T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S Issue 111
W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M
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Adult Social Care Needs Immediate Funding and Long-Term Plan Says MPs
Adult social care urgently needs “several billions” of additional funding and long-term plan to tackle mounting pressures, including workforce retention, MPs have warned. In a report, the cross party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee said the coronavirus pandemic has “exacerbated” the underlying structural challenges of rising demand, unmet need and difficulties in recruiting
and retaining staff. Examining the Government’s charging reforms and local government finance, unpaid carers and workforce challenges, the report says the “message rang clear throughout our inquiry: the adult social care sector does not have enough funding either in the here and now, or in the longer-term”.
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PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the latest edition of The Carer Digital! A story in this week's issue caught my eye health and social care is the UK's second most stressful sector. I was rather surprised that it wasn't the first, given what the sector has experienced these past couple of years. The most stressful sector in the survey was the hospitality industry. Having spent many years in hospitality operations I did expect the sector to be near the top but, as I say, I was rather surprised that it trumped health and social care. As I have often said before we attend many trade shows and get to speak with people who have worked at the coalface, we always get a fine sense of camaraderie, but the stories we hear particularly surrounding the past couple of years dealing with a covered pandemic, PPE, mandatory vaccinations and ongoing staffing crisis should make it, for me at least the most stressful sector in the country at the moment. Added to which as our front page story reveals yet another funding warning to the government. I note that Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England has written to both leadership contenders calling for a commitment to fix key issues surrounding adult social care within the first 100 days of taking office. I sincerely hope he has better luck than I did with my letters. I did say last week that I didn't hold out a great deal of hope in getting a reply given their current busy and rather frantic campaigns, but Professor Green is a high profile figure within the sector so I do hope his warnings are heeded. Among a multitude of problems the staffing crisis has been an ongoing issue during my time as editor of this publication. The government could go a long way into alleviating staffing pressures by easing the bureaucracy which is currently fuelling delays in recruiting overseas staff. Given that the government added care workers to the Shortage of Labour (SoL) list to help staffing issues in the sector it seems ridiculous that government delays or preventing operators from recruiting staff from overseas. it sometimes looks as though the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing! We very much hope to have some expert input on this burning topic in time for next week's issue.
Editor
Peter Adams
I do hope you are all in the middle of some wonderful Afternoon Tea Week celebrations! As you know we here at the CARER have a delightful luxury hamper waiting to be delivered to a care home who has “pushed out the boat” to celebrate this wonderful quintessentially English celebration. All you have to do is briefly tell us what you did at your home to celebrate, details of any events you held, or details of the homemade tasty delights you produced with a couple of photographs and perhaps quotes from residents and we will pick a winner! Send your entries to nominate@thecareruk.com Please do keep your stories coming in, we are delighted to publish some delightful stories from various homes around the country, from birthdays to fund raising, from baking to growing vegetables, anything you would like to share please do send it to me editor@thecareruk.com
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 3
Adult Social Care Needs Immediate Funding and Long-Term Plan Says MP’s (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) The Committee’s report outlines that: • On adult social care, the Government currently has nothing more than a vision, with no roadmap, no timetable, no milestones, and no measures of success. • The Government should come forward with 10-year plans for how it will achieve its vision outlined in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper and for the adult social care workforce • The Government should provide a multi-year funding settlement to give local authorities what they need in terms of their own sustainability and their ability to help shape sustainable local care markets. Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, said: “As Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said he would fix the crisis in social care once and for all. The Government deserves credit for attempting reform and for acting to try to prevent the unpredictable and catastrophic costs which can be inflicted upon people for their care. However, the Government should be under no illusions that it has come close to rescuing social care and it needs to be open with the public that there is a long way to go. “Ultimately, whether it relates to immediate cost pressures or on wider structural issues in the sector, the fundamental problem is that there continues to be a large funding gap in adult social care which needs filling. Those who need care, their loved ones, and care workers deserve better. “The NHS and adult social care provision should not be pit against one another. The two systems are interdependent and each needs to be adequately funded to reduce pressure on the other. Wherever the money comes from—from allocating a higher proportion of levy proceeds to social care, or from central government grants—the Government urgently needs to allocate more funding to adult social care in the order of several billions each year.”
ADDITIONAL PRESSURES The report notes the additional pressures of Covid-19 as having exacerbated the underlying structural challenges of rising demand, unmet need, and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. It also notes severe current pressures arising from increases in the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage, and from rising inflation. That most of the funding from the Health and Social Care Levy will go to the NHS, and the money that will go to adult social care is for reforms, not cost pressures, is also highlighted in the report. Addressing the Government’s sector reforms, the report notes the positive stakeholder reception to the vision outlined in the Government’s White Paper on long-term reform of adult social care, titled People at the Heart of Care. The report commends the Government for introducing many welcome initiatives such as those relating to housing and data which could make a significant difference in the long-term to people’s lives. The report calls on the Government to publish a 10-year plan for how its vision in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper will be achieved, taking into account how the different policies interweave and affect one another. The Government should also publish a 10-year strategy for the adult social care workforce which includes a clear roadmap with core milestones, outcomes, and measures of success.
“MULTI YEAR FUNDING SETTLEMENT” The report expresses concerns about the sheer number of reforms and new ways of working in respect of adult social care that involve and affect local authorities. To help local councils deliver the numerous social care reforms, it’s important the Government provides a multi-year funding settlement to give local authorities what they need in terms of their own sustainability and their ability to help shape sustainable local care markets. The report also calls on the Government to publish a new burdens assessment by the end of the year to determine the level of resource needed by local government in terms of staff, expertise, and funding to deliver the full package of adult social care reforms.
“UPHILL BATTLE” Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “Social care has been facing an uphill battle for some time in terms of sustainable funding, the sector urgently needs financial support and we are pleased that LGA evidence and recommendations has influenced this report. “To meet current unmet and under-met need within social care funding is urgently needed. Evidence from across the sector shows the current crisis in workforce capacity, waiting times and strained council budgets. The LGA has also been concerned with the impact of the upcoming charging reforms on councils and care providers, and strongly agree that the recommendations of £7 billion of further funding for social care and a re-evaluation and regular monitoring of the impact of charging reforms as well top-up funding are both much needed. “Developing a strategy for the social care workforce, with a requirement of working towards parity with the NHS is something the LGA has long-campaigned for and could be transformative for social care, in both changing perceptions of the critical role of care work and increasing capacity in the workforce. Reducing the reliance on council tax to fund adult social care and publishing a new burdens assessment by the end of the year to determine the level of resource needed by local government deliver the full package of adult social care reforms would also be a positive step for the sector.”
WORKER SHORTAGE WORRY The shortage of workers and lack of proper pay is the biggest worry for providers of care, said Natasha Curry, deputy director of the Nuffield Trust. She said: “There is a desperate need for a realistic workforce strategy that goes beyond a wish list and puts pay for all social care staff on a competitive footing, which adequately rewards qualifications, responsibilities and experience.”
COST OF LIVING CRISIS Other health leaders have welcomed the findings of the report but have cautioned that the cost-of-living crisis will make the ongoing situation in adult social care worse. Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “While this government pledged to ‘fix’ social care, it is clear that in reality, this is far from having been achieved. “Against a backdrop of increasing workforce pressures, inflation, and a cost-of-living crisis, the sector finds itself in a more precarious position than ever before.”
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Safeguarding Health and Wellbeing in the Care Home and Among Staff George Parlapan, Health and Wellbeing Specialist at Royal Alfred Seafarers Society discusses the importance of wellbeing for residents and staff in the care home. Social care is often associated with physical care, but the Covid-19 pandemic has put the spotlight firmly on the mental aspect of care – an equally important factor that can be inadvertently overlooked. Human dignity and happiness are fundamental rights to life and providing it in the care home requires a person-centred approach to care, which is about understanding the individual’s needs and tailoring a unique care and wellbeing plan around them. Following two years of covid restrictions, the care sector is slowly returning to some semblance of normality. Covid severely impacted staff and residents, with social isolation and loneliness affecting their wellbeing. At the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society, we elected to develop a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team to focus on mental support and wellbeing of the residents. The team also prioritised staff wellbeing to combat loneliness during Covid. The care and nursing teams need to ensure every resident receives the best standard of individualised care and accomplishing this is only possible if the team feels valued.
WHY INDIVIDUALISED CARE? A one-size-fits-all approach to care isn’t feasible, especially regarding mental support and wellbeing. Creating individual wellbeing programmes is the cornerstone of person-centred care, where residents are treated as unique individuals. For example, as part of the Royal Alfred’s goal to provide completely bespoke individualised care, we encourage residents and their relatives to participate in their care and care planning process – ensuring activities and support is relevant to them. Working at sea is considered one of the world’s 10 most dangerous jobs. It often leads to a diminished social life, with the monotonous routines and harsh working conditions sometimes resulting in physical and psychological problems in retirement. When seafarers retire, knowing where to turn for like-minded companionship and emotional support can be difficult. There are few occupational pension schemes for those
with a maritime background, so creating a tailored approach to recognise this lifestyle is essential. Critical to implementing an effective wellbeing programme, especially to cater to individual needs is promoting physical and mental activities. The best way to keep the mind healthy is to keep it stimulated and active, which is why it’s essential to encourage residents to participate in numerous activities throughout their week. Culture training is one of the programmes we introduced at Royal Alfred to better understand the lives and experiences of residents at sea. This gave the diverse care team greater insight into the British culture of the people they care for and vice versa to support both groups’ emotional wellbeing. Becoming more familiar with a resident’s personal history and life enable carers to better cater to their individual needs while still allowing them to retain some sense of independence.
STAFF SUPPORT Care home staff also faced extraordinary challenges in the past few years, spending longer times away from their family while taking significant precautions to ensure the safety of people in their care. This is one reason why support programmes that nurture a positive culture are vital for staff members. Creating a safe and supportive environment where staff feel they can express their emotions freely toward a manager or nurse in charge is imperative for wellbeing. For example, at the Society, we built an activity programme to empower our staff through this trying period, including mental health support, free food, and shopping deliveries at home to take off the external pressure. We also provided training for nurses to support them with their revalidation and career progression. Alongside formal equality, diversity and inclusion policies, and mental health training, care home providers should support staff with social activities that allow for relationship building within the home. For instance, the Care sector is proudly very multicultural so encouraging team members to share their backgrounds, cultures, and family stories to try emulating a “home away from home” feeling can go a long way and raise greater awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in care planning. For care home providers, the pandemic brought home the indisputable fact that supporting and understanding mental health can be difficult and that everyone has different needs that require different levels of care. Developing innovative new practices will safeguard the dignity of residents and the wellbeing of staff in the years ahead.
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 5
Health & Social Care UK’s Second Most Stressful Sector Health and social care is the second most stressful sector in the UK, with a staggering 56% of employees reporting workplace stress. The sector ranks just behind the hospitality industry. As part of a new study, the team at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere have crunched the numbers to reveal the industries that experience the highest levels of workplace stress. The study revealed that staff workload involved in health and social care sector, typically involving being on your feet all day, as well as helping people out of chairs and beds, saw the industry ranked second when it came to stress levels, with an alarming score of 56.30%. At the other end of the scale, the industry that had the lowest record of stress was the information and communication sector, with a score of 47.50% overall. This is a fairly surprising result, as articles have highlighted that the constant need to learn and improve skills causes mounting pressure for IT employees. Sharing his thoughts on this matter, Martin Preston, Chief Executive and Founder at Delamere said: “Stress in the workplace is disastrous for many reasons, one of them being that burn out can actually lead to being less productive and making mistakes. In industries that deal with machinery or are based in dangerous environments, this could have catastrophic consequences. “Untreated stress and work burnout, which is made worse by the toxicity of grind or hustle culture, can lead to severe cases of anxiety and other mental health conditions – which could then, in turn, lead to an
employee needing to go off work sick. The mental health of employees should always come first for a business, which is why it can be unprofessional and detrimental to contact employees outside of working hours or suggest that people work overtime for no extra income. “This kind of mentality contributes directly to hustle culture, and could lead to employees feeling that they have failed if they ever take a break. Keep all communication within paid hours, and try as much as possible to build relationships with your employees outside of work – this will allow employers to get to know their workforce as human beings with emotional needs, and will in turn make their employees feel more comfortable when voicing concerns.” The full report can be viewed here: https://delamere.com/blog/the-toxicity-of-hustle-culture
Burma Campaign Veteran Recalls Japanese Surrender, Ahead of VJ Day Anniversary Residents at Royal Star & Garter are preparing to mark Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August. Among them are Harry Southern and Peter Whiteley, who were both involved in the Burma campaign during WWII. The veterans are cared for at Royal Star & Garter. The charity has Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe, and provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. Harry Southern was serving in the Navy and preparing for a “suicide trip”, when atomic bombs dropped by American forces on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced the Japanese surrender. The 97-year-old, who lives at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, was a Leading Seaman, serving on a small 18-man motor launch (ML). He said: “We were there to harass the Japanese and support the Army as necessary. They needed people moving and we moved them around.” On VJ Day, Harry was in Trincomalee in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka), where his ML was having a refit. “The reason for the refit was to have sound amplifying equipment installed which would make the noise of an armada out at sea,” he said. “The idea was we would cause a diversion to the Japanese, who would
think there was an invasion coming down the west coast of Burma. And the diversion would obviously embarrass them because it was maybe three vessels playing gramophone records, just three 18-man crews involved. We were putting ourselves in a great deal of danger. You could regard it in some ways as a suicide trip. If they investigated, we were in trouble. But the bombs dropped and the refit was stopped.” Harry said any relief he felt at the Japanese surrender was later tempered by the devastation caused to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He said: “I was out there nearly another nine months before I was drafted home. And we didn’t know the extent of the death and destruction it caused. That filtered through later.” Peter Whiteley, a 100-year-old at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, was involved in direct conflict with Japanese troops while serving in Burma (now Myanmar). He joined the Army as an 18-year-old in 1940, serving in the Royal Engineers. He was part of the Battle of the Box – which provided a welcome victory against the Japanese after successive failures and retreats – and later survived a deadly assault by enemy troops, which claimed the lives of several men he was with. Both men would later receive Burma Star medals. In Surbiton, VJ Day will be marked with events and activities which include live music from Swingtime Sweethearts. In Solihull, Harry will commemorate the day with the local British Legion branch.
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Why Data Is Key In The Circle of Care
By Nick Weston, CCO, Lilli (www.intelligentlilli.com)
The care sector has truly proven itself to be adaptable and resilient in the face of massive adversity. With the pandemic triggering several years’ worth of digital transformation in a matter of months, adult social care has been front and centre in embracing the possibilities that new digital tools and solutions can bring. Staff have shown an inspiring willingness to embrace the unknown and adopt different ways of working – all the while ‘keeping the lights on’ and steering a vulnerable population through the most severe health crisis in a century. None of this would have been possible without the commitment and bravery of the entire health and social care ecosystem: decision-makers, frontline staff, service users, and their families. Now, there is an opportunity to advance further on the journey towards technology-powered care for all. Data has become an enabler of transformation across the sector – providing a means of tracking and representing the needs of service users through the whole circle of care. But to fully realise the benefits of the seamless exchange of data across organisational and technological boundaries, frontline teams must continue to embrace digital innovation and ensure that data is being understood and valued by all users.
REDUCING THE RESOURCING BURDEN Operations and administration certainly has its place in social care – but it should have a clear value and purpose. For too long, care professionals have seen new systems being put in place that fail to deliver clear outcomes for the people using them, failing to have the real positive impact on the service user that was both promised and expected. This has ultimately created more work on the frontline without demonstrating any value, leading to admin tasks becoming overly focused on report writing rather than being outcome driven. This can cause some care practitioners cautious to the implementation of technology, seeing it as just another system they need to navigate that is not built with their needs in mind. Data can play a key role in changing this narrative. When data is collated more centrally, authorities benefit from a logical, unified, and federated view of the holistic needs of vulnerable individuals. Therefore, having a central method or data set helps to support the flow of data between traditionally fragmented services and systems, reducing the admin burden and releasing the resource capacity back to the frontline - to do what they do best, which is care and support vulnerable people. Having the right digital solution will collate all key data in one place, allowing authorities to demonstrate their own compliance at the click of a button. This is not only useful during an audit, but helps to ensure best practice is maintained on a day-to-day basis. Most importantly, this data provides the visibility to care practitioners and those making decisions around care packages and delivery to ensure adults can access the right care in the right place at the right time.
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If time is of the essence in adult social care, so is consistency. Frontline staff are constantly asked to make the best decisions with what is in front of them at the time. Therefore, decisions need to be informed by real-time data insights in a consistent format – rather than piecemeal anecdotal feedback. Access to real-time data helps us to build a complete and accurate picture of a service user’s changing needs, allowing staff to be much more proactive in smoothing out the pathway through care and more quickly and easily identifying changing needs. In this way, technology functions as the ‘silent voice’ of the user, representing their specific challenges, needs and experiences at all hours of the day or night. At a time when the need to see evidence and value more instantly is more important than ever, by implementing the right type of technology, care providers can utilise the data they have at their disposal to create an accurate picture of what is happening in real-time. This can drive better and more accurate decision making and in turn, provide the support and reassurance needed, not only by the service user but also by their families and carers.
ENSURING INTEROPERABILITY But to get the most from this data, it must be efficiently shared across care settings and providers. This is why any tech implemented needs to be interoperable with existing systems. All reports should be easily accessible and shareable across multiple platforms, so that frontline staff can seamlessly disseminate data and ensure that those who need it have quick and easy access to it. The cross-system benefits of interoperability allows data to be integrated and shared across different areas, even within the current constraints of the care sector. Sharing data across systems in this way helps to secure better outcomes for service users by painting an accurate picture of what is happening in real time. This proactive approach can help lead to fewer unnecessary interventions from primary care, the need for complex treatment or unnecessary hospital admissions by sharing data and catching deviations before they become a problem.
AN ENABLER OF CHANGE When organisations truly harness data to its fullest, they can go about adopting a transformational change that provides real and long-term lasting benefits to the people who need it most. To get to this stage however, it is essential to ensure that organisations and technology providers ensure that data is both accessible and that frontline staff fully understand how to use the technology platforms that are implemented, how to access the data it creates, and more importantly, how they are then able to leverage this data into actionable insights that supports them directly in their role. The best way of approaching this is to provide evidence that clearly demonstrates the positive care outcomes that technology can deliver for care practitioners, and to provide the right training for staff so they can fully understand and realise the positive change it can make. They are then able fully embrace digital and transformational change to ensure its success, not just for their organization, but for them in the individual roles and the service users they care for. With the help of an outcomes-based digital solution, care workers can reassure service users that they have their best interests at heart, and that the technology is being implemented with them in mind. This reassurance can help prevent service users being guarded about the use of technology in their home, allowing open conversations about technology and how the data is being collected and used to help and support them, providing the freedom to live in their homes for longer. This then demystifies the process, showing the tangible, achievable benefits of these new approaches to their own lives. In this way, data is a key enabler of transformation throughout the sector. It delivers evidence that can be quickly accessed, shared, and acted upon, allowing for technology to provide better care for individuals and communities. Not only does this ease resourcing and workload pressures on frontline staff, but it also enables service users to be themselves and live their best possible lives at home – with technology supporting them through the entire circle of care.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 7
Fixing Social Care: A Call to Action for the New PM
Care England, has written to Conservative leadership candidates Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP and Rt Hon Liz Truss MP calling for a commitment to ‘fix’ the key issues facing the social care sector within the first onehundred days of entering office. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “Despite repeated promises from Government that they would ‘fix’ adult social care, the sector finds itself in unprecedented circumstances. The immediate financial pressures facing the sector, amid a backdrop of rising energy prices, inflation, and a cost-of-living crisis, as well as long-term issues caused by decades of neglect and chronic underfunding, necessitate considerable and immediate action. It is vital that the leadership candidates understand the severity of these issues and the need to address them as a matter of urgency. Inflation and the rising cost of living are having a disproportionate and detrimental impact on social care providers; Government inaction has meant that care providers are limited in their opportunities to provide their staff with the remuneration and benefits afforded to NHS colleagues. The dysfunctionality of the system was once again highlighted in the ADASS Member Survey, which revealed that an estimated 540,000 people are waiting for assessments, care, direct payments or adult social care reviews, a 36.9% increase since November 2021.” The letter to Mr. Sunak and Ms. Truss came after the publication of the Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee’s report into ‘long-term funding of adult social care’. The LUHC Committee
concluded that the Government’s plans for social care contained ‘no roadmap, no timetable, no milestones and no measures of success,’ as well as an annual funding gap of at least £7bn. Care England’s letter to the leadership hopefuls calls for a commitment to implement a series of measures to address immediate and long term pressures, among them: • Cost-of-Living: Allocate additional funding immediately accounting for inflationary pressures, rising energy costs and to address unmet care needs. • Funding: Commit to closing the funding gap by allocating more funding to adult social care in the order of several billions each year, at least £7bn. • Staffing: Equalise pay rates between domestic and overseas staff and issue a plan for overseas recruitment in line with the code of practice on global staff shortages. Martin Green continues: “The issues facing the social care sector are symptomatic of one that is underfunded, undervalued, and has for far too long been overlooked by those in power. The needs of society’s most vulnerable and those caring for them are too often an afterthought. The country is deserving of a leader who recognises the true value of social care and takes it upon themselves to finally deliver on the manifesto promise to ‘fix’ social care once and for all.”
Carers Makes Holiday Dream Come True For Special Steph A lady with complex additional needs was able to swap the care home for the Canary Islands when her carers helped her jet off on a dream holiday to Lanzarote. Steph Matthews, who has lived at Roman House care home in Basingstoke for since it opened in 1972, asked her carers about taking a short holiday in the UK now that COVID restrictions have relaxed. Steph has learning difficulties and osteoporosis, for which she uses a wheelchair. She is also registered blind but can see shapes and colours. Ashleigh Young, who works at the home, suggested that they take the adventurous step of booking somewhere further afield, and Steph suggested Lanzarote, because she had fond memories of visiting as a child. Ashleigh said: “We looked at holidays online and Steph picked Lanzarote, so we looked into it to see if there was an accessible apartment available. There was, so we booked it. It took a lot of planning and she required two carers to accompany her, but
we made sure we had plenty of time to get organised.” Steph spent a week having fun in the sun, enjoying local food, visiting the beach and swimming in the hotel pool. Ashleigh continued: “Steph had the best time. She wanted to go swimming and, because we had a swim vest and swim shoes for her, I knew we could support her safely in the swimming pool. She now wants a pool in Roman House’s back garden! “It is incredibly important to the team at Roman House that we help the people we support to live their best lives. Although taking someone with complex needs on holiday requires a bit more work, it is its own reward. Steph will remember this for years and I’m delighted to have been part of it.” Roman House is part of Ambito Care and Education, which is part of Salutem Care and Education.
PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
Key Employment Considerations For Care Home Providers
By Lee Ashwood, Employment Director at Freeths LLP (www.freeths.co.uk)
With over a decade’s experience of providing employment law advice to care home providers, Lee Ashwood of Freeths sets out his five common employment law pitfalls.
tle’. However, commonly care home providers leave themselves at risk of such a claim as they fail to ensure that the whistle-blower’s colleagues who may well have taken umbrage do not stop treating their colleague fairly and with respect.
1. NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
3. FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Care homes are often inadvertently paying their staff less than the National Minimum Wage and so leaving themselves at risk of claims for compensation by their staff and of being fined. Whilst the principle of the National Minimum Wage is a simple one – that someone who works for one hour is not paid less than a set amount for that hour’s work – the calculation for determining whether or not someone is paid the National Minimum Wage is complex. The issue is compounded as care homes commonly provide their junior staff with an hourly rate of pay equal to or only a little above the National Minimum Wage. The calculation requires an understanding of precisely what constitutes time spent working. This can be far more than simply the time someone is rostered on shift and may include, for example, time spent handing over before or after a shift, working while on a sleep-in, or while receiving training. An understanding of what payments a member of staff is required to make that will reduce their pay when calculating whether or not they are paid the National Minimum Wage is also required. Here, payments by staff for their uniforms or training fees, for example, need to be considered.
As care home workforces become more and more diverse, the likelihood of a language other than English being spoken in a care home increases. Care home providers want the best for their residents in terms of comfort and safety, of course. Sometimes, this leads to an enforced requirement by a provider that English is spoken at all times by their care home staff or, at least, in certain circumstances. However, the law against discrimination is wide-ranging and bans on speaking a language other than English in the workplace can often fall foul of it.
4. POOR PERFORMERS With care homes struggling to recruit and retain staff and care home managers already busy, it is often easier to overlook a poorly performing member of staff than it is to deal with them. Setting aside the potential risk to the health and safety of residents, failing to deal with a poor performer can greatly affect the morale of their colleagues with them possibly leaving, as well leading to allegations of there being a difference in treatment and so discrimination. However, as employment law does not prevent poor performance being dealt with swiftly and efficiently, care home providers have no reason not to act, having first taken advice.
5. PART-TIME EMPLOYEES Time and again, it is overlooked by care home providers that the law states that part-time employees must not be treated less favourably than their full-time colleagues because they are part-time. This issue comes to light when, for example, care home providers reward their full-time employees with additional time off, the right to refuse overtime or even the opportunity to choose their shifts. In doing so, care home providers put themselves at risk of a successful claim for compensation from a disgruntled parttime member of staff.
2. WHISTLE-BLOWERS
GET IN TOUCH FOR ADVICE
All care home providers work hard to encourage their staff to make it known when they have identified health and safety issues, have suspicions of neglect or abuse or have any other concerns about the provision of care at their care home. Having made their concerns known and so ‘blown-the-whistle’, it is widely known that the law states that the staff member may not be subjected to any detrimental treatment as a result of them ‘blowing the whis-
As a specialist lawyer for the Care sector, Lee supports individuals as well as businesses of all sizes including many small, medium or well-known organisations. He is an experienced litigator and provides pragmatic advice based on the objectives of his clients. For further information or a no-obligation consultation, get in touch with Lee Ashwood at: lee.ashwood@freeths.co.uk.
Double Celebrations as MHA Kenbrook Win Two Awards Staff at the home were all miles after winning the “team of the year” award The staff and residents at MHA Kenbrook have plenty of reasons to celebrate following their success at the Brent Adult Social Care Awards. The home and manager Marian O Hara were both nominated in separate categories and both came out victorious at the awards event, which was attended by Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for the Department for Health and Social Care who gave the keynote speech. The home was the worthy winner of the “Team of the Year” award, given for their dedication and commitment they have shown caring for their residents as a team, and Marian was declared “Manager of Year”. The award was the icing on the cake for Marian, who recently celebrated her 20 year work anniversary at the home. Marian plans to retire at the end of the year, but says the home will still
play a huge part in her life. Speaking after the ceremony, she said: “I am extremely proud of my team who have been through a lot the last couple of years. “For me personally, just the recognition is enough and to see the profile of social care being raised is huge. “I have a very committed team here at MHA Kenbrook, and it was a very proud moment for me and the team. “The local authorities have been very supportive to all social care providers in the Brent area. “The award is a great way for me to sign off on a personal note and it's something that I will always cherish. “Again, I am very proud of the team and myself and I hope this is something we can continue with moving forward.”
Study Reveals Negative Experience of Family Caregivers During the Pandemic Family caregivers in the UK were marginalised during the pandemic, and vulnerable older people were let down by the health system, a new study has found. Caregivers felt “powerless, voiceless and choiceless” during the first six months of the pandemic, as chaos reigned in some parts of the health system, elderly relatives were prematurely discharged and health records sometimes changed without due process, the University of Stirling Management School research found. Dr Carolyn Wilson-Nash analysed 2607 posts on forums for UKbased family caregivers between March 15 and September 15, 2020. She said: “When the pandemic hit, the NHS responded by postponing non-emergency procedures, closing non-emergency services and redeploying specialists, which released necessary hospital beds. Unfortunately, these actions had negative consequences for older people and their carers. “Early on, the UK government prioritised the fittest, which marginalised the vulnerable. “And NHS frontline services were rapidly overwhelmed. Just before the pandemic, the UK was spending just 9.8% of GDP on healthcare, one of the lowest in the developed world, and had a bed capacity of 2.5 per 1000 people.” Dr Wilson-Nash cites examples on the forums where the medical records of vulnerable older people were changed to ‘do not resuscitate’ without the family’s consent, when GPs phoned the older person and pressurised them to change their record. In other examples, older people were prematurely discharged into the community without care. “One 90 year-old was in hospital with Covid and her son was stuck abroad,” said Dr Wilson-Nash.
“The hospital sent her home in an ambulance to the care of a relative, who had just had an operation herself. The discharged patient was left downstairs with no food or heating. A caregiver came but said they couldn’t help because of Covid regulations. When an ambulance came back in the morning, and she was moved upstairs to her bed, she had soiled herself and her ankles had turned black.” In other cases, relatives who were offering to take patients home were ignored or refused due to Covid regulations. “They felt voiceless because panicking managers didn’t listen to them, and routes to complain had been shut down,” said Dr Wilson-Nash. “They felt powerless because they had no control of their relative’s care, and choiceless because they had no options. Ultimately, this has left them feeling resentful and mistrustful of the health service.” Her report makes a number of recommendations, including improving communication between the NHS and family caregivers, not closing complaints procedures and reducing the stress of frontline NHS employees through reduced workloads, emotional support services and better provision of PPE. It also recommends policy changes such as addressing the scarcity of in-home care services, both NHS and private, by offering business loans, for example; increasing regulations on service providers so that patients cannot be discharged if they have nowhere to go; standardising the quality of care expectations through clear guidelines, for instance around PPE; and creating more cohesion between those who care for vulnerable elderly people, across primary, secondary and health-based social services. “Family caregivers need more support, more funding and opportunities for training,” Dr Wilson-Nash added. “They also need clear communications and to be involved in care planning, especially if they have power of attorney. “At the moment, the system is too fragmented – the IT system for GPs is not connected to that of the hospitals, for example. This all needs to improve, before the next crisis hits.” The paper ‘Locked-in: the dangers of health service captivity and cessation for older adults and their carers during COVID-19’ is published in the Journal of Marketing Management.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 9
Health Leaders Warn Inflation is Wiping Out Large Parts of NHS Budget Responding to the Institute for Fiscal Studies briefing on the inflation squeeze on public services, Dr Layla McCay director of policy at the NHS Confederation said: "NHS leaders have been warning for some time that higher than expected inflation is wiping out large parts of the NHS budget. Put simply, the NHS’ budget is worth much less today than the settlement it received at the time of the government’s Spending Review in October. “This isn’t an abstract problem as the gap in funding will either have to be made up by fewer staff being
complexity of their conditions, a crumbling estate after a decade of underinvestment and high levels of delayed transfers of care due to the lack of social care workforce. NHS leaders are approaching winter with trepidation. “The new Prime Minister must provide a top-up in this autumn’s Budget or any emergency Budget they hold to make up the shortfall. The NHS needs at least £3.4bn to make up for inflation during this year alone and as this briefing from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows, a failure to compensate the Department of
employed, longer waiting times for care or other areas of patient care being cut back. We are currently see-
Health and Social Care for the impact of inflation will only heighten pressure on the NHS as we move
ing very high levels of pressure in the NHS with the challenges of ever-higher levels of patient need and
towards a winter that we know will be particularly challenging this year.”
Care Home’s Hawaiian Fete Helps Children with Special Needs A Hampshire care home hosted a Hawaiian-themed summer fete to benefit a New Forest children’s charity. Residents, families and staff at Colten Care’s Outstanding rated Kingfishers in New Milton, wore leis and enjoyed an afternoon of islandinspired raffles, a tombola and games, including guessing the number of sweets in a jar. The event raised £408 for the home’s chosen charity Scarf (Supporting Children with Additional Needs, Relatives and Friends). Scarf is a parent-led charity based in the New Forest which organises regular term-time and holiday activities for children and young people (up to 25 years) with special needs and their families. The children have a broad range of additional needs including autistic spectrum conditions, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and learning difficulties. Companionship Team Leader Rose Arcellana said: “Everyone here at Kingfishers is proud to be a sponsor of the Scarf charity and as we love to hold
events and get together and have fun, the Fete presented an ideal fundraising opportunity.” Resident Audrey Stokes said: “I thought it was a tremendous effort from the staff and a really jolly happy atmosphere which was enjoyed by myself and my friend. Well done!” Terry Brown agreed: “I would like to congratulate the staff especially Companionship Team Leader Rose and her team for all their hard work to make this event a huge success which everyone enjoyed.”
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 11
Critical That Social Care Workers Can Develop Their Skills, But More Needed To Tackle Huge Workforce Challenges Responding to a Department of Health and Social Care announcement that social care staff will receive improved career options and training over the next three years, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, said: “Any investment in the social care workforce is welcome and in the context of a tight labour market, it’s critical those working in social care have opportunities to develop and expand their skills.
potential social care workers. “80% of NHS leaders recently told us that a lack of adequate social care capacity is driving urgent care demand and 73% said it’s undermining efforts to tackle the elective backlog. The NHS and social care, and those needing care across the country, can’t afford to wait any longer for government to tackle the social care workforce crisis head-on as we move towards what will be an incredibly challenging winter.
“However, this alone is not enough to tackle the scale of the challenge facing the social care sector
“Our members are calling on the government to introduce and fund a national minimum care worker
which is losing staff to the retail and hospitality sectors among others every day. There are 165,000 vacan-
wage of at least £10.50 an hour to stem the flow of workers leaving the sector and to attract more people
cies across social care and social care providers simply don’t have the pay or benefits to recruit enough
into the social care workforce.”
Care Home Residents Have Been Loving the Commonwealth Games!
Residents and staff at Bushey House Beaumont care home in Bushey have been cheering on Team England throughout the Commonwealth Games. The home has been decked out with flags and residents have been enjoying all the action over the past two weeks. Everyone at the home has loved seeing all of our amazing athletes progress it inspired them to host their own games. Sports fans at Bushey House were delighted to be able to watch this year’s Games, especially given they are taking place on home soil in Birmingham. Residents enjoyed it so much they decided to hold their own events in the Bushey House games. Residents and staff have had a brilliant time getting together to take part in event’s includ-
ing Bowls, Darts and Croquet. There was a closing ceremony where the winning team were presented with a trophy. Mary Jane, General Manager at the home, said: “We have loved watching the Commonwealth Games, but it was even more fun holding our very own games. It was fantastic cheering everyone on and we had such a lot of fun staging our own opening and closing ceremonies.” Resident, Mary Beckett commented: “I absolutely loved being on the Croquet team in the Bushey House Games, it reminded me of when I was younger and my family played in our garden. I was rather good back then and I still have it now!”
PAGE 12 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
How AI is Being Used To Reduce The Number Of Preventable Chronic Diseases In Care Homes
By Faramarz Farhoodi, CEO of AI Nexus Healthcare (https://ainexushealthcare.com)
Elderly care in the UK is facing a crisis. Our ageing population is growing rapidly, and staffing shortages are putting more pressure than ever on an already fragile sector. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to transform elderly care and the technology to make it possible is already here. By tracking and analysing health data such as vital signs, sleep patterns, movement or bed exits, AI has the ability to provide real-time, medically informed, patient-specific recommendations, bringing relief to overwhelmed caregivers. The same cutting-edge technology can be used to reveal undetected or developing health problems, empowering staff to prevent some illnesses before they become deadly chronic illnesses. Per the World Health Organization, 80% of chronic diseases are preventable proving that a shift from cure-focused care to prevention-focused care is not only smart,
focused on empowering prevention. This has seen us create AI powered software that monitors and analyses vital signs and health data to create what is essentially a ‘check engine' light for the human body, helping to flag the often undetected early warning signs of more serious medical issues and helping prevent unnecessary adverse events by up to 70%. Naturally, within a care setting, health complications are more common, and this technology can help detect signs of serious illness including strokes, congestive heart failure, Bell’s Palsy, atrial fibrillation, and signs of sepsis — whilst also preventing falls by up to 33%.
SO HOW DOES THIS TECHNOLOGY WORK?
WHAT MAKES AI ENABLED CARE STAND OUT FROM TRADITIONAL TELEMEDICINE AND REMOTE MONITORING?
Informed by the expertise of a team of world class medical doctors, the AI is capable of providing health recommendations by integrating biometric data and translating it into useful guidance — a far more in-depth approach than most health monitoring technology on the market, which simply provides numbers and basic data. Thanks to our system's complex design, it can also interpret vital signs and behavioural data straight from a smartphone camera or from more than 100 other external collection points to make personalised, practical recommendations. The overarching purpose for the application of AI in social care is to turn early warning signs of physical and mental ailments into actionable advice that could prevent a potentially harmful outcome. With the elderly population continuing to increase exponentially in the UK, there will inevitably be more pressure on social care in the future. With this in mind, artificial intelligence has the unique opportunity to support the sector by providing quick, accurate and simple solutions to the everyday challenges of care.
Telemedicine and remote monitoring have played an important role in recent years within the sphere of social care and are representations of the inevitable shift towards an increasingly digital age. As the capabilities of technology continue to grow, new, more advanced innovations are entering the market that can provide, in some cases, life-saving supplementary tools for more traditional methods of care. Such technology can offer care providers a level of insight into a resident's health status that they otherwise might not have the time or resources to collect. Well beyond traditional telemedicine and remote monitoring AI-enabled care can help identify early warning signals that prompt preventative action. Here at AI Nexus Healthcare, we’re a company that’s
Faramarz Farhoodi, founder of AI Nexus Healthcare, has more than three decades of experience in the field of AI, having led more than 1,000 person-years of AI application development across the defence, healthcare, manufacturing and finance industries – with his experience as diverse as helping to build NATO command and control systems to overseeing Amazon.com’s largest commercial account. With 80% of chronic disease being preventable and a global shortage of healthcare professionals, Faramarz and AI Nexus Healthcare are using a specialised AI skillset to transform healthcare systems, focusing on intervention and prevention.
it’s necessary. Thanks to years of expert development, care providers can now carry out complex health assessments on residents through something as simple as scanning their faces on a smartphone.
Double Celebrations as MHA Kenbrook Win Two Awards
The staff and residents at MHA Kenbrook have plenty of reasons to celebrate following their success at the Brent Adult Social Care Awards. The home and manager Marian O Hara were both nominated in separate categories and both came out victorious at the awards event, which was attended by Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for the Department for Health and Social Care who gave the keynote speech. The home was the worthy winner of the “Team of the Year” award, given for their dedication and commitment they have shown caring for their residents as a team, and Marian was declared “Manager of Year”. The award was the icing on the cake for Marian, who recently celebrated her 20 year work anniversary at the home. Marian plans to retire at the end of the year, but says the home will still play a huge part in her life.
Speaking after the ceremony, she said: “I am extremely proud of my team who have been through a lot the last couple of years. “For me personally, just the recognition is enough and to see the profile of social care being raised is huge. “I have a very committed team here at MHA Kenbrook, and it was a very proud moment for me and the team. “The local authorities have been very supportive to all social care providers in the Brent area. “The award is a great way for me to sign off on a personal note and it’s something that I will always cherish. “Again, I am very proud of the team and myself and I hope this is something we can continue with moving forward.”
Quality Compliance Systems Welcomes Lindsay Rees as Head of Social Care Content Lindsay joins QCS as Head of Social Care Content after working as a senior leader in adult social care for over 17 years. She is a Registered Adult Nurse and has worked in a number of operational leadership roles. They include Registered Manager, Regional Support Manager, Regional Clinical Quality Manager, Head of Quality Assurance and Director of Health. As QCS’s new Head of Social Care Content, Lindsay will bring a wealth of operational experience to the role. Working cross-functionally while utilising her vast knowledge and experience of coordination, collaboration and consolidation. Lindsay will ensure that the QCS product continues to evolve, remains focused on the needs of our customers, and always meets their ever-changing requirements. Damaris Daniels, QCS’s Director of Content and Operations, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Lindsay to the QCS team. She has dedicated her career in social care to leading, supporting and mentoring teams to provide exceptionally high standards of care for people in social care. Lindsay’s role at QCS presents the organisation with an exciting opportunity to utilise her extensive operational knowledge and insight to drive forward quality and innovation, while transforming customer content. While she brings with her invaluable experience in commercial operational leadership, clinical governance quality assurance and quality improvement in social care, we hired her because she has an innate ability to join the dots
between the different functions in our organisation, which will inevitably provide richer customer content as we continue to grow and scale.” Lindsay added, “Having spent the majority of my career working in operational roles in social care, I’m excited to be leading a team that is responsible for creating QCS content for thousands of customers. The key to creating better content is to understand the complex and ever-changing challenges that our customers face. Therefore, in addition to collaborating with several teams across the organisation, I’ll be spending one day each month working on the frontlines, so that I can continue to keep my finger on the pulse and keep a real-world picture of the sector constantly in view. I know, by doing so, we will help more services deliver an incredible standard of care to those they support.”
ABOUT QCS Quality Compliance System (QCS) provides a high-quality, bespoke Care Quality Commission management service for Adult Social Care providers. Across the social care sector, QCS is widely trusted and respected brand which is specifically designed to conform to the CQC Fundamental Standards set out by the CQC. To find out more about QCS, call 0333-405-33-33 or visit www.qcs.co.uk/free-trial
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 13
Anger Over Delays for Overseas Care Staff CARE providers are angry over bureaucracy that is fueling delays in recruiting overseas staff to help tackle huge shortages in the sector. Both the NHS and the social care sector are suffering huge shortages in staff as we head into autumn and winter, when demand for healthcare surges. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said hiring more nurses from overseas would help relieve pressure on the NHS and has asked civil servants to increase overseas recruitment. But while it welcomed his words, the social care provider organization the Independent Care Group (ICG) said the real issue was Home Office bureaucracy. ICG Chair Mike Padgham said:
“We agree with the health secretary that we need more overseas staff to ease the shortage but the truth is Home Office bureaucracy is strangling the process. “Care providers are waiting months to get their application for a licence to recruit overseas workers approved and in the meantime, care is suffering. “So whilst we applaud the health secretary for highlighting the issue, he needs to get on to the Home Office and sort out the bottleneck, otherwise a situation that is already dire, will be critical this winter. Last month, Skills for Care revealed that the number of vacant posts in social care had shot up by 55,000 in the past year – an increase of 52%.
Hallmark Care Home Residents Release Their Inner Queen at Brighton Pride Residents, relatives and team members at a Hallmark care home in Brighton, released their inner queen recently by taking part in Brighton Pride. 30 representatives from Maycroft Manor Care Home took part in the Pride Parade for the firsttime last weekend, dressing up in rainbow colours and holding flags for the occasion. Residents also decorated their walkers and wheelchairs and handmade rosettes for the special event. Meanwhile, resident Gill Woods was hailed the ‘Queen of all Queens’ dancing for most of the parade which went past Brighton’s landmarks with the crowds cheering her on. Gill said: “I had to keep pinching myself, I thought I was dreaming. I felt just like the Queen.” General Manager of Maycroft Manor Care Home, Richard Lawson added: “It was the most amazing
day and went so much better than I ever thought it would be. Maycroft Manor will be remembered for many a long time after that and the team were outstanding! It was a wonderful experience and we are now planning for bigger and better parade next year!”
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PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
5 Considerate Ways To Support Employees Dealing With Stress and Anxiety ‘As a manger you’re responsible, in part, for the preservation of your employees’ health and wellbeing. After an extremely challenging 24 months, this is now more crucial than ever; as it’s been reported that 1 in 6 working adults are suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, or similar, mental health has rightfully been positioned as a key priority among employers – including those within the healthcare industry. The healthcare sector was put under immense, unprecedented pressure during the pandemic and the consequences of this continue to be seen. Many care workers themselves are struggling with stress and anxiety, whilst managers and CEOs across the industry face feelings of burnout. However, despite the pandemic improving mental health awareness and acceptance, this continues to be a topic that many would rather not discuss; including care workers, who shoulder the responsibility of caring for our community’s most vulnerable. With this in mind, it’s vital that we never ignore signs of stress or anxiety in our employees; they may not come to us for help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need it… After all, it’s been reported that around 20% of employees feel they can’t approach their managers with respective mental health issues. We must be proactive.’ Thankfully, we have an ideal expert on hand to help. Dr Ant, The Brain Whisperer (www.brain-whisperer.co.uk), is a mindset specialist who helps businesses’ staff and CEOs alike enrich their mental health, so as to improve their wellbeing and job satisfaction in turn. To help you ensure your employees are supported, he’s now sharing his expertise.
1. LISTEN AND ENGAGE. ‘One of the simplest and yet most effective things that you can do to support your staff is listen to them and genuinely engage. They need to know that you truly care, have processed their feedback, and are willing to help. If you can, sit down with your team members individually to catch-up and establish any strug-
gles they’re facing. This way, you can help to create a plan for the workplace that’ll lessen their anxieties.’
2. INVEST IN SUPPORTIVE PLATFORMS. ‘Ensuring your employees have the resources to address feelings of stress and anxiety is crucial. I would recommend investing in a platform which offers your staff access to expert-led guidance, information, and support. For example, BrainSparx is a digital platform that’s home to invaluable videos and advice which can help staff members re-discover lost confidence and address these hurdles without feeling alone nor overwhelmed.’
3. CONSIDER A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. ‘Sometimes employees are apprehensive to raise their mental health concerns individually. This may be a daunting prospect and the conversation may feel more comfortable in a group setting. For this reason, I would suggest considering a motivational speaker; by having an expert visit your employees in person and offer informed guidance surrounding mental wellbeing, self-confidence, and success, you can ensure your employees feel supported without any pressure.’
4. NURTURE YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH. ‘As a leader, you can only enrich your employees’ wellbeing by focusing equally on your own. If you are confident, happy, and flourishing, you will more easily be able to instil these feelings in your staff. Equally, be honest with your staff; by showing that you’re human and discussing any problems you’ve personally overcome, you will not only build a strong team rapport but demonstrate the resilience that we are all capable of, with a helping hand along the way.’
5. RECOGNISE THAT YOU’RE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT. ‘In my opinion, one of the most important lessons you can teach your staff is that they are the pilots of their own lives and ‘what we think, we become’. This lesson can be seen on the BrainSparx platform, however I would also recommend remembering this for yourself. Even in our darkest moments, we must never forget that we are capable of creating positive change in our lives – no struggle is permanent. As a manger and/or business leader in the healthcare sector, it’s important that you prioritise for your own mental health whilst paying close attention to that of your staff. Mental health struggles often go unnoticed and as the care sector is home to demanding, sensitive jobs that have only become more immersed in stress amid the pandemic, this needs to be every employer’s priority. Thankfully, you needn’t do this alone; seek support from an expert, invest in resources that’ll support your team, and remember that this is an ongoing responsibility.’
Mexborough Based Care Home Celebrates South Asian Heritage Month A Mexborough based care home celebrated South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) by baking some traditional Bangladeshi sweets. MHA Swallow Wood have been busy celebrating SAHM, and have been educating staff and residents about the significance of the diverse heritage and history from the countries in South Asia. SAHM is celebrated between 18 July and 17 August and is marked to commemorate and celebrate the countries that continue to link the UK to South Asia. The home offers 37 places for nursing care and has been doing various activities relating to SAHM, including cooking Misti Khasta Goja, a traditional fried sweet dish, dipped in sugar syrup originating from Bangladesh. The home aims to continue celebrating the month, with other activities such as hand painting and watching Bollywood movies.
Geran Love, activity coordinator said: “Even though we don’t have any members of South Asian heritage at the home, we make sure we include all significant months and continue to be inclusive. “I read up on SAHM, and it was something that I wanted to do not only to educate residents but also myself. “Our residents love cooking and they really enjoyed preparing the sweets. “They had a lot of fun and it was the first time we all attempted to make Misti Khasta Goja. “They came out a lot better than expected and were nicer than we thought, which is always a bonus. “We want to make the month of the month and I have plans for other activities which I am confident will be enjoyed by residents.”
Why Maintaining Good Vision and Eye Health is Important for Your Residents Jason Scaife, Specsavers Home Visits director and optometrist, based in Cardiff speaks to The Carer about the services Specsavers can offer to care homes. Q. Can you provide a bit of a summary of the services provided to care homes? At Specsavers Home Visits our aim is to improve the lives of those who can’t leave home unaccompanied through better sight and hearing. We serve many different types of care centre, from community houses to residential homes, to dementia specialist nursing homes and everywhere in between. We provide routine sight tests using equipment similar to that in a high street store but specifically designed to be portable and for use in the home; we supply NHS and privately funded spectacles; we deliver and fit them in person and provide aftercare for all our spectacles. We tailor our service to best suit each care home, some prefer us to come and see two or three residents who are new to the home or have reported vision problems; others prefer us to come for a whole day and provide routine sight tests to every resident who would like one, as long as they’re due. We will of course attend to see just one individual who is having problems. When we supply glasses to care homes we engrave each frame with the patient’s name, which can really help busy care staff to know who the glasses belong to if they are left lying
around the home.
dents.
Q. Why is it important for care home residents to maintain good vision and eye health?
Q. In care homes some patients have more complex needs and may struggle to communicate, including those who suffer with dementia. How do you deliver your eye health services in these circumstances while also keeping the patient feeling comfortable?
Maintaining good vision is a key part of any person’s quality of life, but perhaps more so for care home residents because they often have limited mobility and so most of their hobbies and pastimes will involve visual tasks. Sight loss can be very isolating and for those already struggling with memory problems or dementia, any confusion and disorientation is exacerbated by impaired vision. This can lead to a loss of engagement in social activities and sometimes increased risk of falls. Providing regular eye care can minimise or even eliminate these issues for people living in care homes allowing them to enjoy being able to do the things they want to do.
Q. We know hygiene and safety is a top priority, particularly since the pandemic. What precautions do you take to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patients you visit in care homes? We take our responsibility as healthcare professionals seriously and we are conscious that Optometrists have to get very close to patients when examining their eyes. We continue to wear PPE, we’re maintaining Infection Prevention and Control measures and we still take a Lateral Flow Test before each care home visit. Our Infection Prevention and Control policy is continually updated in line with guidance from the NHS and the College of Optometrists to ensure that we are always providing care in the safest and most appropriate way. Care homes can be confident that we are still operating at a standard exceeding that recommended by the profession in order to protect them and their resi-
Our team of Optometrists and Optical Assistants are a wonderful group of people, dedicated to looking after the eye care needs of some of the most vulnerable and isolated individuals in society. It’s not only the clinical training that enables them to gather the results they need, but it’s their kindness, patience, experience and skill that leaves patients with a smile. Using objective assessment techniques which don’t rely on responses from the person being examined are a key part of providing eye care to those with communication or cognitive difficulties and these techniques allow us to provide suitable spectacles and an assessment of the health of the eyes for everyone, regardless of their ability to communicate. We provide training for our staff on dementia and how to successfully communicate with those living with cognitive impairment, and we always take our lead from carers who know the individuals best.
Q. How affordable is this service, particularly in the current cost of living crisis? The main service we provide for care home residents is an NHS funded sight test, free for those people over 60 or on state benefit who are unable to attend their opticians unaccompanied, due to their mental or physical health. We carry a broad range of spectacle frames to suit most shapes, styles, sizes and budgets, from £19 and we share the same promotions and discounts that you see at Specsavers on the high street. See the advert on the facing page for details.
PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
Global Health Leaders Call For Greater Investments In Preventative Health Interventions as Part of COVID Recovery Annecy Declaration calls for urgent investment in prevention among rising health inequalities and population ageing “We have a window available where we can build on [the international COVID response] – we must take it”, argue signatories New international index launched to track progress in healthy ageing and prevention across the world Following an exclusive residential summit at the Global Health Centre in Annecy, France, global health leaders have come together to call for greater investment in preventative health, such as vaccination, early detection and management of disease, as countries recover from the pandemic. The Annecy Declaration, co-signed by representatives of the UN, Geneva Medical University and the Coalition for Life-Course Immunisation among others, urges governments to spend at least 6% of health budgets on preventative care, to better integrate services and tackle inequalities, as they come out of the pandemic. Arunima Himawan from the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC), who ran the Global Prevention Summit, argues:
“We know preventative approaches to health work, that they’re costeffective and can save lives. However, despite the clear economic and social benefits of investing in prevention, preventative services are often the last to receive investment and the first to be cut in times of crisis.” “G20 governments have already committed to improving population health and investment in prevention, and during the intense responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a path to how these commitments might be implemented. We have a window available where we can build on those responses and make those adaptations permanent – we must take it.” To build on this pledge, ILC, the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, is developing a Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index that will track, for the first time, countries’ progress in supporting their societies to live longer, healthier lives. Nicola Oliver, Director of Medical Intelligence and Co-Chair of the COVID-19 Actuaries Response Group, says: “Rather than always ‘firefighting’ health crises, we need a concerted
effort to implement a true public health approach. This must start with meaningful action towards prevention, addressing the social determinants of health, investing in communities and building and maintaining trust between all communities and those in positions of leadership. Governments need to take a ‘whole of society’ approach with domestic investment in health systems, and public health and social care structures to work towards building resilience. This will help us arrive at a true global approach to build upon proven successes and tackle the biggest health challenges.” Daphné Holt, Chair of Coalition for Life Course Immunisation, argues: “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of governments investing in vaccines and vaccination programmes and what can be achieved when there is the political will. The rollout of these vaccines highlights how vaccination isn’t just for kids – they’re for everyone at all ages and stages. Over 20 diseases can be prevented through taking a life-course approach to immunization so we must invest in it now, to ensure a healthier and more productive population in the future.”
Celebrating 20 Years of Delivering Exceptional Care in Torbay GrayAreas Ltd, the owner of Mount Olivet Nursing Home and Kingsmount Residential Home in Paignton, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Husband and wife team Robert and Cherry Gray created GrayAreas Ltd in 2002 when they relocated to Paignton with their daughter Tori to take over Mount Olivet Nursing Home. They quickly invested in the home’s infrastructure, equipment and staff working conditions, and Mount Olivet soon became widely considered the most highly regarded care home in Torbay. In 2004, seeing a need for residential dementia care in the area, the Gray’s purchased a second home in
Paignton, Kingsmount Residential Home. Tori joined the family business in 2009 and later took over as Managing Director after Robert and Cherry passed away. Despite a tumultuous few years in the care sector, GrayAreas now employs over 90 staff across the two homes and has a track record of delivering exceptional care. Key to each home’s success has been GrayAreas’ staff retention record - 40% of the team has been with the company for over five years, with 16 clocking up 10 or more years of service. Earlier this year, GrayAreas became a Real Living Wage employer and, to commemorate its anniversary, will pay every employee a £20 bonus per year of employment. Tori comments: “The last few years have been particularly hard for our residents and staff. However, we’re pleased to be coming out of the other side, and our milestone anniversary celebrations will be even more special. “We attribute our success to our team members who provide excellent care to our residents. We’re extremely proud of our staff retention record and look forward to celebrating with them this year.” To mark the 20th anniversary, the two homes will host parties for their residents, families and staff and are sponsoring the Devon Women in Business Awards.
National Care Hero Award for East Sussex Carer Jonathon Johnson, Housekeeper at Halland House in Lewes has won a national social care hero award in recognition of his hard work. The award has been made this week by Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care. SSCH launched the monthly award programme this year to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 1.54m people working in social care in the UK. Jonathan, who was nominated for July 2022, is the 7th award winner. Halland House is a care home in Lewes specialising in adults with Learning Disabilities. Jonathan was nominated by his colleagues, who said: “To say Jonathan is a Housekeeper does not do him justice. He will help and support the home in so many ways that he is invaluable to our service. Jonathon will cook, clean, drive, shop, help assist with meals, join in activities, and even maintenance. “Jonathan is one of a kind and quite simply, the home would not be the kind of home it is without Jonathan around. Every home needs a Jonathon in their service, we are glad we have ours.” Jonathan will receive a £50 voucher for the grocery store of their choice, a box of chocolates, certificate, a SSCH hoody and Halland House will receive a bunch of flowers. The prizes have been sponsored by J9 Advisory, a Yorkshire-based advisory firm. The social care workforce is often overlooked yet they keep the most vulnerable people in our society safe and well. It is hoped that SSCH will receive significant support following research which found that the overwhelming majority of the public feel that social care staff are undervalued (81%) and underpaid (80%). The monthly care hero awards have been created to show that care workers are appreciated.
Nicola Richards, Founder of Support Social Care Heroes, explained the thinking behind the idea: “Social care staff often do not get the recognition that they deserve despite being valued by their managers and employers. “Many care homes already have ‘employee of the month’ schemes and we really felt we should do something to bring all these nominations together from around the country to celebrate all our social care heroes and the amazing work they do. “The pandemic has brought social care colleagues across the country together as we have supported each other like never before. I hope these awards will provide a positive boost to carers, managers and the wider care home teams. “These awards are the first step in our long-term plans to ensure those who need care, and those caring for them, are valued by all in society. “Our country’s social care heroes have been on the front line and in the headlines for almost two years and this new initiative will help show them that they are valued and recognise the work they do.” Social care employers are encouraged to nominate their staff for a care home hero award (employee of the month). Taking part has been made simple and easy: post a photo of your employee of the month and which care home you represent, to social media, with the hashtag #SocialCareHeroAwards and tag Support Social Care Heroes page. Tell us in 160 characters why the person is a social care hero. All nominations will be curated by the Support Social Care Heroes team and on the last Monday of each month a winner will be chosen at random. Anyone who wishes to donate to Support Social Care Heroes can do so by visiting: www.ssch.info.
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Antipsychotic Drug Use Among Dementia Patients on the Rise, Study Reveals The use of antipsychotic drugs to people suffering with dementia has increased by over 50% on average in care homes during the pandemic, new research reveals. Academics at the University of Exeter and Kings College London compared current prescribing with prepandemic levels. The research revealed that the number of people with dementia receiving these prescriptions had soared from 18% to 28% since 2018 with prescription rates of over 50% in a third of care homes. The research data compared more than 700 care home residents taking part in two studies either side of the pandemic. Professor Clive Ballard, who was part of a national campaign in 2009 to reduce antipsychotic prescribing by half, said: Covid-19 put tremendous pressure on care homes, and the majority of them must be applauded for maintaining relatively low antipsychotic prescribing levels amid incredibly difficult circumstances. “However, there were very significant rises in antipsychotic prescribing in one third of care homes and we urgently need to find ways to prioritise support to prevent people with dementia being exposed to significant harms.” Care homes faced a plethora of challenges during the lockdown, including access to PPE, staffing levels
and staff illness, isolation, mental impact on staff and residents and general care for residents suffering from other conditions. Dr Richard Oakley, from the Alzheimer’s Society, added: “This study shows the shocking and dangerous scale of the use of antipsychotic drugs to treat people with dementia in care homes. “Alzheimer’s Society has been campaigning for a move away from the model of ‘medicate first’ and funded research into alternatives to antipsychotic prescriptions, focused on putting people living with dementia at the centre of their own care. “This drug-free, tailored care can help avoid the loss of lives associated with the harmful side effects of antipsychotic medications.” An NHS spokesman said: “The NHS has significantly reduced the number of prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs since 2010 with guidance issued to GPs, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals on how to provide care that meets the specific needs of each patient. “Expert pharmacy teams have also been rolled out across the country to give advice to patients and maximise other treatment options, where appropriate.”
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Signature at Camberley Enjoys Summer of Sport Signature at Camberley have hosted a summer of celebrations to mark the Commonwealth, and given their residents the opportunity to compete against one another in a tournament styled competition. The Commonwealth Games, first held in 1930, is an international multisporting event involving athletes from the Commonwealth. Held every four years, the popular sporting tournament has this year been held in Birmingham, the UK’s second city, and is one that has captured the hearts and attention of many over the last 11 days. For Signature at Camberley, the Commonwealth Games had run alongside Signature Sports Week, where residents have enjoyed inter-home competitions against other care homes across the Signature Senior Lifestyle organisation. Residents at Camberley took part in several events, ranging from an egg and spoon race, basketball, bean bag discus, boules, to name but a few. There were two teams of residents wearing red and green bibs, and, after a titanic battle, the red team were eventually named victorious. Signature at Camberley will conclude Sports Week with a Celebration BBQ on the 20th August. Residents, friends, family, and the local community have been invited to the luxury care home to join festivities. On what is set to be a wonderful day, guests will be able to indulge in hamburgers, hot dogs,
wings, and locally produced sausages along with jackets and various salads. There will also be a selection of stalls, an animal petting farm, face painters, and plenty of live entertainment to enjoy. David Windeatt Client Liaison Manager at Signature at Camberley, said: “Everyone at Signature at Camberley have had the most wonderful summer of sport. Whilst enjoying the brilliant Commonwealth Games, we have also been enjoying our own competitive fun among residents and our fellow Signature care homes. Residents and Team Members alike have enjoyed competitive, well fought contests, all in good spirits! “Congratulations to everyone involved, and to all Commonwealth medal winners.” Speaking about the games, resident at the care home, Brian Phillips, said: “For as competitive and as high a standard the Commonwealth Games may be, the true story this summer is the summer of sport that has taken place here at Signature at Camberley! Myself and my fellow residents have had so much fun taking part in the sporting activities held here at the home. It really is the taking part that counts, and I have loved every minute of it.” The Summer of Sport at Signature at Camberley proved to be so much fun that residents have since asked if Sports Day could become a regular event.
Lakeland Dairies Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week with Cake Stand Craft Kit Giveaway! To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week, 8th -14th August, dairy experts Lakeland Dairies have been working with the leading activity charity, the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA), to inspire and support Care Settings create a fun Afternoon Tea event with residents. On offer from Lakeland Dairies are 50 free Cake Stand Craft Kits! The kits have been specially selected to enable residents to take part in afternoon tea preparations and include 6 x paintable DIY wooden cake stands, 8 x acrylic paints, 1 x wood varnish for a food safety finish, plus 6 bowl scrapers! Claiming one of the 50 kits is simple, simply upload a photo which includes a pack of Millac Gold Double with a delicious scrumptious scone creation of your choosing at their website https://bit.ly/3cNwTio If you don’t have a photo, you can still claim 6 free bowl scrapers. Simply go to the webpage https://bit.ly/3cNwTio In addition to the Cake Stand Craft Kit offer, NAPA together with Lakeland Dairies have created a fabulous Afternoon Tea Resource. Packed with practical ideas for Activity Co-Ordinators, Catering and Care Teams from event planning to quizzes, it also includes a Lakeland Dairies’ ‘Scrumptious Scone’ supplement
which boasts delicious scone recipes featuring Millac Gold Double and Lakeland Dairies Pure Irish Butter, plus fortified creamy cocktail recipes featuring Lakeland Dairies 100% Dairy Skimmed Milk Powder, specially designed to be high in protein. Jean Cattanach, Marketing Controller at Lakeland Dairies comments. “Afternoon Tea is a fantastic tradition, and in homes across the Island of Ireland guests are often welcomed with a baked scone. As a farmer-owned dairy co-operative, we believe the secret to a great tasting scone is the quality of its dairy ingredients and that’s why we created our Scrumptious Scone resource so all care caterers can join in the fun of Afternoon Tea Week.” The Scrumptious Scone supplement includes innovative and on-trend flavour pairings such as raspberry with rosemary, and blueberry with lemon, alongside more traditional flavour matches such as chocolate with orange and apple with cinnamon. To download the resource, and redeem the Lakeland Dairies Afternoon Tea Week offer click here https://bit.ly/3cNwTio Terms and conditions apply
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Two Thirds of UK Care Home Staff Admit Resident Quality of Care and Nutritional Needs are Being Overlooked Due to Outdated Procedures
A new, independent survey commissioned by eProcurement technology firm Zupa, has raised several concerns from care home professionals across the UK, with 86% admitting that vital aspects of care provision are suffering at the hands of outdated and time-consuming procedures, with many staff struggling to fulfil their day to day roles. The new data also highlights several care management challenges that need to be addressed to improve staff retention, morale and the overall quality of residential care. The study, which polled hundreds of care home professionals across the country, found that two thirds of care home staff (66%), admitted the quality of resident care and the ability to cater properly for dietary and nutritional needs, are some of the key areas being side-lined as a result of obsolete practices. The study also revealed that more than half (54%) of care home workers felt staff happiness was overlooked, and 44% of workers attribute the high turnover of staff in the care industry to low levels of pay. Specifically, 40% of care home workers felt they couldn’t provide the quality of care that they would like to due to the time they spend on admin. Over half (52%) of respondents, agreed that care home inspections simply add further pressure to their role, and would welcome a way to improve this process. More than a third of care home managers (32%) also said that keeping up with time intensive processes like day to day menu planning, allergens management, and recording resident data around nutrition and hydration, worries them. A further 41% were understandably concerned about the rising costs of food, energy and inflation, while 30% of care home workers identified supplier issues, food shortages and running out of supplies as a growing concern.
Importantly, 63% of care home managers link much of their day to day concerns to the wear and tear stresses placed upon their teams. Lack of staffing and resource also continues to be a worry for the sector, with 67% of care workers citing this as a key challenge. Only 6% of care home professionals said there is nothing that worries them in the day to day running of their care home. Lack of time available to improve day to day quality of care is a clear issue. When asked what aspects of their working day they would spend more time on if they could reduce the amount of paperwork, more than half (56%) of care workers say they would like to improve the standard of resident care if they had more time in their day. Likewise, almost half (49%) of care professionals said they would improve staff satisfaction, suggesting that reducing admin would free up more time to focus on staff morale and happiness. A further 49% would like extra time in their day to be more creative with resident social events and 42% of care home professionals said they would be keen to spend more time on individual care planning. Ollie Brand, CEO at Zupa explained: “Caring for the vulnerable and elderly is time-consuming and demanding. It requires specialist skills and knowledge. This study highlights that care home staff are having to deal with multiple challenges with little resource, and only so many hours in the day. There is also a direct correlation between what worries care home staff day to day and the quality of care they are physically able to deliver. Patchy reporting, outdated processes and a heavily reliance on manual updates, simply adds to the frustration and puts greater pressure on already stretched staff.” This latest research highlights a clear relationship between what aspects of care are being overlooked and what staff would prioritise if they had more time in their day. Almost three quarters (73%), of care home professionals who said they would improve staff satisfaction if they had more time, also said staff happiness is side lined. A further 55% of those who would like to improve the quality of resident care with more time, also said care quality is overlooked due to time wasted on outdated processes. Brand added, “Lack of staffing and resource is still a key concern for care homes. It’s clear that in many cases, that the adoption of automated, fit for purpose technology could help alleviate many of these day to day pressures and interestingly, those care professionals who said they would
implement new technology if they had more time, are most likely to say that staff happiness, productivity of staff and quality of care are being side-lined.” See www.zupa.com for further information.
West Sussex Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday Milestone A woman in Bognor Regis has celebrated her 100th birthday at a local care home. Lyn Clark was joined by family members, residents and staff at Elizabeth House care home in West Sussex for a party to celebrate the big occasion. Born in Goodwood, Lyn grew up in a house with no electricity or running water. After her father - who worked as garden head at Goodwood House - passed away, her family were visited by the Duchess of Goodwood House. The Duchess moved the family into the stately home, providing work for Lyn’s mother. It was at Goodwood House where Lyn would eventually meet her husband during the Second World War. He was one of the soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940 and was placed on sentry at the Goodwood Estate stables. Following the war, Lyn spent the majority of her life working in a cashier’s office at a Co-Op in Chichester. In her free time, she enjoyed knitting and embroidery. As well as seeing family and friends at the party, Lyn received a congratulatory card from the Queen to mark the centenary. Marian Drake, manager at the Shaw Healthcare-operated care home Elizabeth House, said: “It was so lovely to see so many family members and friends come together to celebrate Lyn’s 100th Birthday. “We’re so happy to have her here at Elizabeth House.” Elizabeth House is located in Bognor Regis, West Sussex and provides care for up to 60 people.
Oak Springs Care Home Unites Generations with Innovative Pilot Liverpool’s Oak Springs Care Home is bringing generations together through TikTok, toys and tons of school memories. In the first scheme of its kind, the care home in Wavertree, Liverpool, has launched ‘Project Generations Together’ to encourage interaction, build bonds and share memories between 20 of its care home residents and four visiting local children. The four children, aged between five and 12 years old, are visiting the home every Friday during the summer holidays as part of an innovative project to unite the generations. Andrea Lyon, Registered Manager of Oak Springs Care Home, who came up with the idea, said: “Like all care homes, over the past two years we’ve not been able to have many visitors. “So to celebrate being able to get back out into the community we thought it would be lovely to launch Project Generations Together to
explore and celebrate the bonds between local children today and our residents. “When I was a child I loved staying with my grandparents and listening to all their memories and stories about life in ‘the olden days’. We want to recreate those lovely bonds with our own residents and a small group of local children. “We’ve got lots of fantastic activities planned and we’re expecting
the children and our residents to really inspire – and learn from – each other. Everyone will be keeping a diary of what they’ve learnt over the six weeks and we’ll invite the children back in regularly and ask them if they would like to become pen pals. “Last Friday’s Toy Week theme was a great success. The children were intrigued by all the old toys and to find out more, through the toys, about the lives of our residents when they were young. “The children couldn’t believe that some residents didn’t have any toys at all growing up and only received an orange and a shiny new 6pence with the date on it for Christmas. There was some lovely interaction and everyone is excited about this week’s event. “It’s an exciting pilot scheme and we’ll definitely look at rolling it out across the other care homes in the Sandstone Care Group.”
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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 21
Social Care Projects Receive Scottish Government Equality Funding Social care projects that aim to boost employment inclusion across the sector are among a raft of initiatives to receive government-backed funding. Scottish Refugee Council will lead a project to help more workers from refugee background secure jobs with social care providers. Leading social care provider Cornerstone is launching a Menopause Awareness Project to increase support for colleagues experiencing symptoms. The two schemes are among 13 projects that successfully applied to the Scottish Government’s Workplace Equality Fund, driving forward Scotland’s Fair Work Framework. The fund is being administered by Advice Direct Scotland, and recipients will now receive grants to address long-standing barriers in the labour market. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon first launched the fund in 2018 and it is designed to ensure that everyone – irrespective of disability, gender, age or race – can fulfil their potential and improve Scotland’s economic performance as a result. Scottish Refugee Council will work with Fair Deal and social care regulator the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to tackle isolation and reduce employment inequalities. Their Refugees in Social Care Careers project aims to review recruitment, induction, and in-work support with around 50 refugees and at least 50 social care providers across Scotland. They plan four rounds of testing allowing time for employers to reflect and incorporate changes in practices. Working with The People Portfolio, Cornerstone aims to raise awareness of the menopause, reduce employment barriers and increase workplace support. It is hoped the project will improve the recruitment and retention of women and offer lessons for other sectors.
Dare to be Different Person-centred care is the ‘buzz’ word of the social and care sectors. Everyone knows about it; everyone supports it, and apparently everyone does it. But if that’s the case , then why is it not the everyday lived experience in our care culture? MCM recognises that individual well-being is not an ‘individual’ matter. Our relationships with the people, places and things that have shaped our life journey make us who we are and sustain our sense of personhood. Engaging in moments, experiences and activities that resonate with who we are and meet our needs for love, attachment, belonging, agency, occupation, comfort and attachment makes life meaningful. Individual ill-being occurs when these relationships are undermined and life lacks meaning and pur-
The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Framework sets out what fair work means in Scotland, offering all individuals an effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment, and respect. It is being used to fund projects that are focused on one or more priority groups such as women, minority ethnic workers, disabled workers and workers aged over 50. Other priority groups include people who experience gender-based violence, workers who are experiencing social isolation and/or loneliness, and workers experiencing symptoms of the menopause. Anita Yu of Scottish Refugee Council said: “The people we work with have valuable skills, talents and professional experience, but, as employers in the social care sector are struggling to fill vacancies. Our project seeks solutions to both these issues. “We help employers improve their awareness and recruitment practices, in order to create a welcoming work environment for jobseekers with refugee backgrounds. “Working with our partners, Fair Deal and SSSC, we provide practical training sessions on how to make hiring processes more accessible, how to recognise the extra support some candidates may need during the recruitment process, and how to remove the barriers that prevent people from applying for and securing jobs. “We’re aiming for a win-win situation, with benefits for both employers and jobseekers.” Hazel Brown, chief executive of Cornerstone, said: “We were absolutely delighted to learn recently that our grant application to the Workplace Equality Fund for a Menopause Awareness Project has been successful. “With over 78 per cent of Cornerstone’s workforce being female and 45 per cent being between the ages of 35-55, it is vitally important that we better understand the impact of perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause and identify ways in which we can all better support those experiencing symptoms. “We will look to raise awareness, remove barriers, increase support and training, and ensure that we have the appropriate, menopause-friendly, workplace and recruitment measures in place to encourage more women to join Cornerstone or indeed to allow them to be able to remain at, or return to, work. “The significant grant, which is worth £118,400 over two years, will allow us to now move forward with this innovative piece of work in partnership with The People Portfolio. “We will also be working towards achieving Menopause Friendly Accreditation and pledge to share the important findings and recommendations of the project in due course.”
pose when such connections are absent in our daily lives. Meaningful relationships make us feel secure, free and able and help us to feel at home in ourselves. Having a diagnosis, disease, cognitive or physical impairments does not take these feelings away from us, it just makes these relationships matter even more. Nurturing these person-centred relationships is therefore key to sustaining individual well-being and developing an emotionally resilient culture of care. Collaboratively; we can achieve improved care cultures which are meaningful without compromising compliance and best practice. A culture where people are ‘ Free to be Me’ Do you dare to be different? We do. www.meaningfulcarematters.com Email : admin@meaningfulcarematters.com Phone: 01273 242 335 See the advert below for further details.
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Rolling Out the VCHA Programme to the Independent Sector care and improve patient outcomes. Our ambition is to accredit all NHS providers in England as Veteran Aware by March 2023. We continue to guide and support our trusts to achieve accreditation. Accreditation involves providers sharing good practice and linking with local services for the armed forces community. Professor Tim Briggs CBE, Chair and National Lead for the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) said: “We have proved the Veteran Aware model works through our work with NHS providers and are now keen that independent health care providers and hospices also follow suit. “We know there is a lot of good practice in relation to veterans is being followed by individual care homes and hospices. We would like to make sure that this good practice is adopted across the sector and that we continue to drive down disadvantage and variation.” For more details click on the Eventbrite page at https://tinyurl.com/2pj6errm
The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is set to help the independent health sector and hospices become Veteran Aware. The programme has received clear direction from the Government through the Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 – 2024 to widen scope and to pilot the accreditation of both the Independent Sector and Hospices. The VCHA works to drive up standards in the care and support of veterans, reservists and their families. Now it is partnering with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) for an event to help widen knowledge about its work. The event will be held on 13 September from 4pm to 5pm over MSTeams. Further details will be emailed a couple of days before the event. The Veteran Aware model encourages providers to identify those patients who currently work, or who have worked in the military, as well as service families, to ensure they are not disadvantaged in the care they receive and where possible, that they receive personalised
Mayfield House Care Home To Mark 25 Years Of Making A Difference A Crewe care home is celebrating its 25th anniversary by supporting 25 good causes and launching a training programme. Mayfield House, at Mayfield Mews, is supporting meaningful social impact projects via the Business for Good B1G1 initiative during August in the lead up to a big celebration at the home on Saturday, August 27, from 2 – 4.30pm. The B1G1 impacts include projects such as protecting rainforests, planting trees, supporting solar power, providing meals, feeding starving animals, supplying medicines and helping children in Ukraine. Anne Littleton, owner and Director of Care at Mayfield House, said: “A recurring theme in the care sector has always been the chance to make a difference.
“We already make B1G1 contributions for things achieved within the home, such as Employee of the Month, qualification completions and overtime shifts. This month (August) we are stepping it up to support 25 good causes to mark our 25th anniversary!” Mrs Littleton, who has worked in the care sector for 45 years, opened Mayfield House in 1997 and started Trentham-based Acacia Training in 2000 with George Littleton and her two daughters, due to the lack of quality training available for the care sector. The care home is now launching a Junior Management Traineeship programme to develop care home managers of the future. Mrs Littleton added: “The programme will provide us with the opportunity to help build lasting, successful careers. We want to hear from people in the care industry who are passionate about making a difference.”
Dementia Management Tool ‘Vera’ Launches on Apple’s AppStore Deploying the World’s Largest Music Catalogue from Universal Music Group Vera announces strategic collaboration with Universal Music Group, allowing its users therapeutic access to the world’s largest music catalogue
Music Health, a Music Wellness Technology innovator, has developed and launched Vera, an intuitive music intervention tool designed for the care of people affected by dementia. Through a strategic, industry-first agreement, Vera App users are able to access the entire catalogue from Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music-based entertainment company, to develop personalised music stations specifically designed to improve the lives of people living with dementia every day. As an exclusive launch partner, UMG brings a diverse and comprehensive global music catalogue to Vera users. Vera is now approved by Apple for download via the AppStore in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, with the cross-sector Music for Dementia campaign welcoming the launch to help improve the lives of people impacted by dementia. The launch is the culmination of Music Health’s rigorous three-year development process which involved global research and development of the underlying technology that allows Vera to curate the perfect song at the right time for every individual listener. The announcement follows the launch at Universal Music UK of the Power Of Music, a report from UK Music and Music for Dementia, which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. It includes a commitment from Universal Music UK to develop a dynamic online resource which will serve as a music and dementia information hub. Grace Meadows, campaign director, Music for Dementia, says, “Research shows that music is much more impactful for people living with dementia when it holds meaning and is associated with moments from
someone’s life. In our recently launched Power of Music report, which sets out how we can be harnessing the power of music more to support health and wellbeing, we emphasised the need for a personalised approach to embedding music in health and social care, and the Vera App helps carers to do that.” The power of personalised music to affect a significant improvement in cognitive function for people in dementia care is evidenced by international scientists and neurologists, including award-winning neuroscientist and best-selling author, Daniel J. Levitin; the late physician, best-selling author and professor of neurology, Dr. Oliver Sacks; and Ronald Devere, M.D., director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center in Austin, Texas. Vera analyses the age of the dementia affected person, where they grew up, and how they react to certain music. It uses these criteria to autonomously curate the right songs at the right times to effectively manage the Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). More than 80 percent of people living with dementia experience BPSD, manifesting as agitation, aggression, depression, or confusion. Vera stimulates the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory to help manage the impact of BPSD, easing the care routine of those living with dementia. Listening to personally significant music - all the noteworthy songs from our own life - is shown to effectively decrease the effects of BPSD helping to improve mood, cognitive function, motor functions and brain plasticity. Vera curates songs from UMG’s unrivalled catalogue, the world’s largest, most diverse and culturally rich collection of blues, classical, country, folk, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, soul and soundtracks. The songs are autonomously curated and played directly from the Vera app via speakers or headphones. With more than 20,000 hours of observation and rigorous analysis, combined with research from the Global Centre for Modern Ageing, confirms that Vera has a significant positive impact on the quality of life of people dealing with BPSD. While not a cure, Vera is a tool that can temporarily improve the cognitive function and mood of the person living with dementia making it easier to care for them. Stephen Hunt, Music Health co-founder, says, “We’ve built Vera to know and find the music that means the most and has the biggest effect for each person living with dementia. It acts like a music detective, that seeks out tunes that they used to love a long time ago but may have forgotten about, which their carers may have never heard of, and their families may not even know.” Vera is a product of Australian collaborative innovation. Music Health
credits Barossa Village, Dementia Australia, the Australian Department of Health and the Global Centre For Modern Ageing (GCMA) for helping realise the innovation since 2019. Michael Nash, UMG’s Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy, says, “From rigorous workouts to peaceful meditation to restorative sleep cycles, music is deeply integrated into numerous innovations promoting health and wellbeing. Now, scientists are finding that music is also a powerful tool for helping those suffering from the effects of dementia and memory loss. At UMG, we are working with a wide range of companies to develop therapeutical applications of music and we ’re proud to partner with Music Health on Vera to help improve the lives of so many around the world.” Barossa Village, an aged care organisation, worked with Music Health to refine the app and validate the impact Vera has on people living with dementia. This included daily monitoring of the changes Vera had on the people being cared for at Barossa Village as listening sessions were integrated into the daily routine of care. Findings from the studies showed an overall increase in quality of life for participants, especially after using Vera for several months. You can view a video of Barossa Village’s experience here. “Vera provides playlists that are targeted and tailored to how each of our residents relates to their favourite songs. It’s an amazing innovation. And family members love it as they can participate in a shared experience with mum or dad, grandad or nanna,” says Matt Kowald, General Manager, Integrated Care at Barossa Village. Vera is currently in trials with BUPA, an international healthcare company headquartered in the UK serving more than 31 million customers across the world, as well as several of Australia’s most innovative health and aged care providers offering hospital care, residential care and community services. Vera is available in the U.K. for GBP £69.99 for a 12-month care plan. Visit www.veramusic.com for further details.
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Shaw Healthcare Appoints New Chairman Shaw Healthcare (Group) Limited has announced that Simon MacSorley has been appointed as the chairman of its Board, effective from 1st November 2022. MacSorley succeeds Alun Thomas, who served as chairman for 16 years. Mr MacSorley joined the Shaw board in 2019 as a non-executive director (NED) after a successful executive career in estates management and construction. He is also the chair for CSET multi-Academy Trust and holds NED roles for Sirona Care & Health (NHS) and Northen Surveying Ltd. Speaking of his appointment, Mr MacSorley said: “I feel very privileged to take on this role at such an exciting time for Shaw and I’m looking forward to seeing the company expand and develop even further. The care industry faces many challenges and Shaw is committed to planning a successful future that considers not only the welfare of our residents but of all our employee owners too.” Alun Thomas joined Shaw in May 1995 and was elected as chair-
man for Shaw healthcare when it was formed in October 2006. A number of previous appointments included honorary treasurer and vice president at the National Museum of Wales, honorary treasurer and chair of council at the University of Wales, and honorary treasurer at the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust and the Welsh School in London. Russell Brown, chief executive officer, commented: “Alun has done a fantastic job for us, and I’m delighted that he’s been in a position to witness Shaw becoming the largest employee-owned healthcare company in the UK and to see us achieve Real Living Wage accreditation. On behalf of everyone at Shaw we thank him for his service to the company. “In Simon, we have a chair who has considerable healthcare experience and who also knows Shaw very well. I look forward to working closely with him in the years to come to ensure we build on our employee ownership model and take the company from strength to strength.”
Beach Wheelchairs Bring Joy to Care Home Residents On Thursday 4 August, Diagrama Foundation’s Edensor Care Home in Clactonon-Sea took six of their residents to enjoy a day by the sea with two specially adapted wheelchairs which allow users to go on to the sand and into the water. Wanting to share the experience with others the Edensor team invited local Mamora care home to join them and were delighted when they accepted and brought two of their residents to the seafront to try the chairs. Muhammed Neeliyath, Registered Manager, Edensor Care Centre, said, “We bought our beach wheelchairs last year thanks to donations from Colchester Catalyst Charity and Pickering Electronics Ltd and they have made such a huge difference to the lives of our residents who use wheelchairs. Traditional wheelchairs are wholly unsuitable for the sand so having the special beach wheelchairs means that we can take our residents on to the sand and into the water. One of
our residents said to us, ‘I love doing this as I feel like a child again’ which is so wonderful for the care team to hear.” The weather was perfect for the day out and everyone enjoyed a picnic and ice cream in the warm sunshine while the residents took it in turns to go on the beach and into the sea. Muhammed Neeliyath continued, “We currently do not have enough storage space for our beach wheelchairs, and unfortunately, we have to dismantle them and rebuild them every time we want to use them. We would love a shed with enough room to store the assembled chairs. Being able to store them made up rather than in sections would allow us to use them more frequently without the hour it takes us to build them each time we want to go to the beach.”
Hertfordshire’s Newest Nursing Home Opens in Broxbourne Broxbourne Nursing Home has officially opened its doors on Wednesday 27 July to residents needing care in Hertfordshire. This £10.9m investment from Hertfordshire County Council will help to meet the increasing demand for care services in Hertfordshire, more than doubling the provision of council-funded beds in the borough. Forty per cent of the 77 beds in the nursing home are council funded, ensuring local people enjoy the very best standard of care within their local community. The nursing home, which is wholly owned by Hertfordshire County Council and managed by Gold Care Homes, has been built with sustainability and innovation at the heart of it. “We are looking to raise the bar in the care sector with Hertfordshire’s newest nursing home,” said Cllr Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, at the official opening event. “Broxbourne Nursing Home showcases best practice in design, build, innovation through technology and personalised care. It also helps local people to stay within their community, retain their independence and carry on living healthy and fulfilling lives.”
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Cllr Roberts was joined by Ravi Gidar, Chairman of Gold Care Homes, and Margaret, the very first resident of Broxbourne Nursing Home, who cut the ribbon to officially open the nursing home. Ravi said: “The delivery of this flagship home has been a fantastic achievement and testament to the commitment of the team at Gold Care Homes who have worked in close partnership with Hertfordshire County Council over the past couple of years. We look forward to enriching the lives of residents in our care by bringing them joy, happiness and fulfilment.” Cllr Tony Kingsbury, Executive Member for Adult Care at Hertfordshire Council also visited the home to talk to residents and family members. He added: “Having looked around today, it’s really clear that Broxbourne Nursing Home exemplifies our approach to care for older people in Hertfordshire. “We want to help people to carry on being independent as they grow older and to be looked after in a place that really does look and feel more like home, in somewhere they feel comfortable and safe.”
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Building Cognitive Reserve Could Protect Against Memory and Thinking Decline New research suggests that people who develop high ‘cognitive reserve’ by the time they reach 69 years old may reduce their likelihood of memory and thinking decline, even with low childhood cognitive abilities. The study was published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Worsening memory and thinking abilities are common in people living with dementia, which is caused by physical diseases in the brain that damage nerve cells and the connections between them. Some people seem to be more resilient to this damage than others. This resilience is known as cognitive reserve and research suggests that education, mental stimulation and healthy living could help to boost it. Researchers based at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK measured the cognitive abilities of 1,184 British people born in the same week in March 1946. The participants were part of the 1946 birth cohort, the oldest British birth cohort where people were monitored throughout their lives. This is the same cohort behind the Insight 46 study, funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK. These participants have taken part in health research throughout their lives and have helped researchers to link several early and mid-life factors to brain health in later life. The team had access to the participants’ childhood cognitive test scores as well as their educational and occupational history. They also knew the participants’ lifestyle habits, hobbies, and leisure activities. Participants were given a higher ‘cognitive reserve index’ score if they had higher educational qualifications at age 26, engaged in healthy leisure activities at 46, and had highly skilled occupations up to 53 years old. Higher cognitive reserve index scores, stronger reading abilities at age 53 and better childhood cognition were all linked to better cognitive test scores when the participants were 69 years old. The researchers measured people’s memory and thinking abilities using tests that indicate whether someone may have diseases like Alzheimer’s, which cause dementia. However, for people with the highest cognitive reserve scores and better reading abilities, childhood cognition scores had no significant impact on memory and thinking abilities at age 69. This suggests that higher
educational qualifications, more highly skilled jobs and greater engagement in social and leisure activities could mitigate the effects of poor childhood cognition. There is conflicting evidence as to how much childhood cognition influences brain health in later life. This study suggests that despite lower cognitive test scores in early life, people could still reduce their risk of cognitive decline in later life by having skilled occupations, higher levels of education and by undertaking healthy leisure activities. Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Strategic Initiatives at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While our childhood can influence our memory and thinking skills later in life, this research underlines the message that it’s never too late to take action to support cognitive health. “The study followed participants until they were 69 years old, when they assessed their cognition. Several factors including education, social life, leisure activities and reading ability seemed to improve cognition in later life, even for people who had lower childhood cognitive test scores. The researchers assessed the participants’ memory and thinking abilities, but did not look for biological signatures of diseases like Alzheimer’s, which can remain undetected for years before cognitive symptoms appear. It will be important to continue monitoring these people to see if – and how – their brain health changes in years to come. “While mental stimulation and healthy living may reduce our risk of cognitive decline, there’s no sure-fire way to prevent it. A mix of factors affect our brain health – some of these we can control, for example looking after our heart health, trying new activities and keeping connected with friends and family. We cannot control factors like our genes, which is why it is also important to consider the impact of risk genes for the diseases that cause dementia, as the researchers in this study did. “The best current evidence suggests that not smoking, only drinking in moderation, staying mentally, physically and socially active, eating a balanced diet, and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check can all help to keep our brains healthy as we age. Find information and advice on brain health at www.thinkbrainhealth.org.uk”
Cherry Tree Lodge Care Home Revamps Garden With Help From Jaguar Land Rover The Wellbeing Lead at Cherry Tree Lodge, Monique, had the pleasure of inviting the team at Jaguar Land Rover to the home, to spend a day redecorating and revamping the garden area for residents. The role of the Wellbeing Lead, which is consistent across the Runwood Homes’ Group, is to implement an exciting programme of activities, organise events and connect with the community, with the sole aim of ensuring residents’ wellbeing is always front of mind. The revamp was part of the home’s wider ‘Big Garden Project’. As well as painting the fences and benches, the home has also brought new, comfortable garden furniture and residents, team members and relatives have all worked together to create a time capsule for Cherry Tree Lodge, which was also buried on the day. With warm weather, upbeat music and the company of friends, the atmosphere was lovely and the day went extremely smoothly, thanks to the brilliant organisation of
Wellbeing Lead, Monique. The Jaguar Land Rover team arrived at 8am and were greeted with a hot drink. A short meeting to go through safety and the day’s plan of action took place before the team got to work. Both the JLR team and Cherry Tree Lodge’s team worked hard throughout the morning. At 12:30 they enjoyed a delicious buffet and plenty of water and orange juice were on offer throughout the day to keep the volunteers hydrated in the sun. Monique commented: “I absolutely enjoyed organising this event from start to finish. It was a lovely day and went exactly to plan. The team at JLR were amazing. The time capsule ceremony was special and it was lovely to have residents, their families, staff and JLR all contribute to a future piece of history for the capsule. As appreciation for the efforts of everyone involved, Scott, Home Manager, presented each member of the JLR Team with a certificate to show our gratitude for the extraordinary effort they put in.”
Efficiencies in Sluice Room Design As one of the most common sources of preventable harm, healthcare-associated infections are among the leading threats to resident safetyi and are common, costly and often fatal.ii Good infection prevention practices are vital to keeping residents and healthcare staff safe. So choosing the right equipment for human waste disposal processes is essential to minimise the transmission of preventable infections.iii
THE PLANNING OF A SLUICE ROOM Planning the workspace is crucial when designing a sluice room, it should be equipped with a collection Figure 1 © 2022 Arjo – showing the Arjo Typhoon™ flusher disinfector point for soiled goods, a hand washbasin, a flusher disinfector, and storage for clean goods. These are the four cornerstones to maintain good infection control routines. Clean hands on clean goods should be the dominant rule for all working procedures. Eliminating the need for manual cleaning, flusher disinfectors effectively empty, clean, and disinfect receptacles such as bedpans, urinals and commode chair pans. Automated operation features such as infrared door operation (as shown in Figure 1), to avoid contaminating the device exterior, can help to reduce the risk of cross-contamination while delivering highly effective cleaning and disinfection results. A wellplanned sluice room, along with a good hand hygiene programme, are both key to an effective infection control program.
In the sluice room, some additional considerations are as follows: • Locate the soiled utility room close to point of care to avoid long transport routes • Good ventilation is required to keep the room cool and dry, and to help remove odours • Floors and walls should be made of a water-resistant material along with surfaces which are easy to clean and disinfect • The hand washbasin should be placed close to the entrance and equipped with dispensers for soap and disinfectant, disposable paper towels and a waste paper bin. The mixer tap should be easily operated touch-free or with an arm / elbow • Plan for sufficient power supply, hot and cold-water inlets, and suitable drainage for the flusher disinfector, sink and slop hopper (optional) Minimising caregiver exposure to human waste during its disposal in the sluice room is fundamental. Caregivers can be exposed to splashes and aerosolsiv during manual cleaning of bedpans and urine bottles or when emptying waste, which can lead to caregiver illness or cross-infection with residents. For this reason, having an efficiently designed sluice room, flusher disinfector and an efficient waste management process are key to minimise the risk of cross-infection. References i Ahrq.gov, 2021. AHRQ’s Healthcare-Associated Infections Program. Available at: www.ahrq.gov/hai/index.html accessed June 2022 ii European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 2018. Healthcare-associated infections: Clostridium difficile infections. ECDC. Annual epidemiological report for 2016. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/AER_for_2016-C-difficile_0.pdf accessed June 2022 iii Arjo Clinical Whitepaper. Flusher Disinfectors: Reducing the risk of cross contamination, 2019 iv Knippenberg-Gordebeke, G., 2012. Bedpans and healthcare-associated infections - Hospital Healthcare Europe. Hospital Healthcare Europe. https://www.hospitalhealthcare.com/news/bedpans-and-healthcare-associated-infections/ accessed June 2022
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Five Tips to Fight Inflation and Beat the Clock When it comes to inflation and the rising costs of providing care the summer of discontent will, all too soon, become the winter of despair. Plus, with 10% vacancies in the care workforce, we all have to do more with much less time. So here are five tips from wippet.com for fighting inflation and beating the clock – just pick and choose what works for you: Compare prices – many suppliers will rely on their customers not looking around for the best prices. But if you always do what you’ve always done you always get what you always got. On Wippet we have a price comparison function. Once you’ve registered and logged in at wippet.com you can select a number of items to compare clearly on a page making sure you get the best available value. Consolidate your buying to save time – countless hours are spent dealing with many different suppliers to buy everything a care home needs: phoning one, meeting another online and offline. Wippet has more than 30 suppliers and 50,000 products all in one website. Each order only needs 1 basket, one login and you get one invoice – saving you tine that could be spent better elsewhere. Save time with automatic reordering – another load of time is easily wasted doing the same things week
in week out. With Wippet, once you’ve selected the products you regularly need, you can add them all to your basket in a couple of clicks to re-order the next time. And of course, you can change quantity or cancel any items at checkout. Request a quote – as they say, if you don’t ask you don’t get. With Wippet’s RFQ (Request for Quote) function, you can contact any of our suppliers and ask if they can do a better price for you. If you need help using it, see our bonus track below! Buy bigger and less frequently. Often buying larger amounts of the regular products you need - but buying them less frequently - means you can either get a better price, or save on delivery costs - or both! There are minimum order values for free delivery on most products on Wippet and if you don’t know … Bonus track – find somebody to help you. Wippet’s chat function is on our site to help. It usually has a real person answering your queries, but if nobody is available it’ll store your question until the earliest moment we can answer it. We have a dedicated team of Customer Success Managers eager to help you get the best out of Wippet. So, if you’re buying for a residential home and you want to see how Wippet can help you fight inflation and save valuable time, just get in touch. Our Customer Success Managers can help over the phone, online or may even be able to come to your home to show you first-hand how to make the most of Wippet. Hope to hear from you soon! www.wippet.com
Immingham Care Home Introduces Care Practitioner Role To Tackle Nurse Shortages Havenmere, an Exemplar Health Care home in Immingham, has introduced a brand-new role, which has helped to combat nurse recruitment challenges in the local area and provide development opportunities for experienced care assistants. Currently, less than two per cent of the local population in Immingham are qualified nurses. Havenmere has introduced the new care practitioner role to upskill its colleagues and bridge the gap between health care assistants and registered nurses to provide an additional layer of clinical expertise in the home. Care practitioners work under the supervision and support of registered nurses at the care home on Pelham Road, and take on delegated clinical tasks including; administrating medication, recording vital observations and training junior colleagues. The role provides an exciting new opportunity for experienced care assistants, as well as helping to improve overall care for residents, by adding additional expertise and knowledge.
To become a certified care practitioner, candidates must complete a bespoke 12-week induction, which covers specialist topics such as medication, PEG feeding tubes and ventilators and includes shadowing nurses in the home. Speaking about the new role, home manager at Havenmere, Hannah Blundell, said: “When I first started here in 2020, not only was there a pandemic, but there was also a national shortage of nurses. “We felt that we had a lot of experienced and skilled health care assistants, who really wanted some career progression. The care practitioner role was introduced to provide this progression and also enable us to continue to deliver excellent care for our residents. “I’m delighted to pilot the role at Havenmere, a first for Exemplar Health Care, and am pleased to share that the role has been a success! “We have already had the first cohort of care practitioners graduate from the training course, but we’re still looking for more people to join our team.”
Introduction of Peracide™ from Sky Chemicals to Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust Carol Scholey (RGN, BSc (hons)) Liam Grimshaw (BSc (hons) MSc by Research) INTRODUCTION In the transfer of an NHS Trust from one disinfectant to another, there are many factors to consider from ease of use to efficacy against healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). For many years, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Trust (DBTH) used a chlorine dioxide (ClO2)-based product as their universal, one-application, quick kill rate disinfection solution. When the supplier announced it was to cease production, they had to find a replacement solution. Whilst scoping the market, it was found that most trusts were using chlorine-based disinfectants or a different brand of ClO2-based disinfectants. Most other solutions were complicated in their mechanism or required a cleaning and disinfecting clean (two stage), which would be time consuming. Information was sort from the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) to see what products were commonly used throughout the country and this is where DBTH were informed about Peracide™, an in situ peracetic acid (ISPAA)-based disinfectant. After further discussion with the company, it was agreed that a trial should take place to confirm the claims of the product. The product was introduced to the microbiologist and Director Infection Prevention & Control (DIPC) our Facilities management team and Health and Safety advisor. The process of using the product needed to meet the needs of facilities and Health and Safety, and the approval of the DIPC that the product had a successful kill rate to reduce HCAIs. DBTH did plate assays to ensure its efficacy and when satisfied, trialled Peracide™ on two wards to test its efficacy and ease in use. In recent years, the need for rapidly efficacious, high-level disinfectants has increased as HCAIs have become a significant issue. HCAIs negatively impact the patient recovery, turnover and average cost by increasing the length of patient stays, increasing costs associated with care, increasing pathogenic effects and increasing the risk of spread to another patient.
MATERIALS AND METHODS As an alternative to a ClO2-based disinfectant, Peracide™ was selected. Peracide™ is a broad-spectrum biocide, reacting to produce peracetic acid in-situ which is a high-level disinfectant that boasts strong, oxidizing properties. Peracide™ is extremely effective against a
wide range of healthcare-associated pathogens including spore forming Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Norovirus, Legionella, E. Coli, Pseudomonas etc. and will work to destroy established biofilms. Peracide™ is both safe to use and environmentally friendly and is suitable for high level sanitising and disinfecting on porous and nonporous surfaces. Unlike other disinfectants, Peracide™ is minimally affected by organic matter. Upon breakdown Peracide™ is completely biodegradable producing carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen. Two side rooms on the same ward were selected. The occupants were of similar admissions reasons and neither of which had any alert organisms so did not occupy the room for isolation purposes
RESULTS Cleaning had not been performed on either side room with Peracide™ prior to this test. The results show that the ClO2-based disinfectant showed no effect at the intervals measured.
From this data, routine cleaning CFU counts with Peracide™ can be predicted. Since there were slightly fewer CFUs than the pre-clean, it can be predicted that Peracide™ will lead to a cumulative effect over time as shown in Figure 2: Predicted cumulative effect of daily cleaning with Peracide This emphasises the absolute importance of regular routine cleaning and shows that Peracide™ is effective both in short- and long-term use.
DISCUSSION Overall, it was found that the ClO2-based disinfectant was almost entirely ineffective and was not suitable for use. There are many possible reasons for this. It could be a case of error in preparation as the formulation can be difficult to use correctly, or that the solution was no longer efficacious as there is no indicative mechanism for the user. It may also be an issue with the ClO2-based disinfectant in solution. ClO2 exists as a gas which readily diffuses out of liquid solution, with a diffusion coefficient of 0.145cm2s-1 at room temperature (Lee, Burgess, Rubino and Auras, 2015) On the other hand, Peracide™ was considerably more effective and had lasting effect in a high-traffic environment. Peracide™, coming in a simple tablet form, is easy to use, is indicative of efficacy and is stabilised in solution. This accumulates to an easy to use, visibly efficacious disinfectant with cumulative effect that supports long-term infection control.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The results show that there is no cumulative effect of cleaning from the ClO2-based disinfectant as the counts at the end of the day were no different from before or after the clean . The ClO2-based disinfectant showed approximately no efficacy overall. In comparison, Peracide™ showed good efficacy to begin with and an overall reduction prior to the next clean.
Thank you to the participants at DBTH for engaging in this trial, and to the laboratory team who performed the necessary assays.
REFERENCES
Lee, Y., Burgess, G., Rubino, M. and Auras, R., 2015. Reaction and diffusion of chlorine dioxide gas under dark and light conditions at different temperatures. Journal of Food Engineering, 144, pp.20-28.
For further information see page 40.
YOUR CARE HOME’S CHANCE TO WIN A LUXURY HAMPER! Afternoon Tea Week is here! August 8 -14
Afternoon Tea Week celebrates that great British tradition of Afternoon Tea served with the most delicious delicacies, bringing a little bit of “elegance and pomp” to brighten the day! The CARER is offering one lucky care home the chance to win a luxury Hamper packed full of all those artful little extras for a truly memorable occasion. Presented in a traditional wicker hamper, this selection makes the ideal gift for any occasion that demands special attention.
All you have to do is tell us all about your Afternoon Tea Week celebrations, planning, events, treats, delicacies, and we will pick a winner!! Simply email us at nominate@thecareruk.com for your chance to win!
Afternoon Tea Week is Here! So Let's Celebrate in Style!
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This year's Afternoon Tea Week will take place from 8th - 14th August and venues, in particular care settings across the UK, will pay tribute to the nation's favourite pastime.
Afternoon Tea Week is the perfect opportunity to take part in a range of activities that celebrate this wonderful tradition; to meet people, chat, dance, laugh and eat a lot of cake – that is washed down with some delicious tea served in a fine China cup. Furthermore, it serves an important social and emotional role that is necessary for overall resident wellbeing, enabling those in social and health care settings, who may otherwise feel isolated, to interact with staff, visitors, and fellow residents, service users or patients.
A WORLD-WIDE TRADITION
Now a world-wide tradition, taking afternoon tea is integral to British culture, but you may be surprised to hear that the custom only dates back to the 1840s. Originating amongst the upper social classes in England, the invention of afternoon tea is widely credited to Anna Maria Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and a lifelong friend of Queen Victoria.
Anna Maria Russell became the Duchess of Bedford in 1839, after her husband, Francis Russell, became the 7th Duke of Bedford. While on a visit to the fifth Duke of Rutland, Russell became rather lethargic and hungry, however, in the nineteenth century, it was normal to have dinner served and eaten between the hours of seven to nine at night. Since this was rather late into the evening, a small meal called ‘luncheon’ was created. However, this too, after long afternoons with no refreshment, also failed to keep the hunger pangs at bay. This is when she came up with the notion of “afternoon tea”. Tea paired with savoury sandwiches and sweet cakes became the Russell’s go-to midday meal. She also started inviting her friends for an afternoon tea session. This custom was soon picked up by people from the upper- and middle-upper classes. Today, afternoon tea is enjoyed by many all over the world, thanks in part to Queen Victoria, who was also a friend of Russell’s, started having afternoon tea. Eventually, having afternoon tea became a social event of sorts. Members of the elite would dress up and assemble to share sumptuous treats like finger sandwiches, scones with jams and clotted cream, pastries, and various cakes and teas, or share a more informal afternoon tea with just close friends.
THE PERFECT TEA TREATS
A 2021 Sass & Belle survey which asked UK consumers to rank a range of popular afternoon tea treats to rank the nation’s perfect spread, revealed that aside from the scone - a classic component in any afternoon tea – we British huge fans of chicken and mayonnaise sandwiches, sausage rolls and brownies! When it comes to our favourite tier, it seems we’re a nation of dessert lovers, with 42% rating the cakes and sweet selection the best, followed by the savoury selection and scone tier, with only one in five (21%) claiming ‘the middle tier’ as the one that makes their mouth water the most.
HYDRATION
Afternoon Tea can also be a key focal point to demonstrate how this traditional occasion is ideal for promoting and improving nutrition and hydration. As well as offering a number of nutritional benefits, it can also be easily adapted to a wide variety of social and health care settings, care homes, community meals rounds, in day care settings, at Luncheon Clubs, during community support worker visits, and within NHS settings such as on hospital wards, cafés and day rooms.
From a nutrition and hydration perspective, Afternoon Tea undoubtedly supports the ‘three meals and two snacks a day’ message, helping with boosting calorific intake if required, and it can be adapted for all groups, including those with specific dietary needs, texture modification and eating problems. Hydration refers to the drinking of adequate amounts of fluid to keep the body healthy. It recognises that having an adequate fluid intake is an important part of maintaining a balanced diet and is essential for health and wellbeing. In this respect, the care service implements the recommended daily intake for an adult of six to eight glasses of water or other fluids (about two litres), also recognising that most people do not drink anywhere near that amount, particularly the elderly. In adult social care settings, severe dehydration makes frail people more vulnerable to infections, dizziness and confusion, and to falls, from which may have a lasting effect. Studies in care settings where a campaign of positive encouragement to maintain hydration has been run have identified a number of positive outcomes, including fewer urinary infections and fewer falls. So, a wonderful opportunity to afford service providers the perfect platform to put on their own activities and events to further highlight the absolute need for fun, good nutrition and hydration, and promote the good work they are doing.
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Celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week with Cuppas That Show You Care With lots of refreshing fruit and herbal blends as well as Orignal and decaf black tea, Tetley has a solution for everyone celebrating National Afternoon Tea Week! Here at Tetley, we understand the challenge of keeping your residents hydrated and the important role a quality cuppa can play. A significant 20% of care home residents are dehydrated1 which can lead to hospital admission. This is easily preventable by keeping hydrated.
ity cuppas to the nation for the past 185 years. Operating globally, we source, buy and blend the finest tea leaves, so you can promise residents a deliciously refreshing cuppa with every sip. Whilst we are tea masters, we are also environmentally conscious and committed to operating our business in a way that supports the people and environment it touches. With every Tetley cuppa, you and your residents drink, you’re helping us in reaching our sustainability and environmental goals.
EVERY CUPPA COUNTS
MORE THAN JUST TEA Designed with care professionals and caterers in mind, the Tetley Hydration Handbook and Hydration Help Sheet offer insight and advice to help keep residents hydrated in all care environments! We have a range of free POS and specially designed care activity pack materials available to encourage extra drinking opportunities and have some fun at the same time. Get your free POS and activity pack today: www.tetleyfoodservice.co.uk/channels/care Sources:
With our range, we have a tea that suits every one of your residents’ needs throughout the day. As well as choice, Tetley provides a familiar feeling of comfort for residents to help them feel more relaxed and settled. For the love of tea, for the love of Tetley. Maximise the opportunities to maintain hydration levels by offering our wide range of flavoured tea alongside black tea. With tea counting towards the daily fluid intake and the recommended water intake being between 1.5L to 2L, our range will help you make sure your residents stay hydrated.
FOR THE LOVE OF TEA Tetley is the nation’s favourite tea brand2 and No1 in the foodservice sector.3 We’ve been serving qual-
Safer Drinkware and Catering Products for Staff and Residents
Who are BBP Marketing Ltd?
BBP Marketing is a familyowned company based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire established in 1882. BBP is recognised leader in the design and manufacture of reusable drinkware and catering products. We have a large range of styles & sizes and continually expand our range in order to meet our customer’s needs.
Why use BBP Marketing? We understand the importance of taking care of our planet, which is why we take pride in our products being reusable, as well as recyclable at end of life. They are machine washer safe, virtually unbreakable and can last a lifetime. Not only are our products helping the environment, they are also designed with you in mind. Whether it be a bowl with easy grip handles either side for better stability or a plate with cover to keep your food fresher for longer, we strive to make products that are suitable for everyday use. The benefits of using Polycarbonate over glass are endless. Not only does it eliminate opportunities for injuries which can occur during glass breakages, it also ensures a safer environment that we know is important within the care sector as well as the hos-
pitality industry. Polycarbonate, whilst being lightweight, is also a great insulator of hot or cold liquid. It serves as a thermal barrier to protect the user’s hands from hot or cold contents, whilst keeping the liquid at the desired temperature for longer. You may have seen already our patient water jug designed specifically for the NHS in hospitals around the United Kingdom. We worked closely with the NHS Nursing Team and in-turn successfully created a product that meets the needs of both patient and staff. We always welcome the opportunity to work with clients who hold new and exciting ideas, that fill a gap in the market. Branding, logo printing and further bespoke work can also be implemented upon request.
How do we purchase? We have a reputable list of distributors across the globe, who can supply our products along with other complimentary items to suit your needs. Please ask your distributor for our products or email us and we will be happy to recommend a suitable distributor. See the advert on the previous page for details.
1. Open Access Government (2022), “Eradicating dehydration in the elderly with Aquarate”, openaccessgovernment.org 2. Kantar World Panel No. of Households Buying Dec 2019 3. Kantar World Panel L52W to April 2022
Serve Afternoon Tea in Style with Euroservice Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple? Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents! Visit the website at www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.
Make Tea a Special Occasion with Bidfood's Afternoon Tea Guide “Afternoon tea is a great social occasion for residents, bringing them together with the opportunity of meeting others for a chat, dance and singalong. It can improve their nutrition and hydration, as it’s a great way of getting calories and fluids into their diet. Everyone loves a scone - whether it’s sweet or savoury! “We’ve recently created an afternoon tea guide, especially for carehomes, complete with a tempting set of inspiring recipe ideas, printable activities, decoration ideas, and top tips for throwing the ultimate summer celebration. The menu builds on-trend flavours into the afternoon tea occasion, with the aim of inspiring chefs with traditional dishes that have a modern twist. For example, katsu in a Spam Katsu Sando, and sriracha in a Sriracha Prawn Vol-au-Vent. It offers everything from bite-sized snacks to substantial sandwiches and of
Manufactured in the UK
course irresistible sweets like Lemon and Raspberry Scone with Lemon Curd Cream or our Black Forest Gateau Pots. The menu works not just for the jubilee, but will bring excitement to any afternoon tea occasion. You can find the guide here: https://view.bidfood.co.uk/the-queens-jubileerecipe-guide/. We’ve have also developed a range of afternoon tea inspired cocktails to go with the recipes, created by our Unity Wines and Spirits team. For example, Strawberries and Cream, Bakewell Sour, A Messy Chase and the Cucumber Martini. Find them here: https://www.bidfood.co.uk/blog/4-afternoon-teainspired-cocktails/.
Freephone: 0800 917 7943 www.euroservice-uk.com sales@euroservice-uk.com
PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND STYLISH TROLLEYS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS Watch your resident's eyes light up when the beautiful tea trolley arrives! Euroservice trolleys can also be used as a vending trolley or to sell personal care products to residents. How about a delicious snack/pastry trolley or even a drinks trolley for that afternoon tipple?
Your lovely trolley could do so much for you and your residents! Euroservice trolleys are an attractive and practical alternative to clinical aluminium trolleys given that antibacterial spray can be used freely to sanitise them.
Get in touch with our friendly, experienced sales team
Visit the website at
www.euroservice-uk.com to see the full range.
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DYSPHAGIA Don't Let Dysphagia Ruin Your Resident's Mealtimes Meals are often the highlight of the day in a care home, but when you have dysphagia, and struggle to swallow, the risk of choking and food or fluid entering your lungs, can present a real challenge and even make the meal itself a danger. In fact, dysphagia is a common reason for hospital admission. Nor is it a problem that is limited to the elderly, dysphagia can affect people of all ages. However, it doesn’t have to spoil mealtimes, which can still be a pleasure as well as safe, as long as meals are prepared and presented in the right way. Just pureeing meals can reduce their nutritional content, and the dish may end up being less appetising to the eye. This is where specialist ranges of texture-modified dishes can help, for example Simply Puree which is available through Bidfood. This range is created especially for people living with dysphagia, and each dish is consistent in the nutritional content it provides, and compliant with IDDSI textures. The International IDDSI Diet Standardisation tool is a global standard providing terminology and definitions that describe the texture of modified food and thickened liquids used for individuals with dysphagia of all ages, in all care settings and for all cultures. The Simply Puree IDDSI guide is a free easy to use tool to help you understand and cater for the different IDDSI textures. You can find it here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz2kktx This is a great online tool, which not only gives a refresher on IDDSI lev-
els for chefs who are already knowledgeable about dysphagia, but it’s also a great learning tool for those with less experience, who may be new to the industry. It takes you through the journey of how to adapt a range of different dishes to meet all levels within IDDSI – the cooking, blending and serving processes that ensure a dish is safe for residents with different needs. This makes dining a fun and sociable experience for those living with dysphagia, covering all their needs from nutritional to hydration. It means they can get involved with all meal occasions, which is good for their wellbeing, and presenting really appetising dishes will, of course, encourage them to eat more. Many of those living with dysphagia find it difficult to consume enough calories throughout the day, so you may need to fortify recipes to maximise the calorific value of each spoonful. An easy way to achieve this is to switch water for full fat milk or cream, melted butter or oil, sauces, gravy, honey, or juice for dilution. It’s important to ensure that dishes are visually appealing too, so it helps to make up modified consistency foods separately, and then pipe them onto the plate while still hot, so that you can serve them immediately. If you are diluting or pureeing food, it’s also important to use stronger flavours so that the food is still flavoursome. As with any dish, do a taste check before you serve to make sure it meets the same high standards you aim for with the rest of your menu. When it comes to caring for those living with dysphagia, its key to regu-
larly monitor their intake very closely, with a nutritional assessment and weekly weight check, to ensure they are not losing weight and are getting enough nutrition and fluids. Make sure those who are preparing food are fully trained and aware of the risks associated with dysphagia, as well as the correct way to prepare modified consistency foods, and to thicken fluids for patients who need this. To help with this, Bidfood have put together a new e-learning platform, called Caterers Campus, which is a fun and interactive training resource that takes the hard work out of supporting your team. The modules are aimed at helping them consistently create nutritious and delicious meals that are tailored to residents’ individual requirements. There are seven modules available, which include one on Dysphagia and IDDSI, as well as Fortification, Hydration, Dementia, and Cost Control amongst others. You can find more information about it here: https://www.bidfood.co.uk/caterers-campus/ Bidfood have developed the programme exclusively for their customers to help their teams learn in bite-sized modules, in a way which works for them - anytime, anywhere, on any device. Knowledge is checked on completion of each module, and each person taking a module gets a certificate of achievement for their records - but if it’s not a pass, it’s not a problem, you can take it again! There are also no sign up fees for the programme.
myAko Develops Dysphagia Online Courses For Carers Swallowing difficulties are common in people residing in care homes. Early identification, assessment and management by care home staff may result in a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia and death. Therefore, it is important for staff to be aware of the signs of dysphagia and what to do in order to prevent further deterioration in a resident’s condition. Dr. Elizabeth Boaden is a fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and has spent over 30 years working to improve the quality of life of those living with dysphagia. Dr. Boaden has created a set of courses on dysphagia. These courses have been researched and developed for the benefit of all healthcare workers and nurses, and are due to be available on myAko.com.
WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA?
Dysphagia is the term used to describe difficulties swallowing. Difficulties may range from a decrease in chewing ability to food and drinks going onto the lungs causing aspiration pneumonia and death. Dysphagia is a common feature of many congenital and acquired structural and neurological difficulties. It is not possible to provide accurate figures regarding the prevalence of dysphagia, as it is often unrecognised and underdiagnosed. Dysphagia affects approximately 8% of the global population. Although swallowing difficulties are seen in the paediatric population, the greater incidence is in adult client group. The incidence of
commonly occuring elderly neurological diseases in the older population are stroke (45-78%), Parkinson’s disease (75-100%) and Alzeimer’s disease (90%). Swallowing involves six cranial nerves and over 26 pairs of muscles, with the oesophagus opening within a fraction of a second of airway closure. It is therefore unsurprising that everyone has experienced at least one incident where just a slight incoordination of the swallow has caused coughing and choking as food and drink enter the airway. It is therefore to be expected that dysphagia occurs in approximately 35% of the normal aging elderly population owing to weakness in the muscles for swallowing. Furthermore, it has been reported that up to 74% of residents in care homes will present with swallowing difficulties of some description.
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
The training, available on myAko.com, helps healthcare workers to better understand the impact of dysphagia and how to help those in their care. The nurses training helps them support Speech and Language Therapists with remote dysphagia assessments, without the need for face-to-face visits. Utilising remote teleswallowing techniques helps to reduce current NHS waiting lists and nurses and carers are able to improve early diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.
MOVING FORWARD
It is imperative for care staff to be able to quickly and effectively screen for dysphagia, as a delay in doing so may have devastating effects. It is a care worker’s duty to ease the struggle presented by dysphagia; not only to avoid the possibility of death, but to simply ensure that a resident’s later life and emotional well-being is as comfortable and content as possible. Visit www.myako.com, email help@myako.com or call 01202 283383 for further details.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES How Efficient and Compliant Is Your Laundry Operation?
When choosing dryers, it is notable that care homes are increasingly turning away from gas appliances due regulation changes and safety concerns. Changes to industry requirements can necessitate considerable investment in order for gas appliances to meet the current standards. Forbes Professional advises care homes on all relevant WRAS and industry requirements and helps clients ensure complete compliance with the latest regulations. Many care homes would need to reconfigure their entire laundry room to enable the newly requisite two metre distancing between gas appliances and doors. When such issues are coupled with safety concerns and the increasing costs of running
gas appliances, Forbes would generally recommend that electrical appliances should be the product of choice. Miele’s new heat pump commercial dryers are particularly highly rated for their safety, functionality and energy efficiency. They do not require any make-up air, which enables the laundry function to be installed in the basement or in a central location within the care-home, and saves on costly vent-ducting. Miele's Ecoplus technology guarantees that both energy consumption and drying times are kept consistently low. Due to the effective interaction of the Miele filter system and the maintenance-free heat exchanger, fluff cannot clog the heat exchanger or adversely affect the exceptional drying efficiency. Miele’s heat-pump tumble dryers’ employ a highly efficient and economical filter system and heat exchanger to keep run times low and enable an energy saving of up to 60% when compared to vented dryers. Forbes Professional provides a range of options for commercial laundry equipment, including the PT 8337 and the Little Giant PT 7137 heat pump dryers. All of their Miele commercial laundry is available on a purchase, rental or lease basis, with access to a comprehensive service that includes installation, commissioning, user training, and a first-class repair and maintenance response. www.forbespro.co.uk Telephone 0345 0702335 info@forbes-professional.co.uk See the advert on page 19.
BIOFROST Cold Therapy Gels for Drug-Free Pain Relief ®
BIOFROST® Relief and the BIOFROST® Active are natural topical gels that effectively relieve pain, reduce inflammation and diminish swelling without drugs and drug-related side-effects. Safe for people of all ages, including the elderly and disabled people, BIOFROST® Cold Therapy Gels work as standalone therapeutic modalities or alongside other interventions (i.e. drugs, physiotherapy, massage, etc.), providing affordable and long term cost-effective solution to pain and discomfort. BIOFROST® Relief Cold Gel contains only natural ingredients (i.e. ethanol, menthol, eucalyptus, pep-
permint, MSM) for instant pain relief and to activate body’s own healing. Benefits are better joint movements, lasting pain relief, comfortable sleep, fewer cramps, calmed nerve pain, reduced joint and muscular discomfort, less muscle fatigue, puffiness and swelling. BIOFROST® Active is a fast-acting dual-action cold gel with heat sensation for relief of muscular and joint aches (i.e. upper and lower back pain). Enriched with 10 herbal extracts, BIOFROST® Active stimulates local blood flow, releases muscle tension and joint stiffness and combats chronic pain. Benefits include improved joint movements, greater mobility, pain relief in treated areas (i.e. back, neck, shoulders, knees), discomfort-free sleep, less cramps and stiffness. CE marked Class 1 Medical Devices, the BIOFROST® gels are made in Finland by Viking Lab Oy. Distributed in the UK by Win Health Medical Ltd. Win Health Medical Ltd. / T: 01835 864866 / E: biofrost@win-health.com / W: www.win-health.com See the advert on page 5 for details.
Yeoman Shield Fire Door Services Taking the Guess Work out of Fire Doors Fire Doors are an imperative part of fire safety and are considerations of the design and maintenance of any building, but especially residential. Article 17 – RRFSO states fire safety provisions (includes fire doors) must be maintained in a suitable condition and working order. If you are the Responsible Person, it’s imperative you appoint a competent person to assist in meeting your duties under the fire safety order to ensure fire safety measures including fire doors are kept in working order. Yeoman Shield’s Fire Door Services can help to take the guess work out of fire door maintenance by providing fire door inspections, condition reports, remedial work and fire door installation all carried out by FDIS and/or FIRAS accredited team members Having a good maintenance routine will dispel some needs of fire door replacement therefore being more cost effective.
The implementation of Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Protection products can also be in the long term financially beneficial by halting impact damage from the start eliminating many repairs in the future and again will extend door lifecycles. Installing Yeoman Shield door protection products such as, door protection panels, door edge protectors and PVCu glazing bead units will not affect the integrity of the fire door as all products have been tested, in situ, to the current standard required. Vulnerable frames and architraves can also be protected from impact with Yeoman Shield to prevent dangerous splintering and splitting as well as abolishing the time-consuming, repetitive need for repainting. For a complete repair and protect service contact the team today frdp@yeomanshield.com or visit www.yeomanshield.com
Renray Healthcare Renray Healthcare has been producing high quality furniture for over 50 years and is one of the UK’s largest and leading suppliers to the healthcare sector. Whether you require a fast efficient delivery of quality
furniture or a full room installation and fitting service, we have the experience and resources to handle your contract. We manufacture and assemble our products in our own purpose built factories in Cheshire and Europe to British Standards. Hence we are able to ensure your furniture is produced to the highest quality, working with you to plan and meet your projects time schedule and budget. We understand you are purchasing furniture that is fit for purpose, stylish and will continue to perform well into the future, which is why we design and build our furniture with you in mind. Telephone: +44 (0)1606 593456, Email: info@renrayhealthcare.com, www.renrayhealthcare.com or see the advert on page 3 for details.
Raising the Standard of Stair Climbing Solutions The Stair Climbing Company is one of the leading providers of powered Stair Climber solutions, which have been specifically designed to assist those struggling with mobility and independence issues facing people with disabilities. The Stair Climbing Company offers an excellent range of compact, easy to use, powered Stair Climbers that are ideal for use in both home and commercial settings. Offering innovative designs, all of the company’s Stair Climbers can be separated into two pieces, for safe storage and are easily transported and charged. In addition, all of its Stair Climber’s come with a two year manufacturer’s warranty. The Stair Climbing Company maintains one main
mission; to improve quality of life, through its range of high-quality and custom devices with built-in seats. The safety and comfort of its customers is of the utmost importance to the company and it ensures that each wheelchair carrier model is designed to cater to individual customers’ specific needs, and works with all stair types. Furthermore, the company provides Stair Climbers for all ages, making them suitable for everyone, and offers a free assessment for customers. If you would like to find out any more information, please see the details below: T 01787 379160 www.thestairclimbingcompany.com See the advert on page 13.
Furniture That Improves Health For Residents… And Staff
Mobility furniture has come on leaps and strides over the last few years. Gone are the dreary semifunctional chairs and beds of the past. Today’s generation of rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds look smart, last for years and are better designed and more comfortable than ever before. Even people without mobility problems are buying them, especially when they are made to measure, giving that perfect fit.
Some adjustable beds and rise and recline chairs even come with wheels, a thoughtful touch for when residents struggle to walk between rooms. And many come with wipe clean upholstery in case of unfortunate spills. All of these features reduce the workload for busy staff and improve the comfort of residents.
HOW DOES MOBILITY FURNITURE BENEFIT CARE HOME RESIDENTS?
Mobility Furniture Company is one of the biggest mobility furniture companies in the UK. Its wide geographical spread of representatives takes furniture to care homes for managers, staff and residents to assess. “Care home managers, owners and staff, know what their residents need,” says James Mitton, Managing Director of Mobility Furniture Company. “When we visit care homes, we always gain valuable insights about real life situations for which our company can make a difference. Working with these key members of staff, we find solutions for residents – and care home employees – that make life more comfortable for everybody involved.” Call free today on 0808 265 1373 for a free brochure, or visit us at www.mobilityfurniturecompany.co.uk/sale See the advert on page 17.
Research has found that elevating the legs – one of the main features of a rise and recline chair or adjustable bed – reduces swelling of stiff and painful joints and enhances healing of injuries and wounds. In fact, experts have found that failure to elevate a limb can actually delay healing. Another advantage of mobility furniture is that it helps care home residents sleep deeply and for longer stints, which we all know is crucial to quality of life, both physical and emotional. Why? Because it allows people access to a range of sitting and lying positions that traditional chairs and beds simply do not have.
WHAT ABOUT CARE HOME STAFF? Mobility furniture improves health of care home employees because it results in less lifting/weight bearing. Press a button on the rise and recline chair and it supports the user to their feet. Some adjustable beds have the same feature. Most residents need to avoid pressure sores and again, mobility furniture helps by pressing a button on the chair or bed to gently ease people into different positions. The alternative is a member of staff shifting the resident to a new position, at risk to their own health.
WORKING WITH EXPERTS Dr Rob Hicks, popular celebrity media doctor, acts as medical expert for Mobility Furniture Company. “Mobility furniture can make life that little bit easier for people, particularly those who struggle to do things that we often take for granted, like sitting down and standing up,” Dr Hicks says. “It is great to be working with a forward-thinking company that celebrates improving quality of life for older individuals.”
AN UPBEAT APPROACH
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 35
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Odorous Waste Inspired FREE Anti-Litter Pack Cash’s Labels- “The Name Behind the Name” more people venture outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. Not only is public waste emitting unpleasant smells, it can attract unwanted pests such as flies, insects, birds and vermin. Whilst these pests could be a potential hazard to the public, the litter could also be a threat to local eco-systems and wildlife.
ANTI-LITTER PACKS
The Summer season is upon us, with lighter nights and warmer weather. No matter what season we enter, waste is guaranteed and must be handled appropriately, however, the change in seasons should prompt us to take additional waste management steps.
SCENTS OF SUMMER Rising temperatures will heat waste, producing profound odours from bins. The increase in temperatures and heat exposure to the waste allows bacteria to grow faster and odours to intensify. Although loose waste is often affected first – captured and contained rubbish will soon follow in emitting stronger odours. Summer Litter The summer season not only sees a rise in temperatures but also a potential increase in litter levels as
Cromwell are proud to be an independent, familyrun group, committed to the recycling, manufacture and distribution of polythene and compostable materials. In their aim to be the most resourceful company in plastics, Cromwell has developed an anti-littering promotional pack, free to download and used by all, developed specifically to help educate and deter litterers. The pack consists of posters, social media content and an infographic leaflet. The posters and social media posts have 4 different designs, all of which are targeting hotspot litter areas or problems, these include dog waste, Flytipping and littering in areas such as beaches and streets. All the material is FREE to use, and Cromwell welcomes anyone to download and use the material – helping to reach their goal of a cleaner, greener, and more resourceful planet, this new anti-litter pack is a step towards this sustainable vision. View, download and share FREE from Cromwell’s website www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk/free-downloadableanti-litter-pack/
Jolly Trolley Brings Therapeutic Activity and Entertainment The Jolly Trolley® is an essential for any care establishment as it promotes social interaction between the service users and their carers. This innovative system is fully mobile and battery operated, allowing residents who may be unable to leave their rooms to also be included with ease. The Jolly Trolley® comes complete with its own videos, quizzes, karaoke and other content, but personal music, photos and films can then be added from a USB stick to really bring out the magic! Don’t just take our word for it here are just some testimonials from our very happy Health and Social Care clients:
Chester Park- Megan Allan, Activities “The fact that we can upload what is relevant to the specific Individual is so meaningful for that person and I can assure you we have shed some tears being able to be part of that residents memory journey. It has been an amazing addition to our care home – from staff and residents – thank you.” Pennine NHS Trust - Beech Ward“we have been able to provide therapeutic activity & entertainment with ease to patients that are isolating” To see what the Jolly Trolley® can do for you, call us for a free demonstration on 0800 093 8499. See the advert on page 1.
Reduce Your Operating Costs!! Opeque can assist in reducing energy bills, complying with legislation, managing health and safety and achieving a sustainable operation. Over years, Opeque has worked with various industry sectors, from tyre manufacturing to laundries, schools to hotels and hospitals to care homes, optimising their manufacturing procedures and facilities man-
agement. Applying industrial engineering principles, we address productivity, resource efficiency, quality control, health and safety and asset management, bringing people, utilities, equipment, and buildings together to realise product excellence. We have worked with many care homes to provide laundry services and water hygiene and it is from these close relationships that we believe we can further assist your CARE HOME to reduce operating costs. Call or Email NOW: 07831 873355, email admin@opeque.com or visit www.opeque.com See the advert on page 23 for details.
Safeguard Your Care Home with InVentry Care homes are crucial for our society, so it’s important to ensure they’re a safe setting to help staff carry out the best possible care. With many family members and friends visiting their loved ones daily, InVentry is essential to track who’s entering and leaving your care home. Visitors are met with a simple signing in process and their information is stored directly in the system. This not only allows you to track who is onsite at any given time, but it ensures an even faster sign in during repeat visits. You can also ensure that the contractors you have onsite have the skills to do the job safely by asking custom questions before they sign in, with options to include documents they may need to read upon arrival, ensuring health & safety and the security of
your site is always maintained. InVentry can even help you become CQC and Care Inspectorate Compliant as our software allows you to receive star-rated feedback from those who have visited your care home. You can store this feedback within your system and note any actions taken to improve your processes and procedures! Head to our website: www.inventry.co.uk or see the advert on page 6.
At Cash's, we aim to capture, reinforce and communicate our clients’ brand equity through quality and innovation, from design to distribution. Our product range fully caters for the needs of both small and large retailers and brand owners alike comprising of woven and printed labels, woven badges, care labels, branded and promotional swing tags, garment accessories, packaging and barcoding. Our ground breaking labelling and security technologies are also able to provide an unrivalled level of protection to our customers' brand
by assisting to combat counterfeiting and grey market activity. Our industry leading eCommerce system is designed to reduce cost, improve efficiency and streamline supply chain management and will fully protect the integrity and accuracy of critical business data. The order entry process is very simple meaning suppliers and vendors can spend their valuable time on tasks other than ordering apparel labelling and accessories. Visit www.cashslabels.com or see the advert on page 6.
Know What You Are Asking From Contractors After attending some recent Care Industry Conferences, it was interesting to hear how some of delegates are confident and have an understanding of the importance of Passive Fire Protection. However, many are still unsure of what is required and what they should be asking and expecting from a contractor. We recently attended a care home; the owner had commissioned a very detailed Fire Compartmentation (Passive) report but in appointing a contractor they failed to ask vital questions. When we inspected the work, it was clear to see the work was poor quality, had been incorrectly installed and large areas of work had been left incomplete. Unfortunately, the owner didn’t ask for a scope of works detailing what was going to be done and how. It should have asked how the work was going to be recorded so that they could demonstrate, if required, to local authorities or assessors at future assessments/surveys, that the work had been correctly installed. Also, they failed to check if the contractor was UKAS third party accredited. Care must be taken when appointing a contractor to complete these specialised works. As a UKAS third party accredited company, we will always make sure
we understand your requirements and that you understand the service we are going to provide. We catalogue every repair and installation, taking multiple images of each stage. The product details and how it was implemented/installed will also be recorded. When the works are completed, you will receive a detailed report of each and every item repaired, accompanied with a certificate of conformance. UK Passive Fire Solutions work with you from start to finish. Call or email today to get more information and receive your information pack; email info@ukpassivefiresolutions.co.uk or call: 01262 469872 or see the advert on page 9.
Memory Lane Games - Reminiscence Games To Trigger Positive Memories For Those Living With Dementia Hi, where are you from? Asking where someone is from is such a common opening question for a stranger and universal small talk. Where we live and where we come from is fundamental to most people’s sense of self, identity and history and perhaps that’s why it’s a powerful topic in reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy involves simple techniques to help those with memory loss or dementia to recall their memories. This can improve self-esteem and provide a sense of fulfillment, improve mood and reduce agitation, all of which are so valuable in the care of those living with a condition which doesn’t have positive outcomes. It’s where the founders of Memory Lane Games started when they decided to make games for their elderly Mums to enjoy using their favourite old photographs. After quickly realising they were onto something, the Memory Lane Games app now delivers professionally curated reminiscence and speech and language activity games across a range of topics such as music, film, food, hobbies and pets. All of our games are designed to be frustration free and encourage communication and socialisation, not to test.
SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL. Beneath its simplicity the Memory Lane Games app
Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
is a powerful tool. Carers, families and friends are able to enjoy interactions generated by playing the games with those in their care and can even create personalised quizzes using old family photos and create questions such as “Mum where did you go on your first holiday?" or “Where did you get married?”. In addition to our popular free app (available in the usual app stores) we serve international care home groups with a SaaS platform enabling alerts based on their residents' game play: highlighting changes in 7 clinical data sets which are all game-play related and have been established in our RCT Clinical Trial (underway). This data can be used to alert earlyinterventions needed to address potential health issues like mini-strokes or urinary tract infections for example. The benefits to users and care homes are immediately evident. Improved resident and staff wellbeing, improved quality of family visits and a differentiated care home business. If you would like to create a Memory Lane Game for your residents or to find out more about us please get in touch or download the app for FREE from the usual app stores. Helpforcarehomes@memorylanegames.com See the advert on page 4.
PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
CONTINENCE CARE Top Tips For Healthy Skin When Living with Incontinence Healthy skin is a physical barrier against the external environment. The pH balance of skin should be between 4.5 and 5.5 to discourage bacterial growth.
HOW TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A NORMAL PH BALANCE: • Prevent changes to normal skin pH by cleaning up quickly after each episode of urine loss. • Choose mild skin cleansers, moisturisers and sealants. • Be aware that perspiration, in combination with continence pads and briefs, creates an extra risk factor for skin problems.
DO’S AND DON’TS WHEN CARING FOR YOUR SKIN • Always use the pads prescribed for you and make sure that they are fitted correctly • Tell your nurse if your skin is wet when you change your incontinence pad • Tell your nurse if you have eczema or psoriasis or are prone to other conditions that affect your skin • Note the condition of your skin whilst using incontinence pads • Tell your nurse if there are any changes to your skin. • This would include if your skin becomes red, sore or broken. • Tell your nurse if you are using any ointments or creams
• Wash your hands before and after changing your pad • Don’t apply ointments or creams unless prescribed by your doctor or nurse. • Don’t use talcum powder on your bottom or groin area. It can cause friction which may damage the skin and also affect how well your pad works. • Don’t wear more than one pad at a time
Important advice Oil based barrier creams may reduce the performance of the pads. If barrier creams must be used, they should be applied sparingly and only on areas that require treatment. Used products should be disposed of in the appropriate manner, they cannot be flushed down the toilet. The iD range of products is available to buy from www.id-direct.com or via Ontex - See the advert on below for details.
Help To Manage Your Incontinence Issues Independently Urinary incontinence affects millions of people in the UK. Although a widespread problem, in-continence remains a taboo topic. Embarrassment often stops people from talking about it, let alone feeling able to access products and services that can help them. So, without the correct help and support, the problem often remains unsolved, which has a negative impact on people’s lives.
COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE Since 1976 Manfred Sauer have provided a range of innovative urology products to help suffer-ers of urinary incontinence. But unlike other providers, our products are often designed and tested by both end users and healthcare professionals to ensure effective and user-friendly so-lutions that work. This means your incontinence issues can be managed independently, without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on your ability to live life to the full. Read about four of our most popular product ranges, which are all available on prescription.
1. SHEATHS We offer 5 types of urinary sheath to facilitate the drainage of urine away from the body into a drainage bag. They are made from either latex, or synthetic materials and available in a range of sizes. We also offer skin friendly tapes, straps and adhesives, hair guards, measuring tape as well as Preventox, which cleans and protects the skin, so you are always comfortable and have the best fit possible.
2. LEGBAGS We supply four main types of leg bags with varying capacities. Perfect for being outdoors, and packed full of unique features and benefits, you now have a choice when it comes to managing your incontinence
issues. • The shape of our Discreet Thigh Bag allows for it to be worn high up on the thigh area and can even be hidden under shorts, skirts and even swimwear • The Bendi Bag is ideal for wheelchair users who can sometimes find toilet access difficult • The Comfort Leg Bag range comes in variety of materials from velvet smooth, real cotton and flock backing • The Children's Bag with smaller capacity and proportions comes with a discreet and secure twist tap that will not open accidentally while moving, or out and about
3. IQ CATHETER Thousands of people across the country must perform Intermittent SelfCatheterisation (ISC) to effectively empty their bladder and having something that is simple to use, soft, flexible and easy to lubricate is essential. That’s where our IQ-Cath shines, plus, new for 2022 are male/paediatric and female single-use hydrophilic catheters which are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use.
4. NEPHSYS For people who have had a Nephrostomy, and tubes are already in place, our NephSys system can drastically improve their lives. As well as providing a secure and sterile solution, which consists of an adjustable, elasticated belt; drainage bags and suspenders to secure the bag to the belt in the chosen position, the system is also comfortable and discreet. For help, support and advice, call 01604 595696, email helpline@manfred-sauer.co.uk or visit www.manfred-sauer.co.uk for more information about each product, or to order a free sample.
PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Colour Activated Disinfectant Tablets Peracide is an effective and rapidly stable sporicidal disinfectant tablet that tackles the transmission of C.difficile and other HAI. Peracide is the result of many years continuous development, testing and collaboration with, Prof Peter Wilson and Dr Shanom Ali of UCHL microbiological laboratory department. The development cycle has included laboratory and onward testing to validate effectiveness and useracceptability. Peracide has been tested against C.difficile spores 027 modified BSEN 13704, MRSA, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Modified BSEN 1276 and Norovirus EN 14675 among others. A prominent novel feature is its built-in colour indicating system that alerts the user with a change of colour of the solution when it can be used and alerts them again with a second change of colour when it cannot be used and should be discarded. Other features and benefits include the following: • Destroys C difficile 027 spores in 30 seconds • Remains active over 24 hours • Fragrant non-pungent odour
• Unaffected by organic soil • Biodegradable, non- corrosive, non- toxic • Superior cleaning property • Higher efficacy than comparable chlorine based solutions Peracide is benign; it does not present any adverse risk to the environment or the user. It can be used on porous and non-pours material; and suitable for use in trigger sprays, buckets, microfiber cloths and mops for safe disinfecting of beds, washrooms and floors, surfaces & medical equipment, computers & office equipment. PERACIDE, ward trial and Laboratory testing was performed by Environmental Laboratory at University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust. Available via NHS Supply Chain - Product Code: Peracide 3g: MFB1002 or Peracide 6g: MFB1005 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERACIDE INCLUDING TRIALS, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATIONS CALL US NOW www.percacide.co.uk info@peracide.co.uk 0114 278 0222
Angloplas Dispensers Help Reduce the Risk of Cross Infection Angloplas are a UK manufacturer who specialise in producing dispensers for the health and hygiene industry. Angloplas’ range of dispensers are produced in the world’s first proven Antimicrobial PVC with silver ion technology and which is exclusive to Angloplas. This helps reduce the risk of cross infection by stopping the growth of bacteria and mould and works continuously for the lifetime of the product, reducing levels of bacteria such as MRSA, E Coli, Legionella, Salmonella and mould by up to 99.99%.
For non-clinical environments Angloplas has recently launched its new Budget Range of products which are made to the same exacting standards as the antimicrobial protected ones but with lower price tags. You can order Angloplas products directly from its website by going to www.angloplas.co.uk and clicking Hospital, Health and Hygiene or by using the Quick Response code.
www.percacide.co.uk info@peracide.co.uk 0114 278 0222
Win the battle on Infection
Control
With a new generation of disinfection technology 10 reasons to change to Peracide 1
Kills all known microorganisma including C. difficile spores, E. coli, MRSA, Legionella, Norovirus, Klebsiella, Influenza and many more
22
Innovative Colour Activation System
3
Greater oxidiser than Chlorine and Hydrogen Peroxide
4
Clean, disinfects and deodourises in one operation
5
Works in the presence of organic salt
6
Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-corrosive
7
Safe for use on patient mobilitiy and shared equipment
8
Non-sticky and leaves minimal residue
9
Full microbiology test report
10
Long lasting solution
Available via NHS Supply Chain Product Code Peracide 3g: MFB1002 Peracide 6g: MFB1005
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VAPOURISED HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (VHP) & UVC
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 39
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL SEBO XP – Power with Responsibility The XP range of upright vacuum cleaners from SEBO are ideal for these health conscious times. They feature independently proven filtration, hygienic dirt disposal using sealable bags and are exceptionally quiet and light to use. Clearly, a vacuum cleaner’s number one task is to clean. The XP range harnesses the power of an onboard computer to measure performance on the floor and continuously adjust the floor head to the optimum cleaning height, completely automatically. The powerful brush action pulls the vacuum cleaner forward so that the pushing force required to manoeuvre it is close to zero, helping to make it light and easy to use for extended periods, but also giving deep cleaning performance. The integrated wand and hose mean that cleaning above the floor and reaching into awkward places is easy. The computer can also advise when the bag needs changing, or when there is a blockage, and the multiple access points and cassette style brush roller make the XP easy to maintain. Of course, once dirt is picked up, it is essential that it is retained in the vacuum cleaner and not released back into the air. The Health and Safety Executive states that we never assume that any dust is safe and that all uncontrolled dusts are potentially hazardous. Virtually all the dust and dirt which is picked up by an XP vacuum cleaner is safely trapped in the high filtration bag, which can be sealed and hygienically disposed of. The filtration of the XP has been independently tested by the DMT Test Institute in Germany to filter 99.97% of particles of 0.3 micron. Above this particle size, the filtration level is very close to 100%. Many professionally cleaned facilities operate 24/7.
M.S.B. Hygiene M.S.B. Hygiene Ltd has over 25 years experience in Water Treatment and operate throughout the UK. Our Engineers have the skills & expertise to carry out water systems risk assessment, sampling, cleaning and disinfection. Our samples are taken to UKAS accredited laboratories for testing. Certificates of disinfection and sampling are provided upon completion.
Water Treatment & Legionella Specialists
It is therefore not always possible to vacuum when no one is around. In these cases, low noise levels are imperative. Although there are regulations limiting the sound power level that a vacuum cleaner can reach, subjectively the sound generated can still be unpleasant, even where the vacuum cleaner meets the regulations. SEBO sound engineers have successfully muted the harsh frequencies to which the human ear is sensitive. This has the result that with any form of background noise, the sound from the XP virtually disappears, making it suitable in many cases for daytime cleaning. Indeed, in any situation where low noise levels are important, the XP range is ideal. Last, but not least, at SEBO we believe that vacuum cleaners should be built to last, and should be easily repairable. Our vacuum cleaners are built to be durable and reliable; to have a long service life using few replacement parts. Component parts are identified with the material they are made from, so that they can be recycled more easily when their service life is over. For more details contact commercial@sebo.co.uk
We are members of the Legionella Control Association and are CHAS (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme) accredited We provide a highly professional but friendly service together with comprehensive & straightforward advice – we aim to be easy to do business with. We’d also like to think we are “the 4th emergency service” for your water treatment & legionella control needs. 01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene.com www.msbhygiene.com
• Hot & Cold domestic water services • Pipework flushing & disinfection • Tank cleaning & maintenance • Legionella risk, sampling, lab testing • Attention to individual apartments • Communal areas / toilets / showers • Restaurants / Cafés • And... Heating System flushing
01925 758995 enquiries@msbhygiene.com www.msbhygiene.com
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PAGE 40 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL A Revolutionary Hand & Cleaning Specialists Small Object Sanitizing BioBax Acquire Aqua Air System For Care Homes EZISAN have invented a “NO TOUCH” sanitizer system in response the worldwide coronavirus pandemic to improve hygiene and assist the prevention from cross contamination. EZISAN will help to improve the process and convenience of hand sanitizing, it also reduces contamination on mobile phones, keys, credit cards and other small household items, that can be passed through the sanitizing mist.
EZISAN CAN ELIMINATE THE USE OF EXPENSIVE, MESSY AND MOSTLY IRRATATING GEL HAND SANITIZERS THE PROBLEM:- There are many issues with using WET or gel sanitisers and upon entry to many buildings, you are met with various sanitising options, usually a gel or liquid dispenser, paper towels and a bin, this often gets “messy” and needs regular topping up, cleaning and tidying. This can also be a slip hazard. Most Alcohol gel sanitizers are also known to irritate the skin, especially for regular users like NHS staff, care workers. Sufferers of eczema and other sensitive skin conditions are also well documented. The real financial cost to business and public venues are substantial, we also have to factor in the fact that staff have to maintain and replenish the current method, the man-hours wasted are a genuine cost. The Solution:- EZISAN uses a “semi dry sanitizing spray mist” to help solve many of the problems, you simply place your hands into the mist, rub them together and turn them over, this will effectively sanitize the majority of bacteria, viruses and other germs. EZISAN converts approved and certified water-based sanitizers fluids into “semi-dry spray mist” and there is no waste. These fluids are also known to be gentle to
the skin. The key solution is that it is truly “NO TOUCH” unlike most other systems. • Environmentally friendly fluids and big savings on single use plastic bottles, we estimate Ezisan saves 85% single use bottles over Alcohol Gel and 69% in cost. * or £624 per year • Designed and Manufactured in the UK with supply chain localised wherever possible, this will reduce our carbon footprint by minimising transportation. We intend to be carbon neutral by 2025. • Recyclable materials are used as much as possible, we also try to minimise plastic packaging and be environmentally aware of every aspect of the manufacturing process. See the advert below for further details.
BioBax of Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire has acquired Cheshire-based Aqua Air as part of a strategic move to expand its range of environment-friendly cleaning products and solutions. The acquisition follows a period of growth for BioBax with increased demand from customers looking to buy more eco-friendly products, including Zybax microbiological products and Meleco, the magic eraser. Kate Pawson and Dominic Barnes started BioBax in 2019, to develop and grow the Zybax and Meleco brands which are now 22 years old. BioBax products are manufactured in-house at their state-of-the-art facility in a rural setting in Huddersfield. “Aqua Air is the perfect partner for BioBax”, said Kate Pawson, Sales and Marketing Director, “they have very similar values to BioBax’s. I am looking forward to meeting Aqua Air’s customers and working with them over the years to come.” Aqua Air Ltd, was founded in 1994, by Barry Bladon and latterly co-owned with his son Simon. Barry has obsessively developed each one of the
Aqua Air products to respond to the specific cleaning challenges and needs of their clients, with the result that each product offers added performance relative to the competition. Each one of their Xtra range of cleaning solutions is designed, manufactured, and bottled in the UK, contains biodegradable components and packaging, and avoids harsh chemicals which can damage skin and surfaces. Barry Bladon said: “It has been key for us to join forces with a company who share our philosophy and passion for solving our customers cleaning. BioBax already have a strong reputation for the supply of environmentfriendly cleaning products and expanding the Aqua Air portfolio with a range of kitchen, hospitality and janitorial solutions and cleaning machines will mean that BioBax and Aqua Air customers will now benefit from the expanded range of world class products and service.” For further information visit www.biobax.co.uk or call 01484 868 970.
FOR ALL THE LATEST HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT
WWW.THECARERUK.COM
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 41
NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Silent Running Tranquility in Care Homes Quiet and calm care homes ensure that residents are able to live in a more relaxing and pleasant home environment. Similarly, carers and staff find that they too benefit from reduced stress when working in a home where noise levels are kept to a minimum. There are many environmental factors that can affect those sensitive to their surroundings, particularly those suffering from dementia, these can be fluctuations in ambient temperature, light, and of course noise. Repetitive and high levels of noise can originate from a number of internal and external sources, for example, telephones ringing, loud conversations in corridors, and call bells sounding, often one of the largest contributors to increasing the levels of stress and discomfort in residents. A published study by the University of Stirling stated that unanswered Nurse Call (Call Bell) alarms can be one of the most common causes of stress in dementia sufferers. The University recommends “fitting call alarms which alert nurses but do not resonate throughout the whole building. Alarms can be particularly disconcerting as they may encourage the person with dementia to respond or investigate what the matter is. At the very least the loss of sleep will compromise a person’s ability to
concentrate. It can affect their attention levels and capacity to cope, as well as being detrimental to their overall state of wellbeing. Personal paging systems are preferable to bells and buzzers.” Modern Nurse Call systems can incorporate a number of methods to reduce their impact in a care home. These include zoning whereby there are separate alarm types used depending upon the location of the call. In these circumstances, dementia sufferers and those vulnerable to noise can be located in one “zone” whist less vulnerable residents live in an alternative “zone”. Each “zone” can operate different call tones, warning lights or other methods to alert when help is required Reducing noise levels is essential to create a tranquil environment for residents. Pagers have been around for many years, are a relatively simple and cost-effective measure in reducing the levels of noise, and can be added to most Nurse Call systems. Smart Mobile Devices are now becoming more commonplace for care home staff and hold a variety of apps for care planning, e-medication, etc. Many Courtney Thorne clients are now utilising the “Go” app with their Nurse Call system. With the “Go” app, nurse call alarms are delivered immediately and silently straight to the handsets, alerting the individual carers to all Nurse call alarms without creating any general alarm sound and rarely disturbing the rest of the residents in the home. Calmer residents ultimately means that staff are less stressed also, this creates a happier workplace where morale is greatly improved, staff are retained and CQC ratings improve. Clearly, the positive ramifications of a quiet Care Home run deep. Get in touch today to find out how we can help your home become a quieter, calmer, and more tranquil environment. For more information email us at: info@c-t.co.uk
Nurse Alert Mats Designed to combat the problem of residents who are inclined to walk undetected, the Nurse Alert Mat can help protect residents especially at night that are at risk of falls and accidents. When connected to a Nurse Call system or the mobile Floor Sentry Monitor it will then alert staff, sounding the alarm with a small amount of pressure thus enabling staff to investigate.
• Nurse Call Systems • Fire Alarm Systems • Door Access • Staff Attack • CCTV • Infection Control • Dementia Care • Electrical Contracting
In addition The Floor Pressure Mat has a heavy non slip backing, It comes professionally sealed so can easily be cleaned for liquid spills and is fully serviceable.
INCLUDES A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
sales@lctuk.com 0800 8499 121 www.LCTUK.com
www.nursecallsystems.co.uk
PAGE 42 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
NURSE CALL AND FALLS MONITORING Fall Savers - Affordable Fall Medpage Falls Monitoring Solutions Management Products Medpage T/A Easylink UK have manufactured and distributed fall prevention and detection products for over 25 years. We specialise in products for one-to-one care, or small groups in a Care Home or Hospital. Our systems are robust, easy to set up and use, and have a proven track record in helping to reduce falls, in domestic and professional care establishments. How can they help reduce falls? Many falls occur when a person at risk from falls leaves their bed or chair, particularly during the night. By detecting an exit from the bed or chair early a carer or guardian gains time to attend and help the person, usually preventing the fall.
WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Medpage supply a diverse range of equipment for detecting bed and chair exit. There are for example, simple bed alarms, chair alarms, or multiple use products for combining bed and chair monitoring, to allow the person to move from their bed to their chair. There are systems that use a cabled pressure mat sensor connected to an alarm controller, or pressure mat sensors with a self-contained alarm transmitter to signal a radio pager. Carer alarm notifications can be by a single or multiple user pager or alarm receiver, or an external alarm device. You can find out more on the advert on page 13 or at www.easylinkuk.co.uk/product/ product-fall-detection
Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot. Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for this at risk of falls. Having many years of experience in fitting and
maintaining Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs. They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier. Visit www.lctuk.com for details.
Fall Savers®, are an experienced market leading healthcare provider of resident safety solutions for over 15 years.
FALL SAVERS ® WIRELESS MONITOR
Eliminate all cables with our new generation falls management solutions! Upgrade your falls programme with the latest technology from Fall Savers®. The NEW Fall Savers® Wireless eliminates the cord between the monitor and sensor pad. This results in less work for nursing staff, improved safety for patients and reduced wear and tear on sensor pads. Wireless advantages include the ability to use one monitor with two sensor pads simultaneously and support for many new wireless devices.
Benefits include:
Safer for patients; less work for staff Bed and chair pads available One monitor works with two sensor pads Integrates with most nurse call systems A variety of options, including: Call button Pager Floor sensor mat Wireless door/window exit alerts
TREADNOUGHT
®FLOOR SENSOR PAD
The TreadNought® Floor Sensor Pad is built to last with a durable construction that far out lasts the competition. Our anti-bacterial floor sensor pad is compatible with most nurse call systems or can be used with a portable pager to sound an alert when a person steps on to the sensor pad. Caregivers typically place the sensor pad at the bedside, in a doorway or other locations to monitor persons at risk for falls or wandering. An optional anti-slip mesh reduces the potential for slippage on hard surface floors.
Features include:
Connects directly to most nurse call systems High Quality anti-bacterial Floor Sensor Pad Large Size Pad: Measures (L) 91cm x (H) 61cm Options (sold separately): Anti-slip mesh for hard surface floors See the advert on this page for further details or visit www.fallsavers.co.uk.
FOR ALL THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR VISIT WWW.THECARERUK.COM
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 43
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Positive Solutions Launch New eMAR Solution – HxCare Positive Solutions are set to launch an innovative, cloud-based medicines management system, HxCare, which will be showcased in October at the Care Show. Positive Solutions are the leading provider of PMR solutions to the community pharmacy sector. For 30 years their innovative software has helped automate workflows, increase efficiencies and enhance patient safety whilst many of the 2,500 pharmacy sites they support already work with care homes across the UK. It is estimated that around 80% of care homes in the UK are still using paperbased Medication Administration Records (MARs) to do their rounds. The delivery of medication in this way is prone to error as well as being cumbersome for both care homes and community pharmacies. HxCare aims to digitise workflows, reduce errors and free up care providers to spend more time delivering care to their residents. Designed to be truly mobile, HxCare will be tablet based and has been developed with significant input from care homes around the country. HxCare features will include medication and round management, scanning for booking in with automated ordering linking into a full stock management system. The team at Positive Solutions have given specific attention to extensive auditability at the click of a button whilst workflows have been designed to increase efficiency, remove errors and provide full traceability. It will offer robust reporting which will be invaluable for both CQC and Care Inspectorate purposes. Steve Russell, Positive Solutions Chief Commercial Officer comments “Critical to the product development of HxCare has been a commitment to making the user experience as intuitive and easy to use as pos-
sible. Simple menus and navigation facilitate adoption, training and roll out to care providers irrespective of their technical literacy.” HxCare also has an extensive product development roadmap and Positive Solutions are keen to involve users in shaping that roadmap with a feedback function for customer development requests. HxCare will be showcased at the Care Show at the NEC in October (stand B20) where care home owners will be able to see the product first hand and register their interest, sign up for the pilot or pre-order for launch. Steve Russell, adds “HxCare from Positive Solutions will raise the bar for healthcare technology in the sector and ushers in an exciting new era for the care home community. Positive Solutions has led the way for the last 30 years in the design, supply and management of robust patient medication record systems. Bringing that expertise and pedigree to the care home sector, those adopting HxCare can expect a product that delivers exceptional value, performance and enhanced compliance and safety standards.” “Our team have worked closely with care homes across the UK for two years to ensure that HxCare offers the functionality and benefits missing elsewhere with a strong focus on intuitive user interfaces and decluttered workflows. With an exciting roadmap of new developments already scheduled, HxCare is set to transform eMAR for years to come.” For more information on the benefits of HxCare, visit the webpage at www.positive-solutions.co.uk/hxcare/
Cloud Finance Software That is Helping Care Homes Thrive Healthcare organisations face unique challenges from cost containment and multi-entity reporting to new billing models and product offerings and a cloud-based accounting system allows you to better understand your organisation and succeed in the future. At Sage Intacct, we’re passionate about building accounting software that helps you better understand your business, maintain compliance, and succeed in the ever-evolving healthcare industry.
ciency gains, and taken departmental reporting from 10 days to 10 minutes.
BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE
TRUE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH OPEN API
As healthcare grows in complexity, so does your organisation. You’re managing multiple locations and practices, navigating changing reimbursement methods, and initiating cost reduction initiatives, while manual processes are draining your productivity. You need insight into your growing breadth of financial and operational data, and we’ve built our healthcare accounting software with you in mind. We provide compliant financials with continuous consolidation across multiple offices, practices and locations. Sage Intacct healthcare customers have increased profitability by 30% with better insight for informed decisions, realised 25% improvement in effi-
REAL-TIME VISIBILITY AND INSIGHTS Sage Intacct’s real-time reporting allows you to understand and measure performance for both financial metrics and operational outcomes. Because every transaction in the system can be tagged with dimensions, finance professionals can sort, view, filter, and report on the specific information they need. With greater insight, our healthcare customers have reduced board budget reporting from three weeks to one hour and have improved revenues by 25% without adding additional headcount. True cloud technology with open API As an innovator in the cloud space, Sage Intacct’s multi-tenant, true cloud foundation brings robust technology infrastructure to your organisation, without the high costs of managing servers. Our open API lets you connect to existing systems or those you are considering in the future. This means you can leverage key data from electronic medical records, payroll, budget, CRMs (including Salesforce), and other systems to track key performance indicators. For more information on how Sage can help your business please visit: www.sage.com/en-gb/cp/intacct-carehomes/
PAGE 44 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE 10 Reasons To Go Digital With Electronic Care Planning and Medication (eMAR) Systems TIME More time to care Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more. There are so many time-consuming tasks such as writing care notes, completing paper assessments, filling in charts, preparing handovers, and countless other administrative tasks. Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable recording care interactions in real-time, ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care.
CONTROL Better Control Controlling paper-based systems can be an onerous job. It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost, copied, and, potentially, fall into the wrong hands. Digital care systems are safe and accessible, maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data. This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR. Furthermore, digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls. Staff only see what they need to see based on their role. AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality, including this lock screen functionality for use in medication administration rounds!
PROTECTION Protect your business Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business. With multiple regulatory bodies, such as the CQC, CIW, Care Inspectorate, RQIW, Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams, not to mention families and the justice system. Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice. Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide. In addition, as a digital system has a complete audit trail, you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and complete.
and confidential waste bin collection. These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead. Furthermore, going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries. Therefore, going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly.
RISK Reduced risk Manual systems carry many risks. It is challenging to manage, analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security. Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk. Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed, whether that’s a care plan change or a fall report. Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met. Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care, which can be analysed to identify trends and risks, and demonstrate corrective action. AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement.
RETENTION Improve staff retention Staff recruitment and retention remain long-standing challenges for the care sector, and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff. Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff. Using electronic care systems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users. Additionally, providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR software to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress.
QUALITY Improved quality of care
COSTS Costs and environment
With pre-built assessments covering all aspects of health, you can get to know your service users intimately. But it’s not just health; other characteristics such as emotion, likes/dislikes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be recorded. Because any changes can be affected at the point of care, updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift). This information is then easily accessible by other system users, supporting a personalised care experience.
The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time. While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles, this alone makes going digital worthwhile. Additional cost benefits include savings on printing, paper, stationary
While the delivery of person-centred care is paramount, care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver, and regulatory bodies
EVIDENCE Demonstrate quality of care delivery
actively encourage the use of technology. For example, the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery. During an inspection, under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE), question E1.3 asks How is technology and equipment used to enhance effective care and treatment delivery and support people’s independence? Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!
VISIBILITY Improved visibility Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real-time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care. On an electronic care system, it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go. A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care service at a glance. AutumnCare contains a customisable Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time.
USERS Happier service users Last, and by no means least, going digital can make your service users happier. Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration. There are benefits to happy service users, including positive reviews from family and friends, which may help grow your service.
WONDERING HOW TO GO DIGITAL? If you’re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation, AutumnCare can help! AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR software, enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care. We can walk you through what is required step by step, as well as provide training and support every step of the way. To realise all of the benefits above, plus many more, get in touch with us today. Contact Chris Sharman Email c.sharman@autumn.care Call 0800 009 2121 Website uk.autumn.care
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 45
TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Predictive Technology, Can It Really Help Reduce Care Costs? Article supplied by Karantis360 (www.karantis360.com) Unlike NHS healthcare, adult social care in England isn’t free. While some of our loved ones will be eligible for local authority support when they’re older, others won’t qualify, or you may feel they need more care than they’re offered. It’s no secret that we’re all living longer. In 10 years’ time, the number of people aged over 85 will have risen by nearly half in England alone, and the population of 65- to 84-year-olds will have increased by more than a quarter over the same period. Therefore, covering the cost of care for our parents or other family members is a growing concern. While we can’t predict what the future holds, we all want those we love, or even ourselves, to have access to the care we need to live well in later life. Being able to plan ahead for this means getting to grips with typical home care costs and nursing fees, as well as understanding how local authorities assess needs. As anyone who has had to navigate the social care system will already know, it’s a daunting task and isn’t always straightforward – and things are set to change when a new cap on the cost of care paid over a lifetime comes into force in 2023, in turn, additional hurdles are likely to occur. Helen Dempster, Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Karantis360 discusses this concerning topic further.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The challenge associated with supporting and funding the care for an ageing population continues to escalate. According to Age UK, the numbers of people aged 85+ in England increased by almost a third over the last decade and will more than double over the next two decades. And these people need care and support; by their late 80s, more than one in three people will have difficulties undertaking five or more tasks of daily living unaided, and between a quarter and a half of the 85+ age group are frail. With current care services under extraordinary strain, it is estimated that 1 in 8 people are caring for loved ones, many with increasingly complex needs – and this number will continue to increase, creating huge financial and mental stress for often geographical distant family members.
Combine that with the implications stress has on family members, quite often their health decreases and the dual cost therefore on the NHS. Of course, most people don’t want to go into a care home; according to Age UK, 97% of the population would like to receive care in their own home. But the funding gap in social care – predicted by the Local Government Association to reach £3.5 billion by 2025 – is creating a devastating knock on effect on the NHS, with thousands of elderly patients stuck in hospital when they are well enough to go home because there is nobody to look after them. With the cost of delayed discharges now at almost £290 million per year, the Chief Executive of the Health Service, Amanda Pritchard, said that “despite the delays of discharges, the priority is to tackle backlogs that have inevitably built up in the face of rising Covid infections.”
REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION One of the most fundamental roles that technology must play in the
future is to enable carers to undertake their primary function – care! This means minimising the admin burden they face and instead, releasing carers to spend more time with VIP’s. This stretched resource is under huge pressure to meet escalating care needs, and yet carers are still compelled to spend upwards of 20 minutes in a 30 minute patient visit filling in manual forms. In addition to the sheer waste of essential, one-to-one patient time, this paper-based information is simply not stored in a way that enables easy sharing with other stakeholders, from other carers to health providers and family members. Technology has a huge role to play in improving the quality and personal aspect of care – Imagine being armed with real time data to ask the right questions and ensure the VIP receives the right type of care on your visit. Data can play a huge role in the quality of care; data insights give you historic information which helps but real time data with predictive and preventive capabilities is where we need to be aiming. With the adoption of easy-to-use apps proven to reduce the administrative time spent by up to 75%. Combining a simple user interface with voice recognition, an app not only minimises the admin burden, but also makes it easy for carers to record more personal patient information – such as patient mood, important dates including birthdays or the anniversary of a spouse’s death – which can then support a far more personal care experience. In addition, this technology ensures the carer’s report is automatically shared not only with the local authorities and/or care agency, but with the individual’s family members, addressing one of the huge causes of stress for those tasked with overseeing the care of a loved one – stress that often leads to time off work or ill health. In this way, the traditional challenges of information sharing between agencies can be overcome and ensure the most up to date medical and personal facts are always available to those who need them.
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Care Control - Care Home Software You Can Rely On Developed by an award-winning care home in Devon, our unique software for care homes provides a modern and highly effective solution for nursing homes and care organisations. Delivering an all-in-one solution, our care planning software is used by more than 30,000 carers in the UK daily. A proven success in both nursing and residential home settings, we aim to help your care home deliver the best
care possible – efficiently, simply, and cost-effectively. Our software modernises your office processes and completely digitises your paperwork and care plans. If you’d like to learn more about how our care management software could benefit your business, please call us on 01822 738100 to speak with a member of the Care Control team and book your personalised demo today!
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TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Predictive Technology, Can It Really Help Reduce Care Costs? (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY If these innovative solutions are combined with IoT-based sensors, the care ecosystem can be extended to provide a 24-hour safeguarding service. Using AI-powered tools, carers can track habitual behaviour and spot changes in real time, allowing them to intervene when it is needed - thus alleviating the burden on caregivers and families alike. Its real-time nature provides a platform for the complete digitisation of healthcare, bringing together local authorities, healthcare providers, NHS Trusts, ICS’s, general practitioners, registered nurses, and care homes. Real-time, accurate information will not only make the social care model more transparent by including family members but will also enable it to
become preventive as opposed to reactive. And, the smart use of technology means organisations have a chance to rethink the way care is delivered, better matching care to specific patient needs. Would a patient be better served by shorter daily sessions plus continuous monitoring? With a 24x7 system that monitors and picks up abnormal behaviour, the care ecosystem has a chance to operate in a very different, preventive and personal manner whilst alleviating the pressure of carers to be there physically.
CONCLUSION From releasing beds to the pressure on carers and the extended family, it’s time to tackle the social care ecosystem in its entirety. We cannot keep using the NHS as an expensive care home. Technology is now
Staff Retention in the Care Industry Staff retention is a significant challenge in the care sector – making it even harder for the existing workforce to keep up with the ever-growing demand. Skills for Care predicted that by 2035 the care workforce will need to increase by a minimum of a third, to keep up with the ageing population and demand for new carers. In the same report, it was estimated that staff turnover within social care is 30.4%. To put this into perspective, approximately 23% of independent sector workers have a turnover rate of less than 10%. This prominent level of shift indicates that organisations within the care sector are struggling to find and retain suitable candidates. Working in care comes with many challenges, and an insufficient number of workers within the industry creates problems for both service users, workers, and organisations. Ongoing issues within the sector have meant that care providers have needed to adopt a range of new strategies to support and retain their employees. Technology, especially over the COVID-19 outbreak, has proven to be extremely successful within the healthcare industry. It has shown how embracing paperless methods can improve organisation, boost work ethics and morals, encourage communication, and reduce the number of hours completing admin.
THE IMPACT OF STAFF TURNOVER
Intelligent Care Software (ICS) If you are looking for a care management system which answers all of your quality, monitoring and compliance needs, then looks no further than Care is. Care is provides the intelligent software solution for care home and domiciliary care managers and owners looking to roll all of their care and management functions into one electronic platform. We know this to be true because unlike some other CMS’s Care is was conceived, designed, built and is managed by nurses, registered managers and care home owners.
advanced, user friendly and cost effective enough to make a real difference. People want to stay in their own home and it is widely believed they are healthier and happier in that familiar environment. By leveraging technology, carers are equipped to provide an increasingly personalised care experience - and minimise the administrative burden; while family members are relieved to have immediate information on their loved one's health and well-being. And, the technology makes financial sense: for local authorities, enabling just a handful of individuals to remain safely and happily at home, rather than in a care facility, justifies the investment in new technology; while for the NHS, the ability to address bed availability will unleash vast resources. What is truly exciting is that this is just the start; from IoT to AI we now have the chance to better understand patient activity, to intervene early, even predict potential problems, to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and allow more patients to stay safely at home for longer.
High staff turnover can be incremental to an organisation’s service and reputation. It can lead to lower levels of patient satisfaction, increase the number of risks to both employees and service users, and make meeting CQC (Care Quality Commission) and Care Inspectorate standards even more challenging. The care industry is extremely valuable to our economy, contributing over £50 bn to the UK economy and equating to 5% of all employment. It is vital for the wellbeing of our ever-growing and ageing population that the high turnover rate is minimised. In addition, a high staff turnover means there needs to be a larger investment in recruiting, training, and retaining quality employees. But how can technology help take some of the pressures off both providers and employees?
HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY ASSIST? Useful technology, like Radar Healthcare can assist staff turnover issues by increasing efficiency and boosting morale. Radar Healthcare partner, ECL said: ‘By streamlining the compliments logging process, the number of compliments logged rose from 9 per year to 1,500 per year! Being able to communicate this level of engagement from our service users has had a hugely positive effect on morale and encouraged our team to always strive for better performance.’ Maintaining and tracking records of employees’ training, appraisals, supervisions, and compliance requirements shows that an organisation values their individual workers and is invested in supporting and retaining them. Technology can also significantly alleviate the daily administrative pressures faced by those working in the care sector, as one partner of Radar Healthcare said: ‘Our evolution of health and safety and quality wouldn’t have happened without Radar Healthcare. We haven’t grown our team, yet we’re doing about 60% more than we’ve ever done before thanks to the software.’ www.radarhealthcare.com
The ‘CARE is’ suite includes care and support, care planning platform, our policy app with over 200 high quality policies which are updated regularly and which also includes our supervision, appraisals and training record apps and our audit app which templates all the essential audits and includes a record of inspection visits. At Care is we can get you started on your journey from paper or another care management system with minimum fuss, plenty of support and all for what we believe to be good value for money. With eMAR, mandatory training and a complementary care certificate coming in 2022, there has never been a better time to get on board. https://careis.net
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TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Peace of Mind is One Thing - Security is Another Sign up today at https://bit.ly/3OeaXKj
In these challenging times threats to care workers / healthcare professionals has increased. Fuelled by frustration of not being able to have in person appointments or having to wait an ‘eternity’ for a consultation, attacks on staff are sadly becoming more frequent. In these situations urgent assistance is critical and the systems used have to be quick, secure and reliable. KAM Systems have developed a range of solutions that can be easily adapted to suit GP Surgeries, Health Centres, A&E, Rehab Clinics and other Care Settings. These can be quickly and easily implemented from a simple push button on the wall to a Pager with built in attack alarm & location. Harpal Momi - Managing Director of KAM Systems says, “It is a sad reflection of the current times that
care staff are being threatened and in some cases attacked. The solution we provide is completely wireless and can be installed quickly, with minimum of disruption. Staff using the system are reassured and have peace of mind that help is always on hand.” Anti Vandal / Anti Ligature Call Points make them suitable for mental health environments. The Pager has multiple alarms, push button, rip cord, tilt and is waterproof. Once an alarm is initiated, within a few seconds a message can be discretely delivered to colleagues so that they can respond. The message will contain the exact location of where assistance is required. All alarm activity is logged for audit purposes. Call today on 0330 321 1040, visit www.kamsystems.co.uk, email sales@kamsystems.co.uk or see the advert on page 11.
Fife Firm Unveil New Staff Safety Alarms As Violence In Healthcare Settings Surges A family-owned business in Fife has announced significant upgrades to its award-winning staff safety systems, which can be found in all NHS healthcare Trusts across the UK as well as Ireland and the US. Pinpoint, the leading provider of staff safety systems, was initially set up to address increasing rates of violence toward hospital workers which had an impact on staff morale, absenteeism, and retention. The business, which employs 43 people, many at its HQ in Leven, Fife, is marking its 30thyear in business by releasing a major upgrade to its security technology. The advancements will provide even greater protection for healthcare staff working in a variety of high-risk settings, including hospitals, mental health facilities and correctional facilities. The launch of P2 comes at a critical time for the healthcare sector. A 2022 YouGov survey found that 67% of healthcare workers experienced physical abuse in the last 12 months, while 20% reported being subject to violence once a week. Hospital staff need advanced, reliable, and effective security solutions to meet their complex needs.
Daniel Waring, CEO of Pinpoint, said: “Over the last 30 years, we have continued to develop and enhance our systems to ensure we deliver the very best results for the workers who need it most. I am incredibly proud to be able to launch the P2 System on our 30th anniversary” More information about the new collection can be found on Pinpoint’s website at www.pinpointlimited.com
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
W&P Training W&P Training supply comprehensive sets of CQC care policies and procedures that are personalised to your business. Whether it’s Residential Care Homes, Domiciliary Homecare, Nursing Homes, Learning Disabilities or Supported Living – We cover it all.
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME POLICIES Are Your Current Policies Up To Date? There have been many recent changes to employment law, vaccinations, covid-19 guidance plus the CQC’s new strategy and regulatory approach. W&P’s team track these changes for you to ensure customers receive up to date CQC compliant documents.
DOMILICIARY HOMECARE POLICIES Over 130 comprehensive Domiciliary Care Policies and Procedures for Homecare / Domiciliary Based Services that are researched and written to meet all the CQC regulatory, legislative and good practice guidance within the Health and Social Care sector.
Skills, Knowledge, and Confidence Delivered Online Covid19 reminded us all just how important the NHS and care home staff are to our society. We are grateful for their hard work and bravery, and feel honoured to support them through our Laser Care Certificate course and CPD short courses. Working in the care sector is certainly demanding, so our objective is to make it convenient and straightforward for workers to upskill and acquire confidence in the process. The Laser Care Certificate course provides knowledge to cover every standard included in the official Skills for Care specification. Every lesson includes bespoke video tutorials specifically for the Care Certificate course, as well as reading materials and good practice examples. Furthermore, a mandatory quiz at the end of each lesson (which requires a 100% pass mark) ensures both competence and confidence. Managers are able to create their own accounts to enrol staff on the course and track their
progress. All of the content is accessible remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet, enabling care professionals to make progress towards the certificate in a way that suits their circumstances. Additionally, Laser delivers CPD short courses to equip staff with highly-relevant skills and knowledge so they can tackle new challenges or progress in their career. Two courses in particular – ‘Causes and spread of infection’ and ‘Infection control and prevention’ – were very popular during the pandemic. Unlimited use subscriptions are available at affordable rates, for organisations wishing to take advantage of a large number of short courses. Whether you are an owner, manager, or independent learner, please don't hesitate to get in touch for a free demo of the Care Certificate course platform, and/or the CPD short course offering. The Laser Learning team can be contacted on info@lasersys.co.uk or +44 (0)1753 584 112.
CLINICAL PROCEDURES FOR NURSING HOMES CQC compliance for new and established Nursing Homes. W&P’s clinical procedures include 70 comprehensive and upto-date documents for your nursing home. These clinical procedures complement our full set of Care Home Policies and Procedures.
SUPORTED LIVING / LEARNING DISABILITIES POLICIES Designed for Supported Living and Domiciliary providers that deliver CQC regulated activities to adults with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism. W&P’s Policies and Procedures for Supported Living Services will assist with your CQC compliance. Looking for Supported living Policies with NO Personal Care? Visit https://www.wandptraining.co.uk/policies-and-procedures/non-registered-care-policies/ W&P’s policy and compliance team are constantly scanning and reviewing all the statutory websites and regulatory publications to track the very latest developments in the Health & Social Care Sector. Policies and Procedures are updated every 4 months or immediately if there is a critical change to regulation, good practice guidance, case law outcomes or just feedback from customers. To find out more about what we offer go to www.wandptraining.co.uk or see the advert on page 2.
Why Train Beyond the Care Certificate? So, if you think the Care Certificate completes all the training, it might be time to think again.
So why choose Step Up Training and Care?
It can be tempting to think that once the Care Certificate has been achieved it’s the end of training. The Care Certificate can demonstrate that staff have the minimum level of required training. Training to Level 2 and beyond will therefore improve abilities to cope with the challenges presented by working in a difficult sector. Obviously one of the most significant challenges was dealing with Covid but there will be new and different challenges ahead However, it is the clients who will benefit from the improvement that additional training will bring. Whilst these may include advances in the treatment of dementia, or changes to the legislative framework, there will undoubtedly be any number of other issues that will create new and complex problems that need to be dealt with.
We provide training services that will build implicit trust, leading to confidence by clients looking to use your services. At Step Up Training and Care, we know people are busy, work long hours and that a set 9-5 timetable will not work for most care homes and providers. We can tailor our learning programmes to meet individual needs, time our training to meet business commitments, working shift patterns and around family life. Zoom Boom is here to stay, and we can accommodate teaching and learning through blended learning such as classroom, remote, assessor based, one to one training sessions. Our trainers have personal experiences of working in the health and social care sector, hence our flexible approach. We empower people to learn. Training beyond the Care Certificate - Can you afford not to? T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Staff-Short Care Firms Have No Time For Training Connect2Care’s latest research shows how misconceptions around apprenticeships could be impacting their potential to fix industry-wide staff retention problems Following the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021 – when employees around the UK left their jobs in record numbers – a new survey has revealed that 100% of care managers continue to find it hard to retain staff. Yet while almost 90% believe that further training investment would help with recruitment and retention, less than 40% of care businesses offer apprenticeships to staff at all levels. Over a third have been deterred from offering training opportunities for new and existing employees due to the time investment needed. A further 37.5% of care managers are put off by the risk that an employee would leave after completing their training, even though more than 90% of people working in the sector have said they would be more likely to stay in a role if their employer invested in their training from the outset. Commenting on the research, Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at Connect2Care, said: “Since the pandemic began, staff shortages have been rife across a wide range of sectors, culminating in the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021. And the care sector is among the hardest hit. “Yet while most care operators see the value in training when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, too many believe they don’t have the time to invest in this. But with the sector continuing to strug-
unlock skills quickly and fast-track staff into positions where they can make a real impact. New flexible training models under consideration by the Government are set to make this process even quicker. For example, front-loaded training will be invaluable in helping apprentices to hit the ground running and operate efficiently for their employers from the very beginning.” The study showed that most care operators are interested in flexible training options, with 75% of employers in the sector saying they would consider front-loaded training to help speed-up the process. Over 90% of employees in the field would be more willing to start an apprenticeship or training course if they could condense learning into a shorter period. Connect2Care has released a toolkit answering common questions about apprenticeships, with advice on how businesses can maximise them through flexible training options. gle with staff shortages, they can’t afford not to. “As well as playing a role in attracting and retaining valuable team members, apprenticeships have always been one of the best ways to
Find out which apprenticeship pathway will work best for your business with Connect2Care’s See the Opportunity toolkit, which can be downloaded for free. Visit https://connect2care.net/resources/see-the-opportunity/
Workforce Challenge - The Eden Alternative – A Modern, Proven Model of Care for Staff and Resident Wellbeing WHY DO THIS? The Eden model, is built on what people say they want, in a Home or a workplace, which therefore attracts residents and team members alike. As an Eden Home builds its reputation upon the quality of life it offers to the people that reside there, it follows that occupancy improves. As a programme that empowers staff and focuses on their wellbeing, It follows that staff retention improves. With a positive culture, a motivated and dedicated workforce, It follows that positive innovation becomes more possible, sustainable and continuous.
When demand for services increase, it follows that viability improves. As a cohesive cultural progression programme, it follows that innovation, modernisation and positivity increase. The model is efficient, cost effective and the training is delivered by experienced practitioners in Care Homes. Homes are very busy places, and the programme is therefore run on line for 1 hour per week for 6 weeks, and people can do this at work or at home. The 6 weekly sessions are run online, with a workbook, with links for further optional reading or viewing and should not be a burden to busy Homes, teams and managers. It is however effective. You can try without obligation.
It is designed to make business sense to providers. It is designed to enhance viability. It is designed to support recruitment and retention. It is designed to motivate Care teams and is open to any individual to add their CV.
WHAT IS IT. It is a training programme which leads to accreditation and focuses in detail on 7 domains of wellbeing, 10 principles, and is particularly designed to address instances of loneliness, helplessness and boredom. Geoffrey Cox The Eden Alternative Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden-alternative.co.uk
STEP UP Training and Care At Step Up Training and Care we offer:
An inspiring approach to care As experienced Care Home practitioners we provide training to care home teams in sustainable innovation and positive leadership that empowers people to embed companionship, partnership working and vibrancy to build enriched quality of life into care homes. Develop a culture of care with wellbeing and positive relationships at its heart, with our 6 week online training programme. Discover how to replace loneliness, helplessness and boredom with wellbeing, companionship, and meaningful activities, in just one hour of training a week. Validated Eden Alternative associates can benefit from continuing support from our expert team.
Sign up today and join the care evolution
Call today on 01626 868192 or visit www.eden-alternative.co.uk
• Tailored learning journeys and programmes • A flexible blended approach of one to one, in-house, classroom, practical assignments and online assessment methods • Training that will lead to higher quality of care delivery • Training led by tutors and assessors who are specialists in health and social care • Level 3 diplomas that are accredited to Highfield Qualifications
T : 0121 794 1532 or 07384 698553 W : www.stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk E : info@stepuptrainingandcare.co.uk
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PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT Why Equipping Returning Adult Learners With The Skills They Need To Enter The Social Care Sector Is The Best Solution To The Recruitment Crisis By Jonny Rees, Head of Professional Development at the College Development Network (www.cdn.ac.uk) MOTIVATED BY COMPASSION
The size of the skills gap in the care sector is startling – Skills Development Scotland estimates that 17,100 roles will need to be filled by 2024, while Skills for Care’s latest figures reveal that there are an average of 105,000 job vacancies on any given day in England. Filling that gap means the care sector needs to cast its net far and wide to find recruits. Attracting the attention and interest of school leavers, and ensuring their parents are informed about the rewarding and potentially life-long career that can be forged in caring is indeed a valuable use of resources. Young people are a recognised and important stream of talent and skills for the sector. However, it is essential that the care sector taps into the pool of adults who are either considering, or are in the process of, returning to education. They include people who may have left the workforce to start a family, people who have been sick or injured but have now recovered, or simply people who did not get the chance to study at college earlier in their lives and now want to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to start a new career. To help address the skills gap, Scotland’s further education colleges, with the help of Scotland’s national college skills agency, the College Development Network (CDN) recently developed and launched the “Introduction to a Career in Social Care” course, which can now be studied at 18 of Scotland’s 24 colleges.
MIXING THEORY AND PRACTICE Colleges work hard to tailor their courses to fit employers’ needs. Today, courses include plenty of case studies, site visits, and extended work experience placements, so that students understand the roles within the care sector, which will help to reduce turnover and increase retention in the long run, helping to address the skills gap.
Adults returning to education can bring a wealth of skills and experience to roles within the care sector. Often, they’re motivated by their own experiences of care, whether it’s having been cared for themselves or having seen the high-quality support that relatives or friends have received. Just like young people who enter college care courses straight from school, adults returning to education want to give something back to their communities. The pandemic has shone an even brighter spotlight on why it’s important to have a strong care sector.
LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER Having a mix of adults and young people in classrooms can change the dynamics of a course in very positive ways too. You can’t teach life experience, and so adults regularly act as mentors to school leavers often in an adhoc, informal manner, while young people – without falling into stereotypes here – will often help their older classmates with the digital skills that have become so important in so many roles within care homes and clients’ houses. Recruiting adults isn’t about simply filling the void in entry-level jobs. Instead, adults will often bring with them experience from supervisory or management roles within their previous careers, helping to fill skills gaps at all levels throughout the care sector.
DEVELOPING LIFE-LONG LEARNING College lecturers can walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk because they’ve usually worked within the care sector. That means they have the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to help to develop the courses that care providers need to train their staff at all levels throughout their careers, helping businesses to “grow their own” recruits. Being anchor institutions within their communities means that colleges are ideally placed to help fill the skills gap within the care sector. And adults returning to education are a key part of that mission.
Care Control - All-in-One Recruitment System Here at Care Control, we are empowering customers to execute a more structured hiring process to improve efficiencies and overcome the challenges that recruitment presents. By using our all-in-one recruitment module organisations will be able to clearly evidence to regulatory bodies their full recruitment process.
Never lose track of a candidate again! Seamlessly track candidate interaction, as well as request references and complete full DBS checks - all stored within your candidate’s profile.
CANDIDATE AUTOMATION Automate the entire hiring journey. Easy to use tools such as interview schedules and onboarding workflows enable you to improve processes, reduce timeto-hire and greatly enhance the candidate experience. There’s more! Your new employees’ profile will automatically be created on your Care Control hub!
JOB APPLICATION BUILDER Save time and build your own job application with Care Control’s custom form builder and store templates ready for the next vacancy.
TALENT POOLS Fill roles faster by streamlining the hiring process of all your talent pools. Become more efficient as processes are automated. Gain greater visibility of available talent across all vacancies with our simple scoring system.
SMART SCREENING
EASY SHARING Increase your job exposure and attract the best candidates. With one click, post your job on our very own integrated careers website, FindMeACareJob.co.uk You can even share your application form on multiple job boards, social media channels and your website. No more copy/pasting job specs! If you’d like to learn more about how our recruitment module could benefit your business, please call us on 01822 738100 to speak with a member of the Care Control team.
THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 111 | PAGE 53
PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT
In Dire Need Of Experienced Health Care Assistant, Senior Carer Or A Nurse? JJ Recruitment has the large database of well qualified applicants with experience in the healthcare industry, such as health care assistants, senior carers, and nurses from overseas. We also have an expert team of solicitors for the necessary legal proceedings and advices.
WHY JJ?
• We have very minimal processing fees. • We assist you to get a sponsorship license. • Qualified and experienced candidates from overseas. Tel: 01704 808227 www.jjcarerecruitment.co.uk admin@jjrecruitment.co.uk
Care Home Finance from Global Business Finance Global assists clients throughout the U.K. who specialise in the healthcare sector to achieve their objectives of purchase, development and refinance. We have organised over £1.8bn for clients in the past 30 years, providing clients with competitively priced funding to refinance existing debt, ease cashflow and develop businesses further. From helping clients make their first purchase through to allowing groups to grow significantly in
size we assist at every stage of your business expansion. Every proposal is individual and deserves to be treated that way, so we hope you will allow us to be of assistance to you and call us to chat through your plans and requirements, I am sure we will be able to tailor a facility to your requirements. Call us on 01242 227172 or e-mail us at enquiries@globalbusinessfinance.net
Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.
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PROFESSIONALS & RECRUITMENT Are You A Care Home Owner with Staff Vacancies?
ARE YOU A CARE HOME OWNER WITH STAFF VACANCIES?
GET IN TOUCH NOW! Apply for a sponsor licence allowing you to employ foreign workers
Fill your staff vacancies with skilled foreign workers
Switch your part time foreign student employees into full time work permit holders Let us help you to navigate your recruitment and immigration needs
We have access to skilled workers already in the UK ready to be employed by you.
CONTACT US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 INFO@GLSSOLICITORS.CO.UK WWW.GLSSOLICITORS.CO.UK
As recently highlighted in the media there are currently over 100,000 vacant roles in the care sector. Some 78% of providers who responded to the exclusive survey, carried out by the ITV News in conjunction with the UK Homecare Association said recruiting carers is the hardest it has ever been. Many describe being at a “breaking point”. Out of the respondents, 95% said they are unable to take on all the new clients in need of their help. 2 years ago a relative of my friend with care homes in Lincolnshire came to see me. He knew I was an immigration lawyer. He was distraught and on the verge of packing it all in. The issues? ’We can’t find the workers’….’nobody wants to work full time as they will lose their tax credits’….’the British workforce are just not interested’…’nobody wants to relocate to the sticks to work for us’… His plea “Harjap help me”….my solution? ‘have you thought about recruiting foreign workers? Or students already in the UK who are already working part time in the sector?’….he did it…and today his staffing problems have been solved… So how do we go about doing it? The UK Immigration system can be complex but with the right guidance can be navigated to benefit the care sector. In order to recruit foreign skilled workers, whether they are already within the UK or directly abroad, your company needs to be regulated by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration). This involves being licenced by the UKVI so that your business can successfully recruit foreign workers without fear of being fined or breaching any immigration rules set by the UK governments stringent policies. Many potential employees are already within the UK on various types of visas however, and may already be
working part time (20 hours a week) for you, in order to work for you they would need to be successfully sponsored by your company through your sponsor licence. This would involve making a complex application to the UKVI and in essence asking them for permission for you to employ the worker full time. Once permission is granted, you then have the benefit of a full time employee tied down exclusively to your company for at least a 5-year period. This is often referred to as a ‘Work Permit’. If you wish to employee multiple foreign workers then we would need to convince the Home Office to grant you an appropriate allocation under the terms of your licence. Under this licence you can also recruit carers and nurses from abroad. The solution to current staffing crisis is clearly to recruit foreign workers and it is not as daunting as people often make out. There are many specialist firms of lawyers who can do the whole process for you and you can also save on hefty recruitment fees of employment agencies. If you urgently need staff then you should definitely consider applying for a UKVI sponsor licence in order to employ qualified foreign workers and help your business grow. No business should be turning away / down work due to a staffing problem which has a solution. Harjap Singh Bhangal is a Director at Immigration Specialist firm GLS Solicitors (Global Legal Solutions) and is often seen on Sky News, BBC News, and is referred to as the “Immigration Guru”. CONTACT US: 020 8571 6889 0121 525 8899 info@glssolicitors.co.uk www.glssolicitors.co.uk
National Minimum Wage and Working Time: The Legal Issues By Tom Draper, Employment Partner at Freeths (www.freeths.co.uk) Buckle in for a whistle-stop tour of some of the current employment law considerations businesses in the care sector are grappling with, including some tips on how to avoid an HMRC National Minimum Wage investigation and your obligations to your workers in respect of their working hours. With ongoing staffing shortages in care homes there is a heightened risk that workers will be working extra hours to ensure that residents and vulnerable service users cared for properly. This creates legal risks for employers regarding payment of the national minimum wage and under the Working Time Regulations. National Minimum Wage (NMW): One glance at the current news headlines is enough to see the ongoing issue of the disparity between wages and the cost of living. However, little attention has been given to the substantial rise in the NMW which came in April or the cost and risks this may cause employers. For those aged 23 & over NMW now sits at £9.50 per hour. This means that the NMW does not only cause concern for employers in relation to hourly paid workers now anyone engaged on a salary of around £20,000-£24,000 who is regularly working extra hours could now pose an NMW risk. Workers need to receive the NMW for each pay period they work meaning that if they are paid weekly, they need to receive at least NMW for all the hours they work each week. All hours worked in addition to a worker’s contracted hours will be considered when calculating if NMW has been paid so it only takes a few additional hours to cause problems. STEPS TO MITIGATE RISK: • Identify workers whose salaries are close to NMW; • keep a record of hours worked for all employees, this is a legal obligation and would need to be provided if HMRC ever come calling; • each pay period, whether that be weekly or monthly, consider the hours worked by the workers in question
and calculate whether it sits above NMW. • include deductions made from salaries for things like uniform or training as these can inadvertently reduce a worker’s salary below NMW. The NMW regulations are complex so you should and always take professional advice if you are unsure about how to calculate the NMW. Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR): Unhelpfully there is a different legal definition or “time worked” under the NMW regulation and “working time” under the WTR. The key difference is that the definition of working time for WTR purposes is wider. Working time for WTR includes time where the employee is at the employer’s disposal, such as where a worker is on call if the worker must be at a set location, such as the workplace. Under the WTR employers must ensure that their workers are provided with the following rest breaks: • at least 20 minutes when working more than six hours a day; • 11 hours’ uninterrupted rest per day; and • 24 hours’ uninterrupted rest per week (or 48 hours’ uninterrupted rest per fortnight) Employers must also take all reasonable steps to ensure average working time does not exceed 48 hours per week (judged over a 17-week reference period) and there are heightened obligations for night workers. While employers are able to agree an opt out from the 48-hour working week, if a worker is regularly working over 48 hours per week then it could cause concerns that the worker is not receiving adequate rest breaks under the WTR. With workers often being asked to work longer hours due to the current labour shortage in the sector it is sensible for employers to have renewed focus on these issues.