Government is urged to change ‘unfair’ system
CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Government to urgently reform social care’s rating system which they say is as unfair as Ofsted’s was for education.
The call comes after the Government announced it was scrapping the one and two-word Ofsted school inspection grades.
The Independent Care Group says the same should happen in social care. At the moment care providers are rated Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission.
Chair Mike Padgham said: “The impact of a damning rating on an operator can be devastating.
“We know of business owners who have closed down and suffered very real anguish after their operation was rated as ‘inadequate’, for example. A ‘requires improvement’ or an ‘inadequate’ rating can unnecessarily push operators to the brink and in some cases, out of the industry altogether.
“The terms are too short and brief and do not allow any room for explanation. Either of those two ratings can seriously damage a business’ reputation and cause them to close with the accompanying pressure and distress to the owners.
“We are not looking to weaken inspection in any way and are committed to poor examples of care being identified. But what we need is a partnership approach to the inspection process and far more empathy when organisations are
being reviewed. In so many cases, these are people’s livelihoods the CQC is inspecting, and they have to appreciate that a swift, one or two-word rating can finish them overnight. We need a much more comprehensive and balanced rating system where efforts are made to support providers to improve shortcomings, rather than the ‘them and us’ confrontational relationship that can exist at the moment.”
The ICG says the changing of the rating system is just one aspect of reform of the CQC that is necessary.
A report earlier this summer from Dr Penny Dash, who is carrying out a review into the CQC, revealed low levels of inspections, a lack of clinical expertise amongst those conducting inspections and a lack of consistency. One in five health and social care providers had not received a rating from the CQC whilst others had not been inspected for several years.
Mike added: “We want to work with the CQC to develop a good regulatory framework that respects both service users and service providers, which ends the duplication of inspection with local authority and NHS inspections and ends the “them and us” feeling that many providers have when dealing with the body.
“It has to be a partnership, a partnership that, at the end of the day, serves everyone. We share the common aim of providing the best care to people and should be working together to achieve that.”
Belong Warrington has been partying like it’s the 1920s with a Gatsby-themed celebration making its 10th birthday a night to remember. The care village pulled out all the stops, swivels and flicks with live entertainment from Danni B providing the perfect vintage party soundtrack whilst revellers enjoyed jazz age dancing, food and bubbles in abundance. Marking the special occasion, ladies embraced high flapper fashion featuring sequins, feathers and fringe dresses, whilst gentleman dressed to the nines, showcasing dapper suits, braces and fedoras. Guests of honour, Councillor Mo Hussain, Deputy Mayor of Warrington, and Councillor Leah Hussain kicked off the gala with a toast and the presentation of gifts for 10 stalwarts: the five customers and five colleagues living or working at the village from day one.
Mayor opens new sensory garden
MILLWAY House in Andover unveiled its newly created sensory garden during a morning coffee event attended by residents, staff and members of the local community.
This vibrant new space, made possible through a generous donation from Andover Baptist Church, offers a sanctuary designed to enhance the well-being of its residents.
The garden features an array of sensory plants, a calming water feature, and a specially crafted memory wall dedicated to the cherished memory of past residents. This beautiful addition to the care home serves as both a therapeutic environment and a place of reflection for residents and their families.
Wellbeing and activities coordinator Sarah Holland said: “We are incredibly grateful to Andover Baptist Church for its kind donation that made this garden possible.
It is a wonderful addition to our home, providing a space where our residents can connect with nature, engage their senses, and find peace and comfort.
“The memory wall within the garden stands as a poignant tribute to former residents, allowing their stories and legacies to live on in the hearts of our community.”
The official opening ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Test Valley, Ian Jeffrey, who cut the ribbon alongside residents Jean and Graham.
Awards 2024
shortlist is revealed
THE National Association of Care Catering has revealed the shortlist for its annual awards.
The prestigious accolades recognise and celebrate teams and individuals that epitomise excellence, innovation, dedication and outstanding contributions within the care catering sector.
Across six categories the finalists represent those working in or associated with care catering that deliver exceptional service every day, from care homes, meals on wheels services and lunch clubs to suppliers to the sector.
The overall winners will be announced at a special gala awards dinner on October 3, which is part of the NACC Training and Development Forum held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. The finalists are: Care Establishment of the Year – Bourley Grange, Care UK; Branksome Heights Care Home; Lulworth House Residential Care Home, Nellsar Care Homes; Mardy Park Resource Centre; Whitebourne, Care UK. Meals on Wheels – Bristol Community Meals; MyChef Meals on Wheels; Stella Stewart and the Facilities Management Services Meals on Wheels Team at Fife Council. Catering Team of the Year – Care UK Hotel Service Team; Norse Group Catering Team; Primrose Bank Care Home Catering Team; Princess Christian Care Centre Catering Team, Nellsar Care Homes; Savernake View Care Home Catering Team, Porthaven Care Homes; Signature Dining Catering Team. Catering Manager of the Year Award – Steve Harding, Aria Care; Paul Levy, Signature Dining at North London Hospice; Ian Powell, Country Court; Gregory Simmonds, Avery Healthcare; Ledon St John,
Cherry Hinton, TLC Care. Our Care Catering Hero – Katie Smith, Magna Care Centre; Anna Sudak, Montford Manor, Care UK. The Bev Puxley Award – Jonny Hollis, Riverside Place Care Home; Roddy Mackinnon, Scoonie House; Steve Wright, Caring Homes Group Ltd.
The winners of the following coveted awards will also be honoured at the gala awards dinner: NACC Region of the Year; Pam Rhodes Award; National Chair’s Award.
Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “This year the NACC received a record number of nominations for our annual awards, which made judging this year’s competition much harder.
“Making the shortlist of these prestigious awards doesn’t mean that you have just done something special, it means that you have been making a difference over a significant period and your actions have caught the eye of the judges, therefore many congratulations to all this year’s shortlisted finalists.
“Care catering professionals around the country work tirelessly 365 days a year, ensuring that their residents feel safe, cared for and nourished. To recognise the achievements of just a small sample of these unsung heroes each year is both a pleasure and an honour. Each year, I look forward to our gala awards dinner where we will come together with fellow members, colleagues and friends, to reflect, recognise and celebrate the amazing people in our sector.”
Relatives raise money to thank care home
MORE than £1,000 has been raised for Royal Star & Garter by the daughter of a former resident.
Andrea Harris held an open garden at her home in Hampton, Middlesex, to raise money for Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, where her mother Brenda Wait lived for four years.
Brenda lived on the Surbiton Home’s Lister floor, which provides expert dementia care, until her death in 2023.
The £1,100 raised from Andrea’s open garden will be spent on new sensory equipment for residents living with dementia.
It is the second time Andrea and her husband Michael have opened up their garden to raise money for Royal Star & Garter. Last year they raised £550, which was spent on the Lister floor’s outdoor area.
Following their second open garden, held earlier this summer, Andrea and Michael were invited to the Surbiton Home, where they saw a tribute to Brenda, with part of the dementia care outdoor area named Wait’s Terrace.
Andrea said: “My mother received impeccable care and lived a contented life at Royal Star & Garter. She benefitted enormously from the high level of personal attention afforded by gentle, kindly and devoted staff, and we are so grateful for everything they did for her.
“Nothing we do can thank them enough, but raising this money will help them to continue their amazing work. It will allow other residents to benefit from wonderful care, which in turn gives enormous peace of mind to relatives.”
Andrea and Michael at the dementia care outdoor area at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton. Aria Care has
manager at Aria Care, said: “At
Inspectorate praise Falkirk care home
THE Care Inspectorate has given a Falkirk care home its seal of approval, with relatives and residents praising the caring and attentive team members.
The report marked Care UK’s Caledonian Court as ‘very good’ and ‘good’ in all categories.
The home was awarded a ‘very good’ rating in supporting people’s wellbeing, leadership, team members, planning care and support, and was rated ‘good’ in the environment category.
Home manager David Currie said: “I am incredibly proud of the team here at Caledonian Court, and to lead such a caring and determined team.
“Our ratings are testament to everyone’s hard work and the highquality care we provide for residents every day. We are committed to ensuring all residents receive a personalised and tailored approach to care, in a dignified, professional and caring manner.
“We are all thrilled to have received this official praise from our regulator and look forward to celebrating with the residents soon.”
Inspectors praised the team at Caledonian Court for their courteous
and respectful care. One family member said: “Everyone listens - it’s a wonderful place.”
The team was recognised for its one-to-one care, responsiveness and flexibility, which establishes trusting relationships and ensures that residents are treated with dignity and respect.
The report also acknowledged the impressive range of communal areas at Caledonian Court, including lounges, activity rooms, a cinema and garden, which helps relationships blossom and creates a nurturing environment for residents to thrive.
The home was described as a welcoming, spacious place, where people are put at ease.
Inspectors noted how family members fostered good relationships with team members, built on trust, and how their views and preferences were sought after “in a spirit of genuine partnership”.
The report also highlighted that there is a strong culture of transparency, with team members feeling that managers are approachable and visible. Inspectors also noted that the team felt empowered by managers.
Prestigious nomination for managing director
LEAH Marsh, managing director of Aurem Care, is in contention for a top award at the National Business Women’s Awards 2024.
She is shortlisted in the Female Business Leader category, which is decided by a public vote.
Leah, who has nearly 30 years of dedicated service in the social care sector, began her career as a support worker. Her commitment and passion for improving care standards saw her quickly advance through various roles including home management, regional management and quality roles with some of the UK’s largest care providers.
Her leadership and dedication were particularly highlighted during the Covid pandemic, where she was honoured with the Lockdown Leader Award at the National Business Women’s Awards. Leah’s contributions have also been recognised with national awards for business heroism and corporate leadership.
She said: “I am honoured to be considered for this award, with
some fantastic business people also nominated. My commitment to providing the highest standards of care, both as a care provider and as an employer, remains unwavering.”
The National Business Women’s Awards celebrate the achievements of women in business across the UK. Leah has also been shortlisted in the Influential Business Woman of the Year category which underscores her significant impact and the respect she commands within the industry.
Staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court, in Braintree, Essex, have created a magical Alice in Wonderland themed day for residents. Leading up to the event, staff members volunteered their time to build an enchanted scene filled with decorations in the Home’s gardens, which is set in Stisted Hall, a Grade II listed property with period features dating back to 1825. On the day, family, friends and children from a local nursery joined residents for a Mad Hatter’s tea party, tucking into scones, cupcakes and other sweet treats. Staff dressed up as their favourite characters and entertained guests with games, sports and music.
Residents are fascinated as Anita ‘brings home’ Olympic silver medal 76 years on
THE rare experience of holding a genuine Olympic silver medal in their hands has given care home residents in the New Forest added interest in this summer’s Paris Games.
To bring the coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics a little closer to home, Lymington woman Anita Stock organised a special presentation for her fellow residents at Colten Care’s Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst.
It featured a silver medal won by her late husband ‘Jim’, James Rapley Stock, for team rifle shooting at the London Olympics in August 1948. 76 years on, Anita invited the couple’s daughter Leigh Hopper to come in and share the story.
Leigh was only too happy to oblige, arriving in a Union Jack-themed dress and proudly showing off her dad’s medal along with other memorabilia including a photo of him in Team GB. She explained that team rifle shooting in the UK gathered pace as a competitive sport from the middle of the 19th century with input from army volunteers.
Since the start of the modern Olympics in 1896, Team GB has won 47 medals in shooting, including 14 golds, the latest of which was in Paris this summer.
Leigh told the Woodpeckers audience that Jim joined the
Weybridge Rifle club in Surrey before the outbreak of the Second World War.
“I recall him telling stories of how he would shoot rats and mice while on fire-watch duty during the war,” she said. “This clearly helped his shooting skills as he went on to win his first championship at the end of the war in 1945. There were individual shooting events at the London Olympics but Team GB didn’t do so well in them, coming 25th.
“But my father was included in a team event that came out of a prestigious annual international competition, the Dewar Challenge Trophy, involving a select group of countries. In 1948, this was included as an event in the London Olympics.
“In this competition each member of the 20-man team fired 20 shots at 50 yards and then another 20 at 100 yards.
“Unlike other events, each team competed in their own country and then posted the results to London. This meant that the weather conditions were variable.
“The weather at the Surrey village
of Bisley where Team GB were based was particularly atrocious with strong winds and heavy rain.
“This made shooting very difficult and I recall my father saying he had a shot blown off course.
“Despite this he gained the second highest score in the team, 399 out of a possible 400, so helping them to win the silver medal.”
Sian Harris, companionship team member at Woodpeckers, said: “Both Leigh and Anita are extremely proud of Jim’s achievement. Anita has long spoken about him winning a silver medal.
“She also did some shooting herself, so it was a shared hobby for the two of them, part of their passion for the outdoors life.
“The presentation was so apt, given the timing of it this Olympic and Paralympic summer and with Team GB’s latest shooting success in Paris. “It was lovely for Anita to be able to share this family story with her fellow residents. Everyone listening was fascinated and pleased to get up close to that silver medal.”
Woodpeckers resident Anita Stock with her husband’s shooting medals, including the Olympic silver he won with Team GB at the London Games in 1948. With Anita is her daughter Leigh Hopper.
Leah Marsh
Skydiving for charity –not nervous but excited
THE deputy manager of a Taunton care home says she is “not nervous, but excited” about the charity skydive she plans to do with a colleague at 10am on September 12 in a bid to raise money to help their home buy a minibus for residents living with dementia.
Sophie Norman, 33, and Sue Derrick, 58, will be making the 10,000ft plunge watched by some of the residents and colleagues from The Rectory, as well as friends and family members.
The pair have pledged to raise £1,000 towards the purchase of a minibus for the home and say they also hope to contribute to Alzheimer’s Society. Sue already has experience of skydiving, having done a dive on her 50th birthday, also in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, and says she “absolutely loved it.”
Sophie said: “I would say I’m not nervous but excited – however I expect that may change once I’m
standing in the open doorway of the plane. I feel skydiving is not for everyone because it does have that fear factor and it’s something that tests your confidence, but we’re hoping this will be a fruitful fundraising effort because we’re keen to make a meaningful contribution towards the purchase of The Rectory’s own minibus – it will be so lovely for the ladies and gents we support.”
The duo have worked at The Rectory, a White Care Group care home, for nine months and five years respectively.
Sophie added: “A new minibus will enable us to give our wonderful residents greater access to the wider community, and take them to the beach and the zoo, for example.
“Keeping active and part of their local community is really important for their well-being, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we make our £1,000 target.”
Residents gifted MP3s
KING Lynn care home residents are tapping their toes after a donation of fully loaded MP3 players courtesy of The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign.
Briar House, part of the Larchwood Care family, has been the recipient of the heart-warming and thoughtful donation.
In a bid to bring joy and comfort to those living with dementia, the campaign has generously provided MP3 players loaded with residents’ favourite songs.
Maxine Fearnhough, manager of Briar House, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign for the generous
Residents unearth ancient treasures
A TREASURE trove of archaeological gems was loaned to a Teesside care home so elderly residents could get hands-on with ancient history.
York Archaeology, which operates the city’s Jorvik Viking Centre, loaned an archaeology box to Mandale House in Thornaby to coincide with the Festival of Archaeology 2024.
The box brimmed with artefacts excavated from York, spanning layers of human history, from prehistory to the medieval era.
Residents marvelled at the animal bones, including jawbones of sheep, cow, and boar, and pieces of pottery from Roman and medieval York.
They attempted to identify the animals from the bones, with the boar’s jaw, complete with a tusk, capturing everyone’s imagination.
The pottery pieces also sparked lively debates as participants guessed their historical origins.
Activities coordinator Tanya Spence said: “Residents and staff were fascinated to be able to hold the different fossils.
“We really try to bring different activities to residents, things they may never have seen or experienced before.
“Having the fossil box from Jorvik was a rare treat as it engaged not just residents but the staff team too.
“I have no doubt the residents will be telling their families about the artefacts they got the chance to hold.
“The activity was so good the residents want to experience what
an archaeology dig is like so we’ll be seeing what we can find on Digging for Britain.”
The archaeology box was arranged by Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator from Hazelgrove Court in Saltburn, part of the Hill Care Group, which also operates Mandale House. She had a virtual consultation with a York Archaeology expert, who explained about the artefacts, before she brought them to the care home. Sharon will now be arranging similar archaeological sessions at other care homes across the Tees Valley.
Duo take on 100-mile challenge for charity
SOMER Valley House care home general manager Lauren Dinham and front of house manager Emma Curtain are embarking on a 100-mile walking challenge throughout August to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The duo are motivated by personal experiences and a shared desire to give back.
Lauren, whose grandad battled pancreatic cancer, found invaluable support from Macmillan during a challenging time for her family.
“I really wanted to do something that would challenge me physically and get me moving, especially being mostly office-based at the moment waiting for Somer Valley House to open,” she said.
donation. The MP3 players have brought immense joy and comfort to our residents. Music has a unique ability to connect with people on a deep emotional level, and for our residents, it has rekindled many happy memories and provided a great source of solace.”
The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign is renowned for its dedication to enhancing the lives of those affected by the condition. Its initiative to distribute free MP3 players to dementia patients has been met with widespread acclaim, providing a unique blend of nostalgia and therapeutic benefit through the power of music.
“What better way to do it than raise money for Macmillan?”
Lauren and Emma will fit their walking challenge into their daily routines, often involving their loved ones to make the experience more enjoyable and motivational.
“Hopefully it will motivate me to do more than get home and put my feet up on the sofa after a long day at work,” Lauren added.
“Macmillan has been a great source of information and support not only within our family but at work as well.”
The team at Oyster Care Homes, which operates the home, is fully behind the initiative. The senior leadership team will be joining the
duo on some of their walks, and efforts are being made to promote their fundraiser across various platforms.
Lauren and Emma aim to raise as much as possible for the charity.
“Macmillan is 98 per cent funded through voluntary donations so anything we can raise will support the charity in continuing to provide the support to those living with cancer,” Lauren said.
Mandale House Care Home residents Maureen Sellenthin, 93, and Finton Connell, 83, examining an animal bone from York Archaeology.
Sue Derrick and Sophie Norman.
Resident Colin Seaman with his MP3 player.
Somer Valley House care home general manager Lauren Dinham and front of house manager Emma Curtain.
Garden’s looking blooming lovely thanks to community
BELONG Newcastle-under-Lyme’s dementia-friendly garden has enjoyed a garden makeover with the help of local people as it vies to be crowned the town’s best community garden.
Thanks to team spirit, camaraderie and some extra pairs of hands from young adults from The Prince’s Trust and Stoke-on-Trent College, the refreshed care operator’s gardens offer a calm oasis open to the public as well as those residing at the care village.
The addition of two ponds have added an abundance of underwater life into the village community, whilst a flourishing vegetable garden and herbs wall provide homegrown ingredients for use in the onsite bistro.
Craft projects for the village’s older residents have helped provide features including ceramic toadstools and mushrooms, with painted pebbles adding a splash of colour.
Even the seaside has been brought inland, with a bucket and spade sandpit proving popular with visitors.
Emma Palin, experience and heritage co-ordinator at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: “We consulted with our customers about what they wanted, and they were brimming with ideas, and many got involved, personally.
“The result is a spectacular experience of ideas coming to life through colour, smells, tastes and
textures to offer something truly special for everyone to enjoy.”
The courtyard and gardens form part of the village’s central hub, opening out from its public bistro and the integrated Belong Heritage Gallery, the town’s oldest building dating from the 17th century. Today, the gallery documents Newcastle history, arts, and culture through exhibitions, as well as the Old Pomona Inn and Sammy Bell’s tea rooms which pay homage to the building’s past as a public house and as the town’s only pottery, respectively.
A care home resident has had a special birthday wish come true. Robert ‘Bob’ Hasker, 72, who lives at HC-One’s Pytchley Court Care Home in Brixworth, Northampton, and recently celebrated his birthday, told carers that as a birthday treat, he would love to return to the train tracks as he worked as a railway engineer for 48 years. To help grant Bob his birthday wish, staff at the 37-bed care home, that offers residential, nursing and dementia care, jumped into action. They organised for Bob and his fellow residents to go on a steam train ride for an hour. He said: “It was lovely to be there seeing the train tracks, I used to work as a railway engineer for 48 years.”
A centenarian who celebrated her 106th birthday has received more than 400 birthday cards from well-wishers across the Stockport community and beyond after staff at her care home reached out on social media. Mary Spiers, who lives at Bowerfield Court Care Home in Disley, was flooded with cards and birthday wishes. The lifelong Man City fan also received a personalised video message recorded by player Jack Grealish wishing her a Happy Birthday and a signed T-shirt by all the players. She also received birthday cards from His Majesty the King, and from Parliament. Mary, who moved into Bowerfield Court earlier this year, was born and raised in the centre of Manchester with her two sisters. The three of them had boyfriends who lost their lives serving during World War II. None of the sisters subsequently married or had children.
Belong enlisted the help of The Prince’s Trust and Stoke-on-Trent College, with young volunteers joining residents, colleagues and independent living apartment tenants Paul Gray and Eileen Allman to update the grounds.
After weeding and laying foundations, raised planter beds have been painted two-tone to incorporate forget-me-not blue in a nod to the flower commonly associated with dementia.
A hedgehog house and bug hotels have also been added encourage to wildlife into the area.
The gardens have been entered into the borough’s Newcastle in Bloom competition, for which results will be revealed next month.
Similarly, Belong Newcastle-underLyme is amongst representatives for the Royal Horticultural Society Heart of England in Bloom entry for the Business Improvement District category.
Emma added: “Now that summer has finally arrived, we’ve never seen our garden so busy.
“Our customers and the community are really enjoying the new environment, and the seaside is certainly proving to be a hit as we enjoy the warmer weather.
“It’s the perfect spot to relax and unwind and we invite everyone to come and enjoy our peaceful oasis.”
The granddaughter of a resident living at HC-One’s Larchwood care home in Braintree, Essex,has completed a half marathon in recognition of the outstanding care provided. Ralph Fisher has been living at the residential dementia care home since 2023. His granddaughter Annabel completed the Solihull half marathon in two hours and 24 minutes. Annabel said: “Larchwood has helped my family, especially my grandad, Ralph and nan, Maria, huge amounts. My grandad receives outstanding care, and for this there will never be enough ‘thank yous’. Hopefully I can help them continue the amazing work they do for all their residents.”
A WWII veteran, believed to be one of the last remaining women to have served during the Battle of Britain, has celebrated her 105th birthday. Kay Thomas recalls being a plotter in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force where she played a part in the key battle which foiled Hitler’s British invasion plans. Kay is now a resident at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe, where she celebrated her 105th birthday with a party attended by her family. Kay is now living with dementia, but still has memories of that historic time. She was born in Southsea in 919, less than a year after WWI had ended. She met husband Bill shortly after WWII, and they soon married. The couple lived in Ickenham, Hillingdon and went on to have three children. Kay is now a great grandmother.
A 77-year-old Harry Potter superfan realised his very own wizarding dream when he ticked a visit to the Harry Potters Studios off his bucket list. Peter Mansell, who will be turning 78 in the near future, celebrated his birthday early by embarking on an adventure to visit the famous Warner Brothers Studios in Watford. As a devoted Harry Potter fan, Peter was delighted to explore the iconic sets, see the magical creatures, and even head to Platform 9¾. The visit was made possible by the team at Wren Hall, who are committed to making dreams come true for their residents. The day was filled with highlights, including a visit to the Great Hall, a stroll down Diagon Alley, and the chance to try Butterbeer for the first time. Peter even got to pose for a photo with a replica of Hedwig, Harry’s loyal owl, which was a particularly special moment for him.
Apartment tenants Eileen Allman and Paul Gray enjoy the fruits of their labour.
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