Caring Uk April 2010 by Script Media

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April 2010

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.167 • £4.75 In association with

Call for hotel rating system for industry By Dominic Musgrave THE inspectorate should replace its current star rating system with one similar to that used by the hotel industry, the head of an organisation has claimed. Registered Nursing Home Association chief executive officer Frank Ursell says the CQC is learning from the mistakes of its predecessor CSCI about the best ways of assessing the quality of services, but still has some way to go before it has established a reliable, accurate and fair method. He was responding to a consultation document from the regulator on changes it is thinking of making to the quality assessment system. Frank told Caring UK the association has been campaigning for years to persuade inspectorates to concentrate more on whether or not residents are benefiting from the care they receive, rather than on whether or not the office paperwork is in order. He added: “Let us hope that, when the ink is dry, the new inspection regime being promised will live up to expectations, and that the flaws we have endured under previous regulators will be dispatched to the bureaucratic dustbin where they

belong. We have had serious concerns about the current star rating system because we felt it was a very blunt instrument, especially in the way that the regulator decided how many stars to award a particular nursing home. The criteria used are not altogether fair or logical. Nor is there consistency.” “We believe that a five-star system would be better than a three star system, partly because it would more appropriately reflect the different levels of quality achieved by care homes and partly because most people are familiar with the system of awarding between one and five stars to hotels.” Over the coming weeks the association will be discussing the proposals with nursing homes across the country in order to respond formally to the consultation. Frank added: “We also welcome in principle the suggestion from the CQC that ‘quality profiles’ of care providers should be built up from a range of sources of information, so that star ratings are not the only way in which quality is measured.” Do you agree with Frank’s suggestions for a new five-star rating system? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or by ringing 01226 734407.

Residents learn art of folding

Keith Chegwin has been lined up to host the Great British Home Care Awards in May. The television presenter will present the event, which celebrates excellence across the sector, and is taking place at the Guildhall, London on May 15.

RESIDENTS at a Sheffield care home were treated to an origami taster session as part of an ongoing volunteering project run by students at the city’s university. Six students took part in the session at Tapton Edge, which aimed to teach the residents the basic skills of the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures, and by the end of the session the residents had learned how to make jumping frogs and swans. The ongoing project involves weekly visits by a total of 17 student volunteers to the care home to provide stimulation and the opportunity to learn new skills together. Deputy manager Pat Bond said: “Residents always look forward to Wednesday afternoons, the students are great with them. We would never have thought of doing activities like origami, the interaction with the students is very beneficial and it’s great exercise for their fingers too.”

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Välkommen ... TWO Swedish students have temporarily joined the team at a busy Scarborough care home. Staff and residents at St Cecilia’s welcomed Minna Andersen and Ida Johnsen, who are studying health care in Sweden and are visiting the UK to get some work experience. Manager Jo Edmond said the pair will be at the home for six weeks. She said: “They are a pleasure to have around. We are more than happy to help in the students’ development. Getting the best training and experience in care is clearly as important in Sweden as it is here in the UK. At the same time it has been a pleasant change for the residents to have some new faces, from a different Minna Andersen and Ida Johnsen with residents Joan Gregory, Nancy Spencely and Audrey England country, around the place.”

Wishes come true in Lincolnshire A HELICOPTER ride, ballroom dancing and playing cricket are just some of the dreams coming true for care home residents in Lincolnshire thanks to a new fund. Set up by The Orders of St John Care Trust, the Wish Tree Fund uses money raised from selling raffle tickets at fun days to fulfill residents’ special wishes. Seven have already had theirs granted, including Gwendy Cook from Eresby Hall in Spilsby, who was treated to a professional dance lesson with Dale Bennett, the twin brother of Strictly Come Dancing's Darren, at his dance studio in Sheffield. And activity manager Anita Rudd, who organises the wishes along with Alison

Whitlock, said another 17 are in the pipeline this year. She added: “Our residents often talk about activities they used to enjoy when they were younger or even things they always wanted to do but never got the chance to, so we set up the Wish Tree in order to make these dreams come true for them. “Life in a care home can be positive for many residents and achieving these very special requests is just one way in which we as an organisation ensure special times and special memories. “We have had a fantastic response from residents who have already participated in the Wish Tree, as well as their families, who are often invited along to

enjoy the special day.” Anita said the only wish they have been unable to grant so far was for an elderly resident who want to go up in a hot air balloon, but was deemed to frail to do so. “We managed to arrange for her to go up in a helicopter instead, which she absolutely loved,” she added. “Others that we have granted have been for things the residents want to do or did when they were younger and wanted to do one more time. The individual homes are now getting involved more in the fundraising because they have seen the benefits of the fund. Some are organising coffee mornings and others are doing their own raffles also.”

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Editorial Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478 Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 Reporters: Christina Eccles Mary Ferguson Louise Cordell Group Deputy Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734458 Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ wharncliffepublishing.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur. You can now follow us on Twitter at caringuk

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Care providers warned not to cut corners By Dominic Musgrave

Resident Bill Sly plays on the Wii with activities coordinators Jane Stokes and Heather Penny.

Wii keeps Bromsgrove residents active ELDERLY residents at a Bromsgrove care home have been keeping physically and mentally active thanks to a new games console. Regents Court Care Home has been given a Nintendo Wii to aid residents’ mobility and to keep them mentally alert, and staff are hoping the games will benefit residents, particularly those with dementia. Residents aged in their 80s and 90s have been enjoying playing on the Wii and Wii Fit board, which feature balancing activities, brain training

games and simulated sports. Manager Karen Hancox said: “The Wii has been a great success with the residents. The variety of games helps increase mobility, maintain hand-eye co-ordination and keep the brain active. People can play individually or in groups so it has had a really good impact on the residents’ social interaction. “The residents have been having great fun since it arrived, playing bowling, cycling, walking and a host of other games.”

CARE providers must not cut corners despite increased pressure on budgets, it has been claimed. The warning comes from Joan Williams, acting chair of the CQC, who says that safety and quality of care must not be compromised in the current financial climate. Joan told the audience at the annual Ageing Population Conference that, after focusing on improvement in its first year, an approach focusing on individuals, carers and families is needed. She added: “We have new powers from the beginning of April to act more quickly against those providers who are delivering poor care or services that are not safe. “There are still organisations lagging behind that are not able to get themselves out of a situation. If they are less than a ‘good’ rating then they need to think differently about how they are going to bring about change. “We want to ensure that people have high quality experiences, and we can only do this by working with others in partnerships. She also called on operators to maintain high standards at all times, which she conceded can be difficult in the current economic climate. Joan added: “One of the biggest challenges facing providers is how to provide a good service when budgets are getting tighter. “There are huge financial pressures, but one thing that should be avoided is cutting corners when it comes to safety or quality of care. “People who require specialist attention should receive care to meet their requirements. Not only is there an ageing population in the UK but there is also a changing one, but quality should always remain the priority.”

Joan Williams She also called on a shift in attitudes towards the elderly with the introduction of the Personalisation agenda. “A feeling of worth for the elderly should be at the heart of the new agenda,” she added. “There has been good progress but lots still to do in terms of cultural change. “There needs to be a belief that elderly people have a contribution to make, and I will do all I can to ensure that the patronising and insulting attitude that some people have towards them stops.”

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CARINGNEWS From pamper days to poetry, bulb planting and bingo, care home residents nationwide enjoyed fun activities to celebrate Dignity Action Day. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Homes celebrate Dignity day with activities THE event asked health and social care workers to run an activity where they work and was aimed at promoting dignity. It also asks members of the public to do what they can to promote dignity for people in their communities. In Gloucestershire, Parton House in Churchdown ran a ‘Breath of Spring’ session, planting spring bulbs with residents and having a discussion about gardening, while the activity co-ordinators at The Grange in Stonehouse organised a poetry afternoon with tea, cakes and music. At The Hollies in Dursley residents made bookmarks, while at Holly House in Cheltenham they made a heart wishing tree with staff and their families. Activities coordinator facilitator Anita Miles said: “The idea behind the day is to promote people living in care homes being treated as individuals, being given choice and to ensure they are treated with dignity at all times. It’s also to give them a really memorable day. “Providing stimulating activities is crucial to that and I’ve been delighted with the response I’ve had from care homes all over the county. Many of the activity co-ordinators have really embraced the idea and put a lot of effort and thought into organising some really interesting activities.” Two council-run homes in the Calderdale also got involved in the event. At Ferney Lee care home in

Todmorden everyone living or staying at the home was offered reiki, reflexology, body massage, foot spas and manicures. And at Heathy House, Halifax, a guest entertainer was brought in and a special tea laid on for residents. The council's director of adult health and social care, Jonathan Phillips, said: “By signing up to the dignity campaign, our staff have demonstrated their strong belief that older people are entitled to dignity and respect, both in care settings and in their own homes. “Dignity is not simply about not tolerating abuse – it's about making sure that we treat our older people in the way we would wish to be treated when we get old.” And at Bracebridge Court in Atherstone, Warwickshire, residents compiled their own versions of the famous red book, with images including a racing pigeon shed, the Stoke potteries and a public house. Christine Jenking, who works as an activity coordinator for the county council, said: “Life story work is an effective way of promoting dignity in care because rather than the older person only being associated with the time that they are admitted into care, a picture is built of their whole life. Our residents are very proud of their books and the lives they have led. Each page reflects a whole chapter because they enhance so many more memories.”

Bracebridge Court residents Frances Hopwood and Eliza Beale with Christine Jenking

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Janet Bell and Jacqueline Smith, owners of Spring Mount care home in Bradford

Home rewarded for its staff investment By Dominic Musgrave A SPECIALIST dementia care home in Bradford has been rewarded for its support and investment in staff development. Spring Mount, which is run by mother and daughter Janet Bell and Jacqueline Smith, has received a special 10-year achievement certificate from Investors in People. The home, which first opened in 1987, has had plenty of media attention over the years due to its approach to dementia care. Janet, a former nurse, said: “I opened the home because I felt there was a need to change the standards for dementia care. “Here I have created a haven for them to be themselves without the need for tranquilisers. The environment is very important, and we give them free access to the outside so they can go in and out through any number of doors. “We have a high ratio of staff to residents, 30 to 24, and signed up to Investors in People 10 years ago because we are committed to trying to develop the staff. We have a training manager and have created our own full induction for all members of staff.” The home’s approach to dementia

“I opened the home because I felt there was a need to change the standards for dementia care.” care was featured on Panorama in 2007, having previously appeared on World in Action. Janet added: “I hope the National Dementia Strategy will make a big difference to the way the condition is perceived in this country. “It has taken a very long time to get this far, I know I have been hammering away for the last 20 years. It is about giving them as normal a life as possible, so we take them to the post office, park or supermarket if they want to go. “In the past we have thought about extending the business further, and perhaps buying another home, but I don’t want to dilute the philosophy of care that we offer here.” The home also recently received five stars for its kitchen hygiene practices at its latest Scores on the Doors inspection carried out by the local council.

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A red telephone box is one of the reminiscence features at the home

£6m care home boasts its own dementia unit By Dominic Musgrave A NEW £6m care home which boasts its own dementia unit has opened in Gloucestershire. HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened Chestnut Court, which is to be operated by The Orders of St John Care Trust in partnership with the county council and bpha. The 80-bed care facility provides nursing care and also includes a specialist dementia wing, which includes a number of features to promote reminiscence as therapy, including posters from the 1950s, a red telephone box and an old fashioned washing line in the garden so residents can see washing on the line as it would have been ‘at home’. Care home manager Tracey Nurding said the decoration,

lighting and furnishings in the 40-bed dementia unit have been specially designed to help residents maintain as high a level of independence as possible. She added: “It has been a very busy two years since the start of the project, and I am extremely proud of the new team here at Chestnut Court. “The new dementia wing has been designed to facilitate a higher degree of independence for those suffering with dementia, by providing light guidance technology in each room, increased signage throughout with varying colour schemes and secure sensory gardens. “Guidance was sought from the University of Stirling who at the time of the design project were innovative in their approach to new buildings.”

Care Show introduces new features NEW features have been introduced to the forthcoming Care Show at Bournemouth. ‘Gardening for Therapy’ and the ‘Occupational Therapy Zone’ aim to broaden market coverage and offer more opportunity for visitors to interact with service and product suppliers. The Occupational Therapy Zone takes a broad view on the use of occupational therapy and comprises a full two-day programme with demonstrations and talks. Silvie Silver, strategic director of NAPA, will take a fresh look at ‘Activities in residential care’ and new ideas on the ‘Importance of posture and pressure management’ will be presented by Mark Fowles, healthcare director of Kirton Healthcare.

Sue Robathan, local director of Music for Health, will run a participatory workshop to explore musical involvement to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of people in care, while Sonja Waara-Conway, managing director of Nordic Care Services Ltd. will look at ‘Cost effective turning solutions in bed’ and the importance of ‘Exercise for Dementia’ will be discussed by Mark Jones, director of Liverpool PCT. Gardening for Therapy’ is the second new feature to the Show. The additional features will run alongside the Seminar Theatre, the Dementia Care Theatre, Fitness Focus and the Sensory Zone. The Care Show runs on March 30 and 31 between 10 am and 4pm at the BIC, Bournemouth.

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Group turns to internet to pass on project news A CARE group has come up with a novel way of keeping people up to date on its new home project. Cornwall Care wants to build a new facility in St Ives and, following a series of consultation events, has created the a dedicated page on its website to provide people with information about the plans. The company wants to build a small retirement community which will include a care home and independent assisted living accommodation. Chief executive Douglas Webb said the website has sections for frequently asked questions, location maps, images of the current sites, enewsletter registration and a home page that gives a full overview of the planned development. He added: “We wanted to provide people with as much information as possible regarding our plans. The new section of the website enables us to regularly update information and seek feedback and comments from people. “Our consultation events provided us with a great insight into views and concerns expressed by those who attended, and we hope to have have addressed these in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of the site.” The proposals are based on the development of an 80 bedroom care

Technology boost for residents By Dominic Musgrave

home which would include 60 residential bedrooms and a further 20 nursing care rooms. The addition of the nursing care would be a new service for the area. The home will be divided up into six separate self contained suites and 25 to 30 self contained extra care units. The planning application will be put forward to Cornwall council by this month.

RESIDENTS at a Leicestershire care home are learning how to use the internet and send emails thanks to a grant awarded to a charitable organisation. Learning for the Fourth Age has received almost £60,000 from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) for its Care Homes And New Technologies project (CHANT). And one of the first care homes to get involved in the scheme is Aigburth in Oadby, which is registered for 32 residents. Manager Angie Boyes told Caring UK the home has had a computer, laptop and a Nintendo Wii installed. She added: “The Nintendo Wii has gone down a storm with the residents, and they play it all the time. “A lot of them here have also learned to email, and we recently were talking to another care home in the county using Skype. “We now plan to start using it for the residents to keep in touch with

any families and friends they may have abroad.” Three of the home’s residents, 90year-old Irene Branston, 93-year-old Hilda Spencer and 86-year-old Jean Malen also visited the Houses of Commons recently to see a film that Learning for the Fourth Age had put together about the scheme. Angie added: “Melissa March, cofounder and director of the company, asked if they could come in and film the residents using the equipment, which they said they could. “We were then invited along to see the documentary they had put together so we took the residents down to see what they had put together. “I never thought in all my time here that I would see the residents on the London Underground or using computers, but they have really embraced it with both hands and have really got involved.” The home has also been asked to feature in a documentary for The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

Aussie Rules at home IT was ‘Aussie Rules’ at a Devon care home as staff and residents got together to celebrate Australia Day. Residents at the 64-bed Heanton Nursing Home in Braunton celebrated with a lunch including Anzac biscuits, a selection of Australian wines and a cake baked by the home’s chefs. There was a digeridoo playing session led by activities coordinator Jo Lailey and a quiz on all things antipodean from the home’s own ‘Edna Everage’ played by care assistant David Allen. Manager Jo Rutherford said the event was one of the home’s best ever. She added: “We normally celebrate Burn’s Night at this time of year but our staff and residents wanted to bring a bit of sunshine to the proceedings.

‘Dame Edna’ David Allen celebrates Australia Day with resident Betty Davis

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A Wirral proprietor who was born on the premises says he is confident the home will remain in the family for years to come. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Why third generation owner keeps raising the bar ... MIKE Vaughan is the third generation of his family to run Red Rocks nursing home in Hoylake. His grandparents opened the facility at the end of World War II when they returned to the area, having previously run a fruit and veg shop and a fishmongers in nearby Wallasey. Mike, who took over the reins from his mother 23 years ago, having trained as a hotel and catering manager, said he had happy memories of the home as a youngster. He added: “From an early age I had an interest in the home, and I remember doing different errands for my mother and the residents as a youngster. “The home was one of the first in the Wirral to offer care for the elderly, but it has been transformed over the years from having bleached floors and sacks for curtains to the high end facility with hotel-type services we are

today.” The three-star 22-bed home has recently been named the best in the north of England following a competition run on a listings website. Mike added: “We always strive for very high standards, and having spoken to the CQC they told us we scored ‘excellent’ in every category. “We have a great team here and are well supported by our GPs and other local healthcare professionals, who make it that bit easier for us to keep raising the bar to meet people’s expectations. “It’s the little things that make the difference, and it is nice when the residents and their families notice we are going the extra mile.” A host of varied activities are regularly organised for the residents, who have begun holding meetings to discuss what events they would like to have at the home. He added: “Food plays a vital part

Red Rocks nursing home and matron Ruth Mellors receiving the award from Debbie Harris from Best-Care-Home.co.uk in their lives, and we do our best to source as much food locally as we can from the best suppliers. “We have recently introduced restaurant evenings to the home, with the residents deciding with the two activities coordinators which country they would like to

have food from, and they then design the menu with the kitchen staff. “I have looked into building some apartments on the site, but I want to focus on what we are doing well and don’t want to water it down.”

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Pets in care homes Bill gets second reading A BILL aimed at increasing the number of care homes and sheltered housing which allow pets to live with their owners has had its second reading in the House of Commons. The Bill, which has been brought by Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Nigel Waterson, aims to reduce the number of pets that are put down every year because there is no other option, which is currently estimated at around 38,000. A further 100,000 have to be given up and put in rescue centres, with many being distressed by their abandonment and having to be put down as well. Nigel, the shadow minister for older people, said the Bill has had crossparty support. He added: “Pets are an important source of physical, emotional and social support for older people. They have proven health benefits for the elderly and can improve cardiovascular and mental health. They are also a great antidote for loneliness, which can afflict so many older people.” Elizabeth Ormerod, chairman of the Society for Companion Animal Studies also backed the Bill, saying that only a third of homes in the UK have any formal written policy on pets, despite research supporting the psychological and physiological benefits of pet ownership. She added: “The number of older

Nigel Waterson MP people in Britain is increasing and it is vital that we ensure the often difficult transition into residential care is as painless as possible.” “There is a frustrating lack of policy to support older and more vulnerable pet owners who arguably have the most to gain from owning a pet, yet in many cases are prevented from doing so. “We hope that the second reading will encourage more flexible pet policies among public and private housing providers in the UK as many other countries have already successfully addressed this issue.”

PAT on the back for dogs RESIDENTS at a West Midlands care home held a special event to say thank you to two four-legged friends. Willow Grange in Olton raised £120 for the Pets As Therapy charity, a programme which sees volunteers pay therapeutic visits with their animals. Vicky Brown and her Border Collie dog Mouse have been visiting the home for four years, while Pat Jarret and her Sheltie dog Deano have been attending for two. Activities coordinator Rosemary

Hennessey said: “Many of the residents used to have pets of their own so the PAT programme is a way for them to build that emotional bond again and enjoy an animal’s company. We are very lucky to have two PAT dogs who visit us every week so we decided to hold a fundraising event to say thank you for the valuable work they do.” The day included a raffle, tombola and a guess the weight of the cake competition.

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CARINGHYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL

Company is official UK distributor for air disinfection unit range ENVIRONMENTAL Hygiene Solutions are the official UK distributor of the Health Protection Agency certified SANYO Virus Washer range of air disinfection units. Specifically designed for the healthcare environment to combat the transmission of airborne viruses and bacteria such as Norovirus and Influenza, the equipment constantly cleans the air

using patented Electrolysed Water Technology, making them 100 per cent safe for use in occupied rooms and areas. Recent independent testing has shown that the perfectly safe hydroxyl radicals produced by the Virus Washers also act on surfaces, permanently inactivating over 99.8 per cent of settled contaminants within 30 minutes.

Total Hygiene makes it real CHOOSING independent living aids is being made more personal with an innovative approach from Total Hygiene, the company behind the Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet. The firm has developed a novel exhibition display, receiving its first major outing at Naidex 2010, which aims to help people better picture the equipment in their own home, and see how it works. Fully functioning Clos-o-Mat Palma ‘wash and dry’ toilet, Lima Lift height adjustable ‘wash and dry’ toilet, Aerolet toilet lift and a selection of the company’s new range of height adjustable fixtures are displayed against a backdrop showing a bathroom/ washroom environment. Marketing manager Robin Tuffley said: “We have extended our range of independent toileting aids significantly, and want to make people aware of the diversity of options now available to make carrying out this basic daily function as pleasant and dignified an experience as possible.” Enquiries: Telephone 0161 969 1199.

Online training courses launched BVS Training has launched a new training tool for those who wish to deliver training online. This cost effective alternative to traditional training allows learners to spend time training on chosen subjects in their own time and at their own pace. Each course provides learners with the required information about each subject, as well as activities, Q&A sessions and an end of course certificate. Individual learners will have personal log-in details and can track their own learning from start to finish. The first courses to be introduced are: • Fire Safety 1: Hazards and Prevention • Fire Safety 2: Drills and Evacuation • Fire Safety 3: Risk Assessment • Mental Capacity Act • Health and Safety in the Care Home • Food Hygiene in the Care Home • Develop as a Worker • Infection Control in the Care Home • Nutrition and Well-being • Each course costs £17.50 per learner. Enquiries: Telephone 0845 644 2866.

Legionella testing and risk control made easy with Aquacert AQUACERT operates a postal service which enables care homes to test for legionella bacteria in water systems easily and cheaply. The company offers a simple three-step solution: Aquacert send out sterile bottles. The bottles are filled by the care home from hot water outlets. Aquacert collect by courier for delivery to their UKAS accredited laboratory. All for £44.50 + VAT per bottle (one bottle is normally sufficient for a home of up to 20 beds). Aquacert can also offer advice on control measures to minimise the risk of having legionella in your water systems free of charge. Managing director Duncan Hollis said: “Aquacert now has over 4,000 customers in the care sector using this service. I don’t want to see any care home featured on the national news due to a legionnaires disease outbreak, and neither do our customers.” Enquiries: Telephone 0800 783 5226 or visit www.aquacert.co.uk

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Star celebration at care home after inspection By Dominic Musgrave

Staff celebrate Christine Greenwood’s anniversary and the three-star rating

Simple and cost-effective labelling used by care homes across UK Advertiser’s announcement USED in care homes across the UK, Attach-a-Tag is a simple and cost effective method for labelling clothing, slippers and other soft objects. The discreet tag replicates a spare button and attaches in seconds to the garment seam or laundry label, making it inconspicuous and barely discernable to the wearer.

Unlike others, Attach-a-Tag cannot be taken off by accident or come off during the laundry process. Each tag has the owner’s name clearly etched onto it, which is also guaranteed not to come off in the wash. Combined with the unique fixing method, this means you can identify the owner every time, correctly. It is also reusable, making it even more cost effective for your care home.

AN ESSEX care home which was warned it may lose a star following changes to its registration is celebrating. Christine Greenwood, manager of Grandville Lodge in Leigh on Sea, threw a party for the 19 residents and staff after receiving an ‘excellent’ rating from the inspectorate for the second consecutive time. But, prior to the inspection, she says she was warned by the CQC that because one of the partners who owned the home was selling their share it would be treated as a new one. Christine added: “The inspection wasn’t due until this year, but because of the change in registration it was brought forward to last year instead. “We were told that we would now be treated as a new home, which meant the highest rating we could get would be ‘good’, which I thought was grossly unfair as I was still going to be the manager and the quality of the care wasn’t going to change.

“We were very lucky that the inspector was very helpful, and she rang me a couple of weeks later to say she had looked into it and we could keep the three stars.” The report particularly praised the home for its activities, health and personal care and management and administration, while Christine said it was down to “a wonderful team effort”. And the party was also a double celebration to mark her 11 years at the helm. She added: “We wanted to celebrate me being here 10 years last year, but never got around so organising anything but, after the good news from the inspectorate, it seemed like a perfect time to throw a party. “I originally came here as a carer 16 years ago, and have worked my way up to deputy manager and manager over the years. Looking back the home has changed massively, and we have built two new extensions as here as well as making many internal improvements. The clientele has also changed, and is getting a lot older and frailer.”

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South West care homes report fall in profits MORE than a quarter of care homes in the South West saw their profits fall by more than 10 per cent last year, it has been revealed. And the study by accountancy firm Bishop Fleming also found that smaller homes, with less than 25 beds, are most vulnerable to commercial viability. The first ‘benchmarking’ report which enables care home owners to compare their business to competitors within the region found that that almost two thirds rely on public-sector funded fees for their residents. 86 per cent receive less than £400 per week, with more than 20 per cent receiving less than £300. Tim Godfrey, head of Bishop Fleming’s

care homes team, said almost half are charging between £400-£500 per week for self-funding residents, with more than a third charging more than £600. He added: “In our experience, the homes commanding above average public funding are those that shout the loudest and provide the highest quality care. “Care homes that are able to move away from state-funded residents can charge fees that reflect the true costs of providing hotel quality accommodation and 24 hour care.” “The balance of cost-control and quality-delivery is crucial to profitability. The new star-ratings have a massive impact on people’s choice of homes, and are vital for ensuring high occupancy rates,

Tandridge Heights general manager John Lavan with resident William Mundy and nurse Jean Hiley.

Residents bury time capsule at site of new home RESIDENTS from a care home visited the construction site of a new one the group is developing to bury a time capsule. The group from Tandridge Heights in Oxted made the trip to Hurst Green to commemorate the occasion of the start of the building work of the new Barchester Healthcare care home.

The time capsule included everyday objects that sum up the year 2010 such as CDs, photos and false teeth, and was buried to be dug up in 50 years’ time. The 60-bed facility, which is set to open in the autumn, is being built by Castleoak and will be named by children from a local junior school.

which will make or break smaller homes with up to 25 beds.” The report also found that almost half the region’s care homes are enjoying 95 per cent occupancy rates, but 14 per cent are less than 80 per cent full. “The new star-rating assessment system will be pivotal for those smaller homes, which should be driving up occupancy by driving up quality. “They should consider dual registration (residential and nursing services), or sole focus on nursing or dementia care. “But there will be winners and losers. The winners will be the homes that can attract the self-funding residents and command the higher public-sector fees by delivering the best quality.”

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

In this issue: One fifth ‘unaware’ of new legislation requirements Page 18

Home will boast ‘sustainable’ features Page 20

Pair complete first phase of extension Page 21

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CARINGCOMMERCE

One fifth ‘unaware’ of new legislation requirements By Dominic Musgrave

A care group’s new centre in Tameside will create 40 new jobs once complete. Meridian Healthcare has received planning approval to build on the site of a former school in Millbrook, and completion of the building is scheduled for autumn 2011. One of the main characteristics of the new building, which will have 45 en suite bedrooms, is the use of the existing façade of the old school. Construction is due to start in early summer.

Refurbishment scheme underway A SIX-MONTH refurbishment project to transform a disused listed building into a state-of-the-art nursing home has begun. The Grade II listed Penlee Nursing Home on the site of the Roseland Parc retirement village is undergoing extensive work to turn it into a specialist dementia unit. Two years ago residents were moved out of the original building to the purpose-built Roseland Nursing Home at the same location. Retirement Villages Ltd development director Jami Puckering said: “The next phase of

work will see this old building brought to life again. “The redevelopment of Penlee into a specialist dementia unit will allow us to offer another strand of care, and the home will have its own dedicated staff while also being an integral part of the village.” Once finished, the house will have 17 bedroom suites along with communal lounge, dining facilities and a sensory garden Bodmin based T and D Carter have been contracted to undertake the work, which is set to be completed in the summer.

ONE fifth of all care managers in the UK are unaware of the requirements to vet staff introduced by the Government’s new legislation, it has been claimed. Twenty per cent of care managers questioned in a survey by care insurer Ecclesiastical said they did not know about the requirements, with this figure rising to a quarter in domiciliary care. The study also found that almost a third of managers believe the vetting and barring legislation will make care homes more willing to employ job candidates who have already been through the checking process. Care managers are also not fully convinced that vetting and barring will have the impact the Government is seeking, with more than a third saying it would not improve protection for vulnerable groups compared with 41 per cent who said it would. Management in nursing homes were the least convinced by the changes, with almost a half saying it would not improve the situation. Ecclesiastical managing director Steve Wood said: “We wanted to see

how care managers are dealing with the new vetting and barring rules because failure to implement them correctly could lead to litigation and significant costs for care establishments. “While awareness of the requirements is high, particularly among domiciliary care providers, there is still a significant group of managers who’ve yet to get to grips with the implications of the scheme for their organisations.” Regulation is also an issue for care managers the Ecclesiastical survey found. Asked about the appropriateness of the degree of regulation applied to their business, one third said it was excessive, while 57 per cent felt the regulation was correct. The Vetting and Barring Scheme was introduced by the Government in October 2009, and requires anyone working with children or vulnerable adults to have a criminal record check. The study for Ecclesiastical was conducted during November 2009 and surveyed 140 care facilities including hospices, children’s homes, nursing homes and domiciliary care in Great Britain.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Care providers to be allocated application slot By Linda Hutchinson

DC Care has completed the sale of Summerfield Court care home in Leeds. The 19th Century home is registered for 15 service users, and comprises 13 bedrooms with an additional one bedroom flat on the second floor. It has been converted and extended by previous owners, Mr and Mrs Lehan, who are now retiring after 23 years in the business. Suvia Care Ltd has purchased the home for an undisclosed sum.

Home will boast ‘sustainable’ features CONSTRUCTION work has begun on a new £3m care home in Perthshire which will boast several ‘sustainable’ features. Due to be completed in December, the 41-bed facility being developed by the Balhousie Care Group, will create around 40 jobs and have solar water and under-floor heating systems along with rainwater harvesting. Commercial director Graham Ogilivie said the home will also feature a highly insulated construction system and triple glazed windows for sound and thermal loss

reduction. He added: “We have asked our architects to place major consideration on making our new care homes as environmentally friendly as possible, even if this increases our total build costs, because we believe it's vital to make that investment for the future. “The home will benefit from the very latest innovations in building design to make it extremely comfortable for our new residents, as well as providing the very best residential care that people have come to expect.”

PROVIDERS of adult social care services will recently have received through the post the latest information about registering with the CQC. The process of applying for registration will begin shortly. Each provider is to be allocated a fourweek period in which to submit their application, and this ‘window’ will be somewhere between April 1 and 30 September. All providers must be registered by October 1. Each provider will be notified of the dates for their application window. Under the new registration system, which we are introducing across the whole health and adult social care sector, people can expect providers to meet essential standards of quality that protect their safety and respect their dignity and rights wherever care is provided – in someone’s home, in a community setting, or in a hospital. Earlier this year we produced our guidance about compliance with the new standards, which for social care services replace the current National Minimum Standards. The guidance is focused on outcomes for people that apply across all care services, but it also contains specific outcomes for particular service types, including residential care and domiciliary care services. As we approach the registration application period, providers should be using this guidance now to check their services are meeting the essential standards. Existing providers already registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 will not be required to pay a ‘joining’ fee for being brought into the new system. All providers will continue to pay an annual registration fee, however, we have stated that the current fee levels will remain unchanged for the period up to March 31 2011 (although we will still carry out a technical consultation on this).

Linda Hutchinson We plan to introduce a long-term approach to fees for all care providers from April 2011, and this will be the subject of further consultation later this year. We want to make this whole process as smooth as possible. As well as through mailings, updates will also be available in our monthly email bulletin, which you can sign up to from our website: www.cqc.org.uk/newsandevents/new sletter.cfm More information on how to apply for registration, and the guidance about compliance, can be found on the website at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/guidanceforp rofessionals/registration/newregistra tionsystem.cfm If you have any queries, please contact our national contact centre on 03000 616161 or enquiries@cqc.org.uk. Providers who wish to get more involved with CQC’s work can join our online ‘provider reference group’, which tests and develops the processes for our new assessment systems before they are published. Sign up by emailing cqc@nunwood.com Linda Hutchinson is director of registration at the CQC.

VAT reclaims continue to be a lifeline for care operators IN A climate where care home operators are still suffering rising costs, reduced placements and great uncertainty about their future, the opportunity to recover up to nine years of VAT is greatly needed. Cost reduction specialists Salmon Business Group can help operators reclaim retrospective VAT for nursing and residential homes. Despite the ruling taking place back in 2002, many operators have failed to avail themselves of the opportunity thinking that they could not make a claim. You may not have all the records but this does not matter, as we can work with minimal information to secure a successful outcome. We can assess your claim free of charge and advise as to what the next step should be, and take this through to completion and funds in your bank account. If we are not successful there is no charge to you the customer - you have nothing to lose. Enquiries: Telephone 01246 293011 or visit www.salmon-business.com

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Pair complete first phase of extension By Dominic Musgrave BUSINESS partners Nick Meyer and David Henson have completed the first phase of an extension to one of their recently purchased care homes. The pair, who now trade as Shervey Ltd, bought Newgrange Residential Home in Cheshunt last year to add to The Three Corners in Brixham, Devon, which they bought in 2007. The project at the home involves the construction of two extensions to add 13 bedrooms, an extended lounge, conservatory and dining room facilities, which will increase the home’s capacity to 30 single, en suite bedrooms.

“We have built a new day space also, which we have broken up into different areas. We have put a large focus on activities because we feel it is a really important aspect of care. “Phase two of the plans, which should be completed by the end of May, will include us extending the length of the building, which will create another four bedrooms.” The increased capacity at Newgrange, which has also recently been graded as ‘excellent’, will also increase the total staffing from 22 to 32. Total funding of £6m, which also includes the purchase of a third home in Dorset, is being provided by NatWest’s specialist healthcare team.

David said: “The new extension enhances the care, facilities and accommodation that we can offer to residents, and we are very pleased with the finished results.

David added: “It took us a while to find the right home, but we are delighted with the one we are buying and look forward to expanding the company into the county.”

Christies has sold the freehold interest of Camelot House care home in Plymouth, Devon, to local operator Mannamead Care Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. The 40-bed care home is housed in a substantial Victorian-style building, which

closed 16 months ago, and has been bought by Phil and Tonya Gerry, who also operate the Charlton House care home in the area. They have started an extensive refurbishment of the home, which will culminate in a quality 35-bed facility with a day centre.

Sales team increases to meet demand SIGNATURE Aromas has increased its sales team to meet the demand for its air treatment and air purification products. With systems which can treat everything from small areas like washrooms to large public spaces such as hospital waiting rooms, the company can justifiably claim to have COSHH approved, non-toxic and environmentally friendly air treatment systems for each application. The latest breakthrough for Signature Aromas is its acclaimed Purazone air purification system, which the NHS Trust in Wolverhampton has independently tested and evaluated. New salesmen Tom Ranford and James Hemmings joined colleagues for an intensive product training course at Himley Hall prior to studying the various applications for the company’s range of natural air freshening systems Signature Aromas also supply air treatment and air purification systems using natural oils to for offices, transport, education and retail premises as well as for the healthcare sector. Enquiries: Visit www.signaturearommas.co.uk or call 01902 678822.

David Henson and Nick Meyer from Shervey Ltd with Newgrange resident Louisa Williams and Steve Morris from NatWest

Jobs hope in £5m extension plan A £5m extension to a Shropshire care home could bring 50 jobs to the county if planners give the project the go ahead. The number of staff at Woodcote Hall near Newport could double as bosses look to build an extra 90 bedrooms and health spa as part of the multi-million pound revamp. Owner Select Healthcare has lodged its application with Telford and Wrekin Council for the plans for the home, which can be traced back as far as the Domesday Book. Brett Bernard said the investment into Shropshire was a sign of the company’s commitment to the

county. He added: “Select Healthcare has submitted a planning application with the purpose of providing 90 brand new bedrooms and replacing and refurbishing some of the existing accommodation. “We also plan to provide high specification facilities which we believe will benefit the people of Telford and Wrekin. As part of our extensive renovations we plan to bring the Hall back to its former glory.” The planning application comes as seven staff from the home received palliative care qualifications for their excellent standards in end of life care.

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CARINGINTERIORS

Closure-threat home gets a major revamp Goldendale House

Altro Timbersafe II impresses at Staffordshire care home MHA Weston Queensway Care Home in Staffordshire has become one of the first locations in the UK to benefit from new improved Altro Timbersafe™ II. The 48-bed care home found its previous wood effect vinyl flooring looked good straight after it was installed, but was difficult to maintain. Altro recommended the centre try new Timbersafe II, which comes with the latest generation Easyclean technology to offer superior appearance retention and cleanability. Customers can now chose from nine different designs and improved cleanability, while still benefiting from Altro’s unrivalled technical support, a seven-year warranty and superb product quality. Flexible and easy to install, Altro Timbersafe II is perfect for use in any area where a safe walking surface with a warm, noninstitutional feel is required. All designs combine detailed wood graining and the authentic effect of jointed wooden floor boards to give a realistic finish, with none of the maintenance and performance issues of real wood. Enquiries: Telephone 01462 707 600.

Ten million pound scrappage deal A NURSING home furniture supplier is set to launch a new £10m scrappage deal similar to the on the Government has run on cars. this means you can refurbish your nursing home with savings of up to £75 per bedroom package, £10 per lounge chair and £5 for a dining chair. This has been set to benefit home owners all over the UK, and would seem to be the perfect solution to disposing of your old unwanted items, while saving one new contract care furnishings. This means no new contract care furnishings, relieving you of the hassle of having unsightly and costly skips on your premises. Recycle a room with huge savings at Nationwide Nursing Homes Supplies today.

THE new owners of a Stoke-on-Trent care home threatened with closure have given it a major facelift since taking over four months ago. Goldendale House is Lynne Scarlett’s first venture into the industry as an owner, but she has worked in care homes for more than 17 years. Since getting the keys to the facility, which is registered for 19 residents, she and her team have transformed it, decorating and refurbishing many of the rooms and installing a new heating, water and lighting system. Lynne told Caring UK that a CQC inspector said the home was set to be closed down shortly before she took over. She added: “I wish I had been in a position to buy a home sooner because I have worked for someone else for years, building up their businesses. “It was a massive challenge taking on this home because it had 23 requirements on it, but with my knowledge of care I decided to give it a go because I want to make the residents’ lives better. “When we took over there were 11 residents, but within three weeks of

speaking with my contacts at social services we were full.” Lynne says the residents and their families have been complimentary about the changes made so far, which include the ditching of traditional uniforms in favour of a more modern look, and that a series of others are planned for the future. She added: “I brought several other members of staff with me from the previous home where I managed, including my manager Lorna Jones, and had to dismiss several people that were working here. “Those that remained have undergone a lot of training, and we have also appointed an activities coordinator because the residents were sat watching television all day. “We now want to turn a massive garage underneath the home into a third floor which will have a kitchen, dining room and lounge, and are just in the process of getting the necessary planning permission in place.” Lynne says she has no plans to purchase further homes in future, opting instead to run just the one to a high standard.

New catalogue for healthcare furniture sector KNIGHTSBRIDGE Furniture has published a new catalogue to present details of the company’s entire portfolio of seating, tables and cabinet furniture for hospitals, nursing homes, residential care facilities and community housing projects. Intended as a single-source reference guide for designers, buyers and specifiers within the healthcare and care arena, the 200-page Knightsbridge Collection catalogue provides detailed product descriptions and technical specifications, supported by lavish photographs and pertinent case-studies. Twenty colour-coded sections allow swift access to different product areas: recent additions to the collection include furniture for children’s rooms, ‘extreme’ specification tables for residents demonstrating challenging behaviour, a new generation of recliners which embraces models for bariatric users and the versatile Affinity series of modular and island units for bespoke seating solutions. The catalogue concludes with a useful guide to options in upholstery fabrics, wood finishes and soft furnishings. Enquiries: Telephone 01274 731442 or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

Enquiries: Telephone 01274 593555.

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Services for ageing society need to be re-engineered

Home care provider wins two stars in first inspection

By Dominic Musgrave

Caremark supplies personal care, live-in care, palliative care, and sitting, escorting and domestic duties to 23 residents across the borough.

A SHIFT in attitudes and a more coherent care system is needed to tackle the UK’s ageing population, it has been suggested. Pensions and ageing society minister Angela Eagle MP told the audience at the Ageing Population Conference in London that services for an ageing society need to be ‘reengineered’. And she said the fact that n the UK there are now more people over 65 years of age than under 16 should be celebrated rather than seen as a ‘black cloud’ over the country. Angela added: “We have to put older people at the centre of what we do and put them in control, and it’s important when we think about policy making that we think about reengineering society. “We are in the middle of shifting away from getting people into nursing homes like in the 1980s. I accept the longer you can keep people supported in their homes, the better, and can also prevent the need for nursing care. It is also a much cheaper way of doing it. “We have to re-engineer our services. We have to realise we have an ad-hoc system and we have to turn it into one that is much more coherent

A PROVIDER of home care services in Harrow has won two stars in its first inspection by the regulator.

Experts from the CQC examined sample files and spoke to customers and their relatives to gauge how well the company has served its clients since starting in June last year. Because the evaluation was its first, the maximum overall rating it could have achieved was the twostar, or 'good' score it earned. Managing director Girish Khubchandani said: “We have fully taken on board the Caremark network’s aim of delivering excellent care. than it is at the moment.” She also called for PCTs, local authorities and social services to work closely together to put an end to the ‘postcode lottery’ of care. “The way things are at the moment drives carers up the wall because they are having to deal with so much bureaucracy. “Care can vary from place to place and we need to think closely how we

are going to develop a National Care Service that can deliver.” Angela also said more flexible methods of housing to be developed that meet the needs of the elderly. She added: “Accommodation must reflect the needs of the people living in it, and new designs that cater for all in one place rather than them having to move if their condition deteriorates should be explored.”

“This means not only giving our carer’s the right training and tools to enable them to deliver the highest standards of care, but also to back this up with a very professional approach from our office staff in their recruitment and documentation.” The CQC report gave special mention to the franchise’s staff training, care plans and medication procedures.

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CARINGHOMECARE

Top 5 scoop for leading provider ONE of the country’s leading retirement community providers has scooped the top five placings in a UK chart. Retirement Villages, the longest established operator of retirement villages in the UK, has been developing and managing purpose-built age-exclusive communities throughout for over 25 years. Inspired originally from American lifestyle developments often built around golf courses and leisure facilities, the idea was adapted to meet the different needs of the UK market, and the first village was built in 1981. The company’s villages took all top five placings as well as number seven in the list compiled by bestretirementdestinations.com – an independent authority on ‘where you should retire’. Cedars Village, on the fringes of Chorleywood, scored an unbeatable 100 per cent across the several categories to secure its top spot, narrowly beating Roseland Parc in Tregony, Cornwall into second Castle Village in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire came third, in fourth with 94 per cent was Thamesfield with Elmbridge in Cranleigh, Surrey at number five. Lime Tree Village near Rugby in Warwickshire secured the number seven slot.

Sarah Burgess

One of Retirement Villages’ sites

Sales and marketing director Sarah Burgess said: “I think one of the secrets to our success is that we listen to our residents. “We work hard at the recreational side of what we offer, with everything from luncheon clubs and societies to exercise classes. “Our aim is to provide the very best in retirement living for our residents in some of the country’s most stunning settings. Our position at

the top and in a further five placings is testament to the fact that we are delivering on our promises.” Each community was reviewed against a strict list of criteria which include residential options, visual appeal, recreational activities, social networking, and safety and security. The overall experience for residents was also taken into account. Sarah added: “Something we have been offering to potential residents

for the last couple of years is a try before you buy scheme. “People can come and stay with us for a day or two and touch and feel the products, as well as meet residents who live there.” The company are currently building 11 new villages nationwide, and are improving facilities at their existing sites.

Project wins special award

Managing director Paul Tarsey

National debate leads to record number of enquiries A DOMICILIARY care provider says it has received record numbers of enquiries as a result of the national debate on the future of social care in England. Hampshire-based Bluebird Care, which has offices across England and Ireland, believes the ongoing debate is good news for the public as it is helping people understand the range of care options available to them and their families. Managing director Paul Tarsey said: “Understanding the current care system in England can be complex, as people are naturally unsure of what options are out there – and what they may be entitled to by way of statefunded support. “As a result of all the media coverage, people are getting a better

understanding of what’s currently available – and that can only be good news in the longer term. “We have received record numbers of calls during the first couple of months of this year – both from members of the public looking at various care options, and also from people looking to open care-at-home franchises that offer what customers want, and are sustainable, economically.” Bluebird Care featured on Newsnight recently when director Simon Dalziel joined other experts as the BBC programme put social care under the spotlight and examined the issues facing future governments in paying for older people’s care. One of its customers, a former wartime fighter pilot, also appeared.

HOMECARE developments by a Scottish council have been recognised with a special award. City of Edinburgh council’s re-ablement service received a silver prize at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Excellence Awards. The project was nominated in the service innovation and improvement category for the work being carried out by health and social care staff. The model, rolled out during the past year, centres around helping those in need get back on their feet by gaining confidence at home and re-learning life skills after an illness or hospital stay. Councillor Paul Edie, health and

social care leader for Edinburgh, said: “The health and social care staff who have implemented this groundbreaking service fully deserve the accolade. “Re-ablement is one of those projects that really does make a difference to people’s lives and shows that our commitment to helping people lead independent lives is paying dividends. “It maximises people’s long term independence, choice and quality of life while responding to the growth in demand for home care services. “It helps them regain their independence by helping them re-learn life skills and boosting their confidence.”

Innovations that give a new lease of life FOR OTs and healthcare professionals part of the job is advising on products and adaptations that can make everyday living at home easier. And it has just become easier with Homecare, from care professionals, The Consortium. Homecare is the first comprehensive online shop for elderly people who want to enjoy living in their own homes. It includes hundred of products, including many sourced from countries with more advanced and innovative aids than the UK. Homecare products have helpful icons for each condition or difficulty experienced to make finding products easy, and expert help from the occupational therapist is available to site visitors. GP and health columnist Dr Ellie Cannon said: “The psychological boost that it can give a person, or their carer when a difficulty is made easy, the ability to do something independently is restored, or a pastime is once again an option, cannot be underestimated.” Enquiries: Visit www.homecare-products.co.uk or telephone 0843 224 1200.

26&27 Nationwide

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CARINGNEWS

Care home links up with school By Dominic Musgrave A CARE home in Northern Ireland has forged close links with a nearby school. Residents from Massereene Manor Nursing Home first visited Antrim Primary School last year to help create some flower beds in the grounds. And those with a particular interest in gardening, including one in particular who used to work in a garden centre, regularly visited the school with their families and the home’s staff to maintain them. Nurse manager Olive Hall told Caring UK the relationship has grown much closer over over recent weeks. She added: “Following on from the work we did in the grounds at the school we wanted to continue the relationship so have set up a pen pal scheme. “The pupils keep the residents up to date with how the flowers are growing, and it makes them feel that they are part of the society because we want to create a community feeling here. “Because many of the residents here suffer from dementia, we sit

with them and help to put a letter together for the school, telling them all about what we are getting up to at the home.” Olive said there are also plans to develop the relationship further, with pupils possibly visiting the home in the coming months. The home has also signed up to the My Home Life Project, designed to improve the quality of life for people who live, work, visit and die in care homes. Olive added: “As part of the project we have really developed our life story work, which we have used to help us to understand how the residents behave the way they do, and to piece together their identities. “We also use it to ensure the activities we do here are meaningful and person centred, and we are currently searching for volunteers from family members to help us run some more activities to improve the residents’ quality of life.” Have you close links with your local school or community? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or ring 01226 734407.

Rockfon is a healthy choice for Manchester Royal Infirmary MANCHESTER Royal Infirmary has undergone major expansion and refurbishment as part of a £500m PFI development that also provides four new state-of-the-art hospitals for the city. Rockfon’s Medicare ceiling tile is specially designed for healthcare environments and was selected for the new wing, where over 130,000m2 have now been installed. Due to their stone wool core, all Medicare tiles are resistant to ubiquitous bacteria and fungi, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, including its Methicillin resistant strain (MRSA), making them fully compliant with HTM 60 ceilings. For more sensitive areas such as high dependency and clinical rooms, Rockfon’s Medicare Ultra was used. Designed for more specialist areas it is compliant in category 2 of HTM 60 and features an enhanced surface that can withstand high pressure cleaning. All the Medicare ranges feature a smooth, imperforate surface to give an aesthetically pleasing finish, with acoustic properties that contribute to a peaceful, healing environment. Enquiries: Telephone 0800 389 0314 or visit www.rockfon.co.uk

Heligan by Mosaic THE restoration of the lost gardens of Heligan has inspired this beautiful new nursing home collection from Mosaic by Skopos design. Elegant, nostalgic bouquets and trailing blossoms complement exotic and contemporary flora creating a fresh and exhilarating collection. Co-ordinated with semi-plains and stripes, woven upholstery fabrics and sheers, Heligan rediscovers the excitement of the outdoors, providing endless sophisticated combinations for nursing home interiors. Printed on inherently FR, washable furnishing fabrics, it is a practical and beautiful choice, perfect for public rooms and bedrooms. Mosaic by Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and, as the healthcare division of Skopos Design Ltd, Mosaic has over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the healthcare sector. Enquiries: Telephone 01924 465191.

Abbott Nutrition launches new Ensure Plus ABBOTT Nutrition has launched new Ensure Plus milkshake style flavours, reformulated for an even better taste. Don’t just take our word for it as new Ensure Plus is supported by SUSTAIN, the largest independent study investigating sensory and compliance factors in oral nutritional supplements, involving over 1,700 participants in four countries. Numerous factors affect compliance, which is a major barrier to achieving nutritional goals. Latest research shows that taste is the most important factor, having a greater impact on likelihood to drink than volume. New Ensure Plus performed significantly better than other nutritional drinks for all sensory factors tested. The improved taste of new Ensure Plus can also help to aid compliance, so patients continue taking their nutritional drinks. Enquiries: Telephone 0800 252882 or visit www.abbottnutritionuk.co.uk

Customisable controls that work to perfection MIELE’S Octoplus washer-extractor (PW6080) and tumble dryer (PT7186) offer more than 70 washing and 40 drying programmes. These can be packaged into bespoke programmes upon installation to suit the specific needs of business’ laundry care requirements. Programme options not activated immediately can be added later as business demands evolve, and likewise, can be deactivated if they are no longer needed. Programmes are packaged together specifically for care homes, and include thermal and chemo-thermal disinfection programmes at up to 85°C to help homes conform to the requirements of The Care Standard Act 2000. Octoplus machines offer short programme running times even in disinfection programmes. An additional self-cleaning hygiene programme is available to ensure the machine itself meets the utmost standards. The intelligent machines also offer ‘Flexplus’ - a series of five customised wash and drying programmes which can be put together from pre-defined options to suit individual needs. Enquiries: For further information visit www.miele-professional.co.uk

Tax reclaims for commercial property owners CAPITAL allowances are among the most valuable and least exploited methods of reducing property owners’ income tax or corporation tax liabilities. Capital allowances arise from capital expenditure on purchasing or constructing a new property along with extensions and refurbishments. We carry out retrospective, current year, and new build capital allowance claims, both for individuals and companies in relation to commercial properties right across the commercial sector. Most retrospective capital allowance claims that we handle lead to a significant tax refund for the client. We will quickly identify the validity of a claim without obligation. If a claim does not proceed, there will be no fee. We comprehensively survey the property which allows us to identify any qualifying items that, for numerous reasons, have previously not been claimed. Enquiries: Telephone 01246 293011 or visit www.salmon-business.com

Simple solutions SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simple solutions to common nursing home problems. The new WACMAT® adheres strongly to this tradition. With its ultra absorbent cotton pile and 100 per cent waterproof backing, the remarkable WACMAT® is an ideal accessory where spills may occur. Used as a commode mat, in bedrooms or bathrooms, the WACMAT® ensures full carpet protection. Then, after use, simply machine wash and tumble dry! It’s that simple... The WACMAT® will then be clean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone. Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.

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CARINGNEWS For Sale

Pilot helps people with dementia remain at home Business services

Situations vacant

A PILOT scheme has been launched to help people with dementia to live at home rather than go into residential care by assisting them with dayto-day tasks. The At Home Project being trialled by Accord Housing Association will work with people with the condition and their families to arrange visits to day centres and adaptations to their homes to make them safer. The team will also help with tasks such as setting up direct debts so that residents do not forget to pay their bills and rent, putting their tenancies at risk. Project manager Dora Scott told Caring UK they will also encourage people to get involved in community activities, prompt them to take medication, eat healthy and maintain

their home. She added: “It is critical that we put projects like this into place to sustain the wellbeing of people. “Supporting people with dementia to stay in their own homes allows individuals to have more choice and control about their own futures, and encourages people to remain independent for as long as possible. “This is hugely beneficial, not only to them and their families, but also to the country as a whole as it can save a vast amount of public money which could reduce the burden on the taxpayer.” The project is being piloted in East Staffordshire, including Cannock, Lichfield, Stafford and Tamworth. If successful the free and confidential it could be rolled out to other areas.

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Transport

No.1 in used Wheelchair Accessible Transport ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT AT AFFORDABLE PRICES • We specialise in the sale and purchase of quality used wheelchair accessible and ambulance vehicles. • They can be bought as seen or refurbished and signwritten to your own requirements. • 12 months MOT Class 5, and 12 months warranty. • Independent engineers report supplied FOC. • Delivery service available. • All buses fitted with seatbelts and comply to seatbelt legislation.

Always wanted late wheelchair accessible vehicles Gardiners Lane North, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex CM11 2XE Tel: 01268 521033 • Mobile: 07860 894331 • Fax: 01268 284951 • sales@hwpickrell.co.uk

Visit our website for photos of current stock www.hwpickrell.co.uk

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Care plans made easy with CareDocs IMAGINE what it would be like if every assessment you had to do became no more than having to answer a series of multiple choice questions. And that then a mere click on a ‘Prepare Care Plan’ button would automatically produce fully personalised and detailed care plans. And the whole process taking no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Imagine then being able to switch on your computer wherever in the world you are, and being able to see at one glance everything that’s going on in your care home. You can with CareDocs. CareDocs is a unique care planning and home management system that will save time, money, safeguard or improve your CQC rating and change the way you work forever. Designed by care home owners for owners, CareDocs concentrates on all those activities that take the most time and cause the greatest headaches. Care plans and reviews, risk assessments, staff training, supervisions and reviews, the keeping of mandatory records and maintenance schedules, all centralised and simplified.

Fiona to present awards FIONA Phillips will present the Great British National Care Home Awards, in partnership with ECCA. The television presenter will host the event at Guildhall London on June 5, which are a celebration of excellence throughout the care sector. Winners from the regional events held last autumn have been invited to attend, but nominations are still required in several categories. To find out more visit www.care-awards.co.uk and go to the National Care Home Finals page.

Updated Therma 20 thermometer now available THE improved Therma 20 thermistor thermometer has been specifically designed for use in the food production and catering industries, with HACCP, due diligence and health and safety procedures in mind. The new, ergonomic case includes 'Biomaster' additive which reduces bacterial growth. The low battery consumption electronics are powered by three AAA batteries, giving the instrument exceptional battery life of a minimum of five years. The auto power-off facility turns the instrument off after 10 minutes. The Therma 20 displays temperature over the range of -39.9 to 149.9°C with a high system accuracy of ±0.4 °C. This hand held thermometer can be used in low ambient working temperatures down to -20 °C, which meets the requirements of the European Standard EN13485 for temperature monitoring of quick frozen foods. Each Therma 20 incorporates a Lumberg connector, allowing a wide range of interchangeable probes to be used for a specific purpose. The thermometer is priced at £65 excluding probe, VAT and carriage. Enquiries: Telephone 01903 202151 or visit www.etiltd.com

Entries invited for Skills for Care Accolades ENTRIES are open for the annual Skills for Care Accolades which celebrate best practice in social care workforce development by employers across England. There are 14 award categories, including ‘Most effective recruitment initiative’ and ‘Best quality provision of social work practice placements’. For the third consecutive year the Accolades will be

presented in partnership with the Department of Health, and category winners will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony, usually attended by the Social Care minister in office at the time, to be held at the Dorchester Hotel in November. CEO Andrea Rowe said: “Achieving an Accolade proves you are improving the lives of people using social care services through workforce development, and over the

seven years we’ve run this event the number and the standard of entries has risen dramatically. “The Accolades are a fantastic and very welcome opportunity for us to celebrate the excellence and innovation in our sector which we all know is out there.” Last year’s event were hosted by TV presenter Fiona Phillips and saw a record number of entries.

Machines with customisable technology THE new Miele Octoplus compact commercial laundry appliance range offers a larger 8kg load capacity whilst continuing to deliver excellent laundry results from fabric care and stain removal to energy and cost efficiency. The Octoplus washer-extractor (PW6080) and tumble dryer (PT7186) offer more than 70 washing and 40 drying programmes which can be packaged into bespoke programmes upon installation to suit the specific needs of the business laundry care

requirements. Programmes grouped together specifically to meet the needs of care homes include thermal and chemothermal disinfection programmes at up to 85°C to help homes conform to the requirements of The Care Standard Act 2000. The machines also offer short running times even in disinfection programmes and the bedding package ensures excellent cleaning results and the best care for pillows with feather, down or synthetic fillings, down and synthetic

duvets, and natural fibre blankets. Octoplus machines are Miele’s most economical commercial laundry machines to date, featuring fast programmes and innovations such as the PerfectDry moisture-sensing technology. The washerextractor also uses 30% less water and 16% less electricity on a standard ‘60°C Cottons’ programme than previous appliances – reducing operational costs as well as helping businesses reduce their environmental impact.

Three-star rating for Berkshire home A BERKSHIRE care home has received the highest possible rating following its latest inspection. Caring Homes’ Dormy House, which has undergone extensive refurbishment since the group purchased the former family

residence in 2003, has gone from two stars to three. The home’s newest facility is the Surrey Wing, a purpose-built selfcontained specialist dementia unit, which was opened by mayor of Windsor Jesse Grey.

Meeting all your requirements DO you need a chair, to carpet a room or to refurbish your care home? If so, Ollerton Hall Decor of Knutsford can meet all your requirements. The company has a huge range of

impervious carpets, flame retardant curtains and co-ordinating bedding, chairs, furniture, work wear, table linen and towels, all top quality products at an exceedingly good price.

Very competitive prices HAVE you ever been charged an extortionate amount for one small extinguisher seal and other ‘little’ extras? Have you ever been tied into an extinguisher servicing contract you were not happy with? While extinguisher servicing is a must for care and nursing homes, you still want to be able to choose your servicing supplier freely, and on the base of a clearly understood price and service level. Many servicing companies are trying to tie you into a lengthy contract and are avoiding to give you a clear, undisputable quote for fixed yearly costs, including spares and replacement parts. Safelincs offers a very quick online quote for your extinguishers, and will stick to its very competitive price – every year. You can cancel whenever you wish.

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32 Skills for Care

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