Caring UK - November 2021 by Script Media

no.298 • £4.75 incorporating

November 2021

The Number One magazine for the care sector

‘Sector’s voice must be heard’ at Covid inquiry SEVERAL of Scotland’s care home operators have joined forces ahead of the forthcoming national public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Independent Care Homes Scotland comprises 13 operators, which, between them, employ almost 10,000 staff across 155 homes. And the group is calling on other operators to join ICHS to help ensure all facets of the independent care sector are fully represented within the inquiry. One of the founding members, Renaissance Care chairman Robert Kilgour, said the group was committed to playing a full and constructive part in what is expected to be the largest inquiry of its kind ever seen in Scotland. He said: “Residents and their families, as well as our selfless and hard-working team members, have paid a terrible price during this pandemic, with enormous numbers of deaths amidst the most sustained, high-pressure environment our sector has seen. “It is absolutely imperative that the direct experiences of those in the care sector are given a meaningful and prominent voice within the inquiry, and given that 75 per cent of elderly care homes in Scotland are operated by independent providers, it is vital that we are at the core of these conversations. The areas we must

Great night promised at CUK Awards

see addressed include Government decisions to empty hospital patients into care homes without any testing in the early days of the pandemic, which had devastating consequences, and the failure to quickly heed industry calls for mandatory, weekly testing of staff.” ICHS, which has retained lawyers and a leading QC, has already made a formal submission suggesting key areas the inquiry should cover, based on direct experience on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic. The submission and ongoing work of ICHS aim to complement the wider industry body Scottish Care, forming a distinct voice for the independent care home sector, and ensuring that the interests, concerns and experiences of residents, families and employees are fully represented. The submission from ICHS, to those drawing up the terms of reference for the inquiry, covered issues ranging from decision to discharge untested hospital patients into care homes, the lack of PPE, testing and equipment, to frequently varying advice, involvement of NHS and employment laws and procedures. The ICHS is keen to hear from other independent care home operators, allowing those within the sector to come together to submit collective evidence, expertise and experience.

A man who has spent 50 years as a musician conducting iconic musicals has had an ‘all singing, all dancing’ welcome from a Romsey nursing home. David Benke has moved into Durban House and has been settling in surrounded by the music which has shaped his half a century spanning work. A conductor for big musicals such as “My Fair Lady” and “Annie Get Your Gun”, the new resident has also worked with many orchestras, including the City of Southampton Orchestra and the Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society. To make him feel at home, he was shown how to stream his favourite music on to the big screen.

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TICKETS are selling fast for the 2021 Caring UK Awards; with shortlisted care homes, sponsors and guests all looking forward to a great evening. Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday December 2 – where host Dean Andrews will reveal the lucky winners. We received a record number of entries from all over the UK with so many stories of the wonderful work that was done particularly during the pandemic and we want to thank everyone who sent in nominations. Shortlisted entries from far and wide have made the finals, now progressing to the next stage of the judging process. Event director Judith Halkerston added: “The standard of entries has been higher than we could ever have imagined, and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone on the night. “It was difficult enough for us to narrow the number of entries down into a shortlist so I don’t envy our judges who are going to have to choose the winners. “The event itself will be a celebration of all that is good in the industry and the perfect party to start Christmas.” Tickets are available at https:// script-events.co.uk/cuk-awardstickets

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Group launches ‘staycation’ camping trip around the UK RESIDENTS have become campers at a South East care group with the launch of a virtual ‘staycation’ trip around the UK to keep momentum going following its six-month world cruise – an initiative that boosted residents’ physical and mental well-being. With tents and sleeping bags at the ready, residents and staff at all 13 of Nellsar’s care homes across Kent, Surrey and Essex have joined in with the UK’s staycation boom with a camping trip to Scotland. Dubbed ‘Carry on Camping’, the virtual staycation will continue the epic adventures of the previous six months but this time closer to home in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Having seen a wealth of improvement in residents’ mental and physical health, the care group is once again treating its homes to the sights, sounds and tastes of different countries and cultures, enabling residents to reminisce about previous family holidays. Viv Stead, recreation and well-being manager at Nellsar, said: “Our residents and staff could not have envisaged a more perfect six-month period following the challenges that arose from the pandemic. “The improvement to residents’ mental and physical well-being through sensory

stimulation and activities has been remarkable. In truth, we never wanted the journey to end, so what better way to continue the fun than by celebrating all that the UK has on offer.” A welcome morale-boost to ensure spirits remain high as the colder months approach, residents have been experiencing Scottish-themed activities, decorations, music, cuisine, and quizzes from the comfort of their armchairs. Embracing the best of Scottish culture, residents have enjoyed whisky tasting and trips to the Scottish Highlands and Loch Lomond, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and Edinburgh. For cuisine, there was no shortage of shortbread biscuits, porridge and black pudding, with a generous serving of haggis and tatties. Viv added: “Our first stop in Scotland has been a great success. Everyone embraced the Scottish culture and we had so much fun across our homes. In the 60s and 70s, holiday camps were very popular so we wanted to bring back and relive that nostalgia. “We have quite a few residents of Scottish ancestry and many too who have visited the Highlands and Islands, so there were plenty of memories to rekindle.”

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

Loose Valley Care Centre’s recreation and wellbeing champion Paula Smy was all smiles alongside some impressive backdrops following the camping trip to Scotland.

At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk

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£48m Covid recovery fund to support social care in Wales A £48m package of funding to support social care in Wales has been announced by Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan. The majority of the funding – £40m – has been allocated to local authorities and will be used to help the social care sector meet the ongoing challenges caused by the pandemic. A further £8m will fund a number of specific priorities, including extending the carers support fund; tackle loneliness in older people; investing in the social care workforce’s wellbeing and in residential services for care-experienced children. Julie said: “We place huge value on social care in Wales and we ask a lot of the sector. It is facing significant pressures as a result of the pandemic and – just like our NHS staff – the workforce is exhausted from working so hard for so long. “This new funding recognises the challenges the sector is facing and will help to address some of the financial pressures it faces. It also includes new funding to invest in priority areas to improve services, in line with our ambitions and commitments. “We will continue supporting social care in Wales and, as we recover from

Julie Morgan

the pandemic, will build a strong and resilient social care sector.” Groups supporting older people to engage with their communities and helping to tackle loneliness will receive £220,000 from the £48m Welsh Government social care Covid recovery fund. The fund will reintroduce them to the activities they were taking part in pre-pandemic, rebuild their confidence their confidence and help re-engage with their communities after the pandemic. Minister for finance and local government Rebecca Evans added: “We are fully committed to supporting health and social services to recover from the pandemic and move beyond it.

Mario Kreft

“The funding we have announced is part of a broader package that will help services like these manage the ongoing effects of Covid and deliver high-quality care for people.” Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, described giving the bulk of the £48million funding package to Welsh councils like “putting foxes in charge of the hen house”. He added: “We are hugely grateful to the Welsh Government for prioritising social care in this way and it is clear they recognise the unprecedented challenges we have faced and continue to face. “We would not have had the exemplary support we have received so far during this pandemic had it not

been for Welsh Government who put in place very strong criteria. “The first tranche of the hardship fund which ran until the end of June last year was given to local authorities without guidance and, in some areas, it did not reach where it should have done, with some councils being more supportive than others. “The Welsh Government looked at that and decided that a better mechanism was needed. “So giving councils this extra £40 million without stringent guidelines to ensure it reaches the front line is like putting foxes in charge of the hen house. “It is the case that the majority of social care, particularly for older people, is provided by the independent sector but I suspect the bulk of the money isn’t going to go there. “Some local authorities will do their best but we have some councils that would much rather not work with the independent sector. “They are openly saying they want to take services in house so this presents them with another opportunity to bolster their own provision at the expense of the people being cared for by the independent sector.”

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Care charity introduces four-day working week

Pat and Doug with their twin hearts.

Knitted hearts bring smiles to care home DOZENS of handmade knitted hearts have been given to residents at Royal Star & Garter. They were gifted to the veterans’ Home in Solihull by Marion Abbott, who made the keepsakes during the lockdowns. She also made extra hearts for the partners of residents living at the Tudor Coppice Home. Before the pandemic, Marion knitted toys and cardigans which she gave to charity shops and good causes. When Covid struck, she started knitting hearts for patients and staff at a Birmingham hospital’s ICU, before turning her generosity towards Royal Star & Garter, where her greatniece Maisie Casey works. She said: “Marion knows about the charity and all the great work we do through me and she decided to knit

hearts for the veterans here. “The residents love it, with a lot of them hanging them up on their doors.” Around 30 residents have now received their hearts, and Marion, from Birmingham, is working hard so that all residents will soon have one. A special twin heart was also given to Pat Fisher, whose husband Doug is a resident at Royal Star & Garter. She was so moved that she has placed the heart alongside her favourite photo of Doug and herself. Maisie added: “Pat was especially thrilled to receive a matching heart. It meant so much for her to have that connection to Doug while there were visiting restrictions in the Home. “She’s tied her heart underneath her favourite photo of her and Doug, she said she wanted people to know how much it truly meant to her.”

COMMUNITY Integrated Care has embarked on an overhaul of its working practices by introducing a four-day working week for more than 300 of its employees. The new plan, which sees the charity become the first social care provider in the UK to introduce the four-day week, allows head office and support function employees to condense their normal working hours into four days, rather than five – having either the Monday or Friday as a non-working day. The new approach from the charity aims to offer greater choice for current employees while creating a more attractive offering for new recruits, and delivering greater support to its frontline workforce which operates over a 24-hour period. The charity has further enhanced its shift to more modern and innovative ways of working by establishing a flexible return to the office, with colleagues having the choice to work in the office, virtually from home or a mixture of the two. Employees will only need to attend their offices for meetings or training that need to be held in person. This hybrid working approach will transform the charity’s office spaces into hubs used largely for learning and collaboration. These flexible working measures come in response to feedback from colleagues in a series of recent

surveys, with 82 per cent of colleagues feeling positive about the move towards a four-day working week and 81 per cent expressing a desire to reduce the numbers of days in the office post-pandemic. Teresa Exelby, chief people officer at Community Integrated Care, said: “Our colleagues have shown us how well they have adapted to a remote and hybrid working approach over the past 18 months, so we’re thrilled that we’re able to build on these successes as we navigate our way through the post-pandemic workplace. Listening to our workforce is hugely important to us and it’s clear that employee expectation for a flexible approach has altered dramatically in recent months. “This move has been built with our colleague’s voices at the heart of it, giving them the freedom to choose and build their own ways of working. “Our hope is that by ensuring that our colleagues can achieve a positive and healthy work-life balance, this will in turn boost the wellbeing and productivity of our workforce. “Ultimately, our main goal is that this all leads to us being delivering the best lives possible for the people we support.” Introducing flexible working is just one of a number of people-related initiatives that Community Integrated Care has introduced to improve the working lives of its employees.

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Aaron is NACC Care Chef of the Year AARON Watson of Primrose Bank Care Home in Poulton-le-Fylde won the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2021 competition. Aaron was awarded the coveted title in front of NACC members and delegates during the official opening of the NACC Training & Development Forum 2021 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. Matt Knott from Majesticare’s Fernhill House in Worcester and Daniel Kavanagh from Lexicon Healthcare’s Green Tree Court in Exeter took second and third places respectively. The national final took at Manor Farm Cookery School in Grantham. Aaron impressed the judges with his delicious menu of honey and ginger glazed pork fillet served with garlic and chilli pak choi, potato croquette, carrot purée and fresh apple followed by a dessert of sweet chilli roasted pineapple with coconut ice cream and spiced rum caramel sauce. They praised his “innovative, resident- and person-centred menu that expertly brought together delicious Asian flavours in a modern, exciting way, whilst showing a sound understanding of nutritional requirements.” Aaron said: “I’m really happy to have won. I’m also a little surprised – I thought the final went well for me, but the other chefs were so good I didn’t dare imagine winning.

Aaron Watson (second from the right) receives his award from Alex Hall, executive chef at Unilever Food Solutions, NACC national chair Sue Cawthray and Commodore David Smith CBE from the Worshipful Company of Cooks. “It was fantastic to see what the pear frangipane, which the judges other finalists were doing and to described as “simple yet skilful, with learn from their expertise too. I’m outstanding nutritional balance and just very pleased to be creating food taste”. that puts smiles on people’s faces.” Sue Cawthray, the NACC’s national Daniel Kavanagh was also chair, added: “Huge congratulations awarded Highly Commended to Aaron Watson, our NACC Care Main for his pan-roasted chicken Chef of the Year 2021. The national with wild mushroom and pastry final gave us an incredibly exciting lid, which stood out for the judges 90 minutes of competition. in both flavour and taste with “After more than a year of “real wow and zing”, while David experiencing life through a screen, Whistler of The Cambridgeshire it was fantastic to bring the Care Home, Cambridge, scooped competition back into the kitchen Highly Commended Dessert for his where it belongs.

“All the talented finalists put on an amazing performance and were both impressive and inspiring. The judges certainly had a difficult job in deciding the winner – and I’m glad that responsibility didn’t fall to me! “Care chefs are highly-skilled individuals, whose knowledge and culinary flair makes a real difference to the wellbeing and quality of life of the older and vulnerable people they dedicate their talent to. “This has been spotlighted during the challenges of the pandemic and that is why this fantastic competition is so important. It not only gives our chefs the opportunity to push boundaries, develop their skills and shine, it gives care catering a platform that demonstrates and celebrates the value and contribution of care chefs up and down the country. “They go above and beyond every day to ensure their residents and clients always enjoy person-centred, nutritious and delicious food, whatever life throws at them, and that is certainly something to be proud of and to shout about.” Entrants are challenged to create an appealing and delicious twocourse menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £2.25 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced.

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Chefs in the spotlight MORRIS Care has commissioned a series of development days for its team of chefs to further hone their craft, and at their first masterclass they learnt the secrets of creating the perfect afternoon tea. The event was held at Perry’s Field to Fork; an artisan butchery and cookery school situated in the heart of Staffordshire, nestled within the rural countryside. From fruit scones to cucumber sandwiches; the team were put to the test by qualified food stylist and chef Steph Clubb, formulating various different small bakes for their residents. By the end of the day each chef had created the perfect afternoon tea consisting of a selection of fresh sandwiches, baked quiches, warm fruit scones with jam and cream, chocolate eclairs, swirled meringues

topped with summer berries and light tarts alongside the infamous classic Victoria sponge. Vanessa Davies, head of operations at Morris Care, said “We take pride in providing high quality, nutritionally balanced meals for all of our residents. “We organised the development event as part of our investment into our catering team – it is easy for staff members who are not out delivering care to be forgotten, but we believe they play a vital part in the daily joy of dining. “As a result of our very successful first chef development day, we are looking forward to offering signature homemade afternoon tea’s every week for our residents.” Next on the agenda is a signature roast dinner and dessert experience with a special nod towards Christmas.

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THE 2021

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Advertiser’s announcement

How safe are your ratings? By Richard Fairburn THE new report of the Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committees “Coronavirus: lessons learned to date” (Did they say “learned”?) concludes that the UK’s response was too reactive; unresponsive to international experience; too centralised; and lacking in speed in making key decisions. The fact that these failures resulted in tens of thousands of avoidable deaths comes as something of a bombshell. Unless you work in the care industry, that is. Fingers of blame are now starting to be aimed. Away from those who point said fingers, that is. So who should carry the can for the high death rates in care homes at the start of the pandemic? A first year medical student or nurse would have appreciated that those most vulnerable to a deadly new respiratory virus that was spreading rapidly across the world would be the elderly, and that care homes for the elderly perhaps more than any other high risk group would need protecting against introduction and spread of the virus at all costs. The early pandemic in care homes can readily be traced back to the gov.uk guidance of April 2 2020, “Admission and Care of Residents during Covid-19 Incident in a Care Home”, whose opening statement reads: “Care homes have a vital role to play in the UK, especially during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to make sure you and your staff can continue to care for some of the most vulnerable in our society. With your help, we can help keep them safe and cared for.” Under the heading of “Admission of residents” is the literally fatal statement: “Negative tests are not required prior to transfers / admissions into the care home”. The statement is a stand-alone

paragraph in the text. Transfer of untested elderly patients from hospitals to care homes, in an established pandemic, at a time of national lockdown, was an act not an omission. The risks were readily foreseeable. The guidance bears the logos of the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England (now UKHSA), the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS. So, at whose door should we lay the blame for the thousands of deaths in care homes? Matt Hancock? Not really, the Secretary of State hides behind the advice of experts when it suits him. PHE? Not really, admission procedures in care homes are not their area of expertise. Sir Simon Stephens? Perhaps not, it was his job to protect the capacity of the NHS. No, the blame for the pandemic of deaths in care homes that could have been largely avoided lies full square at the door of those who had statutory responsibilities and relevant expertise in all camps, in the NHS as well as in social care, in public health as well as in regulated care. Section 3 of the HSCA2008 provides that the “main objective of the Commission in performing its functions is to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of people who use health and social care services.” If CQC puts its signature to a gov.uk guidance paper then, by definition, thorough vetting of it is a CQC function. To be crystal clear, the blame for the catastrophic introduction of Covid-19 into care homes in the Spring of 2020 lies at the door of the Care Quality Commission, and realistically at no one else’s. Please make yourself at home on my new website https://hsc-prof.com/ Download the latest Alerts and Updates, and factsheets on warning notices, appeals and the like. And please stay as safe as you can. n Richard Fairburn is a consultant at HSC Professional. Staff and residents at Elworth Grange in Sandbach have been celebrating as it reached its first birthday since opening its doors to residents last summer. The care home provides residential and dementia care for 66 residents and in the past year has created more than 30 jobs for people in the area. The team were thrilled to have special guest of honour Dr. Hilary Jones virtually launch the home last summer, crediting the excellent work of teams across the UK for their commitment to providing the highest standards of care during such unprecedented times. A year later he celebrated the milestone birthday with a special video message.

Linda Nigrelli celelebrated her 30th anniversary at Ashton Court in Newcastle.

Linda celebrates 30 years A WOMAN with a passion for cooking is celebrating 30 years’ service at a Tyneside care home. Linda Nigrelli started as a domestic at Ashton Court in Newcastle in September 1991. She has since worked in various roles at the home, but the kitchen has been her passion and she has risen through the ranks in that environment from kitchen assistant to head cook. Steve Massey, operations manager at Solehawk, which operates Ashton

Court, said: “Linda is a much-loved member of staff among colleagues and residents and their relatives and friends. “She has always been a terrific team player who only wants the best for those living at Ashton Court. “She is a first class cook whose cake-making abilities are secondto-none, particularly her chocolate cakes. For someone to work at the same care home for 30 years is a terrific achievement and one we were all delighted to celebrate.”

CARINGNEWS Advertiser’s announcement

What if the flu vaccine becomes a condition of employment? By Laura Wood

THE government recently announced one of the most extensive flu vaccinations programmes in the history of the National Health Service. The roll-out, which is expected to reach more than 35 million people in England alone, comes after NHS leaders said they feared that flu could claim as many as 60,000 lives this winter. As anyone reading this article will know, the government also launched a consultation on September 9 asking whether both the Covid19 and the influenza vaccinations should be a mandatory requirement across all health and care settings in England. The consultation is now closed. However, before the consultation was launched, the government decreed that any care worker working in an English care home would need to be fully immunised against Covid-19 from November 11 – or face losing their job. According to UNISON, the government has forecast “the loss of 40,000 to 70,000 jobs” in a sector where there are already 112,000 vacancies. The question is, if the government mandates the flu vaccine across all care settings in England, what impact will that have on the social care sector and, most importantly, service users? As a Registered Nurse, with more than 20 years’ experience working in mental health, elderly care and learning disabilities settings, I can say that traditionally flu vaccine uptake has been fairly low amongst care workers. However, that certainly doesn’t mean to say that if it were to be a condition of employment across the entire care sector, that care workers would leave the sector. On the contrary, the flu vaccine

Laura Wood has been around since the 1940s. It is not a live vaccine and, therefore, is considered to be a very safe and effective across a wide range of age groups. So, why do some social care workers decline the vaccine? Firstly, as opposed to the NHS, where every staff member is offered the vaccine annually, generally care workers have to go to their own GP to receive the vaccine. For staff working complex shift patterns, it can be difficult to book an appointment, let alone attend it. GPs are currently very busy too, and so finding a timely slot that works, can be challenging too. My work schedule is relatively flexible, for example, but I must wait three weeks before I can be immunised against flu. Secondly, not everybody is eligible to receive a free flu vaccine. Those who look after younger age groups do not qualify, nor do care workers who are not directly employed by a residential care home, a nursing home or a home care provider. When you consider that many staff receive the minimum wage, the cost of travelling to a GP, potentially missing out on a paid shift to do so, and then paying for the flu jab out of their own pocket, present sizeable barriers that the government needs

to remove in order to increase takeup. That said, with a large proportion of care workers having been immunised for Covid-19, I would expect the number of workers taking up the option of the flu vaccine to be similar, and possibly even higher. But that doesn’t mean that care services shouldn’t have a detailed action plan to ensure a high rate of vaccination amongst care workers? QCS, the leading provider of content, guidance and standards for the social care sector, has published several policies, procedures and best practice guidance including staff vaccination and immunisation policies. There may be care workers who refuse the flu vaccine, says Nikita Passi, an employment lawyer for Napthens, which is also a partner of QCS. Nikita does not expect the flu vaccine – if it were to be made mandatory in all care settings – to lead to a major increase in vacancies, but she thinks “that the legislation may be challenged by care home workers”. She explains that some care workers, who are vegans “might decline the vaccine on the grounds that it contains egg”. She said: “Recent case law has found that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. Therefore, the rights of care workers, who are ethical vegans, are enshrined in law. “If the flu vaccine is made mandatory, a care worker, may refuse the flu jab due to their philosophical belief and if they were to be dismissed on the basis that they have not been mandatory vaccinated against the flu vaccine, then this may cause discrimination issues. “Instead, their employer would need to consider alternatives to termination of their engagement including redeploying the individual

to an alternative role.” Nikita also says that Registered Care Managers will need to consider alternative arrangements for a minority of care workers, who are allergic to the flu vaccine, or have underlying health issues, which might prevent them from being immunised. She added: “If the government deems mandatory vaccination to be a condition of deployment, in the event that care workers, who are allergic to the flu vaccine or advised by their medical advisors not to be immunised, are dismissed by their employer, a care worker might have a valid claim for unfair dismissal if alternatives to dismissal have not been considered by their employer or if their employer has not followed a fair dismissal process.” However, legalities aside, if the government does make the flu vaccine compulsory in the care sector, the consultation should factor in logistics, infrastructure and contingency in its deployment plans. With GPs already stretched, it may need to consider other locations such as car parks, town halls, stadiums and parks where mobile immunisation units can administer the vaccination. Another option could be for specialist teams to visit care settings and vaccinate all staff. In any other era, these suggestions might be viewed as outlandish, but in a time of Covid, a robust infrastructure is already in place, while a collective desire to put Covid and a potentially serious seasonal flu outbreak behind us, means such a rollout, however radical it might seem, is eminently achievable. n Laura Wood is a clinical, mental health and learning disabilities specialist at QCS. To find out more about the QCS or to purchase a subscription, contact QCS’ team of advisors on 0333 405 3333 or email sales@qcs.co.uk

Caring UK Care Providers Conference Pushing the boundaries of care excellence

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16 Advertiser’s announcement

New online marketplace for sector launches at Care Show ONLINE marketplaces are popping up like mushrooms all around the world. Most of our readers will have used one or more, knowingly or not, and now a new one has been launched to service the care sector. Online marketplaces are websites where multiple different sellers can sell their goods and services to multiple different buyers. There have been consumer sites like this for decades, starting with likes of confused.com and comparethemarket.com Then they moved into travel with Airbnb and Booking.com, but lately there are marketplaces everywhere – even Facebook has a marketplace now, where buyers and sellers can meet and buy and sell. But Wippet, which launched at the Care Show this month, is a specialised marketplace just for healthcare. It’s a B2B site where care providers can buy everything they need from wipes to wheelchairs, from furniture to food. But Wippet customers can buy all these different things in one basket, with one login and one invoice – saving countless hours of administrative time that could be better spent delivering care.

The new internet service is the brainchild of Matt Oxley who brought in two co-founders, John Barrowcliffe, an ecommerce and tech expert, and David Meikle a marketing expert. Matt said: “I know form first-hand experience the breadth and depth of services that care provision needs – and it entails the management of multiple suppliers across multiple locations with multiple different

needs for each location. “The complexity of the care service supply chain is mind-boggling. That’s what we’ve set out to simplify and that’s what we’re achieving with Wippet. “The technological capability behind Wippet has existed for a long time, but nobody has applied it properly to benefit one of the sectors that needs it most.”

Wippet launched at the Care Show to great excitement. The site has the look, feel and functionality of the most sophisticated, but at the same time intuitive, consumer websites. John Barrowcliffe was the mastermind behind the platform. He added: “It was hugely complex to construct, but that’s what’s required to make it simple to use. “There’s no point setting out to make life easier for care providers and then asking them to make significant changes to the way they work. “For example, if we only managed transactions on credit and debit cards, many care providers would have had to change their preferred payment methods to suit us. That’s all backwards. “So, we made sure that the site can accommodate existing payment methods, whatever they are. Suppliers can even upload credit terms with their customers, so their clients can enjoy the same flexibility on Wippet as they did before.” The response from suppliers has been very enthusiastic. Wippet has already signed up giants to the care sector like Care Shop and Renray Healthcare, and many more. There are already about 20 suppliers on the site and they’re being added at an estimated rate of 10 per month.

Advertiser’s announcement

Gainsborough Healthcare Group CEO Peter Eckhardt explains trends in the industry and how the company remains a thought leader ...

Delivering greater dementia care through specialist bathing What specialist assistive bathing solutions are available to service providers within the dementia care sector? There are many specialist solutions to assist carers who bathe semiambulant dementia residents. These can include power-assisted baths, adapted showering solutions and accessible wet rooms with level access. Our G360 services for example can provide a holistic approach to all of these possibilities in a single resource. In terms of baths, there is a range of designs that include variable height, bather transfer seats, reclining functionality and specialist sensory features that are beneficial to service users with the condition. Powered functionality also supports moving and handling best practice so the risk of carer injury

can be minimised. How can the latest specialist bath designs provide a more pleasant bathing experience for dementia patients? Bathing service users with dementia can be one of the most difficult activities that carers may face. It is essential that personal care is delivered in a sensitive and dignified manner. However, as the act of bathing is an intimate experience, many with Alzheimer’s and other dementias may perceive it to be unpleasant. Anxiety, confusion and stress can be reduced for service users when bathing through use of an intelligently designed bathing solution. A bath with a powered transfer seat, for example, provides a smooth and controlled process of getting in and out so residents are reassured. As they are submerged, it is vital that water is temperature controlled for safety and to support individuals with increased skin sensitivity. Baths with in-built platforms, such as the new Oraya from Gainsborough, facilitate a more efficient changing and drying process so bathers remain comfortable and warm. In addition to ergonomics, sensory features can be integrated into

certain specialist baths to relax bathers and to improve mobility and mood. Features such as airspa hydrotherapy, chromotherapy lighting and Bluetooth sound, all add to a sensory and engaging experience. Hair washing can also be an issue for many with dementia, so providing carers with an accessible inbuilt showering system can reduce resident stress when in the bath. If healthcare providers select baths from a manufacturer with proven credentials in dementia assisted bathing, then these factors and more will have been considered in great

detail – hence resulting in improved care and CQC excellence. How and why do you think bathing solutions for dementia care are likely to evolve in the next few years? The demand for dementia care will continue to grow resulting in the need for further research into the condition and product innovation by equipment providers. Bath manufacturers will need to work more closely with all care stakeholders to ensure their futureproofed designs are capable of delivering effective therapy for everincreasing challenges. https://www.gainsboroughbaths.com/

Creating beautiful and practical interiors for the care home industry Who We Are We carefully balance aesthetics and experiences with durability and cost so that all our interior solutions are truly fit for purpose. From creating sensory stimulus through colour, style and texture to ensuring comfort through correct posture and physical support, everything we do is designed to create beautiful spaces that live and breathe and last for years to come. With over 15 years experience in creating beautiful and practical interiors for the care home industry, we understand just how important your business is and we believe that it’s what’s inside that really matters. Sommer Rose are a friendly, hard-working consultation team providing the full package of furnishings, fixtures and equipment whether it be for your new build home or refurbishment project. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive industry knowledge and have also worked with the Alzheimer’s Society on design for dementia. All products are sourced from the UK’s most trusted manufacturers of quality, bespoke, friendly dementia products. We also have our own manufacturing facilities for soft furnishings.

WHAT’S INSIDE THAT MATTERS

“

Sarah helped on our project with the soft furnishings including wall art and accessories, creating a full interiors solution. From the beginning of the project with initial meeting to the completion, Sarah was very professional, I was impressed with her product knowledge, she took pride in her work which is reflected in our beautiful care home. We are looking forward to working with her on future projects. Lesley Brock, Manager, Lifecare Residences, Somerleigh Court

FREE CUSHION WITH ANY CURTAIN ORDERS

Please call or email Sarah Thompson:

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Luxury Care Home Guide recognises industry leaders Mayor Georgia Mazower (centre) opens the new show home with Housing 21’s new homes manager Susan Wells and housing manager Emma Taylor.

Show home opens at new extra care development EMPLOYEES at Willow Gardens, a new Housing 21 extra care development in Chipping Norton, celebrated the official opening of its show home Willow Gardens will provide accommodation for local people over the age of 55. The development, under construction by Deeley Construction, will offer 80 one and two bedroom apartments for social rent and shared ownership. Lorraine Jenner, regional operations manager at Housing 21, said: “We are delighted to open this fantastic new show home and can’t wait to hear feedback from the local community. “Willow Gardens has been built with our residents in mind. “The apartments are all fitted out with high quality kitchens, easily accessible mid-height ovens, raised power points and level-access showers, but they are also really stylish and modern. “We can’t wait to start welcoming people to come and take a look around.” Willow Gardens has been designed to promote independent living in a

community setting, with a care team on-site 24/7 to deliver planned care packages if needed. It will offer people over the age of 55 a range of facilities including a communal lounge and gardens. An on-site hair salon and café/bistro for residents will also open to the public. The scheme has been developed with funding support from the Future Oxfordshire Partnership; in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Housing 21’s new homes sales manager Susan Wells and housing manager Emma Taylor were joined by Murry Barnett, strategic housing and development officer at West Oxfordshire District Council, and Councillor Merilyn Davies, cabinet member for housing and communities in West Oxfordshire. Paul Marlow, senior site manager at Deeley Construction, and Deeley Group deputy managing director Eleanor Deeley also attended to officially open the new show home. Construction at the development is expected to complete next Winter.

KNIGHT Frank has announced the winners of the sixth edition of its UK Luxury Care Home Awards, recognising best-in-class providers of care across the country. The global property adviser’s 2022 Luxury Care Home Guide lists the UK’s top 100 luxury care homes and recognises three overall winners, each of which are judged on the quality of care they provide, the design of their homes and the strength of any renovation and refurbishment work undertaken. Julian Evans, head of healthcare at Knight Frank, said: “The prestige of the Guide, which is well regarded as the gold standard of luxury care home recognition in the UK, is illustrated by the consistently high number of submissions received and the £2billion in assets represented by the Guide’s top 100 care homes. “All care homes recognised in the Guide have delivered outstanding levels of care over the past year. They continue to innovate, with resident wellbeing front-of-mind, to futureproof their homes and protect against future shocks to the industry.

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors and event partner for helping to organise this in-person event, as well as to all the excellent speakers on the evening, not least our inspiring celebrity guest Denise Lewis.” This year’s winners were: n 2022 Luxury Care Home Award, recognising the highest quality care and hospitality services in the luxury market: Signature at Beckenham, operated by Signature Care Homes. n 2022 Care Home Design Award, recognising innovation and excellent design in line with the highest sustainability standards: Kitwood House, operated by L&M Healthcare. n 2022 Renovation and Refurbishment Award, recognising the preservation of heritage and the quality of redesign and repositioning works: Avery Park, operated by Avery Healthcare Phil Burgan, chairman and CEO of Maria Mallaband Care Group, was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to the sector during his 25-year career.

Advertiser’s announcement

Take the stress out of uniform management Forbes helps homes maintain TAYLOR Made Designs is more than just a uniform supplier. In addition to sourcing and supplying a vast array of uniform options from bespoke designed and branded tunics and scrubs to lanyards, name badges, polo shirts, jackets and fleeces, the company also provides an effective digital uniform management service, that reduces administration time and effort for its growing portfolio of care provider partners. Employing the services of TMD’s new E-store grants care providers access to a secure online ordering and stock management platform, that gives real time visibility of their bespoke stock selection and availability. TMD key account manager Lucy Squire said: “The launch of the E-store has transformed the way we interact with our partners and has driven significant efficiencies which benefit both parties. “Partners are now able to understand exactly what items they have in stock and when and where

Lucy Squire

deliveries will be made, enabling them to largely manage their own supply and demand. “In addition, all E-store partners receive a monthly report, providing details such as spend to date, available stock and deliveries pending so they can make informed decisions quickly. “We also flag when stock items are low so that clients can re-order from the free storage space we create for them in our warehouse, to ensure continuous supply to the front line.”

critical hygiene standards LAUNDRY has always been absolutely central to infection control for the care sector. Furthermore, in order to ensure continuity of service, it is essential to have a reliable service partner in place when needed. Any prolonged machine downtime can have significant operation implications for a care environment, so it is important to have access to a same/next day breakdown response. Home residents deserve the very highest standards and care operators need to source laundry equipment that is both cost and energy efficient whilst meeting the most stringent hygiene standards. Forbes Professional is proud to be Miele‘s national distribution partner. This enables us to offer their new Benchmark machines, which truly set new standards in laundry care. Combining high performance

levels with both user and sustainable efficiency, they effortlessly meet all of the challenges of the care sector’s laundry operations. Optimised and intelligent technology combines with simple connectivity for fast and efficient cycles whilst thermo and chemothermal disinfection enable the critical hygiene control. Forbes offers prospective clients comprehensive site surveys and entirely transparent cost calculations. Our in-house engineers fully install and commission all equipment as well as offering complimentary usertraining. Our ever popular Complete Care rental solution is a more sustainable alternative than outright purchase. It also gives care homes access to our multi-award winning service support at no extra cost for the life of the contract.

19 Advertiser’s announcement

Does your resilient flooring have a hygiene problem? AT BONA we are passionate about finding new innovative solutions in all areas we are involved in and are now able to offer a comprehensive range of sustainable, high-performance products and systems for resilient flooring. We have applied our expertise with coatings and maintenance products to create a totally unique program for caring for and maintaining resilient flooring effectively and with minimum disruption. Our high-quality care programme allows the ongoing maintenance of resilient vinyl, PVC, linoleum, and rubber floors to ensure continual performance, but also allows floors to be transformed when worn or degraded, rather than replaced. In heavy traffic scenarios surfaces can be sealed for additional durability and long-term protection. Floors face a range of challenges; from busy airports to hotel lobbies, which require a pristine appearance, to hospitals and kitchens that demand the highest levels of hygiene. Our simple system allows the professional to tailor a maintenance regime to the specific requirements of each floor. In terms of preserving the life of a floor’s surface, regular cleaning is the key. Bona’s cleaning treatment works effectively without harming the surfaces or the environment. However, over time and with heavy wear and stubborn stains, an occasional deep clean may be necessary. Using the Bona PowerRemove R with the Bona PowerScrubber solves this issue, reviving resilient floors without the inconvenience of disruption due to renovation. Over time, repeated deep cleaning and the heavy trafficking regime may diminish the appearance and quality of the surface. The application of a new protective layer restores the original lustre and prolongs the life of the floor. Safe, quick and easy, Bona’s protective treatment restores floors bringing them back to life rapidly. Prior to the introduction of the protective layer the floor would be subjected to

deep cleaning. Some resilient floors become damaged and heavily worn, often patchy in appearance. Traditionally this would be the point where the floor is replaced. However, with the unique Bona Recoating treatment, vinyl, PVC, linoleum, and rubber floors can be resurfaced quickly. This process can involve a complete transformation of the floor as it can be recoloured, using Bona Pure Colour, before protective layers of a transparent coating, Bona Pure or Pure HD are introduced. By renovating the existing surface rather than replacing it, a lengthy installation period is avoided along with the inconvenience of disposing of the old floor. The Bona Resilient System can also be used for coating new resilient flooring, such as LVT, following installation. The primary difference with LVT compared to other types of resilient flooring, is the fine cracks between adjacent LVT elements. Resilient flooring such as rubber have welds where the sections meet, providing a continuous, sealed surface. This prevents moisture ingress but also renders the surface easier to clean and specifically, prevents microorganisms from occupying these areas of the floor. A renovated floor also means a healthier floor. Renovating ensures that bacteria and microorganisms are eliminated – even those

hiding in joints, scratches, and other hard-toreach areas. Independent testing verified that a smooth, joint-free LVT surface can be created using Bona Deep Clean and Bona Pure, securing a hygienic floor according to the regulations of Technical Rules for Biological Agents (TRBA). We commissioned a study on the use of the Bona Commercial System on LVT flooring – typically used in hospitals and other hygiene sensitive areas. The test was carried out in conjunction with the IFR Institute in Germany. The purpose of the test was to prove that a smooth, joint-free surface, as set out in the rules of the German TRBA standard, can be created by over-coating with Bona Pure. The first step of the test was to install a range of new LVT wood effect flooring. The next step involved dividing the test area into two sections and coating one with Bona Pure, while the other was left untreated. A solution containing fluorescent pigments was then applied daily across the whole floor and cleaned using the Bona PowerScrubber and Bona Deep Clean Solution. Daily contamination with the pigments followed by cleaning was carried out over a period of eight weeks. At the end of the test period, UV lights were used to expose the levels of contamination on each part of the floor. The part of the floor not treated with Bona Pure showed high levels of contamination. The part treated with Bona Pure showed hardly any. To prove the test results further, the LVT planks were removed to examine for signs of contamination below the surface. On the untreated area, a high level of contamination was found below the planks due to penetration through the joints. However, the area treated with Bona Pure showed almost no signs of contamination thanks to its protective layer which seals each joint. With increasing amounts of LVT being installed it is likely that customers are going to be keen to ensure the surface is as clean and hygienic as possible. The Bona Resilient System offers a simple and effective solution, in addition to extending the life of the flooring itself. Call 01908 525 150, email info.uk@bona.com or visit bona.com

Newly appointed manager shares vision for care home THE manager of a £9.5m care home currently under construction in Buckingham has been sharing his vision. Paul Turvey recently took the helm at Lace Hill Manor, a 62-bed private care home designed for residential, nursing and dementia care that is set to open in February. The state-of-the-art home is set to offer large en-suite rooms, some with private patios, lounges, restaurants, communal areas, landscaped gardens and facilities including an orangery, fitness studio, leisure suite, wellness retreat and bar and bistro area. Paul said: “It is going to be an absolutely stunning home designed with superior care at its heart and laden with five-star facilities. “I am so excited to be able to develop the team and shape the services at Lace Hill, embed our vision for a home that offers those living there not only the very best physical environment, but a place where they can live life to the fullest and celebrate their individuality. “I’m not afraid of doing things differently and I want to bring in the latest innovative practices and push the boundaries of what the care sector has to offer.” Formerly a manager at another home within the Maria Mallaband

Paul Turvey will take the helm at Lace Hill Manor when it opens its doors next year. Care Group, Paul brings with him 14 team too, with the creation of two years’ experience in the sector, having dementia care leaders. started out as a care assistant aged 18 “I really want to tackle that stigma and worked his way up to managerial around coming into a care home, positions, including leading a and create an open culture where specialist dementia care community. people are confident in being able to The new home is set to offer up to continue living as the people they are 31 residential dementia care beds to and have always been. meet the need identified locally. “There is also a huge emphasis on Paul added: “We are creating wellbeing, very much in keeping with a stimulating and interactive the new Lifestyle Programme being environment, and investing in the rolled out by MMCG, which centres

on wellbeing of mind, body and soul. “So for example we are already in discussion with practitioners with the aim of offering holistic therapies such as massage and reiki within our wellness retreat.” Other innovations will include the introduction of a concierge role to oversee the arrival of new people into the home, with each admission being treated ‘as a celebration’ says Paul. He also intends to include existing team members and those living in the home in the interview process for new recruits – allowing them the final say on new hires. He added: “Everything at Lace Hill will be led by the people that live and work in the home – they will be involved in every decision, as they should be; this is their home, built around them. “It’s also really important to me that we are integrated into the local community and we will be working with local businesses, charities and groups with the aim of making Lace Hill a community hub.” Lace Hill Manor is also set to create upwards of 70 new jobs, including nursing and care staff, managers and auxiliary staff, and Paul has already begun the recruitment process, beginning with the senior leadership team.

Get 2022 off to a positive start with some new furniture

Working to ensure your property meets current fire regulations IN THE wake of Grenfell Tower and the new Building Safety Bill, passive fire protection is at the forefront of all our minds. Whilst some people are proactively working to be compliant, for many it remains a concern and knowing where to start can be stressful. It is important that you do your due diligence and you seek out trained, competent, third-party accredited companies to work with you and to discuss your needs so you get the right assessment or survey. UK Passive Fire Solutions can help ensure your property meets current regulations, to safeguard peoples’ lives and limit the financial impact of damage to buildings. Holding third-party accreditation with International Fire Consultants and members of Association for Specialist Fire Protection, UK Passive Fire Solutions work closely with respected, certified fire risk assessors and door inspectors and are specialists in working within a live environment, working with you to minimise disruptions to your residents and staff. Once works have been completed, it is

important to protect your investment and maintain your building’s newly installed compartmentation. You must consider and understand how maintenance or installation of new pipes or cables can compromise your passive fire protection. You must also ensure fire doors are inspected to ensure they are not ill-fitting, damaged or poorly maintained. UK Passive Fire Solutions’ ‘Passive Care Compliance Scheme’ works with you to maintain your compliance, inspects your fire doors and advise how to reinstall compartmentation as part of a carefully planned installation/maintenance programme. UK Passive Fire Solutions can also arrange credit terms to spread the cost to ease the pressure on your budget. UK Passive Fire Solutions work with you from start to finish. Call or email today to get more information and receive your information pack. Enquiries: Telephone 01262 469872 or email info@ukpassivefiresolutions.co.uk

WE can all agree that the past couple of years have been very difficult and challenging for care homes, but restrictions are starting to lift, so let’s all make 2022 a more positive one for your staff and residents. A refurbishment, whether large or small, can really help with this, and whatever your budget or desired style, we can assist you. Furniture shouldn’t be bought just from catalogues, we can arrange for a furniture van to visit so you can try the comfort of the chairs, discuss modifications and feel tactile furniture fabrics, many of which are both impervious and antimicrobial. Sample fabrics can then be sent to you, so you can be confident in your final choices. Curtains and blinds can be measured for, and curtain books presented, again with sample fabrics to match in with your existing, or intended new décor. With a range of services covering: n Interior design and dementia design specialism. n Furniture. n Curtains and blinds. n Flooring. n Procurement. n Artwork and signage. n Commercial kitchens/laundries and equipment. n Decorating. n Project management. n Fit-outs.

A positive start for us all here at Access 21 is a move to new offices, we are moving to Cleaveland Mews, 9 Cleaveland Road, Surbiton KT6 4AH on December 7. Our new landline number is 0208 1942221. Sue can be contacted on 07570 407575 and Eda on 07931 580111 or by emailing Sue@ access21ltd.co.uk Alternatively, visit www. access21interiors.co.uk Meanwhile we are attending the following care conferences and it would be wonderful to meet familiar and new faces: n Ashford International Hotel (Simone Weil Ave, Ashford TN24 8UX) – Tuesday November 30. n AFC Bournemouth Football Club, Vitality Stadium (Dean Court, Bournemouth, BH7 7AF) – Wednesday December 1.  Wishing you all a positive and successful 2022.

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Community buries Covid-19 inspired time capsule to share its story A CAMBRIDGESHIRE care and rehab community has buried a time capsule in its grounds that contains items and stories from the coronavirus pandemic – enabling people in 2046 to acknowledge and reflect on a challenging period for the social care sector. Askham Village Community near Doddington recently buried an airtight container filled with items, pictures, and pieces of reflective writing about the last 18 months from members of staff, residents, and their relatives. Arranged by Keren Loxley, who is lead nurse at Askham Hall, more than 40 members of the community gathered to watch the time capsule being buried including current staff, previous staff, residents and three generations of the Giga family, who run the home. She said: “One of my children brought home a yearly scrapbook on the pandemic and it got me thinking of how we could help summarise and reflect on the past 18 months, and it just evolved from there. “It’s an acknowledgment of a time that I hope won’t be repeated during our lifetime. “We invited everyone to include any personal stories or items for those in the future to reflect on and the take up was incredible. “One staff member wrote about what it was like to be pregnant and have a baby during the pandemic,

while a former patient reflected on how she recently returned home following rehab after Covid-19 led to her being put into an induced coma for six weeks – just hours after giving birth to her first child. “Ultimately, we wanted staff, residents, their relatives and even the wider community to share their story, whether that included positive or negative experiences. “It’s important their stories live on and can be shared by future generations in social care, so people can learn from this challenging time for the industry. More importantly, it’s provided a cathartic exercise for

everyone at Askham, and if others in the future can benefit from the capsule in some way too, then that’s a bonus.” The capsule included a photo album with pictures of individuals associated with Askham who passed away during the pandemic, with staff members inserting small snippets detailing their personalities as a way to help people remember them long into the future. Furthermore, to commemorate those who lived and worked through the challenges of the pandemic, items of achievement were also buried including copies of certificates for

accreditations and staff exams/ courses, while newspaper clippings of success stories during the period were also included – serving to give an insight into the care environment of the time. Thank you cards from family members to staff were also added to help those in the future recognise the sacrifices that caregivers made, while other items included PPE such as gloves and masks, lateral flow and PCR tests, and Government documentation on the different measures implemented regarding infection control. Aliyyah-Begum Nasser, director at Askham Village Community, also supplied personal musings on how Covid-19 affected the familyrun business and the dynamics of operating in social care during the period. Marked with a commemorative plaque, the capsule will be dug up and reopened on August 31 2046, where it is hoped many of the people involved in its contents will still be part of the Askham community in some way, so they can reflect and share their experiences with the postpandemic generation. Being marked with a plaque, the burial site of the capsule is visible to all those who live and work in the Askham community, enabling people to walk-by and reflect on the pandemic and the memories stored in the capsule.

Smart Apps approved The benefits of effective and now available communication in care MoveMoreTV is pleased to announce that its Smart Apps have now all been approved and will be available in the respective App Stores to download onto your Smart TVs. With fantastic content now available to all care and residential properties, your residents can have immediate access to tailored content to get them active once again. According to the NHS, physical activity and exercise can help you stay healthy, energetic and independent as you get older. Many adults aged 65 and over spend, on average, 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down, making them the most sedentary age group. They’re paying a high price for their inactivity, with higher rates of falls, obesity, heart disease and early death compared with the general population. As you get older, it becomes even more important to remain active if you want to stay healthy and maintain your independence. If you do not stay active, all the things you’ve always enjoyed doing and taken for granted may start to become that little bit harder. You may struggle to pursue simple pleasures, such as playing with the grandchildren, walking to the shops, leisure activities and meeting up

with friends. You might start to get aches and pains you never had before and have less energy to go out. You may also be more vulnerable to falling. This can all lead to being less able to look after yourself and do the things you enjoy.

Strong evidence There’s strong evidence that people who are active have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, depression and dementia. If you want to stay pain-free, reduce your risk of mental illness, and be able to go out and stay independent well into old age, you’re advised to keep moving. Recent evidence suggests that regular exercise can reduce the risk of falling in older adults.It’s that simple. There are lots of ways you can get active, and it’s not just about exercising. “As people get older and their bodies decline in function, physical activity helps to slow that decline,” said Dr Nick Cavill, a healthpromotion consultant. “It’s important they remain active or even increase their activity as they get older. “Physical activity and exercise can help you stay healthy, energetic and independent as you get older.”

IF someone in your workplace – either a resident or colleague – has different communication needs due to age, experience, confidence or a condition, finding an effective style that works for them will help them feel understood and valued. Good communication demonstrates respect and allows the most vulnerable in our society to maintain dignity and independence. Asking someone how they would prefer to be addressed is a great way to show interest and establish a friendly tone from the very start of a relationship. Giving clear information is always appreciated no matter who you are speaking to. But for residents especially, understanding and feeling connected to the support and care you will be providing can help them gain the confidence to open up about themselves. This is essential for carrying out a care assessment, which at its foundation is a communication tool. Having a resident who is apprehensive about discussing certain details may result in an ineffective care plan, which wastes precious time and resources. Getting to know your residents better can support you in making informed decisions about their care. Understanding their likes, dislikes and personalities and how this all fits in to the service you provide will

help them feel more comfortable throughout the day and ultimately more satisfied with their lifestyle. Recording their preferences and moods is essential to evidence what works well and what didn’t work, and so other care workers meeting a resident for the first time can start their relationships on the right path. Documenting your residents’ preferences may include writing down how they like to be addressed, what interests they have, their routine and any notes detailing how a resident chooses to communicate. Regulatory bodies will look for this type of information during an inspection to establish the level of care, response and effectiveness you provide. It’s important to always be respectful and aware of confidentiality – one slip up can set your progress back and hurt your trust. The above text is an excerpt from our Importance of Effective Communication in Care ebook, covering the basics of effective communication, the benefits it can bring to a care environment, different communication techniques and skills to develop, top tips, common mistakes and how technology can assist. Visit www.caredocs.co.uk/ resources-and-guides/ebooks/ to download your free copy.

23 Advertiser’s announcement

Elmfield Care chooses Duplex ELMFIELD Care is a small, privatelyowned company providing the highest standards of residential, dementia and respite care, together with first-class hospitality, in purpose-built, luxury care homes. Their one goal is to look after their residents in the best way possible so that they can live a happy and fulfilled life in five star luxury. They take pride in their outstanding levels of care and service and their homes are Covid-secure. CEO Chris Babington said: “When it comes to maintaining standards of cleaning and hygiene, choosing the Duplex 340 Steam floor cleaning machine was never a difficult choice. “It offers the performance and efficiency we require – not to mention the suburb build quality and chemical free capabilities that steam offers enabling us to clean and sanitise our home in one simple process and its ability to clean both carpets and hard floors makes it a truly versatile machine.” Elmfield also chose the Duplex Atomiser which is a fast and efficient method of sanitising hard to reach surfaces and areas thereby having a ‘belt and braces’ approach to full area cleaning. This three-jet atomiser is perfect for use after the main clean has been carried out and combined with Hydrosan sanitising solution, it enables the operator to thoroughly disinfect any inaccessible parts of a room including

windows, doors, door-handles, walls, furniture, bathrooms, kitchen surfaces and cupboards to name but a few. Chris added: “The atomisers assist us in sanitising rooms and lifts quickly and effectively thereby helping to keep our homes safe.” Elmfield’ s Old Sarum Manor opened in Salisbury in the spring of 2021 and the Duplex cleaning equipment installed there created such a good impression that it was also chosen for their new site in Chippenham, Flowers Manor, where Duplex central area business development manager Neil Anthony carried out another successful installation and training session recently. Duplex prides itself on the training it provides and a fully certificated session is included with each machine to enable users to get the very best out of their investment. The new site offers the same high standards of care together with suburb living accommodation and all the facilities you would expect from Elmfield. Their brilliant staff are hand picked based on their compassion and values, often with the help of their residents and extensive training is provided to help them deliver the best care possible. Resident well-being is their number one priority and together with regular deep-cleaning, whole home testing, safe visiting and wearing PPE and with all staff vaccinated against Covid, their residents can feel safe and happy.

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Advertiser’s announcement

ISO 9001:2015 certification within the health and care sectors THE health and care sector has endured a torrid time both during and following the pandemic. The challenges presented means that organisations have had to adapt and manage theirs risks. Now could be the time to formalise processes and evolve your business by achieving certification to an appropriate ISO Standard such as ISO 9001:2015 quality management System. ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognised quality management system that has huge benefits within the health and care sectors. By achieving a third-party certification, management are showing their commitment to continual improvement. It helps you define, establish and maintain an effective management system, which assists your management team to control risks and maintain compliance. Implementing systems such as the ISO 9001:2015 will help you achieve continual improvement, reduce costs and raise service user, customer and staff confidence and satisfaction by enhancing your ability to meet the standards required in the health and care industries.

There are many more standards that would apply to your industry, such as ISO 45001:2018. The internationally recognised health and safety management system, which helps to identify the health and safety risks associated with your operations and mitigate their impact. Through the consultation and participation of workers and contractors, your customers and service users are confident in your ability to deliver the care they require. Consideration should also be given to achieving the ISO 22301:2019 which relates to business continuity management. This standard can plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review,

maintain and continually improve a documented management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of occurrence, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents when they arise. Through implementation of ISO 22301:2019 you can demonstrate your resilience as a business. CQS (Certified Quality Systems) Ltd has traded for more than 20 years within the certification industry, issuing thousands of certifications by assisting businesses in the assessment and certification to these standards. Our team of experienced business consultants take a practical down to earth approach ensuring certification is achieved simply and efficiently.

Our clients are varied and are involved in all types of business activities including healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, construction, IT, distribution and other services. Our mission is to provide businesses with a professional, affordable service to a realistic timescale in order for them to meet their objectives without the need for extensive internal resource commitment. We achieve this by utilising our highly trained and experienced staff to translate the standard and deliver a practical system in plain English. We always ensure our clients are our top priority and that they are treated with professionalism and courtesy at all times.

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Advertiser’s announcement

Intercall One series launched at Care Show INTERCALL, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of nurse call systems, launched its new One nurse call series at the recent Care Show in Birmingham. Duncan Lade, Intercall’s business development manager, was impressed with the success of the event, and the positive reception given to the new range. All the Intercall staff at the show enjoyed finally being able to demonstrate the stylish new system in person. Intercall One is a modern call system created for the digital age that helps address mobility concerns and reduce alarm fatigue for carers with full call logging facilities to meet CQC requirements. Simple to install, the One is a great upgrade option to replace older systems with a minimum of disruption, utilising existing infrastructure where possible. As part of Intercall’s ongoing research and development, the system was trialled at various sites across the UK. One such site being Sutton Court Residential Home in Nottingham. Part of the Ashmere group, Sutton Court was built in 1998 to accommodate 59 people over two floors. The original system had served them well but was starting to fail, spare parts were proving increasingly difficult to source and becoming costly, as was finding engineers with suitable knowledge to maintain the system. They’d reached a tipping point where installing a new system became the more economic option. With Intercall 600 installed in their other homes, facilities manager Adam Sharpe was keen to stay with a wired solution, persuaded by his trouble-free experiences of working with Intercall systems. Adam contacted Intercall initially asking about the Touch system and requested an online demo. During the demo, as Adam explained his needs, it became clear that Sutton Court was an obvious candidate to be a trial site for Intercall One.

The fact that the existing cabling could be reused was also a massive positive for Adam and Sutton Court. Intercall introduced a local installation partner to perform a site survey, who was equally as excited to be involved in the new product range. Installation works were completed within a week. Initially both the old and new systems had to be supported while the old system was gradually phased out. The installation company found the new Intercall

One equipment easy to work with, as well as providing a familiar level of excellence; the project involved installing 100 call points and nearly as many over door lights around the facility. Staff at Sutton Court quickly adjusted to the new Intercall system, preferring the simple yet informative system operation. Facilities manager Adam is delighted to be one of the first UK trial sites, and Intercall is equally pleased with the outcome and the learnings taken from the project.

This is the One. Intercall One builds on the platform of our bestselling legacy systems, providing a modern, affordable call system created for the digital age. Visit one.intercall.co.uk to discover how to simply upgrade your nurse call system.

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CARINGTECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Virtual technology brings beach day to care home CHERRY Trees Care Home in Rotherham put a positive spin on its daily activities schedule and surprised residents with an indoor beach day, with the help of a new interactive gadget. Thanks to the team’s ongoing commitment to fundraising, and the generous donations that they have received from the local community, the home was able to invest in a large flatscreen mobile tablet, which can be used independently or for group activities. The easily adjustable, userfriendly device provides a variety of fun activities such as quizzes, colouring, virtual concerts, and can also be used to connect residents with their loved ones via virtual communication platforms. After being introduced to their latest gadget, residents reminisced about their childhood days, when they would visit Blackpool with their family, by taking a virtual walk through the streets of the popular holiday destination. Home manager Sharron Whaley said: “Everyone had a lovely day and it was amazing to revisit memories with our residents. “The interactive table was a big hit and the device is clearly having a positive impact on residents’ moods and their relationships with care staff, friends and family.

A resident using the interactive table at Cherry Trees Care Home. “We’d like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing gift to our home.” The table, which can be easily positioned to suit individual needs, proved to be especially beneficial for residents with dementia as seeing sights from their younger years provided them with a sense of familiarity and comfort. The day was packed with fun activities such as sandcastle building with buckets, spades and seaside wind toys. To finish off the day, everyone enjoyed a delicious fish and chips dinner, followed by dessert supplied by the local ice cream van ‘Steve’s Whippy’.

Products designed to activate, stimulate and engage people OM Interactive have been pioneers in the design, development and manufacture of motion-activated interactive projections for multi-sensory use since 2005. Their unique range of sensory products, designed and manufactured in the UK, have been designed to activate, stimulate and engage people of all ages and ability levels. The core products in the current OMi range are; omiVista Install, which is a fixed projector system and omiVista Mobii which is a mobile projector system – also known as the ‘Mobii Magic Table. Projecting onto tables, beds, floors and more – the Mobii is a winner of the UK Dementia Congress Outstanding Dementia Care Product 2018, and others. “We are delighted with the impact the Mobii system is having on our residents living with dementia, their families and our team members,” said Jackie Pool, director of

memory care and programming at Sunrise Senior Living. “The interactive nature, the great variety of activities combined with the ability to move the Mobii to those who are less mobile makes it a truly person-centred resource.” The omiVista Mobii interactive projector system was subject to independent research conducted by Care Research which has shown benefits in the areas of; encouraging movement, social interaction, emotional wellbeing, reminiscence and nostalgia, sensory responses and interactions, supporting those with dementia. Available for under £7 a day, find out more about Omi’s Interactive sensory projectors for tables floors and other surfaces at www. omi.uk/care/ Enquiries: Call 01442 215 555 or email info@omi.uk

Advertiser’s announcement

Working hard to make it business as usual for you SURPRISES from the Covid calamity continue to create chaos in the economy. The Covid storm is now presenting very real supply chain challenges for everyone and this really is not business as usual: n A shortage of drivers and workers in general means deliveries will be bumpy. If a driver does not turn up for work, there are no reserves and most companies are short anyway and yet over promise and under deliver. n Covid outbreaks are happening and that can leave for example, depot teams struggling to work at even half the normal capacity. n Container prices from the Far East remain at record high levels of up to £20,000 that can mean that goods can cost two or three times more than they used to if you can get space on a boat. n UK producers are working flat out and facing supply restrictions, labour restrictions and price increases. The knock-on effects are huge. n Supplier lead times can jump from weeks to months in the space of days. Sadly, like Covid, few people/ companies are immune and despite much bravado, even the mighty can have trouble. Behind the scenes Behind the scenes, Gompels is working hard to mitigate the worst effects. You know you have the right supplier when: n They are insisting on masks for all employees at work to minimise the

risk of having an outbreak. Pickers walking 15km per day in a mask are making a real sacrifice in the name of continuity. n Stock holdings are running at three times the normal level so that we have the greatest possible chance of being able to bridge gaps in supplies arriving. n Plans are in place to shut the website to new customers so that existing customers can be protected and kept well supplied. n Three delivery partners are used every day so we can pull on their strengths and send freight out with greater reliability. n The purchasing team has been able to switch major lines from Chinese sourcing to UK/European sources so that there are no supply interruptions. n There is the option for you to have a stock reserve facility so that you can “put your name on our stock” and be sure that it is available for when you need it. n There is openness and honesty about the problems we face. Going forward Our expectation is that the situation will not ease until at least Spring next year. There are the pleasures of Christmas and Chinese New Year to get through. A high percentage of products that you buy are either made in the Far East or have a component not made in the UK. That exposes everyone to the trouble in world trade and “post” Covid recovery Britain.

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New care home to create 65 jobs DROITWICH Spa’s newest care home Woodland View is recruiting for up to 65 team members ahead of its launch later this year. Positions available include care management, care assistants and kitchen and domestic staff. The new team will complete a thorough induction period before the home opens when they will provide residential and dementia care for up to 66 residents. Head of development and engagement Sarah Colling said, “It is a great time to join the Ideal Carehomes family and even to start a career in social care if you are new to the sector. “Over the course of the pandemic the media has really shone a light on how amazing care workers are, and it is wonderful to see them get the recognition they deserve. “We have unique training and development initiatives through our

The caring staff team will be focussed on creating a welcoming and fulfilling lifestyle for the people who live at Woodland View via their round-the-clock support, regular and varied activities, healthy and nutritious food and laundry and housekeeping service. Staff will have access to some of the most innovative and supportive care technology in the industry and will be provided with a recently updated uniform, offered in a range of colours determined by job role, as well as all the PPE they require. Ideal Carehomes will also facilitate the Covid-19 vaccine for any new members of staff who have not yet received the jab. Staff will also beinvited to an awards gala, which sees thousands of nominations recognising those who have consistently gone the extra mile to make a difference to the lives of others.

An artist’s impression of Woodland View in Droitwich Spa. Ideal Academy, including industryprogress for the right people.” leading training, career progression Woodland View, which has opportunities via a range of learning benefitted from a £12m investment, resources such as e-learning and will be provider Ideal Carehomes’ specialist workshops. We have 26th home and boasts a cinema, recently launched our ‘future a botanical room leading onto managers’ training programme – landscaped gardens, a tea shop with there are always opportunities to balcony, beauty parlour and Sky Bar.

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Manager completes Parkinson’s course to improve offering New group obsessed with making people feel special PRINCIPLE Care Homes is to launch its first homes in Fleet and Chelmsford. Opening in Spring 2023, Heron Manor in Fleet will be the flagship care home for Principle, a new entrant to the sector, with the 139bed home in Chelmsford to follow shortly after along with other sites already secured as part of a steady growth plan. Essex-based Principle has been founded by brother and sister team Ashish and Nisha Goyal, who cut their teeth in their family business, another leading care provider. Heron Manor will provide residential and dementia care and will feature a hydrotherapy pool, exercise studio and physiotherapy suite. However, Ashish said: “It seems obvious to say we’ll focus on the care and our team – a given for most operators. “But for us, getting those two

elements right is key to providing safe and happy homes for our future residents. “Fancy facilities have fast become the norm and it’s been great to see care businesses push the boundaries over the years. “But the vast research we’ve conducted shows that residents and their families, now more than ever in a post-pandemic world, crave reassurance and guidance more than they do a cinema or the feeling of living in a hotel, for example. “We’re focussed on creating homes where everybody; team, residents and their loved ones, feels truly special”. Em Dean, ex-Sunrise and Gracewell Healthcare, has been brought in to head-up operations, while one of the group’s earliest appointments was Subhaan Iqbal as head of systems, tasked with digitising the business from the very beginning, from care enquiry to delivery.

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE based home care group has enrolled a member of staff on a training programme designed to assist clients living with Parkinson’s. Respectful Care enrolled its regional training manager Adam Clements in an intensive training programme dedicated to assisting those living with the disease. Helping care staff understand the day-to-day challenges of people living with Parkinson’s, the course highlighted the importance of delivering tailored care and the best methods for helping with tasks such as eating, drinking and mobility – all of which are more difficult. Furthermore, the course highlighted the importance of enabling people living with Parkinson’s to feel safe and comfortable at home. Adam said: “Parkinson’s Disease is one of the health conditions that we have had a lot of feedback from staff on in the past. “Our care staff have been passionate to learn more about this condition with an overriding desire to develop, and this course has given exactly that. “I was astonished to learn just how many people in the UK are affected by Parkinson’s Disease – one in 500. I also discovered that a lot more younger people are being affected. “I was taken aback by the numbers as the condition is a lot more prevalent than I had thought originally.

Adam Clements “We look after several clients living with Parkinson’s Disease. “We, as a team, must be well informed to ensure we are providing high quality and personcentred care to customers living with the condition. “As we also offer training and advice to family and friends of clients living with specific health conditions, our improved knowledge can be used to enhance this further so that everyone feels adequately supported.” As an accredited trainer, Adam can now deliver the course to colleagues across the Respectful Care group. The group’s ultimate aim is to equip all staff with improved Parkinson’s knowledge, which can be utilised during care delivery and shared with families and significant others.

Flats are worth writing home about THE FIRST wave of delighted customers have moved into affordable new homes in St Andrews – in a luxury block inspired by legendary author Enid Blyton. The 30 apartments in Malory House are one and two-bedroom homes and, under a pioneering project, are being split 50-50 with priority cases from Fife Council’s housing waiting list. Now Bield Housing and Care believes the homes, which are earmarked for people over 60, will free up other properties across the area, easing congested waiting lists and benefitting younger families as well. Dr Lynne Douglas, chief executive of Bield, said: “St Andrews is one of the finest places to live in Scotland. “That is brilliant for those lucky enough to call the town their home, but it does place great strain on the availability of affordable housing in the area. “We are absolutely thrilled that we can help to address the shortage of one and two-bedroom homes through this innovative partnership with the council.” Malory House is named after the Malory Towers books by children’s author Enid Blyton. Although her books are set in an

English boarding school, the castlelike building she described was widely believed to have been inspired by nearby St Leonards School in St Andrews. Malory House was constructed as part of Bield’s The Walled Gardens, a development of 78 luxury one and two-bedroom retirement apartments. Bield took the radical decision to offer the 30 homes for social rent. Half of the flats have been offered

to Fife Council’s housing department for letting to council tenants aged over 60. Lynne added: “Fife Council has been an absolute trailblazer for building new council homes and promoting other affordable options. “Despite those efforts there are simply not enough affordable homes to meet demand in St Andrews. “It is likely that many of those people moving into their new homes

in Malory House will be downsizing from bigger properties – and that should free up those council homes or social rent properties. “That eases pressure further down the housing chain, hopefully meaning young families will be able to find affordable homes in the town, rather than being forced to move out of the area.” The smart partnership with Bield is now part of Fife Council’s ambitious Affordable Housing Programme that is increasing the number of affordable houses. Between 2012-17 the local authority delivered 1,700 new council homes across Fife. It is on course to deliver a further 3,500 new affordable homes by 2022 and, in late June, the council approved proposals to build 1,200 more council houses between 2022 and 2024. Malory House comprises three two-bedroom flats and 27 one-bed apartments. Each of the spacious, high-spec homes boast light and airy rooms, stylish kitchens and bathrooms. Each flat has a video door entry system and secure front doors and double-glazed windows. Every flat can be accessed by a lift servicing all floors.

Apprentices key to filling gap in health and social care workforce

By Jason Whitehouse

EVEN before the pandemic hit, it was clear to see there weren’t enough people working in the health and social care sector. Skills for Care workforce estimated that in 2019/20 there were around 112,000 vacancies and Covid-19 has put further strain on staffing, with people having to self-isolate and only being able to work in one location to limit the spread of the virus. There is also no doubt in my mind that some workers are leaving the industry for jobs they perceive to provide better financial and career opportunities. I’ve heard instances where people working in our sector have considered retail jobs as an attractive option because of improving pay and fewer responsibilities in those types of roles. Then there’s the issue of Brexit. The UK care sector has been reliant on European workers for decades but migration restrictions has forced many people to return to their native countries. In order to turn the tide, workforce reform is essential and must happen now. We need to see better pay, as

Jason Whitehouse well as more extensive training and development opportunities to compete with other sectors and deliver the care needed. It’s vital that we make the health and social care sector appealing again and ensure that young people are fully trained so they have the best opportunity to have rewarding careers. A recent survey has found that nearly half of social care employers are currently operating with or below the bare minimum of skills required to run operations successfully. The Open University research found significant skills shortages, with 10 per cent of respondents

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reporting they lacked vital skills to run their operations successfully, and a further 34 per cent saying they had the bare minimum of skills required among their teams. This shows that we need a long-term plan that focuses on investing in employees and creating opportunities. I believe apprenticeship schemes as well as training and development programmes can help provide a natural career path to those who are new to the sector. From a business point of view, it makes sense for health and social care settings to take advantage of the current support available to them. The worst case scenario is that 95 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship training is funded by the government and, for larger organisations, it can be completely subsidised by the apprenticeship levy. The most exciting thing about our sector is that there’s a fast progression route with five different level courses that enables ambitious individuals to progress and develop quickly. At Realise our team of expert trainers help engage and motivate existing staff and new recruits

through our quality work-based learning programmes, from Prepare to Work in Adult Social Care Level 1 through to Leader in Adult Care Level 5. These qualifications can offer a lot of different career options as well, such as mental health nursing, community nursing and counselling. The hard work can’t stop there though. Once apprenticeships are completed it’s crucial that staff are appreciated and rewarded with a competitive level of pay so that we keep pace with other sectors. As well as keeping people in their current jobs, we need to encourage and inspire a new generation so that we have a continuous stream of talented workers coming through. We can’t afford to wait any longer because it’s clear the sector needs support and I think these recommendations will tackle the most significant challenges currently facing the health and social care workforce. n Jason Whitehouse is head of health and social care at Realise, a training provider delivering apprenticeships, adult learning and development programmes across the country.

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Moorlands Residential Home, Somerset - Reg 16

DC Care is delighted to announce the recent successful sale of Moorlands Residential Home, a Grade II listed property located in the village of Merriott in Somerset, providing residential care for a maximum of 16 residents. 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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Manager of dementia care home is praised by CQC for her clear vision A REPORT published by the Care Quality Commission following an unannounced inspection of Avalon in Bridgwater officially concludes that the nursing home provides a ‘Good’ level of service across the board, and highlights the contribution made by service manager Jess Hawker. Paul Teasdale, director of the Camelot Care group, of which Avalon is part, said: “We are delighted by the commendations given to the CQC by residents, families and members of staff, which demonstrate so well what a fantastic job Jess and her team are doing, and reflect the positive impact of the care they provide on the lives of our residents. “One family member told the inspectors they believe their relative is in the best place because he gets the care he needs and is treated with respect from the staff. “They added that they cannot fault the Avalon team on how they deal with their loved one. “You can’t say better than that.” Inspectors noted that Jess had a clear vision for the service and had told them that the Avalon ethos is about creating a holistic approach to dementia and nursing care. She also said the service was proud not to have used agency staff since the previous year, and that they did not admit new residents if their needs could not be met by the existing staff

Jess Hawker and the team at Avalon care home in Bridgwater. team. empowering, and which achieves Jess added: “The staff deserve great good outcomes for residents. acknowledgement for their efforts, It also detailed how she ensures that and I am extremely proud of them. residents, families and staff alike are “I believe it’s really important they all engaged with making decisions should know how much they are and driving improvement in the appreciated, so we’ve introduced service, and that Jess implemented some new initiatives, including an action plans to ensure changes were ‘awards board’ and ‘employee of the made effectively and in a timely way. month’ reward scheme to celebrate Feedback from staff showed they staff achievement and dedication.” were confident about empowering The report described how Jess residents to make their own choices promotes a positive culture that is and take risks. person-centred, open, inclusive and They told inspectors that they

support people to live their lives in the least restrictive way. They also told the inspectors they were provided with opportunities to learn and progress. And relatives commented that Jess had impressed them all with her leadership and approachability. The report noted that the various cultures of the Avalon staff team are celebrated, for example with a display in the lounge describing the heritage and education of various members of the team and how they had achieved their qualifications. Jess added: “One of the things that really pleased me was the inspectors’ acknowledgement that our staff care for people like they would their own relatives. “And they recorded that staff were observed adjusting their approach to suit people’s individual personalities, giving special mention to a colleague who sat with one of the residents, speaking calmly and intermittently. “This was because they’d taken the trouble to understand them and connect at the right level. The individual’s relative told the inspectors that this resident would get fed up with too much chatter. “I am incredibly proud of the way my team pull together and the level of service they provide, and it’s simply wonderful to receive the official endorsement of this report.”

Provider offers welcome Operator becomes first bonus to new recruits in Wales to establish A CAMBRIDGE care provider – the only one in the county to be accredited to the Living Wage Foundation – has issued an urgent appeal for 10 members of staff and is offering a cash bonus to new recruits. Eaton Homecare is looking for full and part-time staff and is offering a welcome bonus of up to £1,000 to successful applicants. Director of operations Caroline Freeman said: “There’s never been a greater demand for our services but unfortunately we simply can’t find carers to fill the roles, no matter how hard we try. “We are not alone. This is a nationwide staffing crisis. “Our sector has always been under-staffed and we consistently struggle to recruit. “However, Brexit and Covid-19 have further impacted on the care industry, meaning it is even more difficult to fill positions. “That is why we are offering an increased bonus to anyone who joins our team. “We also ensure our staff are paid a higher rate of pay for all the time they are on duty, not just the time they are delivering care.” Training and uniform will also be provided for the roles and no experience in the care sector is necessary. Duties include preparing meals for elderly clients, providing personal

Admiral Nurse service

Caroline Freeman care and companionship, and help with medication. These roles would suit those either looking to follow a new career path or a retiree who wants to work in a caring environment. Caroline added: “Our staff provide a vital and rewarding role, helping to keep people out of hospital and enjoy a level of independence in their own homes, relieving pressure on the NHS in doing so.” The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of the independent movement that campaigns for the idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. It celebrates and recognises the leadership of responsible employers who choose to go further and pay a real living wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

A GWYNEDD care home group has been granted permission by a dementia organisation to establish an all-inclusive support service to those living with the condition and their families, the first such scheme within nursing homes in Wales. Meddyg Care, which operates two specialist dementia homes in Criccieth and Porthmadog, has been given approval by national charity Dementia UK to employ an Admiral nurse. The position covers three main disciplines which aim to further assist the work carried out by traditional carers. Admiral nurses offer comprehensive and focused knowledge to help families and those living with dementia through all stages of the disease, as well as additional backing and care for cases with extra complexities. The role also supports the best practices of carers and staff to ensure a high standard of care is achieved on a daily basis. Dementia UK manages the implementation of the role within homes and regions. There are less than 300 admiral nurses within England and Wales, with none located in north Wales. In addition, Meddyg Care’s Admiral nurse will be just the fourth in Wales, and the first situated within a care

home, with the others currently within regional health boards and the Royal British Legion. Meddyg Care managing director Kevin Edwards said: “The appointment of an Admiral nurse is not just a big step forward for Meddyg Care, but also a significant progression in dementia care quality across all of north Wales. “Providing access to high-level care and support to not only our residents, but also their loved ones is one of our core principals, and we are thrilled to continue to strive towards that goal by establishing this service. “Our work can only be boosted by sitting at the forefront of knowledge and skill provision when it comes to caring for those living with dementia, and the support arising from this new role will be of major benefit to all of our staff.” Meddyg Care’s Admiral nurse will provide support from pre-admission to the care home and through any transitions in care including the end of life and post-bereavement. Alongside the care homes’ continual training and development of staff, admiral nurses will also have access to further clinical supervision and professional development. Recruitment for the position at Meddyg Care is due to begin in the near future.

35 Claire Selby has joined Wellbeing Care’s The Dell Care Home near Lowestoft as its new service manager. With a professional background centralised in care, Claire kick-started her career in 2005 and has accumulated a wealth of experience since. Having worked in managerial positions at multiple care homes, she hopes to utilise her caring nature and experience to take The Dell from strength to strength. From working throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and experiencing first-hand the difficulties caused by staff shortages, isolation and unwell residents, Claire hopes to ensure continued best practices in care delivery post-pandemic. The Dell provides residential, dementia and respite care for to up to 40 people in a homely environment. It offers both day care and supported living services. Belong has recruited its newest general manager internally, appointing Cheryl Davies to lead its CQC Outstanding-rated Crewe care village. Formerly support manager at Belong Macclesfield, Cheryl has more than 27 years’ experience in a range of care sector roles. Her career with Belong spans over a decade, from when she joined as registered manager of its home care service, Belong at Home, which she helped establish in 2010. Operating officer Stacey McCann said: “Cheryl’s perspectives on driving standards of care at multiple villages make her ideally qualified to be a general manager. Her background, including helping to found Belong’s award-winning homecare service, also gives her a particular understanding of many customers’ journeys, which often involve deciding to move to a Belong village after requiring domiciliary care.”

The Abbeyfield Society has announced the appointment of Paul Tennant as its new chief executive officer. Paul joins from The Law Society where he has served as chief executive for the past five years. During his time with The Law Society, Paul led the organisation through a process of modernisation, reducing the cost of the Society to its members and supporting staff and members through the pandemic. His new role sees him making a return to the housing sector, where he spent the majority of his career to date. Paul was formerly president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and received an OBE in 2016 for services to Housing. Paul’s credentials include leading property management and development companies, working with housing associations, charities, communities, Government and local authorities, funders and property developers. He was formerly president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and received an OBE in 2016 for services to Housing. He will join The Abbeyfield Society from January. Harrogate-based Vida Healthcare has appointed Victoria Edwards as home manager of its state-of-the-art care home Vida Grange in Pannal. Victoria will be responsible for the day-today management of the home, which includes ensuring those who live at Vida Grange receive the highest standards of care, delivered with dignity and respect. She will lead a team of 250. Victoria brings with her a wealth of experience, having worked in adult social care since 2007. She previously carried out roles including regional hospitality specialist, general manager and senior general manager at Barchester Healthcare, where she was responsible for commissioning and running a group of 60 homes. Victoria also has a Masters in Business Management and in 2017 she was recognised as outstanding in the caring domain by the CQC.

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Bank launches specialist commercial mortgages for care home market ALLICA Bank has launched new specialist commercial mortgages for care homes run by independent or small group operators. The bank says that the SME care home market is drastically underserved, with smaller firms often struggling to get finance compared to larger operators with multiple locations. Allica Bank will focus specifically on those operators, such as those looking to acquire their first care home, single home operators looking to expand into second or third homes, or those acquiring other operators to grow their portfolio. Nick Baker, managing director of intermediaries, said: “The elderly care sector has had a difficult two years. “However, the SME care market was underserved long before Covid-19, with many lenders having pulled out of the space in recent years. “There is a real opportunity for Allica to support these underserved businesses by offering the level of tailoring and understanding needed to properly support their growth ambitions in what is an increasingly in-demand market. “Many care home operators are

Adam Breakspear keen to grow their businesses and expand their offering, and we’re excited to be able to offer the funding they need to take that next step and support this vital market in the United Kingdom.” To spearhead this expansion, Allica Bank has hired two healthcare lending specialists, Anthony Newman and Adam Breakspear. With years of experience supporting care operators, they will be able to

Anthony Newman provide tailored expertise to brokers and their clients on issues unique to their sector, such as ethics and regulatory compliance, staffing challenges and occupancy levels. Anthony, formerly of Allied Irish Bank and Coutts Commercial Banking, has joined the bank as a specialist relationship manager, said: “The elderly care sector is dominated by a number of big operators, often meaning smaller operators struggle

to get a foot in the door when looking for access to funding. “We will be focused specifically on those operators that have been providing fantastic care to their local communities, and new entrants to the market who have the skills and passion to provide care to the elderly. “We understand that no two care home operators are the same. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we will tailor our offering based on an operator’s business plan and proposal. “By working with their specialist relationship manager, we hope to guide every client quickly through their application to ensure we can help them continue to care for those people that need it most.” Anthony will be supported by Adam Breakspear, who joins from Allied Irish Bank. He added: “We have a deep understanding of the sector, which is so critical in this complex industry. “This, combined with extensive SME experience and a genuine passion for empowering them to succeed, means we are extremely well-placed to support our brokers and their care home clients.”

£250,000 available to providers investing in apprenticeships

First residents move in to housing development THE doors have opened on a new £10m purpose-built housing development designed specifically for people over the age of 55 with a current or future care need. Eller Beck Court in Skipton comprises 58 one-and-twobedroom apartments which are available for social rent and shared ownership for older people of modest means. The scheme has been delivered by Housing 21 in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and Craven District Council. It has been designed to enable people to live independently with access to on-site communal facilities and a 24/7 Care Team provided by Catholic Care. Claire Charlton, head of extra care at Housing 21, said: “After two-anda-half years of construction we are delighted to finally open the doors to Eller Beck Court and welcome our first residents. “As an extra care scheme, this development has been purposefully designed to enable people to live independently with the reassurance

of an on-site care team to meet any current or future needs, whether it is planned or in an emergency. “Our stylish and modern apartments offer people choice to enjoy the privacy of their own home as well as opportunities to socialise using the accessible communal facilities including a café/ bistro, hair salon, lounge and gardens.” There are 29 apartments available for purchase through a shared ownership scheme, with share options ranging from 25 per cent to 75 per cent. The remaining 29 apartments are available for social rent, ranging from £109.06 per week for a one-bedroom apartment or from £129.51 per week for a twobedroom apartment. Housing benefit is accepted, subject to eligibility. Each apartment includes a digital call system which will allow residents to video call the scheme manager and residents from the comfort of their own home while an on-site care team will be able to deliver personalised care as required.

THE Access Group has made £250,000 available for care providers to invest in apprenticeships and training. With Skills for Care warning that the adult social care sector needs to fill around 112,000 job vacancies on any given day, The Access Group has partnered with apprenticeship and vocational training provider Impact Futures to offer ring-fenced funding to its clients which includes more than 10,000 registered UK care providers. Steve Sawyer, managing director of The Access Group’s health and social care division, said: “The recent announcement of additional funding for the health and social care sector is a welcome development, but it is no secret that employers in the health and social care sector have a huge challenge in recruiting, retaining and upskilling staff to deliver the highest possible standards of care. “It is because of this that we wanted to give something back to the sector and support operators up and down the country with further resources to attract and retain a new generation of care workers and to upskill their existing workforce in partnership with Impact Futures.” Operators can use this funding with Impact Futures, who will deliver the training to upskill existing staff or introduce new employees through its free apprenticeship recruitment service. The funds, generated from unspent

Steve Sawyer

contributions from The Access Group to the apprenticeship levy, will be available on a first come, first served basis, so any applicants are encouraged to act fast. To spread the benefits as widely as possible, care organisations can apply for funding for a maximum of two employees each. Guy Helman, CEO of Impact Futures, added: “Working with employer partners such as The Access Group, we’re able to provide amazing opportunities to health and social care businesses that need to recruit and upskill their workforce like never before. “The ability to transfer apprenticeship levy funds to these employers will be vital in the UK’s economic recovery from both the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit – both of which have hit staffing and retention in the healthcare sector hard.”

Provider embarks on its biggest project A SCOTTISH care home operator will invest up to £10m with the launch of a landmark 60-bed facility – a move that will be its biggest project to date. Mansfield Care’s new development in Haddington will also be combined with a nursery catering for up to 60 children aged five and below. As part of the firm’s ambitious growth plans, the twin development is likely to create up to 100 new jobs, and is estimated to provide around £2m for the local economy each year. Mansfield Care operates 11 care homes across Edinburgh Borders and west of Scotland, with a focus on providing bespoke care to an exceptional standard with state-ofthe-art facilities. The building – set for completion in March 2023 – will be the first fully compliant care home for older people in East Lothian to meet the Care Inspectorate’s vision for the future design of care homes. Mansfield Care founder Andrew Hume said: “This is our most ambitious and exciting project to date and is set to be of huge benefit to the

local community. “We have been diligent in our planning to provide the best possible care facilities that are in line with current and emerging guidelines around small scale living. “It is our largest undertaking to date and will be our first purpose-builtfrom-scratch care home. “It presents an exciting opportunity for us, and importantly will provide the people who require this service in Haddington and in the surrounding area.” Following the company’s traditions of investing in small, friendly residential care homes, the facility will be split into six separate 10 bedroom wings to ensure residents receive bespoke and quality care. It will also accommodate a café, hairdressing salon and a private function space for its residents and their families. Care home construction specialist Appledorn is the main contractor and is investing in local contractors and suppliers to assist in building the development.

An artist’s impression of the new care home in Haddington.

Robbie Stevenson, Howard Rogers, Andrew Hume and Derek Nickolds. A substantial 1,400m2 sustainable Mansfield Care in what will be the drainage system wetland will be provider’s largest-ever development.” created. The bedrooms have a floor space of The wetland’s centre piece will at least 16m2, with many being 18m2 consist of a 25m wide and 50m long to 20m2 each room also hosting its environmentally friendly pond. own ensuite wet room. SuDS is an alternative means of Each 10 bedroom wing will feature handling surface water “rainfall” a day dining room and access to discharge. outdoor areas. A centralised dining Howard Rogers, managing director area will also be situated on each of of Appledorn, added: “This is a the three floors. tremendous project for our team to The nursery is set within a modern be working on. facility designed to meet the ever “It is important for us to involve the changing needs of children, parents local community from the outset in and teachers. construction. The one-storey nursery would be “By working with nearby contractors built to the south of the care home. and suppliers we hope to create jobs It would include two playrooms, throughout this process. changing facilities, a kitchen and “The SuDS wetland will also create office space, as well as a quiet room. a unique wildlife haven at the heart of The Haddington development has the development for all to admire. We been supported by cross-party local are looking forward to working with councillors from its inception.

Walton HPC complete the sale of a large purpose built Care Home on the M25 BLUEBELL CARE HOME, STANLEY ROAD, GRAYS, ESSEX Bluebell Care Home was purpose built in 2008 and is currently registered for 80 with 80 single bedrooms, all with large en-suite wc’s. The home is arranged on ground, first and second floor levels with access to all residents’ areas via shaft lift. The home is located just behind Grays town centre which lies just off J30 of the M25. Surrounding the home is a mix of commercial, retail and residential properties. Paul Burford of Walton HPC’s English Office, who handled the sale commented: “We were delighted to be instructed to confidentially market Bluebell Care Home and following a very discreet marketing campaign, a deal was agreed to DMP Healthcare. The sale was conducted to the satisfaction of all parties and there was no disruption to the ongoing business.”

The outgoing vendor commented: “We instructed Paul Burford of Walton HPC after hearing very good reports of him through my contacts in the industry. I cannot recommend him highly enough. He provided us with an excellent service, and he was very easy to deal with. We often spoke in the evening and at weekends when necessary and he was highly professional throughout. I would highly recommend Walton HPC to anyone thinking of selling their care home.”

england & wales: Paul Burford paul.burford@waltonhpc.com 01926 760 116 | 07808 764 748

SCOTland: Gary Walton gary.walton@waltonhpc.com 0141 378 1065 | 07554 009 244

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CARINGNEWS

Resident Roy enjoys a day to remember

World-first with Finger Food Bites from apetito A TRAILBLAZING new range – Finger Food Bites – has launched from leading care home meals provider, apetito. Finger Food Bites is set to change the way care homes plan their strategic menus and enable them to provide a positive, inclusive, dining experience for residents who are living with dementia. For the first time, residents that live with dementia or co-ordination difficulties can feed themselves nutritionally balanced meals in one bite without having to struggle to manipulate cutlery. Finger Foods Bites allow residents the freedom to pick up and put down a complete hot meal with no mess and with minimal residue left on fingers. Furthermore, Finger Food Bites can be enjoyed while sitting down, or if a resident is ‘on the move’. Lead for apetito, Richard Woodward, said: “Our development chefs embraced world leading technology to ensure the quality of the meals met our high standards of taste, texture and flavours and in this respect, the team has ‘led the way’. “The elements of Finger Food Bites are cleverly designed and created so they melt in the mouth. Each ‘Bite’ encapsulates the flavours of a traditional meal and for the very first time, this innovative new range will allow residents living with dementia to enjoy feeding themselves, with no mess and with tasty meal options. “It’s a real game-changer for care homes and their residents. “We’re hugely excited by the range and see this as a key part of a nutritional strategy for a care home to overcome difficulties using cutlery and delay the need for assisted feeding.” The range features 12 dishes Staff and residents at a Southport care home are celebrating after inspectors rated it as ‘Good’. The CQC published a positive report about Marina Care Home, much to the delight of those who work and live there. Prime Care group manager Lea Jones said: “I want to thank all the staff, residents and families for all their involvement in us getting the results of the CQC report.”

including six Finger Food Bite and six Classic Finger Foods. Finger Food Bites includes Chicken and Mushroom Casserole, Ham and Leek, Chicken tikka, Sausage Casserole, Salmon Supreme and Veggie Bolognaise. The six Classic Finger Foods are Chicken Goujons, Fish Goujons, Chicken Fillets & Stuffing, Pork Meatballs, Chipolatas, and Omelettes. Importantly, care homes can choose from a selection which includes plant-based meals as well as healthier choice, and gluten free. Calling on its 60 years’ experience of ‘making mealtimes matter’, apetito, which partners with over 600 care homes across the nation, says the new range was many years in the making – as Care Homes Divisional apetito know how complex catering for dementia residents can be. Richard added: “It takes time to manage menu planning and deliver a great dining experience, whilst catering for allergies, specialist dietary requirements and whilst giving support to those residents experiencing co-ordination difficulties, and importantly ensuring the ongoing design of a nutritious, balanced, and appetising menu. “Mealtimes can be a real challenge for care homes in delivering a quality dining experience for those living with dementia. Residents can lose concentration, forget to eat and drink, and struggle to use cutlery or cups. The resulting potential loss of nutrition is also a factor for concern. “Food is one of life’s simple pleasures and we strongly believe (as do all the care homes that we work with) that residents should all be able to enjoy dining with dignity with meals they can look forward to eating.”

A GRACEWELL of Weymouth resident has enjoyed a thrilling trip to sea in a day to remember. Roy Ricketts, 101, headed out on his first trip just days after moving into the home. After noting how he enjoyed seeing the cruise ships in the bay from his flat in Poole during the lockdown period, the team at Gracewell of Weymouth decided to treat their new resident with a trip to sea. He said: “I never thought I would be able to do this within a care home. I really enjoyed the day, it was windy but not too cold, and it was lovely to be out at sea with the sea air. “If there are spaces on any trips I would like to go. You have to take opportunities in life.” Roy is no stranger to the coast, with Bournemouth being his hometown since childhood. However, during the Second World War, he was called up to serve in the RAF’s medical branch. During this time, he went away to Castle Camps and Burma, where he served for 12 months, receiving the Burma Star for his service. Following the end of the war, Roy returned to his home in Bournemouth. Here he resided, alongside his wife and daughter, Maureen, working as committee clerk for the Council and

supporting the development of much needed homes and schools in the area. And, still full of excitement and eager to embrace new opportunities at the age of 101, Roy and several other residents at Gracewell of Weymouth boarded the FM Freedom boat for a day of sights, where they enjoyed watching the cruise ships out at sea.

Wren Hall care home assigns Rensair as first line of defence

WREN Hall is a specialist dementia care nursing home in Nottinghamshire, with a CQC rating of ‘Outstanding’ across all categories. But nothing could prepare it for the pandemic and 23 residents tragically lost their lives. “The situation was far from clear, but in November 2020 the WHO declared that the chief risk of Covid transmission came from inhaling aerosols rather than touching surfaces”, said Anita Astle MBE, managing director of Wren Hall and a member of the Board of Directors at the National Care Association. “That ruled out fogging machines, which aim to clean surfaces, and we turned our attention to HEPA-based purifiers which effectively clean the air.” Wren Hall acquired several Rensair units for the communal areas within the older part of the building, which was not equipped with a modern HVAC system. “Our family members understandably complain about cold drafts, so ventilation is a real challenge”, said Anita. “By purifying the air instead of bringing in

outdoor air, we are able to help prevent viral transmission, keep everyone warm and save on energy costs for heating. It’s a complete solution and we can all detect a difference in the freshness of the air.” Key to Wren Hall’s decision was the strong airflow provided by the Rensair unit, with each one capable of cleaning 560m3 of air per hour. Furthermore, the unique, patented technology was important, ensuring that the airflow and HEPA filter configuration holds virus particles in place so that they are systematically eradicated by germicidal UVC light, rendering the filters safe for maintenance. “Wren Hall is now Covid-free, but we must take every precaution,” added Anita. “New vaccine-resistant variants could potentially emerge and we will do everything in our power to protect those in our care and avoid further outbreaks. “We certainly feel safer with our Rensair units as the first line of defence.” Enquiries: For further information visit rensair.com or call 020 3973 8927.

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