Caring uk August 2023

Time running out to enter CUK Awards Campaigners lobby Labour to save care

CAMPAIGNING providers have called on Labour politicians to adopt their five-point plan to save social care.

The Independent Care Group has sent a copy of its Five Pillars for Social Care Reform to Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Shadow Social Care Minister Liz Kendall.

They have already sent the document to Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Social Care Minister Helen Whately.

The document sets out how the ICG believes the care of older and vulnerable adults can be rescued from its current crisis.

The five pillars are:

n Ring fence a percentage of GDP to be spent on providing social care to those who already receive it and the 1.6m who can’t get it.

n Create a unified National Care Service, incorporating health and social care.

n Set a National Minimum Wage per hour for care staff on a par with NHS.

n Set up an urgent social care task force to oversee reform.

n Fix ‘fair price for care’ tariffs for things like care beds and homecare visits.

ICG chair Mike Padgham said:

“We are reaching a pivotal moment for social care in this country and we need politicians to sit up and take notice of the situation that is

unfolding before us.

“Following a very positive and constructive meeting I held with the shadow Labour team back in March, we have set out what we believe are the priorities any new government would need to do to sort out social care.

“We have sent our Five Pillars document and a support document to the Labour politicians in the hope of informing their policy in the coming months.

“We are coming up to political party conference season and we have a General Election possibly next year – we have to start shaping the dialogue on social care and coming up with some plans for a fresh start.

“We have set out our Five Pillars document as a talking point to get the ball rolling and to stimulate conversations with politicians who need to come up with a proper, sustainable, costed plan to reform social care.

“For the next General Election, we need to see how the main political parties are going to get care to the 1.6 million people who currently can’t get it; tackle the 165,000 vacancies in the sector; properly recognise and reward our excellent workforce with better pay and conditions and find the extra 445,000 care staff we will need to cope with rising demand, by 2035.”

Weather presenter, event host and voiceover artist Emma Jesson will host this year’s Caring UK Awards on Thursday December 7, Caring UK is delighted to reveal. Frequently recognised for her sunny “Bye Bye” sign-off, Emma is a popular face of ITV Weather, one of the longest serving weather presenters and one of the friendliest personalities on TV. Emma produces and presents news features and is particularly at home in her wellies presenting countryside programmes for the network. She regularly hosts racedays, ‘empowering ladies’ gatherings and a number of community events, as well as various charitable events and light-hearted ladies’ nights. Nominations for this year’s event open on Monday, August 28th. For more information visit https://www.caringukawards.co.uk

EXCITEMENT is building for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s Caring UK Awards the best one yet.

Nominations for the 2023 event close at noon on Monday, August 28. The awards evening will celebrate excellence throughout the industry, with trophies in 20 categories up for grabs at the glittering ceremony taking place on the night of Thursday, December 7.

Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester – where host Emma Jesson will reveal the lucky winners.

Awards include Regional Care Home of the Year, Care Employee of the Year and Activities Team of the Year. Other categories include Best Innovation in Care, Best Outdoor Environment and Care Employer of the Year.

Previous winners have reported an increase in profile and positive media coverage.

Event director Dominic Musgrave said: “Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we have received so far from homes up and down the country.

“If you’ve not entered your care business yet then I would urge you to do so sooner rather than later.”

To enter visit www.caringuk awards.co.uk/nominations

Social care providers in Yorkshire & The Humber

needs

Join

strong, united voice

• Improved pay and conditions for social care staff on a par with the NHS

• Greater recognition for social care providers and improved quality care

• A unified National Care Service

• A voice for unpaid carers

• Barnsley Independent Care Home Providers Association - kirleescareassociation.co.uk

• Bradford Care Association - bradfordcareassociation.org

• Hull and East Riding Care Association - theherca.co.uk

• The Independent Care Group (North Yorkshire and York) - independentcaregroup.co.uk

• Kirklees Care Association - kirkleescareassociation.co.uk

• Leeds Care Association - leedscare.co.uk

• Sheffield Care Association - facebook.com/sheffieldcareassociation

Join one of them today - we’re stronger together! The official voice of social care providers in Yorkshire and The Humber www.yorkshireandthehumbercareassociationalliance.co.uk Your local care association

Maddie set for medicine degree thanks to home

A MEDICAL student is set to take a place at university thanks to her experience at a Norwich care home.

Maddie Robert took a gap year after her A levels to work on her application to join medical school and pursue a career in medicine.

Without any experience in healthcare, she took the positive step of approaching Black Swan Care’s Heathcote care home.

Maddie said: “I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in medicine but realised that I had no experience of working in healthcare.

“I felt that I needed this to support my application to medical school. I know that elderly people make up a significant proportion of the people treated by the NHS, so it made sense for me to work in a care home to gain some experience with this.

“I approached Heathcote care home in October and was warmly welcomed by the team at the home, especially the residents.

“I’ve learned so much working alongside the whole team at the home. I’ve been brilliantly supported, including the opportunity to work closely with one of the GPs who support the home.

“This has given me a much better insight into a career in medicine.

“I am very grateful to have joined such a supportive team who have been so welcoming and given me the confidence as a young person new to the role, and an aspiring medical student.

“Their belief in me meant that by January and February of this year, I felt confident enough to attend my university interviews with a far better knowledge about elderly care within the community, all gained from my experience at Heathcote.

I’m delighted that thanks to this experience, I secured three offers for medical school placements and have accepted my place at the University of Birmingham, where I will start my studies in September.”

Heathcote manager Sylvie Ames added.

“From the day since Maddie literally knocked on our door looking for work in a care home, we have all been supporting her with gaining experience, giving her the chance to learn all the different aspects of a care home.

“We’ve seen her confidence grow and watched her develop and learn new skills which will all help with her future plans.

“We have watched her mature into a lovely kind young lady and we are all very proud of how well she has done.

“She will be greatly missed by all staff and residents at Heathcote, and we wish her every success with all she does in the future.”

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

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Maddie with Heathcote resident Jean Blanchard.

New group of carers strengthen alliance

A NEW group set up to help and improve social care delivery across the Yorkshire and Humber region is taking a huge step forward.

Campfire songs bring generations together

AN evening of traditional campfire songs and entertainment has brought generations together as Ashton Manor care home in Lancaster welcomed 10 Guides from the 6th Morecambe pack in Torrisholme.

Residents of the home operated by Evermore Care enjoyed a trip down memory lane, being treated to hot chocolate and marshmallows and singing songs together with the visiting Guides who were fulfilling a promise to serve their community, a pledge Ashton Manor manager and Guide leader Joanne Tyson herself made back in 1989.

She said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity to share my passion for care with the younger generation, and also share my passion for Guiding with the residents of Ashton Manor.

“I know that many residents enjoyed reminiscing about their own experiences of Guiding and Scouting, which was really special to see, and their storytelling definitely inspired our visiting Guides.”

“With growing up in the area, I have a lot of passion for engaging Ashton Manor with the local community and this event is a great example of why I love working at Evermore.

“The team here are equally as passionate about enhancing the experience for our residents with activities and events that bring people together and engage the community we are part of.

“We really pride ourselves on our person-centred philosophy, and so we are very pleased that the evening was a great success.”

Members of Yorkshire and The Humber Care Association Alliance are signing up to a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging to work together to improve care.

The memorandum is built around four principles which will guide what the Alliance does: Dignity, Collaboration, Confidence through Integrity and Courage.

The Alliance comprises Barnsley Independent Care Home Providers Association, Bradford Care Association, Hull and East Riding Care Association, The Independent Care Group (North Yorkshire and York), Kirklees Care Association, Leeds Care Association, Sheffield Care Association and Wakefield (Independent Sector Liaison Group).

Each represents dozens of individual care providers, from the private and not-for-profit sectors, looking after adults with physical, sensory or learning disabilities, people with mental ill-health, and older people. This includes care and nursing homes, home care services, shared lives schemes and retirement communities, extra care facilities and day care.

Two members of the YHCAA have just become Board members on the national Care Association Alliance, an umbrella body for care associations across the country.

Independent Care Group chair Mike Padgham and James Creegan, CEO and Chair of Kirklees Care Association, will speak for the Yorkshire and Humber region on the national body.

Mike said: “We are delighted to be signing up to this Memorandum of Understanding and taking another vital step forward towards bringing our organisations closer together for the benefit of all care providers in our region and the thousands of people who rely on us for their care and quality of life.

“This Memorandum and our representation on the national Care Association Alliance cements us as the only recognised, official

representative care bodies for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

“At this time, when social care is under such unrelenting and unprecedented pressure, it is vital that, as a sector, we speak with a united voice and fight together for improvements to social care.”

The Alliance’s overall aim is to provide leadership, help, support and advice to its membership, share best practice and work with care commissioners, including local authorities and NHS bodies and other partners to improve the quality of life of those living with a care need.

It will work on things like improving fees for providers, helping providers get access to training for staff, informing regional and national care policy by sharing information and trends, lobbying and building greater awareness of social care and care providers.

James added: “With this strengthening of our connection, we look forward to adding more organisations and building this regional voice for social care providers and those who receive care.

“Our promise is to bring the worries, issues and challenges facing social care providers to the attention of regional and national decisionmakers and to lobby for actions that will improve the sector.

“The four principles will be at the forefront of everything we do. We will strive to give people dignity and a good quality of life, to work together and support each other towards that aim, to work with integrity and to work with courage, to challenge the status quo.”

James Creegan (left) and Mike Padgham signing the Memorandum.

Walfinch home care’s team is celebrating after being named as winners of the Revolutionary Franchise category at the inaugural Disruptive Franchise Awards 2023. The Disruptive Franchise Awards were organised by Jo Middleton, founder of Franchise Business School and the ceremony took place at The Oxfordshire Hotel in Thame. The awards were founded to recognise franchisors, brands and franchisees who had positively disrupted the UK franchise industry either by offering a new approach, strategy, product or service. Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO of Walfinch, said: “We are honoured to be named as the revolutionary franchise of the year. As an ex franchisee myself I understand the challenges in the sector, and I’ve been keen to develop a business which revolutionises both care and franchising.”

Staffing remains our biggest challenge

GETTING enough staff to fill our shifts and provide care remains the biggest challenge.

But that message simply isn’t getting through to politicians at Westminster who continue to show very little grasp of the problems facing us.

Figures from Skills for Care in July showed a slight improvement in recruitment, with one per cent growth and a fall in the number of daily vacancies from 164,000 to 152,000.

Some good news and proof that things are heading in the right direction, perhaps.

But those figures are just masking a huge problem and a recruitment timebomb that nobody seems to care about.

Whilst the improvements are welcome, they are nowhere near the sort of recruitment figures necessary if we are going to find the extra 445,000 social care staff we will need to cope with rapidly increasing demand for care, by 2035.

And those improved figures released by Skills for Care were bolstered by 70,000 staff recruited from overseas. Without them the figures wouldn’t be looking quite so rosy.

Evidence, were it needed, that overseas recruitment remains vital to the sector as we all fight on a daily basis to find the staff we need for care and nursing homes and domiciliary care.

When the New Conservatives called for overseas recruitment of care staff to be halted, as part of a reduction in immigration, they showed a complete lack of comprehension of the struggles facing social care providers.

They seemed to think that, at the drop of a hat, we could just end overseas recruitment and instantly find queues of willing new social care recruits on the corner of every street.

It was also telling that the Government didn’t

come out and defend overseas recruitment after the New Conservatives made that suggestion.

The reality is we need to recruit, and we need to do it from home and abroad.

Overseas staff are contributing enormously, not just in the vital care they are providing but in the cultural diversity they add to our workplaces.

We need to keep recruiting them, as long as that recruitment doesn’t harm the supply of care staff needed in the countries they are coming to us from.

But most importantly we need reform in social care that will make working in the sector more attractive, wherever you come from.

We need to see a whole new way of thinking about social care staff, a new respect and recognition for

what they do.

And that needs to be reflected in a complete overhaul of their pay, terms and conditions.

In short, they need parity with their counterparts in the NHS – people who are doing for the most part very similar jobs but for significantly different reward.

The simple truth is that message isn’t really cutting through to the Government.

There was precious little mention of social care in the much-trumpeted ‘biggest NHS reform in its history’ announced some weeks ago.

The promise of more new recruits in the NHS will be welcomed by everyone, but the NHS long-term workforce plan will be flawed if its isn’t matched by similar attention to the social care workforce.

The two need each other and without a properly functioning and effective social care system to run alongside it, the NHS will be operating with one arm behind its back.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Age UK warned that 900,000 people a year were being admitted into hospital as an emergency because there is a lack of community care available to keep them healthy and well at home.

And at the other end of the chain, hundreds of thousands cannot be discharged from hospital again because there are no care packages available to look after them.

Headline-grabbing promises of more doctors and nurses – a bit like more bobbies on the beat – are designed to win votes and inspire confidence in a government.

But if you don’t tend to the other, less visible but just as vital care providers, you are betraying a vulnerable sector of the community who deserve better and that certainly won’t get my vote.

Event helps home raise loot for residents’ fund

THE WILD West came to a Runcorn care home when residents and staff donned their 10-gallon hats and mounted their (inflatable) horses. The garden at Simonsfield was decorated as a saloon, with maintenance man and sheriff Simon Ireland serving barbecue food to patrons.

Entertainer Will Malone sang country and western themed songs throughout the day, staff rode their inflatable steeds for a horse dancing competition, and everyone joined in for a line dance.

Games such as dice sevens and cactus hoop toss also added to the theme, alongside a tombola, raffle, name that teddy competition and cakes made by the kitchen team.

Halton Sensory Services attended the event to showcase their services, information service Sure Start to Later Life had a stall, and Dolly Ladies showed their comfort dolls and teddies.

The event raised £103 for the residents’ fund, which contributes towards activities and outings for those living at the care home.

In his latest in a series of regular columns, care provider Mike Padgham, who is chair of the Independent Care Group, gives us his personal take on the big issues facing social care.

Resident Barbara Haywood, 81, and activities coordinator Sharon Parle on her horse for Simonsfield Care Home’s wild west open day.

Mike Padgham

Summer fete raises more than £750 for charity

EXEMPLAR Health Care’s Bennett Court, a specialist care home in South Elmsall, Pontefract, has recently organised a successful fundraising event, resulting in a donation of more than £750 to Dementia UK.

The home opened its doors to the local community, hosting a vibrant and enjoyable summer fete in support of the charity.

The event brought together residents, their families and community members in a day filled with fun and fundraising.

The team at Bennett Court created an array of attractions, with visitors delighted by activities such as a tombola, hook-a-duck and a variety of food stalls, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the day.

Highlights of the day included

interactions with the animals at The Purple Pig Company’s petting zoo and indulging in treats from ‘Val’s Ices’ to beat the summer heat.

The inspiration for the fundraiser stemmed from the invaluable experiences of Bennett Court’s staff members who provide dementia care in the specialist Lily Unit.

This unit is specifically designed to support adults living with dementia, including those with early-onset dementia.

The Lily Unit, which is led by experienced dementia specialist nurses, focuses on understanding the unique needs and goals of each individual, working closely with their loved ones and local health professionals to develop tailored care plans that prioritise independence, dignity, and wellbeing.

Aviation fan takes to the sky in care home surprise

A CARE home resident in Essex has been granted a Magic Moment as part of the home’s World War II-themed family event.

David Darton, an 88-year-old plane enthusiast and resident of Weald Hall in Epping, took to the sky in a small plane as part of the home’s Magic Moment scheme.

Living with dementia, David moved into the home in 2021 for specialist care support. When he was still able to do so, David loved to build model planes as well as fly small planes, so the team at Weald Hall were eager to let him experience the magic of being in the air once more.

Situated next to the North Weald airfield, David along with many other residents relish in seeing aircraft taking off and landing every day, so there is lots of excitement for staff and residents alike.

The flight took place as part of Weald Hall’s World War II day, where visitors, friends and families of the home were present to enjoy some educational fun.

David was dropped off at the airfield in a WWII vehicle as part of the event and flew in a Cessna C172N – a fourseat, single-engine aircraft.

He said: “The experience given to me by the staff at Weald Hall was excellent and I really enjoyed it. It was a brilliant day.

“Going in the WWII Jeep added to the realism of the experience and

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brought back memories of when I served in Malaya. I used to drive the same Jeep.

“It was a really enjoyable and great day. I’m happy I got to have this experience.”

The Magic Moment scheme was started by the home’s lifestyle team and aims to enrich the lives of residents with meaningful activities or one-of-a-kind events and experiences.

Home manager Danielle Barham added: “I can honestly and truly say I love my job and I’m so proud to work at Weald Hall. Our lifestyle team does the most amazing things for our residents. They ensure our residents have an exciting and engaging lifestyle programme that includes activities, events and surprises.

“We are so pleased we could make David’s wish come true and look forward to being able to do the same for our other residents.”

Does the sector have public trust issues?

By Professor Martin Green OBE

IN THE wake of the Covid pandemic, research has shown that the care sector has a long way to go to build back the trust it used to have from the public.

This research made stark reading and showed that half of the British public lacked confidence in the care sector and would be concerned if a friend or relative moved into a care home.

Nine out of 10 people believed there needed to be more care staff within care homes, and they have also lost confidence in the quality of care following the pandemic.

These findings also coincide with a doubling of public dissatisfaction with the NHS, and it is clear that both health and social care have to do much work to re-establish public trust and confidence in our services.

One of the major concerns that people have relates to hygiene standards within both health and care.

This was particularly singled out as an issue in the social care sector, where the public was concerned that standards of hygiene may have caused some of the infections that led to so many Covid deaths.

Whatever the evidence tells us, there is a real challenge in trying to shift people’s perceptions, which are often not born out of evidence, but are developed through a lack of understanding or misrepresentation

of the issues by the media.

One of the ways care homes can turn the tide of these negative attitudes is to ensure that the standards of hygiene and cleanliness are at the highest level possible and that when people do visit or enter care homes, they have confidence that infection control and hygiene are a priority for the service.

An impeccably clean home is a fantastic way of changing people’s perceptions of care, and ensuring that people have confidence in the safety of the services that are provided.

The sector is very fortunate to have several products that are scientifically proven to give the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene, and are also renowned for the fact that they eradicate many of the viruses that cause infectious diseases.

P&G Professional provides a range of products with noticeably superior

cleaning and sanitising solutions specially developed for care services.

With a portfolio of the world’s most recognised brands, which are trusted to overcome the toughest professional challenges, P&G Professional gives residents and their families confidence in the hygiene of care homes.

This helps to encourage them back into the care sector. P&G Professional is committed to helping care homes capture the value of a clean environment in a post-Covid world, and using P&G products will ensure that you continue operating services as safely and hygienically as possible.

Flash Professional disinfecting multi-surface cleaner is proven to kill 99.99 per cent of coronaviruses and bacteria (all enveloped viruses based on EN14476, 15 seconds contact time).

These products must be used to manufacturers’ specifications but are easily deployed by the cleaning team within a care home.

P&G Professional has expertise in providing products for the care sector, which has led to the development of products which are not only the best on the market but are simple to use.

This helps care homes that often struggle to get enough staff to streamline their cleaning practices and get the job done right the first time.

This means we can improve efficiency and ensure hygiene and infection control standards are at the

highest level possible.

P&G Professional products include familiar household brands such as Fairy, Febreze and Ariel, which can help to give a sense of homeliness.

The power of familiar smells from cleaning products cannot be underestimated, and it is essential because it provides a sense of well-being to care home residents, especially those with dementia.

These products are also formulated to be effective at low temperatures and short-cycle washes.

As we all know, energy and utility costs have risen significantly over recent months, and care homes need to ensure the laundry services are not only delivering the highest level of cleanliness and infection control but are also mindful that they should use less water and energy, which is both good for the environment and for the care provider.

P&G Professional understand these issues and have spent time ensuring that their products meet the need for the highest levels of hygiene and also help to reduce energy and water usage.

There is much to do for health and social care services to rebuild public trust and confidence, but care providers can rest assured that P&G Professional has a range of products to help them deliver this objective.

n Professor Martin Green OBE is an Expert Advisory Council member for P&G Professional and the chief executive of Care England.

Professor Martin Green OBE

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Pupils make Barbara’s visit wish come true

WHEN retired children’s nurse

Barbara Doubtfire told the team at the nursing home where she lives in Wellington, Somerset, how much she’d like to see young people again, they were delighted by the reaction of the local primary school to their request for help.

Specialists in recruiting care professionals from overseas

JJ Recruitment is based in the UK and we specialise in recruiting competent nurses, health care assistants, senior carers and other health care professionals from overseas, especially from India, Philippines and the UK as well; since they will be finished studying/ working in UK care homes and want to switch from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 VISA.

Our company’s expertise in discovering skilled and dedicated health care personnel in the nursing and caring sector will be a great aid to prestigious care institutions like yours, especially with the growing need for trained and talented healthcare personnel in the UK.

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The response from year five pupils at St John’s C of E Primary was to send invitations to Barbara and other residents from Camelot House and Lodge to attend a special end-of-term tea party organised just for them.

Richard Dempslake, activities co-ordinator at Barbara’s dementia care home, said: “We asked our residents what they’d put on their bucket list – what would they like to do or experience again.

“Barbara’s wish was simple – she just wanted to enjoy some children’s company again.

“She spent her working life as a children’s nurse in a hospital in Stockton-on-Tees, in the intensive care ward, and often talks about her experiences at the hospital, telling us how much she loved taking care of children, no matter how heartbreaking it sometimes was.

“We were really touched by her wish and wanted to bring some children into her life, so I emailed St John’s school in Wellington and Sarah Brown, who teaches Lark Class, replied almost immediately with invitations from her class for Barbara to come to this special tea party at St

John’s Church.

“It was such a lovely event and the children worked really hard to make it a success.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves so much and Barbara was particularly happy. It was lovely to see.

“Huge thanks to Mrs Brown and Lark Class for making Barbara’s wish come true.”

Barbara Doubtfire reading her invitation

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Arquella and Care Vision join forces to streamline workflows for carers

ARQUELLA is pleased to announce a strategic integration with Care Vision. This groundbreaking collaboration brings together the cutting-edge technologies of both companies, to automate the integration of call and carer identification data into resident care records within Care Vision’s platform.

The result is a significant reduction in administrative burden and enhanced workflow efficiency for frontline carers.

The integration between Arquella and Care Vision marks a major milestone in the evolution of healthcare technology, empowering frontline carers to focus more on delivering exceptional care rather than time-consuming administrative tasks.

This automation eliminates manual data entry, reduces the risk of errors, and ensures that essential information is accurately and efficiently captured.

Paul Howell, CEO of Arquella, said: “The integration between Arquella and Care Vision represents a significant leap forward in revolutionising the healthcare industry, and demonstrates our commitment to capturing the moment of care.

“By seamlessly pushing call and

carer ID data into resident care records, we are providing frontline carers with the tools they need to optimise their workflows and enhance the quality of care provided.

“Together, we are also delivering the depth of digital record that CQC is increasingly pushing for across safe, effective and well led.”

Rishi Jawaheer, CEO of Care Vision, added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Arquella in this transformative integration initiative.

“By automating the integration of call and carer ID data into our resident care records we are streamlining the workflows of frontline carers and enabling them to focus on what truly matters – delivering exceptional care to residents.

“The integration offers a greater depth of information at the carers fingertips than traditional nurse call solutions.

“This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to revolutionising care management.”

Arquella and Care Vision have already begun implementation with selected care providers, including We Care, who plan to roll the Arquella Call/Care Vision collaboration out into all 30 homes over the next few years.

Cushion enables carers to bathe man who was afraid of water

STAFF at a Yorkshire assisted living complex can deliver dignified, safe, supported personal hygiene to a man with dementia via Aqua Liberty- a unique bathing support system

Since moving into supported accommodation and being diagnosed with dementia, staff had been unable to support a man to shower as he became distressed when the water hit his body.

The occupational therapist involved in the man’s case, Julie Snowden from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, felt there were some issues with proprioception and him feeling unsafe and disorientated when he didn’t know where his body was in space. He also needed postural support as his core stability was poor, and he benefited greatly from the feeling of being safe and ‘cocooned’.

Julie suggested trying AAT’s Aqua Liberty vacuum posture support system, hoisting him slowly into the bath with the bath cushion already in place. Aqua Liberty is the only vacuum support cushion system that fits any bath and any user. It is also unique in being developed in the UK in partnership with individuals with a disability and

occupational therapists.

The lightweight adjustable system comprises a central, flexible backpiece that fits any bath. It is quick and easy to secure into position, and to remove.

Any of a range of “mix and match” vacuum posture cushions is then easily attached to the backpiece, to provide infinitely remouldable, adjustable pressure-free support for the bather.

In this case, a Comfortable Plus cushions was used. Combining a corset and seat in one, the Comfortable Plus Duo delivers correct torso and pelvis positioning, stabilising her vertically and laterally, holding her in place without pressure. By making use of vacuum technology, the cushion can be precisely altered by carers to deliver optimal comfort as needed, without pressure points.

Enquiries: To find out more about the Aqua Liberty system, including booking of free no obligation assessments, visit https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/. On www.aatgb.com you can also arrange a free trial of the system, and ask any questions via LiveChat.

Care home solutions from Turun

Fallsavers® is an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for more than 15 years.

Fall Savers® continue to expand its products and services portfolio, building a legacy of quality, service, support and, most importantly, user experience.

They focus on resident falls prevention, elopement and telecare solutions, standalone or fully integrated. Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers®.

The Fall Savers® Wireless Monitor allows for elimination of the cord between the monitor and sensor pads resulting in improved safety for residents, easy placement of sensor pads and less work for nursing staff.

The Fall Savers®Wireless Monitor is a scalable solution which can be used with either wired or wireless bed,

chair or floor sensor pads and a range other optional wireless peripherals to meet the needs of the person in your care.

Features include:

n Scalable monitoring solution offering support for wired or wireless bed, chair or floor sensor pads.

n Ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads or other wireless devices simultaneously.

n Integrates with most nurse call systems.

n Silent alarm option eliminates alarm noise in the room.

n Wireless call pendant and door contacts available.

n Battery or mains powered.

The Treadnought Hybrid Floor Sensor pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition.

This Hybrid Floor Sensor Pad can be used either as a wired floor sensor

pad for direct connection into most nurse call systems (wired pigtail lead required), or can be used with the Fall Savers Floor Pad Transmitter to activate an alert wirelessly on the Fall Savers Monitor when a person steps on to the floor sensor pad.

Caregivers typically place the floor sensor pad at the bedside or in a doorway to monitor persons at risk of falls or wandering. Optional anti-slip mesh material reduces the potential of slippage on hard floor services.

Features include:

n High quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad.

n Large size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm.

n Compatible with most nurse call systems.

n Can be used with Fall Savers Wireless Floor Pad transmitter to activate an alert wirelessly on the Fall Savers Wireless Monitor.

The Fall Savers® Passive Infrared Monitor uses infrared detection technology to help carers reduce the risk of falls.

This monitor can be mounted on a door or by the bedside to trigger an alert when a person breaks the infrared beam.

The Infrared Monitor is a great alternative for when carers determine that the use of sensor pads is undesirable. This simple-to-use monitor comes with a swivel bracket for easy mounting and adjustable positioning.

Features include:

n Low battery indicator.

n Two alarm tones.

n Can be used standalone or integrated with most nurse call systems.

n Battery or mains power supply.

n Optional bed mounting extension bracket.

Medicare offers a professional and friendly service

MEDICARE Systems offers a professional and friendly service from initial consultation and design to installation and after-sales support for care providers.

The Medicare HTM series nurse call system can be designed for ease of use and built to withstand the demands of the busiest and changing care environments.

The nursecall range for care homes provides the latest technology for the care industry, offering discreet silent night options, to assist in reducing the risk of falls, and complete visibility over your nurse

call reporting data with Medicare’s management software.

The automatic reposts have the

Live-Link Movement Sensor –reliable, durable, and easy to use

THE Live-Link Movement Sensor is an aid to fall prevention for residents and service users in care, nursing and residential homes.

Many residents have specific requirements which involves purchasing a wide range of accessories.

However, the Live-Link Movement Sensor negates this requirement, as this one durable, easy to use and reliable unit can be used for a multitude of purposes.

Whether that’s to alert when residents sit up in their bed, leave their bed or leave their room.

The Live-Link Movement Sensor is constructed from high grade aluminium, splash-proof and incorporates a heavy-duty foot switch for the carer to activate or deactivate the sensor.

Live-Link Movement Sensor is compatible with any nurse call system.

The back of the sensor includes two ports for connection of the nurse call system and to incorporate the resident’s floor mat or chair sensor pad.

It’s easy to install with a plug and play system by using a wired connection on the back of the sensor leading straight into the resident’s nurse call point.

The Live-Link Movement Sensor is supplied with a three-year warranty and is available from ComServe Technology Solutions Limited.

We are an independent supplier, installation company and maintainer of, nurse call systems and all accessories, on-site pager systems, door access control, staff attack alarm systems and CCTV systems for care, nursing and residential homes and private hospitals.

We opened our business in 2010 and have many clients and customers all over the UK including many of the leading care operators.

Our team of fully qualified and specialist technicians are located nationally providing 24-hour 365 day reactive service support.

Enquires: Please call 01553 766688, email info@comserveuk.com or visit www.comserveuk.com

functionality to show the staff’s ID in the logs against who did the required wellbeing and time taken through personal care reports.

Medicare’s wireless system is compatible with meeting HTM/ SHTM guidelines, exceeding the industry standard.

This allows us to create the perfect nurse call system giving your staff and residents convenience and peace of mind.

We understand the importance of allowing residents the ability to use a nurse call system; however, pressing a button is impossible for some.

Medicare’s in-house development team has decades of experience designing and manufacturing nurse call technology.

Our development team explores any new advances in assistive technology that are likely to impact care positively.

All Medicare equipment is designed with the future in mind and is a costeffective alternative to an existing wired system.

For more information call 0800 849 5123 or email info@medicaresystems.co.uk Alternatively you may wish to visit our website www.medicaresystems.co.uk

How to effect risk management without grant funding

HELP with stairs is one of the most common scenarios faced by adaptations professionals.

The client and their care support can all be supported, safe transfer addressed and risk managed without the cost and delay of Grant funding.

AAT’s top-selling battery-powered, mobile class one medical device the S-Max stairclimber requires no installation or structural fixing nor modification.

Thus, as specified in the DFG Guidance section 2.30(1), its provision can be covered by minor adaptations from social services.

The time and delay involved in applying for Disabled Facilities Grant funding is eliminated.

The S-Max expediates a person-centred approach, enabling the client to remain at home without disruption to daily/family life.

Prescribing an AAT S-Max potentially expediates a dual-purpose safe transfer/fall prevention option.

The solution has even better use of budgets: with thousands already sold to local authorities over the past 20 years, there may be one already in community equipment stores. This can be re-issued within days.

The battery-powered S-Max smoothly and kinematically ascends and descends steps and stairs.

It can be fitted to a wheelchair or be supplied with an integral seat (the S-Max Sella).

It can handle most staircase designs, and complete 300 steps from a single charge. The rate of ascent/descent is set by the operator (care giver), via AAT’s innovative ComfortStep technology, including an energy stop function.

A range of accessories, including AAT’s pioneering Universal Back, means the S-Max can be configured for almost every client from small infant to obese adult with due care and support for their particular physical or mental disability.

The unit itself has full adjustability so it can be

quickly set up to exactly suit each operator, making it particularly suitable for clients with several members in the care team.

Enquiries: Full details of the S-Max and the tool to book a free no obligation assessment ca be found at https://www.aatgb. com/mobility-stairclimbers/

Data shows adult social care workforce growing again, but challenges remain

THE adult social care workforce in England started growing again in 2022-3, according to new data from Skills for Care.

The annual Size and Structure of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report from the strategic workforce development body found that the number of filled posts – roles with a person working in them – increased by around one per cent (20,000) between April 2022 and March 2023.

The previous year, the number of filled posts fell for the first time on record, by around four per cent (60,000).

The new figures – based on data from Skills for Care’s Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set and other sources – show that, at the same time, the vacancy rate decreased to 9.9 per cent, or around 152,000 on any given day, compared with 10.6 per cent (around 164,000) the previous year.

The number of vacant posts includes posts vacant in the short term due to recent or anticipated staff turnover, posts created by employers who want to expand their businesses, as well as more persistent vacancies where the offer to potential staff is not sufficiently competitive in the local labour market.

Some vacant posts may be covered by agency staff.

Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, said: “We want to thank everyone who works in social care for the work that they do supporting

people to live the lives they choose every day. Social care is a very fulfilling career.

“It is encouraging that the number of filled posts has gone up and the vacancy rate has come down. Nevertheless, the data shared by employers with our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set still show significant pressure on them to find and keep people with the right values needed to work in care.

“It’s positive that we now have a workforce plan for the NHS, which recognises how health and social care are dependent on each other.

“Our data support the case for a social care workforce plan, including consideration of terms and conditions to support social care roles to be competitive in local labour markets.

This will help to make sure that we have enough people with the right skills in the right places to support people who draw on care and support now, and for future generations.

“Any workforce plan needs to involve a range of partners as social care is a large and diverse sector. Skills for Care is ready to work with local and national Government, employers, people who draw on care and support and our sector partners to help deliver a sustainable plan for the adult social care workforce.

“We’re hugely grateful to all the care providers who share their data with us, as this helps us to build a rich and accurate picture of what’s happening in the sector and identify and address the challenges it faces.”

Some employers are using international recruitment to help them address recruitment and retention challenges, with around 70,000 people recruited from abroad into direct care-providing roles after adult social care was added to the Shortage Occupation List in February 2022.

The level of international recruitment has contributed to the rate of new starters increasing from 32 per cent to 34 per cent in the independent sector.

At the same time, the turnover rate in the independent sector decreased from 32 per cent to 30 per cent.

Early evidence from ASC-WDS suggests the turnover rate for international recruits was around half that of people recruited from within the UK.

The total number of filled posts in adult social care in 2022-3 was estimated at 1.635 million. These posts were filled by 1.52m people, which is 5.2 per cent of the total workforce in England, and more than the number of people working in the NHS, schools or food and drink manufacturing.

For independent sector care homes, the number of filled posts was up by three per cent (16,000). In independent sector domiciliary care services, the number of filled posts increased by two per cent (10,000).

There was a small drop in the number of personal assistants and posts employed by local authorities.

The total number of posts in adult social care in England, including filled posts and staff vacancies, was 1.79 million in 2022-3 – an increase of 0.5 per cent from the previous year.

The figures continue to point to long-term challenges for the social care workforce.

If it grows proportionally to the projected number of people aged 65 and over in the population, the number of posts will need to increase by around 445,000 posts to around 2.23 million by 2035.

Home marks Pride month with LGBTQ+ support

A SURREY care home celebrated Pride Month by proudly flying the rainbow flag and implementing lasting support for its community.

Group walks for cancer across two continents

LEADERS from Walfinch home care’s office in Oxford have committed to raising money for the charity Cancer Research UK – and have been joined by colleagues in South Africa.

So far they have raised more than £500, and donations are still coming in.

Amanda Keeler, compliance manager and nominated individual for Walfinch’s Oxford branch, suggested the walk, which involves walking 100 miles in a month.

“I do something for charity every year,” said Amanda.

“I chose Cancer Research UK in memory of my mum and my grandmother, who both died of lung

cancer. I also have a friend who is a survivor of several types of cancer, so I want to raise more money for research that could help find new treatments or even a cure.”

Also taking part are Walfinch Oxford franchisee Kam Gill , the branch’s operations manager Sarah Stanbrook, Walfinch chief executive Amrit Dhaliwal, and franchise support managers Julie Farrow and Richard Stanfield.

But the team effort is not confined to the UK. Anine Steyne, Amrit’s PA, and Danielle Engelbrecht, Walfinch accounts co-ordinator, are both joining in the walking challenge from their homes in South Africa.

Signature at Reigate Grange team members, residents and their loved ones united to conclude their Pride month celebrations with a BBQ which saw the home additionally set out its firm commitment to being an LGBTQ+ ally.

The Pride BBQ also marked the appointment of its hospitality services manager Penka Velikova as the home’s first LGBTQ+ ambassador.

She said: “Everybody has the right to be accepted and included in one way or another, regardless of our gender or sexuality.

“But for LGBTQ+ individuals the fear of rejection, exclusion or discrimination is a lot greater as most of us face those on regular basis in our everyday lives. And that goes not just for employees but residents too.

“Feeling safe and being able to be myself at work, being able to express myself in the way I do gender and what my sexuality means for me has helped me to actually focus on my work, be as productive as I can be and love what I do with all of my

heart.”

“As an ambassador for the home, I am proud to work with current and future colleagues to ensure we continue to be an inclusive environment for residents, their loved ones and team members.”

In her new role Penka will lead year-round discussion sessions, film nights and coordinate activities featuring songs from LGBTQ+ artists. She will also lead training sessions for current and future care home recruits, all of which is designed to ensure Reigate Grange is an LGBTQ+ advocate and an inclusive environment.

Oonagh Smyth

Resident Maggie Broderick with Penka Velikova.

Mandatory vaccines caused reduction in staff, research finds

Franchise creates happy memories at memory café

HOME care franchise Walfinch Southampton is collaborating with local charity Caraway and St Peter’s Church Maybush to launch a new memory café.

The café will feature live music from pianist Brian Budden – and the chance to sing along.

“Singing is good for physical and mental health, especially for people with dementia,” said Robin Boulter, care coordinator at Walfinch Southampton.

“I saw the benefits clearly when, as a carer, I used to take one client with dementia out for a drive and we both sang along with music CDs. He’d return home a changed man.”

Robin, Southampton Walfinch franchisees Angela Harding and Laura Pineiro and members of the care team will also offer other activities at the monthly memory café, including dancing, crafts, picture quizzes and memory games.

“We’ll also be asking people who come along what they’d like to do, and then tailoring our activities to suit demand,” added Robin.

“It’s important to give people a choice.”

Some of the Walfinch care team will be at each session to give families and carers a break, and to offer advice about help and services.

“Caraway, for instance, offers free courses for people who are caring for loved ones with dementia and runs other community Memory Café,” added Robin.

The sessions from 2pm to 4pm on the third Tuesday of every month are free to attend and will be open to anyone living at the Potters Court extra care housing unit, and anyone from the local community, plus families and carers. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks will be available.

Caraway trustee Dr Ros Simpson said: “This new collaborative project will bring lots of expert help and advice for our guests.

“A session for carers and people living with dementia is so needed in this area, and we have seen carers perk up, have fun and share their problems with each other at the memory cafes.”

NEW research by the University of Nottingham estimates that the care home sector in England was left with up to 19,000 fewer staff following mandatory Covid vaccines being brought in for workers in 2021.

The research, published in the journal Management Science, is the first piece of empirical evidence about the effects of compulsory Covid vaccination for care workers on takeup, staffing and mortality.

The experts found that the UK’s legal requirement for health and social care staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 resulted in a threeto-four per cent reduction in staffing – equivalent to 14,000 to 19,000 employees in elderly care homes in England.

David Paton, professor of industrial Economics in the Nottingham University Business School, said: “Our research suggests the vaccine mandate exacerbated the staffing crisis in care homes by driving unvaccinated workers out of the sector. Even worse, we find no evidence that the mandate saved any lives at all.

“The results of our study raise significant questions about the of states or employers insisting on Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment in the care sector.”

In the UK, the policy was announced on June 16, 2021, with the final deadline for all workers needing to be “double-jabbed” by November 11, 2021 – which has since been revoked (March 2022).

To track its impact, the Nottingham academics analysed weekly data from March 2021 to March 2022, at local authority level on the percentage of elderly care home workers who were unvaccinated, on numbers of care home staff and on Covid-19 related deaths amongst residents.

Throughout this period, but especially at the final November 2021 deadline, the academics found reductions both in the percentage of unvaccinated workers in elderly care homes and in staffing numbers.

The percentage of care workers in England who were unvaccinated was about 16 per cent before the policy announcement, dropping to just four per cent after the final implementation in November.

By November 2021 there were between 28,000 and 41,000 fewer unvaccinated staff working in care

homes in England than had the mandate not been in place. However, the experts observe that much of this effect came at the expense of staffing.

They estimate the mandate caused a net reduction in staffing in elderly care homes of between 14,000 and 19,000 employees, around four per cent of the total workforce.

The academics say that, given that some unvaccinated staff will have been replaced by vaccinated staff, the total number of care workers who left their jobs because of the mandate was almost certainly much larger.

They also noted a big increase in reliance on agency workers (rather than directly employed) over the same period.

More recent data on staffing levels suggest that at least some of the impact on staffing persisted even after the mandate was lifted. For example, by the start of June 2022, the total employed in elderly residential care was still about two per cent lower than just before the mandate was announced in the previous year.

Although this represented a recovery in staffing numbers from when the mandate was in operation, it was driven almost entirely by agency workers.

Although the English vaccine mandate ended in spring 2022, formal mandates and employer-based restrictions are still common in a number of countries including the US, Canada and Australia.

Sourafel Girma, professor of industrial economics in the School of Economics at the University of Nottingham, added: “The issue of Covid vaccination is particularly sensitive in the case of elderly care homes given the high vulnerability of residents to Covid-19.

“At the same time, if a mandate results in care workers being sacked or choosing to leave their job, it may contribute to staffing difficulties.

“To date, policymakers concerned about this trade-off have had very limited empirical evidence on which to draw.

“Until now, there has been no attempt to use real world data to estimate the magnitude of any impact on uptake, staffing or mortality.

“Our research should help to inform politicians and managers in the care home sector about the value or otherwise of policies mandating vaccination for workers.”

Provider seeks contractors

across the UK and rewards best practice in person-centred nutritional care. Mark said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the ‘Above and Beyond Special Award’. Although it’s my name on the award, it’s very much a team effort. This is a real recognition of all the great work that my team has been doing at HC-One, so a big thank you to them for all of their hard work for our residents.” The event took place at the Haberdashers Hall in London.

ANCHOR is seeking contractors to deliver a repairs and investment service across its property portfolio. England’s largest not-for profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life is tendering for partnerships with contractors covering an integrated programme of repair, investment and improvement activities.

The total estimated value for delivering the service over a period

of up to 15 years is £1.7billion.

Brian Golton, director of property delivery, said: “We are looking to secure long term partnerships with contractors who can demonstrate they can deliver consistently and effectively, to ensure we continue to provide homes where residents love living in later life.

“We have commenced the initial phase of procurement with an aim to award tenders in June 2024.”

Mark Meacham, HC-One’s head of catering and housekeeping support services, won the prestigious ‘Above and Beyond Special Award’ at the Care Home and Hospital Catering Awards. The accolades celebrate talented chefs and catering teams that have brought innovation and quality to care homes

Betty fulfils life-long dream to go skating

BETTY Thompson, a resident at Baily House Care Home in Mansfield, has finally realised her life-long dream to go ice skating at the age of 98.

Staff took Betty to the Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton where she had the ice rink to herself and was able fulfil her long-held wish at last.

Betty is severely visually impaired and the team had noticed that she had become quieter in recent weeks.

In a bid to encourage her social side the dedicated ‘Ambitions’ team discussed her life-long dreams with her.

Betty revealed that as a child, and through-out life, she had always wanted to ice skate, but her family could not afford it and her mother said, ‘people like us don’t waste money on such things.’ Betty believed her but never lost the desire to get on the ice.

Her mood entirely changed as soon as she knew her wish would be coming true, she was up-beat and excited and couldn’t wait to get on the ice.

On the day she was pushed in her wheelchair around the rink by Jenna Hemmings for as long as she wished.

“We are delighted to have been able to help Betty achieve her dream,” said home manager Ashley Baird.

“The team go out of their way to get

It’s bunny delight for Bridgwater care home

to know each resident individually and to understand their interests and what they still want to achieve.

“We look after our residents both physically and mentally and try to make their wishes come true.”

Betty has been very happy since her experience and is determined to get back on the ice again soon –particularly as she has been given a life-long pass from Lammas Leisure Centre.

Home opens pub for residents, relatives and friends to enjoy

THE ribbon was cut to officially open

The Haughgate Inn at Haughgate House nursing home by Mayor of Woodbridge Eamon O’Nolan.

The Mayor joined residents, relatives, the care team and invited guests at the home for a garden party to celebrate the opening.

The Haughgate Inn is the result of a much-loved project for the staff team and the residents who have built a bar and gathered donations from pubs in the local area to create the atmosphere of a friendly watering hole.

Haughgate House was once family home to the well-known local Cobbold family and the Inn has been decorated with memorabilia, as well as some historical background about the Cobbolds.

The family has prominent links to the brewing industry and were landowners in the Ipswich area since the 18th century, as well as providing several MPs for the area and five chairmen of Ipswich Town Football

Club.

Home manager Agnieszka McDonald said: “We are delighted to be able to officially open The Haughgate Inn.

“Our residents love to have a trip out for a drink and we have also spent a lot of time making our gardens a wonderful place to spend time in – so what could be better than a pub in the garden?

“I want to thank everyone who has helped to bring the inn from just an idea into a reality and look forward to everyone enjoying spending time here over the summer and beyond.”

The inn makes good use of the visiting pod which was put into the garden at the start of the pandemic and is fully equipped with heating and electricity.

It will be used as a venue for lots of pub activities, meetings with friends and relatives or just for residents who may want to get out of the main house for a trip to the pub every so often.

THE family of an elderly animal lover who spent the last three years of her life at a dementia care home in Bridgwater found an unusual way to express their thanks for the care she received there – by enabling the team to buy pet rabbits for the residents.

Joyce Williams’ family was invited to an afternoon tea at the Avalon Nursing Home and her husband was given the job of officially naming the rabbits which have been called Joyce and William in memory of his beloved wife.

Joyce’s daughter, Lyn Dickens, said: “We really wanted to show how much we appreciated all the love and support Mum had while she lived at Avalon, so the family and many of her friends honoured her memory by donating to their residents’ fund.

“We were delighted when they said they’d like to use the memorial donation to buy pet rabbits for the residents. Mum and her twin sister Joan used to have rabbits as children, and Mum always loved them, so it’s an appropriate gift to make in her memory.

“When we arrived at Avalon for the tea party we found the lounge had been beautifully decorated with rabbit pictures, coloured in by the residents who are already great fans of their new pets.

“And many staff brought in homemade cakes in memory of Mum, as well as a lovely savoury spread provided by the chef. I know that all the staff, residents and visitors were invited, and many staff attended even those for whom it was their day off. Mum was obviously a very popular lady.”

Joyce arrived at Avalon on Christmas Eve in 2019. The first thing she did

on arrival was to ask for a bacon sandwich.

Lyn added: “That was produced in double-quick time and she enjoyed it very much. From then on, until she passed away last November, nothing was ever too much trouble.

“That initial timely bacon butty was typical of the many small ways the team would engage with her and support her to lead her best possible life.

“My dad Peter, my aunt Joan – my husband Steve and I, and other family members who visited her frequently, really appreciated the way the team always go the extra mile for their residents and were totally confident Mum was happy and well-looked after by them.

“There was also a real outpouring of love and support from them for us as a family, which made all the difference.

“My parents had been married for 60 years and during the afternoon we shared many anecdotes with the team who had cared for her, including the time she surprised us all by accepting and drinking a glass of red wine –even though she was not a drinker – and making us laugh by telling us how much she’d enjoyed it.

“She was a very giving, loving, wonderful person, and had so many friends. Dad used to say it would take them all day to walk the length of the High Street because there were so many people who wanted to chat with her.”

Joyce was Bridgwater born and bred and lived there all her life. She had numerous jobs in the town, of which her favourite two were as a sales assistant in Mothercare and selling raffle-tickets for the Blind Society.

A 99-year-old tropical bird-loving resident’s dream come true when she came face to face with exotic birds for the first time in years. Kay Tailby, who is a resident at RMBI Care Co. Home Devonshire Court, in Oadby, had a fondness for birds since she was a child. Nowadays, she often enjoys watching the birds visit the bird feeder that come right by the window of her room at her care home. She confided in staff that she would dearly love to go and see tropical birds again so the staff arranged a special visit for Kay to go to Tropical Birdland in Desford. She said: “This really is a dream come true. Being able to see these beautiful creatures and to stroke them made me feel so happy and brought back wonderful memories.”

Betty Thompson with Jenna Hemmings.

time and money has never been so important as inflation continues to bite….”

EVERY penny counts for care homes right now and with no end in sight to the cost-of-living crisis, all care homes – regardless of size and scale –are looking to make cost efficiencies, without any loss of service or provision.

According to research undertaken by us, Care England and Caring UK magazine 97 per cent of care homes say they are worried about fast rising costs of meals across ingredients and labour.

Whilst 90 per cent of homes reported they have looked at ways to streamline cost and efficiencies in the kitchen since the cost-of-living crisis hit in 2022.

A home that has a team of cooks in the kitchen is always vulnerable to labour issues – whether sickness, or staff turnover.

And as the cost of ingredients continue to grow by as much as 30 per cent in some cases, understanding the monthly costs and how these can be controlled is causing significant stress to care home management teams.

By turning to high quality preprepared meals which can be easily cooked from frozen, there are innumerable benefits.

Care homes are able to save money on their catering through reducing labour and waste and associated costs, whilst still meeting a wide and diverse range of nutritional needs that supports their residents’ care.

With meals provider apetito, costs

are fixed, so full transparency of the cost is one major benefit and removes the influences and impact of inflation on a daily/weekly basis.

Having a pre-prepared meals service helps make it easy for kitchen staff to cater for different numbers with minimal notice, whilst also managing portion control, producing less food waste, and streamlining efficiency in the kitchen.

Staff can all cook the meals easily from frozen, meaning that with some initial training the complexities of managing kitchen staff and ensuring cover can be reduced significantly –and this means a notable reduction in costs associated with same.

There’s also less admin and working out of nutrients and calories, so resources can be devoted back to the frontline giving an additional benefit to residents, and their families. Whether reducing waste, being able to offer personalised nutritional pathways and most importantly delicious meals that residents will love – the cost benefits are clear.

Let’s give you an example. Last

year some of our care homes’ team visited the VSA Group, who appointed apetito after struggling to recruit chefs, ensure consistency and guarantee cover.

This had led to the group having to supplement internal teams with agency staff who were unreliable and expensive.

During the visit, chief operating officer of VSA John Booth explained that, since moving over to apetito, he has seen immeasurable benefits when it came to reducing food waste and saving on labour, having been able to streamline catering roles.

apetito’s service doesn’t require any skilled labour, so homes are less impacted by staffing shortages.

Our team can train care home staff as to how to prepare and serve meals, so if any kitchen staff are ever off ill or on holiday, any employee who has been trained can jump in and help in the kitchen.

At VSA there’s now less admin, less invoices, less suppliers, less people to manage, and this alone has removed a stress factor including the removal

of expensive agency staff.

It’s great that the team now has more time than ever before to focus on frontline care.

We recently challenged a chef to cook a shepherd’s pie from scratch for 24 residents, which took one hour 57 minutes.

It only took apetito member Molly three minutes in the kitchen to put an apetito meal into the oven and serve it, leading to a huge time saving.

Same quality, same ingredients but massive time and cost difference.

From speaking to customers like the VSA we know how much they value having more time to devote to frontline care since moving over to us and have recognised the value in streamlining cost efficiencies with no loss of service.

Managing costs alongside care is a real challenge and we’re proud that our service helps care homes reduce catering costs without compromising on quality.

Discover more about apetito’s care homes service by visiting https://apetito.link/CaringUK

“Saving

Richard Woodward

Richard Woodward, general manager for care homes at leading meals provider, apetito, takes a look at how care homes can save time and cost in the kitchen.

NACC Care Chef of the Year 2023 finalists announced

THE line-up of care chefs set to compete in the national final of the National Association of Care Catering Care Chef of the Year 2023 competition has been announced. Regional heats were held across the NACC regions – Midlands, South East, Scotland, North, South West and Wales – with care chefs demonstrating they can compete with the best when it comes to culinary skills.

The prize is to represent their region in the national final scheduled to take place on October 3.

This year’s lead judge was again Steve Munkley, vice president of Craft Guild of Chefs, who attended each region to ensure continuity.

He said: “I have been incredibly pleased with the standards I have seen so far. This is a really important competition that shows highlights the skills within the care sector.”

The chefs had to demonstrate to the judges their full understanding of the meals they are providing for their residents whilst introducing their own flair through contemporary flavours.

The finalists who intend to impress the judges one more time include:

n Nigel Cooke – Eastcote Park, Cinnamon Care Collection.

n Alex Millichamp – Chandler Court, Care UK.

n Chris Mattinson – Sycamore Court, Caterplus/Elior.

n Brian Preston – RBL Lister House –Royal British Legion.

n Jessica Vreede – Guthrie House, Four Seasons Health Care.

n Graham Watson – Lauder Lodge, Care UK.

n Kasia Hab-Bialkowska –Highmarket House Care Home, Care UK.

n Chris Mitchley – St. John’s House, Castlemeadow Care.

n Darren Nelson – Trymview Hall Care Home, Care UK.

n Daniel Bree, Hartwood House, Cinnamon Care.

n Alex Connell, Vegetarian for Life.

n David Sharp, Signature for Barnet,

Signature Care.

The 90-minute regional heat focused on the importance of food, nutrition and positive mealtime experiences as part of quality care, entrants are challenged to create an appealing and delicious two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting.

The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £3.50 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced.

The menu must also feature at least one product from Unilever Food

Solutions’ sector-relevant catering range.

Sue Cawthray, national chair of the NACC, added: “Congratulations to the finalists of the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition 2023.

“The calibre of entries for this competition continues to be incredibly high, and we have seen exceptional dishes created and served by chefs across the regional heats.

“The finalists should be immensely proud of their efforts so far. I know that they will want to impress the judges in October. The national final is always a fantastic event. It highlights and celebrates the care catering sector and the exceptional talent of our chefs.

“Delicious, nutritious food and positive dining experiences are vital to quality care. I honestly believe that the kitchen is at the heart of a care home and mealtime experiences really are life quality enhancing, both physically and emotionally.

“This is why, through events like the Care Chef of the Year competition, the NACC works tirelessly to raise awareness of the amazing, rewarding work and valuable contribution of chefs and caterers in the care sector. I wish all the finalists the very best of luck.”

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

Cost savings and efficiencies achieved for group

FOOD procurement expert allmanhall deliver cost savings and administrative efficiencies to Taylor and Taylor

Taylor and Taylor Ltd operates three high-quality care homes. With the food inflation crisis continuing to see rising prices for food products in particular many basics, the care providers sought to achieve scalable cost savings to support continued growth, without any detrimental impact on the quality of food offering to their residents.

It was essential to achieve a food cost savings and improve efficiencies, to ensure effective management of catering budgets, but without compromising on the quality of produce.

The company also wanted to maintain a consistency of supply, and the ability to continue buying certain brands.

Chris Rees, Taylor and Taylor’s group executive chef, initially started discussions with allmanhall, the independent food procurement experts, on cost and efficiency savings, but also wanted visibility of data and access to reports which would help in making decisions.

A system that would simplify ordering and managing stock and deliveries was also required. allmanhall has a well-established

track record of working with the care industry, delivering sustainable value, insight, control and support to care homes. They initially undertook a benchmark for Taylor and Taylor and identified cost savings of 11.4 per cent. Samples and on-site supplier meetings were also arranged on behalf of the individual homes.

allmanhall then delivered tech demos of the catering control platform proposed, to ensure it met the care provider’s and catering team’s bespoke needs.

As well as providing useful operational functionality, such as stock taking and standing orders, the catering control platform would

also facilitate central billing and conversion of all supplier invoices in to one per month, achieving the savings and efficiencies Taylor and Taylor were looking for.

The tech solution provided by allmanhall involves an industry leading catering control platform, containing all supplier catalogues, updated daily with allergen and pricing information, through which orders can be managed and placed, menus costed and more.

The EDI functionality enabled through this means clients benefit from central billing and a solution that is fully scalable.

Chris said: “The consolidation of invoices into one per month is a huge win.”

Through allmanhall, as well as central billing and online ordering, every client benefits from a tech package and insight that delivers: News and market updates; delists and alternative product options; purchasing and buy right advice including offers; financial reporting; allergen training; operational support resources; carbon impact assessment of menus; waste management and stock taking; budget control.

Chris added :“We were very impressed with the administrative efficiencies and time savings allmanhall achieved, and the

flexibility and quality regarding suppliers.

“The team truly listened to us, to what our challenges are and are always willing to help in any way they can.

“Their approach is thorough and responsive, meaning we feel fully supported. Everyone we’ve met from allmanhall has been hands-on, down to earth, genuine and considerate.”

Jo Hall, a director and owner of the family managed independent food procurement expert, allmanhall, added: “We’re delighted to have been able to answer Taylor and Taylor’s short-term needs and to support them so quickly.

“Our analysis on the first period of orders shows savings even higher than the 11.4 per cent demonstrated in our initial benchmark – closer to the 20 per cent mark.

“We’re not about the short-term at allmanhall though, we’re here for our clients for the long-term and work on a true partnership approach.

“Our very first client is still working with us today, 16 years on, and we hope to continue working with Taylor and Taylor for many years to come, providing them with a scalable solution aligned to their growth strategy into the future.”

Jo Hall, allmanhall director and owner.

Resident’s charity bequest is doubled by executors

A PAIR of friends sorting out the estate of a Dorset care home resident have doubled the amount to be gifted to a children’s charity after hearing more about its work.

Tim Jones and John Smith lost their long-standing friend Ken Thorp, 89, in January and were appointed his executors.

In line with Ken’s wish to help charities working with children in Dorset, they originally earmarked £20,000 for Diverse Abilities, which supports young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

But after a cheque presentation with Diverse Abilities’ representatives gave the pair the chance to hear more about the charity’s work, they doubled the amount to £40,000.

Tim, senior buyer in the purchasing department of Colten Care, arranged for the presentation to take place at the provider’s Bourne View, next door to Diverse Abilities’ specialist Langside school.

A giant cheque highlighted the figure of £20,000, but then Tim and John got talking with Diverse Abilities’ head of fundraising Helen Mortimer and chief executive Mark Powell.

Tim said: “John and I were profoundly moved by Ken’s generosity. His wife Barbara predeceased him 10 years ago and they didn’t have any children. He saw John and I as effectively his next-of-kin. I knew him for more than 40 years and

John was his friend for more than 50.

“On reading his will and knowing he didn’t have any family, we were most surprised that he wanted the bulk of his estate to go to charities with a leaning towards children and, where possible, with a Dorset presence.

“When we met with Helen and Mark and learned more about the amazing work that Diverse Abilities does through education, therapy and nursing support for children living with some of the biggest challenges anyone could face anywhere, we knew Ken would heartily approve of a substantial increase in the amount we had originally planned. It was an easy decision for us.”

Ken was born and brought up in

Duo walk 26 miles through the night for cancer charity

TWO care home workers from Reading set out in the night in their finest ‘Glitz and Glamour’ to complete a 26-mile walk in honour of residents with breast cancer.

Manager Sonia Da Silva and home coordinator Tamena Seymour from Aria Care’s Abbeycrest Care Home took part in The MoonWalk London, which is organised by the Walk the Walk breast cancer charity .

With the event this year celebrating its 25th anniversary, the pair embraced the theme, donning their finest outfits, including tiaras, to walk the 26.2 miles across Clapham Common.

Between them the pair raised a total of £1,534, smashing their original £400 target.

The ambitious pair previously completed the Windsor Memory Walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society last October and this was their new challenging venture.

Sonia said: “This year’s walk was very special because it was the 25th anniversary. The atmosphere was amazing, everyone seemed excited.

“We heard about people’s stories; some positive stories about how they won the battle against breast cancer and how the money raised is helping so many people.”

The pair had a great time as they took on the challenge with lots of energy, excitement and optimism.

Tamena added: “Walking through

the streets of London during the night and passing by lit up landmarks such as Battersea Power Station, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park was incredible.

“It was brilliant seeing everyone dressed up and determined to achieve their goals. We had family and friends cheering for us at different points throughout the walk.”

It was definitely not an easy task, but the two friends supported each other to complete it successfully.

Sonia said: “I don’t think we realised just how hard it was going to be walking throughout the night with no sleep. I didn’t know it was possible, but I fell asleep while walking. Luckily, I was holding on to Tamena and didn’t fall.”

the East End of London and moved to Dorset in the 1960s, living in Branksome, Poole, for more than 40 years. He ran a company, Ken Thorp Supplies Ltd, a wholesale supplier of catering equipment to trade customers such as pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The last two years of his life were spent at Colten Care’s Canford Chase care home in Branksome.

As well as Diverse Abilities, gifts from Ken’s estate have been made to children’s charities and community causes including the neonatal unit at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, the disability sailing charity Poole Sailability and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

A Bury St Edmunds care home has celebrated its ninth anniversary with some special guests. The team at Care UK’s Mildenhall Lodge pulled out all the stops for a special birthday celebration, nine years after it welcomed its very first residents. The home was decorated with banners and balloons, and there was live music from popular local duo Caprice, who sang a range of songs from 1960s classics to modern favourites. Guests were also treated to a delicious assortment of party food and a glass of fizz, along with a specially made cake to mark the occasion. Home manager Deepa Reju said: “It’s been a wonderful nine years. We’ve welcomed some real characters to the home, built fantastic relationships with our neighbours and the wider community and made some long-lasting memories along the way.”

Lord Mayor and children celebrate fifth birthday

LORD Mayor of Chester, Councillor Sheila Little, and children from Kids

Planet joined the team at a care home to celebrate its fifth birthday with a ‘Jurassic disco’ party .

81-bed Grosvenor Manor, close to the centre of Chester, welcomed its first residents in 2018 and has since gone from strength-to-strength.

Home manager Anne Hughes added: “One of the things that attracted me to the role of manager here was the sense of belonging, not only between the residents and care team, but also with our wider local community.

“It was super to have the Lord Mayor and the children from Kids Planet here with us to celebrate and

help make today such a memorable occasion for us all.”

Residents Joan Hall and Jean Jones moved into the home when it first opened and are still there today.

They are joined by more than 15 employees including nurses, carers, wellbeing, catering, housekeeping and hospitality who all joined within a few months of opening and are still with the company.

Singer Leeann James provided entertainment and there was fun for all ages with appearances from the Grosvenor dinosaurs, a bouncy castle from White Cloud Events and dinosaur costumes and props made by the home’s residents and supplied by The Prop Hire team.

Employees and residents since the early days with Lord Mayor Councillor Sheila Little.

Sonia Da Silva and Tamena Seymour.

Pictured at Bourne View are, from left: executors John Smith and Tim Jones; Bourne View home manager Gemma Parkin; Helen Mortimer, head of fundraising at Diverse Abilities; and Mark Powell, Diverse Abilities’ chief executive.

What simple steps can you take to prevent pressure ulcers?

By Greg Whelan

PRESSURE ulcers can be serious and lead to life threatening complications such as blood poisoning and gangrene.

So knowing that this can happen what are the necessary steps to help prevent these and what obstacles do care home managers encounter that can give rise to these occurrences?

A simple understanding of how pressure ulcers occur and who is most likely to get them is important and equally how can they be prevented through appropriate equipment and turning regimes.

How does a pressure ulcer occur?

Pressure ulcers can happen when an area of skin and the tissues underneath it are damaged by being under such pressure that the blood supply is reduced commonly tending to occur when people spend long periods in a bed or chair.

Anyone living in a care home can develop a pressure ulcer, but some factors make it more likely.

Risk factors include:

n Limited mobility or being unable to change position without help.

n A loss of feeling in part of the body.

n Having had a pressure ulcer before

or having one now.

n Not having eaten well for a period of time and/or being dehydrated.

n Thin, dry or fragile skin.

n A significant cognitive impairment.

What actions should take place?

For people living in care homes who have one or more risk factors and who have been referred to the community nurse, a pressure ulcer risk assessment should be carried out and documented on their first visit. Make a written care plan for anyone assessed as being at high risk of developing a pressure ulcer and review it regularly.

The plan should focus on the actions needed to help prevent a pressure ulcer from developing, taking into account:

n The results of the risk and skin assessment.

n The need for any extra pressure relief, for example a highspecification mattress and/or cushion.

n The person’s mobility and ability to change position unaided.

n Any other conditions.

n The person’s own views and wishes, including whether they are able to understand the risks and make an informed decision. If not,

use of the Mental Capacity Act may be necessary.

But what obstacles will the care home manager face when managing pressure ulcers?

The care home manager once faced with a client suffering a pressure ulcer is potentially exposed to a long process of nursing intervention to manage the PU (PI – pressure injury now in more widespread use) to get to a stage where it has fully healed.

Subject to the risk assessment carried out the care plan will identify what actions need to take place and regular turning on a suitable mattress is one of the critical factors in PI management and importantly, prevention.

Sometimes the added difficulty faced by the home is that of cost and staffing levels all of which can be managed more effectively by introducing suitable equipment to effect regular turning – both automatically and continuously, in cycles that can be identified in the Risk assessment needs and included in the care plan to be put into place.

Wellell UK Limited, a longstanding medical device manufacturer designed and introduced the cutting edge lateral turning mattress system,

Optima Turn.

With its multiple settings it can be used in step up and step down therapy to meet the needs of each client requiring the mattress and help either prevent or eradicate any newly acquired or historical PI whilst offering efficiency improvements, enhanced care, reduced staff moving and handling injuries and greater dignity to the client, especially when in a palliative state. Why not ask us to demonstrate the product to you and even trial it and see how we can prove not only its clinical credibility but also the huge cost savings that it can bring to each care home.

After all, more efficient equipment means healthier clients, reduced stress levels on staff and happier family members of those clients in your care.

If you would like more information please contact us via https:// uk.wellell.com/en/how-can-we-help or call on 01905 774 695.

References taken from NICE

Guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/ about/nice-communities/social-care/ quick-guides/helping-to-preventpressure-ulcers#repositioning-advice

n Greg Whelan is the product and marketing director at Wellell UK Limited.

CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS

Group expands portfolio with opening of eighth home

PRIMROSE House Care Home held its grand opening in East Riding, with the ribbon cut by the first two residents.

The opening marks the eighth facility in the Danforth portfolio, and the first in East Riding.

The opening is set to create 60 new jobs for the community, all with permanent contracts.

In addition, each of the jobs will also come with a fully funded DBS check and full support to aid staff in completing an NCQ qualification.

Purpose-built by LNT, luxury care facility will be home to 66 residents, who can enjoy amenities such as an on-site hair and beauty salon and

sensory garden, as well as a café bar, library and cinema.

Each resident’s bedroom has stateof-the-art facilities including en-suite wet rooms, smart TVs and mini fridges.

The home also offers restaurantquality food cooked by the team’s on-site chefs, as well as 24-hour residential, dementia or respite care, tailored to individual requirements.

Home manager Andi Barker said: “We are so thrilled to have had the opportunity to open Primrose House with a great grand opening ceremony.

“The home will be a huge asset to the whole Brough community, as well as the surrounding community

Knightsbridge sees Part M in anthracite and white

KNIGHTSBRIDGE – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – has recently compiled a collection of wiring accessories ideally suited to environments where meeting Part M of the Building Regulations is a concern.

The collection covers safety, ease of use and hygiene, encompassing anti-bacterial switches and sockets and accessories dedicated for those with disabilities.

At the heart of the Part M range is colourcontrasted, outboard rocker sockets, and high contrast and wide-rockered switches for both lighting and appliances.

To assist people with visual impairments, socket chassis come in a striking anthracite finish with white rockers for contrast. This range satisfies recommendations that switches contrast with front plates, which in turn contrast with walls.

By mounting the rockers on the sockets’ outboard edges, the risk of an accidental disconnection or contact with live pins is greatly reduced. Both one and two-gang sockets are available.

Two-way light switches – again anthracite and white – come with single or two-gang wide rockers, or in traditional narrow format in one, two or three-gangs. Other switches are available for fan isolation, hobs, ovens and 13A fused spurs, with and without neons.

Other products in Knightsbridge’s range that lend themselves to Part M applications include

pull-cord operated switches to assist the less able; and an extensive series of data and media modules.

At a time of enhanced awareness of personal and environmental hygiene, whether in the home or workplace, the moulded range of Part M products from Knightsbridge also possess inherent anti-bacterial properties that can help in the fight against disease and infection.

Tested to ISO 22196: 2011, the range is produced using Urea Formaldehyde, a highgrade thermoset material which has properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria and makes a positive contribution to reducing instances of common bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella Pneumoniae and E-Coli and Salmonella.

In addition, Knightsbridge’s precision manufacturing methods result in fine, scratch free faces – avoiding dirt traps in which harmful microscopic organisms might lodge.

The range’s high gloss, high quality materials’ resistance to scratching helps maintain product appearance over the longer term too.

Backed by Knightsbridge’s unrivalled quality, reliability and service; the collection – outlined in a new five-page publication The Complete Part M Range – is guaranteed for an impressive 25 years (two years on electronic products).

Enquiries: For further details please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.

of the Humber. We have a highly experienced team here at Primrose House, and supporting our residents in leading meaningful and comfortable lives is always our priority.

“We take a person-centred approach to care, which means our residents are recognised as individuals, and their care is delivered in a personalised way, meaning dignity and respect is always upheld.

“We offer residency for people who simply need extra support and security, as well as offering the highest level of support for residents with dementia.”

In addition, the home has been

built with the environment in mind, with several environmentally friendly initiatives throughout.

It comes with an A energy-rating and a carbon-free status, meaning it operates without gas.

Instead, ground source heating technology has been built under the site for underfloor and water heating, as well as air-cooling systems, and 80 per cent of the roof of the home is covered in solar panels for electricity generation, with an on-site battery to store excess energy for use at another time. The next home from Danforth Care Home Group, Barton Manor, will open in August in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS

Sentes reclining bath from Gainsborough delivers advanced postural stability

GAINSBOROUGH Specialist

Bathrooms, Europe’s leading brand of specialist power baths for the healthcare sector, continues to meet complex bather needs with its reclining Sentes bathing solution.

The Sentes is an ultra-efficient reclining bathing system, suitable for long-term and acute care environments.

Its reclining action and moulded seat help to improve postural control, enhancing bathing comfort and delivering the optimum blend of functionality and performance.

The vertical-raising, side-entry door also ensures easy-access for bathers, making transfers safer and simpler for care staff.

From a design point of view, the Sentes provides:

n Easy one-touch tilt with hoisting access.

n Reduced operational costs through smart water and power usage.

n BioCote antimicrobial technology built-in for 24/7 protection against microbes.

n Quick fill technology for faster bathing cycles.

n Impressive 205kg SWL.

n Safer moving and handling with reduced risk to carers and bathers.

n Optional hydrotherapy, chromotherapy and Bluetooth sound. The integrated BioCote protection in the Sentes is a major advantage for all healthcare providers.

This world-leading silver-ion technology delivers advanced hygiene offering up to 99.9 per cent 24/7 protection against a broad range of microbes, including bacteria, mould and even some viruses.

With its Sentes baths, the 64-bed luxurious Kings Lodge care home located in Camberley, Surrey, continues to provide utmost bathing support and hygiene.

Offering a combination of high level residential and dementia care, Kings Lodge is a state-of-the-art facility which delivers client-centric bathing with moving and handling excellence.

Abbey, a senior carer at Kings Lodge, has been very impressed with the Sentes, both from a staff and

resident point of view.

She said: “The Sentes is nice and deep so residents can have a good soak and it gives effective postural support when reclined for individuals with complex needs.

“It is easily accessible from either side so I can provide personal care without compromising my back or posture.”

Offering the opportunity to bathe is a major benefit at Kings Lodge as it relaxes residents, improves well-being and enhances therapy sessions.

The Sentes baths from have been deemed instrumental in safeguarding this approach to quality care.

Call 01527 400 022 or visit www.gainsboroughbaths.com

Spend 25 per cent

WE like to think of ourselves as more than just a supplier. We will show you how to easily reduce your expenditure by 25 per cent and more.

All of our tools are free and already set up for you. Save time, save money and start profiting today with Gompels; a hassle-free supplier who looks after you for the long term.

n Business Dashboard typically saves you five per cent from having actionable spend analysis.

n Budget alerts reduce overspend and save you a whopping seven per cent.

n With a smart core list in place for your sites, you can save 10 per cent on your purchasing.

Don’t just take our word for it…

“Gompels helped to streamline, not only the supply, but also the products themselves by implementing a

less at Gompels

flexible fore list for the homes to order from. We were really impressed by Gompels consolidated invoicing, our finance team can simply log in and download the invoices, and can also see at a glance what is due. Gompels also offer direct debit which means the team does not have to spend time setting up payments.”

Kelly Jackson, procurement director, ADL Care

We do the basics brilliantly

Since working with National Autistic Society since the beginning of the pandemic:

n More than 2,500 orders have been placed.

n 99.64 per cent of orders arrived the next working day and in full.

If you are a group customer and want to learn more, contact our key account manager Sam Paines by emailing sam.paines@gompels.co.uk or calling 0345 450 2420.

Change of ownership

BARONS Furniture has attracted external investment and a buy-out has been led by Garry Smith.

Sales director Garry, who many of you already know and have dealt with over the years, has acquired the business along with UK investors, and will now step up to the role of managing director.

Andrew and Rachel Rosser – the chairman and managing director respectively of Barons Furniture – have both retired and exited the business. We know you will join with us in wishing Andrew and Rachel a long and happy retirement.

The new investors have a wealth of experience within the Health care

sector and within UK manufacturing. Garry said: “We would like to thank all our customers, suppliers and employees for their support throughout the years of Andrew and Rachel’s stewardship, and we are looking forward to working with you all in the exciting times we have ahead.

“Our key objectives are to continue to grow and develop new product ranges to support our core business and to increase capacity to enhance lead times and service levels.”

If you have any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact Garry Smith directly on 07789 692966 or email garry@baronsfurniture.co.uk

Shining stars recognised at Care South’s annual awards ceremony

CARE South celebrated the outstanding achievements of its staff at its annual Stars Awards ceremony at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.

Now in its 14th year, the Stars Awards recognise and reward individuals and teams from across the company for their outstanding achievements and excellent care provision.

They are an important event during which time is taken to celebrate care staff and thank them for their frontline duties and commitment to residents. Nominees are put forward by colleagues, residents and relatives. Awards on the day included Management Team of the Year, Carer of the Year, Care Team Leader of the Year, Rising Star, Pride in your Home, Dining Experience of the Year and Activities Team of the Year. Care South’s chairman Chris Kean and chief executive Simon Bird hosted care homes and Care South at Home offices who had been named as finalists.

Simon said: “Our Stars Awards are now in their 14th year and really are a highlight of the year. Many congratulations to all our homes across the Group who certainly did very well and led the way this year.

“The awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the professionalism, passion, and commitment to care that is delivered day in, day out by our staff, and gives us the chance to acknowledge and thank everyone for their hard work and dedication.

“We received an incredible number of nominations this year and all

our finalists and winners should be extremely proud of themselves.”

Home of the Year was presented to Wickmeads due to numerous factors, including KPIs that lead to the overall success of the care home and consistently delivering fantastic care all year round.

The winner of Residential Carer of the Year was presented to Linda Robertson from Castle Dene in recognition of her outstanding teamwork, passion, and ensuring the best possible end of life care for both residents and their loved ones.

Kizzy Cook from Fern Brook Lodge was selected as the Care Team

Leader/Nurse of the Year.

Kizzy was recognised for being both professional and cheerful, going over and above to support colleagues and putting residents at the heart of everything they do, all whilst maintaining a sense of humour.

The Rising Star award went to Liam Conlan from Buxton House in recognition of how much he has grown in confidence and skill over the past 12 months.

Liam was praised for his warm and calming influence, working hard on ensuring care planning is truly based on individual needs and empowers the residents, and putting his heart

and soul into positive outcomes.

The winner of the Dining Excellence award was Kenwith Castle for its consistent high standards of fresh and well-balanced meals, and its welcome and well-presented dining room.

The home was also praised for holding regular food-related activities.

The Activities Team of the year was Dorset House for its fun and stimulating activities and its close links with the local community.

The home received a special mention for its drive and determination, even getting compliments sent in from passers-by.

Buxton House took home the coveted Residential Management Team award for working tirelessly to continuously improve the quality of care at the home, support the team and build an excellent reputation within the local community.

They were highlighted for bringing energy, focus and enthusiasm into the home and being a pillar of the community.

The IT team was selected as the Support Team of the Year winners for being responsive, friendly, and exceptional. The team was recognised for dealing with individual queries and protecting the company with a multitude of combined skills and knowledge.

Pride in your Home was presented to the Housekeeping and Maintenance team at Fairlawn. The team was selected for not only taking pride in their work but also for being so friendly and engaging to residents and going out of their way to meet people’s needs, always with a warm welcome.

Entrepreneur Robert finally graduates – 45 years later

SCOTTISH businessman and philanthropist Robert Kilgour received his degree from Stirling University – 45 years after leaving the university without one. The 66 year-old, who founded both Four Seasons Health Care and more recently Renaissance Care, a leading Scottish independent care home operator, left Stirling University in 1978 without finishing his degree studies.

But in recognition of his services to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he received an honorary doctorate alongside more than 600 graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport and the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

He said: “Leaving university without a degree after three years of studying wasn’t exactly ideal, but my time at Stirling taught me so much more than just about academic study.

“It was also crammed with life lessons about people, relationships, real-life economics and the cut and thrust of student politics, all of which have helped me massively in my subsequent career.

“I warmly thank Stirling for their recognition of my contribution to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, both of which started while I was at the University and neither of which would be possible without the amazing support of the teams I have worked with over the years, my family and friends.”

As well as being an active philanthropist supporting many good causes including, in particular, Macmillan Cancer Support, Robert’s business interests have ranged from local radio and insurance broking to care homes and security systems businesses.

Staff from Wickmeads celebrate their win.

A couple who met at a dance at a gospel hall in St Helens were proud to have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary – with a letter from the King. Albert and Millie Knowles marked the occasion with a party, music and an entertainer at St Helens Hall Care Home where they both live. They were delighted to receive a letter of congratulations from His Majesty King Charles offering his ‘warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes’. Activities co-ordinator Jackie Smith said: “Albert and Millie have been residents here for a year and they are such a lovely, happy couple. We celebrated their wedding anniversary with the help of a local music memories group who were so touched by Albert and Millie’s story that she offered her services for free.”

Robert Kilgour

Residents relish woolly activities

AN appeal for spare balls of wool, made to families with loved ones in a Wellington dementia care home, has resulted in the arrival of a small woolly mountain – which is all being put to good use.

MP joins care home to celebrate 21st birthday

CARE home staff were joined by their local MP to commemorate its 21st birthday with an awards ceremony.

Staff from Newbury Manor celebrated the event in the garden, making the most of the sunny weather which echoed the warmth of the occasion.

Staff were presented with a host of awards which recognised their longstanding commitment to providing care to residents and families.

Many of the employees have served the care home for more than 20 years, highlighting their loyalty.

Shaun Bailey, the Member of Parliament for West Bromwich, also attended the event, paying a personal thanks to the staff for their exceptional dedication to its residents.

Newbury Manor’s owner Shindar

Chall organised the day’s festivities to express her gratitude, celebrate the care home’s achievements and show their appreciation for the staff members’ unwavering passion. The event held a special significance

for Shindar, who herself has dedicated 21 years to the care home.

She said: “As we celebrate our care home’s 21st birthday, I am overwhelmed with appreciation for the exceptional team we have here.

“The connections we have forged with our residents and among ourselves make Newbury Manor a place of warmth, love, and genuine care.

“Our home’s culture of respect and genuine care has created a workplace where staff members feel valued, appreciated, and motivated to stay for the long term.

“It’s this atmosphere that enables them to form deep connections with our residents and colleagues, resulting in an exceptional level of care and support. I extend the biggest thank you to all our employees for being the heart and soul of this incredible home.”

During the awards ceremony, each staff member and manager received a personalise award, clock and certificate as tokens of recognition.

Following a very popular animal therapy visit by a trio of spring lambs earlier in the year, the activities team at Camelot House and Lodge requested the wool to enable them to continue with the theme of ‘all things woolly’ by organising some related craft activities.

Activities organiser Richard Dempslake said: “We are holding ‘wool art’ classes which are proving a great hit both with those who have been used to using wool for knitting, and with those who don’t usually handle it.

“The families of residents have been very generous in donating materials and have also provided some peg looming equipment.

“We have a range of residents with some form of dementia so I thought it was important to have a variety of wool-related activities.

“The first class involved making pom poms, doing some crossstitching, tying and knotting, peg looming and plaiting wool.

“We watched videos about crossstitching and peg looming, and then

supported residents to do whatever activities they fancied trying.

“With dementia everyone’s needs are different, but we seem to have succeeded in providing something that appealed to everyone. Beside the craft activities, residents with sensory loss enjoyed touching and feeling the different textured wool and our former farmer residents enjoyed seeing the different sheep’s wool we were using.

“When they’re as engaged and happy as they were with this activity, we know we’re doing a good job of helping them live their best lives.”

Home partners with petting farm to provide therapy

A BRENTWOOD home has partnered with a local petting farm for animal therapy as part of the care and support they provide.

Old Shenfield Place, which is owned by Premium Care Group, welcomed Tammy and her petting farm to the home after first being introduced to Tammy’s farm back in March.

Tammy owns a farm in Stock, Chelmsford, but due to the cost of living crisis, was struggling to fund it, so has now started a petting farm visiting local companies.

She visits care homes and other organisations with her animals which include a pony, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, and even a bearded dragon lizard.

Residents were really excited about

the visit, which helped improve their moods and encouraged playfulness and creativity.

Manager Cristina Duran said: “A huge thank you to Tammy and all of her animals that came to connect with everyone at Old Shenfield Place.

“We had such a wonderful day. “It really is amazing how much of a positive impact animals can have on us as humans, and it’s something that we hope to explore in the near future. It’s no wonder that they say dogs are man’s best friend.”

Due to the success of the partnership and the numerous benefits to residents, Old Shenfield Place is now seeking to adopt guinea pigs and a rabbit to become permanent residents of the home.

Resident Joyce Hume cross stitching.

A dream came true for Armadale care home resident David Gault when he met his celebrity idol and favourite singer Susan Boyle. The renowned performer visited Heatherfield after staff put out a social media appeal to connect David with his heroine, whose inspirational journey from West Lothian to the West End is local folklore. He said: “Susan’s a legend in these parts. I’m full of admiration for all that’s she’s achieved and I can’t believe I got to meet her. I’ve got her new CD on repeat.” Susan, well known for her captivating performances, enthralled residents with stories from her career as they shared afternoon tea. She left behind personalised gifts including her latest album and a signed photograph for David.

Paul wins group’s annual Chef of the Year competition

AN AYLESBURY care home chef has won the Anchor’s Chef of the Year Award.

Paul Thomas, a chef at Anchor’s Buckingham Lodge, went up against chefs from all 120 care homes run by England’s largest not-for-profit care home provider.

Entrants in Anchor’s prestigious Chef of the Year Award submitted a three-course recipe (starter, main and dessert). The best entrant from each region was picked by regional managers.

These regional nominees then had their submissions voted for by Anchor colleagues across the country to pick the most appetising menus.

Chefs were encouraged to use locally sourced ingredients and many even used herbs, fruits and vegetables grown at their own homes. Points were also awarded for menus that reduced food waste, using all parts of their ingredients.

The four finalists then came together to cook their recipes in a cooking competition at Leeds Community College.

With all four finalists preparing their menus in a set time then having the results sampled by judges including the operator’s managing director of care services Rob Martin, catering manager Noel Finnegan, Steve McFall, managing director of Efoods, one of Anchor’s suppliers and sponsors alongside Bidfood, and last year’s winner Sam Mellish.

In the end, though, there could only be one winner. Paul was crowned at the official ceremony later that day.

He said: “I still can’t quite believe it. To make the final four was incredible but I never thought I’d win, I’m really proud to have won. I wanted to make a menu that was healthy but also tasty – and made good use of local and sustainable ingredients.”

For his menu he served up butternut squash panna cotta with whipped goat’s cheese and chives, dressed lamb’s lettuce with basil oil to start,

An expert in fraud prevention gave a talk to residents and staff at a Chichester care home about how best to protect themselves from scams. Richard Moorey shared firsthand insight on the most common financial scams targeting older people including impersonation tactics, courier and computer fraud and bogus prize notifications. Richard, whose experience includes being a police community support officer based at Chichester Police Station and serving as a community warden for West Sussex District Council, presented his advice at Colten Care’s Wellington Grange. He told the audience of his shock at the increase in scams being reported to police in recent years and how there was a corresponding growth in demand from the public for advice on protection.

Academy aims to tackle recruitment challenge

ENCORE Care Homes has launched its new healthcare training academy to solve the challenge of recruiting staff in the care sector.

opportunities for progression and personal development.

a pan seared cod loin, crushed baby potatoes and spinach with charred asparagus, chorizo and caper butter for the main course and finished with a dessert of dark chocolate ganache, clotted cream, seasonal pickled fruit and chocolate soil.

All the judges agreed Paul’s menu contained the perfect balance of traditional comfort and culinary excellence

Rob Martin, who presented Paul with his award, said: “A huge well done to Paul. This year’s competition was fierce, so it says a lot about Paul’s menu and skills that he was able to deliver such an excellent set of dishes against the clock and against so many other great chefs.

“While all our homes provide fantastic quality cooking with high quality ingredients, our most important aim is to ensure our food is made with our residents’ wants and needs in mind, mitigating food waste and educating and inspiring colleagues to support and promote sustainable options.

“Paul’s delicious dishes very much achieved this aim and I’ve no doubt all the residents of Anchor’s Buckingham Lodge will be celebrating his win too.”

Encore Care Academy was borne from the core principle to provide everyone with the opportunity and facilities to improve their skills, careers, earning capability, and selfworth. It presents a distinct career pathway that defines a job in care as a real and profitable career choice. Its structured learning paths allow individuals to develop their skill set and gain additional qualifications.

The Care Academy supports learning and development and presents its members with the route to progress and achieve a competitive salary in a meaningful role.

Managing director Mikkel Togsverd said: “Care is often thought of as an industry where you cannot progress.

“However, if you look at our senior management team, myself included, we have all worked frontline and have worked our way up.

“Our focus is to provide staff with

“This could be following a distinct career pathway in care and working their way up from healthcare assistant to home manager.

“Or they might wish to follow a journey that builds their confidence, knowledge, and proficiency; supporting them to become the best that they can be in their chosen role.”

Encore Care Academy provides a full induction to equip team members with critical skills development through a blended learning environment, including face-toface training sessions, workshops, e-learning and supported on-the-job mentoring.

The innovative learning and development training programme at Encore Care Homes currently has 36 staff members enrolled in apprenticeships, including Level 2 Adult Care Worker, Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker and Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Apprenticeships.

Why you need a specialist social care IT partner

HAVING recently returned from a large regional care exhibition it always amazes me how any many care group owners simply look up and walk past the stand without asking about what’s new in the world of IT and IT services for the social care sector.

We do of course understand that everyone has an IT supplier or in-house IT function and lets be honest, IT is not exactly the most exhilarating topic in the world of healthcare.

But having an IT partner who specialises in social care will deliver on-going insights into not just the latest technologies and IT services but how your peers and competitors are using them to improve efficiency, service and security.

Below are three examples where we differentiate from your average IT provider:

n More and more local authority tenders require you to evidence that you have a managed IT service to ensure your systems remain secure at all times.

Whilst most IT providers say they

can do this, we understand the individual complexities of a care group from your back office users, to chefs on iPads, residents streaming on their TV’s to nurses using mobile devices and how to keep them all secure, connected to the WIFI and DSPT compliant.

n We are seeing more and more care groups diversify into other CQC / Care Inspectorate regulated areas such as specialist education which requires a different set of IT services to your care home.

In specialist education vulnerable children and adults will always enjoy an attempt at hacking your IT systems.

n We are seeing many care groups acquiring new locations in different parts of the country and finding their previously local IT provider just not having the UK reach needed to offer the same service level agreements as they do at your head office. Call Simon Darlington on 0333 016 5090, email simon.darlington@workplaceit.co.uk or visit

Paul Thomas

Cotgrave care home to be extended

NOTTINGHAM dementia specialist

Church Farm Care has received planning permission to extend its care home in Cotgrave

Church Farm Care Home has been given the go ahead for a first-floor extension, in addition to single storey extensions to the side and rear of the existing building.

The added space will ensure every bedroom at the home includes an en-suite, improving the living environment for all family members.

Director Lucy Atkinson said: “It’s important that we continue investing in our homes to build on the highlevel of care we provide to those living with dementia.

“Ensuring all rooms at Church Farm Care Home feature en-suites will give our family members greater independence and boost their quality of life which is always at the heart of everything we do.”

The approved work at Church Farm

Care Home follows the successful work to create more bed spaces at its Rusticus home, also in Cotgrave.

Hickling Lodge, a state-ofthe-art 30-bedroom standalone building at Rusticus, featuring new lounges and lifestyle kitchens, opened in late 2021 to meet additional demand for Church Farm’s special form of dementia care.

Rusticus family members and

staff also celebrated the opening of a social hub called Socius earlier this year. Complete with a newly opened cinema, hairdressers, and café, the new area also includes a walk-through bird aviary in freshly landscaped grounds for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Work is also set to start this year at Church Farm’s Skylarks home in West Bridgford. This will see the creation

of 30 independent living pods in addition to amenities that will also benefit the community such as a hydrotherapy swimming pool.

Director Patrick Atkinson added: “Our inspiration for our care homes comes from the Dementia Village in the Netherlands. Home to more than 150 residents, they are encouraged to be independent, visit shops, get their hair done and attend clubs, all onsite.

“The independence that the residents can have at the Dementia Village is something we are striving to achieve across all our homes, and the continued development of our two homes in Cotgrave and at Skylarks takes us one step closer to accomplishing this goal.

“This combined investment and exciting work in the future will all go towards improving life for our family members, as well as consciously adding to the sense of community in the local area.”

HARROWBY LODGE NURSING HOME GRANTHAM LINCOLNSHIRE

Lamont Johnson are delighted to confirm the recent completed sale of Harrowby Lodge Nursing Home, Grantham, Lincolnshire.

The home is currently registered for 30, run under management and set in delightful gardens and grounds and benefits from an overall CQC status of “Good”.

This successful business had been trading under the existing ownership of Julie Neville and Sue Smith since 1987 and only came to the market for genuine reasons of retirement.

The home was acquired by Wembley based first time buyer Mr K Sirijeyanantham.

Lucy and Patrick Atkinson.

Grayson & Dawn Taylor

Lamont Johnson Ltd

Specialist Property Agents

Dear Grayson and Dawn

What an enormous relief for Christine and I, that the sale of Mount Pleasant, has completed so successfully. Never in our wildest dreams, could we have imagined such a straightforward and simple sale and much of that undoubtedly, can be attributed to your continual support and efforts on our behalves, throughout what could have been a very stressful process.

As you know, Mount Pleasant has been in our family ownership for over 38 years and therefore, we were very nervous about the selling process and choosing the right agent was crucial.

Thankfully we knew from the very first moment that we met you both, that you were the ideal choice of agent for us. Unlike many of the corporate agents in the sector who are invariably only available 9 am – 5 pm, five days per week, we knew that you would support us irrespective of working hours and that proved very much to be the case. Many of your so-called competitors should take a leaf from your book!

Your introduction/recommendation of a specialist healthcare solicitor in our case, and an excellent healthcare finance broker on behalf of our buyer, made all the difference to the success of the transaction. The recommended solicitor, from day one helped our cause enormously, and was a major contributing factor in enabling the transaction to move forward seamlessly to completion.

Thank you for all your efforts once again.

Kind regards to you both.

Lamont Johnson is delighted to confirm this weeks completed sale of Mount Pleasant, located in the affluent Cheshire “money belt”, close to Knutsford.

The original charming farmhouse building was converted and established as a Home by our clients in 1985.

The property is set in 5+ acres was extended in 1992 and a 3-bedroom bungalow added in 1993.

Presently registered for 25 and with the home having a current CQC status of “Good”.

The Home has been sold on behalf of John and Christine Padden and acquired by the Buxton based Andrew Care Ltd to complement their existing homes in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Firth and Woodford.

Hat-trick of Outstanding ratings for group

VIDA Court, the third and latest care home of Harrogate-based specialist dementia care provider Vida Healthcare, has been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

The care home has joined the top four per cent of adult social care services rated Outstanding following an inspection.

All of Vida’s three specialist care homes have now been awarded an Outstanding rating.

The inspection highlighted the exceptional dementia care that is provided. Staff’s creativity when following best practice guidance was applauded, particularly when it comes to ensuring residents’ care and support needs are met.

Person-centred care is prevalent throughout the service, and this includes how people wish to be cared for at the end of their lives and approaching difficult conversations.

The report also highlighted that Vida’s ethos of ensuring excellence in clinical and dementia care provision shines through, with senior leaders and staff underpinning Vida’s values.

The CQC referenced the innovative care that is led by the latest research and professional literature and fully

embedded throughout the service.

Staff described an inclusive, open working environment, with a strong framework of accountability by the management team to monitor performance and risk.

Home manager Sharon Oldfield said: “We are extremely proud of the Vida Court team. It is a privilege to work with people who are so focused on enriching residents’ lives and providing the highest quality of care.

“We are delighted that our inclusive and open working environment, alongside the hard work and creativity of our team has been

recognised by the CQC. We are committed to developing, promoting and implementing innovative methods of care to deliver an outstanding service to our residents.”

Vida Court offers its residents state-of-the-art facilities and accommodation in a “home from home” environment. The nursing home provides personal and nursing care to up to 100 people across eight houses which boast separate adapted facilities. Multiple initiatives and unique environments are on offer to residents, including a sensory

courtyard that features herbs and dementia friendly flowers, and wellbeing activities, such as stretching classes, that enable staff, residents and family members to interact. The central plaza features a 12-seater cinema, traditional sweet shop, beauty salon, events room, five-star hygiene rated kitchen which provides quality homemade food, and coffee shop for use by all residents and visitors in order to create a sense of community.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, added: “The commitment of the team at Vida Court, highlighted in the inspection report, is what makes our service outstanding. Securing an Outstanding rating for all of our care homes is an incredible achievement, and really sets us apart from other care home operators in the UK.

“Our staff are our greatest asset and I would like to thank them all for their dedication.

“They all have a clear understanding and respect for our core values which underpin our service; very important people, in it together, detail oriented, always kind, which in turn is reflected in the care we provide to our residents.”

Operator acquires two newly built homes

HARTFORD Care has acquired two newly built state-of-the-art residential care homes in Alton and Southampton in Hampshire.

The new home in Alton will be the operator’s second in the town; it will offer expert residential, dementia and respite care across 67 bedrooms, and will be positioned alongside a new landscaped public open space.

The newly built care home in Southampton – Alton’s third in the area – will offer residential, dementia and respite care across 70 bedrooms set within landscaped grounds near West End Village.

Kevin Shaw, chief executive of Hartford Care, said: “We’re extremely pleased to add these new

state-of-the-art care homes in Alton and Southampton to our portfolio.

“It now brings us to 20 homes with more than 1,100 bedrooms and we are well on our way to achieving our goal to double in size within three years and provide our specialist care and ‘home from home’ environment to as many people as possible.”

The two homes are being developed by Highwood, an expert in delivering inspired and sustainable care homes, in collaboration with Octopus Investments’ specialist healthcare funding division.

Both homes will have industry-

leading sustainability credentials and will be rated BREEAM Excellent, with significant renewable energy elements including solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage systems

Phil Prosser, development director at Highwood, added: “We’re delighted to have agreed terms on these state-of-the-art schemes with Hartford Care.

“It’s exciting to reignite a relationship that stretches back over a decade and has led to a number of care home project successes –we’re very much looking forward to working together again.”

New care home to open in Devon next year

A STATE-of-the-art £13million care home is under construction in Devon and is set to offer luxury care for the older community members and create up to 75 jobs.

Claremont Manor, on course to be opened at the start of 2024 by the Maria Mallaband Care Group, will provide a living environment with 71 en-suite bedrooms across three floors, multiple lounges, restaurants, communal areas and a biodiverse garden.

Located in the Dawlish, the threestorey home will have landscaped grounds, with both private and shared patios and quiet terraces, all surrounded by sensitive planting to encourage bees, butterflies and other wildlife to visit the gardens. The home will also have a number of luxury facilities such as a hair and beauty suite, cinema room, wellness suite, private dining room and to encourage multi-generational visiting a grandchildren’s room.

Annelli Chatfield, group commissioning manager at Maria

Mallaband Care Group said: “Claremont Manor will ensure the local community has the opportunity to live in a luxurious environment that promotes personalisation and independence. This home is going to be something spectacular, from the design to the finishes and chefcurated menus.”

Claremont Manor is the latest

home to be developed by the Maria Mallaband Care Group, which has more than 80 sites across the country.

This project comes with many high expectations after the success of their other recently opened homes, Chartwell Manor in Aylesbury and Lace Hill Manor in Buckingham.

These two purpose-built homes have created more than 140 jobs

locally, and have each made good on their commitment to supporting their local communities.

Annelli added: “We know that there is a demand for more support from care homes, especially in Dawlish and the surrounding towns.

“Our sister home in Ottery St Mary, Kings Manor, also offers luxury living, great facilities and lifestyle-enhancing care, which is why we want to continue to offer this exceptional care service to the local community.”

The new private care home, designed for residential, nursing, palliative, respite and dementia care, is under construction by contractor Lawrence Baker Ltd with the interiors designed by Rebecca Hunter of Rebecca Hartley Interiors.

Not only will this new luxury care home be the first of its kind to open in the Dawlish area and be responding to the need for more social care within the community, but it will also be creating jobs for local carers, qualified nurses, administrators, hospitality professionals and more.

A CGI of the newly built state-of-the-art care home in Southampton.

Another home sold by Montane Care

SPECIALIST business property adviser Montane Care has completed the sale of Lilycross Care Centre in Widnes, Cheshire.

The home comprises of 60 single bedrooms, all offering en-suite facilities.

The business had been in our client Rab Chaudhry’s ownership for many years.

He said: “I have known Anthony for many years and had no hesitation in allowing Anthony to sell Lilycross Care Centre.

“In a short period of time Anthony found multiple buyers during in a short period of time and through intense negotiations achieved and successfully negotiated a sale to a multi-national care group.

“The level of service was excellent throughout the sale process: you have shown great patience and cooperation.

“Upon completion it has been a great relief to finally achieve what we have been working towards, it was an overwhelming but very rewarding experience.

“I would recommend you and the company to others due to the professionalism and reliable service. I appreciate everything you have done in helping me achieve my retirement, without your help this would not have been possible.”

Anthony Rae, director of Montane

Firm’s experts advise on Halifax home acquisition

A MULTI-disciplinary team of social care experts from national law firm Bevan Brittan has advised Lee Mount Healthcare on its purchase of a second care home in Halifax.

Care, added: “Having known my client for many years it was a pleasure to achieve multiple offers in a short period of time by selecting existing operators with proven funding.

“Montane Care has expert local and national coverage with disappointed buyers seeking to acquire similar businesses.”

If you are contemplating selling or would like to know the value of your business call Anthony Rae in confidence on 07546 932811.

With nearly three decades’ experience of care work, the newly arrived deputy manager at Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater, Sonny Valmiki, views working in the sector as a vocation which fits his personality well. Sonny started his career in 1994 in adult general nursing, spending 23 years with the NHS then moving to the care sector. Before joining Camelot Care, Sonny was working as the clinical lead for Harbour Healthcare (previously Majesticare) in Chard In his new post he says he particularly enjoys managing residents’ care plans. “I see if I can dance when I hear music, and I try and join activities to see our residents smile and laugh,” said Sonny. “A smile on my resident’s face means a lot to me. Seeing them happy makes me happy.”

The Halifax business has completed the acquisition of Park View Nursing Home for £670,000 from liquidators. Lee Mount Healthcare also owns Lee Mount Care Home in the town.

Park View Nursing Home is a large residential home, with a capacity of 43 beds to support older people, including those with physical disabilities and sensory impairment.

Bevan Brittan’s team supported Lee Mount Healthcare on several parts of the acquisition, providing advice on the property, planning and regulatory aspects of the deal.

Property partner Nick Thackray, who led the team, said: “This acquisition allows Lee Mount Healthcare to increase its presence in Halifax. There is continued need for capacity in the sector and this deal brings more beds back into circulation in the Halifax area.

“As one of the leading law firms in the care sector, we were happy to guide Lee Mount Healthcare through the process and to successfully conclude the deal.”

The Bevan Brittan team included property experts Nick Thackray, Jess Hirst and Lyndon Campbell, along with planning specialist Dalee Kaur and head of Bevan Brittan’s healthcare regulatory team Carlton Sadler.

Brunelcare has appointed Graham Russell as the charity’s new chair of Trustees. He takes over from Deborah Evans, who stepped down as chair after four years of service on the Board. Graham has a wealth of experience working with third sector organisations, including the housing, education and mental health sectors, as well as working at board level with private sector companies. His extensive board experience, including his current role as vice chair at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, has given him a strong knowledge of organisational strategy and leading organisations through challenging environments. Graham said: “It’s a great privilege to be invited to be the new chair of Trustees at Brunelcare and carry on the great efforts that Deborah left. I’m keen to get involved, meet lots of people across Brunelcare and become more familiar with the organisation.”

The Housing and Ageing Alliance has appointed Mario Ambrosi, director of communications and marketing at Anchor, as its new chair. Sarah Davis, senior policy and practice officer at The Chartered Institute of Housing, has been appointed vice chair. The Housing and Ageing Alliance is made up of individuals from local and national organisations working together with a single objective; to bring about improvements to the housing and living conditions of older people. Mario takes on the role of chair from Housing Learning and Improvement Network CEO Jeremy Porteus. A former journalist with more than 20 years’ experience in communications, Mario Ambrosi joined Anchor, England’s largest notfor-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life, in 2004.

Blackwood Homes and Care have completed their restructured executive management team by appointing Steph Sutherland as development and commercial director. Replacing former development and commercial director Simon Fitzpatrick, who became chief executive in February, Steph occupied the post on an interim post before securing the role on a permanent basis – something she says she is really excited about. Steph said: “It’s an exciting role at an exciting time for Blackwood as we strive to improve the services we provide, in both housing and care, to reach new customers.” Steph originally joined Blackwood in 2018 as a development and procurement officer before progressing onto the role of Development Manager a year later. Her ascent into the executive management team is something she is extremely proud of and she says it highlights the opportunities to grow within Blackwood.

CARE Show Birmingham is the UK’s multi award-winning social care event of the year – celebrating the invaluable contributions and achievements of teams across the care sector.

Taking place on October 11 and 12 at the NEC, Birmingham, Care Show brings together individuals, teams, and organisations who share a common vision of improving the quality of care in the UK.

It fosters solution-based, engaging, and inclusive conversations to transform the way care is delivered.

There are seven themed theatres, providing a comprehensive platform to address the pressing issues within the sector such as what the future of care looks like, how to gain new clients in a different climate, liaising with local authorities, regulatory updates and looking at workplace cultures by learning from different sectors.

A thread on the cost of living running through the programme will highlight the solutions to challenges

faced by both care providers and end users, with a holistic approach not only acknowledging the complexities of the sector, but also having proactive discussions with practical outcomes.

Some of the expert speakers that will deliver the educational sessions and inspire you at the show are:

n Zoe Fry, director – The Outstanding Society.

n William Laing, CEO – Laing Buisson

n Rita Chowdhry, CEO – Savran Coaching and Consulting.

n Derek Breingan, head of health and social care – Virgin Money.

n Tobi Ali Usman, CEO – Smooth Digital Marketing.

n Lucy Buxton, CEO – Lib Coach Consultancy.

Key topics of conversation this year will include exploring affordable heating technologies, addressing the cost of living, enhancing staff support and resources to help with retention, looking at innovative approaches to recruitment, understanding what the digitisation of care looks like, and getting ready for the next generation of people both accessing care and working within the sector. This year there are many exciting

Advertiser’s announcement

features to help you make the most of your time at the event, including the return of the CQC Inspector Hub, The Outstanding Society Learning Lounge, and The Care Innovation Hub from National Care Forum, where you can find the latest products and services for social care.

New for 2023 is the introduction of the Tech Concierge Service from Guided Innovation, to assist you in finding the software suppliers you need to speak to and ensure you leave with all the necessary information to make an informed decision.

The Care Show is the opportunity to meet with leading suppliers and experts, providing the chance to stay up to date with the latest developments and to network with peers in the sector.

Gearing up to positively make changes to businesses, practice, and the delivery of exceptional care.

Registration for Care Show Birmingham 2023 is open and free passes are available for all care and healthcare professionals.

Care Show to feature expert speakers Forbes receives recognition for its sustainable rental solutions

FORBES Professional has recently garnered high-profile recognition for their commitment to sustainability and exceptional customer service. A national provider of sustainable rental options for commercial laundry provision, Forbes Professional has been honoured with the prestigious Best Independent Retailer – Sustainability Award at the Independent Electrical Retailer Awards.

Forbes also received high commendation for its dedication to customer service, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry. In an era where environmental responsibility is paramount, rental presents itself as a more sustainable procurement solution than outright purchase, supporting the circular economy and enabling multi-phase product cycles.

Forbes’ consultants work with clients to help them choose energy and water efficient machines; reducing their environmental footprint whilst maintaining the highest standards of service provision

and infection control.

Forbes understands that the care industry often faces challenges related to laundry management, maintenance, and consumption so they present solutions that minimise

resource consumption, eliminate upfront costs and ensure a first-class service response.

Their recent high profile award serves as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment

to sustainability, extending beyond its product offerings.

Forbes actively promotes education and awareness; empowering organisations to make informed decisions regarding their laundry practices.

In addition to its sustainable initiatives, Forbes Professional has also been highly commended for their customer service at the IER Awards.

Its customer-centric approach is characterised by responsive support, prompt maintenance services, and personalised solutions tailored to the unique needs of each individual client.

After 97 years of operation, Forbes delivers exceptional industry expertise and provides ongoing support and guidance to enable a seamless and stress-free laundry process.

This dedication to customer service truly sets them apart as a trusted partner in the care industry.

Call 0345 070 2335, email info@forbes-professional.co.uk or visit forbespro.co.uk

• Enhanced patient dignity

•

• Improved sleep

• Pressure injury reducing

• Pressure injury management

Time

• Reduced moving and handling

• More time to care

• Improved patient / client outcomes

• Assisting reduced resources

Cost

• Reduced manpower for turning

• All in one system

• Single pump/Lower energy bills

• Reduced injury risk

• Reduced sta absence

• Reduced maintenance