Caring UK Weekly Issue 22

Issue 22 26.08.20

The weekly online newsletter for the care sector

Care charity unveils new campaign FRIENDS of the Elderly’s Redcot Care Home in Haslemere has been going above and beyond to support the wellbeing, mental and physical health of its residents, their families and staff during the unprecedented lockdown period.

The charity has created a new campaign called ‘It’s the little things...’ and is working with its homes to share the little things they have done – and are continuing to do – that have had a positive and meaningful impact on the daily lives of its residents, their families and staff.

The team has ensured the residents have had enjoyable, fun-filled days with lots of safe activities and ongoing communications taking place.

Highlights include the regular sing-along sessions, outside afternoons on the terrace with socially distanced entertainer Bill Clayton and gardening time in the grounds which are surrounded by scenic countryside.

Residents have also been enjoying arts and craft sessions, quizzes and a wide range of other activities, plus the staff have been helping residents to make calls and FaceTime chats to their families and loved ones.

Head of marketing and communications at Friends of the Elderly, Jessica Stone, said: “‘It’s the little things …’ is giving our residents, their families, our care home staff and volunteers a way to share positive messages to keep them connected during these difficult times.

“We believe ‘It’s the little things…’ is a lovely way for everyone to express the little things that matter the most to them about each other; their happy moments, love, appreciation and gratitude to show how much we all value each other and are looking forward to spending time together again.”

The team also engaged with a local school, St Bartholomew’s, and pupils have been writing to the residents throughout the lockdown.

The letters have really cheered the residents up; so much so, they have been replying to the children with letters of their own.

Local church members have also been writing to the residents and have sent chocolates to the staff.

To share your ‘It’s the little things…’ message view https://www.fote.org.uk/ home/message-of-support-forelderly/

Mick leaves hospital in Rolls Royce

Staff at HC-One’s Springwater Lodge care home in Calverton helped their residents find it easier to distinguish between each other’s wheelchairs and walking frames by decorating and revamping the equipment and adding a bit of creative flair. Residents chose how they wanted their frame decorated, and all had some wonderful ideas that made their personalities shine through. A spokesperson said: “We were singing along to songs and getting everyone involved in the making of the frames. The look on the residents’ faces with their frames was priceless. We now aim to make sure all frames and wheelchairs are always decorated to a resident’s taste.”

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

THE head of dementia support at a West Bridgford care home has finally left hospital after a 110-day battle with the coronavirus.

Mick Pickering, 65, who works at The Grand, contracted Covid19 in April and was admitted to Nottingham City Hospital on May 4 suffering symptoms of lethargy, loss of appetite, shivers and feelings of sickness and diarrhoea.

Five days later he was put into an induced coma, and shortly after onto a trachea which he remained on for 41 days until it was finally removed.

Thanks to the expert medical care from the nurses and physicians at Nottingham City Hospital, the unwavering support of wife Patsy and his sheer determination to get better, he moved from intensive care onto a ward on 14 July and finally to rehab at Linden Lodge July 30.

He is much improved and now able to walk independently, talk, wash himself and make an allimportant cup of tea.

However, he still has a long way to go, his breathing is still limited and he faces several weeks of physiotherapy to gain full mobility.

New Care, who operate The Grand, organised for a chauffeurdriven Rolls Royce Phantom to collect Mick from hospital.

Many of his colleagues and members of the group’s management team also attended Mick’s discharge, applauding and cheering as he left.

Mick said: “Seeing everyone outside, it was amazing.”

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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.

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CARINGWEEKLY

Operator recognised by HRH The Princess Royal on her 70th birthday CARING Homes is celebrating after being commended by HRH The Princess Royal for its inspirational commitment to learning and development for the third time.

City & Guilds Group recently announced that 43 workplace learning programmes had been commended by the 2020 Princess Royal Training Awards to mark the Princess’ 70th birthday.

Now in its fifth year, the Princess Royal Training Awards recognise employers across the United Kingdom with outstanding training and development programmes that have had a direct impact on business performance.

2020 winners demonstrated exceptional commitment to training, despite facing the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19.

Caring Homes has been recognised this year specifically in relation to its Chef Development Programme which upskills chefs and meets and exceeds industry criteria for care home catering and cooking for people living with dementia who may be experiencing dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

Caring Homes is already part of The Princess Royal Awards ‘Community of Excellence’ having been recognised by the awards in 2018 for the Future Leaders Programme and in 2016 with the ‘My World’ Dementia Training Programme.

Liz Willis, director of learning and organisational development, said: “I am delighted that our dedication to training and development has been

recognised in this way.

“We wholeheartedly believe that investing in our colleagues, their learning and ongoing development is pivotal to the success of our organisation, the exceptional standards of care, safety and wellbeing we provide our residents and indeed the way in which we have risen to the challenges that the Covid19 pandemic has presented.

“Our Chef Development Programme was formed using the very latest research and techniques which can be utilised by those throughout our homes preparing the very best, and most suitable, foods for the people we care for.”

Previous winners have reported a number of benefits arising from the Awards, including increased investment into training programmes and improved levels of recruitment and retention, all of which will be useful as businesses work towards recovery post-Covid.

Organisations that have met the standard in 2020 differ in size and sector and other winners include Royal Mail, London Zoo, the Metropolitan Police, IBM and HM Revenue and Customs.

Applications were assessed against three Hallmarks of Excellence: 1. Training/learning and development is integral to business performance.

2. The programme is designed and delivered efficiently and effectively.

3. The programme has an impact on the success of the organisation and its people.

Nicky Durrant visits her mother Patricia.

Families reunited thanks to Covidproof new rooms RESIDENTS at Welford Healthcare’s Bristol care home Argentum Lodge and Sidmouth’s Holmesley Care Home are being reunited with their spouses, children, grandchildren and friends thanks to the installation of two state-of-the-art coronavirus proof visitors’ rooms.

The group, which has not had any cases of Covid-19 in its homes, has built the rooms as a safe way for residents to spend time with their loved ones without the concern of coronavirus or having to stay two metres away.

Will Neal, partner at Welford Healthcare, said: “We are delighted to have pioneered these innovative new areas for our residents in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We know how important face-toface contact is, especially in these challenging times and we are very excited to be able to facilitate our residents to properly see and speak to their loved ones for the first time in months in a comfortable and private setting.

“The interactions and events which are taking place because of these rooms are fantastic to see and replace the tricky window visits which were occurring, where there was little privacy and people couldn’t really hear each other.

“The schedule of visits is already

packed and every day we are seeing incredibly emotional and heart warning scenes of loved ones being reunited in this safe setting.”

The room is divided by an airtight glass partition and uses existing communications technology which has been redesigned to allow natural and seamless communication through the glass.

Particular care has been taken to ensure visits are as close to normal as possible in these extraordinary times.

Every detail has been considered, right down to the semi-circle coffee table on both sides of the glass, making those who use the room feel as though they are sitting having a cup of tea together around the same table.

The rooms also allow visits from health and social care professionals who don’t need to directly interact with residents, again reducing the number of people who come into the home.

To make sure the room has high standards of infection control, visitors are encouraged to bring their own mug and spoon so they can enjoy a cup of tea with their loved ones, using the available tea and coffee facilities.

The permanent rooms were created by converting existing bedrooms and also have dedicated external entrances, so visitors do not enter the home itself.

Residents enjoy live music Stuart receives gifts fit for a saint ROGERS House residents were delighted to welcome some musicians to the garden for a disco.

With visitors unable to visit for nearly four months, residents of the Wigmore residential care home were thrilled to be able to invite some entertainers to the home, local musicians, The Lark Birds.

Setting up their equipment and performing outside of the dining room doors, staff and residents cleared the tables and made a dance floor, so partygoers could make the most of the live music.

Dancing the evening away to all the nostalgic numbers, everyone had a

great evening forgetting the worries of the past few months.

Home manager Jackie Miles said: “It’s been so long since we’ve been able to do something like this, but with lockdown easing,we thought it’d be lovely to hold a disco with live music for the residents, while still keeping everyone safe.

“The residents had great fun. We’ve always carried on with a ‘business as usual’ attitude throughout the pandemic as much as we could anyway, to keep normality for the residents, but it was still so positive to be able to do some of the things we used to love doing.”

A STUDENT nurse has delighted a resident at Muirton House in Blairgowrie after organising a surprise delivery from his favourite football club.

Stuart McGregor, who is a lifelong St Johnstone fan, was gifted a signed ball and personalised gift set after being contacted by student nurse Becky McGregor.

She said: “It became clear almost instantly that Stuart is a huge Saints fan. He is always following the games and talks about the club very passionately.

“He is an amazing character with

a great sense of humour, and I thought the gifts would be a nice way to say thank you to Stuart for being so kind and welcoming to me during our time together at Muirton House.”

The signed ball features signatures from a number of Stuart’s favourite players, including Jason Kerr, Scott Tanser and Stevie May, while his gift set includes a St Johnstone water bottle and wallet.

Staff are also hopeful of organising a visit from some of the St Johnstone players in the future, when visiting restrictions allow.

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CARINGWEEKLY

Cousins’ surprise reunion at home after years apart

Double Gold award for Braintree care homes AN Essex care home has received a national award for the quality of its care for residents in the later stages of their lives.

The New Deanery in Braintree is following in the footsteps of its sister nursing home, St Mary’s Court, which received the National Gold Standards Framework award last September.

Both homes are run by Sonnet Care Homes, which has now become the largest operator in the area with 100 per cent GSF accreditation.

Julia Clinton, Sonnet’s chief executive officer, said: “These awards recognise the outstanding commitment of our entire team to the dignity, independence and personal choices of our residents.

“Our staff consistently place residents at the heart of everything we do, consulting with them and supporting them to make their own decisions.”

St Mary’s Court became the first in Braintree to be commended by the GSF last autumn. The national accreditation recognises the organisation and quality of endof-life care, leadership quality and the dignity and respect afforded to residents.

To qualify for the GSF Quality

Hallmark Award, the homes undertook an extensive GSF training programme over more than six months, then embedded this into the home over several months. The final stage was a rigorous accreditation process called ‘Going for Gold’.

Julie Armstrong Wilson from GSF added: “The New Deanery has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to providing compassionate, dignified care for all its residents according to their wishes and preferences.

“The home maintains good communication links with primary care and enables the residents to maintain their links outside of the home and the wider community.”

The New Deanery’s award lasts for three years.

The accreditation scheme is recognised by Care England, National Care Forum, National Care Association and Registered Nursing Home Association as well as by Skills for Care as an Excellent Provider.

The GSF scheme is proven to significantly reduce avoidable hospital admissions and ensures quality improvement, quality assurance and quality recognition for the homes involved.

A PAIR of nonagenarian cousins who hadn’t seen each other in years were reduced to tears of joy when they were finally reunited at a Hertfordshire care home, where they will now reside together.

Bryan Orchard, 94, who had been living at Foxholes near Hitchin for three years, was left overwhelmed with delight when he was surprised by the arrival of his beloved cousin Margaret Waller, 92, whom he hadn’t seen for almost a decade after moving his business to Bury St Edmunds.

The pair embraced and didn’t waste a second in catching up for lost time, taking part in a dance to one of their favourite childhood songs while residents and staff watched on in pleasure.

Estate manager Neil Gandecha said: “We’re delighted Bryan and Margaret are back together after almost a decade apart.

“I know the staff and residents have enjoyed listening to their childhood tales and I’m sure they will be getting up to all sorts of mischief now they are reunited again.”

The cousins, who grew up four miles apart in Offley and Preston, which are small villages near Hitchin, are related through Bryan’s mother Lillian being the sister of Margaret’s father Frank.

As children they would spend time together at their grandmothers, where they would enjoy family meals, which often included pheasants and rabbits sourced by Margaret’s father; a gamekeeper.

Bryan Orchard and Margaret Waller reunite after a decade apart.

Affectionately called Mick – after Mickey Mouse, due to being small as a child – Margaret reminisced about the times she and Bryan would go to village hall dances in their early twenties, a time when rural villages would have to make their own entertainment during and after the Second World War. They also shared some tales of mischief, namely when Bryan saw the perfect opportunity to use the local farmer’s unattended can of red paint to decorate his pigs with stripes.

The two stayed close as they got older too, with Margaret’s late husband Dennis building two of Bryan’s previous properties.

Home creates visitor suite ALPHA Health Care is creating a new visitor suite within its Waters Edge home in Great Wyrley.

The new Covid safe room, which will be open by the end of the month, will allow visits to happen in a warm, safe and private environment.

The suite will have two entrances and a dividing screen.

Family access will be from the outside of the building, and resident access will be from within.

The suite will also benefit from a communication system and access

control.

Mark Tomalin, CEO of Alpha Health Care, said: “We really do understand how difficult it has been for our residents not having any face to face contact with loved ones.

“We have introduced many new communication channels for relatives to keep in touch, and have encouraged relatives to make contact via video calls. But this new visitor suite will make a real difference.”

A new garden area is also being created as a further option for visits.

Residents from a Perthshire care home have been treated to an outdoor performance from a circus troupe. Performing a 1960s themed pop-up show called ‘Bring Me Sunshine’, Perth-based Adventure Circus dazzled residents and staff at Balhousie Pitlochry care home with the show they created during lockdown.

The circus and fitness club performed a socially distanced array of acrobatics, dance, aerial skills and juggling during the show in the home’s gardens. When they finished, the residents loved the performance so much that they sang them a song to say ‘thank you’.

Resident Hughina Wight is pictured with carers Dan Walker and Adrienn Berci.

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CARINGWEEKLY

Clare moves from corporate banking to a career in care

Bamford Close resident Sally McGrath.

Resident celebrates 100th birthday with family visits SALLY McGrath, a resident at Borough Care’s Bamford Close home for older people in Cale Green, Stockport, recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

She received a birthday card from the Queen, along with lots of other cards and presents from family and friends.

Despite the current restrictions on visits due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sally had window visits throughout the day from her seven children and some of her grandchildren, who came to see her two at a time due to social distancing.

Sally was treated to a special birthday cake, complete with a number 100 birthday candle, which was made by the home’s catering team.

Sally was born in Derry, Northern

Ireland. She has lived in Stockport for around 40 years and moved to Bamford Close five years ago.

Sally has seven children, 14 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.

During her working life her jobs included a seamstress in a factory, a home help and a cleaner.

She was also a nun in a convent in Dublin for five years. Sally has had an active social life, which continues at Bamford Close.

She learned to swim when she was in her eighties and also taught Thai Chi in her eighties; to what she classed as the ‘old people’, as they were all over 60.

A lady with a very positive outlook on life, Sally loved to travel, sing and dance, and was the life and soul of any party in her younger days.

CLARE Hall has traded counting cash and dealing with corporate customer enquiries at a bank for a career in care with Brunelcare.

She finally decided to take the plunge after 23 years in the banking industry and moved into the care sector caring for adults with learning difficulties.

Now, eight years later, she has joined Brunelcare as the new registered operations manager for South Gloucestershire, and says her wealth of knowledge from corporate banking alongside her eighth-years care experience are a recipe for success at Brunelcare.

Clare said: “I have 23 years’ experience working in the corporate banking industry and one day a switch went off in my head.

“I longed for a total change of career and managed to land a job at Bradbury House caring for adults with learning difficulties.

“I started at Bradbury House as a support worker and I was there for eight years and loved every minute of it.

“I studied for my NVQ Level 3 and started my level 5 while at Bradbury House and then managed to work my way up to a registered manager.”

Clare has always had a passion for caring and started with Brunelcare in June.

She says her corporate background in banking and her passion for care are a recipe for success as she can

Clare Hall implement organisation, relationship building and customer satisfaction into her new role with the charity.

Clare added: “When I got the position at Brunelcare I was so thrilled.

“The job seemed perfect and I’m enjoying every minute of it so far.

“I’m excited to get my teeth into some restructuring around rotas and how we work as a team.

“I’m keen to also get myself out and about in the community, visiting our clients and introducing myself.”

Welcoming visitors back into care homes

By Martin Green OBE ONE of the most difficult aspects of the recent Covid-19 crisis has been that care homes have had to lock down in order to protect their residents.

The impact that this has had on occupants, their families and friends is immeasurable.

It also meant that care staff have had to be the bridge between the residents and their loved ones, and this has been particularly difficult when they are supporting people living with dementia.

Many care homes have been desperate to reinstate visiting but have also been mindful of their responsibilities to keep Covid-19 out of their homes.

The Department of Health and Social Care recently issued new guidance on how visitors could be slowly reintroduced to care settings and many care providers are now starting to develop ways in which families and friends can reconnect with their loved ones.

It is important to recognise that despite the fact that care homes have not been able to welcome visitors for some considerable time, they have done everything in their power to ensure that the connections between residents and their loved ones have

Martin Green been maintained.

The impact on people’s well-being of not having connection with their families and loved ones cannot be underestimated.

We have seen many cases where people living with dementia have been very confused by the fact that their family cannot visit them and have also been somewhat concerned that people are now wearing higher levels of personal protective equipment.

In these situations, it is really important to try and establish normal routines and to ensure that people see familiar things around them because this helps to establish a sense of normality.

With increased cleaning regimes it has been good to see that many care homes are using familiar products, which can be less frightening for people living with dementia because they often recognise packaging and scents.

The Covid-19 crisis has underlined the need for a rigorous approach to hygiene and infection control.

This issue has always been very important in care homes and every year we have seen outbreaks of conditions such as seasonal flu and Nora-virus; meaning that care homes have become quite practised in infection control.

One of the challenges of delivering good infection control in a care home is that these are fundamentally people’s homes, rather than clinical environments.

Care providers have to be mindful of striking a balance between a homely atmosphere and rigorous approach to hygiene.

The way in which care homes can achieve this is by giving residents the comfort of knowing that the products that are being used are the likely the

same that they knew when they were living in their own homes.

This also applies to staff, who often like the familiarity of products they use in their own homes, and which can require less training because of this familiarity.

Many people who live in care homes are living with dementia and the importance of familiar things, which give people a sense of comfort and stability, should not be underestimated.

Smell is an attribute that can be an important part of giving residents a connection with their former home life and even normalcy.

If products used in care homes are familiar to residents, it can be a form of comfort.

In these difficult times, care home residents, their families and staff need to feel that their loved ones are in a clean and safe environment.

There is a great comfort in knowing that the products being used to clean the home are not only eliminating 99.99 per cent of germs and bacteria, including Covid-19, but they are also giving people the comfort and familiarity of products they have known all their lives. n Martin Green OBE is the chief executive of Care England and an Expert Advisory Council member for P&G Professional.

CARINGWEEKLY

Yorkshire care provider facing coronavirus insurance battle

A YORKSHIRE care provider is calling for urgent Government intervention after finding it almost impossible to get insurance for his business during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mike Padgham says he was quoted up to an 880 per cent increase in insurance premiums to get cover for his nursing home and three care homes at Saint Cecilia’s Care Group in Scarborough.

“Our previous insurer, like many others, has stopped offering cover to care providers because the risk is too great,” Mike said.

“Those that are offering cover are charging huge premiums because of the risk involved and because they know that we have to have insurance.”

Saint Cecilia’s previously paid £10,000 per year but when it came to renew they were quoted £98,000 – an increase of 880 per cent or £41,000, an increase of 300 per cent.

It was only after a seven-day extension past their renewal date that they finally received a quote for £18,000, an increase of 80 per cent.

Even with the increase in cover premium, the company won’t be covered for Covid-19 in the future.

Mike said the Government must intervene and support care providers who are effectively being penalised for helping the fight

Mike Padgham against coronavirus. I do have some sympathy with the insurance companies because they’re worried about the risk, which is why I want the Government to step in and help the industry,” he added.

“We stood up and accepted discharged patients into our homes from hospitals, aware of the risk but willing to do so to provide care to people with the virus and to keep our provision viable.

“Now, because of that, we cannot get insurance without paying premiums that will put enormous financial strain upon our business.

“We want to play a part to help the Government if a second wave

of coronavirus does come, to admit people and to help them. But we’re not going to be covered for that in the future if that’s what happens.

“They say ‘we’re all in this together’ but in reality some of us are and some of us aren’t. Social care has been left out and forgotten again.”

The National Care Association surveyed 68 homes that needed to renew their insurance and discovered that 68 per cent of those surveyed had an increase in their insurance premium; 35 per cent had to change insurance provider and 93.5 per cent had no Covid cover included in their renewal.

“We are not alone, when others are coming to renew their insurance they are finding cover has either been withdrawn or their premiums have gone through the roof,” Mike added.

“They have us over a barrel, as we cannot operate without insurance.

It is tempting to see what would happen if we did not renew our cover.

Would the Government step in and help then?”

Mike, and the provider organisation of which he is chair, The Independent Care Group, has also written to the Government asking it to indemnify care providers against insurance claims which might be made over residents who die from Covid-19 while under providers’ care. It has not

received a reply.

“The Government wants us to accept people from hospitals, with or without coronavirus and with or without proper testing in place,” Mike concluded.

“But when it comes to supporting us and protecting us against insurance costs, the Government has washed its hands of us.

“They can’t have it both ways. If the Government wants care providers to keep caring for those most vulnerable to Covid-19, they will have to support us in turn, otherwise there will be no care available for it to keep calling upon.”

The call is supported by Care England.

Its chief executive, Martin Green, said: “Some of our members are reporting that their insurance premiums have risen exponentially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is essential that the adult social care sector is funded and supported accordingly.

“Also it is imperative that the Government considers what policy mechanisms and guidance are at its disposal to support the frontline for example the indemnification of the sector and local support strategies.

“With care homes being under such immense financial pressure at the moment this could spell catastrophe.”

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CARINGWEEKLY

Kath reaches halfway stage in her charity run

Grosvenor Manor resident Joan Hall with manager Anne Hughes.

Chester resident receives medal for work in WWII

A CARE home resident has been presented with a medal recognising services to her country more than 70 years after the end of World War II. Currently residing at Grosvenor Manor care centre in Chester, 97-year-old Joan Hall has received a prestigious veterans badge thanking her for the work she carried out as part of the 329 Search Light Battery Platoon attached to the Royal Artillery between the years of 1942-1946.

The long-awaited medal was presented to Joan at a small but special ceremony attended by her closest family and coinciding with Victory in Japan Day. It was a proud moment for all involved, but especially for Joan who was delighted to receive the recognition 74 years after she left the service.

The team at Grosvenor Manor made it a happy day to remember with a socially distanced garden party, afternoon tea and vintage songs from the Golden Age Songbird Anna Beaumont.

Joan said: “Wartime was difficult for all involved, but we pulled together and I have many very special memories of my time with the Land Girls helping to support our troops out in the field and ensuring the ‘back office’ operations ran smoothly here at home.

“I am surprised and delighted to receive this medal so long after the war and humbled that the team at Grosvenor has gone to such trouble to organise a lovely day for me.”

Wellbeing coordinator Lisa Forth added: “Joan has always spoken fondly about her time in the army and is proud to have served her country.

“We are so pleased that she has been recognised with this medal and wanted to ensure a memorable day for all despite the current situation with coronavirus.”

Joan joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service aged 19 and was called up in 1942, receiving her papers to go to a training camp in Lancaster.

There she received her uniform and commenced work in operations, releasing the male soldiers to go out onto the search light sites.

She remained in this position until the end of WWII, after which she was asked to transfer to another camp in Northamptonshire to work in the pay corps.

She was later invited to transfer to Edinburgh to work as an accountant for the Army looking after salaries and other top secret and data protected financial transactions.

She was finally transferred to London to work in the pay office.

When she ended her career she received her discharge papers with a little note from her Sergeant Major who commended her on her good service and loyal support to the office.

Lisa concluded: “Joan leads a very full and active life here, but it is important for us to remember and celebrate our residents’ lives and memories, so it was very special to share in this proud moment from Joan’s past with her.”

The taste of rum, the smell of seafood and the sound of steelpans were among the exotic treats enjoyed by residents at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton during a Caribbean party. The charity’s care home was given a makeover for the celebration, with exotic backdrops, decorations and props used to help veterans get in the Caribbean spirit. Staff also dressed up for the event, wearing leis, dressing as pirates and donning shell tops. The party took place over three days to allow all residents in the home’s three floors to take part and enjoy while observing social distancing.

The Caribbean party was organised by activities manager Raquel Pena Aristizabal.

A CARE charity’s digital marketing coordinator has celebrated reaching the halfway stage in her bid to run 510 miles.

Kath Embling initially aimed to raise £500 to buy wellbeing supplies for Brunelcare, the charity for whom she works for, by running a mile for every one of the provider’s residents and tenants at its five care homes and three extra care housing sites.

However, much to her surprise, Kath managed to smash her target before she even started the challenge.

Kath is now hoping to triple her donations to raise £1,500 for the charity and has currently raised £1,130.

She said: “I’m so pleased to have reached my half way point. I have run in the rain and sun, with a few aches and pains along the way, but it’s all been worth it.

“I’m delighted to have raised more than £1,000 for Brunelcare so far and I hope to continue to raise money and awareness for this wonderful charity.

“The money I raise will fund wellbeing activities within our care homes and will go towards future day trips for our residents.”

Kath started her challenge in May and has run an average of 3.3 miles per day around her local area, St

Kath Embling Werburghs in Bristol.

She’s continued to run 23 miles – almost a marathon each week – with no rest days, until the challenge has been completed in mid October.

Kath believes the challenge will take her, in total, an average of 103 hours, a total of eight days running.

So far she has clocked up 40 hours of running and has put her trainers on 88 times to run.

Kath has been documenting her daily run using Strava that can also be accessed via her Just Giving page for tenants and residents to keep an eye on.

Managing director of Savista and chair of Hallmark Avnish Goyal with deputy mayor Gerry Curran, head teacher Claire Parfitt from St Martin’s Garden Primary School and managing director of Hallmark Care Homes Ram Goyal.

Construction begins on new Bath care home WORK has begun on the construction of a second, ground-breaking 76 bed Hallmark care home within one month which will provide residential and dementia care.

Midford Manor, which follows in the footsteps of its luxury Eastbourne development, will be built by Hallmark’s sister company Savista Developments at a total project cost of £14million across a 1.6-acre site .

Hallmark’s managing director Ram Goyal, chair Avnish Goyal and the site’s construction team were recently joined by Deputy Mayor Gerry Curran and head teacher Claire Parfitt from St Martin’s Garden Primary School, to officially mark the start of the build.

Avnish said: “We are so excited to have started our fifth care home project with Savista since launching in September last year.

“We have a wealth of knowledge and experience building award-winning care homes and we cannot wait to

create this luxurious care home for the community of Bath and deliver exceptional care in award winning designs for the benefit of future residents to be supported to lived active and fulfilled lives.”

The care home will feature a café, ice cream parlour, a state-of-the-art cinema and a luxurious hairdressers and therapy room. It will have a specialist dementia community as well as an abundance of outdoor space on all floors, including terraces, a roof garden and orangery where residents will be encouraged to take part in gardening and enjoy the sun all year round.

The site team also plan to work closely with neigbours and students at St Martin’s Garden Primary School including creating a unique sculpture for the home.

Midford Manor is scheduled to open its doors to its first residents in Spring 2022.

CARINGWEEKLY

The effective management of infection risk in care homes

By Neil Grant and Anne Smith

CQC’s latest infection control guidance The Care Quality Commission recently published its guidance on infection prevention and control to look at how well staff and residents living in care homes are protected from infection (key line of enquiry S5) and to help providers and managers plan ahead for the anticipated next wave of the pandemic and winter pressures.

Good points are made in a number of areas such as visiting arrangements and admissions management and there are many helpful links, but CQC’s guidance overlooks some vital points as it does not use or reference the wider KLOEs to broaden its infection control advice.

There is for instance little on the importance of providers’ own checks and audits and management of continuous improvement.

Faultless mask wearing and handwashing need to remain the order of the day and so emphasis on the management of compliance in these areas would have been helpful.

Effective infection prevention and control relies on staff’s fitness to practise these techniques safely.

Checking understanding and competency, return to work interviews to help ascertain fitness and the management and support needed to help mitigate the chances of tired overstretched staff making infection control mistakes are missing in the main body of the guidance.

The importance of investigating infection spread in managing the prevention of recurrence, local monitoring for outbreaks and the provider’s abilities to be proactive in the resulting action they take, could have been helpful features in CQC’s main guidance document.

Its donning and doffing advice makes no mention of the differences between source isolation for those residents with infection or potential infection, and protective isolation techniques which help safeguard the

Anne Smith, management consultant and non-executive director at Brilliant Care Services (left) and Neil Grant, Partner at Gordons Partnership LLP Solicitors. most vulnerable. assessment of quality, while There also seems to be no reference minimising infection control risks. to care planning for residents with In its Covid-19 update of August 14 Covid-19, the place to encapsulate all CQC state: “Our priority is to ensure the information needed to effectively the safety of people using services, support each individual while your staff and our colleagues. We minimising the risk of spreading the are, therefore, taking the following infection. measures: So, while CQC’s guidance is n Thorough risk assessments ahead welcomed, it should only be used as of all inspection and registration a foundation from which providers visits. can build and develop their own n Provision of PPE for colleagues management systems to minimise the undertaking on-site activity, and risk of cross infections, particularly in training in how to don and doff relation to this pandemic. correctly. n Training in infection prevention Minimising infection control risks during a and control.”

CQC inspection To ensure risks are managed on CQC has indicated it intends to carry an informed basis, there ought to be out more inspections as part of its some notice given of the inspection, Transitional Regulatory Approach unless the situation is so pressing which is being introduced from as to require an unannounced visit September. to take place which will only be in a Until now CQC has limited minority of cases. inspections during the pandemic to CQC should share its risk perceived high risk services but that is assessment with the provider before going to change. the inspection, with the service They will start inspecting services sharing its current visiting policy. where they have evidence that care There ought to be a discussion needs to improve which encapsulates either before or at the outset of a far larger number of services. the inspection as to how it will be CQC says it will exercise a balance conducted. between making an accurate For example, if there are Covid-

19 infections on the first floor of a service, the provider might suggest the inspectors do not access that area.

Effective communication will be essential throughout the inspection to ensure risks are managed.

The importance of inspectors following proper infection control procedures is all the more important given that they will not be subject to routine asymptomatic testing on a weekly basis as they do not meet the criteria for such testing.

Consequently, inspectors could have inspected a service with a Covid19 outbreak in the previous 14 days before coming to your service.

One would hope that such a scenario would be considered as part of CQC’s risk assessment.

As a provider you have rights and responsibilities so if you are concerned about any aspects of the proposed inspection you should flag that up with the inspection team and, if necessary, escalate it within CQC. The primary consideration must be the health, safety and well-being of those people you care for, while not forgetting the obligations you owe to your staff as well.

Conclusion Services will need to ensure their audit tools in relation to infection prevention and control are comprehensive and detailed.

While CQC’s latest guidance provides some assistance, it should not be seen as the “alpha and omega” of dealing with infection control as there are some notable omissions.

Ultimately, registered providers and managers are responsible at law for the operation of their services.

That means being active in monitoring and addressing infection control risks in relation to service users, staff and visitors, and also inspectors in terms of how inspections are conducted. n Anne Smith is a management consultant and non-executive director at Brilliant Care Solutions. n Neil Grant is a Partner at Gordons Partnership LLP Solicitors.

Employees trust homecare provider to take right steps HOMECARE provider Bluebird Care recently launched its ‘Carers Survey’ across its franchise network.

The survey was specifically designed to assess the overall wellbeing and opinions of its employees across the UK. It generated almost 1,000 responses across 50 franchises. The respondents were asked a series of questions with the option to also leave written feedback.

The survey revealed that 91 per cent of Bluebird Care employees trust the homecare provider to continue to take the right steps to see them through the Covid-19 pandemic.

88 per cent of respondents felt they were informed about what steps the company had taken throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Additionally, 86 per cent of those surveyed said their approach to work

had been changed to enable them to work safely.

And 89 per cent of office-based respondents said they felt that had been given the right equipment to effectively work from home.

Marketing and communications director Hannah Banfield said: “We conducted our carers survey to help us accurately capture the opinions of employees from across the franchise network.

“Thank you to all our team members who took part in the survey – we value all the feedback we have received.

“We are always looking at different ways we can effectively engage with and reward our employees, who work extremely hard each and every day.

“Covid-19 has been an exceptionally difficult time for

everyone. We have had to very quickly adapt our usual way of working and really step up to ensure some of the most vulnerable people in society – our customers – continue to be well looked after, cared for and remain safe throughout this pandemic.

“We are so incredibly proud of all of our employees. We are hugely grateful to you – your bravery and heroism continues to amaze us all.”

Bluebird Care Rochdale and Bluebird Care Bedford received outstanding feedback from their teams.

All care assistants surveyed at both franchises said they felt informed about the company’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

All respondents agreed that they had enough contact with their managers, and their teams

collaborated effectively.

All the team at Bluebird Care Rochdale said that the company clearly cared about their wellbeing.

Bluebird Care Rochdale held a ceremony via Zoom to celebrate, during which the Mayor of the town presented the team with vouchers to be redeemed at local businesses to thank them for their hard work.

Bluebird Care Bedford is hosting an afternoon tea at Woodland Manor Hotel and Restaurant in the near future.

The management team will be presenting all staff with a gift to say thanks, with an additional gift to those who have been with the company throughout lockdown.

There will also be long service awards and recognition awards for team members nominated by customers.

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