Caring UK - January 2022 by Script Media

no.300 • £4.75 incorporating

January 2022

The Number One magazine for the care sector

Audrey breaks stereotype of quiet home life A 94-year-old care home resident is reflecting on an action-packed year – which has seen her enjoy a host of new experiences despite the impact of the pandemic. An inspirational figure in her local community, Audrey Roberts, has been consistently making headlines since moving to awardwinning care provider CHD Living’s Surbiton Care Home in 2019, and has firmly broken the stereotype of a quiet life in care. Shortly after Audrey moved into the home, the pandemic struck the UK. Far from letting this hold her back, Audrey – a former art teacher – became an online sensation, utilising her creative talents by teaching local students art via the online platform Zoom. Providing ample opportunity for socialisation, the intergenerational interaction of the classes helped combat loneliness during a difficult time. It additionally gave Audrey a sense of purpose, as she was able to contribute something special to the wider community. Taking life by the reins, Audrey has also taken part in national news interviews, meeting celebrity doctor and mental health advocate Dr Alex George, and filming with Facebook for CHD Living’s Adopt a Grandparent campaign. The programme was launched during the enforced lockdowns

to reduce loneliness within care homes and the wider community, with more than 90,000 volunteers signing up. Audrey was matched with a young woman named Clara, and the pair quickly formed a unique and long-lasting relationship. Audrey said: “I have enjoyed every bit of being on the radio and TV. Teaching children art was a favourite of mine as art is my passion. “Many people say life ends when you move into a care home, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – over the past year, I have undertaken so many incredible experiences that I feel as if my life has just begun.” Shaleeza Hasham, head of hospitality and communications at CHD Living, added: “So many people have been living a restricted life over the past 20 months or so, and in care homes, given the vulnerability of residents, this has been even more pronounced due to essential safety measures. “Despite all of this, it hasn’t stopped Audrey, who, amidst the challenges, has undertaken a whole host of new and exciting things. “Audrey’s been an inspiration, not just to her immediate friends in the home, but to the entire CHD Living community – and long may her taste for new experiences continue.”

Thornhill House in Barnsley won the National Care Home of the Year accolade at a glittering Caring UK Awards ceremony held at the Athena in Leicester. The home picked up the prize having been named Regional Care Home of the Year North earlier in the evening. Independent Care Group chairman and Scarborough-based care home owner Mike Padgham was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work for the care sector at a local, regional and national level. Full round up starts on page 15.

Operator celebrates 20 years A PROVIDER of home-based care and support across England and Wales has celebrated its 20th anniversary. The family-owned Radis Community Care started off as a small local provider of visiting care services primarily for older people, but now supports people of all ages and with a wide spectrum of needs in many different community settings including extra care housing schemes and supported living services. Radis founders Sam and Deepesh Patel said: “Our team has regularly gone above and beyond to make sure they consistently deliver care to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. “We’ve seen staff walk for miles

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through snow, take boats through floods and over the last year, throughout the pandemic, do whatever it takes to make sure our clients are getting the care they rely on daily. “We are so proud of our team and of the kind, caring company they have helped to build.” The company has organised a series of events and activities to mark the milestone, including delivering random acts of kindness to colleagues and hosting a special lunch for a number of the team who have been with the company since day one. Radis provides community-based social care and support to more than 2,000 and employs more than 2,500 people.

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Staff go ‘above and beyond’ MANAGERS at Westmorland Homecare at Kendal have praised staff who went ‘above and beyond’ to help vulnerable clients during the recent Storm Arwen. As gale-force winds and lashing rain battered South Lakeland, home care staff continued to support clients, some of whom were without electricity at their homes. Some staff even visited clients in their own time to offer help and reassurance. Senior care co-ordinator Amy Cooper said one of the company’s carers was with an elderly housebound client at 10pm on Friday night. The lights were flickering in the storm and the lady, who did not have a torch, was frightened and growing distressed. The staff member went home, found her own torch and returned in her own time to leave it with the lady so she would not be in the dark if power was lost, which did eventually happen. Another carer was working until 9pm in Ambleside but then could not get home because a tree had blocked the road. “She decided to stay in a bed and breakfast in Ambleside so she could carry out her calls to clients on Saturday morning,” said Amy. At Brigsteer an elderly lady’s power went off. A Westmorland Homecare member of staff lives close by and, despite it being her weekend off, she went to see the lady, taking a warm drink and hot water bottle until the client’s son could collect her on Saturday night.

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The carer also emptied the client’s fridge and freezer and took the contents to her own home, where the power was still on. “It gives me goosebumps to think about what out staff have done,” added Amy. “They have all worked above and beyond. I had staff who were not on duty this weekend ringing me to say ‘How can I help?’ “The things our staff did this weekend meant the world to those who were cut off and without family nearby. Our carers became a lifeline for them.” On Friday Amy’s husband collected her from Kendal at 8pm but they were unable

to drive home due to fallen trees. They eventually had to resort to walking in the howling wind and climbing over and under trees, reaching home at 11pm. The next day Amy walked for three miles to reach the office. Dr Chris Moss, one of the directors of Westmorland Homecare, said: “We have the most amazing team I have ever worked with. “No matter what life throws at us they are there looking after each other and our community, working closely with other health professionals to keep clients safe and secure at home.”

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

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Celebrating their long service are, from the left: healthcare assistant Cheryl Jay, domestic assistant Pat Johnson and healthcare assistant Bernadette Stayner.

Home marks 30th anniversary A DORSET care home chose a traditional pearl theme to celebrate its 30th anniversary in style. Residents and team members at Colten Care’s Whitecliffe House in Blandford marked the occasion by planting a rose pearl bush in their garden and staging a party with pearlinspired table decorations and gifts. As well as sampling a home-baked anniversary cake with sugar pearl balls, the fun included a high tea and a residents’ choir performing popular tunes including Singing in the Rain. Donning yellow hats and umbrellas to mimic the famous street scene in the musical, the resident singers were conducted by Colten Care’s music and arts partner Fiona Pritchard. And they were accompanied on the piano by fellow musician and Companionship team member Caroline Pugh. Home manager Chris Lee said:

“The anniversary theme was so appropriate. “Whitecliffe is truly a pearl of a care home with a wonderful atmosphere and a proper homely feel. We have a great team devoted to ensuring our residents are extremely happy.” Colten Care’s executive chairman Ian Hudson and the operations manager for Whitecliffe House, Peter Doyle, joined in the festivities and, along with resident Lois Ramsden, helped to plant the pearl rose outside. Other guests at the party included three members of staff with 52 years’ service between them. Healthcare assistants Cheryl Jay and Bernadette Stayner have worked at the home for 17 and 21 years respectively, while domestic assistant Pat Johnson has been there for 16. The trio were presented with bouquets of flowers in recognition.

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Falls ‘can be reduced with intervention’ THE largest study of care homes in the UK, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that a co-ordinated approach to fall prevention in care homes is effective in significantly reducing the number of times residents fall. The ‘Falls in Care Homes study’, led by Professor Pip Logan and experts from the School of Medicine, Centre for Rehabilitation and Health Care Research, tested a new approach called the ‘Guide to Action to prevent Falls in Care Home’ programme, which was designed by a collaborative group including care home staff, and families. She said: “The falls prevention programme significantly reduces the chance of falling over for people living in care homes and is cost effective. “This research is the largest care home study completed in the UK and the team included academics, care home residents, families, care home staff, social care and NHS employees, a truly interdisciplinary UK trial. “By preventing falls, the FinCH programme could improve quality of life and save lives, whilst also saving NHS and social care providers money, that can be reinvested into high quality care for older people.” The study was conducted across 84 care homes in 11 different areas of England and included more than 1,600 residents over a three-year period. The team found that the GtACH programme reduced the rate of falls by more than 43 per cent compared with residents who did not receive the intervention. There was no adverse effect on residents’ mobility or independence and most importantly, the treatment was found to be cost effective and fell well within the cost-thresholds set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for treatments to be funded through the NHS. Although fall prevention interventions have been shown to be effective in other settings, previous A long-serving Royal Star & Garter carer has received his British Empire Medal at an investiture ceremony in Guildford. Lead healthcare assistant Emrys Owen was given his medal at Loseley House by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael MoreMolyneux. Emrys was awarded the BEM for services to veterans during Covid-19 in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2021. He joined Royal Star & Garter nearly 40 years ago in 1982 and was originally based in Richmond. He has worked at the charity’s award-winning Home in Surbiton since 2013. Emrys said: “I would say receiving the BEM was the proudest moment of my working life. When my citation was read out I nearly cried. I had to really try to stop the tears when I collected the medal.”

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systematic reviews suggested that the benefits were uncertain in care home residents. Experts at Nottingham developed the GtACH programme in collaboration with care home staff and residents to devise a set of guidelines in the form of a 33 point checklist with a list of 33 associated actions that can be used to reduce the risk of falls. The programme includes one hour of training for all care home staff (including gardeners, caretakers, cooks, cleaners, managers) in small groups, delivered by a falls specialist. A manual summarising the GtACH programme is left in the home after training and includes resources such as a falls incident chart (to detect patterns) and a medication falls risk chart. Once trained, staff are expected to use the GtACH risk assessment and guide to action checklist with all residents. For example, the assessment might highlight that a resident is dehydrated and the recommended action is to increase fluids. The manual and training enable the care home staff to achieve this by taking action such as introducing smoothies, having more fruit juice on offer, providing appropriate crockery, making soups, and making an event of coffee time. Overall, the training and resources increase both awareness and knowledge about the management of falls.

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How to beat the January Blues By Abi Spence BLUE Monday, which falls on January 17, is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year. It follows the long build-up to Christmas and the drama of New Year’s Eve, when dark, cold and rainy days set in, and there’s not much to look forward to. Imagine then what it must be like for older residents. Many have limited mobility, which often means they struggle to see family and friends. Given the arrival of the highly contagious Omicron mutation, which is likely to become the dominant strain in the next few weeks, precious opportunities to meet with loved ones may be further curtailed. With many residential homes already closing their doors to visitors, and some individuals cared for at home thus limiting their guests, frontline care staff must somehow fill the gap to ensure the wellbeing of people using their services. So, what are some best practices they can follow when tending to service users’ needs in this depressing month? Person-centred care The most important thing to remember is that all social care should be person-centred and in line with people’s assessed needs. When looking at contingency planning, carers should treat each person as an individual without making assumptions of individual wants or needs. That involves risk assessing whether the person is lonely or prone to loneliness, or if they are comfortable with solitude. Look at their individual profile, their care plan, their individual needs and wishes. Ask them what they want, what they enjoy. We can’t always know someone is lonely if they ‘mask their feelings with words. Watch out for signs of self-neglect and depression which may arise from feelings of loneliness. Follow the local Safeguarding Policy and Procedure where you have concerns.

Abi Spence Daylight People often live in an artificial lighting environment in the winter, so find ways to increase access to natural daylight. A common problem is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression. In these cases, light therapy boxes can help to ease symptoms. Maintaining a good level of Vitamin D is important too, especially in the winter months when natural sunlight is in short supply and service users aren’t able to go out as much as they would like. Talk to the individual’s practitioner about whether Vitamin D can be offered for an extra boost. Staying connected Staying connected to friends and family is vital. If it’s not possible physically then think about how to do that remotely using video communication platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook or Microsoft Teams. Play around with technology. That could mean providing individuals with more intuitive devices with larger buttons, which are easier for the residents to operate. When setting up virtual meetings, consider a person’s needs and abilities. If they struggle to see or hear loved ones on a tablet screen, for example, connect the tablet to a widescreen television which provides better viewing and sound. Always bear in mind, however, that its essential to match the tech to the

person’s needs and abilities. When it comes to linking up with others, arrange joint video calls in the care setting, especially if social distancing regulations are in place. Look at activities people can do together, such as knitting, games or quizzes. Or it could be using a befriending service or just having a ‘cuppa’ in a local Age UK group café, an initiative that is a key part of their work to relieve loneliness. At the heart of every group, it is important that people are able to talk about how they feel and care staff can then provide tips on how they can maintain their wellbeing. These gatherings will need a facilitator to safeguard privacy, and to ensure conversations stay positive. Focus on gratitude, for things that have given people joy over Christmas. Encourage them to make calls to thank friends and family members for gifts or visits. This helps maintain communication and connection. Senses During bad weather, people spend more time inside. Think about how to change their environment in a sensory rather than a physical way. For example, activate their sense of smell by adding a scent to the room, something that brightens their mood or reminds them of happy times. Get them involved in the selection. Look at bringing in puzzles or objects that enliven the sense of touch. Relate them to the person’s past work life. For example, if they were a carpenter bring in small wooden objects – or locks and keys, an old type writer for a former secretary. It’s about keeping the mind alive, creating interaction and unlocking memories. Bring the garden inside. There are lots of plants that can be cultivated this time of year. Create a terrarium so people can feel the earth and help them plan what to grow. Use hardy plants and perfumed herbs like lavender and rosemary. Extending Christmas There’s a great deal of excitement around all the preparations for

Christmas, so look at ways to extend the period. Perhaps keep the tree up a bit longer, so there’s not such a stark contrast when all the decorations come down. Or perhaps use greeting cards for artistic projects such as making gift tags for next year. When it comes to new year pledges, is there something the person always wanted to try? Are there some regular activities you can arrange? Start planning now so individuals have something to look forward to and don’t experience an emotional dip. Home visits If individuals are inviting people to their home whether in a residential or individuals own house, make sure everyone follows the Infection Prevention Control as outlined by Government guidelines. And be mindful about keeping up to date with the latest requirements. Resources QCS has developed a number of policies and best practice advice around wellbeing that front line carers can access. The QCS Resource Centre includes Care Planning aids and a complete winter planning tool kit with information on: n Supporting People to Stay Connected n Recognising Loneliness, Social Isolation, or Withdrawal. n Screening Checklist for Social Isolation or Withdrawal. There are also policies and procedures about what to do when loneliness leads to safeguarding concerns such as self-neglect and self-harm, as well as aids on how to undertake person-centred risk assessments. QCS also offer a wealth of topical blogs and articles: https://www.qcs.co.uk/loneliness-inolder-men-in-care-homes/ https://www.qcs.co.uk/lonelinessand-learning-disabilities/ https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/ in-your-area/cafe-and-restaurant/ n Abi Spence is registration and inspection specialist at QCS.

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Director faces his fears to raise money for charities

Residents whisked away for champagne bus tour RESIDENTS from a Bampton care home were treated to a champagne vintage bus tour extravaganza around West Oxfordshire. Thirteen lucky Rosebank care home residents and staff enjoyed a drive out in the autumn sunshine when local man Patrick Edwards volunteered his time to take the residents out for a spin in his 1949 vintage bus, as well as offering the refreshments, including champagne. Residents particularly enjoyed seeing how the trees had changed seasons and were reminiscing about trips to the local cinema back in their youth on similar buses.

Home owner Jane Roberts said: “It is fabulous to see that all of the residents and staff involved in the bus tour had such an amazing time. “Patrick was kind enough to treat our residents to such an exciting experience and we always encourage activities that encourage reminiscence, as well as getting out and about in the community. “Our values are centred around residents having a sense of purpose, to live well, and to find enjoyment in everything they do. This is supported by ensuring residents have choice every day, on how they want to spend their time, and with whom.”

MIKE Cleasby, quality director at National Care Group, has faced his fears to plummet from 16,500 feet, raising £2,000 by skydiving for two charities close to his heart. He selected Teesside Hospice and Macmillan as beneficiaries of the jump, which he undertook in memory of his parents and in recognition of the hard work and resilience shown by care workers during the pandemic. Mike dedicated his jump to his mother who passed away earlier this year following his first skydive seven years ago on behalf of his father. Having lost both parents to cancer, Mike said he wanted to find a way to give back. The feat was made all the more impressive by Mike’s fear of heights, and the fact that the jump came from 6,500 feet higher than initially planned due to poor weather conditions. He said: “My thoughts were that a skydive would at least be shorter than doing the London Marathon. I am actually not very good with heights, and the cold air and strong winds took my breath away. “I think this type of achievement brings home the message that we are all stronger than we think. “Sometimes when you’re up against it and even when you’re afraid, you just have to remember you’ve got a bit more in you. “Especially if it means helping

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Mike Cleasby others – which I know everyone at National Care Group can relate to.” Mike enlisted the help of Peterlee Parachute Centre in County Durham where he was able to take in the view of the city and cathedral below, before the thrilling jump. “The National Care Group team has been amazing – they had a shirt designed for me that I wore on the day and have been overwhelming in their sponsorship” he added. “I couldn’t have asked for more. It has also helped bring some closure and reflect on a positive experience. “Even at our worst times, we can all dig a little deeper, and the resilience from colleagues during the past couple of years has shown that.”

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Overhaul solidifies knowledge within incoming carers and senior roles

Residents of Barnes Lodge enjoyed a nostalgic sweet treat when staff invited them to sample some pick n mix of the past. No sweet tooth was left unsatisfied at the Tonbridge care home as residents took a trip down memory lane when they were treated to some tasty traditional confectionaries. From Blackjacks and Bounties to sherbet and sugar mice, there was something for everyone, as staff took the retro trolley for a walk around the home. They made sure to visit each of the residents, filling their candy-striped bag with old-fashioned favourites, as they expressed their joy at the reminiscent treat. Resident Patricia Fordyce is pictured enjoying the sweet treats.

THE first phase in a complete overhaul of training at a specialist home care facility has been completed, aiming to help incoming staff pick up the tools needed to hit the ground running and expanding the specialised knowledge of senior figures. Meddyg Care, which has two dementia specialist care homes in Criccieth and Porthmadog, has revamped its induction programme to help new health care assistants develop the relevant skills and information needed to provide the highest level of care to residents. The alteration of the training programme is the first step in a full redevelopment of Meddyg Care’s training systems, with the second phase including the relocation into a purpose-built training facility. The site, which will be developed next door to the company’s head office in Porthmadog, is due to open in the winter. Training and development manager Samantha Bowley said: “Our care homes aim to provide the highest quality specialist care to those with dementia, and as a result we wanted to revamp the training programmes to be more directly tailored to that mandate. “Our new programme is split across three major areas, with each one aimed to help different learning styles benefit as well as provide a

Samantha Bowley well-rounded base of knowledge in a manageable manner. “Ensuring staff are well-prepared when they walk through the doors of our care homes is one of our top priorities, as is the continuing development of all our carers. “We ease everyone into the main systems and operations at our facilities as well as ensure they are meeting all the required regulations to progress towards gaining a National Vocational Qualification in care.” The programme, which runs across eight days, takes new employees through a wide range of topics to

ensure they can hit the ground running in their position from the start of their employment. Among the additions are workshops focusing on dementia and the role it plays when it comes to the care of residents, personal care techniques, and conflict resolution and awareness. Staff also spend time at the facility they will be based in to meet the residents they will be working with and the areas and processes specific to each care home. Samantha added: “These workshops aim to mix more theoretical exercises with practical activities so our carers can understand the importance and right practices to undertake. “They also get to meet the residents and start developing a bond of familiarity and care with them, which becomes vital once they begin working in the homes.” Alongside the overhaul of the organisation’s induction programme, Meddyg Care has also increased the depth of specialised training amongst the home’s senior staff. Eight employees across the two homes will undertake the Royal College of Nursing-accredited best practice in dementia care learning programme run by Stirling University. The training will also be managed by Samantha, who will lead the seminars as a local approved facilitator.

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Residents enjoy visit to Blackpool Illuminations RESIDENTS of Hope House care home were de-light-ed to visit Blackpool Illuminations for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. As they approached the coast, residents on the trip spotted the Illuminations lighting up the sky and began reminiscing about trips to see the lights with friends and family over the years. The trip was organised by activity coordinator Reehan Hooley. She said: “It’s been a tough couple of years with safeguarding rules preventing us from taking residents out and about. “Missing last year’s Illuminations

was really disappointing for a lot of our residents. “For some it was the first time they hadn’t seen the lights for many, many years so we were really keen to make the most of the trip and enjoy some fish and chips.” Restrictions to safeguard residents at the home in Accrington prevented its residents from being able to enjoy their regular trips out to enjoy meals, shows and tourist attractions. Blackpool’s famous annual Illuminations are usually one of the highlights for the home’s residents who enjoy a trip out for fish and chips while they soak up the sights and sounds of the famous seaside resort.

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Belvoir Vale Care Home scoops coveted award THE hard-working team at Belvoir Vale Care Home in Widmerpool are celebrating after winning the Care Home of the Year Award at the Maria Mallaband and Countrywide Care Awards. These in-house awards recognise highflyers and top talent across the care group’s 80-plus homes around the UK – and this year Belvoir Vale took home the top prize. The home, situated in grounds of more than two acres, boasts bright and welcoming facilities and an enclosed garden and patio enjoyed all year around, as well as a busy social calendar and extensive links with the community. Like most care sector homes the team at Belvoir Vale has been through a challenging 18 months due to Covid-19, but working with the local community, upgrading the home and coming up with innovative ideas to ensure those that live in the home continue to live life to the full, has helped develop the home leading to this accolade. Together they have worked towards their goal of creating the perfect environment for both those living in the home and staff. Joanne Widdowson, long-standing home manager at Belvoir Vale said: “This award means so much to our fantastic team who have worked

tirelessly to overcome everything 2021 has thrown at us, not only delivering first class compassionate care, but extending and improving what we offer here too by reaching out and strengthening community links and forging new ones. “Together, with positivity and enthusiasm, we have created the most happy and welcoming home, as our visitors and prospective families tell us regularly. “This award is testament to the team’s efforts and their continuing commitment to providing those living here with the best possible care, and

fulfilling lives full of laughter and fun.” The Maria Mallaband and Countrywide Care Awards celebrate staff and teams across the group making a real difference for those living in their homes and their families, and are now in their seventh year. The 2021 awards ceremony saw 15 deserving winners named in categories across every area including care, nursing, catering, housekeeping, training, activities, hospitality, support services, maintenance and management.

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A Hertfordshire care home was turned into a petting zoo for the day as residents welcomed a variety of exotic and interesting creatures to promote and stimulate mental wellbeing. Foxholes, near Hitchin, welcomed several reptiles, mammals, amphibians and invertebrates to its grounds courtesy of animal therapy service ZooLabs. All residents from every floor joined in together in the orangery, which was filled with shrieks of shock and delight as residents and staff were placed in close confinement with snakes, rats, cockroaches, geckos and even a Chilean rose tarantula. Resident Shirley Benfield is pictured getting up close with a corn snake.

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Charity features in best selling new book about mental health at work

Residents treated to koala-ty time at zoo A GROUP of care residents enjoyed a special day out when they were amongst the first to try the new Tour and Tea experience at ZSL London Zoo. Accompanied by their carers, residents from CHD Living’s Surbiton Care Home and Kingston Rehabilitation Centre travelled across London for an exclusive preview of the new guided tour on its launch. Shaleeza Hasham, head of hospitality and communications at CHD Living, said: “We wanted to do something special for our residents who have had a challenging year for various reasons. “We were delighted that ZSL London Zoo agreed to work with us on this project. It has been such a special day and brought so much joy to our residents and the care staff that accompanied them.” Created with the retired community in mind, the Tour and Tea experience offers guests the chance to explore

in a private group and learn more about life behind the scenes at the international conservation zoo. The day served as a fantastic morale boost for the residents who have, until recently, been confined to their care centres due to Covid-19 lockdowns. With some of the Kingston residents also currently recovering from lifechanging injuries, the day was extra meaningful to them. Venturing across the Zoo led by an expert ‘storyteller’, the group saw a unique side to the capital’s famous landmark and learned more about the conservation charity, ZSL, it’s 200-year history, and the wildlife they strive to preserve and protect. After the uplifting tour, residents and staff enjoyed a cream tea of homemade Earl Grey infused scones served with Devon clotted cream and strawberry jam and a pot of English Breakfast tea at one of the zoo’s unique dining locations.

Musicians Andrew Wickham (left) and Jo Thomas.

Group launches new initiative HALLMARK Care Homes has launched an initiative where a visit from a musician can be prescribed to support people living with dementia. Andrew Wickham will be supporting the operator’s Arlington Manor in Cambridge, while Jo Thomas will work with Banstead Manor in Banstead as part of the . Both musicians have been selected, trained and managed by Hallmark’s partner organisation Musica. They’ll each deliver one hour per week of interactive music sessions for people living with dementia who have been referred to them where it is felt that a 1:1 or group engagement will be of benefit. Head of relationship centred care

at Hallmark Care Homes, April Dobson, said: “Both musicians bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge which will help enhance quality of life for people living with dementia in our homes. “Music is a vital element of the way we care for people at Hallmark and our strong partnership with Musica means we can take it to another level through this one-toone referral service.” Through the project they will evaluate how the music sessions may help people living with dementia by reducing social isolation, depression and chronic pain, and supporting communication through building connections and relationships.

PENGUIN Books has launched a new guide called ‘Mental Health at Work’, including a contribution from Worthing social care charity Guild Care. The book, written by Penguin business expert James Routledge, has quickly become a bestseller and includes real life case studies on successful mental health strategies from the likes of KFC, Social Chain, Octopus Group and Guild Care’s CEO Alex Brooks-Johnson. Originally joining the Guild Care team in 2020, Alex was invited to share his approach to dealing with mental health and wellbeing at the 650-person social care charity. Soon after becoming CEO, tackling mental health and wellbeing in the workplace was one of his main priorities. Alex added: “Paying attention to mental health at work has never been more important. “It is something that impacts everyone and I wanted to create a more supportive and caring workforce at a time of great stress, allowing us to continue to deliver innovative and life-changing care services across Worthing.” Alex and the team created a policy for all staff to have in place a wellbeing action plan and specific management training to ensure regular check-ins with all employees

Alex Brooks-Johnson with interim head of HR Leanne Jones. as well creating a safe space for conversations about mental health. He added: “We can’t turn people into experts but we do recognise the importance of having a good relationship with your manager and how influential they are to employees’ mental health. “It has been an honour to be a part of this book and great that the wonderful work of our team has been recognised. “I hope that through our learnings and advice, we can help other organisations improve mental health at work. We aren’t perfect but every step in the right direction helps.” The ‘Mental Health at Work’ book can be purchased online and in store at Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smiths starting from £7.95.

Serving members of the military and an Army veteran have raised money for Royal Star & Garter by taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Squadron Leader Richard Cheseldene-Culley and Senior Aircraftman Sudeep Maden, based at RAF High Wycombe, and Lieutenant Shane Landymore and Warrant Officer Class 2 (Staff Sergeant Major) Matthew Baker, who are with the Royal Corps of Signals in Stafford, took part in the run through central London. They were joined by Ross Mewett-Mckinlay, who was in the Army for 12 years and served in the Royal Engineers, where he reached the rank of Lance Corporal. He now works at the Ministry of Justice. They have so far raised £2,968.

Operator recruits 52 carers

AN award-winning home care group has experienced record-breaking growth having recruited 52 new carers. Respectful Care, a provider of homecare services in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, has recently taken on more carers than ever before despite concerns that the sector is experiencing staffing shortages. Mark Docherty, CEO of Respectful Care, said: “To have taken on 52 recruits in one month is phenomenal, especially given the current national shortage of care staff.

“There are several factors that have made us an attractive place to work, but a key one is that we’ve recently increased our pay and restructured the company to introduce client relationship managers and a mental health first aider to support our staff. “Given the challenges of the past 18 months or so, ensuring that staff are sufficiently supported is essential and it’s something that’s particularly appealing to people already working in care, as well as those who are looking to enter the sector. With its new additions, the group now employs more than 250 individuals across its five branches.

CARINGNEWS Advertiser’s announcement

The People’s Covid Inquiry By Neil Grant THE People’s Covid Inquiry began in January 2021 and set out to investigate the scale of the tragic loss of life with the aim of learning lessons to save lives. It was chaired by Michael Mansfield QC. The Government did not respond to the invitation to take part in the investigation. The report was published on December 1 2021 and is titled Misconduct in Public Office – Why did so many thousands die unnecessarily? The report concludes that “The Government was not prepared for a global pandemic despite warnings that one was coming. When it arrived, they ignored clear warnings of the dangers and did too little too late”. The report does not pull its punches, stating: “The Government’s handling of the pandemic was grossly negligent and has unquestionably led to significant loss of life that could and should have been avoided.” The investigation concluded that there were failures in the following areas: n Failure to prepare properly for a pandemic. n Lack of funding to public services over the past 10 years including the NHS, public health structures, social care and education.

Neil Grant n Failure to protect frontline workers and at-risk groups. n Poor decision making about Find, test, trace, isolate and support systems and NHS 111 outsourcing. n Prioritising the private sector over the NHS. n Failure to consult professionals and experts. n Unwilling to learn from mistakes. In relation to social care the report states: “At the Downing Street press conference on 15 May 2020, Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock declared that ‘Right from the start, it’s been clear that this horrible virus affects older people most. So right from the start, we’ve tried to throw a protective ring around our care

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homes.’ In fact, 47,000 people in care homes died in the first 18 months of the pandemic.” It then summarises its conclusions in relation to social care as follows: “There was a series of fatal failures and errors at Government level. The high rate of deaths can be attributed to the following: the longstanding failure to address the crisis in the social care system, including a decade of cuts to local authorities’ budgets; failure to attend to previous pandemic planning and to recognise the inherent dangers for care homes as ‘institutional amplifiers’ of the disease; failure to assess current dangers and to provide a coherent plan for the care sector; the discharge of untested patients from

hospitals to care homes; delayed test provision; delayed advice on testing and isolation regimes in care homes; failure to supply adequate PPE; the movement of untested and unprotected staff between care homes; the low value placed on the work and lives of care workers.” We now await the statutory public inquiry. This is due to start in the Spring of 2022, with the chair appointed before the New Year. The impact of the first wave of the pandemic on social care will be a central aspect of the inquiry and it will be crucial that providers are involved in it so that lessons can be learned for the future. n Neil Grant is a Partner at Gordons Partnership Solicitors.

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CARINGNEWS

Group hosts awards night to reflect and celebrate successes

Betty Egan and Frances Croft.

Care home reunites sisters after 18 months apart AN EDGBASTON care home has reunited two sisters. Gracewell of Edgbaston welcomed Frances Croft to its Memory Care community recently. She has since become a valued member of the care home and formed strong relationships with residents and team members. A few months previously, Betty Egan, a fellow resident, moved into the ground floor of the care home. During one-to-one sessions with activities coordinator Kelsey Green she would discuss family life and speak particularly fondly of her sister. After team members realised that the sister in discussion was their very own new resident Frances, they set to work on a memorable and heartwarming reunion for the two sisters. A ladies high tea morning followed, where the two sisters became inseparable. After enjoying lunch together, a whole day was spent reminiscing, catching up and participating in

activities together. Kelsey said: “All of the team members are absolutely delighted we were able to reunite Frances and Betty. “It has been a heart-warming moment for everyone to witness, and a reminder of the positive impact the home can have on its residents. “Families and loved ones have been separated for prolonged periods due to the pandemic. Seeing them reunited in our care home is therefore a great step forward.” Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the reunion marked a rare occasion in which the sisters have been able to enjoy one another’s company. Prior to a meeting in the garden of Frances’ previous care home earlier this summer to celebrate her birthday, Frances and Betty had not seen each other since July 2020. Their separation was further heightened by Frances being involved in a fall that led to her hospitalisation during the peak of lockdown.

Liz celebrates 25 years’ service at care home RESIDENTS and staff at Friars Mead in Kings Langley, managed by the Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society, celebrated a special milestone for housekeeper Liz Swindles, who has just passed a quarter of a century working there. She has Friars Mead to thank for more than one important aspect of her life. Having started part-time when her son started school, it has turned into an unexpected long-term role. Liz said: “I didn’t think I would be working here 25 years later. I have meet so many interesting people over the years and heard many stories from both residents and staff. “I met my husband here when he was working as a handy man. He doesn’t work here any more, but we recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. “I guess Friars Mead will always mean a little more to me that just a place where I work. “I can’t say that I will be here in another 25 years, unless its is as a

Liz Swindles resident – I can then tell all my stories to the next house keeper.” Liz is one of six staff who have worked at the home for more than 20 years.

THE Covid-19 global pandemic, and the government restrictions that came with it, meant that Bluebird Care could not celebrate 2020, and the achievements that came with it, in their usual manner. Fast forward 12 months, and their popular Franchise Business Awards made a comeback. To mark the occasion, subsequent efforts were undertaken to deliver a digital ceremony, and make it more valued, more impactful and more rewarding for the franchises and staff. The national homecare provider marked the successes of 2021 with six business awards, presented virtually at the ceremony. These included: Small Business Award, Spirit Award, Medium Business Award, National Marketing Fund Digital Marketing Award, Large Business Award and Franchise of the Year. The ‘Small Business Award’, given to franchises demonstrating exceptional growth rates over 12 months, reflected in their turnover accounts. Bluebird Care Sunderland won, having tripled turnover in the last year, whilst maintaining a sustained high level of quality and compliance. Bluebird Care West Berkshire/North Hampshire won the ‘Spirit Award’, for demonstrating commitment to

the brand and devotion to staff and customers. The franchise’s staff turnover rate is especially low, whilst they remain committed to positive employment practices. The ‘Medium Business Award’ and ‘Large Business Award’ were won by Bluebird Care South Gloucestershire and Bluebird Care Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford respectively. The awards are allocated to the franchises demonstrating growth, staff retention, customer acquisition, quality and compliance, relative to their size. The ‘NMF Digital Marketing Award’, newly introduced for 2021, looks at a franchise’s reputation score, engagement in National Marketing Funds and overall local marketing activity. The winners, Bluebird Care Peterborough and Rutland, had the highest reputation score – based on reviews, directories, social media and website updates – across the whole business. And Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Petersfield were recipients of the ‘Franchise of the Year Award’. The winner is awarded based on a complex criterion that includes metrics from financial performance, engagement benchmarks and customer feedback.

Advertiser’s announcement

Forbes provides cost, energy and user efficient laundry solutions for the care sector FOR any care home the laundry function is a central operation, and a key process in ensuring that efficient hygiene control is maintained. It is therefore imperative to choose appropriate commercial machines that deliver appropriate levels of disinfection. With sustainability targets becoming increasingly pressing, it is also vital to ensure that laundry machines enable the requisite energy and water efficiency. Forbes Professional provides laundry equipment to care homes across the UK. Our rental solutions include delivery, installation and commissioning as well as a multiaward winning service support. All of this is provided at no extra cost for the life of the contract. With the majority of care organisations now citing sustainability as a deciding factor in choosing their appliances, our rental solutions are a great alternative to outright purchase. Rental gives access to the latest technology and most efficient machines without incumbent costly upfront payment. This makes cost and planet conserving machines, such as heat pump dryers, more accessible. Notably, the running costs for greener machines are significantly

lower than for less efficient models. We are finding that our Miele Heat Pump dryers are a very popular choice for care homes looking to save on running costs and choose safer alternatives to gas drying equipment. Forbes Professional’s highly experienced advisors help clients choose the most energy, cost and user efficient machines for their specific environment. We offer all potential clients complimentary site surveys and cost calculations to demonstrate their projected savings. If you are considering updating your laundry equipment or are wondering what the cost implications would be of transitioning away from gas dryer models, our team would be delighted to discuss the various options available.

THE CARING UK AWARDS 2021

CARING UK AWARD WINNERS

Activities Team of the Year sponsored by ServiceSport Care Home Division: Castleford House

Our judge found this one a really tough decision with all the finalists being outstanding. They chose our winner as the team are at the core of the nursing home and are the reason some people get out of bed or come downstairs. They do things from the subtle such as baking cakes, food tasting and making tie dye t-shirts to the sublime such as going on a cruise.

Best Outdoor Environment sponsored by Nicholls and Clarke Phlexicare: Broadwater Lodge The home has always been animal-friendly, with residents keeping pets and enjoying visits from therapy animals. When a resident shared his idea for a smallholding, and everyone gave it the thumbs up, the home team set to work to create their own small farm. ‘Codgers’ Farm’ as it was named by residents is bustling with a variety of animals. It also includes dementia-friendly winding paths, raised beds, activity and seating areas and encourages residents to move around freely.

Quality in Housekeeping: Asterbury Place The winning housekeeping team regularly go above and beyond their duties and are an integral part of the home. Every team member goes the extra mile, and the home has remained Covid free which is a great testament to their hard work. There is a good rapport among them team who take real pride in providing an excellent service.

Community Involvement sponsored by Move More TV: Blenheim House

Our winning care home believes that it can be of great value to the community as well as the community being of great value to them. They have formed close partnerships with many organisations in the area and continue to develop them through support, inclusion in activities, facilitating meetings and local celebration events. It is a priority for the home to enable residents to feel engaged and connected with their community.

Best Initiative in Care sponsored by Geometric Results Inc: Margaret House Catering Team of the Year: Mill House The residents regularly meet with the team to help them write the menus so they feel involved. The home also extends its catering to the local community. This includes a teddy bears picnic afternoon in summer, while a breakfast with Santa last December proved so popular that they had to run five events.

Keeping residents connected with loved ones during the pandemic required new ideas. As well as the use of tablets so that residents could maintain ‘face to face’ contact with their relatives over the likes of Zoom and WhatsApp, our winning home went a step further by creating its very own interactive hour-long radio shows. Relatives were asked to send in their message either in writing or as a voice file, so that loved ones could hear their actual voices together with a song of their choice. This really helped the residents stop feeling so isolated at a time when the home was completely locked down.

CARING UK AWARD WINNERS

Dementia Care Team: Halstead Hall

Quality dementia care is the backbone of the change to our winning home which was rated inadequate and shut down by the CQC just four years ago. Under new owners the home was rated ‘Good’ just 12 months later and has become the ‘go-to’ home for people living with dementia in mid Essex. Residents are engaged in a myriad of activities and have become a central part of decision making. The team are utterly focused on making the home a safe place to live for those living with dementia.

End of Life Team: St John’s

The care and compassion shown to residents and their families by the winners is exemplary. The home always ensure that each end of life plan is unique, specific and personalised to each resident. They have developed their own documentation called ‘You, Me and I to provide further and constant support to ensure that the residents’ and families’ wishes are always respected. All staff members pass end of life training to deliver a whole home approach.

Commitment to Training and Development sponsored by Learning Curve Group: Hale Place

The winner believes that if employees feel confident in their knowledge and skills, they will feel more positive about their job. Employees have a career, not a job, and have the right skills and knowledge to provide a high quality of care and support and to carry out their role effectively. The management team worked constantly through Covid to ensure the staff were carrying out their duties to the highest of standards. They were there to support and guide them, with one-to-one training where required. The two directors worked all day, every day, for six months.

Excellence and Innovation in Dementia Care sponsored by Script: Keate House Our winning home has its own EMI unit called the Treasured Memories Centre which opened in September 2014 and has recently been extended. Since then the centre has constantly been evolving to host an ever-growing range of features and facilities to accommodate those living with dementia. The home believes that no experience is impossible and is always striving to find new innovative ways to improve the quality of life of all of its residents, whether through modern technology, pets, environment, activities or anything else that helps them to not only live, but to thrive.

Regional Care Home Midlands and Wales sponsored by Fusion eCare Solutions Ltd: Roden Hall

Our Midlands and Wales winning home is a warm, friendly, safe and secure environment which enables residents to achieve their potential and enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle. Choice plays a huge part in the home’s offering, and the valued carers help in being able to facilitate the personal preferences of the residents wherever possible, promoting independence and upholding dignity.

Regional Care Home South sponsored by Caring UK: Alfriston Court

Our winning home in the South category has a real homely feel. This is down to the individual team members and their care of each resident, from the huge smile on every greeting, to constantly enriching their lives and providing great care. Residents are encouraged to give feedback on all aspects of their care and support, which allows them to feel more in control of their lives and able to make a difference themselves and helps the home keep in tip-top shape.

CARING UK AWARD WINNERS

Regional Care Home of the Year North sponsored by Sommer Rose Interiors: Thornhill House

Our winning regional care home of the year for the North focuses not only on its residents but also the local community. They have forged close links with local schools, and regularly take part in activities for a variety of charities. The home has a very small turnover of staff and has created a happy environment to ensure that the needs of residents are met. Their belief is that it is not just about ‘opportunities’ it is about ‘equal opportunities’. The home has such a good reputation locally that there is a waiting list of people wanting to move in.

Regional Care Home of the Year Scotland sponsored by Walton Healthcare Property Consultants: Abbey Court

Our winning Scotland home increased its activities when other homes cut back during lockdown. They started social media group chats with families to help them keep in touch on an hourly basis if required. They also organised safe outdoor concerts for the residents and streamed it live for relatives to join in. The staff’s hard work has resulted in no Covid cases, no deaths and a lot of happy and satisfied people grateful for the love and friendship that has been maintained through such a hard time.

Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by Shackletons: Maureen Tilbrook, Stowlangtoft Hall This year’s outstanding achievement award goes to someone who has been the backbone of the care home where she worked for 23 years, and during her time has performed a variety of roles. She has not shied away from leadership roles and has, in the past, taken on the challenge of home manager, before reducing her responsibilities in recent years so she can enjoy more time with her family. Now, as a full-time nurse, she relishes the day to day time she spends on the floor, leading a team of carers and supporting fellow nurses, who all rely on her experience, motivational skills and compassion for everyone that she works with.

Care Employee of the Year: Cassie Stirling, Bilton Hall

Our winner joined the care home where she works aged 17 in 2011 with no formal qualifications, but a desire and passion to care for the elderly. She is currently a Senior Care Assistant. Her potential shone through at her recruitment interview as she tearfully told about losing her grandad whom she dearly loved and cared for following a stroke, which inspired her to pursue a career in care. Our winner has blossomed, and what she lacked in academic qualifications she has more than made up for in hard work and determination with a ‘can do’ attitude’.

Care Employer of the Year: Abbeyvale Care Our judges were bowled over by this care home. It is an employer with an ethos based upon family values, in addition to demonstrating the overarching company wide values of passion, collaboration, respect and empowerment. Every member of the team feels more than just an employee number, they’re part of a family who turn up to care, and who all genuinely love their residents as part of that family. They all agree it doesn’t feel like they ‘go to work’ and claim it to be a pleasure to work alongside the Registered Manager, inspired by her energy and hands-on management style.

Management Team sponsored by Coolcare: Hale Place Throughout the pandemic the management at our winning home changed job roles to support the care team. The Managing Director worked for six months without a day off, and throughout the past 18 months the whole team forfeited much of their holiday entitlement to ensure availability. The management also worked over the Christmas period to give care staff time off and a much-earned rest. Employees were invited to access reserves of food and PPE to take home, if required, when there were countrywide shortages. This ensured they had their required protection, and they didn’t have the worry of obtaining essential items after long hours at work.

CARING UK AWARD WINNERS

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Mike Padgham Care Group of the Year sponsored by Virgin Money: Stow Healthcare

Our winning care group is an innovator who has not stood still during the pandemic. It has a reputation as a ‘disrupter’ in the industry, acquiring homes with the most difficult history and poorest rating, and driving them forward to CQC ‘outstanding’ rated homes. They simply aim to be the best quality care providers in East Anglia where they are based, and their key goals in the last 12 months have been to keep both residents and staff safe, their families well informed and the business viable.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a tireless advocate at a local, regional and national level for the care sector, both in his role as chair of the Independent Care Group and in his previous role as chair of the United Kingdom Home Care Association, as well as being a hands-on provider of care in North Yorkshire. For the past two decades he has worked hard to improve care standards and to strengthen the voice of the sector. He has bravely put his head above the parapet to get more people talking about sector reform, and you may have seen him on TV recently when he allowed a film crew free access to two of his homes as part of a two-part BBC Two documentary fronted by broadcaster and ex-politician Ed Balls on the challenges facing the social care sector.

Congratulations to our runners up Activities Team Mary and Joseph House

Regional Care Home Midlands and Wales Hendra House

Best Outdoor Environment Old Vicarage

Regional Care Home South Cedar Lodge

Catering Team Skylark House Care Team of the Year sponsored by Independent Care Group: Sefton Hall Our winning care team are dedicated and received an Outstanding CQC rating in both 2017 and 2020. But it’s best achievement as a home and as a team is to see the residents and their relatives extremely satisfied with the service they are receiving. Residents and relatives feel cared for, valued and listened to, and their views matters. There is also a strong commitment to developing respectful, trusting relationships. Staff work well together and there is a strong person-centred ethos, which is embedded throughout the home.

Quality in Housekeeping Weald Heights Community Involvement Cavendish Park Best Initiative in Care Edbury Court Dementia Care Team Malmesbury Lawn End of Life Team St Mary’s

National Care Home of the Year sponsored by OM Interactive: Thornhill House

The care home is taking advantage of social media platforms to share the great work that is being done day in day out by the amazing team. The home has dedicated pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. This has generated many enquiries for new admissions. Thornhill House is the only care home in Barnsley that currently offers a free night trial. This gives people the opportunity to test the service for 24 hours on a noncommitment/free of charge basis before they make the decision for a full time placement. The conversion rate is 100 per cent.

Shackletons:

Regional Care Home North Keate House Regional Care Home Scotland Abbeyfield Ballachulish Outstanding Achievement Beverley Manzar Care Employee Ajeesh Thomas Care Employer Stow Healthcare

Commitment to Training and Development Abbeyfield Balla

Management Team The Close

Excellence and Innovation in Dementia Care Ebury Court

Care Group Majesticare Care Team Perry Manor

CARING UK AWARDS

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CARING UK AWARDS

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Proud Sponsors of

CARING UK AWARDS

“Virgin Money was delighted once again to be headline sponsors of the Caring UK Awards. After such a difficult 18 months it was great to be able to get together and recognise the outstanding achievements from individuals and teams across the social care sector.” - Graham Harper, Virgin Money “As long standing sponsors of the Caring UK Awards, we are immensely proud to support this major event that promotes social care provided throughout the UK.” - Sir Anthony Ullmann, Shackletons Ltd

“Congratulations on a fantastic event – we had a super time and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to share so many success stories across our industry. Well done to the Script team. We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Regional Care Home of the Year Midlands and Wales and are all still on a high. Thank you so much.” - Sarah Hammond, Rotherwood Group “It was clear from the outset that the attendees were excited to be nominated and were using the ceremony as an opportunity for a night off and to have a glamourous end of year party. As a sponsor it was good to see our branding and our video on the big screen throughout the night and it was good to speak with existing customers and other industry professionals. It was a fun evening and I would highly recommend it for suppliers and nominees.” - Iain Corrigan, Cool Care

“We have been proud to support the Caring UK Awards 2021 in their efforts to honour and recognise excellence in the Healthcare sector. We were able to meet prospective customers in a relaxed reception environment. Walton HPC left the event with several good leads to follow up and I felt we achieved our PR objective, which was to gain profile as a core event sponsor and participant. The printed material and award handout was very well produced and reflected the quality of the event, your publication and all of us involved. We would again like to congratulate all nominees and winners and particularly the winner of the award we sponsored which was Scotland Care Home of the Year which was won by Abbey Court Care Home in Glasgow”

“As Managing Director of Fusion eCare Solutions, I wanted to support our industry through sponsorship at the recent Caring UK Awards. The event was a lovely evening, an opportunity to meet people after what has been a very challenging year for businesses in our sector. All the nominees were worthy of an award on the night, and it was truly inspiring to see so many people who, on daily basis, provide care for the most vulnerable people in our society. It was a great experience to present the award to Roden Hall, winners of the Midlands & Wales Care Home of the year..a really enjoyable event.”

- Gary Walton, Walton HPC

This was the first time Learning Curve Group have been involved with the awards, and we were very pleased to be able to sponsor the Commitment to Training and Development Award. The whole evening was an excellent celebration of the fantastic work that happens every day within the adult social care sector. The pandemic has placed an additional and unprecedented demand on care providers, so it was great to see care staff being recognised for their dedication and the levels of care they provide.

“Firstly, I wanted to say a massive thank you to you guys on such a wonderful event! It was such an incredible way to finish off the year for us all and to be able to get together with everyone and celebrate was such a great feeling. You always pull off such an amazing night and this year was no exception so congratulations to you all.”

- Martin Jones, Fusion eCare Solutions

- Alex Ball, Stow Healthcare Group

- Chris Grieveson, Learning Curve Group

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“

Our Mobii has brought so much stimulation, positivity and happiness to our residents as they paint, ripple and sweep the colorful projections. Joanna Monaghan Head of Care & Manager, Askham House, Doddington

To arrange a Free Demo call 01442 215 555 or visit www.omi.uk

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Advertiser’s announcement

Does your resilient flooring have a hygiene problem? AT BONA we are passionate about finding new innovative solutions in all areas we are involved in and are now able to offer a comprehensive range of sustainable, high-performance products and systems for resilient flooring. We have applied our expertise with coatings and maintenance products to create a totally unique program for caring for and maintaining resilient flooring effectively and with minimum disruption. Our high-quality care programme allows the ongoing maintenance of resilient vinyl, PVC, linoleum, and rubber floors to ensure continual performance, but also allows floors to be transformed when worn or degraded, rather than replaced. In heavy traffic scenarios surfaces can be sealed for additional durability and long-term protection. Floors face a range of challenges; from busy airports to hotel lobbies, which require a pristine appearance, to hospitals and kitchens that demand the highest levels of hygiene. Our simple system allows the professional to tailor a maintenance regime to the specific requirements of each floor. In terms of preserving the life of a floor’s surface, regular cleaning is the key. Bona’s cleaning treatment works effectively without harming the surfaces or the environment. However, over time and with heavy wear and stubborn stains, an occasional deep clean may be necessary. Using the Bona PowerRemove R with the Bona PowerScrubber solves this issue, reviving resilient floors without the inconvenience of disruption due to renovation. Over time, repeated deep cleaning and the heavy trafficking regime may diminish the appearance and quality of the surface. The application of a new protective layer restores the original lustre and prolongs the life of the floor. Safe, quick and easy, Bona’s protective treatment restores floors bringing them back to life rapidly. Prior to the introduction of the protective layer the floor would be subjected to

deep cleaning. Some resilient floors become damaged and heavily worn, often patchy in appearance. Traditionally this would be the point where the floor is replaced. However, with the unique Bona Recoating treatment, vinyl, PVC, linoleum, and rubber floors can be resurfaced quickly. This process can involve a complete transformation of the floor as it can be recoloured, using Bona Pure Colour, before protective layers of a transparent coating, Bona Pure or Pure HD are introduced. By renovating the existing surface rather than replacing it, a lengthy installation period is avoided along with the inconvenience of disposing of the old floor. The Bona Resilient System can also be used for coating new resilient flooring, such as LVT, following installation. The primary difference with LVT compared to other types of resilient flooring, is the fine cracks between adjacent LVT elements. Resilient flooring such as rubber have welds where the sections meet, providing a continuous, sealed surface. This prevents moisture ingress but also renders the surface easier to clean and specifically, prevents microorganisms from occupying these areas of the floor. A renovated floor also means a healthier floor. Renovating ensures that bacteria and microorganisms are eliminated – even those

hiding in joints, scratches, and other hard-toreach areas. Independent testing verified that a smooth, joint-free LVT surface can be created using Bona Deep Clean and Bona Pure, securing a hygienic floor according to the regulations of Technical Rules for Biological Agents (TRBA). We commissioned a study on the use of the Bona Commercial System on LVT flooring – typically used in hospitals and other hygiene sensitive areas. The test was carried out in conjunction with the IFR Institute in Germany. The purpose of the test was to prove that a smooth, joint-free surface, as set out in the rules of the German TRBA standard, can be created by over-coating with Bona Pure. The first step of the test was to install a range of new LVT wood effect flooring. The next step involved dividing the test area into two sections and coating one with Bona Pure, while the other was left untreated. A solution containing fluorescent pigments was then applied daily across the whole floor and cleaned using the Bona PowerScrubber and Bona Deep Clean Solution. Daily contamination with the pigments followed by cleaning was carried out over a period of eight weeks. At the end of the test period, UV lights were used to expose the levels of contamination on each part of the floor. The part of the floor not treated with Bona Pure showed high levels of contamination. The part treated with Bona Pure showed hardly any. To prove the test results further, the LVT planks were removed to examine for signs of contamination below the surface. On the untreated area, a high level of contamination was found below the planks due to penetration through the joints. However, the area treated with Bona Pure showed almost no signs of contamination thanks to its protective layer which seals each joint. With increasing amounts of LVT being installed it is likely that customers are going to be keen to ensure the surface is as clean and hygienic as possible. The Bona Resilient System offers a simple and effective solution, in addition to extending the life of the flooring itself. Call 01908 525 150, email info.uk@bona.com or visit bona.com

CARINGFIRE SAFETY AND SECURITY

Advertiser’s announcement

Getting your fire safety right PASSIVE Fire Protection maximises the time available to evacuate a property, and or prevent a fire from taking hold in the first place but it is vital it is completed by a reputable, competent and third-party accredited company. With so much attention in the media, it is not surprising that it is attracting non-specialised contractors who, even with the best of intentions, may not be completing the works correctly. Our aim is to provide a ‘Certified Solution,’ this means the processes and materials used in the repair have been tested in front of a furnace to ensure they can provide at least the specified protection time, dependant on the requirement. Where this is not possible, we consult our suppliers to establish an ‘Engineered Solution.’ The reality of employing a nonspecialising contractor is that it is quite likely the work will be identified as inadequate during a fire risk assessment or fire authority inspection. The most common indicator of noncompliant work is the use of pink Polyurethane foam fillers. Whilst the cannister instructions will give you the assurance of up to five hours

protection, this can only be achieved with strict requirements for installation. For most common repairs these requirements cannot be met and the product cannot be installed. It is recommended by ASFP and BMTRADA that any installations of pink foam are removed and replaced with a true fire rated alternative. We are often asked “Can I do the work myself?” As stated by the HSE, competence can be described as the combination of training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has and their ability to apply them to perform a task safely. Unless suitable training has been undertaken, it is unlikely that you or

your maintenance staff would be able to demonstrate competence in fire stopping works. Fire stopping is a very specialised part of the building works. We hold third party accreditation with International Fire Consultants and are regularly audited to ensure we employ appropriate trained and competent staff, processes and procedures and only use suitable materials. We are also proud to be members of Association for Specialist Fire Protection. We are working hard to engage with the care industry to ensure you get the best advice and workmanship to ensure your buildings are safe for residence and staff as well as being compliant with current regulations.

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

New classes help to keep your residents moving According to Age UK n 29 per cent of people aged between 65 and 74 are physically inactive. n 47 per cent of people aged between 75 and 84 are physically inactive. n 70 per cent of people aged over 85 are physically inactive.

Creating a sustainable future through textile recycling TAYLOR Made Designs is a company that takes its environmental responsibility seriously. Working with a global network of suppliers, we responsibly source and supply workwear manufacturer from environmentally preferred materials, creating a circular textile economy that reduces the burden on the environment. Through the support of textile recycling solutions, we support the re-purposing of end-of-life textiles to create new fibres that can be spun into new yarns and used to manufacture recycled garments, creating a circular economy, which promotes minimal waste. New ranges of garments we can supply are manufactured from a combination of recycled textiles. For example, we can source or manufacture scrubs which include 65 per cent recycled polyester.

In some items, for example polo shirts, cotton has been swapped out for Tencel, a man-made fabric with the same qualities as cotton but with a smaller environmental footprint. The end result is a product that is comfortable to wear and durable with a high quality finish that has a much lesser environmental impact than products created from traditional, single use fabrics. TMD’s commitment remains to the research, offer and supply of high quality, affordable workwear that meets the diverse needs of our care provider partners. Through the use of recycled materials and sustainable manufacturing processes we continue to meet this commitment whilst also playing our part in the creation of a more sustainable textiles economy that is good for our partners and good for our planet.

Nationally recognised and accredited qualifications

WE are a company that finds learners for colleges and learning providers. MSD Independent offer market-leading fully funded courses for a wide range of certificated health and social care qualifications. These cover a diverse mix of subjects, such as Autism, mental health, care planning, dementia awareness, and the safe handling and administration of medicines as well as many more. We also have fully funded courses in business adminstration, digital services and a new Cancer course. The courses that we supply are Government fully funded courses, supplied at no cost to yourselves or your staff. In effect free training. The criteria for these courses to be able to get them funded by the Skills Funding Agency is: n People are over 19 years of age on August 31 2021(beginning of the academic year). n People aged between 19 and 23 must have a level two qualification or above. This can include five GCSEs A*- C or any National Vocational Qualification or a Degree. Over 23 this does not apply. n Lived in the UK/EU for the past three years. If people are born outside the EU they will need to prove their continuous residency with visas and or

bio metric cards valid for the previous three years. n Not on an apprenticeship. n Cannot already have completed this course. The qualifications are NCFE level two and are fully certificated nationally recognised courses. Learners are able to further their own continuous professional development a criteria for the care certificate which may also improve their career prospects and can then progress on to further qualifications in health and social care or other related subjects. The course submission times are between eight and 16 weeks depending on which course they choose to complete. They will have a dedicated tutor from the college or learning provider, who is fully trained and gives feedback on all questions answered. Specialist tutors are available and are qualified in dealing with anyone who has a learning difficulty ie: dyslexia and they will support all learners throughout the course. All of our inductions are carried out by one of our experienced inductors and can be either by telephone or an online forum such as Zoom, MS Teams at a time and place to suit you. Enquiries: For info call 0800 061 4954 or visit www.msdindependent.com

The benefits of moving more are obvious. Meeting a target of 150 minutes per week may be daunting to those who currently do very little, but research shows that any activity, however small, can provide benefits in terms of health risk reduction. This could be as simple as swapping sitting in a café with a friend to wandering around a park with a friend. Or, for those who are mostly chairbound, this could be standing up during advertising breaks on TV. People who can work towards

and become ‘active’ according to government guidelines are likely to see benefits in terms of their muscle strength, endurance, balance and posture, which could improve many aspects of their lives. Government health guidelines are you should look to do: n Muscle strengthening activities twice a week. n Balance and coordination activities twice a week. Our content platform will help all your residents achieve this return to increased levels of activity as we have 10/15/20/30 minutes classes so they can choose ones that they can comfortably do and then slowly increase their activity level over time.

Is your building safe from fire? THE Care Quality Commission ask five key questions of all the services they inspect. The first and most important is “are they safe?” The CQC describes being safe as “protected from abuse and avoidable harm.” Avoidable harm is mitigated risk and fire safety should absolutely be one of your priorities under this category. A comprehensive fire risk assessment and provision of quality systems (including early detection of any event of fire) in care home premises are of vital importance to protect residents, staff, and visitors. Reviewing appropriate fire safety legislation for England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland can help as a useful guideline to what is required. Additional guidance documents are also available from Government and Fire and Rescue Services. Guidance available discusses the use of external contractors and quality assurance. If you require support to fulfil your

fire safety obligations, you can specify organisations that are appropriately third-party certificated. This will demonstrate diligent action taken to help establish a properly risk mitigated building from fire. The BAFE Fire Safety Register website offers end users a clear avenue to find organisations with quality evidence of their competency (for specific fire safety works). Remember – don’t just specify, verify. When sourcing help, make sure you specify competent fire safety organisations and verify their thirdparty certification is appropriate and valid for the work required.

A decade of delivering care staffing solutions FINE Care 24/7 Ltd was founded with one single thought in mind, to provide fine care 24 hours, seven days a week. Fine Care 24/7 Ltd understands the need for being independent which is why we highly value all health care staff that choose to work independently. That is one thing that we highly respect and want to promulgate throughout. We seek to provide a platform for caregivers and those that need them so that they may be able to meet, interact, and thus arrange shifts with ease. We want to make it easier than ever to work as an independent nurse and caregiver. We want to make booking temporary shift as easy and seamless

as possible. That is why we offer this service to all qualified caregivers so that they may book their shifts as easily as possible and don’t have to deal with the other hassle that usually comes with booking shifts. n Our vision is to become the platform for independent nurses and caregivers for booking shifts and finding people that need care. n Our motto ‘To provide fine care 24 hours a day, seven days a week’. n Our mission is to stay true to the independent nurses and caregivers so that they always have a way to book shifts.

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Gompels gives you more OUR free online tools are designed to make managing your account quick and easy, no matter if you have one site or 100 sites. Here’s a few of our favourites: Business dashboard –intuitive dashboard for easy site comparison Clear graphs and charts give you a quick overview of your spending trends for each site. Get instant site summaries and a quick overview of annual spend, which updates in real-time so you are always in the know. Environmental dashboard – helping you to reduce your carbon footprint Join us with working towards a cleaner planet and view your carbon emissions based on your purchasing decisions with Gompels. We’ve calculated the environmental impact of each product to give you

annual emissions, recycled content, emissions by material and individual site data. We are sourcing eco-alternatives for our worse offending products to help you (and us) reduce our carbon footprint. Analytics – expenditure and buying trends at a glance with customisable reports Gompels Analytics gives you all your order data in one easy to use place. Whether you want to know your current spend, look at your usage by product, or work out how to spend less, our online tool will provide you with all the data you need. Core lists – set a core list of products to centralise your purchasing Our core lists feature allows groups to centralise their purchasing, by removing products you don’t want your sites to buy.

Core lists are proven to reduce spend on unwanted products and increase your profits. COSHH library – all of your datasheets ready to download in one click Quickly and easily download COSHH datasheets for the products you have purchased with Gompels. Our clever system automatically updates your library if a datasheet gets modified, keeping you compliant and safe. Online training – courses with multiple choice questions and certification We’ve created a range of free online training videos with supporting workbooks to help your staff keep up to date, some come with a certificate on completion. We’ll event alert you when staff need to refresh a course they have previously taken.

Gainsborough baths ‘bring tears of joy’ to care home’s residents LOCATED in scenic Oakham, Rutland, Oakham Grange opened in 2020 and is the latest luxury care home from Ardale. It delivers a new level of care in the UK’s smallest county – supported by the latest accessible bathing solutions from Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms. This contemporary 60-bed building is organised into three households providing quality homes for residents with a range of conditions from restricted mobility to dementia. Oakham Grange delivers a sense of belonging to all residents, so they experience a genuine homely feel, whilst benefiting from the latest care facilities. As a loyal client, Ardale has recommissioned Gainsborough to provide three specialist Gentona baths to ensure its care excellence ethos is present in the bathrooms of Oakham Grange and beyond. Gentona baths provide powered height adjustment and bather transfer seats so bathers and carers benefit from safe moving and handling. Bathers once again have freedom to bathe and enjoy the sensation of soaking in a bath. The mental and physical health benefits of bathing, as opposed to adapted showering, are frequently reported – results show improved mood, positivity, and wellness for residents. In addition, care staff are protected from back injury as manual lifting and adjustment of bathers is not required.

Eye level engagement is possible and administering personal care does not involve uncomfortable stooping. With the inclusion of multiple safety and therapeutic features builtin, Gainsborough baths are now providing a vital hygiene and sensory experience at Oakham Grange. Catherine Ferguson is the general manager at Oakham Grange and has been highly impressed with their Gentona baths. She said: “Our Gainsborough baths have been an absolute bonus for our residents and staff. I’m really proud of them. “They’re one of our highlights when we show potential new clients around

The risk of slips and trips in bathrooms means that specifying the right appliances, especially in care facilities, is crucial. Martyn Brown, contracts and technical manager at Triton Showers, outlines the key features to look out for in a shower to ensure resident safety.

as they are vital for well-being. “Times have been really tough over the last year with Covid so being able to soak in a bath has become a real treat for residents, not just a procedure for personal hygiene. “They can enjoy the airspa bubbles, chromotherapeutic lighting and even music through the inbuilt Bluetooth sound system – really stimulating for people with dementia. “So many clients haven’t had a bath for an awful long time before they arrive, due to challenges at home. “Here they can, with safety and peace of mind, resulting in the most amazing differences in an individual’s positivity and mood.”

Safe showering in care homes THE very presence of water makes bathrooms an inherently challenging place to provide appliances for in care facilities. It is particularly important to get showers right, which is where inclusive features and accessories can play a significant role in maximising the comfort and safety of residents.

Key features and accreditations The latest care showers incorporate a raft of functionality to cater to customers with diverse needs. Triton’s Omnicare Ultra+, for example, has a new-look tactile cover that utilises soft grey tones and bold markings, as well as audible feedback, to help those with visual impairment. This has contributed to RNIB approved recognition, and features such as the looped lever handle facilitate intuitive control, allowing ease of operation due to low resistance. The Ultra+ has BEAB Care mark approved thermostatic control, ensuring the shower maintains the chosen water temperature within +/-1°C, therefore providing total comfort and peace of mind. Safe-Set™, meanwhile, allows the maximum temperature to be selected whilst allowing full rotation of the temperature dial. Accessories A number of accessories are also available on the Omnicare Ultra+, which can be specified and installed depending on specific user requirements. For example, an option of a grab riser rail kit (with a load-bearing capacity of up to 150kg) can be selected to assist those who may be unsteady on their feet. A remote Start/Stop function can be added for further assurance in care settings. It is indicative of the types of inclusive accessories and add-ons that allow a shower to be tailored to the unique requirements of the end user. The Ultra+ is proof that you can have a shower which is not only stylish but can be easily used by all, regardless of the level of assistance required for showering.

lamontjohnson .com Totally Conﬁdential No Obligation

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SELL

PHONE OR MAIL US FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION APPRAISAL

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Office@lamontjohnson.com CARE HOME SALES NATIONWIDE

Law firm leads on sale of two dementia care homes

Page 34

Uncapped annual bonus scheme aims to tackle staff challenges

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Past and future meet in the present with name of extra care scheme

Page 37

Home gets new name and lease of life A NORTHUMBERLAND care home has been saved from certain closure and the loss of jobs and services after a new provider stepped in. Vital Care Services has now taken over the former struggling Baedling Manor at Bedlington and have not only given it a new name but have also secured the home’s future and that of its 50-plus staff. The 55 bed residential home has been renamed Birkinshaw Manor as a nod to John Birkinshaw, one of the area’s most famous sons who invented the wrought iron rails which were used on the Stockton to Darlington railway line – the first in the world. And under the control of director and nominated individual Geetika Malhotra, the home is now facing a new and much more positive future. “We are delighted to have secured this home and to have been able to protect important services for the

local community, while safeguarding more than 50 local jobs,” she said. Although this is a new venture for the trainee lawyer, she is no stranger to the care business as her family have been operating care services for more than 35 years.

“I have seen my father, Bunty Malhotra, develop care homes since I was a child and I am very excited to now be able to follow in his footsteps but operate independently,” she added. Further investment in the home is

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now planned, with Geetika already holding a number of meetings with staff to take on their ideas and suggestions, who have welcomed the new regime. Birkinshaw Manor registered manager Nicola Undeldorf said everyone “had worked very hard to make improvements in recent months as a team.” “We are very pleased with the new vision and structure now in place as it is already making such a difference to staff morale and care delivery,” she added. Geetika has been taken on board staff suggestions and is also planning meetings with residents, their families and stakeholders. “It’s very important to me that service users and staff feel that their opinions matter and that we can all work as a team to achieve the best outcome for our residents,” she concluded.

GABRIEL COURT NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

SOLD GRANGE HOUSE, EAST SUSSEX

SOLD SOLD

ST. ANTHONY’S BIRMINGHAM

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE SELLING CARE HOMES NATIONWIDE LOOKING FOR A DISCREET SALE? CALL US TODAY 01937 842 758 m.07920 475 440 Office@lamontjohnson.com lamontjohnson.com

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LamontJohnson

P R O P E RT Y ADVISOR S

TO THE CARE SECTOR

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LAMONT JOHNSON

LamontJohnson

P R O P E RT Y ADVISOR S

SELLING NATIONWIDE FOR OVER 40 YEARS

IVELHURST NURSING

TO THE CARE SECTOR

SOLD IVELHURST NURSING HOME YEOVIL, SOMERSET

Totally Conﬁdential No Obligation

HOME LTD

vil, Somerset, BA21 3AD 27 Preston Road, Yeo 777 Telephone 01935 426 .uk bsite: www.ivelhurst.co We .uk t.co urs elh Email: info@iv

Lamont Johnson Dear Grayson and Dawn Ivelhurst has now been pleased that the sale of We are delighted and so completed. client, we were, after on behalf of your retained ch. However, When you approached us sceptical about the approa hat ew som p shi ner ow of 30+ years that he was almost a e we knew immediately fac to e fac ay Vij t me having felt confident that he rst and our ethos and we ‘‘perfect match’’ for Ivelhu nts, their families and nt relationship with reside would maintain our excelle It our staff. long process of the sale. re for us throughout the at and rs, hou of Thank you for being the out you l that we could cal we w kno to t for n. com a ctio was always se during the transa es as and when they aro any time, to discuss issu services to anyone mending your confidential om rec in ion itat hes no We have . Care Home in the future considering selling their Many thanks once again Kind regards Paul and Ada White

LAMONT JOHNSON SELLS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS 50+ BEDDED HOME Eastbury House Long Street Sherborne Dorset DT9 3BZ Tel No: 01935 812132 Email: admin@eastburyhouse.co.uk

Dear Grayson and Dawn Left: (Buyer) Mr Kandiah Vijaykumar. Middle: (Vendor) Mr Paul White. Right: Grayson Taylor, (Managing Director, Lamont Johnson)

Ivelhurst Nursing Home was established by the current owners Paul and Ada White as a trading business in January 1988. It is very close to the centre of Yeovil, and the local hospital, and enjoys an excellent local reputation. It currently has a CQC rating of “Good” in all 5 categories. The Home is registered for 54 with 52 individual bedrooms, the majority having ensuite facilities.

Just a simple note of thanks from myself and my family, to you both, for your continual support, which enabled us to complete the purchase of Ivelhurst Nursing Home at Yeovil. It’s hard to believe that it was 4 years ago, that you sourced Highﬁeld House at Castle Carey for us, and in the spring of 2019, Eastbury House at Sherborne. Both homes were excellent buys for us and have proved to be very successful businesses. Without your lengthy and successful experience in the sector, I doubt these sales would be completed so smoothly. Kind regards Kandiah Vijayakumar Director

The buyer is the Northwood, Middlesex based Vijaykumar family, who have had a strong relationship with Lamont Johnson, over the past 5 years. They previously acquired their other 2 Homes Highfield House, Castle Cary, Somerset and Eastbury House, at Sherborne, Dorset through Lamont Johnson.

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF SELLING, PHONE GRAYSON or DAWN TAYLOR TODAY

01937 842 758

m.07920 475 440

“UPFRONT” FEES or INFLATED COMMISSION RATES!

Office@lamontjohnson.com

Law firm leads on sale of two dementia care homes Tony Jardine

Home supports progression A TYNESIDE home has demonstrated its focus on staff development with a member of the team moving up the career ladder from care assistant to nursing assistant. Tony Jardine, who works at Kenton Hall in Newcastle, has been given the necessary support and training to progress his career after showing an interest in becoming a nursing assistant. This has included completing social care assistant practitioner training and he is now qualified to take bloods, oversee catheter care, and undertake other clinical work. He said: “I am proud to have been considered for the opportunity to progress into a nursing assistant position – it is part of the natural progression that I always have wanted.” Tony started at Kenton Hall more than two years ago as a carer as he wanted to have a career dedicated to helping people.

LAW firm Royds Withy King has advised on the sale of two specialist dementia care homes by longstanding client and care provider Equality Care Limited. Equality Care Limited is a familyowned business operating specialist homes across Wiltshire for more than 25 years. Longbridge Deverill House is a residential home registered for 20 residents. Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home is both a residential and nursing home registered for 60 residents, including a specialist unit for individuals with dementia and mental health needs. The sale of these two homes follows the sale of two further care homes in the group in January – The Old Vicarage and Staverton House to Fidelia Care. Lucy Wilcox from Equality Care Limited said: “It is never an easy decision to sell a home, but for more than 25 years we have provided the very best homes for our residents and now it is time for us to retire. “We are delighted to have completed the sale of Longbridge Deverill House and Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home. It is a fantastic business sharing the same values as us in building wonderful homes for our residents.” The Royds Withy King team was led

Longbridge Deverill Nursing Home. by corporate partner Hazel Phillips, supported by corporate associate Yasmin Qasim and real estate specialist Dan Pinheiro. Hazel added: “We are delighted to act on behalf of Equality Care Limited in the sale of these two highly respected homes. Lucy and Carole were fantastic to work with and have clearly operated the homes to a very high standard over a long period of time. “Their attention to detail and complete preparation for the sale was second to none, which made

negotiating the sale much easier.” Commercial real estate agents Avison Young, led by its healthcare director Tom Harrison, acted as agents. Tom said: “These are two highly respected care homes with a strong care team, offering outstanding facilities for residents. “Opportunities to acquire homes such as these in Wiltshire are rare with the appetite from potential buyers high. We look forward to the continued success of these two care homes.”

Stepnell starts multi-million-pound Midlands care home projects CONSTRUCTION specialist Stepnell has started work on site at two multimillion-pound care facilities in the Midlands, after being awarded the contracts to deliver both high-end developments earlier this year. Work is now progressing on site at £6.5m The Gables Care Home in Birmingham and a £4.3m refurbishment project at the Town Thorns Care Home in Rugby. Stepnell is delivering The Gables development for luxury care home provider and repeat client the Cinnamon Care Collection, which has been recognised as a top 20 recommended care home group for the past four years by independent care home review website carehome. co.uk Consisting of a three-storey 57 bed care home, including four luxury care suites for couples or those seeking more space, the facility will offer expert dementia and residential care, as well as a choice of two restaurants, a café and a hair, nail and beauty salon for its residents Each floor will feature elegant dining areas as well as comfortable lounges, large terrace areas on the first two floors and a cinema room on the second floor. Outside, landscaped gardens and parking will also be included.

The home is due to be completed in August 2022 and has been designed by Harris Irwin Architects. Ken Mackenzie, development director from the Cinnamon Care Collection, said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Stepnell on a prestigious development in the Midlands which promises to be yet another jewel in the Cinnamon crown.” Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, added: “This is a fantastic project to be a part of and we are thrilled to be on site. “As with all Cinnamon Care Collection developments, once complete it will provide state-ofthe-art accommodation with luxury amenities for older people. “We are really proud to be working

with one of the Top 20 recommended care home groups in the country on our fourth project, and we are looking forward to producing a highend result that will really add to our portfolio of luxury care facilities.” Stepnell’s Midlands team has also started on site for the longawaited refurbishment project to the existing Town Thorns Care Home in Easenhall. The purpose built residential, nursing, dementia and respite care centre – originally built in the 1990s – is being renovated over four phases and will take place in a live environment. Adrian added: “It is great to also be on site at Town Thorns Care Home that will provide muchneeded high-quality residential care

accommodation for the area. “Although working in a live environment will present a number of challenges, the team is highly experienced in negotiating live sites and has put special measures in place to ensure the safety of employees, residents and the local community is maintained while we are on site. “Areas are being decanted to allow works to be taken over several phases, with disruption and disturbance to the ongoing operation being kept to as minimal level as possible.” The refurbishment works at Town Thorns are being delivered for Ben, the charity dedicated to supporting the people of the automotive industry, but which also provides flexible, continuing care and support for those in later life. Due to complete in December 2022, the refurbishment project will create an additional 44 en-suite rooms, a roof terrace garden, and replacement of mechanical and engineering installations. The project, designed by KWL Architects will also see minor remodelling of various communal areas, external landscaping works, roofing and window repairs. A new shop, bistro area, hair salon and a multifunctional hall space will also all be created.

Uncapped annual bonus scheme aims to tackle staff challenges CORNERSTONE Healthcare has launched an industry first bonus scheme for nurses in a bid to tackle the effects of the sector wide problem of recruitment and retention. The Waterlooville based company run specialist nursing facilities across Hampshire and Surrey, with new homes due to open in Somerset in 2022 and Bristol at the end of 2023. The bonus scheme is regarded as the first of its kind, offering up to five per cent of annual salary for all hours worked, including overtime, which is completely uncapped. This differs from the more standard sector practice of offering welcome bonuses to staff, or capped bonuses annually. The new bonus scheme will be rolled out to all the group’s nurses alongside a five per cent pay rise for day nurses, and an eight per cent pay rise for night nurses. The latest pay increase puts the average nursing salary at Cornerstone at around £46,000, compared to around 28,000 for a similar role within the NHS. For a nurse on an entry level salary, working on average 25 hours a month overtime, this could result in annual gross pay of around £54,600. CEO Johann van Zyl said: “We are fortunate to be in a position to reward our staff for their dedication and hard work in this way, particularly after

Johann van Zyl such a challenging period. “We know that employees that feel appreciated are more likely to stay with us, and that is a long-term commitment; but we are also not complacent about the scale of the recruitment and retention crisis. “The sector is facing an unprecedented challenge. It employs around 1.5 million people, but the number of vacancies is 120,000 and growing. “This is felt more than ever in the South/South East where there is a higher density of care homes. “For staff working in care, particularly in facilities with proportionally bigger staffing challenges, this means they need

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to do more work in less time, and it creates a lot of pressure. “When this happens, often no amount of financial incentive would be enough to retain employees who want to leave their job, or even leave the sector completely.” The latest government social care proposals have been cautiously welcomed by many in the care profession, with various recruitment and retention measures outlined; however, critics say these will not address the urgent and immediate workforce crisis. Recommendations across the sector include adding care workers to the shortage occupation list, calling on the government to launch a national recruitment campaign, and introducing a retention bonus to care staff. Johann added: “The staff shortage will get more acute in the coming months, as issues posed by Brexit, mandatory Covid vaccinations, and increased competition for employees post lockdown are compounded. “This is in addition to an increasing number of vulnerable adults needing care in the UK. “Care providers must do what they can to support and reward their staff, but we appreciate the scale at which this is possible varies – and it doesn’t address the critical need for urgent and widespread reform.”

Colwyn Bay home sold DC CARE has completed the sale of Apple Residential Care Home in the North Wales coastal town of Colwyn Bay. It is registered for 16 within the category of mental health care, benefitting from all single accommodation and a good standard of decor that reflects the individual tastes of the residents. Looking to retire from the industry the outgoing operator appointed DC Care to market the home. A suitable purchaser was found in Dr Bruce Moore, who acquired his first care home through DC Care in 2020 – Carr Holm in Prestatyn. He said: “This is the second care home we have bought through DC Care and once again it has been an enjoyable process thanks to the friendly, helpful and professional support of their staff.” The sale was managed through to completion by senior sales negotiator Lisa Rushworth.

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36 Beckie Kinsella has been appointed social care manager by Alcedo Care Group. She has worked in digital communications and digital marketing for more than 10 years, starting out at a charity that supports women into business before moving on to a progressive housing association followed by a pharmaceutical firm. Beckie has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge over the years from a number of sectors and is well placed to support Alcedo Care and its digital strategy. She is tasked with managing PPC and search campaigns, ensuring they achieve optimal results. Beckie is also responsible for producing content for social media platforms, including copywriting, design and video, working closely with the wider Alcedo team in each office to raise awareness and generate leads. Aneurin Brown, group operations director of the multi-award-winning care provider Hallmark Care Homes, has been promoted to chief operating officer. Aneurin started his career at the family run care group in 2014 as a hospitality services manager and steadily progressed throughout the group before becoming a regional manager in 2019. He was promoted again in October that same year, becoming a regional director before being appointed as group operations director in May. He has now been promoted to chief operating officer. Aneurin will now oversee the operational direction of the group’s entire portfolio and provide leadership and strategic vision, reporting directly to Hallmark Care Homes’ founder and chair Avnish Goyal. Aneurin will also take a leading role in the operator’s commissioning and new build programme. Skills for Care has appointed former Hampshire County Council chief executive John Coughlan as its new chair of Trustees. He will take over as chair of the workforce development agency for adult social care in England from Dame Moira Gibb who steps down in March after seven years. As chief executive of Hampshire County Council John offered highquality service delivery and financial stability and successfully led the council through the pandemic. Prior to that he was Hampshire’s director of children’s services for a decade – taking them from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ Ofsted ratings. John also served as president of the Association of Children’s Services and in 2009 he was awarded a CBE for services to local government. A nurse who has worked in healthcare for more than 35 years, during which time she commissioned two new care homes, has been appointed as the new home manager at Millway House in Andover. Claire Lousteau is now heading up the team at the nurse-led care home and brings with her a wealth of experience. Qualifying as a nurse in 1985, Claire spent 25 years at Salisbury District Hospital apart from a two-year spell in Berlin where her husband worked in the military. In 2009 she moved into care home management in Wiltshire. Claire was involved in the commissioning of two new care homes from start to finish. Both in Wiltshire, one was a 60-bed care home, and the next a 63-bed home where she subsequently worked for eight years.

Matt Peters is the latest addition to the apetito team. Having spent the last six years at Lucknam Park Hotel, the experienced pastry chef of 15 years said he is looking forward to developing and introducing a range of tempting desserts to the company’s customers across the country. He said: “Having experienced what life was like in more of a development role further to involvement in apetito’s Culinary Inspirations project last year, I was fascinated by the processes that we underwent to ensure the highest quality of standards were met when it came to developing and producing meals. I’m truly delighted to be joining Phil Rimmer and the talented team of chefs and to have the opportunity to build on the current range of desserts that our care home customers enjoy.” A nurse who has worked in healthcare for more than 40 years is now heading up the team at Durban House in Romsey. Janie Wilkins has been appointed as registered home manager at the nurse-led care home and brings with her a wealth of experience. Starting her career as a nurse in 1976, Janie went on to become a midwife, bringing countless babies into the world. This was a role she held for 32 years. And, after a spell of working in critical care with BUPA in London, decided to transfer to a job in home management nearer to where she lived. She started in Home Management in 2013 and has joined Durban House from her most recent role of home manager in Verwood, Dorset. Care UK has announced the appointment of Martin Friend to the newly created role of chief operating officer. Martin will join the Care UK’s executive team in January, reporting directly to chief executive Andrew Knight, and will be taking on overall accountability for operations across the business. In particular, he will be charged with continuing to build on the company’s enviable track record of care quality and transitioning the 26 Sunrise and Gracewell homes which come under Care UK’s management next month. Martin will join Care UK from Nuffield Health, where he represented operations on the executive board as chief operating officer – a post he held since 2017. Wellbeing Care, a family-run care group with services in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, has appointed a new regional manager to support its staff and residents post Covid19. Jenny Daynes will be bringing almost 35 years of experience to the role, having worked in various care settings, from hospitals to residential homes and domiciliary care environments. Before her latest appointment, Jenny had also undertaken training in NVQs and management and has worked for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich as a project manager for Church schools. Supporting the management teams and staff across Wellbeing Care’s three care homes, Jenny will help ensure that residents receive the highest quality of care in safe, warm and homely environments.

Past and future meet in the present with name of extra care scheme AN £11.3million extra care scheme designed to meet the future needs of its residents has retained a link to its past by reflecting the history of the community within its name. Representatives of the steering group at the Great Western Park Urban Extension development near Didcot opted to name the new extra care living aspect Poppy Meadows, in recognition of the local medicinal opium field. The scheme will be delivered by Housing 21 and will include 80 new apartments alongside communal facilities. Debbie Hope, head of development at Housing 21, said: “We are delighted that in building a scheme that focuses on what people will need in the future, we have not forgotten the history of the site and that is reflected in the name, Poppy Meadows. “We always aspire to ensure our schemes retain strong links to the community and this is a great way to embed the development right from the beginning. “Poppy Meadows will be a modern extra care scheme which will allow over 55s to live independently in their home, with the reassurance that if and when care is needed, there will be an on-site care team available 24/7

to offer tailored support. “We are looking forward to progressing with the development and welcoming our first residents to their new home from early 2023.” The development has received funding from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal. The name Poppy Meadows was chosen from a list of suggestions put forward by Housing 21, with representations from the local authorities, Oxfordshire commissioning groups and contractors voting for their favourite. In addition, all of the local street names are associated with flowers and trees. The scheme will be available to people over the age of 55 and of modest means, with 60 apartments available for social rent and a further 20 available for shared ownership. There will also be a café/ bistro, hair salon and communal lounge for use by residents and the local community. Poppy Meadows has been designed to be centred around an open internal courtyard providing an open green space for residents to enjoy, with three linked blocks arranged around it for the apartments and communal spaces.

New £15m care facility opens in Worsley NEW Care has opened the doors to a ‘new generation’ care home in Worsley worth circa £15m. Located on the site of the former Cock pub and hotel, the new care facility features 71 fully furnished bedrooms, each with a private en suite wet room, plus a selection of communal lounges, dining rooms and quiet reading rooms. It also has a nail bar, hairdresser, landscaped gardens and outdoor terraces to the first floor. Designed to suit the specific plot, New Care worked with the architect and clinical team, and closely with the local authority, to deliver a state-of-the-art care facility that will provide residential, nursing, dementia and respite care services to residents of Salford.

Bridgewater Manor was officially opened by Salford’s Ceremonial Mayor, Councillor John Mullen. Chairman Dominic Kay said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Councillor John Mullen to Bridgewater Manor to cut the red ribbon and officially declare the facility open. “He enjoyed a preview tour of the care home and afterwards spent time talking to the team, offering kind words, which was very much appreciated.” Bridgewater Manor is New Care’s ninth care facility in the UK and the first in Salford. The care home will create approximately 100 jobs in multiple disciplines, from carers and nurses to hospitality, housekeeping, activities, maintenance and chefs.

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Homecare operator increases pay ahead of Government raise Signature at Sonning home officially opens SIGNATURE at Sonning has begun the festive season with a bang after officially launching. The care home has embarked on a new chapter after rebranding from Sunrise of Sonning. The change comes following Signature Senior Lifestyle’s takeover of a select number of Sunrise Senior Living UK care homes. General manager Carmela Magbitang said: “We are hugely excited to officially launch Signature at Sonning. The care home already holds an incredible reputation within the local community, and we can’t wait to build on this success as we

enter a new chapter. “We have a fantastic team and are excited to see what the future holds. “Excellent care and support to residents is the cornerstone of our work, and we are eager to build on these foundations and further cement our status as the care home of choice in Sonning and Berkshire.” The official launch was celebrated with a ribbon cutting by the Mayor of Wokingham, Councillor Keith Baker. Alongside the Mayor were a number of other attendees including Signature Senior Lifestyle’s COO Kay Cox, team members and residents at the care home.

Experienced property specialists launch healthcare division

FOUNDED in 1820, Fleurets has a longstanding reputation for providing high quality and professional property services across all areas of the leisure and hospitality sector. With more than 200 years of experience, the leisure property specialists pride themselves on the values of knowledge, integrity and honesty. It is these values that they bring forward to their brand new sector – Fleurets Healthcare, which officially launched on December 6. The addition of healthcare blends with their existing services and provides the business the opportunity to transfer their extensive knowledge to another aspect of the property industry and in turn makes them a strong contender in the healthcare sector. Fleurets is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Willoughby as divisional director and head of healthcare. Alison is one of the most successful agents in the care sector having overseen transactions ranging in value from £300,000 for a closed care home, to £54m for a specialist group. After 11 years with DC Care, the decision to move was not one Alison took lightly. “It was following a conversation with someone

I trusted that I even considered the move, but it didn’t happen instantly,” she said. “It was very well thought out, as my next role had to be somewhere that I could see myself for the foreseeable future.” Alison joins the team with extensive specialist experience gained over many years and her previous works include advising corporate care home operators, private clients, property developers and investors regarding the sale and acquisition of operational care facilities, empty units for redevelopment and the sale and acquisition of development sites for care use. “I’m hugely excited to be joining Fleurets and getting to know the rest of the team,” she added. “I particularly look forward to building on the already strong brand that Fleurets has. I’d be delighted to hear from old and new clients.” Enquiries: To contact Alison email Alison.Willoughby@fleurets.com

FAIRWAY Homecare is increasing its carers’ pay by 7.5 per cent, 11 per cent and 18 per cent based on age, well ahead of the Government’s mandatory minimum wage increase in April. While the company already pays three per cent more than the national minimum wage for its employees, it has decided that it will further this increase for staff on its books by 7.5 per cent, boosting pay from £9.05 to £9.75 an hour for national living wage. 18-20 year olds’ pay has also gone up 18 per cent from £6.56 to £7.75 and 21-22 year olds’ will be paid £9.35 instead of the £8.36 an hour, an 11 per cent growth. The pay rise will mean that the average starting salary will be £20,280 per annum based on a 40-hour work week. Fairway Homecare currently covers 5,500 hours a week in the West Midlands, but needs to cover an extra 1,000 hours per week, which will require at least 40 new carers. To combat this need the company has partnered with Embark Learning Care Academy to train new carers for their qualifications. While usually this would cost applicants £2,000 per person, it’s now free for the recruits and allows them to get all of their qualifications and into a job in just four weeks. Operations director Alex O’Neill said: “In the last quarter, 73 members of staff joined Fairway, of which 80 per cent successfully came through

Alex O’Neill the Embark Learning Care Academy, adding 59 fully care certificated, qualified health and social care professionals to our team and we’ll have another 120 by the end of the month, so we’re very excited with the rate of growth we’re experiencing. “We’re thrilled that we can announce this new pay rise for our staff, they’ve been absolutely incredible during the Covid pandemic by looking after people’s loved ones when others couldn’t, and we hope that this will just go a small way to help them and show our gratitude. “We’ve recently launched our #notjustacarer campaign, where we’re highlighting all of the extra things that carers do, they’re not ‘just’ a carer, they’re companionship for your loved ones, they’re the ones that people depend on and they truly make a difference in someone’s life.”

Provider secures £28m loan for home projects HALLMARK Care Homes has secured a £28m development loan with the UK’s sixth largest bank, Virgin Money. The family-run care group has secured the finance funding for the development of two 80-bed care homes in Eastbourne and Bath, which are being built by Savista Developments. COO Aneurin Brown said: “We are delighted to be have secured this funding which will help us fulfil our aspirations of building exceptional living environments for older people. “We are excited to be able to

create a luxurious care home for the Eastbourne and Bath community which will include the latest features in care and design and will support people to live an active and fulfilled life.” The 60-month loan will fund the development of the new residential, nursing and dementia homes which will feature several state-of-the art features, including; a hair salon, therapy room, café, cinema and ice cream parlour. The developments will be Hallmark Care Homes’ 20th and 21st facilities.

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