Caring UK January 2017

no.243 • £4.75 incorporating

January 2017

The Number One magazine for the care sector

Care home scoops two awards at ceremony

Celebrate your home at first care awards

By Olivia Taylor

CARE homes across the country are being urged to come forward and shout about what they’re good at, with an all new industry awards celebration.

The Caring UK Awards were founded by Script Media, owners of Caring UK magazine, and are completely free to enter.

With an aim of giving all the hardworking and passionate teams in our sector the recognition they deserve, nominations for the awards are now open.

Tony Barry, group sales and marketing director, said: “Having worked alongside the care sector for 23 years I am very passionate about the quality of service delivered throughout the UK’s nursing and residential care homes.

“I am delighted to be part of the very first Caring UK Awards that will recognise team effort and excellence across the care industry.”

The awards aim to provide something for every type of facility and care team. Categories include: Care Home of the Year, Activities Team of the Year, Commitment to Training and Development, Care Team of the Year, Dementia Care Team, Retirement Village of the Year, End of Life, Volunteer Team of the Year, Management Team of the Year, Best Innovation in Care, Care Employer of the Year, Care Group of

the Year, Catering Team of the Year and Quality in Housekeeping. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to someone who has dedicated their working life to the industry, and who has, as a result, made a long-term outstanding contribution.

The awards will be presented at the care industry’s biggest end of year party, on Friday December 8 at The National Railway Museum in York. If you’re part of a first class team, or your care home is the best at what it does this is your time to be recognised.

Tony added: “The awards will not only celebrate the fantastic work that is going on every day, it will also help you to promote your hard work within the local community.

“All the shortlisted finalists will be visited a by a trained journalist and given a press release highlighting your achievements and assist in raising your profile even higher.

“I am really looking forward to building this celebration of success alongside like minded teams.”

If you’d like to put your facility forward visit caringukawards.co.uk.

Industry suppliers are already backing the event, with AidCall, CareDocs and ServiceSport signing up as category sponsors. To ensure you don’t miss out on updates follow us on twitter: @cukawards n For full details turn to pages 12 and 13.

Former Olympian and local celebrity Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards opened a new lounge area at Hanover Lodge in Stroud. Edwards was the first British skier since 1929 to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping when he captured the world’s imagination at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. Some 25 residents joined friends and family at the launch, which included a special morning tea and ribbon cutting ceremony. The purpose-built common room provides an environment where residents can meet up with their neighbours for coffee mornings and enjoy social activities such as bingo, quiz nights and exercise classes.

HALLMARK Care Homes’ facility in South Wales has been named Macro Business of the Year and Employer of the Year at the Merthyr Tydfil Business Awards.

Greenhill Manor, which provides nursing, dementia and young physically disabled care, were praised for their people management, financial performance and business excellence at the Merthyr Tydfil Business Club’s annual award ceremony.

The glittering awards seek to celebrate and recognise the achievements and contribution of local companies to the business industry.

General manager at Greenhill Manor, Mark McCole, said: “I am extremely proud and delighted to have received these awards on behalf of our residents and team at Greenhill Manor. There were a huge amount of companies that had entered so it was extremely flattering to have won.”

A panel of judges from the Merthyr Business Club interviewed the finalists in August, before coming to their decision.

Entrants were judged on their company vision and goals, their engagement with the community, evidence of recommendations and awards and their commitment to improving the well-being of their team.

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‘Happy Days’ as American style 50s diner opens at care home

By Dominic Musgrave A NEWLY developed 1950s American diner is set to enhance the lives of people living with dementia in a Hartlepool care home.

Yohden Care Complex in Blackhall Colliery spent over £5,000 converting a smaller dining room at the nursing and residential home into an on-site retro American diner and ice cream parlour, complete with seating booths, juke box, and counter with coffee machine and ice cream maker.

As well as being used as a dining area, the home plans to use their American diner for parties, themed events and activities, such as making homemade milkshakes and sundaes.

The American diner is the latest addition to the home’s ‘high street’ on their specialist dementia residential and nursing care unit, known as Yohden Lodge, which also features a

Residents and staff in the American diner at Yohden Care Complex.

She said: “As a home we hair salon, laundrettes and an organise regular trips out to indoor garden room for the local cafes but some of our colder winter months. residents find it difficult or The project has been a impossible to get out due labour of love for manager to mobility issues or if they Maxine Lee, who wanted are living with advanced to recreate an authentic dementia. restaurant experience for “Previously we had two people living at the home dining rooms, a larger and who are unable to take trips out. smaller one, but both had

similar home-style décor and we were finding that the smaller room wasn’t really being used.

“We wanted to create somewhere separate to our dining room that has the feel and appearance of a real restaurant, somewhere that our residents could visit which would give them the experience of going out to a café or restaurant but in a safe and secure environment with carers on hand.

“We’re also hoping to see that the change in venue will encourage some residents to eat more, as we’re more likely to take the time to finish our plate in a restaurant setting than we are at home.

“It’s also somewhere comfortable and inviting that families can go to sit and enjoy spending time with their loved one over some food or refreshments.

We’ve had lovely comments from the families and visiting healthcare professionals who have seen the diner so far.”

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

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising

Healthcare Product Manager: Bev Green Tel: 01226 734288 Email: bg@scriptmedia.co.uk Assistant Manager: Tracy Stacey Tel: 01226 734480 Email: ts@scriptmedia.co.uk National Sales Executive: Mandy Edwards Tel: 01226 734692 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.uk Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 Email: tb@scriptmedia.co.uk

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

Editorial Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Group Production Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Studio Manager: Stewart Holt Tel: 01226 734414 sth@scriptmedia.co.uk 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.

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Director role for branch manager

MARK Gidalla has been appointed as operations director for Nurse Plus.

His success with overseeing the reputation and business growth of the Canterbury branch saw him quickly progress to business support manager, managing 12 branches across the UK. Guiding seven business support managers, in his new role Mark will support Nurse Plus with their vision to double in size over the next five years and become one of the biggest healthcare providers in the UK. He said: “After joining Nurse Plus in 2008, straight away I realised this was a career I wanted to pursue.

“When I became business support manager it was a real challenge and taking the next step in management was a learning curve.

“Being promoted to operations director is a fantastic personal achievement and I am thankful to Nurse Plus for this opportunity. I’m very eager and excited to take the business to the next level.”

Nurse Plus was established in 2005 by a group of experienced healthcare and recruitment experts.

Since then the company has grown rapidly and provides homecare and nursing agency services, with over 48 branches across the UK.

NACC skydive raises more than £6,000 for charity FIVE thrill-seeking members of the National Association of Care Catering have conquered the skies and leapt 10,000ft from an aeroplane to raise over £6,000 for The Food Chain and Alzheimer’s Society.

The team cast all personal fears aside to complete tandem skydives, including a 45-second freefall, motivated by their desire to raise as much money as possible for the great work of the charities, which upholds the NACC’s ongoing commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of the vulnerable and elderly.

The team has received support from NACC and industry colleagues, family and friends, and extends its thanks to everyone that has sponsored their ‘big jump’.

The heroic NACC skydive team featured: n Neel Radia, national chair, NACC. n Preston Walker, director/owner, Oak House Residential Home. n Oliver Smith, head chef, Hadrian Healthcare’s Wetherby Manor and NACC Care Cook of the Year 2015. n Billie Moore, managing director/ owner, McCullough Moore. n Sophie Murray, deputy chair, NACC. Neel, who described the jump as a ‘once in a lifetime experience’, said: “The NACC skydive was an incredible experience and quite indescribable.

The NACC skydive team: Neel Radia, Preston Walker, Oliver Smith, Billie Moore and Sophie Murray.

“We’re so proud to have raised such a great sum for The Food Chain and Alzheimer’s Society, whose work, like that of the NACC’s, is dedicated to improving the life quality of the vulnerable and elderly.

“I can’t lie, the skydive is one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done, but it was worth it and I’m glad to have completed it alongside good NACC friends and colleagues.

“Despite all our fears, we were

determined and driven to make the jump by the amazing support of colleagues, NACC members, families and friends.

“We would like to thank everyone for their enormous encouragement and generous donations.”

Donations to support the effort of the NACC skydiving team and raise funds for The Food Chain and Alzheimer’s Society can still be made at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NACC

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CARINGNEWS

Home praised for ‘spreading the word’

A NORTH Shields care home has been praised by the Northumbria NHS Trust for ‘spreading the word’ about infection control.

Princes Court received an award for its efforts during National Infection Control Week, which was held recently.

Edwina Cook, the home’s housekeeper, helped raise awareness about the initiative by creating a display on infection control, as well as educating residents and guests.

National Infection Control Week is an annual initiative which aims to raise awareness on how to prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections such as MRSA and clostridium difficile.

Julie Gregory, home manager of Princes Court, said: “Edwina did a fantastic job in creating an engaging display for all to see and took the time to educate others about the initiative, as well as offers tips on prevention and how to limit the spread of infections.

“The award was fully deserved and I would like to thank the Northumbria NHS Trust for their support and guidance.”

Princes Court is operated by care home provider Akari Care and offers residential and specialist care for up to 75 elderly residents.

Blooming marvellous recognition for home THE Grange, near Chorley, has received a special award for a recent garden makeover project as part of a gardens in bloom competition run across the north.

Based in the award-winning Buckshaw Retirement Village, The Grange took part in the Hica in Bloom competition, designed to maintain and support resident care and wellbeing.

Hica Group, a not-for-profit charitable organisation, manages Buckshaw Retirement Village and runs a gardens in bloom competition annually, inviting all its 20 care homes and two retirement villages across the North of England to take part. It is used to support residents – from the old to those suffering from dementia and those with learning difficulties – by involving them in active projects, encouraging them to voice their opinion, make decisions, be creative, and enjoy the outdoors while also encouraging new achievements.

The creative team of staff and residents at The Grange designed an eco-friendly sensory garden, made from mainly recycled materials.

The flower beds, vegetable and herb gardens were raised, making the garden more accessible for residents.

A plastic path was placed ensuring

The Grange residents with director Phil Hill and activity coordinator Alison Evans. project, residents with dementia have been very content and calm whilst helping.”

Winners and runners up were given their trophies and accolades at the company’s Shine Ball, which brings together staff and residents every year to celebrate their achievements.

Hica in Bloom finalists also included Elm Tree Court, Hull, and its floral display, The Hollies’ Moroccan Themed courtyard in Hessle, Sunningdale Court’s sensory garden in Scunthorpe and The Rowans’ recycling themed gardens in Hull.

wheelchair users could easily explore the area. A recycled seating area was also brought in to provide residents and their guests an area to relax in the garden.

Phil Hill, director of business development at Buckshaw, said: “The Hica in Bloom project provides an active way of maintaining both physical health and mental wellbeing for residents, as well as helping to ease the symptoms of dementia for some residents by giving us all a positive focus. We have noticed a change in behaviour throughout the

From all the teams at Caring UK Caring UK Care Conferences Caring UK Awards

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Care provider’s Children in Need totaliser tops £10,000

COMMUNITY minded residents and staff at a family-owned care home operator have done their bit for BBC Children in Need by raising more than £10,000.

Team members at Colten Care totted up the total following events across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex in aid of the annual appeal.

A key focus was Lymington where three homes held a fortnight’s fundraising extravaganza launched by Pudsey bear himself that culminated in a sparkling ‘black tie and diamonds’ ball.

Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and Linden House all set up stationary exercise bikes in their foyers so residents and visitors could help ‘cycle Pudsey home’ by covering the 500 or so miles that would take him to and from the BBC studios in Manchester.

The virtual journey was streamed live using web cams so communities could check on progress in real time.

The initiative proved so popular that the distance target was smashed a few days ahead of Children in Need night.

At Linden House, a dedicated dementia care home, cyclist David Brass completed 100 miles himself,

raising £542. David is the son-in-law of former resident Shirley Pawley.

At the same time, one of Colten Care’s minibuses was specially decorated Pudsey-style with colourful spots for a photo and poetry competition.

As it went on its rounds in and around Lymington, members of the public were invited to take and send in a photo of it with a short caption to describe what fun they would like to have in their later years.

The black-tie ball, at Lymington Sailing Club, included an auction of donated items and a broadcast by BBC TV presenter Alexis Green as part of the telethon evening.

Court Lodge was also where a young care home worker had 100 cans of baked beans poured over her by residents and colleagues in aid of the appeal. And activities organiser Julia Puia raised more than £300 by enduring the hour-long chilly challenge.

At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, residents enjoyed a teddy bears’ picnic and 1950s sing along while at Fernhill in Ferndown the focus was a 1920s casino party. Other homes saw fancy dress events, quizzes, cake sales, tea parties and bingo sessions.

With some pledges still to be

David Brass, whose mother used to live at Linden House in Lymington, completed 100 miles on the home’s exercise bike in aid of the appeal. collected, the total amount raised show their support.

by Colten Care for Children in Need “Our residents and team members this year has so far come to £10,010. really value being part of the This is more than double the amount community and doing their bit for raised last year. worthy causes.”

Activities manager Jo London said: This year’s BBC Children in Need “Children in Need is always a great appeal raised a record £46.6million chance for everyone to join in and nationally.

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Outstanding staff recognised at event

By Dominic Musgrave

SOMERSET Care Group held its annual awards ceremony at the Somerset County Cricket Ground, Taunton.

The event recognised staff from across the Group for their outstanding achievements, contribution and dedication.

321 nominations were submitted this year from colleagues, customers, customers’ families and healthcare professionals. The Somerset Care Group Awards recognised both individuals and teams across 14 categories.

Over 100 guests attended the event, which included a three-course lunch and a raffle to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Attendees saw a short film which featured shortlisted nominees and heard speeches from chairman Chris Davies and chief executive Jane Townson.

Local celebrity and BBC Somerset radio presenter Ben McGrail hosted the event and interviewed Jane and one of the winning teams for his show after the event had finished.

Jane said: “Our future success as a company depends on one thing and one thing only – finding and keeping enough of the right people. Ensuring our staff feel valued is one of our most important roles as leaders and managers, as this above all else is a key reason why people stay with us, remain motivated and continue to deliver outstanding care.

“Our annual awards event is always a heart-warming and up-lifting

Jane Townson and Chris Davies with Brian’s team, ‘Team of the Year’ award winners. celebration of all that’s great about our people and this year was one of the best we’ve ever had. We laughed, cried, heard remarkable stories, and marvelled at the humility, compassion and selflessness displayed by so many of our staff. We cannot thank all of them enough.”

Awards were presented in the following categories:

Best newcomer Winner: Anna-Marie Ray from the Realise South West team.

Highly commended: Suzanne Hilton from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Outstanding learner Winner: Megan Townley from Southlawns.

Outstanding contribution to activities Winners: Sally Button and Leanne Sims from Critchill Court care home.

Highly commended: Emily Holly from Southlawns care home and Stephanie

Steer from the Halcon Centre.

Inspirational trainer Winner: Emma Burns from Acacia Training and Development’s Plymouth branch.

Highly commended: Jacqui Wenham from Acacia Training and Development’s Taunton branch and Gemma Brimson from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Dignity in care Winner: Pat Taylor from Oak Trees.

Highly commended: Alison Wilkinson from the Taunton Community Services team and Kelly Burns from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Quality dementia care Winner: Gemma Brimson from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Highly commended: Sheryl Blanco from Frith House.

Customer service Winner: Lisa’s team from the Realise South West team.

Highly commended: Kezia Strange from

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the Sedgemoor Community Services team and Marise Barry from Frith House.

Make a difference Winner: Brian Wells, a volunteer from Popham Court.

Highly commended: Martin Griffiths from Wyndham House and Marites Estioco from Frith House.

Inspirational line manager Winner: Jenny Dodds from the Realise South West team.

Highly commended: Vanessa Stephens from the Wiltshire Community Services team and Pippha Chick from Lavender Court.

Outstanding manager Winner: Chantal Kirkland from Cooksons Court.

Highly commended: Jenny Futcher from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Inspirational senior manager Winner: Nicola Mould, Assistant Director of Finance.

Highly commended: Keith Crockett, assistant director of IT and Business Systems.

Outstanding Worker Winner: Martin Griffiths from Wyndham House.

Highly commended: Mary Woodward from Milton House.

Outstanding care worker Winner: Carol Matravers from the Taunton Community Services team.

Highly commended: Dawn Aldred from Cooksons Court and Tracey Pinnell from the Wiltshire Community Services team.

Team of the year Winner: Brian’s team from the Realise South West team.

Highly commended: Critchill Court and the Taunton Community Services team.

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SPONSORED BY

Fast growing firm launches new franchise

A FAST growing company which provides care and home services to children and adults in Coventry and South Warwickshire is celebrating its official launch.

The SureCare franchise for Coventry and South Warwickshire was opened in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Lindsley Harvard and Coventry’s Lady Godiva, Pro Porretta.

The franchise is run by Tervinder Bhangal and her husband. More than 20 staff have already been taken on by the company and they are looking for another 30 highly trained and experienced people to join the team over the next 12-18 months.

As well as providing care for elderly people and those with physical and learning difficulties, SureCare Coventry & South Warwickshire offers child care, overnight and live-in care plus respite care.

Tervinder said: “We pride ourselves on running a service that gives people the best quality of life, supporting them to lead the life they choose.

“My aim is to be known for providing high quality, vetted staff to meet the care needs of both adults and children across all age groups.”

www.bluerockcare.com

Care group launches innovative partnership with JobCentre Plus WEST Yorkshire based Czajka Care Group has launched an innovative partnership with JobCentre Plus to help tackle the shortage of new workers entering the care industry.

The initiative enables people who have expressed an interest in working in care, to complete a six-week supervised work placement at one of the provider’s five care and nursing homes, throughout Nab Wood and the Aire Valley.

All age groups can apply for the initiative, which is available at JobCentre Plus offices throughout Bradford, Skipton and Keighley.

John Carrington from Czajka Care Group, said: “We currently employ a 350-strong team and are always keen to attract new talent into our business.

“Working closely with JobCentre Plus on this new scheme will enable us to reach a vast pool of people who have previously expressed an interest in joining our industry, as well as supporting them as they embark on a rewarding and challenging career.

“At the end of the six-week placement we’ll have the opportunity to offer permanent positions to the candidates who meet the required standard and decide that it is the right job for them.

“Everyone joining us receives an

Czajka Care Group’s John Carrington with Stephen Byrd from JobCentre Plus. unrivalled standard of training at our route.” in-house training centre, across a Czajka Care Group owns and wide range of courses, and there are operates Fairmount Nursing Home, plenty of progression opportunities Brookfield Care Home and Staveley across all areas of the care industry.”

Birk Leas Nursing Home, which are Stephen Byrd from JobCentre Plus, all in Nab Wood near Shipley, as said: “We are delighted to be working well as Currergate Nursing Home with Czajka Care Group on this in Steeton and Beanlands Nursing initiative.

Home in Cross Hills.

“It offers people the opportunity Czajka also provides purpose built to undertake training alongside a retirement homes and operates The meaningful work placement, and Clubhouse at Fairmount Park, which to get a real feel for what the care is a members only club with a wide industry has to offer as a career range of leisure facilities.

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Residents were keen to create a different feel in each room when Rosebank Care Home went through a major internal transformation in 2012.

The art of interior design in a care home environment

JANE Roberts and her husband Gerry own and manage Rosebank Care Home and Churchfields Care Home, both set in Oxfordshire.

Since acquiring Rosebank in 2008, and most recently Churchfields this year, their ethos has been to provide outstanding long and short-term care for residents, in a caring, homely environment.

Gerry is a GP and Jane trained as a nurse at Middlesex Hospital, London.

For the last 15 years Jane has been involved in developing care homes.

The art of interior design in a care home Creating a ‘home from home’ environment in both of our care homes is something we take great pride in.

Balancing this with being able to ensure the design allows residents to be safe and cared for really is an art.

Life at our care homes is centred around our residents.

Varied activity programmes, friendly and welcoming staff, excellent cooks preparing delicious meals, as well as the interior and design, all contribute to making our homes a special place to be.

The interior design we choose has a huge effect on the lives of our residents. Just like any of us, our surroundings at home can make us feel calm, secure and comfortable.

If this were not so, our mental wellbeing would certainly suffer.

Functionally, the space needs to allow staff to be able to do their job well, keep residents safe and use necessary equipment with ease.

Residents should feel confident in their surroundings with personalised rooms that create inclusiveness, furniture that is suited to their needs, and clear signage and sensory cues.

Without careful consideration and planning it would be easy to create a clinical environment that does not benefit from a pleasant homely feel.

Rosebank Care Home went through a major internal transformation in 2012.

This centred primarily on an extensive refurbishment programme, which residents played an active role in redesigning how the various living spaces should be used and furnished.

Residents were keen to create a different feel in each room.

A new garden room was designed to fully maximise the use of the outside space and we specifically chose fabrics and furnishing to bring extra light and texture into the room.

A previously unused space was converted into a cosy ‘reminiscence room’ with a fireplace, reading lamps and relaxing armchairs.

Everything was chosen by our residents including the stunning

Zoffany designer wallpaper.

The music room was created so that residents could sit quietly and read and relax.

To ensure extensive and personalised access to music, film and literature, we installed a Wi-Fi system throughout the home, with

the addition of iPads, a Sonos wireless speaker system and Smart TVs. At a residents’ meeting it was agreed that an artist should be invited to help us create a piece of artwork that could be displayed in the home.

The residents chose a local artist who specialised in creating mosaics.

Taking four months to produce, with residents working with the artist twice a week, the result is a 6ft by 5ft piece of wall art that takes pride of place in our hallway.

We still continue to add additional pieces when new residents join ‘our family’.

With further refurbishment on-going in our newest home, Churchfields, we are taking just as much care to ensure the character of the building is maintained.

As with Rosebank, the homes are both situated in rural Oxfordshire and retain a certain charm.

We are keen to ensure we use our previous experience and involve staff, residents and families with every stop of our progress so that it is seen very much as their home.

Our homes should make everyone feel welcome; staff, residents and visitors.

We want family, friends and the local community to feel just as relaxed as our residents, and very much an active part of the home.

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Care group launches fundraiser to address ‘music therapy gap’ MHA has launched its fundraising campaign for its ground breaking music therapy treatment for people living with dementia.

The treatment has been proven to seriously alleviate the symptoms of dementia for people living with dementia (whether suffering or carers), yet figures from MHA show that only one in 1,000 dementia patients are exposed to this therapy.

To address this gap, MHA has embarked on its largest ever fundraising campaign dedicated to music therapy. This aims to raise funds to pay for more therapists, both in order to treat more people living with dementia, and to support them over longer periods of time.

During the event at Steinway Hall in London, MHA’s award-winning music therapy team, dementia specialists and representatives from Steinway & Sons explained why music therapy is so important and outlined the group’s mission to give more people access to it when they need it. Attendees learned how powerful this therapy is in helping manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

MHA’s lead music therapist Ming Hung Hsu gave a video demonstration of Music Therapy in practice with residents, showcasing a selection of case studies. Guests

were also given an exclusive tour of the Steinway showroom, and given an opportunity to network and meet members of the team to understand what the organisation is aiming to achieve through its fundraising.

The evening finished with guests taking part in an interactive music session so they were able to understand the impact music can have on people, and more so for those living with dementia.

MHA’s chief executive, Adrian Bagg, said: “The event was very successful in giving key supporters and influencers a deeper understanding of what Music Therapy is and how it can genuinely and tangibly benefit older people living with dementia.

Moving films of residents in therapy sessions highlighted the importance of this service, which is funded entirely by charitable donations and is free of charge to as many residents as possible each year.”

Music therapy is clinically proven, helping both those living with the condition and the people around them to manage symptoms. Through using music therapy, therapists can regulate residents’ emotions to alleviate symptoms and identify their possible causes.

It works because music activates neurones in more regions of the

brain than anything else scientists know of and research shows that despite deterioration of cognitive functioning, people with dementia retain the ability to appreciate and make music until the latter stages of the condition.

MHA is one of the largest employers of music therapists specialising in dementia in the UK, with a team of 19. It is has been pioneering the treatment since 2008 and currently helps 450 residents a year who are living with dementia. MHA has over 1,900 specialist dementia places in

its care homes and wants to provide Music Therapy for all of them.

Adrian added: “Music therapy really makes a difference to people who are living with dementia. I have seen for myself the work of our music therapists and spoken to relatives and our staff to know the impact it makes. “But we want to make sure all our residents living with dementia can benefit from music therapy, as well as those cared for by other organisations, and were delighted that Steinway and Sons supported the event.”

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Care professional is a ‘shining beacon’ Staff and residents from 60 retirement housing estates owned by Hanover Housing Association were celebrating after the group’s chief executive Dame Clare Tickell presented Michelle Muir from Macmillan Cancer Support with a cheque for over £13,000.

Residents from Maple Court, Consett in County Durham were part of a regional estate based initiative where staff and residents held local fundraising initiatives across Hanover’s northern estates to raise money in support of the charity.

A CARE professional has been appointed as an Admiral Nurse.

Jakki Whitehead, a specialist dementia nurse and service manager for people with dementia at Riversway Nursing Home in Bristol, achieved the distinguished title following an interview. She is currently the only Admiral Nurse in Bristol, and one of just 179 in the UK with only 19 based in care homes.

Riversway will host the Admiral Nurse Service in partnership with Dementia UK to help people with dementia, their families and carers to cope with the dementia process.

Jakki was encouraged in her efforts by the management of the home to apply for this post, and will be supported in the requirements of being a host service, which will entail further training and development.

Jakki, who has worked in mental health practice for 30 years, said: “I knew that becoming an Admiral Nurse would help us to provide a relevant and responsive service and to be recognised in the community as a provider of excellence.

“Riversway Nursing Home and

Jakki Whitehead the Springhill Care Group pride themselves on being at the forefront of dementia care.

“The partnership with Dementia UK and the support and expertise that it provides will help to roll out specialist-level leadership in dementia care within Springhill; informing good practice, training and promoting good communication.”

Avoiding record keeping mistakes in the industry

ACCURATE record keeping is of vital importance in the care industry.

In addition to enabling staff and other team members to access up to date information about all aspects of the resident’s life and to provide appropriate care, accurate records can demonstrate compliance to agencies such as the CQC. Implementing a new care management system can benefit care homes by reducing recording errors.

Where records are handwritten by different staff members, there is always the potential for record keeping mistakes.

This is increasingly likely when your workforce does not have English as their first language, or in cases where workers have poor handwriting or lower literacy skills, but are still required to produce records.

Using a care management system that incorporates templates and pre-set records can ensure that the relevant information is entered accurately, enabling professional looking reports and records to be produced whenever necessary.

As well as increased neatness and accuracy in the records, using a computer or tablet system such as the Ablyss CMS suite of products can save a considerable amount of staff time, allowing more time to be dedicated to supporting residents.

In addition to keeping wellpresented and up-to-date care plans, a care management system can store all the information about each resident including their contacts, and allergies, medication records and risk assessments.

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Scheme brings timely support for residents A PILOT scheme set up by NHS Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group is helping care home residents receive proactive support to improve their health and wellbeing and reducing emergency hospital admissions.

The CCG developed its GP-led Enhanced Care Home Scheme in August 2015, working with 50 care homes and other professionals in west Leeds offering additional support for around 1,500 residents.

Residents, whose GP practices are taking part in the scheme, receive regular and more planned visits from a GP or nurse to review their healthcare needs.

This includes timely access to a dedicated therapy team from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a speech and language therapist and a dietitian.

In addition, a medication review is offered for all new residents admitted to a care home or on discharge from hospital.

Early evidence suggests that residents who are being supported by the proactive care team are less likely to require emergency admission to hospital.

Figures suggest that there has been an overall reduction of A&E attendances and emergency admissions of just under five per cent from care home residents who

are being cared for through the programme.

Dr Keith Miller, a GP in Headingley, Leeds who has developed the scheme, said: “The GP-led scheme is ensuring better joint working between different healthcare professionals involved in looking after older people living in care homes in the area.

“Evidence suggests that it’s improving their overall experience of healthcare, as well as transferring new knowledge and skills to care home staff and reducing the need for hospital attendances.

“Feedback from care home managers, residents and carers is very positive, but there is still work to do.”

Craig McDermott, manager at the Spinney Care Home, added: “The enhanced care home scheme has made a huge difference to the lives and wellbeing of our residents.

Knowing they now have fast access to services enables them to lead a more comfortable and happy life.

“Previously, in some cases, we’d have to wait a number of weeks for access to services within a care home setting and now we’re lucky enough to have this fantastic scheme.

“We’d also have had to refer people to hospital for treatment but now it comes to us, making a huge difference to everyone and reducing impact on stretched resources at the local hospitals.”

Care Control Student ‘smooths the change’ MOVING to a digital care management system for a care home can involve significant change that includes adopting a different approach to working practice.

With Care Control Student the transition is smoother, more organised, and it means that all staff are using the system to their full potential. The new Care Control Student is an e-learning programme that is accessed through an app, it includes a series of videos and interactive questions and answers.

Care staff are encouraged to work through a learning programme that supports them towards their appropriate level of competency from

‘Starter’ to ‘Experienced’ depending on their role.

Care Control Student works alongside the main Care Control system and as well as giving the user an achievement report, managers can also see the progress of their staff towards their competency level.

So, alongside the benefits of quality care home care monitoring, management at your fingertips, and helping to meet regulatory requirements, Care Control Student is a great asset when making the transition to Care Control: e-learning at your fingertips and a smooth change to an innovative way of working.

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CARINGNEWS

France’s highest honour for Stan

By Olivia Taylor

A WORLD War II veteran from St Helens was surprised when he was presented with France’s highest honour, recognising his role in the D-Day Landings.

Stan Pennington, 93, who lives at Eccleston Court, has been awarded with the Légion d’honneur for his bravery in the liberation of France.

He served in World War II for five years in the 1st Battalion of 53rd West Infantry.

Eccleston Court is part of the national social care charity Community Integrated Care and is home to 54 older people, including people living with dementia.

Following the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June 2014, the French President announced that the distinction be awarded to all British veterans who fought for the liberation of France during the Second World War. On behalf of the President of the Republic, the Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside, Anne Morris, presented Stan with the Chevalier (Knight) award, during a special celebration organised by staff at the care home.

Staff had secretly planned the special medal presentation and hosted a 1940s themed party to mark the occasion. They decorated the home with British and French flags

Anne Morris, Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside, with Stan Pennington and staff at Eccleston Court. and baked delicious cakes which, included one that replicated Stan’s medal.

The staff also created a stunning centrepiece for Stan, proudly displaying his framed letter from the French Government, photographs from his military service and medals awarded throughout his life.

Amanda Kelly, service manager at Eccleston Court, said: “Stan was so touched to have received the Légion d’honneur. He was called up to fight at just 17 years old, risking his life for our country. Hosting this wonderful celebration with his nearest and dearest was the least we could do to honour him. We are so incredibly proud.”

A High Barnes nursing home has unveiled a new cinema for residents and their families.

Film fans among the residents of Barnes Court flocked to the grand opening of the cinema with a premiere showing of ‘Mama Mia’. The event had a suitably Hollywood flare with a Grauman’s Chinese Theatre themed official opening, with the cinema decorated in red Chinese style lanterns, fans and paper chains and framed posters from cinema classics lining the hallway entrance. In tribute, the home has created its own celebrity wall of fame featuring photographic portraits of stars from past and present as chosen by the residents and staff members. The cinema also features a popcorn maker, vending machine and pick ‘n’ mix sweet cones.

Volunteers create dementia garden

THE OWLS National Citizenship Service has created a dementia friendly garden at The Laurels and The Limes care home in Sheffield.

Dozens of teenage volunteers, aged between 15 and 17, from the Sheffield Wednesday NCS visited the home to carry out the work.

They spruced up garden furniture, built a bird bath, added flower beds and a bench, and created areas for birds to nest so the residents could enjoy the local wildlife.

Dawn Newman, home manager at The Laurels, said: “We can’t thank

the volunteers enough for giving up their time to help revamp our garden and make it an even more enjoyable environment for our residents – especially those living with dementia.

“The home is a specialist dementia care home, also offering professional nursing and residential care for the elderly. We have a lot of residents with dementia and they enjoy the garden immensely. It brings them peace and comfort.

“The work carried out by the volunteers will be enjoyed by the residents for years to come.”

30 www.requiredsystems.com

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Town’s care and support services celebrated at first PersonAwards

By Dominic Musgrave

THE hard work and dedication of staff and volunteers from across Bury’s care and support services were recognised at the first PersonAwards.

The event was organised by Persona, which delivers a range of social care support options for over 1,000 adults and older people across the town. The night marked the first anniversary of the company’s creation, after it began delivering services previously run by Bury Council in October 2015.

An independent company wholly owned by the council, Persona runs 14 centres across the town, including three residential short stay centres and a number of day services and community venues. It also delivers care and support for people in their own homes.

Persona’s employees and volunteers, who support young people with additional needs, people with learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities, older people, people living with dementia and people with autism, were recognised with awards across nine different categories.

Nominations flooded in during the months leading up to the ceremony and there was high praise for the unswerving dedication of staff and the continuity and ongoing improvements in services following the transition from the council.

Kat Sowden, managing director at Persona, said: “The sheer volume of

The Spurr House team celebrate their Dignity Award success. nominations we received was genuinely overwhelming. Each one was heart felt and each one told a story of the amazing difference care and support workers can make to someone’s life.

“Careers in care and support can be challenging at times but they are also incredibly rewarding. The first PersonAwards is our way of recognising excellence and celebrating it.”

Maria Hughes, 22, was crowned Young Carer of the Year.

She joined Persona last October and received particular praise for the dedication she has shown to her role.

Maria, who was unable to swim, paid for swimming lessons which she attended outside work hours, so that she was able

to accompany a customer when they went swimming at the local leisure centre.

Meanwhile, a 38-strong team at Spurr House, a short stay centre, received the Dignity Award, which recognised their dedication to maintaining the personal dignity and independence of their visitors.

Other winners: Volunteer – Graham Peters; Young Carer – Maria Hughes; Employee – Lorraine Higham; Team The Victoria Centre; Dignity – Spurr House Short Stay; Innovation– Stella Parker, Michelle Walsh and Paula Lythgoe; Manager – Anna Craig; Making a Difference to Customers – Partnership of Ramsbottom Day Service and Positive Lives Team who supported a specific gentleman; Learner – Debbie Riley.

It’s all about the care

Anchor’s Hampshire Lakes retirement village in Yateley has won Silver at the What House Awards 2016. Nominated in the Best Retirement Development category in the national competition, Hampshire Lakes was praised by judges for having “a good atmosphere and friendly staff as well as state-of-the-art facilities and well-designed living accommodation.” The What House Awards judges went on to say: “The apartments in this purpose-built community are cosy without feeling cramped, having views of the gardens and grounds. Hampshire Lakes general manager, Rhona Smith, said: “We are thrilled to have won Silver in the What House Awards 2016. It’s wonderful to be recognised nationally for being a great place to retire and for our dedicated focus on providing happy living for residents.”

New Required Systems document download manager AN online, cloud-based system giving you instant access to the most up-to-date procedures and forms required to evidence compliance with the new CQC Fundamental Standards for England.

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Enquiries: Call 01236 782477, visit www.requiredsystems.com or email peter@requiredsystems.com

WHAT does quality mean to you? Here is one definition; the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.

With the recent Competition and Markets Authority study launch the focus is largely on consumer and contract issues. How the consumers are charged for services and are they fair, or at the end of the contract will the estate have hidden and unknown expenses to deal with?

Top ups have been around for a while and I’m not referring to telephone contracts. This is where a local authority will only cover a certain amount.

How do you get the rest and is the request fair?

Who do you ask for payment when an individual cannot pay?

Justification, asking for evidence of unexplained or hidden charges, unexpected fee increases, confusing requests for top-up payments, or occasions when they feel that complaints have not been handled fairly. Does competition between care homes drive quality and value for money, or is this where the business looks for cost savings, which may impact the quality of service offering?

The question is, are care home providers treating their residents fairly, in particular in relation to information provision, contract terms and business practices?

The provision of information by care home providers and authorities and whether that facilitates residents making the right choice are important questions. How do we ensure that a potential user of care home and housing services finds and connects to the right service provider?

Additionally how do we ensure that there is a quality check both during the service provision and after the service ends?

Does regulation affect competition between care homes in terms of quality and price?

If you look for a care home in a certain location how do you differentiate between the quality and value of service? Should we not be considering value for money in the care offer?

Within the regulatory bodies how can we ensure the consistency of the Inspector through the journey of a business? We are all different. We all interpret information in different ways. If there is a change of Inspector, how do can we ensure that there is consistency and transfer of the tacit knowledge from one Inspector to another?

The role and nature of competition between care homes is paramount. How do you as a potential user or someone looking for a service for a friend

or relative, choose the right facility? n Is it the kerb appeal? n Is it the service you receive from the staff and will it be same throughout the stay? n Is it the quality of the food and not just what’s on the menu? n Is it the smell? n Is it the location? n Is it the reputation of the provider or did you have a recommendation? n Is it expensive? n Will I be able to afford it for as long as stay there?

How we make choice and selection is different for all of us.

My own background has been building care and retirement facilities across the UK and internationally and more recently moving to digital healthcare as a tool to enable an improved service offering, not just the telecare models, looking into the future these technologies will completely change our lives.

I believe the future model of care is yet to evolve, into one which is not driven only by money alone, and one that enhances quality of life for an individual living alone at home, in care home or in specialist housing.

What if there was a business model to challenge the status quo to innovate the models that exist to give the consumer an ‘exceptional’ experience beyond their expectations.

The future will be challenging for the ageing population, affordability will be the greatest challenge. Furthermore there is the question of health. This may be the primary concern for most.

Ageing well for as long as possible without a major illness if not more than one. In a home that meets your changing needs.

I would welcome the opportunity for conversations of any type whether from working on a new project or an old one, through to helping you improve your environment and service through bespoke evaluation surveys.

Enquiries: Call 0870 061 2001, visit www.seniorcaresolutions.co.uk or email info@seniorcs.co.uk

CARINGNEWS

Georgina celebrates with chairman Ken Nolan and Riversway general manager Jan Wilkins.

Georgina retires after 19 years A LONG-SERVING staff member at a Bristol nursing home said an emotional goodbye to her friends and colleagues as she retired.

Georgina Harriman, Riversway’s quality and performance and training manager, bowed out after a 19-year career with the home.

One of the first staff members to join Riversway when it first opened, Georgina helped to establish the home and its reputation for high quality care in her role as a care assistant.

Working her way up to senior carer, Georgina then joined Riversway’s management team. During her career she made many friends and was a highly respected member of staff.

Riversway general manager, Jan Wilkins, said: “Everyone who met her loved her. There were plenty of tears at her leaving do, and so many gifts and cards.

“Georgina really was overwhelmed with the attention and even though we’re all sorry to see her go we wish her all the best for her retirement.”

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CARINGNEWS

Music concert is enjoyed by residents EIGHTY residents, together with carers and family members, enjoyed the first in a series of classical music concerts at Jewish Care’s Betty and Asher Loftus Centre.

It was the brainchild of volunteer Michael Stein, music lover and retired recruitment consultant.

The first concert was made possible thanks to Michael’s friends and family, who instead of buying him presents for his 70th birthday made donations to Jewish Care to enable him to hold the concert for residents.

Simon Morris, Jewish Care’s chief executive, said: “It was moving to see residents and relatives enjoying a meaningful experience together as a community, and we hope this will be the first of many in many concerts in Jewish Care homes.

“We know that music can be beneficial to our health and wellbeing and these concerts make it accessible for older people in our homes to continue to enjoy music in all forms. I would like to thank Michael Stein for his time and generosity making this happen.

“This is just one of the many ways relatives and friends can get involved with supporting residents in our homes.”

Care provider makes donation to local club NORTHERN League Division Two club Bedlington Terriers has received a generous donation from care providers, Alcyone Healthcare.

The healthcare provider will now become the main supporters of the club, which includes providing new strips for the first team, for the rest of the season and next year.

Alcyone Healthcare, which is set to open its first residential care home and day care facility, Baedling Manor, in Bedlington, by the end of the year, stepped in to support the club after learning that financial backing from US business tycoon and honorary club president, Bob Rich, had come to a natural end.

The multi-million pound care facility set to officially open in December will provide the highest level of residential and dementia care for up to 50 residents, as well as providing a dedicated communal area on the ground floor to encourage and promote regular opportunities for social interaction for both residents and the wider community. The care home is creating up to 60 jobs, injecting up to £1million into the local economy.

Managing director Darren Taylor said: “As a business, we are very community focused and believe it is important to help support other community elements within

Alcyone Healthcare MD Darren Taylor and Bedlington Terriers secretary Ken Waterhouse.

Bedlington. Bedlington Terriers has been a long-established club so we were keen to help support it however we can.”

Darren said the donation was also personal to him following the Terriers’ first team and their supporters raising over £1,000 for a local cancer charity back in 1994.

“When I was 29 I was diagnosed with cancer,” he added. “After receiving treatment and making a full recovery, a friend of mine who played for the Terriers, Darren Neale, offered to have all of his head shaved to support me and raise money for a local cancer charity.

“After a cup final match held at

Croft Park in Blyth, he had his head shaved in the middle of the pitch, in front of the Terriers’ team players and supporters. Following the game we had a collection around the players and their supporters. I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by their generosity when we raised well over £1,000 for the charity.

“As a young lad whose hair meant everything to him, to have it all shaved off in order to support me felt very humbling. The kindness of the other players and supporters is something I have never forgotten so I am delighted that Alcyone Healthcare is able to give something back to help the club and the wider community.”

A Chester care home has seen its garden transformed by a group of green heroes from the city’s Tesco Community Volunteer Group. Meridian Healthcare’s Lauren Court garden has been brightened up with an array of plants and bulbs ready for the bloom next spring. The green-fingered community champions got stuck in with their weeding and planting duties, as well as painting the garden’s benches. A rose plant was given pride of place and, after hearing this was a resident’s favourite flower, named ‘Jenny’. Julie Collins, Meridian Healthcare’s activity co-ordinator, added: “I would like to thank the Tesco team for all their hard work and we are looking forward to them returning to set up a herb garden for the team.”

Home raises money for charity STAFF and residents at one of Sahara Care’s flagship homes in Forest Gate have managed to raise more than £1,000 for Children in Need at a special 1950s and 60s themed charity event.

Sahara Lodge held a party for friends, colleagues, residents and their family that was adorned with retro decorations and featured hit music from both eras for guests to sing and dance along to.

The home’s service users also helped to prepare the food and baked cakes which were available

to all who attended, who had paid a small entry fee.

Throughout the day people also made various donations to the Children in Need appeal, which helped the home to collect £1,113.50 for the charity.

Janette Neal, registered care manager at Sahara Lodge, said: “We were blown away by the amount we raised on the day, but we have to say an extra special thank you to our company’s directors and chairman who made a significant donation to the appeal.”

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Home unveils two penthouse suites

Page 37

Home’s completion a step closer with ceremony

Page 39

Closed Wincanton home set to reopen

Page 41

Season opens first of next generation developments

By Dominic Musgrave THE first of Season Senior Living’s next generation developments, Protheroe House in Tottenham, was officially opened by Deputy Mayor of London Joanne McCartney.

Protheroe House is the first in Season’s new development drive, which is on target to create over 600 new apartments for older people to live independently in London and the South East.

Season’s rapid expansion in this area is being driven by an urgent shortage of appropriate homes for older people.

Research for Season, part of One Housing, shows that there is a shortfall of over 400 homes for older people in Tottenham alone, and the number is rising rapidly.

Mick Sweeney, chief executive of One Housing, said: “We urgently need to build more appropriate and affordable homes for the rapidly growing number of older people in the most in demand areas of the country.

“Our new Season developments, including Protheroe House, bring the best of senior living to everyone.”

Protheroe House is a cutting edge development

that includes 52 one and two bedroom homes, as well as a stylish spa, bar and restaurant on site.

The £9million building, delivered in partnership with Haringey Council, is a flagship project that offers urgently needed affordable homes designed to help older people in London maintain their independence in style.

Councillor Jason Arthur, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Health, added: “This is a great example of our commitment to support older people so they can live as independently as possible. Protheroe House provides much needed affordable, top-quality homes for older people in the borough.”

The facilities at Protheroe House are an example of Season’s strategy to build retirement apartments that have a ‘pull’ factor so that older people want to downsize to achieve a great quality of life.

The apartments are highly energy efficient with residents expected to pay around £5 a week for heating and hot water.

One Housing partly funded the project by reinvesting the profits of from its private developments across London and the South East and secured a grant from the Mayor’s Care and Support Specialist Housing Fund.

Kevin Beirne (group director for housing care and support at One Housing), Coun. John Bevan (Haringey Council), Sheila Fitzpatrick (resident at Protheroe House), Carol Pusey (manager of Protheroe House), Mick Sweeney (chief executive at One Housing) and Joanne McCartney (Deputy Mayor of London).

The scheme is one of two new Season senior living developments in Haringey. Nearby Lorenco House, another £9million construction, is set to deliver a further 50 senior living homes.

All of the homes are offered at an affordable rent.

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Home unveils two penthouse suites SUTTON Coldfield nursing care home Beech Hill Grange has unveiled two high-spec penthouses which have been funded by long-term banking partner Royal Bank of Scotland in a deal worth £220,000.

Founded in 1986 by directors Judith Middleton and Christian Humpherston, combined they have expanded the home considerably over the years into a £2.8million business.

Beech Hill Grange is a 62-bed nursing care home offering a high standard of care, with specialist dementia care provided. Their latest investment, which took six months to complete, has revealed two high-spec penthouses which have both received an overall luxury finish, including, high end fixtures and fittings such as Villeroy and Boch bathrooms, solid walnut doors and bespoke furnishings throughout. Judith and Christian have worked closely with interior designers to furnish both penthouse suites.

An internal lift has also been part of the investment to allow residents to travel from the ground floor to the exclusive penthouse level. Structurally this was quite complex, but will be a unique selling point when marketing these prestigious units.

Looking into the future, Beech Hill Grange has received planning permission to build an additional

The group of homes DC Care has sold on behalf of HICA. Christian Humpherston (Beech Hill Grange) and Spencer Ford (Royal Bank of Scotland).

42-bedroom annexe which will include facilities such as: a hair salon and nail bar, restaurants, lounges, a full size cinema and activity rooms.

This will generate a significant recruitment campaign, adding to their 168 existing employees.

Christian said: “Since Beech Hill Grange was founded, we have continued to make positive improvements that mirror the high level of care we provide. We couldn’t be more delighted with the overall look and finish these luxury penthouses offer and we feel confident we have tapped into a market for those looking for something a little bit special where they can enjoy their later years.”

Yorkshire group of homes sold

DC CARE has completed the sale of Parklands Care Home, in Rawcliffe, near Goole on behalf of HICA. The new owners, Sensation Care, are already well established in the care industry and worked closely with HICA to ensure the transition to new ownership progressed as smoothly as possible.

They have ambitious plans to improve and extend the home, which they aim to make the flagship home in the area.

HICA was keen to ensure the home continued as a care home, and with new owners they felt understood their ethos and approach to care.

Staff were involved at an early stage, and every effort was made to ensure

everyone knew how important the continuing commitment to care was, and will remain so in the coming months and years.

Regional director Alison Willoughby said: “This is the fourth home in the group that we were instructed to market and we are absolutely delighted that we have been able to assist HICA in the sale.”

HICA intends to focus on high dependency dementia care and has reorganised its portfolio of homes with that aim in mind.

To date, DC Care has sold Holyrood House, Danes Lea, Stanage Lodge and Parklands. All of the HICA homes are in East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Home’s completion a step closer with topping out ceremony

By Olivia Taylor CHAMBERLAIN Court, Hallmark Care Homes’ new 72-bed facility in Tunbridge Wells has reached a major milestone in its construction.

The residential and dementia home, which will be the care group’s 16th facility, had its last roof tile recently installed, signalling that it is on schedule to open next summer.

Chamberlain Court, named after the provider’s award-winning architect Richard Chamberlain, is being built at a cost of £11million across a one-acre site.

The home when completed will provide a spacious, luxurious and sociable environment where family members are encouraged to participate in activities and spend time with their loved ones.

Facilities at the home will include a cinema, hairdressers, barbers and therapy room.

Each bedroom will be elegantly furnished, have an en-suite bathroom and those on the ground floor will have access to their own patio.

Other communal areas comprise of a café, a celebration room and several dining rooms which will enable relatives to have a meal with their loved ones on occasion.

Outside there will an activities room and landscaped gardens with raised planters, giving residents the

Hallmark Care Homes’ managing director Avnish Goyal, deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Councillor Julia Soyke and Hallmark Care Homes’ land and development Manager Sue Earrey officially lay the last tile on the roof of Chamberlain Court. opportunity to get involved in the Tunbridge Wells. gardening at the home.

“Chamberlain Court will provide Hallmark Care Homes’ managing residents with a place where they feel director Avnish Goyal said: “We have safe and supported to live an active years of knowledge and experience of and fulfilled life.” building award-winning care homes.

Chamberlain Court is scheduled to “We are excited to be able to create open its doors to its first residents at an engaging new care community at the beginning of June.

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Permission is granted for facility

LNT Care Developments has received planning permission to build a 66 bed facility on the site of the former Landmere Care Home in West Bridgford.

Rushcliffe Borough Council Planning Committee approved the planning application for the new care home that will provide residential and dementia care for those aged over 65.

Demolition has already begun on site, with construction due to start in March and a predicted completion date for January 2018. Once complete, the home will provide outstanding accommodation with fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious communal areas, and state-of-theart amenities including a cinema, library, garden room and tea shop, all surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Christine Cooper, project director at LNT Care Developments, said: “We will be creating 50 jobs in the local area and providing a high quality resource for elderly people in the local community.

“The facility will incorporate intelligent dementia design and be eco-friendly by benefitting from ground source heat pumps, solar thermal panels and LED lighting keeping utility costs low.”

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Elliscombe House Nursing Home in Wincanton, Somerset.

Closed home set to reopen

SPECIALIST business property adviser Christie & Co has sold Elliscombe House Nursing Home in Wincanton, Somerset to a new entrant to the care sector, The Ellie Group.

Having closed in December 2015, Elliscombe House had previously provided accommodation for up to 40 elderly residents.

It also includes a development of 10 retirement homes set within the grounds, all of which have been sold on a 125-year lease.

Planning permission has already been obtained for additional bedrooms and the new owner is now planning an extensive programme of refurbishment in order to reopen the home as a high quality care facility.

Simon Harvey, director in Christie & Co’s South West Healthcare team, said: “This sale is yet another example

of the positive activity experienced in the care sector for a wide range of care businesses, including closed homes.

“The South West continues to be an increasingly popular market with several growing regional operators as well as first-time entrants looking to relocate to the area to acquire their first business.

“Our marketing approach generated significant interest with a number of offers received from a range of parties. We wish the new owner all the best with their future plans.”

The Ellie Group’s managing director, Glenn Trotman, added: “This is an exciting opportunity to develop and provide a boutique care experience for our guests, in the wonderful surrounds of Elliscombe House.”

42

Homecare company appoints manager

Mayor of St Neots, Councillor Derek Giles, celebrates the final roof tile being placed at Nelson Lodge.

Final roof tile placed at home MAYOR of St Neots, Councillor Derek Giles and the Mayoress, Councillor Sandie Giles, joined Anchor Care services director Mark Greaves and staff to celebrate the final roof tile being placed on the new care home being built in Eaton Socon.

They enjoyed a tour of the 64-bed home, which will include a hair and beauty salon, quiet and social lounges on each floor, a tea room and landscaped gardens.

Visitors then participated in a ‘topping out’ ceremony which involved placing the final tile into the roof of the building, marking

the momentous milestone in the construction of the care home.

Mark said: “This is a proud moment for Anchor and it’s wonderful that the Mayor and Mayoress of St Neots joined us to celebrate this milestone in the construction of what will be a fantastic care home.

“It’s exciting to see how Nelson Lodge is developing and to show the Mayor and Mayoress the high specification the home will have when it is finished.”

Nelson Lodge is opening in the Spring and will provide care for older people as well as dementia care.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE homecare provider DoCare has appointed a new field manager.

Kate Townsend will be responsible primarily for staffing at the Stroud-based company, heading up the teams which deliver care across a 1,000-square mile area of Gloucestershire, Bristol and West Oxfordshire.

She joined DoCare in 2010. It was her first role in care, having previously been a horse riding instructor.

Kate said: “I always wanted a care role, but decided to wait until my children were a bit older and at secondary school.

“We have a lot of carers, doctors and nurses in our family, and I had also supported my father when he was ill, so I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

She joined DoCare as a support worker, became a senior and then a team leader. Although based in Cirencester, Kate has worked throughout the company’s geographical area. As field manager, she will still deliver some care, as well as conduct client reviews.

“I am very excited about my new role and I am really grateful to the staff for all their support,” Kate added. “I’m still going to be delivering care, and seeing clients, so I will be out and about.”

Kate replaces Kerry-Ann Lees, who

Kate Townsend has left DoCare to take up a role in day care.

Una Mills, DoCare director, said: “As soon as Kate joined DoCare, we knew she had a real flair for caring, and also proved herself a very able manager during her time as a team leader.

“We are delighted she is our new field manager, and she is already doing an excellent job.”

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Easier management at your fingertips How hygienic is your home?

PROTECTING your business – the importance of hygiene and learning from the Wahaca experience.

The recent closure of a number of Wahaca restaurants throughout the UK highlights how easy a disease such as Norovirus can affect businesses – creating a huge financial burden and damage to your brand.

It’s not just restaurants that can fall victim though, all public areas are at risk as the infection can be easily passed from individuals before they know they are infected and up to two weeks afterwards.

Care homes are particularly susceptible to germs such as the Norovirus and the superbug MRSA which is resistant to antibiotics making it difficult to treat. An outbreak could prove severely damaging to your business, but are you doing enough to protect yourself and your clients from infection?

The Cleaning Show, March 14-16 at ExCeL London, is the UK’s largest

cleaning and hygiene exhibition and is free to attend. It’s a chance for businesses large or small to source and try out cleaning equipment, technology and products such as personal protective equipment, safe waste handling solutions, hand hygiene products, disposables and cleaning machines that will ensure that your staff can create a clean and germ-free environment.

A range of free-to-attend seminars also offer advice on health and safety within the workplace, the living wage, the issue of illegal workers, marketing and social media training, the importance of PR in managing a crisis and pest control.

Organised by the British Cleaning Council and the publishers of Cleaning & Maintenance Magazine, the exhibition will see over 100 companies with thousands of products to offer.

Register for your pass now at www. cleaningshow.co.uk

COOLCARE has been designed with users in mind, making it an allinclusive programme covering every aspect of care home management.

It includes individual dashboards which are tailored to the needs of each user, whether a marketing manager, payroll clerk or chief executive. Care home management software has never been so userfriendly and comprehensive.

Our software is compatible with multiple platforms, such as iPhones, iPads, and Android devices – you can even access the software remotely, enabling you to use the software on the move, wherever you are.

CoolCare is a completely integrated product suite that covers every administrative and recording task in a Care Home. These include client records, billing information, staff records from an HR perspective including training and time and attendance functionality. In addition,

various financial tasks such as client billing, private monies and petty cash records are all included along with a host of other useful features.

Part of the implementation of each CoolCare installation is its tailoring and configuration for each customer so that it fits in with existing systems and content naturally. This flexibility sets CoolCare apart from other similar systems and enables users to create a solution that suits their needs. With over 1000 sites using CoolCare today we have the experience to help and support each user appropriately It is a completely cloud-based solution with a simple pricing structure that includes training, support, data migration and configuration and is guaranteed to realise ROI in a very short space of time indeed. There has never been such an easy to use, comprehensive care home management platform, and we think you’re going to love it.

Shackletons completes groundbreaking model SHACKLETONS has completed a turnkey project for Eothen Homes’ Wallsend development in Newcastle, a groundbreaking model of care in which each person’s quality of life is the over-riding priority.

Committed to developing a real family style environment where people feel at home, the home is split into four households with 13 residents in each. Every has its own kitchen, dining and lounge areas, as well as various spaces for activities around the home.

Eothen Homes asked Shackletons for help with all aspects of the design.

A different interior scheme for the four individual households was required but stipulated with the need to project quality and a homely and stylish appearance.

Focusing on dementia care and the need for a relaxed and caring family environment, Shackletons applied their considerable experience in dementia friendly design to provide furniture, fabrics, and finishing

touches. Providing a first class look Shackletons completed a bespoke project. All bedroom furniture, fitted bookcases, furniture and soft furnishings were especially crafted to provide the perfect combination of organisation and comfort.

Christine Hardy operations manager at Eothen Homes, said: “Everyone who visits the home comments on how wonderful it looks and the families of the residents are very positive about the overall look and feel of the place.

“The Shackletons sales manager for the north, Sarah Thompson, worked with the home in partnership from concept through to the fabulous end result.”

Door closers enhance care homes

AVAILABLE in standard and Free Swing versions, Powermatic concealed door closers meet all relevant fire and accessibility requirements and offer a number of advantages over standard, surface mounted door closers thanks to the fact that they are totally concealed when the door is closed.

Concealment ensures that the appearance of doors and interiors is not spoiled by the unsightly control arms and boxes that are a feature of ordinary door closers, helping to create a more homely, less institutionalised environment.

Powermatic Free Swing is particularly suited to the care and nursing home sectors; Connected to the building’s low voltage fire alarm system, it allows doors to be operated normally, with no added resistance to access, and left open as desired.

The door remains in manual operation until

the fire alarm is activated, or there is a power failure, when the door is closed automatically at a controlled rate.

Enquiries: Call 0121 766 4200, email sales@samuel-heath.com or visit www.concealeddoorclosers.com

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CARINGINDUSTRY NEWS

Get better use of care budgets by using technology THE strain on social care budgets could be eased, and bed-blocking alleviated, by using technology to enable elderly people. And it can deliver more cost-effective use of available resources.

So claims Clos-o-Mat, Britain’s largest manufacturer and toileting assistive technology.

Robin Tuffley, Clos-o-Mat marketing manager, said: “We almost constantly have reports from Health Services, Care Quality Commission etc about the pressure on social care services, and the lack of nurses, care workers.

“If it’s a medium to long-term requirement, it is not only more cost-efficient, but better in terms of mental well-being for the recipient, to provide equipment to help them at home rather than further stretch staff resources.

“Better Outcomes reports have proven tine and again the benefits, but there seems an inability to transfer the theory into practice on a national scale.

“If someone does need help to go to the loo, shower, it costs a minimum £7.20/hour in wages alone for a care worker to visit: just wages, before any of the other staffing costs are taken into account! That’s every day, 365 days a year…That

cost is covered in a year – or less – by providing a toilet lifter to help them get on and off the loo, or a wash & dry toilet, a shower seat, a body drier. ”And how do you put a price on someone’s feeling of independence, their dignity?”

Enquiries: www.clos-o-mat.com

10 best tips for the elderly on coping with cold weather AWARD-winning home care provider, SweetTree offers its top tips on how to stay safe, warm and well throughout the winter… n Get your heating sorted – make sure your heating is in good working order so that you’re not freezing cold. You may want to consider taking out a British Gas homecare policy so that you can call someone in quickly if the heating or boiler breaks down. n Stay indoors during extreme weather conditions – when ice or snow hits the ground it’s wise to stay indoors to avoid the risk of going out and falling over. Arranging online shopping deliveries is a great way to ensure you have all the groceries you need and negate the need for an ill-fated trip to the shops. n Avoid open fires – Cover open fires with glass doors or screens and keep the ember screen in place even after you’ve put the fire out. Avoid combustibles near the fireplace and keep carpet, rugs and drapes at least three feet away from the front of the fireplace. n Check your smoke detector – Make sure the batteries are still working. Replace batteries regularly. n Don’t leave anything on the stairs – avoid leaving anything lying around that you could trip on. Keep stairs well lit. n Exercise regularly – this will improve your strength and balance and therefore help to reduce the risk of falls. n Look after your feet – Foot pain and long toenails can increase risk of falls, so make sure you have regular visits to a podiatrist or chiropodist. Your GP may be able to recommend a local chiropodist. n Take stock of your home environment – do a quick sweep of the person’s house and check what changes you can make to keep them safe. Do they need a handrail for the stairs for instance, a walking

frame or a shower stool to help to reduce the risk of falls? Or perhaps a commode for the bedroom to help reduce the risk of them falling over at night when trying to reach the bathroom? Speak to social services and ask for an occupational therapist to assess what help might be required. Alternatively, you can buy items like walking frames, shower stools and commodes privately online. n Clear out the clutter – clear away the clutter to prevent falls that could have been avoided. Worn carpets, mats that curl up at the edges or rugs with protruding corners should be discarded. Try to move small items of furniture or ornaments in the middle of the room that may be obstacles and could create falls or accidents. n Invest in safer kitchen items – items like a cordless kettle, a jug kettle that boils only sufficient water for immediate needs are ideal. Try to avoid carrying hot liquids too far and always use rear hot plates, turning saucepan handles away from the cooker. If you care for a person with dementia, you may need to consider disconnecting the oven in the mid and later stages of the disease.

Enquiries: Visit http://www.sweettree.co.uk

Collection helps homes achieve an acoustically sound environment

THE quality of the acoustic environment is a vital component of good dementia-friendly design within a care environment.

Noise is regarded as a health and safety issue and should not interfere with resident’s normal domestic activities including sleep and rest.

UK building regulations stipulate that a suitable floor covering should have a weighted reduction in impact sound pressure level of not less than 17 dB when measured in accordance with EN ISO 140-8 and calculated in accordance with EN ISO 717-2. Furthermore, Stirling University state that the sound impact ratings should preferably exceed British standards.

Danfloor’s Equinox Collection, specifically designed for the care environment, achieves a reduction of transmitted impact noise of 29 dB which far exceeds British Standards and ratings offered by alternative hard flooring options on the market.

People need to be able to hear well in order to make sense of their environment and in order to function at the highest level possible. Hearing

impairment can compound feelings of isolation and frustration and these feelings contribute to behavioural disturbance.

Good acoustics can actively contribute to ensuring that a person with dementia can communicate and remain included within the community within which they live. By installing carpet within a care home an acoustically sound environment can be achieved.

In addition, as hearing is linked to balance there are greater risks of falls and this can be devastating for the person with dementia.

Studies have shown that carpet, when compared with vinyl, can reduce injuries caused by trips and falls. It has also been proven that gait speed and step length is greater in older people walking on carpeted areas than when walking on vinyl.

Enquiries: For more information about the benefits of danfloor’s healthcare collection including its impervious backing and antimicrobial yarn treatment, visit http://www.danfloor.co.uk/ranges/ equinox-collection/

AKW transforms care home’s 31 dementia-friendly bathrooms AKW, the UK’s leading manufacturer of accessible bathroom solutions, has completed the first phase in the renovation of 31 luxury dementiafriendly en-suite bathrooms at the Grade II listed Lypiatt Lodge nursing home.

Situated in a striking period house in the heart of Cheltenham, Lypiatt Lodge provides specialist nursing care to residents with both long term and respite needs. The nursing home was acquired by Fidelia Care Limited in 2015 and, after evaluating the needs of residents and assessing the home’s existing facilities, the new owners decided to undertake a full refurbishment of the property in order to update the site and better support residents, especially those with dementia.

Fidelia contracted the refurbishment of the property to Beltaine Designs, an independent spatial and interior design consultancy service. Fidelia was aware of AKW’s reputation as a market leader in the design and supply of high quality dementia-friendly bathroom products, and recommended Beltaine Designs work in partnership with AKW to ensure all bathrooms within the nursing home were dementia-

friendly to meet the wide range of needs of its residents.

As part of the renovation, AKW supplied Lypiatt Lodge with a full range of its high quality bathroom products. This included its TMV3 approved thermostatic mixer taps with extended levers for easy operation, bathroom wall panels and wall boards, bathroom lights and extractor fans.

The company also provided Electric Low Surface Temperature radiators, which eliminate burning accidents, and a range of specialist showering facilities, including low level access, walk-in showers and wet rooms.

Enquiries: Visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Simple solutions

More affordable, more absorbent.

New incontinence range DEVELOPED over 12 months, Anov – the name of the new range, provides more absorption than leading incontinence brands and incorporates a variety of premium quality products.

Beaucare® Medical is the exclusive stockist and distributor of the new Anov incontinence range in the UK. It is estimated that incontinence affects between three and six million people in the UK. It affects both men and women of any age, but is more common in women.

The new Anov range includes products to suit all degrees of incontinence including Light Pads, Shaped Pads, Slips, Pull ups and Pants.

Operations director Heather Mawrey said: “We were aware that care home budgets were being squeezed and that residents’ comfort was key. We developed the new Anov range over 12 months with those factors in mind.”

To accompany the launch, Beaucare is providing care homes with full product training and support materials to help assess each patient for their individual requirements.

Contact Beaucare for more information plus a full comparison between the Anov product range and the leading brand.

Enquiries: Call 01423 873666, email sales@ beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

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 odourfree, ready to perform time and time again.

Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.

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Group’s volunteers are recognised at annual ceremony

Tenants of Watling Court in Gravesend have turned their hand to some festive crafting.

The group of creative tenants gathered in the activity room at the extra care housing scheme, ready for a morning of Christmas crafting, to prepare for their upcoming festive fete. The tenants made snowman decorations and jars of goodies. Helen Goulding, scheme manager of Watling Court, said: “The tenants love to get involved with the preparation, whether that’s making decorations and gifts ahead of the fete, or helping to man a stall on at the event.”

Home celebrates fundraising success

ELM House residential care home in Nantwich, Cheshire, is celebrating its fundraising success after raising over £270 at its autumn fair.

The event saw staff, residents and friends of the home come together to raise money for the Elm House residents’ activities fund.

The autumn fair, which is held annually at Elm House, hosted a number of stalls run by staff, residents and friends of the home, including a raffle, a tombola, and even a handmade jewellery stand.

Many of the stands were made possible by volunteers and donations from members of the local community.

Steve Maddock, home manager at Elm House, said: “We were delighted to have so many generous visitors to our autumn fair who helped us raise over £270 for the residents’ activities fund.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and was involved in making the day such a great success.”

THE hard work and achievements of care home volunteers throughout Wiltshire was recently celebrated by one of the county’s top care home providers – The Orders of St John Care Trust – during a special awards ceremony.

The Trust’s annual Volunteers’ Day event, which took place at The Beechfield Hotel in Melksham, saw 90 volunteers from the Trust’s county care homes attend and receive certificates for their ongoing dedication and commitment to older people living in care.

As part of the day, Trustee for Wiltshire Judy Wright and Chris Poole, Wiltshire assistant operations director were in attendance and spoke highly of all those being commended.

Chris said: “We consider our volunteers to be one of our biggest assets and really appreciate their willingness to give up their time for the benefit of our residents.

“We’re extremely lucky to have such a selfless group of individuals willing to spend a bit of their spare time — from organising a day out or leading a weekly game of bingo to simply having a natter or lending a listening ear.

“We look forward to Volunteers’ Day

every year because it’s the perfect opportunity to thank these amazing people for all the time and effort they spend enriching our residents’ dayto-day lives.”

Among the 90 volunteers celebrated was Anne Sillars – a 30-year-old volunteer from Athelstan House Day Care Centre in Malmesbury, where she helps out in a variety of ways, including chatting to residents and serving meals and drinks.

Other volunteers recognised during the ceremony included Anne Price, who has been volunteering at Ridgeway House in Royal Wootton Bassett for the last 25 years, and Barbara Compton, who has also volunteered for 25 years at Ridgeway House, helping with trips and outings.

Chris added: “Many people may not realise it, but an hour every week or two can make a tremendous difference in our residents’ lives, as it helps build a sense of community and encourages social inclusion within our homes.

“I think all of our volunteers would agree that spending time in our homes offers a fulfilling experience hard to find elsewhere, and we encourage even more of our neighbours to get involved.”

Care provider shares its expertise CUSTOMERS and staff from an Essex social care provider are set to star in a video to share best practice.

Outlook Care became involved with ACC, an organisation that produces videos of people receiving care and providing care for educational purposes, earlier this year.

Not-for-profit social care provider, Outlook Care, delivers person centred care and supports people with a learning disability, those with mental health needs and older people in Essex and London.

ACC, who film with older people

and care staff, and primarily work with older people, wanted a number of case studies to feature in their new course on people with learning disabilities, and Outlook Care was delighted to get involved.

The filming day took place in Dagenham at two of Outlook Care’s services, featuring two of its customers and their carers.

Bonnie Longfoot, Outlook Care’s marketing officer, said: “We are delighted to have built a partnership with ACC and the filming day was a great success.”