trust makes use of the facility as a “step down” for hospital patients.

Just Imagine provided a complete design, procurement and project management fit-out service, working

closely with Avery and its construction partners to create a comfortable, high-quality interior design.

Reminiscence items such as older furniture, antique telephones and ornaments, old photographs of local scenes are scattered throughout, not contained in one room.

Tiling colour changes are used in bathrooms to further aid navigation, and walls, furnishings and fabrics use colour contrasts and avoid busy patterns that can cause confusion.

MSC Maintenance Services has a foot in the door with fire doors and regulation to help care homes meet with fire safety compliance.

With many old and vulnerable people living together care homes present a high risk to life and it seems care home operators are becoming only too aware of this following the number of enquiries the company have received.

Not all doors are fire doors but it is vital to know which ones are because they are very important when a fire occurs. Unless the door has a manufacturer’s mark on it (usually a coloured plastic plug in the edge of the door) then identification is guesswork.

It should be easier to identify a fire door in a new building as there will be a door schedule in the health and safety file giving all the specifications for each door.

Online service to launch at Care Show ENA Shaw, the largest manufacturer of custom made soft furnishings in the UK, will launch its new online ordering service at the Care Show, Bournemouth.

The package utilises the company’s established ‘White Label’ expertise used widely in other areas of the business. Clients can specify their own ranges or choose from a wide range of designs and accessories, view products and details online, place orders and receive confirmations instantly.

With a built in email based approval system and periodic reporting of activity, the system simplifies the ordering process. Alongside the company’s rapid response philosophy, order to delivery can take as little as seven days.

Ena Shaw are on stand W96.

DVDs meet legal changes BVS TRAINING has launched two new DVDs in response to the changes in legislation and requirements. The two DVDs – ‘Infection Prevention and Control in the Care Home’ and ‘Food Safety and Hygiene in the Care Home’ – offer a comprehensive guide to the issues surrounding the specific subjects and highlight various working practices essential in the care environment.

BVS’ whole range of DVDs extensively cover the requirements of the Skills for Care Induction Standards and key sections of legislation. Upgrade discounts are available.

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A hassle-free solution to interior design IF YOU are project managing a new build, extension or refurbishment project, do you feel this is taking up too much of your time, or is running away with the budget?

Would you like a hasslefree solution which saves you both time and money, yet leaves you in full control of the final designs, budget and deadlines?

We work with you to develop your brief and design ideas and carry out the all-important detail and groundwork to translate these into design boards so that you can visualise the finished designs.

Clients can expect fixed interior design costs and fully costed proposals for furniture, curtaining, artwork, equipment, tableware, linen, towels and bedding. Whatever your needs or budget – large or small – our service can be tailored to meet your requirements.

Enquiries: Visit www.a21interiors.co.uk or call Eda Brooks on 020 8399 3091.

‘Samsung Guide to IT in Healthcare’ launched SPECIFICALLY written for healthcare establishment managers and owners this new guide explains how care homes can use IT to cut costs and improve efficiency.

As budgets are squeezed, and demands on patient care in UK care homes increases, Samsung Electronics has produced an informative guide explaining how healthcare providers can use the latest technology to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve patient care.

The ‘Samsung Guide to IT in Healthcare’ outlines how the latest developments in IT, from IP telephony and tablet computers to flat-screen displays and multifunction printers, allow care homes and other healthcare providers to achieve efficiencies previously only available to organisations with big budgets and in-house IT expertise.

Samsung will be exhibiting at the Bournemouth Care Show on March 27 and 28 - stand number S122.

Enquiries: To request a free copy of ‘Samsung Guide to IT in Healthcare’ email h.hodgson@samsung.com and one will be mailed out to you by return post.

Touchless hand care HAND hygiene, particularly in healthcare settings, is an important factor for reducing the spread of infection.

Infection control guidelines covering care homes say the use of alcohol hand rub is important and should be easily accessible to staff.

According to Germstar Hygiene, 80 per cent of infectious diseases are transmitted by hand, meaning the traditional dispenser used can be compromised.

The company’s touchless hand sanitiser eliminates the dispenser as a potential for cross-contamination. Users place a hand under the motion-activated dispenser to receive a measured dose of sanitising liquid rinse capable of killing an estimated 99.9 per cent of bacteria, viruses and fungus on contact.

The rinse works against H1N1, Norovirus, gastroenteritis, E Coli, salmonella, MRSA. It is made from 100 per natural emollients including a built in moisturiser which prevents ‘alcohol dryness’. The dispenser unit will be fitted in any care home free of charge.

See the Germstar dispenser on Stand W105 at the Bournemouth Care Show Enquiries: Telephone 01980 616800, email sales@germstaruk.com or visit www.germstaruk.com

The quickest way to label clothes RESIDENTS with dementia often experience distress if they cannot find the clothing they are familiar with and, as with all residents, it is important that an individual’s garments are correctly returned to them after washing.

Spring approaching means new clothes to identify, and with more than 1,200 garments going through the care home laundry this is not an easy task, especially if the garment is not named adequately.

Attach-a-Tag is a simple, cost effective method of labelling clothing and soft objects, and is an ideal way to quickly label short term and respite residents’ clothing as well as normal laundry.

Replicating a button, it attaches in seconds to the garment seam or laundry label, making it discreet and comfortable to the wearer. The patented design is easy to attach but difficult to remove, and cannot be taken off by accident or come off during the laundry process.

Enquiries: Telephone 01757 638926, email enquiries@attachatag.co.uk or visit www.attachatag.co.uk

Grahame Gardner meet all your uniform needs WITH a wide selection of both contemporary and traditional workwear, Grahame Gardner has garments to suit every taste.

Their range of tunics and trousers are extensive, all designed to be both practical and comfortable, with a number of alternative trouser styles, including hipster and boot cut.

Urbane Scrubs on the other hand is the perfect range for those looking for something a little out of the ordinary – with a bold colour palette and flattering tailoring. Urbane is a scrub range a cut above the rest.

Grahame Gardner also offer an embroidery service so care homes can personalise their garments with the addition of logos or name badges. This enables managers to cost effectively create a bespoke identity to enhance the image of the surgery.

For added convenience, Grahame Gardner has also selected a range of clogs and shoes perfect for the staff.

Enquiries: Telephone 0116 255 6326 or visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk

Simple solutions SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simple solutions to common nursing home problems.

The new WACMAT® adheres strongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cotton pile and 100 per cent waterproof backing, the remarkable WACMAT® is an ideal accessory where spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, in bedrooms or bathrooms, the WACMAT® ensures full carpet protection. Then, after use, simply machine wash and tumble dry!

It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then be clean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749

RDP Innovations helps you get your residents online RDP Innovations Ltd designs and manufactures a range of mobile computer trolleys to help you get your residents online.

Highly manoeuvrable, sturdy and stable, our top quality trolleys are used to wheel computers into residents’ own rooms so that they can use email or Skype in privacy and with confidence.

Enquiries: Call 01473 722 922 or email sales@rdpinnovations.com Come and visit us on stand S11 at The Care Show, Bournemouth, on March 27 and 28.

High quality medical cabinet from RDP Innovations THIS high quality medical cabinet from RDP Innovations has been specifically designed for use in residential care homes.

Use one cabinet in each resident’s room to safely store the creams, lotions and wipes which are used in their personal care.

Designed to be wall-mounted, each medical cabinet is supplied with a set of fixings and clear, printed, installation instructions. Each cabinet measures 30cm x 20cm x 13cm.

RDP’s medical cabinets can be supplied ‘keyed-alike’ (all keys the same) or ‘keyed-to-differ’ (all keys different).

Further, to increase the likelihood that cabinets will be locked after they have been accessed by a keyholder, keys can only be removed from a lock when the latch is in the ‘locked’ position.

Enquiries: Call 01473 722 922 or email sales@rdpinnovations.com.

Come and visit us on stand S11 at The Care Show, Bournemouth, on March 27 and 28.

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Leading risk management software supplier

Knightsbridge Furniture enhances refurbished East Lancs Hospice

DATIX is the leading supplier of patient and resident safety software for health and social care risk management, incident reporting and adverse events.

Datix gives care home managers the information they need to build a complete picture of risk in their organisation. Datix can help to improve safety for residents and staff, while reducing administrative overheads. From small care homes to large groups, Datix plays a key part in the corporate governance of the organisation.

Key features of Datix for social care include: Management dashboards which display information on the organisation’s risks in a clear, simple format.

Sophisticated alerting mechanisms that give care home managers early warning of potential trouble spots.

Flexible views of risk management information, allowing risks to be shown by particular care home, department or even an individual resident.

Security of access to information, restricting managers to viewing only data that is relevant to their care home or area of interest.

USERS of the communal areas in Blackburn’s East Lancashire Hospice are now welcomed by furniture in inviting shades of chocolate, red and natural beech following the installation of chairs and tables supplied by Bradford-based Knightsbridge Furniture.

The order is part of an extensive refurbishment programme funded jointly by the Department of Health and the local community which included upgrading inpatient and day therapy areas, enlarging bedrooms and creating new communal spaces.

In the new-look communal areas, a range of seating and tables from the Knightsbridge Furniture Care portfolio has been selected to avoid a uniform ‘institutional’ look whilst meeting varying user-needs.

Hallam electric recliners, for example, combine both style and functionality: features like heavy-duty braked castors, a discreet drip-stand locator, padded arms and extra support for the head and lumbar regions ensure they merge comfortably into clinical, therapeutic and lounge settings alike.

Enquiries: Contact 020 8971 1971 or email info@datix.co.uk

Enquiries: call 01274 731442, e-mail enquiries@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

New Home and Freedom catalogue makes caring at home easier A NEW Home and Freedom catalogue is available from Synergy Health to make it easier to care at home for elderly people or those with physical disabilities or immobility problems.

It also contains resources for managing dermatological conditions, such as eczema.

The catalogue includes educational guides to hand hygiene, continence management, and infection prevention around the home. It details the comprehensive home healthcare products available to order from Synergy Health, including continence care and personal cleansing products; home cleaning and disinfection essentials; and nursing care products.

Synergy Health has been a leading supplier of personal hygiene, infection control and wound care products to the NHS for more than 40 years and has a long tradition of supplying innovative healthcare products both to those in healthcare establishments and in their own homes.

Enquiries: The catalogue is available online at www.synergyonlinestore.com Orders can be made online, by post or by calling 0845 196 0625.

SCIFIT RST7000 Recumbent Stepper THE RST7000 Recumbent Stepper from SCIFIT has been designed with adjustable step through easyaccess, providing a smooth linear movement and can be used for lower body only, upper body only or total body exercise.

It has comfortable, sturdy orthopaedic footbeds that are self-levelling with safety edges to deliver a secure, dependent step motion.

The fully adjustable swivel seat includes a therapist side assist lever and is also very ease to remove to enable use with a wheelchair.

A low starting resistance of six watts, plus a low minimum RPM (to begin and maintain programme function) make this recumbent stepper well suited for rehabilitation applications.

This unique benefit enhances the muscle development of older adults, promoting a greater feeling of wellbeing and everyday activities.

The user-defined stride length greatly assists with hip and knee rehabilitation.

Enquiries: Call 01344 300 022 or visit www.SCIFIT.uk.com for full product details including an instructional video.

Cut laundry energy bills with Girbau’s new ED Series tumbledryers GIRBAU UK has launched a new range of high efficiency tumble dryers that will help care and nursing home laundries to cut energy bills.

All four models in the new Girbau ED Series EcoDryer range are believed to be the most energy efficient conventional tumble dryers available. They offer a range of load capacities: 13kg, 17kg, 23kg and 33kg.

Designed to be more energy efficient than any other conventional dryer, ED Series EcoDryers feature Girbau’s TRANSFLOW technology.

This is a combination of both radial and axial airflow for maximum efficiency, reduced cycle times and lower energy costs. Cabinet insulation and a double-glazed door further optimise energy efficiency and prevent heat escaping from ED Series dryers.

The highly reliable and accurate built-in humidity control system automatically senses when clothes are dry and activates the cool down process maximising energy efficiency and assuring textile care.

Enquiries: Telephone 01462 427780 or visit www.girbau.co.uk

Introducing you to our RemScent machines

RESEARCH has proven that smell has the strongest connection to memory and that smell can be a powerful memory stimulant especially for someone with dementia.

Our RemScent machines work by releasing different scents to trigger the reminiscence process and work as form of reminiscence therapy.

Simply plug in our RemScent machine, choose your scent from over 200 different aroma cartridges and let the reminiscence process begin.

Create the smell of freshly cut grass to help someone remember glorious summer days, the smell of a warm roast dinner to restore an appetite, or perhaps a coal fire to help residents feel more relaxed before going to bed.

We currently offer three different scent machines, starting at just £129.99. Buy a scent machine and get two scents of your choice free.

Enquiries: For more information call the Rem team on 0207 9935308, email mail@remscent.com or visit www.remscent.com

The UK’s leading interior design service for the healthcare sector JUST Imagine Contract Interiors provides a complete design and fit-out service for healthcare operators, including Avery, Hanover, Pennaf Housing and Housing 21.

Whether new build or refurbishment, interiors meet all legislative criteria and exceed the needs of your residents in terms of style and comfort: Maximise occupancy and make your home more successful – we create comfortable, desirable places to live.

Enjoy the satisfaction of providing excellent healthcare – better design leads to better care.

Have the design you want, not what the designer wants you to have! Just Imagine produces a range of design schemes for you to choose from.

Relax. We design, procure and project-manage the fit-out on your behalf, or we can be your design consultant only – whichever you prefer.

Achieve the most cost-effective interior design – use our knowledge and experience to get the best items at competitive prices..

Enquiries: Call 01745 585521, email Richard at info@justimagineinteriors.co.uk or visit www.justimagineinteriors.co.uk

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

New training programme DEMENTIA care is complex.

Sometimes care providers’ lack of information and skills can heighten anxiety and result in a variety of risks and missed opportunities to enhance quality of life for those in their care.

In addition, regulations aimed at improving care can easily become barriers to resident, family, and staff satisfaction.

Organisations committed to overcoming these challenges find that it starts by connecting all dementia care staff through a person-centred philosophy and care approach.

A comprehensive person-centred training programme is the most effective means of improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia.

Implementing a few basic steps can ensure that all staff members improve their communication and quality of person-centred care. Additionally it can also aide the maintenance of function and delay further cognitive degeneration. A new training programme from CPI marries two powerful programmes: Dementia Capable Care and Non-violent Crisis Intervention in an efficient, effective training format designed exclusively for dementia care facilities.

New bath unveiled GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathing has launched a new version of its successful Ascot 1600 bath complete with a fixed seat transfer.

The Ascot FS has been designed in response to customer feedback, and aims to ensure practical installation for refurbishments in the long term care and nursing home sector by providing a functional bathing solution in space restricted environments.

Nigel Crook, sales manager, said the system is also compact enough for people to have in their own homes.

He added: “The Ascot FS is proving such a success because it combines state-of-the-art technology with practicality and ergonomic design. It features an automated system which seamlessly transfers the bather into the water, making the bathing experience effortless for not only the user, but the carer as well.”

Effective solution to installation NURSING homes are forever faced with increased running costs and the temptation to cut corners can be tempting.

Finding solutions that are cost effective and save money without compromising any legislative issues are hard to find. However, there is now an effective solution to reduce the cost of fire extinguisher installation and maintenance.

Fireworld extinguishers are maintenance free for their 10-year life span.

They do not require a registered

extinguisher engineer to come out to service them on a yearly basis or to discharge and re-fill after five years, as is required with a standard extinguisher. All you need to do is to appoint a person within the organisation to carry out a yearly visual inspection.

When you purchase a maintenance free fire extinguisher, Safelincs will carry out a free site survey to ensure you have the correct extinguishers and give you a demonstration of the yearly visual check.

Badges help meet Outcome SINCE 2010 healthcare practices regulated by the CQC must meet service delivery criteria including the clear identification of individual staff members.

The guidance publication entitled ‘Essential standards of quality and safety’ specifies that, for providers to achieve the required standard of care and welfare of people who use their healthcare services, their users “can be confident that, wherever possible, they will know the names and job titles of the people who provide their care, treatment and support” (part of Outcome 4C).

Compliance with this standard is simple according to Badgemaster, the UK’s leading supplier of name badges.

“Providing name badges to customer-facing staff is a proven and very cost-effective solution to the CQC regulations,” said MD John Bancroft.

Nottinghamshire-based for 20 years, Badgemaster designs and manufactures ready-to-wear employee name badges for thousands of hospitals, surgeries and care homes and well understands the needs of healthcare professionals.

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New training guide unveiled

By Dominic Musgrave WALES’ first set of training guides for care home staff that have been written with the help of residents, their relatives and staff have been launched.

The My Home Life Cymru programme from Age Cymru has published the eight ‘good practice guides’ to help improve the lives of people who are involved with care homes.

These are: I Maintaining identity in a care home environment; I Sharing decision making in care homes.

I Creating community.

I Managing the transition into a care home.

I Improving health and healthcare.

I Supporting a good end of life.

I Promoting a positive culture.

I Keeping the workforce fit for purpose.

Signs

Programme manager John Moore said: “My Home Life Cymru is a programme that exists to make life better for people living in, visiting or working in care homes in Wales.

“Over the last three years, we’ve worked closely with 38 care homes across Wales to identify the little things that make a big difference in the day-to-day lives of residents, relatives and staff at those homes.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of people about a lot of different issues and in the process we’ve learned a lot about the good work that goes on in care homes across Wales, and we’ve put all this information into the eight good practice guides.”

The guides have been written to inspire staff discussions on issues from including everyone involved when making decisions that affect residents’ lives; developing a sense of community within care homes, to death and dying and more.

Course helps staff understand roles A BRISTOL care provider has developed a leadership course for staff, to enable them to understand their role and responsibilities more clearly, and identify what they can change to improve the well being of customers and colleagues.

Brunelcare’s frontline staff have been given the opportunity to explore different ways of working to meet the aspirations and dreams of people living with a dementia, shifting away from task based care towards an outcome focus.

The training scheme was introduced one year ago and was initially launched solely in the care homes within Brunelcare’s portfolio, however, due to its success, it is now being implemented throughout the business.

Jan Little, head of care homes, said: “This training has been incredibly successful, we have seen the

enthusiasm and confidence of staff grow, they really feel more involved in the business and the training has helped them manage their time better.

“We are so pleased that the pilot has now been extended to the whole business and that staff, residents and clients are all benefitting.”

The training explores what makes a successful team, and promotes empowerment to encourage staff to explore and enable new opportunities.

The course involves a lot of delegate participation, with focus on team building, interaction and problem solving.

Jan and Stuart Wright, Brunelcare’s dementia care champion, presented this training package at the Dementia Care Congress, where it was well received by other care providers.

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