July 2014 no.217 • £4.75 By Dominic Musgrave SPECIALLY trained pharmacists can play a positive role in collaboration with GPs, nurses and care home workers in better managing the appropriate use of antipsychotic medicines for people with dementia in care homes, a study has revealed. According to the results of a large- scale audit of 463 care homes over a two-year service pilot, over one quarter (26 per cent) of residents reviewed did not have any symptoms which necessitated a regular anti-psychotic medication, and in almost two thirds (58 per cent) of cases the risk of the medication was deemed to outweigh the benefit. In addition, the audit resulted in over 20 per cent of residents having their anti-psychotic dose reduced, and more than 17 per cent realising antipsychotic medication discontinuation. The audit was undertaken by selected Boots UK pharmacists, some of whom had received additional Alzheimer’s Society training to enable them to better support people with dementia and carers. Alistair Burns, national clinical director for dementia at NHS England, said: “The prescribing of antipsychotic drugs in people with dementia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. “This exciting publication underscores the key role that pharmacists have in optimising prescription of medication in this potentially vulnerable population.” The study was commissioned by Boots UK in order to demonstrate the potential added value that community pharmacy can offer, and the significant contribution this service could make to the NHS. The pilot service demonstrates how the commissioning of pharmacy services could help further improve the care of vulnerable patients who live in residential care homes, working in partnership with other healthcare professionals. David Wright, professor of pharmacy practice at the University of East Anglia and one of the study authors, added: “Reducing the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia is a government priority, and this audit has shown that collaborative working between pharmacists, GPs, nurses and care home staff is a key way of addressing this objective. Pharmacy is an underused resource within the NHS and this latest research demonstrates a valuable role community pharmacists can play in improving patient care.” Collaboration ‘can improve’ medicine use Angela Rippon helped Bennfield House Nursing Home in Doncaster celebrate its 30th anniversary. The television star and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador toured the home and chatted with residents during her visit. She was joined by Doncaster resident Trevor Jarvis, who lives with dementia and is also an Alzheimer’s Society ambassador. Residents, families and staff at the home also enjoyed the celebrations with afternoon tea, the annual presentation of staff awards and entertainment by former X factor finalist Alan Turner. Angela is pictured with Bennfield House matron Penny Bennett. JENNIE-MAY Smith, a chef at Berkeley House Care Home in Hull, was named the UK’s best care cook when she secured victory at the national final of the National Association of Care Catering’s care cook of the year competition. Jennie-May emerged triumphant against 11 other chefs thanks to her menu of smoked mackerel frittata, followed by lemon posset with hemp thins and berries. She said: “I am overwhelmed and shocked to have won. I have only been in the care catering industry for just under a year. I am very thankful for all the support I have received in achieving my win.” Giles Conroy of Sunrise Senior Living of Bramhall, Stockport, claimed second place and highly commended main, with Gareth O’Hara of Sunrise Senior Living of Cardiff taking third place and Becky Allcorn from Catering Academy Ltd at Rotary Lodge, Worthing, securing highly commended dessert. incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector Hull chef is named UK’s best at final
Transcript
July 2014
no.217 • £4.75
By Dominic Musgrave
SPECIALLY trained pharmacists canplay a positive role in collaborationwith GPs, nurses and care homeworkers in better managing theappropriate use of antipsychoticmedicines for people with dementiain care homes, a study has revealed.
According to the results of a large-scale audit of 463 care homes over atwo-year service pilot, over onequarter (26 per cent) of residentsreviewed did not have anysymptoms which necessitated aregular anti-psychotic medication,and in almost two thirds (58 percent) of cases the risk of themedication was deemed tooutweigh the benefit.
In addition, the audit resulted inover 20 per cent of residents havingtheir anti-psychotic dose reduced,and more than 17 per cent realisingantipsychotic medicationdiscontinuation.
The audit was undertaken byselected Boots UK pharmacists,some of whom had receivedadditional Alzheimer’s Societytraining to enable them to bettersupport people with dementia andcarers.
Alistair Burns, national clinicaldirector for dementia at NHSEngland, said: “The prescribing ofantipsychotic drugs in people with
dementia is associated withincreased mortality and morbidity.
“This exciting publicationunderscores the key role thatpharmacists have in optimisingprescription of medication in thispotentially vulnerable population.”
The study was commissioned byBoots UK in order to demonstratethe potential added value thatcommunity pharmacy can offer,and the significant contribution thisservice could make to the NHS.
The pilot service demonstrateshow the commissioning ofpharmacy services could helpfurther improve the care ofvulnerable patients who live inresidential care homes, working inpartnership with other healthcareprofessionals.
David Wright, professor ofpharmacy practice at the Universityof East Anglia and one of the studyauthors, added: “Reducing the useof antipsychotic drugs for peoplewith dementia is a governmentpriority, and this audit has shownthat collaborative working betweenpharmacists, GPs, nurses and carehome staff is a key way ofaddressing this objective. Pharmacyis an underused resource within theNHS and this latest researchdemonstrates a valuable rolecommunity pharmacists can play inimproving patient care.”
Collaboration‘can improve’medicine use
Angela Rippon helped Bennfield House Nursing Home inDoncaster celebrate its 30th anniversary. The televisionstar and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador toured thehome and chatted with residents during her visit. Shewas joined by Doncaster resident Trevor Jarvis, wholives with dementia and is also an Alzheimer’s Societyambassador. Residents, families and staff at the homealso enjoyed the celebrations with afternoon tea, theannual presentation of staff awards and entertainmentby former X factor finalist Alan Turner.Angela is pictured with Bennfield House matron PennyBennett.
JENNIE-MAY Smith, a chefat Berkeley House CareHome in Hull, was namedthe UK’s best care cookwhen she secured victoryat the national final of theNational Association ofCare Catering’s care cookof the year competition.
Jennie-May emergedtriumphant against 11other chefs thanks to hermenu of smoked mackerelfrittata, followed by lemonposset with hemp thinsand berries.
She said: “I amoverwhelmed and shockedto have won. I have onlybeen in the care cateringindustry for just under ayear. I am very thankful forall the support I havereceived in achieving mywin.”
Giles Conroy of SunriseSenior Living of Bramhall,Stockport, claimed secondplace and highlycommended main, withGareth O’Hara of SunriseSenior Living of Cardifftaking third place andBecky Allcorn fromCatering Academy Ltd atRotary Lodge, Worthing,securing highlycommended dessert.
Database enquiries to:01226 734695 E-mail: [email protected] every effort is made toensure the accuracy of all con-tent, the publishers do notaccept liability for error, printedor otherwise, that may occur.
D-DAY veteran Bernard Jordan enjoyed ahero’s welcome as he returned to ThePines care home in Hove.
Staff lined up outside the facility wavingunion flags to greet the new nationalhero as he arrived home after attendingthe D-day commemorations inNormandy.
Bernard, who enjoyed a group hug fromstaff upon arrival, said that he wastouched by the support his unexpectedtrip had received.
He added: “I want to thank everyone fortheir kind words and best wishes follow-ing my trip to Normandy – I never imag-ined my visit would cause such a stir!
“I’m delighted to be back at home withmy wife and the wonderful staff here atThe Pines. I was never banned fromgoing to the commemorations, I justdecided to make my own way there.
“I would like to thank everyone for theirinterest and the lovely coverage of whatwas such an important day.
“All the men and the women who tookpart that day 70 years ago are heroes,especially the ones who never camehome.”
Since arriving back at The Pines,Bernard has enjoyed spending time withhis wife Irene, and is now fully rested andin good health.
Messages of support and admirationhave been sent in by people from allaround the world, a Facebook apprecia-tion group has been set up in his honourand there is even an online campaign tosend Bernard a card to celebrate hisupcoming 90th birthday.
Gracewell Healthcare’s CEO Peter Curtisadded: “The huge amount of support thatBernard has received from people allaround the world is wonderful and welldeserved for such an inspiring man.
“We are delighted to be able to cele-
brate Bernard’s birthday with him andI'm sure that all the cards and gestures ofgoodwill that he has received and willcontinue to receive will make that dayextra special for him.”
“At Gracewell Healthcare we celebrateall our resident’s birthdays and as part ofour personalised care programme werecognise that every one of our residentsis unique.
“We are in awe of the part Bernardplayed in the D-day invasion 70 years agoand find his story truly inspirational.”
Bernard with carers Roxana Iacob and Ana Santos.
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CARINGNEWS4
Resident Joan Wyatt and staff member Jane Peters get into the wartime spirit at NewFairholme's anniversary party.
Home turns back theclock to celebrate itsfirst anniversary By Dominic Musgrave
RESIDENTS turned the clock back 70years to mark the first anniversary ofthe opening of a state-of-the-art£7million care home in Shropshire.
Carers and residents at NewFairholme, in Oswestry, got into thewartime spirit for a 1940s themedstreet party at the 88-bed homewhich first welcomed new occupantsin April last year.
New Fairholme, the latestdevelopment from Coverage Care,was designed to offer a real choice ofhotel services and the full continuumof care for residents.
Both wings of the home, whichprovides residential with nursing carefacilities, were decorated withbunting and carers and service usersdressed up in vintage wartime attirefor the event.
Home manager Diana Wall said:“Everyone got into the party moodand the staff were wonderful. Theymade bunting to string up and
dressed in wonderful 1940s’ costumesfrom land girls to pinnies, rollers andhair nets. There was music from the1940s and we had Union Jack flags onthe tables.
“Staff brought in their own china teasets and even cake stands. Everyonewas brilliant and the residents reallyappreciated it.”
The home has a specially designedreminiscence room, complete with amannequin in 1940s dress, wartimenewspapers and Bakelite radio.
David Coull, chief executive ofowner Coverage Care, said: “One yearon from opening New Fairholme, weare delighted to see it become somuch a part of Oswestry – we evenhave a hair salon at the home whichwelcomes members of thecommunity as well as our serviceusers. Our new home inherited thefamily atmosphere of its predecessorin the town, Fairholme, on MordaRoad, while bringing the benefits of awider range of services offered tomore people.”
Students from Hardwick Middle School and West Suffolk College helped St Peter’sHouse care home in Bury St Edmunds mark Dementia Awareness Week. The WestSuffolk College students spent time reminiscing with the residents and bringing cakeswhich, along with a raffle, raised more than £100. And students from Hardwick MiddleSchool sung songs and shared memories with the residents as part of a seasidenostalgia day, which was also attended by local councillor Mark Ereira-Guyer.
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5CARINGNEWS
Village residentsgiven a voice byrenowned poet RENOWNED UK performance poetTony Walsh (aka Longfella) has giventhe first public reading of his newpoem, 'We are Belong villagers', atthe Belong Wigan community carevillage.
The poem was commissioned bythe operator to communicate whatit's like to live in a modern care set-ting, where care is at its best.
Tony Walsh has performed at TheBritish Library, the RSC 50thAnniversary Open Day and wrote andperformed the official tribute to SirAlex Ferguson last year.
His new, uplifting poem, which waswritten after a successful poetryworkshop with Belong residents,avoids the usual stereotypes and jar-gon associated with life in a carehome, giving a realistic portrayal ofhow the people living and working inBelong Wigan feel about themselves.
Tony said: “I was very impressed byan initial meeting with managersfrom Belong but, as someone withexperience of care settings from botha family perspective and as a formercouncil officer, it was important forme to also hear from residents andstaff before writing my commissioned
poem. I therefore offered to run apoetry session at Belong Wigan.About a dozen residents and a coupleof members of staff attended and wehad a lot of fun.
“As a bonus, the session also gaveme the inspiration for my overallpoem, which takes the form of a sim-ple “kenning” – a poetic form withNorse roots, linked to the Scottish useof the word “ken” – to know.
“Through the poem, we hope thatpeople will come to know the verydifferent and first class way thatBelong Villages do things.”
Tracy Paine, operations director atBelong, added: “The care sector gets alot of bad press, often based on out-dated ideas. We commissioned Tonybecause we wanted to give a voice tothe people that make Belong villagestheir home and continue to leadwonderful lives here, as well as to themany dedicated staff supportingthem.
“Everybody that participated in hispoetry workshop at Belong Wigan lastyear had a fantastic time, and they'reproud to know that their conversa-tions that day inspired ‘We are Belongvillagers’.”
Performance poet Tony Walsh with Belong customers Marion Clarke, Lillian Moss, AnneDorrington and Nina Greenwood.
NCA and ECCA’s proposedmerger plan breaks downTHE proposed merger between theNCA and ECCA to form Care Englandhas not been concluded, it has beenrevealed.
NCA chairman Nadra Ahmed OBEsaid “Both National Care Associationand ECCA, through the transitionalboard, were committed to the princi-ples of a merger which would havebrought about a strong and coherentvoice for the sector at a time whenproviders are facing considerablechallenges.
“However we now believe that theinterests of all providers will not bebest served through a merger of thetwo organisations at this time.
“To avoid any misunderstanding
and as a point of clarity, Care Englanddoes not incorporate the member-ship of National Care Association inany way and as such does not repre-sent the membership or the expressviews of the National CareAssociation.
“Care England was to have been thename of the merged organisation,which ECCA has adopted without ref-erence to National Care Association;therefore as the merger has not takenplace it cannot be representative ofthe vision of a unified voice.
“National Care Association will con-tinue to work with all representativeorganisations in the best interest ofits membership.”
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CARINGNEWS6
Prince Charles chats with residents and staff from Colten Care’s Castle View care home.
IT’S not every day the heir to thethrone comes by for a chat, soresidents at a Dorset care home madethe most of their chance.
The Prince of Wales was out andabout in his Duchy of Cornwallcommunity at Poundbury when hedelighted all at Colten Care’s CastleView facility with an unannouncedstop.
Hearing he was nearby, more than20 residents and team membersgrabbed a clutch of Union Jacks andlined up on a pathway outside toattract his attention.
The flag-waving worked and the
Prince, wearing a grey suit, dark tieand sunglasses, came over to speak,spending around 10 minutes askingquestions and chatting.
Activities organiser Sue Goodwinsaid: “He stopped and spoke toeveryone and asked about the home,how many residents we have andwhat sort of activities we get involvedin. The residents were absolutelythrilled to be in the limelight. Itcreated a lovely buzz.”
It was the first time the Prince hasvisited Castle View since heperformed the home’s officialopening in 2002.
Royal walkabout delightsDorset home’s residents
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CARINGNEWS8
Students donate artworkto Stockton care homeBy Dominic Musgrave
WELLBURN House in Stocktonreceived a special gift from talentedartists at Fairfield Primary School,which it will proudly display in thecare home.
To launch the home’s upcomingrefurbishment, which is part of AkariCare’s £12 million investmentprogramme in its homes throughoutthe UK, the pupils donated a piece ofartwork, which has been recognisedby The National Gallery.
The home will display the artwork,which is a large re-creation of Bathersat Asnières by painter Georges Seurat,created by year five and year sixstudents aged between 9-11, for allresidents and visitors to see.
The home is hoping to develop along-standing relationship withFairfield Primary School and hasplans for many exciting projects inthe coming months.
Lisa Stephenson, manager atWellburn House, said: “We are thrilledwith the artwork that the pupils atFairfield Primary School havedonated, and we would like to say abig thank you to everyone at theschool.
“The artwork will look fantastic inour home and is a great way to markthe start of the refurbishment.
“It’s really important for us at
Wellburn House to get involved withour local community and theresidents are really excited aboutfuture projects we have planned withthe school – watch this space.”
The donation marks a completerefurbishment and re-decorationcommencing at the home to makethe environment more comfortableand appealing for residents andvisitors.
The work will include all communalareas being re-decorated, with new
curtains, carpets, furniture andlighting to make the areas morerelaxing.
All bedrooms will undergo acomplete red-decoration andbathrooms in the home will be fittedwith fresh new bathroom suites.
The outside space of the home willalso be given a new lease of life, withthe garden being landscaped, a newgazebo installed and a chicken coupand runway created for the home’snew arrivals later in the year.
Lisa Stephenson, manager at Wellburn House, with resident Joan Durham holding Trudie(centre) with members of staff and year five and year six pupils from Fairfield PrimarySchool handing over their version of Bathers at Asnières.
A LANCASHIRE care home isplanning on taking a trip downmemory lane with the help of thelocal community as it aims torecreate a thriving street of shopsfrom yesteryear.
Riverside Care Centre isappealing for donations of any1950s memorabilia to help form aquirky street of 1950s shop frontsalong one of the home’s corridors.
As well as looking to collecthistoric items, the centre is lookingto forge partnerships with localbusinesses and raise money, whichwill help fund the initiative andenhance the reminiscence ofthemes which are of great benefitto older people.
Gail Ainsworth, Riverside CareCentre manager, said: “The 1950sstreet is a fantastic initiative andwill offer our residents the perfectopportunity to reminisce and re-kindle memories of their youngerdays. We have received goodfeedback from our residents andtheir families, and the presence ofa pleasant, old-fashioned streetwill be a lovely addition to thehome.
“We are now looking to build onthis initial exciting idea and arehoping for donations and sponsorsto help us with this endeavour.”
Home seeks1950s’ shopmemorabilia
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CARINGNEWS10
TIME is running out for you to bookyour place at the first two regionalconferences organised by Caring UK.
The Elderly Care: Positive Choicesevents, which take place at RookeryManor in Weston-super-Mare and theRiviera International ConferenceCentre in Torquay on July 2 and 3respectively, are being sponsored byNatWest.
NCA chief executive Sheila Scott willbegin both events with an update onthe Care Bill, followed by Skills forCare area manager Teresa Morrisonand her look at ‘Building positiveworkplace cultures in adult socialcare’.
Prior to the mid-morning break atWeston-super-Mare, Active Mindsproduct designer and founder BenAtkinson-Willes will discuss ‘Designfor Dementia: A look at how betterdesign can help improve peoples’quality of life’, while at Torquay therewill be an update from theinspectorate.
After the break occupationaltherapist Heather Manktelow willbegin the session with a seminarentitled ‘Activities for Health’ –Provision for nursing and care homesto engage in meaningful activitieswhich promote and maintain health,well-being, quality of life andindependence.
At Weston-super-Mare this will thenbe followed by an update from theCQC. The final two speakers at bothevents will be NatWest’s head ofhealthcare Neil Garton, who will offeradvice on ‘Understanding andhelping to deliver your businessstrategy’ and Lee Sheppard, head ofcare homes at apetito Limited, whowill discuss ‘Dining with dignity –catering for Dysphagia’ in his session.
An extensive exhibition which willrun alongside the conferences willcomplete the events.
Caring UK editor DominicMusgrave, who will chair theconferences, said: “As you can see wehave once again put together a stellarline-up of speakers who will talkabout a range of topics throughoutthe day.
“With the exhibition runningalongside and the opportunity tonetwork, these conferences are trulynot to be missed, and I would urge allcare home and domiciliary careoperators and managers in theseareas to attend these events.
“We also must thank our headlinesponsor NatWest for their support ofour conferences this year, and we aredelighted to have them on board.”� To find out more and to book yourplace at these must-attend eventsturn to pages 15 and 16.
Last chance toattend events
RICHMOND Villages, which isdeveloping a new retirement villageat Coral Springs, has opened amarketing and community shopwithin Witney town centre.
The shop was opened by MarkYoung, senior village adviser, WendyMiddleton, community relationsmanager and Nev Scott, villageradviser of Richmond Villages.
David Reaves, marketing managerof Richmond Villages, said: “As well asliterally giving us a shop window inthe centre of Witney, this new facilityoffers the opportunity to meet local
people while they are out and aboutin town.
“Our villages are closely integratedwithin their communities, and thiswill be an excellent opportunity tomeet those who run clubs andsocieties, as well as anyone workingin healthcare, at local GP practicesand charities.”
Richmond Witney retirement villagewill be the company’s sixth facility,and will initially provide 51 homes forthose over 55, and 60 care home bedsproviding both nursing and dementiacare.
Mark Young, senior village adviser of Richmond Villages, opens the new shop with NevScott, village adviser, and Wendy Middleton, community relations manager.
Firm opens innovative shop toraise community awareness
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11CARINGNEWS
A CHEF who has cooked for rockstars and royalty and worked at aMichelin starred London restauranthas taken on a new role heading upthe catering at an award-winningretirement village in the North East.
Jo Stoddart worked alongside one ofthe world’s best known chefs, MichelRoux Jr, at his acclaimed restaurantLe Gavroche – the first in the UK togain three Michelin stars – and is nowbringing some Michelin magic toMiddleton Hall Retirement Village,near Darlington, County Durham, asits new catering manager.
Jo was among five students pluckedstraight out of catering college inLiverpool to join Le Gavroche, whereshe found she was the only girl out of20 chefs.
Within three months she had beenpromoted to head chef of the trainingkitchen where she worked for sixyears before working for Michele’sfather Albert for four.
Working for Albert as chef manager,her jobs included catering for theBAFTAS and cooking for the likes of AList Hollywood actors, rock stars suchas Tom Jones, Prince, Bon Jovi andOasis and Arabian royalty.
From working for the Rouxs, Jojoined a private school group in
Kensington as catering managerbefore Raynham Primary School inEnfield, London, as a chef manager,where she won the London SchoolChef of the Year competition.
She moved to Wolviston Village,near Billingham, Teesside, with hus-band Elton, in 2010 with her threeboys aged seven to 16, and joined thesocial enterprise, Create, helping torun a training programme aimed atgetting people back into work.
Jo will now be looking to bring herMichelin standard experience toMiddleton Hall by updating therestaurant and Orangery menus aswell as the food for events and func-tions and launching an advancedtraining package for the retirementvillage’s chefs where they will learnnew techniques and update skills.
“I’ve joined Middleton Hall becauseof the vision there is for the catering,”she said. “It’s going to be really excit-ing to be part of it and working withthe team to look at all aspects of thecatering for residents.
“We’re looking to make the menusmore seasonal from locally sourcedingredients. Middleton Hall is work-ing on healthy eating so we are look-ing at what we cook, how we presentit and how we source food.”
Jo brings a bit ofMichelin magic toretirement village
Commissioner for older people in Northern Ireland Claire Keatinge met residents andtheir families when she visited Annadale care home. She also had a tour of the homeand met the staff. Claire is pictured with Michele Campbell (home administrator), WinnMashumba (home manager), care assistants Jamie-Lee Pollins and May Galbraith andresidents Christina Stewart, Jean Harris and Joe Heaney.
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13CARINGNEWS
THE idea of installing visible CCTVcameras in all nursing and carehomes, is an excellent one in myview, especially following the recentpublic disclosure by one relative of aresident who was subjected to crueland inhuman behaviour by someworkers in a care home.
It would not have been possible todiscover this appalling act of cruelty ifthe relative had not used a secretcamera. We have to recognise thatwhile the majority of care workers arekind and compassionate, there aresome who treat residents with utmostcontempt and cruelty.
The elderly residents, who are oftendisabled and vulnerable, need anddeserve to be treated with respect,dignity and compassion by their car-ers and relatives alike. These elderlypeople also are the parents andgrandparents of someone somewherewho should not be treated with con-tempt, but treated with love and
utmost care.If we can prevent such abuse of
elders in future by installing visiblecameras, let us do it and protect ourelderly residents from any furtheracts of cruelty. That is the least wecan do to protect our elderly resi-dents who, along with other membersof their family, place their trust in us.We should adopt this as our missionin life.
Dr Krishna Korlipara, chairman,Rivington View Nursing Home, Bolton
I ABSOLUTELY agree with havingCCTV in places where there are vul-nerable people. I myself work in aresidential care home and although Ihave no reason to suspect anyone ofmistreatment towards our residents,we all know that some carers areexcellent and some not so good.Whether it is intentional abuse orunintentional abuse of any form, acamera would present factual evi-
dence thereby allowing better train-ing or prosecution, whichever itturned out to be.
I also think that an opt out policywould satisfy those who are opposedto them. I personally would be onlytoo happy if I had a relative in a caresetting for CCTV cameras to beinstalled.
Mrs B. Sambrook
I AGREE that cameras should beinstalled in care homes. The majorityof people would not abuse, but thereis a breed of person that would onlybe caught by this method.
It should not be family that has toresort to this if they have concerns.
I caught a person when we put acamera in a resident’s room to moni-tor a resident’s sleep pattern. Hewould never have been discoveredhad we not had done this, and he waswith us for 10 years.
Pauline Gower, manager, Morriss House
The Caring UK newsdesk has been inundated with letters and commentsfrom readers about the front page story from issue 216 ‘Care providerconsulting on CCTV cameras’. Here are a selection of them ...
In favour of installing camerasto maintain residents’ dignity
If you wish to comment on this or any other story which appears in Caring UK magazine,email editor Dominic Musgrave at [email protected] or Tweet us @caringuk
Miriam Sukenikova, activities co-ordina-tor at Allingham House, with residentRobert Zackham.
Home enjoys VIPvisit to Sea LifeNEW Care Projects arranged a VIPtrip for 32 residents, relatives, staffand friends from Manorhey CareCentre in Urmston and AllinghamHouse Care Centre in Timperley toSea Life at intu Trafford Centre.
Sea Life was specifically selected forthe trip due to its multi-sensoryoffering, allowing the group thechance to touch and feel the animals.
Donna McGoff from New CareProjects said: “Enabling residentsaccess to community attractions andget the best out of what is available isa key theme when we create ouractivities programme. Sea Life was aconscious choice for this trip.”
Sea Life provided complimentaryentry to the venue for the group’svisit, which coincided with DementiaAwareness Week. New Care Projects iscurrently constructing a third carehome in Nottinghamshire.
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CARINGNEWS14
A fresh start: how food helpedtransform life at The WillowsWHEN Paul Swithenbank becamefounder chairman and chiefexecutive of The Willows inLancashire in May 2009, he hadambitious plans to transform thehome, which has seen several ownersin its 20-year history.
One of the biggest priorities for Paulwas to overhaul the home’s cateringoperations. At the time he took onThe Willows, he inherited an in-housecook who worked a few days perweek, while carers were relied on tohelp provide meals at other times.
This had a number ofdisadvantages, including concernsabout the quality of presentation andnutritional content of the food served– plus a lack of choice for residentsand a need for carers to spend a gooddeal of time helping in the kitchen.As Paul puts it: “This took them awayfrom what they should be doing,which is caring for residents.”
A further spur for Paul to take actionwas being approached by the familyof a resident suffering with dysphagiawho was preparing to undergo PEG-feeding. This meant she would haveto be fed through a tube for the restof her life – a prospect Paul was keento help her avoid for as long aspossible.
“At the time, we were preparingblended food for her, but this wasn’tworking well and PEG-feeding
seemed the nextlogical step forher family.However, I wasaware of apetito’stexture-modifiedrange for thosewho suffer withdysphagia andapproached themto find out more.
“As well aslooking into thetexture-modifiedrange, I wanted tointroduce a totalsystem at The Willows, which wouldcater to all the needs of our residents.I was impressed by the consistentlyhigh quality of the meals, as well asthe colour and presentation. Theyreally looked appetising – includingthe texture-modified meals, whichreally impressed me and exceededmy expectations.”
apetito began working with Pauland his team at The Willows in August2010, and ever since the feedbackreceived from residents has beenexcellent.
“The residents are our biggestcritics. If they feel we need to changeanything we will, but they really enjoythe meals and we have thereassurance of knowing they’rereceiving a balanced diet.”
All vulnerable residents at TheWillows are weighed and in all casesthere has been an increase in weightsince the meals were introduced.
“Whenever the dietitian visits, oneof the first questions they ask is whatkind of meals the residents haveeaten,” adds Paul.
“I take a lot of comfort in being ableto tell them about the nutritious foodour residents receive. I’m alsoconfident that if a CQC inspectorwere to visit on any given day, I cangive them details on the nutritionalcontent of every single one of themeals on our menu.”
Sadly the elderly resident whospurred Paul on to enlist apetito’sservices passed away in November2011, but she continued to enjoy herpuréed meals until the end of her life.
“We know she enjoyed her food andthat it played an important role inkeeping her healthy for as long aspossible. The fact that all ourresidents are served food that notonly gives them the nutrition theyneed to live healthy lifestyles but thatthey also look forward to eating is amajor part of making life better forthem. Just because they’re in a carehome, why should that basic right betaken away from an individual?”
The Willows was recently named thebest care home in the country bywebsite carehome.co.uk
Paul Swithenbank
HOMECARE provider Caremark(Plymouth) received a visit from adelegation of Turkish healthprofessionals.
The group comprising doctors, anurse, a dentist, a radiographerand a medical director who arefrom the city of Balikesir werekeen to visit a UK care providerand learn how home care isdelivered in the UK.
The Turkish health professionalswere accompanied on their visitby a translator and arepresentative from Tellus Group,the language school thatorganised the visit.
Graham Livingston, director ofCaremark (Plymouth), said: “Wewere approached by Tellus Groupthrough a mutual contact whoasked if we would be happy tohost the delegates for an informalmeeting and Q&A session on howwe provide care for people livingindependently in the Plymoutharea.
“They were interested to knowhow the NHS and local authoritysocial care combine to cover themedical and social care needs ofpeople living in the community,and how care is funded andregulated in the UK.”
Provider isvisited bydelegation
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NOT TO BE MISSED BY DECISION MAKERS IN THE CARE INDUSTRY
Elderly Care: Positive Choices
For more information contact:Exhibitor enquiries: Bev Green: 01226 734 288Delegate enquiries: Lucy Dickinson: 01226 734 695
Refreshments served throughout the event including light lunch. Closes with a grand prize draw. Goody bag and attendance certi�cate for all delegates attending.
Elderly Care: Positive Choices is the theme for Caring UK’s annual regional conferences.Our stellar line-up of speakers will o�er expert advice on a wide variety of topics to enhance the quality of life your residents deserve in their later years, and also make your business stand out from your rivals to potential residents.Our top industry experts will pass on their knowledge on subjects including food and nutrition, activities and the care home environment itself, giving tips on what you can do to achieve and maintain the highest levels of care.
Our �rst two conferences will be held at Rookery Manor in Weston-super-Mare and the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay on July 2 and 3 respectively. In September our events move north to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley and Leeds United FC’s famous Elland Road stadium.Running alongside all of the conferences will be an extensive exhibition, which will showcase all the latest products and technology for your care home.These really are conferences not to bemissed, so to avoid disappointment please complete the booking form to guarantee your place.
10th Sept Leeds United Football Club. LEEDS
3rd July Riviera International Conference Centre. TORQUAY.
9th Sept Black Country Living Museum, DUDLEY.
2nd July Rookery Manor, WESTON-SUPER-MARE.
Some of the conference exhibitors:
Sponsored by:
HEADLINE SPONSOR
Conferences 2 20/2/14 16:47 Page 1
17CARINGNEWS
Residents pull togetherthe pieces for projectBy Dominic Musgrave
RESIDENTS at a Shropshire carehome have been pulling together thepieces needed to create colourfulmosaics in a project funded by aTelford town council.
Mosaic and glass artist SarahMarkopolous led the community pro-ject at Coverage Care's ChillcottGardens home, in Madeley, whichsaw residents put their nimble fingersto work to create a lasting piece ofart.
The sessions, backed by the home'scare team, were designed to improvefine motor skills, decision makingand creativity in a social environ-ment.
Sarah said: “Working at ChillcottGardens has been so rewarding. I'vemade friends with some lovely peopleand we've spent time together work-ing and chatting.
“One thing that has really stuck withme while working with this group ofpeople is how thoughtful and consid-erate everybody is to each others'needs.
“We have also laughed so muchtogether as the regular sessions givepeople the opportunity to developfriendships and make new ones. Thepreliminary designing sessions reallygave individuals the opportunity to
express themselves and be heard;inspiring a real sense of ownershipover the finished piece.
“The work produced is an absolutecredit to them, their attention todetail and strong views on design andcolour have really shone through.”
Chillcott Gardens activities co-ordi-nator, Katrina Pooler, witnessed thebenefits of the project first hand.
She added: “The mosaic classes wehold have been a great addition toour activity programme and have
been enjoyed by our residents. Theykeep fingers nimble, promote conver-sation and provide positive reinforce-ment in decision making in terms ofcolours and patterns.
“We have also recently refreshed ourgardens and incorporated mirror tilesto our garden mosaics which we feelare beautiful additions to the home.”
Sarah is currently discussing newideas with the residents as many ofthem have expressed a desire to keepthe project up and running.
Residents Hilda Higley and Edith Ward with the wall mosaic at Chillcott Gardens.
RESIDENTS and their families cel-ebrated with staff, volunteers andmembers of the local communityrecently when Ronald GibsonHouse held its annual ‘meal of theyear’.
Kitchen staff put on a three-course silver service gourmetmeal which was followed by a per-formance from Taryn Kay singing50’s, 60’s and golden oldies songswhile many danced and sangalong. More than 60 peopleattended the event.
The Tooting based care centrewelcomes people from all walks oflife, and the values and ethos ofthe home are centred on respect-ing and accommodating diversity.
Victor Njoku, care centre man-ager, said: “We were delighted thatso many people took part in ourMeal of the Year. Meal times arean important social occasion andwe aim to ensure that everyone isoffered food which is appealingand appetising.
“Our residents have a diverserange of dietary requirements andwhether they stem from religiousbeliefs, specific health needs orpersonal taste we are proud of thefact that we are successful incatering for individuals’ needs.”
Home holdsannual ‘mealof the year’
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19CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHING
FYLDE MP Mark Menzies took timeout of his busy schedule to visitLytham care home The Moorings,where he was given a tour and anopportunity to discuss the futureplans of the facility.
Mark met with director Nick Woodand registered manager Lisa Reillyand was shown around the 29 bed-room care home.
He had the chance to see first-handhow the home operates, its facilities -including a 12-seater cinema, hairand beauty salon, to see some of theactivities which are laid on, as well ashaving the chance to talk to residentsand their families.
Mark also sampled a selection offood from The Moorings’ menu.
Nick said: “We were thrilled to wel-
come Mr Menzies to our new state-of-the-art care facility. We specialisein providing a personal level of carewhich recognises the importance ofindependence, dignity and choice. Itis with these values in mind that weensure our teams value each residentas an individual.
“This new home will be a greataddition to the group, providing highquality facilities while at the sametime ensuring that we retain the val-ues and ethos on which our reputa-tion has been built.
“With that in mind, we were proudto be able to show Mr Menzies theexciting features in phase one of thedevelopment and delighted to be ableto share some of the unique designfeatures coming in phase two.”
Mark Menzies MP (centre) with Nick Wood and Lisa Reilly.
MP inspired by quality ofstandards at new home
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CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHING20
GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathing’spopular Ascot hi-lo bath continues tobe the preferred solution for manycare providers in long term careenvironments.
The Ascot is a variable height bathwith powered seat transfer and hasbeen designed to deliver the highestlevels of comfort, dignity and safetyfor both bathers and carers.
It meets the challenges of high-traffic environments and ensures bestpractice in moving and handlingthrough considered ergonomicdesign.
The Ascot has an impressive, ultra-compact footprint ideal for space-restricted bathing areas and its easy-
to-clean surfaces assist with infectioncontrol procedures.
Integrated, state-of-the-art assistivetechnology ensures the safe, smoothand efficient transfer of the clientinto the bath via a soft-touchpowered seat. Once the bather isgently immersed in thethermostatically controlled water, theAscot can be raised so carers canwork without the risk of back ormuscle strain.
The Ascot has a maximum userweight of 150kg and can be suppliedwith a detachable transfer chair, plusa range of sensory options includingair spa, chromotherapy lighting andBluetooth® sound system.
Ascot hi-lo bath thepreferred solutionfor care providers
WHEN the Fisher Partnershipwanted a bespoke interior for theirpurpose-built care home, WhitbyCourt, they turned to Shackletonsfor seating and soft furnishingsthat would reflect the highstandards of care and comfort thecompany is committed toproviding.
Jenny Fisher from Whitby Courtsaid: “We were very aware of notreflecting an institutionalisedimage when completing WhitbyCourt. This unique home requireda unique interior treatment thatwould enable us to offer somethingcompletely bespoke.”
“We found Shackletons were onour wavelength, they engaged withour thoughts, understood ourrequirements and really workedwith us to get the right seating andsoft furnishings for our residents.”
Sarah Thompson, regional salesmanager at Shackletons, added:“Working with Whitby Court was apleasure; their level of creativity
and input enabled us to push theboundaries of interior treatmentswithin a care home. I believe wehave created a bespokeenvironment that reflects a person-centred approach whilst offering fitfor purpose and comfortablefurniture that will last in ademanding environment.”
Shackletons provided over 100individual seating options invarying comfort styles and fabricsthroughout the home with softfurnishings to complete this veryindividual care home look.
Whitby Court is Whitby’s firstpurpose-built ecological care homeand includes a biomass boiler,solar panelling, LED energy-savinglighting and underfloor heatingthroughout to minimise ourcarbon footprint.
Every last detail, from layout andfurnishings through to facilitiessuch as a residents' kitchen and asensory room has been carefullymanaged.
Eco home createsa unique interior
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21CARINGINTERIORS, DESIGN AND FURNISHING
MEANING ‘a place of beauty’ the new Lowanna col-lection by Skopos evokes an exotic, tranquil andserene tone through five different printed designs.
Including a splintered stripe, a multi-colouredGingko leaf, a tribal diamond, a geometric and adramatic two colour leaf, the designs have beendeveloped to bring contract interiors to life in anuplifting palette.
Providing ultimate flexibility, this printed collec-tion, is offered on a variety of flame retardant base-cloths, including bedding weights, curtain optionsand a waterproof upholstery quality.
With broad appeal the designs can be printed onperfect, fit for purpose fabrics, for each individualproject.
This collection blurs the gap between hospitality
and care, providing inspirational designs which willappeal to both male and female, providing upliftinginteriors for care residents.
Presented in the pattern book with the newChamonix, Peru and Mezzanotte Accents collec-tions, Lowanna provides a design statement forbeautiful, enchanting interiors. Lowanna lead-times are short with small minimums.
Customer feedback prior to the official launchhas been extremely positive. Skopos is an ISO9001accredited company and has over 35 year’s special-ist experience in the design and manufacture ofhigh performance FR contract fabrics for thehealthcare and hospitality sectors.
Enquiries: Visit www.skoposdesignltd.com or call 01924 465191.
New collection blurs the gap betweenhospitality and care
IF you are looking to remove the hassle from yournew build or refurbishment project, while savingtime and money then we can help.
Good design ensures that your bedrooms areeasier to market, increases the value of your homewhilst improving the environment and comfort foryour residents or service users.
We work exclusively for the care sector provid-ing interior design, project management and pro-curement services including all aspects of yourinterior covering furniture, curtains/blinds, carpet,
artwork, tableware, towels and bedding. Our rec-ommendations are tailored to your precise needsand client group.
There is no deposit to pay and no minimumorder and we work anywhere within the UK. If youthink we can help then please contact us for fur-ther information or to request a free consultationwithout obligation.
Enquiries: For further information visitwww.a21careinteriors.co.uk
or call 020 8399 3091.
Take the hassle out of your new build
Life’s a beach for Whitby Court residentsTHE Fisher Partnership, has looked to KarndeanDesignflooring to complete its latest purpose-builtcare home at Whitby Court, North Yorkshire.
Inspired by a nautical-beach theme, The FisherPartnership opted for Karndean Designflooringbecause of its modern designs and compatibilitywith underfloor heating, specifying over1,570.92m2 throughout their latest new build pro-ject.
The stand out features include an indoor beach,using the exotic grain of Da Vinci KenyanTigerwood, against the inviting pebble effect ofMichelangelo Navarra Chalk, a dedicated TrainRoom featuring Knight Tile Caribbean Driftwood, aswell as a glamorous hair salon displaying KnightTile White Painted Oak.
Alongside Da Vinci Spirito Limestone in a pur-pose built kitchen area, Knight Tile Pale Limed Oakin adjoining walkways and Knight Tile WhitePainted Oak in various bedrooms.
Whitby Court is the town’s first purpose-builtecological care home and aims to provide person-centred care in a tranquil environment.
Enquiries: For more information aboutKarndean Designflooring, visit
www.karndean.com.
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CARINGNEWS22
Members of staff at Debaliol Nursing Home take a quick break during the walk.
MEMBERS of staff at DebaliolNursing Home in Newbiggin by theSea laced up their hiking boots toraise funds for the British Red Crossand for extra treats for the home’sresidents.
Sixteen members of staff, includingthe Care Living operated home’smanager Julia Rose, tackled a 13.5-mile sponsored coastal walk fromAmble to Newbiggin, raising morethan £1,000 for the British Red Crossand for additional summer outingsfor the residents.
Julia said: “We are dedicated tosupporting charities and going theextra mile for our residents in a hostof different ways, with this walk beinga perfect example of ourcommitment.
“Staff trained really hard for thewalk and battled some rathermiserable weather on the day, butwe’re always happy to take on achallenge to help. We were all a bitstiff and tired after the walk, but we’revery proud of the amount we raisedwhich will be put to great use.”
Home’s staff put their bestfeet forward for residents
By Dominic Musgrave
A BRADFORD based care providerhas launched a recruitmentcampaign to employ 10 nurses byJanuary 2015.
Czajka Care Group, which runs fivenursing homes and provides homeand domiciliary care to over 550people in Yorkshire, is targeting bothtrainee and experienced nurses in theUK and overseas.
Konrad Czajka, managing directorof Czajka Care Group and Yorkshirechair of the RNHA, said: “It’s vital thatas the NHS continues to cut seniornursing posts and drive cost savingsthat the private sector takesadvantage of the skills andexperience of those nurses.
“We currently have several positionsthat would be ideal for nurses thathave previously worked in the NHSand can provide excellent training tofurther enhance their knowledgebase.”
According to the Royal College ofNursing the NHS has lost nearly 4,000senior nursing posts since 2010 as itaims to save £20bn by 2015.
Konrad added: “We are appealing totrainee and experienced nurses to
consider a role in the private sector.Many nurses in the NHS tell us theyfeel overstretched and underresourced and we know that we canoffer the training and developmentthat many nurses crave.
“We want our nurses to feel valued,well-trained and supported - bothfinancially and emotionally. We valueour clinical staff and understand theimportant role they play in the careand welfare of our residents.
“That’s why we strive to create anenvironment where clinicians andcare staff can work effectivelytogether with good supportivemanagement to help reduceworkplace stress and we hope thatthis will help to attract nurses lookingto further their careers.”
Czajka Care Group is hosting anumber of informative events atuniversities in Leeds and Bradford toattract student nurses and currentlyprovides continued professionaldevelopment and training at itsdedicated training centre in Saltaireto its 500 staff. Czajka Care Groupoperates five nursing and care homesas well as offering a range of purposebuilt retirement houses andapartments across West Yorkshire.
Care provider onthe lookout for10 more nurses
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23CARINGNEWS
In the second of a three-part series of articles, Heather Manktelow, an occupational therapistexperienced in facilitating therapeutic activities in a range of care homes and in the community,discusses assessment and planning and putting it into practice.
Occupational therapy – thetheories and philosophiesTHE heart of Occupational Therapyphilosophy is that all people share aninnate occupational nature whichexists in the framework of environ-ment and time.
Time reveals itself as a vacuum,inviting us to fill it with ‘doing’.Without activity time weighs heavilyon us.
Therapy enables people to engagein activities and occupations thatprovide meaning and satisfaction andthat support their physical and emo-tional well-being (Kielhofner, 2007).
If people are bored and have no orlittle opportunity to engage in activi-ties it affects their whole being: theymay become depressed, give up onlife, and ultimately may retreat insidethemselves, withdrawing from theirsocial network and environment. Ifpeople become depressed it affectstheir motivation to engage in activi-ties, which can impact upon activitiesof daily living (getting washed, toilet-ed, dressed and feeding themselves).
When residents become less ablethrough lack of motivation, it meansthat carers do more and more for theresident which can have an effect ofde-skilling and reducing indepen-dence. Carers and other staff mustuse skills to motivate and encourageresidents to continue to do as muchfor themselves for as long as possible.
With the right approach from staff,even activities of daily living can bemade into pleasurable activitiesrather than tasks.
If carers are bright and cheerful, andpromote the sensory aspects, any taskcan be a meaningful and pleasurable‘activity’.
For example encouraging the resi-dent to notice and smell the lovelycoconut aroma of the soap, singing toand with the resident, bringing somefun into it, taking the resident to thewindow and discussing the weatherand what can be seen, encouragingthem to feel the fabrics and choose
what they want to wear. If residents have cognitive failings,
the Pool Activity Level (PAL)Instrument is very helpful in assess-ment and guiding carer support atthe appropriate level for each individ-ual (Pool, 2012).
Assessment and planningActivity assessment and planningneeds to be done in discussion withthe resident, involving the family andintermittently reviewed. Every resi-dent must have an activity plan. Itshould include:� Personal history.� Interest checklist.� Medical conditions and any senso-ry, physical or cognitive difficulties.� Risk assessment.� Outcome measures.
Putting it into practiceThere are many aspects of therapy,the complexities of which are notalways appreciated by the lay-personand the team may require training toappreciate the aims, objectives and
risk assessment of activities that theydeliver, and to help residents reachtheir full potential and well-being.
Research shows that when staff aregiven such training from an OT itraised their understanding and inter-est in the importance of graded activ-ities that are appropriate to each resi-dent’s ability and interests (Boyd et al,2014).
Occupational therapy promotes bal-ance, motor, sensory, perceptual, cog-nitive, intrapersonal and interperson-al skills, spirituality, self-confidence,self-esteem, mood, and indepen-dence to name a few.
Through engagement in gradedactivity, it helps to keep residentsmobile and flexible, thereby promot-ing independence and control. Forexample, ball games keep arms flexi-ble which helps a resident retain theability to raise an arm to brush theirown hair.
Residents who want to, should beincluded as much as possible in dailyroutines for example folding papernapkins, laying tables, sweeping up,clearing plates away, washing up etc.
Meaningful activity is all about cor-rect activity care-planning and find-ing the ‘right fit’ for individuals; noteveryone will want to help withdomestic chores, but for a lot ofladies, this was their life role – and isstill enjoyable and meaningful tothem. Generally residents of all ageslike to be active and feel that they arehelping-out.
Participation in activities needscareful observation and documenta-tion in the individuals’ care plans.During activity sessions carers shouldbe helping the OT or activity organis-er… by staff losing their inhibitionsand getting enthusiastically involvedin activities, it encourages the resi-dents to do the same …nobody wantsto be the only one dancing on thedance floor!
Carers in care homes have a difficult
job and most of their time is taken upbeing involved in direct care tasksand observing people to ensure safe-ty, but if everyone in the staff teammakes even a small change in the waythey work, it can make a large changeoverall.
A skilled activity facilitator makesactivity provision look easy but it canbe draining, especially when giving somuch of themselves to encourageand motivate residents to engage inactivity.
With hard work, good communica-tion skills, determination and correctactivity planning to explore gradedactivities that are meaningful to eachindividual, the most reluctant of resi-dents can be supported to enjoyactivities even if in their own discreteway.
This also applies to residents whocannot verbally communicate andtherefore who some inexperiencedpeople may perceive can’t ‘do’ activi-ties, for example in later-stagedementia or stroke. Some residentsjust need more patience and skillthan others who readily join in.
When people can no longer join inwith the more complex activities onoffer, sensory stimulation/therapycan still be enjoyed by all so it is avery important aspect to bring intoactivity planning.
Some examples are aromatherapyhand massage, music, singing,rhythm, movement, taste, touch,stroking animals and use of brightcolour.
The environment should also con-tribute towards interest and sensorystimulation, providing opportunitiesfor hands-on engagement for exam-ple ‘rummage boxes’ of items for peo-ple to explore. Some homes alsoincorporate rooms or ‘stations forreminiscence’ such as a pub, café,music room or book library.� To find out more visit www.activi-tiesforhealth.co.uk
Heather Manktelow
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25CARINGNEWS
Bringing the gym to the care homeA BRISTOL care home is bringing thegym to the residents, allowing themto don a pair of boxing gloves andhave a go on a trampoline.
Run by chartered physiotherapistAndy Stenner, the weekly ‘gym’ ses-sions at Deerhurst in Soundwell, havebeen designed to help maintain fit-ness and mobility, challenging bal-ance and coordination to whateverlevel possible.
This is done with a variety of equip-ment including a mini-trampoline,step, balance board, cross trainer,exercise bike, gym ball, resistancebands, boxing, tennis and weights.
Many Deerhurst residents live witha dementia and other health issuesfor which they require around theclock care.
Andy said: “In addition to the physi-cal benefits the sessions can also helpmentally. Being part of the 'exercisegroup', doing an activity you thoughtyou might not do again and seeingyourself improve at a skill are all valu-able benefits of the sessions.
“I think it is important to keep indi-viduals as independent as possible,whatever level of physical or mentaldisability they may have. It is ourresponsibility to ensure that peoplehave the stimulation and opportunityso they can challenge and maintain alevel of independence, regardless ofbeing in a care home.”
Over the past 11 years as a charteredphysiotherapist, Andy has worked inmany hospitals in the Bristol andBath area, with his time currently
spent half in the NHS for the NorthBristol trust as a musculoskeletal out-patient physio and half private work.
Following getting more involvedwith care homes and working withresidents individually, Andyapproached the managers to suggestthe option of running ‘physio fitness’group sessions:
“I saw the opportunity to offer exer-cise sessions where I could offer ‘gym’and ‘sporting’ equipment in additionto the typical chair exercises that arecommonly done,” he added. “It canbe an easy option for people to spenda lot of time being inactive, the prob-lem being that we become good atthe things we practice.”
Deerhurst manager Lesley Hobbshas witnessed first-hand the positive
impact the gym sessions have had onmany of the residents.
She added: “These sessions haveallowed us to positively encourageresidents to reach goals they may nothave thought possible.
“We’ve had one gentleman withParkinson’s and who is wheelchairbound actually get up and have a goon the step – Andy has shown us thatit’s ok to push people beyond whatthey, and we, think their limits are ina controlled environment.
“We are an active care home, con-stantly providing a variety of activitiesto keep residents stimulated, showingthat with a little bit of thought andcommitment, care homes can bevibrant and stimulating places to livetoo.”
Deerhurst resident Fred Owen tries his hand at boxing with physio Andy Stenner (left) and Joyce Mealing enjoys a joke while on the exercise bike with activities organiser BernieDennett and Andy (right).
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CARINGNEWS26
‘Deaf aware’ homeis awarded charterfor high standardsA DEAF couple living at Britain’ssecond official ‘deaf aware’ care homein Market Harborough have said “wefeel lucky being here”.
When Leslie and Betty Key firstmoved into Peaker Park they wereunable to communicate properlywith staff, but the team respondedquickly with a range of measures.
In recognition of its high standardsfor deaf people, the home has beenpresented with a care quality markfor older deaf people by three leadingindustry bodies.
The care home responded quicklyto cater for Betty and Leslie’s needs,with staff training in basic signlanguage and deaf awareness.
The building’s communal loungeshave also all been fitted with anassistive listening system known asan induction loop.
It has moved away from sound-related group activities and uses alight machine for bingo. There arealso subtitles on televisions.
The charter is part of the Deaf-Aware Care programme launched bydeafness charity Sonus and the RoyalAssociation for Deaf People andendorsed by care home associationCare England.
James Wood, managing director of
PrimeLife, said: “We are passionateabout providing a high-qualitystandard of living tailored to ourclients’ needs, and this is a perfectexample of our philosophy.
“The team at Peaker Park has struckup an excellent relationship withLeslie and Betty especially teamleader Kinga Kalinowska, who alwaysgoes above and beyond to ensurethey are happy and comfortable.”
The couple are both profoundlydeaf. Betty was born deaf and Leslielost his hearing aged two throughmeningitis.
Betty and Leslie Key at Peaker Park inMarket Harborough.
TV GARDENER and plantsmanAntony Henn joined forces with acommunity nursery that helps trainvulnerable adults to create thelongest-ever Gardenonaroll border injust an hour for a nursing home toraise funds and awareness fordementia charity Alzheimer’s Society.
Landscape designer Antony, whohas appeared on the BBC showGardeners’ World and is behind theGardenonaroll concept, was joined byvolunteers from Digswell Nurseries inWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire,and Grant Shapps, MP for WelwynHatfield, to create a 60ft-long,professionally-designed border fornearby St Andrew’s Care Home usingthe longest Gardenonaroll ever
planted.Antony, whose client list includes
Sir Paul McCartney, came up with theGardenonaroll concept after workingon a primary school project where hedrew on a strip of wallpaper to helpmake it accessible to the youngpupils.
Marcia Tonkin, manager at StAndrew’s Care Home, said: “We arethrilled with our new garden and areimmensely grateful to Antony,Garden on a Roll and Digswell.
“The residents think the newoutside space is a really lovelyaddition to the home. I am sure theywill enjoy it for years to come. Antonyhas promised to give us maintenanceadvice so it stays lovely long-term.”
Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps with Gardenonaroll managing director Antony Henn,St Andrew’s Care Home manager Marcia Tonkin and Sarah Wilson from DigswellNuseries.
Firm creates garden for home
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27CARINGNEWS
Super Mario wins topleadership accoladeA SOCIAL care pioneer from Waleshas won a prestigious award for hisleadership skills.
Mario Kreft MBE, the owner ofWrexham-based care organisationPendine Park, was honoured at theLeading Wales Awards.
The awards, organised in associa-tion with Cardiff MetropolitanUniversity, seek to recognise and cel-ebrate the contribution of leadersand leadership as a key driver of eco-nomic growth and success in Wales.
He came out on top in the leader-ship in the private sector categorysponsored by the Hello Starlingadvertising agency. The award waspresented at a celebratory lunch andceremony at the Hilton, Cardiff.
Mario said: “Social care is one of themost challenging areas of work and
winning this sort of accolade gives usthe motivation and the confidence toaspire to do even more in the future.
“As everybody knows, these thingsare never really just an individualthing. My wife Gill has been a pillarof support throughout and I am eter-nally grateful for the support I receivefrom the staff at Pendine Park andCare Forum Wales.”
Work has just started on a £7millioncentre of excellence for people withdementia that will create 100 newjobs in Caernarfon on the site of theformer community hospital, YsbytyBryn Seiont.
Construction of the bilingual centreand 16 extra care apartments is nowunder way and, if everything goes toplan, the centre will open inSeptember 2015.
Pendine Park owner Mario Kreft with his award.
IAIN Love had his wife’s fellowSherbrooke Lodge Care Home resi-dents spellbound when he brought inlarge models which he made entirelyout of matchsticks.
The 68-year-old has spent two-and-a-half years building replica modelsof a tram, two boats and two GrecianColiseum clocks using kits.
Iain kept the models at his home inCroftfoot, Glasgow and recently tookthem into Sherbrooke Lodge to showto residents where his wife Moiraresides.
Moira has been in the home for thepast four years and has one of themodel boats and Grecian Coliseumclock in her room.
He said: “When Moira moved intoSherbrooke Lodge I had a bit of sparetime on my hands, so I started mak-ing models. I think I just wanted tosee what the models would turn outlike.
“I am currently working on a modelof John Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’before I start work on my next model,an American railway engine.”
Before retiring Iain worked as a careassistant, an ambulance driver andnow drives the minibus forSherbrooke Lodge to take residents
out and about on outings. He visits Moira, his wife of 37 years,
every day, and on Wednesdaysspends an afternoon demonstratingto the residents how he makes themodels.
Sherbrooke Lodge manager LornaFlanagan said: “I really don’t thinkanyone realised how intricate theywould be.
“We have the tram model on displayin one of our lounges, where resi-dents and visitors can admire it andthey all think it is lovely.”
Call for diabetesscreening on theback of auditBy Dominic Musgrave
EVERY care home in England shouldscreen for diabetes to help detect the“masses” of undiagnosed residentswith the condition, according to a setof wide-sweeping recommendations.
The call comes on the back of thefull publication of the first England-wide Care Home Diabetes Audit, withsocial care managers and NHS pro-fessionals also urged to improve linesof communication.
The recommendations are a followup to the initial results of the study,led by the Institute of Diabetes forOlder People and the Association ofBritish Clinical Diabetologists, whichwere published last autumn.
Professor Alan Sinclair, audit leadand director of IDOP, which is basedat the University of Bedfordshire,said: “We appreciate the strain placedon care home staff but the results ofthe audit demonstrated major con-cerns which need urgent attention.
“The results found one in 10 carehome residents were reported as hav-ing diabetes, although this figure is atodds with previous research thatshowed as many as 26 per cent of allcare home residents actually havediabetes.
“However, we also know there aremasses of people with diabetes incare homes who are undiagnosed.
“The longer it takes them to becomediagnosed, the more their health willsuffer, leading to the potential of thedevelopment of unseen complica-tions. Screening for diabetes shouldbe a fundamental policy for everycare home.”
The audit seeks to identify qualitystandards that can be picked up bythe CQC to be used for assessment ofthe quality of diabetes care beingdelivered in care home settings.
The recommendations, which haveaddressed the findings of the study,have also been issued as a direct callto every care home to improve stan-dards.
They include:� Patients who self-medicate shouldbe monitored and their ability to self-medicate should be assessed at regu-lar intervals, and if there is a changein their circumstances.� Care homes should establish goodcommunication with primary care,liaising with GPs and communityteams to ensure annual reviews andother scheduled checks take placeand inform care practice.� All care homes should be aware ofthe good clinical practice guidelinesfor care home residents with diabetesand should base their care and poli-cies on the guidelines as far as possi-ble.� Care homes should have a screen-ing for diabetes policy at admissionto a care home and at intervals there-after.� All care homes should have a fully-stocked hypoglycaemia kit.� All care homes should employ adiabetes foot evaluation scheme (riskstratification).� All care homes should provideopportunities for care staff to partici-pate in diabetes educational andtraining programmes.
The study undertaken in 2012/13found more than 60 per cent of the2,043 premises surveyed did not havea designated member of staff withresponsibility for diabetes manage-ment.
It also revealed a third of residents(35.17 per cent) did not know aboutthe signs and symptoms of hypogly-caemia – a complication of diabetes,which can result in hospital admis-sion due to a coma if left untreated.
More than 35 per cent of homes didnot have a written policy for manag-ing hypoglycaemia.
However, the recommendationsalso call for care homes to have a pol-icy on the management of hypogly-caemia and to ensure all staff mem-bers have the necessary skill andtraining to deliver care according tothe policy.
Professor Alan Sinclair talks to a care home resident with diabetes.
CARE managers are helping to fueldemand for the sector’s first evermicro franchises.
SureCare, which only launched itsnew franchise offer last month, says ithas received “dozens” of enquiriesfrom people currently working ascare managers.
The company says it is aiming to getits first micro franchisees up and run-ning within a matter of weeks.
The micro franchises – known asSureCare Local – will be able to offera range of unregulated servicesincluding home services such as DIY,gardening and cleaning, as well asbabysitting and a mobile crèche ser-vice for weddings and other events.
The cost of becoming a SureCaremicro franchisee will be from £7,000covering a population of around100,000 people. This compares to the£28,000 cost of the full SureCare fran-chise covering a much wider geo-graphic area and offering care ser-vices regulated by the CQC.
Managing director Gary Farrer said:“We knew we had a proposition that
would appeal to people working inmanagement roles in the care sector,but we did not quite expect the levelof interest we have seen since welaunched the micro franchise offerlast month.
“There are a number of factors dri-ving the interest from care managers.The £7,000 entry level cost of becom-ing a micro franchisee is one factor,but just as important is the ability togive great care, run their own busi-ness and receive industry-leadingguidance and support.
“The micro franchises are genuinelyground-breaking, providing a rangeof services on a far more localisedlevel than the traditional franchisewhich covers a much wider territory.
“Each micro franchisee will receiveongoing support of an experiencedhead office team in Chester who areable to advise on areas such as sales,marketing, finance, HR and opera-tions.”
SureCare, which was founded in1994, currently has 27 franchises andthree branches in England.
Demand grows for firstever micro franchises
The Shine team – Heidi Shepherd, Debbie Clark, Jemma Higgins and Nicole Hodgson.
A HICA employee and her friendshave raised more than £650 for Shine,a new initiative from the groupdesigned to make life better foreveryone who uses the independentcare organisation’s services.
Operations manager HeidiShepherd and her friends DebbieClark, Jemma Higgins and NicoleHodgson raised the money by com-peting in the York Triathlon.
Heidi said: “The Shine initiative isabout staff, residents, their familiesand friends at Hica care homes,homecare and extra care operationsgetting involved and making a differ-ence for people we support. We are
pleased that we have raised fundsthat will enhance people’s lives.
“When I told Debbie, Jemma andNicole about Shine they were happyto lend their support, as they all havefirm beliefs of equality and commu-nity spirit. We are already talkingabout what we will do next.
“Debbie, Jemma and I met at abootcamp in March 2013, cemented afirm friendship and agreed to setchallenges and keep training. Nicoleis Jemma’s friend and now ours. Noneof us are natural runners so theSaturday morning training sessionswere either fabulous or torturousdepending on our levels of positivity.”
Triathlon team raise £650
HERITAGE Healthcare in York hasmoved to new premises to helpfacilitate its planned expansion.
The home care provider currentlyhas a team of 25 staff deliveringcare to more than 60 clients in thecity and the surrounding area andplans to increase these figures sub-stantially over the next 12 months.
The company recently announcedplans to double its York operationwith the creation of up to 25 jobs.
Sarah Dowell, who manages theYork office and is spearheading theexpansion, said: “The new premisessuit our business needs much bet-ter, particularly as the York businessgrows.
“As well as being self-containedwe have control over our own oper-ation, including phone systems,broadband and services, which isimportant as we take on more staffand clients.”
Firm moves to bigger premises
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29CARINGNEWS
Students capturehomes’ residents’war memories RESIDENTS from two Surrey carehomes who lived through the SecondWorld War have shared their personalmemories with students at RoyalHolloway, University of London, aspart of a project to document first-hand accounts of the conflict.
The Memories of War project, whichcoincides with the First World Warcentenary this year, has seen studentscreate an archive of 30 video inter-views with residents from Sunriseand Merlewood care homes, inVirginia Water, as well as members ofthe local community. In addition, thestudents spoke to 20 soldiers fromthe Coldstream Guards, in Windsor,to record their memories of morerecent conflicts.
The videos will be used to makeshort documentaries to be shown inlocal schools, and were also exhibitedat a special event in Royal Holloway’sWindsor Building. Royal HollowayCommunity Action is the officialpartner for the community projectwhich has been funded by HeritageLottery.
Speaking to students and alumnifrom the History, English, Drama andMedia Arts Departments at RoyalHolloway, the interviewees’ stories
included one woman’s experience ina refugee camp in Germany andanother resident who spoke abouthow she smuggled sweets into the airraid shelters.
Bill Thisdell, a graduate in MADocumentary Practice, said he felthonoured to have spoken toTerritorial Army veteran GeorgeMurray, who passed away soon aftertheir interview.
He added: “I’m so glad I got theopportunity to speak to George andhear about his experiences of the war.He told me some great stories abouthis time in the Territorial Army tanksquad, including how they gave himthe nickname ‘Tubby’ because he wasas thin as a rake.”
Professor Jonathan Phillips, head ofthe department of distory at RoyalHolloway, said: “The Memories of Warproject has been an innovative andexciting way for students to learnabout the impact of conflict and itseffects on both individuals and com-munities. The memories the studentshave recorded will not only resonatewith their understandings of war, butwill endeavour to ensure that theday-to-day realities of living throughconflict are not lost in time.”
A NEW Forest care home went allFrench for the day as residents andguests embarked on a mock cross-channel ferry trip followed by hautecuisine and Gallic-style entertain-ment.
Colten Care’s Woodpeckers home inBrockenhurst was decked out in thenational tricolours of red, white andblue with the foyer acting as a depar-ture lounge and the dining roomtransformed into un petit bistro.
Residents and relatives presentedboarding cards to staff dressed up asferry personnel and wished eachother ‘bon appétite’ before tucking
into coq au vin, tarte au citron andFrench wine.
After the meal, cooked by thehome’s own chefs, there were French-themed quizzes, a game of boulesand live musette-style accordionmusic.
Shirley Smith, activities organiser atWoodpeckers, said: “Many of our resi-dents have enjoyed cruises and ferrytrips and so this was a great chance torekindle memories and have somefun without even leaving the comfortof home. Everyone loved their day‘across the Channel’ and can’t wait todo it again.”
Bon voyage for residents
Staff at Colten Care’s Woodpeckers home in Brockenhurst get set for the French ‘daytrip’. With the croissants is healthcare assistant Melissa Wright. Seated from left arehealthcare assistants Jasmine Webber, Poppy Spafford and Sophie Spencer. Standingfrom left are home nanager Jacqueline Reddell, housekeeper Janice Collins and health-care assistant Niky Mindova.
29 16/6/14 14:16 Page 1
CARINGNEWS30
Sleeping shift workers nowentitled to minimum wage By Julia Gray
MINIMUM staffing levels requiringcare workers to be on site will meanthey are entitled to the NationalMinimum Wage during sleepingshifts.
If you pay staff a lump sum(sometimes called a flat rate, or anallowance) for a sleeping night shift,you may be breaching the NationalMinimum Wage legislation. A recentEmployment Appeal Tribunal case(Slavikovska) found that where thereare minimum staffing levels requiringcare workers to be on site, they wereentitled to be paid the NMW.
The rules on whether sleeping nightshifts constitute “working time”(entitling staff to the NMW) areunclear and the case law iscontradictory. Generally, the morelikely the employee is to have to carryout any tasks during a sleeping shift,the more likely the Courts are to findthey are entitled to the NMW ratherthan just a lower allowance. This
doesn’t mean they can’t be paid alump sum for a sleeping shift, butthat when their pay (including lumpsums) is averaged over the prescribed(12-week) period, it must not fallbelow the NMW.
Success in court for claimants The most recent case involved a care
home in Surrey for people withlearning difficulties. It provides someclarity, and gives a helpful summary.The ruling went against the employer.
The care home was required by lawto ensure the home was staffed at alltimes by sufficient suitably qualified,competent and experienced persons.
The claimant was a senior careassistant and was required to worksome sleeping shifts (9pm to 7am),during which she would be availableto deal with emergencies. She waspaid a lump sum of £25 for workingthese shifts.
The question of whether or not theclaimant was required to do any workwhile she was on a night shift wasdisputed, but became an importantfinding made by the EAT: where anemployer requires an employee to beon the premises “just in case”, theassumption would usually be thattheir time spent on shift is “workingtime”, regardless of whether they aresleeping and regardless of the
likelihood of them having to carry outany tasks.
The EAT referred to (and isconsistent with) the 2013 case ofWhittlestone v BJP Home Support.This was another case concernedwith the entitlement of a care workerto receive NMW rate for sleep-overshifts.
The BJP case went a step further asit also dealt with payment for traveltime in between assignments – anissue which was highlighted by themedia last year.
What you should do If staff are paid a lump sum forovernight shifts, consider whethertheir shift is likely to constitute“working time” (either because theyhave tasks to complete during theshift, or because you are legallyobliged to have someone on thepremises). If they do, check whetheryou are paying the NMW.� Julia Gray is an associate for health
Julia Gray
Willow Tree Nursing Home's staff, residents and guests at the event.
Residents treated to unique‘home shopping’ experience RESIDENTS of a Rugby-basednursing home have enjoyed a localshopping showcase from the comfortof their own home thanks to aspecially-arranged event.
Hillmorton-based Willow TreeNursing Home held a unique fashion,beauty and music afternoon forresidents and their families.
Hosted by staff at the 47-roomnursing home, the event wasorganised for residents to browse andbuy goods on offer from localindependent retailers and well-known brands.
Brands such as Brantano and Avon,plus local shops including Tiggy andGreenwoods Menswear, took part,with products including clothes,hand-made accessories, gifts andmake-up.
Local dance school ‘Impact Dancewith Hayley’, a group for youngstersaged seven to 17, also performedduring the afternoon alongside localsinger Martin Reeves, who covered arange of old-time 50s songs.
The afternoon, part of a newprogramme of events organised bythe home’s staff, was attended byalmost 100 people.
Recently appointed home managerGener Tayhopon said: “We areabsolutely delighted the event wentso well and it was great to be able tosupport local businesses.
“Residents and their familiesenjoyed having them here to displaytheir products, especially as someresidents find it difficult to get out. Sothey loved the chance to browse thestalls and chat to local retailers fromthe comfort of the home.
“The event wasn’t just aboutshopping. It also showcased someimpressive local talent via the dancegroup and brought back some greatmemories through the songs fromMartin Reeves.
“We really cannot thank everyoneenough for contributing, and lookforward to holding more events forresidents throughout the rest of thisyear.”
Milton Court Care Centre held a champagne afternoon tea at the Ritz event. The MiltonKeynes facility replicated the exact menu served at the London hotel, serving glasses ofchampagne to begin and using vintage cake tiers, tea cup and plate sets. A selection ofsandwiches, pastries and scones with clotted cream and jam, tea and coffee andentertainment completed the afternoon. Activities co-ordinator Rebecca McKee said:“We pride ourselves on giving residents a memorable, dignified experience regardlessof their abilities and conditions, and the feedback we have received from relatives hasbeen phenomenal. The afternoon’s success has led us to arranging a Wimbledonstrawberry tea, where we hope to achieve the same.”
THE integration of health and socialcare is high on the political agendaand will provide the theme for ‘BetterTogether. The Road to IntegratedCare’, the first annual conferenceunder the Care England banner.
Delegate booking is now open forthe event, which will take place at theChurch House Conference Centre inLondon on Thursday, November 13.
Care England chief executiveProfessor Martin Green said: “At atime of restricted budgets andgrowing demand for services,ensuring the seamless provision ofhealth and social care presents a realopportunity to improve the lives ofsome of the most vulnerable peoplein our society.
“Unless we now rise to the
challenge and do something radicallydifferent, there is a danger thatservices will deteriorate, costs willrise still further and service users willsuffer.”
Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive ofthe National Institute for Health andClinical Excellence, has accepted aninvitation to address the conference.
He will be joined in the speakerline-up by other influential figuresfrom health and social care sharingtheir views on the benefits of anintegrated system and how best toachieve it.
Delegates at the conference will alsobe able to attend seminars and viewan exhibition of products andservices from leading sectorsuppliers.
Care England conferenceto focus on integration
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31 care shop 19/6/14 08:59 Page 1
32 TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARESPONSORED BY
New hand held technologyhelps vulnerable residentsA SUTTON care-in-the-home compa-ny is using the latest mobile technol-ogy to look after the needs of thearea’s most vulnerable residents.
Caremark (Sutton) was officiallylaunched at the S CILL Centre byMayor, Councillor Sean BrennanOBE, and delivers care and support topeople of all abilities and ethnicitieswho wish to remain living safely andindependently at home but who mayrequire some support to do so.
“I am so proud of how the people ofSutton and the organisations theyrepresent are so competent at collab-orating.
“The excellent service offered byCaremark (Sutton) is a perfect exam-ple of how that collaboration comestogether for the common good,” hesaid.
In order to ensure its services arethe most efficient and effective avail-able they have implemented a specialphone ‘app’. All their care workersuse mobile technology thus avoidinghaving to use their customers’ land-line telephones.
Care worker Beko Okiji-Wright wason hand at the opening event todemonstrate how the special software
on her mobile phone means she cantravel from one customer to the nextwithout having to call in at the officeto collect the required paperwork orthe latest care update.
Everything is downloaded securelyto the phone. The system also moni-tors the time spent with each of thecare provider’s customers and has anin-built alert mechanism which esca-lates the priority of a particular cus-tomer if urgent attention becomesnecessary.
Beko said: “If we have all the infor-mation we need to look after our cus-tomers at our fingertips, then we havemore time to spend caring for them.”
Sutton’s Caremark franchise isowned and run by Debbie and SimonBinner, who set up the business as atribute to their 18-year-old daughterChloe, who passed away after a longillness in February last year.
Simon added: “The number of peo-ple needing care in Sutton is growing– this is at a rate a little higher thanacross the country as a whole. Manypeople want to stay in their home tobe looked after for as long as possibleand we offer people that opportuni-ty.”
Pictured at the launch are, from the left: Debbie Binner, managing director Caremark(Sutton), Mayor, Councillor Sean Brennan OBE, Caremark (Sutton) care worker BekoOkiji-Wright, Kathy Grafham Caremark (Sutton) care manager and Simon Binner, opera-tions director Caremark (Sutton).
32 17/6/14 09:49 Page 1
33 required systems 17/6/14 10:37 Page 1
34 TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARESPONSORED BY
Group uses CareControl systemHART Care is using a new care homemanagement system called CareControl to help manage all aspects ofcare provision at their nursing home.
The new system on the marketdeveloped in conjunction with anumber of residential and nursinghomes. The move from a paper-basedsystem to computer records has beena significant change for the home,but Richard Hart, owner of the 54-bed home in Devon, is positive aboutthe outcome.
He said: “I made the decision inFebruary to move to a computerisedsystem to help manage and recordthe care we were providing.
“I reviewed many systems on themarket and Care Control stood out asa system that was so easy to use, butstill provided the level of detailrequired by CQC.
“With the use of computer tabletsthroughout our home, and the wayCare Control ensures that care tasksare never forgotten, I am delighted athow the system is working for HartCare.”
Staff at the home are also pleasedwith how the system is working.
Jan Smith, deputy manager andnurse with 25 years’ experience,added: “Care Control is very intuitive
and easy to use. I have used othercare computer systems before andoften found them difficult to workwith. Recording information on CareControl is quick and easy, and thequality of the care plan produced is ofa very high standard indeed.”
Matt Luckham, owner and regis-tered manager of Spring HouseResidential Home, and the creator ofthe Care Control software, added: “Inever intended the system to be usedby any other home but ours.
“But following feedback from a CQCinspection in November 2011, I invit-ed some local homes to view what wehad done. The response has beenamazing and hugely positive.”
Matt is excited about the potentialfor Care Control to work in the adultsocial care industry.
“The care home sector has so manydemands upon it from our regulator,”he added. “We have a responsibilityto record and evidence every aspectof the care we provide and the deci-sions we make. Technology is theonly answer to allowing care homesto meet their regulatory requirementswhilst still ensuring that we have thetime to do what is really important,spending quality time with our veryvulnerable residents.
Homes to benefitfrom dashboardNURSING homes throughoutWorcestershire are to benefit fromthe rollout of a quality dashboard,developed by NHS ArdenCommissioning Support, to moni-tor, manage and improve standards.
The care homes’ quality dash-board has been designed toimprove the monitoring of patientquality and safety standards in caresettings.
Working in partnership with WyreForest Clinical CommissioningGroup, Redditch and BromsgroveCCG and South WorcestershireCCG, NHS Arden CommissioningSupport has been appointed to rollout its unique web-based system toprovide enhanced quality monitor-ing and guidance to 58 nursinghomes across Worcestershire.
Already in use successfully acrosscare homes in Coventry andWarwickshire, the dashboard is aself-assessment tool that can becompleted by care providers in anysetting.
It provides assurance on a rangeof local and national clinical keyperformance indicators, such asinfection control, falls, pressure
ulcers and hospital admissions. It also includes a confidential
‘serious incidents’ and a ‘neverevents’ reporting portal, whereproviders can alert the local patientsafety team of an incident in theirhome.
Alongside the dashboard, nursinghomes will also gain access to alearning resource website known asthe care homes portal.
A team of clinical experts has cre-ated specific advice and guidancematerials, such as what do to incase of an infection outbreak andposters on the management ofpatients with a pressure ulcer.
Providers can also access the lat-est policies and guidance on possi-ble areas of development to helpdrive quality improvement.
Sheila Peacock, head of quality atNHS Arden CommissioningSupport, said: “We are extremelypleased to roll out the care homesdashboard in Worcestershire.
“The enhanced quality monitor-ing assessments will deliver savingsin time and resources that will helpnursing homes to improve the qual-ity of care they provide.”
34 17/6/14 10:39 Page 1
DEMENTIA SPONSORED BY 35www.active-minds.co.uk
Operator and chamber orchestrajoin for music therapy researchBy Dominic Musgrave
CARE UK has partnered withManchester Camerata to carry outresearch into the effects of musictherapy on people living with demen-tia.
The project – called Music in Mind –involves musicians from ManchesterCamerata collaborating with profes-sional music therapists, to run ses-sions with residents who havedementia at the operator’s StationHouse care home in Crewe, Cheshire.
They will be led by residents, whowill be encouraged by the musiciansand music therapists to pick upinstruments and play a tune. Eachsession will be different and entirelyfocussed on the desires of the resi-dent, rather than being led by themusicians.
The aim of the sessions is to helpimprove communication through thecreative outlet of music.
It will provide care workers atStation House with a deeper under-standing of what motivates and bene-fits the people they care for.
It will also provide families withanother way of connecting with theirloved one, who may no longer be ableto clearly express themselves by talk-ing.
The sessions will be observed overthe 10 weeks, and the findings will beanalysed by Manchester Camerataand their academic research partner,the University of Manchester.
Once Music in Mind is evaluated, itis hoped the key findings will informthe wider service provided by CareUK – which has over 100 care homeshousing over 6,000 residents, many ofwhom live with dementia.
Care UK’s head of dementia, MaizieMears-Owen, said: “We have longknown about the benefits of musicfor a person’s wellbeing.
“However, there is also a lot to gainfor the carer as they can develop astronger bond with the people theysupport, and feel greater fulfilment intheir role. We hope to take learningsfrom this project and replicate bestpractice in our other care homes andday clubs.”
The collaborative project has beenmade possible through the Care UKWellbeing Foundation, a newly-launched charity set up by Care UK togive back to the community at com-pany level, and support initiativeswhich reflect the organisations corevalues.
The theme for the foundation’sinaugural year is ‘promoting wellbe-ing through the arts’. To support this
theme, the Foundation wanted toinvest in research which would helpimprove the wellbeing of more vul-nerable communities in society -including those living with dementia.
The findings will be shared with thewider care sector to ensure that asmany people as possible benefit from
the study. The Care UK Wellbeing Foundation
has donated £50,000 to NordoffRobbins, which will find 1,500 musictherapy sessions across the countryfor people living with dementia,learning disabilities or mental healthissues.
The Music in Mind lessons will be led by care home residents.
SIX first-year Health and Social Carestudents at Seevic College joined staffand residents at Oakdale ResidentialHome in Benfleet to help recogniseDementia Awareness Week.
After getting to know each other, theresidents invited their young gueststo get involved with some icebreakinggames.
This was the first time many of thestudents had visited a nursing homeenvironment – with two notableexceptions – and Oakland’s residentsmade them feel welcome.
Lois Newby and Beth Clark hadpreviously spent three weeks withOakdale, undertaking an unpaid work
placement as part of her Level 3BTEC in Health and Social Care.
Oakdale manager Melanie Tucknotttakes a forward thinking approach tocaring for her residents, whichincludes no uniforms for the staff.
She added: “It’s wonderful for us tohave such nice young people aroundthe place, and really fantastic for ourresidents.
“We like to make sure that everyonefeels at home here; whether you’re aresident, guest or member of staff.When staff arrive for an evening shift,they come in wearing their pyjamas;this is to help the residents under-stand that it’s night time.”
Students visit care homeHealth and Social Care students from Seevic College enjoy a meal with residents.
Olympic hopeful Hannahsets sail for open dayA COMPETITIVE sailor and RioOlympic hopeful was the guest ofhonour as a Lymington dementiacare home celebrated National CareHome Open Day.
Hannah Snellgrove took time out ofher busy events schedule to meet res-idents, staff and visitors at ColtenCare’s newly-opened Linden House.
The 23-year-old, who lives inLymington, is a member of the BritishSailing Team and recently competedin the final medal race for her LaserRadial class at the ISAF Sailing WorldCup in the south of France.
This summer she is representingBritain at the EuropeanChampionships in Croatia.
Hannah, who started on the waterat the age of eight at Salterns SailingClub in Lymington, has agreed asponsorship deal with Colten Care tohelp cover her competition costs.
She said: “Elite level sailing can beexpensive in terms of kit and itinvolves lots of travelling. The sup-port from Colten Care will make ahuge difference. As a competitor, youwant to plan your campaign of eventsaround best performance not justwhat you can afford.
“We receive National Lottery fund-ing towards our campaigns from UKSport, but sponsorship backing is
vital as well to allow us to go thatextra mile and be the very best wecan be, so I’m really grateful for thesupport.”
Hannah, who has a first-classdegree in natural sciences fromCambridge University, is aiming to beselected as a member of Team GB forthe next Olympics in Rio in 2016. Aswell as competing, she also coachesyounger sailors aged eight to 16.
Hannah Snellgrove with Linden Housemanager Jackie Hampton and Colten Caremarketing executive Laura Rolph.
35 16/6/14 14:15 Page 1
36 Badgemaster 13/6/14 14:59 Page 1
37QUALITY IN CARESPONSORED BYwww.requiredsystems.com
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To find out more call 01236 782477 or visit www.requiredsystems.com
A STAFF nurse at a North Yorkshirenursing home has been recognisedfor her commitment and profession-alism after celebrating 25 years work-ing at the facility.
Lucy Richardson, who has workedat Anley Hall Nursing Home in Settle,North Yorkshire, for the past quarter-of-a-century, was the guest of honourat an afternoon tea party held by resi-dents, relatives and colleagues.
Lucy, 55, who has always held theposition of staff nurse at the home,was presented with a watch, flowersand a bottle of champagne in recog-nition of her services to the homeand its residents.
She said: “I am delighted to be cele-brating such a significant milestone. I
have thoroughly enjoyed my time atAnley Hall, having met and workedwith some amazing people over theyears, and I am looking forward tomany more years at the home.
“I would like to thank everyoneinvolved with the party, which was afantastic occasion, as well as for thewonderful gifts that I received.”
Michaela Morrison, manager atAnley Hall, added: “The dedicationand professionalism that Lucy hasshown over the years is remarkable,and we are lucky to have her. She hasgrown to become an invaluablemember of the team here at AnleyHall and I am looking forward tomany more years of working withher.”
Nurse’s 25 years recognisedLucy Richardson (holding balloon) surrounded by members of staff at Anley Hall.
MIDAS Care Ltd has launched its firstapprenticeship scheme for youngcare workers across the region, inconjunction with CambridgeshireCounty Council.
Twelve apprentices joined the work-force at the beginning of May andthey will train and work for MidasCare for 12 months, providing care toservice users while also receiving sixhours of paid study time per week.
Upon successful completion of thescheme, apprentices will be awardeda Level Two qualification in AdultSocial Care.
Cambridgeshire County Councillaunched its apprenticeship schemeto offer students the chance to gainhands-on experience in the commu-nity.
The scheme complements therecent staff expansion of Midas Care,as a result of the growing demand fordomiciliary care in the region.
Matt Sumner, managing director ofMidas Care Ltd, said: “By employing
apprentices we are investing in thefuture of care in the region and help-ing them to gain invaluable experi-ence in the industry. Since 2013, wehave seen a 40 per cent increase inthe number of staff we employ andthis is allowing us to help meet theincreasing needs of our service userswhilst still providing the highest lev-els of care.
Emma Laskey-MacRae, apprentice-ship project coordinator forCambridgeshire County Council,added: “Cambridgeshire CountyCouncil are pleased to have had theopportunity to work closely withMidas Care to deliver theCambridgeshire County CouncilHomecare Apprenticeship Scheme.
“This has provided an excellentopportunity to work together to sup-port job seekers into the homecaresector and to provide them with theskills that make a positive differenceto people who need social care sup-port in our community.”
Provider launches firstapprenticeship scheme
The first batch of apprentices with Matt Sumner and Emma Laskey-MacRae.
DOCARE has been cited as an exam-ple of good practice in an indepen-dent report on care provision in theUK.
The report, by Baroness DeniseKingsmill and commissioned by theLabour Party, said DoCare showedhow things can be done in the caresector, which has been criticised forpractices including 15-minute visitsto clients and employing staff on zerohours contracts.
The report said Gloucestershire-based DoCare “provides its staff withextensive training, as well as a clearcareer structure and opportunities forprogression”. It added: “Any promo-tion at DoCare reflects competence
and experience in the care sector andcomes with a pay increase.”
DoCare operations director UnaMills was invited to the launch of thereport at the House of Lords, attend-ed by Baroness Kingsmill, AndyBurnham (shadow secretary of statefor health), Liz Kendall (shadow min-ister for care and older people) andLabour MP Hazel Blears.
“We were honoured to take part andhope, in some small way, we havemade a useful contribution to thenational debate,” said Una. “AtDoCare we’re not party political, we’rejust passionate about providing goodquality care for our clients, and a highlevel of training for our staff.
DoCare cited in report
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38
Insolvencies down by almost a quarter THE number of care home business-es going bust fell by 24 per cent in2013, as many businesses in the sec-tor reached the end of long-termloans taken on at high interest ratesprior to the financial crisis, it hasbeen claimed.
According to Wilkins Kennedy, 51care home businesses became insol-vent last year, down from 67 in 2012and 60 in 2011.
However, the accountancy firmwarns that the number of insolven-cies last year was still far higher thanin 2010 when 35 care homes wentbust, and almost double the 28 carehomes that went under in 2008, priorto the financial crisis. WilkinsKennedy believes local authority cutshave left many care homes unable toservice debts or maintain high stan-dards of care, forcing some intoadministration. However, overall
insolvencies have fallen as many ofthe weakest care homes have nowclosed, leaving the more financiallystable and successful businesses.
Partner Stephen Grant said: “Thecare home sector has been turnedupside down in recent years withlocal authority cutbacks forcingmany businesses into administra-tion. Many of the care homes thatstruggled through the financial crisishave now disappeared, with the over-all financial health of the sector slow-ly improving as a result.
“However, even though the initialimpact of the local authority cutsnow seem to have been absorbed,some care home businesses mightneed to brace themselves for furtherpain in this area as local authoritiesface another squeeze in their spend-ing power for 2014-15.”
Stephen added that many care
homes borrowed heavily to fundgrowth in the lead up to the financialcrisis as the care home sectorexpanded, locking themselves intolong-term high interest loans.
Many care homes also used interestrate swaps to protect against future
rate rises, but that left them unableto benefit from the fall in interestrates when the financial crisis hit sixyears ago. An increasing number ofthose swap contracts have now cometo an end.
Wilkins Kennedy believes five-yearfixed rate commercial mortgages willalso have reached the end of theirterm, which means that more carehomes have been able to switch tolower rates and benefit from payingless interest on their debt.
Stephen added: “Many care homeshave been lumbered with high inter-est payments on their debt fromloans taken on when the sector wasexpanding because investor interestwas high. These loans are now reach-ing the end of their term and for thetime being that seems to be freeingup enough money to put many carehomes back on an even keel.”
Stephen Grant
38 17/6/14 15:40 Page 1
39CARINGCOMMERCE
Former school is savedby home developmentBy Dominic Musgrave
A LISTED former village school build-ing has been saved from ruin by ascheme which will convert it intoassisted living apartments for theelderly.
Blake Lapthorn planning consultantSean Silk advised David Kingham andCare Consultants Ltd on the scheme,which will see a former Victorianboarding school in Staunton on Wye,Herefordshire, preserved andrestored.
English Heritage had warned thatthe original Gothic building, con-structed in 1860, was in such poorcondition that it was unlikely to standanother winter.
It has been unoccupied for fouryears and was last used by Stauntonon Wye Endowed Primary School,which occupied only part of thebuilding and has since moved to amore modern site.
Under plans approved byHerefordshire Council, the inside ofthe building, which is Grade II listedand in a conservation area, will beadapted to provide 15 close careapartments for the elderly.
Virtually all of the main buildingwill be retained and restored.Developers plan to retain an areaplanted by children who attended theprimary school, creating a sensorygarden there.
Two wings which were added some
years after the main building wasconstructed will be removed.
A 70-bedroom care home will bebuilt on land to the north side of theschool. This will make the conversionof the former school building finan-cially viable and help meet growingdemand for care facilities in the localarea. The approval of the develop-ment follows extensive public consul-tation in the local area and has thefull backing of English Heritage.
Sean Silk of Blake Lapthorn advisedDavid Kingham, who runs the WeirNursing Home in nearby Swainshill,on all planning aspects of the devel-opment.
He said: “I’m delighted to havehelped secure approval for thisscheme which will preserve a much-loved local building and be highlybeneficial to people in the local area.
“It was important to act quickly toensure the former school building’sfuture because of the perilous condi-tion it was in.
“This is a sensitively-planned andwell-thought out development thatwill secure the former Staunton onWye Endowed Primary School forgenerations to while also providingmuch-needed elderly care facilities.”
Staunton on Wye Endowed PrimarySchool was designed by Fulljames &Waller of Gloucester as a boardingschool for the Jarvis EducationFoundation, which still owns thebuilding.
By Eamon Jubbawy
THERE is no doubt that care homemanagers need to be more awarethan most on the need to carry outappropriate background checks onpotential employees due to the indus-try’s high dependence on migrantworkers in fulfilling the ongoing needfor care in the UK.
According to a leaked Home Officereport, there are hundreds of illegalworkers employed in care homes. Thereport also found that over 50 percent of the employees in some resi-dential homes had no right to work inthe UK. This included a suspectedmurderer working in Plymouth.
The UK’s illegal populationResearchers at the London School ofEconomics found that the total illegalpopulation in 2007 was up to 863,000.
A report carried out by theEuropean Commission compared theillegal population of European coun-tries and found that the UK is in firstplace by a significant margin, withnearly twice the illegal population assecond place Italy. With almost one infour of the EU’s illegal populationresiding in Britain, UK employershave to be particularly diligent inensuring all their employees have aright to work in the UK. This has
become an increasing problem inrecent years, with the number of civilpenalties issued against UK employ-ers for employing illegal workers ris-ing to 1,822 in 2013 – up 50 per centon the previous year’s figure.
Updates to the UK immigration legislationTackling illegal immigration hasbecome a priority for the UK govern-ment and they are determined tomake it more difficult for illegalmigrants to live in country. Newimmigration legislation is expected tobecome law in the spring of 2014 withthe purpose of cracking down on thisproblem.
This includes doubling the fine onan employer for hiring an illegalworker from £10,000 to £20,000.When this is coupled with currentlegislation that states an employerwho knowingly employs an illegalworker faces up to two years inprison, it is clear that the potentialcost to care home managers ofemploying someone with no right towork in the UK is high.
The new immigration bill extendsthe government’s powers and makesit simpler for them to identify illegalimmigrants. These powers includethe power to collect and check finger-prints as well as their power to searchfor passports, among others. This leg-
islation increases the risk care homemanagers face when employing ille-gal workers, making it more likelythey will be caught and have to facethe increased fines.
Why are identity checks so important?It is impossible to be sure that a nurseor carer really is who they say they arewhen there are an estimated 20 mil-lion fake identity documents in circu-lation in the UK. Individuals with noright to work in the UK have theincentive to provide false identifica-
tion information. This was shown inthe leaked Home Office report whichfound that many of the illegal work-ers had used fake identification tosecure jobs in care homes across thecountry. The incentive to providefalse identification is also high forindividuals who have a record ofcrime or adverse history. Without car-rying out identity checks before car-rying out DBS checks, potential car-ers or nurses can hide the fact theyhave committed violent crime orfraud in the past and care home man-agers may put some of the most vul-nerable people in their hands.
What action can care home managerstake?To ensure a statutory excuse from thepotential fines imposed for hiring ille-gal workers, care home managersshould correctly carry out checks onacceptable documents prior toemploying a worker as outlined in theBorder Agency’s guide for employerson preventing illegal working in theUK. When it comes to truly knowingthe people they will be putting theirresidents in the hands of, however, itis essential to carry out identitychecks beforehand.� Eamon Jubbawy is co-founder ofOnfido – background checking spe-cialists.
Eamon Jubbawy
Ensure you carry out appropriatechecks on potential employees
WORK has commenced on a new£9.5million specialist nursing anddementia care village in Warrington.
The care village, called BelongWarrington, will create around 100jobs and consist of 72 rooms, all withen suites, and 18 independent livingapartments, all of which will be sur-rounded by landscaped gardens.
It includes extensive village centrefacilities, which are open to the pub-lic. These include bistro, spa, hairsalon, exercise studio and functionrooms. The construction work hasalso been completed by local con-tractors, ensuring further investmentand support of the local businesscommunity.
Funding to support the construc-tion of the new care village has beenprovided by The Royal Bank ofScotland. With over 20 years’ experi-
ence in the sector, Belong currentlyoperates four established villages inthe North West, with Warringtonbecoming the fifth.
Chief executive Nick Dykes said:“We set up Belong as part of the CLSGroup to put into practice everythingthat we have learned using over 20years of invaluable experience in careservices.
“Working with leading architectswho specialise in creating spaces forolder people, we designed a villagesetting that offers secure access to vil-lage amenities combined with theoutdoors to support an increasinglydiverse population, including peopleliving with dementia.
“The new village in Warrington iscurrently under construction and weare looking forward to its plannedcompletion in August.”
Work begins on villageBelong Warrington will create around 100 jobs once complete.
39 16/6/14 14:13 Page 1
CARINGCOMMERCE40
Another new dawn of inspection … By Adam Hartrick
IS your service safe? Is your serviceeffective? Is your service caring? Isyour service responsive to people’sneeds? Is your service well led?
These are the five key questions thatthe Care Quality Commission will beasking in relation to all servicesbetween now and April 2016, whenservices are inspected under the newregime of regulation and inspectionthat comes into force this October.
The new regime will coincide withthe coming into force of newRegulated Activities Regulations, toreplace the current 2010 Regulations,criticised by the Francis Inquiry asbeing overly bureaucratic, lackingclarity and ambiguous as to some ofthe outcomes they sought to achieve.
The new regulations will identifyfundamental standards, and the newregime of inspection by CQC isintended to be less obsessed uponthe minutiae of the requirements ofregulations (though clearly that willstill be pertinent), and will focus onlooking at outcomes for service usersunder the umbrella of the questionsoutlined above.
Additionally, all services will be, byApril 2016, rated by CQC – asoutstanding, good, needingimprovement or inadequate. Theratings will be published – a ratingwill be given for each of the five areasof safety, effectiveness, caring,responsiveness and leadership – andthe overall rating will be anamalgamation of the five, with some
proposed limitations on the rating aservice can achieve if it is, forexample, inadequate in more thanone of the five areas, or does not havea Registered Manager in post.
Earlier this month CQC published adraft provider handbook forresidential adult social care services,with appendices, that sets out thenew approach to inspection, andexplains how judgments will bereached in the five areas leading to anoverall judgment as to a rating to beawarded to a service.
The draft provider handbook isessential reading for all serviceproviders and senior managers. Weadvise that it is vitally important thatall providers and managers considercarefully the five areas in which theyare to be assessed, and think nowabout how they are going to
demonstrate they are achievingoutstanding outcomes in each of theareas. CQC have set out various keylines of enquiry in relation to each ofthe five areas – some of which aremandatory – and service providersare advised, even if not responding tothe consultation, to look at these keyareas of enquiry and undertake anaudit within their own service toestablish how they will evidence theyare achieving desired outcomes.
It will be too late if you receive arating of inadequate or needingimprovement, with all theconsequences flowing to yourbusiness as a result of such a rating,as the new regime of inspectionenvisages such services will not be re-inspected for six or twelve months. Itcould mean a significant period ofdifficulty with stakeholders such ascommissioners and could bedestabilising to your business.
Further consultations are expectedfrom CQC in relation to plannedguidance underpinning the newRegulations: they also plan to consulton their enforcement policy but as astarting point, the ProviderHandbook is essential reading for youand your staff. Make it difficult forCQC to rate you as anything otherthan good or outstanding – that workmust start now, utilising theinformation published by CQC. Thereis a procedure to challenge ratings,but the best approach is to plan toavoid having to do so. Are YOU ready?� Adam Hartrick is a partner for lawfirm, Hempsons.
Adam Hartrick
WORK has begun on a new state-of-the art care home inCanterbury.
Sanctuary Group is developingthe 60-bedroom care home inHersden in a £6million projectdue for completion in thesummer of 2015.
The new Sanctuary Care homewill be built by the group’sconstruction partner Castleoak,and will include a range ofcommunal facilities, with sharedlounges and dining areas, agarden room and terrace on thefirst floor as well as landscapedgardens.
To celebrate the start ofconstruction of the new carehome, Sanctuary Group held aground-breaking ceremony at thesite attended by The Sheriff ofCanterbury, Councillor TonyAustin, his escort Pauline Austin,and other local partners.
Following a look at the plans forthe evelopment and a tour of thesite, The Sheriff was invited to digthe first spade into the ground tomark the start of the scheme.
Penny Halliday, Sanctuary’shead of development –commercial, said: “This is aforward-thinking project set toprovide much-needed residentialand dementia care for olderpeople in this part of Kent.”
Work beginson home inCanterbury
40 17/6/14 09:10 Page 1
41CARINGCOMMERCE
Care agencies to beaffected as HMRCtightens its hold By Charlotte Thornton-Smith
AS part of its ongoing battle againsttax avoidance, the Government isproposing to take action to preventthe use of employment intermedi-aries to disguise employed workers asself-employed.
The Government’s proposal is toremove the obligation for personalservice and instead shift the focus towhether a worker is subject to con-trol, supervision or direction as to themanner in which their duties are car-ried out. The presumption will bethat if an intermediary is involved,then that element of control over theworker does indeed exist.
This proposal is likely to widelyaffect the domiciliary care industry,where carers are often engaged on aself-employed contractor basis by theservice user.
Because the services provided bythe carers are usually intrinsically anddirectly connected to bespoke careplans that are designed and reviewedby a care agency, it will be difficult toargue that the carer is not subject tothe direction, supervision and controlof either the agency or the serviceuser in the provision of their duties,should the proposal become law.
It is likely therefore that HMRC'sproposed legislative changes willoperate to bring care agencies' exist-ing contractual arrangements withinthe new regime. This will require theagency to accept employment statusliability for its carers, at least from atax perspective (if not from anemployment law perspective).
Although the proposal affects onlythe HMRC test for employment statussome agencies may wish to take theopportunity to review their contrac-tual relationships with their care staff. � Charlotte Thornton-Smith is a part-ner and head of the health and socialcare team at Harrison Clark Rickerbyssolicitors.
Charlotte Thornton-Smith
CAMELOT Care, which boasts a carehome in Devon and Somerset, isextending its current site at CamelotHouse in Wellington to provide a 28-bed dementia unit.
RBS has fully supported and fundedthe £1.5m Camelot Lodge project,which is expected to complete in July.
Camelot Care has been operatingfor 15 years in Wellington andPlymouth with a further care home inthe process of being developed in
Bridgwater called Avalon House. RBS has shared a banking relation-
ship with joint owners, John andAngela Teasdale, for over a decade.Angela said: “This is a really excitingperiod for Camelot Care and allowsus to extend our care for those thatsuffer with dementia.
“The extension is on track to com-plete in the summer and we look for-ward to welcoming our new patientsat this time.”
Operator adds dementia unitMartin Wright from RBS with John and Angela Teasdale from Camelot Care.
41 16/6/14 14:13 Page 1
42 CHIS 13/6/14 15:00 Page 1
43CARINGCOMMERCE
INSPIREDLAND & Investments have been tradingfor a number of years, buying and selling propertyaround the UK for both private and institutionalclients.
More recently the company has been selling carehomes. They are a newcomer to this competitivemarket place but have very successfully sold forprivate care home operators, banks and administra-tors, achieving values greater than their competi-tors.
They are a pro-active company seeking buyersfor assets that their competitors struggle to sell.Honest, good communicators, transparent, profes-sional and most importantly closers, they should beyour first choice should you wish to sell.
Michael Christophi of MAPS said: “I have dealtwith Inspiredland on a number of occasions. Theyhave been straight forward, professional and trans-
parent throughout each transaction. I would utilisetheir services as my first choice for any sales oracquisitions.”
Enquiries: For a confidential conversationcall Rodney Bishop on 0208 088 9955 or
Frustrated with your currentlender? Is it time to switch?IF you are seeking to restructure orincrease your existing mortgage,Chandler & Co.'s status as an inde-pendent healthcare specialist meanswe have strong links with a compre-hensive range of lenders.
The combined experience of thepartners including financial, manage-ment and care home ownershipoffers first-hand knowledge andexpertise in the healthcare sector.
As existing operators, you can con-sider the whole range of optionsavailable to you, including:� Restructuring of existing loans.� Equity release and debt consolida-tion.� Purchase of additional businesses.� Refurbishments and extensions ofexisting business.� Land purchase and new build
schemes.� Sale and leaseback finance.
By combining finance for improve-ments with a restructure of yourexisting borrowings, it may be possi-ble to enhance your business withoutincreasing your monthly loan repay-ments.
Terms include:� Monthly repayments as low as£4,361.31 (per £1m borrowed).� 75 per cent loan to value.� No arrangement fees.� 25-year loan commitment.
Project leads toa dramatic risein managers THE inspectorate has secured a 57per cent increase in the number ofnew registered managers across2439 health and social care ser-vices targeted in a six-month pro-ject.
The project, which ran fromNovember to April, was set up byCQC last September to improve thehigh number of locations operat-ing without a registered managerin place for the longest periods oftime. This is in addition to reviewscarried out by inspectors at loca-tions across the whole of England.
Based on project figures set out inthe regulator’s recent board report,1,395 out of those locations nowhave a registered manager in place.
A further 470 (20 per cent) man-ager applications have been sub-mitted to CQC for approval.
The inspectorate also usedenforcement powers across 590locations that failed to appoint orsubmit an application for a regis-tered manager. A high proportionresponded without the need forthe regulator to take further actionbut 42 per cent have paid a fixed
penalty notice.Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector
of adult social care and corporatelead for registration, said: “This isreally positive news for people whoare using services and I am veryencouraged that providers haveresponded to our challenge andtaken steps to ensure that regis-tered managers are in post.
“We know the role of the regis-tered manager is an important onein making a difference to people’sexperiences of care. They are vitalin helping to make sure peoplereceive services that are safe, effec-tive, caring, responsive and well-led.
“As part of our new approach tochanging the way we inspect andregulate adult social care that we’recurrently consulting on, we areproposing that any location pro-viding adult social care serviceswill not be able to achieve a ratinghigher than ‘requires improve-ment’ if it has been without a regis-tered manager (where one isrequired) for more than six monthswithout reasonable justification.”
43 18/6/14 14:36 Page 1
CARINGPRODUCT NEWS44
LaundryStruff.co.uk has responded to increasedbusiness demand by hiring two new engineers.
The appointments, which cover Lincolnshire andthe Midlands, have been made to directly allow thecompany to respond to customer call outs andbreakdowns.
An extra benefit is LaundryStuff.co.uk’s firstapprentice Joe Benton has become a permanentmember of the team as an engineer and has begunservicing his own customers.
LaundryStuff.co.uk stocks a wide range ofmachines programmed specifically to handle carehome laundry, increasing infection control andimproving cleanliness and hygiene. The machinesare programmed in-house, allowing the team toprovide the bespoke laundry solution the customer
requires.Director Trevor Benton said: “The care home
industry has become our biggest customer and wehave grown our workforce and product range tocater for this.
“What’s more, we have expanded our skill baseto ensure that we are keeping up to date on thelatest products and technologies that can benefitcare homes and most importantly, their residents.”
Enquiries: Visit www.laundrystuff.co.uk or call 0800 840 9598.
Firm appoints two new engineers tomeet increased demand
Chubb Community Care launchesCareUnity® telehealth
CHUBB Community Care, a leading provider oftechnologies and solutions to support independentliving, has launched CareUnity® Telehealth.
CareUnity Telehealth is an innovative single-unitsolution that monitors the safety and medicalcondition of the vulnerable living in the communityor in care.
The combined telecare and telehealth deviceenables care providers to meet the total social careneeds of individuals in their charge and supportgovernment initiatives to achieve three milliontelecare/telehealth users by 2017 in England and anadditional 330,000 users by 2015 in Scotland.
Chubb CareUnity Telehealth will be able tomonitor whether an individual using traditionaltelecare is physically safe – for example, that theyhave not had an accident or fall – as well as criticalindicators such as blood pressure or even blood
glucose levels to ensure that they are not medicallyat risk.
Because the system is able to determine the calltype, telecare alarms can be directed to amonitoring centre and telehealth readings can beautomatically directed to a special telehealthmonitoring centre for review by a healthprofessional. The system also securely updates thepatient’s medical record.
Enquiries: For more information, visitwww.chubbcommunitycare.co.uk
Chubb to receive gold award foroccupational health and safety
Catering in the care sector – yourchance to give your opinion
CHUBB Fire & Security’s Systems business willreceive the gold award from the Royal Society forthe Prevention of Accidents for the secondconsecutive year for its approach to occupationalhealth and safety.
The award was accepted by Steve Cottrell,Chubb environmental, health and safety manager,at the RoSPA Occupational Health and SafetyAwards at London’s ExCeL .
“The Gold RoSPA award is much sought afterand not given lightly,” Steve said. “The recognitionis testament to the value and importance weplace on occupational health and safety and onthe well-being of our employees overall.
“We regularly assess our processes to ensurecontinual improvement, which gives ourcustomers confidence that they are working witha business and individuals they can trust.”
With a history dating back nearly 60 years, the
RoSPA awardsare the largestand longest-runningprogramme oftheir kind in theUK.
Theyrecognisecommitment toaccident andillnessprevention byassessing accident records and entrants’ healthand safety management systems, as well aspractices such as leadership and workforceinvolvement.
Enquiries: For more information,visit www.chubb.co.uk.
Electrolux launches GoodLaundry Practice guideLAUNDRY practitioners in the caresector can now access a wealth ofprofessional support and guidanceon best industry practice followingthe launch of a new Good LaundryPractice Guide from ElectroluxProfessional
As the global leader in professionallaundry equipment, ElectroluxProfessional has published theextensive information pack to givelaundry operators working inhospitals and care homes everythingthey need to ensure effective hygienepractice. The pack, which is availablefree of charge to registered laundrypractitioners, boasts a mini guide tohygienic laundry practices based onthe RABC system/EN 14065, acatalogue of technological solutionsdesigned to maintain optimumhygiene, and a DVD which visuallydemonstrates the correct proceduresin a real-life care environment. Forease of access, operators wishing toview the video guides can also do sovia Electrolux Professional’sdedicated YouTube channel.
The Good Laundry Practice Guidesupports a product portfoliodesigned to meet all industryregulations and guidelines, andensure that healthcare laundries arewell equipped to adhere to hygienestandards. Electrolux’s productoffering ranges from the latest in
barrier washer technology, to tumbledryers and ironers aimed atoptimising economy andproductivity.
Amanda Dufrane, regional segmentmanager care for the laundry divisionof Electrolux Professional comments:“Our Good Laundry Practice Guide ispart of our investment in providingeverything laundry operators need tounderstand and implement theprocedures required to meet thelatest industry regulations andlegislation. Anecdotal evidence tellsus that many facilities are well belowthe standards necessary to run anefficient, hygienic, laundry and thispack will help them to raiseperformance levels.
“Modern healthcare cleaningprofessionals work in an industry thathas seen a steady increase inconcerns regarding disinfection inhealthcare laundering, so it isimperative that they can count onexpert advice.
“As well as manufacturing andsupplying the technology to meet theunique demands of the care sector,we also recognise the importance ofproviding support in every waypossible, from providing site-surveysto evaluating laundry needs andproviding the solutions to fit. Ournew guide has been designed todeliver just that.”
Looking to stop the rising costsof yellow bag collections? IT SEEMS the only way is up at themoment when it comes to costs foryellow bag collections!
With the rising prices of landfill andfuel, it’s not surprising that the pricefor collection is on the increase too.
But there is an alternative...Did you know that an incontinence
macerator from Haigh can cost aslittle as £69 per month*?
Or than on top of great savings, youand those in your care also benefit
from improved hygiene, and infectionprevention?
The Incomaster is used day in dayout in care homes throughout theUK. And now with our flexiblepayment options there's never been abetter time to make the switch fromcollections.
Why not find out how the HaighIncomaster can make a big differenceto your business and your cash flow?
*terms and conditions apply
You cannot buy experienceTHAT’S the Agecare motto, We are awell established limited family runcompany with a great reputationacross East Anglia for reliability andprompt service.
We are fully insured and have timeserved fully trained engineers whotake pride in being able to repair anytype of manual handling equipmentin one visit, and not just condemningequipment and recommendingreplacement parts or a new piece ofequipment to make up for onlycharging a low Loler inspection fee.
We have seen other companies
come and go over the years, quotingsilly prices to create business, andwhen things go wrong they don't callyou back.
If you would like a reliable supplier,repairer, maintainer to look after yourequipment and company give us acall.
We supply a massive range of newand used tried and tested productsacross the UK at great prices, butmore importantly we will use ouryears of experience to make sure youget a great product that is right foryour needs.
CATERING is a vital part of the care industry andsubject to many pressures on time and budgets.Manufacturers of foodservice products often needto hear the opinions of caterers in order to producethe best products for the sector.
Cambridge Direction has been working in thefoodservice sector market research since 1995. Weoften need to ask caterers for their opinions whichwe do through our brand CatererOpinion. And asyour time is precious, we offer prize draws forparticipation in on-line market research and alsooffer cash gifts if we need more detailedengagement.
If you’ve got opinions to express and want to beconsidered for future market research in the
foodservice arena, then do make contact with us –we’d be fascinated to hear your opinion.
Claim VAT back on your home evenif you are not VAT registered
IT is true, care providers can reclaimVAT worth about £3,000 per bed forany residents who stayed in yourhome between 1993 and 2002 paidfor by the local authority.
You don’t have to be VATregistered to make a claim. We canusually find the information requiredwith minimal disruption to yourbusiness.
How is this possible? Well in 2002a care provider called Kingscrestchallenged the view held by HMRCand won. There is no cost to youunless we are successful.
And the best part is that you getthe money in your bank accountbefore you pay us. Don’t forget thetax repayment is free of tax – it is extra profit.
Enquiries: Call 01233 640985 and ask for Howard to find out more.
SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based,Richards Residential Supplieshave concentrated uponsupplying simple solutions tocommon nursing home problems.
The new WACMAT® adheresstrongly to this tradition.
With its ultra absorbentcotton pile and 100 per centwaterproof backing, theremarkable WACMAT® is an idealaccessory where spills may occur.
Used as a commode mat, inbedrooms or bathrooms, theWACMAT® ensures full carpetprotection. Then, after use,simply machine wash and tumbledry! It’s that simple...
The WACMAT® will then beclean and odour-free, ready toperform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat,saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.
Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.
Simple solutions
Beaucare’s Beauwash™ Range BEAUWASH™ is an efficient, cost effective and eco-friendly laundry cleaning products range,specifically formulated with healthcareestablishments in mind.
It is cleverly designed to provide superb cleaningperformance at lower temperatures, shorter washcycles and kill bacteria at just 30°C, providing amore sustainable laundry cleaning process in termsof overall running costs and for the environment.
Available in powder or liquid form: 10kg tubs,5lt, 10lt or 20lt liquid containers. When combining
the laundry liquid with automated dosing systems,it creates one of the most efficient laundrysolutions available on the market today.
Beaucare also offers advice on the most efficientway to run all healthcare laundry needs andprovides expert fitting and maintenance ofautomatic dosing systems by its own serviceengineers.
THE Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita is the only automaticshower (wash and dry) toilet developed specificallyfor disabled people.
It looks like, and can be used as, a conventionalWC. Simply retaining pressure on the flush padtriggers simultaneous flushing and warm waterwashing, followed by warm air drying. Thus theneed for manual cleaning with toilet tissue, andhand: body contact, is eliminated, improvinghygiene, cleanliness, and the user’s dignity andindependence.
A range of accessories enables the toilet to betailored to individual user requirements, either atpoint-of-purchase, or retro-fitted as user’s needschange.
Since Clos-o-Mats were first introduced, over40,000 have been sold, and can now be found indomestic and commercial environments across thecountry.
The Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita, and its counterpartLima Lift, are the only toilets of their kindmanufactured in the UK, and supported by in-house service and maintenance.
Enquiries: Call 0161 969 1199 or visitwww.clos-o-mat.com
The only automatic shower toiletfor disabled people
AKW launch guide to creatingdementia-friendly bathrooms
THE bathroom is one of the most challenging anddangerous places for a person with dementia.
From a safety perspective, they are twice aslikely to fall, and falls can have far more seriousconsequences. Additionally, visual and generalconfusion can lead to fear, frustration and areluctance to use the bathroom.
AKW’s new guide to dementia-friendlybathroom design highlights the unique challengesthat the condition presents and gives simple designand product selection guidance to enable thesechallenges to be safely addressed.
Measures to protect from scalding and falls, toaccommodate the effects of short term memoryloss and simple considerations for dealing withissues surrounding visual perception are covered.
AKW are the UK’s leading manufacturer of
accessible bathing and kitchen solutions to thesocial housing and care sectors.
Enquiries: To request a copy of the guidevisit www.akw-ltd.co.uk/dementia
CLEANING Expo Scotland takes place at Glasgow’sSECC on September 3 and 4.
With stand space almost sold out and thenumbers of visitors who have pre-registered toattend, growing daily, the enthusiasm surroundingthis new event is becoming infectious.
Exhibition director Martin Scott said: “Scotlandhas had many firsts… for example, AlexanderGraham Bell with the telephone, John Logie Bairdwith the television, Alexander Fleming withpenicillin, and now – with what promises to beanother huge success – Cleaning Expo Scotland.”
If you want to become involved in this event -whether you want to snap up one of the last fewremaining stands, or take part in the seminarprogramme, or if you simply wish to visit and takeadvantage of the networking opportunity whilegaining hands-on experience of some of the latestand best products the cleaning industry has tooffer, visit www.cleaning-expo.com.
Enquiries: Contact Martin Scott on 01342 887123 or at
‘Understanding MRSA’ tutorialaccredited by IPS and RCN
BOTH the Royal College of Nursing ProfessionalCentre for Accreditation and the InfectionPrevention Society have accredited the web-based‘Understanding MRSA’ tutorial designed by schülkefor healthcare professionals.
The tutorial is split into six modules whichinclude: ‘Healthcare associated infections’, ‘What isMRSA?’, ‘Infections caused by MRSA’, ‘Screeningand decolonisation’, ‘MRSA transmission andprevention’ and ‘How to use octenisanantimicrobial wash’.
At the end of each module there is a self-assessment questionnaire which is completedbefore moving onto the next module. The first 100healthcare professionals successfully completingthe tutorial will receive a Royal College of Nursingcertificate in addition to a certificate of completionfrom schulke.
Trusts wishing to use the training tool are givena unique log-in code for the hospital. Staffundertaking the training use the code andcomplete the modules. A record is kept of thecompleted modules and time spent undertaking
the training. This provides valuable feedback tothose responsible for ongoing educationprogrammes.
Marketing manager Nicola Thurston said:‘schülke is delighted that both the RCN and IPShave accredited this training package.
“Online training tools have become increasinglypopular with healthcare staff, who want to keeptheir skills and knowledge up to date but have littletime to leave the clinical area to undertake thetraining.
“This tutorial has been designed so that eachmodule can be completed in 10-15 minutesincluding the Q&A session. All of the informationis up to date, follows current UK guidelines whereapplicable and is fully referenced for those seekingmore in depth information. The animatedcharacters make the tutorial fun as well asmotivational.”
Enquiries: For more information about thetutorial, call 0114 254 3500, email
LEADING international supplier ofname badges, Badgemaster, is citingtechnological advances as the reasonbehind its new, lower prices.
For more than 22 years thecompany has placed keen emphasison investing in the most up-to-datemanufacturing and order processingsystems which coupled withconsistent volume growth, has alwaysenabled economies to be passed onto customers.
“We’re now in a position tocomplete even the shortest runsextremely cost-effectively,” saidmanaging director John BancroftMBE. “So we’re overhauled our pricelist to make lower quantities ofbadges accessible at the samediscounted rate previously reservedfor higher volumes and are able tooffer further significant savings forlarger users-and the product qualityis better than ever.”
John believes competitors will behard pushed to match Badgemaster’scombination of product quality andpricing and invites buyers to checkout their current deal against hiscompany’s offer.
He added: “Every order is backed byour best price guarantee, and wenever compromise on quality. We areconfident of providing the best valueand the best service in themarketplace, because we’ve invested
in the resources which supportcompetitive pricing long term.”
As an example John points toBadgemaster’s most recentinnovation designed to improveefficiency for the benefit ofcustomers, a unique onlinereordering facility either custommade via the website.
John said: “We’ve saved both timeand cost by removing the need foroperator input as well as thepossibility of supplier generatedspelling errors, as all text is enteredby the customer and downloadeddirectly to our computerised systems.
“It all contributes to low operatingcosts, low prices and faster serviceeven for customers wanting just onebadge.”
Badgemaster throwsdown price challenge
CARE Shop, the UK’s largest supplierof consumables and equipment tothe sector, is offering £500 creditwhen a nursing or care home opensan account (terms and conditionsapply).
This is because Care Shopunderstands the budget and cashflowpressures that smaller care homesface in managing their day-to-daybusiness. Care Shop has access to theUK’s largest range which coverspatient care, personal protection,infection control, paper, continence,dementia care, housekeeping and
medical essentials, as well as beds,pressure care, hoists, aids to living,bedroom and lounge furniture andbathroom essentials.
Backed by the Care Shop promise,the firm’s pro-active sales andcustomer services team buildrelationships, and work with partnersto provide expert advice and moneysaving solutions across the basket ofcare home consumables andequipment. Dedicated to helping torun better care homes, Care Shop isable to deliver whenever you need it –nationwide.
Supplier makes credit offer
Committed to providing ITsolutions to the sector
ADVANCED Health & Care (Advanced) is a leadingprovider of IT management systems for urgent andunscheduled care, clinical call centres, communityhealth, mental health, hospice, home andresidential care services.
Advanced has a unique focus on providinginnovative mobile IT applications for communitybased care, supporting tens of thousands of careworkers and clinicians with integrated device,software and airtime solutions.
Working with partners in the NHS, localgovernment and the private sector, Advanced iscommitted to providing IT solutions in support ofsafe, efficient care delivery with integratedmanagement information for both thecommissioner and provider.Enquiries: To find out more about our range
of software solutions call us on01233 722670 or visit
