Caring UK November 2011 by Script Media

20/10/11

16:00

Page 1

November 2011

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.186 • £4.75 In association with

Residents left malnourished claims report By Dominic Musgrave ONE in seven nursing homes is breaking the law and failing to give its residents enough food and water, it has been claimed. CQC inspectors found vulnerable patients left malnourished and dehydrated by staff who did not ensure regular meals and water. Of the 599 inspected between October 2010 and July 2011, 10 per cent had ‘moderate’ concerns and four per cent ‘major’ ones. Care homes without nursing faired better, with only five per cent of the 1,139 inspected having ‘moderate’ concerns and two per cent ‘major’. Amanda Sherlock, director of operations at the CQC, pointed out that the majority of homes inspected did comply. She added: “The essential standards say nursing homes must ensure people in their care are given a choice of nutritious food and drink, and all the support they need to eat and drink properly. “The majority of care homes we've inspected do comply with the essential standards. But our inspectors have also seen providers where meals are simply placed in front of frail, vulnerable people, who are least able to complain, with no attempt to help them eat,

until their food is cleared away uneaten. “It is completely unacceptable where people have been losing weight alarmingly - yet no attempt has been made to find out why, to offer them adequate assistance or to refer them to a specialist for help. “In these cases we will respond quickly where we find noncompliance with the essential standards including using our enforcement powers where the quality and safety of care is so compromised that it does not comply with regulations.” The figures follow recent criticism of hospitals by the inspectorate after it was revealed one in five NHS hospitals had failed the elderly by ‘putting paperwork before people’. Lee Sheppard, divisional manager for care homes at apetito, added: “In the 21st century, to learn that some of the country’s most frail and vulnerable people are being denied sufficient nourishment is incredible. “We’re not talking about a complex medical issue here. It’s a basic, essential element of care. The fact that these individuals are in care should not take the element of choice and a love of food away. “As well as being one of life’s simple pleasures, food really is the best medicine.”

Dementia art project launched

Former BBC newsreader Martyn Lewis unveiled the newly revamped clubhouse at a Bath retirement village. And it immediately become the venue for the first Avonpark Village Festival, where eight weeks of planned events including coffee mornings, seminars, wine tasting and lunches firmly established the remodelled facilities as sitting at the heart of the retirement village. Martyn, whose mother lived at Avonpark, met residents before unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion. The facility was acquired by Retirement Villages Ltd last November.

A PIONEERING art therapy project for people with dementia as been launched by a county council. ‘Touching Minds’ takes specially-commissioned artworks into care homes and other venues in Leicestershire, to stimulate adults with dementia. Two tables have been developed to display visual and tactile works of art for people to interact with. There are 22 interchangeable works of art which can be tailored to the specific needs of a group of people or one individual person. A trial of the scheme has shown that people with dementia enjoyed handling and looking at the art and it inspired them to try out art activities. Chris Knifton, senior lecturer in mental health nursing at De Montfort University, said: “The touch tables provide a useful interactive and therapeutic tool for reaching people with more advanced dementia, based on the use of touch and other senses.”

Courtney Thorne fp

17/10/11

17:11

Page 1

24/10/11

15:02

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Home’s staff complete charity’s Inca Trail trek By Dominic Musgrave TWO members of staff from a Doncaster care home have recently returned from taking part in a charity trek of the Inca Trail in Peru. Old Rectory nursing home registered nurse Sandra Brown and training officer Wendy Taylor raised £3,400 each for the trip organised by the British Heart Foundation by holding everything from a bingo night to a raffle. Wendy, who signed up for the 10-day expedition to celebrate her 50th anniversary said it had exceeded her expectations. She added: “Since I’ve got back I have been a little flat because it has taken over a year of mine and my family’s life with all the fundraising events that we have put on, and now that’s it. “I’m already looking at what I might do next. People have told me that the altitude sickness climbing Kilimanjaro is worse than what I suffered in Peru so I have looked at the possibility of perhaps doing something from Land’s End to John O’Groats or London to Brighton. “Some of the people we met out there had walked the Great Wall of China so that might be something I would consider.” Wendy spent an afternoon in bed with the sickness in the two days they had

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 Email: tb@whpl.net National Sales Executives: Rebecca Hazell Tel: 01226 734685 Email: rh@whpl.net Mandy Edwards Tel: 01226 734333 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.uk Fax: 01226 734477

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

Editorial Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478 Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@whpl.net

Sandra Brown and Wendy Taylor prior to setting off to acclimatise, but Sandra was one of the few fortunate ones who did not suffer. She added: “It was horrible. I felt sick and dizzy and had really difficulty in breathing, but fortunately we had a doctor with us and I was fine and good to go the next day. “The hardest part of it all was the concentration because you were either walking uphill or downhill. Some of the ledges were no wider than two feet, and when you looked over the edge there was

a hell of a drop below. “The combination of breathing, walking and being aware of where you put your feet at all times made it tough, but when you felt you couldn’t walk another step there was always someone there to encourage you. “We had portas with us to put up the tents and cook all our food and, once we had eaten breakfast they would pack everything up and run past us to make sure everything was set up for camp before we got there. They were fantastic.”

Group Deputy Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734458 Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ wharncliffepublishing.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur. You can now follow us on Twitter at caringuk

20/10/11

16:01

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Gathering to remember loved ones FRIENDS, relatives, residents and staff old and new gathered at a Purley care home to remember loved ones. The service, conducted by the Reverend Franny Long, was held in the landscaped grounds at Care UK’s Amberley Lodge and celebrated the lives of the people who had lived there since it opened in 1999. Home manager Betty Couch said: “Often people think when someone moves into a home, it is the end of their active and social life. In our homes, the truth is very different. “Residents make new friendships over the years with staff and with other residents and their families, as well as maintaining their own relationships. “It was lovely for all of those who had known someone here to come back and share happy memories of that person’s life with staff and residents who also remember them with great fondness.”

Party time ... A TEA party held at a care home near Brighton raised more than £650 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event at Valerie Manor featured cakes and scones made by the home’s chef, with one of the residents’ daughters also doing face painting for those that visited. Raffle prizes were also donated by several local businesses.

Home scoops award in Food Glorious Food contest PICKING fruit, soup suppers, a coffee morning and a cream tea were just some of the activities that helped a Bridgnorth care home scoop a national award. Guardian Care’s Ditton Priors beat off more than 150 care homes from across the country to take first prize in NAPA’s annual competition, which this year was entitled ‘Food Glorious Food’. Other activities held at the home, which has 21 residents, included a themed week of events, with each day featuring food from a different part of the world including pastas from Italy and croissants from France, chopping vegetables for lunch, a food demonstration by a chef and even a visit from a therapy dog called ‘Spud’. The home then had to submit a detailed record of everything they had done, as well as a selection of photographs. Care manager Sally Evans told Caring UK the home celebrated its success with a party paid for by the company’s managing director. She added: “I’ve been here for two years and last year we were shortlisted to the final 20 in the “music in the Air’ challenge, and the year before the previous manager was also highly commended, so we

Celebrity chef Prue Leith present the Ditton Priors team with their cheque, from the left: Louise Braybrooke, Sally Evans and deputy manager Rachel Steele. have always been there or thereabouts. “But to win was amazing and I could hear the staff cheering in the background when I rang the home from the 1950’s gala afternoon in London that was held for all the finalists. “We are only a little home and the residents couldn’t believe it neither, and were all very excited.” A lot of the activities were organised by co-ordinator Louise Braybrooke, who has since left the home. First prize included £2,000 to go in

the residents’ fund, £50 vouchers for the Co-op, a signed cookery book from Prue Leith and Caroline Waldegrave, a selection of prizes from Outwood Care and a set of reminiscence table mats from Pictures to Share. Sally added: “At a recent residents’ meeting they mentioned they would like a laptop computer with a webcam so they can keep in regular contact with relatives as a lot of them have ones that live abroad. Updating the sensory garden is also on the list of things we would like to do.”

05 Medicare fp

24/10/11

15:35

Page 1

24/10/11

15:05

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Law firm hosts free breakfast conference A LEADING South East law firm is hosting a free breakfast conference offering guidance on how to complete a successful care home transaction. The event, at Furley Page’s Canterbury office on November 16, will include presentations by Liz Brady, a partner in the firm’s commercial property department, and Anthony Chester, a solicitor in the corporate department. They will be giving tips on the pre-sale preparation needed by both buyer and seller; advice on the structure of the sale; what needs to be agreed up-front; what checks need to be made and how to get to completion. Joining them will be guest independent financial adviser Andrew Craddock, from Commercial Financial Solutions UK, who will be offering guidance on the funding and financial considerations of buying and selling a care home.

Kinross home shows off £2m refurbishment A KINROSS care home opened its doors to the local community to show off its £2m refurbishment. The work at The Balhousie Rumbling Bridge, which has taken several months to complete, was carried out by Seddon Construction Ltd and is part of wider plans for major expansion by the group – the largest independent operator in Scotland - including a series of new builds and renovations. Part of the original home, which was originally a coaching inn dating back to the 1800s, was demolished to make way for a purpose-built extension with individual en-suite rooms and light and airy lounge areas for residents, which overlook the gardens. Anne said: “We thought holding an open day would be a great opportunity for the local community to come along and see all the work which has been taking place recently. “We have extensively refurbished the home and added a whole new wing and we can now house up to 45 residents. We are delighted with the additions to the home but the rural surroundings mean the setting is as

tranquil as ever. “The open day was open to everyone from the surrounding communities, who are welcome to come along and have a tour of the home and the beautiful grounds in which the home stands.” Other new developments are the recent opening of Balhousie Coupar Angus and a major extension and refurbishment of Balhousie

Auchterarder. Other new care homes are currently under construction in Arbroath and Huntly. The group has also lodged ambitious plans to create a £14m urban care community on the banks of the River Tay in Perth, which include two care homes, assisted care apartments and a small number of residential properties.

24/10/11

14:52

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Home owners launch action against council By Dominic Musgrave CARE home owners in an Essex coastal town have launched court action against the local council over its decision to slash their funding because of Government cuts. About 50 care homes have joined together in a new group called Caring in Southend to sue the borough council over a five per cent reduction in funding for each resident, which was announced in February. Barry Gelfand, owner of West House in Westcliff, said the cuts have left businesses struggling to make ends meet and are now only offering ‘the bare minimum’. He added: “We are having to cope with increases in VAT and a rise in the minimum wage and national insurance and these are all things that are out of our control. “We are asking for the council to pay a proper fee for the amount of work we undertake. We have to be realistic and we are not expecting a 10 per cent rise, but what we are asking is that they will work with us in partnership, which they keep banging on about when in reality it is all one-way . We are having to cut all the

extras, like entertainment, because we can’t afford it any more. We can’t cut staff, because the council would be the first to criticise us if we did.” The council says Government cuts mean it must reduce spending on adult social care by 12 per cent this financial year. Lesley Salter, Southend councillor responsible for adult social care, health and housing, said: “The council is very disappointed the care homes are taking this action, but has confidence in the strength of its case. “Sadly, the care homes involved in this action did not take up our offer to discuss the fee reduction in the event they felt it would cause financial hardship. “The vast majority of care homes have either reached agreement with us on the new fees, or made submissions as to the detrimental impact the fee reduction would cause. “The council has not passed on the fee reduction to those homes which were able to demonstrate the reduction would affect standards or their financial viability.” A hearing at the High Court in London this month will determine whether the action goes any further.

A care group’s annual Mad Hatters Tea Party has raised more than £6,000 for the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund. Avery Healthcare held events at 26 of its homes across the UK and a raffle at its Northampton head office, where gifts were donated by local and national organisations. The £6,485.96 raised this year was almost double the amount the company raised in 2010. Avery’s managing director John Strowbridge enjoys the party at the Leeming Bar Grange Home with manager Linda DonnellanBeevers.

24/10/11

15:06

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Five-star celebration STAFF at a Kent care home are celebrating after receiving the highest five-star rating from the local council’s environmental health team. Christine Brent, manager of Fairby Grange near Dartford, praised kitchen staff Marian Green and Lorraine Page for their efforts after the home previously had a three-star rating. She added: “It’s taken a lot of hard work but we are delighted to have achieved the highest standard. “We’ve made quite a few subtle changes that have led to us receiving this, such as ensuring the cleaners give the kitchen a really good blast once a month. “Staff must wear their tabards at all times, and we have stopped the cleaners going into the kitchen to empty the bins, which is now done by the cook or her domestic.”

Annual seminar NASHiCS is holding its annual seminar entitled ‘My Home, my life, I’ll take the risks’ at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff on November 9. The event will feature presentations from Dr Kevin Doughty on the use of telecare and technology supporting services in people’s own homes and consider the health and safety implications. There will also be break-out sessions on fire safety inspection for supported living, while the Health and Safety executive will give an update on a range of topics.

Home on the right track A SALISBURY care home which boasts its own steam train in its grounds has scooped a top award. Stratford Court won the best gardens and grounds prize at owner Order of St John Care Trust’s annual flower and vegetable show for homes across Wiltshire. The steam train, carriage and track have been built by handyman Simon Sadd out of old wardrobes that were being thrown out when bedrooms were being refurbished, with commode seats becoming the wheels. Manager Teresa Baldwin told Caring UK the train is used as a reminiscence tool for the residents, many of whom have dementia. She added: “We were getting rid of a few bits of old furniture when Simon told us he could do something with it and came up with the steam train idea. “We have it on the patio and have added things to it like a sign for a railway crossing to make it like an old fashioned train station with chairs around it. On top of the train he has put an area where we can put plants. “The staff take the residents out there so they can reminisce about steam trains, which is proving really useful for those who perhaps

used to work on a train or in a station.” Other developments at the home which helped it win the award include the creation of three allotments growing a variety of vegetables that are used by the chef in the kitchen, and flowers. It also has its own fruit orchard, and spent the £150 it won last year in another competition on raised beds for the residents after they decided that is what they wanted to spend the money on at a meeting. Teresa added: “The gardens are looked after by one of our

residents, Sidney Herrington, who won a special award at the ceremony, but we don’t let him mow the lawns or anything. “We will never be at the stage where we are totally self sufficient because we are a fairly big home of 48 residents and I don’t think we could ever grow enough, but every little helps and it gives them a real sense of achievement. “Next year we are looking into the possibility of getting chickens because we have enough space for a coop, as well as adding to the other bits.”

24/10/11

15:06

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Manager Karen Cooper with Birmingham mayor Anita Ward and her husband Mick.

Transformed care home celebrates tenth birthday A BIRMINGHAM care home that has almost doubled in size since it first opened has celebrated its 10th anniversary. Berwood Court is one of four homes owned by Dukeries Healthcare, and originally opened as a 39-bed site. But when the PCT’s contract for the ground floor rehab unit ended the group refurbished it to the 74 bed home it is today. The transformation was overseen by manager of five years, Karen Cooper, who had to overcome her own personal health problems the year before getting the job. She said: “My perspective on life changed when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour purely by accident the year before I took this job. “When I went to see my doctor I told him I had something in front of my eyes and, when they ran the tests on my brain they found the tumour, which the doctor said had probably been growing for 30 years. “Thankfully it was benign but I will have to have treatment for it twice a year and I also have to inject myself with a growth hormone every night to keep me going, but it has never caused me to take any time off.” When Karen took over the home it

had zero stars and was using agency staff but, using her previous experience of running her own nursing company, she quickly transformed its fortunes around. She added: “Within a year we had three stars from the CQC and, although they have now been scrapped, we have been working hard to maintain that standard in preparation for our next inspection. “There was a low staff morale and the previous manager didn’t really support the home but, with my slant on life following the tumour, I have worked hard with them and we no longer use agencies and have low turnover.” “Like many care homes our focus is changing towards dementia, and we are now gearing activities towards personalisation. We are a mini community in our own right and do everything from keeping baby rabbits and chickens to themed days.” Karen is currently working towards her level seven diploma in business studies to help the home go further, and says the home is looking at the possibility of developing a homecare business to meet Birmingham city council’s changing needs.

24/10/11

15:04

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Labour leader Ed Miliband has created a new role of Shadow Minister for Care and Older People in his shadow cabinet reshuffle following the recent party conference season. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Thousands back ‘Grey Pride’ call for new ministerial role THE appointment of Liz Kendall to the new role follows a ‘Grey Pride’ campaign by housing and care provider Anchor calling on the Government to create a similar role. The group has obtained 80,000 signatures on a petition calling for a Minister, including prominent voices such as Richard Wilson, Jimmy Tarbuck and Anita Dobson. Chief executive Jane Ashcroft said Anchor’s aim is for 100,000 signatures by its presentation to Downing Street in November. She added: “Issues affecting older people have a ripple effect that takes in all of us – not just the over 60s, but their children and grandchildren. And they will come to affect all of us directly in time.

Care services minister Paul Burstow

“These are serious, complex matters which require co-ordination between departments. The introduction of Health and Wellbeing Boards and the Dilnot Commission’s support for the pooling of social and

healthcare budgets show the potential for integrating older people’s services at a local level, to the benefit of all. “But they cover just a fraction of the issues affecting older people and change has to be driven from the very top.” Liz replaced John Healey in Ed Miliband’s reshuffle, which followed the Labour conference in Liverpool. At the conference, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, said: “People’s confidence in care was shaken by the crisis at Southern Cross. “Care for some of the most vulnerable in our society, traded by predatory fund managers who saw elderly people as commodities and dementia as a high-profit market. “We did not act before but we will in future. So we will regulate for the best business practices as well as the best care standards.” Care services minister Paul Burstow

told the Liberal Democrats’ autumn party conference in Birmingham ‘Too many past Governments have dealt with social care by simply kicking it into the long grass’. He added: “I know the current care system needs to change. People tell me that it is unfair, confusing and unpopular, which is why we need to act and ensure the system is sustainable for the long term. “Liberal Democrats in Government took the difficult, but necessary step to secure an extra £2billion a year for social care by the end of this parliament. This extra funding has created a bridge to a new reform system. But that bridge will only work properly if it connects to something at the end. “That’s why the White Paper that we are producing for the spring will seek to address many of the issueas raised, and will help provide a Liberal blueprint for the future of adult social care.”

?? Apetito fp

17/10/11

16:49

Page 1

20/10/11

16:08

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Time to start shouting about the positives ... By Shimon Cohen ‘CARE worker jailed for abusing residents’, ‘Elderly left to cry in pain’, ‘Tied to chairs, sedated or locked up, the ordeal faced by thousands with dementia’. These are just a few of the shocking headlines that have hit the papers this summer. There’s no doubt about it; the care sector has been getting bad press. Most recently a study has revealed that three in four people don’t trust care homes to look after their relatives, so it appears that these horror stories are having an impact on the nation’s view of the sector. Of course, those of us who work in the care sector know that these incidents are rare. The reality is that there are more than 21,000 care homes in the UK, which are home to many thousands of older people, the vast majority of whom have an overwhelmingly positive experience. But while this negative public perception persists, the care sector is going to face real difficulties. These headlines are not only upsetting for those directly

involved: they have led to a situation where people may not be moving their elderly relatives into care homes, and may therefore be denying them the care they need. If homes are to continue attracting enough residents – which, profit making or not, is essential to maintaining economies of scale – the public must feel secure in the quality of care on offer. And the effects go further still: without a strong reputation to stand on, it’s harder to influence government policy around vital issues such as regulation or funding. So what can be done? To protect the interests of residents, their families, the care sector, and the public at large, it’s vital that the real story of social care is told. This means starting a national conversation about what constitutes good care, and demonstrating how the sector is constantly striving to develop expertise. It means engaging with media and decision makers, both national and local, and showing them the good examples already out there. It means developing

relationships with the local community so that they understand what you do, and how you benefit the locality, thus encouraging them to become public ambassadors for the home. Increased support for individual homes on a local level across the country would be inextricably linked to the nation’s perception of the sector at large. It also means that when things do go wrong, there must be a quick, honest and transparent response. A potential negative story such as a law-breaking employee can quickly spiral out of control, and sticking your head in the sand won’t make it go away. Having a plan in place for what to do and say in the event of a potential crisis pays dividends in avoiding irreparable damage to reputation, and the knock on financial impact. Of course, times are tough and budgets are tight, but that makes effective communication all the more important. What’s vital is that communication is considered at every stage of decision making, whether that’s communication

Shimon Cohen with residents, their families, the media or any other stakeholders. Public Relations can no longer be regarded as an optional extra. In these challenging times, it is integral to ensuring people understand you, your organisation, and indeed the value of the whole care sector. Care homes provide a fantastic service to their communities, and it’s time to start shouting about it. Shimon Cohen is chairman of the PR Office.

Safelinc fp

17/10/11

16:59

Page 1

20/10/11

16:08

Page 1

CARINGLETTERS

‘Declining pool of qualified nurses’ Why the numbers just don’t add up IAN MATTHEWS, founder director of Avery Healthcare

LINDA KEARNS, manager, Pensby Hall Care Home, Wirral I FULLY agree with your article regarding the future staffing of care homes. On the Wirral, this problem is being compounded by the council imposing a 9.5 per cent reduction in fees, putting care homes back to fees that were agreed as far back in 2005. We operate two care homes with a combined capacity of 54 beds. We are a minimum wage employer, not from choice but from necessity. Our staff turnover is high for no other reason than our staff cannot afford to maintain a reasonable lifestyle on the hourly rate we can afford to pay. Most of the new staff we take on are not experienced carers and, as soon as they join us, are put on to industry approved training programmes. But, as soon as they are qualified, many of them leave to pursue other care careers like domiciliary as the hourly rate is fractionally better. In addition to this, we have felt it impossible to sign up to the new fees dictated by the local authority. The numbers just don’t add up. Fortunately we have managed to maintain good occupancy while charging the historic fee level.

I fully endorse the views of Sheila Scott, NCA chief executive, on the front of the September issue. I would expand on and raise a few more issues: 1. There is a declining pool of qualified nurses. UKBA will make it increasingly difficult to admit overseas nurses to the country and many from Malaysia will be forced to return home. There are insufficient nurses coming forward through the nursing schools. 2. Care homes are treated as a

supplier rather than a partner in providing care. They simply expect to be able to reduce prices between five and 10 per cent, which is maybe the case if the provider is supplying nuts and bolts. But in a sector where labour costs are often 60 per cent of the fee, with interests costs being another 20 per cent of the fee, there is little room for such cuts. They will blame the banking crisis when capacity within the sector declines, or they will go to Central Government for billions of pounds under costly PFI schemes to build their own homes, which are known to often cost twice the amount

charged by private care homes. 3. There is a cost which everyone is ignoring – the additional cost of funding pensions which will hit providers as very few existing providers provide any pension benefits. 4. As care home fees paid by local authorities decline, in some cases it is proposed to less than £300 per week a fee, which is £200 below the Rowntree true cost of care. Increasingly, local authority fees should be regarded as a contribution to an overall cost of care and be part of a reconfiguration of fees to become a ‘co-payment’ scheme.

‘Owners, in effect, are subsidising the care’ CELIA DUNCAN, director/ owner, Dryfemount Care Home, Lockerbie IN response to Sheila Scott’s comments on the front page of the last issue of Caring UK I couldn't agree more. I own a single 31-bedded operation where costs are even higher due to being unable to tap into other owned homes and share costs ie if nearby, the same care manager and activities co-ordinator. Your article clearly states the rising costs in all areas with no increase in fees, which in effect means care home owners are subsidising the care. I try to pride myself in maintaining my home but, as costs spiral upwards and out of control, I fear I will have to cut back. Other homes (already suffering) will close and potential buyers will be unable to do so as their costs will make the home an even less viable prospect. Residents are coming in more frail and needing more

care input on day one, with some at times requiring three carers. Due to static fees and a payment system that sees one fee for all, and not a continually assessed system, means no fee allowance for extra staff, or increase in their wages. Staff are already pushed to their limit, with extra time spent with residents a thing of the past. The extra equipment needed, the heating costs (with some residents constantly tampering with their heating control to have it at full blast regardless), the inability to cut back on food, the necessity for costly food supplements, the demands by the inspecting bodies etc ... makes it a rather doom and gloom business to be in. All of this affects the ability to raise the wages even more for a job that is quite frankly insultingly under-paid yet unequivocally much needed and admired. And lastly, “When can you start?” is happening now.

Share your views with us ... Email: dm@whpl.net or send them to Caring UK, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

?? Beaucare fp

17/10/11

16:51

Page 1

?? BWB fp

17/10/11

16:51

Page 1

24/10/11

15:12

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Residents can enjoy a tipple in home’s bar STAFF at a Country Antrim care home have transformed an activities room into a bar for the residents to enjoy a tipple. The new facility at Priory Group’s Ben Madigan facility in Newtownabbey has been named Angels’ Cove by the residents, and features beer pumps, optics, pint glasses, ash trays and even a disco ball if any residents fancy a dance. Social and leisure organiser Oonagh Duffy told Caring UK there has been a positive reaction to the pub by the residents. She added: “The managers of the home want to try and create a different area for residents to go each day and, through talking to the residents, found that many of them would visit their local pub to meet with friends. Some are down there all the time playing cards and having a drink. “The handyman at another of the group’s homes nearby built the bar and we bought the tables and chairs from a pub that was closing in Newry. “Others have donated glasses and optics or boxes of beers and soft

drinks. Families have also helped out by donating a few things to us and bring in drinks for their loved one to enjoy when they want it. “We also plan to serve the residents’ lunch in there now and again as a bit of a change from the dining room, and the chef will serve up traditional food such as fish and chips.” The area will continue to be used for activities and also for events such as birthday parties, while the managers are also looking into the possibility of installing satellite television so the residents can enjoy watching sport. Work currently ongoing at the home includes turning part of the dining room into a traditional corner shop, while an activities room on the dementia unit has been turned into a nursery. Oonagh added: “We do a lot of doll therapy with the residents that have dementia and the nursery is a very calm and relaxing environment complete with cots, which has also been a hit with the residents. The whole idea of the rooms is to keep the residents as stimulated as we possibly can.”

A long-serving carer has retired from a Bristol nursing home – but she is still helping out. Liz Crowley worked as a care assistant at Riversway for more than 11 years. However, even retirement could not keep her away. She has already been back to the home, a purpose-built facility for 69 people, as a volunteer to help with activities.

Jan Wilkins, general manager, said: “Liz has a wonderful personality and a smile for everyone. During the years she worked at Riversway she always gave 100 per cent to her residents and was a well loved member of staff. Both staff and residents are delighted she has continued to help out through volunteering.” Pictured: Liz Crowley at her retirement party.

Speech to address future funding of social care ANDREW Dilnot will look at the future funding of social care in his keynote speech at the annual ECCA conference this month. ADASS president Peter Hay will cover the commissioner’s perspective, while William Laing, Laing and Buisson founder, will offer an overview of care sector finances at the event, which this year has a title

of ‘Quality. What’s it worth?’ An all-day exhibition and afternoon seminars will offer product and service advice, with the focus on practical ways in which providers can improve the quality of care for service users. The conference takes place at the Bloomsbury Holiday Inn, London, on November 16.

24/10/11

15:10

Page 1

CARINGAPPOINTMENTS

New manager welcomed AN AWARD-winning Warwickshire retirement village has welcomed a new manager. Malkit Sagoo will oversee the day to day operation of Lime Tree Village, and supporting residents and staff. He has almost two decades of experience in property and care having worked for a number of

housing associations, a charitable trust and care home developers. He is now using his knowledge and skills to manage Lime Tree Village, a fully established retirement village Lime Tree Village, which is made up of 150 privatelyowned homes for the over 55s, is owned and operated by Retirement Villages Ltd.

Care provider strengthens its management team Rebecca Bray

Firm boosts its team SAVILLS has boosted its healthcare team with the appointment of Rebecca Bray as an associate director who will be based in the Wimborne office. She brings over 20 years of experience in the industry with a particular specialism in commercial valuations and landlord and tenant advice. Rebecca has joined from BNP Paribas Real Estate where she worked for seven years in the valuation team with a focus on healthcare. Andrew Surgenor, director of healthcare, said: “Rebecca brings a wide range of healthcare expertise and strong industry contacts to our team, and her appointment extends our national coverage, strengthening our presence in the south and west, and our ability to service our clients needs in those regions.”

THE UK’s largest independent national domiciliary care provider has strengthened its senior management with the appointment of Phil Pegler as chief executive officer. He takes over the role at Carewatch from David Lyon, who has been appointed vice-chairman of its parent company, Carewatch

Holdings Limited. Phil has extensive operational experience in managing and developing multi-site healthcare and leisure businesses, latterly as MD of business development at General Healthcare Group, parent company of BMI Healthcare. Previously he was Operations Director for FTSE 100 pub operator,

Punch Taverns PLC. Carewatch has also recently strengthened its national network with the acquisition of six partner franchise businesses, adding operations in nine London boroughs, three in North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Spellthorne, Greenwich, Newark and in Edinburgh, taking its total number of branches to 154.

Key appointments for homecare agency

Craig Henthorn

HOMECARE agency Caremark has made five key appointments to its central support team. Craig Henthorn joined as the new managing director in August, having had 15 years’ experience within the franchise industry. Sean Cragg, who has worked for the company for five years, has taken on the responsibility for international franchise

development, while Jo Oyama, who has previously worked with several charities, has been given a new role within the care sector. Karen Pennington joins Caremark as regional support manager within the homecare sector with a background of more than 10 years in franchising, and Jenny North will manage the firm’s development of specialist services.

Caroline named as new director BARCHESTER Healthcare has announced the appointment of a director of regulation, as well as two newly-promoted senior regional operations directors. Caroline Roberts has been promoted from head of regulation to the newly created post. She will head up a team of five, which includes an apprentice to support them with increasing amounts of essential administration. The two regional directors, Liz Moran and Roberto Marconi, will oversee part of the company’s regional operations across the UK.

Optima Care makes appointment OPTIMA Care has appointed Mike Gatsi as director of clinical services and governance.

Garry Nightingale has taken the reins of Overbury House in Wroxham following a position as manager of another care home in Norwich. He has more than a decade’s experience in the sector.

He is an experienced senior clinician and manager with 15 years in the NHS and five years in the independent sector. Prior to joining Optima Care, Mike was development director at Cygnet Hospital.

Top trainer appointed AN award-winning teaching care centre has appointed one of Wales’ top trainers. Anita Curley, herself a gold medalist at the Wales Care Awards, has been appointed head of workforce development at the Pendine Park care organisation’s Wrexham training centre, Smartcare. As well as providing in-house training for Pendine’s own staff, Smartcare also offers innovative

courses in personal development, supervisory, mandatory and regulatory training, for the hundreds of other care workers employed in the private sector. Prior to her full-time appointment, Anita worked for the firm on a consultancy basis, while she shared her time as a tutor and assessor in health and social care at Llysfasi College.

19 Activities Display fp

20/10/11

14:37

Page 1

Systems Required fp

17/10/11

16:59

Page 1

20/10/11

16:11

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Care company is set to hike fees by up to 8% By Dominic Musgrave A FORFAR-based care company is to increase its fees by up to eight per cent at the majority of its homes. The four of the 22 homes which will escape the rise are Clement Park in Dundee, the Balhousie Coupar Angus, and the Grange and Dalguise in Balbeggie. Tony Banks, chairman of Balhousie Care Group, blamed the increase on ‘inadequate funding” from local authorities which he claims is bringing instability to the care sector and putting care home operators in an impossible situation. He added: “Local authorities make a contribution towards personal and nursing care for residents who qualify for financial support but this year a freeze by COSLA meant care homes received absolutely no increase for council-funded clients — for us, this accounts for two thirds of the people in our care. “With an ever-increasing cost base due to inflation, a rise in VAT that cannot be recovered, an increase in

the minimum wage and soaring costs for fuel, food and utilities, unfortunately this means unavoidable fee increases for private care home residents. “The decision to review our rates was not taken lightly and new cost management initiatives have kept the increase to the absolute minimum while still allowing us to continue to reinvest in our homes and ensure that standards in our care homes remain high. “Given the current fee negotiations that are taking place regarding next year's fees, we hope COSLA recognises the seriousness of the situation.” News of the rise in fees follows the launch of a report by Key Retirement Solutions which revealed more than 80,000 elderly people paying for private care at home or in residential homes run out of money each year. It added that the funding squeeze applies to the estimated 165,000 paying for their own care in residential homes and around 180,000 paying for care in their own home.

Award nomination for Tracy A LEADING figure in the development of a Wigan community village for older people has been nominated for a national healthcare award. Tracy Paine, operations director at Belong, is one of three people in the country to get through to the final in the healthcare design champion of the year category at the Building Better Healthcare Awards. Belong Wigan is one of four villages completed since 2007 and Tracy has taken the lead on all of these projects, described by the judges as “a new lifestyle concept where older people can feel at home in their own private space while being in close proximity to a range of facilities and activities.” She is also chair of the National Care Forum's older people and dementia committee, giving her the opportunity to link health and social care experiences with other providers

Tracy Paine and help to spread good practice. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on November 10.

Residents from three homes compete in sports day RESIDENTS at three of a Clactonon-Sea care group’s homes unleashed their competitive spirit as they took part in a sports day. The residents, ranging from 80 to 103, from Hunt Healthcare’s Cavendish, Gairloch and Winsford House facilities, competed against each other in everything from obstacle, wheelchair egg and spoon, skipping, novelty and

three-legged races. The day proved so popular that it is set to become an annual event on the calendar. A separate sponsored 14-mile walk and wheelchair ride from Clacton to Walton Pier and back in aid of Help the Heroes raised more than £1,000, with the residents wearing their war medals and memorabilia.

Miele fp

17/10/11

16:56

Page 1

20/10/11

16:11

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Ann’s new business inspired by her mum A STRUGGLE to find smart comfortable clothes for an elderly relative with mobility problems has inspired a former care home manager to launch a new business. Ann Lomas launched Assisted Living Clothing after conducting research into the needs of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s sufferers and others with mobility problems and gleaning detailed feedback from care workers and family members. Ann’s partner’s 89-year-old mother Betty Hunt, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and has had a series of mini strokes, is the inspiration for the business – and the problems Ann and her sister-in-law Jackie Pendergast experienced trying to find clothes for her are the seed which spawned what is set to become a successful enterprise. Jackie said: “My mum has always loved wearing beautiful clothes and was always very smartly dressed. “Because she can’t move she’s very rigid in the arms so it was very difficult to dress her. At first I bought her clothes which were a couple of sizes too big. They had to open all the way from top to bottom but the continual tugging to get them on made the button holes too large. I then asked a dressmaker to design some clothes with more access around the armholes. The dresses were beautiful but didn’t work. “At this point Ann came to visit and

Ann Lomas I explained the problems. She took the dresses away with her, adapted them by making the armholes bigger and creating a sleeve which flapped over the arm. Ann also designed a dress pattern which incorporated sleeves without armhole seams. The staff’s enthusiasm on a questionnaire Ann created led to the new company being launched so she can help thousands of people in similar circumstances. Jackie added: “The dresses are made from fabric which is easy to wash and doesn’t need ironing and which is comfortable to wear. We also had a similar problem with nightdresses. Some of the ladies in my mum’s care home had nightdresses which opened at the back which is not very dignified. “Again, Ann set to work and came up with a crossover and tie nightdress which is easy for the carers to use, comfortable for my mum and looks lovely.”

20/10/11

17:08

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Care homes nationwide have been doing their bit for charity over the past few weeks. Dominic Musgrave rounds up some of the events that have taken place.

Charity begins at homes ... MORE than 70 children from a local infant’s school attended an interactive workshop at The Tunbridge Wells Care Centre on World Alzheimer’s Day. The workshop focused on the aging process and how it affects people. This marked the second trip by children, aged between six and eight, from St James’ Infant School to the 70-bed specialist dementia home. Pupils took part in a craft and an education activity, created and facilitated by the home’s two full time activity coordinators. The children and residents designed messages for the back of balloon tags in preparation for a mass balloon release. They also took part in an interactive workshop where they learned about some of the things that can happen in old age, such as loss of mobility, visual and audible impairment. The event also raised £100 for the Alzheimer’s Society. A bunting of support four-day event was held at Greenacres residential home in Banstead. Organiser Jean Williams said: “The event involved not just our care home residents but also their families, friends and carers. Residents wrote cards and messages and really

Waterloo House staff release balloons. enjoyed getting involved in the preparation - this is a great way to involve everyone in what is a very worthwhile cause. “World Alzheimer’s Day gives us an opportunity to demonstrate that people with dementia can still make choices and remain valuable members of our community.” Alpha Care Homes' Waterloo House raised £72 for charity by holding a balloon race for staff, residents and their families, while a similar event at Appletree Court in Edgware, which saw balloons released with personalised messages on them, raised approximately £510.

For Dementia Awareness Week, a North West group of care homes has hosted memory fairs to celebrate the lives and memories of its residents and neighbours. Held for the second consecutive year, each CLS Care Services event took residents, visitors and staff on a different route down memory lane with highlights including celebrations of local history and the 1940s, as well as holidays, food through the ages and weddings. They raised more than £800 for the Alzheimer’s Society. At the fairs, residents and visitors were invited to write down their fond memories from years gone by, which

were pinned onto special ‘memory walls’, along with photographs and treasured items from the past, for everyone to enjoy. The company’s managing director Robert Black said: “Residents enjoyed talking about their memories with guests, sharing tales of childhood, family life and the 1940s. “Remembering and talking about good times and proud moments in our lives is important. It helps us all to reflect on our lives and connect with the people around us. It also becomes more important to us as we get older.” Local historians also brought along artefacts, ranging from old toys and games and household items to objects associated with local industries such as mining. And Coverage Care Services marked the event by creating a memory book from all of its service users with a copy presented to each home. Stories shared ranged from a former boxer who remembered fighting in Madison Square Gardens, to a another man who was been flown by Concorde to new York to judge the World Cheese Championships. The memory books will be used to stimulate conversations and in reminiscence activities.

Residents ‘travel’ in comfort RESIDENTS at a Skelmersdale care home took an international trip with a special world food event. As part of a ‘cruises and holidays’ theme adopted by Birch Green for August, residents, family and staff were all involved in the multi-sensory journey, from the comfort of the home.

Staff dressed up in a variety of traditional costumes, and there were opportunities to taste foods from countries including Malta, Ireland, America, Turkey and India. Traditional flags and costumes were on display, while the day closed with a specially themed quiz and dancing to Irish and Latin American music.

Minister says excellence plan ditched HEALTH minister Paul Burstow has confirmed that the CQC will not be proceeding with its ‘excellence’ award following the feedback received during its recent consultation.

It found that although there was enthusiasm for the concept of an award, there was not support for the details of how it would be implemented.

24/10/11

15:12

Page 1

Owners facing higher costs CARE home owners face higher costs after new regulations came into force which will affect more than a million agency workers, And anyone who tries to structure assignments to avoid the regulations could face a compensation claim of up to £5,000 – in addition to other claims, according to Kelly Sayers, partner and head of employment services at Prettys law firm. The regulations, which came into force on October 1, mean that after 12 weeks on assignment, agency workers will be entitled to the same pay and conditions as permanent employees doing comparable work. Kelly said: “For any care home that engages agency workers the new regulations could have costly consequences. “It is essential they fully understand these complex regulations and seek appropriate advice to ensure they do not fall foul of them or inadvertently contravene them. “Care home providers need to consider

Kelly Sayers how the regulations affect their business. Their impact will vary according to the number of agency workers the care home engages. “Systems need to be put in place to comply with the regulations and cut the risk of an agency worker making a claim against the care home at an employment tribunal. It will also help them to successfully defend against a claim should they find themselves in that situation.” She added that the regulations could increase the cost of hiring a temporary

worker by around 10 per cent and will not only affect every organisation that uses agency workers but also the freelancers, contractors and temporary workers who find work via such ‘umbrella’ agencies. The legislation is not retrospective, so for those agency workers already on assignment, the 12 week qualifying period started from October 1. “For most care homes that use agency staff, the regulations require a fresh approach to taking on staff and how they work with their supplier agencies,” Kelly added. “Where workers are hired through an agency, the onus is on the care provider hiring them to ensure the agency is kept up-to-speed with their terms and conditions so that the agency workers – after 12 weeks in one job - get the same treatment as if they had been recruited directly. However, it is important that care providers are aware that the 12 weeks qualifying period can be accumulated even if the agency worker is only working a few hours a week.”

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

In this issue: Controversial

home set to open again Page 26

Rights,

responsibilities, risk and regulation ... Page 27

Bank agrees

funding for providers Page 28

20/10/11

16:12

Page 1

CARINGCOMMERCE

Controversial home set to open again By Dominic Musgrave

Two local VIPs opened Care UK’s new flagship dementia home in Crowborough, East Sussex. The ceremonial ribbon at the new, 74-bed nursing home was cut by 86-year-old volunteer Joan Brookbank and local schoolgirl Abbie Goldsmith. Joan founded the local Alzheimer’s Society branch after her husband developed the condition, while Abbie won a competition at Sir Henry Fermor Church

of England Primary School to name the home. To celebrate the opening the new home was given a village fete feel. Residents, relatives and staff joined in the fun which included a chocolate fountain, a craft market, complementary therapy stalls, magic tricks and jazz standards performed by the Gershwin Gang. Picture: Abbie Goldsmith and Joan Brookbank cut a ribbon to mark Heather View’s official opening.

A SWANAGE care home that closed almost two years ago amid a wave of protest is to reopen again after a private company agreed to take on the long-term lease. Plans for a total refurbishment of the former James Day residential home in Swanage have been unveiled by local care provider Agincare. This follows extensive work by a joint planning group set up by the county council for the purpose of exploring solutions for up-to-date care facilities for older people in the area. The group included a range of organisations with an interest in its future, including the Save James Day Home Action Group, the Swanage Senior Forum, local councils, and the NHS. Derek Luckhurst, chairman and owner of Agincare, said: “As a Dorset-based company, Agincare are proud to be working with Dorset

county council and the Swanage community on the agreed proposal. “Our team are very excited at this opportunity to utilise our significant resources and national experience to bring the James Day site ‘back to life’ and to create a range of local service provision to meet the current and future needs of the town.” The proposal from the group includes a staged refurbishment and re-development of the existing building to provide, in the first phase, higher level residential care for older people , including care for people with dementia. This will be followed by a second phase to provide nursing care at the site. The proposal also includes the development of a “community hub” which will provide a base for Agincare’s home care and meal delivery services, as well as other facilities to support the community. The building is expected to be refurbished and ready for occupation by next spring.

New £10m nursing home will create 80 jobs Acting on a joint basis for the administrator of Fassaroe Limited, DC Care and CB Richard Ellis have completed the sale of Fassaroe House in Kent for an undisclosed figure. The Deal home is currently registered for 28 EMI service users within a detached property with 27 single bedrooms, and enjoys excellent occupancy levels. Acting for the administrator of the limited company, and on behalf of the LPA receivers of Fassaroe House, the home has been sold to an existing Surrey based existing home owner within eight weeks of going to the market.

Day out funded by fete RESIDENTS of a Maidstone care home enjoyed a day out to Kent Life Museum, which was paid for by a successful fundraising event. St Martins, part of The Abbeyfield Kent Society, held a successful summer fete which raised more than £1,000, and residents decided to split the money between days out and a donation to the Society’s Who Cares?

Initiative. On the day trip residents learned all about local life in years gone by; one of the topics of discovery was Kent’s hop picking heritage and several of the residents reminisced about holidays spent hop picking and recalled spending their time in specially prepared ‘hoppers huts’, which were on display at the museum.

CARE UK has revealed plans for a new £10m, 90-bed nursing home in the Colinton district of Edinburgh that will create approximately 80 new jobs. The structure which currently stands on the site – an old Navy, Army and Air Force Institute (NAAFI) store – will be demolished and the new home is expected to be completed in 2013. Set in a two-acre site surrounded by

woodland, the building will be based on an innovative design that is informed by the latest research from Stirling University into helping older people and those with dementia to maintain a fulfilling life. The home, which will have a strong community feel, will feature a coffee shop, cinema, library and hairdressing salon all set around a central courtyard.

60-bed home opens in Sheffield A NEW £4.5m, 60-bed care home has opened its doors in the Shire Green area of Sheffield. Park View, which was designed and built by LNT Construction, boasts a central courtyard atrium and a cinema room.

All bedrooms are en-suite with wet room facilities and include freeview, dvd players, TVs and built in fridges as standard. The home will be operated by Sanctuary Housing.

24/10/11

15:54

Page 1

CARINGCOMMERCE

Rights, responsibilities, risk and regulation ... By Stuart Marchant, Bates Wells and Braithewaite A SERIES of papers have just been published in a study commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s into “rights, responsibilities, risk and regulation” in adult social care and I recommend them to all involved in this area. I say this not only because I wrote one of the papers (the availability of 28 pages of free commentary on your business area from a lawyer doesn’t come around very frequently), but because the papers present the reader with an interesting and dynamic analysis of a key care topic not often confronted head on. It wasn’t necessarily intended that the papers be published when they were commissioned. They were sought as part of a scoping exercise exploring the connected themes of rights, responsibilities, risk and regulation in the lives of younger and older adults

A state-of-the-art private care community will be coming to Brentwood in 2013 after planning permission was given for the 99-apartment Signature development. Twenty four will be dedicated to providing dementia care and apartments will range in size to suit all care needs, from spacious studios to one and two bedroom

who use care and support. The fact that they have been published gives a wider audience the chance to comment on this potential work-stream and feed in ideas about what makes a difference. The various themes emerging from the papers – society’s attitude to risk, the development of personalisation, the tension between rights, freedoms and regulation when it comes to encouraging positive risks – were discussed at a round table session at the end of July. Given that the group had an enlightened view on the topic, it was perhaps not surprising to me how positive people were about the desire to improve lives through the greater promotion of autonomy. But it is easier to promote the principle than to identify the best way to get there, hence the work ahead for JRF. There are obvious barriers to positive risk taking and risk manage-

apartments, which are ideal for couples. There will also be several apartments available for respite care. The development will also feature its own cinema room and a Signature Bistro. Work on the development started in August, and people start to move in from spring 2013.

Deal secures future of homes RESIDENTS and staff at two Sheffield care homes have had their futures assured after the properties were bought by SheffCare in a deal worth more than £1m. The two 42 bedroom properties at Grange Crescent in Sharrow and Midhurst Road in Foxhill, were previously owned by South Yorkshire Housing Association but, when local authority funding came to an end this year, the future of both sites was in doubt. Chief executive of the not for profit care provider, Duncan Bell, said: “We knew it was in the city's interests to save both these excellent homes and we are both proud and delighted to

have been able to reach an agreement with SYHA on their sale. “Equally importantly, we are safeguarding the jobs of around 90 staff at both homes. At a time when the social care sector is under severe pressure, there are advantages to being part of a not for profit organisation that can reinvest any surplus back into maintaining and improving services.” The firm, which runs 11 homes in the city, has appointed Diana Oak its new quality assurance and training manager. Diana who is currently the manager of Castelayn in Gleadless, has more than 30 years experience in the sector.

ment in adult social care and it is both sad and ironic that two of these should, if done well, facilitate rather than inhibit good practices. Over-zealous regulation and a fear of safeguarding contribute to a conservative approach to risk despite the rhetoric that comes out of CQC and local authorities. The effect is to frustrate individuals, their families and providers and more widely encourage the development of a society that walks on eggshells around people who are old or have a disability rather than embracing them and, dare I say it, enjoying life with them. As an exercise in reflection on the important principles in care planning for service users, or if you want to add to the debate, Google ‘JRF rights responsibilities risk regulation’ or go to http://www.jrf.org.uk/work/work area/rights-responsibilities-riskregulation.

New home to create 50 jobs A NEW £4.75m care home on the outskirts of Huddersfield will create approximately 50 new jobs when it opens next spring. Meridian Healthcare’s The Oakes is being built on the site of a former council run care home, and will provide accommodation for 60 residents over two floors, 22 of which will have their own patio doors. Facilities will include a cinema, sensory garden and several lounges of differing sizes for the residents’ use. The new home will be managed by Mark Birchenough, who currently runs another of the group’s sites near Leeds. “The building is ahead of schedule, but that can always change with the winter months coming up. “We expect to commence the recruitment process at the beginning of next year, but the good thing is that the home is next to large council estate so we have an instant source of labour. “A lot of training will then be provided to ensure the staff are up to speed in time for the residents’ arrival, which we expect to start next April.”

20/10/11

16:13

Page 1

CARINGCOMMERCE

Bank agrees funding for providers By Dominic Musgrave

£1m investment brings jobs NEW jobs will be created after a care provider unveiled plans to invest £1m into creating 12 new en-suite bedrooms at an Alderley Edge facility. Bringing the total number of bedrooms at the care home to 62, the extension at Brookview has been commissioned after Bupa identified a demand for high quality care in the area. The proposed new building is three storeys high, with four bedrooms at each level, and will be built in the same style and in keeping with the current main building.

Maureen Southern, home manager, said: “Our aim is to help residents maintain as much of their independence as possible whilst providing them with Bupa’s highest standards of care and service. “This extension will allow us to provide a much-needed service to people throughout the area and we are very proud to be able to offer such first class bedrooms and facilities.” Work is expected to be completed in March.

Recognition from care group A LINCOLNSHIRE care group’s quality standards and good practice has been recognised by Investors in People. Country Court Care, which was founded more than 20 years ago and now has eight care homes and a domiciliary agency, has a team of 296 employees. Business development manager Joe

Wey said: “We encourage independence and provide a safe, friendly, caring support service from appropriately trained staff. “In addition, we provide a rapidly developing service, Country Court Homecare, which provides care in clients’ own homes and is a significant part of the operation.”

CLYDESDALE Bank has agreed to provide £22.3m of funding to two Scottish care home providers. An £18m package has been agreed with Glasgow care home provider Lambhill Court Ltd and a further £4.3m for Buckreddan Care Centre in Kilwinning. The funding for Lambhill Court Ltd will provide security for the business as it rolls out its growth plans in Glasgow over the next two to five years. The group currently owns and runs five care homes across the city, providing residential and nursing care to 400 elderly people. Last year the business, which employs more than 350 people, reported a turnover in excess of £7.5m. In April, Lambhill Court Ltd opened Cumbrae House in the west end of the city, which is registered to offer full time care to 66 individuals. Mark Wilson, senior business development partner for South West Scotland at Clydesdale Bank has been working with Lambhill Court Ltd. He said: “The care home sector is one of growing importance to

Clydesdale Bank, and this new business deal has been a significant milestone for us as we look to develop more partnerships in this area.” Buckreddan in Kilwinning provides nursing and residential care for residents across Ayrshire. A family-run business, it was founded in 1986 by Andy Fitzimmons with the proceeds of a redundancy package from his previous job as a miner. The centre is managed by his wife Theresa, a registered nurse, and the couple’s son, Ford, also recently joined the business in a managerial role. Andy said: “Since we established Buckreddan in 1986 our approach has been to grow steadily, expanding the facilities we offer the local community and enhancing the services we provide. “Our aim over the next five years is to grow the business further and for that reason we took the decision that the time was right to change our funding partner.” Clydesdale Bank supplied funding to both firms as part of its Investing for Growth strategy – an initiative which helps successful businesses grow and develop.

Healthcare investments ‘holding up well’ By David Downing A COMBINATION of increased demand and investor friendly lease terms has helped healthcare property and more specifically care homes to keep their value, where others have suffered as an ongoing result of the credit crunch. According to the IPD Healthcare Index, between 2007 and 2009 healthcare investments showed a relatively modest rate of return of 2.1 per cent per annum. Not bad, when compared to an average minus eight per cent return on all property investment in the same period. Part of the reason the healthcare sector has gained such popularity with investors is due to its independence from discretionary spending, longer lease terms i.e. 2530 years and RPI based rent reviews. That is not to say there haven’t been challenges within the sector, with a number of high profile businesses experiencing difficulties over the last 12 months including Orchard Care Homes, who entered

a CVA process and Ancyra Healthcare, who went into receivership. Most operators will have had to face pressures on fees, increased costs due to regulatory changes and new development being curtailed by the difficulty in obtaining finance. Some have referred to the current market conditions as ‘the perfect storm’, with numerous elements coming together to make developing and operating a successful care home increasingly difficult. However, there are still opportunities to be had in the sector. Demand for elderly care spaces is fast outstripping supply. Research by HPC suggests that over the period 1991 – 2010 the net shortfall of beds available in the UK, against the increase in the population of 85 years and over needing care, was almost 66,000. The same research suggests that last year there were 8,093 new beds registered, however 4,360 beds were lost through closures, giving an actual increase of just 3,733.

Much of the lost stock was poorer in condition and there remains a concern that many of the developments built in the boom of the early 1990s are now nearing 20 years of age and may no longer be truly fit for purpose, further exacerbating the problem. Those who are able to capitalise on the opportunities and make up the shortfall will be operators who can be flexible, have funding available and move rapidly when a suitable site arises. We have already seen developers coming back into the market and acquiring prime sites, in some cases without the need for planning permission. In the last nine months McCarthy and Stone has exchanged on six sites in the north and secured planning consent on six others. The opportunities may not always be obvious; increasingly opportunities are often in urban locations and close to local amenities. Other brownfield opportunities may arise through local authorities selling off surplus land throughout the country.

David Downing The opportunities are out there for those ready, willing and able to grasp them. David Downing is a partner at Sanderson Weatherall LLP

20/10/11

16:14

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Are you protecting the people who use your service? By Sean Cassidy

New warehouse leads to increase in lines and stock

‘Care home staff suspended as residents not kept safe from harm’ Yorkshire Post, August 13 THIS headline may become more and more common as CQC continue to focus on MCA/DOLS as a main part of their inspection methodology. There has been a number of high ranking MCA/DOLS appeal court cases that have had judgments in favour of the person who has been receiving a care package. These cases are proving to be very financially detrimental to the providers of care. Professionals and carers at all levels in the care sector are struggling to come to terms with how they must protect individuals and prevent depravations of liberty taking place. A recent study in the September edition of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ magazine ‘The Psychiatrist’ showed that there are existing levels of confusion that could lead to unequal access to care and safeguarding for individuals who have similar needs. The study looked at a group of

lawyers, psychiatrists, best interest assessors and independent mental health assessors. They asked to give their judgments on 12 deprivations of liberty situations. They were only able to agree on one. There is recurrent evidence appearing that shows there are large gaps in understanding MCA and DOLS. If providers are not ensuring MCA/DOLS are robustly knitted into their governance structures then they have a potential time bomb waiting to go off, which could prove financially devastating for their organisation. Sean Cassidy is managing director of Networkcare UK.

BUYERS of everyday consumable products for care homes can now enjoy additional stock and increased lines from leading supplier Gompels Healthcare, as the company’s additional 2,880 square metre high bay warehouse becomes fully operational. The new facility, which links in with a recently installed purchasing and distribution management system, was officially opened earlier this year at Gompels’ premises in Melksham, Wiltshire, and more than doubles the company’s total storage capacity. The building stands adjacent to the main offices and existing warehouse facility and boasts 8,500 pallet spaces which rise up an impressive 14 metres in height. A million people in the UK now use Gompels Healthcare products and the company goes from strength to strength.

Over 1,000 lines are currently available and sales include 20 million wipes and two million incontinence pads per year. For the Wiltshirebased company, whose customers include BUPA and the MOD, this has meant the fifth expansion in just 10 years. Managing director Sam Gompels said: “Our customers rely on us to be able to supply products when they need them and this new facility will help us improve even further our industry leading 99.7 per cent stock availability.” Gompels Healthcare continues to be a major supplier of disposables to thousands of care homes in the UK. Its highly successful own brand, Proform, introduced four years ago to offer the very best prices for quality, now contributes 50 per cent of sales.

20/10/11

16:15

Page 1

CARINGDEMENTIA CARE

Quick and easy way to label clothes

Dementia care centre to open in Hull

RESIDENTS with dementia often experience distress if they cannot find the clothing that they are familiar with and as with all residents it is important that an individual’s garments are correctly returned to them after washing. With over 1,200 garments going through the care home laundry this is not an easy task, especially if the garment is not named adequately. Attach-a-Tag is a simple, cost effective method of labelling clothing and soft objects and is an ideal way to quickly label short term and respite residents’ clothing as well as normal laundry. Replicating a button, it attaches in seconds to the garment seam or laundry label, making it discreet and comfortable to the wearer. The patented design is easy to attach but difficult to remove, and cannot be taken off by accident or come off during the laundry process. Each tag has the owner’s name etched onto it, which is guaranteed not to wear off in the wash. This combined with the unique fixing method of Attach-a-Tag means the owner is identified every time. Suitable for industrial laundry and iron proof, Attach-a-tag is reusable, making it even more cost effective for your care home.

A NEW day centre designed specifically for people with dementia is set to open its doors in Hull. The new centre, built within the grounds of HICA’s The Rowans is due to open in early November as part of a £100,000 refurbishment of The Rowans – which in turn is part of a multi-million pound investment programme by the group across the region to provide the latest dementia care facilities. Managing Director Ty Platten said: “There has been a substantial increase in the number of people with dementia and this in turn has created an increasing demand for care and support services. “However, in the current economic climate, day care centres have been hit hard, meaning less help rather than more is now available. The new specialist day care centre will go some way to redressing the balance and will help people to be able to live in their own home for longer.” “Many of our care homes offer day care facilities, but this is HICA’s first dedicated and purpose built dementia day care centre, and others are likely to follow. As well as helping people with dementia and providing them with valuable social contact, it will also give their carers a well

Lisa Harding in the new centre. deserved break.” Designed to best practice dementia care principles, the new day centre will include an activity kitchen and a cinema room with films and posters from the 1940s, 50s and 60s to help people recall memories from years gone by. There is a lounge and dining area for socialising and an enclosed patio and outdoor area where visitors can grow vegetables and plants. Lisa Harding, manager of the centre, added: “The new centre has been designed to feel like someone’s

own home, so they do not feel like they are in an environment that would appear totally alien to them. “During their day at the centre they will be able to carry out normal living skills and be involved in a wide range of activities.” “The centre will enable people to retain their life skills and develop new ones. This in turn will mean that the time they spend in their own homes will also be more fulfilling.”

20/10/11

16:16

Page 1

CARINGDEMENTIA CARE

Helping dementia care providers improve services By Professor June Andrews THE Dementia Services Development Centre exists to help providers to improve services for people with dementia and their carers. We have been increasingly looking into how exercise can help delay the onset of dementia and improve the wellbeing of people with dementia. It is well known that exercising, for example half an hour a couple of times a week in middle aged people, can significantly cut the risk of dementia. However, it is never too late to take up exercise. Even if the person already has a diagnosis of dementia, exercise still helps. The theory behind this includes a range of explanations. Exercise will help to keep the small blood vessels of the brain healthy. Dementia can be made more likely if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, and exercise helps you to avoid both of those conditions. There has also been suggestion that the amount of amyloid that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease can be reduced through exercise. More research is needed, but in the

Professor June Andrews mean time it is clear that exercise is good for a range of reasons. Obesity is a risk factor for dementia and exercise can help with that. Exercise has a positive effect on mood, and promotes good appetite and good sleep. So what practical things can we do? It is important to be able to identify a range of physical activities that will benefit older adults and people with dementia. Your staff need to understand why it is important and they

Good quality at affordable prices WITH all the changes happening in the NHS and so much uncertainty, carers – whether as individuals or a care or nursing home – have enough to worry about without having to wonder how they are going to maintain a high level of continence care within a tight budget and be able to get good quality washable bed pads – or ‘kylies’ as they are often known – at an affordable price and that will last. With so much pressure on keeping costs down but still needing high quality and reliability, it is reassuring to know Medoris, an NHS selected supplier, can supply large – 95 cm x 95 cm – washable bed pads with tucks for only £9.85 each when pur-

chased in units of 10. They also supply many other sizes for specific needs. The Medoris range of washable bed pads has just received the following unsolicited endorsement: “I recently purchased two of the kylie-type bed pads, and was really surprised at the quality; they are larger than I expected and appear thick and comfortable. “I worked for several years in a nursing home, so was well acquainted with kylies, but these are bigger and better than the ones we used to use. “I am a full-time carer for my mother, and if I need more I now know where to buy them.”

need to be able to develop and present meaningful activity programmes. This is not just for staff who are responsible for coordinating activities in a dementia care setting. Every care worker, porter and support staff member should be aware and understand that keeping old people moving is essential. It might be quicker to wheel people to the dining room in a chair, but if you walk them there it’s a chance for a chat, a bit of stimulation and it will help strengthen bones and muscles to reduce falls risk, as well as helping to keep th brain clear. Dementia never seems to come alone. Depression and delirium are often part of the picture, and the good news is that exercise helps with those conditions as well. Doing exercise in the open air is ideal, particularly in the morning, when the day light will help to set the body clock which may reduce nocturnal wandering. So the key message from the research is ... get moving. Professor June Andrews is a director at the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling.

In the box ... THE HCE Solutions dementia product range now includes a new memory box with more space, more features and more style than other boxes on the market. Crafted from durable, solid wood, not manufactured board, the box comes in a quality oak or pine finish. The internal pinboard backing makes for easy photograph mounting, and a choice of four colours helps to complement the care home décor. The height of the internal shelf can be adjusted to fit different size mementos, and the clear Perspex front is both safe and easy to clean. A link with the past, a useful starting point for conversations and an aid to room recognition, this memory box is an important part of person centred care for residents with dementia.

24/10/11

15:55

Page 1

If you would like to advertise in our home care section please contact: 01226 734479 or email rh@whpl.net

Pair who took redundancy set up own care agency By Dominic Musgrave TWO women who took redundancy from senior positions when Norfolk County Council social services stopped providing in-house homecare have set up their own business. Allison Hipkin and Irene Bailey were both registered homecare managers for the council and managed various districts for its inhouse services during their 17-year careers. But when the local authority withdrew its homecare provision in the spring and was not able to redeploy their skill and experience elsewhere in the organisation, the pair took redundancy and decided to launch their own business, Phoenix Homecare (Norfolk). The new company has obtained its registration from the Care Quality Commission, with the two women as the registered managers and joint registered provider. Allison said: “During our time working in the homecare sector, we have built up a sound knowledge and understanding of the requirements of a service of this type. “And because of our experience of working in domiciliary care, we were able to identify an obvious

requirement within Norfolk for the provision of high quality care and support. “We have gone back in time with our business and plan to offer the same services that the local authority did when we first started work. As well as offering personal care, our staff will also help with the housework and other domestic tasks, shopping and, if a client feels in social isolation and wishes to go to the shop or theatre, our staff will take them. They will also night sit if needed. “Just because a person is up and dressed doesn’t mean the job is done. If they are house proud, as most people are, they won’t want to be sat looking at dust gathering all day, which is why we are going back to the good old days.” They have already recruited a pool of 16 trained carers and will be looking to create even more jobs as their domiciliary and domestic care business expands. Allison added: “We’ve got an extra 15 requests for application forms and we will employ as many people as we need. We are now registered with CQC and are accredited to the local authority to have their work.”

Allison Hipkin and Irene Bailey.

Jo returns from Africa trip

CAREMARK’S newest batch of franchise owners has achieved the highest on average results yet of any group to go through the initial training course, with percentages coming through in the 90s. Sanjay Pancholi, Anna Wilson and Joe Daly (pictured above) were the latest recruits to successfully pass their franchise owner training course. Sanjay will be opening an office in Charnwood, Leicestershire, while Joe Daly and Anna Wilson will be opening one in Enfield.

THE head of clinical services at a Telford-based homecare company has returned from a volunteering trip to Africa. Complete Group’s Jo Cooper, who has now made four trips to the continent, spent three weeks in Kenya with the volunteering organisation African Impact. During her trip she joined 15 volunteers at Limuru, a mountain town around 90 minutes from Nairobi. While there, she worked alongside staff of a local clinic diagnosing, treating and counselling patients with conditions ranging from coughs and colds to TB, HIV and Aids, cholera, typhoid and malaria – as well as the victims of stabbings, rapes and attacks with rocks. Jo, who also spent time educating the staff, said: “There was no

appointment system so it was normal to arrive to find 300 people queuing to be seen, some of them local and some who had travelled up to eight miles to get there. “There was no water or sanitation at the clinic, so keeping things sterile was challenging. Expectant mothers would walk there, on their own, along dirt roads to give birth with no analgesia and then walk home again, an hour after their babies were born.” While in Limuru she also helped give out food parcels to more than 450 homeless elderly people. Risking rival gangs and unusually cold temperatures, Jo also spent time in the huge Kibera slum in Nairobi vaccinating under-fives against measles, mumps, polio and meningitis in a Government funded programme.

Barchester fp

18/10/11

09:48

Page 1

24/10/11

15:13

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

NCA head among York speakers NATIONAL Care Association CEO Sheila Scott is among the speakers at a conference in York organised by Script Events. Her seminar entitled ‘What next for Social Care?’ rounds off what promises to be a captivating day, which is sure to be a must for all care home managers and operators in the region. One of the many highlights will be the 90-minute presentation of the emerging findings of the My Home Life report entitled ‘Supporting leadership, voice, choice, control and transformation in Care Homes’ from the research and development programmes by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the My Home Life Programme. Speakers will include JRHT director of care services John Kennedy and Tom Owen and his colleagues. This will be followed by what promises to be another fascinating seminar entitled ‘Caring for Malcolm’ - enlightened care at home or in a care home for people with dementia, which will be led by Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK ambassador Barbara Pointon MBE. Speaking about the conference, healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave, said: “Since we started taking our events across the country they have gone from

strength to strength, as can be shown by the calibre of speakers we have attracted for the York conference. “I am sure this event will be as successful as those that have gone before, and would urge any care home operators in the area to attend to listen to these distinguished speakers.” The audience will also hear from United Kingdom Home Care Association CEO Bridget Warr and National Care Forum CEO Des Kelly, while Andrew Parsons, a partner at RadcliffesLeBrasseur Solicitors will look at a few of the current problems in his Care Homes and the Law seminar. Alongside the conference there will also be an exhibition featuring a variety of leading companies in the sector, with a free prize draw also running on the day. The event follows on from the recent success of one held in Plymouth in the middle of October, which attracted more than 100 delegates. The day is sponsored by Lloyds TSB, Visioncall, Owen Mumford, Eldercare Group and RadcliffesLeBrasseur. Places can be booked via the Caring UK website www.caringuk.co.uk or by telephoning Kelly Tarff on 01226 734695.

Sheila Scott speaking at the recent Script Events organised conference in Plymouth.

20/10/11

16:17

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Hertfordshire home scoops dogs’ award By Dominic Musgrave A HERTFORDSHIRE care home has proved it is top dog by winning an award in the Kennel Club’s annual prestigious Open for Dogs Competition. Sunrise Senior Living in Chorleywood beat off competition from other facilities nationwide to scoop the care home category, and they will receive their award in a ceremony at Discover Dogs at Earls Court, London on November 12 and 13. One member of the public who nominated the winning home commented on the ‘exemplary’ attitude the facility and its staff have on the inclusion of man’s best friend. Carol Elligott, activities co-ordinator, said: “Residents are allowed to bring their pets to the care home when they take up residential care. “There are circumstances where pets aren’t allowed, however providing the pet is sensible and adapts well then they are able to move. “All of the dogs are risk assessed

beforehand but so far we haven’t had any problems. It is so important for dogs to be allowed to live at the care home as many of the animals have been with their owners for a long time and are a huge part of their life. “For the four years we have been open we have always known the importance that dogs have with their owners and we make every effort to make sure both dog and owner stay together.” The Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs campaign aims to break down barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses to be dog-friendly. Caroline Kisko, communications director at the Kennel Club, said: “Sunrise Senior Living of Chorleywood is the perfect example of how a human’s bond with their canine-companion is a very difficult one to break, and that being caninesavvy works wonders for businesses and can bring success in many different ways.”

Springfield House

Ex-employees invited to apply A NORTH East company is inviting former employees of the hotel a new care home they are building has replaced to apply for their old jobs. Helen McArdle Care are calling for ex staff of The Springfield Hotel to apply for positions at Springfield House, which is due to open in January. The company is particularly inviting chefs, housekeepers and kitchen assistants. Dawn Bianchi, senior operations manager said: “It was a really sad day for Low Fell when the Springfield closed. “The hotel was an important part of the community, many people have special memories of the hotel and

also lots of jobs were lost. ” “We want Springfield House to become the hub of the community just as the hotel was, and the first step in doing that is to invite those people who lost their jobs when the hotel closed, to come and apply to us.” The new 69 bed, state-of-the-art care home includes four one bedroom suites, a bistro, an orangery, a bar, a GP surgery, a wellbeing suite and a cinema. It is part of a £7.1m development, which is also to include Eslington Court, a new community of one and two bedroom apartments for people aged 55 and over.

20/10/11

16:20

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

SCOTLAND’S Community Meals Services picked up the coveted chairman’s award at the National Association of Care Catering’s annual ceremony. The prestigious event, which was held during the National Training and Development Forum in Blackpool, recognises, rewards and celebrates those who have excelled in their field and made a significant contribution to catering in the care sector. Scotland’s Community Meals Services was honoured for its work in ensuring the delivery of good nutrition and the maintenance of the well-being and quality of life of its service users, while overcoming a variety of challenges.

Homes’ safety and cleanliness recognised By Christina Eccles THREE of a provider’s Shropshire nursing homes have been awarded infection prevention control plaudits from the local PCT in recognition of their levels of cleanliness and efforts taken to ensure resident safety. Morris Care’s Radbrook facility in Shrewsbury, was granted the highest level of recognition with a gold award, the only nursing home in the county to receive the accolade. Stretton Hall, All Stretton, and Isle Court, Bicton, were both awarded silver. Nurse Manager at Radbrook, Sue Austin, said of the accolade: “My staff go to extraordinary levels to ensure that best practice is always applied, and it is wonderful that this has been recognised by Shropshire PCT.” All three care homes were given their accolades after a rigorous examination by the PCT, which also observed Morris Care’s policies, staff training and staff at work during their time at the care homes. Nursing homes can only receive the recognition if they are judged to take

exceptional measures taken to prevent the spread of infection, and only establishments rated above 91 per cent on all of these criteria are awarded silver, while those awarded gold must rate above 95 per cent. Director of the group, Timothy Morris, added: “We take the safety of our residents very seriously, and we are completely committed to performing to the highest possible standards. “We are very proud of the staff at Radbrook, Isle Court, Stretton Hall for all of their hard work in achieving these awards, and we are pleased to be able to reassure residents and their families of the utmost levels of safety and care during their stay with us.” Morris Care also owns and runs three nursing homes in Cheshire. Has your care home received recognition from your local authority or PCT recently? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net

37 Fowler

24/10/11

16:29

Page 1

38 C-S page

20/10/11

14:58

Page 1

Nursing home garden given a ‘voluntary’ makeover

Electrolux demonstrates expertise in Barrier Laundry Systems

A TEAM of 30 volunteers from Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, (specialists in liquid medicine) donated a day of their time to give the garden at Claremont Nursing Home a complete makeover. With the encouragement of councillor Andrew Carter (Calverley and Farsley Ward), the team cleared and replanted much of the garden, put up a bird viewing table and feeding station and built a raised sensory garden area for wheelchair users to help them become actively involved in gardening. Nick Teague, sales and marketing director, Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, added: “Rosemont has a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. “By undertaking this gardening project, we want to make a difference to the lives of residents at Claremont Nursing Home, so they can enjoy their wonderful surroundings even more. “This community volunteering initiative has proved to be very popular with Rosemont staff, who are delighted to be supporting a local nursing home in such a positive way.”

WHEN hygiene is critical, there is no room for compromise, so it is always wise to put yourself in the hands of a company who are experts in their field. At a recent event held at Electrolux’s UK headquarters in Luton, the aim of the day was to inform and educate people on the benefits of barrier systems in the care and NHS sector. Representatives from the NHS, the care sector and architects involved in laundry design attended, along with members from The British Institute of Cleaning Science. The day was split into various sections dependent upon the requirements of the sector each individual operated in. Electrolux was keen to cater for everyone’s specific needs and to address areas of interests. Presentations were given by Landry Guillochon, Electrolux’s global segment manager for care and an expert in the field of barrier laundry systems, Tony Billingham from the NCA and an independent owner of 10 care homes in the UK. Enquiries: Visit www.electrolux.co.uk

Enquiries: Telephone 0113 244 1400 or visit www.rosemontpharma.com

Beaucare launch Mattress Disinfection Wipes BEAUCARE® Medical Ltd has developed a mattress disinfection wipe to compliment its hygiene and janitorial range. These wipes are specifically formulated to control infection and disinfect in one solution, with healthcare professionals in mind. The wipe contains a complex mix of biocides formulated to target a broad spectrum of microorganisms found in health care environments, such as bactericidal, mycobactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and sporistatic disinfection. The mattress disinfection wipes are ready to use and disposable, eliminating the risk of cross contamination. They are a cost saving alternative to multiple product solutions, supplied in a tub with resealable fastening for easier and quick dispensing. The wipes are also ideal for cleaning the firm’s waterproof covered pressure relief mattresses or can double up as a multi-purpose surface wipe. Beaucare has an extensive hygiene and janitorial range, providing a solution for all purposes, ensuring high levels of cleanliness and infection control. Enquiries: Call 01423 878899, email sales@beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

DATIX is the leading supplier of patient safety software for healthcare risk management, incident reporting software and adverse events. Datix gives care home managers the information they need to build a complete picture of risk in their organisation. The firm can help to improve safety for residents and staff, while reducing administrative overheads. From small care homes to large groups, Datix plays a key part in the corporate governance of the organisation. Key features for social care include: Management dashboards which display information on the organisation’s risks in a clear, simple format. Sophisticated alerting mechanisms that give care home managers early warning of potential trouble spots. Flexible views of risk management information, allowing risks to be shown by particular care home, department or even an individual resident. Security of access to information, restricting managers to viewing only data that is relevant to their care home or area of interest. Enquiries: Contact 020 8971 1971 or email info@datix.co.uk

Miele Professional appoint Fowler UK as authorised dealer

New Prestige Cabinets extend Knightsbridge Care collection

MIELE Professional has appointed Fowler UK as a new authorised dealer for its professional laundry and catering equipment. Under the new agreement, Fowler UK are now providing sales and service across Miele Professional’s full range. “We are very familiar with Miele Professional and their range of products, so when Miele offered us the chance to become an authorised dealer, we knew it was a great opportunity for us to expand our business into new markets,” said Geoff Fowler, sales director at Fowler UK. As well as passing a number of set criteria, Fowler UK will regularly participate in training by Miele to improve their ongoing commitment and excellence in customer service and support. Fowler UK customers will also benefit from Miele’s well-established on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance. As well as covering existing contracts, Fowler UK provide flexible service agreements including 24 hours a day coverage, depending on the requirements of the customer.

A NEW collection of bedroom cabinets for use in care homes and residential facilities has been developed by Knightsbridge Furniture. The company’s ‘Prestige’ range meets rising demand for versatile cabinet furniture which combines assurance of durability with classic design appeal. The Prestige family includes double, single and combination wardrobes, three, four or five drawer chests, a writing desk and neat bedside cabinets in various configurations. Matching headboards for both single and double beds are also available. Key features include 18mm carcases with solid backs for maximum rigidity, 25mm vinyl-wrapped tops and PVC edging to protect against impact damage and water ingress. A timeless look is assured by the crisp, clean lines which characterise the entire Prestige collection. Classic chrome bow pull handles are fitted as standard: options include lockable doors and drawers. Prestige is available in Natural Beech, Oak or Walnut with colour coordinated interiors and the collection teams effectively with the Knightsbridge portfolio of upholstered seating, particularly with the company’s recently-introduced Jasmine chairs and settees. Enquiries: Call 01274 731442, e-mail enquiries@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

Enquiries: Further Miele information from 0844 893 0762 or further Fowler UK information from 0800 619 9337.

New Amazon W6 washer extractor from Armstrong ARMSTRONG Commercial Laundry Equipment has announced the new 6kg washer extractor available from approved dealers throughout the UK. The machine is a high performance commercial washer extractor in the footprint of a domestic machine which will fit under a worktop. The Amazon W6 offers a very wide range of programmes including medical and mop plus the facility for flexible programming. The new machine is extremely simple to operate with German style rotary controls. It is fully compliant with all regulations. Options include a drain valve, a meter for coin operation and marine voltage. The Amazon W6 can be teamed with an 8kg Huebsch tumble dryer or the matching stackable D6 dryer. Enquiries: Telephone 01635 263410 or fax 01635 32434 for further details

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

39 C-S page

24/10/11

15:26

Page 1

Care Home Kitchens from PKL PKL, which recently launched its permanent modular kitchen pods into the care sector, also specialises in the supply of temporary kitchens and catering equipment for hire. The company regularly supplies temporary kitchens to nursing homes undergoing planned refurbishments to enable the continuation of meal provision while works are taking place. PKL has over 900 temporary kitchen units in a range of different sizes, which means the company can provide solutions to nursing homes, whatever their size. A range of ancillary units are also available including cold rooms and dry storage facilities. PKL also holds a stock of over 10,000 items of catering equipment available for hire. Temporary kitchens can be delivered to site and installed within a few hours of order if required. They are often specified during emergency situations if a kitchen has to close at short notice, due to factors such as fire or flood. For more information visit www.pkl.co.uk or call 0845 8404242.

Pharmacist advice improves care and reduces medication costs for residents in care

RESIDENTS in care homes are among the most vulnerable members of our society. Polypharmacy, which is the prescribing of numerous medications without adequate reviews by the prescriber, is also a well recognised problem among our elderly population. Clearly, care home staff therefore have a much wider role than simply administering medication. It is essential they are able to monitor residents to ensure that all medication is still safe, effective and necessary. Carers need to be aware of important safety information for every medication they administer. Unfortunately, staff struggle to access this information and, consequently, residents suffer. As experts on medication, pharmacists are well placed to provide this information and a care home’s regular pharmacist is ideally placed to fulfill this role. This advice will improve care and reduce emergency doctor call outs and hospital admissions. Pharmacists should also be advising residents’ doctors on ways to reduce polypharmacy, thus improving care and reducing costs to the NHS. At Chemistree we are passionate about providing this advice because we have seen what a difference it makes. Enquiries: Telephone 0800 158 5694 or 0800 121 8674.

C-TEC’s Quantec call system safeguarding new healthcare facility C-TEC’s powerful and newly improved Quantec addressable call system is performing a vital function protecting staff at a £10m health facility in Royton, Oldham. Housing a host of specialist clinics including GP and dental practices, Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre provides healthcare services to the 21,000 population of the old Lancashire mill town which lies at the foothills of the Pennines. Quantec operates as a staff-attack system at the new high-tech facility. Each consultation room is equipped with a callpoint which can be used to trigger emergency calls. Should a member of staff require urgent assistance, they simply push a button and an alarm will sound at the master panel in reception, and also at the remote displays throughout the building, to alert other staff in the three-storey building that there is an emergency situation. Enquiries: Contact C-TEC on 01942 322744.

Workwear to suit all from Grahame Gardner Ltd. IMAGE is of vital importance to the care home market. Conveying professionalism is critical for reassuring families and residents and instilling the right values in staff. However, different care homes have very different identities and new uniforms should effectively mirror this. Respected workwear manufacturer, Grahame Gardner Ltd have several uniform ranges perfect for the care home environment – whatever their personal style preferences. Many managers still prefer traditional uniforms, whilst others prefer the contemporary styles of scrubwear. Tunics, trousers and dresses are a mainstay of the Grahame Gardner collection, with fabrics selected to provide day-long comfort as well as being very easy to care for. Alternatively, customers can choose from a wide range of scrubs, from the unisex Easiephit collection, to the ultra-stylish Urbane Scrubs. Whatever your preference, garments can be personalised with corporate colours and name or home badges. For more information contact 0116 255 6326, or visit www.grahamegardner.co.uk

NEW, Scarf Style, Dignified Clothes Protectors BIBETTA is proud to launch their revolutionary, new, dignified clothes protectors. Styled like an elegant, silk scarf they have a waterproof layer on the back, an absorbent, inner layer and a beautiful draping scarf material on the front. The chic, award winning, design can be worn all day, and even out and about, to protect clothes with style and dignity. Available in three designs. Introductory offer; get £5.00 off each scarf. Quote code BPCUK01 now. Bibetta Ltd. Tel: 01223 840236 www.bibetta.com

If you would like to advertise in Caring UK please contact:

01226 734 685

BIBETTA’S, tabard shaped clothes protectors are now available in our new, anti-bacterial PRO80 fabric. Washable at 80°C. our highly durable tabards meet the HSG (95)18 regulations for high wash temperature sterility. They are waterproof, absorbent, stain resistant, attractive looking and much longer lasting than traditional bibs, offering excellent value for care homes and hospitals. Also available in new, improved, neoprene material (in blue, burgundy and purple) for superb all-round performance and comfort. Bibetta Ltd. Tel: 01223 840236 www.bibetta.com

40 Classi page

24/10/11

15:34

Page 1

Tropical taste RESIDENTS at an Olton care home were treated to a taste of the tropics when the home hosted a Caribbean day. Willow Grange, owned by Alpha Care Homes was transformed into a colourful tropical paradise, complete with a beach theme with staff in grass skirts and garlands as part of Dignity Awareness Day. Special pamper sessions were held for the residents, who were also able to sample Caribbean inspired cocktails.

Paul Brown with the new scarves.

Scarf acts as clothes protector PRODUCT designer and director of Bibetta Limited, Paul Brown, has designed a revolutionary, new style of ladies’ silk scarf which also acts as dignified, clothes protector. The innovative, Pashmina style garment gives an elegant look to the wearer as never seen before in clothing protection design. With an absorbent middle layer and an invisible, waterproof back layer, it offers practical protection from accidental spills, yet is understated and sophisticated. It is ideal for sitting at the table, TV dinners or for anyone who eats from a lap-tray. Paul said: “This is a major step forward in tackling dignity for anyone

who has that odd splash at mealtimes, particularly the elderly or infirm, and who wish to look normally dressed in front of their friends and family yet still need to protect their clothes and keep their dignity.” The clothes protector has a luxurious, draping, silk-like fabric on the front which is available in three, attractive, fabric designs to suit virtually any outfit. The garment is fastened at the back of the neck with hook and loop for speed and ease of putting on and removing. It is ideal for all-day use in the home or care homes and is fully machine washable and tumble drier proof.

Fitness equipment

Signs

Carehome Software

Occupancy specialist

Consultants

Computer Software

Transport

Alarm Systems

Business Solutions

20/10/11

16:21

Page 1

CARINGNEWS

As a third of Southern Cross’ care homes are transferred to new operators, Dominic Musgrave speaks to two Leeds based operators who have taken over almost 80 between them.

Firms take over running of collapsed group’s homes MARIA Mallaband owner Phil Burgan has created a sister brand, Countrywide Care Homes Ltd, which will have more of a focus on the public funded market. The deal, which moves the group into the the top 15 largest providers in the UK, has been funded by two banks, and has secured the jobs of more than 2,000 staff who previously worked for the stricken care provider. Phil told Caring UK the opportunity to move into a different area of care was one that was too good to miss. He added: “We have been relatively quiet over the last year or so as we built up the management team, but we are now in a strong position to expand the business with these acquisitions, which will more than double our number of beds from 1,300 to 3,200. “Good acquisitions have been hard to come by recently as people seem to be happy to hang on to what they’ve got, but we hope these purchases will attract others to come forward so that we can build the business further. “We’re building four new homes this year and have another six that we are working on for next and, thankfully, the banks have been very supportive of what we are doing.” Phil said either he or on of the company’s directors have visited all the Southern Cross facilities they have acquired, which will double the size of the business from 35 homes to 70. He added: “We have a five-year refurbishment programme in place for the homes that we expect to cost in the region of £4m. “I’ve been encouraged by the staff that I have met and they have all been well trained and are dedicated, which is something we hope to build on. “What they need is a lot of support from senior management because they were shocked when I, the chairman of the business, turned up on their doorstep to say hello. “They need a bit of love and affection so they feel part of the company family because we try and run our business like a family.” Maria Mallaband has appeared for three consecutive years in the Sunday Times Fastrack 100, while Phil has also featured in the Management

Phil Burgan

‘We have a five-year refurbishment programme in place for the homes that we expect to cost in the region of £4m.’ Today Top 100 Entrepreneurs for the past two years. The team has also recently made several key appointments. Stephen Young and Martin Vanhinsbergh have joined as area managers, with Michael Doolin set to join them shortly. Christine Martin, Mary Tedford and Tracy Yates have been appointed quality assurance managers, while Judith McGugan has moved from her current role as area manager to become quality assurance manager and Jill Shearer now divides her time between being senior operations manager and area manager. James Burgan has become commercial director who remains responsible for both property matters and commercial negotiations with the larger suppliers. To support him, Lee Kelly has been promoted to estates manager and will take on the responsibility for co-ordinating repairs and maintenance.

Coverage complete deal for Shropshire home CONTRACTURAL arrangements have been completed for Coverage Care to operate a former Southern Cross care home in Shropshire with immediate effect. Cottage Christian residential nursing home in Newport is the first home in the county to be transferred to a new operator. Coverage Care chief executive David Coull said: “We have had extensive

discussions with Telford and Wrekin council, the landlord and the staff at Cottage Christian and want to stress that as far as we are concerned there will be no change in the way the home is run. “The staff will be retained on the same terms and conditions of employment and we look forward to offering our experience in operating care and nursing homes.”

Paul Macey right with Ocrhard Care Homes’ new director Mike Lake, Help the Aged's former director general, who oversaw the merger with Age Concern to create Age UK. ORCHARD Care Homes has taken over the running of 29 homes in England, and will take on another 15 in Scotland and Ireland at the end of the month. The deal, which involves care homes in the Midlands and the North, will make the care provider the 11th largest in the UK with almost 4,000 beds. CEO Paul Mancey said the new acquisitions mark an exciting time for the company. He added: “I’ve been delighted with the quality of the people I have met at the homes I have visited. A number of homes don’t have managers, while others are unloved and have been allowed to go into a state of disrepair. “We’ve done an audit of each of the homes to see what is required to bring them up to a satisfactory standard and the next step is to review all of the information that we have collated. “I will then go around all of the homes and have meetings with both residents and relatives and staff and we will agree a a plan together going forward.

“We have a lot of funding in place to carry out the work, but the most important part in all this is that this is really good news for both residents and staff because the future of the homes is now safe. I have some sympathy for Southern Cross’ share holders with the way the story has been covered by some of the press.” Paul, who previously worked as a director of Asda Wal-Mart and Tesco before leading a management buyout of Orchard in 2007, said the group’s homes are currently trialling a new medication system with Boots. He added: “As a company we are always looking at improving the consistency and quality of care, and it is very difficult to get medication right, which is why we are testing the EMAR system. “These types of devices are already being used in other sectors. It works by having something similar to an iPad linked to a medication system, which firstly you have to clock into and then it tracks what is handed out. “If anybody is missed it will flash up, which makes it easier to get a more consistent round.”

Party welcomes new owners CARERS and residents held a party to welcome the new owners and say goodbye to the old one. Ownership of the Lakeside Care Centre in Darlington has officially passed from Southern Cross to the Prestige Group and, after months of uncertainty and anxiety over the fate of the home, staff and residents let their hair down with drinks and entertainment. Activities co-ordinator Karen Toole said: “We couldn’t fault Southern Cross really, but it was maddening at times because they didn’t let the staff

or relative know what was going on. “We never got any information from them and had to hear about job cuts and all their other problems through the newspapers and TV. “Staff morale has been pretty low because of this, but we are all happy now and are looking forward to being managed by a smaller local company who will be more hands-on. “Some of the residents were aware of what was going on, and they too seem happy so we just hope everything can get better.”

24/10/11

15:18

Page 1

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Striking new carpet from danfloor UK

Firm uses suit to SimplyUnite mark Arthritis day launches a

EQUINOX Stripe, the newest addition to danfloor UK’s healthcare collection, is proving very popular within the care sector. The stripe range consists of nine tonal shades produced in a slightly heavier weight making it suitable for a variety of applications from bedrooms to corridors. This versatile carpet is designed to suit a number of environments from nursing homes to retirement villages and sheltered accommodation. London and Manchester Healthcare used 300sqm of Stripe Arcadia in Gainsborough House, a new care home in Warrington. Installed within lounges and circulation areas the Stripe range creates an impressive and stylish atmosphere, which complements the rest of the interior design scheme. In addition to the outstanding performance characteristics the new Stripe also includes mædical - a permanent antimicrobial coating on the carpet fibres. Mædical provides a permanent barrier against microbes and inhibits bacterial and fungal growth, which are the major causes of cross contamination and odour.

A BRITISH bathing solutions manufacturer marked World Arthritis Day by teaming up with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to help people understand what it is like to suffer with arthritis. Care in Bathing asked a selection of people to wear a specialist suit to simulate the stiff, aching limbs and unsteadiness that arthritis sufferers endure. Additionally, poor eyesight and hearing that goes hand-in-hand with getting older, was also experienced by the team. The specialist suit uses scratched goggles and ear muffs, a neck brace and arm and leg inserts to restrict movement in a bid to show people how surprisingly difficult life can become. James Clarke, European sales and marketing manager of Care in Bathing, said: “We thought it was important to open people’s eyes and show them that actually, having agerelated limited mobility or arthritis is harder than they think. “It means even making a cup of tea, going upstairs or climbing into the bath is a problem – often having critical safety implications such as slipping over. “Old age creeps up on us all, and takes us by surprise, no matter who we are, we will not be immune to its effects. Equally, as arthritis affects young and old, it’s important to

Time to take notice ‘TIME is what we want most, but what we use worst.’ William Penn (philosopher). Recently a Bristol care home that had started to use the care management system – CareDocs – had an emergency which resulted in a lady needing to go off to hospital. The staff knew there was a facility where by an emergency admission pack can be printed off at the touch of a button. The staff could not believe how simple it was; normally they find themselves photocopying contact details and medication records, whilst the ambulance staff waited. The generated paperwork was sent to the hospital with the lady. Later, the staff at the hospital phoned to congratulate the home on the comprehensive, informative notes they had sent. They had found that the personal information, active medication list and the emergency care plan were invaluable in ensuring the lady’s continuity of care.

If you’ve got a story for Caring UK email dm@whpl.net or telephone 01226 734407.

new ‘Gem’

Visitors at the open day. appreciate the difficulties sufferers face as well as those of their carers.” Rebecca Hazell, Caring UK’s media sales consultant, was one of those who tried out the suit. She added: “I thought the day was a real eye opener. To experience first hand what old age and arthritis can feel like and what it can inhibit, stirred a feeling of claustrohopia, and that was only for an hour. “I feel this was a truly innovative idea from Gainsborough, to test their own products wearing the suit, it goes that step further. I think we can all switch off to what is going on but to go forward within this industry, people need to be forward thinking and pro-active, rather than reactive.”

Former cricket umpire Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird officially opened a new care home in his native Barnsley. He cut the ribbon on the 14-bed Community Places facility in Great Houghton, which will be managed by David Pointer. Features at the new home include a snoozelum, cinema and IT facilities. David said: “We want this to be a home from home for those people living here. We would want our own home to be a certain way so there is no reason why they shouldn’t.”

ACCESS to the internet may not be top of many residents’ wish lists this Christmas. However, receiving photographs of grandchildren opening their presents or enjoying a Christmas day Skype call with loved ones would be of huge interest. SimplyUnite’s Gem service simplifies everyday computer tasks such as email, Skype and web browsing and is designed specifically for those living in care or supported living. With an increasing number of families being spread across the country and the globe, access to the internet and the communication tools it provides is vital in helping people stay connected. So, why not spread a bit of festive cheer and get SimplyUnite in your care home in time for Christmas? This special season is all about bringing loved ones together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. For someone who may not have family living nearby, a Skype call or email could make all the difference to their Christmas.

Quality and innovation on the agenda CARE Roadshows visits Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday, November 23. This free event provides delegates from across the South East with innovative products, services and expert advice to help to enhance their care homes. It is a unique opportunity to meet with leading suppliers including apetito, Zest Care Systems and many others who offer solutions for issues such as fire safety, finance and medication training. As well as leading suppliers, Care Roadshow, Brighton is to host ‘Come to Tea,’ a fast paced and interactive activity workshop by the highly respected NAPA team and seminars by Jennifer Dickens, CQC and Toby Hart, SimplyUnite.

New team launched to support care homes ASK any care home operator if they face increased pressures over the Christmas period and you know what the answer will be. Staff holidays, a greater demand for short-term respite care, laying on festive activities for residents... Throw catering into the mix and you have another unique set of challenges. Divisional manager Lee Sheppard said there’s no reason for care homes to shoulder the burden alone. He added: “We know from our

experience of working with care homes that operators are increasingly seeing outsourcing as both an attractive and realistic option that is becoming harder to ignore. “More than ever before, we are finding that our customers – even those who might have been nervous about embracing change – are recognising the value to their business. “Providing an enticing, varied, seasonal menu for all residents, including catering for cultural

diversity and those with medical requirements is no easy task at the best of times. Add the need for a balanced nutritional diet and the catering operation becomes very complex.” That is the reason apetito has introduced a specialist team to provide ongoing support to care homes; helping make sure the optimum catering solution is in place for each home all year round, while at the same time delivering real cost savings.

Eric Howard

18/10/11

09:59

Page 1

44 Shackletons fp

24/10/11

15:59

Page 1