Caring UK (June 09 Issue)

June 2009

incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector

no.157 • £4.75 In association with

Inspectorate challenged by owners

By Dominic Musgrave FRUSTRATED owners are challenging the Care Quality Commission to meet with them and explain some of their ‘bizarre’ inspection reports.

Caring UK has been inundated with calls from operators since a story last month which told how one angry operator took legal action to overturn an ‘adequate’ rating on his home.

Now operators are demanding more consistency from the CQC – and more explanation about how inspectors decide their star ratings which can cost homes thousands of pounds a year.

Caring UK spoke to one owner whose home achieved exactly the same grades in the seven areas of inspection as another home down the road.

And while John Corney’s Dorset home Thistlegate House only got an adequate rating, his rival was rated ‘good’.

He said: “This shows that there is a clear flaw in the system.”

And many have admitted they are now too scared of tackling the inspectorate, leaving them with no choice but to accept a damning inspection report.

David Seal also contacted us after his Wirral home was only given an ‘adequate’ rating.

He said: “Inspections tend not to pay any attention at all to the quality of care being provided to the residents, and are more focussed on the fabric of the building and whether paperwork is up to date.”

And Jenny Jobbins, who has run a home in Chippenham for 20 years added: “I would like to know what is going to change with the CQC – other than the name?

“I am happy to receive constructive criticism, but there is no way that I am only providing ‘adequate’ care here. I want to know when they are going to listen to the views of the residents and their relatives.”

A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission appeared reluctant to agree to a meeting with operators – brokered by Caring UK – to discuss their concerns, insisting there were ‘official lines’ they could go down.

But editor Dominic Musgrave added: “As the leading magazine in the sector we have a right to ask the commission to meet with these operators to discuss their problems with them.”

Would you like to discuss your problems with the inspectorate? If so let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

Ministers pay back expenses

Prince William visited an Oxfordshire care home to surprise one of its residents.

109-year-old Catherine Masters’ dream was to meet a member of the royal family, and after trying unsuccessfully on numerous occasions to arrange something, it was finally sorted after Grange Care Centre senior nurse manager Wendy Mead wrote to local MP Ed Vaizey.

She has also been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace on July 7.

CARE services minister Phil Hope has promised to pay back the £41,709 he claimed in taxpayer-funded expenses.

The MP for Corby and East Northants’ took over the role from Ivan Lewis last year, and was one of many MPs who was hit with damaging revelations about their use of public money.

His announcement is the largest single payment that any MP has agreed to pay back The Daily Telegraph unveiled in-depth details of the expenses on his second home in London.

These included a bathroom, two bookcases, a coffee table, some saucepans and a barbecue.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley, MP for South Cambridgeshire, was also caught up in the scandal, and promised to pay back £2,600 he claimed for renovation work at his country home.

Caring UK contacted both MPs’ offices, but neither was available for comment.

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Sylvie’s delight at top award honour

By Dominic Musgrave THE director of an association which provides activities for older people in care homes has been recognised with a top national award.

Sylvie Silver was named Daily Mail's Inspirational Woman Of The Year at a star-studded gala dinner at the Grovesnor Square in London in recognition of the work she has done with the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA), as well as her work with the Air Cadets in her voluntary role as wing commander of the London Air Training Corps.

She was nominated for the award by her colleague Sally Knocker, whom she also met Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah with when visiting 10 Downing Street for a reception for the finalists.

Sylvie told Caring UK the first she knew anything about the award was when a reporter phoned her to tell her she was one of the five finalists.

She added: “It has been an amazing few weeks, and I cannot believe what

has happened. I knew nothing about being nominated for the award until Sally told me I should take a phone call and it turned out to be a reporter from the newspaper.

“She had spoken to my husband and had put together a 400-word nomination for me with the help of my husband.

“I was then asked to take part in a four-minute video about my work which would also go to the judges.

“When they announced I had won I didn’t believe it as I had told myself I had a four out of five chance of not winning.

“My husband said I had better go up and get my prize and when I was walking to the stage it felt like an out of body experience.”

Celebrities attending the event included Natasha Kaplinsky, Rachel Stevens, Claudia Winkleman and Dame Helen Mirren, who was Sylvie’s host for the evening.

Sylvie’s prize was £5,000 to spend on a holiday, and she says she plans to take her family on a safari of Kenya next year.

www.caring-uk.co.uk Advertising Sales and Marketing Director: Tony Barry Sales Manager: Jackie Brook National Sales Executive: Mandy Edwards Rachel Collins Tel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734477

Publishers Wharncliffe Publishing Ltd. 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS. Email: info@caring-uk.co.uk

Editorial Group Editor: Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478 Healthcare Editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 Reporters: Christina Eccles Mary Ferguson Louise Cordell Group Deputy Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734458

Sylvie Silver

Database enquiries to Tel: 01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@ wharncliffepublishing.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur.

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Lochbroom House in Wester Ross

It was a dog’s life for Tilly the longhaired Chihuahua and Max the golden retriever when they visited a Kent care home as part of National Pet Month.

They visited Canford Healthcare’s Barty House Nursing Home in Bearsted as part of the event, which was held to make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and

people for pets. Tilly belongs to Barty’s activities coordinator Brenda Clayton and Max, a puppy, was brought in by manager Jacqui Butler.

She said: “The residents just love to see them. They bring something to the home that no other visitor can.

It’s a highlight for all of us.”

Pictured: Resident Peggy Simmonds with Tilly

Police probe major blaze at Scottish home

By Dominic Musgrave POLICE are investigating a fire which badly damaged a Scottish care home just days before it was due to reopen following a major refurbishment.

The blaze at the empty Lochbroom House in Wester Ross caused major damage to the roof, first and ground floors just hours before staff were due to start moving personal belongings back in.

The Highland Council run home had been closed since last summer for a £1.2m refit which included the installation of a new lift, upgrading of all 10 rooms, a new heating system and improved access for wheelchairs.

Senior investigating officer, DI Kenny Anderson, said: “We are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen anyone hanging around the premises.

“They should contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Councillor Margaret Davidson, chairman of the housing and social work committee, said the staff and six residents, would continue to live at a local hotel until they were able to

move back into the home.

She added: “It is a huge relief that no one was in there, especially as the staff were due to be starting putting things back in the home in preparation for the residents to return within the next few days.

“It had taken the best part of a year to get to where we were, and it is such a great shame that this has happened.

“The police and fire service are investigating, and their findings will be released in due course. Once they have finished we will sit down as a council and decide how we get the home open again."

A spokesman for the Highlands and Islands Fire Service added: “Four appliances and the hydraulic platform and 24 personnel were in attendance and were involved in fighting the fire using two jets, two hose reel jets and two BA teams and thermal imaging camera.

“The hydraulic platform from Inverness was also used to ensure the building was safe fro crews to work in.

“The police are now treating this fire as being suspicious in origin.”

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CARINGNEWS

Loss-making care home may close amid difficulties over fees

By Dominic Musgrave THE head of a care group says it is considering closing one of its homes due to difficulties in securing the necessary fee levels required to run it.

Helen Joy, CEO of Brunelcare, which runs six homes in the south west, says the group are speaking with residents and their relatives about the possible closure of Beverley Cottage in Burnham-onSea, which can accommodate 19 residents, though a final decision has not yet been made.

She also told Caring UK that a combination of local competition and the Government’s initiative to keep people in their own homes for longer were also contributing factors.

Helen added: “We are speaking with all concerned parties about the situation at Beverley Cottage at the moment, but the home is losing a lot of money.

“The scenario we face is similar to that which a lot of owners of older homes will face. The CQC standards are increasing, as are customers’

Helen Joy requirements, and we are finding it difficult to make the home work.

“People’s expectations of building designs are changing, and those looking to move into the home are much more dependent and are bringing with them much more equipment, meaning rooms have to be bigger in the first instance yet still feel homely and not like a hospital.”

Helen said the company is now turning its attention away from more

traditional homes and is looking to building more specialist dementia units as well as purpose-built homes with accommodation for those who want to remain independent around it.

She added: “We are always reviewing our homes, particularly in these challenging economic times. We are looking to expanding our care homes with more specialist units, as well as looking to build new care homes with other forms of older people’s accommodation.

“The elderly have a lot more choice than they used to. Gone are the days when people would sit around the edges of the room and watch television all day. We are changing our homes so they include a lot more lounge areas with kitchenettes for residents to get a glass of milk or make a sandwich then they can do so.

“We would certainly only buy more modern care homes in future. There is always a place for the more traditional home, but I think they will be run by small operators with just one or two facilities in years to come.”

Norman receives one of his retirement gifts from chief executive Andrew Larpent

Director retires A NON-EXECUTIVE director has retired from the Somerset Care Group after nine years on the board.

Norman Campbell OBE will be replaced by Richard Barnfield, a non-executive director of the group’s subsidiary company Acacia Training and Development Ltd since 2003.

Chief executive Andrew Larpent said: “I would like to thank Norman for the contribution he has made to the Somerset Care Group over the past nine years. His immense business experience has been invaluable to us, and we will keep in touch to let him know how the company is developing.”

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Owners must maintain standards to beat recession

By Dominic Musgrave CARE home owners must ensure they maintain their high standards to beat the recession, it has been claimed.

Brian Potter, marketing director at Consortium Care, who recently launched a survey into how care homes were coping in the current financial climate, told Caring UK that few people would consider second best when considering care, even in a recession.

He added: “The bottom line is that care home operators must continue to provide the best level of service they can, and at the end of the day when prospective residents and their relatives visit homes it is generally the one that offers the best level of service that will be chosen.

“Many of the industry’s leading lights are predicting that the businesses most likely to survive the recession will be those who place their emphasis on providing a high level of service to their customers, rather than those that go for the cutprice option.”

Brian said that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents to the survey said they were re-assessing how their businesses were run and considering how to cut their costs.

He added: “Two of the areas where homes may look at making saving is in their food and energy bills. Menus

Activities co-ordinator Hayley Jones and manager Gary Dodd with a resident.

Residents set up pen pal scheme

Brian Potter and diets are very important, but maybe offering a little less choice and making more block buying would be a way of saving money.

“I don’t think care home operators think enough about their energy bills keeping wastage to a minimum. They should perhaps look at creating their own hot water, installing more insulation or perhaps putting up solar panels for the heating.”

Have you made any changes at your home to cope with the recession? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing 01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

Home takes crisp challenge A NORFOLK dementia care home has taken up a challenge set by a leading brand of crisps as part of its sensory stimulation and reminiscence sessions for residents Residents of St. Leonard’s Court in Mundford taste tested the six new Walkers Crisps flavours as part of the home’s scheme to encourage self expression amongst residents.

Onion bhaji came out on top in the test, with the other flavours including cajun squirrel, crispy duck and

hoisin, builders’ breakfast, fish and chips and chilli and chocolate.

Activities assistant Nadine Forde said: “Sensory stimulation can assist some of the challenges they face in day-to-day living, but it also promotes and encourages self expression.

“Residents and staff reminisced about the crisps they ate during their childhoods. A couple even remembered Walkers crisps becoming popular after the war.”

RESIDENTS at a care home in Winsford are putting pen to paper to help launch a new pen pal programme.

The idea behind the programme is to help residents form new friendships, share hobbies and passions and exchange photographs and memories.

Gill Capner, home manager at Hallmark Healthcare’s Westwood Court told Caring UK she came up with the idea to help stimulate communication and correspondence between residents.

She added: “Everyone enjoys receiving a letter, and we feel this is a really good way to create our own set of pen pals.”

“A few residents are becoming pen

pals initially and we really hope it works out so that others are encouraged to take part over time. So far everyone seems to be very enthusiastic about the idea.”

Westwood Court care home has twinned with Broughton Hall care home in Wrexham, where Gary Dodd is the home manager.

He said they plan to arrange outings for the pen pals to enable them to meet and interact on a more personal basis.

“My residents have been really excited about the idea of having a pen pal. It’s something they all understand the concept of, even if they haven’t actually had a pen pal for some time.”

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CARINGNEWS

‘Auctions should be banned’

By Dominic Musgrave ONLINE auctions where contracts to care for elderly people are given to the lowest bidder should be banned, according to the head of an association.

Mario Kreft, chief executive of Care Forum Wales, has called the practice which was exposed in the BBC Panorama programme ‘Britain’s Homecare Scandal’ “immoral”.

He told Caring UK it has rekindled the debate about the quality of domiciliary care and, in particular, the squeeze on funding to provide care for people in their own homes.

He added: “It results in human beings being traded like cattle at an auction – it’s tantamount to saying that that people have a cost but no value.

“While we need good social care workers and social care providers, the people responsible for commissioning services must not be allowed to cut the cost of purchasing social care without regard to its quality.

“This does not only apply to domiciliary care but all social care services provided to vulnerable people.

“Neither the public nor independent providers should be complacent for one moment.

His comments follow an announcement by Holyrood's Local Government Committee that it will be looking into the practice which which is used by local authorities including South Lanarkshire, which featured on the programme, to drive down costs.

In the Scottish example shown by Panorama, the bids went down by 5p at a time and the successful contractor offered an hourly rate of £9.95.

Operator claims pay deal will leave him £10k worse off

By Mary Ferguson A NORFOLK care home operator says he will be left around £10,000 out of pocket after the county council brought in a new performance related pay deal based on the quality of care they offer.

Bharat Raghu, who runs East Anglia Care Homes Limited, says he decided not to appeal after one of his two homes – Halvergate House – only received a one star rating from the inspectorate last June.

He told Caring UK that it would have had a 'good' grading had it not been for a misunderstanding over the management of medication at the home.

Under the new performance related pay, an ‘adequate’ home would receive one per cent or £4 extra per

week, a two star home two per cent and an ‘excellent’ home £12. Those homes with no stars would not get a rise, although a £150,000 has been put aside which the worst performers can bid for a slice of.

Bharat added: “At the time we didn't bother going ahead with a judicial review because it would have cost us a lot of money. We didn't think it mattered that much because it wouldn't affect the fees we received from the council, and our local social services told us that people don't pay that much attention to the report and were more interested in the quality of care than what it says.

“They also told us that they ignore the report and tell anybody considering moving into a home should go and have a look at it for themselves.”

Bharat said that had the new scheme been in place when he received his rating he would have been left with no choice but to take further action.

He added: “Had the situation been in place last year we would have been left with no choice but to have considered a legal challenge.

“I don't have a problem with the council bringing in a system based on the quality of the home, but not appealing is going to cost me in the region of £10,000 on my 50-bed home.

“Mistakes wouldn't be made in a perfect world, but we have to accept that these things do happen.

Unfortunately CSCI has made the mistake and there is nothing I can do about it now.”

Charlie opens home

Charlie Dimmock officially opened the new home in Wexham

CELEBRITY gardener Charlie Dimmock officially opened a new Care UK care home in Wexham.

Local MP Fiona Mactaggart also unveiled a plaque dedicating the home to the care of older people in Slough and surrounding areas.

Oak House, a joint venture between Slough Borough Council and Care UK, is a newly built home providing residential and nursing care.

The home’s landscaped gardens have been specially designed to attract local wildlife, featuring hedgehog cabins, bird boxes and a pond, as well as small allotment areas for keen residents to continue gardening.

Charlie added: “Allotments are in high demand all over the UK so it’s great that residents will be able to jump the queue and get gardening right here in the new home.”

Dianne to take on Great Wall of China challenge A WISBECH care home manager is going to walk the Great Wall of China for a dementia charity in October after being challenged to do it by her boss.

Dianne Morton, who runs Barchester’s Hickathrift House care home, will do the trek in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society with her regional operations director Barry Healey after they agreed to sign up for it at a conference last year.

The pair are halfway to raising the £6,000 required for the trip, with their latest fundraising event - a medieval day featuring re-enactments from a touring group - raising £1,000.

Dianne said: “We had chickens and ducks roaming around, and also held traditional games for the residents and everybody who visited such as splat the rat, a coconut shy, throwing horsehoes and stocks.

“We all dressed up in medieval dress and at night held a ball, which included an auction of some things that had been

donated by local companies.”

Dianne said she chose the charity because it is close to her heart, and is busy training for the trip.

She added: "We have a 24-bed EMI unit which cares for people with dementia and it is a topic that I am very passionate about. The charity also funded a lot of my dementia care training and I feel it is time to give something back.

“I do a lot of walking and trekking anyway, and the last big thing I did was climbing Ben Nevis. But I'm in the gym three times a week doing a lot of cardiovascular work and weights in preparation for it.

“I know it is going to be tough but I am determined that I am going to do it.”

Her next fundraising event is a Caribbean evening where visitors can drop in and try out some food.

To donate to the cause visit www.justgiving-diannemorton.com

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From befriending residents to helping with the housekeeping, care homes are realising how volunteers can help them. But what do they need to consider? Mary Ferguson reports.

If at first you don’t succeed ...

RESIDENTS at care home Burman House have been benefiting from volunteers since 2007 but operators had to experiment to find out what worked for them.

The home, owned by Norfolk County Council, was contacted by CSV in 2007 and decided to invite a group of adults with learning difficulties to help deliver their weekly bingo sessions.

But the residents – all over 85 – didn’t react well to the changes and manager Ann Baker said they couldn’t cope with the strong personalities of the volunteers.

She said: “Before the volunteers came we had the carers hosting the bingo mornings and the residents don’t like change.

The volunteers were too loud and it upset them that their regular hosts were gone so we decided it just wasn’t working.”

After discussing other ways that volunteers could benefit the home, Burman House decided to take on a single volunteer to help with housekeeping duties and socialise with the residents.

Angela Cowling came into the home one day a week for a year to help set the tables, do some washing up and laundry, and take tea and biscuits to the residents.

“She interacted with them well and became very much part of the team.

“She made a real impact and the other staff treated her as an equal, which was important.”

Volunteers can boost residents’ self-esteem

Volunteers can raise a resident’s self esteem BRINGING someone in from the outside community to help out for free brings both benefits and responsibilities to operators, who need to make sure they have thought things through.

Jemma Mindham of national agency Community Service Volunteers (CSV) manages projects in a number of care homes. She said: “We don’t want to be replacing staff roles, it’s about volunteers going in and doing something the staff can’t do because they don’t have the time.

“They provide a social outlet for residents, who get the chance to hear about what’s going on in the community and have someone to discuss the soaps with. The residents know the person is there because they want to be – not because they are getting paid – and that’s invaluable in terms of increasing their self esteem and respect for themselves.”

Jemma said that if care homes want to make the most of volunteers, they need to be more pro-active.

“We have never been approached by

Jemma Mindham a home, it’s always been us contacting them. The first thing a home needs to do is put a volunteer policy in place, proving they have given thought to the value of having volunteers in the home.

“But they also need to show they have thought about what the home can offer the volunteer, as it’s a two way thing. Will they need training?

How will their expenses be covered?

Things have to be written down and we will only place someone in a home if we have seen this.”

Once a volunteering policy in place, Jemma suggested the best way of recruiting people is through a local volunteer bureau.

“There’s no harm in putting up posters or notices around the community but a bureau will be able to get to know your business and select someone appropriate. Also, if a private care home is seen advertising for volunteers on posters, it may be perceived that they are simply touting for free labour.

“Volunteering within private

residential homes will always be harder to set up than within local authority run homes as they are not 'not for profit' which is not the traditional area for volunteering. If private homes wish to involve volunteers, they must not be making a profit from them being there.”

Jemma added that another effective way of gaining volunteers is to target visiting relatives, who may be able to give up some extra time while they are there. Most homes require volunteers to have a CRB check, but it’s unreasonable to expect the individual to pay for this themselves.

She added: “We turned a care home down recently because their volunteer policy stated they would not fund a CRB check. We felt that was totally inappropriate – a volunteer should never end up out of pocket.”

Do you use volunteers in your home? How well does it work? Let us know by writing to Mary Ferguson at Caring UK, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS or email mf@whpl.net

Volunteers bid to give Doncaster homes a Wii present IN Doncaster, a group of young volunteers are hoping to raise enough money to buy Nintendo Wii consoles for four care homes in the area.

The ‘Vinspired’ project is run and managed

by CSV and the youngsters, aged 16 to 25, initially targeted St. Mary’s nursing home, with groups of four visiting once a week to talk to residents and find out how they could help them.

Craig Johnson, youth volunteering development manager, accompanies the volunteers when they visit the home. He said: “The volunteers came up with the idea of the Wii after seeing something on the news about how the consoles were helping a

rehabilitation unit.

“When we first went into the home the residents were all sitting around watching TV and although there was a timetable of activities on the wall, we wanted to get them involved in something different. Through the young people talking to the residents it also helps them change their perceptions of young people and in turn help the youngsters be more understanding of the elderly.”

Once the Wii has been installed, the volunteers, pictured left,will visit the homes once a week for two months, to play games with the residents and make sure they get the most from it.

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CARINGHOMECALL

Summer fete at the home

Menus are changing at one Whitby care home, with the traditional meat and veg being replaced with more pasta and spicy dishes. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Tasty menu curries favour with residents PEREGRINE House manager Alison Bedford says that one of the biggest changes she has seen at the home during her 10 years in charge has been the attitude towards mealtimes.

And it is one of the key topics that is always discussed at the residents’ meetings that are held at the home.

She told Caring UK that food is one of the most important parts of the day.

“At every meeting we have, we ask the residents if they are happy with the menu or anything they would like to see on there.

“We work on an eight-week cycle, and there has certainly been a shift in recent years from the more traditional food to more curries, chilli and pasta.

“Residents get a choice of three main meals anyway, so we like to think that there is something on there to suit all tastes.

“We take things for granted in our own homes, but sometimes we might have a resident say something like that they haven’t had sweetcorn for ages, so we will get some for them.”

Alison says that an increasing number of new admissions to the three-star home, which has 25 residents, are people suffering from dementia and are requiring more care than before.

She added: “We are doing an

increasing amount of specialist dementia training with the staff to deal with increasing number of cases.

“People that are coming to us are getting older and older, and we are trying to make sure that we can deal with their challenging behaviours and various scales of illness.”

The home also has a wide and varied activities programme of events to keep the residents busy, and is planning to turn part of the grounds into a vegetable patch for the residents to grow their own vegetables.

Alison said: “One of the discussions at a recent residents’ meeting was about them getting more involved in the gardens.

“We are planning to put a couple of raised beds in for those who want to do some planting, and are also looking at getting a greenhouse so they can grow things like tomatoes.

“We also have a lady who comes in and does a wide range of things with the residents.

“They make everything from jewellery and rugs to decorating plates and designing mosaics.

“At the end of each month we also have a themed evening, and recently they have included Chinese and Indian events.”

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CARINGNEWS

A refuse lorry rolled down the drive damaging the front of the home.

Olympic bronze medallist swimmer Jo Jackson cut the ribbon to officially open a new healthy living centre at a retirement village in Darlington.

The 400m freestyle world record holder opened the £500,000 Middleton Spa at Middleton Hal Retirement Village before being challenged by several of the residents to a race in the pool.

She said: “It is very important to keep fit and mobile whatever your age and swimming is the ideal sport for

anyone. Unlike other athletes swimmers rarely get serious injuries making it a fantastic way to exercise.

“The apartment I looked round was much bigger than the one I’ve just bought in Loughborough and I also liked the look of the bar.”

As well as the pool, the facility also has a jacuzzi, fully-equipped gym and three therapy rooms.

Pictured: Jo Jackson enjoys a dip in the pool with residents.

Staff carry on caring after home closes

By Louise Cordell THE owner of a care home which was forced to close at short notice was faced with the headache of finding new homes for her residents.

Social services in Halifax helped owner Beverley Kneafsey to relocate the 18 residents from Valley View to seven other care homes in the area after the hand brake on a refuse lorry failed and it rolled down the drive and destroyed the front of the home.

Three have since died, but Beverley told Caring UK that her staff have visited all of the residents daily, while her senior manager has been in regular contact with the other homes’ owners and managers, She said: “It has been a traumatic and emotional time for everybody.

The staff have sat with the residents at the other homes every day and have take part in activities with them to make sure they are ok. They are also taking out those who are able to leave the homes “They have also visited residents when they have required to go into hospital. They are not allowed to get involved with the care side of things,

but they have been there for other things.

“It has been a stressful time for all of us. For me personally I have owned this home for 11 years so it has been traumatic along the way, particularly when I have heard that the residents have been poorly.”

Beverley says the accident has enabled her to renovate the whole home and not just the areas damaged by the accident, and that she is hoping to phase residents back over the next few weeks.

She added: “We have had the usual hiccups along the way that you have to have, but all in all it has gone really well and we cannot wait to welcome the residents back.

“I think what has happened will hit us when all the residents are back and we realise that three of them are not sat in their chairs or in their rooms.

“Naturally I was worried that not all of the residents would want to return to the home, but thankfully all have said they do apart from one, whose family we are speaking to at the moment.”

Mayor Chris Jones with the three winners of the enjoying watercolours category: Pam Rowland, Maureen King and Eve Stuart and home manager Jodie Wright.

Residents’ brush with success A GLOUCESTERSHIRE care home dusted down its easels and hosted an art week for its residents.

They were able to try their hand at photography, watercolour painting and card making as part of the event held at Mill House care home in Chipping Campden, with the town’s mayor judging their work and

presenting prizes.

Home manager Jodie Wright said: “All of the residents have really loved the event and have really got involved in the classes and workshops.

“Some of the residents who rarely join in activities have done some great pieces of work.”

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CARINGNEWS Two former nurses have turned the fortunes of a failing Sussex care home around. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Hard work and TLC turns home around WHEN Carol Robinson and Mandy Dade took over Elizabeth Court Rest Home in 2002 it was on the brink of being closed down by the inspectorate.

Seven years later the home has a ‘good’ rating but Carol says she doesn’t feel that the team has had the credit it deserves because of a lack of continuity in inspectors.

She said: “We have had five inspectors in the last seven years, so nobody has been able to see the changes that we made from when we first bought the home.

“If our first inspector was to come back to see us they would see what we have achieved, but unfortunately they tend to come to and pick on something that we haven’t got up to scratch.”

Carol and Mandy worked as nurses at a care home in Croydon, but decided to purchase their own because they believed they could offer a better quality of care than where they were.

Carol added: “When we first bought the home the first thing I remember was some of the staff came up to me and said ’Thank God you are here because we can now take home our own crockery’. They were using their own plates and bowls for the residents to eat off and that was the first thing we had to purchase.

“Since then we have changed pretty

much all of the furniture and have worked our way through the home a room at a time.

“There was also a very regimented feel about the home when we came here. The residents were all up at six to get dressed and ready for breakfast, whereas now they can do what they want and get up when it suits them.”

However, Carol said that had she known how much maintenance work would be required to keep the 400-year-old building running she would have probably brought somewhere else.

She added: “We had to pay more than £40,000 just to get the electrical system up to scratch, and there is always something that needs doing on a building of this age.

“Had I known then what I know now I would have probably got a job elsewhere.

We were both very naive and I have had to learn so much about business since taking over as manager.

“We have a job on our hands just to keep the home going. Because we were so highly financed when we bought the home it is vital that we keep the occupancy levels as high as we possibly can, but thankfully we have a good relationship with social services and 75 per cent of our 23 residents come from them.”

The owners of Elizabeth Court Rest Home have a very relaxed policy when it comes to keeping animals.

Two of the residents have cats and one has a budgie, while both Mandy and Carol regularly bring their own dogs to the home.

There is also a pond of goldfish and four chickens roaming around and supplying the chef fresh eggs each morning.

Carol added: “The residents love the animals and tell us that they remind them of their own homes, particularly when the dogs bark when the door bell rings.

“One of our residents has been put in charge of the chickens so he goes out each day and lets them out, collects the eggs, feeds them and puts them away at night. He loves them to bits.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on here is the food and the chef was here for the previous owners as well. All of the meat and vegetables are fresh, and last year a proportion of it came from a small allotment that we created in the

gardens.”

The home also has an extensive activities programme, which includes music and exercise sessions as well as regular visits from a variety of entertainers.

17

CARINGNEWS

Troubleshooting boss takes on failing home THE owner of a troubleshooting company has taken over the running of a care home which went from being one of the best in Cumbria to one of the worst in just five years.

Julie Wright from Wright Care Homes Solutions has taken over the day-to-day running of Croftfield in Carlisle after owner Stuart Coulthard, who ran the home with his wife Mandy for 11 years, became so disillusioned after getting a zero rating from CSCI that he considered selling up.

He told Caring UK that he will con-

tinue to own the home, but will concentrate on the maintenance of the building.

He added: “After receiving the report I thought there were so many mistakes that I didn’t know what to do, so I eventually decided to speak to Julie.

“She was so impressed with the place that she has decided to lease it off us, which suits me perfectly. I am so fed up with the regulator so will look after the building and maintenance, while she will look after the care.

“I am also considering asking the solicitor who has drawn up the contract lease to look into putting together a legal case for me against what was CSCI. They seem hell bent on putting me down so I want to do the same to them, and am happy to pay whatever it takes to do so.”

The report was particularly damning of the home’s management procedure, complaints and protection policies and daily life and social activities.

Julie said that owning a care home was a natural progression for the

company which offers staff training as well assisting care homes in improving and raising standards.

She added: “We came across the home by accident after somebody gave me Stuart’s number and said I should have a chat with him about a few issues. I fell in love with the home as soon as I saw it. It is a beautiful home, and there is no question about the care being delivered.

“There are a few things which need to be brought into line with the way the CQC wants them, and we are working on these at the moment.”

Residents’ talents recognised at first awards ceremony THE Healthcare Homes Group has recognised the hard work of its residents and staff by holding an inaugural talent awards ceremony.

Directors met up with those who took part in the ‘Healthcare Homes Has Talent’ competition at prize ceremonies held at the seven winning homes in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Chief executive of Healthcare Homes Richard Clough presents the winning trophy for most original’ project to Uvedale Hall. Activities co-ordinator Jeanetta Darrah and manager Sally Chilvers. Residents at the care home knitted warm jumpers for featherless battery chickens who had been rescued by the Battery Hen Welfare Trust

The event included everything from knitted jumpers for battery chickens to CDs of songs, from poetry renditions to stage musicals.

Regional activities co-ordinator and

competition organiser Nadine Forde said: “The event encouraged teamwork and a sense of belonging, with care homes in the group forging stronger ties with each other and staff getting to know one other better.

“Our residents were able to demonstrate their skills, taking part in activities that struck a particular chord with them or that they enjoyed before they came to live with us.

The talent competition certainly provided lots of opportunities to strike up new friendships and have a good laugh.”

18

CARINGNEWS

Life’s ‘suite’ for husband and wife operator

By Mary Ferguson

New residents were welcomed with a hen party

Egg-citing times for residents at Bromsgrove care home RESIDENTS and staff at a specialist dementia care home held a hen party with a difference to welcome some new residents.

Manager Karen Hancox came up with the idea to have four chickens at Regents Court Care Home in Bromsgrove as an activity for the residents.

They and the staff also raised money through various fundraising activities to purchase a hutch for the animals.

Karen said: “Being part of a farming community I thought bringing the chickens to the home would remind a lot of the residents of their past. We

have one resident who used to be a farmer, and looking after the hens and collecting the eggs every day has made him worthy.

“I came up with the idea as we were discussing animal therapy on the Dementia Matters course that I am studying. I want the home to be a beacon for others in the area, and plan to develop other parts of the home.”

Karen has recently turned the staff room into an activities room for residents, and has set up an office area for another resident who used to spend a lot of time writing down national insurance numbers.

A HUSBAND and wife care operator are moving away from the more conventional care home for several new facilities they are currently planning.

Ernie Graham, who runs Graham Care with his wife Karen, plan to build care ‘suites’ instead of the traditional bedrooms at the homes they are developing across the south of England.

As well as an en suite bedroom, the rooms will also feature a private lounge area where residents can socialise with family and friends.

The homes will also feature the same communal lounge space and dining areas as in a traditional care home so that residents can chose to spend time in a group setting.

Ernie said: “Care home standards have developed enormously over the past decade and potential residents now expect much more space, both in their private living areas and also in the communal facilities.

“Our new care suites will allow residents to comfortably socialise with their families and friends, rather than half of them having to perch on

the end of the bed.

“Having two rooms gives the resident the flexibility and will make them feel that they are more at home, rather than just having a single room.”

Plans for the new homes, which are at various stages, are in place at Boreham near Chelmsford, Woodchurch near Ashford, Hawkinge near Folkestone and Pembury near Tunbridge Wells. The largest will be 112 beds.

Ernie added: “We have recently opened the new suites for dementia sufferers in a building adjacent to one of our existing homes Hailsham House in East Sussex. Each has its own front door and the residents have control over who goes.

“The residents can also choose to receive care from their existing registered carer or can use one of the of the suites’ dedicated team who are available 24 hours a day. If all the plans get the go ahead we will be creating hundreds of new jobs in the south east. We are a well-established company of 13 years and thankfully the bank like what we are doing and at the moment are more than happy to continue working with us.”

Apprentices transform care home grounds A KILMARNOCK care home’s grounds have been transformed by a group of local apprentices.

The BAE Systems apprentices formally opened the new garden at Torrance Lodge nursing home that they specially designed and built for the residents as part of a community challenge project.

Home manager Denise Mote said the scheme came about as the mother of one of the apprentices works as a carer at the home.

She added: “The grounds outside were just uninspiring grass, which wasn’t easy to get wheelchairs across.

But it has been transformed and the

apprentices have put some paving down and some beds in.

“They have also put up a bird table and have dotted some ornaments around the garden.

“They also gave us a donation of £120 to help with the upkeep of the garden.”

Denise says there are now plans to put raised beds in another part of the grounds so residents can grow their own flowers and vegetables.

She added: “We have a gardening club of about a dozen members at the home and they cannot wait for us to get the beds for them so they can get their hands dirty.”

New energy helpline is launched A LEADING care association has joined forces with a care home specialist energy firm to launch a new helpline for its members.

The service, launched by ECCA and D-ENERGi, will offer free advice on a range of energy issues as well as helping members reduce their

operating costs for electricity and gas and with rebates for customers who suspect they may have been overcharged. It will also offer operators easy to implement advice on how to make their care home more environmentally friendly and to reduce their carbon footprint.

Double celebration at Lancaster home A LANCASTER nursing home has had two reasons to celebrate.

The staff at Optimacare’s Burrowbeck Grange received

various NVQs in care as well as the A1 assessors award. The home has also recently received the Investors in People status.

19

CARINGNEWS Britain’s only purpose-built care facility for Asian elders is home to people from numerous countries on the sub-continent.

Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Home provides for variety of religions and different cultures AASHNA House in Lambeth first opened its doors in 1993 and is run

by ASRA Greater London Housing Association.

The scheme, which consists of self-contained single and double apartments, accommodates 37 residents, representing almost all sections of the Asian community.

The staff can all speak between two and four languages, meaning they are able to talk to residents in their mother tongue with Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali among the languages spoken.

Manna Santokhee, ASRA’s head of care, said: “The home opened at a time when local authorities were unsure about what to do with Asian elders. It was a much needed facility, not only in the area, but nationwide as there was a clear gap in the market.

“There is an opinion that Asian people tend to look after their own, but that can no longer be guaranteed given the changing structures within these communities.

“But we don’t only take people here from the sub-continent countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but we also have peo-

Manna Santokhee ple from South Africa and Kenya.”

The home also provides for a variety of religions, and different cultures and individual choice also come to the fore at mealtimes, when seven different dietary preferences are catered for.

Manna added: “We put on seven different meals for the residents to choose from at lunchtimes, and we organise our activities and events to meet different cultures to ensure they feel they are at home here.

“We have to be sensitive to all religions, and recognise individuals’ festivals and events such as Diwali and Ramadan.”

But, despite the different clientele, the home is inspected by the regulator like any other care home in England and Wales.

Manna says there should be more homes nationwide that cater for the Asian community.

He added: “The care is essentially the same as what is provided in any home in the country, with the only difference that the residents feel more at ease because they can speak to a member of staff in their own language so can understand what they are being told better.

“We do things here that any other home would do. The residents enjoy the same sorts of activities, and some of them even sit and watch the Bollywood soaps that are similar to Eastenders or Coronation Street.

“I believe that there should be more homes like ours because, from my experience, people like to stay within their own community. I have lived over here for 30 years and would be comfortable living in a typical English mixed home, but if someone gave me the choice I would like to stay with people who I understand and who understand me.”

Japanese group visits care facility THE care home recently welcomed a group of Japanese social work students who wanted to learn more about the specialist services available.

Part of a European fact-finding tour, the four post-graduate students and a professor from the Japanese College for Social Work in Tokyo met the staff and residents.

The students, who are studying welfare management, wanted to learn more about current care practices in the UK, and to see how Aashna House is run, as they are considering implementing similar services and facilities in to Japanese care homes.

Head of care Manna Santokhee said: “The students were very enthusiastic and keen to know what ASRA does and how everything is organised at Aashna House.

“They asked lots of questions and took away examples of our individualised care plans for residents to use as models back in Japan.”

20

CARINGSPECIAL REPORT

Care home operators are growing increasingly frustrated with the industry regulator. In a special report Dominic Musgrave spoke to several about the problems they have faced, and also found out what options they have.

Are providers more prepared for challenge?

Care providers seem more prepared than ever to consider a legal challenge against their local council over fees or to appeal against the star rating they receive from the commission. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

HOME owners are finding it increasingly difficult to provide a high quality of service on the amount they receive from their local authorities.

And with the importance of the star rating growing and many councils now introducing performancerelated pay scales, more and more homes are prepared to fight their corner and do whatever it takes to secure the future of their businesses.

Maria Patterson, external relations manager of ECCA, told Caring UK that she believes this could be to save the home’s reputation.

She added: “Not only are homes’ reputations being affected by these star ratings, but also in many areas of the country the funding they receive from local authorities can vary.

“If they truly believe that their home should be getting a three-star rating and it only receives one, and

that they can prove this, then of course a home owner is going to appeal.

“We are finding that there is some inconsistency in star ratings being awarded, and we would like to see this change.”

Last year ECCA created a toolkit pack to give home owners more advice on how they can negotiate better deals from local authorities, but she says in many cases negotiations can fall on deaf ears.

Therefore I can understand why providers are looking at taking matters further because they have nothing to lose.

She added: “We have seen copies of letters that providers have sent to their local council which have gone to great lengths in explaining why they need extra money for the service they provide, explaining issues such as staffing and the rising costs of energy bills.

“Quite often what they get back are patronising responses that are not even in full sentences and it seems that in some cases the councils are saying that they are the purchasers so they can do whatever they like.

“We are seeing on average an increase of between one and oneand-a-half per cent being offered, and thankfully the numbers offering zero per cent does seem to be decreasing.”

Staff should be trained for when ‘an inspector calls’ CARE home operators should train their staff to know what to do when an inspector calls, it has been claimed.

Wendy Smith, managing director of troubleshooting company WM Healthcare, told Caring UK that homes should run mock inspections at the home so that staff are ready when they are visited by the Care Quality Commission.

And she said that if the framework is in place it should not matter whether the inspector is the same as the previous inspection, or a complete stranger to the home.

She added: “The home owner should be prepared to give the regulator all of the evidence they need, and they should not have to come to the home and try and find it for themselves, because that is when the problems arise.

“The staff should also be ready at any given time and make sure that they know what they are going to be asked. There are details on the CQC’s website of what inspectors look for, which can be used as guidance.

“Whether it is a six bed or 60-bed home the care plans and necessary

paperwork should be in place on a shelf in the manager’s office, and they should be simple to use as well.

Inspectors look around the building and speak to residents and their relatives, but it is up to the staff to ensure that the documents and care plans supports what is said, and the care needs or the individuals are being met.”

Wendy, who has been involved with the care sector for more than 30 years in various guises, says one of the main problems with inspections is the ‘human factor’ which can cause inconsistencies.

She added: “The commission will work with homes if they can acknowledge that they are willing to put forward your improvement plan and work through it with them.

“If a home operator feels there are inaccuracies in their report then any reasonable inspector will meet and work through it.

“As in any industry there are some good ones and bad ones, and if owners are still not happy then they should take the matter higher to their line managers without feeling intimidated.”

21

CARINGSPECIAL REPORT

Owners should consult solicitor before action CARE home owners should consult their solicitor as soon as they are considering taking legal action over their star rating, it has been claimed.

Matthew Morton, a solicitor at Leeds-based Lee and Priestley, told Caring UK that the current appeal system gives little time for a solicitor to put a case together.

It currently allows owners 28 days to discuss with the assessor any issues they may have with the rating, and after that just seven days to put in an official application form to appeal the case, which gives solicitors little time to put anything together.

Matthew said owners need to be aware that there is also a risk that the home could be downgraded when the appeal is heard by the panel.

He added: “Home owners only have one chance to put any sort of appeal together, and they cannot go back and have a second bite of the cherry if they get it wrong.

“The main problem we have is the time to put a case together once a provider decides they want to proceed.

“We would urge them to take initial steps to contact a lawyer as soon as they feel their discussions with the inspector are not going as they would wish because seven days is about as short a time as is possible to put an appeal together for somebody’s business.”

‘Out-of-date’ website could be costing owner business

Matthew Morton Matthew said the importance of getting a good star rating is increasing now that they are published on the internet.

He added: “Once the star rating is out there for the public to see the damage is done. Star ratings are the key to the success of a business, and people are now more savvy and aware that a three-star facility is going to be better than one with two stars.

“Owners in general are growing more concerned about what is being put on the internet about them. It can have a very serious affect on the business, although a lot of what is put on general forums tends to be from former employers with an axe to grind.”

Operator regrets purchase after inspectorate problems A CARE home operator says he would not have bought a second facility in Bournemouth had he known the problems he would have faced from the commission.

Geoff Tilling purchased the 18-bed Milton Lodge last May to add to the one he already owned in Shropshire, but says that since he took over he has had nothing but problems from the inspectorate who he says are blaming him for the shortcomings of the previous owner.

He told Caring UK that he has spent thousands of pounds improving the home, which has slipped from a twostar ‘good’ rating to a zero star ‘poor’.

Geoff added: “I purchased the building based on the existing inspectorate report which said that it was a quality home, but I quickly found lots of issues with the home such as a nursecall system that didn’t work, radiators with no covers on and a laundry room that was not up to health and safety standards.

“I had an inspection last July and the inspector went through everything. I tried to point out to them what I had discovered myself and that previous inspections had not mentioned, but was told that it was all in the past.

“I felt the inspector was being total-

ly unreasonable and was trying to make a statement about us. We were given a zero star rating, which has impacted on the levels of occupancy at the home.”

Geoff says that he has since installed a new nursecall system, a stairlift, a dishwasher, laundry room, downstairs bathroom for disabled residents, radiator covers, hoists for moving and handling residents and metal medicine cabinets, as well as creating a new office space with computer and the internet.

He added: “All we seem to get from the inspectorate is that we have to do this by this date and if it it is not done then we will have problems. I feel the treatment I have received from these people is not acceptable and that they don’t view the home fully.

“If it gets any worse I may have to consider taking legal advice on this.

Had I known this would have happened before I bought the home I don’t think I would have gone ahead.

“I am very despondent and upset by the whole situation. I don’t feel I have the support from anywhere, and it is driving me down. They don’t seem to understand how much I have had to pay out in such a short space of time.”

A NORFOLK care home owner says the commission’s failure to update its website could be losing her business.

Ivydene in Great Yarmouth, received a three-star ‘excellent’ rating when the home was inspected in February.

But more than three months later the Care Quality Commission’s website is still showing her as having a two-star rating, despite a spokesman for the home saying she has repeatedly asking for it to be updated.

She said: “I am angry because the inspector comes into the home and judges me yet they cannot do their own jobs properly. I have rung the commission both at local and national level for weeks but still nothing has been done.

“I have told the CQC that this hold-

up could be costing me money because there are two other homes within a 15-mile radius that have a three-star rating and are getting an unfair advantage over me.

“They said they will look into it but still nothing has been done.”

But the local county council has agreed to pay her based on three stars after it brought in a new pay scheme based on performance.

She added: “I faxed the county council the letter I received from the regulator saying that I had been awarded three stars, and thankfully they have since come back and said that they will recognise that.

“But there may be some councils out there who would not be so understanding and would only use the ratings on the website.”

22

CARINGNEWS

Special report by Dominic Musgrave

Daljit Lally

Agreement is reached with trust CARE home operators in Northumberland have dropped their judicial review and have come to an agreement with their local trust over the fees they receive. Following a lengthy stand-off, the trust has also agreed to bring their quality standards scheme to take into account the CQC ratings.

The new policy will see the best homes receiving between £449.90 and £469.90 per week per bed depending on the type of home, grade two homes between £444.60 and £464.60, grade three homes between £436 and £456 and grade four homes between £419.08 and £439.08.

Keith Gray, chairman of Care Northumberland, said: “We have been in discussions with trust and a lot of our proposals have been accepted apart from some minor clauses.

“I believe that this improved offer and changes to the quality standards scheme would not have happened if providers had not stuck together.”

Executive director of care Daljit Lally told Caring UK that the trust always wanted to work with home operators to come to an agreement. She added: “We have said all along that we want to have positive discussions with care home owners to ensure quality standards and value for money for the public purse. We are optimistic that our latest discussions will provide a positive basis for agreement so that no matter where people live in Northumberland we can be assured that the quality of residential care is consistently of a high standard.”

Operators risk going out of business warns care association leader HOME operators in Birmingham risk going out business if they do not sign the city council’s new contract offer, according to the leader of a local care association.

The council has offered owners a one per cent rise from the beginning of April, with a further one per cent in October – the equivalent of 49p a day for a single room.

Many owners were holding out for more but, after a meeting with the council leaders, Les Latchman, secretary of the Birmingham Care Consortium, says that unless they sign they could be forced to close.

He added: “We had a meeting with cabinet adults and communities member Sue Anderson and unfortunately there was no more money put on the table. But the council did agree to look at the terms and conditions of the contract and asked us to go back to them with anything we wanted changing.

“They said they want to work with

‘Providers are holding out for a better deal, but those who don’t sign will eventually have to or they risk going out of business’ us if we agree to sign the contract.

Providers are holding out for a better deal, but those who don’t sign will eventually have to or they risk going out of business, and that is what a few of them are feeding back to us.

“The new contract also does not make any provision for dementia, which everybody accepts costs more than standard care.

“The council tell us they have less money to work with because the Government is cutting the amount they receive.

But Peter Hay, strategic director of adults and communities, said the council has a set rate with private care and nursing homes, which determines the amount that is paid for people funded by the council.

He added: “If independent providers refuse to sign the contract then we don’t place residents with them. We believe that this is the responsible approach.

“We doubt people would feel confident placing their loved one in a care home, using public money, where the owners had refused to sign a contract with the local council.

“Many independent sector care homes are run as businesses to make a profit, and as a result, they are not immune from the effects of the economic downturn.

“However, we are looking at ways in which we can offer further help to the private sector, by rescheduling payments and also by making monthly payments.”

Operators back ‘fees’ challenge to all local authorities MORE than 250 operators have signed up to a campaign which is challenging all local authorities and PCTs in Britain over the level of fees paid to care homes.

Aston Brooke solicitors are leading the challenge on behalf of the English Community Care Association (ECCA), who believe that if it wins the case, all providers – and their residents – will benefit from what it expects will be at least inflationary rises in fee levels from all authorities.

Solicitor Raman Purewal told Caring UK they are beginning to get the data coming in from providers to start their case, although going to court would be the final straw.

He added: “We would look to resolve the issue without needing to go ahead with the legal challenge, but it seems the local authorities will only listen if you have a legal threat of some kind behind you.

“This isn’t about just sorting out a contract for 2009/2010 but for the future.

“We want something put in place whereby councils must use one of the models for care fees out there or a combination of them.

“This would allow businesses to move forward and develop their businesses for the future because they would know what to expect.”

The Fairer Fees Forum wants care

providers to get in touch with copies of all contracts, the percentage increase they have seen over the last three years, any communication they may have had with local authorities and internal costs for any care analysis.

And Raman said the argument has little to do with the current financial climate in the country.

He added: “The problems care providers are facing has little to do with the recession.

“The Government is quite happy to keep bailing out the banks and the car industry, but operators cannot carry on providing at the current rate they are being paid.”

Campaigners accuse council of ‘bully boy tactics’ WIRRAL council are using ‘bully boy tactics’ to force care providers to sign a new contract, it has been claimed.

And campaigners say they will consider legal action if they no longer send new placements to homes that do not agree to the new fees, and assess and look to move any residents currently living in these homes to alternative facilities.

A representative of the group who have been campaigning against the

council told Caring UK they are considering their next move.

He added: “If we don’t sign the new contract the council have told us that they will no longer make any new placements with the homes, and that they will assess those residents living in the homes and might move them out to others in the area. That is something we cannot accept and we believe would be a case for legal action. But each day that passes is costing the council

more and more money.”

The group failed in their attempt to overturn a council proposal to cut the fees after a scrutiny committee made up of representatives from the three major parties voted 4-3 in favour of cutting the amount paid to care homes for 2009/10 by 1.3 per cent of the 2008/09 rate.

The spokesman added: “Five of us met with the director at the council but I felt that the decision had already been taken politically so it

was a waste of three hours of our time. We are sitting back and pondering our next move because the council are currently still paying us the original figure because all of this was so rushed, which had an inflationary clause in it with a 4.7 per cent increase.

“The council now has to give us three months’ notice to terminate that contract and will then get a new contract which will have a take it or leave it offer in there.”

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24

CARINGINFECTION CONTROL

Alarm system helps users combat spread of infection THE Touchsafe Nursecall ATX5000 is a new wireless alarm system from Aid Call which can also help users in the battle against the spread of infection.

Residents in a home have close contact with each other and staff due to sharing living accommodation, facilities and care equipment.

The risk of acquiring and spreading infection in these environments is therefore high, and older people are at greater risk of developing infections because their immune systems are less robust.

Some wireless nurse call alarm systems feature elements, such as touch screen monitors, which are impossible to treat, this means that contaminants and infections can easily be spread between users.

Effective cleaning and decontamination of some equipment

can also be difficult and this should be a serious consideration during procurement.

All elements of Aid Call’s Touchsafe Nursecall system which are touched or handled are embedded with powerful antimicrobial additives to help combat the spread of infection. This provides lifelong protection against the spread of infection.

Cleaning agent ‘eats’ urine ELIMINATION of urine is a universal problem and sometimes it seems that no matter how much or how often you clean, the odour and stain just won’t go away.

Urine has several components that can be washed away with ordinary cleaners, but it is the insoluble uric salt crystals which are difficult to remove.

Urine-off, a revolutionary cleaning

agent uses two unique environmentally friendly bioenzymatic technologies to destroy urine odour and stains.

Unlike ordinary cleaners, Urine-Off ‘eats’ the components on urine and proteins, removing the means for infectious agents to flourish. By using Urine-Off, you are able to actually remove the contamination and the odour permanently.

Kent homes sign NHS scheme to improve control

By Dominic Musgrave TWENTY Kent care homes have signed up to a county NHS scheme to improve infection control.

The programme, run by the Improvement Foundation, is designed to support staff in the prevention and control of tackling healthcare associated infections, and because it is aligned to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 will help homes assess their compliance and understand registration requirements with the Care Quality Commission.

One of the homes signed up to the plan is 1st Choice Care Homes’ Creedy House in New Romney.

Manager Anita O’Neill says they joined because it is a big issue in the sector.

She added: “The course looks at every aspect of infection control in a care home, and we are going to be taking a closer look at antibiotic therapies, what people go into hospital for and come back with.

“We hope to be working closely with GPs and recording all infections in the home and whether somebody

came in or out of hospital with antibiotics and whether they work or not.

“This will hopefully stop people requiring masses of antibiotics and we will know which ones work and which don’t.”

The home is also taking part in the Safe Hands Campaign to encourage everybody who visits to use hand gels and wash their hands.

Anita added: “The campaign explains how important it is for visitors to make sure their hands are clean before they enter. You do not know what they could be bringing into the home if they are not.

“The plan at the end of the year is that this scheme will help us to implement change if there is something we think is important.

“A lot of people think that infections that are found in hospitals must come from care or nursing homes, but that is really not the case and they can come from everywhere.”

The programme will close with an event to showcase and celebrate the successes of the participating care homes.

Specialist sees increase in demand since outbreak A NORTH Yorkshire specialist says it has seen an upsurge in demand for personal hygiene products since the onset of swine flu.

Thirsk-based Hygicare’s managing director Tony Fawcett said they have a wide variety of products available.

He added: “Although we may have seen the back of swine flu, the Government’s response has increased people’s awareness of personal hygiene.

“Older people are more vulnerable to infection from viruses and bacterial pathogens, purely because their immune system is not as good as it once was.

“We believe we have the right products to help healthcare operators, and the advice that keeps them up to date and within the law with regards to technical information.”

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Property, finance, insurance, training & recruitment Your new-look Commerce section will bring you all the latest property, business and training news every month.

Action needed to halt care home closures

By Dominic Musgrave THE Government must do more to halt the number of care homes that are being forced out of business every week, the leader of an association has claimed.

Frank Ursell, chief executive of the Registered Nursing Homes Association, has called for a change of policy and a move away from plans to keep people in their own homes for longer.

He said: “The number of care homes closing every week is something that everybody seems to gloss over, but I believe a report released in January said that approximately 600 were forced out business last year.

“A change of policy is required to stop this. The Government keeps harping on about the fact that people are telling them they want to live independently for as long as they possibly can, but the 40 or 50-yearold person they are speaking to is bound to say that.

“Ask a resident in a care home whether they would rather be in

there and looked after properly or sat at home in their own excrement and you will get a totally different answer.”

But on a more positive note he said that care home operators should be alright if they can see the year out in the current financial climate.

He added: “Home owners need to be mindful that there may be cut backs in expenditure, but if older people are to receive the best possible care then both central and local government must give their needs a higher priority than has previously been the case.

“There is a lot of difference between a Rolls Royce and a Mini, both in terms of standards and price. Local authorities continue to abuse their dominant position as the care commissioner, and what providers must do is ensure they are providing the best care they possibly can.”

How is your business coping in the current financial climate? Let Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@whpl.net or by ringing 01226 734407.

New home opens in Sunderland THE Avery healthcare group has purchased a new purpose-built residential and dementia care home in Sunderland through its operating subsidiary, Willowbrook.

The 60-bed home, which opened its doors in December, was built by a construction company Avery has worked with previously.

Avery CEO John Strowbridge said: “We had been planning this purchase

for some time and we are very pleased indeed that it has gone through in what continues to be a very tough credit market.

Willowbrook was formed in late 2008 following the agreement of a £53 million development capital package by Graphite Capital, a UK mid-market private equity specialist, to fund Avery’s further development.

In this issue: Act immediately in a crisis – how to deal with the media - page 26 Luxury care home has concierge and hot tub - page 27 Brothers move into the care sector - page 29

Frank Ursell

New home set to create 70 jobs - page 28

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Last issue, Graham Robb of Recognition Marketing and PR spoke to Caring UK about how care homes can cope with bad press. Here, Graham – whose clients include Southern Cross – offers his tips on how to deal with the media in a crisis.

Act immediately in a crisis REMEMBER, the keys to successfully handling any crisis situation are: Quick action – Crisis situations may take weeks or months or longer to fully resolve, however, it is important that the care home or company is seen as taking immediate action.

Tell the truth but always verify the facts prior to making public statements regarding situations, particularly those involving physical injury. Communicate changes in the status of the situation as quickly as possible.

Demonstrate confidence and compassion – this is a very fine line that can be difficult to walk.

Practice extensively or better still leave it to a professional to deal with “outside” audiences. Internal audiences, such as staff members, relatives or key organisations such as CSCI or social services, may need to hear directly from the crisis team, but communications with the media and general public can be left to professionals.

Be accessible to the media – as tempting as it may be to close the

door, pull the shades and disconnect the phone, these responses will only cause problems.

The person designated to deal with the media, whether a staff member or a media adviser, needs to keep the media informed and be available to answer questions.

Many organisations prefer to use a specialist to allow the internal team to concentrate on handling the actual crisis. Unanswered questions and speculation can be very damaging; the best way to prevent them is by being accessible and readily sharing information when it becomes available.

Be professional about the use of e-mail. What you write will form part of future investigations and, even if marked private, can be leaked. The media are under no obligation to hold back your private e-mails. Don’t use language that is inappropriate and only communicate facts by e-mail.

Proactive communication and planning are vital during the events leading up to a crisis and during the crisis period itself. Many journalists will attest that a

company spokesperson was either not available or refused to comment. A serious incident could very well trigger dozens of media calls in the first hour.

It is vitally important to be aware of the media deadlines and to respond in time.

‘No comment’ is not an option and, worse, might be used as a justification for a reporter getting something wrong; they’ll just say you had the chance to correct it but didn’t speak to them.

The care home sector is vulnerable to unfavourable press coverage and in today’s instant media environment it is important to be prepared for a crisis. The damage done to a home’s reputation could be irreparable if it is not handled correctly. By keeping lines of communication open with the media, and using it to convey your own positive messages it should be possible to mitigate the worst of the damage.

Engaging a professional is the best way to handle the media in a crisis, leaving the senior staff free to deal with operational issues.

Graham Robb

West Yorkshire care home opens again after transformation A CARE home has opened its doors for the first time in almost a decade following a transformation by a West Yorkshire architectural practice.

Above and Beyond has restored Elmhurst, which closed its doors in 2000 and fell into disrepair after becoming a target for vandals and arsonists.

Last July, Above and Beyond was commissioned by lead consultant Operon to provide technical and design services to refurbish the derelict building, turning it into a

state-of-the-art modern care facility.

Above and Beyond’s James Bosley said: “It will feel a lot like being at home and will be an ideal atmosphere to help people get back on their feet.

“Patients will stay in the facility and receive therapy until they are able to return to their own homes.”

Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust will lease the 30bed intermediate care centre from Cheshire County Council.

Jeremy Whall and Li shung Yeung receive their prizes from Angela Rippon and David Ward.

Students win ‘care homes of the future’ competition DC Care has completed the sale of St. Catherine’s Nursing Home in Letchworth, Hertfordshire for an undisclosed sum. The home, currently registered for 39 residents, is a substantial detached property which was previously a hospital. The building has been converted to its present use with extensions added to the side and rear. It was sold on behalf of the retiring George Christoforou and Balbir Singh Johal to Rohan Paulas and Ramesh Dalton.

JEREMY Whall and Li shung Yeung from the Birmingham School of Architecture have won a competition to design the care homes of the future.

DWA Architects organised the event sponsored by Bupa and managed by RIBA to mark its 20th anniversary, and entries were received from as far afield as Albania, Canada, India, Russia, Singapore and the USA. Christopher Wilkins and Rachel

Witham from Cardiff University were second, with Marta Gonzalez Ruiz from Madrid University third.

Angela Rippon presented the winners with their prize money and certificates at a ceremony at RIBA’s London headquarters.

DWA chief executive David Ward said: “Every scheme considered issues that are important now and will only become more important in the future – such as land shortage and the UK’s ageing population.”

CARINGCOMMERCE

Luxury care home has concierge and hot tub

By Dominic Musgrave A CONCIERGE service, a hot tub outside and mini bars in all bedrooms are just some of the facilities at a new care home inspired by luxury hotels.

And Dow Investments, owners of Renaissance at Glencairn in Edinburgh, are now planning a second similar establishment in the city.

The company has spent £2million on the 26-bed property on the site of the former Grange Nursing Home, and company director Anne Gordon said the new home, with rooms ranging from around £695 to £1,000 a week, will create up to 30 new jobs in the city.

She added: “Our chief executive Robert Kilgour always had a plan to open an up-market care hotel, and he decided to do it and refurbish the home when we were given it back by Edinburgh council.

“There is nothing like this in the city, and we are planning something similar to the south of the city. We have spent a lot of money on fixtures and fittings at the home.

“The home is aimed at people over 70 but with a low dependency. We have agreed with the Care Commission that should a person’s care requirements be more than we can provide at Glencairn they can be moved into one of our two other homes in the city.”

The group originally got planning

consent to turn the former Morningside Nursing Home into a care home, putting it on the market for offers over £1.75m a year ago with the plan to find a buyer to take it forward.

But Anne said that because of the current economic climate they have decided to develop the site themselves, and plan to spend a similar amount of money turning it into

another ’hotel’.

She added: “The home is no longer fit for purpose as it stands so the plan is to see how it goes at Glencairn for six months, and if it proves popular we will turn it into a 24-bed facility.

“We can see it being really successful because a lot of people don’t need a lot of help but just want to move into a home for the company.”

Mayor of Slough Raja Mohammed Zarait has opened a new £8.3m retirement development in the town.

Hanover’s Northampton Place, which is managed in partnership with Slough Borough Council, has 56 one and two bedroom apartments with fitted kitchens and level access showers.

A 24-hour emergency call service and support team of carers are also available.

Claire Anderson, Hanover’s director of extra care and services, said: ”Older people now have control of their own decisions.

“By offering clarity of choice older people can continue to live independently at Northampton Place whilst retaining the services they need and value.”

Chief executive role for Carolynne ELIZABETH Finn Homes Limited has appointed Carolynne Miller as its new chief executive.

Prior to joining the company as managing director, she held senior posts with Priory Hospitals, Southern Cross, Highfield and the Sandown Group.

Jonathan Welfare, chief executive of Elizabeth Finn Care,said: “Carolynne has run our homes to an award-winning standard for over four years, so this promotion represents the natural progression of a great talent within the care sector.”

The company has 10 care homes across England.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Specialist unit to be created FOUR Seasons are to create a specialist dementia care unit at one of its homes in Northern Ireland.

Rush Hall in Limavady will be prepared as a specialist dementia care provider, with staff training and home preparation due to take place over the next 12 months as the home works towards PEARL (Positively Enriching and Enhancing Residents Lives) status.

Regional manager Ruth Burrows said: “The focus will be on person centred care and the environment, engagement in activities, privacy, dignity, nutrition and knowing residents and their lives well – all of which are just some basic areas that we will be evaluated on.

“Our philosophy is simple – our residents should still feel as if they are living at home just with additional support and care.”

Celebrating home ratings A CARE group which provides residential care and sheltered accommodation for elderly Christians is celebrating after all three of its homes received the highest possible rating from the inspectorate.

Eothen Homes’ Surrey facility, which has 36 residents and nine independent living bungalows, received the grading in its latest inspection to join the Whitley Bay and Gosforth homes in being rated three stars.

Assistant general manager Christine Hardy put the success down to building strong relationships with all necessary parties.

She said: “We build strong partnerships with the residents, their families, GPs, nurses and social workers to ensure that we are providing the best care the individual could want and not imposing it upon them.

“We are also constantly looking to develop our staff and as well as the mandatory training, we try to ensure that they are all up to date on other important issues.”

Staff boost skills STAFF at a West Midlands care home are celebrating after completing a range of qualifications.

The team of 20 at Southern Cross’ Trinity House Care Centre have achieved NVQ Level 2 and 3, safe guarding of medications, appointed person’s first aid and the silver award for good food hygiene exams.

Home manager Jayne Griparis said: “The reality is that the skills of staff in the elderly care sector and the quality of their work make a huge difference to the quality of life of the residents.

“Working effectively with older people requires a very specific set of skills. The training and development of staff is extremely important to maintaining and building on the high standards of care we provide.”

Main options when securing finance

By Catherine Drew CARE homes often need finance for several reasons: to purchase a business, to upgrade facilities, to plan for retirement or for general business needs and debt and equity are the main options to secure this finance.

Debt finance is essentially a loan with an agreed repayment schedule plus interest. Equity finance is money from an investor in return for a share in the profits and typically some say in how the business is run.

Care homes can also improve cash flow and profit margins by negotiating longer payment terms with suppliers, keeping fee arrears to a minimum and implementing fee increases quickly.

DEBT FINANCE Debt finance includes short term unsecured loans and overdrafts for day-to-day needs, and longer term loans secured by a charge over the property and other assets of the business for acquisitions or developments.

Secured loans and mortgages can offer tax advantages but the lender may also require a charge over the owner’s own assets or a personal guarantee.

Catherine Drew Funds can also be raised by selling and leasing back any freehold premises. This realises capital but the business will lose ultimate control of the property.

EQUITY FINANCE Equity finance involves an investor acquiring a share in the business in return for a capital payment, some or all of which the

owner may receive in return for reducing his share.

Most commercial investors will generally require a say in decision making as well as a return on their investment, often before profits are paid to the owner, but as the investor will have a stake in the business’ success, it may be willing to provide further funding.

KEY POINTS If the finance is for alterations to your freehold premises, consider a fixed term loan with a mortgage over the property and other assets.

If you give a personal guarantee or a mortgage over your own house, failure to repay may mean that you and your family could lose your personal assets.

Shop around the banks – if you agree to transfer your accounts, you may get a better deal.

Sale and leasebacks raise capital but you will have to pay a market rent and agree new terms on expiry.

Equity finance can provide funds for an owner’s retirement if the family cannot buy the owner out and for new owners to take over.

Equity investors may also be willing to provide loans – ask them.

Catherine is a partner at law firm Charles Russell.

Teamwork brings success to home A LINCOLNSHIRE care home manager says teamwork is the reason why the home has picked up a hat-trick of accolades.

The Althorpe in Scunthorpe has been upgraded from two stars to three by the care commission and to complete a week of celebrations it has also received the Investor in People award from Yorkshire and Humber Chamber of Trade and a Quality Delivery Gold Award from North Lincolnshire Council.

Sandra Kirk, who runs the home which cares for 23 residents, says it is down to the excellent service that her staff provides.

She added: “There is a real team ethic at the home and everybody who works here really enjoys it and

generally do care.

“I think that is one of the main reasons we got the three-star rating.

Another is that we always make sure we keep up to date with the latest legislation and make sure we meet care standards by networking with various care groups. Part of that is that all our staff, and not just the carers have all the relevant training.

All of them, including the maintenance man have either NVQ level two or level three.”

Sandra says one of the main issues the home is focusing on at the moment is end of life care, with 10 of the 21 staff having recently completed a training course in the subject.

The other awards they received

recognised the home as a business and that the home’s management were striving to improve the facilities.

She added: “The Investor in People award was presented to us because all of our staff get the statutory training they require as well as more specific for their job.

“The award from North Lincolnshire Council recognises that we treat the residents as individuals so that when they move here they can have their bedrooms exactly how they want it to be decorated.

“We have also put en suites into more of the rooms to try and make the residents feel that it is their space within the home.”

Priory’s new home will create 70 jobs THE Priory group is set to create 70 new jobs in Wolverhampton with the opening of a new care home for older people.

Bentley Court in Wednesfield, a 77-bedded purpose-built nursing care home, is part of the first phase of the company’s strategy to expand its range of services into the elderly care sector.

The company recently opened a care home for older people in Stoke on Trent and currently manages a facility in Belfast.

Care homes division managing

director Bhavna Jones said: “We are making significant investments in older people’s services over the next few years. Bentley Court has been well received by our colleagues in the public sector, particularly the provision of dementia services for the local community in Wolverhampton.

“The Priory Group’s experience in mental health, complex and long term care will transfer really well into older people’s services. Older people are coming into care and nursing homes later and are more

frail.

“The residents are likely to have more complex needs and associated health issues that we are confident we have the experience to care for.”

All residents will have access to activities and a wide range of professionals, including a hairdresser, chiropodist, optician and GP. There will also be a choice of lounges and dining areas and a secure enclosed landscaped garden.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Two brothers are turning the former site for their snackfood company into a luxury care home as part of a new venture. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Brothers move into care sector ROSEWOOD Care’s new £5m home Rosewood House in Gateshead will create up to 80 jobs when it opens in the New Year.

The company was founded last year

by Afzal and Amjad Ahmad and Ali Asghar last year, and will transform the old base for their other business Bensham Wholefoods into a 75-bed, four storey home.

It will be shaped as a horseshoe around a central communal garden, and all bedrooms will have en-suite shower rooms.

Afzal told Caring UK that he first started thinking about moving into the care sector around 10 years ago, and the process of getting planning permission and the necessary funding for the home had taken three years.

He added: “When we first talked about the idea of setting up a care home business we first looked at the possibility of buying existing homes, but the ones we visited were in a dilapidated state and the residents didn’t look very happy. They required a lot of work and money to get them up to scratch.

“We then came up with the idea of building our own purpose-built home, and decided it would probably be best if we moved the food business to a smaller site and looked at

Amjad Ahmad, Afzal Ahmad and Ali Asghar with Mike Coster and John Mannix from the Royal Bank of Scotland. doing something there.

“We had a few issues getting the money to build this because of the credit crunch as we are new to the market, but the Royal Bank of Scotland has taken a risk with us and we are confident we can make this a success.”

And Afzal says the care business will now become the largest part of

his interests, and he plans to look at adding to his homes portfolio in the future.

He added: “There is nothing set in stone at the moment but we are looking at several possibilities for other homes.

“The care home industry has not been hit at all by the current financial climate because of the ever ageing

population.

“We want to create luxury care homes to meet the needs of the elderly in the area, and have taken a lot of advice along the way from a variety of people.”

The home has been designed by Mario Minchella architects and is being built by Dorin Construction Ltd.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Dominic Musgrave spoke to a homecare franchise owner about his plans for his new venture.

Charles has big plans after entering into care sector CHARLES Folkes spent more than a year researching franchise opportunities before settling on the homecare sector.

The former hotel manager has worked in a variety of other sectors, including the print and fire and flood restoration, but had no experience of the care industry before purchasing a package from Caremark to run a service in Redcar and Cleveland.

And, having been given his official registration from the regulator in March, he told Caring UK he has a team in place to start delivering high quality care.

He said: “I have the management and business background and knew that a franchise was the way forward, particularly in these economic times, because they give you the support to get you going and I didn’t know the sector well enough.

“I chose Caremark after doing my research and having meetings with them and one other homecare provider because they had the right philosophies and ethics to meet my criteria, and their owner Kevin Lewis had a proven track record.

“I also didn’t want to get involved with a company that potentially didn’t want to deliver the highest standards of care.”

Charles with Lisa Davey (right) and one of the company’s new carers Once Charles decided to join Caremark, his first move was to employ Lisa Davey as his care manager, and they have a team of 15 carers ready to start work when the clients come in.

As part of the package he also did a two-week training course with the company.

He added: “We will never stop recruiting because as the business grows and develops if we don’t have the carers in place we cannot deliver the care.

“The homecare sector is very different to anything I have done before, but the fundamentals are

the same. We have so far had a few enquiries and hope to get a package from a brokerage company to deliver 38 hours a week of care shortly. There are a few other contracts coming up in the summer from local councils that we plan to tender for, and hopefully the business will grow from there.

“There is no other Caremark franchise between Leeds and Newcastle so hopefully if this is a success I want to buy the other in Teesside and become a multifranchise owner in the not too distant future.”

Ceremony marks end of course STAFF at Scotland’s care watchdog have completed a specialist course aimed at improving care standards across the country.

The bulk of the group of 40 from the Care Commission were presented with their Regulation of Care Award (RoCA) (Scotland) certificates by public health minister Shona Robison at a ceremony at the Apex Hotel in Dundee.

Convenor professor Frank Clark said: “Our work is about raising the standard of care and keeping people safe and well cared for, while also making a strong contribution to the development of Scotland’s scrutiny landscape.

“We are currently working with the Scottish Government to help implement their vision of a new, streamlined network of scrutiny bodies across the country and, in the meantime, it is still ‘business as usual’ in terms of how we regulate care in Scotland.

“The people who will really gain are those who use care services, their families and friends and people who work in the care sector.”

The qualification has been developed in partnership with Cambridge-based Anglia Ruskin University, the Care Commission and the Scottish Social Services Council.

A nursing home in one of Middlesex’s most affluent areas has been sold from an asking price of £3.2million.

Christies has sold the 20bed Oakleigh in Pinner to care home operator Precious Healthcare Limited, who also own and operate a number of other homes across the county and in Buckinghamshire.

The two storey detached home has been trading since 1995.

Managers from all 18 of a care group’s homes are celebrating after they received a health and safety quality mark certificate. The Cornwall Care homes received a full inspection and assessment to achieve the OHSAS 18001 status, which means they have reached the requirements for the business without having to adopt new systems.

The managers received their awards from Certified Quality Systems’ Bill Dickinson at a celebratory lunch at the Alverton Manor hotel in Truro.

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CARINGCOMMERCE

Provider publishes its own manuals AN East Anglia-based care provider has published its own range of training manuals aimed at new staff.

Healthcare Homes’ Passport to Care covers the government’s common induction standards for care workers, which require minimum levels of skill to be achieved within the first 12 weeks of employment.

The handbooks cover the principles of care, health and safety, first aid, effective communication and record keeping, and there is also a separate manager’s manual which offers advice and guidance.

Training director Sandie Oxborrow, who helped develop the training programme, said: “It consists of practical skills-based training, organised in a number of modules.

“Each care worker completes these under the supervision of their manager – it is ‘on the job’ learning that results in an agreed level of competency and knowledge.

“This then counts towards NVQ level two – the standard all care workers will be expected to attain in the future.”

WORK has begun on a new £4m care home in Warrington for specialist care provider CareConcepts which is set to create up to 80 jobs.

The 60-bed facility is being built by construction company G & J Seddon and funded by The Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) healthcare team.

Following a national tender by Warrington Borough Council, CareConcepts were awarded the contract to build and operate a 60-place care home and 20-place day centre on the former Chestnut House site in the town. It is set to open next March.

Commission team

Sandie Oxborrow with one of the training manuals

Partnership working plays increasingly important role PARTNERSHIP working is playing an increasingly important role in effective modern local government activity, according to a learning service provider.

Social Care Information and Learning Services’ Stephen Kitsios said a growing number of local

Care home will create up to 80 jobs

authorities are engaging in partnership working with private and voluntary sector organisations.

He said: “Over 95 per cent of local authorities that subscribe to our website have chosen to include the private and voluntary sector within their subscription, enabling free

access to a wealth of knowledge and information relating to social care, health, housing and education.

“It clearly demonstrates the commitment of the local authorities to support their private and voluntary sector contracted providers in meeting their staff’s learning needs.”

THE Care Quality Commission has completed its senior management team with the appointment of three more directors.

David Johnstone will be the director of operations, with Kylie Kendrick the director of organisation development and human resources and John Lappin the director of finance and corporate services.

Chief executive Cynthia Bower said: “They will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to these important roles and help us to push ahead with the Commission’s ambitious programme of work.”

The other four directors already in post are: Jill Finney, director of engagement; Richard Hamblin, director of intelligence; Gary Needle, director of methods and Jamie Rentoul, director of regulation and strategy.

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CARINGNEWS

Conference Reading initiative aims to to look at improve residents’ lives guidelines

By Dominic Musgrave

By Mary Ferguson A CONFERENCE designed to help care home managers understand the new guidelines surrounding deprivation of residents liberty is taking place in June.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards came into effect on April 1, providing a framework for approving the decisions made for people in either a care home or hospital who lack the capacity to consent to treatment or care that – in their own best interests – can only be provided in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty.

In response to concerns raised by practitioners and managers working within the care home and hospital environment, the conference aims to provide clear guidance of what is expected from managing authorities, increase confidence in applying the law and clarify responsibilities with real case examples.

Organised by Majella Greene and Associates Ltd, the conference takes place on June 22 in central London.

A DEMENTIA care home is pioneering a new reading initiative to improve the lives of its residents.

The reading group at Hallgarth Care Centre in Durham is thought to be the first group of its kind in a care home in the North East and possibly the country.

The Get Into Reading initiative was developed at Liverpool University by the Readers Organisation, and involves short stories, novels and poetry being read aloud by trained facilitators, with members of the group joining in as they wish.

The idea was introduced to the home by Jim Freeley, the husband of a resident living with Alzheimer’s and, despite his wife dying, he still attends the group every fortnight.

Nurse Karen Craggs, who helped to set up the group, said: “The whole purpose of the group is to improve the residents’ lives and we use the poems as a way of starting conversations to help with speech and language.

“I have recorded a lot of the sessions and the improvements we have seen in the residents has been remarkable. One resident was a professor who withdrew totally when

he moved into the home.

“At first when he came to the group we thought he was asleep, but after two or three sessions he changed totally and he now really gets involved.”

The home has also got the local community involved in some of the sessions, with a children’s writing group for a local library writing poems for the residents.

Karen added: “We now have a reading group award. As part of a group at the library several youngsters wrote poems and read

them out in the home for the residents.

“The residents judged their work and some of them went to present the girl who wrote the winning piece with her award.

“The staff have also got involved. I read a poem out that I found of my grandfather’s when he was younger about a family member who had moved to Australia.

“This sparked a conversation about countries the residents would like to visit and also about school days.”

Trust celebrates

The Shelbourne senior living community in Sway has donated £500 to Save the Children. The facility won the money after being named as a finalist in this year’s Pinders Design Awards. Shelbourne managing director Ken Waterhouse is pictured with resident Peter Conway and lead receptionist Teresa Calfe.

THE Greensleeves Homes Trust celebrated the success of their homes and individual staff members at a reception in London.

Managers and staff from all 16 care homes in the midlands, the south and east of England attended the event which included a talk from Sylvie Silver from NAPA. After the staff who had achieved an NVQ award during the previous year received their certificates, the first set of accolades were presented, with categories including innovation, gardens and grounds and eating experience.

Winners were: Energy conservation – Kingston House (Calne, Wiltshire) and Sharnbrook House (Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire); Gardens and grounds – Croxley House (Croxley Green, Hertfordshire); Eating experience – Broadlands (Oulton Broad, Suffolk); Entrance – Arden House (Leamington Spa, Warwickshire); Innovation – The Briars (Sandown, Isle of Wight) and Broadlands (Oulton Broad, Suffolk); Special accolade – Torkington House (Acton, West London); Judy Macdonald award – Queen Elizabeth House (Bickley, South East London).

New service opens in High Wycombe

By Claire Lodge A THIRD new Fremantle Trust older people’s service has opened in a new state-of-theart building in High Wycombe.

The Heights is situated on the old Downley School site and is the third of eight care homes for older people being built as part of the Project Care Initiative, a partnership between Buckinghamshire County Council, Housing Solutions Group and the Fremantle Trust.

Residents from two of the group’s existing residential homes in Marlow and Holmer Green have moved into the new building, which will provide nursing and dementia care.

The home has 75 en suite bedrooms, split into five smaller community groups, with 15 residents in each.

Facilities include a shop/bar, hairdressing salon and treatment room.

Company is saved

by U-turn

By Dominic Musgrave THE OWNER of a homecare company says she would have been forced out of business had Durham council’s plans gone ahead to reduce the number of services it commissions to from 42 to 10.

Venita Pattinson, who runs Applejack Care in Bishop Auckland, was one of the companies that missed out on a contract in the original round of interviews, despite her company being rated as ‘excellent’ by the regulator.

But social services leaders were forced to make a U-turn over their original plans following a legal challenge by one of the region’s larger homecare providers.

Venita told Caring UK she is determined she will not miss out again once she is re-interviewed by a new panel for a contract.

She said: “The council had one chance of getting rid of me, but they are not going to get another one. I am just thankful that one of the larger companies was able to mount a legal challenge against the council because there is no way I could afford it as we are only a small provider.

“Had we not won the case there is no way we would have been able to continue because 99 per cent of our business comes from social services.

“I had to be picked up off the floor when I was told that our bid had been unsuccessful. The council has said that it wanted to make the system more efficient, but reducing it so much is a little bit drastic and I think it is just about cost cutting.”

Nick Whitton, head of commissioning for adult services, told Caring UK that measures had been put in place to ensure that homecare will continue to be provided until the tendering process has been completed.

He said: “Following a legal challenge regarding the selection of home care providers in County Durham, we have agreed to re-run the interview stage of the procurement.

“This decision was taken in order to avoid lengthy delays and disruption for service users which would have resulted had we continued to contest the matter through the courts.

“We are now in the process of rearranging interviews and writing to service users to inform them of the situation.”

Sue Ullmann receives the award from Roger Kellow from Hobart UK and Cheryl Baker

Cold weather performance earns service warm praise THE Community Meals on Wheels service has been recognised for the lengths it went to to deliver food to elderly people during the Arctic-like conditions earlier this year.

Sue Ullmann chair of the National Association of Care Catering received the Cost Sector Catering Blue Ribband award in recognition of the important work that the service provides across the country.

She said: “The work of everyone involved in providing the community meals, whether it’s the supplier, the local authority or the volunteer delivering the meal, is vital to enhance the well-being of the needy and elderly in our communities.

“This award is a fantastic achievement for all those who work so hard day-in-day-out through all weathers and deadlines across the UK.”

HOMECARENEWS

The way care is delivered in a North West coastal town is set to transform with the development of two new extra care villages. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Care villages welcomed by public A SOD cutting ceremony marked the beginning of the development of the first extra care villages in Blackpool on the site of a former care home. The town council has commissioned Great Places Housing Group to develop the sites, the first of which – Cherry Tree House will have 46 two-bedroom apartments, with facilities including a spa with jacuzzi, shop and separate area for professionals such as chiropodists and hairdressers to work.

Project manager Jeanette Blackburn told Caring UK that the plans have now been welcomed by the local community after some discontent 18 months ago about the homes being closed. She added: “There has been a lot of interest in the two developments, and we are sure that will continue when we start our early marketing campaign in the near future.

“There was a lot of unrest about the two homes closing to make way for the new developments, but now people have seen the model and realise that it is somewhere in between living in their own home and moving into a residential care home they seem to think it is a good idea.

“The building's modern Art Deco facade will present a positive image and we want people to see moving in as a positive choice as well another option to the care home or more traditional sheltered housing.”

The apartments at the Cherry Tree House development, which is costing £5.68m to build, will be available for rent, and will offer 24hour care from staff. All will have their own front door, and a window which looks out on to the street style layout.

Jeanette said that if the scheme is successful the council will look at more developments in the future.

She added: “We have no formal plans or other sites in mind at the moment, but I'm sure that if the extra care villages are successful it is something we would perhaps look at doing in other parts of the town. We have a series of events in mind to raise the awareness of the two sites coming up over the next few weeks at nearby community centres. We will also be looking at doing an event aimed at professionals who may have somebody interested in moving in.”

Both developments are expected to be completed by autumn 2010.

Carers stride out to raise charity cash STAFF from a Gloucestershire homecare agency are donning their walking boots and pink t-shirts and putting their best foot forward for charity.

The carers from Corinium Care, led by managing director Camilla Miles, are taking part in the 10-mile Cotswold Midnight Walk around Cirencester on June 26, which will raise money for the Cotswold Care Hospice in Minchinhampton.

She said: “Every year we do something to help a local charity, and this

year we chose the hospice because it's close to home in more than one sense – Corinium Care is used to supporting people with life-limiting illnesses.

"It's also good for us to do something as a team, and walking 10 miles through the Cotswolds in the dark

will be a novelty."

Joining Camilla on the women-only walk are Fiona Bird, Sue Powell, Natasha Skowron, Clare Armstrong, and Rachel Dedman. Last year’s event attracted more than 1,200 women and raised more than £120,000 for the hospice.

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36

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Simple solutions SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simple solutions to common nursing home problems.

The new WACMAT® adheres strongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cotton pile and 100 per cent waterproof backing, the remarkable WACMAT® is an ideal accessory where spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, in bedrooms or bathrooms, the WACMAT® ensures full carpet protection. Then, after use, simply machine wash and tumble dry! It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then be clean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again.

Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Contact: 0800 074 3749.

Easyflush good for the Gosine family WHEN Bob Gosine decided to renovate the small bathroom in his terraced house in North London he came across a product that has made a big difference for his family.

Bob lives with his two daughters who have a physical disability that leaves them with insufficient strength in their arms and hands to operate handles. So when he was ordering sanitary ware and a walk-in shower unit from his local supplier, Premier Bathroom, he asked about the possibility of a ‘no-hands’ flush system for the WC in the bathroom.

Premier Bathroom immediately turned to Cistermiser, a Reading based company specialising in water management and their Easyflush system was installed.

Easyflush is a WRAS approved product that employs a single infrared sensor to operate a dual flush WC valve and also complies with the DDA. It is a hygienic, user-friendly system ideal for domestic use, especially where less able or elderly people are involved.

Enquiries; Telephone 0118 9691611 or visit www.cistermiser.co.uk

Affordable elegance for the modern care home BUILDING on the original success of Harris and Dice launched in July 07, Mosaic by Skopos have announced the launch of Harris & Dice Plus.

A collection of two stylish, colour woven, textured fabrics suitable for use as fixed upholstery.

Featuring an extended colour palette and enhanced fabric performance, Harris, a traditional tonal weave, and Dice, a distinctive chenille weave offer, affordable elegance for the modern care home.

It has been designed to work in harmony with new and existing interior schemes, and has the added advantage of being waterproof, breathable, anti-microbial, soil resistant, and flame retardant to crib five.

Mosaic by Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and, as the healthcare division of Skopos Design Ltd, Mosaic has over 30 years’ specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the healthcare sector.

Enquiries: Telephone 01924 465191 or visit www.skoposdesignltd.com

Durability and design appeal crucial to Muckamore Abbey DURABILITY, choice and aesthetic appeal were the key criteria involved when seating from Knightsbridge was specified for a specialist assessment and treatment unit for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland.

All the bedrooms and quiet areas at Muckamore Abbey Hospital feature Thorpe armchairs to a special ‘Extreme’ specification to cater for patients demonstrating challenging behaviour patterns, supported by examples of Kog, a range of soft and supportive foam seating in bright cuboid and cylindrical formations.

In the day rooms, Madison armchairs and settees are again to the ‘Extreme’ specification, while the dining and activity areas feature versatile Tempo upright chairs partnered by sturdy Ascot tables.

The visitor and staff areas are also populated with furniture from the Knightsbridge care portfolio. Guests are welcomed by Shelley armchairs and twin-seat settees, with smart Nimbus multi-purpose armchairs and Owen high-back office chairs in the consulting suites.

Easy armchairs and two-seater settees from the Vienna collection are also in the staff quarters, with Delta stacking armchairs in the training rooms.

Enquiries: Telephone 01274 731900 or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

To yellow bag or not to yellow bag?

YELLOW bag collection is an ever increasing cost, leaving home managers and care providers with little option but to renegotiate their fees or find an alternative.

DDC Dolphin have been making their incontinence pad macerators for more than 10 years, and have continued to develop and increase its durability and efficiency.

The company has recently launched its ‘Incomatic’ incontinence pad macerator, boasting anti-microbial technology, drastically reducing the risk of spreading infections.

Using advanced cutting technology and unique features to ensure a trouble free experience, the question has to be: ‘How much can this save you?’.

Enquiries: Telephone 01202 731555 or visit www.sluice.co.uk

Girbau washer rated as most energy efficient GIRBAU’S HS-6008 washer has been named the most energy-efficient in its class by US body Energy Star.

Tests carried out showed the machine uses far less water and electricity than the machines of other manufacturers.

Part of the Girbau 6 Series range of high speed washers, the 9kg capacity HS6008 reaches spin speeds of up to 1000rpm and its wash process has been specifically designed to minimise the use of water and energy.

By using less water while still providing excellent washing, HS 6 series washers also use less detergent and reduce filling time.

The materials used in the manufacture of 6 Series washers are recyclable, but no sacrifice has been made in Girbau’s reputation for robustness and quality manufacture established over the past 40 years.

Enquiries: Telephone 0844 391 0395 or email sales@girbau.co.uk

New washer-extractor from Armstrong A NEW 13 kg freestanding Primus washer-extractor has been launched by Armstrong commercial laundry systems.

The existing range has seven models between eight and 55kg, and the new machine is in response to market demand for one between 10 and 16 kg.

The FS13 has all the virtues of the established range energy efficiency, a frequency controlled motor, easy maintenance and the reliability that has made the range so popular.

There is an extensive selection of options to allow the operator to tailor the equipment to his own requirements. These include a water recovery kit and a communications interface which enables remote servicing, a great advantage for the multiple operator.

The new model has a smaller footprint than the 16kg machine yet a very large (41cm) door for fast loading and unloading. As with all Armstrong supplied equipment, the new FS13 is supported by a comprehensive range of advisory, finance and after sales services.

Enquiries: Telephone 01635 263410.

To get your product news on this page Contact:

01226 734479

37

CARINGNEWS

A care group in the south west of England has launched a new programme aimed at helping residents lead a more active life. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Anything’s possible with activity scheme CORNWALL Care’s Active Life scheme is designed to make almost any activity possible, from something as simple as helping peel potatoes at lunchtime to an abseil down the side of a building.

It has been put together by the group’s sensory development manager Ray Liles, and a team of 50 staff across the 18 homes have been made ‘champions’ to implement it.

He told Caring UK that the scheme, which was launched at The Eden Project, is more than just planning a few activities in each home.

Ray added: “There are a lot of good activities, both on a one to

one basis or in a group, going on around the homes, but I always feel there is room for improvement.

“There are always those who don’t join in anything, and this programme has come about after speaking with them and finding out what would interest them and give them a more meaningful life.

“If I were to move into a care home and couldn’t get out an about it would drive me crazy, and we want to people to feel they are living with us and not just staying at the home.”

Ray said he plans to get local schools, colleges and communities involved in the scheme, which will run continually throughout the

year across the homes.

He added: “This isn’t just a project, but is something the group wants to become a way of life for people. It is about allowing people to be creative and share their ideas and not just being sat in a lounge watching television all day, although they can do that if they so wish.

“Some people will still not want to get involved with anything, but that is their choice. We want to meet the needs of those that do want to get more involved.”

The staff have set up their own choir which will tour the homes and sing for the residents following a series of workshops at the launch

of event.

Ray said: “As part of the day we held several classes, and one of them was singing, which I thought I was going to hate.

“But what the lady who ran the lesson managed in an hour was nothing short of amazing, and we sounded fantastic if I do say so. She has agreed to lead us and we are going to put on performances and doing involve the residents in warming up techniques as the singing.

“I hope that the programme will be a real success and something that other care organisations will look at and want to get involved in.”

Children rename areas SCHOOL children have helped to rename the living areas at a Barchester run care home in Ipswich.

The nine and 10-year-olds from Cedar Wood School designed posters to represent their suggested name for Alice Grange, with the only stipulation that it must reflect the heritage of the home, which was built on farmland.

The five winners were chosen by general manager Wendy Harvey, and invited back to the home to see the professionally made signs that had been created from their entries. The pupils were also given £20 of book vouchers and a special certificate.

She said: “We always like to get the local community involved with the home, and asking local school children to name some of the areas has been a great success.

“The residents thoroughly enjoyed having the children visit, and all the entries were such lovely names and designs. It was very difficult to choose the final five, but I think we have a wonderful selection of truly fitting names.”

The successful new names were Lilac Close, Daisy Close, Bluebell Close, Honeysuckle Close and Cherry Blossom Way.

Staff complete charity bike ride SIX members of staff were part of a group of 27 who completed a 200mile bike ride from London to Paris and raised more than £60,000 for a South London care home.

Nightingale’s assistant director Sally Miller, in-house physiotherapists Michael Stokes and Georgie Busse, religious advisor Rafi Fuchs and nurses Jenny Wang and Fan Li Hua completed the ride which finished at the Eiffel tower.

The ride, which featured riders

between the ages of 22 and 67, was the first of its kind that Nightingale has organised, and all money raised will go towards the running costs of the home.

Sally said: “There was an amazing camaraderie and some great friendships were formed. Through laughter, sweat and some tears, this tremendous achievement was very much a team effort and one which I am delighted that I was able to be a part of.”

Tina (centre) with Shelbourne's Nostalgia Neighbourhood manager Maggie Tomlin and assisted living manager Gina Markham.

Tina wins county carer award A NEW Forest carer who visited a terminally-ill resident who was dying of cancer on her days off has won a county award.

Tina Smit, lead care assistant at The Shelbourne Senior Living Community in Sway, was named carer of the year at Hampshire The County Magazine’s award ceremony.

She was nominated by managing director Ken Waterhouse, who described her as a ‘caring and posi-

tive member of the team.”

Tina was also praised by her team for carrying on work as normal during a personally difficult time when her son was posted out to Afghanistan.

She said: “I feel very honoured to have won. I get a lot of satisfaction out of what I do and I love the fact that I come in to work every day and am able to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

38

CARINGCLASSIFIED AND PRODUCT NEWS

Practice has Firm extends experience monitor use

Residents prepare to let the balloons off for Comic Relief

Residents receive a message from across the North Sea AN unexpected message from more than 100 miles away across the North Sea has been received by surprised residents of a Suffolk care home.

The note from the Netherlands turned up after residents of Healthcare Homes’ Barking Hall nursing home in Needham Market released 41 labeled red balloons in March in aid of Red Nose Day. One of the balloons was scooped up from the sea by Dutch fisherman Cornelis Hameeteman, who sent it back to the home with a map of where it had been found and also a picture of his fishing vessel.

Manager Patricia Smaldon said: “This one balloon has had an amazing journey and we are all really excited that it went so far. Each resident released a balloon in aid of Red Nose Day, which enabled us to raise over £116. Some even released the balloons from their bedroom windows.

“Each balloon was marked with the resident’s room number, and the balloon which came back belonged to Keith Pemberton. All of the staff and residents, especially Keith are very impressed that it managed to travel so far.”

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Care Alarms

LANDSCAPE architectural practice TDA has a wealth of experience dealing with various care sector projects from individual homes to large care villages.

The company has worked on many projects nationwide, providing landscape character and visual assessments, tree surveys and designs for planning applications within the care sector.

TDA specialises in catering for elderly mentally ill patients through the development of secure sensory gardens. The gardens, designed in consultation with care home operators, provide practical and safe external areas for residents’ relaxation, enjoyment and recreational activities.

A spokesman said: “We believe our success is based on understanding the needs and aspirations of the client, while accommodating the end user and producing inspired and practical landscape design solutions.”

HOME from Hospital has extended its use of the CM2000’s CallConfirmLive! electronic monitoring solution as a part of an extra care housing scheme in partnership with the RichmondUpon-Thames Churches Housing Trust.

Chestnut House is a block of 41 flats privately run for individuals requiring access to ‘close care’, and is seen as offering an alternative to the traditional care home.

In order to ensure the residents were receiving the care allocated to them in their care package, and to allow Home from Hospital to bill for actual care delivered, director of finance Carlyn Bevan has been working with CM2000 to introduce a radio frequency identification tag and mobile phone based monitoring solution.

Called ‘Touch and Go’, the system uses the CM2000 CallConfirmLive! user interface to display and report on visit information.

New unit speeds up reprocessing MIELE’S new PG 8527 singlecabinet unit will simplify and speed up the task of reprocessing laboratory glassware.

The PG 8528 washer disinfector is a two-door unit for installation in a barrier wall designed for a hospital central sterilising department

decontaminating surgical instruments. These units are also extremely versatile and feature Miele's new, simple-to-use perfect touch display, which has the controls set in a perfectly flush glass screen, allowing simple and effective surface disinfection.

Names to speak at event REPRESENTATIVES from the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive will speak at a conference next month which will look at safety in care.

The National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services’ annual event will take place at The Hilton hotel in Blackpool on July 2, and this year’s theme will be ‘Safety on Care: A

Uniforms

new direction’.

Speakers at the conference include Jeff Jerome, national director for adult social care transformation at the Department of Health, Health and Safety Executive director Sayeed Khan and Hill Solomon creative director Clare Solomon.

An exhibition will run alongside the conference.