The weekly online newsletter for the care sector Issue31.08.22119
Home withgenerationsunitesscheme
A Dorset care home sprung a unique surprise on one of its animal-loving residents when it arranged for alpacas Liquorice and Almond to pay her a visit. Rosemary Wray is a resident at Colten Care’s Newstone House in Sturminster Newton and was captivated by the creatures when they first visited the home last year. The companionship team organised for an ‘animal garden party’ with food, drinks and live music for Rosemary and the residents to enjoy, as well as the chance to meet their alpaca guests. Liquorice and Almond are uncle and nephew and live at the award-winning Alpaca Adventure in Shaftesbury with owner Wendy Williams.
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“Everyone will be keeping a diary of what they’ve learnt over the six weeks and we’ll invite the children back in regularly and ask them if they would like to become pen pals. “The Toys Week theme was a great success. The children were intrigued by all the old toys and to find out more, through the toys, about the lives of our residents when they were young. “The children couldn’t believe that some residents didn’t have any toys at all growing up and only received an orange and a shiny new six-pence with the date on it for Christmas. There was some lovely interaction.
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Toys Week included a visit from The Dolls House Shop and the Dolly and Teddy Hospital. They brought a selection of old-fashioned toys, a vintage dolls house and an original PaddingtonEight-year-oldBear.Thomas Watson said: “I enjoyed the day and seeing all the old toys, especially the dolls house with all its detail. It felt good and kind to talk to the“Myresidents.favourite part of the day was showing my wrestling toys to Terry because he likes wrestling too. I also liked helping Margaret eat her dinner at the teddy bears picnic. She liked looking at my Pikachu Pokémon toy.” by calling 01925 386800 or visit
OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for recognition have been urged to enter the Caring UK Awards before it’s tooNominationslate. for this year’s event are now open at www.caringukawards.co.uk
The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Caring UK, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the care industry. And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of care business. These include everything from Quality in Housekeeping and Catering Team of the Year to Best Outdoor Environment and End of Life Team of the Year. Event organiser Dominic Musgrave said: “Nominations are coming in and our events team is already busy ensuring that this year’s event is bigger and better than“Ourever.main aim is to recognise and honour the best in our wonderful sector and showcase the innovation and dedication that goes on every day so please share your successes and tell us about your hard work and initiatives by sending in your nominations … it’s a real privilege to read them.” A shortlist in each category will then be drawn up, with winners chosen by an expert panel. Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 1 presented by Emmerdale actor Dean Andrews. n Deadline for nominations has been extended to noon on Friday, September 9 due to demand.
LIVERPOOL’S Oak Springs Care Home is bringing generations together through TikTok, toys and tons of school memories. In the first scheme of its kind, the care home in Wavertree has launched ‘Project Generations Together’ to encourage interaction, build bonds and share memories between 20 of its residents and four visiting localThechildren.children, aged between five and 12 years old, are visiting the home every Friday during the summer holidays as part of an innovative project to unite the generations.Registered manager Andrea Lyon, who came up with the idea, said: “Like all care homes, over the past two years we’ve not been able to have many visitors. “So to celebrate being able to get back out into the community we thought it would be lovely to launch Project Generations Together to explore and celebrate the bonds between local children today and our residents. “When I was a child I loved staying with my grandparents and listening to all their memories and stories about life in ‘the olden days’. We want to recreate those lovely bonds with our own residents and a small group of local children. “We’ve got lots of fantastic activities planned and we’re expecting the children and our residents to really inspire – and learn from – each other.
Anne Hargreaves, home manager, said: “Residents were enthralled by the youngsters’ performance. It was a lovely way for them to spend an afternoon.“Wearekeen on encouraging local organisations to build strong connections with the home and this philosophy forms part of our extensive activities “Intergenerationalprogramme.visits,such as this, play an important part in the wellbeing of Chanters’ residents. Different generations interacting with each other has proven benefits for both sides.
The children’s school chose a theme of Proms in the Sunshine, and the programme included classics such as Abide with Me, I Vow to Thee My Country and God Save The Queen. These were followed by more modern songs, which saw the brass band joined by singers and guitarists, including Sweet Caroline, Let Me Entertain You, and Shine. The open-air concert took place in The Chanters’ garden, with residents looking on and waving Union Jack flags from the home’s gazebo, which was decorated with bunting and balloons for the occasion.
CARE providers are angry over bureaucracy that is fuelling delays in recruiting overseas staff to help tackle huge shortages in the sector.
Fairways Residential Home, The Old Rectory Residential Home, Mountside Residential Home and Gabriel Court which cover dementia care, residential care and respite care.
Katherine Matthews
“I am utterly delighted to be recognised and shortlisted for such an important award.”
ACI Care Group, the family-run business which owns and operates four freehold specialist homes in Kent, East Sussex and Northamptonshire, has received £7.35m of new funding from Cynergy Bank. Established in 2017, the business is run by Anand Sodha and Ravi Sodha, who are part of an entrepreneurial family with their father having run a successful business in the travel industry for 35 years. ACI Care Group includes
“I am so proud of all of these finalists.”
Determined to provide a local home-from-home alternative, she designed a tailored service. At the 14-person Malvern Suite, each resident from secure psychiatric services receives one-to-one care for at least a month while the team assesses their needs and works to reduce their anxiety and distressed behaviour.Asaresult, they feel safe and understood, with no need for safety interventions.Sinceitsintroduction, the administration of antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines hasShehalved.said:“The home has created a bespoke service for those who otherwise would live in secure psychiatric services due to behaviours related to their dementia. “The dedicated team commit time to understand expressed need and create care plans that enable structure and purpose to residents’ lives.“These relationships help reduce anxiety and distressed behaviours and have seen a dramatic reduction in the prescribing of psychotropic medication.“Theteam, in partnership with the relatives, have created a home from home community where residents live safely through being understood, and relationships thrive even with the obstacles dementia brings.
“Our residents are very sociable and love to welcome groups and people of different ages to the home.”
Mike Padgham
Both the NHS and the social care sector are suffering huge shortages in staff as we head into autumn and winter, when demand for healthcare surges.Health secretary Steve Barclay said hiring more nurses from overseas would help relieve pressure on the NHS and has asked civil servants to increase overseas recruitment. But while it welcomed his words, the social care provider organisation the Independent Care Group said the real issue was Home Office bureaucracy.ChairMike Padgham added: “We agree with the health secretary that we need more overseas staff to ease the shortage but the truth is Home Office bureaucracy is strangling the process.“Careproviders are waiting months to get their application for a licence to recruit overseas workers approved and in the meantime, care is“Sosuffering.whilst we applaud the health secretary for highlighting the issue, he needs to get on to the Home Office and sort out the bottleneck, otherwise a situation that is already dire, will be critical this winter. Skills for Care recently revealed that the number of vacant posts in social care had shot up by 55,000 in the past year – an increase of 52 per cent.
Katherine realised people with neurological challenges and mental health needs were being placed out of the county area which made it difficult to maintain contact with family and loved ones.
“The dedicated team receive specialist training including safety intervention, however nine months on and this intervention has not been utilised.“Theservice’s ethos of ‘see the person not the problem’ has created positive and lasting changes for residents who were otherwise moved away from their loved ones, and seen as problematic with nowhere to call home.“Ifeel that nurses who work in the social care sector are often overlooked and sit in the shadows of those who work in health.
Mental health nurse who created bespoke service shortlisted for top award
The loan will support the refinancing of the specialist care homes. Cynergy Bank has provided ACI Group with a five-year term loan with a repayment profile of 25 years.
A MENTAL health nurse who designed a tailored service so people living with advanced dementia could be closer to loved ones is up for a prestigious award. Katherine Matthews, manager of Perry Manor Care Home in Worcester, has been selected from hundreds of entries as a finalist in the Nursing Older People category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2022. She will find out if she has won at a ceremony on October 6 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.TheRCN Nurse of the Year 2022 selected from all the category winners will also be announced at the event.
RCN general secretary and chief executive, Pat Cullen, said: “This shortlist showcases the very best of nursing and highlights the work we do, day in, day out, to improve the health and well-being of our patients.
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Ewan Wilson and Lydia Wright playing their instruments, with their teacher Cathy James, home activities coordinator Lyndsey McBride and Helen Robinson, head of music.
Brass band serenades residents with ‘Proms in the Sunshine’ event
Providers’ anger over delays for overseas care staff
FEET were tapping at a Manchester care home when a school brass band – which has collaborated with Take That and played for MPs in the Speaker’s Garden – paid residents a visit.The Chanters, in Atherton, was delighted to welcome the Fred Longworth High School band for an exclusive concert.
The musical extravaganza, which was part of the Proms in The Playground initiative from Brass England, featured a range of toetapping tunes and kept those living at the home thoroughly entertained for nearly an hour.
ISLE Court Nursing Home resident Brenda Johnson was delighted as her daughter surprised her with an ‘at home’ wedding reception after she missed the real ceremony held in Las Vegas.The81-year-old resident has been at Isle Court for 12 months, and was unable to attend the wedding of her daughter Alison Bennet and Craig Bennet, so the bride surprised her mother with a wedding party in the comfort of her home. Alison and Craig have been together for five years, and got married late June.General manager Claire Harris said: “It was lovely to see Brenda be part of such a special occasion with her daughter and now son-in-law, and to share it with her friends throughout the“Wehome.were thrilled to host the surprise wedding reception for Alison and Craig for Brenda. She was over the moon to see Alison in her beautiful dress, and really enjoyed the afternoon.”Brenda’sfellow residents and friends joined the newly married couple in the Isle Court gardens, where social life co-ordinators Debbie Rees and Christian Lugtu organised a wedding reception with a marquee, afternoon tea and a hand-crafted wedding cake prepared by the head chef.
Chefs prepared homemade quiches and cakes and a photobooth gave residents the opportunity to capture memories of their look and outfits on the day. Singer Wills Bailey-Hobbs is pictured with companionship team members Joanne Hope and Sharon Semple.
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The pay increase has led to Vida attracting 120 new staff members across its three care homes. The positions that have been filled include care assistants, registered nurses and wellbeing staff. A number of roles continue to benefit from the permanent pay increase, including qualified care assistants whose hourly rate increased from £9.61 to £12.32, and nurses whose hourly rate increased from £18.50 to £22.50. Other positions include bank care assistants, senior care assistants, and teamJayneleaders.Christie, team leader at Vida Healthcare who has recently joined the operator, said: “It’s been a challenge to find a role in the sector which can provide the support that I need both in my job and out of work.
Home teams up with nearby schools for their sports days
A NEWTOWN care home teamed up with three local primary schools to celebrate their annual sports days.
Provider recruitmentcombatscrisis
“Joining Vida was a no brainer thanks to the amazing things that are available to support myself and my colleagues like the pay increase and the amazing surroundings in the care homes.“Social care is a really rewarding career, but it can be incredibly demanding both mentally and physically. Knowing that my employer cares about me and my wellbeing means a lot.”
Residents and staff from The Oaks were invited along to the events at Ysgol Maesyrhandir and Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, both in Newtown, and also provided refreshments for St Mary’s Catholic Primary School’s sports day. Daniel Hart, registered manager of The Oaks, said: “Our residents love a day out and to meet new people so the trips to the school sports days were a real treat. “They enjoyed watching the children compete and seeing their happy faces. “For many of our residents it was the first time they had been to a school sports day since watching their own children take part.
Chris Rycroft (chairman), Bernadette Mossman (healthcare director), Jillian Young (operations director) and James Rycroft (managing director) at Vida Healthcare.
“We feel it is vital for our residents to feel like they are still very much a part of their local community – as they“Thisare.has been very difficult over the past two years due to Covid, but we are excited to get integrated back within our community and we hope to work with, and take part in, many future community events and activities.”Thehome worked with Powys Produce to provide fresh fruit and water for all the children at the three schools to enjoy.
Vida Healthcare is one of the Harrogate District’s leading employers with more than 470 staff members.
James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, added: “Recent Skills for Care data found that filled posts in adult social care dropped for the first time ever and the number of vacant posts had increased by more than 50 per“It’scent.really important to us that we demonstrate to our team how much we appreciate and value them so that we can continue combating this crisis.“Establishing various benefits including the pay increase and our bespoke training platform ‘Vida Academy’ also supports our colleagues in providing the best care to our residents. A role in social care isn’t just a job, but can be a very successful career.”
VIDA Healthcare has unveiled a successful year for the recruitment and retention of staff, despite the challenges that continue to face the social care sector. The dementia care specialist recently announced that it had permanently increased the wages of its frontline care staff by 30 per cent, which is 20 per cent higher than the sector average.
The care home operator also supports 203 residents living with dementia who originate from across the UK and beyond. A range of initiatives have been put in place to attract new talent so that the specialist and high level of care offered by the provider can continue to be delivered to residents.
The glamour and glitz of the jazz age were in vogue once again as residents from two New Forest care homes came together to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week. Flapper dresses, sequins, forearm gloves and peacock feather headbands were de rigueur as Roaring Twenties’ glamour sparkled anew at Belmore Lodge in Lymington. Residents there welcomed a visiting party from fellow Colten Care home in the town, Court Lodge, for a lively, stylish afternoon of music, dance and conversation. Jazz singer Wills Bailey-Hobbs performed popular hits and jazz standards from the 1920s decade.
Daughter surprises her mother with wedding
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Louise Baxter, general manager at Hallmark Care Homes, added: “It’s been amazing to have an expert like Graeme visit us and hear of how exactly dogs can enable residents to live an active and fulfilled life.
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“Fluffy friends are welcome at our homes because they make people happy.“Wefeel every attempt should be made to ensure beloved pets shouldn’t be left behind when you move into a care home.”
BLUEBIRD Care Highgate and Haringey has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ following its latest inspection by the CQC. To celebrate the rating the home care provider welcomed the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Gina Adamou, who visited the offices to meet some of the team, present certificates of achievement and join in the celebrations.Registeredcare manager Terina Jones said: “My colleagues and I are delighted that our hard work has been recognised in this way. “We have all played our part in achieving the highest possible rating with the Care Quality Commission. I am so proud of everyone.”
Provider marks ‘outstanding’ rating with visit from Mayor CARE South, a not-for-profit provider of residential and care at home services across the south of England, has selected LewisManning Hospice Care as one of the beneficiaries of its Chairman’s 2020 Fund, awarding the charity partner £3,000.Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity helping people with lifelimiting illnesses and their families across East Dorset. Its mission is to provide the local community with outstanding hospice care and support by helping as many people as possible, who are dealing with a life limiting illness, to live their precious lives well. Simon Bird, Care South’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be able to support such an important local charity in LewisManning Hospice Care with a number of initiatives across all our care“Onehomes.ofthe upcoming initiatives that we get involved in is Afternoon Tea Week, which takes place in August and last year, our homes raised just under £600 for the charity.“Thetwo charities have worked closely together for some time now and the award made from the Chairman’s 2020 Fund is a further way of supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.”
A woofer you can’t refuse ...
In the report, the home care provider was particularly recognised for its responsiveness and how wellled the service is. Its customer plans were judged as being proactive, thorough and reflecting the individual needs of how each customer wishes to receive their care.There was also positive recognition of the home care provider’s performance and approach during the Covid-19 pandemic, where robust infection control practices and precautions were introduced and followed to minimise the risk of infection, and ensured customers were attentively cared for in their own homes at all times.
Hospice awarded £3,000 from Chairman’s Fund
Graeme Hall aka The Dogfather says dog in care homes can increase residents’ length and quality of life (left). Residents are supported to bring their pets at Hallmark care homes.
TV canine expert The Dogfather has described how dogs can help residentsThecelebrity canine trainer has spoken of the vital part a pooch can play in care homes – by helping to enhance residents’ length and quality ofThelife.popular behaviourist from Channel 5’s Dog’s Behaving (very) Badly revealed how animals such as cats and dogs can have a huge impact on the health and happiness of elderly residents. And Graeme Hall – aka The Dogfather – claims such a positive impact could even be linked to a longer lifespan for residents and pets. Speaking on behalf of Hallmark Care Homes, which welcomes residents with a dog, he said: “Studies show that being with a dog, particularly a dog you are bonded with, reduces resting heart rate – an indicator we’re less stressed, and that will definitely increase your life. “Not just your length of life, your quality of life as well; there is a hormone called oxytocin, which functions to protect the heart. “Being with a dog increases oxytocin production so it’s true to say dogs are literally good for your heart and keep youAccordinghealthy.”to the renowned dog trainer, it’s not just your heart that benefits, but also your brain, which a four-legged-friend can assist in keepingOwnersstimulated.needtoget up in the morning to tend to their pet, give them something to eat and take them for a walk, providing easy ways to keep active.
The Chairman’s 2020 Fund was set up with the aim of supporting ‘Care South’s Friends’ and has been established with the aim of benefiting the operator’s employees, volunteers and groups that provide a community service.
And dogs can also read their keeper’s body language, making it a win-win when it comes to a brain workout for both. It also emerged there’s no right or wrong when it comes to the best breed of dog for those over 75, with the key things to consider being energy levels and temperament over looks.Graeme, who was visiting a Hallmark care home in Hutton, Essex, added: “If you come to a care home, it’s a bit like starting a new school. “But if you’ve got a dog people flock to you, it’s easy to make friendsbefore you know it you’ve got a social group around you. “If you’re a dog living in a care home, you’re literally never alone –there’s loads of people around and everyone’s happy to see you, so it’s happy“Mostdays.dogs are the ultimate optimists, they’ll get loads of treats, loads of fuss, calm people. “Just remember treats are only one kind of reward for a dog – most are happy to receive love and attention, and that doesn’t put any weight on them – there’s no calories in a hug.”
