Caring Weekly October 19

Jess contributes to nationwide careers project

THE manager of a specialist dementia care home in Bridgwater has been invited to take part in a research project being organised by The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which aims to improve the public perception of care workers and deliver a boost to employment in the sector.

Jess Hawker, who manages Avalon Nursing Home, said: “I was really pleased to be asked for my views and am more than ready to help this high-profile campaign hopefully raise the profile of the caring profession in the UK.

“I am going to be interviewed for a podcast which will be hosted on the Leaders Council website, and interviewees’ input will also be included in the report which their chair, former Home Secretary and Education Secretary Lord Blunkett, will be presenting to Parliament at a special event in the House of Lords.”

Jess’s interview will include her thoughts on what needs to be done to ease the pressures in the care sector, her own experiences and how to make a career in care an attractive prospect.

She added: “The care sector has been life for 15 years and I passionately believe we should be doing all we can to attract the

best people to consider a career in care. This project looks to be an effective way to do that.

“The researchers say that although care workers from abroad are now able to access ‘skilled work’-based visas, they have spoken with a number of people working in the sector and it seems very few outside the sector are currently considering care as a career.

“They’re hoping this campaign – which they plan to promote via social media, in-person meetings, and letters to relevant figures in Parliament – will change the situation, and that’s why they’re interviewing care leaders from across the country to get our thoughts on various issues.

“Ours is such an important job. Striving every day to support vulnerable people to live their best lives is challenging but so rewarding, and I would dearly love to encourage anyone who thinks they might be interested to consider caring as a career.”

The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland brings together some of the most influential leaders from across the country to ‘celebrate the hard work and achievements of the nation’s unsung leaders, while laying the ground for the next generation.

A 92-year-old Chichester care home resident fulfilled a long-held wish to reach for the sky once again after carers enabled him to take the controls of a flight simulator. Former army officer Robin Bowley ‘flew’ an MK392 Spitfire from Goodwood Aerodrome down over Chichester harbour, across to Selsey and on to Southampton before turning back to base. The simulated flight, arranged by staff at Colten Care’s Wellington Grange care home, delighted Robin who has previous experience of flying light aircraft for real. To round off the visit, the aerodrome’s head of sales Matt Ponsford gave Robin and his daughters a tour of the Spitfire hangar. This enabled Robin to get up close with the five Spitfires kept there and hear detailed accounts of where they had come from, how old they were and who had flown in them.

Residents and students unite for fun day

A PARTNERSHIP between an Edinburgh care home and a local school sees residents and students uniting for a fun day of intergenerational interaction.

Students from Fettes College visited Cramond Residence as volunteers, where they were able to form connections with the residents across various activities taking place on each floor of the home, including arts and crafts, nail painting and gentle exercise classes.

The event was organised as an opportunity for the school and care home to come together and build relationships that are beneficial for both residents and students.

Client liaison manager at Cramond Residence, Christian Daraio, said: “It was an incredible day for everyone involved

and the students put a huge smile on the residents’ faces.

“Connecting with the wider community helps eliminate the feelings of isolation that are common in the older generation.

“These events are important for fostering intergenerational engagement that play such a big role in the positive mental health of our residents. We are looking forward to welcoming the students back for more volunteering at the home.”

Designed to promote independent living and socialisation, the fun day saw residents at the home exchanging vibrant life stories with the students while basking outside in the sun, or indulging in a spot of pampering, painting and games.

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Group’s staff recognised at regional ceremony

STAFF at a St Mellons-headquartered care provider have been praised for their outstanding work at a recent ceremony in Cardiff.

The event, which took place at St Mellons Golf Club in Cardiff, saw 10 head office staff members receive awards, with three selected to proceed to the ‘National Shaw Star Awards’ in November.

Hannah Salter and Jasmine Bird were recognised in the services support category for having a positive impact on colleagues and service users with their kind nature, while Paul DeDuonni received the award for shining star – a selfless, dedicated and committed member of the team who enables colleagues, services, and the company to succeed.

All three staff members have been chosen as finalists for the awards on November 24.

Chief executive officer Russell Brown said: “We’re constantly in awe of the dedication and hard work our staff put into their roles to make our services the best they can be.

“We want staff to feel supported and appreciated throughout their time with us, so it’s great that we have been able to get together to show our appreciation.”

More than 50 head office staff members were also recognised for their long service – reaching a combined total of 716 years of service between them.

Lynne Anderton – who is a member of the finance team – is one of the longest serving staff members and celebrated 36 years dedicated to the company.

She said: “It’s an honour to be recognised for the hard work I have put in over the last 36 years, and I would do it all again without question.

“My time with the company has been great thanks to the team I have worked with along the way; I have made lifelong friends at Shaw.”

Home to showcase its facilities at first open day since pandemic

A CARE home to the north of Edinburgh is hosting an open day for members of the public to visit for the first time in three years.

Visitors will be welcomed to Cramond Residence on October 29 between 9am and 1pm for a viewing of the five-star ensuite bedrooms and to find out more about the care services and range of activities on offer.

As well as showcasing the home itself, the open day will provide the opportunity to meet the team of care and lifestyle staff while also indulging in home made nibbles.

Client liaison manager Christian Daraio said: “The open day will allow visitors to see first-hand what makes Cramond Residence different to other care homes in and around the city.

“These events are great as there is first-hand information available and visitors have the opportunity to ask questions and gain reassurance as well as visit a show room, so that they know exactly what they will be getting.

“If you’re interested in downsizing

Home surprises residents with anniversary meal

TWO love birds at Hepworth House care home in Wakefield were thrilled when they were surprised with a special dinner on their 61st wedding anniversary.

David (86) and Margaret Moore (84) married in 1961 in their home town of Grimsby, after they were introduced by Margaret’s aunt at a social event. The pair said it was ‘love at first sight’.

David and Margaret lived together in Grimsby for 57 years and had one daughter, before relocating to Wakefield four years ago.

David moved into Hepworth House in March and was later joined by wife Margaret, who wanted to be closer to her husband.

When home manager Helen Batty heard about the couple’s upcoming

anniversary she planned a special surprise to help them celebrate.

She said: “It’s important to us that we get to know our residents, encourage them to live full lives, and help them to celebrate these milestones.

“It’s an honour to be able to share these moments with them.

“We wanted to make sure Dave and Margaret had an anniversary to remember. We transformed our Sky Bar into a romantic restaurant, and invited Dave and Margaret’s daughter and her husband along.’

The two couples were treated to a three-course meal cooked by the home’s kitchen team while singer Rebekah Austin serenaded the couples with some classic love songs.

or finding suitable care needs for your loved one, come along and check out the facilities we have to offer – they really need to be seen to be fully appreciated.”

Cramond Residence is a purposebuilt care home created at a cost of £8m and opened in October 2018.

It combines luxury, five-star accommodation with outstanding clinical standards – with places available from £1,950 per week and capacity for up to 74 residents.

Spread across three floors, Cramond Residence adopts a small-group living philosophy.

That means groups of eight rooms form distinct “houses”, where residents are encouraged to eat and socialise together.

This is believed to have played a major role in infection control during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The home also provides a range of activities specially designed to give those living with dementia a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support and relief.

EIighty golfers from across the North of England and Wales headed to Eaton Golf Club and swung into action to raise more than £8,500 for a Cheshire and a Welsh charity. The golf club, in Waverton, Chester, held a charity PGA Pro-Am to raise funds for the Clwyd Special Riding Centre and Save the Family charities. The PGA North Region event’s main sponsor was the Sandstone Care Group, a Warrington-based care home group which has seven sites across the North West, Shropshire and mid Wales. Director Ben Challinor said: “We were delighted to support Eaton Golf Club and their Pro-Am tournament and to help to raise funds for two important local charities. Congratulations go to the winners and well done to all those who took part.” Ben Challinor is pictured with lady captain Derryn Williams.

Lynne Anderton

David and Margaret Moore.

Summer fair raises funds for care home residents

RESIDENTS, families and staff at a Plymouth dementia care home made the most of the late summer sunshine to enjoy their first summer fair since before Covid, and raised £385 for their residents’ fund at the same time to take their total for the year to more than £2,000.

Staff and friends of Butterfly Lodge in St Budeaux organised a wealth of traditional summer fair stalls including hook-a-duck, face-painting, tombola and balloon-modelling, with individually-crafted jewellery items available to buy, and mouth-watering bakes for sale on the cake stall.

Deputy manager Sarah McCaffrey said: “It was a super busy day and a great chance for us to meet some of our neighbouring families and children.

“This delighted our residents who also absolutely loved the hustle and bustle and enjoyed browsing the stalls and being able to buy sweets and other items for themselves.

“We had some great live music, were treated to a delicious cream tea and even a visit from the deputy Lord Mayor.

“The raffle was a great success and

we were blown away by the total amount we raised on the day which will go towards the purchase of a special mobile entertainment unit designed to help the people living with dementia who we support live their best possible lives.”

The high-tech kit will enable residents confined to their rooms to share in activities taking place elsewhere in the home, so everyone can benefit equally from music, singing, reminiscence and other fun activities via live-streaming.

Sarah added: “It’s called a Jolly Trolley and will allow residents to join in with group activities no matter where they may be in our home.

“And they’ll be able to use it for playing video messages from families and friends and for activities like karaoke.

“Huge thanks to all my colleagues who were involved with the summer fair, with a special mention for Kelly Tennant, Paul Hutt, Clare Sinclair, Kirsten Bradbury, Tina Dinham, facepaint dynamo Samantha Wilkinson and chef Karen Worth who all went the extra mile to make this a day to remember.”

Pete celebrates 11 years of service at homecare group

A HIGHLY valued member of the team at Bluebird Care Edinburgh has recently celebrated 11 years of service to people within the community.

Pete Jensen is a pivotal part of the team at the homecare provider, which is regularly rated as ‘Excellent’ by the Care Inspectorate.

He said: “Since starting with Bluebird Care Edinburgh, I have only been a care assistant.

“I love doing this as I am not the sort of person who likes to sit in the office all day, so my preference is to be out in the community helping people less able than myself.

“Many people I have worked with over the past 11 years are always very grateful for the help they receive, as well as the opportunity to stay in the comfort of their own homes.

“This for me is what stands out in my job, when customers say thank you for the help.

“My colleagues have all been a pleasure to work with. Most new care assistants say that I have helped them settle into their new roles, which is great. This can be a very daunting time, when someone goes to a customer for the very first time, so, most of them are glad for a little help and a nudge in the right direction.”

Despite this accomplishment, Pete’s journey in care did not begin until much later in his life.

For more than 35 years he worked as a motor mechanic, which eventually led to him running his own business between 1987 and 1992.

However, it was at this point Pete’s life changed, when he gave up his garage to care for his wife who

had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

This shaped the next 15 years of his life, caring for his wife every day and tending to her needs until she passed away in March 2007.

It was this experience that had a significant impact on the next chapter of his career, eager to continue supporting and caring for others, just like he had done for his wife.

Initially working as a forensic care Assistant with the Scottish Borders Council, Pete went onto work in a day centre in Hawick, before eventually arriving in Edinburgh working for a care agency.

While his last role was unfortunately hit and miss, it subsequently led to him applying for a role at Bluebird Care Edinburgh.

Pete has not looked back since, and is now a crucial part of the team, highly valued by both his customers and colleagues.

He immediately fell in love with his role, inspired by the individuals he cares for and passionate about his role in a positive and purpose driven sector.

CoolCare announces partnership with FlexEarn to help social care with staffing shortage crisis

CoolCare’s leading care home management software will partner with FlexEarn’s on-demand pay service to help care homes attract and retain workers.

Care home administration software company CoolCare, has integrated its time and attendance system with FlexEarn to offer on-demand pay to UK care home workers.

On-demand pay (or ‘earned wage access’) allows workers to withdraw a portion of their salary which has been earned but not yet paid.

Available now, the free integration with CoolCare allows workers with the FlexEarn app to view their wages accrued from completed shifts and withdraw a portion to their bank account immediately.

There is no extra charge for employers to use FlexEarn’s service, and employees pay a low flat-fee per withdrawal of £1.50, which some employers may choose to fund themselves.

Setup is easy and can be done in as little as half-an-hour.

Fiona Hale, managing director of CoolCare, said: “CoolCare’s offering is

all about making things easier for care homes – and that extends to their employees too.

“Our integration with FlexEarn comes at a critical time for the care sector. Care staff are dedicated to what they do but, as the cost-of-living crisis bites, the mid-month squeeze is playing an even greater role in their career decisions.

“On demand pay offers a novel way to run payroll to help overcome this, alleviating some of the financial stresses playing on staff members’ minds.

“This, in turn, drives recruitment and retention improvements for our care home customers by showing their greater understanding of staff needs and creating a more positive employee experience.”

The extra transparency and flexibility provided will allow care home workers to budget and manage expenses more easily at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is affecting

households across the UK.

Jonathan David, founder and CEO of FlexEarn, added: “In CoolCare, we have found a partner with a deep understanding of care home businesses.

“FlexEarn’s speciality in the sector allows us to create a uniquely seamless integration between the two products.

“At a time when the care sector is facing increased pressure as we head into winter, we hope this offering can provide some assistance to businesses and their employees.

“The care sector has embraced on-demand pay like no other, and we look forward to harnessing our partnership with CoolCare to continue to shore up the financial resilience of care workers.”

Care home companies can sign up to the combined offering through the FlexEarn or CoolCare websites or by speaking to their Customer Success Manager.

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Pete Jensen

New free home guide celebrates veganism and vegetarianism

0NATIONAL Activity Providers Association and Vegetarian for Life have announced a new partnership, beginning with the release of a special activity resource to celebrate Vegetarian Month this October as well as World Vegan Month this November.

Entitled ‘Celebrating Vegetarianism and Veganism’ the 27-page resource explores ways to support the wellbeing of vegetarians and vegans using care services, and provides top tips to support the practice of activity providers.

Amanda Woodvine, chief executive of Vegetarian for Life, said: “Celebrating vegetarianism and veganism is packed with inspiring ideas to help your planning and is a lovely way to make vegan or vegetarian residents feel included and to celebrate their lifestyle choice.

“You’ll find hundreds more recipes on Vegetarian for Life’s website, along with many other useful publications, from Veganising classic dishes through to nutrition.

“And if this resource has breathed new life into your work, you could sign up for further training with us, or even funding to run a bespoke activity.”

Research suggests that the number of residents following a vegan diet in UK residential care homes has risen by 167 per cent since 2014. There are one or more vegetarians or vegans living in one in every five UK care homes.

The rapid rise in vegan residents in particular has sparked NAPA and VfL to urge care facilities to be prepared if a vegan resident moves into the care setting – and this is exactly where the new resource comes in.

Packed with food-inspired activities, ‘Celebrating Vegetarianism and Vegan’ has inspiring suggestions for art, gardening, cooking, and more.

Hilary Woodhead, executive director

at NAPA, added: “NAPA encourages an inclusive approach to activity and engagement. We support activity providers to develop their knowledge and skills in recognising difference and planning activities that are meaningful for every individual they support.

“This resource shares best practice and activity ideas related to providing activities for veg*ns (vegetarians and vegans); we hope it will support activity providers in raising awareness about the specific considerations required to ensure an inclusive approach.

“Over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of people adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. For many people this goes far beyond diet, it’s a way of life.

“It is important, therefore, that activity providers have the necessary information to support them in developing individual activity plans which meet the needs of a diverse group of people.”

Badge presentation for Army veteran Terry

MEMBERS from Westerham Army cadets along with a representative from the Royal Tank Association surprised a Westerham Place resident with a veteran badge and plaque for the home.

Former soldier Terry Brown, a resident of Westerham Place, was delighted with the surprise visit and wore a uniform to match his guests.

During the event cadets marched around the home’s grounds for residents, who enjoyed a buffet lunch whilst listening to the sounds of wartime music.

Isobel Brookes, senior carer at Westerham Place said: “It’s always

great to have members of the local community visit our home and spend the day with our residents.

“Terry is always talking about his time in the army, so it was great to see him chatting to cadets, reminiscing about his experiences.”

After joining the army at 17, Terry was disappointed to not be called for active service during the Second World War.

Despite this, Terry served in India during the partition after completing his training in Catterick.

Terry, who has had a fulfilling life, started work in plastics technology and lived in Germany for a while.

Fun for all the family as team visits care home

CARE South’s Alexandra House care home in Parkstone opened its home for a special family fun day with the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team.

Residents welcomed lots of family members and friends, including many of their children and grandchildren for a fun day of sports in the garden.

Everyone took part in footballthemed activities including football skittles, football skills tests and throwing competitions. Many of the children donned AFC Bournemouth kits, and the team rewarded those attending with lots of goodies, including branded scarves, football shirts and clocks.

Lauren Taylor, home manager at Alexandra House, said: “It was such a great day, which residents in our care loved. Seeing all their family members enjoying themselves, and particularly

seeing their grandchildren and great grandchildren running around and having so much fun really meant the world to residents.

“For us, it’s always about trying to enrich residents lives and days like this are just so enjoyable for everyone, and really help build lasting memories for residents in our care, which is really rewarding for our team.”

The visit from the community sports team was thanks to the ongoing partnership between AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and Care South, which began in 2014.

The partnership allows residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a variety of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium.

Residents of Watling Court Extra Care Housing Scheme in Gravesend made the most of their sunny courtyard with an evening of mingling and munching. Making the most of the warm, but not too warm, climate, the residents gathered in the garden, where staff had laid on fresh fruit platters and chilled bottles of wine. The residents nattered away with one another as the evening passed and the sun set, keeping the heat at bay with the fresh fruit and a cheeky glass of wine or two. Housing officer Helen Idle said: “Our residents work hard to keep the garden ship shape, so it’s lovely for us all to get out and enjoy it and socialise together, particularly whilst the weather is so nice. Autumn will be here in no time at all so we’re making the most of the warm evenings while they last.”