Caring UK Weekly October 12

Campaigners welcome hardhitting report

CAMPAIGNERS say a frightening list of the major concerns facing social care providers cannot be ignored if people are to continue getting the care they need.

The Independent Care Group has welcomed a new report on the current social care market which reveals that providers are most concerned about the workforce, energy prices, inflation and return on operation/capital investment.

The ICG has praised the Care Provider Alliance for creating a report that lays bare the challenges facing the sector.

Chair Mike Padgham said this latest evidence of a sector facing frightening challenges could not be ignored.

“We see time and time again evidence that the social care sector is in crisis and facing very real existential challenges that place the delivery of care to many thousands of older and vulnerable people in jeopardy,” he said.

“Here, the CPA very plainly and clearly shows that the level of staff vacancies, the struggle to recruit staff and the rocketing costs of energy, food and insurance, amongst other issues, are creating a very difficult playing field upon which to deliver good, sustainable care.

“The Government cannot ignore these issues and hope they will go away.”

The evidence provided by the CPA is to go to local councils for them to consider as they finalise their Market Sustainability Plans.

“It is an excellent report by the CPA but makes very difficult reading.

“It does however give local councils vital ammunition to go to the Government and say, in realistic terms, what they need to deliver social care in the current economic climate,” Mike added.

After surveying providers, the CPA found, amongst other things, that staff vacancies are up 52 per cent; that 60 per cent of providers are having to increase carer pay in addition to their annual pay uplift, due to the cost-of-living crisis and that recruitment costs are up 127 per cent in the last two years.

It found that even after the introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and the introduction of a cap, energy prices for providers are three to four times what they were 12 months ago. Food inflation is more than 15 per cent of total costs currently for care home providers and insurance premiums can be 400 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Operator shares its warmth

HARTFORD Care has committed to making a winter fuel contribution of up to £600 to all its employees.

Paid across two instalments in September and December 2022, team members will receive this extra income as part of their salary payments.

Hartford Care employs more than 850 staff, all of whom will benefit from the donation at a time when many are struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis and rising fuel prices.

Even new team members who began their employment in September will receive this bonus payment.

CEO Kevin Shaw said: “Our values of care, comfort and companionship extend

to those who work for us, not just those we care for in our homes.

“Our people are the heart of our business and it’s important for us to help where we can. As one of the UK’s leading care providers, we hope that other companies in our sector – and elsewhere – will follow suit.”

The winter fuel contribution is being made as a stand-alone payment in response to the current economic climate and the financial challenges faced by many during these tough times.

This contribution does not hinder or prevent any future pay reviews and next year’s annual pay review will still take place as planned.

Care home manager Sharon Troy and Weber Rescue UK Ltd director Richard Wood took to the skies to perform a ‘wing walk’ in aid of Andy’s Man Club and Dementia UK. Sharon, home manager at Ashworth Grange care home, and Richard were strapped to the wings of a 1930s plane in flight during this fundraiser. Founded in 2016 in Halifax, Andy’s Man Club works to create healthy and judgement-free spaces for men to open up about their mental health. Specialist dementia nurse charity Dementia UK support and develop Admiral Nurses who provide life-changing care for families affected by dementia. Sponsored by Webber Rescue UK Ltd, the pair raised more than £2,000.

Life’s a beach as residents recreate the seaside

RESIDENTS at a Dorset care home showed how much they love to be beside the seaside – without leaving the comfort of their lounge.

While there are regular summer trips from Colten Care’s Brook View in West Moors to nearby coastal beauty spots, there are some residents who do not tend to go for different reasons.

So team members decided to ‘bring the seaside to the home’, transforming the lounge into a fun beachscape complete with sand, buckets and spaces, ‘rockpools’, ice cream and a candy floss machine.

Companionship team leader Sarah Moule said: “We thought it would be a great idea to host a beach-themed day here at the home as not everyone can always get out to the seaside.

“Also, we did it in response to a request from one of the regulars on our minibus trips, Daphne Simpson.

“When we go to the coast, Daphne always wants to get her feet wet. It’s the same with the New Forest, she will want to find a pool to go paddling in.

“Seaside holidays tend to give us some of our happiest memories –and the same goes for our residents including Daphne.

“Most of them spent time enjoying beaches and coastal trips in their youth and so having the seaside

brought to Brook View was a lovely experience for them. It generated a lot of discussions about holidays in years gone by.”

Residents also made balloons in the shape of sea creatures such as octopuses and there were competitions involving rockpool fishing and building sandcastles.

Advertiser’s announcement

HPC acts in homes’ sale to expanding operator

HPC has acted for the vendors in the sale of two care homes in the soughtafter East Yorkshire town of Hessle.

Woodleigh Manor is a large, Victorian Villa with substantial extensions, registered for 34 places

The Weir, located a short distance away in the centre of Hessle, is a traditional Georgian property which has also been significantly extended to provide 31 places.

The care homes have been in the same ownership for more than 30 years and had only become available due to retirement.

Woodleigh Manor and The Weir have been acquired by the expanding operator Curo Care Group, which now operates five care homes across the north, with plans for further expansion.

Mike Kneafsey, director of Curo Care Group, said: “We are delighted to be

adding Woodleigh Manor and The Weir into the Curo Care Group.

“They are two well established homes with excellent reputations in the local area.”

The sale was handled by HPC director Ian Wilkie.

He added: “The homes have been successfully run by our clients for many years, and we are pleased to have been able to conclude a positive sale after a process which encountered adversity along the way, including the pandemic.

“We know the purchasers have plans to invest in the future of Woodleigh Manor and The Weir, and wish them every success in the future”.

Mike concluded: “We are very grateful to the support provided by Ian at HPC.

“We found the service and support to be exemplary from start to finish.”

Homes’ staff working towards quality mark

STAFF at two care homes in Puddington, Cheshire are working towards an accolade for their specialist care.

More than 30 carers and the senior leadership team at Chapel House Care are training for the incus-care programme which recognises the care of people living with sensory loss.

The quality mark, backed by Deafness Support Network, is based on a range of criteria fostering inclusivity. It includes providing real access to opportunities and support for people with sensory loss so they can communicate effectively, increasing quality of life.

Cathrina Moore, an Admiral Nurse who runs The Chapel House and Plessington Court care homes, said: “We are delighted that so many of our team have already completed their INCUS training.

“Having sight or hearing loss makes life even more difficult for people with dementia who already have to live with the challenges of the condition.

“We believe that people with sensory loss can lead healthier lives

with improved social and emotional wellbeing which is why it is so important for our team to undertake this specialist training.

“We want to do our bit to build a better overall service for people with sensory loss.”

There are 174 care homes in Cheshire and DSN approached a number of homes as potential partners.

Dr Jenna Littlejohn, who co-developed the incus-care programme, said: “The staff at Chapel House Care undertook the training with such enthusiasm, really demonstrating their commitment to the initiative and the residents they support.

“We are due to complete the environmental audit shortly and then we will be able to award the home with the first incus-care quality mark.”

Of an estimated 400,000 people living in care in England, 75 per cent will have a hearing impairment, 50 per cent will have a visual impairment and more than 70 per cent will have some cognitive impairment.

Society is a menopause friendly employer

THE Abbeyfield Society has officially achieved accreditation as a menopause friendly employer.

The process involved a detailed submission to an external assessment panel, from which the charity received positive feedback.

The panel was appointed by Henpicked, which champions the accreditation through its Menopause in the Workplace campaign.

Panel member Suzanne Banks CBE said: “We are delighted to see The Abbeyfield Society achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation.

“Theirs was a really excellent application. They set clear objectives to create a culture where menopause is easy to talk about and support is available to anyone who needs it.

“They have demonstrated excellent menopause awareness campaigns and involved everyone in the conversation, supported by excellent training and support. Well done to everyone involved.”

Abbeyfield set up a cross-functional menopause taskforce and put a number of initiatives in place to demonstrate its commitment to being menopause friendly.

These included creating a menopause policy and a dedicated section on the company intranet with a host of resources to tap into. It also ran online quizzes in all staff meetings and conducted surveys with staff to gauge levels of awareness.

Abbeyfield is keen to encourage open conversations about menopause, hosting ‘sofa sessions’ where staff come together with a cuppa to talk about menopause, either face-to-face or virtually.

The sessions are friendly and relaxed and open to everyone, from those experiencing menopause themselves, to those who want to find out more, perhaps to support a family member.

Gail Manley, Abbeyfield HR director, added: “We have worked hard to achieve this accreditation and are delighted with the accolade, but most importantly we are proud to be helping our staff through what can be a very difficult part of their lives.

“Supporting our female employees through the menopause is an integral part of our wellbeing strategy and we are passionate about continuing to ensure we are a menopause friendly employer.”

Brook View resident Daphne Simpson enjoys the seaside experience.

A resident at Kenton Hall in Newcastle celebrated two 100th birthdays due to her father incorrectly registering her birthday 100 years ago. Mother-of-two Olga Brown, who almost lost her life during World War II, celebrated with family, including some who travelled from Canada where she used to visit her late sister at Kenton Hall with two cakes, two cards and two sets of balloons, meaning guests enjoyed tucking into twice as many birthday treats. Olga also has four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. During the War Olga, who lived in Walker at the time, experienced intense shelling, eventually resulting in her home being destroyed and her family dug out of the rubble. Before one bombing raid she was caught in two minds whether to grab some sausages from home before joining others in the air shelter. Fortunately Olga decided to seek shelter, a decision that potentially saved her life.

Library gives Brian ‘new lease of life’

AN ARMY veteran says his local library has allowed him to renew his love of literature, following a stroke.

Brian Bucknall was an avid reader before a serious stroke in 2019 left him struggling to physically hold a book and turn its pages.

But now the Royal Star & Garter resident, who served in the Army for 36 years, has joined The Core Library in Solihull, giving him access to hundreds of audio books.

He said: “Reading was my favourite pastime. I used to love getting stuck into a good book, but my stroke really affected by ability to do this.

“Since joining the library I’ve started listening to audio books and I can’t tell you how happy I am to have books back in my life.”

Staff at the Solihull home take Brian to the library. He also makes use of its music collection and rents out CDs which he listens to in his room at . Brian added: “I missed books desperately, but joining the library has given me a new lease of life.”

He was left incapacitated and unable to speak following his stroke. Brian says he began to make a recovery after moving to Royal Star & Garter four months later.

“In those first four months I didn’t know anything really,” he added.

“I’m getting better. The in-house physiotherapy is helping my recovery tremendously.”

Libraries Week is an annual showcase and celebration of the best that libraries have to offer, and runs until Sunday.

Knights Court Care home has celebrated the 110th birthday of a much-loved member of the community. Marie Pevovar celebrated the remarkable milestone birthday at the Edgware care home with a party and special visit from the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Janet Mote and Mayoress Ann Moore. Knights Court, part of the Maria Mallaband Care Group, was decorated with balloons, and Marie, joined by her granddaughter Lisa and those living alongside her in the home, was entertained by a live singer who sang some of her favourite Frank Sinatra songs. The spread of party food and drinks included a giant fresh cream cake made in the shape of the numbers 110.

Nina Ansell, a resident at RMBI Care Co. Home Zetland Court, in Bournemouth, has celebrated her 101st birthday. To mark the special milestone, Nina enjoyed a small gathering and was presented with a cake and flowers sent by her son in Australia. Before retiring in the 1980s, Nina had several other jobs. When she married her husband, they both became self-employed in the catering business and ran a tearoom, where they made cakes for weddings, which were rationed after the war. Years later, they managed post offices in Southampton and Blackfield, where Nina set up one of the first self-service supermarket stores in the country. In Bournemouth, she managed the Yvery Hotel for three years before retiring. Nina moved into Zetland Court in November 2018, where she has become an active member of the community.

Family, residents, staff and guests gathered together at The Orders of St John Care Trust care home Spencer Court in Woodstock, Oxfordshire to celebrate the 109th birthday of Winifred Parker. Winnie was born in Winson Green near Birmingham in 1913. While in school she had a job on the sweet counter at Woolworths and went on to selling tinned fruit for the now-closed retail chain. She was also a singer on the Birmingham club scene, and to this day is known in the home for her “brilliant” singing. She met her husband-to-be in Oxford and moved to the city when they got married. They lived in Wolvercote, where she worked as an usherette at the New Theatre. Winnie’s family spans five generations. She has two grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

CoolCare rebrands to solidify its position as admin tech specialist

CoolCare, a leading UK care home administration software provider, has undergone a comprehensive rebrand for 2022.

The fresh new branding better represents who CoolCare is and how its software benefits its customers.

Over the last 30 years, CoolCare has become known for making care home operations easier, more efficient and more profitable, giving the company a market lead as a social care software.

The rebrand is designed to emphasise that reputation, underlining CoolCare’s proven expertise in creating innovative software that enables and empowers successful care home businesses.

Part of the branding refresh sees a minor, but important, change in the product name.

CoolCare’s software has previously been known as ‘CoolCare4’, i.e., the fourth definitive version.

Since CoolCare4’s launch in 2018, the software has constantly evolved, with more than 200 updates delivered to customers.

These automatic updates reflect CoolCare’s development philosophy that new features and enhancements are added continuously as opposed to saving them for ‘the next big edition’.

To better represent this constant delivery of improvements, the number ‘4’ has been dropped from the software name and it will be known as just ‘CoolCare’ going

forwards.

Fiona Hale, managing director at CoolCare, said: “From the beginning, our sole focus has been solving the challenges that care homes face when managing their business operations.

“Having run homes in the past, we’re care home experts, first and foremost, with extensive knowledge of the needs and requirements of operators.

“This means everything we do is geared towards making their lives easier from an administrative standpoint – including enhanced efficiency and profitability.”

Fiona added: “The CoolCare brand is built on four core pillars: Service, Simplicity, Quality and Trust.

“These pillars are the guiding principles that inform everything that we, as a company, do, say and provide – allowing us to build values that align with our suppliers and customers.”

As part of the overhaul, a new identity, logo and a comprehensively updated website have all been launched.

For more information on CoolCare and its services visit www.coolcare.co.uk or call 0133 385 3853.

Advertiser’s

Resident scoops coveted care title

GEORGE William Crowhurst from Magnolia Court in Golders Green has been crowned resident ambassador of the year for the South Division in the Barchester Care Awards and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 12,000 residents living in the operator’s 248 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.

More than 2,950 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were of a very high standard and George said he is over the moon to have been named the winner for the South Division beating hundreds of other nominees.

He added: “It was a surprise to me and my family to hear that I was a winner in Barchester Care Awards for this year.

“I feel honoured and want to thank you to all the people that nominated me. I hope to become a winner and to make everyone proud at Magnolia Court.”

As the winner for South Division, George is through to the national finals in which the overall winner is decided.

They will join winners from across the UK at a special awards

event in October to celebrate their outstanding achievements and discover if they have won a national award.

General manager Octavian Stanciu added: “This is an amazing achievement and the whole home is supporting George. We are so proud of him.

“George is doing a great job looking after all our residents and being the voice for the majority of them. I know that everyone at Magnolia Court loves George for his caring attitude towards our residents.

apetito launches innovative

IDDSI Level 4 dishes

ALWAYS looking to expand its awardwinning texture-modified range, leading care homes meals provider, apetito, has been busy developing its IDDSI Level 4 meals range.

It is introducing five new, innovative dishes to give residents with dysphagia more choice and variety when it comes to mealtimes.

Not only do all these dishes taste delicious but they have been developed with nutritional content at the forefront of their in-house chefs’ and dietitians’ minds.

The new chicken in rich gravy, lamb in mint gravy and chicken and vegetable casserole dishes have been specially developed following feedback from apetito’s care home customers.

They are the popular puree petite size and include a tasty sauce, which not only brings the dish together but provides greater nutrient density and flavour profile.

apetito is also introducing two of the nation’s favourite comfort foods to its range, which will be instantly recognisable to patients.

Its sausages, beans and chips dish with two browned components, has a real ‘fresh out of the oven’ effect.

The spaghetti bolognaise is apetito’s best-ever Level 4 pasta dish and is a world leading texture-modified dish, with patients able to see individual spaghetti pieces and taste authentic,

comforting bolognaise sauce. Richard Woodward, general manager of apetito’s care home division, said: “Everyone deserves to enjoy nutritious, delicious food and residents living with dysphagia are no exception.

“That is why we’re always working to produce new IDDSI dishes that are at the forefront of innovation.

“Our specialist nutrition team has put in so much time, determination, and effort to ensure that these Level 4 dishes are nutritious and taste delicious.”

These new and market leading dishes demonstrate apetito’s dedication to ensuring residents with dysphagia can enjoy a real variety of food, whilst care home teams can relax in the knowledge that they are safe for residents to eat.

Find out more about apetito’s care homes meal service at https://www.apetito.co.uk/ our-service/care-home-meal-services

Chris is NACC Care

Chef of the Year

CHRIS Pickard of Four Seasons Health Care has been crowned National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2022.

His success was announced and celebrated in front of members and guests at the annual gala awards dinner held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, which is part of the NACC Training & Development Forum 2022.

Brian Preston of Lister House in Ripon and Justina Bajorinaite from Vegetarian for Life took second and third places respectively.

The final took place at West Nottingham College. In 90 minutes the line-up of finalists showcased their culinary skills and specialist knowledge to impress the panel of expert judges, led by head judge Steve Munkley.

He said: “As a newcomer to the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition I was astounded by the incredibly high standard of cooking from all the chefs. The 10 finalists performed really well and exceeded all expectations.

“It was a closely fought final, which is evident in the fact that out of 500 marks, only 40 marks separated first and 10th place. However, Chris is the deserved winner, excelling in both courses.

“He showed an amazing set of skills and pushed himself to the limit in the time he had, producing a great mixture of flavours in his dishes. He was absolutely focused on the task in hand and this, in my competition judging experience, is an important characteristic of a winner.”

The judges were looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods being used and how they support the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation, and hygiene and waste management best practice.

Chris excelled across the board, impressing the judges with his menu of chicken ballotine with pistachio and basil stuffing, swede fondant, pea and spinach purée, smoked pepper and tomato sauce, followed by a dessert of banana and pecan frangipane tart with maple syrup crème fraîche.

Justina Bajorinaite was also awarded Highly Commended Main for her satay tofu served with coconut rice

and picked vegetables, and Graham Watson of Lauder Lodge Care Home scooped Highly Commended Dessert for his dark chocolate and salted caramel delice, mango whip, caramel and hazelnut garnish and tempered chocolate.

Hygiene and waste management best practice was also recognised, with Alex Millichamp of Chandler Court awarded the Hygiene Award and Brian Gollan of Ivybank House Care Home presented with the Waste Management Award.

Sue Cawthray, the NACC’s National Chair, said: “Congratulations to Chris Pickard, our NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022. What an incredible final it was.

“All the finalists really stepped up to the challenge. They were impressive and inspiring and gave the judges a tough job in deciding the overall winner. They should all be very proud of themselves.

“This fantastic competition is so important for care catering as it is a real showcase and celebration of the exceptional talent and excellence of chefs in our sector – something that can often be overlooked by the wider foodservice and hospitality industry.

“Not only do care chefs provide delicious, uplifting meal experiences, but they also contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of residents and customers and play a vital role in the provision of quality care. It’s essential that we continue to champion and spotlight this important contribution to society and give care chefs and care catering professionals the recognition they deserve.”

The NACC Care Chef of the Year competition is supported by the main sponsor Unilever Food Solutions and long-standing event sponsor The Worshipful Company of Cooks.

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

The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £3 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced. The menu must also feature a product from Unilever Food Solutions’ sectorrelevant catering range.

George William Crowhurst

Chris (centre) receives his award with, from the left: Steve Munkley (head judge), Sue Cawthray (NACC national chair), Alex Hall (executive chef at Unilever Food Solutions) and Virginia Bond (master of The Worshipful Company of Cooks).