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no.283 • £4.75 incorporating
May 2020
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Appointments arranged for 12,500 staff THE Care Quality Commission has been contacting adult social care providers on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Care to book appointments for their staff to be tested for COVID19. Since April 10, 24,590 locations have been contacted and 12,422 appointments have been booked for staff. Working with Public Health England alongside local decision makers, including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, CQC’s national infrastructure is being used to book appointments at a national testing centre for any staff who are self-isolating with symptoms of coronavirus. This will give care staff more peace of mind about their own safety and that of their families and the people they care for – and means that those who test negative can return to work and help relieve the pressures services are facing. Ian Trenholm, chief executive of CQC, said: “We’ve taken some really practical steps to support adult social care during a time of unimaginable pressure, and we’ll continue to develop the package of support we’re offering across all sectors to help providers prioritise the safety of people using services and of staff delivering care. “It is especially important –
at a time when staff may be looking after more patients than usual, working outside their normal competencies or in new environments – to highlight the value of safety culture. “Ensuring an open and transparent culture where people can speak up when they have concerns about safety is crucial. ‘Staff must feel confident that they will be listened to – without any fear of blame or reprisal – when raising concerns and reporting incidents. “In these exceptionally challenging times, identifying and reporting risk so that action can be taken to ensure that safe care is maintained will be more important than ever. CQC will be listening, and we want to help you to keep people safe.” As some adult social care staff cannot visit a drive-through testing centre as they do not have access to a car, a scheme is being piloted for staff to order home testing kits. CQC will also be coordinating testing appointments for staff from other sectors who are not already covered by an existing NHS or local authority scheme, including GPs and practice teams. This does not replace existing local systems but will offer an extra option to help make sure that if anyone is struggling to get a test quickly, they have another route.
Nationwide Healthcare Staff
Supermodel seniors take to catwalk
Stocks Hall Nursing Home in Burscough, Lancashire held a surprise retirement party for painter and decorator and lifelong serviceman to the group, Colin Faulkner. He has worked in all six of Stocks Hall’s homes throughout the North West for more than 22 years, painting and decorating numerous lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, offices and outside areas. Colin has helped to ensure that the homes feel warm, comfortable and homely – paramount to health and quality of life. Friends and colleagues showed their appreciation of his service with cards, a farewell gift and a buffet celebration.
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ORCHARD House Care Home in Wisbech hosted its own fashion show for residents to enjoy. Spaced out over the year, the razzle dazzle of Movies beat away the blues, and there are still Beach Chic and Winter Wardrobe shows to look forward to later in the year. This was a fashion show with a twist though – not content with simply putting on a show for the residents to watch, the team at Orchard House encouraged residents to be the stars of their own show by having them dress up as icons from their favourite movies and strutting down the catwalk themselves. Residents were involved from the start, from determining the outfits they wanted to wear to helping design and create their own runway and narrating the event. The home was thrilled when students from the Beauty Department of College of West Anglia (Wisbech) volunteered their time to provide a glamorous Hollywood experience for all by doing their hair and makeup before they took to the stage. The drama department from the College of West Anglia (King’s Lynn) also lent the residential dementia and nursing care home a number of outfits. Registered manager Maxine Bain said: “A fun and engaging event such as this is a great way to improve social inclusiveness, stimulate recall and encourage reminiscence, while also improving self-esteem and the well-being of our residents.”
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