no.296 • £4.75 incorporating
September 2021
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Plan to prevent meltdown this winter unveiled PARLIAMENT should be recalled for MPs to urgently tackle the staffing crisis in social care and recruit a task force of volunteers to help out, providers have said. The Independent Care Group has unveiled a three-point plan to prevent a “winter meltdown” due to the crisis in the care of older and vulnerable people. It calls for: n Parliament to be recalled urgently to tackle the crisis. n A volunteer army to fill gaps left by the huge recruitment shortage in care. n A financial injection to help providers give staff better terms and conditions. ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “The staffing crisis is now so bad that providers are battling day to day to cover shifts both in homes and in looking after people in their own home. “Many say it is the worst they have known in more than 30 years and so we need urgent action now, before the added pressures of winter turn this into a total meltdown.” Before Covid-19 there were 120,000 vacancies in the sector. Staff sickness and those isolating has been followed by a loss of staff to the sector due to plans to force all employees to have the vaccine. The end of freedom of movement after Brexit has also cut off a valuable source of recruitment for the sector. There is a growing
problem of providers being unable to take on new clients or handing contracts back to their local authority. This is leading to people being stuck in hospital beds or left without the care they need. “We cannot wait for the resumption of Parliament to tackle the current situation,” Mike added. “We need some urgent funding to be put in place, like the Government did with infection control, to enable providers to address pay within the sector and help them to recruit, because staff shortages are now becoming critical. “The Government should also recruit a care volunteer task force, from retired nurses, doctors, carers, to help out. “This would need to be done quickly so that they can be DBS checked and trained before winter pushes us to tipping point. “We also need to work closely with the inspectors, the Care Quality Commission, to see how we manage the inspection regime sensitively during this extremely challenging time for providers, many of whom are struggling to keep going. “Even before Covid-19 there were 1.5m people living without the care they need. We should be addressing that. Instead, we are struggling to keep our heads above water. Without urgent help we are going to experience a terrible winter.”
First comedy club a hit at care home
Residents at a dementia care home were treated to a staycation with a difference, thanks to a beach environment that has been created especially for them at their landlocked home in Wellington, Somerset. The activities team at Camelot House and Lodge have been busy recreating a good oldfashioned day at the seaside, complete with sand, beach accessories, ice-cream and even a specially tailored ambient soundtrack. Activities co-ordinator Richard Dempslake said: “Many of people’s happiest memories are associated with past seaside holidays, and our residents are no exception. And because of the nature of dementia it means that their older memories are the most frequently recalled.” Resident Barbara Doubtfire is pictured enjoying the sand.
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LAUGHS were shared across a Hertfordshire care home as it hosted its very own comedy club to mark National Joke Day and provide some light-hearted fun for residents and staff. Chuckles, giggles and full-on roars of laughter filled the walls of Foxholes, near Hitchin, during its inaugural comedy club event, which was hailed as a great success from all involved. Those involved in some of the one-line gags included 90-yearold Una Bracey, who opted for the cheeky classic: “Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing.” 91-year-old Jean Jacobs went for the festive favourite: “What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite!” The playful scheme aimed to promote friendship, togetherness and positive wellbeing, while providing residents and staff with a chance to enjoy some light-hearted fun following a challenging 18-months due to the Covid-19 crisis. Estate manager Neil Gandecha said: “We’re always open to new ideas on ways we can improve our residents’ quality of life and following numerous requests, we decided to trial a comedy club. “It was our way of providing residents with an opportunity to share a few laughs and form new friendships. “We wanted to spread some summer cheer to mark National Joke Day and we achieved that, through the good jokes and bad.”
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