Caring UK (September 2010) by Script Media

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September 2010

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.172 • £4.75 In association with

Immigration changes pose closure threat By Dominic Musgrave UP to a third of all care and nursing homes may be forced to close due to new Home Office rules on immigration, it has been claimed. Philip Longbottom, immigration adviser at Aidmark, says a six-month ban on facilities employing tier two staff such as RGNs or shift leaders from overseas will ‘cause havoc’ for the industry. He told Caring UK that the decision to stop allocating certificates to go with the required licence for recruiting could lead to homes having to close. Philip added: “All care and nursing businesses in the UK need to have a tier two licence costing £300 for four years to employ key staff from overseas once they have proved that there is a shortage in this country and across Europe. “Some roles are very hard to fill, and I would estimate that around 35 per cent of these are filled with people from overseas, so they are effectively keeping them open. “Previously, a care home operator asked for a number of certificates to be put on their licence for the year – some to be used so they could retain the staff they currently employ and

others should they need to replace anybody who may leave. The ability has been taken away due to the removal of certificates and I have clients who because they didn’t need to use them last year have had them taken away for this.” Philip believes many home operators are unaware of the situation, and is advising anybody affected to write to their MP and the minister of immigration in the hope something might change. He added: “I would advise anybody who hasn’t got a licence to get one in place, even though they are effectively worthless at the moment, because a care home will need one to begin recruiting again if and when the Government finally sees sense about this matter. “They are making this up as they go along, and don’t realise it is going to have a shambolic effect on the industry. Up to one million elderly people could be affected by care homes closing. They will have to go somewhere, and that will probably lead to bed blocking in hospitals, which simply cannot cope.” For more on the immigration crisis affecting care homes, Page 7

Supergran hosts themed launch A TRURO care home turned back the clock and hosted a 1950s themed launch party for a local radio station’s new request show. Hosted by Source FM presenter Supergran (Glenys McMahon), the event at Cornwall Care’s Redannick was free for all of the company’s clients across the county and included a buffet, stalls, games and raffle. Chief executive Douglas Webb said: “We were delighted that ‘Supergran’ chose to launch her radio show by broadcasting live from Redannick, and enjoyed welcoming clients from across the county for what was a fantastic afternoon of fun, games and music.” Actor Ryan Thomas opened a new reminiscence room at a Salford care home. Best known for his roles as Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street, the actor unveiled a plaque at an open day at Highview, which was also attended by the local mayor and mayoress. Full story, Page 8

Glenys is famous in Cornwall for her discos where she plays music for older people, either at private parties, or functions in residential homes and day centres.

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Community invited to visit home By Dominic Musgrave AN OXFORDSHIRE nursing home is appealing for more people from the local community to visit and improve the residents’ quality of life. Staff at Westgate in Wallingford held a recruitment day to encourage people to spend a few hours with the residents, putting on activities, helping with crosswords and puzzles or just having a chat. Activities organiser Wendy Bowd said they also wanted to raise the profile of the 61-bed home, which many people are still unaware of, despite it being open for seven years. She added: “The open day was arranged to try and recruit volunteers to come to the home because we have a lot of residents without families, and in that respect it is always nice to have some one-to-one time with someone. “Everybody has their own talents, interests and hobbies that we would like them to share with the residents

– anything from gardening to arts and crafts, which I am no good at, would be particularly useful. “Although we have been open for many years there are still people who don’t know that or what we do, and it would be good to show off our facilities.” The home houses people with a variety of needs, from dementia sufferers to those still able to go on regular trips out. Wendy said she is hopeful the idea may attract some younger people to the home. She added: “Eighteen is a good age to start for a volunteer, and everyone who agrees will be fully CRB checked. “It would be nice to attract younger people as it is a good way of introducing a career in care to those who perhaps wouldn’t usually consider it. “It isn’t the first industry that tends to spring to mind for a teenager, but it is a really good profession for them, and they can get a really long way if they want to do so.”

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Group Sales Manager: Jackie Brook Tel: 01226 734479 Email: jb@whpl.net National Sales Executives: Rebecca Hazell Tel: 01226 734685 Email: rh@whpl.net Mandy Edwards Tel: 01226 734333 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.uk Fax: 01226 734477

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

Editorial

Carers Leslie Lund and Jan Morgan dress up for the party to celebrate the success of Teal Beck House in Otley

Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478 Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407

Smiling through the rain

Reporter: Christina Eccles Tel: 01226 734463

THE wet weather failed to dampen the spirits at an Otley care home’s garden party that was attended by two mayors. The event at Teal Beck featured a variety of fresh food made by the catering staff, as well as entertainment which included music by members of jazz band Yorkshire Music Live and a display of 1940s photographs taken by resident Enid Sheldon. The mayors of Leeds and Otley, James McKenna and Ray Smith, were also in attendance, with the latter cutting a cake to celebrate the occasion.

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

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CARINGNEWS

End-of-life care earns award for facility By Louise Cordell

Resident Rose Wearing with some of the artefacts at one of the memory fairs

Fairs take residents down memory lane A NORTH West care group hosted memory fairs at its homes to celebrate the lives and memories of the residents. Each memory fair took residents, visitors and staff on a different route down memory lane, with highlights including celebrations of local history and the 1940s, as well as holidays, ‘baby days’ and wedding themed events. The events raised £700, which was donated to the Alzheimer’s Society and a comfort fund for resident

activities. At the fairs, residents and visitors were invited to write down their fond memories from years gone by, which were pinned onto special ‘memory walls’, along with photographs and treasured items from the past. Local historians brought along artefacts from the past, ranging from old toys and games, and household items to objects associated with local industries such as mining and even WWII military vehicles.

AN ACCRINGTON care home’s sensitive approach to end-of-life care has earned it a prestigious award. Springhill is the first facility in East Lancashire and one of only 29 in the UK to earn Beacon status from the NHS and Age UK backed Gold Standards Framework Centre. Matron Cathy Dunn, who introduced the new quality initiative to the home’s workforce 18 months ago, said the achievement was one of the highlights of her 25-year nursing career. She added: “It is not about winning plaques and never was. What is important to me as a professional nurse is ensuring that our residents have exactly what they want and need at the end of their lives to make sure the process of end of life is as comfortable and peaceful as possible. “Not just for their sakes but for their families and friends who may be frightened and distressed as well." Since being chosen by local

Macmillan nurses to pilot the scheme in November 2008, the home has reduced the number of residents admitted to hospital when terminally ill by a third. Cathy added: “If anybody asked me where I’d like to end my days, I would always say at home. For our residents, this is their home and they feel exactly the same way. “They want to end their days in a familiar environment surrounded by people they've grown to know and trust rather than strangers in hospital. “To have enabled more of our residents to do this, fulfilling their final wishes, is the real achievement.” The home’s entire 84 strong workforce has undergone GSF training, including cleaners and cooks as well as nursing and care staff. “Ensuring residents die well is not just about providing the right medical care, said Cathy. “In those final days, domestic staff will be going in and out of their rooms as well as cooks who have to cope with dietary changes. Everybody plays a part in that peaceful goodbye process.”

CaterCare free to attend THE National Association of Care Catering’s ‘CaterCare’ exhibition will be free to attend for day visitors, it has been announced The CaterCare exhibition runs parallel to the association’s annual two-day conference, which is in its 19th year, and again takes place at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel this year. And on September 15 the exhibition will be open for all those engaged in public and private sector catering for the welfare and residential care sector to view the latest products and services. Visitors can discuss their needs with manufacturers and

suppliers, as well as networking with fellow industry professionals. Speakers lined up include Terry Tucker, director of learning, development and hospit-ality at Barchester Healthcare and David Sinclair, head of policy and research, International Longevity Centre UK. To register for your free ticket to the exhibition, email Meg@mccullough moore.co.uk, with your name, job title and company. Alternatively, for further information about attending as a delegate for the event on September 16 and 17 visit www.thenacc.org.uk

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CARINGIMMIGRATION

The new immigration rules and how they affect care homes By Glyn Lloyd CARE homes are urged to evaluate their staffing needs as a result of changes to the Immigration Rules that came into effect recently which temporarily limit the number of overseas workers they are entitled to employ. The interim cap will continue until March 31 2011, after which a permanent restriction will be implemented. This follows changes that were made to the immigration rules on April 6, which now require care homes to pay non-European carers applying to work in the UK a higher minimum salary. Other significant changes include revisions to the eligibility of highly skilled individuals including parttime overseas students working at care homes who intend to switch from their student immigration status to that of a sponsored employee. Care homes must generally have a sponsorship licence before employing overseas workers in the UK. A licence is also mandatory if a home wishes to continue employing non-EEA carers who were initially granted work permits. Before July 19, and as part of their sponsorship licence applications, care homes could request and were

generally granted, permission to recruit a certain number of overseas workers based on their anticipated staffing needs. However, care homes successfully applying for a licence since then will automatically be granted a 'zero allocation' of overseas workers that they are allowed to employ. In effect, this means a number of care homes will be licensed to employ overseas workers, and they must now follow an additional procedure to request permission to employ an allocation of overseas workers. In the meantime, the UK Border Agency is in the process of contacting all care homes that already hold sponsorship licences to confirm how many non-EEA nationals they are permitted to employ during the next 12 months. In many cases, this figure will be reduced from their previous allocations to zero. Care homes must therefore follow the same request procedure set out above in order to apply for an increase in their newly allocated quota. As these limits apply to both new and existing overseas workers, care homes wishing to retain their current non-EEA workers beyond their current leave to remain are advised to check their allocations as

a matter of priority. Failure to do so may result in the home being unable to renew their employees' leave and continued employment. Skilled carers in the UK remain in shortage occupation. Provided therefore overseas carers and students with a care background have the relevant skills and qualifications, and the UK care home pays them the minimum rates, far fewer conditions under the Immigration Rules need be satisfied. However, as set out above, the care home must still have a sufficient allocation of overseas workers they are entitled to employ. Those 'highly skilled' individuals who have university qualifications and can prove higher previous earnings, are entitled to work in the UK without being sponsored by a care home. However, since July 19, some of these workers may now have to show higher previous earnings than was previously the case, but this depends on their current immigration status. Care homes are advised to assess their staffing needs over the next 12 months, taking into account any overseas employees whose leave to remain in the UK expires during this period. They are then recommended to confirm their

allocated quota of overseas staff, in order to ensure they are able to recruit or extend the employment of their overseas employees. Fortunately, the rules on permanent residence and British citizenship, both of which grant permanent permission to work in the UK, remain unchanged and care homes are encouraged to assess whether they are eligible for these rights. These entitlements avoid the difficulties on sponsorship and allocations. Workers from certain parts of Eastern Europe are not affected by the new regime, but they still require the existing relevant work permissions in order to work in the UK. Glyn Lloyd is a business immigration solicitor in Veale Wasbrough Vizardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthcare team.

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CARINGIMMIGRATION

Limit on migrants announced by May PLANS to control the number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe were announced by home secretary Theresa May at the end of June. Introducing a limit on migrants from outside Europe coming here to work is one of the ways the Government intends to scale back numbers to the levels of the 1990s – to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands. Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed following a 12week consultation with businesses. In the meantime an interim limit on tier

one and tier two workers has been introduced to ensure there is no rush of applications and the number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels. Theresa said: “This government believes Britain can benefit from migration but not uncontrolled migration. “I recognise the importance of attracting the brightest and the best to ensure strong economic growth, but unlimited migration places unacceptable pressure on public services.

Healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave gauges reaction to the new immigration rules from care home operators.

New rules have halted promotions AN experienced Cheshire care home owner claims new immigration rules have prevented her from giving a number of her staff promotions. Cathrina Moore, who has owned Plessington Court and The Chapel House in Neston for the past 23 years, says approximately 40 per cent of her staff are from overseas, with several from the Philippines and India. She told Caring UK it is difficult to find suitable staff for the homes, which cater for 53 people with dementia, due to their rural location. “We have a number of girls from overseas who are working towards their NVQ level 3 or 4 and at the same time are getting a lot of on-thejob training. “They are becoming very skilled and we would like to keep them, but once their visas expire they will only be able to extend them to work 25 hours a week, which would mean they would be working for little money. “We are not allowed to support them because we cannot be seen to be favouring them against the UK nationals, but I wouldn’t want them to be scrimping on things like food if they have not got enough to live on.” A Norfolk care home owner says it has takenk him weeks to get his licence application forms right, only for him to then be told they were no longer issuing certificates. Dr Paul Benga, a professor at Kings College, London who owns St Mary’s Residential Care Home in New Buckenham, said he urgently needs to renew the visas of three of his members of staff, but it seems that all the pieces have been moved again. He added: “In my role I am used to filling in forms, but what is on their website is ridiculous. The first time they sent the form back a month after we sent it in was our fault, and the second time was the accountant’s who didn’t send the originals of some Inland Revenue documents they required. “After a few days of getting things

together I sent the form off again, only to receive a reply asking me whether I wanted them to continue processing my licence as I wouldn’t receive any certificates because they weren’t being allocated.” A Somerset operator who says a third of his staff are from overseas has described the current immigration restrictions as ‘farcical’. David Wilcox has run Highcroft Nursing Home in Weston-SuperMare for 17 years, and says he has already lost one senior carer, who was forced to go back to the Philippines despite wanting to stay. He added: “All of the obstacles that we have had to overcome during my time running the business have been put in front of us by the Government or staff, which can also be traced back to the Government in many cases. “We are a three-star home with very high standards, but I am very worried and can see a point coming in the next six months were we are not going to be able to staff the home. “We have advertised for an RGN at the job centre and in various publications for the last couple of months, but haven’t had one enquiry. There is a real shortage, and I don’t think the Government realises this.” He added that he cannot compete with local supermarkets, who pay more than he can to stack shelves. Is your care home affected by the new immigration rules, and are you worried about the future? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

'The government will also introduce measures to support British people. Alongside limits will be action to get Britain back to work and provide business with the skills they need from the resident workforce – reducing the need for migrants at the same time as we reduce their number.” The home secretary also asked the Migration Advisory Committee, the government’s independent adviser on migration issues, to launch a separate consultation into what level the limit should be set at, taking into account social and economic impacts.

Theresa May

‘Government needs to face reality ...’ By Martin Green THE recent changes to the migration rules are having an extremely big impact on independent sector care providers and are hampering their ability to attract skilled and qualified staff into care settings. The drivers for these changes owe more to media hype and gesture politics than to an understanding about why care providers struggle to recruit nurses and other skilled professionals, into the independent sector workforce. If the Government really wanted to address the problem they would look at the causes of skills shortages rather than focussing on the effects. Firstly, independent care providers cannot compete with the higher salaries, gold plated pensions and staff benefits that are part of everyday life for the public sector employees. This is not because we don’t want to, but because we are commissioned by local authorities at such low funding levels, that sustaining services and finding and keeping staff is a constant struggle. At the same time that providers are struggling with these pressures, they are also trying to improve quality and deliver better outcomes for their customers and this requires skilled and trained staff, which are not available in the UK work force because we

Martin Green cannot afford them. Instead of dealing with this reality, the Government suggests we look to the EU labour market to supply our staff needs. If we could; we would. I have never met a provider yet who takes a difficult route when an easy one is available and the reason we look beyond the EU is because the staff are better trained, and have better language and skill sets The Government needs to face reality and either deliver equality of funding across the statutory and independent sector, or live with the consequences. Martin Green is the chief executive of ECCA.

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Home bids to attract new residents By Dominic Musgrave A MASSIVE refurbishment programme has been completed at a Salford care home in a bid to attract new residents. Highview Residential Home, a 35 bed establishment catering for residential and dementia care, has a two star ‘good’ rating from CQC, but is only running at two-thirds full. Along with manager Denise Rimmer and with the help of a marketing plan drawn up by care home consultants Wright Care Home Solutions, owner David Salzman arranged for a refurbishment project costing thousands of pounds. Denise, who has worked at the home for nine months, told Caring UK this included modernising bedrooms, living areas, lounges and dining rooms, and fitting them with state-of-the-art equipment. She added: “The home needed a bit of an uplift – fresh paint, wallpaper and furniture. “We also turned the former residents’ smoking lounge into a reminiscence room, and David commissioned an artist to create a mural of local scenes. “On it there are some famous Manchester landmarks such as Corporation Street and the library,

Ryan Thomas dances with resident Polly Nash but the residents also said they wanted the nearby Racecourse Hotel to be on there. Although it isn’t in the city itself it is a local establishment that a lot of the residents used to go to, so it means a lot to them.” The new room will host art therapy classes, and will also feature various artefacts and memorabilia such as kitchen utensils and clothes to be used to trigger discussions. Residents can also access a variety of brain

The mural in the reminiscence room at Highview therapy programmes on a computer. Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas, better known as Jason Grimshaw, officially opened the new room at the home, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Denise added: “We wanted to surprise the residents and get someone they would recognise to open the new facility. “The residents enjoy watching Coronation Street and it seemed a natural choice given that we are based in the centre of Salford.

“It was a wonderful day and, apart from increasing awareness of the home, and our occupancy levels, it has really benefitted our existing residents too.” The final part of the refurbishment programme will commence shortly on the home’s middle floor. Is your care home undergoing a major refurbishment programme? Let Dominic Musgrave know your plans by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

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CARINGNEWS

Carlisle rugby club director of rugby Martin Plummer and captain Mark Barron with one of the residents

The front of the home

New manager turns home’s fortunes around By Christina Eccles THE manager of a Carlisle care home that previously had a ‘poor’ rating and embargo placed upon it has turned its fortunes around. So much so that work has started on a 35-bed specialist dementia care unit in the grounds of Croftfield, which will create approximately 25 new jobs for the area. Wright Care Home Solutions were called in to help last year, and within a month they had managed to reduce the requirements from 12 to three, recommendations from 16 to zero

and increase its rating to ‘adequate’. Sara Howarth was appointed manager last June, while Wright took over the lease of the home under their own company. Sara said: “I needed to bring some regulations back into the home, and my first six months here were spent in the office doing a lot of paperwork. “There were no documents in place, care plans were done to a bare minimum, and the staff were in desperate need of some up to date training.

“From a business point of view it was a worrying time because the number of residents had also dropped to just 13 because of the suspension that was in place.” Several members of the original staff team left, but the hard work of Sara and those that stayed led to the embargo being lifted in May and a ‘good’ rating from the CQC at its latest inspection. Sara, who has been a home manager for the last 10 years, added: “When new management comes in it is always natural that some people decide to leave because they had had 12 months of having no rules to

abide by, so I had to recruit 15 staff across the board. “We have broken the back of the hurdles we were facing, and the next step is to get the highest possible rating when we are next inspected. “The ground work for the new extension is going in now, and once it is halfway built we will start a marketing campaign to promote the home, and recruiting staff to work in it.” An open day featuring representatives from the local rugby club was held to celebrate the home’s recent successes.

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CARINGNEWS

Fair boosts bid for new minibus A SCARBOROUGH care home moved a step closer to its target for a new minibus by holding a summer fair. The staff at Dunollie want to raise £10,000 for the vehicle, and the event raised £70 to take the current total to £3,000. Activity coordinator Sally Jones said that they run various fundraisers, and it has taken them two years to get to where they are today. She added: “We organised the fair mainly for the residents and for those that can't really go out – or chose not to go out. The residents enjoy meeting others and events such as the summer fair are a good opportunity to see new faces. “We have run tombolas, fairs and other events to try and raise money for the minibus. The home’s owner European Care have said that if we raise a certain amount they will also contribute so we have set ourselves a £10,000 target. “The bus would enable to take the residents out to local attractions a lot more. Currently, if the residents want to go out we have to organise taxis for them, which is costly.”

Ann has prize money in the (designer) bag THE winner of a care group’s main award says she plans to treat herself to a designer handbag with the £1,000 prize money. National care specialist Ann Hughes won the pride of Anchor at the firm’s inaugural Smile Awards at a ceremony at the Plaisterer’s Hall in London. The event was the culmination of four regional finals, which narrowed down the pool of winners to 50. They were judged by ECCA chief executive Martin Green, Anchor customer services committee chairman Barbara Jagger and Tenant Services Authority’s chief executive Peter Marsh. Ann, who was one of the organisers of the event, told Caring UK she was honoured to win the award. She added: “I have no idea how the others managed to keep it from me but, looking back, I was going to dust the awards before everybody arrived but was told I wasn’t allowed to. “I remember sitting at the ceremony thinking someone is going to get a nice surprise with this award, and was totally shocked when it was my name that was read out. “It made it even more special that I was specially chosen to receive it by chief executive Jane Ashcroft and not

Ann Hughes with her award through the usual process. I think I will spend the winnings on a designer bag that I can take with me and remember the company by when I retire.” Ann joined Anchor 14 years ago, but her career in the industry stems four decades. She said that although her job title has changed numerous times over the years, the principles have remained the same. “My role within the organisation has always been about developing our services for elderly people,” Ann added. “I see what we provide and how innovative we can be to ensure that we provide quality care. “It doesn’t seem like I have worked here 14 years because things change so much that it feels like a new job. “It is now all about the customer,

and by changing the name from residents in care homes or clients in homecare we are instantly putting them first. “The ‘baby boomer’ generation now knows what they need and expect, and gone are the days of the ‘grateful old’. We must provide what people want in life and that is something I am looking forward to.” Other winners: Care manager Margaret Boyd (Parkside Court, Middlesbrough); carer - Imran Faisal (Eagle House, Sheffield); activity promotion - Faye Alleyne (Waterside, London); chef - Ellie Cook (Kirkley Lodge, Middlesbrough); customer services committee - Pamela Corbett (Summerfield House, Chester); caterer - Laura Saunders (Ferendune Court, Oxfordshire; support services Chris Naidu; estate manager - Glynis Fielding (Sandyford Park, Newcastle); team - Palmersdene care home, Jarrow; scheme manager - Tony Ricketts (Mayes Court, Manchester); dignity champion - Tracy Hiscoe (Simon Marks Court, Leeds); making a difference - Lin Wood (St Clement's Court, Broadstairs); making customers happy - Dean Hill (Kerria Court, Birmingham), outstanding achievement - Viv Whenray (Myre Hall, Sunderland).

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A care home manager says she has no plans to retire despite chalking up 50 years in the profession. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

‘Queen’ has no plans to abdicate MILDRED Heyward, who has been described as the “queen of nurses”, has worked at Hillbury House in Wrexham for the past nine years, joining the home before it was purchased by Pendine Park and known as Nazareth House. She has other links with the caring profession, as her daughter Jane Lucy is a nurse in the renal unit at a nearby hospital and grandson Richard is a catering assistant at Gwern Alyn Care Home, next door to Hillbury. Mildred told Caring UK the home has grown over the years from just 16 beds when she first joined to 68. She added: “I still enjoy my work and will carry on because I like caring for people. “I enjoy being with the residents and enjoy caring for them and making sure they are cared for. “This is their home and that must be remembered at all times. They must all be treated as individuals.” “That means more to me – I wouldn’t want to be sitting at home all day. Work stimulates your mind

and stimulates you. Her involvement in the sector began while she was still at school. While still in her teens she was a member of the Red Cross, and at weekends was a volunteer at the Maelor Hospital. Over the following years Mildred moved up from staff nurse to night sister between the Maelor and War Memorial Hospitals. During that time she worked in the ENT ward at the Maelor and the A and E unit at the War Memorial. She returned to ENT as nurse manager, also taking responsibility for the ophthalmology unit, eventually becoming bed manager for the whole hospital. Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, who first met Mildred in 1980 when she started work as a medical secretary, made a surprise presentation to her at the home’s annual fun day. She added: “I never thought then that I would be presenting her with an award for 50 years of service as a nurse. “When you meet people who have a passion for their job, it’s fantastic.

Mildred Heyward receives a bouquet of flowers from Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths She is incredibly proud of the work she has done here.” Have you a member of staff who has worked longer than Mildred’s

50 years in the industry? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

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CARINGCARE SHOW

New look and new name for Dorset care home A DORSET care home has relaunched following a £500,000 makeover and a change of name by its new owners. The Queen Charlotte specialist dementia facility in Weymouth, which was formerly known as Montevideo House, was purchased by the Kingsley Healthcare Group last summer. New manager Mark Beech said since the company bought the home, all of the 51 bedrooms have been renovated, while the business has also been restructured. He added: “There were one or two issues with the home when the group took it over, and it didn't have a particularly good reputation locally, which they found out afterwards. “It was decided it was time for a change, and Queen Charlotte was an obvious choice because the home is rumoured to have once been the residence of the wife of George III, “It needed a lot of money spending on it and the staff because some of the care practices were perhaps not as they should have been. As with any takeover some staff move on, but the majority of those that worked here previously have remained.” Mark added that 15 new staff, including himself, have been recruited for the home, which is currently

Mayor of Chickerell, councillor Jean Dunseith, plants a tree in the landscaped garden at the newly named Queen Charlotte care home. half full, with in-house and external training programmes being introduced for all. He added: “We have also introduced a full activities programme for the residents, which they didn't have before. “We strongly believe in person-centred care, so the activities on offer are designed to meet individual needs. Different areas have been set up around the home, everything from gardening to fabric and materials, a

jungle area to memory boards. We also have pet guinea pigs for the residents to look after, and I have even introduced a post office for them.” Mark said he will also be working closely with dementia expert David Sheard over the next year. To move away from the traditional care home setting there will be no set uniform for staff. Kingsley Healthcare Group own 19 homes across East Anglia, Essex, Bedfordshire and Dorset.

Convicted owner avoids jail A CARE home owner has avoided jail after she was convicted of ill-treating and neglecting residents. Annette Hopkins, 65, who owned Briars Retirement Home, Southampton, was order to pay a total of £52,000 and given a 30-week suspended prison sentence. Care home manager Margaret Priest, 56, was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community service after also being found guilty of wilful neglect. Southampton Crown Court heard they were both “unqualified” to do their job. The court heard how residents, who were aged between 77 to 96, were left in soiled sheets for lengthy periods and had suffered painful bed sores. Hopkins, who had her jail term suspended for 18 months, was fined £3,000 for each of the nine counts against her, totalling £27,000. She was also ordered to pay £25,000 costs and carry out 200 hours community service. Priest, who was convicted of four charges, will not have to pay anything. An 18-month investigation into the home was triggered by staff at Southampton General Hospital after one of the residents was admitted last year. The home was closed down in September last year.

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CARINGADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Over 150 exhibitors lined up for Care Show Birmingham CARE Show Birmingham 2010 is focused on helping care home owners and operators run their business more efficiently and profitably while delivering the best possible care for residents. In addition, there is a free programme, advertised through Daltons Weekly, for those people considering getting into the care home business through acquiring or investing in a care business. Staff training is at the core of providing high quality care to residents, so the Care Show Birmingham has lined up two days packed full of free information for visitors. In January 2011 the current National Qualifications Framework (NCF) will be replaced by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF will form the structure behind the new HSC Diplomas that will replace the old NVQ Levels two and three next January. The Care Show Birmingham will incorporate a Training Pavilion which will introduce care home managers and training supervisors to the new qualifications. This pavilion will cover the reasons for the changes being made and how it will affect care workers. There will also be a series of taster sessions on eight topics that feature in both the Common Induction Standards (recently revised) and the mandatory units that form the basis of the new diplomas. Skills for Care, who themselves will be running sessions on both days commented ‘… these changes take the opportunity of the QCF to offer more flexibility to the adult social care sector in qualifications and reflect the need for more specialist training opportunities. They are the result of extensive employer consultation.’ The MyBusiness Seminar Theatre is new for the 2010 show and offers an array of speakers that will help visitors to identify profitable opportunities for their business. Again, sessions are free to attend and the stellar line up includes Phil Hall, director of Healthcare for Jones Lang LaSalle looking at the best places in the UK to build a care home, Justin Crowther of

Catalyst Corporate Finance on merger and acquisition prospects in the care sector and Nigel Newton-Taylor, director of Healthcare Property Consultants analysing local authority fees – the trends and the impacts. Returning to Care Show Birmingham are the ever popular keynote seminars. This year’s speakers are industry leaders and include Heather Denby of The Sammons Group advising care homes on best practice in recruitment and staff retention, Dawn Oliver, head of probate at Harrison Clarke looks at the Mental Capacity Act and how to ensure you comply. Frank Ursell of the Registered Nursing Home Association, addresses the issue of infection control in the care environment. For care home owners and operators looking to save money or improve their facilities, a visit to the show is a must as there will be well over 150 exhibitors that can offer you a competitive quote or new product or service. New exhibitors at Care Show Birmingham include Staysure, The Jackloc Company, C-Tec, The Talley Group and Hill and Hill Design. You will also see industry leaders such as Boots Care Services, YTM Furniture, Bemycarebroker.com, Electrolux and DDC Dolphin. The Care Show Birmingham runs on the 10th and 11th November and if you pre register for the Care Show at www.careshow/birmingham it is free and will save you an otherwise on the door fee of £30.

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CARINGCARE SHOW

Control system offers New features greener performance designed for domiciliary care BLUE Parrot Software’s acclaimed Elderly Care System (ECS) care management software has a set of new features specifically designed to provide domiciliary care. Running on your staff mobile phone, the new feature is linked to the Elderly Care System server via the GPRS network in real time. Using RFID (Radio Frequency ID) technology, this allows you to monitor when your carers arrive at a client's home and, if late, warn you so you can take corrective actions immediately. Once on-site, the Elderly Care System server will send your carer the list of tasks to do for that client straight to their mobile phone. On completion of the tasks, the system is updated in real time, giving you information of what has been done or not instantly from your office. On completion of a visit, the system logs the time spent on-site and send the carer instructions on the next visit. Also new in ECS are a complete set of policies, procedures and risk assessments pre-written and approved ready to use. An integration with digital signature allows you to

get your service user or their family to digitally sign their care plans. It is available from £47 a month including updates, maintenance and support. Blue Parrot will be showcasing the system at the London Care Show on stand C1.

NUMATIC’S range of smiley-faced domestic and small commercial vacuum cleaners now offer a greener performance with the unique AutoSave control system. The AutoSave system starts in the economy, energy saving mode, immediately reducing your power requirements by half, exactly the same as switching-off 10 x 60W light bulbs. If, at any time, more power is needed, one push of the Hi switch gives

you twice as much, which can sometimes be almost too much, but, fear not, a second push of the switch and you will automatically return to economy again. Simple green technology and yours to command. In addition to AutoSave, Numatic machines now come with new high efficiency HepaFlo dust bags: giving better filtration, performance, capacity and easier emptying, which means an improved professional cleaning result.

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CARINGNEWS

Four arrested on suspicion of neglect By Dominic Musgrave POLICE have arrested four people on suspicion of neglect at a Ringwood nursing home. During a warrant carried out by the UK Border Agency, concerns were raised regarding the standard of care provided to a resident at Linford Park and the police were called. A 62-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of neglect. They have been released on police bail until October 14 pending further enquiries. A 47-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of neglect. It is believed that those arrested are responsible for the management of the ‘adequate’ rated care home or for the care of the residents. During the operation 13 illegal immigrants were also found to be working at the Northdown Estates owned home - two were dealt with at the scene and have been released on immigration bail, while a further 11 were detained and remain in detention. The 11 were eight females from Ghana, Malawi, and the Philippines and three males from Ghana and the Philippines. Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for adult social care, told Caring UK it was an

“unprecedented situation”, adding that the wellbeing of residents was the top priority. She added: “The care and wellbeing of the frail residents at the home is paramount, and we have been carrying out individual assessments during the day. “As a consequence we have had to move a number of the most vulnerable and frail elderly people to alternative care. These include some residents who are the responsibility of other agencies and we are working closely with those authorities and our colleagues in the health service. "We know that moving frail, vulnerable people can be very distressing for them. It is always a last resort for us but our overriding concern is for their care and protection at all times. “Along with colleagues from the health service we will continue to monitor and assess their wellbeing carefully.” A CQC spokesman said they are monitoring the situation and all enforcement options are being considered. He added: “'We are aware that all the residents have been safely assisted to find alternative accommodation and that currently there is no-one receiving care at Linford Park and we do not expect this position to change.”

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CARINGNEWS

Home teams up with school for new project By Emma Spencer A BRAINTREE specialist dementia care home has joined forces with a nearby junior school to initiate an intergeneration project at the start of the new school term in September. Aspen Grange residents and John Bunyan’s year six students will work together on a multi-media project, which will involve the youngsters visiting the home to record interviews about their experiences and memories of living through World War II. In return, the residents will have the opportunity to visit the school, where the students will show them how to make a media presentation on the computer. Home manager Dawn Sharp said the collaboration will give both residents and students the chance to learn something new and make acquaintances with a different generation. She added: “We are always looking for ways to make the lives of our residents more interesting and active,

and starting a relationship with John Bunyan Junior School will be a positive initiative for both residents and students. “We are acutely aware that it is interaction with others that residents crave, and this new friendship will also help the students learn about the past and give them the chance to make acquaintances with an older generation.” At the end of the project the school and Carebase owned care home hope to host a 1940s street style party for the residents and students to enjoy, either at Aspen Grange or in the school hall. This new-found relationship will continue at Christmas when residents will be invited to watch the Christmas play at the school, and the students will then come and sing Christmas carols for the residents at Aspen Grange, with a party to follow. Have you or would you like to forge links with a local school? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

Staff Michelle Walford Becky Dallimore and Heather Penny with resident Catherine Kershaw dress as a rock and roll band.

Residents transported back in time A BROMSGROVE care home transported residents back in time for a special day which raised £200 for a trip to the Cotswolds. Staff and residents at Regents Court dressed up in 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s outfits for the day, which finished with a cheese and wine party. Many local businesses donated raffle prizes for the event, which was attended by approximately 70 resi-

dents and their relatives. Manager Karen Hancox said: “We’ve taken residents on trips in minibuses in small parties before but never en masse. “We are hoping that as many as possible of our 36 residents will be able to go to see the attractions at Birdland Park and Gardens at Bourton-on-the-Water, accompanied by around 20 staff.”

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CARINGNEWS

£5m home finally gets the go-ahead By Louise Cordell PLANNING permission has finally been granted for a new care home in Leicester five years after the original application was lodged. The new 55-bed home being built by the MHA charity in Oadby will replace the existing Aigburth care home, with residents and staff expected to move to the new site in summer 2012. Manager Angie Boyes, who took over as manager last November, told Caring UK the number of staff is likely to double from the current number of 35. She added: “The reason for the delay is that the home and land is surrounded by university buildings and is in a preservation area, so we have had to meet many specifications. “There are several trees that are protected so we are going to have to move them to other areas rather than cutting them down.

“We hope work will start on the new home in November, and that the residents will be able to choose their bedrooms and move in during the summer of 2012.” The new home, which is expected to cost around £5m to build, will feature a number of eco-friendly features including a grass roof with solar panels as well as special central heating and water systems. It will also feature a street complete with shop, post office, hair salon, reflexology room and cafe. The top floor will be dedicated to nursing, while sensory garden with raised flower beds will surround the home. Angie added: “Once complete, the plan is to return Aigburth to its former glory. “The home was built in 1908 and, although there is nothing set in stone, there are a few ideas floating around for how it could be used by the charity.”

Residents at a Balcombe care home were thrilled when two special guests trotted in to pay them a visit. Irish cob Barney and Irish sports horse Alfie were the latest and by far the largest animals to meet residents at Russettings, which has previously welcomed goats, sheep, rabbits and ducks. Thirteen-year-old Barney, who stands at 16 hands tall, and seven-year-old Alfie,

who is 16.2 hands, allowed residents to pat and stroke them during the visit. They are owned by Sue Downing and her husband Peter, whose mother Lucy is a resident at the home. The home was recently awarded a twostar rating by the CQC. Picture: Irish Cob Barney with Russettings resident Anne Blake

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CARINGNEWS

Medication system has dramatically improved efficiency By Dominic Musgrave

Home manager Mike Nunn with residents Joyce Leek and Irene Anderson.

Residents ‘go cruising’ A BRISTOL specialist dementia nursing home was transformed into a cruise ship for the residents to enjoy a holiday without having to leave their armchairs. Somerset Lodge became SS Somerset Queen for the week of events, with residents’ rooms becoming cabins and each having their own passport complete with cabin number and an itinerary for the week. Specialist mental health nurse Angela Rodder told Caring UK the event took months to prepare. She added: “It’s bringing holiday

happiness and fun to people who can’t actually travel abroad. “We’re incorporating all we can to give people the flavour of where they are.” The week of events began with a trip on a vintage coach, and when they returned to the home they were met by the ship’s captain – a member of staff who welcomed them with an on-deck reception. Countries ‘visited’ included Ireland, various other countries in Europe before reaching its destination of the Caribbean.

THE manager of an Essex-based care home says adopting a medication management system to administer prescriptions has dramatically improved efficiency. Michael Melton, manager of Belamacanda care home in Clactonon-Sea, now uses Biodose, the first system in the world to accommodate liquid medicines alongside tablets and capsules. He told Caring UK efficiency has improved by 75 per cent and dosage inconsistencies by up to a half since it was installed. Michael added: “We initially adopted the Biodose system to combat the difficulties of administering liquid medication, which has been an ongoing challenge for us over the last 20 years. “The main saving we have made is through wastage because we only have what has been ordered. “We have also managed to gain a lot of the staff’s time because administering the medication used

to take quite a while. “This means we now do more activities for the residents and can also provide a lot of one-to-one time.” Using Biodose personalised packaging combined with a bespoke software system, pharmacies are able to supply care homes with medication monitoring checklists customised to each patient. This allows carers and dispensing doctors to see at-a-glance the quantities, intervals and types of medication patients need to take. It has proved so successful that the home’s owner, Black Swan Care Group, has installed it in all of its other nine homes. Regional manager Tom Lyons added: “We were looking at ways of improving our service and I was keen to take on a new approach after we had a recommendation to look at how we regulate medication in an inspection. “With this system the residents can take charge of their medication.”

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CARINGNEWS

Residents get taste of life in other countries By Dominic Musgrave A SOUTHSEA care home chooses a different country each month as theme for a variety of events. So far the 50 residents at The Bluebell have visited France, Iceland, Greece, Sweden, Australia, Egypt and even Transylvania, with South Africa and a Hawaiian summer barbecue the next planned destinations. Activities co-ordinator Dizzy Page said the country is chosen during a residents’ meeting from a large wall map. She added: “We talk about the place, its language, climate, food and the money they use, and we then run a series of events around it. “In the arts and craft sessions we designed decorations such as flags and posters to put around the home, and also make hats appropriate for the country to wear at the meal, which is the culmination of all the activities. “At the meal we play music from the particular country, the staff become waitresses and we finish it all of with a quiz. Those residents that are able

to can also help to cook some of the food.” Dizzy, who has worked at the home for a year, said she has found the events very useful for reminiscence, particularly for those people who have visited the countries. She added: “The residents enjoy talking about places they have visited, and we have found that these events help to create a really nice atmosphere around the home. “I take a lot of photos at the parties and these are put on a dvd which we show on the televisions to the residents and their relatives and friends. “I also go around those people that cannot leave their rooms to see if they would like them decorating to try and make them feel more involved.” Dizzy organises numerous events at the home, and is considering planning being a dog show in the near future. She added: “A lot of relatives and friends bring their dogs in to visit the residents so I am thinking it might be a nice idea to run a competition out in the garden for a bit of fun.”

Vincent Cable MP was the special guest at a Twickenham care home’s garden party. The secretary of state for business, innovation and skills spoke with residents and staff during his visit to the three-star home, which is registered for 21. Vincent is pictured with resident Doris Biddle, her realtive and the home’s operations manager Kana Thirumalthasan.

Staff are key to home’s success THE manager of a Huntingdon care home that has retained its ‘excellent’ rating puts its success down to her staff. Jenny Telford, who has run Hill View for the past four-and-a-half years despite being just 28, said she was delighted with the three-star grade following the recent CQC inspection. And she said that the hard work of the staff and the residents’ good sense of humour are two of the reasons for the positive result. Jenny added: “Legislation changes so much in the care sector and we have been busy trying to keep up with this sort of thing to ensure we comply with them and continue to give the highest possible level of sup-

port to our service users. “Everything the staff do is aimed at providing person centred care to the 16 residents, taking into account their past hobbies and preferences so they can live the lives they want to. “The residents here are so appreciative and are so much fun that it is almost like working in a holiday camp at times.” A picnic party for residents and their families is planned next month with a Hawaiian themed barbecue planned for later in the summer. Jenny added: “We have had an ongoing refurbishment programme at the home for the last 12 months, with all corridors and the kitchen being redecorated.”

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CARINGHOMECALL

The manager of a Derbyshire care home says her only regret is that she did not move into the sector sooner. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Flower power reigns at Watford House WATFORD House was one of five finalists in Focus Care Consultants' Care Home in Bloom competition. Two judges and a Queen Elizabeth II lookalike visited the home, which uses the firm for monthly evaluations of regulation 26 and its training procedures. Helen said each home using the company was invited to enter the competition, but was not allowed to spend more than £20 on a hanging basket. She added: “We took a resident to our local garden centre to choose the plants, and when we told them what we were doing they were kind enough to donate a few things free. “We have looked after it and took photos every month to build up a portfolio to be sent off to the judges. “Whether we win or not doesn't matter as the looks on the residents’ faces when we rolled out the red carpet for the ‘Queen’ was fantastic. “She was very convincing and some believed she was the real one.”

Why Helen made the right move at 50 ... WHEN Helen Hague turned 50 she decided she needed a fresh challenge after working for social services for half of her life. And she has been busy in the 16 months she has run Watford House in New Mills, with almost all of the specialist dementia home either being refurbished or planned for the near future. Helen told Caring UK she tries to make the 38 residents as independent as possible. She added: "I spent 25 years putting people in care homes so wanted to see what it was like from the other side, and I'm glad to say I made the right decision. "I get a lot of satisfaction out of my job, and I treat the residents here like they were my grandparents. I wouldn't want them to be sat in a smelly home, and treat them with dignity and respect as their families would. "This has always been a good care home, and I placed people here in

The Queen lookalike with staff Vicky Harrison, Stephanie Hallam, Kate Brown and manager Helen Hague at Watford House. my previous job. It just looked a bit tired and needed updating, and I told the owners that I would need to spend some money if I took the job." During her time at the home Helen has made the garden more userfriendly, growing a wide variety of vegetables throughout the year. She has also personalised each resident's bedroom with different decor and bedding, while each door is also a different colour so it is easily recognisable. Helen says planning permission has

also recently been granted for a 20bed extension at the facility, which is owned by JTV Care Homes. She added: "We are lucky in that, as the only dementia facility in the area, we do have a waiting list for our rooms because we get referrals from Derbyshire as well as Stockport. "Getting the planning permission is not only amazing for the residents of the future, but also for the people of New Mills because it will create up to 15 jobs to add to the 34 we already have here."

Innovation to be trialled at conference A MODULAR structure is being trialled at this year’s annual National Care Association conference. The new innovation is designed to give busy care professionals the opportunity to attend either one or both days, depending on their subjects of interest. The event at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre in Kensington on October 20

and 21 will include seminars, question and answer sessions, discussions and debates with those influencing policy within Government. The developing programme will include summits on dementia care and for learning disability providers as well as the national conference featuring several major speakers.

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Group owner to go for gold after receiving award By Dominic Musgrave THE owner of a South East group of homes says they are going for gold after receiving a prestigious award. Woodlands and Hill Brow Residential Homes in Hampshire and Surrey have been awarded the Silver Standard by Investors in People, and have been encouraged to aim for the highest title. Alison Lee, who runs the two homes, told Caring UK inspectors have encouraged them to aim for the top level. She added: “We have held Investors in People status since 2003, but to receive Silver Standard this time round is a great achievement, and I am very proud of the staff.

“It shows that the staff truly believe in what we are trying to do, and the ethos running through the company that we want to provide the highest quality care, like we would give to our own families. “That came across loud and clear in the report. It is easy for staff to tell you they do, but it proves they mean it when they are being interviewed privately and can say what they like.” The group is currently expanding with the creation of a new state-of-theart nursing and dementia home at a site in Farnham. Alison added: “The more I see the home being built, the more positive I am about what we are doing. “It will have lots of courtyards where

residents can go to sit in peace and quiet, no matter what their condition is. The gardens will also be secure so the people with dementia can also enjoy them. “The lounge will be split into three different areas, one of which will be a coffee bar because families of residents with dementia tell us they like to take them somewhere without having to leave the home. It will be accessible for everyone whether they are mobile, in a wheelchair or even in a bed.” The new facility, which is expected to open early next year, will have 35 nursing and 22 dementia beds. It is expected to create approximately 70 jobs.

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

In this issue: Group makes

schools link to train future carers Page 24

State of the

Industry special report Page 26

Owner’s new

business designed to help others Page 28

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CARINGNEWS

£50m expansion plan to create 1,000 jobs AROUND 1,000 jobs are to be created in Northern Ireland after a care home operator unveiled a £50m expansion plan. The Priory Group, better known for its mental health facilities, will open 16 new homes for older people in the region, providing 1,200 beds, in the next two years. The new development plan which will see new homes in Belfast, Coleraine, North Down and Ards, Craigavon and Ballymena - will take the number of facilities the group has in the region to 17. Managing director Sharon Butler said: “Northern Ireland is a key part of Priory's ambitious expansion programme. There is a clear need for high-quality care homes for older people in the

country, and that presents a perfect growth opportunity for us. “The experience the Priory Group has in mental health, complex and long-term care transfers very well into older people's services. “We are building on our already strong and established areas of expertise and offering an even more comprehensive range of facilities for service users.” Dr Dan Nightingale has been appointed as the group’s head of dementia care. He will be working with all the homes and staff teams to introduce pioneering ways of caring for people living with the condition, built around treating people as individuals and engaging positively with them and their families.

DC Care has completed the sale of a closed care home in South Yorkshire on behalf of receiver Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor. Highfield in North Anston was originally registered with the authorities for 43 residents, but shut during 2009. After extensive marketing, the home was sold to a private company who plan to redevelop the building and reregister it as a care home.

Resident Joyce Isaacs with students.

Group makes schools link to train next carers By Christina Eccles AN East Sussex based care group is training carers of the future after forging close links with two local secondary schools. The Pembroke Care Group, which owns three ‘hotels’ for the elderly in Hove, is helping to train and educate pupils at Hove Park and Dorothy Stringer Schools in care values. Registered manager Elaine Darby said what they learn then leads to GCSEs in Social Care or NVQ Level 3 for A-Level students. She added: “We go into the schools to have a chat with the pupils about the work we do and also to show them how to handle the equipment. “They then come into the home in small groups to work, based on what stage of the course they are at and what criteria they need to meet. “We let the residents know that they are going to be here in advance, and some of them like to have a chat with them because they say it is like having their grandchildren coming to visit.” One of the group’s homes has a member of staff who visited as part of the scheme, while company director Sue Brand said she knows of several others who are working in other local homes. She added: “When we first speak to

a lot of the students they tell us they don’t really want to work in a care home once they have qualified, but at the end of the course many of them have changed their mind. “We run our facilities like hotels rather than traditional care homes, and are very keen to encourage the residents to live their lives as normally and naturally as possible. “We accept that when people get older things do begin to go wrong, but in our experience conditions are not always diagnosed correctly. We have the support of our doctors to do all the right tests to get rid of the drugs and let them run their own lives.” Before moving to one of the group’s home permanently, prospective residents are encouraged to live at the home for at least a month to make sure it is for them. Sue added: “You cannot experience what a care home is like from a quick tour round, and doing it this way means the elderly person takes ownership of the decision and doesn’t just feel like they have been put there by family. “We are very confident in the policies we have in place here because we have very thorough risk assessments in place here for those who come and go.”

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Former carer wins employment case against care home By Nadia Omar CHRISTINE Bennett, a former care worker, has won an unfair dismissal battle against Parkvale House Care Home, North Tyneside. Christine, who had worked at the home for 16 years, resigned after it had failed to properly deal with her complaint of bullying by the deputy manager. The tribunal decided that she had been unfairly constructively dismissed due to the home's failure to follow a fair and proper grievance procedure, which constituted a fundamental breach of her contract of employment. This case highlights the need for care homes to review and update their employment policies and procedures and check that managers are properly implementing them in the home. Employees' concerns should always be taken seriously and fully investigated through one of the following procedures, which should be compliant with the ACAS Code of Practice: A grievance procedure; or An anti-harassment and bullying procedure. As soon as an employee raises a problem, issue or concern, the manager should identify the relevant policy and follow all stages of the process and comply with specified time limits. Essentially, a fair process should involve meeting with the employee to establish the nature of the grievance, without delay. Employees are entitled to be accompanied by a trade union representative or work colleague at this meeting. A full investigation into the employee's concern should be undertaken, which may include talking to witnesses to establish the facts and reviewing relevant documents. Notes should be taken of all meetings. Written confirmation of the home's decision should be given to the employee, with notification of their right to appeal. Follow up action may need to be taken, such as disciplinary proceedings against staff accused of bullying, harassment or other misconduct. Like Christine, employees who

Nadia Omar believe their complaint has not been properly dealt with by the home may be entitled to bring a claim in the employment tribunal. Employees who have completed one year's employment may be entitled to resign and claim constructive dismissal, arguing that they had been forced out by their employer. In such cases, they could recover compensation up to £65,300 in lost earnings. Employees may also be entitled to commence a claim of discrimination against the home if it is believed that the reason for the home's failure to follow a proper process was because of a "protected ground", such as sex, age, race or disability. There is no length of service requirement or cap on compensation for this claim and compensation up to £30,000 can be awarded for injured feelings. In order to give care homes an opportunity to rectify matters, employees are required to first raise their concerns about the home's handling of their grievance before issuing a claim. Failure to do so may result in their compensation award being reduced by 25 per cent. With the latest employment tribunal statistics for 2009-2010 reporting a 56 per cent increase in the number of claims being issued, care homes need to be alert to potential claims from employees. Nadia Omar is a solicitor in the employment department at law firm Thomson Snell and Passmore.

Barchester adds to portfolio NATIONAL care provider Barchester Healthcare has made a new addition to its group of care homes with the acquisition of Gorseway Care Ltd in Hayling Island. The company, previously owned by Hermitage Housing and run by Guinness Care and Support, comprises of two care facilities; the 60 bed Gorseway Lodge and the 28 bed Gorseway House. Gorseway Care also

includes 75 assisted living apartments. Barchester also runs Wimborne Care Home on the island, which has a ‘good’ CQC rating. Mike Parsons, CEO and founder, said: “This is a very exciting time to be making acquisition in the care industry, and we are pleased to be able to welcome Gorseway Care to our group.”

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Last summer Caring UK editor Dominic Musgrave spoke to several of the country’s leading property agents about the state of the market. Twelve months later he has done the same.

Good old days of care sector ‘are over’ Steve Chester

‘Confidence never went away’ claim CONFIDENCE in the healthcare sector never went away, according to the had of a commercial finance company. Steve Chester, director of Twickenham-based Axis, said many banks gave it a “green light” status throughout. He added: “The appetite for healthcare remains very strong, although it is fair to say the rules of the game have changed. “Interest margins are higher, loan to values have come off slightly and committed loan periods have in some instances been shortened. “However if you consider the overall cost of debt finance, servicing costs are considerably cheaper than pre credit crunch times - and with long term money looking increasingly attractive, the opportunity to invest in the sector either by way of acquisition, development or extension of existing facilities is here and now.”

Do you agree or disagree with the experts’ opinions of the state of the care sector? Let healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave know your views by ringing him on 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

THERE is no going back to the ‘good old days’ in the care home sector according to the head of a consultancy service. Julie Wright, director of Wright Care Home Solutions, told Caring UK changes in the industry mean homes will need to be creative to survive. She added: “The market varies from area to area. Building of new homes continues, but at a lower rate than previous years due to bank lending issues, with new operators being scrutinised more closely before funding is approved. “Home closures continue, with some smaller ones appearing to find it more difficult to compete for the reduced numbers of clients moving in to care. “Occupancy as a whole has reduced to an average of around 90 per cent, which potentially causes more difficulties for smaller providers than larger operators. Policy and legislation, public perception and funding issues is having an impact on the sector.” And she added that her company’s role in the sector has changed dramatically in recent years. “Three years ago our time was spent removing embargoes,” Julie added. “Last year we concentrated on improving star ratings. Currently our work involves assisting with new registrations, re- registering homes and improving occupancy. “We are in a climate of survival of the fittest and, if we are not careful, in another 18 months we may well have a problem where we have more people wanting beds than places

Julie Wright

Ian Wilkie

available.” But Ian Wilkie, director of Healthcare Property Consultants Limited, said there are opportunities to be had in the care property sector despite the current financial climate. He added: “As ever in times of adversity there are opportunities. These will largely be driven by the raising of quality across the sector, in terms of service delivery and environmental standards, for both private and publicly funded residents. “We are seeing values polarise between good quality operations and assets and those that are underinvested or under-trading. “It is vitally important for the banks to keep lending, to recognise the opportunities and not to take a blanket view of the sector predicated on a relatively few distressed situations.”

And he added that it is not a good time to be a care home owner solely reliant on local authority funded residents. “The long term care sector is having to confront a series of challenges and changes, including re-registration of providers in England with CQC, the abolition of the star-rating system and the squeeze on funding,” he added. “The latter has manifested itself in the form of an average fee uplift across the UK of only 0.8 per cent, a situation which scarcely looks likely to improve over the next year or two. “It is apparent that both HMRC and the banks are taking a harder line on businesses in arrears and consequently we can expect to see more stressed or distressed sale situations.”

Supported living promoted at expense of residential BANKS are seeing an increase in demand to fund supported units, it has been claimed. Jeremy Huband, director of healthcare at the Royal Bank of Scotland, told Caring UK they are seeing supported living being promoted at the expense of residential care. He added: “We expect to see a continued move towards the adult care home acting as a hub for more challenging service users and flats/supported living for residents able to live with support in the community. “There are some quality homes coming to market, but we expect to see more secondary units with trading issues appearing. “Competition from new registrations and pressure from local

authorities on fees will hit smaller non compliant homes with poor reputations or CQC inspections.” Jeremy said the bank is actively funding new builds and extensions for experienced operators in all areas. “The room sizes and services these provide far exceed minimum standards and may also force some operators out of the market,” he added. “While we see growth in demand within the older person market, it is for the most frail who cannot be supported by domiciliary care. “We are also seeing day care funding cut/withdrawn in various areas around the country. Budgets will be tight for the next couple of years. There will be more focus on value for money so I would expect fees to be flat for some time.”

Jeremy Huband

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Owner unveils new business to help others By Dominic Musgrave AN EXPERIENCED Liverpool care home owner has set up a new service offering to run other people’s homes for them should their personal circumstances change. Chris Farrar, who has run Phoenix House in Formby for the past five years having previously part-owned a home in the 1980s, has set up Total Care Home Management to help people who may wish to retire, semiretire or deal with an issue such as divorce. The former IT professional told Caring UK over the years he has developed a successful system which can be transferred to other homes. He added: “My proposal is to allow owners, some of whom I know are working seven days a week and doing between 60 and 70 hours, to rest and let my company run their home. As an experienced care operator running a 30 bed home I have encountered most types of issues and problems. “Often, when things get too much in a care home, there is a 'gut' instinct to sell the home in order to relieve the stress and/or 'pain'. “But after being self-employed and perhaps needing an income life may not be too good 'out there', especially in a recession.” The new company also has associates in the activities, legal and accounting professions to deal with

any issues should they arise. Chris added: “Owners can deal with problems, but often dealing with them seven days a week, month after month, leads to a build up of stress. “Owners can no longer rely on providing a good homely environment, as legislation constantly wants ‘more’ of the owner. “We will stand back a little and put in place an almost scientific approach to the running of the home.” Chris says he has already received a lot of interest from owners nationwide but, along with the company’s managing director Vikki Driscoll, can probably cope with between eight can 10 homes at this stage. He added: “I have other staff that I can draw upon should it become necessary, and already I have had appointments all over the country with owners considering using us. “There are far too many jobs for a care manager to do – I reckon there is something in the region of 400 tasks in total, which no one can do on their own. “As part of our offer we will visit the home at least twice a month to make sure all is running smoothly, and will take on the role of the responsible person.”

Cedric Frederick, chief executive of the Avante Partnership and Paul Newstead, contracts manager at Denne Construction, at Amherst Court.

New £8m facility handed over AN £8M state-of-the-art dementia care home in Kent has been officially handed over to one of the South East’s largest care providers. Amherst Court in Chatham, was built by Denne Construction, part of the Leadbitter Group, for the Avante Partnership, and will be home to 112 residents. Named in recognition of its connection to Chatham and proximity to Fort Amherst, the home was designed with the Eden

Alternative - a philosophy that aims to tackle loneliness, helplessness and boredom in older people – in mind. Built in just 18 months, the home’s en suite bedrooms are divided into six suites, each containing a lounge area and dining room. Additional communal areas including a music and games room are situated at the end of each hallway. Amherst Court also has a licensed café bar, hair salon and secure landscaped gardens and terraces.

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Brookdale Residential Care Home

Family group grows with Bury purchase By Emma Spencer THE purchase of Brookdale Residential Care Home in Bury has taken a family owned group’s portfolio to six. Millennium Group director Ghulam Haider moved into care 15 years ago having previously worked in the clothing industry. Since then he has built the North West business up with the help of his daughter, who deals with the finances, and son, who looks after the development and marketing side. Ghulam told Caring UK he has major plans for the home, which is registered with the CQC for 52 residents. He added: “I could see what was happening in the clothing trade, which is why I decided to get out, and moved into care. “We have slowly built the business up over the years, and at Brookdale we have planning permission to demolish the existing single storey

building attached to the existing home and replace it with a 23-bed purpose-built dementia bungalow to the existing home. “We expect the work to take around 14 months to complete and, when it is open, it will be the only specialist dementia unit of its type in the Bury area. The home will then have 49 rooms.” The group purchased the home through Christie’s for an undisclosed sum, off an asking price of £1.2 million, and Ghulam says he expects to make further acquisitions in future. He added: “We want to develop Brookdale and get it up and running before we look at expanding the business further. “We will be putting in place some ideas from our other homes, but will also look to develop new ideas here. “I looked at several other homes before we purchased this one. It ticked all the boxes and I could see the potential for not just the home but also the catchment area it is in.”

Sanctuary buy Heart of England HOUSING and social care provider Sanctuary Group has purchased Heart of England Housing and Care Ltd from the Orbit Group. The move means nine homes across Worcestershire, which have 450 residents as well as day care services, will continue to operate under the Heart of England name despite being under new ownership. The acquisition was celebrated at Hastings Care Home in Malvern,

where Heart of England staff and their residents united with new colleagues from Sanctuary Group and Sanctuary Care to mark the occasion. Paul Tennant, Orbit Group chief executive, said: “The decision to sell Heart of England Housing and Care Ltd was not an easy one to make. “However, we felt that the move would benefit staff and residents alike; ensuring their future well-being was important to Orbit.” Hampshire-based Hartford Care has taken its portfolio to seven homes with the purchase of Newland House in Witney. The new home (pictured), which was acquired through Taylor National, is registered for 30, taking the company’s total to 229 beds. Hartford Care, which is run by Sean and Jo Gavin, was established in 2003.

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Krishnan Satkunam with John Morgan from RBS.

Parish hall to be transformed By Dominic Musgrave A NEW purpose-built care home is set to open in Blackburn in October on the site of a former parish hall. Livesey EMI Care Home, the proposed name of the development, will provide residential care for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The £1.1m facility being built by London-based Krinvest will have 35 en-suite bedrooms, and will feature the latest in security, fire and nursecall systems. Eight of the rooms will be slightly larger and more luxurious. Managing director Krishnan Satkunam told Caring UK the home will create between 20 and 30 new jobs, and that he is currently recruiting a manager. He added: “I wanted to try and exceed current care standards, and the best way I found of doing that is by building a new home. “That will give us the nicest environment, and the main test was finding an appropriate piece of land. “I also have planning permission to turn the former church opposite into a care home after work on this one is complete. We will keep the original shell and hope to make it 35 beds split over three levels.” Krishnan said moving into care homes was a natural progression,

given that he spent several years work as a doctor with the NHS. He currently owns care homes in Saint Helens, Middleton and Atherton, which he has renovated and extended, as well as several children’s nurseries. Krishnan added: “I had an interest in business and, with my background in healthcare it seemed the sensible option. “I originally looked for a care home to purchase all over the country before settling on the North West. That home and the others I have subsequently purchased have always provided good standards of care, been well run and have had close links with social services, so I am comfortable working in that environment.” Funding for the new development was provided by RBS. He added: “I think the current ongoing projects will keep me busy for the next year, but I have five years’ experience of running care homes and know the standards of care we want to provide so may look at other parts of the country. “Funding the new build wasn’t easy but, by getting detailed information together on how we want the home to run as well as the fee structure, we have been able to get it so that we can continue our plans and conservatively build the business within our resources.”

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Chickens first residents at new £5m home By Louise Cordell THE first phase of Southport’s £5m state-of-the-art dementia care facility has been completed. A brood of chickens were the first residents to move in to Birch Abbey – described as the UK’s most advanced dementia care resource. The flagship 60-bed home will serve the whole of Merseyside, and patients will move from the nearby old building to the purpose-built facility. Once everyone has moved, the original building will be rebuilt as a second facility, providing more beds and admin space. Chief executive of owners iPersonally, Dan Lingard, said: “The first residents will actually be several chickens – they’re an important part of our community, and a clear illustration of the approach we’ll be taking at the new Birch Abbey. “We may have technology and facilities never before seen in a UK dementia care home, but it is the pioneering approach – acknowledged and documented across the care sector – that makes us truly different. “Getting people with dementia using their minds and muscles – even in seemingly small ways – can have a massively positive effect. “We’re creating a living sensory

Dan Lingard with one of the chickens. garden – the chickens draw residents out into the garden, they provide a talking point. What’s more, our patients collect the eggs, make cakes or biscuits and talk about what they’re doing amongst themselves and to their family members providing valuable mental stimulus.” Other facilities at the state-of-theart centre include three types of assisted bathrooms, in-room technology and sensors meaning clients don’t have to be disturbed while they are asleep. Dan added: “Our new and expanded Birch Abbey will be a revolution in care services. To us it just felt right that Southport with its long tradition as a caring community should lead this revolution and the birth of a new era in care.”

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Speech therapist offers training service to homes By Christina Eccles

Sergeant Adam Swift with councillor Steven Lugg and the cheque.

Home helps injured soldiers A COLDSTREAM Guard who recently returned from front-line duty in Afghanistan was presented with a cheque for £1,500 when he visited Amberwood House Nursing home in Ferndown. Sergeant Adam Swift was presented with the cheque by councillor Steven Lugg, the town’s deputy mayor, and in return presented the home’s manager Stephen Reading with a commemorative coat of arms. The Colten Care-owned home raised the money to help soldiers who were injured in the line of duty over an eight-month period

by hosting events involving residents, relatives and members of the local community such as wine and wisdom evenings, a murder mystery party and a gala dinner. Stephen said: “Every year we decide on a charity for which we would like to fundraise, and this year our residents and staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Coldstream Guards and the important work that they do in trouble spots all over the world. We hope the money we have raised can be of some benefit to those soldiers injured in the line of duty.”

A FORMER NHS speech therapist has set up a specialist training service for care homes to deal with residents with swallowing or verbal communication problems. Claire West has transferred the courses she used to provide for ward staff in hospitals into ones for care workers, and says she has been into approximately 80 homes in Essex, Surrey and East Anglia to date. Claire added: “I left my previous job three years ago to set up the business because these are two major problems in care homes. “My training classes tend to be for small groups of between 12 and 15, and I encourage everybody to get involved, rather than a lot of training which involves a powerpoint presentation and a lot of staff can switch off. “The swallowing classes include the experience of being fed by someone else, while the communication classes involve getting the message across without using speech. Both give the carer a good sense of how it feels to be the person they are looking after.” Claire said the feedback she has had from the training has been very positive from managers, and that the benefits can be seen throughout the homes. She added: “The classes have taken off quite nicely and also encourage a bit of team spirit among staff. They

Claire West have been purposely designed to be practical, and those who come in with their arms folded don’t have them that way for very long. “Swallowing and communication issues affect so many elderly people, so by understanding the problems and what to look out for, staff can sense something is wrong before a resident may have had to be referred to a GP or even worse admitted to hospital. “It also breaks down the embarrassment some staff may have of not knowing how to communicate with a particular resident, and some managers have told me they think it should become part of the mandatory training.”

Pupils’ paintings to brighten up Hounslow care home THE walls of a Hounslow care home have been brightened up by 24 paintings created by pupils from a nearby school. The canvas creations for Cloisters care home by youngsters from St Martin RC Primary included handprint paintings by the youngest to finger paintings of story characters such as The Hungry Caterpillar, a cross, polka dots, a house, and seaside and country side scenes from children from the rest of the school.

Alpha Care Homes, which owns the facility, provided the canvases and made a donation towards the cost of the art materials. Activity coordinator Alex Henderson said: “We are planning to hang some of them in corridors and public areas, and some will be hung in residents’ bedrooms. “We will be able to swap the paintings around on a regular basis so people will always be looking at something different.”

Garden project blossoms GREEN-fingered residents at an Abergavenny care home have been able to continue their hobby at the owner’s own residence. The Penpergwm House residents have grown a variety of vegetables including runner and broad beans, peas, carrots, cabbage, chard, courgettes, new potatoes, beetroot and lettuce on a newly-created patch at Priscilla Llewelyn’s house. She told Caring UK they visit on a weekly basis, and all they grow is used by the care home’s chef for

meals. Priscilla added: “It has been a pleasure to provide somewhere that our residents can benefit from on a regular basis, as it not only offers a change of scene, but connects those involved to interests they have participated in during their lives. “Seeing the project through from planting seeds in virgin soil to harvesting the fruit and vegetables, and then eating the end produce has been a huge success.”

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Call for homes and carers to sign up to body By Dominic Musgrave A NEW body has been set up for the care industry which its founder hopes will raise professionalism. Phoebe MacLeod has launched the Professional Carers Association along with fellow directors Clare Graham and Sharon Elliott to help carers once they have got their NVQs. She told Caring UK that this is the first group designed specifically for the sector. “For the last 10 years I have been involved in caring, got my NVQs and became an assessor. But having come this far I thought so what as this didn’t seem to increase my income. “I work for an agency, but don't get any more than somebody who has just started, and so many carers have such a poor image of themselves, but their role is so important. “They have such responsibility on their shoulders that if they do or say anything out of place there could be litigation.” Phoebe is asking for care homes

and carers to sign up to the association, and for a small fee each month they will offer a service that provides members with information and support related to their work. She added: “We hope the level of service and quality improves, and we have a team of four solicitors who are ready to give advice on a range of legal matters or answers to any questions a carer may have. “We will also cover for any legal expenses that may come up. If a carer is suspended from work for something it is unlikely they will be able to cover the legal fees to fight case, which is where we could come in to hold their hand. “A professional care body is vital to care homes, and we would encourage all, particularly those who have the Investors in People status, to invest in this as it adds value to a business. So far we have not had a negative response to the idea.” The Professional Carers Association is open to any carer who has an NVQ or two years’ experience of working

Honey Lane’s Jade Shaw and Zara Brotherton receive their awards from Carebase chairman Alnur Dhanani with home manager Karen Dean.

Dementia care group recognises staff at awards ELEVEN employees of a South Eastbased specialist dementia care group were presented with prestigious awards at a ceremony. The Heart of Gold Awards, which were launched by Carebase in 2009, are nominated by residents, relatives, co-workers, suppliers and social workers and seek to thank employees for their continued care and compassion. There is also a special Chairman’s Award, which this year was won by Jade Shaw from Honey Lane in Waltham Abbey. It is given to the employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and it is the

top award to aspire to. The winners received an engraved glass plaque presented to them at their care home, along with an Armani watch presented to the men and a Tiffany ‘Heart of Gold’ necklace for the women, as well as a bottle of champagne each to celebrate. Other winners: Tony Becker (Ashbrook Court); Kelly Snow (QEP); Nicola Pillinger (Aspen Grange); Leslie Wise (Acacia Lodge); Pastor Diaz (Acorn Court); Emerenciana Chiname (ABI); Layla Fletcher (Bramley Court); Susan Avery (The Spinney); Zara Brotherton (Honey Lane); Sally Collins (Brooklands).

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Ex-salon owner launches care sector business By Dominic Musgrave

A long-eared guest has visited residents at an Ashton care home. Rusty the donkey from The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust met residents and staff at Hurst Hall, who enjoyed petting and stroking him. The residents enjoyed the visit so much they have even adopted 'Mary' the donkey, who they plan to visit at the donkey sanctuary. Picture: Rusty the donkey with Hurst Hall resident Annie Westwell.

THE former owner of a chain of London beauty salons has set up a new business specifically aimed at the care sector. Jane Lightfoot, who has also worked in Harrods, has launched Happi Hands to offer massage therapy, manicures and hand treatments to care home residents. She told Caring UK she came up with the idea for the business after visiting a couple of Cheshire care homes on a part-time basis. The CEO added: “The affects that treatments have on elderly residents cannot be underestimated and, after doing this for a while, I was getting more approaches from care homes than I could cope with. “I looked at the industry and saw that homes were not offering anything other than hairdressing and chiropody so decided to set up as a limited company. “We now have 35 therapists working across England and Wales in 23 counties offering the services either on a weekly or fortnightly basis.” All therapists are personally chosen by Jane, who says she looks for their caring and compassionate attitude as much as their massage and therapy skills.

Jane added: "It is all about having fun, and the therapists go to the residents meaning there is no need for anyone to be moved or lifted by staff. "Surprisingly we found that men enjoy the treatments as much as the women. We have men in their 90s who love having their nails clipped or arms massaged, or just someone to chat to for 20 minutes or so." All therapists are CRB checked, and Jane says she hopes to extend the service across the country over the next few months. "The therapists tell me they love their jobs because they are making someone happy," Jane added. "I make sure the service we provide is as professional as possible as if we were going to any client's home." Helen Caul, manager of Netherfield care home in Southport, said a therapist visits the home every week She added: “It is great one-to-one time for the residents, and I know they always look forward to them coming. Residents get more than just hand care out of it, and the men enjoy getting their finger nails done as much as the ladies. “Even though the residents have their own carers, the contact they receive with the therapists, who are always happy, is very beneficial.”

Overwhelming response to picnic A KENT retirement village held a fun event in its grounds for residents and their grandchildren. The management at Audley Mote House near Maidstone came up with the idea for a teddy bear’s picnic for grandparents who help out with childcare during the summer holidays. Although the emphasis was on fun, the event raised more than £160 for the Heart of Kent Hospice who are the village’s chosen charity this year.

Mote House community relations manager Nimisha Cross said: “The response was so overwhelming that we are planning another event for those grandparents who weren’t able to get a place this time. “We had to put together a waiting list after we had reached 100 guests within a couple of days, but it clearly shows that grandparents continue to have a special role to play after their own children have flown the nest.”

Scheme opens doors to community A LONDON residential care scheme run by housing and regeneration group LHA-ASRA opened its doors to the local community with an X Factor inspired talent show. Aashna House in Streatham welcomed more than 200 guests, who witnessed talented residents and staff

performing a colourful array of music, dancing and singing. Manager Mathini Navukkarasu said: “We wanted to give the community an idea of the happiness that there is at Aashna House and what better way than to show off the talents and interests of our residents.”

ECCA keynote speaker announced DEPARTMENT of Health director general of social care David Behan will deliver the keynote speech at ECCA’s annual conference. This line-up for the ‘For better or for worse?’ entitled event also includes Paul Allen, chief executive of the Abbeyfield Society, Liz McSheehy, chief

executive of the National Skills Academy and professor Alistair Burns, national clinical director for dementia. The conference, which takes place at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury on November 17, will also include interactive workshops and seminars during the afternoon session.

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The owners of two Perthshire homes plan to branch out into homecare over the next few months. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Home owners look to move into the homecare sector A FORMER nurse and engineer, Chris and Stuart Orr, bought their first care home, Ashdene House, in 1998. They added a second, Ashdene Court, three years later, and over the years have carried out major refurbishment work on both Crieff facilities. Chris told Caring UK they now plan to extend their services to offer homecare, with further plans to turn a disused bungalow on one of the sites into a day centre also in the pipeline. She added: “We could go down the dementia route with the new service, as we have done with the two homes, but we don’t want to limit what we do so are opening up to anyone over the age of 18, although we do expect most of our clients to be elderly. “The local authority are very keen for it to go ahead, and we have a team of staff ready to move on to that side of the business once we get the go ahead for our application. “We wouldn’t want to set up a service that didn’t have the same standards as the care homes, and I will be quite content to have them both at

full capacity and a successful homecare business down the line.” One of the most recent developments at Ashdene House has seen the dining room transformed into a reminiscence room also, and it has proved so successful that one has been earmarked for Ashdene Court in the near future. Chris added: “We came up with the idea of using the dining room rather than another dedicated room because it is an area the residents are familiar with and use it two or three times a day. Staff can use it as well as families. For the past year I have collected everything of reminiscence value, including old kitchen stuff, adverts, newspapers and other memorabilia from the World War II period. “I have left one of the walls free for local interest reminiscence pieces such as postcards of the town. We also have a dresser with ornaments on and a shelf full of old toys.” Both homes received either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ ratings at their recent Care Commission inspections, and Chris said both are busy developing a culture of meaningful activity

Resident Elizabeth Wallace with carer Claire Renton for the residents. She added: “We tried having an activities co-ordinator around 15 years ago, but it wasn’t for us. “We tend to think that if you have one then things tend to happen when they are in, but then the staff don’t do anything when they are not there.

“I don’t really like that idea, and also believe the staff and the residents’ families are the best people to know the needs, and what is meaningful for one person is not going to be for another. Some enjoy dusting their rooms or folding clothes, some don’t, others like handling pets and then aren’t interested”

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Conference in call for joint protocol By Dominic Musgrave THE leading care associations should work together to create a joint protocol that will assist care providers with risk assessments. That was the call from delegates at the annual National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services (NASHiCS) conference at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel, who agreed that ‘silo’ working must be a thing of the past, adding they can no longer be expected to relate to several organisations and follow different interpretations. Chair Chris Jackson said he hopes organisations such as SCIE and ECCA can raise the profile of health and safety, which is often ‘shunted to the bottom of the pile’. He added: “Different associations and bodies produce their own protocols and regulations for the care sector, and we would like to bring them together to work on something that will assist service providers to better interpret standards and guidance. “Quite often a CQC inspector can interpret something one way and somebody from the Health and Safety Executive another, but we would always say that if a thorough risk assessment is done for an activity then all should be okay. And he said that if a full risk assessment has been made then residents should be allowed to do an activity if it is deemed safe. “They should allow them to live their lives to the full,” he added. “Sometimes we can be blinkered and too protective, but if an activity is fully thought through then a resident should be allowed to do it.” He is hoping all of the relevant bodies can now come together to end any confusion and come up with a definitive plan for care home

Chris Jackson operators to follow. “Some people go over the top when it comes to health and safety,” Chris added. “I hope the associations can put something together so providers can go away happy and get on with the job they have to do, and at the same time enlightening the lives of the people they care for.” Do you find doing risk assessments for your residents confusing? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

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Welsh report looks at care at home staff THE care at home workforce in Wales should be valued more, it has been claimed. The report, which is the result of a Care Council-commissioned study, examined the care at home workforce in the country over a period of 18 months to find out what was needed to make it fit for the increasing demands of the future. Compiled by researchers at the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, the University of Glamorgan, Insight Social Research and the Management Standards Consultancy, it says care workers have often had to apply new knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of supporting vulnerable people. Gerry Evans, director of regulation and standards at the Care Council, said: “The Assembly Government’s 10-year strategy, Fulfilled Lives, Supportive Communities, has already identified care at home as a crucial part of the sector in enabling people to remain in the community, if they wish to do so. “There is also an increasing number of those receiving care who are choosing to stay in their homes for longer. “Sharing the findings of the study will allow us to gather feedback from audiences that will later contribute to

the future action for the workforce.” The study included primary research with commissioners, providers, carers and service users from across Wales to get a picture of the reality of care at home. It examined what the workforce currently looks like; the workforce vision for the future and what was needed to make the current workforce fit for the future. The recommendation was one of five proposals on how to move the current workforce towards the vision for the future. The other recommendations were: To enhance the role of the workforce in assessing needs, planning, coordination, reviews and working alongside others. To address the workforce implications of developing integrated services. To support the workforce in delivering outcome and person focused services. To explore the consequences for the workforce of new service options around self-directed support. A conference in September will allow the audience to discuss the findings with the researchers and other specialists in the field, and contribute to a future action plan for the domiciliary care workforce.

Michael Etherington

Michael’s the Next winner THE owner of a Keighley homecare business beat off competition from thousands of wannabes to become the face of High Street fashion store Next. Michael Etherington, 26, won through to the final of the company’s Make Me The Next Model Too online Facebook competition. He was among 100 finalists bidding to be named as overall winner among the male competitors. The day involved sessions of fashion styling and photo shoots and then work on the catwalk. He has already filmed a Next TV

advert with the female winner, Joanna Renwick, of Norfolk, and his next assignment will be a fashion shoot with Select Model Agency followed by a £2,000 shopping spree. Michael said he was overwhelmed to win through to the final against so many competitors. He added: “I’d done a bit of modelling before in America but this is catwalk work which is a new experience for me. It was a public vote and I never assumed I’d get so far but you’ve got to give these things a go.”

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Significant shift in care Provider set to sector policy predicted double workforce THE impact of the coalition Government and the abolition of star ratings on the care sector were discussed at a recent meeting of care associations and Ceretas’ corporate members. David Behan, Department of Health's director general of social care, shared his view of the future of social care following the change of Government at the luncheon hosted by Lilian Greenwood MP. He said there would be a significant shift in policy, and that the clues were in the three White Papers that will be produced over the next two years. “Be clear on what you need to compete on and what you need to co-operate on,” David added.

“This will be for the long haul, maybe 10 years. The sector needs to strike up the conversations as the policies in which we operate are changing dramatically. “The Government are looking for good ideas and practices for collaborative working. “Local authorities are also being given the same message to start looking at collaborative working.” CQC and the abolition of the star ratings was also widely discussed, and it was agreed that the sector should continue to work closely together and form one voice to bring together partners and communities with different levels of expertise.

By Dominic Musgrave ONE of the country’s leading domiciliary care providers is set to double its workforce in the forthcoming year to meet with increased demand. Home Instead Senior Care, which currently employs 2,500 people nationwide, also plans to double its number of offices during 2010. The UK operation was set up by Trevor and Sam Brocklebank in 2006 with the stated aim of changing the way care is delivered to the elderly in the UK. Like American founder, Paul Hogan, Trevor had personal experience of needing to find a care solution for his own grandfather.

He said: “The UK’s ageing population is growing at an everincreasing rate and our government simply doesn’t have the funds available to provide all the care required. “There is little doubt that further pressure will be brought to bear on local council care funding budgets. Hence the accelerating need for our expertise and caregivers.” The business started with one office in Chester which opened in 2006. By the end of the year there were three franchise offices. Growth continued during 2007 and 2008 with 23 new offices opening during 2009, taking the current total across the UK to 55. Last year the business’s turnover doubled to £10 million.

New domiciliary care franchise to create over 200 jobs MORE than 200 jobs are being created across East Yorkshire following the launch of a new domiciliary care franchise. Caremark East Riding, which is being run by former nurse Karen Precious, will provide a range of home-based personal care and support services. Based in Hessle, the company will cover the whole of the East Riding, and is looking for staff to

cover the whole region. Karen said: “We are experiencing a tremendous demand and we urgently need to recruit high quality staff to deliver a range of care services. “There is currently a shortage of care provision in the county and we are working with many groups within the area to help fill that gap. “We currently have 32 staff but we expect to be

employing an extra 200 people within 12 months and that figure is almost certain to rise substantially as the business grows.” The company, which has been accredited by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, provides a range of personal care and support services, from helping with washing and dressing to assistance with shopping, preparing light meals, domestic duties and companionship.

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CARINGHOMECARE

Homecare provider wins business award By Emma Spencer THE owner of a homecare provider has been named business person of the year at an awards ceremony in Suffolk. Nicola Warner, managing director of Christies Care, impressed the judging panel at the Anglican Business Awards with her entrepreneurial flair and use of business acumen since she bought the company back in 1991. Judges were impressed with how the company has built its reputation, invested in training and recruitment and how it has successfully used marketing and public relations techniques to raise the profile of Christies nationally as well as regionally. In addition to Nicola’s award Christies was named runner up in the Business of the Year category. Nicola uses social networking sites Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to spread the word about the company and communicate quickly with carers but also recognises the need to retain traditional methods of communication like letters and phone calls because of the clientele her firm

cares for. On the back of last year’s success in the training and development category Christies continued to focus on that being an accredited OCR centre for health and social care training and investing in modern training and accommodation facilities for care assistants training at the Saxmundham base in Suffolk. All care assistants have a four day intensive induction and four months’ probation. Over half of the employed carers have Level 2 NVQ in health and social care. Nicola has also had to keep up to date with the latest laws and regulation such as risk assessments and CRB checks. She said: “I have seen many changes in legislation and the way that care is provided in England. “Procedures are far more rigorous than they were 19 years ago which is in the best interest of the clients we look after in terms of CRB checks and risk assessments to make sure there is a safe working environment for our carers.” But she says the biggest change and

the one that keeps Chrtisties on its toes is the 2008 Care Act. She added: “When the government introduced payments people had more ability to choose where they bought their care from. “We have people going on courses to learn about that and make sure we are up there in front.”

Nicola Warner

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

New range could improve response times AID Call’s new Touchsafe range of wireless nurse call transmitters could revolutionise the way you manage your clients’ calls for assistance. The new ATX4000 and ATX5000 transmitters are the only bedhead devices to use a dedicated alarm frequency and a two-way radio technology to ensure that all calls are successfully transmitted and received by the display panels. The ATX5000 features an LCD screen, which displays a ‘Next Call Waiting’ message, enabling staff to access their next call from the current client’s room, without needing to revisit the main display panel. This enables staff to use their time more effectively and efficiently, by improving staff response times.

Simple solution for labelling clothes WITH autumn approaching many residents will put away summer clothes and need their warmer jumpers and clothes labelling properly. This is a time-consuming task, and clothing is often left inadequately named and consequently can easily be mislaid. Attach-a-Tag is a simple, cost effective and reusable method of labelling clothing and soft objects, and is an ideal way to quickly label short term and respite residents’ clothing as well as normal laundry. Replicating a button, it

attaches in seconds to the garment seam or laundry label, making it discreet and comfortable to the wearer. The patented design is easy to attach but difficult to remove, and cannot be taken off by accident or come off during the laundry process. Each tag has the owner’s name etched onto it, which is guaranteed not to wear off in the wash. This combined with the unique fixing method of Attach-a-Tag means the owner is identified every time.

Helping providers cope with re-registration NETWORKCAREUK is a leading health and social care consultancy company working nationally to support care providers in the private sector with quality improvement within their services. The firm is currently assisting providers who unsurprisingly have been caught up in the difficult and confusing process of reregistration under the new Health and Social Care Act. Many of Networkcare’s clients have been critical of the new process, particularly those who are small organisations and those under closer scrutiny from the CQC for other reasons. As a result, the company has teamed up with a group of solicitors to organise national seminars with guest speakers from the CQC and financial institutions to discuss some of the concerns and worries about the future of regulation and inspection. Details will be available in the near future.

Quality awards for furniture maker

Interactive design option

THE YTM Group, furniture manufacturer for the care and hotel sectors, has been awarded the ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) accreditations. Director Damien Duffy said the awards are testament to the company’s commitment to providing an efficient, effective and environmentally friendly service to its customers.

BADGEMASTER has launched a new, user-friendly, fully interactive on-line design facility, enabling customers to design their own name badges and create their own designs instantly, on screen. The company first introduced a specialist, professional, free design service 18 years ago, and their designers regularly support many top designers, corporate clothing suppliers and leading companies across every industry.

He added: “It’s nice to have official confirmation that our management and environmental systems are up to the mark. “We have always been proud of the service and products that we offer to our customers but it is especially rewarding to have this confirmed by outside experts. “Less that one per cent of companies in the UK hold both of these awards, so it is further proof that YTM are market leaders.”

The new and innovative website makes all the professional skills, experience and resources used by top badge designers available to everyone with internet access. Via a user-friendly, step-by-step program, it allows users to explore different looks for their new badge and to create instantly their chosen options without any of the delays or costs involved in the need to use a designer.

Engineering firm donates disposal unit HAIGH Engineering has donated a SOLO disposal unit to a Worcester hospice dedicated to improving the lives of children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses. Designed to dispose of used commode pots, bedpans, urine bottles and other pulp items, the SOLO is an ideal solution for the Acorns Children’s Hospice as it has a small footprint and is extremely

efficient to use. Acorns had previously used a standard washer unit to try and meet their requirements. A vast improvement on the washer unit, the SOLO will deliver a wide range of benefits including cost efficiencies and user efficiencies. In addition to providing the team at Acorns with the unit, Haigh also managed the disposal of the old machine.

New partnership to tackle issues BOND Holidays and Warrington Disability Partnership has joined forces to tackle issues faced by people with disabilities on a daily basis. Bond Holidays has supported Warrington Disability Partnership in a variety of ways over the past few years through several events and opportunities, including the regular Warrington Disability Awareness Day. Co-owner Shaun Atkinson said: “This new partnership heralds an

exciting time for both organisations, and through this Bond Holidays is able to offer an exclusive range of offers and deals to the partnership, while working together to improve the awareness of the issues faced by disabled people, families and carers.” “We would like to invite more organisations to contact us regarding working together for the greater future of people with disabilities.”

Creating the right ambience for your home BUYING art for your care home’s interior is crucial to create the right ambience for the comfort of your residents. From Easyart’s online shop you are able to browse through and select subjects, styles and sizes to suit your requirements. You can set up your own gallery and see images framed from a wide choice of frame options. Easyart offers a free consultancy

service to its business customers, advising on all aspects of selection the art, framing it and hanging. The wealth of experience in the corporate art market is backed with an unsurpassable range of over 100,000 individual images, photographic prints, etchings, canvases and limited editions, covering every art period and style, with framed and canvas images ranging from £35 to £250 plus.

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CARINGNEWS

Two members of staff were recognised for their long service by the Somerset Care group at a recent ceremony. Christine Thorne and Valerie Ford were rewarded for their careers spanning more than 45 years, while special achievement

awards were also made to staff and volunteers who had been nominated by their colleagues. Christine is pictured receiving her award from group chairman Barrie Dale.

Family-owned care group appoints specialist supplier CHD Living, a family-owned group of care facilities across Surrey and South London, has appointed Universal Hardware Direct UK Ltd to provide architectural ironmongery for all new build projects and in the upgrade of its care centres. Universal is a specialist supplier of architectural ironmongery,

door hardware and access control systems to the care sector. The company’s work for CHD Living has included the provision of escape bedroom door hardware to fully comply with care and fire regulations, swing free/hold open door closures and door protection hardware.

Residents at a Truro retirement village threw themselves into the spirit of a school sports day. The summer fun event at Roseland Parc saw residents and visitors split into red, green, blue and yellow teams, with competitors encouraged to take part in their

favourite contests while the rest of their team cheered them on. Games included boules, crazy golf, skittles and a rubber duck firing range Picture: Resident Jayne Campbell lines up her shot on the firing range

New models maximise efficiency MIELE Professional has continued the advancement of laundry care technology with the introduction of its DryPlus PT 8000 generation tumble dryers, offering a range of five sizes and varying control sets to suit all types of commercial laundry operations. The series features drum volumes for load capacities from 10 to 40 kg, faster drying times and offers cost-saving benefits thanks to heating by the most efficient forms of energy. All models in the PT8000 range feature

Miele patented innovations such as the honeycomb drum, air recycling system and PerfectDry electronic residual moisture controls. These powerful machines maximise efficiency and are designed to ensure cost-effectiveness in all phases of the drying process and display the excellence in laundry care for which Miele is known. The dryers are available with a choice of heat power sources – electric, gas or steam – to ensure a sustainable, cost effective performance.

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Tax reclaims for commercial property owners CAPITAL allowances are among the most valuable and least exploited methods of reducing property owners’ income tax or corporation tax liabilities. Capital allowances arise from capital expenditure on purchasing or constructing a new property along with extensions and refurbishments. We carry out retrospective, current year, and new build capital allowance claims, both for individuals and companies in relation to commercial properties right across the commercial sector. Most retrospective capital allowance claims that we handle lead to a significant tax refund for the client. We will quickly identify the validity of a claim without obligation. If a claim does not proceed, there will be no fee. We comprehensively survey the property which allows us to identify any qualifying items that, for numerous reasons, have previously not been claimed. Enquiries: Telephone 01246 293011 or visit www.salmon-business.com

Keeping the elderly safe and warm through their retirement years THE BBC's Silverville television series highlighted the good standard of living enjoyed by the pensioners living out their old age in large retirement villages, such as Lark Hill in Nottingham. At Lark Hill more than 2,000 of Jaga’s Tempo LST radiators have been installed to provide safe, efficient and comfortable heating at what is the UK’s largest retirement development. The complex includes 327 bungalows and apartments built for city residents over the age of 60 with a choice of affordable rent or purchase options. As the European market leader in safe and sustainable heating, Jaga was an obvious choice for this new development. With its integrated Low-H20 technology, the Tempo is an effective and efficient heating solution, offering the lowest running costs in the UK LST market. Enquiries: Telephone 01531 631533, email:info@jagahomeheating.co.uk or visit www.jagahomeheating.co.uk

Furniture company launches online store A CARE home furniture company has launched a new online store. As well as being able to purchase a wide range of furniture including profiling beds, low beds, mattresses, divan beds, chairs, dining and bedroom furniture, there will also be regular updates and news about exciting new products. Contract Furniture Store managing director Paul Heffer said: “As far as we know this is the first of it’s kind and we hope care homes will find it useful. “We have tried our best to keep our prices as keen as possible and offer a good choice of finish and fabrics. Most of the items offer free delivery. We also value feedback.” The company also offers a total furnishing fit out service backed by over 27 years’ experience. Enquiries: Visit www.contractfurniturestore.co.uk or the main website www.pauljamescontracts.co.uk

Company provides support to care staff HAPPI Hands, a new, national British company has been set up to provide support to care staff. Happi Hands is the first company to specialise in providing massage therapy, manicures and hand treatments for the elderly in care. Their therapists, who are all fully-qualified, CRB approved and fully-insured, provide the gentle contact that we all crave but that, so often, the elderly do not get. More than that, Happi Hands provides a fun, happy and pleasurable experience. Founder Jane Lightfoot said: “We offer a completely new approach to the care of the elderly. When you’ve got kids you’re touching them all the time, you stroke them when they’re upset, you stroke them to make them feel better. “That’s even more important to the elderly in care – and that’s when people need that touch most.” Enquiries: Visit www.happihands.net or call Jeremy Novick on 0207 993 4993 / 07930 400798.

Latest Knightsbridge patient and ward furniture on show KNIGHTSBRIDGE Furniture will be featuring the latest additions to its portfolio of patient and ward furniture on stand 56 at the Infection Prevention exhibition in September. Of particular interest to visitors to the show will be the seating designed for use in hygiene-critical environments. Features include removable seat cushions for ease of cleaning, a hygiene gap between seat and back to avoid the creation of contamination pockets, and the careful location of stitching details to ensure they are in non-contact areas. Exposed wood is treated with a biocidal lacquer, and Knightsbridge offers a selection of protective vinyl upholstery fabrics suitable for cleaning with a mild bleach solution. All Knightsbridge patient and ward seating is available with a variety of weight distribution cushions to help prevent the development of pressure ulcers by less mobile patients, and practical features like waterfall seats and variable seat depths/heights ensure a perfect blend of comfort, style and function. Enquiries: Telephone 01274 731442, e-mail enquiries@knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

Tarkett brightens floors at hospital YOUNG patients attending the new paediatric outpatient department at North Tees Hospital will be entering a bright and cheerful environment thanks to the addition of Tarkett flooring in all the corridors, circulation areas and waiting rooms. Jigsaw pieces in a variety of bright colours have been inlaid into the flooring along several corridors, while the waiting area features an underwater themed inlay that matches the fishy decoration on the walls. s a homogeneous, high quality vinyl flooring, Tarkett’s Eclipse Premium is suitable for most types of premises such as healthcare facilities, schools and other public buildings, making it the ideal choice for North Tees Hospital. Eclipse Premium features a PUR reinforcement that means it needs no additional treatment, such as wax or polish, throughout its lifetime, when exposed to normal wear and tear. With a range of 22 colours and a non-directional pattern, Eclipse Premium can be used to create attractive, versatile interiors. Enquiries: Telephone 01622 854040, email uksales@tarkett.com or visit www.tarkett-commercial.com

Kingcraft adds new bath to its range

Beaulift range gets even better!

KINGKRAFT has announces a new addition to its increasing bath portfolio; the Fusion bath. The company has been manufacturing assisted bathroom equipment for more than 25 years, and this is the first bath in its portfolio that includes a powered integral seat. The seat allows the user to transfer in and out of the bath safely and securely, and eliminates the need for a hoist in the bathroom. The bath itself can be fixed or variable height to suit the working height of a carer. It is available in two length models, 1700mm and 1800mm and provides a luxurious deep bathing experience for the user. The complete bathroom range available from Kingkraft includes a variable height basin, wash and dry shower toilet, wall mounted changing and showering tables, and the Guldmann ceiling track hoist system. Enquiries: For a free demonstration or site visit contact 01142 690697 or email info@kingkraft.co.uk

BEAUCARE Medical Ltd has added a more affordable range of hoists to complement the existing White Beaulift range, as part of the company’s commitment to supplying good quality products at sensible prices. Designed with the patient in mind, the Silver Beaulift range has total user comfort; can be configured for specific client needs and can carry up to either 150kg, or 170kg, dependent upon the purchase of either the Mini or Maxi. The range boasts a host of benefits for use in the care environment, providing healthcare professionals with peace of mind that the equipment is both safe and secure as well as being functional and comfortable for the patient. Silver Beaulift Maxi 170, limited offer price of £667.80 (left). It is easy to handle and manoeuvre for maximum convenience; is TÜV Silver Beaulift Mini 150, limited offer price £629.20 (right). certified for complete security and comes with three years warranty on the frame; five years warranty on the acuator and 12 months warranty on the control panel. Enquiries: Telephone 01423 878899, email sales@beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

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PRODUCTNEWS

Three peaks, 16 teams, 24 hours WHEN healthcare clothing company Boyd Cooper set themselves a challenge, they don't do it by halves. Sixteen teams scaled Britain's three tallest peaks within 24 hours. This day-long, blister-footed hike is commonly known as the Three Peaks Challenge – and it pushes your stamina to the limits. Improving company fitness levels, strengthening team bonds, and generating funds for charity would be winning on every front. And so it proved. The firm has already raised £15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Rainbows Hospice after taking 48 colleagues to the shared highs and lows of elation and exhaustion, and giving them a collective taste for the great outdoors. To read the full story visit www.dimensions.co.uk/News. Enquiries: To receive a copy of the new uniform catalogue telephone 01332 856566.

SJB Associates launches first dementia conference SJB Associates is hosting its inaugural dementia conference and exhibition entitled ‘Nutrition and Stimulation for People Living with Dementia’ at the Xcel Centre Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham on September 30. Keynote speakers will be Dr Daniel Nightingale and Sharon Butler from Priory Care Homes, and the topic of their presentation will be ‘A Positive Dining Experience for People with Dementia’. Other speakers include Karen Watchman (DSDC), Paul Smith (European Care) and Tony Duke (Vitalyz). Cognitive stimulation therapy will be the other main focus of the conference from early stages of dementia through to advanced. SJB Associates, suppliers of wayfinding signage, memory boxes, murals, tactile boards, memorabilia and cognitive stimulation equipment, will be launching their new pictorial menu book at the conference. Enquiries: For further information about delegate, exhibition or sponsorship costs, or a free catalogue contact Samantha on 01325 464562 or email info@sjbassociates.org.uk

To advertise in our Product News section please contact:

01226 734 480

Electrolux supports customers with fully equipped training showroom ELECTROLUX Laundry Systems UK has invested in a new, fully operational showroom, available to both its direct customers and its dealer network. Ideally located just 30 minutes from London, the Luton-based showroom boasts a wealth of operational systems as well as modern, fully-equipped physical training premises including a boardroom and training room to host meetings, internal and external seminars, customer visits and service training. The totally operational service area boasts state-of-the-art equipment, with a Lagoon Wet Cleaning System, Wash and Dry, Flat Work Ironers, Mop Concept, Low Energy Dryer, Barrier Laundry System and a CMIS – Electrolux’s Certus Management Information System. The facilities on offer are unique for ELS, and represent a significant investment to ensure that the performance and operational ability of the company’s dedicated systems are fully understood by every operative, whatever sector they work within. Enquiries: Telephone 08444 631 260 or visit www.electrolux.co.uk/laundrysystems

British Uniforms Direct In the ever changing market of Uniforms & Workwear we continue to retain a manufacturing base in the UK to enable us to respond promptly to our customers often specialised bespoke requirements. Where competition and price demands we use our reputable overseas sources ensuring our high quality standards are maintained. A complete garment Embroidery and Printing Package is available to complement our Uniform Service where required. Whether your Workwear and Uniform orders are Large, Small, Specialised or Unusual we would welcome the opportunityof looking after your requirements. Telephone 01243 585388 or Fax 01243 855870 or email sales@britishuniformsdirect.co.uk “Big enough to be significant – Small enough to be personal”

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CARINGNEWS

Nursery owner moves into care home business THE former owner of Scotland’s latest privately run group of children’s nurseries has purchased her first care home. Heather Gilchrist, who ran Happi Tots before selling the business in 2007, bought Northlands in Blairgowrie, Perthshire for an undisclosed sum through Christies, and a major refurbishment of the home has already begun. She still has a share in that business, but told Caring UK that the 50bed facility was the first one she looked at. Heather added: “The size of the home and its potential were the two main reasons that I settled on this one. “It needs totally refurbishing, and on the day I officially took over the running of it there were a team of painters and decorators starting with me, who are still here today. “I am also installing new lighting, having a new roof put on and a gas conversion for the heating. When I first looked at it there were 24 residents, but during the six months that I was in constant contact with the home that has grown to 37.”

Heather estimates the work on the home, which has caused little disruption to the residents, will cost in the region of £100,000. She added: “We have two buildings here. One is full, but we have been able to work with the residents and their families, who I think are just happy to see something being done. “It was vital for me to retain the staff that worked here previously because they are a good team. I see myself visiting the home once or twice a week once this work is complete as there is an excellent manager in place who will run it from day to day.” Heather says she has no plans to extend the business further in the foreseeable future, and expects the challenge of making the three acres of land surrounding the home dementia friendly to keep her busy for the next year. She added: “We have 27 dementia residents at the home and it is important that they have outside access so I want to transform the land around the home for them, which is going to be a massive challenge.”

Have you got news for us? Call our healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave on 01226 734407 or email: dm@whpl.net Signs

Northlands in Blairgowrie, Perthshire

Award-winning manager heads up new £8m care home A DORSET-based care provider has appointed an award-winning manager for its new £8m care home in Kent. Fiona Lydon will run Tunbridge Wells Care Centre, Canford Healthcare Group's first specialist dementia facility. The 70-bed home is the group's fourth home, and has interior design and facilities akin to a fivestar hotel. Fiona, who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, was awarded a commendation from Care Aware, a non profit advisory organisation for the elderly, in recognition of her significant contribution to raising public awareness about care

issues, particularly mental health. Barry Lambert, director of the Canford Healthcare Group, said: “People suffering from dementia need highly specialist quality care and we have designed and developed The Tunbridge Wells Care Centre to provide this. “Fiona’s award winning industry experience and passion for improving the lives of people with dementia means she is the ideal person to lead our dedicated team.” The home also boasts the latest intelligent supportive nurse-call system specifically designed for people with dementia and other cognitive impairments.

If you would like to advertise in Caring UK please contact: 01226 734479 Transport

No.1 in used Wheelchair Accessible Transport ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

• We specialise in the sale and purchase of quality used wheelchair accessible and ambulance vehicles. • They can be bought as seen or refurbished and signwritten to your own requirements. • 12 months MOT Class 5, and 12 months warranty. • Independent engineers report supplied FOC. • Delivery service available. • All buses fitted with seatbelts and comply to seatbelt legislation.

Always wanted late wheelchair accessible vehicles Gardiners Lane North, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex CM11 2XE Tel: 01268 521033 • Mobile: 07860 894331 • Fax: 01268 284951 • sales@hwpickrell.co.uk

Visit our website for photos of current stock www.hwpickrell.co.uk

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Caring UK A-Z Directory Art Print and Framing

Furniture Specialists

Legionella Testing

Easy Art Unit 1-4 Tylers Business Park Lewis Road Blackboys Uckfield PN22 5LF Tel 0845 1662 732 customercare@easyart.com www.easyart.com

Care Chair Enterprise House Cranswick Industrial Estate Driffield YO25 9PF Tel 01377 271700 sales@carechair.uk.com www.carechair.uk.com

Aquacert Sentinel House 11 High street Long Buckby Northants NN6 7RE Tel: 0800 7835226 info@aquacert.co.uk www.aquacert.co.uk

Bathrooms/ Hygiene Cistermiser Unit 1 Woodley Park Estate 59-69 Reading RG5 3AN pr@wardturner.co.uk www.cistermiser.co.uk 0118 9691611

Business Services Network Care 15-16 Queen Square Leeds LS2 8AJ Tel:0113 281 6772 info@networkcareuk.com www.networkcare.com

Catering Fowler UK Unit 9 Link 59 Business Park Deanfield Drive Clitheroe BB7 1QJ 0800 6199337 david@fowleruk.com www.fowleruk.com

Clothing Boyd Cooper 3 Long Acre Willow Farm business park Castle Donington DE74 2UG Tel: 01332856566 catalogue@boydcooper.com www.dimensions.co.uk/Boyd_Cooper

Construction Jab Enterprises 1 Bickenhall Mansions Bickenhall Street London W1U 6BP Tel: 0800 0141 366 jon@jabenterprises.com www.jabenterprises.co.uk

Corporate Badges Big Badge 111 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8B Tel 020 8614 8880 sales@big.co.uk www.biggroup.com

Crombie and Paul Belle View Barn Mansergh Kirky Lonsdale Cumbria LA6 2EJ info@crombieandpaul.com www.crombieandpaul.com

Holidays/ Excursions The Bond Hotel 120 Bond Street Blackpool 01253 341218 karen-dixon@bondhotel.co.uk www.bondhotel.co.uk

Home Care Providers Caremark Domiciliary Care Providers Unit 4 The Colonnades 17 London Road Pulborough West Sussex RH20 1AS Tel 01798 873770 info@caremarkuk.com www.caremarkuk.com

Infection Control Environmental Hygiene Solutions 65 Riverside 3 Medway city estate Rochester Kent ME2 4BH Tel: 08000 434270 www.enhys.com

Insurance Towergate Patrick Britannic House 230 Burlington Road New Malden Surrey KT3 4NW Tel 020 8336 0099 www.carehome-insurance.co.uk carehomes@towergate.co.

Laundry Electrolux Laundry Systems 99 Oakley Road Luton Bedfordshire LU4 9GE Tel: 08444 631 260 info.elsuk@electrolux.co.uk www.laundrysystems.electrolux.co.uk Miele Fairacres Marcham Rd Abingdon OX14 1TW 0845 3650555 slawrenson@themediashop.co.uk www.miele.co.uk

Nurse call/Patient Safety Systems Safety Systems Distribution Ltd Unit 11B Hobson Industrial Estate Newcastle NE16 6EA neilrobson@safetysystemsdistribution.co.uk www.safetysystemsdistribution.co.uk 0800 3282951 Sensorcare Systems TP House Prince Of Wales Business Park Vulcan Street Oldham OL1 4ER 0870 4214288 Paula.matsikidze@tpgroup.co.uk www.sensorcare.co.uk

Safety & Security Universal Hardware Direct UK Ltd Unit 202 Kingspark Business Centre 152 178 Kingston Rd New Malden Surrey KT3 3ST

Fireco 31-32 High Street Brighton BN2 1RP 01273 696007 Alan.buckle@b3partnership.co.uk www.firecoltd.com

Solicitors/ Legal Services Bates Wells & Braithwaite 2-6 Cannon St London EC4M 6YH 020 7551 7652 020 7551 7741 s.marchant@bwbllp.com d.tuck@bwbllp.com www.bwbllp.com

Training Healthcare Training College 7200 the Quorum Oxford Business Park North Oxford 6X4 2JZ 0844 8006801 info@healthcaretrainingcollege.com

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