Caring Uk August 2011

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August 2011

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.183 • £4.75 In association with

Association’s judicial review attempt fails

By Dominic Musgrave A GROUP that represents more than 80 care homes in Birmingham has failed in its attempt to force the city council to increase the fees it pays.

Similar to the successful case brought by operators against Pembrokeshire council, Birmingham Care Consortium applied for a judicial review into the council’s fees policy, but this was rejected at the High Court by Mr Justice Beaston.

He said a judicial review would be premature when the council was still considering how much it should pay the homes in the current financial year.

Social Services bosses have not increased care rates since 2008, and pay approximately £54 a day to homes looking after residents with dementia.

Plans to save £15 million by cutting home care fees by an average seven per cent are also under consideration by the council.

The consortium’s secretary Les Latchman said many of its members claim they are in danger of going out of business following a three-year payments freeze by the council - but the judge said there was no evidence to support this.

He added: “We were initially disappointed not to have been given

permission to proceed to judicial review. The judge did not criticise anything in our approach, other than that we needed to wait and let the council finish its review work.

“We are happy to do that now, as the process of applying to the court for a decision has forced the council to clarify a number of issues that were unclear and to make a number of important concessions.

“The judge also recognised that our case involved matters of public interest, especially for residents and their families. He said it was a difficult case, and acknowledged that we as care home owners fully recognise the difficult budget decisions the council must take.

“The council has also acknowledged openly that an independent industry expert is needed to analyse the quite complex financial arrangements involved in operating care homes in today’s regulatory and inflationary climate.

“We also welcome the opportunity to look at the council’s financial records as the ‘open book approach’ is two ways.”

Are you feeling the effect of council fee cuts at your care home?

Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or telephone 01226 734407.

Mario aims to bring opera to Wrexham

Dame Vera Lynn has officially opened the new wing of a care home on the outskirts of Brighton.

The forces sweetheart (pictured with owner Zoe Bates) cut the ribbon on the development at Valerie Manor which has more than doubled the home’s registration to 23. As well as the new bedrooms, the new wing at the 17th century former manor house also includes a conservatory, staff room, laundry, two communal bathrooms, dining room and kitchen.

Picture: Guy Standen

A CARE organisation is championing a project to bring opera to the streets of Wrexham.

Pendine Park has teamed up with Welsh National Opera to help promote the cutting edge three-year programme.

They are among the first of the WNO’s Community Champions to be unveiled in North Wales, and it is hoped that a further nine will be signed up over the next 12 months.

Wrexham Street Songs gets under way in September and WNO, which is based at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, want to involve the whole community.

Proprietor Mario Kreft said: “The project certainly chimes with the work we are doing at Pendine Park where enjoyment of the arts is helping to improve the quality of life for our residents.

“It’s great to see WNO reaching out so that even more people in the community can be part of this exciting project.”

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Golfing residents get in the swing with new course TWO golf mad residents at a Northamptonshire care home are designing its own pitch and putt course in the grounds.

Seagrave residents Ronald Fowler and John Sweeney’s passion for the game is as strong as ever, which has led to them creating the nine-hole course at the Avery Healthcare owned home in Corby.

Manager Sharon Goodall said the idea for the new development was brought up at one of the home’s regular meetings.

She added: “They were both keen players for many years, and when they suggested to our activities organiser that we could build our very own course for them in the back garden we thought it was a terrific idea.

“The course will bring an added fun element to the home’s activities programme, plus it will get them outside into the fresh air when the weather is nice.

“Many of our residents have been involved in the project, and we will be welcoming their families and

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Sales and product manager Heather Welsh Tel: 01226 734480 hw@whpl.net National Sales Executives: Rebecca Hazell Tel: 01226 734685 Email: rh@whpl.net Mandy Edwards Tel: 01226 734333 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.uk Fax: 01226 734477

guests along to visit us so we can show off our new facility. Staff and residents are also very excited.”

The home is located next to a bowls club and opposite a rugby club, and Sharon said there are plans to turn another part of the grounds into a mini bowling green for the residents to play.

She added: “They love watching the bowls so we thought that down the line we could create a little green so that they can have a go themselves. It will also be accessible for those residents in wheelchairs.

“Activities play a major part of life at the home, and we always do our best to act on the residents’ requests.

“Some of things we put on here include exercise and movement, massages, quizzes, a chef’s corner and arts and crafts.

“We also recently held an exotic fruits session including the likes of sharon fruit, which was really interesting because many of the residents only really knew about bananas, apples and oranges.”

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

Editorial

Carer Charlie Cook and resident Jean Watson

Putting on the Ritz ...

RESIDENTS and staff at a care home near Kidderminster were putting on the Ritz when they enjoyed a special afternoon tea.

Staff at Westley Court dressed in traditional waitress outfits to serve the residents afternoon tea Ritz style – in the best china.

Activities co-ordinator Charlie Cook, who was one of the waitresses, said fresh cream scones and cakes were also on the menu.

She added: “We are always looking at new ways to entertain our residents and often have events to stimulate them.

“In the past we have held events such as giant Scrabble games, tropical parties and pyjama days. This time we decided to give them a real treat and bring the Ritz into our care home.”

Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478 Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@whpl.net 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.

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Reprieve for Sheffield care homes

By Dominic Musgrave

‘Safari Ste’ with resident Mary Tarr and two bearded dragon lizards

Home welcomes ‘Safari Ste’ A RACCOON, skunk, pygmy hedgehog, various snakes and bearded dragon lizards were among the visitors when a Crewe care home welcomed ‘Safari Ste’.

The animal encounter at The Elms was arranged through Home Safari as part of the residents’ animal therapy programme, which has so far included a donkey visit, a creepy crawlies display and the raising of 10 newborn chicks.

The residents embraced the whole experience, holding and stroking as

many of the animals as they could.

Some preferred to watch, enthralled, from the sidelines as their fellow, braver residents interacted with the creatures.

Home manager Annette Russell said: “The visit was a huge success with the residents. I can’t get over how brave they were, much braver than I or any other members of staff.

“They took a real interest in learning about the creatures, and have been talking about the experience ever since.”

TWO Sheffield care homes that faced closure amid a funding crisis are to be kept open, it has been decided.

NHS Sheffield wanted to withdraw £2.8m of top-up funding for Birch Home at Chapeltown and Woodland View at Norton.

However, after a four-month consultation its board voted to recommission the homes for dementia patients with complex care needs.

A transitional agreement means existing residents who do not have such needs will be able to stay at the homes.

NHS Sheffield chairman Tony Pedder said: “We made this decision after the consultation indicated that the skills and experience of the staff could be deployed to enable Birch Avenue and Woodland View, in the future, to become homes only for those people with complex care needs.

“This change will remove the need for the historic ‘top-up’ arrangements and provide a better system of payment to ensure tax payers’ money

is being spent fairly and efficiently.

“It is our responsibility as a Board, on behalf of all Sheffield residents, to seek to achieve value for money on all our items of expenditure. In so doing, we do appreciate that this consultation has been particularly stressful and worrying for staff, residents and their families.”

NHS Sheffield said the recommendation approved by the board meant ,none of the 100 current residents of the two homes will have to move into other homes’, a concern that residents and their family and friends voiced as one of their biggest worries as part of the consultation.

Dr Richard Oliver, a GP in north Sheffield, said: “The decision to seek to re-commission the homes as providers of enhanced care is great news for the city.

“With an ageing population it's more important than ever that we get the care we provide for older people right. As homes for people with dementia who have complex care needs, they will provide high quality care to the people who really need it.”

Six staff at an Otley care home have raised £1,000 for the local hospice by taking part in a 16-week weight loss challenge. With the help of colleagues, residents and families, the team from Anchor’s Teal Beck House has collectively lost seven stones 5lbs in aid of Sue Ryder Care’s Wheatfields Hospice. Teal Beck House staff June Laurenson, Tracy McKeown, Jan Morgan, Stephanie Clarkson, Dawn Hopkins and Donna Newsomme are pictured presenting a cheque to Chris Normington with the equivalent amount of weight they have lost shown in potatoes.

Keynote speaker is named for NCA annual conference DIRECTOR general of social care David Behan will be the keynote speaker at the NCA’s annual conference this September.

The event, which takes place at the recently refurbished Britannia Hotel in London’s Docklands on September 27 and 28, is expanding

to offer three different work streams: dementia care, learning disability care and, new for this year, nursing care.

Other speakers also lined up include Erin Bonitto and CQC chair Dame Jo Williams.

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Harrogate Bupa resident Jeffrey Cooper enjoys some Punch and Judy action with Lucy Albone.

Care groups have brought the seaside to those residents who are unable to make a trip to the beach. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Homes bring seaside fun to residents BUPA’S ‘Great British Seaside’ week saw the care homes hosting themed parties for their residents, complete with deck chairs, bingo and fish and chip suppers.

Staff at the care homes also called on local people and organisations that can provide any seaside-related fun to bring the virtual holiday to life – from Punch and Judy entertainers to ice cream vans and even donkeys.

Lucy Albone, Bupa Care Homes’ national activities executive, said: “Many of our residents are unable to travel to the seaside, so we want to bring all the fun of Britain’s favourite day out to them.

“Recreating a trip to the seaside brought back many happy memories for our residents, as well as making sure there was a real holiday atmosphere for everyone involved.”

At Barchester’s Mariott House and Lodge in Chichester the residents enjoyed a taste of the exotic when they embarked on a virtual cruise to Spain, Italy and Greece thanks to its staff.

The home became HMS Mariott for the day when they went on a tasting tour of the three countries.

Decorations for the cruise were made by residents and staff leading up to the event and they also enjoyed a host of cruise-themed activities including making cocktails, cooking pizzas and decorating crockery in a Greek style.

The day finished with a strawberries and cream afternoon when they

‘arrived’ back in Blighty.

General manager Theresa Shell said: “HMS Marriott has been a huge success and has been about taking our residents and staff on virtual trip to different countries.

“Along the way we joined together and shared memories of the residents’ past visits to these countries.

“It has combined with our postcard from around the world club and it has been great fun for everyone.”

And residents at Ideal Care Homes’ Brackenfield Hall in Frecheville were also treated to an afternoon of seaside activities from the 1930s and 40s as part of the recent Dementia Awareness Week.

The ‘Remember When’ event was put on by performer Joanne Brunt, who specialises in entertainment for dementia audiences.

Manager Dawn Martin said: “Using a box of costumes from the specified eras and props from the ‘at the seaside’ subject, residents were able to touch, wear and engage with different items, some of which we rarely see today.

“Items included cloth sun hats, children’s sun suits, old fashioned buckets and spades complete with sandcastle flags; small suitcases with brown paper luggage tags, sticks of rock, windmills, post cards, and boxes of sand and shells.”

Get in touch with Caring UK with your care home’s themed event by ringing Dominic Musgrave on 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

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The manager of a care home who says his mum has been the biggest influence on his career has won a top accolade. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Neil follows in mum’s footsteps NEIL Dominy was named outstanding individual at Care South’s annual awards ceremony after being nominated by his staff and colleagues for his infectious enthusiasm.

The Alexandra House manager was introduced to the sector by his mum, who also worked in a care home for many years, and dedicated his win to the team at the Poole home.

He joined the home 18 months ago from another Care South site, and since then has transformed its fortunes and overseen a major refurbishment project.

Neil said: “I’ve brought in a few changes including looking at how we could market the home effectively to improve on the low occupancy levels that it had when I first joined.

“We did it by speaking to other healthcare professionals, making them aware that I was new in post.

We also did things with the district nurses and held meetings for relatives and friends because we find that word of mouth has led to many referrals.

“I also restructured the management at the home and gave the staff defined job roles so they were clear about what was expected of them. I’ve been quite open on the changes so both they and the residents feel a part of it, and our staff are going to go

through regular appraisals from now on.”

The chairman’s award for outstanding individual is given to a staff member who has shown outstanding excellence in carrying out his or her duties. Neil was presented with the award and a prize of a week’s holiday for two by chairman Felicity Irwin at the ceremony held at the Lifeboat College in Poole.

Prior to joining Care South, Neil spent 10 years working with young adults with physical disabilities.

He added: “It was very flattering to be nominated by several people, but I didn’t think I stood a chance of winning. It was an honour to win the award and I’m currently deciding where to go on holiday with the voucher.

“But we won’t be resting on our laurels and are looking at developing our dementia care by working with David Sheard at Dementia Care Matters and looking at the Butterfly project.”

Other winners at the ceremony were: Resident/service user – Julie Davies (Somerset and West Dorset homecare team); best admin team – Simon Powell and Seb Naulin (IT); achievement in care support services – Jennifer Webster (activities organiser, Maiden Castle House, Dorchester); best care team – Leybourne House (Bournemouth).

Kids taught to paint as generations swap skills A RESIDENT at a Kent care home has been teaching children from a local school to paint.

Marise Edlin, who has lived at Connors House in Canterbury for two years, held the session for the six pupils from St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School as part of the annual Abbeyfield Week, which this year had a generational skills swap theme.

The children set up an art studio on the lawn at the home, before painting a variety of pictures including depictions of rugby games, pet rabbits and garden landscapes.

Manager Christine Devlin said: “Since moving to Connors House, Marise has once more become a prolific painter, and a lot of creations adorn the walls around the home.”

Neil Dominy receives his award from Care South chairman Felicity Irwin

Individuals recognised at annual staff awards MORE than 80 care workers and office staff in Lincolnshire have been recognised for their individual achievements at an awards ceremony.

The Orders of St John Care Trust held its annual staff awards at Fosse House care home from its 16 care homes across the county.

Denise Booth from Hartsholme House, Lincoln was presented with the prestigious employee of the year award for her excellent training, care and leadership skills for both residents and staff by Nigel Stourton, former chairman of the trustees.

Husband and wife team John and Linda Wass, from Digby Court, Bourne took home the unsung hero award for their commitment to fundraising and entertainment activities, which they have helped to co-ordinate on a voluntary basis over the last 17 years.

Maria Fryer, activities co-ordinator,

also from Digby Court, was presented with the employee (over 25) award.

Brenda Stephenson from Foxby Court in Gainsborough received a long service award for 30 years at the care home, while Joyce Duerden, Fosse House, Lincoln; Cheryl Robinson, Skirbeck Court, Boston and Anne Wynne, Patchett Lodge, Holbeach were also presented with awards for 25 years’ service. Foxby Court care home in Gainsborough was also awarded a special commendation for its exceptional medication management.

A number of staff also received NVQ, City and Guilds, Supervisory Management, Degrees in Human Resource Management, and Pitman 2000 shorthand awards, which were presented by the company’s county director for Lincolnshire, Richard Durance and Jill Hughes, trustee.

Burgan ranked 27th in league MARIA Mallaband Care Group chairman and CEO Philip Burgan was ranked 27th in the annual ‘Management Today’

league of the UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs.

This follows on from his inclusion in last year’s list also.

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New team turns fortunes around at troubled home

By Dominic Musgrave BUSINESS is now booming at a Carlisle care home that was threatened with closure before it was taken over by its new management team.

So much so that work has recently begun on a new 32-bed extension at Croftfield, which had an embargo put in place before consultants Wright Care Home Solutions were called in to help two years ago.

Within four weeks of them taking over the running of the 22-bed facility the number of requirements had been reduced from 12 to three, its recommendations from 16 to zero, and its star rating increased from ‘poor’ to ‘adequate’.

Julie Roper, the home’s responsible person, who has been a keen figure in the home’s change of fortunes, said: “The foundations have been laid and we are all looking forward to the new state-of-the-art extension going up, which the builders hope to have complete by the end of the year.

“All of the new rooms will be ensuite, and there will also be new lounge and communal areas for the residents. We haven’t decided what to register it as yet. There has been talk of possibly dementia care because

Shopping mall opens at home ... for a day RESIDENTS of a Needham Market care home splashed the cash and went wild in the aisles when a shopping mall opened in their home for a day.

Wright Care’s senior operations manager Julie Roper with Croftfield’s acting manager Velda Jameson. there is a need in the area, but nothdial telephone, gramophone, books ing has been confirmed. on wartime, fashion, food, popular “The plan after that is complete is brands, and a replica WWII gasmask. to also upgrade the main building “The sweet shop is an extension of with a new laundry and kitchen.” that and also has its own traditional One of the home’s conservatories weighing scales. It has all been put has recently been transformed into a together to give the residents somereminiscence area complete with its thing else to do, and has been really own sweet shop stocking traditional well received by people living here.

There is definitely a difference in the favourites such as bonbons, sherbert atmosphere around the place.” dips, jelly babies, cough candy and The home recently celebrated marshmallows.

Dementia Awareness Week with a Julie added: “The reminiscence series of activities including making room has a lot of old things that the memory boxes and albums, tea residents’ families and friends as well dances, sing-a-longs, quizzes, paintas staff have donated. ing and drawing. Staff dressed up to “These a Singer sewing machine celebrate a different decade also. that I managed to pick up, a rotary

The event at Barking Hall included stalls selling clothes, jewellery, cards and cakes, as well as a pharmacy, to treat residents who are unable to take shopping trips into town.

Activities co-ordinator Heather Dadds said: “Even something as simple as being able to choose a card for a relative’s birthday means a lot to them, so this gave them that freedom for the day.

“It’s the first time we’d held anything like this so it was really positive to see a great turnout.

“We’ll be looking at doing similar activities in the future which will continue to benefit our residents.”

Home introduces cinema, sweet shop and tearoom AN old-fashioned cinema, sweet shop and tearoom are just some of the features residents at a Wiltshire care home are now able to enjoy.

Stratford Court in Salisbury, run by the Orders of St John Care Trust, has launched its new ‘Stratford Walk’ facility following an £80,000 redevelopment.

The seven-seater cinema at the 48bed specialist dementia home will screen classic films every evening, as well as showing a different movie throughout the day.

A former day care room has also been transformed into a tearoom that replicates a 1960’s cafe, while the

sweet shop will sell a selection of oldfashioned favourites – bonbons, jelly babies and humbugs – to help to evoke memories of bygone days.

The hair salon, run by relief carer Linda Wykes, is by comparison, gleaming chrome and leather.

Appointments can be booked for perms, shampoos and sets, or a simple trim.

The development was the brainchild of the group’s operations manager Colin Titcombe, who wanted to provide areas that have a meaningful purpose.

Service development director Diane Bowden said: “The new development

has been well received by the residents, and has also inspired other possible ideas for the home, including fruit and vegetable, newspaper and flower stalls.

“As an organisation we are committed to improving person-centred care for our residents, through a number of initiatives including life stories, reminiscence sessions and the creation of destinations of interest in our homes.

“We are committed to the reduction in the inappropriate prescription of antipsychotic medication in line with the National Dementia Strategy, and we have had great successes already

at Stratford Court.

“We have managed to remove all reliance on antipsychotics and we are also seeing a reduction in the use of night sedation and hypnotics.”

The grounds of the home have also been transformed, with four allotments, raised beds and a potting shed. An orchard has been created with several fruit trees, blackberry bushes and a grape vine. Residents will be able to use the produce to make pies and preserves to complement the range of garden produce grown on the allotments.

‘Stratford Walk’ was officially opened by the mayor of Salisbury.

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Creating activity ideas for residents…from your TV set RECENT feedback from broadcaster Sky has revealed that care homes across the country are increasingly using their television sets to conduct activities for residents.

Activities coordinators are taking advantage of the vast array of TV content available to create fun and stimulating ways to keep residents engaged. Sky TV offers a number of genres across its satellite TV subscription ranging from news to sport and documentaries to music and much more.

With the football season just around the corner, the Sky Sports channels provide a great opportunity to plan weekly quiz nights based around sporting matches which can be a great way to encourage interaction between residents.

Holding debate groups to discuss thoughts on specific documentaries from the HISTORY, Bio and Discovery channels can bring residents into the communal room for a bit of friendly banter.

Organising events around TV content is also proving to be a great success. Recent examples include the Royal wedding and the climax of the football Premier League season.

Creating a festive atmosphere by decorating communal areas, serving themed food and drink, and arranging activities can work together to ensure residents really get into the spirit and thoroughly enjoy the day.

Preparing weekly television schedules and signposting TV highlights for the week ahead for residents can provide them with choice, and is an

effective way to encourage residents to visit the communal lounges.

Feedback from care homes also suggests that Sky TV content offers additional benefits.

Showing TV in communal areas can help to establish friendships and companionship.

Residents could find they share similar interests through programming from NAT GEO WILD, Animal Planet and Sky Living.

Not only does TV content offer residents a great way to keep up to speed with world news and events as well as providing entertainment across various genres, it offers care home staff and management with a valuable resource to help plan activity filled days.

With the added bonus of a current price offer especially for care homes, now could be a great time to offer Sky TV to your residents

Newly-wed Jackie shows her wedding dress to residents THE newly married activities coordinator at a Warwickshire care home showed off her dress to residents who were unable to make the church ceremony.

Newly-wed Jackie Tudor, whose previous surname was Vernon, wore her wedding dress at Bromson Hill after returning to work following a honeymoon in the Maldives.

Most of the 40 staff attended the wedding, with care home nurse Jo Pomeroy preparing the flowers and colleague Jan Westerland doing the writing for the place settings at the

reception. Another colleague, Linda Edgar, was Jackie’s maid of honour.

Jackie, who has worked at the home for eight years, said: “I didn’t want the rest to feel left out – they’re like an extended family to me.

“I’d like to have got them all there but that just wasn’t possible. And they loved it when I walked down the staircase in my dress. About 14 of the residents waited at the bottom of the staircase and I went to the rooms of those who were unable to come downstairs. It sparked some nice reminiscing about wedding days.”

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The manager of a Shropshire care home is quickly making her mark on its running since taking over just three months ago. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Making ambitions and dreams come true ACTIVITIES and food are key issues at Hinstock Manor, as they are at most care homes.

Monthly residents’ meetings are held to discuss the running of the home, and Cheryl said they aim to please as much as possible.

She added: “In the life stories we do for the residents we ask them what ambitions and dreams they have and we aim to make as many as possible come true.

‘We have to draw the line at some but, for example, one resident liked barges so we took a trip out to the canal to see them.

We come up with a few suggestions and these and anything else the resident can think of are discussed at the meetings.

“The residents also have a say in what food they like to see on the menu. They still like the good old fashioned food that they would have cooked at home, but we do put pasta dish and the odd curry on as an alternative.”

Cheryl and her team ring the changes ...

CHERYL Harvey took the helm at the privately-owned Hinstock Manor in Market Drayton back in March, having previously managed two other homes.

And, since doing so, she has made a series of changes to the care plans and life stories to make them more personcentred and individual.

She told Caring UK that one of the first things she did was make Jess Jenkinson, who previously held an admin role within the home, her assistant.

“All of the care plans have been changed so they are all about the individuals and are person-centred,” said Cheryl. “The life stories enable us to know as much as we can about the person, and the head social worker at Shropshire county council has said she has never seen anything like them and is happy that any agency worker could deliver the care required just from the details we have on file.

“We have involved both the residents and their relatives in the entire process of putting these documents together

because it is key for us to know how the individual would like to be cared for rather than how we think they should be.”

An extension at the home, which more than doubled its size from 23 up to 51 beds, was opened last year by England’s 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

The home has also recently retained Investors in People status for its commitment to its workforce.

Cheryl added: “Following the opening of the new rooms the target was to be full within two years but, thanks to word of mouth, we have only four rooms remaining.

“My main job when I came here was to get everybody working together again as morale was pretty low because the staff had been without a manager for a few months and needed someone to give them clear direction of where they were going. Thankfully everybody seems happy now and are all working towards the same goal.

“We have such a good team and it is

Cheryl Harvey and Jess Jenkinson with their Investors in People certificate so nice to hear the residents and their relatives praise them when we ask them for their feedback.”

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Book full of recipes and memories A CARE group has compiled a cook book full of its residents’ favourite main courses, desserts and cakes.

All the recipes listed in Greensleeves Homes Trust’s ‘Residents Recipes’ book come with touching memories of childhood, parenthood and family gatherings.

They vary from traditional Welsh cakes, Victoria sandwich cake and cottage pie to more creative ones such as Marie’s Spanish omelette and Irmela’s sauerkraut.

The book costs £4.99, with all the profits going towards the wellbeing of residents across the group’s homes.

First aid training for home staff A SHERBORNE-based care home has recently held several first aid training sessions for its staff.

Southern First Aid Training initially ran a three-day first aid at work course for the staff at Eastbury House followed by a moving and handling workshop aimed at updating the staff in the use of specialised equipment, for example fabric turn tables, hoists, transfer belts and mangar cushions, as well as basic handling principles to help avoid staff injury, particularly back problems.

A Lincolnshire care home’s new sensory garden has been opened at a special ceremony. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Pam making everything in the garden rosy ...

THE new facility at Beckside in North Hykeham, on the outskirts of Lincoln, was the brainchild of care assistant Pam Edison-Franklin, and opened by mayor of the town Tony Hillier.

Manager of The Orders Of St John Care Trust run facility Vanessa Gill told Caring UK Pam came up with the idea for the transformation after attending a meeting led by the home’s dementia champion Cherry Treadwell.

She added: “Pam is really green fingered and decided she could do something with the courtyard, which had become overgrown and was rarely used.

“She drew the plans and when showing them to the residents asked them what their favourite flowers and plants were to make sure she included them in the garden.

“I told her to go ahead with it when she approached me and it has snowballed from there. She has spent hundreds of hours putting the garden together and, as soon as

Pam Edison-Franklin cuts a ribbon with resident Basil Priestley. she has finished a shift, she goes and gets changed and heads out there.”

The garden has become a major talking point for the residents, with some even offering to help.

Vanessa added: “One gentleman called Basil rarely used to leave his bedroom or join in any activity but once he saw what Pam was doing

he spent hours out there reminiscing about when he used to have his own garden.

“Others just enjoy sitting out there on one of the benches in the sunshine looking at the flowers and some of the other little features with an ice cream or a cup of tea.”

Work has now begun on turning a second smaller courtyard area into a seaside themed area complete with its own beach hut, while plans are also being discussed about what to do with an unused activities room.

“We want to turn it into a reminiscence cafe which will hopefully be manned by one of our volunteers and will create a nice atmosphere,” added Vanessa.

“Years ago it was used for activities, but we are now deciding what to do with it for the residents. We have also been in touch with the local arts college to see if they would like to get involved with the project, perhaps by creating a mural on one of the walls or something.”

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CARINGNEWS

Manager presented with award A CARE group’s regional vocational training manager received her award for excellence from the Duke of Edinburgh at a special ceremony held at Buckingham Palace.

Barchester Healthcare’s Lisa Di Fonzo was one of 100 people to be presented with a City and Guilds Medal Award for Excellence, which recognises exceptional work by learners and tutors through their contributions and efforts in their particular specialism.

Lisa was also recently awarded the Tallow Chandlers Award for excelling as a trainer in the healthcare arena and has also been put forward for a Lions Award.

Garden party MINISTER of state for housing and local government Grant Shapps got a taste of life as an elderly person when he joined residents of Hatfield Care Home for a Big Lunch-style garden party.

MP for Welwyn and Hatfield Grant Shapps was taken on a tour of the Sanctuary Care run home by group director for care and support Steve Wood, director of care Len Merton and manager Sally Kalaiarasu before helping launch a £60,000 minibus appeal.

Crockery change boosts eating habits in home THE manager of a Leeds care home says she has noticed a dramatic difference in the eating habits of her residents after changing the colour of the crockery.

Susan Barber, who runs Meridian Healthcare’s Amber Lodge in Leeds, changed the colour of the crockery for the residents who have dementia to red after attending a specialist training course.

She said: “I recently attended a dementia training course where it was brought to my attention that people with dementia often find it difficult to see light-coloured food on a white plate.

“The reason behind this is due to the visual confusion that can occur for people with dementia, which may result in a person having difficulty seeing similar colours together.

“The Alzheimer's Society has suggested solutions for this such as putting contrasting coloured foods together on a plate.

“Apparently brightly coloured crockery can produce profound improvements in nutrition, dignity, socialisation and the reduction of weight loss, amongst others.”

The benefits derive from both the contrast between the colour of the food on the plate – so that residents can see the food more clearly, resulting in eating more food and feeling confident about eating – and the contrast between the plate and the table, which enables people to clearly see the edge of the plate, allowing them to target food more easily on the plate thus eating more.

Susan added: “I can really see the difference in the eating habits of residents. It is amazing to see how such a relatively small change can make a big difference.”

Have you noticed an improvement in residents after doing something similar at your care home? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or telephone 01226 734407.

Resident Peggy Dent

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CARINGNEWS

The care sector has been giving its verdict on the long-awaited report into the way adult social in England should be funded in future. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Report calls for social care cost capping SOCIAL care costs should be capped so people do not face losing large chunks of their assets, the Commission on Funding of Care and Support recommends in its final report Fairer Care Funding.

Council-funded home help and care home places are currently only offered to those with under £23,250 of assets.

But the report by economist Andrew Dilnot which was commissioned by the coalition Government last year recommends the threshold should rise to £100,000 and a £35,000 lifetime cap on costs would be "fair".

Andrew said the issue of funding for adult social care had been ignored for too long, and that the report’s proposals would cost the State around £1.7billion.

“The current system is confusing, unfair and unsustainable. People can’t protect themselves against the risk of very high care costs and risk losing all their assets, including their house. This problem will only get worse if left as it is, with the most

vulnerable in our society being the ones to suffer.

“Under our proposed system, everybody who gets free support from the State now will continue to do so and everybody else would be better off.

“Putting a limit on the maximum lifetime costs people may face will allow them to plan ahead for how they wish to meet these costs. By protecting a larger amount of people’s assets, they need no longer fear losing everything.”

The report also recommends that: People should contribute a standard amount to cover their general living costs, like food and accommodation, in residential care.

An awareness campaign should be launched to help people understand the system and engage with it.

Carers should be supported by improved assessments which aim to ensure that the impact on the carer is manageable and sustainable.

The deferred payment offer should be extended so it is available to everyone, wherever they live.

Martin Green, ECCA chief executive, welcomed the report, saying the commission had done a great job in identifying that the current system is ‘broken’.

He added: “This report can redefine how we fund care for the next 50 years and it is incumbent on us all, whether in Government or in other stakeholder communities, to do all we can to ensure that its recommendations are implemented.”

But Anchor chief executive Jane Ashcroft said the question now is whether the Government has the courage to take on the recommendations.

She added: “Funding social care is one of the most serious issues facing our society today, with a current system which is so complex that it is almost impossible for people to navigate and consists of significant inequities.

“While a partnership approach, such as that suggested by the Dilnot commission, to funding care may mean greater costs for the

Criticism for Dilnot THE recently-unveiled Dilnot report has been met with criticism from several leading industry figures, who claim it will make no difference to the current funding crisis.

Frank Ursell, chief executive of the RNHA, welcomed the proposals in the report, but said the introduction of a £35,000 cap on individuals’ contributions will do nothing to solve the crisis that threatens to close hundreds of nursing homes across the country in the next few years.

He added: “We see two major, but unresolved, issues looming over the social care sector despite Dilnot. First, how are we going to close the huge gap between what local authorities pay for residential care and what it actually costs care homes to provide that care? Dilnot says nothing about that, other than to make a very general comment about more money being needed for social care as a whole.

“Secondly, how are we going to stop care homes going bust in large numbers in the next two or three years without an injection of extra cash by the Government, accompanied by a firm instruction to local authorities that the money must be used to plug the care home funding gap and not be diverted to other council projects?

“Again, Dilnot says little or nothing about this. From the point of view of an individual who needs care, it is good news that the Dilnot report has recommended that anyone with assets

worth less than £100,000 should now receive full local authority funding of their care costs. But that doesn’t help to expand the size of the funding pot itself. It simply reduces the financial burden on individuals.”

The criticism was echoed by Judy Downey, chair of The Relatives and Residents Association, who described the report as an ‘interim move’. She said there needed to be a ‘fight for a universal system’ where everyone pools the risk and which is available to us all when we need it.

“Most elderly people in care homes are there because they have serious health needs and it is outrageous that we deem it unacceptable to bear the costs of this insidious disease when we pay freely and continuously for other illnesses such as cancer and heart disease,” commented Judy. “The Dilnot proposed cap on contributions will only cover the ‘care’ element of the residents’ needs, it will not cover any ‘board and lodging’ and Dilnot estimates that these costs alone will come to £7-10K per annum.

“The state pension will barely cover this amount. This is hardly the Fairer Care Funding that we were promised.

“Additionally, the insurance proposals are doomed by the report itself – all previous attempts have failed – why should people be persuaded to take out insurance when they can’t or won’t save for their pensions?”

Jane Ashcroft Government, the figures quoted are a drop in the ocean compared to the billions spent on the NHS.” What do you think? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or ring him on 01226 734407.

What they said ...

“An important development from the proposals, if accepted by Government, is that they will allow insurers, banks and pension providers to offer products at affordable prices to meet care costs.

“This certainty should entice financial services companies to offer insurance to cover care costs – an important new market for such companies given the ageing of the population.

“The previous attempts to provide insurance products failed because of the high cost of such insurance policies, with what was an open-ended liability. The million dollar question is whether Government would seriously consider this proposal which does have a significant cost to the State and which will keep growing over time.”

Peter Gatenby, senior actuary at Mazars LLP, and advisor to the last government on long-term care “It is vital that the coalition government, having hosted this commission, listens to its findings and implements its suggestions.

“The speculation that the report will not receive official backing due to the financial cost is worrying – this would be a huge missed opportunity. Care funding is not a problem that can be swept under the carpet and not one that will go away.

“The Government must act now and ensure these problems are not simply passed on to future generations. There is not a care crisis yet, but we are on the brink of one if these recommendations are not carried through.”

Jonathan Bruce, managing director, Prestige Nursing and Care “In our evidence to the Dilnot Commission we proposed that board, lodging and hotel costs should be separated from care costs so the service user in paying their own board and lodging can choose where that is provided to suit their individual circumstances. We are pleased to see this is one of the Commission’s recommendations.

“We are concerned though that the report proposes at recommendation that £7K10K would be sufficient to meet all the costs of accommodation, food, laundry, activities, quality of life etc. We would think this is an unrealistic position to take.

There will be many areas that will have to be extensively discussed in the coming months but we are sure the report is a very good start, and that the public debate which will now ensue, will and must lead to a workable and affordable consensus.”

Nadra Ahmed, chairman, NCA

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CARINGNEWS

Will Andrew Dilnot’s report recommendations change anything?

By Leon Smith ANDREW Dilnot’s recently published recommendations to reform the funding of social care have been welcomed by most in the sector, as well as by government and the opposition.

The question of how to fund and provide social care to an increasingly ageing population is only going to become more vital over the coming years. After all, we currently have 750,000 older people living with dementia, and this figure is set to double over the next 30 years.

How we care for, and fund the care of, these older people must be addressed now, not in two, three or four years time.

The recommendations in Dilnot’s report certainly go far in proposing a realistic solution.

Capping the amount people will have to pay for their care at around £35,000 will reduce the risk of individuals having to sell their homes to pay for spiralling care, and allow them to plan for their future.

Crucially, the cap also provides the certainty needed to allow the insurance industry to offer policies that cover social care, which would never happen if the costs were openended.

However, caution is needed in overwhelmingly welcoming the proposals. Some elements seem to have been ill conceived with details lacking for various elements of the recommendations.

Firstly, the cap can be seen to give advantages to the very well off, for whom £35,000 would be a tiny proportion of their overall assets.

At the other end of the spectrum, Dilnot has proposed that if you have just £40,000 in assets you will still have to pay £9,000 towards your care – a whopping 22 per cent of your wealth.

Linked to this issue is the question

Leon Smith of family responsibility. A failure to take family wealth into account could spur accusations that the tax payer is subsidising the inheritance of already-wealthy offspring who could have paid for their parents’ care themselves.

It is also unclear how pensioners will meet the ongoing cost of accommodation, food and heating, which in my experience are likely to be far higher than Dilnot’s expected £10,000 per year.

Not to mention the £2billion commitment required from the Government to carry out the recommendations.

These are all details the Government must consider when drafting a social care bill in the near future.

Despite mine and other people’s reservations, the Government has the potential to transform the social care system for the better and finally create a system which is equitable and transparent.

It will be a tragedy if this once in a generation opportunity to reform the system is wasted or very few of the recommendations are acted on.

Leon Smith is chief executive of Nightingale care home

Royal visitor opens dementia facility HRH The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque to officially open a new dedicated dementia facility at a Surrey care home for former seafarers.

The Princess Royal Annexe at The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society’s Weston Acres sheltered housing and residential care centre near Banstead will cater for up to 36 residents suffering with the condition, and has been specifically designed to include features enabling care to be tailored to highly individual needs.

The home offers specialised dementia support from trained staff meaning residents don’t have to travel off-site to access care at hospital.

Other facilities included a sensory garden, which acts as a safe haven for residents to access fresh air, as well as hand massage and reflexology, proven to aid relaxation in dementia patients.

Memory boxes have also been installed by each resident’s room including items such as photographs, medals and trinkets to aid recognition and independence.

If you’d like to advertise in Caring UK contact our sales team on 01226 734333

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CARINGHOMECALL

The opening of a new £1.3m extension at a South Yorkshire care home marks a dramatic change in its fortunes over the last couple of years. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Extension opening signals dramatic turnaround WHEN Dhanus Ramdharry and Vijay Mootyen purchased Woodlands Lodge on the outskirts of Barnsley it had zero stars and the inspectorate were recommending it should be closed.

But the business is now thriving, and the new 20 en-suite bed development which also includes a kitchenette and communal bathrooms, has also created 20 new jobs for the area.

Dhanus told Caring UK that the transformation is due to a lot of hard work from the team.

He added: “When we first looked at buying the home the regulator asked us if we knew what we were doing because it needed a lot of work, and I wouldn’t have placed anybody in here myself.

“We have experience in running care homes down on the south coast in Bournemouth and Poole and in Rotherham and were confident that we could turn it around if given time.

“The residents that were living here

at the time were happy and the carers cared, but sometimes things were either not done or if they were then they weren’t recorded, which meant we had to change the care plans immediately.

“We also made the menus so they were more nutritious, and trained the staff so the care they were providing was more person centred. We also spent a lot of money upgrading the environment on furniture, carpets and equipment.”

Within five months of taking over, the CQC inspector gave the home two stars – the highest that could be awarded for new owners.

Dhanus added: “Whatever we do now is done in line with the new standards. I audit the home each month and from it we come up with an action plan from everything I have found.

“We only have a handful of empty beds remaining and next year or the year after we are looking at adding an extra 10 beds.

“After that we would look at

purchasing another home in the Barnsley or Rotherham areas if the right one came up. We looked at 20 or so nationwide before settling on this one and would only buy another after we had this one right because

you can only hold so much without losing your grip so we want to be careful.”

Funding for the new building was supplied by Santander Business Banking.

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CARINGNEWS

Home fined £100k after hoist fall death

By Christina Eccles A WALSALL care home has been fined £100,000 after an elderly resident died after falling from a hoist while being moved.

Irene Evans, 91, suffered head injuries in the incident at the Bupa owned Parklands Court Nursing Home, in Bloxwich on January 31, 2007. She died in hospital 10 days later.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard two carers at the Bupa Care Homes (CFH Care) Ltd operated facility, had placed Irene into a sling to move her from the bed to a chair.

While the hoist was stationary one carer turned away to pick up her slippers and the other was behind the mast of the hoist.

Irene fell forwards to the ground and suffered a five-inch wound across her scalp and bruising to her head.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation into her death found the sling loop fixings attached to the hoist were wrongly adjusted. A safety pommel, which would have prevented her from falling, had not been used.

The court also heard staff at the home had not received any informa-

tion, instruction or training in the use of the sling, the pommel or the sling loop fixings. The sling loop fixings were not recorded in the risk assessment or the care plan for Irene and there was no safe working procedure for the sling.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Amy Kalay said: “Mrs Evans’ death was a wholly preventable tragedy caused by unacceptable management failings on the part of Bupa.

“Managers of the nursing home failed to make an adequate assessment of the manual handling

requirements for this elderly lady who was in their care. In particular, they did not give the carers sufficient information, instruction or training on how to use the sling properly.

“Working in a care home is a specialised job, which involves dealing with vulnerable people.

“Care homes must ensure that they have the correct training in place for all their employees.”

Bupa Care Homes pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 costs.

Bupa offers sincere condolences TIM Seal, regional director for Bupa care homes, said: “This terrible accident should never have happened and we fully acknowledge that equipment was not used correctly, leading to Mrs Evans’ fall in 2007.

“Our nurses and carers carry out millions of hoist transfers every year and unfortunately, an error in this case led to tragic consequences. We are very sorry and

would again like to offer our sincere condolences to her family.

“It was acknowledged by the judge that we have a good safety record and take the welfare of our residents extremely seriously.

“All our nurses and carers are fully trained and we now also have additional checks in place across all our homes to ensure that procedures are being followed.”

Care provider accredited for a second time EAST Anglian care provider Healthcare Homes has been accredited by Investors in People for the second time, highlighting its commitment to its workforce.

More than 100 staff at the company’s 23 homes in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk were interviewed by an assessor, who noted that the company has a strong philosophy when it comes to people and the way they are supported and managed.

Chief executive Richard Clough said: “Our ethos has always been that people come first – both our service users and our staff. We are extremely pleased that our commitment to our workforce has been recognised by this reaccreditation by Investors in People.”

The assessor noted the company’s commitment to training and development, with staff encouraged to widen the scope of their roles when they demonstrate additional abilities.

Richard added: “It is very important to us to nurture our teams and ensure that their training needs are met wherever possible. The report also showed that we listen to our staff and take on board their ideas.”

Along with its 23 care homes, the company also looks after people in their own homes through its Manorcourt Homecare operation.

Datix

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The safety of residents has moved to the top of the agenda for care providers. This is the result of several factors, including public concern over the quality of care and increased scrutiny by the media, not to mention increasing regulatory oversight from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The case for investing in systems to help improve quality and safety remains strong. Having an IT system in place to enable the reporting of incidents and complaints helps care providers to demonstrate that safety is a high priority by showing that safety concerns are taken seriously and suggestions for improvement made by staff are acted on. This can make an important contribution to the reputation of your homes, as well as reassuring owners and investors that management processes and systems are working well.

In financially difficult times, an important point is that safe, high quality care costs less to provide than poor quality care. Safety reporting and management systems provide a rich source of information that can improve the quality of care.

Incident Reporting and Risk Management An online incident management system provides robust, automated risk management processes. All types of incident, near miss and potential incident can be reported, including falls, pressure damage, medication issues and quality alerts.

Incident management software can be made available via a web browser to all staff, contractors and even service users. Incident reports can be submitted from any home or site within a care home group and the input forms can be tailored to suit your organisation. The forms are designed to be as simple and quick as possible for staff who may not be proficient computer users.

Automated processes built into the software enable a rapid response and facilitate information sharing. For example, an incident that results in an injury can automatically alert key personnel and trigger a set of follow-up actions for a designated response team. It can also be raised automatically on the organisation’s risk register and result in the distribution of an internal safety alert.

Jonathan Hazan is Chief Executive of Datix, the incident reporting and risk management system most widely used by the UK health and social care sector today.

The Benefits One of the benefits of an automated system is powerful data analysis.

Managers can easily create reports that show, for example, a bar chart of the total number of falls at a particular home each month over a three year period. Another example is a report on the number and nature of complaints received and how quickly they were resolved.

This drives quality improvement through shared learning.

A culture of incident reporting followed by detailed investigations and action plans can contribute to the overall efficiency of an organisation.

This in turn will improve service quality and reduce operational overheads.

Finally, a committed programme of incident and complaint management can change the risk profile of a care provider, providing early warning of more serious problems and reassuring clients and staff that the lessons of incidents and complaints are acted upon.

For more information about Datix or for a demonstration please telephone: (0)20 8971 1971, Email: info@datix.co.uk or visit our website at www.datix.co.uk

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Over 500 applicants for jobs at new luxury home MORE than 500 people have applied for jobs at Pontefract’s newest privately owned luxury care home, its owner has revealed.

The £4.5m 64-bed Willow Park Care Home is being built on the site of a former pub, and has en suite bedrooms, plus a beauty salon, cinema, cafe, bar and multi-activity room.

Eric Dixon, who helped to build up what was one of the Republic of Ireland’s largest care home companies, Silver Stream, said: “With big care home operators under the spotlight at the moment we think it’s time for a return to a new breed of individually owned and managed homes where care standards, not profits, are the top priority.

“People want more choice and a bigger

say in how and where they spend their retirement years, and the standard of care they can expect.

“We are creating at least 60 jobs and we have had a flood of applications for them. While we have made a big investment in the home’s layout, facilities and furnishings, the real emphasis will be on the quality of care. Staff are what make the big difference and we are handpicking a team of experienced people and in putting a continuous training programme to keep standards high.”

A ‘transfer with ease’ scheme has been created to help potential residents move from other homes quickly with no extra costs. Eric added: “We want Willow Park to be part of the community so we hope people will call in to see what we can

offer, and that families will drop in for a cup of tea in our cafe, attend courses on dementia and other topics, and take an active part in care planning for their relatives. We aim to offer people all the comforts of their own home, plus activities for those who want them, all backed up by specialised 24-hour care and support. Not all care homes are the same and we want to show people that moving into care can be a positive choice rather than a distress purchase.”

Planned activities include race nights, film and popcorn evenings and Wii Fit sessions. The home’s management will also encourage local schools and groups to put on plays and musical events, and organise visits from groups such as Pets as Therapy.

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

In this issue: Home reopens

following £1m refurbishment Page 24

Provider makes

new appointment Page 25

Social care:

change if you want to survive Page 26

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CARINGCOMMERCE

‘Care home model Home reopens is outdated’ claims following £1m restructuring expert refurbishment

By Dominic Musgrave

THE traditional residential care home model is outdated and insolvencies within the health and social care sector are up almost half in the first six months of 2011, it has been claimed.

Fundamental change is essential for a sector burdened with expensive, uneconomic and overleveraged facilities, according to Sarah Bell, partner at restructuring experts MCR. She told Caring UK the sector business model has serious flaws as private companies look to maximise profits but at the same time reduce the levels of investment needed to provide the best possible care for the people in their care.

Sarah added: “Historically, an increasing ageing population, rising property prices and a steady flow of income from local authority contracts made care homes an attractive proposition for investors.

“Times have most definitely changed. The poor performance of some care homes stems partly from a series of miscalculations by owner operators and misplaced assumptions about sector dynamics.

“Reduced local authority fees, rising rents, a growing focus on alternative methods of care, an uncertain regulatory environment and increased operating costs are just some of the factors that have contributed towards the perfect storm that has landed in the care homes sector,” According to research, insolvencies in the health and social care sector are up by 49 per cent in the first half of the year.

Sarah said that as fee growth rates have continued to show signs of weakness, even the most efficient operators are now feeling the squeeze, with the pressure set to continue for the rest of 2011 and possibly into 2012.

By Christina Eccles

Sarah Bell “The Government has sought to reduce its sector spending by immediate fee reductions and a shift towards supporting the elderly to remain in their own homes for longer – domiciliary care and care in the community,” she added “This shift has created uncertainty in the sector and represents one of the most significant threats to demand for care home services. The changes already implemented by local authorities mean that the elderly are living longer in their own homes.

“The net result being that a smaller and more demanding number of cases make it into care homes; this in turn exacerbates the problem care home operators face by increasing operational costs and reducing total income.”

Do you agree with Sarah’s comments that the traditional care home model is outdated? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or telephone 01226 734407.

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A FAMILY owned Torquay care home has opened its doors following a £1m refurbishment.

The 28-bed Torre House is the third home run by GrayAreas Ltd, which also owns Mount Olivet Nursing Home, a high dependency nursing home, and Kingsmout Residential Home in Paignton, Devon.

It will cater for people who need general nursing care and act as a halfway house for those with dementia who can no longer live in a standard nursing home but do not require a secure unit.

Alison Homer, who will have dual responsibility for both Torre House and Mount Olivet, said the 19th Century building has been restructured internally to create larger, lighter rooms, which has seen the number of available beds drop from 32 to 28.

She added: “Reducing the number of rooms was a conscious decision as we wanted to significantly improve the living accommodation, adding en suites where possible.

“Restructuring has also allowed us to cater for couples to stay together too – we had our first enquiry from a married couple during the open day and we're hopeful for additional interest too.

“The kitchen area has been significantly improved and we have already started planning interactive cookery sessions- a really popular activity with residents.”

A colour consultant was recruited to oversee refurbishment of bedrooms and communal areas, choosing a palette that would make it easier for dementia patients to find their way around.

As well as internal works, the courtyard garden has also been transformed, and includes raised flower beds.

The home is currently operating with approximately 10 members of staff, but when the home is fully occupied, levels will rise to about 40.

Is your care home undergoing a major refurbishment? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or telephone 01226 734407.

DC Care has completed the sale of Royd Hill Nursing Home near Keighley on behalf of Jeremy Frost and Patrick Wadsted, joint administrators of Frost Business Recovery, Croydon. Following a formal administration appointment, the firm marketed the 46-bed care facility nationally and gained good interest from established care operators. The home was acquired by a local medium sized care organisation for an undisclosed sum.

Summit launches at Show MORE than 1,500 professionals from across the care sector are set to join forces this October to collaborate and share best practice at the London Care Show 2011 Taking place at Olympia on October 11 and 12, key speakers include Alan Rosenbach, special policy lead at the CQC, Julia Barrand, older people’s impact officer of the RNIB and Fiona Scott, specialist intermediate services dietician of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Highly regarded industry suppliers will be on-hand throughout the show

to demonstrate the latest innovations in the care sector, including apetito, Boots Care Services, Savills Healthcare, DWA Architects and Shackletons.

Exciting new developments include the Care Show Summit, which will showcase new content exclusive to London, as well as live cooking demonstrations and nutritional advice in the show’s Live Kitchen.

Care Show London builds upon the success of the recent Care Show Birmingham in June at the NEC, which saw over 1,600 professionals in attendance.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Provider makes new appointment ONE of the county’s leading care providers has appointed AECOM’s Davis Langdon to expand its programme manager role.

The five-year appointment will see Davis Langdon become a delivery partner for driving Care UK’s ambitious plans to to develop at least 30 new care homes across the country over the next five years.

For the past four years, the company has worked with the provider as employer’s agent, cost manager, quality monitor and health and safety consultant on a number of projects including the recently opened Harry Sotnick House specialist dementia nursing home in Portsmouth.

The expanded programme manager role includes the provision of strategic programme management, procurement and supplier engineering management and running the centralised programme management office.

‘No threat of closure to homes’ A NEW operator has been identified for a group of four North West homes that went into administration, it has been claimed.

Kerry Bailey, who works for PKF, a firm of accountants and business advisers, told Caring UK there is no threat of closure to the Grosvenor Care (Cheshire) Limited homes – Grosvenor Hall, Grosvenor Mews, Clumber House and Peel Moat, which employ more than 150 people between them.

Specialist care home management company Krissimon Care Ltd has been appointed by PKF to assist them in continuing to operate the care homes with the appropriate standard of care to all residents being maintained.

Kerry added: “There is no threat of closure to the homes. A new operator has already been identified which will secure the long term future for the staff and the residents. A capital improvement program was entered into by the company, which meant that some rooms were closed, cutting income at a time where there is wider economic pressure on other costs.

The care homes have all been visited and assessed as to quality and standards of care. All residents, staff and relatives have been sent notification and will be kept fully informed. The intention is to manage the care homes to ensure that residents suffer minimal disruption.”

Kerry said steps have been taken to stabilise the trading position and lines of communication have been opened with the relevant regulatory authorities.

Bill Roarty

Bill heads up new home CARE UK has appointed Bill Roarty as manager of Heather View, its new home for older people in Crowborough, East Sussex.

A registered nurse, he has more than 30 years’ experience working in various roles in both NHS and independent care homes.

During that time he has worked in partnership with health commissioners, environmental health and social services quality monitoring teams and Primary Care Trusts, to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of nursing homes in the south east. A supervisor of student clinical practice at Surrey University, Bill has also studied Dementia Care Mapping at Bradford University.

Heather View will open shortly to provide residential, nursing and short break care for those who are physically frail and who have dementia.

Jan Wilkins has been appointed the manager of Riversway Nursing Home in Bristol. She will have overall management responsibility for the 69 residents, staff and the Springhill Care Group owned home itself. Jan will also lead the development of the home ensuring it complies with the necessary policies and procedures set by the CQC.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Social care: change if you want to survive

By Roger Harcourt THE very public demise of Southern Cross has shone a powerful light on the problems being experienced by many operators in the social care sector.

Recent nationwide surveys have reported instances of local authority fee reductions of up to 10 per cent. Combined with increased staff, food and energy costs, upward pressure on rents, a desire to provide better person-centred care, irrecoverable input VAT increases and an ever growing regulatory burden, these fee reductions mean that some operators are facing a perfect storm.

The stress on the system is particularly acute in elderly residential care, where an over supply of beds in some areas together with increased competition from social and domiciliary care providers, has also lead to declining occupancy levels.

The result? A near 50 per cent increase in care sector company insolvencies, with sometimes tragic

consequences for care home residents, and many other operators in urgent need of a way to reduce operating costs.

But it isn’t all bad news. There are ways of improving revenue and cutting back costs without jeopardising standards of care.

Operators of elderly residential homes should consider whether a re-registration to provide some specialist care is appropriate.

For example, a re-registration to facilitate the provision of dementia care can significantly bolster both occupancy and fees, without requiring comprehensive operational or premises restructuring.

With appropriate assistance a reregistration process can be completed from start to finish in just eight weeks; even with the CQC creaking at the seams.

A typical problem for the smaller operator is the lack of an effective staff infrastructure, which can lead to inefficient and therefore costly working practices. It can also expose the operator to all sorts of unnecessary risks such as

inadequate staffing ratios, staff undertaking tasks for which they haven’t been properly trained, an abdication of responsibility by individuals, insufficient care record keeping, low morale and high staff turnover.

A well thought out organisational infrastructure, properly implemented, can resolve all of these issues. Upon closer examination we find that the key elements are: A properly planned staffing rota.

Empowering staff members to do their jobs well and take responsibility by specifying clear job descriptions, working practice policies and ensuring training is provided where needed.

Implementing robust and effective reporting lines (including outcomes validation).

This isn’t rocket science of course but running a care business is so intensive that sometimes it’s difficult for operators to step back and see the wood for the trees.

It can even seem counterintuitive to do so; particularly when

Roger Harcourt you’re working 24/7 trying to weather the storm. But the requirements and dynamics of the care sector are changing and some operators will need to change to survive.

Roger Harcourt is a partner at Shakespeares law firm and head of Shakepseares Healthcare.

Banks rubber stamp £36m of new investment CLYDESDALE and Yorkshire banks have rubber stamped more than £36m of new investment in six separate care home projects in the first half of 2011.

Yorkshire Bank projects include a £5m, 68-bed dementia unit for the elderly in Birmingham for Absolute Care Homes (Central) that is expected to create 160 jobs when it opens next year. £7.2m has also been made available to Prime Life Developments Limited for a 137-bed care village near Market Harborough that will create more than 150 jobs, while £3.3m will enable Belle Vue care home in Middlesbrough to build a 43-bed extension that will require 40 new staff.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks’ senior partner for healthcare, Derek Breingan, said the successful customers provided strong applications. He added: “The healthcare sector is a key market for Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks and we are committed to both understanding our customers’ needs and

providing them with specialist support as we help them realise their ambitions. Our own research suggests six out of 10 healthcare businesses will be seeking fresh investment this year and we are here to help turn those plans into reality.

“Collectively the money will see 455 new beds open up to patients in need, while also creating up to 530 jobs. Common to all the developments is an ambition to grow and more importantly to provide valuable services to local areas.”

Clydesdale Bank is supporting Consensa Care Ltd to create more than 100 extra beds across its four homes in Stratford, Manor Park and Plaistow in East London and Ilford in Essex. It has also agreed a funding package with Avondale Care Scotland Ltd as it diversifies its service offerings to include a comprehensive day care service and care at home support programme.

The family-run firm is also planning to build a new care home to add to the three it already owns in Fife and Falkirk.

Group purchases fourth home A NOTTINGHAM-based residential and nursing home group has purchased its fourth home with a £3.9m loan from Barclays Corporate.

Established in 1985, ASHA Healthcare is managed by a mother and son team, Sarojnee and Shane Mahadoo, and was one of the first

care providers in the UK for people suffering with dementia.

The latest acquisition, Kirkby Manor, is a purpose-built facility with 40 beds for older people with mental illness and joins the portfolio which includes Camden Care Home and Forest Manor.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

New package hastens moves to development

By Christina Eccles POTENTIAL buyers interested in a new extra care development in Carlisle will no longer have to wait until they have sold their own home before moving in thanks to the launch of a new package.

Smooth Move has been set up by Eden Housing Association and Allan Estate Agents to help people immediately enjoy the benefits of living at Heysham Gardens.

They can move in and pay rent until their property is sold and they are able to buy their new home. The package also includes payment of estate agent fees and help arranging removals.

Steve Hardaker, from Allan Estate Agents, said it was launched to address a concern identified by potential home owners.

He added: “Unlike traditional housing developments where properties come and go on the market quite quickly, this development is unique.

“As ‘lifetime homes’ we don’t expect much movement, so it could be years before there is another opportunity to buy.

“That’s why we wanted to make sure people could make the move now, without worrying about selling their own properties in time.

“This package helps them keep 100 per cent control of the process with all the benefits of living at Heysham Gardens straight away.”

He said the package has already successfully been used by three of the first home buyers, and has activated numerous enquiries from people who were concerned about the logistics of selling and moving home at the same time.

Essex care home to bring 40 new jobs THE construction of a 60-bed care home in Essex is expected to create 40 new jobs, its owners has announced.

The Moat House is a long-established facility, currently housed in an 18th Century rectory, on the fringes of Great Easton, near Great Dunmow.

Retirement Villages Ltd’s multimillion pound new facility on the 10 acre site will offer a range of communal facilities for use by residents, staff and guests. It will offer residential, nursing and dementia care

under one roof.

Residents of the current Moat House will be moved to the building over the summer, and new residents will be welcomed from September.

The current 31 staff will also transfer to the new home, and a further 15 jobs will be created immediately including nursing, care and support staff. More vacancies will arise as residents move in.

Work on the site has taken around a year, with Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haslehurst laying the foundation stone last autumn.

Retirement Villages has acquired its 13th retirement community – The Priory, a village of 43 apartments and cottages in South Devon. The company has bought the whole of the issued share capital of Clennon Management Ltd for £540,000. The development has a gross development value of £8.5m.

It follows closely behind Retirement Village’s £13m purchase of Avonpark near Bath seven months ago from Care Estates Ltd.

Glorious 12th for company GOLD Care has opened its 12th home in Sidcup.

The purpose-built 60-bed Baugh House offers residential dementia and nursing care in two separate units, and within the nursing unit is a special six-bed higher needs facility.

The company has used the same team of builders, architects and interior design and furniture

manufacturers who handled a similar project for them in 2009 in Welwyn.

Manager Maggie Candy said: “The new home uses light and space to create a positive environment for the residents.

“All rooms have full length windows, and the ‘Jardiniere style’ bedrooms have direct access to the garden.”

An artist’s impression of the new home

Turf cutting ceremony at new £1.5m home AN official turf cutting ceremony has taken place at a new £1.5m residential care home in Exmouth.

Brandon House Residential Care Home, which they acquired in 2000.

Sheridan House is a design and build project undertaken by Midas Construction and comprises three upper storeys with en suite accommodation for 24 residents and a basement with dining room, kitchen, offices and recreational facilities.

Their work there has been recognised by becoming finalists in the National Independent Specialist Care Awards in 2011.

It will be run by John and Wendy Marsh, who already own and manage the nearby award-winning

Designed by Pearn and Procter Architects and due for completion next March, Sheridan House has an internal void as part of its design forming an inner atrium with a large skylight visible from the ground floor.

Banks are ‘keen to lend to right care home operators’

By Dominic Musgrave THE future is bright for the small, independent care home sector over the next year and banks are keen to lend to the right business people operating them, it has been claimed.

This was the conclusion of Marcel Bradbury, solicitor at Adams and Remers at the Home Truths seminar hosted jointly by the firm and Chandler at Co in Brighton.

The event was attended by the owners and managers of care homes across the south east and covered the legal, financial and regulatory issues which they should be aware of and compliant with.

Marcel warned, however, that existing home owners need to ensure they have all the correct paperwork in place and they keep it up to date.

He added: “The care home sector is one of the few which banks are keen

to lend to at the moment, but it is vital if the banks are going to finance the purchase of a care home or refinance an existing deal for them to see a whole range of issues have been covered and it is really important for owners to get on top of this and to stay on top of it.

“Lenders are not keen, however, to lend money for the purchase of homes with a low occupancy level or regulatory problems.

“Prospective buyers should therefore consider a leasehold arrangement where they are able to take over the home and make the necessary improvements with a contract in place to allow them to buy the property after a couple of years.

“They should also consider lender’s preferences for accommodation to be single rooms with en suite facilities, which will over the next few years see the need for many smaller homes to make significant structural changes to provide this type of accommodation.”

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Conference series proves very informative and thought provoking “IT was an excellent day providing an ideal opportunity to chat to exhibitors about new products and services and listen to presentations on a number of relevant topics”, said John who manages a home for 35 older people near Reading.

He’d attended one of the summer series of conferences organised by Caring UK in association with MJM. Others who’d been at events in Southampton and in Kent as well as two in the west country, were similarly pleased that they had been able to listen to top quality speakers, at a venue ‘closer to home’.

Just as research suggests that people would rather access good quality health services in their own locality, rather than being forced to travel to major cities for highly specialised treatment, so also busy managers prefer to minimise the cost and distance they have to travel for high quality conference presentations, opportunities to discuss their needs with trade exhibitors, and to meet colleagues dealing with the same local authorities.

John’s view was echoed by Becky, who was especially keen to comment on the presentation on the ‘My Home

Tom Owen

Des Kelly

Gillian Dalley

Life’ programme.

She said: “I would like to thank you for the conference … it was very informative and thought provoking.

Having been a registered manager for 10 years and then stepping into my current role with the same company I found the talk from Tom Owen wonderful – it took me straight back to being a manager in a home and all that it entails but also reminded me of what I am trying to achieve now by having that experience.

“I would love to share his

presentation with my managers of the seven homes I oversee, just to tell them that that they are doing such a fantastic job and are highly valued if nothing else.

“It brought back some fantastic memories of events in my home which I still miss to this day.”

With care continuing to feature in the media for all the wrong reasons one of the objectives of the conference series is to present managers with a graphic reminder of so many of the good things they can

lay claim to in transforming clients’ and residents’ lives.

The My Home Life programme does that very effectively, and Becky’s comments have been passed back to them to ensure that they know that they are ‘hitting the spot’.

Delegates had many questions on CQC’s planned ‘excellence’ scheme, and commission staff who attended and presented on this topic left with no doubt about the breadth and depth of concerns felt by owners and managers.

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CARINGDEMENTIA CARE The grounds of a new state-of-the-art dementia unit at a London care home include a Morris Minor car, bus shelter, and traditional telephone and post boxes. Dominic Musgrave reports.

£6.5m dementia unit based on latest research THE Prince of Wales recently unveiled a plaque to officially open the Wohl Wing at Nightingale, which is named after Maurice and Vivienne Wohl.

The design of the £6.5m 40-bed facility is based on the latest research from Stirling and Bradford Universities and, alongside private en-suite rooms, the building has clear, lit pathways and communal activity areas.

Chief executive Leon Smith said special attention has been paid to colour schemes, fabrics, artwork, lighting and signage.

He added: “We realised a number of years ago that the future of care is very much dementia, and we are increasingly aware that it is the main reason people move into our home.

“We have six different units here, and at least five have people living with dementia on them. The accommodation in one of the residential dementia units is not really appropriate, which is why we took the decision several years ago to build a purpose-built one.

“It has taken a lot of research and two years of planning, but hopeful-

The Morris Minor car in the grounds ly next month the building work will finally be finished and we can start to move residents in.”

Special focus had been made to the grounds of the home, which Leon believes are as good as any care home’s nationwide.

He added: “We have had a dementia specialist design the outdoor areas, and we think they are as good as any. They are also accessible to all.

“He has created a number of areas with things to do for the residents such as a barbecue, potting

shed and water features, as well as a lot of other things to be used for reminiscence such as the car.

“There is a sound system fitted so that when the resident presses a button they hear recordings of bird song or of the sea. We also have a play area for the grandchildren to play in when they come to visit.”

Leon hopes the new unit will be full within a few weeks. A five-year refurbishment programme of other parts of the home is then expected to commence.

Treat Week marks event THE UK's second largest not for profit care home provider marked Dementia Awareness Week by organising a Treat Week for its residents who suffer from the condition.

All of the Orders of St John Care Trust’s 72 homes nationwide took part in the celebrations, with treats ranging from going out for a cup of coffee in town to having their favourite meal cooked for them in the home. The company’s service development director Diane Bowden said: “We received a number of fantastic ideas for treats across our homes including dancing lessons, personal shopping assistants for the day and an Elvis impersonator to entertain residents.”

Mayor opens unit MAYOR of Wigan Michael Winstanley officially opened the ‘Langtree’ dementia care unit at CLS’ Greenacres care home in Standish.

The facility, which is one of 10 specialist wings operated throughout Cheshire, Warrington and Wigan by the charitable care services group, has been developed to improve the area’s provision of quality care for people with the condition.

The first dementia household at Greenacres, the 12-bed Langtree occupies a separate wing of the care home, containing its own kitchendining area and lounge.

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New dementia care plan allows person to remain at home Claire Storey, Denise Litchfield, Kelly Reaney and Bev Coulton receive their awards at a special ceremony at Prior Bank.

Staff pass advanced training course FOUR members of staff at a Sheffield care home have been recognised for their work in promoting best practice in dementia care.

Team leaders Claire Stoney, Denise Litchfield and Kelly Reaney from Anchor’s Prior Bank and their catering business support manager

Bev Coulton have passed their advanced dementia training course.

Created by the nationwide care provider’s specialist dementia care team, the course is designed to promote best practice and teach carers how to apply this in their work.

A new website has been set up to offer advice to support carers of people who suffer from dementia. Battle Dementia has been created by activities organiser Gareth Rowlands to suggest an appropriate approach to the use of activities that could be attempted to improve their quality of life. It is also designed to support those who look after people suffering from dementia day-in, day-out and at night in their own homes or as carers in residential and nursing facilities.

A HOMECARE provider has launched a new dementia care programme that enables the person being looked after not only to remain at home, but also to retain self-worth.

The comprehensive and holistic elements of The Good Care Group’s Expert Dementia Care Package mean that a proactive, fully individualised care plan is employed to optimise quality and enjoyment of life for the person for whom care is provided.

Head of care strategy Zoë Elkins said: “There is much more to caring for the person with dementia than ticking boxes and implementing a set care plan.

“Over three-quarters of the people we look after are living with dementia, and we are dedicated to providing a highly personalised livein service which fully reflects the client’s emotional and physical lifestyle needs.

“We believe the Expert Dementia Care Package will further enhance our offering. It puts the person with dementia firmly at the centre of care activity, with all aspects of care assessed against need and delivered to be in step with the individual’s pattern of life.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure ongoing emotional well-being and the best possible quality of life. The

person we look after is always carefully listened to and is always the one to lead the way.”

With the Expert Dementia Care Package, an initial, comprehensive assessment of the person requiring care is conducted by a senior care expert, who talks to family and friends about all areas of the person’s holistic needs and how dementia is experienced and manifested.

The individual’s GP may also be consulted about aspects of healthcare and medication. The senior care expert talks to the person with dementia informally but at length, to begin to gain an understanding of the person’s likes and dislikes, moods, and behaviour patterns. The family are also consulted in order to build a detailed profile picture of the person’s past.

For the first month of care, the senior care expert works closely with the professional carers to fine tune the care provision. At the end of the first month, the bespoke care package is fully reviewed.

Subsequent reviews follow at threemonth intervals, allowing care to be adjusted to suit the changing needs of the individual.

Central to each care plan is an understanding of the SPECAL Photograph Album and its associated methodology.

Group supports findings BRADFORD Dementia Group, based within the University of Bradford’s School of Health Studies, supports the recently-published interim findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s ongoing enquiry into the quality of care of older people in their own homes.

The group has a reputation for developing techniques which improve care for people living with dementia, and has sought to undertake groundbreaking work in this area.

Over the last two years they have developed Dementia Care Mapping

in Supported Living, a tool to support domiciliary care workers and improve services to people living at home, which has directly led to improvements in care delivery.

DCM-SL was originally launched in 2009, following a pilot with Lincolnshire county council’s home support service, into the acceptability of using DCM in a person’s own home.

This pilot was extremely successful and the group has now developed a version of the tool for use in peoples’ own homes, based on their widely used Dementia Care Mapping tool.

Software designed to help communication DIGITAL Reminiscence Therapy Software is a unique tool designed with carers, residents and visiting family and friends in mind to help those with dementia.

It has carefully chosen digital media content from an extensive library of archive photographs and videos alongside interactive entertainment such as sing-a-longs quizzes and games.

DRTS is designed to enhance communication with people who have dementia and the elderly, allowing the carer to engage, communicate and interact in an effective manner.

Home carer Jane received the software to use with her dad, who has dementia.

She said: “Every time we met I could see dementia was slowly destroying dad’s ability to make sense of the world. It was painful to see.

“When using the DRTS we switched to the pictures of places and dad leaned forward to look at a picture of a high street. He pointed at a motorbike parked against a pavement and I pressed the image to enlarge it.

“He smiled and turned to me. “It’s an Indian Brave,” he said. “It’s got a fabulous sidecar and it’s what I brought you out of hospital in when you were born. Mum had you on her knee and she had to hold an umbrella over you so that you didn’t get wet on the way home.”

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Success for group’s dementia care pilot scheme NEW methods of caring have dramatically increased the well-being of people with dementia in a group’s care homes, it has been revealed.

Care UK conducted the groundbreaking pilot across nine of its specialist dementia homes and a day centre in Surrey, using evaluation criteria based on research from Bradford University in order to measure residents’ moods and levels of interaction. Results included a 40 per cent improvement in the wellbeing of residents.

The company’s head of service design Karen Morrison and her colleague Maizie Mears-Owen drew up a plan that centred on promoting residents’ independence through creative, homely and stimulating environments and developing staff awareness of what it is like to live with the condition.

Karen said: “We had created a strategy for improving the experience of people with dementia in our care homes but, before we spread the best practice across our homes, we wanted to rigorously test what we were proposing.

“We had already done a great deal of work on dementia and our policy of activity based care is working well throughout our homes. We felt we

could do more to make the lives of those with dementia more contented and fulfilling.”

Any staff members who have contact with residents – including those working in offices and kitchens were encouraged to attend the one-day training programme.

During the nine-month period incidents against members of staff dropped by 40 per cent, with those involving other residents falling by almost a quarter. Residents also enjoyed greater mobility and better sleeping patterns.

“We benchmarked at the beginning of the project,” Karen added. “We then used skilled ‘mystery shoppers’ to measure perceptions of the homes. They looked at the quality of the environment, how happy they would be to have a relative cared for within the home and the attitude of staff.

“Maizie used observations to measure well-being before the project started and at the end. She observed residents for an hour at a time, marking at five-minute intervals their level of engagement and mood.

“She also carried out both sets of observations in the same rooms at the same time of day to ensure the results were comparable.”

Maizie Mears-Owen with a Care UK trainee

Are you meeting CQC guidelines?

CQC regulatory guidelines for meeting nutritional needs states inspectors have to check people are being offered choice. “Look for people being given choice i.e. using pictures.”

The vca menu board and menu cards which contain 106 different images of dishes are a proven communication tool. There is evidence that providing people with images of food at meal times will stimulate their appetite, and demonstrate that you are offering your residents’ choice.

The boards are handmade with your company’s logo added free of charge. The cost for the board and cards is £165.95 plus VAT and post.

Enquiries: Visit www.visualcommunicationaid or telephone 01937 558426.

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The owner of a homecare agency has been named Lancashire businesswoman of the year at the annual Be Inspired Business Awards. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

New companion service unveiled by care group Elaine with her award

Agency boss Elaine ‘utterly stunned’ by award win WHEN Elaine Brady left school with no qualifications, she took up the offer of any job that would pay the bills, from working in factories to cleaning pubs.

When she became employed with a care agency, she had found a line of work she was passionate about, and her enthusiasm and an unwavering commitment to achievement has resulted in her becoming managing director of the Oswaldtwistle-based Willowbrook, and its 230 employees.

Speaking about her award success at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom, she said: “I was utterly stunned and in shock when they announced my name. All the team were cheering and clapping around me but I couldn’t move.

“It is absolutely unbelievable. I have put everything I have into creating a business I can be proud of. All Willowbrook’s employees want to do the best for our customers, and to be recognised for that is very humbling.”

Having been made redundant from the care agency, Elaine knew she wanted to continue to provide care to those that needed it most.

It was at this point she considered setting up her own business, only for the bank manager to look at her like she was ‘daft’.

With little business knowledge or

IT skills, which resulted in her enrolling herself on a course entitled ‘how to use your mouse’, the first year was a steep learning curve for Elaine, but she says she soon found her confidence and mixed her new-found business acumen with her own instincts to drive Willowbrook forward. Her ethos on developing talent has seen employees progress through the ranks year-on-year.

“When I first started the business, there were difficult obstacles to overcome, as with any start-up,” Elaine added. “But I didn’t let them interfere with my aspirations and I still have to pinch myself now when I realise how far I have come.

“My mother was a carer and her principles and old school standards are central to the working culture we have at Willowbrook, she’d have been so proud to see me pick up the award. She is the one person that drove me forward to be the best I can be.”

In the 11 years the business has been running, Willowbrook has completed four acquisitions of other care agencies, secured itself as one of Lancashire County Council’s preferred domiciliary providers and been certified as a City and Guilds training centre.

A CARE group has extended its domiciliary care offering by unveiling a new service aimed at alleviating pressure on nursing home staff.

The new facility being offered by Canford Healthcare Group, which runs Pentlow Community Care and Ashridge Community Care as well as several care homes, allows homes in Bexhill and Eastbourne to out source a ‘companion service’ on a flexible basis.

If successful, the service, which employs 50 carers, is expected to be expanded out to other regions in the south east.

Leigh O’Hara, manager of Ashridge Community Care and brainchild of the new scheme, said it has been welcomed by the nursing home community generally.

She added: “For home managers, it isn’t always practical to have staff accompany residents on outings or appointments.

“Carers do an amazing job but are so busy so what we are offering is an extra pair of hands with the clients to offer them what they want to do.

“They may not be able to go out much otherwise so what we are offering them is independence – a part of life clients thought they could no longer do when they moved into a nursing home we can help them continue to do.”

Requests include everything from shopping trips or going out to lunch to visits to the dentist or general days out to the beach or nearby tourist attractions.

Leigh added: “The key thing we always try to get across to other nursing homes is that this is not a way of us encroaching on what they

Manager Leigh O’Hara are doing.

“Some may think we are wanting to poach their clients, but this is not an underlying reason for us doing this as we are run as a completely separate service to the nursing homes.

“For those people living in their own home what we offer is much more than a general care company that goes in to make a cuppa and give them medication.

They have the consistency of seeing the same carer each day so build relationships.”

Agency increases training time A SPECIALIST live-in care agency based in Suffolk has unveiled plans to increase the length of its induction training to above the national minimum standard.

All Christies Care care assistants will be required to complete a minimum of five days’ training on the company’s induction course before working with clients.

Training manager Alison Hawkins said: “We firmly believe comprehensive care can only be provided by fully trained care assistants, which is why we have increased our minimum

training standards.

“We use our induction training to cover a range of subjects including medication, nutrition, adult protection and first aid; and our care assistants are taught through a range of practical and theoretical sessions.”

Alongside the initial induction training, Christies Care has also invested heavily in its bespoke training department to provide indepth courses so it can successfully introduce carers to clients who may have severe physical disabilities, dementia or a learning disability.

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CARINGNEWS Sam Gompels is a logistics professional with a wealth of experience in global buying for the care home sector. He built up Gompels Healthcare Ltd to provide a specialist service to buyers of everyday disposables and, over the last few years, has introduced and developed its own brand Proform.

Sam Gompels

Take time to learn about the products you buy WITH so many thousands of products on the market for everyday consumables in care homes, it may often be the case that the buyer makes a purchase based on what is easiest to order, what information happens to be in front of them at the time or what delivery is most convenient.

In a fast moving, click ordering world, it’s tempting to ignore the realisation that some products are undisputedly designed to make you use more and therefore need to buy more.

But a savvier buyer foraging in the disposables market will know, for example, the real value of folding paper towels in various ways.

Dispensers may hold a C-fold, Zfold or a V-fold. Have you ever considered how the different ways of folding a paper towel may impact how easy/difficult they are to draw out of the dispenser?

Will one folded into three be easier to draw out than one folded in a ‘C’ that may pull out several others with it? How many do people need to use each time they dry their hands and how many do they actually draw out of the dispenser?

Perhaps your care home is loyal to a specific brand of laundry soap and, whether it’s one measure or two, you buy because you’ve

always bought the same. Next time you refresh the stock, take time to check out one or two competitive brands.

Take specific note of the number of washes – some of the cheaper ones may seem like bargains because packs hold more, but they may use a measure that is twice the amount of a more expensive brand. The price per load can vary considerably.

Have you ever compared the tops of toothpaste tubes? Some have a distinctly wider opening which is specifically designed to assure more paste is squeezed out each time. Work out how much more might be used and then how long it might last compared to one with a thinner opening.

Bearing in mind that up to 10 per cent of toothpaste is thrown away because it’s hard to get out the last bit from the tube, then it’s certainly worth considering how far the other 90 per cent can stretch.

A good supplier will, of course, respond to the demands of the market, so it’s down to the careful scrutiny of the customer to keep product designers and marketeers on their toes.

Sam Gompels is managing director, Gompels Healthcare Ltd

PR guru attends awards PR CONSULTANT Max Clifford was the special guest at the inaugural Hertfordshire Care Providers Association’s inaugural gala awards.

Seventeen awards were given on the night at the ceremony at Sopwell House, St Albans, which celebrated outstanding hard work and care in the private, independent and voluntary sector.

Winners (North Hertfordshire): Homecare worker – David Sapstead (Crossroads North); dementia care worker – Joe Robinson (Roebuck Nursing Home, Stevenage); ancillary support employee – Peter Woolnough (Flexible Training, Letchworth); team leader – Ashling Turner (Halcyon Days, Graveley); registered manager – Angela Bowes (Westbourne Residential Care Home); apprentice – Hayley Day (Stevenage). Mid Herts: Nurse – Francesca Harvey (Oak

Cottage Residential Care Home, Hatfield) and Kate Ciapala (Sanctuary Care, Hatfield); internal trainer – David Nicholson (Sagecare, Welwyn); learning champion – Lynne Simons (St Andrews Care Home, Welwyn); activities organiser - Katie Beaver (Benslow Management Associates, Tring). South Hertfordshire: Support worker for learning difficulties and mental health – Ann Claydon (Walsingham Residential); volunteer – Sister Sheila O’Reilly (homeless person’s charity Open Door, Bushey).

Other awards: Small care business – Burleigh House (Baldock); large care business – Forest Care Village (Borehamwood); team - DRUM (Watford); external trainer – New Generation Services (Kings Langley).

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Party for home’s third centenarian A PARTY has been held at a Cambridgeshire care home for its third centenarian.

Dulcie Cornwell, who has been at Home Close in Fulbourn since 2009, joins 103-year-old Winifred Saunders and Joyce Westcott, who also celebrated her 103rd birthday recently.

Home Close, which is owned by East Anglian care provider Healthcare Homes, will also hold celebrations when another of its residents, Elsie Morley, turns 100 in October.

Staff also recently threw a party in the gardens of the home to celebrate the opening of a new extension, which has included the addition of four new en-suite bedrooms, a large lounge, new bathing facilities, a medication room and a larger staff room.

Arty celebration A SOMERSET care home held an art event to celebrate its opening.

A group of West Somerset artists had been invited to stage an exhibition of paintings, prints and ceramics in the newly built teaching rooms at Somerset Skills and Learning. Eleven pieces of art were purchased and donated to Croft House, with additional private sales being made.

The new owner of a Lincolnshire care home says he has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by moving into the sector. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Amrit fulfils ambition with purchase AMRIT Kharia, who has previously run successful convenience stores and other properties, has purchased the 31-bed The Willows on the outskirts of Bourne.

The award-winning home had previously been run by the same owners for 22 years, and Amrit said he doesn’t plan any major changes to the way the care is delivered.

He added: “Buying a care home is something I have always wanted to do as I have always enjoyed providing a service and there was something about the sector that always appealed to me in terms of being here to make a difference.

“I always used the same criteria of how would I feel if I put my parents in here when I viewed them, and I would be more than happy for them to live in here.

“I want to make the home to be what the residents want to meet their needs. Every business you get into is hard work but this one is more mentally challenging, although I am enjoying meeting new people every day.”

London-based Amrit purchased the home through property specialists DC Care, and says one of the first things he did when he got the keys was to have a massive clearout.

He added: “I’m sure the previous owners knew where everything was but we threw away a lot of things so

we now know where everything is kept.

“We are also more focussed on activities for the residents, and have recently put a new drugs administration system in place.

“Apart from looking at what extra training is available and whether we can do tasks more efficiently I don’t envisage changing anything to the staff.

“There is always a bit of unrest when a new owner comes in, but this home has been running successfully for 30 years and there must be a reason for that.”

Amrit plans a few cosmetic changes in the near future, while long-term

he is looking at buying further homes.

He added: “I want to give the home a fresh feel, and would like to purchase more homes should the right opportunity arise in future.

“I’m not tying myself to one particular part of the country but I have a good relationship with my bank and they have supported me throughout with this.

“One of the big things I have noticed about dealing with the finances is that they ask for experience, but my argument is how do you gain experience if you are not given the opportunity to do so.”

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CARINGNEWS

UK’s largest care operator plans ‘orderly closure’

By Dominic Musgrave THE UK’s largest care home operator is to close after landlords owning all 752 of its sites said they wanted to leave the group.

Shares in Southern Cross were also suspended as the group announced it was taking steps which will lead to an “orderly closure”.

The group, which has 31,000 residents, was suffering from a decline in local authority fees and an increasing rental bill.

Chief executive Jamie Buchan said all payments to trade creditors were to be maintained and all home-based staff transferred on their current terms to ensure continuity of care to residents.

He added: “My objective, and that of my team, is to continue to provide excellent care to every resident and to manage the programme of transition professionally.

“All 44,000 staff can take pride from the significant operational turnaround and improvements in care delivery which have been achieved over the past two years.”

A statement added that once the restructuring period is over it anticipated it will “cease to be an operator of homes.”

Chairman Christopher Fisher added: “The process of change on which we are now embarking involves considerable effort on the part of our management and staff and their commitment and loyalty is much appreciated.

“We anticipate that the period of uncertainty which we have been experiencing will now draw to a close. We regret the loss of value which shareholders have experienced.”

ECCA chief executive Martin Green said the care of those living in the Southern Cross facilities is the most important thing at this time.

He added: ““When the situation has stabilised we must look forensically at what were the underlying causes of this business failure and, through intelligent commissioning and appropriate resourcing, we can ensure a vibrant and sustainable social care sector.

“Residential provision has the potential not only to deliver longterm care, but also to support subacute and reablement services. The future must be about proper funding and a dynamic and responsive business model that bridges the interface between health and social care.”

Three residents of Ivelhurst Nursing Home in Yeovil and their carers visited the Feme Animal Sanctuary in Chard and, despite the bad weather, enjoyed a day with the farm’s animals. The mini-bus for the day was provided free of charge by Somerset Freemasons.

Sunshine activities mark Midsummer Magic at homes RESIDENTS and staff at more than 40 of a group’s homes celebrated midsummer with a range of sunshine activities and raised funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Events held at the Caring Homes Group’s facilities included barbecues, film afternoons, lighting Chinese lanterns and growing and painting sunflowers.

Midsummer Magic is the third of six themed occasions in the ‘HomeEvents 2011’ programme that

provide an opportunity for all residents and staff in each home to come together and take part in an array of interesting and enjoyable activities.

For the themed events, the activities coordinators are given activities guides providing a range of different games, crafts and pastimes people can become involved in.

Future events include ‘Autumn Gold’ in September and ‘Forget Me Not Month’, which coincides with Remembrance Sunday.

An 89-year-old care home resident’s dream to see one of her many mystery fiction novels turned into a stage performance has come true. Gwendoline Butler, who lives at Edgbaston Beaumont, has written more than 70 books under her pseudonym Jennie Melville and, with the involvement of local theatre group Loose Wires, ‘A Receipt for Murder’ was performed at the care home. It was funded by a grant by the Barchester Foundation’s ‘Make a Dream Come True’ initiative.

‘Me’ time treats for carers DELIVERIES of cupcakes, sweets and takeaways and visits from icecream vans were some of the treats laid on by a care provider to mark National Carers Week.

Carebase, a group of 10 homes in the South East and East Anglia, used the annual event to

thanks to staff for the work they do.

Managing director Nicola Coveney said the treats, which also included massages and a chocolate fountain, were designed so that every carer experienced a little ‘me’ time while at work.

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Equipment helps residents to stay active

Blackpool hotel is accessible to everyone

BEING healthy could reduce the risk of developing dementia in later life, according to a report published in the online journal Neurology.

A study in Canada of people aged 65 and older found that adults who were generally healthy were less likely to develop dementia than those with health problems, and the risk increased in relation to the number of medical complaints.

Fitness expert Lappset Playworld (LPUK) offers equipment that allows residents to stay active, maintain coordination skills and balance, and have fun.

65 Plus inspires users to be playful and challenge their bodies and senses, while LifeTrail, suitable for users aged 50 plus, helps to improve functional fitness including carrying out daily tasks.

THE New Mayfair Hotel in Blackpool is run by local company Safehands.

Breaks start from £99 for three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast with live entertainment. Transport is available to bring guests door to door.

Any type of care can be provided from around £11 an hour – which matches social services rates – and means disabled guests can holiday with or without their carers.

Marketing manager Anthony Williams said: “Our hope is this hotel will be the first of many. We had shopped around elsewhere, but when the New Mayfair came on the market, we knew we had the basis from which to create a bespoke hotel which reflected all our care values and was fully accessible – at a sensible price.”

Delivering cost reductions for over 30 years PROVIDING outstanding performance every time, the Incomaster™ from Haigh has been delivering cost reductions, energy savings and helping to fight against infection for more than 30 years.

Delivering real and measurable benefits to both you and those in your care, our highly efficient and user friendly Incomaster™ delivers outstanding performance for the simple and hygienic disposal of incontinence pads and nappies.

It disintegrates them into a suitably fine pulp and flushes the material to a standard drainage system, meaning no storage, no smells and no mess.

Designed for simplicity, it is easy to install, low maintenance and fast – processing four small or two large pads in less than two minutes.

Saving you money, there are no costly collection services and low running costs – only mains cold water is required with a minimal amount of electricity.

Tony awarded certificate SPECIALIST furniture provider Shackletons has strengthened its management team as assistant operations manager Tony Render has been awarded an ILM First Line Management Certificate.

The company operates advanced lean manufacturing techniques at its factory in West Yorkshire and first line managers need strong organisational and decision making skills.

Tony, who joined Shackletons 17 years ago as an upholsterer, is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to continuous professional development.

Sean and Emma Cassidy with Bruce Bradshaw and Mick Stanley.

Event looks at key topics THE Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were the topic for a Leeds conference organised by NetworkCareUK. Speakers for the morning event held at Leeds Metropolitan University for care home owners and managers included Bruce Bradshaw, who until recently was the regional lead for the Department of Health based at York.

He was joined by South Yorkshire based Mick Stanley, whose many roles include MCA/DOLS project

manager and a member of the Yorkshire and Humberside MCA/DOLS regional implementation network. He is also a safeguarding manager, an approved mental health professional and best interest assessor.

The pair gave expert guidance and information about the implications of the new CQC requirements in relation to the acts, and also provided an action plan as to how they can meet the new requirements.

Family members influence home choice claims report MORE than half of operators say family members have a major influence on care home selection, a survey has found.

The poll, run by award winning frozen food supplier apetito in association with Caring UK’s website, reinforces the importance of residents’ families in both the initial selection process and ongoing positive recommendation to others.

The research found there are many factors influencing the choice of home, but food is high on the list and is the second highest complaint category.

Lee Sheppard, apetito care homes divisional manager, said there are options available hat can help care home operators provide a more efficient catering solution, often at reduced cost.

He added: “One thing we have found is that, when people move into A company that writes care management software is not normally what you would associate with Sir Richard Branson’s prestigious Fast Track 100 awards, but that is where the LNT Group found themselves.

After a massively successful year not only did they appear at number 28, but the team also walked away with the prize for the Fast Track 100 best management team.

Coolcare2 allows care home operators to have a full and realtime view of all aspects of a care home from a carer’s time sheet to whether a resident has had the right medicines at the right time.

Lawrence is pictured with LNT Group development director Andrew Long.

a care home, they like the reassurance of eating the same meals they enjoy at home.

“As part of the apetito group, many meals provided to care homes share the same recipes that a new resident may have ordered from Wiltshire Farm Foods while at home.

“It is a fact much appreciated by family members. Our range consists of 200 main meals and desserts, and all our menus meet NACC nutritional standards and CQC guidelines and cover a wide variety of dietary requirements, including diabetic, low fat, gluten free and soft and pureed meals.

“In particular, the ground-breaking range of soft and pureed meals have been a major success. They look and taste like traditional food and solve a difficult problem for care home residents who find it difficult to eat or swallow (dysphagia).”

Leeds physio firm responds to needs POSITIVE Positioning is an independent training and physiotherapy consultancy based in Leeds. Physiotherapist Gill Arnett established the firm in 2008 in response to the growing need to prevent problems such as difficulty with social interaction and pain arising from poor posture in sitting and lying positions.

The bespoke, relaxed, fun, interactive, on-site training is offered to health professionals and carers who have no medical training.

When a body starts to be asymmetrical the risks of pressure sores and breathing problems increase and these can be improved with some simple postural management techniques.

The health and comfort of the carers is important when assisting residents, so manual handling training enables staff to assess risk and apply safe techniques.

On completion of competencybased training, staff feel confident in all techniques and are aware of their own and the residents’ safety and comfort.

Bath specialist unveils Ascot FS AFTER the successful launch of the Ascot 1600, Gainsborough Specialist Bathing unveiled the Ascot FS at the recent Birmingham Care Show.

It is a variant of the Ascot but with a fixed seat transfer, and has been designed in response to customer feedback.

Dennis Goodes, international sales and marketing director, said: “It is that level of customer involvement and feedback that drives Gainsborough Specialist Bathing onward to become the largest manufacturer of specialist baths in the UK.”

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Homes receive awards for end of life care CARE homes nationwide have been recognised for the end of life care they provide The Gold Standards Framework training programme is the biggest and most comprehensive scheme to improve care at the end of life.

It was set up to enable residents approaching the end of their lives receive the care they want where they want it.

It aims to protect them from inappropriate hospital admissions and increasing their chances of dying in their preferred place of care – the care home.

Brunelcare’s Glastonbury Care Home was one of the facilities to be awarded Beacon status.

Joy White, the home’s manager, said: “We have always prided ourselves on the excellent care we have provided our residents.”

More than 200 homes have been

recognised since accreditation started three years ago, while more than 2,000 have taken part in the training programme.

This time around the first two in the Wirral have gained Beacon status.

Representatives from both Elderholme and Red Rocks nursing homes attended the International Society of Advance Care Planning and End of Life Care Conference, held jointly with the GSF annual conference, in London to collect their awards.

Heather Ward, manager of Elderholme, said: “GSF has helped us formalise this and take our care to the next level, ensuring that residents enjoy their lives, receiving high quality care they want in their chosen place right up to the end.”

Among its key aims are full integration of advance care planning for every resident, to clarify their needs and preferences, and better training

in communication skills, dementia care and dignity – conserving quality of life and care in the final days.

St Bartholomew’s Court in Huyton is another home to receive Beacon status.

Consultants

Fitness equipment

Signs

Alarm Systems

Occupancy specialist

Mini Coaches

Transport

Deputy manager Joanne Knowles said: “This award reflects that care and the hard work of all the staff at the home.

“Our residents are not just that – they are our family. Getting Beacon status is the icing on the cake.”

Computer Software

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Global can help with home sale or refinance ARE you thinking of selling? Or, considering refinancing or developing your care home?

Specialist healthcare brokers Global Business Finance can offer you both these services, and what’s more you’ll be delighted by the competitive nature of this firm who have 21 years’ experience in the care sector.

It is owned by a care home owner who can fully understand your issues and provide swift effective solutions.

If you wish Global to sell your home for you by introducing a suitable and financially vetted buyer from their

database, then the selling fee is a market leading 1.95 per cent of the agreed sale price paid at completion, with no up-front charges.

If you’re wanting finance then there is no fee charged. Global are paid by the lender and therefore the brokers do not charge you a fee.

With loan schemes of up to 75 per cent of value and interest rates of variable base plus two per cent for funding that creates jobs then using the specialist services of Global can maximise your purchase and development potential.

Urbane for a fresh contemporary care home IN A break from tradition an increasing number of care homes are choosing a more contemporary image for staff with Grahame Gardner Scrubwear.

The Urbane Scrubs collection is proving particularly popular as it offers great fresh styles and a bold colour palette, perfect for brightening up the care home environment.

Urbane Scrubs has been developed specifically with women in mind, offering flattering tailoring to complement the female form and design detail such as contrast trims.

Grahame Gardner has recently reviewed and enhanced their operational procedures, reducing lead times and significantly increasing stocks on key colour combinations perfect for care homes.

In addition to the stocked colour choices, alternative combinations are available as special imports. Non-stocked colour requests will be shipped in to order from Grahame Gardner’s US partners. The firm also offers alternative ranges of scrubwear; Gg scrubs and Easiephit.

Enquiries: Visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk or telephone 0116 255 6326.

Sherbourne by Mosaic MOSAIC by Skopos offers a comprehensive range of truly expert fabrics designed specifically for the technical demands of the healthcare sector.

Sherbourne, the new collection of contemporary classics, brings together weaves and prints in a serene yet homely collection of designs.

Elegant stripes and damasks, combined with a floral trail and layered classic motif, provide numerous drapery and bedding options. Mosaic’s new upholstery chenille – Contour - co-ordinates perfectly, to bring more luxury to the interior.

The modern, progressive colourways draw on the extensive gardens of some of our most cherished stately homes and the more classic colourways are inspired by their stunning interiors.

This combination of drapery print and weaves are all manufactured using inherently FR, washable furnishing fabrics – perfect for public areas and bedrooms, and the demanding cleaning regimes of nursing and care homes.

Mosaic by Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and, as the healthcare division of Skopos Design Ltd, Mosaic has over 30 years’ specialist experience.

Enquiries: Telephone 01924 465191 or visit www.skoposdesignltd.com

A Pudsey care home held a party to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of its residents.

Alice Grimshaw has lived at Musgrave Care Home for the past five years, and as well as receiving a telegram from the Queen, the staff also funded a buffet and entertainer for her. Alice is pictured with some of the staff.

Beaucare launch shower head cleaner BEAUCARE® Medical Ltd - the UK’s premier supplier of hygiene, medical supplies and equipment to individual care homes, care home groups, hospitals and NHS Trusts - has launched a new shower head cleaner.

It is the ideal product to be used within cleaning and disinfection regimes in hospitals and care homes.

Research suggests that water systems in such premises are at higher risk of contamination, principally affecting those who are susceptible to diseases as a result of age, illness, or suppression of the immune system.

In particular, shower heads can be a breeding ground for potential bacteria and fungi growth including Legionella.

Our product includes disinfectant and descaler to kill bacteria growth or build up within the shower head.

We have an extensive hygiene and janitorial range providing a solution for all purposes, ensuring high levels of cleanliness and infection control.

Enquiries: Call 01423 878899, email service@beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

Electrolux training event for Barrier Laundry Systems WHEN the Health and Social Care Act 2008 was updated in October 2010, a new code of practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance was introduced.

Good laundry hygiene is critical when conforming to the new code of practice, and having the right equipment in place can significantly enhance the prevention and control of infection.

As experts in Barrier Washers, Electrolux Laundry Systems can give you and your establishment peace of mind by providing the best defence against the spreading of microorganisms and cross infections. Keeping linen clean requires excellent and consistent practice and discipline.

ELS is holding a training event on barrier laundry systems at its head office in Luton on September 13 between 9.30am and 4pm.

It is specifically aimed at care home groups, healthcare trusts, facilities management companies and architects involved in laundry design.

Enquiries: Telephone 08444 631 260, email julie.fell@electrolux.co.uk or visit www.electrolux.co.uk/laundrysystems

Simple solutions

DATIX is the leading supplier of patient safety software for healthcare risk management, incident reporting software and adverse events.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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