Group offers cash bonus to recruit nurses
A SCOTTISH care operator has launched a new drive to recruit more nurses with a cash bonus for new starts.
Parklands Care Homes, which owns and operates nine sites in Highland and Moray and manages a further two in Keith and Cullen, is aiming to boost its team of in-house nurses with a welcome bonus for new nurses worth up to £2,000.
The bonus comes on top of a recent pay rise for all Parklands employees, with nurses now being offered £20 an hour for day shifts and £21 for night shifts. Full time nurses working a typical 37.5 hour week can expect to earn around £39,000, with higher rates for nurses working night shifts.
By boosting salaries for in-house nurses, Parklands aims to eliminate the use of expensive agencies.
Managing director Ron Taylor said: “The UK social care sector has a severe shortage of nurses, in particular, and this means the sector is heavily reliant on expensive agencies.
“However, agency staff often come to us for short periods, lacking in-depth knowledge about our residents and their medical history.
“Our goal is to make sure we have a dependable and consistent team of nurses. By increasing salaries and offering incentives for new nurses, we aim to recruit highly motivated,
experienced nurses who can deliver consistent, high quality care to our residents. It’s a win for our nurses and a win for our residents.”
Elsewhere in the group, carers are now being offered a minimum of £12 an hour, 10 per cent higher than the Scottish Government’s social care rate of £10.90, and care shift leaders can expect to earn between £14.50 and £15 an hour.
He added: “The past few months have been tough for everyone, with every day costs becoming unmanageable for many. We’ve seen our own costs soar and the entire sector is going through the most difficult time I can ever recall.
“Nevertheless, it’s right that we reward our hard-working staff and we’ve worked hard to ensure we can offer everyone in the Parklands team more this year.”
Parklands has also partnered with the financial well-being platform Wagestream, which gives employees more power over their pay, allowing them to access up to 40 per cent of their accrued wages at any time of the month in the event of unplanned expenses.
The company also offers full training and support and flexible family friendly working hours. Parklands is currently recruiting nurses across Moray and the Highlands.
Runwood Homes’ Waterfield House in Hadleigh hosted a classic car show in the heart of the community, whilst raising funds for the NSPCC. Residents, staff, families and the community enjoyed a day of refreshments, raffles and an array of classic cars. Customer relations manager Lindsey Fletcher, said: “We were thrilled to see so many fantastic cars on display. For some of the residents the cars brought back many memories from their youth, and for others it was their first time seeing the cars in person. “We want to thank the community and the team at Waterfield House for coming together to make this such a special day, whilst raising money for a fantastic cause.” On display at the show was a 1974 Triumph Spitfire, a VW Beetle, a Wolseley 1955 model, a TVR and a 1953 MGTD. The event raised £117 for the charity.
Home marks exciting milestone
LACE Hill Manor, a Maria Mallaband home in Buckingham, has celebrated its first anniversary with a party filled with special guests and more than 100 people taking part.
The 62-bed flagship facility went all out to celebrate the exciting milestone with an abundance of decorations, balloons and bunting, and an anniversary party at the home.
Manager Claire Gascoigne said: “It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to celebrate a milestone birthday and see the impact that our team has made on the local community.
“We were beyond delighted to welcome a host of those from the Buckingham community for this special event.
“It was a phenomenal event that will truly not be forgotten for a long time by those who joined, and a pleasure to be able to reminisce about all that we have accomplished in the first year.
“My team is excited to see what we are able to do next and to continue to offer bespoke care for everyone who walks through our doors.”
The event saw those living in the home gather with their relatives, community members and staff, for a buffet lunch and live music from a local band.
Those who attended the celebrations had the chance to enjoy a variety of activities, from an animal farm to pampering from beauticians, and a tour of what is on offer in the care home.
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Staff commit to sponsored cycle
STAFF at Butterfly Lodge, a specialist care home in St Budeaux, Plymouth, are organising a sponsored 24-hour bike ride and hoping to raise the final £800 needed for specialist new entertainment equipment for their residents living with dementia.
The team has been actively engaged for nearly a year in fundraising to buy a new interactive mobile unit for use by residents, with activities including a recent spring fair which raised £300, and a sponsored bike ride along the Camel Trail last summer which raised £500.
Participants in the sponsored cycle will use two static bikes installed in the reception area of Butterfly Lodge, to be ridden in turn by various staff members and relatives.
A dedicated team of 20 colleagues and friends of the home have committed to taking part and the riders will achieve their 24-hour target by doing two 12-hour stints over two days.
Deputy manager Sarah McCaffrey said: “We are so close to having the full amount of money we need for the Jolly Trolley that we are hoping this will be the final push to bring in the remainder.
“It really is an amazing piece of kit which will enable everyone at Butterfly Lodge to benefit equally from music, singing, reminiscence and other fun activities via livestreaming.
“We’ll also be able to support people to more easily access live-screening from outside the home, as well as using it for playing video messages from families and friends and for
Home now fully open following partnership
NEW Care’s Bramhall Manor care centre in Bramhall, Cheshire, is now fully open and ready to welcome private residents from the local area following its innovative three-year partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.
enjoy person-centred individual care, freshly prepared nutritious meals and a daily programme of wellbeing activities.
other activities such as karaoke.
“We absolutely can’t wait to get it installed and see our residents enjoying it!
“This sponsored cycle will be hard work, so we’re putting in a fair few hours in the gym in preparation.
“We’ve told residents what we’re doing and they’ve said they are glad they aren’t doing it but will be happy to cheer on our brilliant team.”
The high-tech audio-visual kit to be purchased with the sponsorship money will enable residents confined to their rooms to share in activities taking place elsewhere in the home, so everyone can benefit equally from music, singing, reminiscence and other fun activities via live-streaming.
Located close to the centre of Bramhall village, the 71-bed care centre was commissioned in its entirety by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust shortly after its opening in March 2020 as part of a borough-wide response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Working closely with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, the clinical team at Bramhall Manor relieved pressure on Stepping Hill Hospital providing care for patients well enough to be discharged from hospital but not yet able to fully care for themselves in their own homes.
With the pandemic lessening in severity, the majority of the beds at the care centre have been returned to the New Care team, enabling Bramhall Manor to open fully, welcoming new private residents from across Bramhall and the surrounding areas to its warm and friendly care community.
Featuring 71 fully furnished bedrooms, each with a private en suite wet room, plus a selection of communal lounges, reading rooms and dining rooms, spa-assisted bathrooms, a nail bar, hair salon and landscaped gardens and terraces, Bramhall Manor provides a living environment for its residents who
A celebratory event was held recently, with the home officially re-opened by home manager Helen Hartley along with her parents Chris and Dave Easley, who also live locally and support the home by giving their time voluntarily to help maintain the gardens and outdoor space.
Helen said: “I’m so proud of our facility and how the team helped support the NHS during Covid, but it is now time to offer our care services to some of the most vulnerable and elderly in our own community and we are looking forward to them joining our thriving and friendly home.”
The trio were joined by chief operating officer Cath Fairhurst and commissioning director Dawn Collett plus new clinical staff who have recently joined the company.
Dawn said: “Our partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust was incredibly successful demonstrating how public and private care partnerships can deliver best outcomes for patients, but with the pandemic lessening in severity, the number of beds are no longer needed and we are able to focus fully on supporting private patients in Bramhall and the surrounding areas offering comprehensive residential, respite and 24-hour nursing care.
“We have already welcomed our first residents, with more moving in over coming weeks.”
National Service memories
VETERANS who signed up to the military through National Service have been sharing their memories.
The National Servicemen who live at Royal Star & Garter were speaking as part of the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service in Great Britain.
The post-WWII conscription was introduced in 1947 and ran until May 1963, when the last conscripts were demobbed.
More than two million men were conscripted through National Service, with 395 killed.
An event to mark the service and sacrifice of this generation recently took place at the National Memorial
Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Royal Star & Garter chief executive Andy Cole said: “National Service came so soon after the end of WWII, it is perhaps easy to forget the vital role played by these members of the Armed Forces across the world.
“These men made sacrifices to serve and protect their country, whether stationed here in the UK or abroad.
“As proud members of our nation’s military family, it is a privilege to care for them and their partners at Royal Star & Garter.”
National Servicemen who are now cared for at Royal Star & Garter were stationed in the UK and across the globe.
CARINGWEEKLY 3
Riders in training, from the left: Kelly Tennant, activities coordinator; Zoe Cook, senior healthcare assistant; Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager.
A retired eye surgeon saw every reason to celebrate as he reached his 100th birthday at a Dorset care home. John Whitwell was the centre of attention at Colten Care’s Bourne View in Poole, welcoming the town’s Mayor, Councillor Tony Trent, and even receiving a Happy Birthday greeting on national television courtesy of an interview aired on BBC Breakfast with entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson. As part of the broadcaster’s Eurovision coverage, Colin was at the home filming residents enjoying a session with professional musician and companionship team member Nicky Stevens. Better known as a member of the 1976 Eurovision-winning group Brotherhood of Man, Nicky has been working with Colten Care for the past two-and-a-half years. Guests at John’s party included his daughters Penny Hill and Kathy Thomson.
Innovative digital hub officially launches in West Lothian
A NEW digital hub in West Lothian showcasing housing technology of the future won Bield stakeholder approval after its official launch recently.
Following a tenant sneak-peek in March, Bield Housing and Care has officially opened the Bield Tech Hub in Linlithgow, having secured £75,000 of funding through the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation project.
The launch allowed stakeholders, including local health and social care partnerships, staff and other housing associations, to trial and give feedback on digital care advancements of the future.
The Bield Tech Hub consists of four spaces including two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, one kitchen space and one living space.
There is also a consultation room and a dining space. Each room has been fitted out with different technologies for people to test.
Stakeholders were welcomed to the space by Dr Lynne Douglas, Bield CEO, who said: “We are delighted to have officially opened the Bield Tech Hub and we’re sure it will bring lifechanging technology to West Lothian and further afield.
“It was fantastic to give our stakeholders and project partners the opportunity to see first-hand what their support has facilitated.
“It’s very important that people get the chance to familiarise themselves with this incredible tech made available through the TAPPI project and get a true insight into housing of the future.”
The TAPPI project aims to improve the way technology is used in housing
and care for older people.
Led by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, the TEC Services Association and funded by The Dunhill Medical Trust, TAPPI seeks to address the opportunity that technology has to enhance the lives of our ageing population and the barriers that prevent its adoption.
The funding will give Bield the unique opportunity to work with tenants, staff and partners to gain insight into a range of devices, apps and systems across a variety of housing settings.
With co-production at its heart, Bield staff and tenants will have shared responsibility to produce digital services to support
independent living – a first for the Scottish housing charity.
The Bield Tech Hub features three main technologies. The first, Anthropos, uses predictive and analytical technologies to map individuals’ daily routines and sends insights to family or staff.
If abnormal action is detected, Anthropos intervenes to prevent a crisis moment from occurring. This supports independent living for as long as possible by proactively averting potential injury or danger.
Aquarate drinking cups, which track individuals’ fluid intake by measuring liquid volume automatically, are also available.
This monitoring means that optimal
fluid levels are maintained, and can be personalised to reflect individuals’ needs and care.
The third technology is Vayyar, a non-wearable, non-invasive, fourdimensional tracking technology which supports fall detection. It also determines room presence and tracks mobility levels and bathroom visits, all of which facilitate autonomous living.
Lynne added: “Our team has worked hard to ensure that Bield tenants, customers and their families are beneficiaries of extremely relevant tech that could make a real difference to their day-to-day lives – we are certain that the three technologies achieve that.
“Preventative care technologies across the board underpin our major tech revolution at Bield and we’re confident that there will be fewer falls and emergencies, generally helping people to live independently for longer and be more confident in their homes.”
Bield’s use of innovative technology has already received major recognition – it’s ‘Inspire Phase 2’ project which utilised proactive telecare was the winner of the Transformation Award at the 2023 ITEC Awards in Birmingham.
The ITEC Awards celebrate innovation within the sector and the positive impact Technology Enabled Care has on the lives of millions of people in the UK.
The Transformation Award honours services that have planned and implemented major transformation with a proactive and preventative approach.
Provider deepens commitment to its staff’s mental health at work
HOMECARE provider Walfinch is deepening its support for the mental health and wellbeing of its franchisees, carers and clients.
Walfinch chief executive Amrit Dhaliwal said: “My experience in homecare means I am aware of the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our carers, franchisees and clients.
Amanda Holgate has been appointed to Anchor’s Board having completed a successful introductory period as chief financial officer. Amanda has worked in the housing sector for more than eight years, with recent roles including CFO at Southern Housing Group, deputy finance director at Family Mosaic and director, finance services at Peabody. Prior to entering the housing sector she gained more than 20 years’ financial and commercial experience in a range of sectors including financial services, technology and retail asset management. The Board accepted the resignation of non-executive director Rachael Dennis for personal reasons in March.
“I vowed when I started my homecare franchise, that I would take as much action as I could to promote mental health and wellbeing – not just by paying lip-service to the idea, but by taking practical measures.”
Walfinch commitments, announced to coincide with the recent Mental Health Awareness Week, include:
n Training more mental health first aiders.
n Consulting care teams. Walfinch carers will be surveyed about how they feel about their jobs and whether their workplace wellbeing can be improved.
n Seeking customer feedback.
Walfinch clients are already asked regularly how they feel about their care but we are adding a more formalised process to record and
action the results. This will provide data to prove the link between carer and client wellbeing and to identify areas where action, such as more training or new policies, could improve mental health.
n Listening to franchisees. Walfinch has recently established a Franchisee Advisory Council, where franchisees can raise issues with the franchisor, to boost franchisee support.
n Promoting the value of the franchisee network.
n Encouraging the buddy system.
New staff, in particular, can worry about their job, so franchisees will be encouraged to twin them with a ‘buddy’, an established member of staff who they can turn to for support.
Amrit added: “I’m pleased at how we have worked to improve measures for the mental wellbeing of our franchisees and carers, but I am keen to ensure we maintain and deepen our support.
“Being complacent about mental health in the workplace is inhumane and unprofessional.”
CARINGWEEKLY 4
Jeremy Porteus, chief executive of Housing LIN, Lynne Douglas, chief executive of Bield Housing and Care, Alyson Scurfield, chief executive of TSA and Professor Roy Sandbach from TAPPI.
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‘Outstanding’ home celebrates 20 years
A ROTHERHAM care home has celebrated 20 years since it first welcomed local people with complex care needs.
Exemplar Health Care’s Greenside Court, located in Greasbrough, opened its doors in 2003 as the specialist provider’s first facility. The home supports adults living with physical disabilities, neurodisabilities and other complex health conditions.
To mark the 20th anniversary, residents, families and colleagues at Greenside Court gathered for a party which featured special guests Mayor Councillor Tajamal Khan, and local legend Miller Bear, the Rotherham United Football Club mascot.
Home manager Jayne Fleming said: “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone anniversary. Greenside Court was Exemplar Health Care’s first home, and it has set the standard for the rest of our services across the country.
“We are proud of the quality of care and support that we provide to our residents and their families, and we are grateful for the recognition that we have received from the CQC and others.
“We would like to thank everyone who has been part of our journey over the past 20 years, including our current and former staff, residents, relatives, commissioners, regulators and the local community which has always supported us.
“We look forward to continuing to deliver person-centred care and positive outcomes for residents in the future.”
Jayne joined Exemplar Health Care as a healthcare team leader in 2011, whilst also undertaking an Access to Nursing course at college. She then pursued a BSc in Leaning Disability Nursing, before joining Exemplar Health Care’s nursing team as a newly
qualified nurse aged 44.
In 2018, Jayne moved from a different Exemplar Health Care home to join Greenside Court, where she received clinical training to support adults with neurological conditions.
Within six months, Jayne progressed to become a unit manager, and was quickly promoted to clinical nurse manager. She became the home manager in 2021.
“I am eternally grateful for the opportunities for growth and development I’ve had whilst working at Exemplar Health Care,” Jayne added.
“I would not be in the position I am today without the support and guidance I have received over the years. Everyone at Exemplar Health Care is committed to not only to the wellbeing of our residents, but to each other.”
Exemplar Health Care now operates more than 40 care homes across England, but Greenside Court remains one of its flagship home having achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission in February 2020.
The CQC praised the home for its ‘exceptionally’ caring staff team, for being a responsive and well-led service, and highlighted the extensive positive feedback from residents, relatives and professionals.
Chatty Cafe Scheme to combat loneliness
AN Epping care home is opening its doors as part of the Chatty Cafe Scheme, which aims to reduce loneliness and encourage people to come together and talk.
The Chatty Cafe Scheme is a nonprofit organisation tackling loneliness in the UK, and Weald Hall will be hosting its own Chatter & Natter sessions.
Taking place in the home’s dining and bakery area, the cafe will be held on the first Friday of every month between 2pm and 4pm, with the first event taking place on June 2.
Visitors to the home can enjoy tea, cake and a natter with staff, residents and other guests.
Anyone is welcome to attend Weald Hall’s Chatty Cafe, whether it’s alone, as a couple, with a young child or as a carer.
Manager Danielle Barham said: “We know only too well the impact of loneliness on the community and we want our home to be a welcoming environment for everyone that visits us. Our residents love to meet people, and it helps them to form new friendships.
“We make it our mission to encourage social interactions wherever possible and that’s why we wanted to bring in a Chatter & Natter table.
“It’s for the whole community to use and we hope it will allow people a safe and inspiring space to have a chat.”
The scheme was founded in 2017 by Alexandra Hoskyn OBE, who started it due to her own feelings of isolation
Residents enjoy trip on River Tees
RESIDENTS of Astune Rise Care
Home in Eston spent an afternoon sailing along the River Tees aboard the Teesside Princess while enjoying afternoon tea.
Dressed in their finest, the 13 residents departed Stockton and travelled down the Tees on a return trip to Yarm.
The trip was organised by home manager Caroline Bowstead, who plans a variety of activities such as a Christmas performance, Valentine’s Day surprises and more recently opened up a new residents’ shop. She said “This has been a work in
progress for more than three years and I’m thrilled that we’ve finally been able to pull it off.
“In preparation for the special voyage residents had their hair cut, nails done and many of our ladies even tried on hats for their outfits.
“Our residents have had a fantastic day out on the Tees and I’m glad that we have been able to make this happen and take our residents on a fantastic trip.”
They were joined by family members and staff from the home, and also celebrated Doreen’s 91st birthday with a cake.
when visiting a supermarket cafe with her baby. She noticed that no-one was talking to each other.
After putting ‘Chatter & Natter’ signs on tables in local cafes, she found people were beginning to talk and the scheme quickly grew in popularity. Coventry University published a report in May 2022 that found 100 per cent of Chatter & Natter table users said it made them feel less lonely and socially isolated.
97 per cent of venues hosting these events felt they were encouraging community spirit.
Weald Hall Care Home was taken over by Premium Care Group last summer.
Starting with residents’ bedrooms, sitting rooms and dining areas, significant investment in the home has seen major internal and external decoration works transform it into a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment.
Keeping with the upmarket theme, Weald Hall features a cinema room, hair salon, multi sensory room and bakery, where the cafe will be held. With external works planned to be completed in late spring, the owners plan to make the most of the large grounds and rural views.
The changes have seen the management of the home transformed, with improvements being made to staff training and development and personalised care and activity programmes.
The home has already seen its CQC rating change from requires improvement to Good.
A Hull residential care home has recruited a senior clinical nurse to lead its specialist nursing unit. Raleigh Court, owned and managed by not-for-profit organisation HICA Group, has appointed Becky Evans to lead the provision of nursing services across the home and manage a team of nursing staff. Becky brings with her a wealth of nursing care experience that will ensure Raleigh Court’s nursing unit is operated to the highest standard and in line with other care provision at the home. During her 13-year career in nursing, Becky has worked within accident and emergency units and has helped to set up an acute elderly assessment centre. At Raleigh Court, she will provide leadership and support to all clinical care employees, championing high quality delivery of safe and effective nursing care.
CARINGWEEKLY 7
Chris Hughes-Rutherford with Astune Rise staff and residents.
Bidfood hosts care home coronation party with a royal feast fit for all
WITH King Charles III officially on the throne, Bidfood celebrated this momentous occasion by supporting the care industry and hosting a coronation party for the residents of Tunstall Hall.
Like Tunstall Hall, many UK care homes have had to operate with tight budgets, rising food costs and understaffed kitchens.
The challenge increases when taking into consideration the varied dietary requirements of each resident, suffering from various medical conditions such as diabetes and dysphagia.
Taking their latest care home guide, ‘A Feast Fit for a King’, Bidfood’s culinary development chefs brought the guide’s Coronation-themed recipes to
life with a menu that is fit for all.
The regal spread of 12 dishes and four royal-themed tipples, allowed residents with difficulties swallowing, severe allergies, or a need to watch their blood sugar, to be well catered for.
In addition to this, the menu was developed with low-skilled but high impact, flavourful dishes, making it easier for those understaffed and low-skilled kitchens to produce regular meals for their residents.
Taking inspiration from some of King Charles’ favourite dishes, the menu included cheesy baked eggs, zesty cream of lemon and the king of puddings, a warm apple and blackberry upside down cake.
Bidfood customers can discover another layer of support through their free e-learning platform, Caterers Campus.
Designed by Bidfood’s chefs, for chefs, the online school equips care home caterers with the key skills they need to prepare the right offering for residents with modules on dysphagia, fortification, dementia and more.
Commenting on the coronation party, Wayne Wright, healthcare culinary development chef at Bidfood said: “This is a crowning moment in British history and it brought the perfect opportunity to bring everyone together and celebrate, especially as the care sector has to navigate under cost and
staffing pressures.
“We hope that our latest guide will evoke that feeling of celebration in residents and relieve some of the weight that care home caterers are currently under.
“Mealtimes are so important to a resident’s daily routine because it creates a sense of normality, as well as contributes to their wellbeing.
“It’s crucial that care home caterers get their offering right with delicious and costeffective meals, by taking advantage of the amazing tools we have available so they can cater with confidence.”
CARINGWEEKLY 8
Advertiser’s announcement For more guidance, inspiration, and support on catering for the care sector please visit https://www.bidfood.co.uk/care-homes/