Caring UK November 2019 by Script Media

November 2019 specialist healthcare business agents If you're thinking about selling, talk to us. We only sell care businesses. That's what makes us specialists.

01937 849 268 www.dccare.co.uk sales@dccare.co.uk

no.277 • £4.75 incorporating

The Number One magazine for the care sector

Tickets selling fast for 2019 accolades

Group aims to combat loneliness CARE home group CHD Living has launched a new ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ campaign to combat loneliness amongst the elderly. The campaign will see CHD Living pair elderly residents from across their 12 Surrey and South London based care homes with local children and adults who may not have or see grandparents of their own, but who appreciate the value and importance of maintaining intergenerational relationships. Head of hospitality and communications Shaleeza Ladak said: “Our mission with the Adopt a Grandparent programme is to promote intergenerational communication and relationships, which are so valuable but sadly dwindling in today’s society. “ We hope that the scheme will help to provide support to our elderly residents while also rewarding children and adults with new friendships and role models that they might not otherwise have. “We’re really excited to start making matches and to see how the relationships develop.” The campaign officially launched on October 6 – National Grandparents Day. Applicants are asked to provide information on their interests,

hobbies, and details of why they would like to be involved in the programme. This information will then be used to match them with a suitable, nearby elderly resident. Once matched, participants will be encouraged to call and/or visit the resident that they are paired with regularly. Children who participate in activities with older adults tend to have better reading abilities, communication and problemsolving skills, and a more positive attitude toward community service. For seniors who interact with children and younger adults, studies show that they tend to burn more calories, experience fewer falls and perform better on memory tests than their peers. Additionally, older adults with dementia and other cognitive impairments experience more positive effects during interactions with children than they do during other types of activities. As well as recognising and honouring the value of the elderly in our society, the scheme will benefit residents by providing them with companionship at a time of life that can often feel lonely and isolated, particularly during the winter months.

Actor Dean Andrews will host this year’s Caring UK Awards on November 15, Caring UK is delighted to reveal. Best known for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC drama series Life on Mars, he continued the role in the sequel series, Ashes to Ashes, until 2010. He is currently starring as Emmerdale villain Will Taylor. The event takes place at The Athena in Leicester.

NATIONWIDE CARE ASSISTANTS, NURSES AND CARE MANAGERS WITHIN 48 HOURS

Reliable Wireless Fall Monitoring One monitor works with two sensor pads

Care Certiﬁcate trained staff with DBS & references Free temp-to-perm opportunities

Oppons to add: call buuon, pager, ﬂoor sensor pad, and door/window exit alerts

Fixed hourly rate from only £12.00

FIRST 20 HOURS FREE FOR FIRSTTIME CLIENTS

TICKETS are selling fast for the 2019 Caring UK Awards; with shortlisted care home, sponsors and guests all looking forward to a great evening on Friday November 15. This year’s awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with headline sponsor Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, are taking place at The Athena in Leicester – and recognise excellence and achievement throughout the care industry. The Caring UK team is currently in the process of visiting every shortlisted facility up and down the country, and healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave said they have been overwhelmed by the high standards they have seen. He added: “The standard of entries has been higher than we could ever have imagined, and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone on the night. “It was difficult enough for us to narrow the number of entries down into a shortlist so I don’t envy our judges who are going to have to choose the winners. “The event itself will be a celebration of all that is good in the industry and the perfect party to start Christmas.” Nadra Ahmed OBE, executive chairman of the National Care Association, Raj Kapoor, head of training and consultancy at the Alzheimer’s Society, Hilary Cragg, a Partner at Nash and Co Solicitors and Michele Board, a Principal Academic in Nursing Older People at the Faculty of Health and Social Science at Bournemouth University, will choose the winners in 21 categories.

Available from leading distributors Call freephone: 0800 0324789 for your nearest distributor DOC# 201812.85012A.11

fallsavers.co.uk

WITHOUT QCS WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN RATED AS AN ‘OUTSTANDING SERVICE’ Rupert Stocks Registered Manager, Guyatt House

We are as committed to supporting outstanding care as our 4,000 care providers are to delivering it. We provide the leading bespoke policies, procedures and management toolkits for the Care Sector. Join over 53,000 satisﬁed users nationwide who already…

SAVE TIME

FEEL SUPPORTED

DELIVER BEST PRACTICE

ENJOY PEACE OF MIND

Compliance & Quality Assurance Made Simple

Call 0333 405 3333 or visit www.qcs.co.uk to start your free trial today

CARINGNEWS

Home becomes a ‘Safe Haven’ for people with dementia THE Malthouse residential care home in Gillingham, Dorset has been named as a ‘Safe Haven’ as part of a joint project with Dementia Friendly Communities and Dorset Police. The home, which is part of the Healthcare Homes Group, provides residential care for up to 34 people, and has become part of the initiative designed to support people in the community who live with dementia. A ‘Safe Haven’ is a safe place for someone who is in a state of confusion due to any form of dementia-related illness to go. The person can be taken to the Safe Haven while they wait for a responsible person to be found, or for means to get home, and is a preferred alternative to a police station. Manager Claire Stredwick was approached by Dementia Friends to see if they would like to be involved, and

the home is now the first approved ‘Safe Haven’ in North Dorset and the fourth in the Dorset Police area. She said: “We were very pleased to be approached by Dementia Friends about this important project.

“Dementia affects a huge number of people, and as many as six people per week are found to be alone, lost or confused as a result of the illness in the Dorset area alone. “Traditionally, these people

will be tended to by the police and taken to a police station. “A care home is a more pleasant, homely and caring environment with people who are trained and have a good understanding of dementia, so can therefore give them the appropriate and reassuring support that they need. “By becoming a Safe Haven, we feel we’re able to give something back to the community and join with partners to help vulnerable people in the best way we can. “We’re extremely proud to be a registered Safe Haven and would encourage other care homes in the area to join us.” The Malthouse also participates in the ‘Coffee Companions’ project, opening the home for anyone who would like to visit for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat with residents and staff. This takes place every other Wednesday afternoon.

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

Digital Care Planning and Management Software CareDocs is the UK’s premium digital care planning and management software. With over 10 years’ experience in developing software for care businesses across both desktop and mobile devices, CareDocs enables effective person-centred point of care recording. Developed by care home owners for care home owners and providing first in class UK based support, CareDocs truly understands the needs of your business and how to help.

Digital Assessments & Care Plans Securely stored and accessible at the touch of a button

Point of Care Recording On the go access to all your residents’ information

Person-Centred Care Fully customisable care plans to meet your residents’ requirements

Business Management Portal Compare critical business KPIs and reports

Learn more on how CareDocs Cloud can deliver smart care home management: 0330 055 2742 | www.caredocs.co.uk | enquiries@caredocs.co.uk

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Healthcare Product Manager: Bev Green Tel: 01226 734288 Email: bg@scriptmedia.co.uk Assistant Sales Manager: Tracy Stacey Tel: 01226 734480 Email: cuk3@scriptmedia.co.uk National Sales Executive: Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 Email: tb@scriptmedia.co.uk Publishers Script Media 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Email: info@caring-uk.co.uk Editorial Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Group Production Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Studio Manager: Stewart Holt Tel: 01226 734414 sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Database enquiries to: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ scriptmedia.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur. Follow us on Twitter @caringuk

CARINGNEWS

Basildon home sets sights on fourth award

MUNDY House care home in Basildon has been nominated for an Essex Care Sector Award for the fourth year in a row, having triumphed in multiple categories since 2016. Over the last three years the home has won three of the awards, known as “The Prospers”. In 2016 it scooped the Culture is the Key and UTI Prevention Awards, in 2017 it won the Unsung Hero Award, and last year registered manager Josi George was recognised with the Outstanding Leadership Award. She said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for another Essex Care Sector Award this year. “The awards are testament to the hard work and commitment of the whole team at Mundy House, who work tirelessly every day to make sure our residents live their best life.” The Essex Care Sector Awards celebrate the best of care in Essex demonstrated through innovation, achievement and outstanding contribution. There are 16 awards up for grabs and they are open to all providers who deliver a care service to adults in Essex County Council’s local authority area. The winners will be announced at a gala event on the November 26.

Community facility wins Britain in Bloom award A COMMUNITY healthcare facility in Ledbury has been recognised with the highest possible award in the regional finals of this year’s Britain in Bloom competition, after a project that has left a lasting legacy for residents and local volunteer groups. Ledbury Community Care Centre, run by Shaw healthcare, incorporates a nursing and respite care home, several outpatient departments, including chiropody and radiology, intermediate care beds, as well as a GP surgery and NHS Dentist. The centre also has an acquired brain injury unit called Market Lodge, which provides care and therapeutic support for people who have received an acquired brain injury through direct or organic trauma. Facilities manager Graham Roberts, who has worked at the centre since 2002, is a passionate gardener who made it his mission to enter the competition. With help from staff, residents, volunteers and a few local businesses, the centre was able to enter the Neighbourhood Interactive Project and Participation category for the ‘Heart of England’ region, achieving 91 out of a possible 100 marks and an overall ‘Outstanding’ award. “The Award was recognition of the incredible efforts of so many people and we are extremely grateful for all the time people dedicated to create

such a special place in the heart of what is a very special community,” he said. “It was heart-warming to see how local people engaged with the project and totally embraced the excitement of being involved. However, we know how important the garden is to the wellbeing of those who receive care at the centre, who are going to be main beneficiaries of the project and its legacy.” The project was supported by two main groups of volunteers – the Evergreens, a collection of elderly people from the local area and a second group of younger people with learning difficulties. Planters were built and donated to the centre by a local company, Salters

Hill, while Roses Country Fayre Garden Centre and Hereford-based Daniel Squire Garden Services also supported the project. Residents and out-patients at Ledbury Community Care Centre can now enjoy a new sensory herb garden, hanging baskets and a wellstocked rear garden that doubles as an outside dining space, concert area and art gallery. The installation of raised and movable beds has improved accessibility, which means residents can now get involved in looking after the garden in the future. Collectively, the town of Ledbury was awarded Gold in the Britain in Bloom competition for the 13th consecutive year.

s Nationwide

Care Home Supplie

Specialised Beds for your Patient Needs Byland Bariatric Profiling Bed

Kilburn Floor Profiling Bed

FREE CRASH MAT • Designed with comfort and safety in mind • Trendelenburg one way tilt function • Variable height for user and carer needs • 120cm wide mattress platform • Maximum user weight 200kg Code: PRO-BEDX4 RRP: £2054

• Ultra-low bed, lowering to just 9cm • Ideal for users that may roll out of bed or at risk of falls • Trendelenburg one way tilt function • Maximum user weight 175kg Code: PRO-BEDX3 RRP: £1250

£1050

£895

View the full range of profiling beds at

www.beaucare.com

*Prices exclude VAT

CARINGNEWS

Illegally operating firm is prosecuted Provider takes its residents back to the roaring forties RESIDENTS from four Yorkshire care homes took a step back in time to the summer of 1940 for one day only at Ideal Carehomes’ ‘roaring forties’ dance party. The event at Lockwood Park’s Waterloo Suite brought together residents from four of the groups’ facilities – Lydgate Lodge in Batley, Dewsbury’s Ashworth Grange, Greenacres in Meltham and Castleford’s Newfield Lodge. The brainchild of care home lifestyle managers Colette Senior and Jessica Skirrow, partygoers were invited to dress up in authentic 1940s outfits and re-enact some of the decade’s most well-loved dances, with a little help from music and dance entertainers, The Andersons.

Jessica, lifestyle manager at Greenacres, said: “We wanted to celebrate summer in style this year and what better way than bringing our Yorkshire residents together and indulging them in some music and dancing from one of their favourite eras. “It was a fantastic day, with more than 100 residents donning victory rolls and flat tops to join in the celebrations and reminisce about this wonderful era.” The new Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Mumtaz Hussain, joined the celebration, opening the first dance with a welcome speech. The dance was followed by a traditional afternoon tea for all who attended.

THE owner of a domiciliary care business has been ordered to pay almost £9,000 at Luton Magistrates’ Court after she was found to be operating illegally.   Florica Jordan, who ran Cheshunt Care based in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was fined £1,250 in court. She was also ordered to pay a £125 victim surcharge and £7,607.68 costs as a result of the prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission.   The court heard that Cheshunt Care operated without appropriate registration. Domiciliary care agencies must be registered with CQC. This means services can be monitored and inspected to ensure safety for people who use them.   Florica unsuccessfully attempted to register Cheshunt Care with CQC three times. When inspectors investigated the service, they found records and support plans for seven people, job offer letters for three care assistants and staff attendance sheets. They also found an employers’ liability insurance certificate, a brochure and business card for the service as well bank statements showing payments to care staff.  Joyce Frederick, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of registration, said: “The law requiring care agencies to register with the Care Quality Commission

Joyce Frederick protects people needing care in their own homes. “It ensures all care providers are monitored and inspected, meaning safe care and treatment is maintained.  “Providers of personal care services deal with people whose circumstances can make them vulnerable, and who may not be able to report abuse or poor care. Where we find providers operating outside of the law, we do not hesitate to act to protect people.” Florica entered a guilty plea prior to the hearing, admitting she carried out regulated activity without the required registration. This constitutes breaching section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

IRON ON

ONE

LABEL

TWO OPTIONS

CLIP ON

This great option offers two methods of labelling clothes Iron it on or Clip it on

01242 519 191 www.nametags4carehomes.co.uk

For 10% OFF quote discount code

CARING UK

SAFETY FIRST

TOUCHSAFEÂ® PRO WIRELESS NURSE CALL SYSTEM FUTURE PROOFING YOUR PERSON CENTERED CARE SOLUTIONS

Request Assistance

Automated Triage

Personal Wellbeing

Mobile Messaging

Call: 0800 052 3616 Web: www.aidcall.co.uk

Audit Trail

CARINGNEWS

New on-person guide launched by care group OPERATOR Runwood Homes has launched a new on-person guide to every care delivery staff member across all 72 of its homes. The R.E.D. Care Guide, which stands for ‘Residents Every Day’, is an innovative resource, full of supportive material for carers to promptly refer to, if and when required, and aims to support and promote safe, reliable, evidencebased care to residents every day. In the form of a laminated A6, on-person, multipage flipchart, The R.E.D. Care Guide is now carried on shift by Runwood Homes’ 3,700plus carers, in their tunic pockets as part of their everyday uniform. Gavin O’Hare-Connolly, chief operating officer, said: “The Guide is an easily accessible support and assists, using traffic light signal cues, to check residents’ health. “For a consistent service, it provides standardised suggested next steps, highlighting when any issues require escalation. Providing our staff with this go-guide will give them heightened confidence in decision making in their important role of caring for residents.” Runwood Homes has received positive feedback from local authority and council partnerships, as well as other care industry professionals regarding the launch of The R.E.D. Care Guide.

Provider’s first produce show comes up roses AN inaugural produce show involving all 21 Colten Care homes in the South of England has been hailed a great success. About 500 residents took part in what is set to become a new annual favourite on the group’s calendar. They chose to enter up to 24 separate show classes ranging from designing a garden gnome, to representing a home, ‘Spud in a bucket’, the most potatoes, by weight, and grown from seed. Other classes included making edible preserves from produce grown in a home’s garden to making an animal from fruit or vegetable, and flower arranging. Charles Hubberstey, Colten Care’s head gardener, said: “It’s been fantastic to see how residents, staff and relatives have taken up the shows with such enthusiasm. “The classes really brought out the creative and artistic spirit of our residents, as well as competitiveness, and also engaged everyone at not just the individual homes but across the whole Colten Care family. “The project has been a lot of hard work but tremendously rewarding and we will certainly be repeating it in future years.” Charles came up with the idea of organising a Colten Village Produce

Charles Hubberstey, Colten Care’s head gardener, judges entries in the inaugural Colten Village Produce Show. Show after visiting his village show in winner – Kingfishers, New Milton, Pilley, Hampshire, a year ago. Hampshire; Best in show – Bourne Residents began preparing for the View, Poole, Dorset. Group B: Overall shows earlier in the year. The hard winner – Braemar Lodge, Salisbury, work and activities came to a climax Wiltshire; Best in show – Castle when three clusters of seven homes View, Dorchester, Dorset. Group each exhibited their entries at Bourne C: Overall winner – Woodpeckers, View in Poole, Dorset; Brook View Brockenhurst, Hampshire; Best in in West Moors, Dorset; and Belmore show – Woodpeckers, Brockenhurst, Lodge in Lymington, Hampshire. Hampshire. Charles and fellow judge Adrian Mark Aitchison, Colten Care’s chief Drodge had the hard task of judging executive, said: “It was a great idea, the classes, assisted by senior well led and brilliantly organised with companionship team leaders Ben fantastic resident engagement across Benson-Breen and Donia O’Connor, all our homes. The joy and happiness who also helped organise the shows. it brought was truly heart-warming to Winners were: Group A: Overall witness.”

Nurse Call Systems Wireless call points with anti-microbial protection Quick installation with minimal disruption Flexible & easily expandable Easy to use with plug-in assistive technology sensors and monitors Call logging software provides a full audit trail of events, with management reporting Up to 4 years battery life on call points 24/7 technical support helpline Finance options available

ref: CU-19

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS INCLUDE: NURSE CALL, STAFF ALARM, HTM 08-03 NURSE CALL, FIRE ALARM.

For more information please call 01568 610 016 or visit www.arm.uk.com

CARINGNEWS

Laundry in a MUDDLE? ...why not try

Residents are living ‘La Vida Loca’ with language lessons FROM flamenco to fiesta, residents at Kingsgate Care Home have been putting their Spanish to the test with lessons from Lingo Flamingo. Throughout the six-week programme, residents at the East Kilbride facility have been learning the language, as well as taking time to enjoy the cuisine and reminiscing about family holidays. Lingo Flamingo offers a unique language learning experience for residents living with dementia across several locations in Scotland. Kathleen Crymble, activities coordinator at Kingsgate, said: “So far, the residents are thoroughly enjoying the programme and I’m really delighted how well they have picked it up. “Living with dementia can be extremely tough for our residents,

and we have found that learning new skills as well as reminiscing can really help to improve their quality of life.” “We’ve been incorporating Spanish into our everyday conversations and even do our morning exercises to Spanish music, it’s certainly a lot of fun.” The course is taught by Elvira, a placement student from the University of Granada. She said: ‘I am loving the experience of teaching Spanish at Kingsgate Care Home. “While I am learning valuable things about how to teach a class of older adults, they are also teaching me lots of new things. “They have taught me about Scottish culture and cuisine! Teaching older adults is a lovely experience, and I look forward to every lesson.”

"The best and most cost effective * Stays put solution on the market" Andrew * Laser etched Winstanley. MD Baycroft. * Easy to use * Laundry safe * Wont fade * Discreet

www.snappytags.co.uk

Tel: 0344 5611994

CARINGNEWS

Care provider is ready for the next chapter

Musical memory group launches in the Borders PEOPLE living in the Borders are being invited to take a dance down memory lane at a new reminiscence group. Bield’s Turnbull Court in Duns is hosting a musical memories group on the last Wednesday of every month, run by Alzheimer Scotland and the SBC Local Area Co-ordination Service, where tenants and local residents alike can listen to their favourite songs from days gone by. Tracy Brotherston, retirement housing manager at Turnbull Court, said: “Keeping social and active is

really important to our tenants and so we’re always looking for ways to get involved with the local community. “By hosting the group right here in the development, it makes it easier for tenants who find it difficult to get out and about to pop along for a sing song and a chat.” The group is open to individuals with dementia, as well as the general public, who are invited along to the relaxed and friendly sessions to socialise while reflecting on music from their younger years.

BIELD has revealed it remains focused on continuing to bring innovative changes to housing and care services to underline its commitment to improve the lives of Scotland’s older people. Speaking at its 48th AGM, chair Susan Napier said it was right that Bield continued to be an organisation that was not afraid of change. She said: “Bield constantly demonstrated this throughout 2018-19 and these attributes will characterise the coming years as we seek to go on improving the lives of Scotland’s older people. “Since last year’s AGM we have undertaken a magnitude of work which has resulted in many positive changes. There is no doubt that the external environment in which we operate has a significant impact on how we deliver services both now and in the future. “Despite this, we will continue to seek out new partnerships and ways of working, which I am confident will help us grow and develop. Susan said the transformational changes made by the Edinburghbased charity continue to benefit thousands of older people across its developments and services in Scotland. “This year saw the change of our Housing with Care model to the Retirement Plus model which is now

operating in Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh. The change meant we are now able to offer a much wider range of services to our customers allowing them to live fulfilling and independent lives for as long as possible. “Additionally, we have seen the change from our very sheltered housing services to our new retirement housing with meals has been implemented. This service has proved to be a more financially viable and sustainable model, which does not rely on local authority income. “We made it a priority this year to visit some of our developments to speak to staff, tenants and service users to see first-hand the different we make to older people. This has really brought the aims and objectives of Bield to life.” Bield will shortly be welcoming a new chief executive, Dr Lynne Douglas, who previously worked with NHS Lothians specialising in the delivery of service transformation. She will bring a diverse portfolio of services which will further develop and provide a strategic leadership at a time of change. Susan added: “We still remain one of the largest specialist providers of housing and care services for older people in Scotland and I am confident we will continue to develop and grow for many years ahead.”

LET LOOSE SAFELY WITH WEARABLE NURSE CALL

No matter where the action takes place, you’ll know if there’s a call or a fall

WANT TO TRY? CALL

0800 068 7419 Find out more at www.c-t.co.uk

Dorgard For years Dorgard has been helping care and residential homes to legally hold their fire doors open, making movement around the care setting much easier for residents and staff. As a result of ongoing development there are now three types of Dorgard, offering you a tailored solution to your specific setting and need. All Dorgards release your fire door to automatically close when the fire alarm sounds. For most applications the original Dorgard offers a quick and easy method. The new Dorgard SmartSound has in addition refined sound recognition, meaning that it will not trigger the fire door to close when vacuum cleaning. The Dorgard Pro can either be acoustically triggered or hard wired into your fire alarm system. The Dorgard Pro system is ideal therefore for larger settings and can provide cover for up to 500 fire doors. The Pro also offers you the ability to check the status of all your Dorgards at one glance.

Dorgard

SmartSound Pro

•

1 year battery life

•

Extended 3 year battery life

•

5 year ‘fit and forget’ battery life

•

Suitable for areas with low noise levels

•

Improved sound recognition, • suitable for areas with higher than normal noise levels

Suitable for areas with high noise levels and for large premises

•

Programmable night-time release

•

Programmable night-time release

•

Offers a LED ‘one glance’ total system check

•

Anti-drag technology, protecting carpets

•

Anti-drag technology, protecting carpets

•

Inclusive of a site survey and installation

FREEPHONE 0800 978 7908 www.safelincs.co.uk Ref: CUK/19

A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER We’ve given our TENA logo a fresh look and we’re introducing an advanced range of both absorbing and skincare products called TENA ProSkin.

TENA ProSkin is specifically designed to provide better hygiene, better comfort and better protection — delivering all-round better care.

BETTER CARE IS BETTER FOR EVERYONE TENA, an Essity brand

108082.010 Essity TENA Rebrand Awareness Campaign - Ad Resize for Caring UK FINAL.indd 1

tena.co.uk/professionals/proskin Do not hesitate to seek healthcare advice if you experience regular urinary leakage. EPC 005 0819

21/10/2019 13:36

CARINGNEWS

Government funding and qualified staff shortage force home closure A SHEFFIELD care home provider has been forced to make the ‘hardest decision’ of his 30 years in care and close his only nursing home. Roy Young, whose Silver Healthcare runs three homes in Sheffield, said he had no choice but to deliver the heartbreaking news to staff and residents of Fulwood Lodge. He has assured relatives that the seamless re-location of all residents are his top priority and he is working closely with social services and the NHS on the transition. Silver Healthcare’s two other homes – Rosebank and Leahyrst which specialise in dementia care and have substantially lower running costs as they don’t require registered nurses like Fulwood – are unaffected by the closure. Roy said: “This is undoubtedly the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my 30 years in care. Government cuts, increased staff wages, agency costs and reducing local authority budgets have made the future of the home unsustainable. “Central Government’s underfunding of the care sector has been a highly publicised issue for many years. Care providers have had to deal with increasing expenditures year on year, making the future of many homes unmanageable. “The last two years have been the most stressful and financially

challenging of my career, and I have ploughed a considerable amount of personal funding into Fulwood Lodge in a bid to keep it open and maintain the highest standards of care possible. “My decision to close the home is purely a financial one, it has nothing to do with how the home is being run. Fulwood is rated ‘good’ with the CQC, employs a good manager, a good deputy manager and a good staff team throughout. “Care providers like myself have been desperately hanging on for the Government’s social care green paper which has promised to address underfunding in the sector. This has now been delayed six times in the past 18 months and has left me

LAMONT JOHNSON CONFIRM THE DISCREET SALE OF BYWAY HOUSE BOGNOR REGIS NO WEST SUSSEX “UPFRONT” FEES OR INFLATED COMMISSION RATES!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DISCREET SALE

PHONE OR MAIL US TODAY 07920 475 440

OVER 38 YEARS

or mail us at lamontjohnson EXPERIEN @btinternet.com CE for a NO OBLIGATION APPRAISAL and FREE ADVICE on how we can help P R O P E RT Y ADVISOR S TO THE sell your home

Totally Conﬁdential No Obligation

LamontJohnson LamontJohnson CARE SECTOR

CARE HOME SALES NATIONWIDE

with no choice but to cease trading at Fulwood Lodge and concentrate my efforts on providing the very best care at my Rosebank and Leahyrst homes.” Silver Healthcare has confirmed that any vacant positions at its other two homes will be offered to Fulwood Lodge staff as a priority. We are proud to say we are very fortunate to have had such a dedicated and loyal staff team and we will be working very closely with Sheffield Job Centre to help all staff members find new positions as quickly as possible. Staff will also be provided with further support in the shape of a CV writing service; assistance in finding new roles within in the area; as well

as benefits advice; job references, and redundancy payments will be made to all qualifying staff. Roy added: “Care homes in Sheffield are without doubt underfunded when compared to other areas in the country. There are major differentials in fee levels from area to area and city to city. It is very difficult to understand, and confusing, why such significant differences should exist. “The shortfall in fees can be very substantial with the difference in fee levels running into well over six figures a year per home – this fact alone highlights very strongly that we’re not competing on a level playing field. “I have always considered it totally unfair to rely on the continual increase in the fee level expected from private funders to help support the long term underfunding from the local council, without it however, the majority of homes may not survive.” Roy wished to acknowledge the support and guidance that Sheffield City Council and the NHS will provide in helping the home assure that each and every resident will be relocated into a home of their choice. Fulwood Lodge is a dual registered 40 bedded home and offered both nursing and high-quality dementia residential care. All three Silver Healthcare Homes are rated good by the CQC. Residents and staff from Athena Care Homes (UK) Limited celebrated the group’s fifth birthday across its care homes recently. The birthday parties held in each care home across East Anglia had freshly baked cakes and entertainment on hand to mark this special occasion. Managing director Mala Agarwal and operations director Mandy Jackson were invited by general manager Christina Hartles to join the celebrations at Ashlynn Grange in Peterborough (pictured).

Caring UK Care Providers Conference York Racecourse 6th November 2019 Speakers include: Professor Martin Green OBE, Care England Alison Chilton, Care Quality Commission Angela Thompson, Skills for Care Dr Michele Board, Principal Academic, Bournemouth University Andrew Tovey, Office of the Public Guardian Steve Gardner, Oomph! Wellness

FINAL PLAC REMA ES INING

BOOK

ÂŁ25 si

NOW

ngle d

elegat e o dele gates

ÂŁ35 tw

Lunch & refres hmen ts includ ed

Good y ba attend g & an certifi ce cate

Delegates will receive a CPD six hour attendance certificate at the end of the conference Enjoy your free bacon roll (a delicious warm welcome from Apetito), available on arrival

Tel: 01226 734412 www.caringukconferences.co.uk Email: bg@scriptmedia.co.uk

BOOKING FORM

The Way to ‘Outstanding’ Care Single delegate rate £25 per person Two delegates £35 Event attending: Yorkshire

York Racecourse YO23 1EX

Wednesday 6th November 2019

□

Delegates attending (Please print in block capitals) Title

Name

Surname

Job Title

Booked By: Ms/Mr/Mrs/Dr…………………………………..…………… Position ………………………….………………….……………… Organisation………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….. Address………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………..…..….…………………… Post code………………………….…. Email……………………………………………………………....................... Tel…………………………………………..…….. Please sign and date here to indicate you have read and accept the booking conditions:

Signature…………………………………… Date: …………………………

Payment Method

□

I enclose a cheque payable to Script Events.

□

Invoice me.

□

Phone for my credit/debit details.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

All places booked must be paid within 15 days of booking and before the conference unless otherwise agreed with Script Events. A telephone or fax booking must confirm when and how payment will be made A refund will be given, less £20 admin, fee for cancellations received more than 15 days prior to the conference. No refunds will be given with less than 15 days to the conference. However, delegate substitutes will be accepted to the day of the event at no extra cost. Where invoices are requested and agreed, payment must be received within 15 days from the invoice date. We understand and will exercise out statutory rights to claim interest and compensation for the debt recovery costs under the late payment legislation if we are not paid according to agreed credit terms. An interest rate of 8% above base rate will apply for late payment. Script Media Group is committed to protecting your personal data. By attending our events, we provide you with an opportunity to meet and engage with our exhibitors. Our events create business to business relationships and give access to relevant industry people, products and services. We share your business information with the exhibitors and speakers so that they can review the companies that have attended today’s event,

we DO NOT share personal information without your consent.

□ Please tick to receive a regular copy of Caring UK

□ Please tick to receive information from exhibitors

Caring UK Conferences, Script Media Group Ltd, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS Tel: 01226 734412 Fax: 01226 734478

CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS

Home’s new salon is a cut above WORDSWORTH House care home in Burnley has officially opened the doors to its new hairdressing salon. The salon was launched at a grand opening event with bubbly and nibbles. Residents will be able to visit the new facility for all their hair dressing needs. Debbie Marples, home manager at Wordsworth House, said: “Our new salon is fantastic. We’ve been so lucky to have brilliant support from the local community who have really rallied behind the project.

“We do everything possible to make our residents feel comfortable and afford them all the creature comforts.” The salon chairs and hood dryer were donated by REM UK salon furniture shop, while Paintwise Painting and Decorating volunteered time to put up a bespoke mural, designed by a dementia signage company. The room was previously a bar for residents but was seldom used, so residents elected to have their own hair salon instead.

Residents get ‘interactive’ RESIDENTS at Handford House nursing home in Ipswich are enjoying some interactive digital fun thanks to the fundraising efforts of a resident’s relative. Debi Lewis, the daughter of 79-year-old resident Betty, saw an interactive ‘magic’ light table designed to help people with dementia and set out to raise the money needed to buy one for the home. She held a range of events to encourage donations, including a quiz, a disco, a sponsored walk and a coffee morning. Very quickly she raised more than £5,000 to buy the equipment, which is now installed in the home and providing fun and entertainment to residents. Home manager Mike Parris said: “We are so incredibly grateful to

Debi for her impressive fundraising efforts to bring the magic table into Handford House.” The table uses a light display projected down from above and enables residents to touch lights and patterns as part of interactive games and sensory activity. Many residents at the home live with dementia and this kind of activity has been shown to help stimulate both physical and cognitive activity. The table can be moved to the different areas of the home so that lots of people have the chance to enjoy it. The home’s activities coordinator, Kelly Mclaughlin now uses the magic table every day as part of the regular programme of activities and entertainment specially designed to support residents.

Advertiser’s announcement The Valls

The Haworth

Shackletons launches new products at the Care Show AT SHACKLETONS we understand the importance of ergonomics and comfort. This requirement is woven into our high standard production values; hand crafting each piece of furniture to create a satisfying and enjoyable experience for our customers. Contemporary colours and specialist fabrics deliver a unique look and functionality across all our Shackletons upholstered products. Our close attention to detail at every stage ensures that we maintain our high standards. Each piece of our furniture is handmade by us in England and we are proud of our skills throughout our various processes. Each sofa, armchair and footstool is made using only the highest quality materials. From the sustainable timbers used

in our frames to the quality and variety of our foams and fillings, we are focussed on providing luxurious furniture tailored in premium healthcare fabrics supplied by our strategic partners. At this year’s Care Show we launched several new products. Each of which were designed with our customers in mind showcasing the latest healthcare fabrics. The Haworth is our anniversary chair to celebrate our 60th anniversary this year. A modern take on a classic design showcasing traditional craftsmanship. Features stylish and functional arm detail, contrast piping and studding. The Valls is an elegant period chair highlighting a show wood under frame and shapely back with stud detailing. This model adds sophistication to any room.

wallpaper murals

designed exclusively for care homes Discover how colourful murals bring fresh and meaningful emphasis to important rooms

www.carehomemurals.co.uk

View our wallpaper collection online

CareHome Murals

01283 712171

CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS Advertiser’s announcement

Creating modern care in a historic setting: Care interiors at Cowdray Club By Dwayne Cook NESTLED in the Fonthill area of Aberdeen is the Cowdray Club, a beautiful nineteenth century building that once housed an exclusive gentlemen’s club and is now home to care residents under the ownership of Renaissance Care. After several years, as can be common with older buildings, age took its toll and demanded some significant upgrades to the roof. Renaissance Care decided to take the opportunity to refurbish the entire home, and approached Spearhead’s Care Interiors design service to undertake this substantial project.

Developing a modern, care friendly deign that would suit the stately and prestigious building was a challenge. The Care Interiors’ design team focused on highlighting the original features of the rooms to enhance the character and history of the building. Decorative panels and cornicings were kept, painted in pale hues to bring light into the large and spacious rooms. Finishes such as custom pelmets on bay windows were selected to add to the luxury feel, and a custom bar and traditional chairs were placed in the lounge to recall the history of the building. At the same time, the suitability of the environment for care was at the

forefront of everyone’s mind. For example, the traditional wooden tables in the dining room feature curved corners for safety, while the leather chairs in the lounge are trimmed with an elegant contrast edge to help visually impaired residents use them independently. Minimising disruption during the refurbishment works was also of vital importance as the care home remained fully operational during the work. Ensuring the comfort of residents was paramount, so Care Interiors implemented a phased plan which tackled one floor at a time, taking it from start to finish before moving on to the next. The job began with an initial site

survey to identify the work required, after which I took over as project manager, and optional service offered by Care Interiors which removes any stress of coordinating with suppliers. Much to the delight of all included, the project finished on time despite a delayed start. Ultimately, both Care Interiors and Renaissance Care are delighted with the results of this partnership. They have taken a classically designed building and transformed it into a care environment that functions smoothly as a modern care home, whilst retaining the old world elegance of a prestigious club. n Dwayne Cook is head of projects at Spearhead.

Residents and team members at Gracewell of Sutton celebrated the success of a special VIP launch party. The care home hosted the party to mark the formal opening of its new residential floor. VIP guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Sutton, Councillor Muhammad Sadiq and Aasia Sadiq, who were in attendance to carry out the formal ribbon cutting. One of the new facilities is a rooftop terrace, where guests mingled while enjoying the weather – something Gracewell now hopes its residents will benefit from.

Advice for getting your home’s interior design right INTERIOR design means different things to different people. For some it’s getting the décor right, for others it’s the furniture, carpets and artwork that are more important. In reality, it is a blend of all of these, and a whole lot more, but ultimately it is all down to budgets, and it is better to make a start somewhere than not at all! A good start is to talk to your residents and staff first and find out what is important to them and what ideas they have. I have listed a few things to think about as listed below:n Offer a variety of seating to suit individual needs, ensuring chairs are not too deep or too low and have sturdy arms for support when getting up. n Environments should be stimulating in places and restful in others and offer contrasts. n Seating groups of different sizes help. n Rooms should be easily identifiable for purpose.

n Activities and games placed on open shelving are more likely to be used then those put into closed cupboards as they are more visible. n Use blackout linings to curtains in bedrooms so that residents are not woken up by the rising sun. n Floor surfaces should be even, even if different types of flooring join, so there are no trip hazards. n Ensure handles on furniture and handrails are easy to grip. n Use space well to make sure there is good circulation space for residents to move around. n Sometimes repositioning the furniture can give a fresh feel, particularly if you site furniture to make the most of the windows and fireplace. If you require any assistance with interior design, furniture or soft furnishings we are always here to help. Enquiries: Please see our website www.access21interiors.co.uk or contact us on 020 8339 6133.

DSDC accredited products from danfloor DANFLOOR UK, specialist carpet manufacturers and suppliers, now have a number of their rangers certified with Stirling University’ss DSDC Product Accreditation. danfloor is continuously evolving its product offering to keep up with the latest trends and industry standards, so is very pleased Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre has acknowledged that all colours from the Equinox, Tones, Evolve and Economix ranges are suitable for

use within dementia inclusive environments. When investing in a danfloor carpet you can be confident that it is not only built to withstand the demands of your healthcare environment; with soil and stain resistant yarns, an antimicrobial yarn treatment and an impervious membrane, but will help to create a therapeutic environment for all residents. Enquiries: Find our more and request your free samples at www.danfloor.co.uk

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE

RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE

Who We Are We carefully balance aesthetics and experiences with durability and cost so that all our interior solutions are truly fit for purpose. From creating sensory stimulus through colour, style and texture to ensuring comfort through correct posture and physical support, everything we do is designed to create beautiful spaces that live and breathe and last for years to come. With over 12 years experience in creating beautiful and practical interiors for the care home industry, we understand just how important your business is and we believe that it’s what’s inside that really matters. Sommer Rose are a friendly, hard-working consultation team providing the full package of furnishings, fixtures and equipment whether it be for your new build home or refurbishment project. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive industry knowledge and have also worked with the Alzheimer’s Society on design for dementia. All products are sourced from the UK’s most trusted manufacturers of quality, bespoke, friendly dementia products.

DEMENTIA IS A TEAM GAME

“

I found meeting Sommer Rose Interiors an inspiration. I really admire what you are doing and the quality of the products you are supplying, I look forward to watching the future successes. Big Ian Donaghy, Dementia Campaigner/Speaker

”

Please call or email Sarah Thompson for a FREE consultation throughout November:

07495 471038 • sarah@sommer-rose.com

www.sommer-rose.com

Hallmark Care Homes launches construction company Hallmark Care Homes, one of the leading care home providers has taken the bold step to build its own care homes. Having been at the forefront of design in the care home sector, winning eight Pinders Design awards in the last 11 years, Hallmark has now created a construction company called Savista Developments. This new company will source land, obtain planning permission and build and fit out Hallmark Care Homes’ next generation of care homes into the next decade. The Essex-based company will be run by Avnish Goyal as Managing Director, running alongside his role as Chair of Hallmark Care Homes. Over 120 guests recently attended Savista’s official launch event at the

Looking Glass Cocktail Club in London where Avnish revealed their future plans and ideology. Avnish Goyal said: “It makes great sense to utilise our inhouse skills to build a new brand in care sector development.” “We will continue to build Hallmark Care Homes’ new homes, and hopefully look to work for other operators to deliver their schemes, using our extensive experience in design and construction. We already have a number of projects in the pipeline and we are excited to be expanding and controlling the delivery of outstanding environments for Hallmark Care Homes’ residents.” Construction Director at Savista Developments, James Rowntree said: “The team at Savista are looking forward to providing outstanding

care homes for Hallmark, and using the knowledge gained over the years, we hope to build on the reputation Hallmark have as an award-winning operator.” Savista’s first project is Henley Manor Care Home, a luxury 80 bed, Hallmark care home, in Oxfordshire which is scheduled to open in December 2019. Also under construction is Hallmark’s first care village scheme in Hutton, Essex where Savista are building a 77 bed care home alongside a 55 apartment assisted living scheme. Forthcoming site starts in the next few months are new care homes in Angmering, Eastbourne, Bath, Camberley, Brentwood and Buckinghamshire.

For further information contact info@savista.co.uk

Delivering style and comfort You can benefit from our 20 years experience within the Care Sector from help with as little, or as much, of your project as you need. Interior Design • Project Management • Furniture • Curtains/Blinds • Flooring • Decorating • Artwork • Signage • Tableware • Towels • Bedding

SPEND

S* ER

CIAL O E P S FF

800 ON Lounge : furnitu receive re and a FREE c offee ta Curtain ble! s/blind s and receive t w o FR cushio ns in a EE co co-ord inated lour fabric! *valid un til 30.1

1.19

020-8339-6133 info@access21ltd.co.uk www.access21interiors.co.uk

CARINGNEWS

Home where residents’ wishes are paramount scoops top accolade A SUTTON nursing home to which two acute hospitals confidently refer palliative care patients with complex needs has been named Care Home of the Year 2019 by the National Gold Standards Framework Centre for End of Life Care. Chegworth Nursing Home was described by the judging panel as ‘inspirational’ in recognition of the “deeply impressive, systematic, individual, and movingly compassionate care it provides all its residents”. Rekha Govindan, manager of the 43-bed nursing home, said she was delighted that the hard work and dedication of her team who have, since 2005, been committed to delivering the very best end of life care, was being recognised. She added: “From the moment someone walks through our door we want them to live well until they die. “And from the very first day we will work to collaborate with them and their relatives so that we can help them achieve their goals. Winning the GSF Care Home of the Year award is a fantastic reward for all of the staff who have been working so hard to do that for almost 15 years.” Only care homes that have demonstrated their long-term commitment to embedding quality endof-life care are considered by the judges. All the shortlisted homes completed the GSF Care Homes training programme and have been accredited and then reaccredited at least once. Chegworth Nursing Home has been reaccredited three times demonstrating its long-term commitment to quality care as well as the sustainability of GSF. Rekha, who previously worked as a cardiac nurse, developed a passion for palliative care when the

Liz Jones, policy director at National Care Forum, Rekha Govindan, manager of Chegworth Nursing Home and Shehzad Jivraj, head of operations, Clearstone Care. home began the GSF training in 2005. The palliative care at Chegworth is now so well-respected in the local healthy community that palliative care patients from the nearby St Hellier and St George’s Hospitals are discharged to Chegworth on a regular basis. As a measure of the home’s success in meeting the wishes of its residents, all but two of the 37 who died in the last 12 months, did so in the home, in line with their preferences. She added: “We have very few hospital admissions as we are so good at assessing symptoms, planning care and can do most clinical things in the home. “We also have an excellent relationship with our local GP and pharmacy. The GP will prescribe on request and the pharmacy is available 24/7.”

When Chegworth residents do need to access healthcare from other providers, in hospital for example, the transition is all the smoother since it became the first London nursing home to access Coordinate My Care, an NHS service designed to build patients’ care around the wishes they express and then ensure those wishes are shared amongst all relevant health and social care providers. As well as the Care Home of the Year Award, 10 care homes were receiving the GSF Quality Hallmark Award for the first time, while a further 41 homes were being accredited for the second, third or fourth time. The homes shortlisted for the GSF Care Home of the Year award were: Camelot House and Lodge, Somerset; Care for Veterans, Sussex; Coloma Court, Kent; Fairholme Nursing Home, Cornwall; Hernes Nest House, Worcestershire; Hill House Nursing Home, Surrey; Hyman Fine House, Sussex; Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, London; Streets Meadow, Dorset; The Lawns Nursing Home, Dorset; The White House Nursing Home, Surrey; Uplands, London; Whiteley Village Care Centre, London; Windmill Lodge Care Centre, London. Liz Jones, policy director of National Care Forum, who presented the awards, added: “Care home residents and their families want and should be able to receive compassionate, personalised and proactive care. “The Gold Standards Framework is a fantastic resource to help the care home workforce provide this. Every home that receives the GSF Quality Hallmark award should be proud they have demonstrated that their residents are receiving that quality of care in the place and manner of their choosing.”

01423 878899

CARINGCATERING, NUTRITION AND WELLBEING Advertiser’s announcement

Dining with dignity – Helping your residents with dysphagia eat well AN estimated 22 per cent (4.4 million)1 of the UK population over the age of 50 live with some form of dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) at one point or another. While dysphagia can affect people of all ages, it is more common in the older population – an age group most likely to experience the underlying causes of dysphagia such as stroke, dementia and motor neurone disease. The condition can also be caused by the muscles used for swallowing becoming weaker with age. Not only is dysphagia lifethreatening, but it has a significant impact on quality of life. Common symptoms of the condition include swallowing difficulties, coughing or choking when eating or drinking, being unable to chew food properly. Dysphagia can further result in aspiration pneumonia, a complication caused by food or drink passing down the airway and entering the lungs. This usually occurs when the incorrect diet is offered to residents. As a result of these symptoms, mealtimes often become a difficult, uncomfortable and stressful experience for residents living with dysphagia, which can cause psychological wellbeing to deteriorate

and those living with dysphagia to experience anxiety at mealtimes, leading them to avoid eating altogether. In most cases, dysphagia can be managed through dietary changes to both fluid and food consistencies. However, when caring for a resident with dysphagia it is important to also consider the role dining experience plays in resident wellbeing. When preparing a texture modified diet for those living with dysphagia, which aims to reduce the risk of malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration and choking, the visual presentation and taste of the food offered should

never be overlooked. Maintaining visual appeal of a meal, especially when looking to feed someone with eating difficulties, is a vital first step. Food should therefore reflect the appearance of its non-modified state, by blending each component separately and using food moulds to reshape or buying meals already shaped. Care homes can overcome the issues dysphagia presents by providing residents with moulded, IDDSI-compliant texture modified foods, such as those produced by leading supplier, apetito.

Food made

for sharing

We are proud to bring people and food together, we cater for specific requirements and nutritional needs without compromising on the delight of a delicious meal that can be enjoyed and shared together.

Make a real difference with apetito apetito.co.uk

Created using innovative technology, each component is blended and moulded separately to resemble the individual components in their original form. Plus, the food holds its shape after cooking, so it looks appetising, and thanks to a team of dedicated talented chefs, flavour is not compromised. Moreover, by offering an apetito Texture Modified meal, those tasked with providing food to a resident living with dysphagia can be confident they are receiving meals which are both safe and nutritious. By using a pre-prepared solution, care homes can see a reduction in preparation time, plus as they are pre-blended there’s no bacterial risk from blending equipment and handling. These ready-made options are also IDDSI compliant, reducing the need to test texture and consistency of meals against the IDDSI guidelines. These meals are both calorie and protein dense and are developed by dedicated dietitians to meet BDA standards. This ensures even those with a reduced appetite continue to receive all the nutrients they need. Reference 1. https://www.apetito.co.uk/our-food/ iddsi/what-is-iddsi/

CARINGCATERING, NUTRITION AND WELLBEING

Care catering’s unsung heroes are honoured at awards ceremony THE National Association of Care Catering celebrated outstanding contributions to the care catering sector at its annual awards ceremony. The winners of the prestigious awards, which recognise teams and individuals from across the sector that demonstrate innovation, excellence and dedication in their field, were announced at a gala awards dinner at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. The special event was attended by the NACC’s members, patron and ambassadors together with industry colleagues, partners and guests. Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “Congratulations to the NACC Awards 2019 winners. They are all fine examples of the exceptional talent, dedication and innovation that the care catering sector produces. “It’s an absolute privilege to honour the hard work and vision of care catering professionals up and down the country. They really are unsung heroes. Their incredible work helps ensure individuals in a care environment receive the quality care they deserve. “Through innovation and unwavering commitment, personcentred nutrition, hydration and wellbeing are always at the core of mealtimes, whatever challenges the sector faces.

Winners of the annual National Association of Care Catering Awards celebrate their success. “The awards have always been a Manor, Care UK; Meals on Wheels Carvalho, head chef, Gracewell of personal highlight and celebrating sponsored by apetito – County Newbury; Our care catering hero our inspirational and deserved Enterprise Foods Nottinghamshire sponsored by Premier Foods – Ivan winners was a wonderful way to County Council; Catering team of Nobrega, service driver, apetito; end my six-year tenure as NACC the year sponsored by Brakes – Soil Region of the year sponsored by chairman.” Association, Food for Life; Getting Meiko: North Region; Pam Rhodes The 2019 NACC Award winners together through food; Catering outstanding achievement – Berenice were: Care establishment of the year manager of the year sponsored by Pretlove; Chairman’s award – Adam sponsored by Hobart – Ferndown Unilever Food Solutions – Adriano Michallat-Cox.

Group launches new fivestar hospitality standards

Exhibiting at the Care Show at the NEC this year proved a real success for Euroservice attracting many visitors. Smart attractive trolleys seemed to be a real eye opener for many in the care sector. The drinks trolley and the chilled trolley were the centre of attraction. Why not bring a little glamour to the service in your care home and make everyday a special occasion? Watch your residents’ eyes light up when the trolley is wheeled into the room with the cakes and that lovely cup of tea. Style and practicality define Euroservice trolleys so call our friendly sales staff today to discuss your new trolley. We look forward to your call.

What can a TROLLEY do for you? Enhance your service Save staff time Delight your residents with style!

trolley manufacturer

Freephone: 0800 917 7943

e:sales@euroservice-uk.com

www.euroservice-uk.com

COUNTRY Court Care has brought its catering services in-house. The decision means that the hospitality team has the resources to deliver on its commitment to bring five-star hotel standards to its residents. This takes the number of homes managed by the in-house hospitality team from 15 to 32, meaning the whole group is now catered in-house. Following an extensive review of food services, it was found that the catering teams were doing a great job preparing good food, creating menus with resident consultation, using seasonal ingredient and obtaining feedback. However, standards were not always consistent between all the homes. “As the Country Court care group continues to grow we are keen to ensure we deliver a consistently high standard of hospitality to our residents in all of our homes,” said head of hospitality Anwar Kajee. “We have built an experienced hospitality team who not only oversee catering but also front of house and housekeeping. “This ensures that we deliver a five-star hotel style service in every home, every day.” Country Court Care now employ front of house teams in many homes, creating almost 100 new positions in the last two years.

“Our front of house teams are key in helping our residents feel comfortable,” added Anwar. “We’ve found that they really make a difference to people’s lives. “Their varied role includes serving our residents their meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day, ensuring that tables are set ready for each meal and dining rooms are clean and tidy. “This has contributed to the five-star hotel standards we are committed to delivering in our homes.” This policy has released time for Country Court Care chefs to plate their dishes where in the past they had to rely on care staff to serve food to residents.

Headline Sponsor

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

transform care

NETWORK WITH PEERS

together

HANDS ON WORKSHOPS

CPD SEMINARS

What to expect... - Discover how to achieve an outstanding rating - Meet a variety of leading care suppliers - Benefit from one-to-one advice - Attend educational CPD seminars - Get hands on with interactive workshops

FREE TICKETS

www.careroadshows.co.uk or call 01425 838393

Coming to a region near you:

CARDIFF

LONDON

5 NOVEMBER 2019

19 NOVEMBER 2019

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

A4 CareRS19 Generic Ad.indd 1

EPSOM DOWNS RACECOURSE

14/08/2019 10:53

FREE Care

FULLY

Certificate Training

NO subscription

instructional training videos

(1-15 plus answers)

NO costs

g day

ry iv e

ght

p ric

o wledg

kin

pertise ex

n ex t

5pm

order by

t produc h g

d it now ee

STRESS FREE

us ind try

years

p e ri e n ce

sed to s en

l el

lic

100% FREE Online training with Gompels es

Trainingmcourses cinclude: ac

y me • Care certificate

The Care

Certificate

Standard

(PLUS answers)

• COSHH (with test & certificate) • Infection control (over 100,000 views) • Colour coding • Hand hygiene

Get extra help... Looking for Care Certificate answers? No problem, we have these too! A great resource to help you complete the courses.

• Digital security

more coming soon! Would you like to star in a new course with Gompels?

We’ll pay!

gompels.co.uk/freetraining

MORE ONLINE WWW.GOMPELS.CO.UK TEL 0345 450 2420 specialist wholesale supplier to 1000s of UK care homes

CARINGNEWS A new luxury care home in Loughborough is shortly set to open under the guidance of experienced care professionals, Tracy Taylor and Preet Hundal. Ideal Carehomes, the operator behind Woodthorpe Lodge, has appointed Tracy as registered care manager and Preet as general manager. In her new role, Tracy will be responsible for the care provision, ensuring each resident receives person-centred care tailored to their specific needs. She will also oversee the training of staff to guarantee the highest standards of care are delivered to all residents at all times. Preet, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the care sector, will be responsible for the overall running of the home. Borough Care has appointed Nick Pennell as its new head of finance. The group is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has 11 homes across the borough. Nick will be responsible for managing Borough Care’s finance team. The emphasis of his role will be updating the company’s financial processes and reporting capabilities, to help improve efficiency, through the introduction of new technology and systems. He joins Borough Care from KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms. His most recent role was deputy finance director of KPMG Learning Services.

Caroline Newton, former lead senior support worker at notfor-profit care village operator Belong, has been appointed to the post of experience coordinator for the organisation’s Atherton village, where she will be responsible for developing and implementing a programme of interactive and innovative activities for customers and the wider local community. Caroline joined Belong five years ago as a senior support worker in the Atherton village’s households and became lead senior support worker in 2015. Her move into experience coordination coincides with her study for the diploma in leadership for health and social care level 5.

The National Association of Care Catering has appointed Sue Cawthray, chief executive officer of Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association, as its new national chair. The appointment was confirmed at the association’s recent AGM as members gathered at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, for the NACC Training and Development Forum 2019. Sue takes the reins from Neel Radia, the NACC’s longest-serving national chair, who has stepped down after a six-year tenure. With a career in the elderly care sector spanning over 30 years, Her expertise and knowledge in care and care catering makes her more than qualified for the role.

Andrew McColl (pictured right) will join the main board of Newcastle-based Malhotra Group plc when he takes up his position as group finance director with the company in November. His appointment follows Martin Greenwood’s decision to retire in March 2020 after five years with the group. Andrew joins from Teesside-based housing association Thirteen Housing Group, where he held the post of director of finance (treasury and investment). At Thirteen Housing Group he was responsible for a team of 40 across treasury, development, tax, legal and income services, leading them through a transformational reshape, managing the £360m loan book and leading the acquisition of a North East housing contractor business. Outlook Care has welcomed Barbara Hunt as its new director of operations and business development. Barbara’s appointment is as a result of Anne Cooper’s retirement. She has spent more than 30 years working for the NHS, third sector organisations and local authorities in senior management and director positions. Barbara has also been a lecturer in health and social care and taught human biology at Swindon College as well as being director of operations in a domiciliary care business, supporting older people in the community. Barbara is fiercely passionate about promoting equality, rights and dignity for every individual who requires care and support, for whatever reason, at whatever point in their lives.

Nicola Brooks, the vice-chair of not-forprofit care village operator, Belong, has been appointed chair of the organisation. She succeeds the outgoing Roger Hoyle, who steps down after four years in the post and nine years on the Board, having steered the organisation through its transformation to focus exclusively on the care village model. As chair, Nicola’s main objectives will be to oversee the organisation’s continued expansion plans, as well as maintaining Belong’s reputation as a standard bearer and innovator in the social care space. At a time when the nurse recruitment shortage is hitting social care hard, Nicola recognises the importance of differentiating the organisation through progressive people policies and Belong’s unique approach to village nursing. Hampshire based care provider Cornerstone Healthcare has appointed Greg Pounds general manager – business development. He joined the growing company last month in this newly created position. Greg brings a wealth of healthcare experience within this market. CEO Johann van Zyl said “We are delighted Greg has joined us as a senior manager, his knowledge, experience and dedication are exactly what we need to hit our expansion targets and help to care for residents in this underserved market. Over the next five years our aim is to open further homes to offer the same excellent levels of care and give those with the most complex needs the best quality of life and Greg will be fundamental to making this happen.”

CARING CLEANING & HYGIENE Advertiser’s announcement

Advertiser’s announcement

Bulk buy for even more discount EACH year, healthcare organisations face tough budget constraints and management staff take on the arduous task of planning where cost savings can be made without causing a negative impact on the level of care provided. Looking at supplies and the price per item seems like an obvious quick way to save money. However, assessing every single item purchased to see if there is a cheaper supplier or alternative product available, is a timeconsuming process and may not yield enough cost savings to warrant the project time spent. Healthcare providers must also consider the management of numerous suppliers and look carefully at delivery costs to ensure the use of multiple suppliers is worthwhile. MediSupplies, a leading online retailer of medical supplies, was established in 2009 to provide healthcare organisations and private individuals with a lower cost, onestop-shop for medical essentials. By establishing mutually beneficial relationships with manufacturers around the globe and constantly monitoring prices against other UK suppliers, MediSupplies can ensure that all products, including the most trusted brands, are offered at the

most competitive prices. Easy win cost savings with bulk buys If you have access to secure storage space, then bulk buys can allow vast savings to be made on your most commonly used medical supplies. Following the successful offering of disposable gloves as a bulk buy, MediSupplies has expanded its bulk buy range and now offers wipes, syringes, needles, disposable face masks and skin hygiene products to name but a few. Adding value with free next working day delivery All orders placed with MediSupplies that are over £65 in value are delivered to UK mainland addresses free of charge. Orders received before 4.30pm will be dispatched the same day for next working day delivery.

Prove your water systems are free from LEGIONELLA BACTERIA from just

£44.50 +VAT

JUST 3 EASY STEPS to peace of mind... 1

We send you a sterile bottle, you ﬁll it from your hot taps and showers

You let us know the sample is ready, and place it in the supplied bag

We collect, perform the laboratory analysis and send you your certiﬁcate

To order call FREEPHONE on:

0800 048 1737

or visit our website at www.AquaCert.co.uk

G360 total solutions attracts key figures GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathrooms, formerly Gainsborough Specialist Bathing, has experienced a positive Care Show with several major healthcare providers expressing interest in its new G360 accessible bathroom and wet room services. Part of the Gainsborough Healthcare Group, Gainsborough demonstrated its complete range of trusted bathroom services with examples from its product range. Top level management and procurement personnel were able to see the cutting-edge power-assisted hi-lo Gentona and reclining Sentes baths alongside a specialist wet room mock-up – all highlighting the holistic approach of this established manufacturing specialist. Its new G360 services provide a first for the healthcare sector as they offer a single source for infinite accessible bathroom solutions within care homes, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. By choosing Gainsborough providers are able to maximise care, efficiency and sustainability so that critical factors such as CQC ratings and infection control are enhanced. Gainsborough has built on its 30-year manufacturing heritage to bring to market this unique and dynamic proposition – 100 per cent focused on the needs of disabled bathers.

G360 Services delivered a key highlight at The Care Show as they encompass: n Power-assisted baths. n Accessible bathrooms and wet rooms. n Transfer, toileting and washing equipment. n Project design and technical support. n Enablement pre-works, installation and project management. n Servicing, maintenance and testing. Peter Eckhardt, CEO, Gainsborough Healthcare Group, said: “We were delighted to welcome several major players to our stand this year. “These influential figures from the healthcare sector were able to discover more about our G360 services and why Gainsborough represents the pioneering choice for long term value. “From a strategic point of view, we are the brand to deliver care excellence in the most innovative way through a synergy of skills and products. “I believe our reputation for strong customer relationships with a personable approach is driving our business growth – epitomised by the healthy footfall we experienced at The Care Show. “We will now be leveraging this platform to take our service commitment even further.”

Why do CQC ask to view legionella test certificates?

85 per cent of people who catch legionnaires’ disease are older than 50, so virtually all care home residents are in this high risk group. Care home buildings are often large, older properties where it can be difficult to keep the water services completely free from legionella.

Is it difficult to do this test? All you have to do is fill a bottle from a tap. We’ll post out the bottles to you and arrange a courier to pick them up. What if the result is positive? DON’T PANIC – There are almost 60 different legionella species, 50 per cent of them don’t infect humans. We’ll advise what the risk is based on the type of species we find and how high the legionella

count is. We will also advise what are the best methods to remove/reduce the count. How many tests do I need? This depends on how many bedrooms you have and if there is more than one hot water system. For most 20 bed homes, the total cost of testing is just £44.50+VAT each time. Care homes usually repeat this testing every six months. Enquiries: Call Duncan Hollis, director of AquaCert Ltd, on 01327 844848 or visit www.aquacert.co.uk

For the biggest choice of industrial and commercial equipment call

Built to be better Available from only £139 per month + VAT

The all new Topline Pro Generation from Schulthess is a superbly engineered, 8kg capacity washing machine which delivers excellent results in the quickest possible times. It has been designed for heavy-duty use with the latest technology included. The Topline Pro Generation is ideal for use in industries such as healthcare, education, hospitality, dry/wet cleaners, accommodation blocks, coin laundries, public sector and caravan parks.

• Buy now, pay later – your first payment 90 days after installation • Free Bieffe professional ironing station included Find out how Wolf Laundry can work for your business by ringing 0800 840 9598 or by visiting wolflaundry.co.uk

CARINGTRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Advertiser’s announcement

Struggling to recruit great care workers? Maybe it’s your fault By Scott Sherriden A SMALL care home group called in to have a chat with me about their recruitment problems. They have seven locations and have spent more than £800,000 with agencies in the last 12 months. One of the key things that I quickly identified was the lack of structure in their recruitment process and their ability to generate a talent pipeline. It would be easy to say that the home managers had become complacent when it came to recruitment but the reality is that for most managers, they simply don’t know how to drive recruitment activity and if they did, they don’t have the time to do it. This particular provider were only advertising their jobs in two places with no real evidence or data to support why they were using these channels. There was no career page that attracted, tracked and captured candidates and they had no idea how to use social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to attract talent. They didn’t have a system to help capture candidate applications or to manage email communications and they were manually posting out application forms and then manually chasing these up. All this could be gleaned from a 20-minute conversation but this is all too common in the care sector. They admitted that is was far easier to pick up the phone and get agency staff in than write a great job advert or put some structure to their recruitment

Scott Sherriden drives. In my humble opinion, a very large part of the care sector is virtually in the dark ages when it comes to recruitment and this is the main reason why agency costs are hurting their profits.

Moving and Handling People An Illustrated Guide Order your copy of the new third edition now! This fully revised and updated step-by-step guide to best practice remains a must-have for anyone working in health care, social care, education, or any other setting where manual handling of people is needed. This edition contains more than 50 guidelines, including many expanded and revised chapters. THIRD EDITION

· Equipment

· Principles of safe handling and risk assessment · Weight-bearing activities and transfers

Moving and Handling People An Illustrated Guide Carol Croshaw, Clair Gibson, Nicola H. Sharpe, Pamela Sherliker and Lesley Wonnacott Edited by Carol Croshaw and Mike Fray

· Getting in and out of bed · Moving in bed · Management of the falling and fallen person · Transferring people with hoists · Short-term solutions · Hazardous handling

Order now at www.clinicalskills.net/buy-the-book £35 plus £3.50 p&p

Clinical Skills Ltd. 020 8088 0336 Registered address: 114 Park Road, London W4 3HP Registered in England and Wales No. 5105852

Upon reflection, it’s easy to see why people just pick up the phone and call an agency. It’s the convenience factor. It’s the same reason why UBER has become so successful so quickly. I use it all the time personally because 99 per cent of the time it is reliable and it’s convenient. Will I pay a bit extra? Of course I will, I don’t even need to carry cash, therefore I don’t feel the cost… well, not until I get my bill and see how much I was charged. This is just like using a recruitment agency. It’s convenient and for most, it’s not until you run your payroll or process your accounts that you realise how much you’ve spent or wasted on staffing and recruitment agencies. I know it may seem a harsh read but in the real world, this is how it is. Just think for a moment, how many sectors are there in the UK job market where you could take 100,000+ out of unemployment tomorrow if you could just find the right people who possess the right behaviours and motivational factors. In order to change things then care providers need to change too. Want to learn more? Book a free one-to-one consultation with me and I’ll show you how you can improve the quality and quantity of your employee recruitment. n Scott Sherriden is managing director of the social care recruitment outsourcing experts, The Care Hub Call 0330 335 8999 or email me on scott. sherriden@thecarehub.com

Care provider launches major recruitment drive BRADFORD based Czajka Care Group has launched its biggest recruitment drive in its 36-year history and is planning to create 30 new jobs before the end of the year including care workers and chefs, as well as registered nurses, who will also benefit from a £500 ‘golden hello’. The roles will be based across the provider’s Fairmount Nursing Home, Brookfield Care Home and Staveley Birk Leas Nursing Home, which are all in Nab Wood near Shipley, and Currergate Nursing Home in Steeton and Beanlands Nursing Home in Cross Hills. The family-run business already employs a 350-strong team and offers a wide range of career progression opportunities and full training via its own in-house training centre, which also provides training to other care home operators and is regularly used by the NHS. Managing director Konrad Czajka said: “We’ve been at the forefront of West Yorkshire’s care industry for several decades and now have several opportunities available across our homes, as a result of increased demand for our services and fewer workers coming from Europe due to Brexit. “We’re offering registered nurses a £500 bonus payment as an incentive for joining us, and all new starters benefit from high quality in-house training, provided by our experienced

Konrad Czajka team of care professionals, who are all qualified to deliver an extensive range of fully certified courses. “Many of our team members will then use these as a pathway to go on to complete NVQs and other professional qualifications. “We also recently launched the Care Practitioner training, which provides carers with a defined pathway towards becoming a fully qualified nurse, by furthering their knowledge and taking on more responsibility, and members of our team are already taking advantage of this. “Nurses then have a vast range of opportunities in front of them. This is demonstrated by us recently promoting Santi Francheschino, who was a registered general nurse, to registered manager at Staveley Birkleas Nursing Home in Nab Wood, which cares 18 to 65 year olds with disabilities that mean they can’t look after themselves in their own home.”

CARINGNEWS

Home excels at dementia accolades

THE Erskine Park home in Bishopton has excelled at Scotland’s Dementia Awards. The home dedicated to caring for those living with dementia walked away with the Best Care Home Practice Improvement Award for their innovative Namaste project, having been shortlisted for two awards in the same category. Home manager Lesley Wylie said: “Namaste care provides residents with meaningful interactions until their very last breath. It is truly person centred using all five senses to connect with residents living with advanced dementia and at the end of their life. Relatives can be welcomed into the Namaste space and have stated ‘when they thought there was nothing left for their relative there was Namaste.” The Awards, rigorously judged by a panel of social service, third sector and health professionals, celebrate the inspirational achievements of the people making a difference to those living with dementia and their families. The Erskine Park home specialises in the provision of dementia care for 40 veterans and spouses in purpose-built accommodation within the grounds of the Erskine Estate.

Residents return to fire stricken care home FORTH Bay nursing home in Kincardine, close to the River Forth, has welcomed back the last group of residents to return after the firestricken care home was damaged just over two years ago The return of 12 residents who enjoyed the hospitality of Avondale Care at the Glenbervie Care Home, following the safe evacuation of residents and colleagues, completes the last step in a vast operation by owners Caring Homes, to maintain and provide care for more than 50 residents in three different locations while investing significantly in the refurbishment and rebuild of the nursing and dementia care home. The group’s carers, nurses and hospitality colleagues from Forth Bay followed residents to each of the three locations and continued to provide care throughout the two years, despite many facing significant changes to their travel arrangements. Such was the dedication of colleagues that some visited on days off with residents in other homes maintaining links. “After a long day I’m glad to say all our residents are transferred back under one roof., said Forth Bay manager Fiona Day. “They all appear to be extremely happy with their new home and staff are pleased to be back in Kincardine once again.

“I would like to thank all colleagues within Caring Homes for their ongoing support over the past few years. It’s been an experience for us all but here we are, we’ve finally made it through the other side.... onwards and upwards.” Forth Bay has undergone a complete refurbishment in the wing that was left standing and celebrates now the build of its new wing which has enabled an increase in available beds by six to 58 with many new features and benefits. As the wing opens residents will enjoy landscaped gardens, an abundance of light flooding through airy rooms achieved through addition

of many extra windows, new quiet areas that offer increased choice for residents and relatives wishing to find space to talk and catch up. Lounges feature kitchen and dining areas that will enable residents to cook, bake and make refreshments for themselves and others if they feel inclined with facilities sufficiently comprehensive to make a full Sunday lunch if they so wish. New front doors on each resident’s room in the refurbished wing, personally selected in people’s favourite colour, will help to aid navigation and decrease any confusion in finding the way around the home.

CARINGTECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Advertiser’s announcement

What’s the secret to providing an excellent domiciliary care support service? HOW do you deliver outstanding domiciliary care? It’s a question every manager asks, but one that very few are able to deliver upon. In the UK, last year for example, only 357 home support services were given an outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission. One of those was Midland Care UK, a Birmingham-based agency, which has achieved an outstanding rating for the second time in a row. Owned and operated by Malik Fateh Khan, Midland Care UK believes strongly in person-centred care. He said: “Every carer who works at Midland Care UK has the same compassionate vision. Our primary objective is to look after service users and treat them with the same respect, kindness and dignity that they would expect to receive from a family member.” It is this highly compassionate approach that has won Midland Care UK an outstanding rating. But it hasn’t been easy. Malik has had to solve “complex” challenges such as finding excellent staff, retaining their services and bridging the funding gap set by the local authority, which he says “simply isn’t enough”. But in spite of these hurdles, Malik, who started Midland Care UK seven

Malik Fateh Khan years ago, is achieving his aim, which he says is “to provide vulnerable people with a range of high quality services which support independent living”. In providing this excellent standard of care, Malik says that partnering with Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), which provides his agency with a suite of customised up-to-date policies and procedures, has been instrumental to his agency’s success. He added: “Delivering excellent care is about giving the right person, the right tool at the right time to do their job. That’s where the system really

helps us. “For instance, by accessing QCS’ 8,500 pages of curated policies and procedures, my staff and I can always find what we need, when we need it. That is very empowering and provides the building blocks to deliver an outstanding level of person-centred care.” So how has it made a difference to Malik and his staff? He says, most importantly, QCS’s policies and procedures, have “helped to alleviate the burden of legislation”, allowing him and his staff “to focus 100 per cent of their efforts on caring”. Malik added: “As every care manager knows, it’s essential that policies and procedures are always up-to-date. The QCS system ensures this by providing us with updated guidance 24/7, 365 days a year. “Whenever a policy or procedure is updated by the CQC, which tends to happen quite frequently, because of the QCS system, I know about it the second that change is made. Finally, thanks to QCS, what’s really clever is that the system also automatically informs all of my staff of the policy update too.” Malik added that when it comes to an inspection, he can demonstrate to the CQC examiner, not just that his “policies and procedures are up-to-

date, but most crucially, that “they are being put into practice by frontline workers”. He also says that QCS has improved efficiency while helping his agency become more cost-effective. This in turn has boosted the quality of care he and his staff are able to provide. He explains that without QCS’s compliance management system, as a small business, he’d either have to employ a consultant, which he says “would probably cost around £16,000” or take on the compliance role himself. Malik concluded: “Doing either would impact on the level of care we would be able to provide because I’d be unable to carry out front-line caring duties or manage my team in the way that I’ve become used to”. Deploying the QCS system has meant, however, that he is able to devote 20 percent more of his time training and developing staff. “That means that I can ensure my people are able and equipped to provide high quality care to service users, empowering them to continue living at home and leading the lifestyle of their choice. This, as everyone knows, is the bedrock of excellent domiciliary care. Every day QCS helps us to achieve and maintain those high standards.”

You know your business ...

CoolCare4 knows how to help you run it well. CoolCare4 is an innovative management tool that helps care home operators maximise revenue, manage costs and reduce time wastage.

Specialist Care Home Management Software

ACCURATE DATA

RESIDENT RECORDS

ENQUIRY MANAGEMENT

STAFF RECORDS

ROSTERING

TIME & ATTENDANCE

INVOICING

Get in touch. 0113 385 3853

COOLCARE4.CO.UK

HOME LEDGER

CARINGTECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE

Stop fire doors being a barrier to independence

SMART future of care TWENTY years ago, no one imagined we would be able to fit a camera, thousands of emails, photos, a TV and many other handy tools in a device that fits in your pocket There are many separate devices, systems and technology used throughout a care home, each produces masses of data, much of which requires manual collection by staff. These systems operate independently of each other and rarely do more than the basic functionality they were originally designed for. Rather similar to our mobile phones of 20 years ago. After 50 years being at the forefront of advances in nurse call solutions, Courtney Thorne developed a nurse call system that is equipped to become the ‘smartphone’ of the care home. Nurse call devices around a care home become intelligent enough to identify a resident in need. Measuring changes in levels of audio, light, temperature along with traditional physical inputs, a deterioration in a resident’s wellbeing can raise an alert or be recorded. If

the resident is ‘connected’ with a wearable device, monitoring their movement, location, heartrate, sleep, blood pressure etc., occur automatically. Instead of intrusive, often unsocial physical monitoring, at-risk residents have vital signs checked and recorded continuously. If an emergency occurs, the nurse call system will still summon help, but now one of its key functions is to record, store and make available critical data. Inspired by limitless opportunities, the step we made took us on a journey from our well-respected wireless nurse call systems, to developing the Altra Care – SMART wireless nurse call solution with the capability of wirelessly integrating with different devices and applications used throughout care homes. Altra Care provides automation and monitoring, staff become more productive spending less time on paper-based admin tasks. Furthermore, secure cloud-based communication provides managers remote access to reports assisting them with more effective decisions.

PASSsystem gives staff more time with residents A REOCCURRING theme in care homes is that staff feel they don’t spend enough quality time with their residents, as the completion of assessments and record-keeping takes priority. This is where the PASSsystem digital care planning system really helps. By enabling care workers to bring detailed care plans and resident information to the bedside, it saves staff valuable time. When narrating care notes and assessment details on the fly, it means the system is quick and easy to use, even when wearing gloves. The simple, friendly interface updates records in real-time and also provides voice-to-text functionality. PASSsystem was specifically built to deliver care records without the use of paper, whilst helping to tackle the day-to-day challenges of the care home environment. For managers, the audit trail of every care activity is clearly evidenced, improving transparency and compliance as well as providing

a person-centred care plan for each resident. Current clients regularly report PASSsystem saves them significant amounts of time each week and therefore, money. Instacare Systems recognized the huge benefits of implementing the PASSsystem and felt, quite simply, it was the best digital care plan available. They wanted to bring this innovative technology to care homes in the South West. It complements their comprehensive range of nurse call systems and products, along with their specialist knowledge, customer centred advice and competitive, local prices. Having developed an exclusive partnership with Everylife Technologies, Instacare hold Platinum Partner Status and are fully qualified to supply your home with PASSsystem. Want to see how PASSsystem can save your care home time and money? Contact Instacare Systems to arrange a demo.

IN an age where facilitating independence in the elderly is a priority, care facilities can be confronted with the dilemma of how to mitigate the heavy nature of fire doors, whilst adhering to legislative requirements. Fire doors are essential to maintain safety in the event of a fire; an open fire door will not stop the spread of fire. It can be tempting to wedge fire doors open to allow easier access to frail and elderly people. However, this is an illegal act that puts lives at risk. Dorgard offers a quick, simple and effective solution to this dilemma. It is a battery powered fire door retainer and can be fitted to existing fire doors by a handyman in under 10 minutes. The Dorgard ‘listens’ for the fire alarm and, on hearing it, releases the door and allows it to close. Simply fitting a Dorgard to your fire doors will aid independent movement for residents who may have a disability or impaired movement as well as those who are frail or weak. It is a legal solution to holding your fire doors open and ensures that you are adhering to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Not complying with this legislation could result in you receiving a heavy fine or even a custodial sentence. With a range of fire door retainers, there is a Dorgard that is suitable for

every care setting. For small to medium settings with low noise levels, original Dorgard is an ideal choice. For facilities that have slightly noisier environments, Dorgard SmartSound is the best choice, with its enhanced sound recognition technology. Dorgard Pro is recommended for large care and nursing homes, or if a one glance check system is required. The Pro model can also offer you the ability to link up to 500 fire doors on one site. This system can also be hard-wired into your alarm system. The Macmillan fundraiser at Lawson House Extra Care Housing Scheme was more than just a coffee morning as some of the male residents braved the shave (and wax) to raise cash for the cause. Resident Steve Stott volunteered to have his legs waxed, while resident Peter Bridges shaved his head and beard off. As well as the sponsored shave, the scheme also hosted a coffee afternoon, providing tea and cakes for residents, their friends and family. The event raised £450.

Twenty years of providing outstanding compliance COMPLIANCE is here to stay and is only going to become more demanding, which is why providers need to adopt easy-to-use systems that keep up to date and enable you evidence compliance on request. It is now practical to view/adapt policy/procedures on any platform, be it tablet, iPad, mobile or desk top. Providers that have televisions in residents’ rooms can link the Required Systems to the TV and bring up the residents’ files and complete care plans and update records such as food taken, blood pressure, requests for social activity and a link to communicate with relatives. This is a very important feature that allows relatives to keep in touch particularly when they may live some distance away or may just be on holiday. GDPR has implications for the care sector; you will have to be able to demonstrate that your systems and

data that you hold are compliant. Yet another burden on the care sector. Audit tools have become more important and are a very powerful aid to allow you to gauge how your home/service is doing. They indicate compliance and highlight weaknesses where input is needed. Care providers are under a lot of pressure to not only run their business and need to be able to evidence compliance At Required Systems we have a range of audit tools for care homes and domiciliary care providers, our new cloud based provider compliance audit tool will enable you to evidence compliance with the updates to the Kloes. It can be used for one location or multiple locations. We are proud to work with many care providers that have been awarded Outstanding by CQC.

CARINGNEWS

New £10.5m care hub with a social heart opens at Whiteley Village A NEW £10.5m nursing care centre for older people has opened at the Whiteley Village retirement community in Walton on Thames, Surrey – the provider of 25 per cent of the specialist social housing for older people in the borough of Elmbridge. Named after the first resident to move to the village when it opened in 1917, the 30-suite Eliza Palmer Hub blends clinical support with a major emphasis on social interaction amongst the whole village community. Prominently positioned at the heart of the village, the distinctive octagonal building features the conservatory-style Lantern Café as a social hub for all residents, as well as a hair salon, therapy and consulting rooms and 30 studios for residents needing higher levels of support.. Led by residents, Whiteley Village is active in recognising loneliness and taking action to support each other – and this was a pivotal consideration in deciding to locate the key social facilities of the village at the Eliza Palmer Hub, encouraging greater interaction between those residents living independently in the village and those who need more care. Designed by Levitt Bernstein and Francis Roberts Architects, the residential facilities of the two– storey building challenge the traditional nursing home model. A central, communal open-plan kitchen and living area is the focal point on each floor, with adjacent bedrooms enabling a sense of connection. Chandra McGowan, chief executive, The Whiteley Homes Trust, said: “Our ethos is that life is for living so that, even if your health or mobility is restricted, it doesn’t mean you can’t engage with the normal rhythms of the day going on around you.

Photo credit: Anna Butcher. “Just as the kitchen is the heart of every home, the design makes interaction around food as easy and normal as possible. Many memories are evoked by the different senses associated with mealtimes and staying connected to a sense of home makes all the difference to quality of life. “The sad reality for many UK nursing home residents is that their world is overly confined to their bedroom, whereas our approach is to create spaces and interaction where friendships can flourish. “Respect for the individual is central to our personalised care strategy. At the heart of this is the understanding that our residents have lived their lives, usually in a mutually supportive “family” unit, until the point of acknowledging a need for more help. We are determined to enable them to

continue doing as much as possible for themselves – and for others. “Where our residents have the capacity and desire to take control over their lives, we will do everything we can to help them maintain their own independence as well as providing opportunities for them to contribute. “This reflects the wider ethos of the village and why the Hub is so key to enhancing opportunities for mutual support within our community.“ This approach is also reflected in the landscape. A new courtyard in the heart of the care centre offers private and sheltered external space with attractive plant beds to encourage residents to get outdoors. The Eliza Palmer Hub was facilitated with loan funding from ethical banks Unity Trust Bank and Triodos Bank and was constructed by Castleoak, design and build specialists to the care sector.

40” DEMENTIA INTERACTIVE TOUCH TABLE The dementia touch tables come with electric height adjustable lift which also gives wheel chair residents access to enjoy the touch table. All Office Ltd are one of the leading providers of the Dementia aiding Interactive solutions in the UK.

THE PRODUCT WHAT CARE-HOMES SAY ABOUT THE TOUCH TABLE... “THEY ARE GREAT IN AIDING OUR RESIDENTS LIVING WITH SENSORY IMPAIRMENT AND ENCOURAGES THEIR GENERAL REHABILITATION AND INDEPENDENCE!” - The We Care Group

• 10 point touch (up to 8 residents can play round the table at once) • 90 degree Tilt - tilt the table screen up to 90 degree’s • Electric HI -LO - Adjust the tables height table to suit each patient • Google play apps - Download as many application as possibly needed for each resident • Cable free - built in power pack for a complete mobile solution • Splash proof • Unbreakable screen • 3 years on-site warranty

• Loaded sensory and brain training apps upon installation • Set up and training following delivery. • Netflix / Youtube / Sky Go / BBC player and all other TV application added if needed • Use as a digital sign-age when not in use. • Helps cognitive improvement, aid sensory impairment and encourage the general rehabilitation, of their service users. • Helps person centre care • Aids sensory improvement

BOOK YOUR FREE ONSITE DEMONSTRATION TODAY

FUNDING OPTIONS You can buy the table outright or take out a finance option over 3 or 5 years to help with cash flow Finance options also available from from only £21.00 a week (for the 40” fixed height option) Contact the care home team at All Office Ltd for a complete free on-site demonstration of this product

Email cfrench@allofficeltd.com or call the office of Care home specialist on 01513727766

lamontjohnson.com

LOOKING FOR A DISCREET ConﬁTotally dential No SALE? Obligation Phone us today for a no obligation appraisal and free market advice

07920 475 440 or mail us

lamontjohnson@btinternet.com

CARE HOME SALES NATIONWIDE

Husband and wife team expand their portfolio

Page 40

Group bucks trend and expands with home purchase

Page 41

Developer begins construction of 92 unit retirement development

Page 42

Group launches construction company HALLMARK Care Homes has taken the bold step to build its own care homes. Having been at the forefront of design in the care home sector, winning eight Pinders Design awards in the last 11 years, Hallmark has now created a construction company called Savista Developments. This new company will source land, obtain planning permission and build and fit out Hallmark Care Homes’ next generation of facilities into the next decade. The Essex-based company will be run by Avnish Goyal as managing director, alongside his role as chair of Hallmark Care Homes. More than 120 guests recently attended Savista’s official launch event at the Looking Glass Cocktail Club in London, where Avnish revealed the future plans and ideology. He said: “It makes great sense to utilise our inhouse skills to

Avnish Goyal and James Rowntree.

build a new brand in care sector development.” “We will continue to build Hallmark Care Homes’ new homes, and hopefully look to work for other operators to deliver their schemes, using our extensive experience in

design and construction. “We already have a number of projects in the pipeline and we are excited to be expanding and controlling the delivery of outstanding environments for Hallmark Care Homes’ residents.”

Savista’s first project is Henley Manor Care Home, a luxury 80 bed, Hallmark care home, in Oxfordshire which is scheduled to open in December. Also under construction is Hallmark’s first care village scheme in Hutton, Essex where Savista is building a 77 bed care home alongside a 55 apartment assisted living scheme. Construction director at Savista Developments, James Rowntree, added: “The team at Savista is looking forward to providing outstanding care homes for Hallmark, and using the knowledge gained over the years, we hope to build on the reputation Hallmark have as an award-winning operator.” Forthcoming site starts in the next few months are new care homes in Angmering, Eastbourne, Bath, Camberley, Brentwood and Buckinghamshire.

SOLD A

lamontjohnson.com

THE OLD RECTORY RESIDENTIAL HOME

DYMCHURCH KENT

idential Home The Old Rectory Res ntial.co.uk info@oldrectoryreside ential.co.uk

www.oldrectoryresid

A 35 registered care home, with a CQC rating of "Good" in all five categories. It offers 32 bedrooms, 29 having ensuite facilities. The home has been acquired by the Sodha family, via Old Rectory Care Ltd, to complement their existing home at New Romney.

e-mail:

Dear Grayson and Daw

to instruct of ownership, we chose sed that after 20 years Rectory. This was a very Janet and I are so plea Old The of sale reet dle the disc essionally and Lamont Johnson to han ont Johnson handled prof us and one which Lam emotional decision for with great sensitivity. r constant er so quickly, as was you out found us a suitable buy throughout, what turned It was fantastic that you sale the of ects asp in dealing with all suppor t and flexibility us all! to be 7 days a week, for Kuits, proved to r, Stephen Lopeman of cialist healthcare solicito I. and et Your recommended spe Jan for ss stre relieved a lot of the be a massive help and h, we would have lism and personal touc h for your professiona who may be seriously er own Thank you both so muc any to n nso ending Lamont Joh no hesitation in recomm sale of their home. considering a discreet Kind regards

Proprietor tial Home The Old Rectory Residen New Hall Close, Dym

E church, Kent, TN29OL

Left to right, Grayson Taylor (Managing Director, Lamont Johnson), Dawn Taylor (Director, Lamont Johnson), Trevor Blundred and Mrs Janet Blundred, who have owned the home since 1999

Our success in the sale of CARE HOMES is second to none in the care sector, and has been achieved through the 38 years experience of principal directors, Grayson and Dawn Taylor, specialising solely in the discreet sale of Care Homes and sites/developments for C2 use nationwide.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A QUICK, DISCREET SALE, PHONE US TODAY

Tel/Fax: 01303 874470

The and and The Thi pas rec

£4.4million project officially opened SAUNDERS Boston architects is celebrating the official opening of its latest housing with care development – Brighton Place – a £4.4million project in Washingborough, Lincolnshire. Named in memory of former local council leader, Marion Brighton OBE, the design includes 26 new twobedroom apartments and eight twobedroom bungalows open to the local community of over 55s. The mixed tenure housing with care development, a specialty sector for the practice, contains fully furnished communal areas to encourage a community feel, alongside stateof-the-art spacious two bedroom apartments with fully fitted kitchens, ample storage, wheelchair accessible en-suite bathrooms and electric central heating. Saunders Boston worked alongside LACE Housing to develop the project. Darren Heffer, director at Saunders Boston, said: “Officially opening our projects to the community is always the most exciting part of the process and it’s an honour for it to be named in memory of a figure who dedicated her life to serving the local community – we hope the development can continue to do the same.” Brighton Place is the first of two developments designed by Saunders Boston for LACE Housing, being

completed in 2019. A similar scheme in Nettleham is due for completion shortly. Nick Chambers, chief executive of LACE Housing, added: “With an ever-increasing ageing population it is essential that we do all we can to embrace the challenge of providing much-needed homes that are affordable and designed to support independent living. “The homes are designed to respond to the needs of residents, not just now but well into the future – offering enhanced services to facilitate independent living at a time when frailty and disability threaten to take that away.” Saunders Boston worked alongside local builder Lindum Construction, award-winning interior design company Stanbridge Interiors, and project management consultancy Thornton Firkin to deliver the development.

£15m home opened by residents and Mayor THE doors to a new £15m care facility n Formby have been officially opened by two of its first residents along with the Worshipful Mayor of Sefton, Councillor June Burns. Known as Formby Manor, the expertly designed and purpose-built 76-bed care centre is already home to Eileen Bynoe and Jean Timmins who joined the Lord Mayor in cutting a red ribbon to perform the official opening and accompany her on a VIP tour of the new care facility. Operated by New Care, Formby Manor will offer person-focussed care and a clinical offering that includes residential, nursing and specialist dementia care services. Ensuring a home-from-home environment for residents, it boasts well-appointed private bedrooms with en suite wet rooms and a host

ANOTHER TWO HOMES SOLD DISCREETLY BY LAMONT JOHNSON

SOLD BYWAY HOUSE

QC s.

BOGNOR REGIS WEST SUSSEX

d, t

nts

of hotel-style services and communal areas including lounges, dining rooms and club rooms, a fine dining daily menu, hair salon, nail bar and concierge. Residents also benefit from secure landscaped gardens and a busy and varied programme of events. CEO at New Care, Chris McGoff, added: “We are thrilled that the Lord Mayor was able to take time out of her busy schedule to officially open Formby Manor for us. “We are incredibly proud of the care facility and were delighted to give her a preview tour. The cutting of the red ribbon with some of our residents was a truly memorable way to mark the occasion.” Formby Manor was financed by Puma Property Finance.

The home was sold on behalf of long time owners Mr Christopher and Mrs Jane Smythe, and their daughter, Mrs Deborah Andrews, and has a overall “Outstanding” CQC rating. The buyers were Mr Nirmal and Mrs Jas Chahal, of Ascot. This is their second acquisition through Lamont Johnson in the past 2 years, having purchased Highgrove House in Worthing in recent times.

OVER 38 YEARS 01937 842 758 EXPERIENCE

Totally Conﬁdential No Obligation

“UPFRONT” FEES or INFLATED COMMISSION RATES!

LamontJohnson

P R O P E RT Y ADVISOR S

m.07920 475 440

TO THE CARE SECTOR

lamontjohnson@btinternet.com

CARE HOME SALES NATIONWIDE

Borough Care launches My Workplace BOROUGH Care, the largest notfor-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport, has launched My Workplace. The human resource and payroll system enables employees to change personal information such as their address or emergency contact details, so it is as up-to-date as possible. Jayne Hennessey, head of human resources at Borough Care, said: “We’ve introduced My Workplace as it’s important all our employees feel they have control over their personal information and can access the data wherever they are, particularly for those people who work shifts. “The system will allow us to more easily check all employee records, hold important documents on individual files, run reports on staff turnover and ensure people are paid accurately for the hours they’ve worked. My Workplace is one of a number of initiatives we are introducing to continually improve working life for our staff.” People can also access their payslips and book time off work. As the system can be accessed via a mobile phone app or computer, it means staff can check information whether at home or at work.

Husband and wife team expand their portfolio AN established care home business in Derbyshire has added a new facility to its portfolio, backed by funding from Yorkshire Bank. Lime Tree Care Ltd, based in Clowne, Chesterfield, has used £1.2million in lending to redevelop office accommodation into an 18-bed residential care home, named Cherry Tree House, designed to cater for adults suffering from mental health challenges and brain injuries. The new facility will enable the company to support a larger number of service users in the Derbyshire, Nottingham and Yorkshire regions, with the expansion adding around 50 new jobs locally in caring, nursing, catering, domestic and office roles. Cherry Tree House provides short and long-term nurse-led residential care for people with mental illness, brain injury or neurological illness. It is equipped with a wide range of facilities, including lounges, activity and dining rooms, with a fully equipped kitchen and garden area, alongside providing a regular calendar of activities, both on and offsite to residents. All 18 bedrooms are fully en-suite, while the facility also offers two specialist bariatric bedrooms, designed for those dealing with obesity or mobility challenges – the first facility to provide the service

within the local area. Through the transaction, the Bank also provided £200,000 of working capital, to support the company, which was established in 2015, as it moves towards its goal of establishing a group of successful care homes across Chesterfield. Rob Lee, director at Lime Tree Care, said: “With our primary home operating strongly at full capacity, we had begun to seek out new ways to grow, and the Ground Works Creswell site offered us an exciting opportunity. “The location borders three counties – an ideal position to help us establish contracts with NHS units in Nottinghamshire and South

Care Home Finance

The health and social care quality compliance specialists! Helen has over 20 years’ experience in management of health and social care services. Helen has managed residential, nursing, day care and dementia services. She has been the area manager for several homes, responsible for co-ordinating them and ensuring compliance. Helen set up Care 4 Quality in 2012, starting out as a care consultant to several homes across England. Care 4 Quality has since become one of the leading care consultancy companies in the UK and now has a panel of over 30 consultants and supports several hundred services across the UK. Care 4 Quality’s services are to your service’s needs. With consultants spanning the UK, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, we can offer a range of specific expertise to suit your service.

from

1.79% over base

As major brokers with over 28 years experience exclusively with care homes and over £1.8bn in completed loans we have access to exclusive schemes not offered through highstreet branches or regional offices, who work on a different pricing structure.

We offer support with enforcement action, warning notices and notices of Proposal/ Decision issued by CQC. These can be bespoke and can be tailored to your service. We also work with regulatory solicitors and lenders where necessary.

Let us assist you in your refinance, purchase and development projects, to achieve the best funding options and introduce you directly to professional healthcare managers who understand your business at banks that support your sector.

• Care homes • Nursing homes • Domiciliary care • Support living • Hospices • Respite • Day centres • Mental health services • Complex care

Services

01579 324787 07748 142122 helen@care4quality.co.uk www.care4quality.co.uk

Tailored Packages...

We work with individual care homes and care home groups, carrying out mock inspections and assisting with quality monitoring in partnership with homes. Quarterly compliance visits are becoming popular with our clients, ensuring that the areas of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led are audited fully and improvements are evidenced. Customers who book quarterly visits are provided with interim support for providers and managers via email and telephone.

Sectors

Helen Fuller

Yorkshire, as well as Derbyshire, enabling us to help more people than ever before. “Yorkshire Bank’s team was a strong partner throughout the process. They shared the same vision as us, and above all we appreciated their common-sense and straight-forward approach to the transaction. We’re excited to work with them as we set our sights on more growth.” Nigel Wilson, commercial relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank, added: “Despite being a fairly new entrant to the market, Rob and Claire’s firm has shown impressive growth and we were more than happy to help them scale-up their operations.”

• Mock CQC inspections • Action planning • Auditing (health and safety, good governance, internal) • Enforcement action support • Registration • NOP/NOD support • Factual accuracy challenges • Ongoing support • Crisis management

Are you wishing to refinance, extend, up-grade or build a new home?

£400,000 £600,000 £750,000 £985,000 £1,200,000

£2,120/month £3,180/month £3,975/month £5,221/month £6,360/month

£1,350,000 £1,500,000 £1,800,000 £2,600,000 £4,000,000

£7,155/month £7,950/month £9,540/month £13,780/month £21,200/month

£6,000,000 - £31,800/month £8,000,000 - £42,400/month £11,500,000 - £60,950/month £15,000,000 - £79,500/month £18,500,000 - £98,050/month

Example of repayments over 20 years at base plus 2%

Call: 01242 227172 E-Mail us at: mvhwiddows@aol.com www.globalbusinessfinance.net

Group bucks trend and expands with home purchase EXPANDING Yorkshire provider Saint Cecilia’s is continuing its growth with the purchase of a care home in Pickering.  Bucking the current tough economic climate, the acquisition of the Alba Rose care home from a family owner, brings the provider’s portfolio to three care homes, a nursing home and a day care centre.  Saint Cecilia’s managing director Mike Padgham said: “We are delighted to welcome the Alba Rose and its excellent staff and lovely residents into the Saint Cecilia’s family. “The home has an enviable reputation based on excellent care delivered by the Whincup family over 35 years and we look forward to building on that in the future. “It will be very much business as usual for all of the staff and residents.” The Alba Rose accommodates up to 22 residents. It shares a name connection to Saint Cecilia’s as the building used to house a community of nuns, one of whom, Sister Cecilia, taught music. The purchase of the Alba Rose is part of steady and planned growth for Saint Cecilia’s and brings the staff

up to around 160 and the number of people it provides care for up to more than 125. Mike added: “To survive and prosper in the current economic climate, we believe that the business needs to be a certain size and the purchase of Alba Rose goes towards achieving that size. “It helps us to grow and strengthen the company and the care offered and also provides opportunities for progression across the group for all our staff.” Saint Cecilia’s was advised by the team at national law firm Irwin Mitchell led by real estate senior associate Clare Davitt, while Partner Gavin Maddison advised on corporate matters and senior associate Padma Tadi on employment issues.  Clare, who also advised NatWest on the banking aspects on a dual represented basis, said: “The UK care market is expanding as our population ages and now employs around 1.45 million people, just over 40 per cent of whom work in care homes.   “Despite this growth, demand is outstripping supply and there is a shortage of provision for our older and vulnerable members of society.”

Matt King, Helen Gidlow and Gordon Cochrane.

Team completes buyout THE Healthcare Homes Group has announced the completion of a management buyout of Healthcare Homes Holdings Limited by three members of the existing executive team: CEO Gordon Cochrane, chief operating officer Helen Gidlow and group finance director Matt King. The trio have completed the deal from existing founders David Bates and Graham Lomer, who will continue to have an interest in the company as non-executive directors, while Philip George continues in his existing role as the group’s chairman. The company operates 37 residential and nursing care homes across East Anglia and the South. In addition, its Manorcourt Homecare division has 13 homecare branch locations, which undertake more than 1.5 million visits per annum to people requiring homebased support and care services.

Gordon Cochrane, CEO of Healthcare Homes, said: “We have all known and worked with both David Bates and Graham Lomer for many years – collectively more than 50 – and so we are delighted to take on the baton and continue shaping, growing and leading the success of the group. “With more than 3,000 staff, we are very proud to support many hundreds of people every day, with vital care and support either in our homes or via our dedicated homecare branches. As a group, we are continuing to invest in our homes and people to ensure we provide the best care possible to our residents and clients. Helen, Matt and I look forward to continuing our work with the team and building on the upward momentum we have already established.” The MBO was for an undisclosed sum.

Independent expertise, nationwide knowledge

specialist healthcare business agents DC Care Sells Former Private Hospital Site in Aberaman DC Care has recently completed the sale of a former private hospital in South Wales. The property, located in Aberaman, close to Aberdare is approximately 25 miles north of Cardifff and is situated on a quiet road, just off the main Cardiff Road and is close to local amenities, including the local RFL club.

SOLD

The building is a detached property of red brick construction and has off road parking to the front with lawned gardens to the rear. The building was offered to the market with freehold vacant posession. DC Care extensively marketed the home and obtained early interest. The open viewing day was extremely well attended and several offers were received.

Former Private Hospital, Aberaman, Wales

The successful bidder was national operators Rushcliffe Care Group who have been established since 1989 and have successfully grown from 56 beds to now well over 1000 beds including a wide portfolio of diverse services (Mental Health, ABI, Learning Difficulties, Rehabilitation, Old Persons: Nursing & Residential. Specialty Nursing and challenging behaviours and Specialist Schools). Rushcliffe Care Group intend to extensively refurbish and re-configure the property (both internally and externally) to re-open the Mental Health Hospital and deliver their usual exceptional quality standards of health and social care to all their patients. The building was valued by Regional Business Appraiser Alison Willoughby and the sale was seen through to completion by Lisa Rushworth, Senior Sales Negotiator. The freehold sale price was undisclosed.

When industry knowledge and wisdom are needed, when a discreet sale is desired, our clients choose DC Care to sell their healthcare business.

SALES | ACQUISITIONS | APPRAISALS | CONSULTANCY

01937 849 268

www.dccare.co.uk sales@dccare.co.uk

Developer begins construction of 92 unit retirement development in Berkshire A CARE developer and manager of retirement communities is to commence construction on a £32.2million development of 92 specialist retirement apartments in Thatcham, Berkshire. The development will include 52 apartments built to McCarthy & Stone’s Retirement Living PLUS specification – a form of extra care housing. These will be made up of a mix of self-contained one and two-bedroom apartments, alongside the option of flexible domestic and personalised care and support packages from McCarthy & Stone’s on-site team. Retirement Living PLUS offers a range of facilities to residents, including an open-plan bistro, residents’ lounge, wellness suite and a guest suite. A further 40 apartments will be built to McCarthy & Stone’s Retirement Living specification, which is aimed at the more active older homeowner, but still provides on-site support and maintenance for peace of mind, as well as a shared homeowners’ lounge. Gary Day, McCarthy & Stone’s group land and planning director, said: “The number of older people in the UK is set to significantly increase over the next few decades, with around a third interested in downsizing to a home that is easier to maintain, but still

An artist’s impression of the new £32.2m development in Thatcham.

offers them independent living. “Despite this, there remains a huge undersupply of suitable housing for older people. “Therefore, we are delighted that we are able to begin construction of this development and bring the option of our Retirement Living PLUS and Retirement Living apartments to more customers in Berkshire. “This development will offer customers the opportunity to live an independent lifestyle in the attractive and convenient location of Thatcham. “These customers will benefit from

a choice of high-quality apartments, as well as the flexibility to opt for discrete care packages as required available on-site at a popular and convenient location.” A range of tenures will be on offer, reflecting McCarthy & Stone’s new strategy to offer customers more choice around how to enjoy the retirement living lifestyle. This follows the news that McCarthy & Stone will now be directly delivering all the regulated care, domestic support and property management services provided in its 92 Retirement Living PLUS (extra

care) developments, having agreed to conclude its partnership with Somerset Care in July. YourLife Management Services has now become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. This move represents part of McCarthy & Stone’s stated strategy to create deeper and longer relationships with its customers. It also follows a decision to grant planning earlier this year and first occupations are due in Autumn 2020. The development will occupy what was previously a major brownfield site.

New owner for vacant care home

Advertiser’s announcement

Practical tips when you receive your draft inspection report By Neil Grant IN January CQC introduced a shorter form of inspection report with headings and bullet points. There are limits to the number of bullet points that can be used under a heading and the maximum bullet point length (100 words). It is supposed to ensure reports are accessible and consistent but it means CQC inspectors cannot fit all the evidence into the report. Only the “best evidence” will be included. So there will be evidence CQC relies on to rate your service or find it in breach of a regulation that you may know nothing about. What can you do about this glaring injustice? First, try to get as much as possible out of the feedback session at the end of the inspection. CQC will try to limit this to high-level findings but probe for more information about perceived shortfalls. You may be able to head off issues. Do not feel reticent in putting your case forward. Secondly, when you receive the draft report immediately go through it thoroughly, highlighting any areas where you need clarification. Then without delay email

Neil Grant the inspector asking for that clarification. The inspector will telephone you roughly two days after sending out the draft report to discuss its contents with you. Your email can be the basis of the discussion.

Make detailed notes of the discussion or record it on a device, telling CQC in advance you are doing so. Thirdly, if CQC alleges you are in breach of a regulation ask for all the evidence CQC relies upon in making that finding. The report will only contain some of the particulars not all. As CQC states in its report writing guidance, “…there will be additional evidence not used in the report which add context, explain the seriousness or describe the scale of the issues.” All of this additional evidence will be in CQC’s “evidence list.” You should ask to see it. Fourthly, even if you are not in breach of a regulation or regulations, you may still be rated Requires Improvement. Ask for all the evidence relied upon by CQC to arrive at that rating, as there may be issues that do not feature in the draft report but have been used to downgrade your service. Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get and if you don’t’ get, you won’t be able to respond! n Neil Grant is a Partner at Gordons Partnership LLP.

HALLMARK Care Homes has acquired Brookes House, a 56-bed care home in Brentwood, Essex. The vacant home situated close to the town centre has been sold to Hallmark who will be supported by Savista Developments to rebuild a new facility in keeping with the local area. The group is planning to build a next generation, state-of-the-art care home, which is being designed to the latest Hallmark standards, including the latest thinking on innovation and technology. Chair of Hallmark Care Homes and managing director of Savista Developments, Avnish Goyal, said: “This community will provide much needed residential, dementia and nursing care to older people in Brentwood. “We will shortly be submitting a pre application for planning and we look forward to receiving constructive feedback.” The sale of Brookes House was handled by Christie & Co and received significant interest from other care operators and developers for alternate uses. Martin Gould, head of brokerage for care at Christie & Co, added: “Following an open and far reaching competitive marketing process, we are delighted to see Hallmark, acquire Brookes House.”

“Our fingerprints are all over every sale”.

Benefit f ro m t h e value of ex p e r i e n c e with a fully managed s e r v i c e f ro m b e g i n n i ng to end.

From corporate clients to private owners and charities, our experience provides the right advice and support throughout the deal process.

Whether acting for the seller or purchaser, our areas of expertise include: • Nursing and Residential Homes • Independent Hospitals • Specialist Care Homes Including Learning Disability & Mental Health • Children’s Services and Schools • Turn-key Developments • Vacant Properties • Land and Development Sites

Achieve the result you want and sell your care business confidentially. CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SALES & ACQUISITION SERVICES

www.healthcarepc.co.uk

Tel: 01937 222107

enquiries@healthcarepc.co.uk

CARINGNEWS

War veteran meets Prince Charles after parachute jump to mark Arnhem Charity launches new Moment of Joy music therapy campaign NATIONAL charity Methodist Homes has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the impact music therapy has on people living with dementia. The #MyMomentOfJoy campaign, which will run across all social media platforms and at www. MyMomentOfJoy.co.uk launched on BBC Music Day (September 26). BBC Music Day is the UK-wide, annual celebration of the power of music to change lives. This year, the BBC will launch an ambitious project to help bring music to everyone living with dementia by 2020. MHA has been working in collaboration with the BBC on Music Day. MHA’s campaign will support this aim through a series of video stories showing the effect of music therapy on its care home residents and their families. A specially commissioned animation, voiced by #MyMomentOfJoy campaign ambassador and former Strictly Come Dancing judge and choreographer Arlene Phillips, will also demonstrate the power of music therapy, even for those living with the most advanced stages of dementia. “I’ve spent my life working with and through music and know its incredible power to move and inspire,” she said. “That’s why I’m delighted to support the brilliant work done by MHA and their specialist music therapists. “To see the way familiar old tunes bring moments of joy to the lives of

people living with dementia is truly beautiful. “To reawaken memories in those living with dementia and bring them back to their loved ones and to those who care for them – even for a short time – is magical. I believe everyone should support this wonderful, lifeenhancing work. “If you feel the same please help us unlock more memories and bring families together.” As part of the campaign, MHA is encouraging as many people as possible from across the UK to show their support by sharing one song that has brought them joy in life, using the hashtag #MyMomentOfJoy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MHA’s award-winning music therapy offering aims to stimulate cognition, helping to reduce symptoms associated with dementia such as anxiety and depression. Sessions are adapted to suit individuals through nurturing their physical and emotional wellbeing enhancing their quality of later life and allowing residents to re-connect with their loved ones. Sam Monaghan, chief executive at MHA, added: “We are so proud of the work our music therapists do to improve the quality of life for our residents, every day. “We believe that everyone living with dementia should have access to music therapy, that’s why it’s so important for us to demonstrate how powerful it is. “We want as many people as possible to find out more through our #MyMomentOfJoy campaign.”

A Skelmersdale care home is celebrating 25 years of delivering care to its local community. Stocks Hall celebrated with a party for families, health professionals, staff, suppliers and friends. Deputy Mayor, Councillor Terry Aldridge and Deputy Mayoress Sarah Brennan, were also in attendance.

A SECOND World War veteran who parachuted out over the Dutch city of Arnhem where he was captured in 75 years ago has been congratulated by the Prince of Wales. A crowd of thousands applauded Sandy Cortmann, 97, from Fairview House in Aberdeen, as he tandem dropped with the Red Devils on to Ginkel Heath, near Arnhem in the Netherlands. He was just 22 years old when he parachuted on to the same drop zone in September 1944. The Prince of Wales, the Colonelin-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, accompanied by Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands, met veterans of the operation to mark its 75th anniversary. After landing, Sandy, still wearing his red flight suit and returning to the area for the first time since the war, waved to onlookers and a mass of cameras from his wheelchair as he took his place for a memorial service on the heath. The Prince of Wales, wearing a multi-terrain patterned shirt and trousers and maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment, laid a wreath during the service bearing the handwritten message: “In everlasting remembrance, Charles.” He later shook Sandy’s hand as he met several of the last band of surviving veterans from Operation Market Garden. After speaking to the Prince of Wales, he described his jump as “thoroughly terrifying”, adding:

“When the door opened I thought, Christ, what a way down.” But he said it was “absolutely wonderful to see the ground so far below, my God”. Asked if the parachute drop had been like the one he made more than seven decades before, he said: “I can’t remember much about the jump in 1944, we were just a bunch of young lads out for a good time if you like, but it turned out rather terrifying in the end with the guns and mortars and things opened up. They were all aimed at us.” Arlene Campbell, general manager at Fairview House, added: “We are all so proud of Sandy for being brave enough to do the jump again. He’s a wonderful man with such an incredible story, and we’re honoured to know him.”

Home celebrates World Alzheimer’s Day with animal therapy event RESIDENTS and team members at Sunrise of Banstead celebrated World Alzheimer’s Day with a special animal therapy session. The care community decided to use the day, which is celebrated every year to raise awareness and highlight the issues faced by people living with dementia, to focus on the benefits of animal interaction for older people. The day included a visit from the dog team at Foal Farm in Biggin Hill, including all three of their canine members. Mogi, a pug who is in a wheelchair due to difficulties with his back legs, Hank, another pug, and Toby all spent the day interacting with the residents in Sunrise’s activities room. Conor Leahy, director of community relations at Sunrise of Banstead, said: “We wanted to do something special to mark World Alzheimer’s Day and this was a great way to get involved with the campaign and offer a beneficial activity to our residents. “We chose to focus on animal therapy with dogs specifically as they are very affectionate, and residents really enjoyed getting to know our

guests. We look forward to offering similar initiatives in the near future.” The care team at Sunrise of Banstead decided to raise awareness of the merits of animal interaction as it has been shown to lower anxiety and release an automatic relaxation response, which is particularly pertinent for those living with dementia. Animal interaction can also stimulate spontaneous communication, increase mental stimulation including the increased production of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin, which all help to boost mood.

CARINGNEWS

Residents shake it up at mocktail masterclass

RESIDENTS at a specialist dementia care home in Wellington, Somerset re-lived their youth at a mocktail masterclass run specially for them by cocktail specialists, Mambo of Taunton. The activities team at Camelot House and Lodge set up gazebos, tables and chairs in the home’s newest garden, and residents put their sunhats on while Mambo’s mixologists prepared their bar. Activities co-ordinator Richard Dempslake, who dreamt up the idea of the mocktail masterclass, said: “Mambo’s night club staff were very professional – just as if they were at work – taking orders, making the drinks, having banter at the bar and our residents really loved the experience.” Mambo’s mixologists Kallum Hickford and Seaneigh Toland offered individual service to everyone – with mocktails such as ‘Frozen Daiquiri,’ ‘Shirley Temple’ and ‘Virgin Mary’ – entertaining the crowd by explaining what they were doing as they went along. After the first round of drinks residents were invited to mix their own mocktail under the guidance of the mixologists, with the experts declaring Sheila Williams‘s ‘Frozen cuddles on the beach’ mocktail of the day- a combination of peach, cranberry, pineapple and grenadine

Sheila Williams, winner of the best mocktail competition. for which she won a bouquet of flowers, Richard added: “Due to the affects of certain forms of dementia, many of our residents still feel they are in their 20’s, and our aim is to give them every opportunity to have fun. “Although all the mocktails were non-alcoholic, the atmosphere was very jolly, and it was lovely seeing everyone relaxed, socialising and enjoying the allimportant customer service – we even had a little sing. “To be honest, the ladies and gents were more interested in drinking the mocktails then making them but still had a great time.”

Don’t lose the laundry with Easyfix labels NAMETAGS4CAREHOMES know from experience that the process of moving into a care home can be a very difficult time for everyone involved. That’s why we try to make life a little bit easier. One of the top reasons for complaints in the care home industry concerns lost property. It’s extremely upsetting when items go missing, or when your loved one is found wearing someone else’s clothes. There’s a simple solution! Put name tags on clothing and other personal items. Our best-selling labels in care homes are the dual purpose Easyfix Clip & Iron on labels. They can be ironed or fixed on in seconds using a small button-like clip. Unlike other chunky and uncomfortable ones on the market,

these button clips are tiny and won’t cause irritation. Iron on labels fuse into garments and become part of them – so they can’t possibly come off! Both types of labels withstand very high washing temperatures and industrial tumble drying. Sticky SupaTags will stick to all non-clothing items. Great for walking aids, toiletries and all other belongings. Care home managers can register for our bespoke online ordering system with discounts, invoicing, and next day delivery. Thanks to our high quality products and very competitive prices we are one of the main care home suppliers in the UK, and we supply hundreds of care homes. Prices start at just £7 for a set of Easyfix labels and clips. www.nametags4carehomes.co.uk

Cost-effective infection control from Gompels WITH care budgets continuing to be cut across the UK, keeping your care home to the standard that prospective residents and their families will be expecting is an on-going headache. Choosing Gompels’ own-branded products will help you to get the most from your budget, keeping costs low and hygiene standards high, throughout your entire care home. Hand washing We’ve developed an extensive range of antibacterial hand soaps, rubs, scrubs and sanitisers, plus touch-free dispensers designed to minimise the spread of germs. To help get the most from these products our Hand Washing Training Kit is great for checking the effectiveness of the hand washing technique. It can often be a shock to see what the UV torch reveals, and generally results in better hand hygiene procedures all round. Surface cleaning Because most surfaces are potential germ-zones, you’ll need antibacterial sprays and wipes that are quick and easy to grab throughout the day, as well as being compliant with the relevant BS EN Standards. Our concentrated Antibac Washroom Cleaner can be diluted to provide an impressive and economic 166 750ml trigger spray bottles. Being 99.999 per cent effective in just 30 seconds, killing most common bacteria and viruses on contact. Our ready to use Antibac spray and

wipes are loved for their quality, price and suitability for most surfaces. Sterilising and disinfecting Gompels Sterilising Fluid provides a chlorine based clean, killing bacteria, viruses and fungi in minutes, and being non-hazardous makes it ideal for sterilising drinking cups. Our antibacterial Probe Wipes are widely used to sterilise thermometers and food temperature probes. Laundry care Our non-bio laundry powder is renowned for removing the toughest of stains, and provides 135 washes at a much lower price than other leading brands. We use less packaging which means less waste, and a lower cost to you! Our own brand Professional range of economic 10 litre bottles includes Everyday Laundry Liquid, Destainer and Fabric Softener, perfect for autodosing. Our Premium range includes Heavy Duty and Oxy Pro Stain Removers and Bactisan, which not only clean and freshen, but leaves laundry bacteria free. Odour neutralising Part of our Xtraction carpet cleaning range the Urine Neutraliser and Heavy Duty Enzyme Cleaner are great resources for any care home, breaking down bad odours and removing most stains. Products made by us, to help you. Together we care.

NASHiCS has announced the winners of its annual awards. These prestigious awards were open to everyone who works in the social care sector across the UK – both members and non-members of NASHiCS – whose dedication, skill and knowledge deserved recognition. Nominees were required to submit evidence of innovation and measurable benefits to health and safety management of their organisation. The three categories and winners were: Individual of the year (sponsored by Jackloc ) – Shonagh Methven, head of health and safety, United Response; Learning and training (sponsored by Tower Fire Group) – Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare; Best practice (sponsored by Surety Fire Solutions) – Care UK.

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Green fingered residents at Manor House Nursing Home in Chatburn took part in a sunflower growing competition. Several residents entered and Muriel Bargh won first prize with her sunflower reaching eight feet 10 inches. Mavis Clarke’s sunflower was second.

Provision of equipment optimises social care budgets A REPORT by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists is proving that appropriate use of equipment can deliver significant savings in care costs. The report – Relieving the Pressure on Social Care The Value of Occupational Therapy – maintains how optimised client independence through technology can increase people’s ability to perform everyday activities with little or no help by 49 per cent. In one county council alone, use of technology to enable single handed care in place of double handed care achieved annual savings of almost £0.5m. The findings have been welcomed by Closomat, Britain’s leading provider of independent toilet technology. “It pays to use technology, equipment in place of people, where appropriate,” said Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager. “The RCOT report is the latest to prove the value of equipment in alleviating pressure on social care funding. “Our own research indicates that for the cost

of buying one of our wash & dry toilets, enabling someone to ‘go’ without the need for care intervention, is just 25 per cent of the annual cost of providing care support for the same function. “That means four people are given independence, dignity & control over this very intimate aspect of their life instead of just one. Therefore, the right equipment, in the right situation, reaps massive rewards in every aspect of the social care chain.” Enquiries: Call 0161 969 1199, email info@clos-o-mat.com or visit www.closomat.co.uk

Washable protection for all your ﬂoor surfaces... The WACMAT is the original and leading

Mink

Blue

washable carpet protector since its launch in 1997, now it’s upgraded and going ‘Green’ with the New WACMAT ECO! Super Absorbent Stain resistant 100% Waterproof Anti-creep, anti-ruckle and lays ﬂat Machine Washable Non-slip comfort for hard ﬂoors 3 Year ‘no-quibble’ guarantee

Burgundy

Marble

Made in the UK by a carbon negative company Made from 100% ECONYL recycled ‘ﬁshing nets’

The WACMAT ECO is the Simple Solution for protecting your carpets, reducing cleaning costs and preventing slips. Place the WACMAT ECO under commodes or next to beds to ensure full protection of carpets and sensor mats,

Blue Shale

then simply machine wash and tumble dry! Available in a range of attractive colours and three generous sizes, the WACMAT ECO is the cost eﬀective way to ensure the cleanliness of any room as well as complementing its homely feel.

SUNRISE Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare have launched an innovative recruitment questionnaire for potential candidates to find out whether a career in care is right for them. The organisations carried out comprehensive studies through research groups, and worked in conjunction with a business psychologist to develop the online ‘Self-Selection Questionnaire,’ enabling them to take a values-based approach in their selection process. Self-selection refers to the process where a jobseeker is given information about the more challenging aspects of a vacancy and employer as well as the positives, in order to better enable them to make an informed decision about whether to apply for a job role. David Evans, head of talent acquisition at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, said: “We’re delighted to have developed such an advanced and invaluable online tool to ensure that we are recruiting the care leaders of tomorrow. “We believe this tool will allow us to engage with a wider pool of potential candidates at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, including those who may not have considered a career in care before. “The questionnaire is confidential and doesn’t need to be taken to see our current opportunities, but it does give a greater insight into our world before someone commences the application process. “We hope it will encourage potential applicants to know with full confidence whether care is the right

pathway for them.” The new tool will allow interested candidates, including people that may not have had a career in care before, to ‘look in and see’ what a role in care at Sunrise and Gracewell is like, as well as the qualities they need to be successful. The organisations are specifically looking to reduce their attrition point, where workers leave a role, and ensure overall retention of team members, especially within the first 90 days of joining. Used by large national businesses such as Marks & Spencer and British Airways to recruit team members, self-selection has been found to significantly reduce resignation rates, which are high among recent recruits, and, according to 61 per cent of employers, improve the performance and motivation of newly hired team members. Its reasoning is simple: the aim is to ensure that the candidate, if offered the role, accepts with full understanding of what is expected of them by managers, customers, fellow team members and anyone else they may interact with. Sunrise and Gracewell hope as they create and shape their employer value proposition, the questionnaire will allow for a richer candidate experience to engage with the organisations at the earliest opportunity and be informed about what lies ahead. The questionnaire will now be placed onto the Sunrise and Gracewell Careers sites and elsewhere online to direct potential candidates to complete it before they submit an application.

Amber

FREEPHONE: 0800 074 3749 www.richardsresidential.co.uk Vivary Buildings, Spring Lane, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 9BD

ACCOUNTANCY SAVVY!

Our goal is to work with you to carefully assess your personal or business requirements with the ultimate aim of reducing your tax liability – evaluating your needs and offering expert advice where and when you need it in a professional albeit informal environment.

With our unique understanding of the Care Home Business, we can assist in the following ways:

• Start-up business advice • Advice & assistance with the purchase or sale if applicable. • Tax • Preparation and analysis of financial statements. • Bookkeeping and payroll services • Sales invoice preparation and monthly analysis for credit payments • Tax planning strategies. • Understanding service user funding • VAT (if applicable) • Business succession planning.

JER ACCOUNTS SERVICE

Organisations launch online questionnaire for potential recruits

7 St Pauls Yard, Silver Street, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, MK16 0EG tel: 01908 210666 Email:jane@jeras.org.uk mobile: 07956 917591

Home is named garden centre’s annual charity SQUIRE’S Garden Centre in Long Ditton has named The Royal Star & Garter Home in Surbiton as its charity of the year for the second year running. It follows a successful year of fundraising for the homes from the garden centre in 2018-19. Sophie Fanning-Tichborne, partnerships manager at The Royal Star & Garter Homes, said: “We couldn’t be happier to be chosen by Squire’s as their charity of the year again. “We look forward to further developing a successful partnership and raising even more money for The Royal Star & Garter Homes over the next 12 months.” In total, Squire’s Long Ditton raised £1,879 for the charity, including £1,340 from its Santa’s grotto through a percentage of ticket sales and a bucket collection, manned by volunteers from the home. The garden centre also gifted 1,000

tulip bulbs which have been planted in the home’s garden. Residents from The Royal Star & Garter Home, a charity which cares for ex-Servicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia, are also regular visitors to Squire’s Long Ditton where they are treated to afternoon tea at the cafe bar.

TOTAL

SPECIALIST BATHROOM SOLUTIONS G360 Services from Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms, the new name for Gainsborough Specialist Bathing. Specialist assisted baths Trusted enablement, installation and management Lifetime support and servicing

MANAGEMENT COST AND TIME SAVINGS

Safe accessible bathrooms and wet rooms

MAXIMISING YOUR INTERNAL RESOURCES

Seamless transfer, washing and toileting solutions

ENHANCED BUSINESS FOCUS AND PERFORMANCE STRONGER SPECIALIST CARE

Project design with vision

IMPROVED CQC COMPLIANCE GENUINE SUSTAINABILITY REDUCED HR PRESSURES

G360 – delivering ultimate care, efficiency and sustainability through holistic excellence.

01527 400 022

info@gainsboroughbaths.com

REDUCED RISK AND LITIGATION

www.gainsboroughbaths.com

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF INNOVATION IN FURNITURE DESIGN To find out more call: 01924 868 470 For more information visit: www.shackletonsltd.co.uk