Caring UK May 2017

May 2017

no.247 • £4.75 incorporating

The Number One magazine for the care sector

Project to help homes be more LGBT-friendly

By Dominic Musgrave

FINDINGS from a project run in six care homes in London will help care homes across the country become more LGBT-friendly.

Funded by Comic Relief, Anchor, which runs the care homes involved in the project, worked with Middlesex University to see how staff training, recruitment and care environments can be improved to make care homes more welcoming for older lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans people.

An audit tool, which was released to mark the recent Red Nose Day, is being made available so providers can assess the level of inclusivity of older LGBT people living in their care homes.

The project involved teams of volunteers visiting the homes to ask staff questions about their views on how to provide care to members of the LGBT community, and looked at how each home operated.

The Middlesex University teams then worked with Anchor on an action plan to improve services at their 121 care homes across the country. The aim is to share the project findings so that care homes run by other providers in Britain can see how they can tailor the care provided so that older LGBT people don’t feel they have to ‘go back into the closet’ when they move into a care setting.

Brenda Metcalfe, Anchor’s customer engagement manager, who worked with the academic team for nine months, said the project had identified certain improvements while also highlighting how LGBTfriendly Anchor already was.

She added: “We know that for many older LGBT people going into a care home can be a traumatic experience because they don’t know how their fellow residents or staff will react when told about their lifestyle.

“Many older LGBT people are used to living an open life but when they move into care some fear they will have to go back into the closet.

“Anchor already has an LGBT group who are regularly consulted so that we can shape our services so we were keen to learn from Middlesex University to see how we could further build on this.

“We now have in place a robust action plan, including each home having an LGBT champion and developing an inclusive environment and ambience in each care home that celebrates LGBT diversity. Activity programmes will include, for example, celebrations of LGBT events and cultures.”

Brenda added that there will also be a review of staff recruitment to ensure each candidate is suitable to work with Anchor’s values and behaviour framework concerning LGBT equality.

Registered care manager Janette Neal has been crowned care home worker of the year at the prestigious Towergate Care Awards. Janette, who manages Sahara Lodge and Gardens, was chosen from hundreds of care workers across the UK for the award by national insurance broker Towergate Insurance. During their deliberations the judges commended Janette on her dedication to the role and her fantastic approach to delivering high quality care to service users. Sharon Kaur, Denise Van Outen and Darren Turner, celebrate Janette Neal’s (centre left) success at the Towergate Care Awards 2017.

Last chance to book a place TIME is running out for you to book your place for the first three of our must-attend regional conferences.

The first of our ‘Leaders in Care: Raising the Standards’ events takes place at Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth on Wednesday, May 10.

The following two will be held at Newcastle Racecourse and Herons Reach Hotel in Blackpool on May 17 and 18 respectively.

Speakers confirmed for the events include National Care Association chairman Nadra Ahmed OBE and Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green OBE, as well as representatives from the likes of Skills for Care and the Care Quality

Commission.

The Bournemouth event will also feature an insight into technology in care by representatives from Oxford University and The Order of St John Care Trust.

Alongside the conference there will also be an extensive exhibition, which will showcase all the latest products, advice and technology for a care home.

Further conferences are scheduled to take place later in the year at York Racecourse (July 5) and the Riviera International Centre, Torquay and Bristol Zoo on October 4 and 5 respectively. n For full booking details turn to pages 13 and 14.

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CARINGNEWS

Home creates pub and cafe for residents to socialise

By Olivia Taylor

THE Old Rectory in Exeter has brought the ‘outside in’ for residents and families a part of its developing dementia care programme.

Within the Southern Healthcare operated home they have created a countrystyle pub/ beer garden offering beer and spirits, and a contemporary café serving specialist roasted coffee and light snacks.

Paul Courtney, operations director, said: “We believe that you don’t have to leave your life at the door when entering one of our care homes.

“And following on from the hugely successful refurbishment with the creation of a pub and icecream parlour at Sefton Hall, our care home in Dawlish, we decided to roll this out at The Old Rectory.

“This initiative enables residents to continue living a meaningful life, and enjoy

Raising a glass to the Duke of Wellington are Lloyd Gardner from Lloyd’s Kitchen, Paul Courtney operations/home manager of The Old Rectory and Karen Bolt, Southern Healthcare’s director of administration.

Photo credit: Glen King the same experiences, in the crockery, cutlery and kitchen safety and security of the equipment. care home, as when living A former storage area has independently.” been converted into an The home has been well authentic-type pub called supported by the local ‘The Duke of Wellington’ community with their project, serving draft beer, wine with many businesses making and spirits. The bar is well donations. This includes equipped with optics and local restaurateur Lloyd locally branded Heavitree Gardner who donated 40 sets Brewery beer mats and bar of bistro tables and chairs, towels donated by Shaldon

Conservative Club.

A former dark and little used lounge has been refurbished to create a contemporary, bright and cheery café called ‘The Coffee Hub’. Now a light and airy space, it serves highend specialist real bean coffee and homemade cakes.

As part of the social care programme there are also weekly activities and group meetings held in the café, including a poetry society ‘for better or verse’; cookery demonstrations; the ‘green fingers club’ and the ever popular ‘knitter-knatter’ club who get together weekly for knitting and a gossip.

The listed building boasts original window shutters, and by closing these the ‘Coffee Hub’ is transformed into a cinema for afternoon matinee and evening film showings.

A huge screen has been installed to show classic movies, chosen by the residents, and the availability of popcorn and sweets add to the atmosphere.

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CARINGNEWS

Stranraer home joins ‘Pimp My Zimmer’ craze

By Dominic Musgrave

Children from Bushmead Primary School with their time capsule.

Children create time capsule CHILDREN have spent weeks creating artwork and stories to be buried in a time capsule in the grounds of Nelson Lodge care home in Eaton Socon, St Neots.

Pupils from Bushmead Primary School have been writing stories and creating artwork about what they think life will be like in 50 years’ time, which were all buried alongside documents relating to the new Anchor development.

The time capsule was buried by 12 school children and Anchor staff at a special ceremony in the grounds of the luxury care home.

Jane Trimarco, Nelson Lodge

manager, said: “Everyone has been looking forward to burying the time capsule as it will be an insight into what the children believe life will be like when it is opened in 50 years.

“The pieces collected by the children and papers relating to Nelson Lodge and St Neots, will be important historic documents when they are read in 2067.

“We want to be central to life in St Neots and events like this are the start of our relationship with the local community.”

The 64-bed Nelson Lodge will provide care for older people, as well as specialist dementia care.

THORNEY Croft Care Home in Stranraer has joined the national ‘Pimp My Zimmer’ campaign – a unique initiative aimed at brightening up the traditional walking aids with personalised decorations.

The craze has also seen significant health benefits, helping reduce the risk of falls within care homes.

The campaign was devised by creative care home manager Angela Donlevy from Essex, after she dreamt about how she could add some colour to the grey walking aids used by elderly residents. Little did she know that her idea would have such a huge impact, with the new-look frames reducing falls in the home by 60 per cent.

After hearing about the campaign, Thorney Croft, which is part of national social care charity Community Integrated Care and supports 60 older people, some of whom have dementia, decided to embrace the craze.

Now every resident who needs a walking aid has their very own pimped up Zimmer.

Walking frames throughout the home are adorned with colourful foam padding, bright ribbons, personal photos and memorabilia, and are proving to be a huge hit with residents.

Relatives, staff and members of the local community have all been involved in the project, generously donating materials, fabrics and decorations, tailored to each resident’s tastes.

Hayley Mann, care home manager at Thorney Croft, said: “This project is a great example of a simple idea with a very strong impact.

“Grey Zimmer frames are often not recognisable to people living with dementia, as they disappear into their surroundings and are difficult to see.

“Personalising the frames has really helped people we support connect with their frames, reducing the risk of falls.

“As well as the practical health benefits it has created, ‘Pimp My Zimmer’ has been such an interesting and interactive activity for residents, staff and relatives to work on together – it’s really added a sense of fun to our home.”

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CARINGNEWS

Agency recognises pair’s long service

Carers from The Beeches in Stockton enjoy cakes donated by the local Tesco.

Staff enjoy a day of treats

STAFF in care homes across Teesside have enjoyed a day of treats as part of Employee Motivation Day. The national day encourages business across the UK to thank staff and demonstrate appreciation for their hard work.

Three cares homes in Stockton, all operated by the Hill Care Group, took part, including The Beeches, Mandale House and Ingleby.

Liz Jones, customer relations officer for Hill Care, said: “The homes take part in Employee Motivation Day each year to show their appreciation for the staff.

“They work hard every day to ensure we provide a safe and caring environment for our residents, so it’s the least we could do to provide them with a few treats to say thank you.”

The Beeches treated staff with cakes donated from their local Tesco, pizzas from Dominoes and milkshakes from Sugar and Spice.

Staff at Mandale House enjoyed a McDonald’s lunch as well as homemade cake and a cuppa from Simple Treats.

And Ingleby Care Home had a dress down day as well as motivation and exercise classes for the staff.

TWO Nurse Plus employees have each been commended with a ’10 Year Award’ for their exceptional service to the specialist nursing and domiciliary care agency.

Head of training Denise Coates and relief manager Stacey Lopez have been praised for their commitment to providing quality care, support and service to Nurse Plus staff, clients and workers.

Stacey joined Nurse Plus in March 2006 as branch manager at the Newton Abbot office, and quickly went on to build strong relationships with local authorities and client groups in the area.

In May 2015 the senior management team utilised Stacey’s skills further and promoted her to the position of relief manager, a role that enables travel up and down the country to provide support to other branches.

Denise joined the Nurse Plus’ Wiltshire branch in July 2006 as a recruitment consultant and quickly went on to achieve a Diploma Level 5 in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care, promoted to branch manager in 2010.

In September 2015 Denise went onto become head of training for the whole branch network.

She ensures all Nurse Plus employees receive the support and training needed to provide quality

Denise Coates and Stacey Lopez receive their long service awards from Pamela Bruce, Nurse Plus managing director, and Mark Gidalla, operations director. care in the community.

Pamela Bruce, Nurse Plus managing director, said: “Denise and Stacey have both provided exceptional service to Nurse Plus and become highly valued and committed members of the team.

“We are growing at a fast rate and our success is detriment to the hard work and dedication of our team.

One of our core values at Nurse Plus is to provide quality development and training and ensure that opportunities are open to employees at every level. Denise and Stacey are fine examples of our ethos.”

Established in 2005 by a group of experienced healthcare and recruitment experts, Nurse Plus now has over 49 branches across the UK.

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CARINGNEWS

Operator changes name and reveals chief executive

By Dominic Musgrave

Councillor Derek Giles at Nelson Lodge care home.

Mayor attends new home’s open day MAYOR of St Neots, Councillor Derek Giles, visited Nelson Lodge care home in Eaton Socon for an open day attended by over 100 local health care professionals.

The new facility opened its doors to doctors and health care commissioners so people can find out more about the new home. The Mayor and visitors were able to experience all that life at the Anchor run home will have to offer, and

enjoyed a tour of the site.

Manager Jane Trimarco said: “This is a proud moment for Anchor and a key milestone in what will be a fantastic new care home. We are looking forward to welcoming residents and becoming a part of the local community.”

The 64-bed care home will have a hair and beauty salon, quiet and social lounges on each floor, a tea room and landscaped gardens.

Home makes Time for a Cuppa STAFF, residents and visitors at WatersEdge Care Home near Walsall took Time for a Cuppa to support and raise awareness and funds for Dementia UK. The Time for a Cuppa tea party helped raise funds for Dementia UK, who help families to face dementia.

Sandra Potts, care home manager, said: “There’s few things better than tea and cake with family and friends, old and new.

“This was the first Time for a Cuppa tea party we have hosted and it was a lovely day. We will definitely be doing it again next year.”

THE operator of Belong care villages has formally changed its name from CLS Care Services Limited to Belong Limited.

The name change follows the divestment of the organisation’s remaining CLS care homes at the end of 2016 to focus solely on its state-of-the-art Belong care villages and registered domiciliary home care service, Belong at Home.

Belong chief executive Nick Dykes, who announced in January his intention to step down from the role when he retires later this year, said: “Now we are purely operating under the Belong name, it makes obvious sense to align our registered name with our operating name.

“And while the name change is only a paper exercise, it also carries significance for us as an organisation to clearly demonstrate our total commitment to the Belong village model. We are passionate in our belief that the Belong village model offers the best option for delivering the specialist care provision we need to support our ageing population, with many more service options and facilities than can be offered by a

traditional care home. Through the villages and Belong at Home, we are truly able to deliver the individualised approach that people need.”

On his intention to step down as chief executive of Belong, Nick added: “With five villages fully operational, a new one opening this year and two more scheduled to open next year, Belong is already embarking on the next stage of its expansion, with an operational team that is setting world standards in older people’s and dementia care.

“We have an excellent executive team in place and an experienced board that will continue to oversee the effective implementation of our strategy.”

Finance director Tracey Stakes will replace Nick as chief executive, with operations director Tracy Paine being promoted to her deputy. Both will formally take up their new positions

by July.

Tracey has held her current position since she joined the organisation in 1997, while Tracy has worked as operations director since 2003, having previously worked for the group earlier in her career and then returning after gaining further experience with other providers.

CARINGNEWS

Murals a major talking point at group’s homes

By Dominic Musgrave MURALS showing well-known Somerset landmarks are becoming major talking points in specialist dementia-care nursing homes run by Camelot Care.

In particular the large mural of Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor, which has been installed at Camelot House in Wellington, is proving a firm favourite with residents, prompting them to share their memories about the reservoir which has been a favourite destination for ‘days out’ since it was created in 1979.

Clare Woodhead, operations manager for Camelot Care, said: “We showed the people who live with us a variety of different images to find out which ones they would enjoy seeing on the walls of their home.

“Wimbleball Lake was a firm favourite, and they are so happy to share their memories of it with us.”

Clare has been following with interest the findings of research undertaken by Guys and St. Thomas’ charity into the role of the arts in reminiscence, and how it can empower people with dementia.

“The pilot project run in London has provided good evidence that art can spark reminiscences in a way that measurably improves wellbeing in older people with dementia, and our new mural is certainly getting people talking,” added Clare.

Bonnie Frear, deputy manager of Camelot House, with resident Jean Lee. As a result of the London study a range of practitioners are now using the arts in dementia care, with strong anecdotal evidence suggesting that this can be highly effective.

Camelot House and Lodge is currently hosting a national initiative to bring volunteers into the home to assist residents in creating their own art. The plan is for this to be displayed in a local pop-up shop to highlight to the local community the opportunities for living well with dementia.

Camelot Care is currently installing a mural featuring the pier at Westonsuper-Mare in its Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater, and an image of Plymouth Hoe at Freshfields in Plymouth.

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CARINGNEWS

Group announces its support for search and rescue charity

By Dominic Musgrave

Activities coordinator Janie Sheldon and home manager Samantha Ely.

Home achieves Strictly No Falling certification LONGMOOR Lodge Care Home has achieved the coveted Strictly No Falling certification from Age UK Derby and Derbyshire.

The award is supported by Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.

Strictly No Falling certification recognises the Sandiacre care home’s commitment to reducing residents’ risk of falling.

The award was introduced to encourage a wider range of services and information aimed at improving mobility, balance and strength among older people.

It is open to adult care and leisure services, the voluntary sector and

housing associations, among other health and social care organisations across Derbyshire.

Janie Sheldon, activities coordinator at Longmoor Lodge Care Home, attended training at Chesterfield Walton Hospital to achieve the award.

She said: “The award involved the theory behind physical activity and ageing as well as chair based exercises and routines to improve strength and mobility and reduce the chances of falling. We run structured chair-based exercise sessions at the home that have helped residents improve their posture, coordination, circulation, increased their range of movement, strengthen important muscle groups and have fun at the same time.”

THE Healthcare Homes group, which specialises in residential and homecare services, will be officially supporting the national search charity the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue through its fundraising efforts in 2017.

The group has 35 residential and nursing care homes located throughout East Anglia and into the South of England.

In addition, its Manorcourt Homecare division has 15 homecare branch locations, offering ‘care at home’ support services.

Teams at each of its homes, which are run by over 3,000 staff members, will work with their regional branch of ALSAR to support their local search teams.

ALSAR is the governing body of lowland rescue in the United Kingdom and has 36 teams nationwide, each providing a variety of life-saving search services.

They are voluntary specialist search teams which help find missing vulnerable people and are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to calls for help from

the police, the fire service and other search teams.

Teams are trained in medical skills from first aid to advanced medical care, and are able to care for any casualty or vulnerable person who they find until that person is safely in the hands of the emergency services.

They rely entirely on donations from supporters, and those within the Healthcare Homes group hope to make a significant contribution to the organisation this year.

Group managing director, Mike Osborne, said: “I’m extremely proud to announce our support of this fantastic charity.

“The hundreds of volunteers that give up their time to help find people in danger are doing such important work that any of us could depend on at any time.

“Our homes have an excellent track record of fundraising, which is down to the wonderful team spirit and community-focus with which they all work.”

“For that reason I am confident that all of our homes will do all they can to work with their residents and their local community to support ALSAR’s groups across the region.”

Home’s veterans meet their penpals

By Dominic Musgrave

VETERANS at The Royal Star & Garter Home in Surbiton and pupils from Hinchley Wood School have become penpals in an initiative to get generations writing to each other run by It’s not Your Birthday But. Glitter pens and fountain pens in hand, the 12-year old pupils and the residents, who are mostly in their eighties, have been sending letters and postcards to each other, sharing stories of their everyday lives and discovering they had a great deal in common.

After a flurry of letters, the residents finally met their young

correspondents at a tea party held at the Surbiton home, where they chatted about their shared experiences.

When student Ruby complained in a letter that the teachers checked on her skirt length, her penpal Jean, aged 94, reassured Ruby that it was the same in her day.

Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry attended the event, and was delighted with the initiative.

“What a fascinating project,” he said. “This is a wonderful way for different generations to communicate and develop an understanding and respect for one another’s lives.

“It was great to see our Star & Garter residents sharing their lifetime of experiences with children from Hinchley Wood School.”

Funded by the Arts Council, the project It’s not Your Birthday But is the brainchild of Wendy Smithers who, inspired by letters from her own grandmother, encourages people to communicate and share the pleasure of exchanging letters.

The stories the letters reveal have been documented as poems by Tom Mallender of Write-London, which are then sent to other poets to develop.

The poems will be collated into a book later in the year.

Residents and staff with representatives from Hinchley Wood School.

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CARINGNEWS

Group throws down fitness challenge to staff for residents

ONE of Scotland’s leading providers has built on the success of its ‘Together We’re Great’ initiative by challenging staff to create fun and inclusive daily exercise routines for residents.

Each of Balhousie Care Group’s 24 homes has dedicated Dementia Ambassadors who meet bimonthly to share ideas, knowledge and best practice about dementia and the facilities they work in.

Previously, the team came up with the idea of creating unique ‘rummage boxes’ for residents based on their interests, hobbies and life stories. By working with the families of residents the staff could include physical objects that helped trigger memories from their past.

Balhousie’s dementia consultant Yvonne Manson said: “After the success of our memory box competition and the benefits this had for residents we wanted to keep the momentum going. For the beginning of 2017, we have embraced the ‘New Year, New Me’ theme with an exercise competition.

“Daily exercise has been shown to improve mood, mental health and self-esteem, and reduces the risk

of falls in the elderly by developing better strength and balance.

“Our Ambassadors discussed the competition at their November and January meetings and fed back some ideas to inspire the staff teams and residents, who responded with enthusiasm to develop their own daily exercise programmes.

“We’ll shortly be choosing a winning care home from the submitted entries. Programmes include chair exercise and games such as darts and balloon tennis.

“I have already started to receive pictures of some of the exercises being enjoyed by residents and it has been great to see how inclusive the programmes are. Staff are thinking of everyone’s needs to encourage participation.

“Clement Park staff came up with an innovative idea to use wooden plant labels, and asked each resident to choose their favourite exercise. Each person has a wooden label, collected in a jar which the residents have decorated.

“The daily exercise is picked every day from the residents’ choices, how much more personalised can you get?”

Pendine Park proprietors Gill and Mario Kreft with Father Deiniol and Bishop Edwin.

Centre of excellence is given official blessing A FLAGSHIP dementia centre in Caernarfon has been given an official blessing by two leading North Wales clergymen.

Bryn Seiont Newydd provides specialist care for 71 dementia sufferers on the site of the former Ysbty Bryn Seiont community hospital in the town.

The ground-breaking centre of excellence run by the Pendine Park care organisation has brought over 130 jobs to the area.

After being given a guided tour of the centre and meeting residents, Father Deiniol, who is the abbot of the Church of the Holy Protection in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and Bishop Edwin Regan, a former Catholic Bishop of Wrexham, performed a blessing

ceremony in the music room.

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft said: “We were delighted to be able to welcome Bishop Edwin and Father Deiniol to Bryn Seiont Newydd to perform a blessing and to see what we’re doing for people with dementia.

“They were both incredibly interested in seeing what we’ve done here with the treatment and care of people with dementia in our society.”

Bryn Seiont Newydd has eight individual ‘Ty’ or houses with dedicated staff and a homely, family feel for specialist needs, gender and age.

With lounges in each, there is also a central coffee shop and an exercise, fitness and well-being suite along with a dedicated music room.

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Older people’s care expert begins national fellowship

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AN ‘inspirational’ manager at a family-owned provider has won a coveted place on an older people’s care fellowship course at the UK’s top university for nursing.

Lindsay Rees beat off strong competition from applicants across the country to join the one-year programme at King’s College London.

The group-wide care operations manager at Colten Care is one of only 30 participants nationally, and one of just two from the private sector.

She said: “The fellowship gives you the opportunity to meet and learn from other professionals working in older people’s care. I will be sharing and applying what I learn from the programme to help continue Colten Care’s aim of quality improvement.”

Lindsay, who did her nursing training at Southampton General Hospital and joined Colten Care as a head of care in April 2007, has chosen falls prevention as the focus for her fellowship project.

Elaine Farrer, operations director at Colten Care, added: “We’re excited and energised by Lindsay being accepted onto the fellowship.

She is already an inspiring clinical expert and the programme will give her enhanced access to an amazing knowledge network.

“This will in turn help us on our continual ‘good-to-great’ journey in care, helping residents to live well.

Lindsay Rees Her participation will also bring to life for other professionals all that we do for our residents.”

The fellowship is run by older people’s health experts at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. Recognised world rankings rate the King’s College faculty as the best in the UK for nursing and among the top 25 globally.

The results of quality improvement projects by fellowship participants will be disseminated through a series of health conferences in 2018.

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Care UK has been named as one of the country’s top employers in this year’s Employee Experience Awards, which recognise employers delivering an exceptional employee experience, including promoting continuous improvement, learning and personal development. Caring UK found out more.

Care UK wins employee experience award THE care home division of the Colchester-based provider took the title in the sector specific category Government and Public Services.

The winners of the awards were selected by a panel of independent judges made up of customer and financial professionals, following a presentation by the finalists in front of the panel.

Care UK, one of the country’s leading social care specialists, providing support for more than 7,000 residents in 113 care homes, took the top slot in the category for differentiating Care UK in a competitive market to attract, retain and nurture the right people, to improve service and performance.

HR director Leah Queripel said: “We were all delighted to have won the award, coming as it has from two years of concerted creativity, planning and work. By 2035, 1.7m UK residents will be aged over 85 and many will require the type of support only residential care can offer.

“We subscribe wholeheartedly to the view that, to deliver the best, kindest and most compassionate service possible in our care homes, we need to attract and retain the very finest team members with the right outlook and attitude to this important

role. Our challenge was to ensure we could attract the best candidates and develop them into sector leaders of the future.”

The HR team was faced with recruitment challenges including low brand awareness, negative pre-conceptions about the care sector in general and the need to attract sufficient numbers of strong candidates in a market that is both crowded and highly competitive.

Leah added: “If you team these issues with national shortages of nurses, and combine them with a high turnover of current employees across the care sector, you realise that a different approach to how you recruit and develop employees is needed.

“To attract the right people and re-ignite the career ambitions of current colleagues, we had to create a brand that appealed to people’s caring natures as well as their work needs. We asked employee engagement specialists Dragonfish to survey our employees to learn their views on why they join, and stay, with Care UK.” The results revealed the needs, aspirations and beliefs of those who are, or would make, great carers.

“This allowed us to tailor our

HR director Leah Queripel. brand, advertising and campaigns to groups of people, whether they were looking to work part-time, in the middle of their careers, or if they were looking for a new challenge and career advancement,” said Leah.

“Our new carers’ website mirrored

the brand and reflected the feedback, as well as making it simpler to apply for roles and giving information to current carers. At the same time, our recruitment teams were supported with tailored on and off line campaigns that spoke to would-be apprentices or professional carers.

“We saw an exceptional rise on our monthly applications rate. In five months it jumped by almost 330 per cent from our previous average of 3,500 applications per month. We also saw direct nursing applications increase and employee engagement improve by ten per cent.”

Apprenticeships became an area of focus, as training new carers and putting them on Care UK’s development path has long-term benefits for both the team member and the company.

Leah concluded: “We were very excited when, during the first two weeks, we achieved 3,000 applications. When teamed with the significant increases in retention, it was a very clear sign the approach was working, putting us in a strong position for future growth.

“This award has come as the welcome reward for all our employees who play such an important role within our homes.”

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Home’s retro tea room goes down a treat AN East Ayrshire very sheltered housing development has given tenants the opportunity to step back in time by brewing up a refreshing retro treat for its tenants.

Menzies Court, managed by leading housing and care provider Bield, has created a unique tea room for their tenants with a dash of adoration for the past.

Manager Marie Reid said: “It is great to have this space for the tenants. The room offers something unique and different.

“The tea room encourages a lot of interaction – everyone gets together

for a chat around the tables and, with a little help from the décor, often start reminiscing.”

Named for its décor, The Sweet Rose Tea Room has been given an old fashioned style inspired by a donation of a set of table and chairs from a tenant’s family.

Using retro and antique furniture, cake stands, floral plates, tea sets, and even an old rotary dial telephone the room offers a flash back in time.

Even the utensils for the afternoon tea service are stored in a vintage dresser.

Every month the room is used for an afternoon tea where a full service is offered including cakes and sandwiches and an array of drinks.

When an entertainer is booked an afternoon tea service will also be provided before the performance.

The room is available to be booked by tenants for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

This allows families to come along and join the celebrations and tenants do not need to venture outside if they prefer to celebrate closer to home..

Marie added: “We aim to offer an

extremely enriching environment for our tenants and we are incredibly grateful for the donation of the table and chairs. I am very pleased with the end result of the room.”

Danfloor welcomes the new Equinox Evolve!

DANFLOOR Uk, leading suppliers of carpets to the healthcare sector, are pleased to welcome the New Equinox Evolve to the awarding winning Equinox Collection.

With over 30 years’ experience of manufacturing carpets for the care industry danfloor’s flooring solutions are constructed to meet the demands of this sector.

After a substantial investment into revolutionary tufting technology and design collaboration with their parent company Ulster Carpets danfloor will be launching two new Collections.

The new Equinox Evolve has an elegant and contemporary pattern; available in 13 colours is has been design to sit comfortably alongside the Equinox Tones range, enabling the creation of exquisite interior design schemes.

Over the coming months another six ranges will be launched into the brand new Evolution

Collection.

The new designs are aptly titled, Scape, Geo Form, Origin, Glaze, Manhattan and Forest and will offer a variety of designs from subtle to bold statement pieces.

This new technology is providing danfloor with the opportunity to bring to market revolutionary new designs, being the first in UK market to combine detailed patterned designs with tufting technology.

With the addition of all their usual innovative performance features both collections will be ideal for the demands of the care sector, and provide an alternative flooring option to what is currently available on the market.

Enquiries: To view the new Equinox Evolve and to keep up to date with the latest news visit www.danfloor.co.uk or check out our social media channels.

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CARINGNEWS The launch of an official walk in memory of Annie Sinnott MBE saw 150 people gather in the Dorset village of Leigh.

Annie, owner of the Old Vicarage care home, died unexpectedly last April. The walk followed the route Annie used to take daily with her dogs and is clearly marked with directional signs.

Before the walkers set off, Annie’s daughters Josie Aggett and Carey Faulkner (pictured) planted a rose tree in her memory and unveiled a plaque celebrating the inauguration.

Home secures place at RHS well dressing competition BURTON Closes Hall Care Home and Bakewell AJ Welldressing have been selected to participate in the new RHS Chatsworth Flower Show.

The team is one of only five to showcase its well-dressing skills at the prestigious event – the first ever RHS Well Dressing Competition – when visitors will be able to vote for their favourite design.

More than 62,000 tickets have already been sold for the Show, which takes place from June 7-11, when the Bakewell team’s AJ well-dressing will be on display.

The design focuses on one of Bakewell’s oldest buildings, Burton Closes Hall, which now operates as a care home.

Carl J D Fisher, home manager at Burton Closes Hall, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen along with AJ Welldressing team to display at the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show Well Dressing Competition.

“Burton Closes Hall is a beautiful building with a great deal of history and worthy as the centerpiece for a magnificent well-dressing design by the talented and passionate Sue Hudson of Bakewell AJ Welldressing team.

“Our residents are absolutely thrilled to know their care home will be featured in such a prestigious competition.

“We can’t wait to see the final design in full bloom in June.”

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28

Village’s bistro is first to receive AA Rosette

By Dominic Musgrave

Somerset Care has announced the appointment of Tim Crowley as the new manager of Cooksons Court in Yeovil.

Tim started his care career in the 1990s when he trained as a nurse in Nottingham. After achieving his nursing qualifications he emigrated to New Zealand, where he spent 16 years working in emergency nursing and senior management positions in the care sector. Tim said: “I feel it is our moral duty to support and care for vulnerable people in our society. I am proud to be a member of the team at Cooksons Court and part of the larger team at Somerset Care.” Since he has been in post, the home has already welcomed film crews and journalists from BBC One Show and ITV West Country.

THE Redwood Bistro at Bishopstoke Park, an Anchor development exclusively for the over 65s in Hampshire, has been awarded a celebrated AA Rosette, making it the first restaurant within a retirement village in the UK to be recognised by this rating.

To celebrate, the restaurant is now officially opening its doors to the public, allowing members of the local community, as well as residents, to enjoy the award winning menu on offer.

Bishopstoke Park comprises of 91 one-and-two-bedroom independent living apartments and an on-site 48 room care home.

Since opening in August 2015, The Redwood Bistro at Bishopstoke Park has provided the ideal venue for residents to dine with family and friends, and is open every day for lunch and four evenings a week for dinner.

The 100 cover restaurant boasts a seasonal menu, which changes regularly and also offers child-friendly options, which prove popular with residents’ grandchildren who may be visiting at the weekend or during school holidays.

The kitchen is led by head chef Rob Quehan, whose experience

Bishopstoke Park services manager Katrina Lane, head chef Rob Quehan and general manager Kevin Young. encompasses the kitchens of some of London’s most prestigious restaurants and hotels, including both The Ivy and The Dorchester.

The current menu boasts show stopping dishes such as local venison loin pan-roasted and served with confit potatoes, braised savoy cabbage and blackberry puree, and pistachio sponge with caramelised pineapple and berry macaroon.

The AA Rosette was awarded following an unannounced visit by the restaurant inspector.

The AA Rosette scheme recognises successful cooking at different

levels across the UK and only 2,000 restaurants nationwide are of a standard considered worthy of one Rosette and above.

Kevin Young, general manager at Bishopstoke Park, said: “We reviewed nearly 150 applicants for the role of head chef, with Rob impressing us with his creative menu and passion for excellent service.

“As an ex chef myself it has always been a personal ambition to achieve an AA Rosette at Bishopstoke Park, and we are delighted to be the first UK retirement village to have done so.

“We are delighted to now be offering a service to the local community, as well as the residents here at Bishopstoke Park.”

Bishopstoke Park is undergoing a second phase of development, adding a further 73 one-and-two-bedroom apartments to the village.

In addition to The Redwood Bistro, the village offers a number of facilities for residents’ use.

These include the sensitively restored 19th century Mount – a centre-piece that houses a swimming pool, spa and state-of-the-art wellness centre.

Alongside the Mount building is also a contemporary juice bar, delicatessen, general store and craft room.

Darren Griffiths and Karen Davies, Linc Social Committee members; Kylie McKee, deputy head of fundraising at Velindre; (front left) Jacinta Abraham, consultant at Velindre, and Nicola Smith, executive director of Linc Homes.

Group raises £7,000 for charity SOUTH Wales-based Linc Cymru Housing Association (Linc) has completed a busy 12 months of fundraising that has resulted in a donation of £7,000 to its annual adopted charity, Velindre Cancer Centre.

Linc’s Social Committee planned and organised various fun activities to inspire staff throughout the year and help the organisation to beat its own sponsorship record. Charity events included a “Gung-Ho” inflatable assault course and a “Man Vs Horse” challenge.

Staff also joined BBC star Derek Brockway on his “Walking with the Weatherman” challenge, held sponsored dress-down days, raffles, tea and coffee mornings and a series of popular bake sales.

Linc’s tenants and residents also got in to the fundraising spirit by raising money for the appeal, with the total

raised during the year being matchfunded by Linc’s directors.

Velindre was selected as Linc’s official 2016 charity after a staff vote, however, the centre also has special significance for many in the organisation.

Executive director of Linc Homes, Nicola Smith, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and received care and treatment at Velindre.

“I am really proud of everyone involved at Linc who have tirelessly raised so much money for Velindre Cancer Centre,” she said. “I would like to express my enormous appreciation and thanks to everyone’s generosity. As someone who has experienced the services they provide, I can safely say that Velindre will put this to good use and continue to provide care, hope and treatment for all those affected by this challenging disease, cancer.”

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Group awarded new dementia contract

By Dominic Musgrave

SHEFFCARE, the not-for-profit organisation that operates 10 residential care homes across Sheffield, has been awarded a major new contract by the City Council to provide respite and day support for people living with dementia.

Sheffcare’s new Dementia Day Support Services will help people with the condition to remain independent, supporting them as they regain and maintain the skills they may have lost as a result of their dementia.

It will also provide an opportunity for carers to take a break, helping them to sustain their caring role.

The respite service will provide 10 planned beds at Sheffcare’s homes across the city and a further four unplanned/emergency beds.

“The aim of the Respite Service is to provide support for people living with dementia in a residential setting and to help family carers and support them in their caring role,” Sheffcare chief executive, Belinda Black, said.

“The majority of Sheffcare homes already have specialist dementia care units, and our work in this increasingly important field is one that has been recognised by our consistently good rating with Care Quality Commission inspectors, the independent regulators of all health and social care services in England.

“We understand how seriously families take dementia and are confident that these two new services will provide the highest quality of support for both the people living with the condition and their families and carers.”

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Apple Trees’ Lincolnshire Care Awards nominees: Shelly Perry, Denise Booth, Alison Goodyear, Marie Young, Amanda Cresswell and Fran Young.

Carers recognised at awards EIGHT care professionals at The Orders of St John Care Trust have been recognised in the annual Lincolnshire Care Awards.

Organised by Lincolnshire Care Association, the awards celebrate outstanding care workers, teams and organisations.

The OSJCT finalists came from two homes – Apple Trees in Grantham and Fosse House in Lincoln.

Denise Booth, general manager at Apple Trees, was shortlisted for Inspirational Leader, with Frances Young (hospitality assistant), Marie Young (senior support worker) and Amanda Cresswell (chef ) being nominated for the Team of the Year Award. Shelly Perry, the deputy home manager who has only been

with OSJCT for nine months, was nominated for Best Newcomer. The final Apple Trees representative was Alison Goodyear (support worker), who was hoping to win the Residential Care award, as were Sharon Noble and Jane Robinson, carers from Fosse House.

“We are very proud to have had so many of our colleagues nominated for these prestigious awards,” said Caroline Dunagan, assistant operations director, Lincolnshire.

“We work hard to ensure we deliver the very best care for our residents.

“To achieve that, we need high quality people and it is wonderful to see their dedication and professionalism recognised on this special occasion.”

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33

Sutton care and nursing home project complete

Page 35

Important legal changes affecting employers’ obligations in 2017

Page 37

Baycroft tops out first scheme near Chelmsford

Page 39

Family home expands with bank support MARK Brierley and his sister Hannah Townson have expanded their care home High Brake House to accommodate eight extra bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities, which has received the financial support from Royal Bank of Scotland.

This is the fourth extension since the brother and sister partnership took over the running in 2007.

High Brake house is an elderly residential home situated in Ribble Valley and has been transformed to create a home from home experience for their residents over the years and is the only facility to provide both home care and residential care in the local area. They are supported by 34 employees, ranging from senior carers to domestics.

The eight newly extended bedrooms will take the total bed count to 34, with further plans already in discussion to increase this.

Royal Bank of Scotland provided £820,000 to refinance an existing

loan, plus a further £480,000 to allow for the further eight bedrooms to be developed, which completed at the end of 2016. Barrow Construction, a local family business, is the construction team responsible for overseeing the build. They have a reputation for building first class care extensions and an eye for detail.

Mark said: “Hannah and I are so proud of what we have achieved. We had a clear vision from the outset of what we wanted to accomplish and we are delighted with the results so far. We have been fortunate to be supported by a fantastic and loyal team of employees over the years.

“The secret of this success is that we wouldn’t ask them to do anything we are not prepared to do ourselves.

We have found that by creating staff into dedicated teams, this is really helping our standards of care improve and is providing individuals with the opportunity to take on extra responsibility.”

Rachel Constantinou (Royal Bank of Scotland) with Hannah Townson and Mark Brierley (Brierley Care directors).

34

New Sale care home set to create 80 jobs

By Dominic Musgrave

Compton View in Yeovil.

Yeovil care home sold to first time entrant CHRISTIE & Co has brokered the sale of Compton View Care Home in Yeovil, Somerset to new entrants to the sector.

Having decided to retire after owning and operating the home since 2003, Paul and Lindsay Haimes instructed the Specialist business property adviser to confidentially market the home which is situated in a residential area on the outskirts of Yeovil.

It is registered for 18 clients in 17 bedrooms, of which 13 have en suite facilities.

The new owner is Dr Paul Edwards, and he will run the home along with Lindsay Haimes, who will stay in post as registered manager to ensure continuity for the residents and a smooth handover.

Simon Harvey, director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said:

“Paul and Lindsay had developed an excellent business at Compton View, with a strong reputation, and we are delighted to have assisted them with their retirement plans. We are equally pleased to welcome Dr Edwards to the sector and wish him every success for the future with Compton View.

“This sale continues to highlight the ongoing demand for good quality and well run care homes across the South West which appeal to first time buyers and that banks are equally keen to support.

“As things currently stand, we see this demand continuing where the mix of quality, trading performance and location fits the buyer’s criteria.”

The freehold interest in the property and trading limited company was sold for an undisclosed sum and the deal was supported by funding from Barclays.

Ian Paul (chair of Morris Feinmann Homes Trust), Rabbi Ellituv (chaplain of Belong Morris Feinmann) and Deborah Baker (general manager of Belong Morris Feinmann), placing the final roof tile in the Belong Morris Feinmann apartment balcony.

Key milestone celebrated BELONG Morris Feinmann, a new Jewish community care village in Didsbury, has celebrated a key milestone, with a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the site’s roof and main building work.

Deborah Baker, general manager of Belong Morris Feinmann, was joined

by Ian Paul, chair of Morris Feinmann Homes Trust and Rabbi Ellituv, chaplain of Belong Morris Feinmann, who admired a tree-top view of the village from the highest apartment balcony, which was the final to be completed.

Belong is working in partnership with the Morris Feinmann Homes Trust to develop the new village, which is due to open in July. The village will comprise six households, each catering for 12 people in their own en-suite facilities.

Each household will also feature a private lounge, dining room and kosher kitchen. The village also includes 13 new one and twobedroomed independent living apartments for rent or purchase, and a hub of facilities including a kosher bistro, synagogue, exercise studio, internet cafe and library.

Deborah Baker, general manager of Belong Morris Feinmann, said: “It was wonderful to mark the completion of the main building work of the new Belong Morris Feinmann village.

“This village has been designed to offer 24-hour support, including specialist nursing and dementia care to older people in Manchester’s Jewish community and we look forward to seeing the building work progress, to completion, ahead of the opening of the village this summer.”

ALTRINCHAM-based New Care has launched its latest recruitment programme ahead of the opening of its new, state-of-the-art 57-bed care facility due to open in Sale, Greater Manchester in the near future.

The company is actively looking to employ approximately 80 members of staff to work at Ashland Manor in Ashton-on-Mersey, with a wide range of positions available, including medical, hospitality and administrative roles.

On the medical side, New Care requires nurses, senior carers and care assistants.

The company also needs receptionists, administrators, maintenance, chefs, kitchen porters, laundry assistants and housekeepers on the hospitality and catering side.

With a hair salon and nail bar located within the new home, the team will also require hairstylists and beauty therapists.

The provider is also working closely with Trafford College and offering career progression through NVQs for those who would like to develop their careers, Chris McGoff, CEO at New Care, said: “We are very much looking forward to the opening of Ashland Manor and are pleased to be in a

position to now to recruit our team.

As a company we take great pride in everything we do and we will invest time and effort in this recruitment drive to ensure that we hand-pick the very best people for each position.”

“It is great news for the local economy that an Altrincham-based business is able to create around 80 jobs and that a real mix of roles are available. We would urge anyone with relevant skills to get in touch as we are not just looking at Ashland Manor, we are also keen to appoint teams for our forthcoming homes in Chester and Lytham.”

When complete, Ashland Manor will cater for the aspiring needs of its south Manchester residents, offering high quality, person-centred care and an exceptional clinical offering, including residential, general nursing and specialist dementia care services, in an expertly designed purpose-built environment.

In addition to communal lounges, formal dining rooms and gardens, residents at Ashland Manor will enjoy the privacy of their own well appointed and restful bedroom, complete with en suite wet rooms, and a host of hotel-style services including fine dining, a hair salon, nail bar, concierge and a busy and varied programme of activities and events.

Work has started on the development of a new 70-bed care home in Lichfield, which will bring much-needed care services and job opportunities to the area. The new facility will be run by national care provider Barchester Healthcare when it opens in the summer of 2018. It will create around 100 jobs and provide high-quality care services for older people and people living with dementia. The project has been let to McGoff and Byrne Ltd as a full design and build contract, assisted by Harris Irwin Architects.

Timken Grange acquired LNT Care Developments has sold Timken Grange in Duston to Oakdale Care Group.

Once complete, Timken Grange will provide a state-of-the-art 66-bed care home with amenities including a cinema, library, garden room and tea shop, all surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Christine Cooper, project director at LNT Care Developments, said: “We are delighted to be building another fantastic facility for Oakdale Care Group and are very much looking forward to working with them to create a superb asset for the local community in Duston.

“Our sites are now selling at ever earlier stages. With the growing

pressures on the local authority funded social care system growing, the need for care home environments which will attract the self-funding resident is becoming clearer.”

Andrew Long, managing director at Oakdale Care Group, added: “We are delighted with this location and have been warmly received by the Parish Council through the planning process.

“We hope to build on this relationship through engagement with the local community and create a genuinely warm and vibrant setting for later life care.”

The construction of Timken Grange in Duston is due to complete in December 2017.

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Sutton care and nursing home project complete CONSTRUCTION services company J Tomlinson has completed a 65-bed residential care and nursing home in the West Midlands.

The Nottingham-based firm handed over the scheme in Sutton Coldfield to Hamberley Development Ltd, who developed the care home for Welltower Inc. who will own the luxury facility, with Gracewell Healthcare operating and running it.

This is one of 11 new care homes being developed for Welltower and Gracewell following the sale of 12 pre-existing Gracewell Healthcare care homes to Welltower back in 2014.

As well as developing the new residential care and nursing home on the site of the former Conservative Club building, J Tomlinson also built a new Conservative Club at the rear of the site, which is also the home of Boldmere Tennis Club and Boldmere Bowls Club.

The contracts had a combined value of approximately £6million.

Martin Gallagher, managing director (construction), at J Tomlinson, said: “Nationwide, there is a current undersupply of high quality residential care and nursing homes, and this scheme provides much-needed luxury accommodation of this type in Sutton Coldfield.

“It is the latest of several care and extra-care facilities that J Tomlinson has built. I am very pleased that our role in this double development has received significant praise.”

The three-storey residential care and nursing home, designed by DWA Architects, features a bistro café, a hair and beauty salon, an in-house cinema room and an activity room, with a choice of en-suite bedrooms and apartments, including respite care and accommodation for couples.

It will offer residential care, nursing care and dementia care.

North Yorkshire nursing home has new owners DC Care has completed the sale of Queen Margaret’s Nursing Home on behalf of Hawkfish Limited for an undisclosed sum.

The outgoing owners have owned the business for well over a decade and was keen to see it handed over to someone they felt would continue to develop the business and ensure its ongoing service to the local community.

New owners, Mike and Melanie Padgham, are well known in the care industry, already running a successful residential care home in Scarborough.

Mike also chairs the United Kingdom Homecare Association and Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire).

DC Care’s regional director Alison Willoughby oversaw the sale, which was funded by Phillipa Bagshaw, healthcare specialist senior

relationship manager at NatWest Bank.

Alison said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been able to be a part of this sale.

“Queen Margaret’s is an iconic building, being very hard to miss in Scarborough.

“To know it will continue to serve the local population and provide continuity of care is heart-warming.

“My client had very particular views on the ideal next owner for his care business; someone with empathy, passion and drive.

“I think we’ve delivered on all fronts and I know my client will now be taking the opportunity of enjoying a well-earned retirement.

“Mike and Melanie Padgham have lots of ideas on ensuring the future of Queen Margaret’s and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”

Important legal changes affecting employers’ obligations in 2017

By Zairab Zabier IN THIS article, we set out some important legal changes being introduced in the UK, which employers will need to mindful of at the present time and in the immediate future.

Firstly, as all employers are, or should be, aware, the new minimum wage, and national living wage hourly rates came into effect in April of this year, and are set as follows: 25 years old and over – £7.50; 21-24 – £7.05; 18-20 – £5.60; under 18 – £4.05; and apprentices – £3.50.

Worth noting here that these rates are legally enforceable, and so must be paid. Failure to adhere may result in fines and the application of interest on sums outstanding, enforced by HMRC. Secondly, the new cap on weekly pay criteria under statutory redundancy regulations has increased from the current £479 to £489 – a simple enough rise of £10 per week, and was effective from April 6.

Next along are the uplifts to statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay: the harmonised rate for each rises to £140.98 per week effect from, and relevant to, pay weeks which fall on April 2 onwards.

Statutory sick pay also saw an

increase to £89.35 from April 6.

Gender Pay Gap Reporting will be an important, and potentially daunting, facet of the new raft of changes and innovations to employers’ existing framework of legal obligations.

Employers with 250 or more staff will now be obligated to report data pertaining to their gender pay gap, including bonus payments. These mandatory reports, taken from payroll data, will include: The mean gender pay gap in hourly pay; mean bonus gender pay gap; proportion of males and females receiving a bonus payment; proportion of males and females in each pay quartile.

Employers in the private and voluntary sector must base their pay data on staff employed on a “snapshot” date of 5 April each year, starting from April 2017.

Bonus information must be based on the preceding 12-month period.

Organisations in the public sector must use 31 March as their snapshot date.

Employers have 12 months to publish the information on their own website and to upload it to a Government website. (Gov.uk) The new Apprenticeship Levy is an initiative which will affect all those employers whose annual pay

Zairab Zabier bill is £3million or greater, and was implemented (on April 6) as a major component in the drive to broaden existing apprenticeship schemes across all employment sectors.

Government top-up contributions will mean, in effect, that employers can draw down the equivalent of £1.10 for each £1 paid via the levy.

Of interest to many employers, particularly within the Care and Service sectors, will be an Immigration skills charge: Employers who sponsor skilled workers in accordance with tier 2 of the immigration system, which is points-based, will have to pay a £1,000 charge, per annum, for each certificate of sponsorship.

This levy is reduced to the sum of £364 for charities and small employers. This came into effect on April 6.

Notable additional criteria affecting workers coming to the UK under tier 2, particularly those planning to gain employment in the Education and Health & Social Care sectors, will include the need for criminal record disclosure certificates from each one of the countries in which the applicant has resided over the past 10 years.

As a footnote, some aspects of these legislative changes may seem complex, and in some cases they are. When in doubt, employers are advised to seek professional legal guidance. n Zairab Zabier is managing director and solicitor at Zenith Lawyers LLP. The views expressed in this article are that of the author and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

37

39

VIPs at the opening of Baycroft Great Baddow.

A care home near Dungannon in Northern Ireland is investing significantly to upgrade and expand its facilities with the support of Ulster Bank. Collegelands Private Nursing Home in Aghinlig is adding 10 new rooms with the refurbishment and upgrading existing rooms and living spaces. The investment, which is being finance by Ulster Bank, is worth more than £450,000. The newly updated home will provide 30 single rooms, meeting increasing demand for space at the facility.

Patrick McAvoy, director of Collegelands Private Nursing Home, is pictured with Ulster Bank relationship manager, Leona McNicholl, and Yvonne McAvoy, director of Collegelands Private Nursing Home.

The missing piece of the jigsaw?

AT Eldercare Solutions, we regularly talk to care providers who are unaware that self-funders can, in effect, ‘insure’ their care fees.

It may not be an affordable or viable option for everyone but what we do know is that approximately 85 per cent of self-funders are not even told about it and instead just pay fees from capital, hoping it won’t run out.

If this happens, it’s not good news for anyone.

With more care providers targeting the private fee payer market, surely

providing those clients with access to specialist care fees planning advice needs to be a vital part of that strategy?

We can supply you with leaflets, free of charge, for display in your care homes and inclusion in enquiry packs.

These will give your self-funders access to our Freephone number 0800 082 1155 where they will be able to chat with one of our SOLLA accredited advisers about their funding options.

Baycroft tops out first scheme NEW entrant to the care market, Baycroft, topped out its first scheme at Great Baddow near Chelmsford recently.

The £6m scheme, which is due to open this autumn, will create a luxury home-from-home feel for its 64 residents who will receive specialist nursing or dementia care.

Andrew Winstanley, managing director at Baycroft, said: “Baycroft Great Baddow will help to address the gaping need for high-quality accommodation for seniors across the UK, which as we can see from the crisis in the NHS is urgently needed.

“This scheme and the others that we are working on across the South East will provide a luxury home environment for our residents and the best care.”

The development includes a landscaped garden and luxury dining

area where fresh, locally sourced and seasonal meals will be served.

Residents will also be encouraged to enjoy the on-site cinema, library, hair salon, spa treatment room, gym and activity room.

Baycroft is a subsidiary of One Housing, which operates a rapidly growing extra care portfolio in London and the South East. The launch of Baycroft is part of One Housing’s strategy to build over 1,000 units for older people in the next three years across all markets, ranging from affordable rent to private luxury.

The home has been designed and built by specialist care sector development partners Castleoak and will include a pre-fabricated timber frame manufactured at their in-house ISO9001 standard factory.

The care home is being built to BREEAM Very Good standard.

40

NACC Care Chef of the Year finalists revealed THE line-up for the grand final of the annual National Association of Care Catering Care Chef of the Year competition has been announced.

The prestigious culinary competition seeks out the UK’s best chef working in the care sector.

Following six regional heats, 12 talented chefs, who demonstrated exceptional culinary skills, creativity and knowledge in this specialist field of catering, are preparing to go headto-head for the coveted title.

They each produced innovative, mouth-watering two-course menus live in front of a panel of expert judges and stood out for their nutritional understanding of the foods being used, as well as culinary flair in flavours, execution and presentation, to secure their places in the final.

The national final takes place on Wednesday 7 June at Barking &

“From what we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a closely fought and exciting final.”

Dagenham College’s Technical Skills Academy.

The 2017 NACC Care Chef of the Year finalists are: n Callum Chapman, The Close Care Home, Burcot. n Paul Criggall of Turning Point Smithfield Services, Manchester. n Glenn Francis of Abbeyfield Ballachulish. n Craig Handley of Sunrise Senior Living of Cardiff. n Roger Heathcote of Signature at The Miramar, Herne Bay. n Adam Hedges of Sunrise of Mobberley. n David Higgins, Brendoncare Foundation, Wincester. n Simon Lewis, Gracewell of Frome. n Peter McGregor of Perry Manor, Worcester. n Martin McKee of The Hawthorns, Aldridge. n Stuart Middleton of Meallmore Lodge Care Home, Inverness. n Sam Nurse of Coombe Hill Manor, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Neel Radia, national chair, NACC, said: “The NACC Care Chef of the Year competition is a fantastic platform to showcase the incredible skills and knowledge of chefs working in the care sector.

“From ensuring meals are nutritionally balanced and beneficial, through to catering for individual needs such as special diets, cultural requirements, reduced appetites and eating difficulties caused by conditions such as dementia and dysphagia, there is an awful lot to consider when creating delicious, appealing menus.

“The competitors in the regional finals demonstrated the highest

standards of excellence and understanding of this specialist area of catering.

“Congratulations to the finalists.

From what we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a closely fought and exciting final. I wish them all the very best of luck.”

Sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Cooks and Premier Foods, the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition spotlights the care catering sector and the talented, qualified chefs operating within it.

Entrants are challenged to create a nutritionally-balanced, two-course menu (main and dessert) that is suitable for service users in a care setting.

The combined food cost for both courses must be no more that £2.25 per head based on four portions and it is to be produced in just 90 minutes.

The name of the prestigious culinary competition changed from NACC Care Cook of the Year to NACC Care Chef of the Year for 2017, in recognition of the culinary excellence and professionalism within the sector and the specialist skills and knowledge demanded of and demonstrated by chefs.

42 Advertiser’s announcement

Frima 112T at Magdalen House speeds up meal preparation MAGDALEN House Nursing Home, part of the Gloucester Charities Trust, aims to provide a high standard of care in a safe homely environment.

Family and friends of residents are encouraged to join in activities and stay for meals.

Over the summer of 2016 the kitchen underwent a total refurbishment and head chef Jo Galling took the opportunity to look at what new modern cooking equipment was around to streamline the operation. She attended a Frima CookingLive event and was impressed with what the multi-functional Frima could do, but space was an issue in the small kitchen at Magdalen House.

The kitchen may be small but the catering requirements are not. With 29 bedrooms there are 55 to 60 meals to cater for at lunchtimes when the Dementia Club is in operation in the day centre. Then later in the day there’s a cooked supper for all the residents as well.

Frima recommended the compact 112T countertop model, a modern, high-tech piece of cooking equipment that combines all the functions of a boiling kettle, fryer, griddle, bratt pan and pressure cooker in one unit. It also replaces large pots and pans.

Measuring just 962mm wide by 800mm deep and 400mm high, it has two 14 litre pans which can be used to boil, grill, fry, low temperature cook and deep fry, precisely and easily. At Magdalen House the Frima 112T is sited on a worktop and is used alongside a Rational combi oven to produce all the meals.

“The Frima works very well for us,” said Jo. “We use it for boiling vegetables, for making gravy and stocks and it’s especially useful for casseroles and hot pots.”

“It’s very versatile we also use it for custard and white sauces. The joy of it is that once everything is in the pan and mixed up we can walk away confident that the Frima will take care of the cooking. Nothing burns or sticks. We don’t have to stand over the pot watching what’s going on.

This frees up staff to get on with other kitchen duties.”

FRIMA’s VarioBoost heating system ensures that heat is transferred evenly all over the pan bases so there are no hot spots.

Built-in cooking intelligence constantly monitors the process ensuring nothing boils over, sticks or scorches. It even tells chefs when to turn chicken breasts and other

shallow fried items. It automatically lowers pasta and vegetables into boiled water and lifts them back out when done.

“The overnight braising is great,” Jo added: “We can prepare the ingredients and load up the pans the night before and come back in Sunday morning to find it all cooked and ready, just how we want it.

“I know there’s an awful lot more I could be doing with the Frima. I’m still learning. It’s just a question of trying out new ideas and seeing how they work.

“When we have Sunday dinners some of the residents invite family

members to join them and the ease of cooking with the Frima really takes the stress out of producing these meals. The quality is outstanding.”

Time is always a pressure in kitchens and care homes are no exception. When residents have activities to go to or medical appointments lined up they don’t like to be kept waiting.

“I’ve definitely noticed how much quicker it is to use the Frima,” concluded Jo. “It’s eased up the workload in the kitchen, improved the quality of the food and makes getting the meals out on time much easier.”

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NEW – stylish Pashmina Scarf Bibs from Care Designs CARE Designs’ waterproof Pashmina Scarf Clothes Protectors are now available in stylish NEW pebble prints in three chic colours.

The innovative garment combines the look of a stylish ladies’ scarf with the waterproof practicality of a bib and so and can be worn all day with a high level of dignity.

The two silk-like fabric layers on the front are

highly absorbent while the waterproof layer on the back keeps clothes dry and has quick fastening Velcro for ease of fitting.

Get 20% OFF now; use code CAREDESIGNSCUK4 at the checkout!

Enquiries: Call 01223 840236, email purchasing@bibetta.com or visit www.caredesigns.co.uk for a brochure

44

CARINGINDUSTRY NEWS

Achieve certification simply and efficiently

The Cleaning Show goes from strength to strength THE Cleaning Show saw 5,767 professional trade attendees including the great and the good from the cleaning and hygiene sector over three days at ExCeL London.

This was a five per cent increase on the previous Cleaning Show held in London in 2015, and the number of international visitors travelling from overseas raised nine per cent.

The exhibitors praised organisers for the high quality of visitors, with statistics showing that 17 per cent of attendees had an annual budget of over £1million to spend on cleaning equipment and services.

Highlights included the free-toattend seminar programme, which attracted over 1,000 visitors who gained expert advice on health and safety, growing your business and an insight into the future and the new frontier of robotics.

Speakers included numerous industry experts and advisors from HSE, as well as popular sessions on How to Grow your Business and the Future of FM.

The winners of the Cleaning Show Innovation Awards, which are judged and presented at the Show, were: Best Cleaning Product – Quick and Easy by Arrow County Supplies.

Best Floor Cleaning Product – for the first time awarded to two winners ICE with the ICE R Scrub 75 and Nilfisk for its Liberty A50.

Best Outdoor Cleaning Product – Easy!Force and Easy!Lock by Kärcher.

Best Carpet Cleaning Product – Valet Battery Upright by Truvox.

Best Window Cleaning Product – Stringray Indoor Cleaning System by Unger.

Best Washroom Hygiene Product – Interchangable Dispensers by Dolphin Solutions.

Best Sustainable Cleaning Product – Eco Silver Paper by Eco Silver Paper.

Best Management System – ICE Locator by ICE. Many companies have already booked their stands for the UK’s largest cleaning and hygiene event in 2019 when it returns to London from March 19 to 21.

Equipment buyers gear up for Show AN essential date on equipment buyers’ calendars, Commercial Kitchen is all set for a successful second edition when it opens its doors on June 6 and 7 at the NEC Birmingham, with catering equipment purchasers and specifiers from many of the UK’s leading care homes already confirming their attendance.

The UK’s first trade show dedicated to the running of effective kitchen operations across every sector, including care homes, Commercial Kitchen has enjoyed strong industry and association support from the outset.

Its launch event attracted 1,723 attendees including executive chefs, development chefs, catering managers, facilities managers and procurement professionals.

Philip Shelley, honorary national chair of the HCA, welcomed the launch, saying: “This show gives suppliers and caterers the opportunity to network, ensuring that there is excellent awareness of

the pioneering choices of available equipment.”

For 2017, visiting buyers will have even more new innovations to see, with 100 exhibitors showcasing the complete range of innovative equipment, devices and utensils required to run a commercial kitchen; including cooking equipment, refrigeration, storage, warewashing, fit out and design.

The show features a free twoday seminar programme with Rob Quehan, head chef at The Redwood Bistro at Bishopstoke Park – the first care home restaurant in the UK to win an AA rosette, joining a panel of fellow industry experts who will be discussing kitchen design and equipment procurement in care homes.

Other speakers include Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Charity and Philip Shelley the honorary national chair of The Hospital Caterers Association who will lead a panel session with leading NHS catering professionals.

CQS (Certified Quality Systems) Ltd is an organisation specialising in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007 & ISO 27001:2013 assessment and certification along with other management system standards.

Our team of vastly experienced business consultants take a practical down-to-earth approach ensuring certification is achieved simply and efficiently.

Our clients are varied and are involved in all types of business activities including healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, construction, IT, distribution and other services.

We have issued certificates and helped organisations throughout the world to achieve their goals.

Our mission is to provide businesses with a professional, affordable service to a realistic timescale in order for

them to meet their objectives without the need for extensive internal resource commitment. We achieve this by utilising our highly trained, experienced staff and by cutting through the jargon to deliver a practical system in plain English.

We always ensure our clients are our top priority and that they are treated with professionalism and courtesy.

System encourages best practice WITH the CQC now looking to see if the care you deliver meets the five key areas, how well will your current care recording system help you?

CareDocs is a computerised system that encourages best practice in all areas of care recording.

Fully personalised care plans can be quickly created and managed and the inbuilt monitoring system will ensure that you always know when they’re

due for review.

Staff can work more efficiently by adding daily notes through any internet-enabled device and all the information can be analysed to ensure full personalisation of care.

Quality and Monitoring audit forms are included within the CareDocs system to help you gather and record the information that may otherwise be missed.

Register for your free tickets VISITORS receive practical advice and information to assist in the running of their care business at Care Roadshows.

The educational and informative seminars are led by recognised associations who endeavour to keep care practitioners up to date with the latest regulations and ideas such as National Care Association and CQC. The event aims to improve the lives of older people, bringing together visitors with suppliers and seminars to help care providers achieve

outstanding levels of care time and time again.

If you are looking for the ideal network opportunity for your organisation, this event is guaranteed to provide you with the support needed.

Show dates: Care Roadshow Birmingham – July 4, Villa Park Stadium.

Care Roadshow Cardiff – October 17, Cardiff City Stadium.

Care Roadshow London – November 14, Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Staff at a Willenhall care home have put their culinary skills to the test in support of Help for Heroes. Swan House care home engaged with the local community and former soldier, Jamie Pitt, to create a Bake-off-style event for the armed forces charity. Staff and visitors each baked cakes and other delicacies, which were judged by Jamie, with Chris Walker named the overall winner. The event raised £144.66 for Help for Heroes.

Residents were also treated to the treats and prizes were awarded to the best judged bakers.

Jamie Pitt is pictured with Swan House manager Julie Hinton

45

CARINGINDUSTRY NEWS

Armstrong handles all the laundry at recently expanded TenderCare home TenderCare, a care home in Oldbury in the West Midlands for elderly residents and people with dementia, has recently been expanded and now offers 41 single rooms and two shared rooms, most of which are en-suite.

The on-site laundry was installed by Armstrong Commercial Laundry Systems on a fixed price hire agreement, which means there is no capital outlay and no additional cost for parts and labour throughout the agreement period.

The laundry handles everything from the home – bedding, towels, kitchen and dining room items as well as all the residents’ personal clothing.

The laundry is equipped with two Amazon HSF 8kg washing machines and two Huebsch tumble dryers and it is operated by dedicated laundry staff during the day, seven days a week, and the carers will very often be using it during the night.

Enquiries: Call 01635 263410, email enquiries@armstronglaundry.com or visit www.armstronglaundry.com

New online hand hygiene training for care home staff

A NEW evidence based online hand hygiene training course is now available free of charge and offers one hour of CPD. This course is divided into four modules which include a summary of guidelines, an introduction to the skin, a hand hygiene video and a section about improving compliance.

At the end of each section, there is a series of multiple choice questions so that participants can test what has been learnt.

The course is fully referenced and based on the most up to date guidelines, research and evidence.

The training has been designed to specifically address the hand hygiene issues relevant to healthcare staff working in care homes. Additional trainees can be added to any registration.

This helps save time and enables the training coordinator to track the progression of other

trainees.

Although it is recognised that good hand hygiene is essential to protect both staff and residents from cross infection, evidence suggests that many healthcare staff do not decontaminate their hands when required or use the correct technique.

This one-hour of training will help improve standards of hand hygiene through an increased understanding of the vital role it plays in delivering care.

For further information email ukmarketing. sm@schuelke.com or visit https://www.schuelkelearning.com/course/introduction-to-handhygiene-for-care-home-staff Enquiries: Call 0114 254 3500, email mail.uk@schuelke.com or visit www.schuelke.com

The soundtrack to your life!

Music and the brain

MUSIC and singing can have a very powerful effect to unlock memories and excite the grey matter.

It seems to reach parts of the damaged brain in ways other forms of communication cannot.

Music evokes strong emotions that link back to sex and love, a long past age.

Activates primal emotions.

Tenderness, Love, Affection.

Music is an integral part of humanity. Every culture has music, from the largest society to the smallest tribe.

Music and it’s amazing range of melodies, themes and rhythms taps in to something universal.

Babies remember music they hear in the womb.

Familiar music captures a baby’s attention and comforts and relaxes them.

Young adults dance for hours to it.

As we get older we relive our youth with the vivid memories it evokes when you either play or hear a certain song.

I know it is the case for me and all the different themed party nights, that take you back in time.

So why not use music as part of care package in a home if you don’t already.

Music therapy has been around a long time.

Music is part of our most important rituals, birth, weddings, death, and it has been the medium of some of our greatest works.

Music is interwoven into the fabric of everyday life it is with us through to the end of life. When you hear a certain beat that makes you want to tap your feet or move to the rhythm.

Diverse across cultures and time as we look at life and different cultures music has a different meaning to all of us and how we perceive music in its various forms for the journey through life.

There is evidence to show that music soothes residents, and in some cases, they may not actually need all the of the psychotropic medications.

It is completely understandable that in challenging situations the time and effort required may not always be possible, the argument does exist, if it gives the residents a better quality of life, then why not?

The “Social bonding theory”. Even for the staff,

the supportive and emotional bonds that music can create to enable more effective team cooperation.

Music came before language.

Music had some survival value for our ancestors for some it still does.

Tavares “Don’t take away the music” and not forgetting “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel”.

Think about it for a few minutes and remember the music throughout your journey to date, try and recall music that brings back both happy and sad memories.

The Happy Birthday song as an example even without the words if you hear the melody, you will begin to recall the song.

Chopin’s Funeral March Music that you shared with a loved one.

Frankie Valli Can’t Take My Eyes off You Encore une fois, how often do you listen to that song and you automatically replay or want to hear it again.

The repetitive nature of music, and how it can help with memory and learning.

Whatever music you resonate to, be it Blues, Classical, Brass & Military, Country, Electronic, Folk, World, Jazz, Hip Hop, Techno, House, International, Latin, Funk, Soul, Reggae, Pop, Rock, R&B, Traditional, Sound track, New Age, Religious. Enjoy it!

Tim Chaudhry Music in Care.

About the Care Enquiries: Call 08700612001, visit www.seniorcaresolutions.co.uk or email info@seniorcs.co.uk

Get the angle on effective evacuation

WE reportedly spend more time sat on the loo than we spend doing on any other bathroom activity.

It matters for our health and wellbeing, for bladder and bowel evacuation, that we are sat as correctly, and comfortably, as possible.

Toilet design can have a big impact on the ease with which we ‘go’, and several factors combine to achieve a good WC. So claims Clos-o-Mat, manufacturer of Britain’s biggest selling wash and dry toilet.

The seat should be at a height to sit on comfortably. The positioning and relationship of pan to cistern should encourage the user to sit with knees and hips at 90degrees at least. Feet should be on the floor (for stability).

The seat itself should be comfortable, and support the bottom. The user should be sat on top of the seat, not with cheeks ‘falling’ through.

The seat should encourage slight parting of the cheeks.

Easy reference drawings and tips are included in a free download at http://www.clos-o-mat.com/ images/downloads/WashandDry-wp.pdf Enquiries: Call 0161 969 1199, visit www.clos-o-mat.com or email info@clos-o-mat.com

Simple solutions

More affordable, more absorbent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simple solutions to common nursing home problems.

The new WACMAT® adheres strongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cotton pile and 100 per cent waterproof backing, the remarkable WACMAT® is an ideal accessory where spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, in bedrooms or bathrooms, the WACMAT® ensures full carpet protection. Then, after use, simply machine wash and tumble dry! It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then be clean and odourfree, ready to perform time and time again.

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

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.

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CARINGINDUSTRY NEWS

Residents from Parklands Lodge nursing /residential care home in Southport celebrated Aintree ladies’ day at the Ramada Plaza with a champagne breakfast.

Afternoon celebrations continued at the home, with their very own Grand National races that the staff had created to complete an afternoon full of fun for everyone.

Technology to be put through its paces ...

FRIMA will be showing just how quick and easy it is to cook a variety of dishes with the latest hi-tech multifunctional cooking technology on stand F2 at The Commercial Kitchen Show.

Frima’s VarioCooking Center can boil, fry, deep fry and confit, replacing griddles, kettles, bratt pans, large pots and fryers.

Alongside all its cooking processes it can also slow cook overnight and fast cook under pressure. It takes the concept of multi-functionality to a new level, says the company – as visitors to the Show will be able to see for themselves.

Frima’s latest VarioCooking Center is the 112L, a twin-pan unit, each with a capacity of 25 litres. Like the recently launched 112T, the 112L is a counter top model that can easily be installed on the work bench, on a stand or elsewhere.

The 112L’s two pans offer maximum flexibility. The 50 litre capacity provides sufficient frying surface

and boiling capacity even at peak times. The height of the pan base is ergonomically designed to make it easy for chefs to work with, which is an important benefit compared to tilting pans or other multi-functional appliances.

The 112L bridges the gap between the original, smaller 112 units and the larger 211 and 311 VarioCooking Centers.

Visitors will be able to watch as chefs fry, sear and boil a variety of different meals – and then they will be able to try the results for themselves.

The chefs will also show how fast the Frima can be cleaned, in just a couple of minutes, so it’s ready for the next cooking process.

Frima is exhibiting alongside sister company Rational. Visitors will be able to find out how a kitchen with a Frima and a combi steamer can cook everything that a modern foodservice operation requires – from a minimal footprint, using less energy than conventional appliances.