Caring UK January 2013 by Script Media

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January 2013

incorporating

no.200 • £4.75

The Number One magazine for the care sector

Sector risks a ‘return to its Victorian past’ By Dominic Musgrave THE care sector is in danger of slipping back into the institutional ways of the past, it has been claimed. London housing association Family Mosaic’s ‘No Going Back’ report urges care providers to recognise and counter the culture of institutionalisation that characterised long-stay hospitals from the 1800s until the mid to late 20th Century. The study pinpoints a range of practices and attitudes that are making a return in some modern care homes, including: Strict systems of rules, oppressive codes of conduct, and authoritarian regimes based on hierarchical systems of management and a lack of training, particularly of lower level staff. Strict routines that give no opportunity for choice, for example, in what time to get up or go to bed, or even when to go to the toilet. Excessive reliance on medication and physical restraints, often for minor perceived misdemeanours. A lack of empathy and respect for patients leading to them being seen, and treated, as objects rather than as individuals. Patients being left alone with no interaction for hours at a time.

Brendan Sarsfield, chief executive, said: “We have seen how quickly even the most modern supported housing schemes can move to institutionalised practice if providers are not vigilant. “We would argue that if providers don’t believe this has ever happened in their services, it just may be that they haven’t looked hard enough. “Our organisation is committed to raising awareness so that theirs and others providing services do not slip backwards into the old, discredited styles of practice.” The report goes on to highlight several ways for care and support service providers to identify possible poor practice, advising that certain evidence should be regularly investigated. The report concludes with recommendations to care and support providers of how to develop a model and good practice to combat institutionalisation – based around four key themes of dignity, privacy, raising concerns and choice. Family Mosaic recently introduced a programme called ‘Changing Direction’, intended to ensure that the provision of all its services follows a clearly articulated model of care and support with an emphasis on personalisation, dignity and respect.

CQC role for chair of Norfolk NHS Trust

Hollywood star Carey Mulligan shared Christmas memories with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, launching a new campaign to help relatives spot and support loved ones with dementia over the festive season. Carey, star of upcoming blockbuster The Great Gatsby, spoke about Christmases with her grandmother ‘Nans’ while the Prime Minister shared a story about rushing son Ivan from hospital down to Devon in time for a family Christmas.

DAVID Prior is to be the new chair of the inspectorate. The current chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will take up his new post on January 28. CQC chief executive David Behan said: "I am looking forward to working closely with David Prior to ensure the CQC’s success in driving improvement across social care and health. “The next phase of the CQC's development is vital to delivering success in protecting and promoting the health, safety and welfare of people who use health and care services. Guided by the findings from our Strategic Review, David Prior will play a pivotal role in chairing the board and working with stakeholders. David’s experience within the NHS, as well as his wider governance and industry experience will prove vital in meeting the important regulatory challenges ahead.”

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Carers share £1m with EuroMillions success A SYNDICATE of care home staff are celebrating after scooping £1m on EuroMillions, just weeks after they started to play. The staff from Willowbank Nursing Home in Burnley, which includes nurses, care assistants and domestics, play 17 lines of Lucky Dip numbers every week on EuroMillions. And it was one of the £1m raffle codes which brought them the luck and the cash prize on November 30. Each member of Willowbank Syndicate will receive £29,411.73. Diane Ireland, syndicate leader and care home manager, said: “We have only been playing for around 12 weeks. We have had a few £2 and £3 wins but this is just unbelievable. The news is still sinking in. “This is absolutely perfect timing too, just before Christmas. It will certainly ensure we all have the best Christmas ever.” Diane, who has two daughters and four grandchildren, said she is still deciding how she will spend the money but will be ensuring her family is well looked after. She added: “We have all been talking about how we will spend our winnings. There has been talk of new cars, holidays and just paying off debts. It is just perfect timing for everyone – all of the preChristmas financial worries are gone.” Diane said she received a call on the Saturday morning from her deputy say-

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Editorial Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Reporter: Christina Eccles Tel: 01226 734463

The staff from Willowbank Nursing Home in Burnley celebrate their success. ing they had matched the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle code and won the £1m prize. “I just did not believe her,” she added. “My colleague had checked online so I immediately got my husband to check again on the television – and check again …. and again. When we announced it to the rest of the syndicate they thought it

was a joke and didn’t believe us – when they finally knew it was true they just wanted to tell everyone straight away.” Diane said the syndicate has grown in size since it first started 12 weeks ago and since the win even more members of staff have joined, taking the total to 50. The winning ticket was bought from a local branch of Tesco.

Studio Manager: Stewart Holt Tel: 01226 734414 Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ scriptmedia.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur. You can now follow us on Twitter at caringuk

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10 staff volunteer at home TEN members of staff from Lloyds Banking Group spent a day volunteering at nursing and residential care home Nightingale House as part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility scheme. The banking group grants its employees one day off every year to volunteer at a charity of their choice, through its ‘Day to Make a Difference’ scheme. Volunteers took part in reminiscence activities specifically designed to stimulate residents’ memories, such as helping to bake cakes during a cookery class, teaching them how to use computers and attending a 103rd birthday party. Nightingale House also held a dance where the Lloyds’ volunteers served tea and cakes and encouraged residents to join in. Helen Spiro, volunteer support and development manager at Nightingale Hammerson said: “This was an incredibly successful and enriching day for everybody – the volunteers were very touched by the warmth of the residents at Nightingale House and they thoroughly enjoyed having fun with Lloyds’ staff.”

Merits of ‘Ofsted-style’ ratings system assessed in new study By Dominic Musgrave HEALTH secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review of the way information on NHS and social care services is given to patients and the public. The study will assess the merits of an ‘Ofsted-style’ system of ratings for hospitals and care homes. It will investigate the way in which a new ratings system could help improve standards of care across the health and social care system. In particular, it will look at how information about services can be communicated to the public and how this information can be used to drive up standards across the system. Jeremy said: “I know how well each school in my constituency is doing thanks to independent and thorough Ofsted inspections. “But because the CQC only measures whether minimum standards have been reached, I do not know the same about hospitals and care homes. “I am not advocating a return to the old ‘star ratings’ – but the principle that there should be an easy to understand, independent and expert assessment of how well somewhere is doing relative to its peers must be right.” “So I have asked for an independent

study to be done as to how this might be achieved in a way that does not increase bureaucracy.” He condemned the examples of poor care that have surfaced in the past and made clear that dignity, respect, and a constant, relentless drive for improvement in standards of care must be paramount. Jeremy said any proposed new ratings system should have: No increase in bureaucracy. Clear, simple results that patients and the public can understand – driving organisations to excel rather than just cover the basics. Greater certainty that poor care gets spotted and addressed before standards collapse. Michael Boyd, head of law firm DWF’s healthcare group, described Jeremy’s idea as ‘interesting’. He added: “I would question whether it is necessary or, indeed, feasible given the role of the CQC in overseeing quality and the struggle that it already has in keeping up with its provider assessment workload. “Rather than introducing yet another regulator into the healthcare sector, it would be better to instead work with the CQC to address any of its perceived shortcomings and adapt what is already in place. “Indeed, the sector is already overburdened with compliance

Michael Boyd obligations and is still reeling from having to deal with the structural reforms introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012.” Would you welcome a return to a rating system for care homes and how would you like to see it work? Let healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@scriptmedia.co.uk

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A London care home promoted occupational therapy week by raising its awareness among staff. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Occupational therapy at the forefront of Nightingale House’s staff training NIGHTINGALE House held an ‘open door’ session for residents, relatives and staff, including housekeeping and catering workers, carers, fundraisers and management. The event was aimed at showcasing how beneficial occupational therapy can be for older people. OT staff used posters as teaching tools to explain its practical benefits and gave demonstrations on how various equipment works. There were also plenty of opportunities for staff and relatives to ask questions and take part in remedial therapy and therapeutic activities where they were encouraged to experience what it is like to have a disability. Anne Topping, head of therapy at Nightingale House and co-lead of the Care Homes Forum for Occupational Therapy in the UK, said: “Occupational therapy is an essential part of care for older people. It is about enabling ability within disability and focusing on what older people can still do rather than on what they can’t do. “This event was a great opportunity

to ensure more healthcare staff, residents and relatives were made aware of the beneficial impact OT can have on older people to enhance their quality of life – physically, mentally and socially.” One activity saw staff and relatives asked to manoeuvre their way round in a manual wheelchair so they could experience how physically tiring it is on the hands and shoulders and the psychological impact of being at a different height to everyone else. OT staff also encouraged guests to put on a pair of glasses with the middle blocked out, simulating macular degeneration, and at the same time they asked them to wear a sling simulating a fractured wrist. They were asked to try to butter bread and cut it up, which they found to be very challenging. OT staff gave them aids to help them stabilise the plate, adapted cutlery, coloured contoured crockery, as well as verbal guidance and encouragement. Anne added: “Occupational Therapy is an integral part of Nightingale Hammerson’s holistic care approach to ensure residents are able to carry

Occupational therapy assistant Catherine Matias and porter Charmaine Brooks. out day-to-day activities independently. OT staff work closely with the activities coordinators and physiotherapists to maximise functional ability and plan activities which will benefit the residents. They also play a role in environmental design by advising on colour contrast, layout, wayfinding

and furniture design to best enable those residents with dementia.” Other activities included simulating what it is like to have suffered from a stroke and having to put a cardigan on without the functional use of one arm. The occupational therapist sat opposite the guests to show them how best to do it.

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Care provider supports Peter in his book bid By Dominic Musgrave

John Strowbridge hands over the iPads to Chris Pallot, strategy and partnerships director at NGH.

Home donates iPads to hospital CLIFTONVILLE Care Home has donated two top spec iPads to Northampton General Hospital in support of the hospital’s staff flu jab campaign. The initiative, to encourage all staff to vaccinate against the virus, has seen more than 1,200 staff already accept the free vaccination, which helps protect them against the virus. Anyone taking up the free jab is automatically entered in to a free prize draw to win one of two iPads supplied as an incentive by the Avery Healthcare owned care home. John Strowbridge, managing director at Avery Healthcare, said: “As a partner of NGH we are supporting its vaccination campaign for several

reasons. We provide 29 ‘transitional care’ beds to NGH making beds available to patients who have completed their treatment at the hospital and are recuperating in preparation to go home. “The flu virus can be extremely virulent and especially unpleasant for elderly people who are at particular risk from the virus. Vaccinating staff who come in to contact with vulnerable individuals whose health may already be compromised helps prevent the virus spreading meaning recovery is not interrupted by the virus. “We hope the chance of winning an iPad will encourage vaccination takeup.”

A CARE provider has lent its support to an activities organiser at one of its homes who plans to publish a book of memories of the local area. It will contain stories and historical accounts provided by the residents Peter McGarr, cares for. Peter, who works at Jonathan Grange in Mossley, found that residents enjoyed reminiscing about the past during their activity sessions. The interesting tales that were told inspired him to document the stories in a book entitled ‘Little Memories of Mossley’. Four Seasons Health Care has helped Peter release an edition in time for Christmas. Residents in the home will each receive a complimentary edition of the book and family and friends will also be able to purchase a copy with the proceeds going towards the home’s residents’ fund. Peter said: “It’s wonderful to have this book produced. Four Seasons’ support in this project means so much to me and the residents.

“It’s very uplifting to know that the company appreciates and completely understands what I am aiming to achieve with this project.” Copies of the book will also be sent out to local schools and libraries so they can learn about the area and get a better understanding of the people and their lives in years gone by. Caroline Baker, head of quality and dementia care for Four Seasons, said the initiative highlights the importance of incorporating storytelling into care, and the benefits of adopting a holistic approach to treatment. She added: “Peter’s creativity is extremely inspiring and shows that person centred care is essential when caring for older people. “It is especially gratifying to know that we are helping to provide our residents with a platform for their memories and stories, while also preserving the rich history of Mossley. If you’re doing something similar at your care home then Caring UK would like to hear about it. Email your stories to dm@scriptmedia.co.uk or call 01226 734407.

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James Dasaolu with Barchester chief executive Mike Parsons and Alistair Betts.

Sprinter James dig in ... TEAM GB sprinter James Dasaolu got knee-deep in mud to help staff and service users at Swanton Care Centre plant 1,000 trees to create a new Jubilee Woodland Trust wood in Melton Constable, Norfolk. Barchester Healthcare, a national care provider that runs the home, paired up with the Woodland Trust to be part of this green initiative. The tree-planting day was part of the Trust's wider Jubilee Woods project to plant six million trees in 2012 to mark

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Alistair Betts, general manager of Swanton Care Centre, said: “We are very thankful for all the local community support as the new wood will really benefit those living here. “It will lead to more green-fingered activities at the home, attract more local wildlife to the area and produce cleaner air for all of us to benefit from. We were unsure whether we would plant all 1,000 trees in one day, but it looks like we’ve done it.”

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The inspectorate has published its most comprehensive report to date. Dominic Musgrave reports on its findings.

CQC reveals industry report ‘STATE of Care’ examines all care sectors for the first time and explores why some care services are failing to meet CQC standards. With an increase in the number of people with complex or multiple illnesses, and the rising numbers of older people with dementia, the report notes a growing demand for nursing care within social care settings. This is reflected in an increase in the number of nursing homes registered with CQC in 2011/12 by 64. At the same time, the number of residential (non-nursing) care homes is falling. Based on the evidence of over 13,000 inspections, the report suggests that pressures on care services are increasing the risks of poor or unsafe care for people who are less able to speak up for themselves and those, who as a result of their circumstances, are more vulnerable. The report notes many examples of organisations that meet these challenges and deliver an excellent quality of care. But chief executive David Behan

says CQC’s inspectors on the ground also see others that are ‘unacceptably’ failing to manage the impact of these challenges effectively, and delivering care that is task-based, not person-centred. He added: “Our report highlights concerns we have that pressures on some services are leading to problems in the quality of care, keeping people safe, treating people with dignity and respect, and involving people in decisions about their own care. These pressures can not be used as an excuse to deliver poor care. “Health and care services need to rise to the challenge of responding to the increasingly complex conditions suffered by our ageing population. “That means delivering care that is based on the person’s needs, not care that suits the way organisations work. It also means that different services need to work well together in an integrated way that meets the best interests of the people who use these services.” The report concludes that in some areas staffing and skill mix issues,

combined with the need to care for people with increasingly complex conditions, are beginning to affect the quality of care being delivered, with a particular impact on the dignity and respect of people. Ensuring there are enough staff to provide a good service is a significant issue in many services. Of the 2,031 nursing homes inspected, 23 per cent were not meeting the CQC standard of having adequate staffing levels, while 16 per cent of the 3,771 residential care homes inspected were also failing this standard. David added: “CQC will use its increasing knowledge and understanding, gained through thousands of inspections of services, to spot growing trends that are directly leading to poor care. “Where we find standards are not being met we require improvements and we will use our enforcement powers where necessary to tackle issues such as staff shortages or the failure of service providers to involve people in decisions about their own care.” David Behan

Industry leaders respond to ‘State of Care’ ... “We are stunned that this press release does not reflect accurately where we are in the world of social care and that the press release from the CQC has failed to address the fact that the Government’s failure to respond to the funding crisis continues to impact on the improvement agenda for care. “It is widely acknowledged throughout the social care sector that the impact of cutbacks in the funding from central to local government over the last two years, which is likely to continue for several more years, has had a detrimental impact on the sector’s ability to deliver quality care in many areas because of the downward pressure on fees paid by local government to care providers

for the circa 60 per cent of all people in receipt of care funded by the state. “It appears that the CQC cannot understand or acknowledge this basic fact surrounding the delivery of long term care. Surely, they recognise that they have an opportunity every year to consider why providers may struggle to meet standards like staff training and recruitment; but they miss that opportunity in favour of bad news headlines.” Nadra Ahmed, chairman, National Care Association. “We welcome the CQC’s report, which makes a critically important contribution to our knowledge of the current care system. Trust in

our care and health services will be sustained if people can be confident that concerns about risks of poor or unsafe care are being identified and acted upon. “Equally important is the recognition that the vast majority of providers are meeting required standards, and that is encouraging. It is so vital that, as the report says, workers carry out their duties focusing on the individual, rather than relying on "task-based" working practices. This is true in both social care and health settings. People who use services do not see the two systems as different. They just want goodquality, personalised, care and support.” Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive, SCIE.

“This report adds to our knowledge and will allow us to focus on those areas that need to be addressed to improve services for people. We are pleased to see the first steps being made by CQC to identifying the factors involved in good and poor care”. “The health and social care sector is facing a challenging time and we all need to work together to promote what is good and ensure lessons are learned from poor practice. “However, we want to see national and local government play their part in ensuring care is adequately funded and resourced to provide the personalised social care people need.” Martin Green, chief executive, ECCA.

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Growing numbers of care home residents are receiving the care they want as they approach the end of their lives, thanks to the UK’s most widely-used end-of-life care training programme. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Homes providing ‘gold standard’ care to residents FORTY care homes which first received Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes Reaccreditation Quality Hallmark Awards three years ago, received awards for the second time in recognition of the way they care for residents in the final months of their lives. These homes have all demonstrated an ongoing commitment to meeting the wishes of their residents in the final months of their lives through better planned, more coordinated care enabling high quality care until the end of their lives – the main aims of the GSFCH programme. Maggie Stobbart-Rowlands, GSFCH lead, said the success of these 40 care homes demonstrates that GSF provides care homes and their residents with a long term, sustainable care model. She said: “The GSF Care Homes programme has helped all of these homes embed quality care for all their residents as they approach the end of their lives. “The workforce feels empowered which in turn means the residents are receiving the right care, in the right place, every time, protecting them from inappropriate hospital admissions and increasing their chances of dying in their preferred place of care – their care home. “Many of the homes have more than doubled the number of people fulfilling their wish to die in their care home and halved the rate of crisis hospital admissions. GSF is helping to transform end-of-life care in this sector. We hope that this gold standard of care will become the de facto standard to which all care homes will aspire and that they receive the

David Coull presents Liz Dorricott with her award for 25 years’ service.

Staff’s long service recognised SEVEN Coverage Care staff members were presented with awards for their combined 130 years of long service. Chief executive of the not-for profit company David Coull presented the care assistants with long service awards at a special presentation afternoon in Telford. Celebrating 15 years’ service were Julie Morris, Kath Thacker, Mary Huntbatch and Suzanne Bourne, all staff from Woodcroft care home in

Staff from the Willows Nursing and Residential Home, Leicestershire, with their GSF Quality Hallmark Beacon award. recognition they deserve for all their hard work.” The GSF Quality Hallmark Award is recognised externally as a means of objective quality assurance. The CQC will use the information about accredited homes provided by GSF when it compiles its Quality and Risk Profile prior to inspections. The awards, which are endorsed by all major care homes’ organisations and Skills Academy for Social Care, were presented by ECCA chief executive Martin Green at the eighth GSF annual conference.

Market Drayton, as well as Irene Williams from Coton Hill House in Shrewsbury and Ann Lewis from Fairholme in Oswestry. Also receiving an award during the event held at Lighter View care home was Fairholme's Liz Dorricott, who has completed 25 years of service at Coverage Care. The presentation afternoon also saw certificates awarded to 13 staff members who had completed vocational qualifications.

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Mandy goes global to pass on her expertise By Dominic Musgrave

The winning team made up of Brian Richards, Audrey Perry, Margaret Mackie, George Laing, Eddie Perry, Sheila Brunstrom, David Webb, Geoff Brunstrom and Alan Mackie.

Competition opens course RESIDENTS of a retirement village took on the staff in a Ryder Cup-style golf challenge to mark the opening of their new putting course. The challenge took place at Middleton Hall in Middleton St George, near Arlington, and saw eight residents team up against eight staff members for a round on the ninehole putting green and the pitch and putt course. The residents won by a

point – ending with 8.5 points to the staff’s 7.5. Dave Richardson, head of operations at Middleton Hall, said: “It got pretty competitive out there with only one point in it, and with the oldest player aged 83 it showed that age was no barrier to winning.” The residents were rewarded with drinks on the house in the retirement village’s bar after the event.

A SHROPSHIRE care home operator is going global after being asked to pass on her expertise in Hong Kong and Australia. Mandy Thorn, the managing director of Marches Care, which operates the Uplands at Oxon nursing home in Shrewsbury, has been asked to use her knowledge to help improve the standard of dementia care and end-of-life care in both countries. Mandy recently returned from the Far East after spending a fortnight becoming familiar with the methods used in the care industries in Australia and Hong Kong. This has led to her being invited back in the New Year to help spread best practice in the care sector. “It was certainly a hugely valuable experience for me and I hope it worked both ways,” she said. “I have been asked to go back to Hong Kong in February to present concepts as to how to improve standards in end-oflife care in the provision of residential based care, particularly for those with dementia who require high levels of support. “My colleague Carey Bloomer, nurse manager at The Uplands, will be joining me later in the spring to carry out workshops in Australia using our

Mandy Thorn training programme developed with the assistance of the NHS West Midlands to improve the care for people with dementia at the end of their lives. “This follows a direct approach from some Australian care providers who visited us in the summer to see how we worked. “It is enormously useful for us as well – it is very much a case of helping each other as different perspectives always provide new ways of providing best practice. It was a fascinating trip and I came back having learned a great deal.”

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Bupa unveils its malnutrition in dementia appeal By Dominic Musgrave

Local author and historian David Trumper took residents of Isle Court nursing home, Bicton, back in time giving a talk on the history of Shrewsbury, illustrated by a selection of images he has collected over 40 years. David, who has written more than 20 pictorial books, visited the nursing home to give colour and life to the dramatic history and development of one of the market town. Residents saw a presentation of photographs and images from books such as ‘Shrewsbury: Then and Now’ and ‘Shrewsbury in the Past’ and following the talk had the opportunity to explore his vast knowledge of the county town. David is pictured with resident Vera Wright.

BUPA has launched a Christmas appeal to raise awareness of the half a million people living with dementia in the UK who are at risk of malnutrition. The call comes as new research released by the care provider shows over 80 per cent of Britons do not know that malnutrition is an issue associated with dementia. It also reveals that: More than two-thirds of Britons (68 per cent) who know someone who is living with dementia wouldn’t notice straight away if that person was not eating well. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) admit they would not notice at all if the person was not visibly losing weight. Bupa is urging everyone who knows someone who has dementia to ensure they are eating properly during the festive season – especially those living on their own. Professor Graham Stokes, Bupa Care

Homes’ director of dementia care, said: “At this time of year we are all bombarded with images of Christmas food, and preparations for the big Christmas dinner are on everyone’s mind. But despite that, many people with dementia are still at risk of malnutrition – it’s a big problem. “People with dementia may forget to eat, become distracted during meals, eat out-of-date food, and even forget they suffer from allergies or conditions such as diabetes – which can be a real danger. In the earliest stage of dementia some, sadly, just can’t cope with the embarrassment of having to admit they have forgotten how to use a knife and fork.” Bupa’s call for more awareness of the risk of malnutrition is backed by the Alzheimer’s Society, whose research shows that up to half a million people living with dementia are at risk of malnutrition, a figure likely to increase as the percentage of the population with the condition grows.

Donation keeps residents fit RESIDENTS at community village Belong Macclesfield have become more agile with the help of some new fitness machines, bought with the money raised by an energetic fundraiser from the local Brownies. Earlier in the year, the Prestbury Brownies challenged residents and staff at the village to a five-hour cycle marathon to raise money to help fund improvements to the village’s increasingly popular exercise studio. The event raised £2,065, which has paid for two strengthening machines and an exercise bike, designed to improve older people’s fitness and mobility. The strengthening machines have helped residents and the local community improve their balance,

making them more confident to keep active. Strengthening the arm and leg muscles has given older people more independence as the exercises have given them strength to carry out daily activities, such as picking up objects, standing and sitting. Barbara Tait, fitness instructor at Belong Macclesfield, said: “The residents have taken to the equipment really well and it is fantastic to see more older people getting involved in exercise. “We are delighted with the new equipment as it allows residents to strengthen their muscles without risk of strain or injury. Residents and staff would like to say a huge thank you to the Prestbury Brownies for all their help fundraising.”

The Millbrook care home in Stalybridge celebrated its first birthday with Greenfield Brass Band playing Christmas carols. Guests included the Meridian Healthcare owned home’s first residents, along with families and friends of the care centre. The Millbrook manager Irene Booth and staff are pictured celebrating the home’s first birthday with a cake.

Patrick wins event PATRICK Johnstone from Ty Enfys in Cardiff was crowned the overall winner as Hallmark Healthcare held its own version of ‘MasterChef’ across its care homes. From more than 20 entries, Patrick was joined by Neville Noronha, Sarah Savidge and Gareth Matthews at the final held at Unilver’s Surrey headquarters. They were tasked with producing a three-course meal suitable for a care home resident, and their efforts were judged by Paul Wright, executive chef at Unilever, Cheryl Wanklyn, operations director at Hallmark, and the group’s marketing coordinator Scott

Sinfield. The judges marked the dishes on originality, presentation, flavour and menu design. Patrick, who will go on to represent Hallmark in external catering competitions in 2013, said: “I was a little nervous about competing with soft food, but I designed the menu purely with our residents in mind. “It paid off and I am really proud of myself and couldn’t wait to take the trophy back to Ty Enfys for everyone to see.” Patrick was presented with a cheque for £100, a trophy and personalised chef’s whites.

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‘Heroic’ staff ensure home’s Home wins residents are safe in flood award for its garden

By Dominic Musgrave STAFF from a care home have been hailed as heroes after they waded through icy waist-deep water to ensure elderly residents were safe when flash flooding hit North Wales The Old Deanery, in St Asaph, was one of 400 properties affected when torrential rain caused the River Elwy, to burst its banks. But thanks to the efforts of manager Lisa Bowen and her team, all 21 residents, ranging in age from their seventies to 98, stayed safe and dry. Lisa, 31, the daughter of home’s owners, Barry and Linda Mahon, has worked there since she left school and became manager five years ago. She said: “Water was coming in through every nook and cranny. It wasn’t too deep but it was very worrying. “We got all the residents into the lounge, reassured them everything was fine, made sure they were warm and gave them their breakfast. There was no panic at all. “A few of the residents had to temporarily move out of their rooms because some water had got in, and we also had problems with the central heating boiler and the electrics of the lift but everything was soon fixed and we quickly got back to normal. “I’ve never seen anything like the flooding before in my life but all the

Lisa Bowen, manager at The Deanery in St Asaph, with staff Jane Heath-Coleman, left and Caroline Barker, who struggled through flood waters to get to the home. staff were incredible and just pulled together – it was the real Dunkirk spirit – and we are happy that not one drop of flood water reached our residents.” The staff’s courage has been praised by Mario Kreft, the chair of Care Forum Wales, the body that represents the independent care sector. He said: “The staff of the Old Deanery went above and beyond the call of duty.

“The response of Lisa and her team during the catastrophic flooding in St Asaph was nothing short of magnificent. ‘Their first thought was for the residents in their care. They are a shining example of all that is best about social care in Wales and I believe their heroic efforts should be recognised with an award. It is proof, if any were needed, of the calibre of people we have working in social care in Wales.”

ANISHA Grange Care Home in Billericay has been recognised for its gardens, which are specifically designed for people living with dementia. The home, part of the Hallmark Care Homes group, won ‘Best Memory Garden’ in the 2012 New Homes Garden Design Awards. The awards celebrate landscape gardening in new homes and this award specifically recognises gardens designed to stimulate the senses of people living with dementia. The gardens provide residents with a stimulating environment, providing various destination points and giving them access to all areas. The accessibility of the garden allows residents to freely use the outdoor space, with features including a calming water feature, raised planters and a restored vintage Morris Minor. Home manager Jo Coughlan said: “It’s so wonderful to have won this award. We are so proud of our garden and all the residents love being outside, whether it is taking a stroll through the gardens or helping to plant new vegetables.”

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CARINGNEWS

Excellence award for care home By Dominic Musgrave

Maria Mallaband founder Phil Burgan with health minister Edwin Poots.

Health minister opens home NORTHERN Ireland’s health minister Edwin Poots has officially opened a new care home in County Down. Oakmont Lodge in Bangor is the latest development to be created by operator Maria Mallaband Care Group in co-operation with capital partner MedicX Healthfund. The new residence will specialise in providing nursing, dementia nursing and respite care for up to 56 elderly residents in en-suite accommodation.

Phil Burgan, founder and CEO of Maria Mallaband, said: “The opening of Oakmont Lodge Care Home is an important milestone for us – we’ve been working hard over the past year to get the development ready and are extremely proud of the finished property.” As part of the open day, potential residents and their families had the opportunity to meet Edwin and some of the care team, as well as taking a tour of the bedrooms and facilities.

AN Edinburgh care home has been recognised for its high level of customer service after being awarded a prestigious government backed award. Bield’s Stockbridge facility was one of the services which achieved a Customer Service Excellence award – an externally assessed award given to services which can prove they are operating at the national standard for customer service. Over a seven-month period the care home provided evidence to support its application for the award, as well as holding an open day which involved an external inspector speaking to the families of residents at the service. Manager Kim Drysdale said: “For us the experience was something that was definitely worthwhile and we feel is just the start in our journey for constant improvement in terms of customer service.

“We were made to look at things like our complaints process and for us this process was definitely one of the areas in which we felt that we could keep looking to improve on. “Now that our staff have seen the type of positive results which can come out of an exercise like this they are extremely motivated in thinking of new and different ways to keep improving our already great service. “This has really helped us reaffirm what we are about as a service and has made us look closely at what we can be improving.” The Customer Services Excellence award was created in 1991, a year after the government developed the Citizens Charter. Its external accreditation system was developed by the Cabinet Office which highlights and recognises excellence in customer service. Stockbridge care home received its award at a special presentation ceremony.

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Ex-employees visit state-ofthe-art home

FORMER employees who worked at companies based in West Byfleet revisited the site to see how it has been transformed into a state-of-theart care home. Staff at Anchor’s West Hall held a reunion luncheon for people who have worked at the site over the past six decades. Ex-employees came together to share their memories of working life at the listed manor house with current residents and staff. Organised by wellbeing manager Carl Martin, the luncheon helped staff and residents to reconnect with West Hall’s past. The idea was inspired by former worker Janet Fludder and eight of her friends, who visited the care home on a recent open day. They all worked as comptometer operators at West Hall in the wages department for Vicars Armstrong in the 1950s, and now Carl is helping to re-create a photo taken of them there in 1955. Carl said: “We were thrilled to be holding this special luncheon and welcoming people from West Hall’s rich history. We’re intrigued to hear all of their stories, and to celebrate West Hall’s past.” Staff at the care home are calling for more people to come forward and share their West Hall stories, to help create a memory book documenting the manor house’s varied past.

Residents feature in music documentary STAFF and residents at a Macclesfield care home appeared in part of the Imagine series aired on BBC One called ‘How Music Makes Us Feel’. The programme,edited by Alan Yentob, looked at music's ability to get under our skin at every stage of our lives, showing babies dancing to a rhythm, through to older people with neurological conditions moved by the power of music. Adlington Manor care home was selected to feature as music plays an important part in the rehabilitation and wellbeing of residents, especially those living with dementia in the Memory Lane community. The Barchester run facility created the 'Music Therapy Partnership' with Nordoff Robbins – a national specialist music charity – in 2005. As part of the initiative it was agreed that music therapist Richard Sanderson would work at Adlington Manor several times a week. For the last seven years he has used music therapy, which is provided in both one-to-one and open group settings, to promote self-esteem, encourage independence and celebrate the life of the residents. The home’s manager Mark McDonald said: “Music therapy is an important part of life at Adlington

Music therapist Richard Sanderson sings with a resident. Manor, and I think the BBC series has captured a snapshot of what we have set out to achieve. “Richard's inspirational therapy has been an invaluable tool with many of our residents, and to be able to share the collective joy this brings to the whole community continues to be both a privilege and honour to witness.” During the programme Richard was seen conducting interactive individual and group sessions. One

resident at Adlington Manor was filmed dancing to the music and another stirred out of her chair to accompany Richard on the keyboard. He said: “Music has the power to overcome confusion and anxiety and take people to ‘another place’ where they can regain orientation, connect with other people and become reconnected to their own past positive emotional experiences. Seeing the positive changes is a continual inspiration to me.”

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To advertise in this section of the magazine call 01226 734480

Inspections treble in year By Dominic Musgrave INSPECTIONS of care homes by the CQC have more than trebled from 4,391 in 2010-11 (year end 31 March) to 14,264 in 2011-12, it has been revealed. EMW, the commercial law firm, claims the rise follows the toughening of regulations in the wake of several exposés about the mistreatment of care home patients by carers in 2010 and 2011. The company says the tough new regulatory regime poses compliance challenge to the care home sector. Failure to meet new standards can result in fines of up to £50,000 and ultimately closure. Joe Soul, principal, EMW, said: “The new inspection regime sets very high standards for care homes, which should be expected, but the new inspections stack the odds against care homes.

“Inspection reports are now very black or white – care homes either pass or fail. The grey areas and caveats have been stripped out of the reports. This is a problem, as the inspection report depends very much on the subjective view of the individual inspector. A care home that fails an inspection one day might pass with another inspector.” “Care homes now do not have the opportunity to respond to the findings of an inspection report before it is published. Even if problems are easily rectified, a care home’s reputation will be hit by a negative report. This report then stays on the CQC website until the next inspection, even if the problems are solved immediately. “CQC inspection reports can have a huge, immediate impact on the reputation of a care home. They’re often the first thing a family will look at if they are looking for a potential home for a

The founder of care provider Gold Care Homes has been awarded the prestigious Asian of the Year 2012 accolade in recognition of his contribution to the Asian community in the UK. Ravi Gidar was presented with the award at the Asian Who’s Who International ceremony, held at the Dorchester Hotel in London’s Park Lane. The award winner is chosen by an independent panel of eminent advisors, including previous award winners. The company, which was founded in 1999, has 23 nursing and residential homes.

family member.” Joe said the importance of inspection reports will increase following the abolition of the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in April, with their commissioning role being taken over by Clinical Commissioning groups. He added: “The old inspection regime did need improving: some firms were only receiving an inspection once every three years. “However, the new regulatory regime has over-compensated. There’s been a typical bureaucratic response of hiring more inspectors and launching more inspections, but these won’t get to the root of the problems at some care homes. The new inspections will create increased compliance costs for care homes. They need to be properly regulated, but the problems at a small fraction are now impacting the whole sector.”

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

In this issue: Councils embrace brave new world of social enterprise Page 24

Awards double for super Mario Page 25

You can now follow us on Twitter at @caringuk

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Councils embrace brave new world of social enterprise By Mark Johnson

An artist’s impression of the new care village.

Care village approved PLANNING has been granted for a new state-of-the-art care village in Bedford. Created by NorthStar Projects for Bedford Citizen’s Housing Association, the village will comprise of a 72-bed nursing and residential care home, a large community clubhouse, and an extra care facility of 45 independent apartments. The care home is set to replace the existing 64 bed Charter House care home which is currently on the site. Work will start next spring on the two-year build programme. Year one will see the completion of the care home and the clubhouse community hub, while year two will concentrate on the extra care.

Danny Sharpe, director of NorthStar, said: “This is a very exciting project for us and for the area. “We are used to delivering large care facilities but this will bring an unrivalled, large care village for the elderly of the town.” Construction of the new care home will see the relocation of the army cadet hut, and will be on land adjacent to the existing Bedford Charter House Care Home. Once this is complete and existing residents are comfortably relocated, phase two will begin with demolition of the current care home, followed by the development of the 45 apartments.

NORFOLK county council’s announcement that it intends to transfer its adult social care services into an employee-led social enterprise is part of wider move by councils to explore new service models. The Cabinet Office has been spearheading an active programme of funding and support to encourage local authority staff to spin out their services into new independent companies with employees owning a stake. No fewer than 11 of the 37 pathfinder projects supported by its Mutual Support Programme are social care services. They range from About You, a new service provider planned for Kirklees, to adult day care services in Oldham. This movement fits well with proposals in the White Paper, ‘Caring for our future: reforming care and support’ and the draft Care and Support Bill, to create more diversity in the market promoting better quality care. Local authority care staff will be actively encouraged to step out of the public sector into newly-created mutuals, transforming councils into leaner commissioning organisations. There is compelling evidence of higher levels of organisational commitment and productivity amongst staff but also some important challenges. Getting the workforce on-side An independent enterprise which competes in the market is a different environment. To be successful and sustainable, the new enterprise will require strong leadership to win over the staff who will transfer from the relative security of Council employment. A range of new management skills will be needed – particularly around business planning, managing cashflow and budgets, and developing new business outside the core contract with Norfolk county council. Initially, staff will enjoy the protection of TUPE in relation to their contracts of employment. The flip side of this is that the payroll bill will be a large inherited cost for the new venture. Pension contributions in particular will be a significant cost, if staff choose to remain in the Local Government Pension Scheme by the new company obtaining ‘admitted body’ status. Contracting and procurement Norfolk council will need to develop a strategy for awarding a contract to its own spin-out team. Under European procurement rules, the opportunity should really be advertised, allowing other providers

Mark Johnson an opportunity to bid. The new enterprise will need a good contract to obtain funding for working capital: ideally a long-term commitment by the council to purchase the services at an economic tariff. The implications of a wider move to personal budgets must be considered. In time, the service users will become the customers, rather than the council. This begs the question, how do services become more efficient by creating a new social enterprise? Savings are usually achieved, not by cutting staff wages (their terms are protected by TUPE after all), but by reducing the agency bill, by better management of absences and improving staff morale through training, improving rostering, stripping out unnecessary layers of management and bureaucracy. New business processes and technology can make a big difference too, for example, community nurses and therapists being provided with iPads to write up notes in the field between appointments, rather than returning to base. There is growing evidence that giving social care staff a stake in their organisation radically transforms culture and outcomes. For example, CASA (Care & Share Associates) which started in 1994 as a social enterprise providing domiciliary care and self-directed support in Sunderland, and has now successfully franchised its operation to six other UK locations. Norfolk will be watched with interest by Councils and care providers as a possible future model of good practice. Mark Johnson is managing director of public services law firm TPP Law.

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Awards double for super Mario By Dominic Musgrave A SOCIAL care pioneer from North Wales has picked up two major UK awards. Mario Kreft MBE was honoured at the prestigious UK Over 50s Housing Awards at a glittering ceremony in London. Mario, the chair of Care Forum Wales and the proprietor of the Wrexham-based Pendine Park care organisation, was named as the individual who made the most outstanding contribution to dementia care in the UK in 2012. Minutes later he received another award on behalf of Care Forum Wales for the most outstanding public initiative in the care sector in the UK this year for the launch of the Academy of Care Practitioners. It aims to promote, support and develop Care Practitioners and raise standards in social care provision and raise the status of the "undervalued profession". Mario said the launch of the Academy at the Senedd in Cardiff earlier this year came after a successful 12-month pilot programme. He added: “People rightly talk about safeguarding service users, vulnerable people who receive a care service, but in my opinion not enough is considered in terms of safeguarding the social care workers. “The whole social care system in Wales, and indeed the whole NHS system, is predicated on tens of thousands of people getting up early every morning and doing a really difficult job. It’s high time that group of peo-

Newark’s newest care home has opened its doors for the first time. Bowbridge Court, which is located near the hospital on Bowbridge Road, was visited by more than 50 sector workers as well as the Mayor, Councillor Irene Brown and chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Councillor Marika Tribe. Members of the caring profession were invited to view the state-of-the-art facilities before the Ideal Care Home officially opens to the public. Bowbridge Court provides a home for 54 older people with 100 per cent en-suite facilities. Ideal Care Homes managing director Mark Greaves is pictured with Bowbridge Court manager Amanda Pateman.

Mario with his pair of awards. ple had the opportunity to join a professional body for vocationally qualified social care workers that is dedicated 100 per cent to them. “By showing respect for people who work in social care you’re also showing respect for the people they care for.” Pendine Park regularly hosts sessions with the Hallé orchestra and Welsh National Opera for residents at Bodlondeb, a purpose built centre of excellence to look after people with dementia. There are now plans to build a similar centre of excellence on the site of a former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, on the outskirts of Caernarfon.

Sold home is to be renamed DC Care and Edward Symmons have completed the sale of Grange Park Care Centre in Dudley on behalf of FRP Advisory, joint administrators of Grange Park Care Centre Limited. Previously registered for 51 service users, the purpose-built home has been purchased by Mr and Mrs Qayum, who are experienced care home operators and local to the area.

It will be renamed Himley Manor and is expected to re-open next Spring, providing personal, dementia and nursing care. Peter Dowling of Edward Symmons said: “This sale demonstrates that, despite being closed, with thorough marketing sales can be achieved, and we look forward to seeing the results of refurbishment, and the opening of Himley Manor.”

Karen appointed manager of new Dundee home BALHOUSIE Care Group has appointed Karen Millington as manager of its newly opened purposebuilt home in Dundee, Balhousie St Ronan’s. She has been brought in to oversee the £5m home, which has been open since the start of October and offers 66 large bedrooms with en suite bathrooms as well as spacious resident lounges, quiet areas, TV rooms and a café where residents can entertain visitors. Karen joins Balhousie Care Group from Dundee’s Forebank Care Home, where she was manager for five years and is credited with enhancing the service and achieving high grades across the board from inspectors. She said she was looking forward to developing and building the home and making it a centre of excellence. “I was attracted to Balhousie as it’s a growing company which has a lot of potential as a leading care provider, and I am excited to be part of this development as well as having the opportunity to build up strong relationships with residents, their families, the staff and the local community.

Karen Millington “Balhousie St Ronan’s is a luxurious, purpose-built care provision. The rooms and facilities are of a very high standard, which mirrors my own high standards that I aim to achieve. “I want to develop St Ronan’s to provide a service of excellence through person-centred care provision and helping residents to continue to maintain their independence and have a fulfilling and meaningful life wherever possible.”

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CARINGDEMENTIA

Guide offers distress and pain advice A NEW guide for carers which provides advice on how to help with pain and distress in people with dementia, has been published by National Council for Palliative Care as part of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge. 'How would I know’ offers a range of top tips to help carers and health and care professionals identify whether someone with dementia may be in pain or distress, advice on what may be causing this and a range of possible solutions. Simon Chapman, director of policy and parliamentary affairs at the National Council for Palliative Care, said: “When people with advanced dementia experience pain or distress they may behave in ways that people caring for them find difficult to cope with, and also find it hard to say what is troubling them. “This is why it is so important to know how to spot signs of pain or distress and what can be done to help them. With almost half of us having a close friend or family member with dementia we really hope that this new guide provides valuable assistance.”

Team leaders learn new techniques at museum By Dominic Musgrave DEMENTIA household care team leaders from Garswood House in Wigan attended an innovative training day at the ‘House of Memories,’ a permanent exhibition at the Museum of Liverpool. The project is aimed at those working to support people living with dementia, exploring new techniques to positively contribute to their wellbeing. Staff from the CLS-run care home, which has a specialist dementia household facility, participated in a range of forward-thinking and memory-prompting exercises, that can be used to stimulate the minds of older people, allow for periods of lucidity and reminiscence and promote dignity and quality of life. Carers toured the House of Memories’ bygone era streets and shops with authentic tins of tobacco, sweets and money in the window. Props from significant moments in history, including a to-scale steam train, are also exhibited, to help individuals living with dementia resonate with the surroundings. Lynn Simms, a care team leader at Garswood House, said: “Walking around the museum, you spot things that you know a particular resident

Garswood House residents enjoying House of Memories artefacts. would relate to their past. It helps personalise their experience with dementia to the individual, and that’s what the training was all about. “We’re planning a trip to House of Memories with the older people and their families, as this is an experience that can not only prompt recollections, but help people bond

through shared moments, which is equally important.” Like many of the CLS care facilities, Garswood House already uses tools and techniques to help people living with dementia, including ‘memory boxes,’ used to prompt recollections through the association of personal photographs and objects.

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New service launched in response to demand By Dominic Musgrave A LANCASHIRE homecare company has responded to rising demand by launching a dedicated dementia service. Caring Hands has launched ‘Dementia Plus’ as Prime Minister David Cameron ramps up efforts to tackle what he calls a national crisis and “shockingly low” awareness of the disease. The new scheme has been driven by a significant rise in demand for information, advice and support from clients and families of the business. Lisa Reilly, care manager at Caring Hands Homecare, said: “People with dementia have very specific needs and require a tailored package of care services, as no single case is the same. “Our Dementia Plus service is all about providing a hub of knowledge for those needing more information, and ensuring we give the highest standards of care to anyone who is diagnosed with dementia. “All our Dementia Plus staff have dementia care accreditations and a lot of experience in dealing with people who suffer from the condition. “It can be an incredibly frustrating disease and knowing how best to combat the stress and pressures on the individual and their family is of utmost importance, which is why

Lisa Reilly experience is so important.” The Alzheimer’s Society has recently launched a government-backed initiative ‘Dementia Friends’. It is hoped that by 2015 one million people will have been trained to spot signs of the illness and help sufferers. All Caring Hands Homecare staff have signed up to the scheme.

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Saturn – the company that cares SATURN Sales & Services Limited is the main dealer, supplier, installer and maintainer for the Intercall 600 and 700 ranges of nursecall equipment. We are widely recognised throughout the industry and have installed over 2,000 systems within the British Isles. With its known flexibility, Intercall can be designed to meet with your requirements. Whether you have four beds or 140, Saturn can tailor the system and its many features to suit how you want to run your business. The 700 series is available with full speech facilities from rooms to any of the discrete visual display units throughout the home, a powerful aid in allowing staff to communicate quickly between each other when

requiring assistance. Intercall provides residents’ call, staff assistance together with full staff emergency levels of call together with staff location and staff presence facilities. Remote call pendants are available using the systems built-in infra red receivers. This not only tell staff who is calling, it also tells them where they are located. Saturn also has a large range of dementia and EMI equipment to aid with the care of residents, from bedroom door monitoring, bedroom movement sensors and bed monitors to full dementia bedroom controllers with room lighting controls. With the new IP based systems power supply, all calling events are logged and stored to provide a complete audit trail of all system activity.

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

Show visitors rise by almost 40 per cent THIS year’s Care Show Birmingham attracted more than 2,300 visitors – a 38 per cent increase over last year’s event. And it proved so popular with exhibitors that almost 70 per cent have already booked for next year’s show. Industry updates and business advice were presented to attendees in the keynote programme, where it was standing room only for many presentations, while the needs of registered managers were met by a series of focused sessions in the practical care seminars. The dementia care presentations were also extremely well-attended. Event director Chris Edwards said: “This year’s show was bigger and better than ever – 25 per cent larger than the 2011 event – and it is clear

that everyone involved left no stone unturned to present all the products and techniques, as well as relevant and up-to-date business advice, to ensure care providers stay at the top of their game. “The performance of care homes is quite rightly, increasingly in the spotlight and it is clear that the Care Shows continue to deliver exactly what’s needed. V “isitors can find everything they need in one place at the same time – and exhibitors have access to decision-makers from all spectrums of the industry.” In addition, the introduction this year of the Dementia Design Academy by the Care Show in association with DSDC, University of Stirling, was also very well received by visitors.

Regional best practice open day HAIGH recently hosted its first open day for care home owners and staff, providing CPD training on infection control, networking opportunities and an introduction to its range of single disposal system macerators for bedpans, pulp products and incontinence nappies. Live demonstrations, training and debate took place as to the benefits of single disposal systems over

washing or disposal routes, particularly regarding the costs and infection control improvements. Nick Dale, healthcare sales manager said: “We’re extremely pleased with the feedback received and the interest shown by all who attended. “We’re proud of our position as experts in our field and events such as this reinforce our desire to share our knowledge.”

Full steam ahead for Norris NORRIS Steam Services (London) Ltd is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial and industrial pressing equipment. We specialise in sales, leasing and maintenance of portable steam generators, heated vacuum tables and industrial steam irons. We are also the UK’s agent for Stirovap pressing equipment and hold all machinery from stock at our London showroom. Our range of professional equipment will suit all sized laundries. Feel free to contact us for any advice on your current system or for a no obligation quotation to your requirements. Our new Stirovap Model 604 is a heated, suction table with a powerful inbuilt 5kw steam generator capable of running two steam irons. Like all of our machinery this unit requires a standard single phase electric supply, no specialist installation is required. Having an automatic self-contained steam generator will both save space in your laundry department and require minimal operator training. Enquiries: Contact 020 7791 0070 or visit www.norrissteam.co.uk

Bath dementia homes seek the rainbow’s end SIRONA Care & Health, a social enterprise providing community, health and adult social care in Bath and North East Somerset, has recently introduced a new uniform by Grahame Gardner Ltd, developed specifically for staff in their three dedicated dementia homes. The result of a yearlong research and consultation process, these new uniforms unveil a striking new look for staff, comprising of a brightly coloured polo shirt with rainbow collar. These new uniforms have been designed to incorporate findings from several studies which indicate that the use of bright colours is beneficial to dementia patient care. Although all of the shirts have the rainbow collar, the main body of the garment was available in any one of five colours. Each member of staff was able to select the shirt they preferred, thereby maintaining a cohesive look while reflecting their own personalities and individuality. The complementary colours available are; pink, purple, green, blue and yellow, and each of these is also used within the collar. Enquiries: Call 0116 255 6326, email sales@grahamegardner.co.uk or visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk

Beaucare launch Aquabathe range Beaucare® Medical Ltd’s Aquabathe range of bathing equipment is designed for the rigorous demands of care home environments. Built to the highest standards, the Aquabathe range offers solutions to suit customers’ special requirements. The Hi-Lo and Aquabathe II come in five different sizes depending on your requirements, with various options such as manual or power

traverse seat, left and right hand setup, TMV3 shower assembly, and whirlpool or air spa capabilities. We can install and service nationally, using our certified engineers. So, if your bathrooms need revamping, why not let us quote? Enquiries: Call 01423 878899, email service@beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

Announcing a revolutionary new medical glove – Stretch 2 Fit™ SUITABLE for every nursing situation, these allergyfree gloves are manufactured using a unique method which leaves no residual chemicals, so staff no longer need suffer sore hands from the medical gloves you provide. We even have documented cases of pre-existing contact dermatitis clearing after just six weeks’ use. As well as being the first truly hypoallergenic medical glove, S2F pass NHS approved laboratory testing at STML and have no pinholes, unlike standard UK vinyl powderfree gloves which could have 15 pinholes per 1,000. By providing S2F gloves you no longer put your members of staff at potential risk of developing hand allergies at work and raise the standards for infection control, plus these gloves are approx 20 per cent cheaper than other gloves so you will be saving your business considerable costs over the forthcoming years. For more information visit www.stretch-2-fit.com

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

SensorCare offers Lynx Purchasing helps ‘try before you buy’ B&M Care improve COVENTRY Myton and Warwick Myton Hospice can attest to the success of trying before you buy when it comes to looking after patients. The facilities undertook a free 14day trial of a SensorCare bed and chair system to evaluate the effectiveness in reducing the rate of falls of the elderly under their care. Following a successful trial, the system was rented for one month to further investigate the success of using sensor alarms. Karen Pedley, assistant director of nursing at Coventry Myton Hospice, said: “I would have been reluctant to

buy anything without a trial as there are many versions on the market but it is essential to determine which system is the most suitable for our environment. “The free trial really helped in the decision process, as we had a definite sense that the number of falls were being reduced through use of SensorCare.” The reduction in the number of falls during the free trial and month rental of the system led Coventry Myton to purchase four bed and chair systems, with Warick Myton buying a further two bed and chair systems.

Carpets direct to your door ... DF Direct are offering you a new way to purchase quality healthcare carpets and have them delivered direct to your door for free. With over 25 years’ experience of manufacturing carpets for the care industry, you can be sure that you are investing in a quality healthcare

carpet. Our range of carpets include an anti-microbial coating to help stop the spread of infection, an impervious layer to keep liquid spills on the surface of the carpet, easy to clean fibres, a range of wear warranties and a huge choice of colours and designs.

Defeating the superbugs SUPERBUG breakouts in hospitals and care homes are becoming increasingly challenging to contain. Using microfiber mops that have been soaked in small buckets of solution and changed out for each room are effective at picking up debris while preventing cross-contamination. The Miele PW5064 mop washer has been developed specifically for washing mops and cloths. This compact commercial washer tackles the prob-

lem of cleaning cotton and microfiber mop heads with ease, as well as preventing growth and proliferation of bacteria in soiled cleaning textiles when damp. Programmes for thermal and chemical-thermal disinfection are also available on the PW 5064. Thermal disinfection takes place at 85°C with a 15-minute holding time, while chemo-thermal disinfection, using a specially formulated detergent, utilises a temperature of 70°C for 10 minutes.

Keep tabs on residents’ clothes CARE home staff spend a huge amount of time ensuring they have correctly identified each resident’s clothing. Lost and incorrectly returned garments can cause great distress to residents and their relatives and, with this in mind, SnappyTag has introduced a quick, easy and cost effective way to name residents’ clothing. Snappy Tags are discreet and resemble small buttons, making them com-

fortable and unobtrusive to the wearer. Names are permanently laser etched into the tag, ensuring they will never fade, even in multiple harsh industrial laundry conditions. Snappy Tags are simply snapped onto the garment seam or laundry label using the Snappy Tag applicator and, although they will not fall off in the laundry process, they can be easily removed using the applicator and reapplied to a new item of clothing.

Register now for Show WITH visitor registration 37 per cent above this time two years ago, organisers of The Cleaning Show are urging visitors to register now to ensure a place at what is shaping up to be the biggest and best event yet. Only visitors who pre-register will receive free parking at the Birmingham NEC (with a value of £10) plus a priority pass allowing a quick and easy entrance. With a record 12,000 visitors expected to attend, show organisers are advising visitors to register now to not only take advantage of these offers, but to make sure that they don’t miss out.

Taking place from March 19-21, the Cleaning Show is the world’s leading showcase for all products and services used in the cleaning and support services industry. The show is set to be the largest so far, with more than 200 exhibitors expected to take stand space, of which at least 50 will be attending for the first time. Exhibitors will be showcasing a broad range of equipment and services, including cleaning machinery of all kinds, janitorial supplies, pest control products, waste equipment and services, window cleaning equipment, washroom products and work-wear.

resident nutrition CARE home operator B&M Care works with buying specialists Lynx Purchasing, who agree prices with suppliers for dried and frozen food and fresh produce for all 19 homes within the group. Earlier this year, Lynx arranged for a nutritionist from Brakes – one of the suppliers from whom they source a range of food items – to work with B&M. The initial brief was to advise on nutrition for one new resident with particular health issues, but such was its success that the partnership quickly developed into a broader project, with the Brakes nutritionist drawing up a set of guidelines for a number of health problems experienced by the elderly. B&M purchasing manager Mary Carter said: “Brakes’ nutritional guidance and recipes have proved invaluable in helping us to provide food that is both appetising and suitable for residents’ dietary needs. What’s more, the service is provided completely free of charge.” Jane West is manager of B&M’s Lakeside home in Reading, the first site visited by the Brakes nutritionist. She said: “We’d had a 77-year-old resident admitted from the community, who was suffering from multiple health problems following a stroke. She had very limited mobility and a poor quality of life.” By designing a menu to meet the resident’s needs, with help from Brakes, the team at Lakeside were able to effect a dramatic improvement in her health within months. Jane added: “We’ve been able to move this resident from the dementia care section to the residential floor. She has progressed from pureed food

to a near-normal diet, she can walk and take part in some of the activities. This is a great example of how the right nutrition can transform patients’ health and bring about huge improvements in quality of life.” Brakes’ nutritional guidance manual, giving advice on how to plan meals to control health issues such as diabetes, dysphagia, dementia and heart problems, is now accessible to everyone involved in menu planning at B&M. It contains a bank of recipes, all labelled with calorie, fat and salt content and with ingredients coded with the relevant Brakes catalogue number. Jane said: “We produce a personal care plan for every resident at Lakeside, covering their health and dietary needs. Our chef refers to this when planning menus so he can tailor their meals accordingly. Our aim is to provide our residents with a menu that is as near to ‘normal’ as we can achieve while still accommodating their health and nutrition needs. We want residents to enjoy meals at Lakeside, as that not only keeps them physically healthy, it’s beneficial for their overall wellbeing.”

Rising to the challenge FOLLOWING the launch of the Prime Minister’s Challenge, Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for health, has identified dementia as a key priority. Alzheimer’s Society can help you rise to the challenge by equipping staff with the knowledge and skills to provide quality, person-centred dementia care. Our training workshops are delivered in-house, direct to staff by specialist trainers with experience of working with people with dementia.

Topics range from general awareness through to complex issues such as communication, behaviour and end of life care. For those with smaller numbers of staff the popular, easy-to-use training DVD ‘Tomorrow is another day’ covers the essential elements of personcentred care including experience of dementia, supporting people, occupation and communication. It includes a CD Rom with all handouts and notes.

Further your career with OU DO you want to further your career in health and social care? We're here to offer a helping hand with a wide range of professionally recognised courses and qualifications. Becoming an OU student enables you to develop your skills that can open up opportunities to start a new career, progress in your current job or make a change of direction in your life. You will gain relevant, practical

skills you can apply straight away. Support is always available – phone, face to face and online (including with other students). There are also a range of affordable payment options. Depending on your circumstances, you could get financial support with a fee grant or course grant. You can also spread the cost with monthly instalments or getting sponsorship with your employer.

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20th birthday THE Abbeyfield Kent Society has celebrated the 20th birthday of Rogers House in Gillingham. Rogers House was named after Reverend Tom and Mrs Doreen Rogers, who identified the need for housing for older people in the town. Tom was the Minister of Gillingham Baptist Church for 20 years, and bought the Abbeyfield concept to the borough. The home threw a party, which was attended by residents, family, friends, volunteers and staff – three of whom have been with the home since it opened.

Recruitment

Entertainment solution brings residents together IT can often be a struggle to get residents up and out of their rooms to socialise, and while care homes do a very good job at organising group activities and events, it can’t hurt to have some good quality TV entertainmentas back up. Airwave works closely with care home management, as well as key partners Samsung, Philips, LG, Sharp, Toshiba and Sky, to develop TV entertainment solutions tailored to suit individual homes and their residents. Offering a supersize screen in the lounge area, whether for Premiership football or Strictly Come Dancing, is a great way to bring residents together and create a buzz of excitement. Airwave provides high quality LED screens from 19” up to 80” to suit any

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environment. Ensure your residents receive the best TV with Sky HD; from entertainment to news, sports, music and films, Sky offers something to suit everyone. The latest solutions from Airwave also allow care homes to use their TV screens for more than just television. ‘Smart’ TV allows you to access online services and ‘apps’ which have proven to be increasingly popular in entertaining and stimulating residents.

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