Caring UK May 2021

no.292 • £4.75 incorporating

May 2021

Danielle wins Healthcare Hero award

Danielle said: “I was new to the role and there were many different protocols and procedures to implement around infection control, PPE and safeguarding residents because of the virus outbreak – so it was a lot to get my head around at the start.

“There were some real lows – residents missed their families, and the team was faced with significant additional pressure.

“But looking back they did, and are still doing, a tremendous job. I couldn’t be prouder.”

To keep spirits high amongst her workforce of 39, Danielle introduced regular group chats for her team on WhatsApp so everyone could air their thoughts and feelings, while being commended on their achievements.

The team could also take advantage of pizza treats and sweet baskets, for when they worked late or needed a little pick-me-up.

The addition of a ‘You Matter’ display, which featured helpful local information and support services and a breakdown of the ‘who’s who’ of the head office team, proved particularly popular with Danielle’s colleagues.

Danielle also organised daily Zoom chats between loved ones and the residents and ensured the weekly schedule of activities included something for everyone, from cooking or dancing to a music session.

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A CARE home manager who has dedicated more than half her life to social care has been named a Healthcare Hero in a nationwide search celebrating key workers.

Danielle Bullent from Gorlestonon-Sea near Great Yarmouth has been awarded the accolade in Quinyx’s inaugural Workforce Heroes Awards.

She was nominated by her colleagues from Laurel Lodge residential home in Norwich and her former manager from Park House in Great Yarmouth.

Danielle was involved in organising a surprise anniversary celebration for Derek and Phyllis Mapes.

The couple, both aged 90, were unable to celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary as they had been apart for eight months because of lockdown.

After Derek joined Phyllis at Laurel Lodge in the autumn, Danielle and the team organised a special meal with entertainment, to commemorate the occasion.

The 35-year-old mum-of-two began working in the care industry as a care assistant, aged just 17.

Steadily progressing up the career ladder, in October 2019 she accepted the role of manager with the Black Swan Care Group home, after completing an NVQ in Leadership and Management.

After only 12 weeks in the new position, the pandemic hit.

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Championing dementia in care homes

TV’s wellbeing and fitness legend Mr Motivator was beamed into more than 70 care homes throughout Essex to give residents and staff a much-needed boost. The uplifting event was streamed directly into the communal rooms of care homes all over the county via Zoom. The workout was organised in association with Colchester Borough Council, the Essex FaNs Network and Mr Motivator’s new online club, which has been specially designed for the older person. The Motivation Club extends his trademark motivation beyond the physical and includes expert advice on sensible eating, mental fitness, and provides a community to help battle loneliness, especially in older people.

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PRINCESS Alice Hospice Education and Research department is working with Signature Senior Lifestyle to embark on a five-month programme to train ‘End of Life Care Dementia Champions’ across its network of 13 care homes.

The operator was looking for a way to increase its expertise in dementia care – they approached the Hospice for help in bringing together and educating the champions to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence.

Simon Dickinson, sales and marketing director for Signature, said: “We are extremely pleased with the progress with End of Life Care Dementia Champions. As ever, peace of mind, security and reassurance for our residents and their loved ones is of the utmost importance and never has it been more apparent than during the difficulties of the last year.

“It has naturally been a very difficult period for everyone but we are greatly looking forward to implementing this programme, seeing its effects and standing proud behind what can be accomplished in care.’’

Using a mix of teaching and interactive learning carried out via Zoom, the Dementia Champions have been encouraged to bring examples from practice which are then used as a basis for discussion and learning.

The role of the champion is to implement organisational change and support mechanisms to facilitate best practice in end of life care for residents with dementia.

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CARINGNEWS

Online gallery showcases work of artistic residents ARTISTIC care home residents have spoken of their pride at having their paintings featured in an online exhibition.

The showcase at the Pendine Park care organisation features the work of their residents at their homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon.

The art classes are organised by artist-in-residence Sarah Edwards, who last year celebrated her 25th anniversary of working with Pendine.

She helps residents find their creative streak and produce intricate works of art such as animal portraits and landscape paintings.

Sarah has been so impressed by the quality of artwork achieved by dozens of residents over the years that she is to showcase more than 100 of the best works in an online Retrospective Art Gallery.

She said: “We have certainly seen at Pendine Park how much artistic talent there

Pendine Park artist-in-residence Sarah Edwards with some of the work. with art, with all participants is, from both our past and given advice and support to present residents. enable their creative juices “Hopefully, our art gallery to flow – no matter what will give people an idea of condition or disability they the sort of things we do may have. here, as well as the quality of “People forget that you can work produced by residents build skills when you come at our homes in Wrexham and to a care home and there’s Caernarfon.” a chance to embrace new Sarah has long promoted the talents and creativity,” she benefits of residents engaging

added.

“A lot of the residents have no history of doing artwork.

But they have come along to the art class and realised just how good their work can be.

“For example, we have had residents with a range of complex conditions and disabilities attending the art class.

“They have demonstrated how creative they are, producing really impressive works of art.

“It has never been the case in the class of everybody doing the same thing.

Instead, it is about working to whatever their individual strengths are.”

Pendine Park is believed to have been the first care home in Wales to employ an artist in residence, when Sarah was appointed in 1995.

She has been in the role ever since, building close working relationships with residents and supporting the development of successful enrichment programmes.

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www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Healthcare Product Manager: Bev Green Tel: 01226 734288 Email: bg@scriptmedia.co.uk Assistant Sales Manager: Tracy Stacey Tel: 01226 734480 Email: cuk3@scriptmedia.co.uk Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 Email: tb@scriptmedia.co.uk 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 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Group Production Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Studio Manager: Stewart Holt Tel: 01226 734414 sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ scriptmedia.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.

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Molly Tarrant (centre) is joined by staff and fellow residents at Colten Care’s Bourne View care home in Poole.

Stroke survivor completes her ‘bike ride to London’ A BIG-hearted Dorset care home resident got on her bike to help a hospice charity despite the challenges of reduced mobility.

Stroke survivor Molly Tarrant, 84, used her static physiotherapy bike to cycle the equivalent 100-mile distance from Colten Care’s Bourne View in Poole to London.

The former factory supervisor has been unable to walk for more than two years and thought the bike ride would help with her physiotherapy and overall rehabilitation.

The ride was completed in daily sessions over several weeks with encouragement from carers at the home.

Molly’s success means she has raised more than £700 for Poolebased Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

She was coached throughout her

ride by Bourne View Companionship Team members Paul Wookey and Brian Ramsey.

Brian said: “We were both with Molly at the last mile and it really was a special moment when she ‘crossed the finishing line’.

“We’re all so proud of her. She has done brilliantly.”

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity established 29 years ago, providing care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset.

It offers a range of free hospice care services aimed at helping people to live well through their illness, closer to home.

Lewis-Manning is Bourne View’s main nominated charity for residents and staff to support during 2021.

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Our large, modern lounge leads onto a wheelchairfriendly decking area. We also have a dedicated activities suite, quiet lounge, and meditation/prayer room. When the weather allows, our residents enjoy sitting in the extensive grounds and award-winning gardens.

Rustington Hall is a dual-registered Nursing and Care Home for 61 residents, meaning that as the resident’s needs change, their surroundings do not have to.

We have a carefully selected team here, who are all devoted to making sure that our residents are at the forefront of everything we do.

Our Activities and Wellbeing Team enjoy getting to know the residents. They host an extensive programme of activities including quizzes, film afternoons, games and a range of animal visitors! We have monthly themed events, which the residents love participating in, such as Ascot Day, Mad Hatters Tea Party, Masquerade Ball, Beach Day, to name a few.

We are very proud of who we are and what we represent, in working together to provide a community for residents and their families alike.

For those who wish to stay in their rooms, we also have a trolley that travels around the Home, offering puzzles, books, colouring and games.

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CARINGNEWS

Group collaborates with Scottish Seabird Centre for wellbeing initiative

Care home relaunches its beloved gardening club A HERTFORDSHIRE care home has relaunched its gardening club in a bid to reunite its green-fingered residents with family and friends as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

A scheme that promotes exercise, independence and positive wellbeing, the club at Foxholes near Hitchin provides residents and their loved ones with a chance to plant, grow and maintain their own miniature gardens in the grounds.

And with children under the age of 16 currently unable to visit the home, the club is also a great way for them to still spend valuable time with their grandparents.

Estate manager Neil Gandecha said:

“The gardening club is one of our biggest activities at Foxholes.

“Residents get to spend quality and meaningful time with their family and friends while cultivating their miniature gardens, so relaunching the club at a time when we’re trying to reconnect them with loved ones just makes sense.

“We provide the truggs and the soil, though, what is planted and maintained is completely determined by our residents.”

The warmer weather will also see the resumption of the chef’s garden, where Foxholes’ head chef Manuel Tovar Angulo will grow his own vegetables for seasonal recipes.

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HC-One has collaborated with the Scottish Seabird Centre, a conservation and education charity based in North Berwick to introduce a designed multimedia interactive wellbeing pack.

The initiative aims to bring the outdoor environment into care homes for residents with a set of marine digital resources including videos of wildlife and marine life, stories from the seaside, podcasts, blog posts, online science activities, film lists, marine-themed books, links to live wildlife camera feeds and much more which can all be accessed through an online platform.

Robi Roccella, head of quality of life at HC-One, said: “We have been delighted to work with the Scottish Seabird Centre to bring elements of the outdoor environment inside our care homes to allow residents to experience and learn fascinating facts and information about marine and wildlife environments.

“During these unprecedented times, the importance of enhancing residents’ wellbeing and providing stimulation to their body, mind and soul has been even greater.

“With restrictions in place regarding trips outside of the care home including visits to the seaside, aquariums and museums, it is even more important now that the wellbeing of residents and their quality of life remains of equal importance to the quality of the care they receive.

“Being near the ocean helps to improve our health and wellbeing, and with the current restrictions in place, this initiative provides a wonderful opportunity for our residents to explore wildlife and marine life without the need to leave the comfort of their homes.”

The Scottish Seabird Centre works to inspire and educate people about the marine environment and believes that everyone should have access to the marine environment, irrespective of location or circumstance.

The wildlife wellbeing pack created and developed by the education team

Resident Isa Reynolds with George the puffin at Catmoor House. is available to access in all HC-One care homes across England, Wales and Scotland.

The technology brings the outdoor environment such as the seaside and ocean directly into HC-One care homes to residents virtually through their tablets.

Residents have enjoyed watching live footage of seals in the Firth of Forth, listening to professors of marine science discuss climate change and helping assist scientists with counting penguins in Antarctica, becoming fully immersed in the marine environment.

They were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the wildlife wellbeing packs to the Scottish Seabird Centre through completing a survey, which were all entered into a prize draw.

The winning care home, Catmoor House, received a wildlife adoption pack for a puffin who they’ve named George including postcards, an adoption certificate, fact sheet and a cuddly toy.

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Residents at The Hall have started a new yarn bombing tradition. Nurses, local knitting group The Crafty Hubbers and members of the community donated their time and helped residents and colleagues at the Thornton-le-Dale residential care home crochet and stitch more than 1,200 flowers and pollinating insects that they wrapped around the building and the grounds. The Hall’s colourful yarn bombing will contribute to the North Yorkshire entry to the Britain in Bloom competition. Manager Nicky Beach said: “The yarn bomb was an incredible piece of art that our residents loved participating in, and we want to thank the community for getting involved.”

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CARINGNEWS Advertiser’s announcement

How safe are your ratings?

ABUSE of power and of the process of law is now common in our society, the norm even.

With delays of many months in bringing litigation by way of judicial review to a hearing in the courts, public bodies are growing increasingly blasé about any such challenge, and have become masters of the dark art of doing just enough to evade a hearing of such applications and the likely consequent public judgement. The Care Quality Commission is not merely no different from any other public body in this regard, it is a leader in the field.

In late 2013 CQC issued fixed penalty notices on a blanket basis without individual assessment to providers having a registered manager vacancy of six months or more. Not one of these was the outcome of an inspection.

They had dished out 570 such FPNs when my application for judicial review stopped the policy, preventing an estimated further 900 or so notices. In a letter to me dated December 16 2013 CE David Behan explained that, while they recognised the national shortage of suitable managers, they ‘had to do something’, and that the so-called “Registered managers project” was expected to be a catalyst for change.

A signed confession as to abuse of the process of law. Criminal penalties arise exclusively on an individual basis.

In early 2015 CQC started to apply the new Regulated Activities Regulations 2014 retrospectively. The regulations were actually in force from April 1 2015, but about 700 site inspections carried out before that date but not yet published were retrospectively stated to have been ‘judged’ against the new regulations, even including some carried out before the minister signed and published them in November 2014.

No signed confession needed here, just look at the front of the published inspection reports. The (unlawful) purpose was to avoid difficulties in prosecution of an ongoing breach if no warning notice had been issued under the old regulations prior to April 2015, under which it had been a necessary precursor.

CQC set a policy some time back of a blanket refusal to provide copies of inspection notes, behind a facade of allowing selective response to enquiry at their absolute discretion.

Providers are entitled to know the basis of a ‘case against them’ and the policy offends against the convention rights of providers under the justice system in this jurisdiction.

In April 2019 CQC set a limit on factual accuracy responses to inspection reports of 975 characters for each point made (a last-minute compromise on the 500-character limit of the sham consultation on it), requiring providers to use a new fac form that achieved that limit.

I served CQC with a Letter before Action by way of judicial review on June 12 2019. The fac response is the single final opportunity to challenge the accuracy and proportionality of a document that may be relied on in proceedings including criminal proceedings.

Arguments not made at the time (for whatever reason) may not be ‘raised’ in later appeal proceedings. Inspection reports are a component of the justice

system. CQC is part of the justice system and not the other way around, and has no authority to constrain the rights concerned. CQC withdrew the character limit on June 27 2019.

A core theme of the constraints placed on providers in recent years has been the relentless push towards elimination of the right of response and challenge to draft inspection reports.

In its, er, consultation on changes to the inspection regime CQC now proposes to reduce its use of site visits to conduct inspections. CQC is to “move away from using comprehensive, on-site inspection as the main way of updating ratings”. Predictable in 2021, although the last move away from site visits was abandoned after Winterbourne View.

CQC is marketing this change as “a less rigid approach that allows us to update ratings more often when we recognise changes in quality and to make our on-site inspections more targeted and flexible”.

The consultation document says: “We want to stop describing frequency of assessment in terms of ‘inspection’, and instead by how often we review quality and update ratings.”

The Care Quality Commission is in reality proposing to divorce ratings from (site) inspections. Why? Section 62 of the HSCA 2008 provides that where an inspection is carried out for the purposes of the Commission’s functions the Commission must prepare a report on the matters inspected, and without delay send a copy of the report to the registered person; and that the Commission must publish the (final) report. The explanatory notes to the Act make it very clear that this is intended to provide the opportunity for comment on the draft.

The Act does not explicitly provide that “inspections” must be done at site visits, but the explanatory notes to the Act make the intention clear beyond any argument that they should be: “In carrying out its functions, the Commission will engage with patients and service users and people involved in the provision of care and will also need to inspect relevant premises.”

Performance ratings are by regulations a “function” of the CQC. If CQC succeeds in divorcing ratings from inspections (or rather their definition of them as site visits), then there is no statutory provision requiring a draft report or the right of reply to the proposed ratings.

Game set and match on any right of reply to the findings and judgements of the overwhelming majority of inspections (or at least everyone else’s definition of them). It is no surprise that the consultation does not mention draft reports or right of reply in the new methodology.

Under settled CQC policy, ratings are the trigger for “special measures” up to and including cancellation of registration. What more needs to be said? This latest, and perhaps most serious, abuse of the rights of care providers by the Care Quality Commission must be stopped in its tracks. In the Courts if need be.

Email me at mail@hsc-prof.com to sign up for regular alerts and updates on coronavirus and the rest. Alternatively, visit my Facebook or Twitter pages at @ hsc_prof

Simon Lawrence, Avery’s head of culinary and hospitality.

Online training addresses complex dietary needs AVERY Healthcare chefs are taking part in online training to prepare inclusive mealtime solutions to benefit care home residents with complex dietary requirements.

In partnership with Oak House Kitchen, specialists in catering consultancy and training in the healthcare sector, the operator’s head and sous chefs are actively participating in mandatory online training courses.

Simon Lawrence, Avery’s head of culinary and hospitality, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with sector-leading experts as we adapt

our training to online modules with live feedback, ultimately benefitting our staff with in-depth training.”

The training, delivered alongside live feedback, is designed to educate chefs on adapting meals for specialised diets, including those with dysphagia, maintaining the same nutritional value and taste, and offers hints, tips, and recipe ideas.

These meal solutions benefit residents by providing a more inclusive mealtime experience that improves their overall well-being and experience while residing at Avery care homes.

12

CARINGTRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Care home provider up against major companies for top employer award CARE UK is the only care home provider in the country to be shortlisted for its dedication to employee training and development at the UK Employee Experience Awards.

The Awards reward outstanding initiatives that have improved the world of work leading to a better experience for customers and are open to any employer in the country – from banks to airlines.

As the only care home provider shortlisted in the Employee Training and Development – Empowering Programme category, Care UK is up against some major national employers including TSB and Hitachi Capital.

Judges recognised Care UK’s offering of clear career development opportunities, comprehensive inductions, apprenticeships and development programmes to nearly

Leah Queripel 11,000 employees working across 124 care homes nationwide.

These initiatives enable all colleagues to achieve their potential no matter what their role is.

HR director Leah Queripel said: “We were thrilled when we heard we had been shortlisted against so many major household name employers.

“We are trusted by families to care for around 6,500 residents, mostly older people, many living with dementia.

“Engaged and highly trained colleagues are our greatest strength, so supporting our talented teams by giving them the chance to grow and meet their career ambitions is our focus. It results in all the teams delivering the highest quality care.

“We rigorously promote our development options so that colleagues know there are opportunities to progress, whatever role they start in, and to motivate those who are ambitious for their future.

“I think being shortlisted for such a major award demonstrates our

commitment to developing fulfilling careers for everyone that works for Care UK. “We do this by providing leadership development programmes, train the trainer programmes, internal leadership models and clearer career development in addition to a detailed new carer induction, buddy programmes and our sector-leading apprenticeship programme.

“Motivating and developing good colleagues helps us to ensure quality and continuity of care at all levels for residents, as well as making us a more efficient organisation.”

This is the second time that Care UK has achieved highly in these awards after winning the Silver award for Best Company to Work For in 2020.

Finalists will present their initiatives to the judges and the winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on May 13.

Group takes on cohort from training centre

A SOUTH East care group has welcomed a cohort of 24 registered nurses from its Indian training centre to work across its homes after passing their Objective Structured Clinical Exam.

Nellsar, a family-run group of 13 care homes throughout Kent, Surrey and Essex, recently took on the nurses from its overseas training centre in Kerala, India – with the programme achieving a 100 per cent pass rate since its set-up last year.

Driven by a shortage of nurses in the UK, the programme was formulated in late 2020 to enable carers from overseas to gain their Nursing and Midwifery Council registration to work in the UK. After passing two exams in India, the nurses took part in OSCE training at Nellsar’s Princess Christian Care Centre, in Surrey, and Hengist Field Care Centre, in Kent, under the stewardship of Paula Persaud, registered nurse development manager at Nellsar.

She said: “We invested in our own training programme to emulate the high quality and high standards championed across all our homes.

“Our support system provides

high-quality training that prepares students for a prosperous and successful career as a qualified nurse.

“The OSCE nurses are supported in passing their exams with the NMC, before continuing their registered nurse induction with us.

“It’s a practice that incorporates more futuristic development and support to recruitment in the social care sector.”

The OSCE is used in nurse education to assess clinical skill proficiency at pre-registration and postgraduate level.

The exam is made up of six separate stations using simulated patients in a clinical setting.

To ensure candidates are given adequate time to prepare, they are granted 12 weeks from the start date on their certificate of sponsorship to complete the exam.

Nellsar supported the nurses through the process by providing isolation housing, training, guidance, and transportation.

The programme has proven so popular that other providers have since approached Nellsar to undertake training with the group.

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Loughborough care home receives Good CQC rating WOODTHORPE Lodge care home in Loughborough has received an overall good rating following its first inspection by the CQC. The home, which was opened in 2019 by Strictly Come Dancing star Flavia Cacace, provides care for up to 66 residents and has hit the spot in all five areas of inspection: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.

Home manager Preet Hundal, who has led the Woodthorpe Lodge team since it first opened its doors to residents, said: “It is a hugely proud moment to receive this report and the ‘good’ rating across the board.

“To see our ‘house’ become a ‘home’ over the last 18 months and now to get a stamp of approval from the CQC means so much to both myself and my team.

“It really is a testament to the team who do everything they can to put the residents first.”

During the visit, which took place last month, inspectors observed day to day life at the home and examined paperwork, policies and care plans.

They spoke to several members of staff across multiple roles as well as residents and relatives to gather a full picture prior to compiling the complimentary report.

The constant theme throughout the report shows that people who live at Woodthorpe Lodge are well supported, treated with dignity and respect and crucially, they are involved in making decisions about their care choices.

Inspectors also praised the home for its design and decoration, which is built and furnished with residents’ convenience and comfort in mind.

Woodthorpe Lodge management was noted for its commitment to staff training and development, documenting that staff are offered regular refresher training along with a detailed induction period to new starters through face to face, zoom and on-line training sessions.

Inspectors picked up on the positive atmosphere in the home and noted the commitment to infection control, PPE, testing and training, with Woodthorpe Lodge scoring top marks across all infection prevention and control areas.

The care team and residents received their first dose of the Covid19 vaccination in early January, with dates in place for their second dose to be administered this month.

With the government go-ahead, residents are now able to safely welcome their loved ones for visits.

14

CARINGNEWS

Chicks and ducklings delight residents

An Inverness couple who got married on April Fool’s Day in 1961 recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at Culduthel Care Home, where they have both lived together since May 2019. Andrew (Eddie) Mckenzie, 81, and wife Rita Mckenzie (née Downes), 79, believe they can give couples of all ages some sound advice from their 60 years together, and say laughter is the best medicine for a long and happy matrimony.

The have two children together, Carol and Anne, and two grandchildren, Steven and Victoria. As visits to care homes in Inverness have now resumed, Eddie and Rita’s two daughters were able to visit them to celebrate their special day.

Gainsborough completes G360 wet rooms install at The Welland Centre

CHOSEN for its experience in specialist care environments, Gainsborough has been commissioned to provide two highly advanced wet rooms for mental health inpatients and staff at The Welland Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Kettering.

St Mary’s is a multi-functional Northamptonshire NHS site which has services for both inpatients and outpatients. Services include The Welland Centre which is a purpose built, mental health inpatient facility for adults.

It has four wards and 49-beds – focused on treatment, recovery and psychiatric intensive care, along with a Section 136 Safety Suite.

The centre required two new, highly specialist wet rooms which would ensure patients and carers remained safe during bathing cycles.

GFM, the Facilities Management company responsible for maintenance, appointed Gainsborough to deliver the project through its proven track record in specialist bathing.

Zoe Sparrow, GFM building service manager, said: ‘The NHS Trust asked us to upgrade our bathrooms to specialist wet rooms for enhanced care.

“The wet rooms had to be clinicalcentric with advanced features to support nurses and our highly vulnerable patients.

“Add to this a need for infection control and accessibility, we decided to specify Gainsborough for the project.

“We had seen their specialist work in prisons and they came highly recommended.”

Five specialist installers were tasked with the project and despite challenges, were able to complete the

A GROUP of care home residents welcomed some very special guests, following the egg-citing arrival of baby chicks and ducklings, which hatched in their homes.

The residents, who all live in care homes operated by CHD Living, had recently been surprised with egg hatching kits by staff hoping to spread joy ahead of spring.

Provided by Incredible Eggs, the ethically sourced, high-welfare hatching kits were installed throughout CHD Living’s care offerings much to the delight of residents who got into the spirit of things straight away, making predictions on when they would hatch.

Within a couple of days, the chicks and ducklings had started to arrive and were settling into their new homes.

Since then, residents have been enjoying interacting with their fluffy friends, lavishing them with cuddles, teaching them to swim and making sure they have plenty to eat and drink.

Some residents even got involved with naming the animals, heartwarmingly calling them after residents who have passed away this year.

Shaleeza Hasham, head of hospitality and communications at CHD Living, said: “We’re hoping to incorporate more

Resident Shelagh Howes and a duckling. animal therapy into our offerings and working with Incredible Eggs on this project has been a fantastic place to start.

“Our residents and carers have loved every aspect, from the anticipation of waiting for the eggs to hatch to the excitement of welcoming the chicks and ducklings into the world.

“They’ve made everyone light up with joy. It’s been beautiful to see, especially after the tough year we’ve all had.”

The chicks and ducklings will now become permanent residents at the homes with the appropriate facilities for taking long-term care of them.

Where no suitable home is available, they will be returned to Incredible Eggs, where they will enjoy a first-rate quality of life in high-welfare facilities.

AAT launches “game changing” concept in supported bathing

Ian Trotter, head of Gainsborough’s G360 Bathrooms, demonstrates the new specialist anti-ligature showers at the Welland Centre. first wet room in four weeks and the second in three weeks.

The overall design of the wet rooms was ultra-minimalistic to increase safe and hygiene. Infection control was supported by contactless specialist sanitary ware operated by light sensors.

Showers encompassed detachable ‘bayonet style’ hoses so carers could connect only when required – ensuring the anti-ligature environment was not compromised.

On completion of the project all stakeholders were very satisfied with the end result.

Zoe added: “The two new specialist wet rooms here at The Welland Centre now mean patients can maintain their dignity whilst benefiting from a certain degree of independence.

“In terms of our bathing facilities, our site can now accept more patients with complex needs, in complete confidence, which is an outstanding outcome.”

FOR THE thousands of people, young and old, in Britain who need help to bathe, bath time is fun again.

AAT, the pioneering company behind stairclimbers and vacuum posture cushions, in partnership with disabled people, carers and OTs, has invented Aqua Liberty to plug the gap in supported bathing- and beyond.

AAT Aqua Liberty is the first, and only, bath system that comfortably enables the bather to be properly and safely supported in the bath with minimal physical intervention from a carer. It means the bather can relax and enjoy the hygienic and therapeutic benefits of being immersed in water.

Based around AAT’s innovative vacuum posture cushion, Aqua Liberty precisely forms to the bather irrespective of physical and/or neurological conditions, stabilising head, trunk and pelvis precisely and individually.

The system comprises a pioneering mechanism for securing the cushions in ANY bath.

Secured into place with integrated suction cups, Aqua Liberty provides a stable, non-slip base during bathing, that can be easily removed for other members of the household to use the bath.

Aqua Liberty provides a stable receiver for AAT’s innovative vacuum posture support cushions, which can be precisely, infinitely moulded to perfectly and

comfortably support the occupant without pressure points or rigid structures.

A range of cushions is available meaning there’s the perfect fit for all- any user, any bath.

The system does more than just support in the bath. It is multi-purpose.

The advanced neoprene covering of the cushions provides further sensory positive stimulation, whilst being waterproof, and wipe clean to Covid-safe standards.

The cushions can be detached and air-dry quickly, enabling their use to deliver postural support in any chair, static or wheeled – even in the car.

“We strongly believe Aqua Liberty is a game changer,” said AAT director Peter Wingrave.

“We have a reputation for being the UK’s leader in innovative support for people with special needs, and Aqua Liberty is reinforces that heritage.

“It brings comfort, and independent stability to the bather, so they can truly relax and enjoy the experience. It removes the physical effort and contortion for carers in supporting their loved one in the bath. Bathtime becomes a pleasurable experience for everyone again.”

AAT is so confident of the value the British conceived, designed and developed Aqua Liberty brings, it is offering free assessment and free trail of the system.

Enquiries: Call 01978 821875, email sales@aatgb.com or visit https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/

Caring UK Care Providers Conference Pushing the boundaries of care excellence

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Delivering the latest news, information and products that will enable owners, managers and staff to be at the forefront of delivering Care Excellence

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CARING UK CONFERENCES 2021 IAL SPEC R OFFE

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Where invoices are requested and agreed, payment must be received within 15 days from the invoice date. We understand and will exercise out statutory rights to claim interest and compensation for the debt recovery costs under the late payment legislation if we are not paid according to agreed credit terms. An interest rate of 8% above base rate will apply for late payment.

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CARINGHYGIENE, LAUNDRY & INFECTION CONTROL Advertiser’s announcement

Anti-microbial technology in fabrics – a route to improved infection control in care homes ONE of the key lessons learned by care homes in 2020 was that the more you can do to prevent the spread of infections, the better.

Multiple studies convey that environmental contamination is a substantial source of cross infection within healthcare environments1,2, in both residents’ rooms and in communal areas.

Care homes should consider new technologies that tackle this issue, such as the anti-microbial properties of recent fabrics and upholsteries that are effective in the elimination of bacteria and microbes.

However, not all anti-microbial technologies function the same way, with many not providing long term protection.

Most of these short-term technologies use migrating anti-microbials, where applied chemicals travel out of the material and chemically kill micro-organisms.

They are effective for shorter periods, but are unlikely to imbue the long term protection care homes are looking for.

Developments and innovations in this area have provided a few long-term solutions of antimicrobial resistance on furniture.

One example of this is the Shield Plus technology which, unlike all other technologies in the marketplace, is non-migrating, non-leaching and non-depleting, providing long term resistance and aiding the infection control fight in care homes.

The Shield Plus anti-microbial technology works by attracting microbes, stabbing their cell walls and electrocuting the biochemicals within.

This way of eliminating the bacteria and microbes eradicate the possibilities of organism adaptation and subsequent immunisation.

The non-migrating technology remains permanently bonded with the fabric and stays effective for the entire duration of the fabric’s life.

Spearhead’s newly launched range of fast delivery furniture features fabrics that incorporate this technology as standard.3 As environmental contamination is one of the major sources of pathogen transmission in care environments, it is paramount care homes should ensure that they choose the right type of fabrics for their furniture and look for long-lasting resistance to infection, built in to furniture, to maximise and protect residents, visitors and staff.

Visit Spearheadhealthcare.com to see a full selection of furniture that incorporates this technology.

References 1. Weber, D.J., Rutala, W.A., Miller, M.B., Huslage, K. and Sickbert-Bennett, E., 2010. Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health care-associated pathogens: norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species.

American journal of infection control, 38(5), pp.S25-S33.

2. Weinstein, R.A. and Hota, B., 2004. Contamination, disinfection, and cross-colonization: are hospital surfaces reservoirs for nosocomial infection?. Clinical infectious diseases, 39(8), pp.1182-1189.

3. Shield Plus by Panaz (Accessible at: https://online. fliphtml5.com/cvkmp/xtqw/#p=1)

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These premium grade machines are made for the most demanding tasks and are especially relevant with the ongoing issues caused by the current pandemic with their ability to deliver steam at temperatures high enough to kill 99.998% of bacteria.

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18

CARINGNEWS

Heather celebrates 30 years of putting residents’ needs first Staff at Brendoncare Froxfield have raised more than £1,300 through their cycling challenge.

Staff reach target of 4,000 miles on an exercise bike STAFF at Brendoncare Froxfield have achieved their goal of cycling 4,000 miles on an exercise bike.

During the 31 days of March they cycled the equivalent distance of Froxfield to Fargo in the United States, raising more than £1,300 in the process.

The staff team cycled an average of 129 miles per day between them.

They pedalled through lunch breaks, before and after hours, on their nonworking days and even attached their keyboards to the bike with elastic bands.

They were cheered on and supported by the nursing home residents while they turned the pedals thousands of times to reach their goal.

The challenge raised funds for a homely refurbishment of the lounge space at Brendoncare Froxfield for residents to enjoy.

The lounge is the heart of the home and they wanted to make it extra cosy by installing a bigger television, homely furnishings, new curtains and an electric log burner.

Activities coordinator Laura Brown said: “It was hard going but the support from everyone was awesome.

“To see the residents’ faces when we ‘make over’ the lounge for them all to enjoy will be priceless. It will just go to prove it was all worth it in the end.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us and donated to our challenge.

“We are absolutely delighted to have raised £1,300 towards the refurbishment of our lounge space.

“The residents are already deciding on designs and colours for the new furnishings and curtains.

“We will now take a rest and look forward to taking on another challenge soon.”

Provider signs up to disability scheme ANCHOR Hanover has joined the Disability Confident 2021 scheme.

The scheme supports businesses and organisations make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace.

Helping to attract, acquire and retain high quality staff living with disabilities.

Chris Munday, managing director of housing operations for Anchor Hanover, and executive sponsor of equality, diversity and inclusion said: “We are committed to valuing diversity and ensuring we offer more opportunities for our colleagues.

“Looking at how we attract and retain colleagues living with disabilities plays an important part in delivering this.

“By signing up to Disability Confident it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring an inclusive workplace for colleagues and those seeking employment with us who are living with a disability.

“Whilst we are proud of the level of support already available to colleagues in Anchor Hanover, we know there is always room for improvement.

“Our hope is that Disability Confident will help ensure we are recruiting great people from the widest possible pool of talent, including the 7.7m working age

people living with a disability in the UK.” Anchor Hanover has an active strategy that celebrates diversity and inclusion. It works with residents and colleagues to ensure inclusion is part of their everyday approach.

The housing and care provider is a member of Inclusive Employers, that supports organisations to assess progress with their inclusion journey.

A signatory to the Care Leaver’s Covenant, a promise made by private, public or voluntary organisations to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 to help them to live independently and a member of The HouseProud Pledge scheme, a scheme that all housing providers can to sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support.

By joining the Disability Confident scheme, it builds on Anchor Hanover’s aims to provide opportunities for all.

The housing and care provider has a Disability Network, along with LGBT+, race and ethnicity and inclusive ambassador networks who work alongside Anchor Hanover’s ethnicity, diversity and inclusion manager to raise awareness, celebrate success and helps to identify solutions to challenges faced by colleagues living with disabilities.

A HEALTHCARE assistant has notched up 30 years’ service at the same Lymington care home, including 11 working on night shifts.

When ex-hairdresser Heather Annear joined Colten Care’s Court Lodge in the spring of 1991, she had no idea how long she would stay.

“I never imagined I would still be working here 30 years later,” said the 62-year-old grandmother.

“A friend suggested I apply but at one o’clock in the morning on my first night shift I remember asking myself, ‘What are you doing here?

You should be at home tucked up in bed’.”

As it turned out, working three nights a week was convenient for Heather.

It meant she could spend more of the daytime with her son Matthew, three, and daughter Laura, six.

Husband Roger would leave for his job as a panel beater and sprayer in the morning just after Heather got home from her shift.

“It was an ideal arrangement when the children were small,” she added.

“It was easier than me working during the day. Regular night shifts do affect your body clock but if you can have a rest day and avoid too many shifts in a row you can get used to it.”

Heather spent her first five years at Court Lodge working nights on a 24-hours-a-week contract.

She then switched to day shifts as the children got older, maintaining that arrangement for the next 19 years.

Six years ago, she returned to nights so she could help look after her two grandchildren, Laura’s son Elliott and daughter Esme, at convenient times

Heather Annear during the day.

Heather added: “Court Lodge is a family-orientated place. Staff tend to stay a long time and everyone looks after one another.

“The night staff are a tight bunch.

You spend 12 hours together on a shift and become like a family. You’re always there for each other, happy to swap shifts and provide holiday cover.”

Colleagues from both day and night shifts marked Heather’s 30-year anniversary with a surprise celebration.

Home manager Rebecca Hannam said: “We told her there was an allhands staff meeting in the lounge but when she walked in we met her with a party.

“There was a beautiful cake made by our chef Hannah Clark, glasses of bubbly, flowers and cards. It was a great opportunity to recognise Heather’s enormous contribution to the home and reminisce about years gone by.”

Managing in a crisis made easy with new software VERY few businesses are set up to manage in a crisis.

When demand is unlimited and stocks very limited, it requires a whole new set of tools to manage.

After four months of development, Gompels HealthCare Ltd has launched the ability for care home groups to have a dedicated stock reserve.

Sam Gompels said: “The new system enables groups to have a stock reserve which only their sites can access when stocks run low.

“The stock rotation, storage and financing of the stock is all taken care of. The groups can relax knowing that the reserve is there for them.”

He added: “The problem with reserves is that they quickly become out of date or spoiled by bad storage conditions.

“Nobody knows what is there and it becomes a big mess of the wrong stock.

Using the stock reserve system takes care of all of that and includes the delivery to individual sites as and when the stock is needed.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic,

Gompels was the only PPE supplier that was able to keep its loyal customer supplied with stock.

There were even times when the Government was trying to get stock from Gompels.

The company has more than 10,000 pallet spaces of storage filled with stock ready to send to customers across the UK mainland. www.gompels.co.uk

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20

CARINGTECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Workshops to combat loneliness

STAFF and residents at Woodthorpe Lodge care home in Loughborough have been spending time learning how to use modern technology to connect themselves with others during newly launched ‘Silver Surfers’ workshops.

The classes have been so successful that the care team have now branched out to offer the workshops over Zoom to other local older people who may be struggling to connect with their friends and families online.

Lifestyle manager Michelle Cart, who is the driving force for the IT workshops, said: “I think it is very important to help the older generation to see that technology isn’t as scary as it sounds.

“We usually have a chat with each person taking our workshop to find out their main learning ambitions and we aim to conquer it.

“Our residents have picked everything up really quickly and have even advanced to more difficult technology such as using iPads and apps, which is great.”

During the classes residents learn about modern technology and the benefits of using it, along with the basics of mobile phones, how to use apps such as FaceTme to stay in touch with their loved ones and even how to access fun games online such as chess and solitaire.

Residents get interactive thanks to relatives’ fundraising efforts RESIDENTS at Friends of the Elderly’s Bernard Sunley care home in Woking, Surrey have been enjoying a new, interactive pastime thanks to the donations and fundraising efforts of two husbands and a grandson of former residents.

Tony Collins’ wife Jayne and Norman Carpenter’s wife Jean were both residents at Bernard Sunley’s nursing unit.

When they passed away both families – independently – asked for donations for the care home as not only did both families love the home, but they were both very happy with the quality of care, respect and dignity the team gave to both ladies.

However, wanting to do more, Jean’s grandson James Smith decided to take on a huge challenge – to complete 25, 5k runs on consecutive days to raise additional funds.

James said: “I hadn’t been out for a run in a while, so off I went. As I was running I had an idea on how to do a bit of fundraising for Grandma’s care home. So, I made my mind up and ran 25, 5k runs – one each day – from December 22 to January 15, which was the day of Grandma’s funeral. I know she would have loved it.”

With all the donations and James’ running achievement, home manager Andy Cumper was able to purchase an interactive Rainbow Table for all the residents to enjoy in memory of

Resident Brian Moore using the interactive Rainbow Table.

Jayne and Jean. technology and making the most of He said: “Thanks to Tony, Norman all the different applications it has to and James’ kind donations and offer. fundraising triumph, I was able “Since we installed the Rainbow to purchase the Rainbow Table Table all the team have seen how as I wanted to ensure that all it has become a firm favourite our residents continued to be and an added incentive for our kept engaged, motivated and residents to socialise and interact stimulated throughout the Covid with one another, especially when pandemic lockdown, and beyond. playing group games as they get “It’s been a huge success and it’s quite competitive, which really does great to see our residents happily create an open and enjoyable social environment.” getting to grips with the new

INNOVATION IN CARE MANAGEMENT

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Clock your shift changes with facial technology Fusion is delighted to announce that our new facial recognition unit is now available! With Covid-19 still being present, we understand the need for high levels of infection control for both staff and residents.

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Find out more call 01133 979 555 e: info@fusionecare.com • www.fusionecare.com

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CARINGTECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

21

Advertiser’s announcement

Why care providers needs to factor in HR guidance when writing workwear policies

By Philippa Shirtcliffe

SHE played Nicola Rubenstein in Coronation Street for 96 episodes, and has also starred in Doctor Who and Father Brown, but Nicola Thorp, is best known for championing the rights of women.

In what has since been dubbed ‘Heel-gate’, Miss Thorp, worked for Portico, a reception company suppling front of house staff to the “business and industry, residential and property sectors”.

Having been placed at PwC, a major accounting firm, Miss Thorp arrived wearing flat shoes rather than heels.

At the time, according to the Guardian, she says that she was asked to wear shoes with a “2in to 4in heel”.

When she refused to exchange her flats for heels, citing it impossible “to do a nine-hour shift escorting clients to meeting rooms” in them, she was promptly sent home for breaking dress code rules.

That could have been the end of the tale, but Miss Thorp heroically risked her career by publicly challenging the decision. She was successful and Portico changed its policy.

But what does any of this has have to do with the care sector?

I began with Nicola Thorp’s story because it reveals an important lesson about workwear and uniforms.

Indeed, the issue of appropriate dress codes is equally – if not more important – in care settings.

As a leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, Quality Compliance Systems, the company that I work for, has received frequent queries about

Philippa Shirtcliffe workwear policies from Registered Managers.

To shed light on Human Resources and Health & Safety law our policy team works closely with Napthens LLP to provide QCS subscribers with up-to-date advice and guidance.

A frontline care worker recently wrote to QCS’ ‘Ask the Care Specialists’ forum, a one-stop portal for social care advice.

They were seeking clarification as to whether a low-slung top was appropriate work-wear.

Chris King, an expert in Employment and HR law and an associate lawyer for Napthens, said: “It’s probably fair to assume that a low-slung top or a buttoned down shirt would be considered to be inappropriate in most care settings.

“It simply boils down to what the dress code allows and does not allow.

“As the Nicola Thorp case demonstrates, whatever dress code policy is agreed upon, that policy

needs to be seen to be applied fairly across the business and without putting a particular protected group at a disadvantage.

“So in this case, there is no particular disadvantage to preventing a woman from wearing a low-cut top but an employer should be consistent with male colleagues wearing similarly inappropriate clothing.”

Dress-code policy must also take into account the relevance of the setting, and the service users being looked after.

What do I mean by this? Well, let’s take a Learning Disability provider.

Most important is that professionals in this field form a close bond with those they look after.

Wearing a formal uniform might make the service user feel uncomfortable and create a barrier between carer and service user.

Imagine, for example, if the carer took that person to a pub wearing a uniform.

It could be embarrassing for them and could alienate them from their friends. Why? Because being accompanied to the pub by a care professional in a uniform singles them out as someone receiving care.

This could be enough to alter the relationship that that person has with their peers.

PPE is yet another area that providers should closely examine.

There are two points to stress here.

Firstly, there have been cases during the pandemic when professional carers – many of them women – have had to don ill-fitting PPE, or wear safety goggles which have sometimes left them in considerable pain after

a shift.

There is a risk too that the PPE, which is not made to measure, may not take into account a person’s religious beliefs, which could be potentially discriminatory.

Chris added: “Part of the issue, was that in the early days of the crisis, much of the PPE received was manufactured on a one-size-fits-all basis.

“However, now it’s widely available once again, employers have a duty of care to ensure that their employees are wearing comfortable and correct fitting PPE that suitably protects them from infection and takes into account religious dress where reasonable.

While unlikely – in the worst case scenario – failure to do so could leave employers open to a tribunal on the grounds of a health and safety breach, religious or sex discrimination”.

It’s unlikely though that HR dress code policymakers in the care sector will spend too much time debating whether loosely buttoned shirts and 4-inch heels should be permitted. But that doesn’t mean to say that such conversations are not important.

For it is these conversations, which sometimes morph into legal challenges, that set new precedents.

They add rich new layers of texture to HR policy too – which all HR professionals – whether they operate in the care sector or outside it - can learn from.

To find out more about QCS, contact our compliance advisors on 0333405-3333 or email sales@qcs.co.uk. n Philippa Shirtcliffe is head of care quality at QCS.

Advertiser’s announcement

What digital solutions does CareDocs offer providers?

WHEN we originally developed our digital care management system in the late 1990s, it was the first of its kind.

Today there are numerous options on the market.

You may be wondering what all the fuss is about and asking yourself if it’s worth transitioning from your paper system which has worked well for years.

The Department of Health and Social Care and care regulators including the CQC have been vocal about the role technology has the play in the care sector.

Last year the UK Government asked care businesses to “consider how technical or digital solutions may help them to protect the people they support from Covid-19 and connect them to their loved ones”.

They subsequently provided 11,000 free iPads to care homes across England to support and encourage more people to utilise technology.

So how can CareDocs benefit you? Our comprehensive care management, planning and recording software reduces admin work, saving your staff time and energy.

Switching to a digital system significantly

reduces or eliminates the need to use physical assessments, care plans, forms, charts and daily notes.

This means you can spend more time giving outstanding person-centred care, and because your work is saved in one system, historical data is especially easy to retrieve and analyse.

With these tools in place, monitoring engagement and compliance across your business becomes simple.

Using our instant reporting tools, analytics and KPIs it only takes a few moments to locate

detailed information about your home or group’s performance to help you make decisions to maximise your resource.

Because our system was designed to comply with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you can rest assured your records are safely secured.

A paperless system means less stationery, deliveries, re-stocking, printing, human error and waste. It’s an easy way to decrease your carbon footprint.

If you find it difficult to achieve point of care recording, which improves the accuracy of your data, we include remote care recording services for no extra cost.

The care you record on mobile devices will sync with your system automatically.

For keeping your residents connected with loved ones, our CareDocs Connect platform allows you to share care updates as you work.

With this in mind, consider how your business and residents could benefit from implementing technology.

You can find many more benefits and can book a free demo by visiting our new website www. caredocs.co.uk

CARINGNEWS

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Rae dedicates three decades to providing housing services

Resident Edna Staines is reunited in person with her daughter Helen at RMBI Home Lord Harris Court in Wokingham.

Residents reunite with loved ones after lockdown RESIDENTS in RMBI Care Co. homes were delighted to be able to meet their loved ones in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Their care homes have opened their doors to family visits, following new guidance from the government, which allows each care home resident to receive visits from one family member or loved one.

One of the first residents to be reunited with a family member in person was Edna Staines from Lord Harris Court in Wokingham.

She said: “It means so much to me to see my daughter in person once again and have her sit next to me.

“Thankfully, we’ve been able to see each other in the home’s visitor pod during the pandemic, which has been great, but it means the world to me to be able to hold her hand again.”

Edna’s daughter Helen added: “I have missed Mum so much; it’s been an emotional experience being next to her in the same room and to hold her hand today.

“Staff at the home have done a wonderful job in supporting Mum to stay happy and healthy, but it is such a special feeling to be with her again today finally.”

To ensure the health and safety of residents and staff at the homes, each visitor must undertake a lateral flow test before entering the care home

and receive a negative result for Covid-19, before meeting their loved one in person.

They must also wear suitable personal protective equipment, which includes gloves, apron and a mask.

RMBI Care Co. Homes closed their doors to all but essential visitors before the first national lockdown last year to protect residents and staff.

Families have still been able to visit using the homes’ Covid-secure visitor pods, which opened last summer.

Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure residents have had regular contact with their families by phone or video calls. However, this is the first time residents have been able to meet in the same room as their loved one without a physical partition.

Mark Lloyd, managing director at RMBI Care Co., said: “We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and are overjoyed to be able to reunite our residents safely with their loved ones in person.

“Throughout the pandemic, our staff have gone above and beyond to support our residents to stay connected with their loved ones, which is vital for their wellbeing.

“We are so pleased to be moving in the right direction and are looking forward to opening our Home up to more visitors and larger gatherings when it is safe to do so.”

New approach to recruitment BARCHESTER Healthcare is launching Barchester Healthcare Careers – a new approach to recruitment – as part of its ongoing commitment to continually invest in the quality of care for residents and patients.

Previously Barchester Jobs, the shift promotes the message that Barchester offers fulfilling longterm careers, recognises the hard work of every individual across its organisation and rewards them for their dedication.

CEO Pete Calveley said: “We’re not just offering people a job – we’re offering them a career. We are offering each and every member of staff recognition and development

because every single role within our organisation is important and we want to reward people for their hard work.

“When they join the Barchester family, we don’t just want people to feel valued, we want them to truly love what they do.”

Its website has been given a fresh new look to showcase the vast range of career opportunities on offer and to highlight the development and career progression that the operator offers.

The new recruitment drive carries the simple tagline: ‘This is your chance to make a difference every day. This is a career with Barchester Healthcare.’

A RETIREMENT housing manager with three decades of experience has hailed the importance of community spirit as an integral part of the development.

Beginning her career at just 17, Rachael (Rae) England has been working within the housing sector in the area since 1982 and joined Bield in 1991.

She currently works at Braehead Gardens in Buckhaven, Leven and has undergone an array of health care, leadership and management qualifications.

Rae said: “I’ve seen many changes in the sector over the 30 years however, the transition over the last year has probably been the biggest.

“The pandemic has seen staff from different developments coming together virtually to support each other.

“It’s one of the many things I love about working at Braehead Gardens - there’s always been an amazing community spirit and kindness shown from staff as well as customers and the local community.

“In good weather and more normal times, customers like to sit outside in the sun or at the entrance to chat with visitors as they arrive or leave.”

Part of the community spirit comes from the active social calendar Rae and her team organise with regular social events adapted to interests of the customers.

She added: “During the pandemic one of the local community groups managed to organise a piper, dancers and a singer to entertain tenants which was really special.

“Previously we’ve also hosted many concerts with a buffet tea.

“In normal times there’s always something going on, we have a volunteer visiting regularly who joins customers to play board games and has a chat and a cuppa.

“We also have a hair salon every Wednesday with the regular visit from a local hairdresser which customers really enjoy.”

Rachael (Rae) England The development benefits from an optional meal service, a main lounge with a kitchen for customers to use, a small sitting area, two library areas, a laundry room, kitchen, dining room and a twin bed guest flat.

Rae said: “The optional meal service involves a three-course lunch and tea prepared by our two cooks who ensure tenants receive two healthy nutritional meals seven days a week and home baking daily.

“Braehead Gardens is often described by visitors as being fresh, clean, and always smelling lovely – which is due to the diligent cleaning by the scheme assistants.”

Rae is responsible for managing the 27 properties within the development which includes eight studio flats and nine one-bedroom flats on the ground floor and 10 one-bedroom flats on the upper floor.

She added: “The properties are surrounded by a lot of greenery which I think makes Braehead so special.

“We have an orchard with benches all around so customers can help themselves to apples, pears and plums while enjoying a view of the sea.

“It’s really peaceful here.”

Glyn Hopkins, a resident at HC-One’s St Martin’s Court care home in Morriston, was overwhelmed when colleagues threw him a surprise Olympic party to celebrate his time competing for his country. He first attended the old Swansea Boys Gymnastics Club aged four. And after 14 years of hard practice he was a champion gymnast and went on to compete in the 1948 London Olympics, finishing in an impressive third place. During the event at St Martin’s, colleagues held an afternoon tea and decorated the dining area with Olympic flags and photos of Glyn taking part in the Olympics for all to enjoy and admire. Wellbeing coordinator Angela Croft also put together a booklet containing newspaper cuttings, photos and a story, in Glyn’s own words, about the Olympics, for him to keep.

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CARINGNEWS

Pauline celebrates 20 years’ service at veterans’ charity ROYAL Star & Garter’s director of care Pauline Shaw OBE is celebrating 20 years with the charity.

Over the years the mum-of-three has helped oversee some of the biggest transformations in Royal Star & Garter’s 105-year history, including developing three new state-of-theart Homes, and an award-winning dementia care model.

In a blog to mark her two decades, Pauline explained that her father and grandfather had been in the military, and that she has “always been very attracted to the commitment and sacrifice made by people who have served.”

And she has been able to draw on her personal experience of having a mother who lived with disability and used a wheelchair for the benefit of residents.

Pauline said: “It gave me a really good insight into what we should be looking to achieve to provide homely, enabling environments, fit for purpose which also bring joy to the lives of the people living in them.”

She added that it is an “absolute privilege” to meet “incredible residents”, recalling a conversation with a WWI fighter pilot early in her Royal Star & Garter career, and speaking of her pride at seeing staff deliver exceptional person-centred care.

Discussing the OBE she was awarded in 2018 for services to veterans, Pauline added: “Nothing I’ve done has been achieved alone.

“Everything has involved being part of a team. It’s not a solo act, it’s a group effort working with the most

Operator raises more than £8,000 for charity

Pauline with her mother, who was a resident at the Richmond and Surbiton Homes. amazing people.”

Pauline lists the move from Richmond and the current Covid-19 crisis as among the biggest challenges she’s faced, while also looking forward at some of the hurdles the adult social care sector faces in the future.

Paying tribute to her 20 years of service, Royal Star & Garter chief executive Andy Cole added: “Pauline has helped transform the charity and the care we provide to veterans.

“We are truly grateful for her dedication and passion. She inspires us all.”

HOME Instead’s network has raised more than £8,000 for the Bring Joy Foundation charity.

The foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the lives of ageing adults across the UK, launched ‘Challenge 500’, a fundraising campaign aimed to engage and motivate Home Instead owners, key players, caregivers and clients to take part in fun fundraising activities.

The outcome of Challenge 500 means the charity can carry on supporting community groups all over the UK with grants to fund activities that support well-being, or programmes to reduce and/or prevent isolation and loneliness.

Alicen Thorn, fundraising officer for the Bring Joy Foundation, said “For many ageing adults, 2020 was an

extremely difficult winter.

“Losing loved ones to Covid and not being able to physically meet with support networks has taken its toll on so many.

“The Home Instead network’s fundraising efforts have been amazing.

“Thanks to their hard work, community groups have been able to continue supporting each other online, and we are now able to start funding face to face meetings.

“We can’t thank Home Instead offices enough for all they have done.”

The fundraising campaign’s theme of ‘500’ saw Home Instead’s network bake 500 cakes, sell 500 raffle tickets and cover 500 miles all in a bid to help provide funding to local community groups who bring joy to thousands of people.

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24

lamontjohnson .com Totally Confidential No Obligation

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SELL

PHONE OR MAIL US FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION APPRAISAL

07920 475 440 lamontjohnson@btinternet.com CARE HOME SALES NATIONWIDE

First peek inside new luxury care home in Cannock

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Release of apartments at Belong Chester site

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Home unveils refurb and plans for new outdoor landscaping

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Group adds Lancashire home to portfolio SANDSTONE Care Group has added a new purpose-built care home to its growing portfolio.

The company has acquired the recently completed home in Much Hoole, near Preston, Lancashire, which it has named Ribble Court.

The 53-bed home is set on two floors and will provide a mix of luxury residential care and specialist/ complex nursing care.

Sandstone expects to create up to 80 jobs when the home is fully occupied.

It is currently seeking to recruit a registered manager, nurses, senior carers, carers and ancillary staff, with the aim of opening the home in late May/early June.

Director James Parkin said: “We are delighted to have been able to add Ribble Court to our expanding portfolio.

“It is a high-quality, purpose-built facility and provides flexible space to enable us to offer a combination

One of the bedrooms at Ribble Court. of luxury residential care and more specialist and complex nursing care.

“We are looking forward to opening Ribble Court and for it to become an

important part of the vibrant Much Hoole community.

“Ribble Court will meet a need for more high-quality care provision in

the area and also create a range of jobs for up to 80 local people.

“Being purpose-built means that we can tailor the room layouts to deliver outstanding person-centred care within a supportive, care-focused environment with state-of-the-art facilities and nursing technology.”

Funding for the acquisition was arranged by Simply, a Scottish-based property developer with a dedicated care division.

Ribble Court becomes the sixth home in the Sandstone Care portfolio.

Other homes are Longridge Hall and Fleetwood Hall, both in Lancashire, St Helens Hall, Merseyside, and The Oaks in Newtown, Wales.

It recently successfully completed the purchase of the Oak Springs Care Home in Wavertree, Liverpool.

Sandstone Care Group is currently looking at several other opportunities in England and Wales to further expand its portfolio.

LAMONT JOHNSON

St. and tim

SELL MORE HOMES IN THE COVID 19 ERA

SOLD ST.ANNES PLYMOUTH DEVON

CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE MARKET DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS St Annes was sold on behalf of the owners since 2010, Richard and Suzanne Marchant to first time buyer, the Buckinghamshire based Dr Babalola.

Our care of p the

O Dawn Taylor (Director, Lamont Johnson) Grayson Taylor (Managing Director, Lamont Johnson)

•1981 FOUNDING PRINCIPAL of Taylor National •2001 FOUNDING PRINCIPAL of DC Care •2012 FOUNDING PRINCIPAL of Lamont Johnson

N

New contract sparks recruitment drive

TRUSTCARE at Trafford Housing Trust has been awarded a new contract by Trafford Council to provide homecare support services and is looking to recruit 100 new carers to deliver it.

Following a competitive tender process, Trustcare will provide dedicated one-to-one support for the elderly and vulnerable under the Council’s new homecare framework, and means that support would be given by just one provider, ensuing better continuity of care.

Fran Gudger, head of independent living at Trafford Housing Trust, said: “The localised, asset-based care delivery model, which will use Trafford Housing Trust’s sheltered schemes across the borough as community hubs, will enable us to deliver more person-centred support that will really benefit our customers.

“The current pandemic has highlighted how loneliness and isolation can have a huge impact on our physical and mental wellbeing, so providing places the local community can use to access support, signposting and a range of activities designed for older people, will go some way towards tackling this issue.

“To ensure we provide the best possible care we are also expanding our team, and we are looking to recruit 100 new carers.

“We know that the pandemic has

St. Elmo was purchased by Robin Platten and is the 2nd home sold to him in recent times by Lamont Johnson.

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meant the job market has changed, and people who haven’t considered being a carer before could be interested.

“Applicants don’t need any care experience to work for us, just a commitment to providing a really good experience for customers.”

The new framework has been designed to improve the consistency of care so that residents are able to be seen by the same people while receiving support. This enables better relationships and understanding of needs, leading to a better recovery.

Councillor Jo Harding, Trafford Council’s executive member for adult services, added: “Thanks to the Council’s introduction of more localised homecare, Trustcare can deliver an all-round quality of care.

“The localised setting is also better for staff as there will be shorter travel times and they can spend more time with the people they care for.

“Trafford Housing Trust has for some time been a trusted partner, offering carers the real living wage for many years, and we’re certain they will continue to provide great care to residents in Trafford.

“It’s also good to see the contract has created a significant number of new jobs at a time when many residents have seen their roles impacted by the pandemic.”

ST.ELMO RINGWOOD HAMPSHIRE

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son

Grafton seals deal for home in Eastbourne

self-contained areas with their own dining rooms and lounges are developed in order to provide excellent care in attractive settings.”

Thomas Pearson, real estate partner at JMW Solicitors, who advised Grafton on the deal, added: “We’re very pleased to have been able to support Grafton on this latest deal – the shortage of care home places in the UK continues to grow so it’s great to be able to help bring suitable sites forward.

“Barchester has an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality, attractive care homes and I’ve no doubt this newest addition to its portfolio will be no exception.”

The new care home has been designed by care home specialists TDC Architects.

GRAFTON Land and Property has sold a 1.5-acre site in Eastbourne to Barchester Healthcare, which will see the development of a 70-bed care home.

The new 44,000 sq. ft. building has already been granted planning permission and will offer a host of facilities for residents, including a salon and cinema.

Tony Cole, managing director of Grafton Land and Property, said: “This deal forms part of a nationwide programme delivering opportunities for modern new build nursing homes – there will be twice as many people aged 85 and over in England in 2030 than there were in 2010.

“It’s vital that homes such as this with large en-suite bedrooms, hairdressers, cinema, laundry and

lamontjohnson.com St Elmo Care Home A Quality Care Group Hom

e

Gorley Road Poulner Ringwood BH24 1TH T: 01425 47292 Email: stelmo@qualitycar egroup.co.uk www.stelmocarehome.co.u k

Grayson Taylor Managing Director Lamont Johnson

Dear Grayson As you are aware, we fi nally completed on the sale of St.Elmos on 26t I have been trying to sell h March. the home for a number of years, and it has take complete with the buyer. n us a year to finally I gave you the task of fi nding me a buyer and you were able to connect me within one week. One of to two buyers those has now become the new owner.

I would like to thank you and Dawn for all the sup port you have given me sales process. You always throughout the remained helpful and pos care home industry has itive and your obvious con proved invaluable. nections to the Kind regards

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An artist’s impression of the new 70-bed Barchester Healthcare facility.

SOLD

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25

Graham

Murry Our success in the sale of Care Homes is second to none in the Executive Chairman care sector, and has been achieved through the 40 years experience Quality Care Group of principal directors, Grayson and Dawn Taylor, specialising solely in the discreet sale of Care Homes and sites/developments for C2 use nationwide.

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE IF YOU ARE THINKING OF SELLING, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE

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SELLING CARE HOMES NATIONWIDE

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Providers shortlisted at Recruiter Awards First peek inside An artist’s impression of Littleton Lodge in Cannock.

SUNRISE Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare’s recruitment team has been named on the shortlist for the ‘Best In-House Recruitment Team’ category at this year’s Recruiter Awards.

The Recruiter Awards are the UK’s most prestigious and widely celebrated awards in the recruitment industry and recognise outstanding practice in the sector.

Sharon Benson, human resources director at Sunrise and Gracewell, said: “Over the last 12 months the dedication and tenacity displayed by each individual and team at Sunrise and Gracewell has played a vital role in our efforts to effectively manage the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The work of our rapid recruitment team has also proven invaluable, and this shortlisting is a well-deserved recognition of their work during this challenging time.

“Sunrise and Gracewell look forward to building on our successes as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, always ensuring that our team members continue to work in purposeful, rewarding and fulfilling environments.”

Sunrise and Gracewell secured their place on the coveted shortlist after mounting a highly effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic led by a new rapid recruitment team.

This team’s relentless dedication saw them take on additional responsibilities and increased workloads to ensure that residents continued to receive industry-leading care by maintaining a sufficient supply of talented team members.

For example, the team reached out to those businesses particularly effected by the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including in

the hospitality and retail sectors, to expand their horizons when looking for new talent.

The recruitment team also started to use innovative tools to attract candidates on social media, such as targeting advertisements to people who, although may not be considering a career in care, are likely to hold the values and skills which are needed to succeed.

As a result of their efforts, the recruitment team reduced the amount of overtime completed by team members by 30 per cent year on year between 2019 and 2020, despite facing the challenges created by Covid-19.

The amount of team members leaving the organisation also fell by 23 per cent following the introduction of improvements to their onboarding programmes and offering enhanced rewards and benefits packages to existing team members.

And, by the end of 2020, Sunrise and Gracewell had reduced the cost of recruitment from a previously estimated £1.3m to£ 955,000.

The recruitment team at Sunrise and Gracewell is now set to take key learnings from the pandemic and implement further improvements, including making additional enhancements to the candidate experience.

The care home provider is also exploring ways to welcome in more apprentices into the organisation to encourage young people to enter the care sector for long-term careers.

Sunrise and Gracewell will discover if they have been successful in their category on September 23 at the in-person Recruiter Awards Ceremony at JW Marriot Grosvenor House in London.

NORTH Yorkshire care group Saint Cecilia’s has announced plans to expand its services into providing homecare.

The Scarborough-based company, which currently has four homes and a day care centre, is now going to be able to offer care in people’s own homes too.

It is currently recruiting for a manager and will shortly be looking for a homecare team to set up and run the service.

Managing director Mike Padgham said: “This is an exciting moment for Saint Cecilia’s as we look to grow

our family and extend our services to more people in the area.

“Homecare is something we have been looking to set up for a while and believe the time is right.

“While there is a bit of doom and gloom around setting up and running businesses at the moment, we believe that the best way forward is to be proactive and to keep growing, expanding and developing the services we offer.

“There is demand for providing care in people’s own home and we hope to bring some of the Saint Cecilia’s magic and success to providing

new luxury care home in Cannock A NEW state-of-the-art care home in Cannock is getting set to open its doors for the first time in the near future.

Littleton Lodge will be welcoming new residents will provide a safe and luxurious home for up to 66 older people, employing more than 50 team members once fully staffed.

Care provider Ideal Carehomes’ latest development has benefitted from a £10million investment, giving Littleton Lodge all the finishing touches you would expect from a luxurious new home.

Managing director Stacey Linn said: “The care and attention to detail is clear throughout the home – all our care homes are built with the facilities required to offer the quality of life and independence to our residents. Littleton Lodge is our 23rd care home and, with Rachel (Ellis) at the helm, I have every confidence that our newest home will be a wonderful addition to the Cannock community.”

The spacious en-suite bedrooms and latest technology will allow the team to deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.

The well-appointed care home boasts large, open plan social areas and ultra-wide corridors which are designed with residents in mind.

Facilities on offer at include a Sky Bar with far-reaching views,

a vintage tearoom complete with balcony area and a cinema room featuring its own popcorn machine.

The on-site beauty parlour will be ready for residents to receive regular treatments such as haircuts, chiropody appointments, manicures and much more.

The spacious landscaped gardens will become social hubs and continue to flourish with the help of green fingered residents attending regular gardening clubs in the relaxing botanical rooms.

The newly appointed staff team are set to complete a thorough induction period prior to the home opening and will be given access to industry-leading training and development via the ‘Ideal Academy’.

Home manager Rachel Ellis added: “I am extremely excited to soon be able to open the doors of our beautiful home.

“Our future residents will benefit so much from our facilities and the full and varied social programme organised by our activities co-ordinators.

“We have had such an overwhelming response so far from local people, for both the first phase of recruitment and from prospective residents. I can’t wait to support our new residents to live life to the full as part of the Littleton Lodge community.”

Care group announces plan to expand that homecare in and around Scarborough and Ryedale.”

The company believe homecare will complete the jigsaw of services that it can offer.

“We will then have day care for people who want to come out and enjoy activities, a meal and some companionship; homecare for those who want some help in their own home, care homes for those needing around the clock care and dementia care and a nursing home for those with more complex needs,” Mike added.

“This addition fits in with our desire

to meet as many local needs as we can and to provide both professional and compassionate continuity of care.

“To survive and prosper in the current economic climate, we believe that Saint Cecilia’s needs to be a certain size and the addition of homecare goes towards achieving that aim.

“We will initially be creating a job role for a domiciliary care manager and further job opportunities will arise according to the need of our clients once the service is up and running.”

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Release of apartments at Belong Chester site PEOPLE looking to stay active in later life will be able to reserve their place in a new state-of-the-art village community as Belong Chester releases its 23 independent-living apartments for purchase or rent.

The one or two-bedroomed apartments are located within a vibrant village complex set to open in January 2022.

It features a range of spaces and amenities, such as a bistro, hair salon, gym and art studio.

Deputy chief executive Tracy Paine said: “Our villages are well-known for becoming a thriving hub in the local community.

“Our range of community-focused facilities are all open to the public and we’re proud of how Belong adds value to an area by encouraging shared activity amongst our residents and neighbouring communities.”

The apartments with custombuilt living facilities and 24-hour emergency response also provide the reassurance of being located within a caring community.

As well as the independent-living apartments, the village includes households providing round-theclock support, including specialist dementia and nursing care, ensuring there are always members of the Belong team on-site.

An artist’s impressions of what the canal-side development will look like when finished. to the range of facilities available and Located in the city centre, Belong the skills of the team who provide Chester offers easy access to key city them is put together to promote amenities, such as the train station living life to the full as independently and central shopping areas. as possible.

Tracy added: “Belong has always “This pioneering approach to looked to design its households and community care means we expect apartments with our customers in places in our apartments to be in high mind. demand.”

“We appreciate the unique needs Floor plans and prices packs for the of people living with dementia, and apartments will be released at the end so everything from the layout of the of April. interior rooms and exterior grounds

specialist healthcare business agents

Michelle Byrd has been appointed the manager of Healthcare Homes’ Uvedale Hall care home in Needham Market.

Michelle brings years of experience in specialised care to the role. Having started her career working in the learning disability sector, she moved on to roles in domiciliary and live-in care before entering the elderly care industry. She has been a registered manager for a number of years and is proud to have led a care setting to achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission. Now settled into her new role, Michelle is keen to strengthen connections with the local community and to encourage anyone who may need care and support to get in touch.

Independent expertise, nationwide knowledge As we begin to see the end of lockdown and a more open future you may be having thoughts about your longer-term plans.

If these plans include the selling of your care facility, or perhaps an acquisition, do call us on 01937 849 268 or email sales@dccare.co.uk and we will gladly discuss with you confidentially and absolutely without obligation.

SOLD

A selection of care businesses recently successfully sold by DC Care...

When you're ready, we are. However that works for you.

When industry knowledge and wisdom are needed, when a discreet sale is desired, our clients choose DC Care to sell their healthcare business.

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Care group announces £300m sustainable and unsecured refinancing

Priesty Fields in Congleton is nearing completion.

Home unveils shortlist of names for its pub A CHESHIRE care home has revealed the ten best potential names for its new in-house gastropub – and has invited the public to decide the overall winner via online vote.

Priesty Fields, a 78-bed purposebuilt nursing care home set to open in Congleton in June, has selected its 10 favourite suggestions submitted by the public as part of a competition to name its authentic gastropub, in partnership with The Cheshire Brewhouse.

After much consideration from the team at Priesty Fields, the pun-laden finalists include: Ye olde Moreton (The Grey Lady), The Priestley Inn, The Field and Sun, The Rectory, The Confessional, The Remember Inn, The Cares’ Arms, The Sanctuary, The Priests’ Rest, and The Travelling Priest.

While a number of witty and playful

names were submitted, some of the suggestions that made the shortlisted were inspired by the history of Congleton.

Rishi Sodha, care director at Handsale, who will operate the home, said: “There are some great choices in the final 10 and we’re confident the public will pick a name that really resonates with residents, the community and heritage of Congleton.

“The imagination and creativity of some of the suggestions put forward has been wonderful to see, and I have a feeling the final run-in will be a close one.

“Still, we trust the public will make the right decision.”

Priesty Fields will also include a farmers market, cinema, spa, salon, gym, library, private dining room, garden lounge and GP office.

ANCHOR Hanover Group has completed an innovative refinancing of its bank debt which sets two new benchmarks for the housing association sector.

As part of its refinancing, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people has secured a long-term A+ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, one of the highest in the housing sector.

Anchor Hanover, which offers retirement properties and specialist care homes to more than 65,000 people in later life at almost 1,700 locations across England, is rebalancing its portfolio focused more on financially benefiting from long-term stability from debt capital markets that will underpin its ambitious growth plans.

At the forefront of the restructured portfolio is a new £300m unsecured syndicated Sustainability Linked Revolving Credit Facility.

In addition to establishing the first syndicated Sustainability Linked Loan in the sector, Anchor Hanover becomes the first housing association to move its banking facilities to a fully unsecured basis.

The banks providing the RCF are Barclays, MUFG, National Australia Bank and Santander UK, with Barclays acting as global coordinator and National Australia Bank acting as sustainability coordinator.

Sarah Jones, chief financial officer

at Anchor Hanover, said: “We are delighted to have agreed the first sustainability linked unsecured banking portfolio in the sector, with current and new bank partners.

“This refinancing represents excellent value for Anchor Hanover and will underpin our strategy to provide more and better homes, to offer more opportunities for colleagues, to be more efficient, and to be a more influential voice for people in later life.

“The ESG component underlines our commitment to sustainability for our current and future residents, colleagues, and the communities in which they live.”

Anchor Hanover employs more than 9,000 people and, in addition to the retirement housing, operates 114 care homes in England.

The organisation’s strong commitment to environmental, social and governance performance is demonstrated by the fact that the banking facility will be structured as a Sustainability Linked Loan.

Centrus acted as sole financial advisor to Anchor Hanover, supporting the development of the refinancing strategy as well as its structuring and implementation.

DNV GL has issued a second party opinion confirming the alignment of the facility with the LMA Sustainability Linked Loan Principles.

Advertiser’s announcement

Use a lasting power of attorney – the online service from the Office of the Public Guardian

By Nick Goodwin, Public Guardian for England and Wales

Making better use of digital products and smarter ways of working will help us to free up more resources.

This will allow us to support our users and help them achieve better outcomes.

Office of the Public Guardian and what we do?

The Office of the Public Guardian registers lasting powers of attorney (LPAs).

LPAs let a person or people you trust make decisions on your behalf quickly, easily and legally if you are no longer able to do so.

Anyone can lose mental capacity at any time of life due to illnesses such as dementia or following an unforeseen brain injury.

Use an LPA On July 17 2020 the Office of the Public Guardian launched the ‘Use a lasting power of attorney’ online service.

The new service lets donors and attorneys give organisations, including those in the care sector, access to view an online summary of an LPA. Why have we done this?

Over the past year it’s become much clearer just how important our online services are.

With the world going online to

Nick Goodwin communicate and collaborate, we’ve been working behind the scenes to make the lives of donors and attorneys easier.

We want to make our services more accessible whilst maintaining and improving safeguards.

How it works n Donors (or attorneys) with LPAs registered on or after July 17 2020 will have been sent an activation key with their registration letter. n If an LPA was registered on or after September 1 2019, the donor or attorney will need to request an activation key online. n They can create an account online at www.gov.uk/use-lpa and use the activation key to add LPAs to their account. n A donor or attorney can then generate a secure access code which then can be provided to an organisation to view an online summary of an LPA. n The organisation can view the LPA details at www.gov.uk/view-lpa by adding the donor’s name and the access code – this will confirm whether the LPA is valid and provide a summary of information.

How is this service helping our users?

The Use an LPA service is intended to better assist donors and attorneys in sharing the details of the LPA with organisations.

It provides peace of mind, particularly to those who may be experiencing reduced contact with others, that their wishes can still be actioned, and for attorneys to continue to support the donor.

In instances where the donor has not chosen that an attorney can act for them while they have capacity, or for health and welfare LPAs, an attorney can only make a decision on the donor’s behalf where, even with support, the donor is not able to make that decision on their own.

It’s also making things easier for those in the caring sector, allowing you to view valid registered LPA details by going to www.gov.uk/viewlpa, and adding the customer name and secure access code they should provide you.

This allows you to check the LPA is valid and offers a downloadable version of the LPA summary to save for your records.

More information on how to use the service and other areas of OPG is available online at www.gov.uk/opg

29

Operator to pay the Real Living Wage HALLMARK Care Homes has announced that all its team members in England will be paid at or above the rate set by the Real Living Wage Foundation.

This means care worker salaries will now start from £9.50 per hour and £10.85 in London.

The increase will ensure a full-time worker paid the new £9.50 Real Living Wage will receive more than £1,200 in additional wages annually compared to someone on the national minimum wage.

For a full-time worker in London this figure rises to more than £4,000.

Executive chair of Hallmark Care Homes, Avnish Goyal, said: “We have an amazing, caring and dedicated workforce and as part of our commitment to Championing Social Care the team need more than an applaud for the vital role they play in caring for older people.

“The pandemic has further shown the need for the care sector to be recognised as a skilled profession and be rewarded appropriately. These pay increases are another step in the right direction on our quest to achieve this.”

The family run care group with 13 homes in England, three of which are rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, has made the decision to recognise its employees for their dedication and resilience over the past year.

Avnish Goyal

Monread Lodge in Knebworth.

Home unveils refurb and plans for new outdoor landscaping Welsh team members have also been recognised with an increase above the minimum wage, meaning they will receive at least £9 per hour.

This comes on top of a half million-pound bonus paid to all care home-based team members before Christmas with employees receiving on average £250 each.

People and performance director at Hallmark Care Homes, Elizabeth Fairchild, added: “We are committed to supporting the aspirations of our team through not only providing high-quality training and personal development but also in how we reward them.

“We hope these pay rises will reflect our gratitude for their outstanding work this past year as we look forward to the future.”

“Piecing Consultancy service to assist in the planning p ro c e s s

MONREAD Lodge in Knebworth has undergone a £312,000 refurbishment project, with interior designed spaces, luxury furnishings and sumptuous fabrics and colours creating an elegant inviting environment.

The 62 en-suite bedroom care home run by the Maria Mallaband Care Group provides residential, nursing, dementia, and respite care for elderly people across accessible one-level accommodation.

The recent refurbishment transformed the dining room, two conservatories, four lounges and 20 of the bedrooms, as well as the on-site hairdressing salon and coffee lounge.

The 16-bed dedicated dementia unit Knebworth Court was also renovated as part of the project.

Manager Kathleen Presswell said: “The comfort and safety of those who live in our homes is our top priority, and we are so proud to have created

the evidence

a beautiful, comfortable environment where everyone can feel welcome and at home.

“A really high-quality living environment like this enables our brilliant team to create the high standards of care, comfort, and wellbeing that they want to provide for everyone living here.

“A home as beautiful as this is what they want and deserve, and we are so happy to be able to provide it for them.”

While interior works are finished for now, Monread Lodge’s large grounds and gardens are next in line for an overhaul.

An additional £50,000 has been set aside to improve these outdoor spaces, which include a central courtyard with an ornamental fishpond and chicken coop. This fund will go towards new landscaping and improvements to the driveway.

together”

• From initial consideration through to appeal • Reports to assess the need for development - whether care home or assisted living • Director driven interpretation of relevant data in every report

A service aimed at clients seeking clear, concise data with professional concluding commentary.

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CONSULTANCY SERVICES

www.healthcarepc.co.uk

Tel: 01937 222107

enquiries@healthcarepc.co.uk

CARINGNEWS

30

Advertiser’s announcement

Country Court Care choose Duplex

Carer Mirela Andras (left) with residents Betty Thompson and Gwen Lewis.

Gardening club blooms at Chester care home A GROUP of green-fingered residents at a Chester care centre have formed a new gardening club, with the aim of further enhancing the home’s outdoor space and creating a new kitchen garden to provide fresh produce for the catering team.

Led by resident Gwen Lewis, the team at Grosvenor Manor has rolled up its sleeves and is getting its hands dirty to prepare the garden for the forthcoming months.

Borders are being weeded, existing shrubbery is being pruned and the home’s large outdoor planting pots are being re-developed with an assortment of new bulbs that will flower at staggered times to provide a variety of blooms throughout the seasons.

In addition, the team has created a new kitchen garden; planting a variety of herbs, fruit and vegetables that will hopefully result in fresh organic produce that can be used by the chef within the home’s daily changing fine dining menu.

Wellbeing coordinator Lisa Forth said: “Like most people, our residents have had plenty of time to appreciate their surroundings during the pandemic and have benefitted from the home’s beautiful garden which has provided a constant source of joy

over the last 12 months.

“With many commenting on how much they used to enjoy gardening, Gwen suggested that they get more involved.

“The project has blossomed from there; residents’ families have donated plants, bulbs, gloves, spades and forks and we’ve also bought a greenhouse to help nurture the seedlings as they grow and provide shelter for the team when outside.”

The gardening club is currently meeting twice a week and is growing in size with more residents taking part each time.

In addition to the kitchen garden and general maintenance, the team has also taken over the upkeep of Grosvenor Manor’s Memory Garden and the front Family Garden, both of which will blossom with colourful blooms this summer for all to enjoy.

Lisa added: “For our residents, the benefits of the gardening club are immense.

“It offers positive social engagement and entertainment, enhanced wellbeing, improves dexterity, reduces depression and provides relaxation, sensory experiences and satisfaction.

“It’s proving to be real passion project and it’s wonderful to see the residents really enjoying themselves.”

FOLLOWING a recent trial of the Duplex cylindrical brush floor care machine with steam, Country Court Care decided it would be the perfect partner to improve and maintain the standards of cleanliness they strive for in their homes.

With an ever increasing diversity of floor finishes the Duplex was able to make a noticeable difference to all surfaces without the use of chemicals.

The group has already installed machines into four of its homes and plan a steady rollout to the remaining sites in the coming months.

Group estates director David Hicks said: “We needed a cleaning machine partner that will look after our carpets, tiles and our increasing amount of slip resistant vinyls.

“The Duplex performs incredibly well in all these areas and the users find it particularly easy and simple to operate.”

Duplex continue to go from strength to strength in the care environment with a versatile machine that is easy to use and environmentally friendly.

These premium grade machines are made to tackle the most demanding tasks and are particularly relevant

in the current and on-going issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic with their ability to deliver steam at temperatures high enough to kill 99.998 per cent of bacteria.

Employees from Bluebird Care Wakefield and Kirklees joined Olympic swimmer Max Litchfield in volunteering their time litter picking in the local community. Max’s Ocean Heroes Litter Pick event was organised with support from Sky Ocean Rescue. Bluebird Care Wakefield & Kirklees staff went out and about throughout the area picking up litter in a bid to help the environment and keep the community clean. Bluebird Care Wakefield and Kirklees director Narinder Gill said: “We were eager to get involved with Max’s event because it really is important that as a business we do our bit to make the world a cleaner and safer place for our wildlife.”

Home delivers lunches STAFF at Larkhill Hall care home in Liverpool have been providing keyworkers with tasty lunches to support fellow pandemic heroes.

The team wanted to show their appreciation to all of their fellow key and frontline workers, landing on a unique lunchtime delivery initiative to say thank you for all they do within the community.

They and the residents were able to nominate their ‘pandemic heroes’ to receive a free lunch grab-bag.

With lots of suggestions, the team set to work putting together tasty lunch bags which included sandwiches and some extra tasty treats such as homemade brownies, cookies and scones as well as a touching thank you letter.

Care manager Michelle Lightfoot, who played an instrumental role in delivering the lunch bags around the community, said: “During my deliveries I met some truly inspirational people who have really

kept the community going over the course of the pandemic.

“Everyone was so grateful for their surprise lunch and it really goes to show how a little bit of kindness goes a long way.”

So far, the team has delivered lunches to people working in key roles across a multitude of sectors including local GP practices, chemists and pharmacies, nursery teams and even to a local florist who gifted the team more than 25 bunches of daffodils to hand out to residents.

Deadly Legionella bacteria – essential life saving practices LEGIONELLA control manager Ken Millea of Envirisk Ltd stresses the importance of vital Legionella control procedures by care providers.

Care homes and health care settings must follow the procedures set out within Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, HSE ACoP L8, HSG 274 and HTM4-01 – all of which provide clear guidance on management of Legionella in care settings.

Care homes and healthcare settings carry the highest risk for Legionnaires’ disease due to the heightened vulnerability of the residents and patients.

The over 50s and the infirm account for more than 80 per cent of all cases of Legionnaires’

disease which is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. It is vital that the duty holder and their nominated responsible persons have the understanding and competency to manage the risk within their premises.

Training should be obtained for all persons involved in the control of Legionella.

It is advisable that an external contractor is employed where the duty holder deems it necessary especially where Legionella Risk Assessments are concerned.

Enquiries: Call 0114 437 2529, email office@envirisk.co.uk or visit www.envirisk.co.uk

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