Caring UK Weekly Issue 24

Issue 24 09.09.20

The weekly online newsletter for the care sector

Care home to trial Covid-19 technology NHS Highland together with Highland Health Ventures and Wyld Networks are deploying technology to help reduce the spread of viruses including Covid-19 in care homes.

The technology, which has been developed by Wyld Networks, uses an app on smartphones and geozones, software-based virtual walls surrounding the care home.

The software decides whether visitors and staff can or cannot enter the facility based on peoples’ health status and level of risk.

Once inside the care home, the technology monitors and alerts social distancing between staff, visitors and residents.

Also, heat maps are generated in real-time to visualise areas where social distancing is being inadvertently broken.

Changes can then be made to the building layouts, routines and room occupancy numbers.

In the case of an outbreak of the virus, those at risk can be informed and scheduled for testing within the NHS. Frances Hines, research, development and innovation manager at NHS Highland, said: “NHS Highland is interested in implementing many new measures to support care homes to help protect residents and staff and assist in preventing the spread of

Covid-19.

“We are now seeking to bring together innovative technologies to deploy in care homes who wish to participate in supporting these actions.”

The technology is currently being developed by Wyld Networks and the first care home to use it, which is expected to be from October, will be Castlehill in Inverness, led by HHVL under the guidance of NHS Highland.

Castlehill is one of several care homes owned by Morar Living, part of the Simply UK Group.

Linda Meston, director of care for Morar Living, added: “We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality care while giving our residents the choices that they would have if they were living independently.

“We have created a safe environment for our residents and staff in our care homes and believe that technology will play a vital role in ensuring that continued safety.”

Alan White, a director of HHVL, said: “We have successfully implemented new innovative technologies into the healthcare system in Scotland and believe that deploying this new solution from Wyld Networks will go a long way to help prevent further outbreaks of the virus.”

A relative of a Taunton care home resident has raised more than £2,340 for a dementia and Alzheimer’s charity after performing a skydive in dedication to her father. Cheryl Clavey, who is the daughter of Oake Meadows care home resident Cedric Lewis, was inspired to raise the money by her dad, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago.

Caring UK Awards postponed WE ARE extremely sad to bring you the news that we have taken the incredibly difficult decision to cancel this year’s Caring UK Awards.

At a time when the care sector has shown such amazing determination and courage to get through these unprecedented times, we would have loved to have recognised these efforts at our glittering awards ceremony at the end of the year.

Meeting all our finalists is always the highlight of our year and we love visiting care homes the length and breadth of the country but we feel that this isn’t appropriate in these current uncertain times.

So after careful deliberation and discussions with the venue and sponsors, we feel that the most responsible course of action to protect the health and safety of our nominees and sponsors is to cancel this year’s awards and look ahead to 2021 and brighter times.

The date is set for Thursday December 2 2021 and nominations will remain open throughout the year closing on August 31 2021.

We’ll be returning to the fabulous Athena

A BIG THANK YOU

FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …

WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

Caring UK is part of the Script Media companies

in Leicester and we are excited to have a full 15 months to ensure that next year’s celebration of excellence is the biggest and best yet.

All nominations for this year’s awards will be carried over to next year – and nominees will have the opportunity to update their nominations should they wish to ahead of the closing date.

Thank you for all your nominations and support and we look forward to celebrating your amazing feats in 2021. Thanks too to our sponsors for your continued loyalty and support.

In the meantime, in view of the massive contribution our wonderful care homes and dedicated care workers have made during 2020 we will be launching our 2020 Roll of Honour in the coming weeks.

We want to hear all your stories about selfless individuals who have gone above and beyond for those in their care, teams who have battled through the most harrowing of times as well as tales of bravery and love.

Watch out for details on our social media pages, in Caring UK Weekly and in Caring UK magazine.

CALLING ALL SUPPLIERS …

Your online presence has never been more important so that you can keep in touch with your clients!

Do you need a website – and quick – to sell your services and products online?

We can help with a five-page website, with or without payment facilities AT NO UPFRONT COST! And it will be ready within ONE WEEK of us receiving the necessary information.

That’s the design and development of your own website within seven days!

Includes domain name (.com or .co.uk), hosting in the UK and email forwarding We can also help with SEO, PPC, flyers or promotional material and affordable advertising in print and online!

Contact us today: sally@scriptmedia.co.uk or 07939 324 781

THE 2021

CARING

UK AWARDS Thursday 2nd December 2021,

THE ATHENA,LEICESTER We are extremely sad to bring you the news that we have taken the incredibly difficult decision to cancel this year’s Caring UK Awards.

All nominations for this year’s awards will be carried over to next year – and nominees will have the opportunity to update their nominations should they wish to ahead of the closing date.

Thank you for all your nominations and support and we look forward to celebrating your amazing feats in 2021. Thanks too to our sponsors for your continued loyalty and support.

N O M I N AT I O N S W I L L R E M A I N O P E N T H R O U G H O U T THE YEAR CLOSING ON AUGUST 31ST 2021

W W W. C A R I N G - U K . C O . U K S P O N S O R S H I P PA C K A G E S A R E AVA I L A B L E Call 01226 734605 or email tb@scriptmedia.co.uk for details For general enquiries call: 01226 734630 I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

SPONSORED BY

CARING UK AWA R D S 2 0 2 1

3

CARINGWEEKLY

Operator launches annual Gardens in Bloom competition IDEAL Carehomes has launched its annual ‘Gardens in Bloom’ competition across its Yorkshire, North West and Midlands sites.

The contest encourages both staff and residents to work together to embrace their love of the great outdoors by devising and implementing an exciting revamp for their outdoor spaces that everybody can enjoy during the summer months.

Each year the garden transformations are a real community effort, with the homes partnering with local garden centres, businesses and schools who generously donate flowers, paints, gardening tools and decorations to help create the wonderful displays and impressive garden features.

Last year De Brook Lodge care home in Manchester took home the crown following its impressive garden overhaul which included new outdoor seating areas for the residents to enjoy, newly installed flowerbeds with handmade decorated planters and hanging baskets.

The residents also added a vegetable patch and special ‘fairy garden’ for younger visitors.

Lifestyle manager Danielle Aikenhead said: “We were absolutely thrilled to be the competition winners in 2019 – all of the credit must go to our amazing residents who embraced the competition with such gusto.

“We are extremely excited for our project this year; we have lots of tricks up our sleeve to impress the judges with.

“We have already received such overwhelming support from so many local businesses and we look forward to showing off the final result soon.”

This year each of the homes has

Activities co-ordinator Christine Boswell and resident Roy Blowers.

Residents enjoy restaurant experience at care home Resident Brenda Topping been fiercely competitive as they begin to implement their creative ideas into their gardens.

The competition judges are made up of Ideal Carehomes directors, who will select regional winners before crowning the overall national winner.

Ideal Carehomes director Stacey Linn added: “The competition throughout summer 2019 was enjoyed by everyone and it really was wonderful to see the relationships built and nurtured when residents and staff worked together to create an outdoor masterpiece.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my visits to the finalist homes last year and was blown away by their efforts – I can’t wait to see all of this year’s displays and if De Brook Lodge are able to retain their winning status or if they will pass the baton to a different home.”

Group officially registered as provider of six homes HEALTHCARE Homes (Spring) Limited has been officially registered as the new provider of six care homes, having taken over the management of the operations from Four Seasons Health Care Group as part of a restructuring process on March 11.

Originally operating as part of a management agreement, Healthcare Homes was announced as the nominated new provider for the six homes on behalf of administrators, pending CQC re-registration of the homes.

Now, four months on the CQC has completed the re-registration on the homes, which can accommodate up to 300 residents in total.

The homes are: n Ladymead Care Home in Wroughton, Swindon. n Kingsmead Care Home in Swindon. n Oaktree Care Home in Yate, Bristol. n Alexandra Care Home in Hemel Hempstead. n Albany Care Home in Headington.

n Romford Grange Care Home in Romford.

As the new provider, Healthcare Homes has been able to ensure continuity of care provision to existing residents, alongside each home’s existing workforce, in addition to fully supporting the homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gordon Cochrane, chief executive officer of Healthcare Homes (Spring) Limited said: “We are pleased to confirm that CQC has now officially re-registered the six homes to reflect our management position.

“It has of course been the most unusual of times, however we are proud to have become the new nominated provider of these established homes and have worked hard to not only ensure a seamless transition to Healthcare Homes, but to ensure all measures were in place from the outset to keep residents and staff safe amid the pandemic.”

STAFF at Edward Moore House Residential Care Home in Gravesend treated the residents to an evening at a restaurant.

Residents have been staying safe since the home closed in early to visitors in early March and, while visitors can now see loved ones in the garden marquee with social distancing in place, an evening out on the town is still off limits.

With that in mind, staff wanted to do something different for the residents and give them the opportunity to enjoy some normality and a relaxing evening with first class food.

The Edward Moore restaurant was open for business as residents were

invited to indulge in a four-course meal.

While the staff took their orders and topped up their wine, classical music played in the background, creating an authentic and calming ambience.

Deputy manager Melanie Martin said: “The residents had a great time dining at The Edward Moore restaurant.

“They were delighted with the food and said it was just like going out to eat.

“Our staff waitresses did a great job and the kitchen produced some lovely food, which went down very well.

“It was nice to be able to treat the residents to a fun experience after a few difficult months.”

Resident Annie marks her 106th birthday A MUCH-loved Croydon resident has celebrated her 106th birthday, making her Whitgift Care’s oldest ever resident.

Annie Reader lives at Wilhelmina House, and the home’s staff and residents, along with her family, enjoyed a social distancing party with cake and sherry to mark the big day recently.

Annie attributes this milestone birthday to a glass of sherry a day, and she enjoys being taken around the home’s landscaped garden in her wheelchair.

Activity co-ordinator Dawn Rule said: “Annie is a ray of sunshine and always an absolute delight to talk to. We had a truly enjoyable time celebrating with her family and friends, although I don’t think she can quite believe she has reached this age.”

Annie’s life has seen her go on many adventures to far flung countries visiting her son in all the places where he was a diplomat such as Nepal, Swaziland, Egypt, and Cambodia to name a few. A dare devil at heart, Annie braved a zip wire ride at the age of 89.

Having lived through two World Wars, not to mention the current

global pandemic, Annie has plenty of stories to tell.

She recalls during World War II when an air raid hit Barrow, Cumbria, while she took cover in an air raid shelter. However, her father stayed at the family home, and when a bomb hit her street, she remembers on arrival back at the house seeing her father covered from head to toe in soot.

Her husband Stan was a merchant seaman, and when his ship sunk he was captured and remained as a prisoner of war in Japan for three years.

Stan didn’t see his son Malcolm until he was four years old. During that time Annie had no idea if he was dead or alive.

4

CARINGWEEKLY

Be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect in care homes, says NICE STAFF and visitors can play a vital role in the identification and prevention of abuse and neglect in care homes for adults says NICE, in a draft guideline recently published.

In addition to mandatory training for staff, the guideline covers what abuse and neglect look like, how to recognise the warning signs and what actions to take if abuse or neglect is suspected.

It also calls on health and social care practitioners to provide information about what abuse and neglect may look like to residents and their families and carers.

The new guideline will provide practical advice for residents, staff and anyone who spends time with adults in care homes, including family, friends or professionals who may visit.

Professor Gillian Leng, NICE chief executive, said: “Every day, thousands of adults in care homes rely on the support and care of those around them; a fact that should never be taken for granted.

“This is an opportunity to equip residents, relatives and care professionals with the tools they need to identify neglect and abuse, and empower them with the knowledge of where they can go for help.

“It is our hope that by providing clear guidelines on the steps visitors, staff and organisations can take, we

Professor Gillian Leng will all be better prepared to protect these residents in their time of need.’

The new guideline differentiates between residents’ physical and emotional behaviours that are possible indicators of abuse or neglect, which should lead people to look carefully at the situation, and stronger signals that should lead people to suspect abuse and take immediate action.

Recommendations suggest that a staff member or visitor should ‘consider’ abuse or neglect in

Home fined for failing to provide safe care A CARE provider and a former registered manager of one of its homes have been ordered to pay almost £47,000 at Brighton Magistrates’ Court, following an incident which led to a 56-year-old woman’s death.

Ridgewood Care Services Limited, which runs the New Inn in Ridgewood, Uckfield, was fined £40,000 in court on July 31.

The company previously pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment, resulting in avoidable harm to Mary Jane Cotton while she was resident at the New Inn. The New Inn is a care home for people needing nursing or personal care.

It also supports people living with a learning disability.

The court also ordered Ridgewood Care Services to pay a £170 victim surcharge and £5,000 costs as a result of the prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission.

Michelle Moyo, registered manager at the New Inn at the time of Ms Cotton’s death, was also prosecuted

by CQC. The court ordered her to pay £1,697 – comprising a £634 fine, £63 victim surcharge and £1,000 costs.

Mary had diagnosed swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia.

People affected by this condition may experience food entering their

lungs, risking infection, or choking.

A speech and language therapist instructed that she was to be served pureed and moist food, known as a texture D diet, due to her diagnosis.

However, on February 28, 2017 staff served Mary a doughnut.

This caused her to choke, leading to her death at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, on March 1.

Jemima Burnage, CQC head of inspection for adult social care, said: “This is a distressing case and our sympathies are with those affected by Mary Jane Cotton’s death.

“Ms Cotton had every right to expect safe care at the New Inn. “Ridgewood Care Services has a specific legal duty to ensure care and treatment is provided safely at the home.

“They failed to do this by serving Ms Cotton food that was not prepared to mitigate her documented risk of choking.

“The majority of care providers do an excellent job.

“However, where we find any provider has put people using its services at risk of harm, we take action to hold them to account and protect people.

“We hope this prosecution reminds care providers that they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing.”

situations where there may be another possible explanation for a resident’s physical or emotional state.

It says individuals should look at these signs and make judgements based on what they know about how each person usually behaves.

For instance, while there can be similarities between behaviours that are a reaction to abuse or neglect and behaviours associated with dementia, autism, learning disability or acute mental distress, the possibility of abuse or neglect should always be considered as a cause of unexplained behavioural and emotional changes.

Some examples of when individuals should consider abuse include if a resident: n Has lost or gained weight unintentionally. n Uncharacteristically refuses or is reluctant to engage in social interaction. n Does not have opportunities to do activities that are meaningful to them.

Circumstances are also described where people should ‘suspect’ abuse or neglect, where there is no clear alternate explanation.

These markers should not be seen as absolute proof of abuse, but mean immediate action is needed.

These include when a care home resident: n Lives in a dirty, unhygienic or smelly environment.

n Is malnourished or dehydrated. n Is denied independence aids (such as hearing aids, glasses or dentures), contrary to their care and support plan.

In 2018/19 there were 415,050 safeguarding concerns of abuse and neglect of adults raised in England, an increase of 5.2 per cent on the previous year.

The guideline also includes recommendations on policy, training and care home culture, to help care homes improve staff awareness of safeguarding and ensure they are willing and able to report concerns when needed.

Outlining the potential indicators of abuse on both an individual and organisational level, the guideline covers the safeguarding process people should follow, from identifying a concern through to supporting people during a safeguarding enquiry.

Encouraging multi-agency involvement in safeguarding protocols and procedures, the guideline supports targets set out in NHS England’s long-term plan to build stronger links and consistency between care homes, primary care networks and other bodies.

A consultation on the draft recommendations is now open, with stakeholders offered the opportunity to comment until October 1.

Lunch marks couple’s wedding anniversary AN elderly couple have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a special outdoor lunch at Jesmond Care Home in Aberdeen.

Resident Andy Davidson was delighted to enjoy some food and a whisky or two with his wife Margaret, having been apart from each other throughout lockdown.

The couple reminisced over their time together with wedding pictures and images from throughout the years. Andy, who has the ‘patience of a saint’ according to his wife, had been preparing for the special day for weeks, making a picture for Margaret with a blue heart to represent their Sapphire anniversary.

Their daughter Brenda gifted cushions with a picture of each so they can cuddle up together while visitations in care homes remain restricted, and organised a cake giving her parents a day to remember.

The couple were separated by a Perspex screen made by the home’s maintenance man, adhering to social distance rules, while activities coordinator Jade McGowan ordered a personalised banner to decorate the event.

She said: “It was great to be able to help set the anniversary celebration up for Andy and Margaret.

“Lockdown has been tough for all of our residents’ loved ones and it’s been fantastic seeing them reunite

over the last few weeks, but to mark 65 years of love between the pair was extra special.”

The couple met at work in 1951 and married in1955 at New Deer South Church, Turriff.

Andy worked for a local builder’s firm before going off to do his national service for two years.

On his return Margaret had started as the new clerk in the office. Andy was friends with Margaret’s brother Sandy who formally introduced the pair at a dance.

At another dance, this time at New Deer, which eventually became their wedding venue, Andy proposed.

The couple are parents to daughter Brenda and son Andrew, and have three grandchildren and a new addition to the family with their first great grandchild.

ATTENTION ALL CARE HOME MANAGERS EXCLUSIVE TO BARONS Introducing Barons Barons is an established provider of contract furniture designed for care homes just like yours. Our unique and unrivalled services mean we can help you through this difficult time. Coronavirus might have caused disruption to all our lives, but at least one thing remains the same: our commitment to delivering fantastic quality furniture paired with outstanding customer service.

Exclusive to Barons – New Madison Express Range Be the first to see our latest new exclusive product range.

Unique to Barons, we are pleased to introduce the latest addition to our express range of furniture.

Our new Madison express range of bedroom furniture, with its sleek, modern styling and practical features, is the ideal choice to freshen up your interiors. Included in this package is a double wardrobe, a 4-drawer wide chest and a 3-drawer bedside table fitted with a lock.

Madison is finished in our stylish mountain oak with a contrasting cashmere front. This brand new and exclusive range is available now with minimal lead times, so be sure to visit our website or contact us for more information about this exciting new range.

Madison Range

Hilton Range

Buxton Range

Darwin Range

At Barons, we understand that when you need new contract furniture, you don’t want to wait around. With short lead times, our express ranges can provide the perfect answer! Discover which other ranges are available in our express packages today. www.baronsfurniture.co.uk/products/express-furniture

Unique Van Display Service

Protecting Staff & Residents

To help you create beautiful interiors, Barons is pleased to offer a unique display van service. Our team can bring prospective furniture to your door and help you decide which products would work best. We can ensure you make the right choices to help maintain your CQC compliance. Contact us to take advantage of this free, no-obligation service today*.

At Barons, we have put safety measures in place to ensure the safety of our staff and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes partaking in regular handwashing, observing social distancing, and offering flexible delivery slots to meet the requirements of our customers.

GET IN TOUCH E:

sales@baronsfurniture.co.uk T: 01253 741940

*Please note: we can also provide appointments via video apps.

WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO: www.baronsfurniture.co.uk/display-van-service/

6

CARINGWEEKLY

Power Plate and care group raise healthy movement levels Yuriy Bukovych

Staff gain non-medical prescriber qualifications A LEAD nurse and a lead physiotherapist at Royal Star & Garter have become the first members of staff in the charity’s care homes to qualify as non-medical prescribers.

Yuriy Bukovych and Maddie Venkatesh qualified after completing their non-medical prescriber courses.

The charity, which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, covered the cost.

The ability to prescribe in-house means the homes are able to provide a rapid on-site response to residents’ health needs, obtaining their medication within hours. It also brings wider-reaching benefits by reducing the workload and burden on GPs. Yuriy, who has worked at the Solihull home since 2011, said: “It was a tough course but you don’t get permission to grant prescriptions lightly.

“I’m proud to receive this qualification, and I’m grateful that the charity has paid for this. It’s nice to work for a charity that’s interested in developing you.

“The charity and home manager

Cheryl Harbourne recognised the delays with the current system, and wanted to improve the care we provide. Royal Star & Garter is forward thinking.”

Maddie added: “It was tricky to fit study hours in while working full time as I had to work around the GP hours.

But it’s all worth it in the end.

“It’s very useful to have an independent prescriber in a care home as it increases the convenience and speed with which residents receive their medicines.”

Royal Star & Garter is a member of the National Care Forum, which represents the not-for-profit social care sector, and has been calling for non-medical prescribers in care homes.

Policy director Liz Jones said: “It is fantastic to see Royal Star & Garter are announcing their very first qualified non-medical prescribers.

“As a long established veterans’ care charity with a passion for innovation, this is their first step in having prescribers in all of their care home settings, all of whom will have been supported with the cost and time needed to achieve this expertise.”

POWER Plate and Berkley Care Group have announced a programme to improve wellbeing outcomes for residents and staff through encouraging healthy movement.

Driven by the desire to maintain and improve mobility during the challenges of the current pandemic, Berkley Care Group searched for a solution to help them deliver the best care possible despite the limiting conditions.

“We were seeing our resident’s movement levels reducing,” said Andrew Winstanley, of Berkley Care Group.

“This was distressing to witness due to the significant health benefits gained from gentle exercise.

“As the pandemic progressed, we were also well aware of its impact on our staff and wanted to be able to offer them the opportunity to improve their wellbeing.”

Working together with Power Plate, Berkley Care Group developed a bespoke programme to improve and maintain fitness and mobility by stimulating natural reflexes, increasing muscle activation, and improving circulation.

Six care homes, each with between 35 and 78 beds, are involved in the programme which will track mobility, flexibility and fall prevention across all residents, and improved movement for staff, using Power Plate’s ‘Personal’ product, which is easy to use and move from room to room.

Davide Ferreira from Power Plate added: “We’re delighted to be working with Berkley Care Group to

support these wellbeing objectives.

“The whole-body vibration technology behind Power Plate is safe and effective.

“In as little as three minutes, residents and staff will feel revitalised, simply by performing simple stretches or easy movements to counter the negative effects of inactivity on the human body.”

Power Plate trained two members of staff per site to use the product over a series of short and effective digital education sessions.

Key outcomes will be tracked over a 12-week period to show how specific evidence-based physical activity connects to key health benefits as well as improving quality of life; independence, confidence and social interaction.

Parklands Lodge care home in Southport has welcomed James Cullen to its activities and wellbeing team. The 17-year-old has already gained experience within the care sector having previously worked for the Athena Healthcare Group in the hospitality department. Since joining Parklands Lodge, James has played a vital role in helping residents and their families stay connected, assisting with garden visits and video calls. He has also begun a one-to-one activities project with a visually impaired resident, supported by his skills in Braille and communication.

New skincare and incontinence leaflet

A NEW ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ leaflet is available from Thornton & Ross Pharmaceuticals – manufacturers of Zerolon® Barrier Cream.

Accredited by the Association for Continence Advice (ACA), the leaflet is designed as a quick guide for all health professionals involved with continence care.

Including recommendations from NICE, the leaflet also outlines factors to consider when selecting a barrier cream and advice on helping prevent incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD).

Zerolon® Barrier Cream is the latest addition to the Zeroderma emollients and barrier creams range, specially formulated to prevent irritation from bodily fluids including urine, faeces and exudate.

Enquiries: To receive a free pdf copy of ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ email zeroderma@thorntonross.com or visit www.zeroderma.co.uk

Hair salon gets a makeover COLLEAGUES at HC One’s Kesteven Grange care home in Hull have given their hairdressing salon a makeover.

The wellbeing coordinator and the maintenance operative have been busy refreshing the salon as a treat for the residents.

With most of the UK spending their time indoors decorating during the pandemic, it was a quick decision that Kesteven Grange would do the very same.

As hairdressers are unable to come into the home, colleagues thought

it was about time the residents had a full salon experience and what better way to do it than in a newly refurbished room.

A lot more residents have been using the salon so it was important to the staff to give it a fresh new look so they could enjoy the space for a relaxing pamper.

The residents loved the pretty pink colour scheme and how bright the room now looked, making it the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon.

7

CARINGWEEKLY

Home to host open days ahead of opening COUNTRY Court’s Fenchurch House in Spalding will host a series of open days to celebrate its opening.

To comply with current Covid-19 guidelines the open days will be by appointment only from 10am to 4pm on October 9, 10 and 11.

The care home will specialise in residential care, short-term respite care and specialist dementia care for up to 60 people.

Managing director Alykhan Kachra said: “We are delighted to be welcoming families to Fenchurch House.

“As a family-run company we aim to create a ‘home from home’ feel in our homes and our care is the kind we’d want all of our loved ones to receive.”

Visitors to the open day will be able to meet the staff team, take a tour of the home and sample food from the menus.

Each tour will be socially distanced

and carefully managed to comply with Covid-19 requirements.

This approach will continue as the home opens, with Fenchurch House following rigorous infection control procedures to ensure all new residents are safe in the home.

Staff will be on hand to show visitors around the care home which boasts its own pub ‘The Mallard Tavern’ where residents can visit for a drink with friends and relatives or enjoy activities such as pub games and quizzes.

The home will have its own café called the Gatsby Bistro, an ideal meeting place for residents and their families to enjoy refreshments and freshly made cakes and bakes whilst visiting.

The entertainment suite which features a cinema, games room and library, and The Pantry craft room with an OMI interactive table will

provide plenty of choice for residents to participate in their hobbies and pastimes. For residents wishing to relax ,The Pamper Suite will have a hair salon, nail bar and treatment area.

The marketplace on the second floor will be a focal point for the community in the home, a place for residents to meet friends, sit and chat on the park bench or purchase a few essentials from the shop.

The interior design in each area of the home has been carefully chosen to offer opportunities for reminiscing and talking points, with themes such as vintage aircraft with maps, books and items to look at or read.

Fenchurch House will be managed

by Suria Webb, one of Country Court’s longest serving employees, having joined Ashwood Nursing Home in Spalding in 1998 as a night nurse.

After working as a home manager for 10 years, Suria was promoted to area manager in 2008, when the group began to expand and open new facilities.

The company’s policy was to take on homes that were in difficulties and turn them around, for which Suria’s wealth of experience and clinical knowledge proved to be a great asset.

She was promoted to operations manager and in this role shared best practices and mentored managers and care teams in the group’s homes across Lincolnshire.

“I am very excited to be managing our new care home,” she said. “In these difficult times the elderly population is particularly vulnerable at home.

“People may be concerned about how a relative is coping and would like to have more support. Here we will offer peace of mind and security.”

Exclusive one-on-one online demo available for early callers 020 3621 9111

info@cura.systems

more time to care

www.cura.systems

empower caregivers

enable quality care

Cura...makes complex care more manageable!

provide safer care

Cura means Care

improve care records

great customer support

connect to family & friends

Please quote “Caring UK Newsletter” whilst booking your Cura demo to receive your free tote bag

*Terms and conditions apply

ONLINE WEBINARS ADDED TO OUR TOP-QUALITY EVENTS SCHEDULE

Pushing the Boundaries of Care Excellence

Caring UK’s regional care conferences are now in their 20th year and we are delighted to unveil an exciting new addition to the brand.

We are introducing a series of on-line webinars which will continue to deliver national speakers and exhibitors for proprietors, managers, financial directors, individuals working within purchasing departments, matrons and senior nursing staff of care homes, nursing homes, dual registered homes, retirement villages, ancillary care organisations and domiciliary care agencies who work in the independent elderly care sector.

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR CARING UK WEBINAR ON: Tuesday 15th September, 10:30am-12:00pm 10.30 - Welcome & Address 10.35 - Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive-Care England 10.50 - Neil Grant, Partner and Senior Lawyer-Gordons Partnership LLP Solicitors 11.00 - Skills for Care 11.15 - Neil Hargreaves, Care Homes Divisional Manager-Apetito 11.35 - Q & A from audience To register for this FREE webinar, please contact Carole Rice on 01226 734 412 or email cr@scriptmedia.co.uk or register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jPtcdZORT4OG7Fma7pxwcQ Webinar Gold sponsor

Webinar Gold sponsor

Silver sponsor

All care providers will receive one hour CPD training certificate.