November 2010

no.174 • £4.75

In association with

By Dominic Musgrave

A JUDICIAL review has been lodgedinto the ban on care homes employingtier two staff such as RGNS or shiftleaders from overseas.

Aston Brooke solicitors has initiatedthe legal challenge against theSecretary of State’s decision on behalfof ECCA to highlight the ‘illegality,irrationality and unfairness’ of itsdecision.

Martin Green, chief executive ofECCA, told Caring UK a judicial reviewwas the ‘only viable option to bringabout change’.

He added: “The care sector, and in particular care homes, are finding it nearly impossible to recruit unless they do so from outside the EU.

“There are also good quality peoplewho have been working here for yearsgoing to have to leave the countrybecause their visa reviews are comingup and they are not going to berenewed.

“They are leaving a hole which onmany occasions operators are havingto fill with workers who aren’t of thecorrect standard.”

The judicial review has been lodged

at the high court, and Martin is nowcalling on owners who have beenaffected by the implications of the banto lend their support.

He added: “We want the Governmentto understand the implications this ishaving on the whole of the care sector,and business secretary Vince Cable hasalready said that Government needs tolook again at the issue.

“While I haven’t yet heard of any carehomes that are at a point where theyface closing because of this ban, I doknow of some that are having toemploy some that are not nearly ascompliant or as qualified as theywould like.

“We want the Government to makeavailable access to employees fromnon EU countries if required. If it wasthat easy for operators to recruit fromthe EU then I’m sure they would bedoing so as I have never met anyonewho went out of their way to make itharder for themselves.

“I would urge all care homeoperators who are worried about thisto get in touch. They don’t need to puta large amount of money into the potto back this, but it is something webelieve will affect everybody if it is notchanged.”

Overseas staffban promptsjudicial review

Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell will be theguest presenter at the inaugural Great SouthEast Care Awards in Brighton at the end ofNovember.The 1992 400m hurdles champion and televisionpresenter will host the event, for which CaringUK are media sponsor, at The Hilton Hotel onNovember 27.For a picture special from the West Midlands,London and East Midlands ceremonies turn toPages 36 and 37.

Senior stafflend a handat carehomes ...SANCTUARY Group’ssenior staff swappedtheir usual roles for aday and lent a hand tostaff and residents atthree care homes forNational CustomerService Week.

Ian McDermott, groupdirector (propertyservices) visitedWatlington District carehome to help servelunch and take part inan art activity morning.

Tony King, groupdirector (capitalinvestment) went alongto Beach Lawns CareHome in Weston-super-Mare and took part in anactivities session andserving afternoon teaand cake.

And Craig Moule group director (financeand resources) had the difficult job at Heart of England’sWestmead care home inDroitwich of judging theresidents’ cakecompetition.

National CustomerService Week aims topromote good customerservice and the vital roleit plays withinorganisations.

incorporating

The Number One magazine for the care sector

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3CARINGNEWS

AdvertisingSales and Marketing Director:Tony Barry

National Sales Executives:Rebecca Hazell Tel: 01226 734685 Email: rh@whpl.netMandy EdwardsTel: 01226 734333 Email: mandye@caring-uk.co.ukFax: 01226 734477

PublishersWharncliffe Publishing Ltd.47 Church Street, Barnsley, SouthYorkshire S70 2AS.Email: info@caring-uk.co.uk

EditorialGroup Editor:Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478

Healthcare Editor:Dominic MusgraveTel: 01226 734407

Reporter:Christina EcclesTel: 01226 734463

Group Deputy Editor:Judith HalkerstonTel: 01226 734458

Database enquiries to:01226 734695 E-mail: circulation@wharncliffepublishing.co.ukWhilst every effort is made toensure the accuracy of all con-tent, the publishers do notaccept liability for error, printedor otherwise, that may occur.

www.caring-uk.co.uk

You can now follow us on Twitter at caringuk

Residents lovehome’s newcanine friend

A London care home activi-ties co-ordinator is in thefinal 12 of this year’s XFactor competition.John Adeleye, who hasworked at Forrester Court inWestminster for the last twoyears, was chosen in theover 28s category afterimpressing mentor LouisWalsh and Sharon Osbourneat the former’s Ireland home.Mike Smith, regional directorfor Care UK, who own thehome, said: “John’s speciali-

ty as an activity co-ordinatorwas clearly anything musi-cal, and lots of our residentsreally loved the activitiesthat he led.“He was always careful tosing and play music that ourresidents would know andenjoy, and it wasn’t unusualto see them up on their feetand dancing or joining inwith his singing.”John has been filmed for theprogramme at ForresterCourt singing and chatting tothe residents.

A BROMSGROVE care home hasgiven a new four-legged residenta second chance at life.

Skip, a rescue dog from CatshillBlue Cross, has joined the resi-dents and staff of BluebrookeResidential Care Home, and hasquickly become a firm favourite.

The Oldfield owned facility hasalso started an informal dogwalking club since getting thelurcher puppy, which managerLianne Sturmery says also getsthe residents out and about.

She added: “Many of our resi-dents were dog owners beforethey came to us, and having a petaround the place makes it feelmore like home. The adoptioncentre had never placed an ani-mal in a residential home before,and we had to go through twointerviews to get him. But he getson really well with everybody andthe residents love him.

“One resident in particulartakes him out for a walk everyafternoon without fail. Before wegot him he used to get agitated,but he doesn’t any more.”

In the past the home has also

kept ducks, and currently hastwo rabbits and a tortoise.

Lianne and her team have alsocreated a shop in the grounds ofthe home, which is stocked bythe relatives with everythingfrom sweets and biscuits to toi-letries. Residents can pay for thegood using vouchers when theywin or take part in activities.

She added: “The shop is a safeactivity for the residents to do inthe garden, particularly for thosewho have dementia.

“The shop is next to the tea-room, which is somewhere theresidents can go with a carer or afamily member for a quiet drinkaway from the home.

“We are also planning on turn-ing one of our lounges that israrely used in the new part of thebuilding into a day centre in thenear future. It will only be avail-able to the residents, but will besomewhere for the residents tomeet and take part in a variety ofactivities such as cooking.”

The home is also raising moneyfor its own minibus to take theresidents out on excursions.

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CARINGNEWS4

CQC should‘get its ownact in order’THE inspectorate has been urged toimprove its own performance andgive greater credit for majorimprovements in the quality of caresince national minimum standardswere introduced in 2002/03.

Registered Nursing HomeAssociation chief executive FrankUrsell said the CQC should ‘get itsown act in order’ on basic registrationand inspection processes.

He added: “Rather than deciding atthis moment to crow about thenumber of homes it has closed, wewould prefer senior managers at CQCto be focusing on what matters mostof all – ensuring that the vast majorityof homes currently providing goodservices to their residents are able tocontinue doing so without fear ofinterruption by bureaucratic delays.

“To say that CQC’s timing is askewon all this would be an under-statement.”

“It is also puzzling to many of usthat CQC should feel it necessary, oreven appropriate, to be portrayingitself as the ‘tough guy’ gunslinger inclassic Western style.

He also expressed hisdisappointment that the regulator’searly promise of closer partnershipworking with care providers seemedto be ‘evaporating in the wind’.

He added: “CQC staff would, wethought, be striving to understandthe financial and other pressures onus, entering into a genuine dialogueabout how we could improve qualitywithin the resources available to us,and championing the cause of adultsocial care at a national level.

“All that now seems like a blurreddream. The reality is that there will beless face to face contact than everbefore between nursing homemanagers and inspectors.

“The registration and inspectionsystem appears to have become morepaper-based than ever before, with allthe inherent weaknesses thatinvolves.”

‘New registrationsystem is aboutto get tougher’By Dominic Musgrave

THE new registration system ofcare homes and agencies is aboutto get tougher, the inspectoratehas warned.

Figures released by the CQCrevealed that 34 care homes andeight homecare agencies closed inthe past 12 months followingregulatory action. And theregulator says the system is aboutto get tougher.

In six cases the inspector issued alegal notice to close the service,with the remaining being closed orsold after CQC took enforcementaction.

Chief executive Cynthia Bowersaid it had needed to take strongmeasures in order to protectpeople’s safety.

She added: “We did not toleratepoor care under the oldregistration system and wecertainly will not tolerate it underthe new system.

“Services where problems havebeen identified can expectfrequent inspections, and we willuse our powers where it isnecessary to protect people, evenif it means shutting servicesdown.”

In the same period another 51services voluntarily closed afterCQC rated them ‘poor’. Thisincludes 39 care homes with about900 residents, 11 agenciesproviding care in people’s homesand one agency providing nursingcare.

The inspectorate had demandedthese services improve, but hadnot taken formal enforcementaction.

Cynthia added: “Closing a carehome is not a decision takenlightly. These are places where

people live. We have to weigh upthe potential impact on residents.In some cases, moving frail andelderly people may actually causemore harm than good.

“Our first step is to try to get thehome to improve. This is alwayspreferable to closure because itmeans residents get better carewithout having to go through thetrauma of moving.

“But in some cases, the necessaryimprovements fail to materialise. It

becomes clear that the only way toproperly protect residents is toclose the home and move them toothers where care is of a betterstandard.”

Cynthia was speaking at thelaunch of a new registrationsystem under the Health andSocial Care Act 2008. It introducesnew essential standards of qualityand safety that everyone should beable to expect when they receivecare.

Chief executive Cynthia Bower

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5CARINGNEWS

AN East Sussex care home hastransformed one of its unused staffrooms into a reminiscence kitchenfor its clients.

And Galleon Care owned LindsayHall has also beaten off competi-tion from the other homes in thegroup to win an environmentalcompetition after it started to keepchickens in the grounds.

Manager Lyn Foster said the £300prize will go into the residents’activities fund.

She added: “The room was look-ing really tatty once the staff hadrelocated to another part of thehome upstairs so we thought wewould turn it into something forthe residents.

“Although there is no oven inthere, the residents can do somecooking, reminisce about theirkitchens at home or recipes theyliked to cook, or just go there andsit as it is nice and quiet.

“It has been a real success withthe residents. We have one ladywho spends most of the day inthere, and a man often goes in aswell to look in some of the memoryboxes.”

Most of the equipment in thereminiscence kitchen was pickedup from car boot sales and second-hand shops by activities co-ordina-

tor Lauri Leather, who also made allof the soft furnishings.

The 38 residents also help stafflook after the four chickens thehome recently acquired.

Lyn, who has been manager forseven years, added: “They havebecome the homes pets and, aswell as the fresh eggs the residentseat at breakfast, another of theirbenefits is they are also therapeuticto sit and watch.

“The residents feed and generallyhelp look after them, and it is

somewhere for them to take theirgrandchildren when they come andvisit. They have been a real successstory.”

Regular activities are run at thehome, with a different theme orcountry chosen each month forevents, with staff dressing up in tra-ditional outfits and traditional foodbeing served.

In the past these have includedScotland, China and France, withthe most recent event held at thehome a Mad Hatters’ tea party.

Care home wins cash in chicken coup ...

Resident Doona King, and senior care assistant Natalie Kent visit the chickens

Staff recognisedfor their workachievementsMORE than 180 staff at Orders of StJohn Care Trust homes in Wiltshireand Gloucestershire have been recog-nised for their work achievements ataward ceremonies.

The Wiltshire event for staff at thegroup’s 20 homes across the countywas held at the Corn Echange inDevizes, with the Gloucestershire onefor 19 homes taking place at thePittville Pump Room in Cheltenham.

Certificates were awarded to staffwho achieved NVQs in care, house-keeping and business and adminis-tration, as well as master of arts, edu-care and leadership and managementqualifications.

Several special awards were alsopresented at the Wiltshire ceremony,with a special commendation goingto Buckland Court for achieving a 100per cent score as part of the Trust’sinternal quality departments accredi-tation scheme for the home’s admin-istration of medication.

Winners were: Young carer – JamieHughes, Coombe End Court; carer –Trevor Filer, Seymour House; manag-er – Sarah Hill, Anzac House; leader –Caroline Burton, Willowcroft; learner– Harriet Herbert, Athelstan House;unsung hero – Theresa Gladwell,Buckland Court; hospitalityLahmoum Elhouari, Willowcroft.

Long service awards for 25, 30 and35 years’ service were also recognised.

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CARINGNEWS6

New managerworking hard totransform homeBy Dominic Musgrave

THE new manager of a Wirral nursing homeis implementing some of the ideas he learnedwhile working in facilities in Scotland.

Karl Jones took over at the Sure Care ownedDerwent Lodge in New Ferry in May, andsince then has been busy transforming itsfortunes.

He told Caring UK the way the twocountries’ commissions approach the waycare homes are inspected is different.

“In Scotland their approach is very muchperson centred led, whereas in England thefocus seems to be very much ondocumentation and making sure yourpaperwork is in order,” Karl added. “What Iam trying to create here is a sociable homewhere they can live their lives because theyare not just here to end their days.

“As part of this I plan to put up a large boardin reception so the residents know whatactivities are on and who is on duty so theyare aware.”

Karl, who is the country’s first nutritionchampion after qualifying while working inScotland, has already created a hairdressingsalon and sensory room.

His next plans include creating a pub room,turning the dining room into a more bistro-style facility and also a sensory garden in thegrounds, which will have a greenhouse forthe residents to grow their own vegetablesand herbs.

He added: “We have also renamed all thecorridors leading to the bedrooms. Afterdiscussing a few ideas with the staff wedecided to name them after gemstonesbecause the residents are precious to us.

“The walls will be painted with a particularcolour to represent the gems so those whohave dementia will be able to identify thembetter.”

And the changes have not only beenreserved for the fabric of the building but alsofor the staff in a bid to improve performance.

Karl added: “When I worked in Scotland wecame up with a concept to take the staff backto basics in a bid to see how much knowledgethey retain, and to help us see what trainingthey may need.

“Twice a year I will be picking a random 10questions from 220 that I have devised on awide range of topics. If the member of staffgets a question wrong they will be put on atraining course to bring them up to speed.”

ANNE BLAIR (matron) and JEAN FEARON (secretary),Silloth Nursing and Residential Care Home

IN response to Tony Banks’ views (October issue, page 4)we currently receive £76 to £86 less per placement thancouncil-owned homes.

We did not realise that councils take all the fundingrequired for their own homes on day one of the financialyear, regardless if the beds are full or not – and yet weare told it is a level playing field.

Earlier this year we raised the differential in fee levelswith Cumbria County Council, unfortunately withoutsuccess. We were told that this is the true cost of care in council run homes, yet we can't seem to getthrough to councillors that this must also apply toindependent providers, some of whom have borrowedheavily to maintain the high standard of care expectedby the CQC.

We strongly feel councils should not be responsible forcare funding, particularly when they treat theindependent care sector differently to their own. Also,in our area some council homes cannot take peoplewith mobility difficulties but still expect us to deliverthis type of care at a reduced cost.

In fact some residents have been transferred fromcouncil run homes because we can deliver nursing care – again we receive less for the social andaccommodation element of fees than the council home.

Readers’ letter

‘How is this a levelplaying field?’

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7CARINGNEWS

By Dominic Musgrave

INDEPENDENT care providers canhelp save the NHS in Wales around£20m a year and prevent hospital bedblocking, it has been claimed.

Care Forum Wales’ senior policyofficer Barry Latham says they havethe answer to the double whammythat has plagued the Health Servicefor years.

He said bed blocking patients whodo not need to be in hospital are ahuge and costly problem – especiallywhen savage cuts are in the offing.

Barry added: “There are reports thatWelsh NHS faces making more than£380m worth of cutbacks by nextApril. We believe the independentcare sector can be part of the solu-tion to this dire financial crisis.

“We can help find at least £20m ofthe required savings across Wales andprovide more appropriate care to vul-nerable people at the same time.”

He said a nursing home placementwould cost in the region of £450-£500per week instead of the £350 poundsa day it costs in hospital, with moresavings in domiciliary care.

“Bed blocking remains a big issue,”Barry added. “All too often whenpatients are ready for discharge fromhospital, for various reasons it takestime to make the arrangements.

“As a result, people are kept in that

hospital bed much longer than theyneed to be –and every hospital bedcosts something like £350 per day.

“If patients could be transferredinto an independent sector, either toa care home bed or to their ownhome supported by domiciliary care,it would be for a much, much lowercost.

“It’s about developing somethingthat could be regarded as intermedi-ate care while their needs wereassessed then the right care packageput in place.”� Do you agree with Barry? LetDominic Musgrave know by emailingdm@whpl.net or calling him on01226 734407.

‘Providers cansave £20m ayear for NHS’

Barry Latham

Specialist consultant appointedA CLAPHAM-based care home hasappointed professor Clive Ballard asa specialist consultant.

Clive is currently professor of agerelated diseases at King’s CollegeLondon and honorary consultant inold age psychiatry for the NHS Trust.

He will be responsible for advisingNightingale on its dementia strategyto ensure the home continues to beable to offer the best level of care forits residents. He will also work closelywith chief executive, Leon Smith,advising on how the home should be

incorporating the latest research anddevelopment in dementia care intoits programming and strategy forthose residents with dementia.

Nightingale is currently building astate-of-the-art dementia unit, thedetail of which has been planned byspecialist architects to ensure thatresidents are stimulated and caredfor in the most appropriate way.Clive will be charged with ensuringthat the specialist staff are trained toaccommodate the new develop-ments.

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CARINGNEWS8

RESIDENTS at The Gardens arekeeping in touch with relatives andfriends all over the world after anew computer system wasinstalled.

Deputy manager at the Ascot Careowned facility, Emma Burrows, wassuccessful in her application for a‘Get Connected’ grant of £6,500from the Social Care Institute forExcellence.

With the money she has installedthree touch screen computers fromSimply Unite, which enableresidents to do everything fromaccessing the internet to uploadingand printing photos and usingSkype to chat with family.

Emma told Caring UK thecomputers are also going to beused for staff training, particularlyfor those who work night shifts.

She added: “The system is easy touse and video chats will enablethose relatives of residents overseasseem a little bit closer to homethan just talking on the telephone.

“We also have a few residents whohave expressed an interest inresearching their family tree, andrecently held a cheese and wineevening for relatives to introduce itto them and encourage them to getinvolved. We have a 102-year-old

resident who is all for it. Somearen’t, but providing this servicegives them choice, enablement anda better quality of life.”

The home has also joined forceswith another in the area, EdenCottage, Teesside University andGPs across the town for a newproject.

The group has received £40,000for the North East Improvementand Efficiency Partnership for anew system to measure the well-being of its residents.

“The health hub we haveobtained from a company calledDocobo enables us to inputresidents’ blood pressure, pulse,oxygen level, blood sugar weightand temperature. We can even doan ECG if necessary.

“It also asks specific questions forthe resident designed by their ownGP, such as how they are feeling.The GP can access the informationfrom a secure website, and if thereare any abnormal readings they cantake immediate action.

“The aim is to reduce GP visitsand hospital admissions, whichwould therefore save the NHSmoney. If it is successful at the endof the year pilot we hope it will berolled out to other care homes.”

A Darlington care home is embracing the latest in technology after receiving two grants.Dominic Musgrave found out more.

THE Gardens is also one of a groupof care homes in the region testinga new quality assurance systemcalled Paragon.

Manager Marie Nicholson said:“The new system is based aroundtraining and supervisions, with theidea that every staff member hastheir own page on the computerwhere they can put their

aspirations, goals and trainingneeds.

“We hope at some point thecouncil and CQC will take it on as itwould make inspections a loteasier. Some of the staff here havenever worked with a computerbefore, but this is something wehave really invested in and theyhave taken it on board.”

Gardens go global with new system

Emma Burrows at one of the computers with 102-year-old resident Vera Willmott

Home tests quality system

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CARINGNEWS10

RESIDENTS and their families, staffand industry professionals helped aLichfield care home celebrate its 20thanniversary.

There was even an invite for thebutcher and greengrocer for theevent at Rosemary Lodge, with themenu including everything fromsalmon parfait and four pepperedroast beef to Alaskan pollock andorange and ginger trifle.

The 30-bed home, which is ownedby Guernsey-based businesswomanSusan Williams, has been run bydirector/care manager Judy Smith forthe last six-and-a-half years.

She said: “We had approximately145 people at the function, andinvited everybody who has someinvolvement with the home becausewe like to think of ourselves as onebig family.

“I try and care for the residents as Iwould want to be look after if I was inhere because it must be a massivething giving up your own house.

“It is not the end of the line cominginto residential care, and I haveworked in so many where you senseit is one way in and one way out. Weare also here for the families as well."

The former farmhouse hasundergone several redevelopmentssince it first opened in 1990 as an 11-bed facility.

Judy added: “Over the years theowners have added a couple ofextensions so that we can now take more residents, and also a large conservatory and cafe areawhere residents can take theirfamilies and friends if they want a bitof privacy.

“The activity lady is always tryingnew things with the residents, butyou cannot get away from doingbingo or quizzes, although they doalso enjoy the exercise programmesshe does.

“We now ask families for a historyof the resident so we can find out more about them as anindividual and tailor activities totheir interests.

“We introduced this because I usedto hear things about a resident at afuneral that I never knew, whichwould be nice to know when they arealive rather than when they havepassed away.”

A group of chickens entertain theresidents in the garden as well asproviding fresh eggs for the home,

while Judy is also in the process ofcreating a hairdressing and beautyroom 'Serenity Rose' for them to getpampered.

� Is your care home celebrating aspecial anniversary or occasion? LetDominic Musgrave know by ringing01226 734407 or email dm@whpl.net

Home includes butcher andgreengrocer in celebrations

Rosemary Lodge in Lichfield

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CARINGNEWS12

A SIX-strong team from SouthernCross Healthcare raised more than£1,000 for charity with a 150-milecycle.

And the company has agreed tomatch the final total raised by thethree-day challenge, which began at

Amathea Care Home in Workingtonand ended at Falstone Manor inSunderland. Funds raised came fromstaff, suppliers and residents, andwill be presented to Action on ElderAbuse by CEO Jamie Buchan, whotook part in the ride.

The successful cyclists are welcomed by residents and staff at Falstone Manor

Team members get on theirbikes for charity cycle ride

Notebook helpsimprove staffcommunicationBy Dominic Musgrave

COMMUNICATION among staff hasbeen improved at a Nottinghamshirecare home thanks to the simpleintroduction of a notebook in thestaff room.

Alexandra House manager SallyBarry came up with the solution afternoticing the problem shortly afterjoining the 37-bed home.

She told Caring UK it has broughtthe staff together as a team ratherthan working in small units.

Sally added: “We always getcomments from people visiting thehome about the friendly and relaxedatmosphere, which I think is becauseeverybody knows what is going on.

“Prior to introducing thecommunications book we hadpeople working in pockets of teams and not communicating anychanges to a resident's condition orneeds.

“A lot can change around the placeif a carer is off for a couple of weeks,so in there we record everything tokeep each other in the loop, such asif we are going to trial doingsomething a little differently or to

make them aware if a new resident iscoming in so they know to expectthem.”

The Eastgate owned home inEastwood celebrate its 20thanniversary this year, and Sally, whopreviously worked as deputymanager at another home in nearbyRipley, said she has noticed a changein the type of resident now movinginto the home.

She added: “I think the generationsare moving on and we are starting tosee residents asking for things thatwe would, such as the type of foodthey would like to see on the menus.

“In the past it has been traditionalroast dinners but now they are askingfor things like curries.

“Previously we had residents havinga weekly bath, whereas now theyexpect en-suite bedrooms and take ashower every day. It is all aboutmoving with the times.”

Plans to extend the home andredevelop some of the existingbedrooms next year are in place,which would increase the registrationto 42.

Work should be completed by nextautumn.

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13CARINGNEWS

Revelations by the inspectorate that almost 1,000 care homes do not have a registered manager in place have been criticised by thesector. Dominic Musgrave reports.

THE CQC says conditions havebeen placed on the operators of allof the facilities requiring them toappoint someone to the position.

Under the provisions of the newHealth and Social Care Act 2008that came into force at the begin-ning of October, many care homesmust have a registered managerwho is appropriately experiencedand qualified in place by nextApril.

Chief executive Cynthia Bowersaid this does not necessarily meanpeople are receiving poor care, butthat care services without leader-ship can struggle to address anyproblems that may arise.

She added: “It has been recog-nised in the care sector for sometime that there is a shortage ofexperienced and qualified man-agers.

“The sector as a whole needs totake a robust approach to seekingsolutions to the shortage of regis-tered managers. It cannot beallowed to continue indefinitely.

“We will use our enforcementpowers in the best interests of peo-ple who use services. If a careprovider is genuinely trying toappoint a registered manager andthe quality of care is good, it mightnot be in the service users’ bestinterests for us to take enforce-ment action immediately. But if wefind that people are being put atrisk because there is no registeredmanager, then we will take action.”

But Nadra Ahmed, chairman of

the NCA, robustly challenged theclaim, calling it ‘ludicrous’.

She added: “We are mystified bythis misleading claim by the CQC,which we feel has no basis in factat a time when confidence in theirservices is at an all time low.

“The ‘1000 care homes without amanager’ claim, in part, refers tothe fact that six months ago theCQC announced that the registra-tion by potential new managerswould not begin until after October1, when the re-registration of carehomes process was complete,

although potential new managerswere asked to submit their applica-tions.

“Therefore, to make headline-seeking claims that 1000 carehome do not have a registeredmanager is a grotesque distortionof the facts. It is because of theactions of CQC itself that many ofthe homes do not have registeredmanagers.”

National Care Forum executivedirector Des Kelly agreed, sayingthe CQC had ‘scored an own goal'.

He added: “This looks like aheadline in search of a story. It is aspectacular ‘own goal’ by CQC and,if I were being cynical, I would sayit was intended to divert attentionaway from the performance ofCQC during the re-registrationprocess experienced by providersthrough the summer.

"The statement gives the mis-leading impression of large num-bers of care services operatingwithout a manager and this is sim-ply not accurate. At the very leastCQC is being disingenuous.

"The registration system allowedonly four weeks for completion. Itis highly likely that the way inwhich CQC has managed thisprocess has added to the numberof apparent vacancies."

� Have you found it difficult torecruit a new manager? LetDominic Musgrave know yourthoughts by emailingdm@whpl.net or ring 01226734407.

NCA challengeclaims overhome managers

Nadra Ahmed

THE regulation process is theproblem and not the care homesthemselves, it has been claimed.And Paul Ridout, managing part-ner of law firm Ridouts, said theCQC should create a fast trackprocess for registration of man-agers of two weeks, calling thecurrent system 'an unworkablemess'.

“English care home regulation isthe problem, not English carehomes,” he added.

“Under this new law the reality isnow that every care home whose

manager is not registered should close or risk being crimi-nalised.

“In the current position thesecurity of residents is at the dis-cretion of the regulator, which willlead to inconsistency and per-ceived victimisation. Are we toconclude that hundreds of carehomes open today now faceimminent closure?

“This law should be changed orCQC made to improve its proce-dure and publish a clear policy onthe criteria it will set in deciding

when to close homes.”He said manager registration

does nothing for resident protec-tion, and that the new law is‘already flawed’.

“Managers leave their posts formany reasons; some on very shortnotice.

“Recruitment procedures take atleast two months and CQC take up to four months to complete registration, refusing tostart until they have a policecheck even where the employerhas one.”

Claim that current system is 'unworkable mess'

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CARINGNEWS14

WIMBLEDON, the World Cup andRoyal Ascot are just some of theevents that have been celebrated atTanglewood in Horncastle this year.

The most recent party at thehome was to commemorateLincolnshire Day, with residentstucking into food and beer from theregion, as well as taking part in aquiz about the county and singinglocal songs.

Activities co-ordinator CherryWilkinson joined the home a yearago, having previously worked as afreelance journalist.

She said: “I also sing, and with afriend we put a programme ofsongs together that we thought wecould perform around care homesfor the residents.

“We wrote to many care homesoffering our services, and afterperforming at a couple I reallythought about what we were doingand how it was making a differenceto the residents. I saw this jobadvertised and went for it. I see myjob as trying to enhance theresidents’ lives, and the activitiesand events I put on here reflectwhat is going on in the world.”

Cherry regularly organises cinemaafternoons complete with icecreams at the interval, watercolourpainting sessions, and is alsoplanning to resurrect Tai Chi classesfor the residents.

She added: “We also recently helda celebration of life to rememberone of the carers here who passed

away suddenly last year. Therelatives of the residents who hadalso died in the past 12 monthswere also invited to the home, andtheir names were read out as well asa couple of readings by a local vicar.

“The names of the residents werealso written on gold leaves andhung on a tree to remember them.It was a really inspirational day, andall of the money raised will be puttowards a memorial bench for thegarden.”

The home, like many nationwide,is currently working towards theGold Standards Framework for endof life care.

Manager Di Roach, who hasworked in the sector for more than30 years and at Tanglewood for

almost two, said some of her staffwere a bit nervous about it at first.

She added: “The home is run likea family home, and I'd like to thinkthat I have instilled a sense of funsince coming here.

“We are never going to be perfectbut strive to do our best, and I amstill incredibly passionate about itand believe greatly in high stand-ards. We have had a few poignantmoments since starting the GSF,and I think we have become moreopen. In the past when a residentdied it used to be hush hush andthey were taken out of the backdoor, but now we take themthrough the front and our approachhas become a lot more individual-ised and part of the care plans.”

There is never adull moment at aLincolnshire carehome. DominicMusgrave foundout more.

How Cherry picks her activities

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15 19/10/10 12:58 Page 1

16 19/10/10 12:58 Page 1

17CARINGLAUNDRY

‘Fantastic’ Armstrong laundry at HarrisonHouse

THE £14m Harrison House mental health facility inGrimsby has been fully equipped with new laundrybased on two 16 kg Primus free standing washerextractors and two stacked Huebsch tumble dryersinstalled by Goodman Sparks.

According to Tukes assistant manager AmyCharlton its performance is ‘fantastic’. The Tukes ser-vice operates the laundry as well as the coffee shop,cleaning and reception.

The laundry’s prime function is the care of all theunit’s flatwork. Patients process their own personalclothing in small ward laundries, each comprising asmall Primus washer and matching tumble dryer.

“Goodman Sparks’ advice and service has beenexcellent throughout,” added Amy. “From the initialplanning to the installation their support has beeninvaluable.”

Enquiries: Contact Goodman Sparks Ltd on0114 258 9614 or visit

www.goodmansparks.co.uk

MIELE dishwashers benefit from thedecades of experience in developingwarewashing appliances for commer-cial use.

Solid construction, high qualitymaterials and sophisticated technolo-gy guarantee not only the best possi-ble treatment of each wash load andincomparable wash results, but alsothe legendary longevity of Mielemachines.

Miele cabinet dishwashers operatevia a freshwater system, drawing infresh water for each individual stageof the cleaning programme.

This system ensures a consistentlyhigh wash quality throughout thecycle, which is also compoundedthrough the appliance’s two basket

levels - allowing maximum space forthe water to circulate, as well asachieving a greater throughput ofdishes and utensils.

Miele’s G7859 thermal disinfectordishwasher is particularly suited tocare home kitchens where stringentlevels of hygiene must be maintained.

The four standard cleaning pro-grammes include three disinfectingcycles, which allow the final rinse tobe carried out at a higher tempera-ture for a predetermined and pro-longed period.

Through this feature, the surfacetemperature of crockery and cutleryis elevated to 85 degrees C for a mini-mum of two minutes.

System benefits Miele washers

17 19/10/10 17:07 Page 1

CARINGLAUNDRY18

THE cost of laundry detergentseems small in comparison withother high value spends that a carehome makes, but over a year itbegins to mount up.

When considering offers,Simplicare looks to save youmoney on the everyday essentialcosts which seem to keep onincreasing.

There are a range of savingsoffered on selected brandedproducts across the laundry range,but the savings are not restrictedto this area, with cleaning and

dishwashing also attracting up to50 per cent discount.

“Washing clothes and bed linenis a regular job in a care home,”said operations manager ChrisSowerby. “Using our contacts withsuppliers we have been able tonegotiate real savings on laundryproducts.”

Simplicare continues to cementits reputation within the carehome sector for offering realsavings and providing a completesolution for all care home needs.

Simplicare can save youmoney on detergent costs

WITH winter approaching manyresidents will put away summerclothes and need their warmerjumpers and clothes labellingproperly.

This is such a time consuming taskthat often clothing is leftinadequately named andconsequently it can easily get mislaid.

Attach-a-Tag is a simple, costeffective method of labelling clothingand soft objects and is an ideal way toquickly label short term and respiteresidents clothing as well as normallaundry.

Replicating a button, it attaches inseconds to the garment seam orlaundry label, making it discreet andcomfortable to the wearer.

The patented design is easy toattach but difficult to remove, andcannot be taken off by accident orcome off during the laundry process.

Each tag has the owner’s nameetched onto it, which is guaranteednot to wear off in the wash.

This combined with the uniquefixing method of Attach-a-Tag meansthe owner is identified every time.

Label clothes effectively

18 19/10/10 16:37 Page 1

19CARINGNEWS

New bus stopsign is justthe ticketBy Dominic Musgrave

A NEW bus stop sign is taking resi-dents at a Bradford care home on atrip down memory lane.

When Julian Shear, care manager atSpring Mount in Heaton, saw resi-dents sitting in a lean-to shelter inthe memory gardens he thought theylooked as though they were waitingfor a bus.

So he contacted local bus companyMetro and asked if they had an oldstop sign he could have.

The transport organisation went astep better and offered to make anew one. Now the sign, which has thenumber 680 on it, is in-situ andJulian has framed a bus timetableinside the shelter.

He said it has become a talkingpoint for both the residents and theirfamilies who visit.

“The handyman created a shelternext to the coach house we have inthe grounds a while ago, mainly forthe few residents here who smoke,”

Julian added. “I was a bit worried when it was

first installed as I wondered whetherthey were just sitting by it or actuallythought they were waiting for a bus.It was a bit of a moral thing, buteveryone tells me they think it is bril-liant and a really good thing.”

The home was recently filmed for aforthcoming BBC Panorama docu-mentary on dementia for its innova-tive no drugs approach to treatingpeople with the condition.

Julian added: “Because we are set ina quarter of an acre of grounds theresidents are encouraged outside,which is why we created an organicvegetable garden, which we have justhad the first harvest from.

“We now plan to create an orchardso they can pick fruit while they areoutside, and next year we are goingto turn the coach house into a train-ing and IT centre so the residents cankeep in touch with their family acrossthe world using Skype.”

RESIDENTS at a Warwickshire carehome held a series of special activ-ities to mark World Alzheimer’sDay and National ReflexologyWeek.

The events at Waterloo House,Bideford on Avon included reflex-ology demonstrations by JackieSkott Aromatherapies, a teddybears picnic followed by an openair puppet show and a foot pam-per party with treatments given by

The Body Shop at Home.Activities co-ordinator at the

Alpha owned home, Jenny Clay,said: “Reflexology and aromathera-py treatments can be very benefi-cial to our residents, and we have areflexologist visit the home once amonth. Treatments can be verycalming and relaxing and thedemonstrations allowed all ourresidents to see what can beoffered.”

Activities co-ordinator Jenny Clay and resident Doreen Hooper

Pamper party for residents

Staff from a Care South care home raised£350 for the residents’ amenities fundwith a sponsored 40-mile bike ride.Manager Claire Brownless, her deputySam Bresland and carer Dan Goswellcompleted the ride from Maiden CastleHouse in Dorchester to sister home StMartins in Gillingham just ahead of their

target time of four hours.Claire and Sam rode a tandem for thefirst time, and were backed up by a cardriven by activities co-ordinator JennyWebster.Picture: Jenny Webster, Dan Goswell, SamBresland and Claire Brownless ahead ofthe ride.

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CARINGNEWS20

RESIDENTS at a Swindon carehome can now spend more timeoutdoors thanks to a new garden.

Ashbury Lodge has unveiled thenew area to enable the 43 residentsto have more independence.

Registered care manager PaulinePletts told Caring UK work at theCoate Water Care owned home wascarried out by a local constructionfirm working nearby who carry outan annual project.

She added: “We have been in thisproperty for 10 years, and wealways wanted an enclosed gardenso we could get the residentsoutside more.

“The old garden was never usedbecause it was unsuitable, so wedecided we would try and dosomething at the front. Just as wehad started planning it we had aknock at the door from the menasking if they could do somethingfor us as they like to givesomething back every year.

“They spent two weeks doing thework, and have transformed thegarden to something we can nowuse for the residents. I don’t thinkthey realise what their work willmean to us.”

Features of the garden includegrass areas, a paved path andraised flower beds to allowresidents to get involved in

gardening. A large fence has alsobeen erected to make it safe forresidents to go outside when theylike.

Pauline added: “A lot of peoplefrom this generation loved theirgardens when they lived at homeand cannot wait to start planting.

“Because it is all fenced in wedon’t have to worry about theresidents having a member of staffwith them all the time, which wecouldn’t do before as we are

situated on a busy road.The paved path being created in a

figure of eight will also aid ourresidents who have dementia whohaven’t been aware of what is goingon around them. They will start atone point, walk round and end upat the start again.”

Pauline plans to created a herbgarden in the near future, with staffalso building a greenhouse toencourage the residents to gooutside as much as they can.

Good deed gives new gardento Swindon care home

Bulb plant willbrighten uphome in springVOLUNTEER gardeners missed outon a world record attempt but theirefforts will bring spring colour to aWigan care home and help eradicatepolio.

Staff and residents of GolborneHouse joined Rotarians and locals toplant more than 20,000 crocuses injust one hour. The event at the homeformed part of a nationwide ‘Big BulbPlant’, an initiative formed by RotaryInternational for Great Britain andIreland in conjunction with the EdenProject and the International FlowerBulb Centre in Holland.

Manager Karen Alford said eachperson who took part was asked todonate £1 to the charity. She added:“Although we didn’t manage to beatthe world record, we still managed toplant 20,000 bulbs in the allottedhour and had a fabulous time doingit. It was great to see everyone pullingtogether, and we’re thrilled to be ableto donate the money we raised tosuch a worthy cause. We’re alreadyplanning our next attempt in 2011,and can’t wait to see all the purpleflowers bloom.”

The crocuses planted in the carehome’s grounds are expected tobloom in the New Year to coincidewith ‘Rotary Day’ celebrations onFebruary 23. The purple representsthe dye that is dabbed on a child’sfinger to indicate it has beenimmunised against the virus.

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CARINGNEWS22

By Dominic Musgrave

THE dining experience at care homesshould be similar to that of arestaurant, it has been claimed.

Dr Daniel Nightingale, head ofdementia services for the PrioryGroup, believes a person-centredapproach that treats residents asindividuals, looks at the world fromthe person with dementia, gives apositive social environment with anemphasis on practical application isthe way forward.

Speaking at the inaugural SJBAssociates dementia conference inCounty Durham, Dan said: “Simplethings you would expect whenvisiting a restaurant such as beinggreeted at the door and acknowled-ged by the server can make adifference in any setting, including acare home. The server repeating themenu in a clear voice to ensure theresident knows the choices on offer,and well presented food combinedwith its smell can also encourageresidents to eat better.”

To improve the experience acrossits care homes, staff, residents and

their relatives were encouraged togive their opinions as part of a‘national themed dining area’competition, with a monetary prizeoffered to the home that made thebest suggestions.

Sharon Butler, managing director ofthe group, added: “We gave thehomes a few months to come upwith their ideas, which was judgedfrom an operational and strategicstandpoint.

“What we saw from the competitionwas enthusiasm and positivity for theproject, a problem solving approach,teamwork and team building and acompetitive spirit.

“This has led to an increasedinterest in the dining area from thoseliving in all of the homes, not just thewinning one, all staff offeringsupport at meal times and a muchmore relaxed and calmer diningexperience.”

The conference featured sessionsled by Tony Duke, MD of Vitalyz, Sus-annah Thwaites from the Tees, Eskand Wear Valley Foundation NHSTrust and Paul Smith, head of dem-entia development at European Care.

Dr Dan Nightingale and Sharon Butler

Care home diningshould be similarto a restaurant

Forum reveals medical findingsALMOST seven out of 10 care homeresidents do not get a regularplanned medical review by their GP,it has been revealed.

And almost half are not getting aregular planned review of theirmedication, according to researchby the Older People’s Specialists’Forum (OPSF) which asked carehomes across the UK about theirexperiences of accessing healthcareservices for their residents.

The survey also found that 59 percent could access specialistdementia services such as memoryclinics and community mentalhealth teams. Most care homescould request input from specialistnurses when a problem had arisen,but very few appeared to haveaccess to input from specialists toprevent them arising.

OPSF chair Dr Duncan Forsythsaid: “Many people in care homeshave complex and serious medicalneeds which require ongoing andcomprehensive care and support.

“The results from our smallsnapshot survey suggest that suchresidents may not be getting thesupport they require. This is a causefor concern. What is particularlyworrying is that only just over halfof residents get a medication rev-iew. A recent study found that carehome residents on average weretaking seven medications each andover two-thirds were subject to atleast one medication error.”

The survey received 125 respon-ses. Some were duplicates, with dif-ferent people from the same homeresponding, and these have notbeen eliminated from the raw data.

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23

Caring UK Commercesection brings you all the latest property,business and trainingnews every month.

In this issue:

� New home tocreate 60 jobsPage 24

� Dementia facilityto replace formercare homePage 25

� Extension getsgo-ahead afterCQC inspectionPage 26

Redevelopment progressBy Dominic Musgrave

THE first phase of a £1.2m redevelop-ment of an East Yorkshire care home hasbeen completed.

Work at the HICA Group ownedOverton House in Cottingham hasincluded refurbishing the dining roomand reshaping the home so it is nowmade up of 39 en-suite single bedrooms.

A cinema room, garden area, quietlounge and reminiscence kitchen featur-ing a range of appliances including awashing machine, microwave, fridge andhob are just some of the new recreation-al areas at the facility.

Manager Kerry Shepherd told CaringUK several of the ideas have been takenfrom the company’s award-winningretirement village in Chorley. She added:“The group has incorporated a lot ofStirling University’s ideas for dementiaacross its care homes. These include all

bedroom doors being different colours,with yellow ones symbolising toilets andcream ones to areas not suitable for resi-dents.

“The corridors have been decoratedwith different pictures to indicate wherethey lead. Around the cinema room theyare of old films or actors, in the sportsarea they are of local sports teams and inthe music area singers and musicians.

“A key part of the redevelopment of thehome was to make it as accessible aspossible. It is all on one floor so we havereplaced some of the walls with windowsand the residents can walk from one partof the home to another and be in a dif-ferent environment with different stimu-lations.”

A garden room leading to an internalcourtyard and garden complete withgreenhouse, raised beds to grow vegeta-bles and two former battery chickenshave been created as part of the work.

Kerry added: “Everyone that visits thehome comments on what a change inatmosphere there is following the work,and when we unveiled the work to theresidents some of them were really emo-tional.

“A lot of the residents’ relatives havecommented how they have noticed achange since the refurbishment. Oneresident used to spend a lot of time justwandering around the home, but shewill now sit in the dining room and havea cup of tea when her sister visits.

“We have had a couple of people visit-ing the home each week for the last fewweeks, and for the first time in thehome’s history we now have a waitinglist.”

Phase two of the work is due to start inthe near future, which will include refur-bishing 19 bedrooms. It is set to be com-pleted next summer.

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CARINGCOMMERCE24

An artist’s impression of the new home

Home to create 60 jobsA LUXURY residential and nursinghome for the elderly complete withits own cinema and residents’ barwill be built in a Northumberlandtown after plans were given the greenlight.

Hadrian Healthcare has beengranted planning permission toredevelop the site of the formerPlessey Road School in Blyth andprovide a 58-bedroom care home,creating up to 60 new jobs for thearea.

Ridley House will also provide ahair salon, traditional-stylenewspaper and sweet shop, a bistro,occupational therapy room andlibrary for its residents to give acommunity village feel.

Managing director Jas Gill said:

“Ridley House will be our latest carehome proving elderly clients withspacious accommodation within avery homely setting, and we aredelighted to have been grantedpermission by NorthumberlandCounty Council to commencebuilding work.

“Ridley House will completely turnpeople’s perceptions of astereotypical old-fashioned carehome on its head.

“Being based in the centre of town,the new development will be in theheart of a thriving community,surrounded by local amenities whichwill help residents to very muchremain part of community life.”

Ridley House will be open toresidents from September 2011.

Bid to raise thestandards ofdignity and careBy Dominic Musgrave

CARE home providers are beingurged to put quality of care andclient’s dignity at the top of theiragendas.

Dr Daniel Nightingale, director ofdementia services at Priory CareHomes, is instigating a number ofinitiatives within the group to drivestandards higher and position thehomes as centres of excellence fordementia care.

All Priory staff will complete aunique training programme aimed atdeveloping dignity dementiachampions.

Dan said the programme, which is designed with help from thecharity Action on Elder Abuse and accredited by BrightonUniversity, has the intention ofraising standards of dignity and carewithin the sector.

He added: “Dementia care ischanging rapidly. People’sexpectations of care have increased

and this brings a number ofchallenges to providers.

“The key challenge is the provisionof a first-class service delivered by a high quality care team in an environment that recognisesand maintains the dignity of clients.

“This is something that all careproviders must acknowledge and aim towards. I do not believe thatthis is happening as a matter ofcourse in all care homes for olderpeople.”

The course addresses subjectsincluding: Implementing theDepartment of Health’s dignitychallenge, person centred dementiacare, supporting people whochallenge the service and abuseawareness and prevention.

To further protect vulnerable olderpeople from the effects of abuse,Priory has also joined together withAction on Elder Abuse to launch aconfidential helpline for clients andstaff.

Tax reclaims forcommercial property

ownersCAPITAL allowances are among the most valuable andleast exploited methods of reducing property owners’income tax or corporation tax liabilities.

Capital allowances arise from capital expenditure onpurchasing or constructing a new property along

with extensions and refurbishments.We carry out retrospective, current year, and new

build capital allowance claims, both for individuals andcompanies in relation to commercial properties rightacross the commercial sector.

Most retrospective capital allowance claims that wehandle lead to a significant tax refund for the client. Wewill quickly identify the validity of a claim withoutobligation. If a claim does not proceed, there will be nofee.

We comprehensively survey the property which allowsus to identify any qualifying items that, for numerousreasons, have previously not been claimed.

Enquiries: Telephone 01246 293011 or visit www.salmon-business.com

A NEW £1.5m 24-bed extension hasopened at a Uttoxeter care home.

The expansion at The HermitageResidential Home has seen theregistration almost treble from 11 to30, and four new residents moved into the ladies’ only facility in the firstweek.

Manager Louise Hurst told CaringUK the new en-suite bedrooms offerdigital television and internet access.

She added: “The new building wasnecessary as the business wasn’teconomically viable with just 11bedrooms.

“We have recruited two newmembers of staff to take us to 22, anda lot of those already working herehave increased their hours.

“It is going to be a tough challenge,but it is one that we are all lookingforward to. We are going to hold anopen day in early November tocelebrate.”

Louise said she had hoped TheHairy Bikers would open the newfacility as the residents enjoywatching their programmes ontelevision, but they are unavailable.

The new wing has not yet beenofficially named as the home isseeking suggestions, and plans arenow under way for landscaping thegardens next spring.

The home was established 74 yearsago when benefactor Ellen MaryBamford donated her family homeand its grounds to the Uttoxeter andDistrict Nursing Association, inmemory of her husband Dr CharlesBamford.

Its purpose was to provide careservices to long term residents of thetown in need of care. Due toincreasing costs the home has beenchallenged to keep afloat and thetrustees have needed to sell land tocontinue to provide the care needed.

Home opens extension

A SERIES of MyBusiness seminarsaimed at offering guidance to notonly existing operators but tothose seeking to invest or acquirecare homes for the first time hasbeen launched at the Care Show.

As one of the directors of thespecialist care home agency, DCCare, Anita Allen has more than 25years’ experience within the caresector, and as a banker turnedagent, she hopes her seminar will

explain the processes andtimescales involved.

The care home industry is one ofthe most highly regulated businesssectors in the UK, and it is not justa question of acquiring bricks andmortar.

During this seminar Anita hopesto be thought provoking and helpinvestors to consider why, what,where, when and also how do youacquire a care home.

DC Care’s Anita to speak at Show

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25CARINGCOMMERCE

MAYOR Barry Goldhart launched anew project in Bournemouth whichwill see an existing care home demol-ished and rebuilt as a purpose-builtspecialist dementia facility.

The new Highfield Manor willinclude 45 bedrooms, and incorpo-rate many of the latest design fea-tures for people who have the condi-tion.

Manager Dave Vaitlingon toldCaring UK that staff and most of the27 residents at Highfield will bemoved to The Sheridan care home,managed by Reshad Koussa.

The Sheridan has also reopenedearly this year after extensive refur-bishment and a new extension, giv-ing more facilities to people withdementia.

He added: “We are hoping to createanother haven for people with

dementia and related illnesses to bethemselves, with careful design tofacilitate a higher degree of indepen-dence by providing new technologyin each room and communal areasand a sensory garden.

“This will allow us to offer anotherstrand of care in Bournemouth with-out compromising our high standardor dilute our philosophy of care weoffer in any way.

“The guidance of the design projectwere innovative in the approach tonew building for dementia care andmeticulously design by YasminKoussa, the proprietor, and her sonAshley and daughter Saira, who alsohave a keen interest in the new pro-ject. Studies have found out that aproper design will reduce the needfor related drugs for people sufferingfrom dementia.”

Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth, Barry and Vivienne Goldbart, launch the new project with manager Dave Vaitilingon and Reshad and Yasmin Koussa.

Demolished hometo make way fordementia facility

DFE Commercial has completed the sale of Queen Anne Lodge in Southsea. The propertydates back to the Victorian era and comprises of three substantial dwellings with accom-modation over four floors. Registration is for 40 in 16 single rooms and 12 doubles, andthe home also has a passenger lift.

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CARINGCOMMERCE26

Extension gets go-aheadafter CQC inspectionAN extension to a dementia unit ata Wallingford care home has beengiven the green light following aCQC inspection.

The extension at Friends of theElderly’s Old Vicarage consists oftwo new bedrooms to bring thetotal in the dementia unit to 12,and also included extending thedining room to include a cafe area,a wet room and a sensory room.

Director of residential care saidthe rooms have already been filled.

She added: “The fact is that

dementia in the area and the UKas a whole is on the increase so, forus to be able to extend ourspecialised care and servicesmeans a great deal.

“That we’ve already been able tofill the additional spaces merelyunderlines this and we will, ofcourse, continue to look at ways tofurther extend our care services.”

In addition to the dementiaextension, the three-star home isregistered to provide nursing andresidential care for 40 residents.

Mayor of Hereford Anna Toon opens Charles Court care home

MAYOR of Hereford Anna Toonofficially opened the Priory Group’snew Charles Court care home, whichwill create up to 60 jobs in the area.

She was joined by chief operatingofficer Matthew Franzidis, head ofdementia services Dr DanielNightingale, home manager SusanMarshall and Millicent Luty, one ofthe first residents to move into thehome.

The purpose-built nursing homehas bedrooms for 76 residentsneeding nursing or dementia nursingcare.

There is also be a choice of loungesand dining areas and a secure,enclosed landscaped garden.

All residents have access tocarefully planned activities and awide range of professionals includinga hairdresser, chiropodist, opticianand GP.

One of the first events at the homewas the launch of a trainingprogramme aimed at developingdignity dementia champions withinthe care group. It has been designedwith help from the charity Action onElder Abuse.

Mayor opens new care home

Zest integrates a competitive edgeZEST Care Systems has unveiled a

software innovation which will relieve theever increasing pressures and demands onowners and managers as they battle tomanage quality of care, compliance,budgets and make a profit.

Called Fusion, software is a union ofsolutions for the growing number ofadministrative problems care homes face. Itis a business tool which replaces many ofthe time consuming administrative tasks byintegrating a number of systems into one.

Whether it is best practice or animprovement of personal centred care, thesoftware has been developed specifically toallow care homes to manage some of theseissues by allowing mangers to control rotas,staffing budgets, recruitment, training andreporting and legal compliance at thetouch of a button.

With live updates and system back-up and on-site training it really is a case of just switching to a simplesystem to gain greater efficiencies and profits.

Enquiries: Telephone 0844 504 4883.

26 19/10/10 16:46 Page 1

27CARINGCOMMERCE

By Stuart Marchant and Emily Talbot

THE transition from the old legalframework to the new brought inby the Health and Social Care Act2008 (the Act) is finally drawing toa close.

Although most providers willhave come through the processrelatively unscathed, there willinevitably be some casualties,whether through the imposition ofcompliance conditions upon theirregistration or through a decisionnot to renew their registration atall.

As before, if you find yourself insuch a situation, there are stepsthat can be taken, and it will beimportant to examine your certifi-cate of registration carefully uponreceipt.

If you feel that any restrictive orcompliance condition is not fairthen you will have to act swiftly topersuade CQC to have it removed.Why is it important to removeunwanted conditions? BecauseCQC can prosecute for breachwithout any notice.

The Act affords the right forproviders to make representationsboth in relation to Notices ofDecision (in relation to conditionsthat will be imposed on registra-tion) and Notices of Proposal (inrelation to a refusal of an applica-tion for registration).

All representations have to bemade within 28 days of the datethe Notice is deemed to be served(if sent by email, the date after theemail was sent; if sent by post,three days after the Notice wasposted).

It is worth noting that CQC haveexpressed a preference for receiv-ing representations on their stan-dard form (available on the web-site) in order to “avoid any doubt

that representations are beingmade”. This is not binding, but domake any alternative documentclear that it contains representa-tions.

CQC will then have a further 28days to consider your representa-tions before coming to a conclu-sion as to whether your represen-tations should be upheld or not.In the case of a Notice of Proposal,if CQC decide not to uphold yourrepresentations, the original deci-sion will be adopted and a Noticeof Decision will be sent to theprovider.

All Notices of Decision can beappealed by way of application tothe First-tier Tribunal (Health,Education and Social CareChamber), and its website detailsthe process for doing so.

If you have missed the deadlinefor representations in relation toconditions your registration cer-tificate, all is not lost. You stillhave the option of applying for avariation of the conditions.

However, it is worth remember-ing that there are fees for suchapplications; as much as £1,093for a care home where the varia-tion would require a visit by CQC.And until the variation has comeinto force you will still have tocomply with the conditions ofyour registration.

Finally, whenever representa-tions are made (or applications forvariation) robust evidence of whya condition should not apply, orwhy you should be registered as aprovider, should always be sup-plied so as to give you the bestchance of success.

You may need to take advice onthis.

� Stuart Marchant is a partnerand Emily Talbot a solicitor atBates Wells and Braithwaite.

Stuart Marchant Emily Talbot

How to dealwith Actrestrictions

27 19/10/10 16:47 Page 1

CARINGCOMMERCE28

A SCOTTISH care home celebratedits 10th anniversary with a receptionand concert hosted by a popularlocal entertainer.

Sam Poddar, chairman and founderof Lambhill Court Limited, who ownFlorence House, bought the formerschool and transformed it into a 55-bed care home.

Two residents and six staff werepresented with special awards at theevent to mark the 10 years they havelived and worked at the home.

A special presentation was alsomade to Sam and his wife Sunita tothank them for maintaining highstandards of care and attention at thehome.

Sam said: “We strive to provide ourresidents with high quality careprovided by dedicated and highly-skilled staff.

“We are equally committed toenabling people to grow older withdignity, independence and security,and we feel our progressive approachto care homes allows residents to feelthey are truly in the comforts ofhome.

“Florence House is a great exampleof how a real community sprit canturn a care home into a real homefrom home for all its residents.”

Sam and Sunita run three otherhomes, while their son Deepak anddaughter Arti operate one each underthe banners of Everest Care andSterling Care Homes respectively. Allof their facilities are in the Glasgowarea.

Arti, who has also won a string ofawards in recent years includingbeing named female business personof the year at the Scottish EthnicAwards, said: “Working together hasmany advantages. It means we canshare our resources and ideas, andutilise the specialist fields that someof our staff have, whether it bedementia or palliative care.

“We can also give each individualcompany our support. The onlydown side of working as a family isthat we always seem to be talkingabout work.”

The family are opening a new carehome in the city next month.

Florence House

Home marks its10th birthdaywith reception

THE owner of a Paisley carehome which has received amassive rating boost is planninga £1m refurbishment to give itluxury status.

Entrepreneur Arti Poddar’s 50-bed Nightingale House hasmoved from a grade two to agrade five ‘very good’ rating fromthe Care Commission after justover a year of takeover.

And a major redevelopment willbe carried out over the next yearwhich will create a 45-bed homewith en-suite bathrooms, and arange of facilities including LCDTVs with Freeview and Skype,power sockets at hip level, self-closing doors, new carpets andwall coverings.

Arti said Nightingale House willalso benefit from new boilers andradiators, lowered ceilings, anenhanced kitchen and day spacesplus a hairdresser/therapy room.

She added: “We are committedto providing a homelyenvironment where our residentsare respected, and feel contentand secure without compromis-ing their independence.

“These new grades aretestimony to the commitmentand dedication of our staff andreflect the views of our residentsand their relatives. We are by nomeans complacent, but it iswelcome feedback following ourcontinued efforts over the pastyear.”

£1m refurbishmentfor Paisley home

Keynote conference speaker namedDIRECTOR general of social careDavid Behan will be the keynotespeaker at ECCA’s conference andexhibition ‘For Better or For Worse?’

Other speakers at the annual eventat the Bloomsbury Holiday Inn onNovember 17 include Liz McSheehy,chief executive of the National SkillsAcademy, professor Alistair Burns,national clinical director for

dementia and Paul Allen, chiefexecutive of the Abbeyfield Society.

To complement the speakers aseries of afternoon seminar sessionswill offer solutions and advice on arange of topical subjects, while theexhibition area will again be filledwith some of the care sector’s leadingorganisations.

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31CARINGNEWS

A LANCASHIRE college has joinedforces with its local branch of AgeConcern to design and produceactivity boxes intended to engagewith and stimulate the minds of peo-ple with dementia.

Blackpool and The Fylde Collegehas struck up the unique partnershipwith the town’s branch of the charityas a result of a research project beingundertaken by Peter Brooks, a lectur-er in the School of Society, Healthand Childhood .

He told Caring UK the boxes have avariety of themes. These includemusic, knitting and crochet, the sea-side and everyday items.

He added: “I wanted to do someresearch which would have a positiveimpact for service users, their fami-lies and carers. I also wanted toinvolve the students from each levelof courses we teach in Health andSocial Care.

“While charities and organisationsdo a great job working with peoplewho have dementia, I felt we couldoffer more meaningful activities thanthe traditional bingo and dominoes.

“I came up with the idea of theactivity boxes and the students werereally enthusiastic about makingthem so we decided to make some

prototypes to show Age Concern.”

Peter carried out independentresearch in residential settings inSouth and West Lancashire andfound the boxes were well received,particularly the music one.

The lecturer also met with PamelaHill, support services senior managerfor Age Concern in the town, whowas also thinking about developingactivity boxes to encourage dementiasufferers and their carers to be ableto spend quality time together.

She added: “I had been lookingafter my own mum who sufferedfrom dementia and I used to engageher with a number of different activi-ties that helped her. She inspired meto want to do something to help oth-ers who suffer the condition.

“Peter and I met up to look at howwe could work together and werealised that we are both extremelypassionate about the need to createsomething that can help to stimulatethe mind of a dementia sufferer.”

Pamela obtained independentfunding to employ a project workerto deliver and develop the activityboxes, which will be available to peo-ple with the conditions and their car-ers either in residential care settingsor their own homes.

Students Laura Slack and Chelsea Morris join Pamela Hill from Age Concern Blackpooland District, Donna Wiper from the University of Cumbria and Peter Brooks fromBlackpool and The Fylde College at the launch.

Students designactivity boxesfor sufferers

Children drop in for coffeeA COUNTY Antrim care home wel-comed pupils from a nearby primaryschool to a coffee morning to markWorld Alzheimer’s Day.

Residents at Massereene Manorhave been exchanging letters withthe youngsters from Antrim PrimarySchool as part of a penpal scheme,and the event gave them the opportunity to finally meet eachother.

Manager Olive Hall said: “The residents loved having the childrenaround, and talked with them about how they used to live and howthings have changed from then tonow. They have been talking about itfor days.

“The children were given a tourand learned a bit more about what itis like in a nursing home anddementia.”

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CARINGNEWS32

By Margaret Stobbart-Rowlands

AS BUDGETS are squeezed evertighter the onus is on care homeowners and managers to find freshways of making their home standout from the crowd to bothcommissioners and the public.

As they tighten their belts manyowners and managers may look tocut back on training, particularly ina sector with a reputation for highstaff turnover.

The Gold Standards Framework isa programme that offers the carehome industry an opportunity tobetter equip individual staffmembers and the wholeorganisation to deliver high qualitycare for all of their residents,particularly those nearing the endof life, and reduce hospitaladmissions and deaths.

The GSF in Care HomesProgramme enables improvementsacross the whole organisation. Itinvolves every member of staff inthe training process to improve endof life care on three levels – for theindividuals involved, for the home

as a whole and for the health andsocial care community around thehome.

The care provider obtains not justa better trained and motivatedworkforce and better systems ofworking, but also improvescollaboration and communicationwith GPs, district nurses and otherhealth and social care profession-als.

These simple but important stepsenable staff not only to better plantheir residents’ care but also avoidcrises caused by unexpectedevents. With plans in place staff feelbetter able to cope. Many of thehomes that have completed thetraining programme have increasedthe number of residents fulfillingtheir wish to die in the home ratherthan in hospital. This in turn givesstaff a real sense of satisfactionfrom delivering genuine,individualised care to theirresidents.

Almost 1,500 homes have nowcompleted the trainingprogramme. More than 100 homesa year are going through the

accreditation process. It’s arigorous but rewarding.

Having completed the training,homes must undertake selfassessment against 20 clearstandards of best practice, submit aportfolio of evidence of integrationof the principles and standards ofGSF, and receive a supportive visitfrom a quality assessor.

The GSF Centre sends a letter tothe CQC and to the localcommissioners informing them ofthe award, and Age UK and all ofthe four major care homesorganisations endorse the QualityHallmark Award.

In January the latest round ofsuccessful homes will receive theirGSFCH Quality Hallmark Award –recognition of the outstanding endof life care they are providing fortheir residents – at the GSF AnnualCare Homes Conference.

This quality recognition providesfamilies and cruciallycommissioners with a tangibleassurance that the home isdelivering personalised care andreducing inappropriate hospital

admissions and deaths. It alsoprovides owners and managerswith the opportunity to initiatediscussions with commissionersabout paying a premium price forpremium care. � Margaret Stobbart-Rowlands isthe GSF’s care homes projectmanager.

Margaret Stobbart-Rowlands

Programme ‘a rigorousbut rewarding process’

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33CARINGNEWS

Online company lands £45m contractAN online purchasing company tothe catering and hospitality industryhas landed a £45 million contractwith Southern Cross to supply themwith milk and bread products for thenext three years.

This comes after a five year rela-tionship between Greater

Manchester based e-foods and thecare home provider supplying meatand fresh produce. Specialist require-ments are also catered for includingsourcing Halal and Kosher productsas well as dietary specific productssuch as gluten free, lactose intolerantand diabetic items.

Cornish charity unveils its Wall of WishesA CORNISH charity marked Internat-ional Older People’s Day by launch-ing a unique piece of research to cap-ture people’s ambitions for later lifeand shape future care provision.

Cornwall Care unveiled a Wall ofWishes on its new website, designedto enable people to share their hopesand desires for the kind of life they

want to lead when they are older.Chief executive Douglas Webb said:

“The Wall of Wishes is a piece ofresearch designed to broaden ourunderstanding as to the kind of lifelocal people want to live in older age.

“Wishes registered will be used tosteer the quality care provision wedeliver across the county.”

Residents at an Oldham care home had two reasons to celebrate. During Britishfood fortnight, Millfield Care Home chef Roz Rhodes created a meal using allBritish produce in the home’s new kitchen installed with the latest high-techequipment. Picture: Chef Roz Rhodes in her new kitchen

Residents touch downRESIDENTS at a Cumbrian carehome spent the day with playersand behind the scenes staff atCarlisle Rugby Club.

Residents met with the club chairman, players and sponsors, had photos with first XV captainMark Barron and were waited onhand and foot by the director ofrugby.

Players from the club had previ-ously attended Croftfield’s open dayin August to celebrate the new regis-tration and ‘good’ rating.

Keynote speakerPROFESSOR Sayeed Khan, chief med-ical adviser of EEF and board memberof the Health and Safety Executive, willgive the keynote speech at theNASHiCS/NACC annual seminar. Theprovisional programme also includespresentations from Matthew Hamar,HSE health and social care lead, MarkThomas from Health and SafetyLaboratories and Patrick Hyde, a char-tered physiotherapist at LoughboroughUniversity. The conference is at theJohn Charles Centre for Sport Stadiumin Leeds on November 17.

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35CARINGNEWS

Changes to ‘chaotic’ diningexperience serve upimprovements at unitBy Dominic Musgrave

THE manager of a dementia unit inthe North East says transformingmealtimes has improved life at thehome.

Karen James, who works at SeahamHouse, which is part of Barchester’sThe Hawthorns Care Centre inPeterlee, said the number of inci-dents, the majority of which hap-pened at mealtimes, has dropped,and the residents’ health and well-being has improved.

She told Caring UK the dining expe-rience at the home was ‘chaotic’before the changes were made.

“Prior to the changes we had mealsbeing ordered a week in advance andmealtimes being given to the 30 resi-dents over a short period of time,”Karen added. “But after I attended aleadership course with David Sheardwe reflected upon the mealtimes as ahotspot for triggering incidents anddecided to change the experience forthe benefit of both residents andstaff.

“The residents who needed fullassistance with their meals were notgetting any quality time, and thosewith early onset dementia didn’t

want people coming around pickingthe food off their plates. We werespreading ourselves around too thin-ly.”

The home’s mealtimes are nowdone in different sittings dependingon a resident’s condition, with resi-dents having a choice from twoplates of food put in front of themrather than deciding from pictures.

Karen added: “Different areas of thehome are now used for meals, withthose who need full assistance eatingfirst and staff then encouraged to sitdown and eat with those that aremore independent.

“The residents tend to follow whatthe staff are doing and sit at the tablefor longer than they did before. Wealso encourage the families to comein and eat with those residents whohave a later stage of the condition.

“We don’t use the dining room foractivities between 11am and 12pm,and we regularly make cakes or breadto create the smell of cooking in thearea to attract the residents. We alsohave soothing music playing to relaxthe members during mealtimes.”

Karen has also banned the tea trol-ley being taken around the home toencourage as many residents as pos-

sible to maintain independence.She added: “I heard a carer saying

to a resident that the tea trolleywould be on its way in half an hourand decided to get rid of it.

“We have created a living skillskitchen so the residents can maketheir own drinks and snacks with thehelp of a carer when they want onerather than wait. All of these changeshave made the staff and residents alot calmer.”

Barchester Healthcare, who ownSeaham House, shows continued andsustained growth, according to thelatest Sunday Times HSBC Top Track250 league table.

Now in its sixth year, the leaguetable ranks Britain’s 250 biggest mid-market private companies, the nexttier down from the Top Track 100biggest private companies, by theirlatest available audited accounts.

The care provider has more than200 homes nationwide and is rankedat number 30, up eleven rankingsfrom 2009. � Have you made major changes atyour care home recently? Let Dominic Musgrave know by ring-ing 01226 734407 or emaildm@whpl.net

Care groupdonates cashto hospiceA SCOTTISH care group hasdonated more than £43,000 tothe Children’s HospiceAssociation Scotland (CHAS).

The money was raised througha variety of fundraising eventsheld at Balhousie Care Group’s20 care homes across the coun-try and a payroll giving scheme.

The Italian Job charity ballheld at the Dundee Hilton Hotelearlier this year raised around£30,000 for the charity.

It will support the charity’swork providing the only hospiceservices in Scotland for childrenand young people with life-shortening conditions.

Coffee timeA CARLISLE care home raised £45 forcharity when it took part inMacmillan Cancer Supports ‘World’sBiggest Coffee Morning’.

Residents, relatives and staff atCroftfield, run by Wright Care Homes UK Ltd, enjoyed home-madescones with cream and jam made by cook Ellen Botterill, endless cups of tea and a sing-a-longsession run by activities coordinatorHeather Walker.

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CARINGCARE AWARDS36

The cream ofthe care sectorhas beencelebrated atthree glitteringawardceremonies.DominicMusgravereports.

GLENYS Robinson MBE, a social careassessor at Staffordshire CountyCouncil, won the outstandingcontribution to social care category atthe Great West Midlands Care Awards.

The event, supported by theDepartment of Health and HETSoftware, is part of the Great BritishCare Awards, a series of regionalawards which celebrates excellence insocial care and pay tribute to thosewho work in the sector throughoutEngland. Caring UK magazine isagain the media partner.

Seventeen categories were availablefor nomination, which represented allareas of the care sector, whether it beolder people or specialist services,and from frontline staff such as careworkers and care managers to peoplewho have made an impact in otherways such as training or specialistcare in areas such as dementia andinnovation. Winners from the awardswill be invited to attend the nationalfinals for either the home care or carehome sector, which will take place inMay and June at the Royal Courts ofJustice in London.

Des Coleman from BBC’s The OneShow presented the ceremony, whilethe auctioning of a jeroboam ofFrench rose wine raised £470 for theCare Professionals Benevolent Fund.

The Maggie’s Centre is once again thecharity the awards are supporting.

Other winners: Care employer(more than 250 employees) - HelpingHands at Home, Alcester; Careemployer (less than 250 employees) -Martin and Wendy Beesley, All CareShropshire, Shrewsbury; Care homeworker - Heather Seabury, EnglishCare Ltd, Shrewsbury; Home careworker - Kelly Bywater, Black CountryHousing Group, Rowley Regis; Carenewcomer - Callum Fowler, Housing21, Walsall; Care home registeredmanager - Karen Cooper, DukeriesHealthcare, Castle Vale, Birmingham;Homecare registered manager - CarolLaw, Crossroads Care, Kingswinford;Nutrition and hydration - BowbrookHouse, Shrewsbury; Dignity in care -Sandra Daniel, Brighton House,Newcastle-under-Lyme; Dementiacarer - Sheila Heath, DH Homecare,Crewe; Care team - DarwinDomiciliary Carers, Telford; Activityorganiser - Jarrod Mason, TheWoodlands, Studley; Ancillary worker- Nicola Burton, BUPA, Bromsgrove;Care trainer - Tracey Kirkton andFiona Burton, Stoke on Trent CityCouncil; Care innovator - SamanthaMarriott, Dignus Healthcare,Birmingham; Putting people first -Tipton.

Former EastEnderhelps care winnerscelebrate success ...

Award winnerscelebrate theirsuccesses withcategory sponsors,event organisersMike Padgham andLisa Carr and specialguest Des Coleman.

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37CARINGCARE AWARDS

Capital’s care recognisedat inaugural eventTHE Emirates Stadium provided aspectacular backdrop for the finalsof the inaugural Great London CareAwards.

There were a total of 14 awardscategories available for nomina-tion, and the awards were present-ed by Holby City actor MarkMoraghan.

Winners: Care employer - DennisMawadzi, Renaissance PersonnelLtd, Kentish Town; Care homeworker - Patricia Bacon, AshbrookCourt, Stewardstone; Home careworker - Sophie Roberts, EnaraGroup, Kentish Town; Care new-comer - Sumer Kumar Paul,Greensleeves Homes Trust, RitaRoad; Care home registered man-ager - Deborah Miller, Central

London Community Health Care,Regency Street; Home care regis-tered manager - Sharon Popps,Home Choice Care, Chelmsford;Care home nutrition and hydration- Alaa Mohamed, Queen ElizabethHouse, Greensleeves Homes Trust,Rita Road; Dignity in care - GraceSmith, RCHL, Ilford; Dementiacarer - Laura Griffiths, ManagingCare, Putney; Care team - ElmGrove House, Hammersmith; Carehome activity organiser - ChristinaNimako, Jewish Care, Brent Cross;Ancillary worker - Tony Becker,Ashbrook Court, Stewardstone;Care trainer - Gill Yentis, JewishCare; Outstanding contribution tosocial care - Sushil Radia,Westminster Home Care.

The team behind the Great British Care Awards gather on the pitch at TheEmirates, while actor Mark Moraghan celebrates with the winners.

MHA celebrate ahat-trick of awardsMHA Care Group were the big win-ners at the Great East Midlands CareAwards.

The Derby-based company scoopedthree prizes at the second annual cer-emony held at the East MidlandsConference Centre in Nottingham,which was presented by former BucksFizz star Cheryl Baker.

Anna Golightly took the care homeregistered manager category, withBeverley Murray and Lynne Bell win-ning the ancillary worker and trainerprizes respectively.

Seventeen awards were handed outin total, and the other winners were:Care employer - Church FarmNursing Home, Cotgrave; Care homeworker - Emma Herring, MortonGrange, Alfreton; Home care worker -Angela Parker, Percurra Ltd, WestBrigford; Care newcomer - OliverRutherford, Oaklands CommunityCentre, Derby; Home care registeredmanager - Heather Cave, Radis,Hatton; Care nutrition and hydration- Ridgeway House kitchen team,Towcester; Dignity in care - DavidGlover, Oaklands community centre,Derby; Dementia care worker - LizBaker, Northamptonshire CountyCouncil; Care team - Specialistdementia team, NorthamptonshireCounty Council; Care activity organ-iser - Ann Lloyd, Innova House,

Mansfield; Care innovator - SuJarmulewski, NorthamptonshireCounty Council; Putting People First/Personalisation - Community Lives,Northamptonshire County Council;Carer’s award - Valerie Horobin, TwoDales, Derbyshire; Outstanding con-tribution to social care - Tina Morley-Ramage, Nottinghamshire CountyCouncil.

Former Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker wasthe guest presenter.

Special guest Cheryl Baker andsponsors and organisers with thewinners at the second Great EastMidlands Care Awards.

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CARINGNEWS38

A Nottingham care home that was close to being shut down has been transformed thanks to thehard work of its manager. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Nora’s determination pays offWHEN Nora Gazeley took over therunning of Kingfisher Court in Cliftonit had a zero-star rating from theinspectorate, was less than half fulland had a bad reputation.

Two years later it is graded ‘good’ bythe CQC and, for the first time in its20-year history, has a waiting list.

Nora said her priority when joiningthe home when it was purchased byMonarch was the welfare of theresidents living there.

She added: “It was very tired and onthe verge of closing when I took over,but my main focus had to be theresidents living here and puttingpolicies and procedures in place, notthe fabric of the building.

“I also wanted to inspire the staffand get them the training theydesperately needed. Some have left oftheir own accord, but a lot haveremained and are flourishing here.

“We had to build a lot of bridgesalong the way, which involved lots ofmeetings and cups of tea, buthopefully we are now heading in theright direction, although we willcertainly not be resting on ourlaurels. I firmly believe that you getout what you are willing to put in.”

Two-thirds of the 40 residents at thehome have some form of dementia,and a redevelopment programme isin place which has seen carpets andfurnishings replaced, and thecreation of a reminiscence roomcomplete with memorabilia from the1940s and 50s.

Nora added: “We are also renamingand theming four of the corridorsaround the home. Nottingham Roadwill be decorated with old pictures ofthe city, and Matchday Way will havea sporting theme.

“Hollywood Boulevard will havestars on the floor with the names andpictures of the residents who live inthat particular area on them, and HitParade will have old vinyl recordswith the same as well.

“Once that particular resident dieswe will give either the star or therecord to the resident's family as akeepsake to remember their timewith us.”

The home also has its own wish treein reception, which aims to make theresidents’ dreams come true ifpossible. Previously these haveincluded a resident meetingtelevision presenter Jeremy Kyle andanother the stars of a pantomime.

Nora Gazeley

THE first stage of a four phase plan tocreate a sensory garden at KingfisherCourt for the residents was alsorecently opened by the city's mayor.

The home will be working closelywith the nearby Trent University onthe remainder of the project.

Nora added: “We wanted to createsomewhere in the grounds where theresidents could go, and the first phaseincluded a mural on one of the wallspainted by a member of staff’shusband.

“We have used the old toilets andbaths that we have ripped out of thehome as planters, and the residentshave been working with the activitiesco-ordinator on some decorations.

“Phases two and three will see us

working with a group from theUniversity called The Gorilla Force oncreating an area that will have a largepagoda, aviary, pets corner andgreenhouse, and we hope to have itcomplete by next summer.”

Phase four will see the erection oftwo log cabins - one to be used as acoffee shop and the other a sittingarea.

Nora and her staff have raised a lotof money for the work throughhaving stalls at car boot sales andvarious other events, with acommittee made up of family andmembers of the local communityrecently being formed to help sourcefunds for the remainder of the work.

First stage of garden opensThe mural which dominates the new sensory garden.

A GREENWICH care home residenthas become a voice for local care.

The dignity champion role willsee Riverlee’s Mary Whitehorn actas the spokesperson for people incare homes around the GreaterLondon district in a bid to ensureall of them are treated with therespect and dignity they deserve.

The 71-year-old, who iswheelchair bound, has been at theSanctuary Care home for five years.

She said: “The most importantpart of the role for me is to be thevoice for residents who are unableto express their needs or wishes

themselves.“I feel it is an extremely

important role – although we livein a care home we still have ourvoice and we want to be heard andrespected by everyone.

“My friends are pleased that Inow have this role as they know Ican speak out for them ifnecessary.”

The Dignity in Care campaign,launched nationally in 2006, aimsto to inspire people to take action,spread best practice and rewardand recognise those who make adifference and go that extra mile.

ResidentMary, 71,becomes adignitychampion

Mary Whitehorn

Breakfasts to mark eventCATERING staff at an Otley carehome have been busy preparingcooked breakfasts as part of anational event to mark British FoodFortnight.

Residents living in Anchor’s TealBeck House were treated to a varietyof cooked delights as part of the careprovider’s attempt to cook 5,000breakfasts nationally.

Chef manager Jonathon Keedy saidnutritious meals are a key part of aresident’s day at the home.

He added: “Our residents love ourcooked breakfasts so we wanted tojoin the campaign for staff acrossAnchor to prepare 5,000 cookedbreakfasts to highlight theimportance of British food.

“We always cook meals made fromfresh, seasonal ingredients as theyare not only popular with ourresidents but it aids their physicaland mental well-being.”

This is the third year Anchor hastaken part in British food fortnight.

Chef JonathanKeedy withSydney Calvertand Betty Holmes

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Village gainsnew shopafter 25 yearsBy Dominic Musgrave

AN Oxfordshire village has a newshop more than 25 years after the lastone closed.

The shop has been provided byRichmond Villages, and is locatednear the entrance to its new retirement complex in LetcombeRegis, and was formally opened by John Naish, chairman of theWantage and District Chamber ofCommerce.

The new shop stocks basic goods aswell as fresh produce, and as it devel-ops it will sell locally sourced items,in addition to its own speciality bis-cuits, preserves and sweets.

Paddy Brice, managing director ofRichmond Villages, said: “We aremost grateful for the support we’vereceived from the people ofLetcombe Regis and actively encour-age them to come into our retire-ment village and share our facilities,such as the wellness spa and swim-ming pool.

“It’s very much a two-way relation-ship. We were only too pleased toprovide the shop and café, which is agood focal point for the entire com-munity.”

Local people are employed in theshop, including Diane Ockwell wholives in Letcombe Regis, and Brenda

Groves, who went to school inLetcombe Regis and who now lives inWantage.

Its running is overseen bySamantha De La Querra, who is alsomanager of the wellness spa at theretirement village and who wasinvolved in setting up an award win-ning village shop in Tackley, aroundeight miles north of Oxford.

Geoff Owen, of Letcombe RegisGood Neighbours scheme, said thearrival of the retirement village hashad many knock-on benefits for thelocal community.

He added: “Through various socialevents, we’ve established some greatfriendships with residents, and theopening of the shop is the icing onthe cake.

“We can buy life’s little essentials onthe doorstep instead of travellingtwo-and-a-half miles into Wantage,and the café is a lovely place to stopand have a coffee, something to eatand a chat.

“It’s good to see a local shop open-ing, instead of closing.”

Around 300 people of all agesattended the shop opening on a spe-cial community and information day,which included a free barbecue,entertainment and more than 30community groups, organisationsand charities.

Shop supervisor Diane Ockwell and assistant Brenda Groves in the new shop

One in 10 elderly ‘at risk of malnutrition’ONE in 10 elderly people in Britainare at risk of malnutrition, a newreport has claimed.

The study by the NationalAssociation of Care Catering(NACC) found that communitymeal services for pensioners aredisappearing as local authoritieshave no legal obligation to providethem.

The NACC says investing in thecare catering sector rather than cut-ting these services will help savemoney in the long term.

They cite research in Australia hasshown that spending £1 on goodnutrition is likely to save £5 on thehealth budget as care packages are

reduced.In a bid to improve meal services

nationwide the NACC and theCaroline Walker Trust has drawn upsingle Nutrition Standard to beused universally in a bid to improvefood nutrition.

Chairman Derek Johnson said:“The Nutrition Standard will ensureconsistency in the nutritional con-tent of food provided throughoutthe care catering sector.

“The launch of the standardbuilds on the 10 Key Characteristicsfor Good Nutritional Care initiativelaunched last month.

“It is, however, still vital that gov-ernment support this standard and

are committed to providing care forthe elderly, not only allowing thema real choice in care services, butalso saving the NHS money in theyears to come.”

The report, compiled from aroundtable discussion chaired byBaroness Greengross, says goodnutrition is not just about food, butalso about care service provision,and community meal provision andaccess to food should be consideredas a core part of the social carepackage provided for all older peo-ple.

Derek added: "The report identi-fies those working in the care cater-ing sector as being in an ideal posi-

tion to monitor the health of olderpeople and encourage them to eatwell, lowering the risk of malnutri-tion.

"Regular delivery of meals to thehome is key to ensuring older peo-ple have regular contact with oth-ers.

"However, the need for localauthorities to cut costs due toslashed budgets has led to a reduc-tion in these services, with person-alisation reduced to the lowestcommon denominator in somecases, meaning social interactionand its vital role in good health isignored.”

Town’s first extra carehousing scheme opensWASHINGTON’S first extra care housing scheme was officiallyopened by Sunderland city council, deputy mayor NormaWright.

Developed by Housing 21 on a for-mer care home site, the £5.5mWoodridge Gardens scheme features39 purpose-built apartments with 24-hour care and support services onhand for residents.

The occasion was marked by acommemorative plaque, and a per-formance of the famous Wearside

folk song ‘The Lambton Worm’ byyear six students from nearbyColumbia Grange School.

Facilities include a restaurant,activity room, hair salon and landscaped gardens open both to residents and the local communi-ty.

Woodridge Gardens is the thirdextra care scheme to be opened inthe Sunderland area, following earlierschemes in Silksworth and Hetton LeHole.

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41CARINGHOMECARE

MORE than 100 jobswill be created by ahomecare companybeing launched inHarlow and Eppingwhich will offer acare and supportservice to peoplewithin their ownhomes.

Lee Taylor, ownerand managing direc-tor of the newCaremark (Harlowand Epping) hasspent the past 18months researchingthe sector.

He has now com-pleted his initialfranchise trainingcourse with thecompany held bythe support team inPulborough, West Sussex. It coverseverything that a franchise ownerneeds to know to start and build asuccessful Caremark business.

Lee added: “It was of great impor-tance to me to be able to serve thecommunity which is local to me.Being able to offer such a valuable,high quality care service within theHarlow and Epping area was a keyfactor in my decision to partnerwith Caremark’’.

“My next step is to locate office

space and I have already identifiedseveral potential locations.Thereafter I will be completing myCQC registration application andwill recruit and train at least 10care and support workers ready foropening day.

“I hope to be able to create over100 jobs within my first year oftrading. From then onwards thegoal is to become Harlow andEpping’s best provider of homecare.”

Provider set to create100 jobs in first year

Kevin Lewis, founder and managing director ofCaremark, with Lee Taylor.

Paralympian Mark inspiresdelegates at conferencePARALYMPIAN Mark Eccleston, whodefied the odds to become a goldmedallist, motivated delegates athomecare provider Bluebird Care’sannual conference and awardsevening.

Mark described how he overcamepersonal hardship and disappoint-ment after a promising rugby leaguecareer was cut short when he was 16by an accident which severed hisspinal cord – leaving him paralysedand reliant on a wheelchair.

He also talked about the mentalrecovery which saw him triumphboth nationally and internationally in

wheelchair rugby and later table ten-nis.

Bluebird Care’s group managingdirector Paul Tarsey said: “Mark’sstory is an inspiration to us all and wehope it will enthuse and motivate ourfranchise owners and also help themgain a deeper understanding of thechallenges as well as the achieve-ments of a successful Paralympiansuch as Mark.”

More than 130 delegates attendedthe event at the Marriott Hotel andCountry Club, Forest of Arden,Warwickshire.

Mayor of Havant Yvonne Weeks formally opened Echoes Community Care’s new officesin the town. The company has had an office in Havant for more than 10 years, and waspurchased by the Somerset Care Group in 2004.It now provides nearly 4,000 hours of care and support to people living in the area, andthe event was attended by Somerset Care Group’s board members, as well as EchoesCommunity Care staff and representatives of other public services.

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New laundry service ‘brilliant’When The Disability Community launched an innovative laundry service they selected a 16 kg Primus

washer-extractor and a complementary Speed Queen tumble dryer from Armstrong Commercial LaundrySystems. Customers say the service is ‘brilliant’.

The Disability Community provides a wide range of services todisabled and vulnerable people of all ages in Glasgow. It becameapparent that laundry posed significant problems to many serviceusers. Even some people with washing machines could not beadequately served by visiting care workers because the carer couldnot wait to unload the machine. So The Disabled Communitydecided to set up its own laundry service.

Customers are given a large or small bag for their washing. TheCommunity collects it, processes it and delivers it back to thecustomer the next day. The laundry operators find the Armstrongequipment versatile, quiet and easy to operate and, says MelanieFyfe, Volunteer and Operations Coordinator, the results areexcellent and the customers are delighted.

For further information contact Armstrong CommercialLaundry Systems, Ampere Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14

2AE Tel 01635 263410 Fax 01635 32434 E enquiries@armstrong-laundry.co.uk Website

www.armstrong-laundry.co.uk

New first in home securityA NEW ‘first’ in economical

home security is set to offerhomeowners all round peace ofmind with the mostcomprehensive protection anddetection system on the market.

Securahomes, a leadingproducer of homecare safetysystems, has launched Safety First,a comprehensive and fully two-way voice monitored wireless alertsystem.

It not only detects deadlysmoke and carbon monoxidefumes but also guards againstintruders and can send outemergency medical and threat orpanic alerts for anyone living alone. It can operate either by land line or GSM.

Designed to provide monitored protection and detection, the system automatically activates withinseconds of harmful substances, such as smoke, fire and carbon monoxide being detected.

The system has also been designed to provide monitored detection for signs of intruders and offers athreat sequence for added protection. Mobile alert buttons known as ‘key fobs’ can also be incorporated.

Enquiries: Visit www.securahomes.co.uk

Safer showering for all with the LUDA AKWIntelligent Shower

NEW from AKW, the market-leading provider of elderly anddisabled bathing products, is the LUDA Intelligent Shower.

This electric care shower offers a range of user safety and comfortfeatures, including a fully waterproof IP45 rated shower unit, pluscomprehensive BEAB care approval and RNIB accreditations.

Its advanced thermostatic control, featuring audio bleeps, LEDillumination and tactile control buttons, gives partially-sighted userscomplete control of the power, temperature and water flow settings.

Ideal for both standing and seated users, the LUDA features anextended hose length, plus easy to use push buttons to adjust theheight of the shower head, soap dish and shelf.

The 1m riser-rail doubles as a grab-rail and a lever on the base ofthe riser-rail allows users to easily adjust the direction of the showerhead.

Easy to clean, the LUDA has three variable settings to save waterplus a two-year warranty.

Enquiries: Visit www.akw-medicare.co.uk

Apetito experience proving invaluable

WITH over 50 years’ experience in feeding the elderly and vulnerable in hospitals and via localauthorities’ meals on wheels service, apetito has the knowledge and expertise to provide care homes withcost effective catering solutions.

The apetito team works in partnership with care home customers to ensure they have the best solution,offering residents an interesting and varied menu, within a nutritionally balanced diet.

It offers a staggering choice of over 200 meals and desserts and the ability to cater for special diets,including diabetic, gluten free, personal preference and soft diets. All the meals are supplied frozen andcan be reheated as and when required.

This year, the company introduced a range of soft and pureed dishes for those suffering from dysphagia(swallowing difficulties). Every meal looks and tastes like an ordinary meal and have proved much moreacceptable to sufferers than meals prepared by liquidising ingredients.

For care home operators, the preparation of texture modified meals to achieve consistent texture, visualappeal, taste, and nutritional delivery is not easy.

Malnutrition is a subject receiving more attention from Government and the media. The cost to thetaxpayer is estimated at £14bn a year and with the elderly population growing that cost looks likely toincrease.

The elderly often have low enthusiasm for eating, and in order to ensure residents regularly consumesufficient calories and nutrients, it’s essential they maintain an interest in food. apetito works closely withcare homes to ensure menus are not only nutritionally balanced but are varied and contain options thatappeal to all individual tastes.

Nutridata, the company’s online nutritional information tool, ensures care homes can efficiently andconsistently provide a catering solution which suits the specific nutritional need of each and every resident.

Enquiries: Telephone 01225 756071

Embroidery service on contract linens forcare homes

TOWELSDIRECT has been supplying thecare sector for the last 20 years andprovides premium Turkish quality towelsthat last up to 150 washes.

Most towels that you see in a retailer willonly last 60 washes. We also provideminimum iron bedlinen that is constructedof easy care polycotton, again designed tolast longer than your average bedsheet andsave your staff time.

Bespoke embroidery designs are availablealong with matching bedlinen and curtains.

Since Towelsdirect’s inception, we havealways tried to focus on our uniqueness.Customers are reminded that we offer freedelivery on orders over £150, operate a nominimum order policy and next day deliveryfrom stock.

We recognise that our customers’ needsare ever changing and it is with this in mindthat we are updating our website daily.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 018 6935 or visit www.towelsdirect.co.uk

New Knightsbridge furniture website goeslive

VISITORS to www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk can not fail to have noticedmajor changes to the appearance andoperation of the site following its extensive re-design.

The website is the on-line gateway to thecompany’s collections of seating, tables andcabinet furniture for hospitals and otherhealthcare facilities, and includes a link toDesign at Knightsbridge, the company’sexclusive brand for the hotel and leisure sector.

A strong corporate feel is maintainedthroughout the website, enhanced by brightphotography and contemporary styling: bothfacets reflect Knightsbridge Furniture’s long-held policy of balancing the craft of traditionalfurniture-making with advanced technology and materials.

Specific product areas are highlighted for easy reference, with clear signposting and a suite of user-friendly navigation tools. An on-line brochure provides a page-by-page guide to the completeKnightsbridge Healthcare Collection and useful case-studies, product specification sheets and a library ofaccreditations are provided as downloadable pdf files..

Enquiries: Visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

Fish tanks create a splashENTREPRENEURS Dan Green and

Chris Hibbert are set to expand theirestablished Lancashire based companyAqualease further afield with a newnationwide service.

The company hires fully serviced,hassle free fish aquariums to carehomes and the health care sector, andhave been running since 2003.

Since starting part-time seven yearsago, servicing their hired aquariums toclients in the North West, Dan andChris have gone from strength tostrength, and now employ more than10 staff at premises in and at BlackburnRovers Enterprise Centre.

Their ultra modern displays cantransform dull and boring locationsinto bright and welcoming environments, and the fact that they are also completely taken care of makesthem very appealing.

Dan said: “Some of our customers have told us our fish tanks have helped create a noticeable reductionin stress and aggressive behaviour, and they have also noticed an increase in appetite in residents andoverall happier mood.”

Enquiries: Telephone 0845 3 905 904 or email info@aqualease.co.uk

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43

Clothing company is a brand leader andtrusted supplier to the NHS

PART of the successful Dimensions ClothingGroup, Boyd Cooper now brings you a stocksupported and made to order specialist rangeof healthcare and ambulance clothing.

Boyd Cooper has been developed with thephilosophy that great workwear needs torecognise the working environment,encourage people to be team players andreflect the aspirations of your business brand.

In our new catalogues you will findworkwear for every employee within your carehome. There’s no role – chefs, care assistants,managers – that we can’t clothe in a style thatreflects the professionalism of your team.

Visit us on stand B10 at the Care ShowBirmingham on November 10 and 11.

Enquiries: To receive a cataloguetelephone the new business team on

01332 856566 or emailcatalogue@dimensions.co.uk

New company provides treatments for theelderly

HAPPI Hands, a new, national Britishcompany, has been set up to providemassage therapy, manicures and handtreatments for the elderly in care.

Their therapists, who are all fully-qualified, CRB approved and fully-insured, provide the gentle contact thatwe all crave but that, so often, the elderlydon’t get. More than that, Happi Handsprovides a fun, happy and pleasurableexperience.

Their Tranquil Touch™ therapy hasbeen specially designed to meet theneeds of the

elderly. Studies have shown that‘slowstroke’ massage therapies like thisare highly beneficial to Alzheimer’spatients.

“We believe that the benefits of touch are of immense value,” said founder Jane Lightfoot. “I always sayto our new therapists that a 20 minute session for our customers has a similar impact as going to a spa fora week would be for us.”Enquiries: Visit www.happihands.net or call Jeremy Novick on 0207 993 4993 / 07930 400798

Badge manufacturer launches online facilityONE of the world’s largest

manufacturers of corporate name badgesand Britain’s market leader has launched anew, user-friendly, fully interactive onlinedesign facility, enabling customers todesign their own name badges and createtheir own designs instantly.

Badgemaster first introduced aspecialist, professional, free design service18 years ago, and their designers regularlysupport many top designers, corporateclothing suppliers and leading companiesacross every industry.

Now this new and innovative websitemakes all the professional skills, experienceand resources used by top badge designersavailable to everyone with internet access.

Via a user-friendly, step-by-step programme, it allows users to explore different looks for their newbadge and to create their chosen options without any of the delays or costs involved in the need to use adesigner.

Once happy with their chosen design, users can send it electronically straight to Badgemaster to receivea no-obligation quotation by return.

Visit www.badgemaster.co.uk or telephone 01623 723112

Evacuation products from Beaucare MedicalBEAUCARE Medical Ltd, the UK’s

premier supplier of hygiene, medicalsupplies and equipment to private carehomes and hospitals, has launched a newrange of evacuation products especiallydesigned to comply with the RegulatoryReform (Fire Safety) order of 2005.

In situations of emergency, such asfire, residential care homes must be ableto protect and safely remove residentswho may require additional support toevacuate the building.

Beaucare have therefore introducedan Evacuation Sheet and EvacuationFoldaway Pad. The Evacuation Sheet fixespermanently to the bottom of a mattress,enabling the patient to be removed onthe mattress, removing the need to movethe resident.

The Evacuation Foldaway Pad, is designed to be attached to any wall and opened out to create a sledgeto carry the resident out of the building. Both products are in stock and available.

Enquiries: Telephone 01423 878899, email sales@beaucare.com or visit www.beaucare.com

Working to enrich the lives of people withdementia

SJB ASSOCIATES work with homemanagers and care providers to enhance,enrich and personalise the lives of peoplewith dementia by transforming theirenvironment.

They have developed a wide productrange to enable everyone to benefit fromtheir customer led product base andexpertise.

SJB Associates spend hours trawlingthe internet, researching dementiaproducts and searching for specific itemsrequested by their constantly growingcustomer base.

They are also happy to work with othersuppliers in the same field to ensure thatpeople with dementia receive the best possible products. Their current product base is available through theonline shop and include signage, memory boxes, life story books, doll therapy tools, murals, placemats,menu boards and much more.

Enquiries: Telephone Samantha on 01325 464562/ 07849 770349, emailinfo@sjbassociates.org.uk or visit www.sjbassociates.org.uk

SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs)based, Richards ResidentialSupplies have concentratedupon supplying simple solutionsto common nursing homeproblems.

The new WACMAT® adheresstrongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbentcotton pile and 100 per centwaterproof backing, theremarkable WACMAT® is anideal accessory where spills mayoccur.

Used as a commode mat, inbedrooms or bathrooms, theWACMAT® ensures full carpetprotection. Then, after use,simply machine wash andtumble dry! It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then be clean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternativelythe flat-laying WACMAT® can be used as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costsalone.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749

Simple solutions

Quality laundry consumables from PHSLaundryserv

PHS LAUNDRYSERV has launched a new Supplies Directcatalogue featuring a complete range of quality commerciallaundry and dry cleaning consumables.

You might think choosing the best possible commerciallaundry equipment is the main consideration when installing orupgrading an on site commercial laundry. But in fact, it’s onlyhalf the story, as the choice and combination of laundrydetergents is crucial to achieve maximum stain removal andprovide superior fabric care.

With over 40 years’ experience in the on site commerciallaundry industry, PHS Laundryserv has always providedcustomers with a combination of quality commercial laundrymachines and a uniquely tailored range of laundry consumables.

With this in mind, the new catalogue is packed full of the bestquality and most effective commercial laundry and dry cleaningconsumables on the market.

It features everything a laundry could need from dry cleaningsoap and spray starch to fabric conditioner and bleach.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 0850 60 or visitwww.laundryserv.co.uk

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CARINGPRODUCT NEWS44

Haigh Engineering’s Steve Bond with SueCurry from Acorns Children’s Hospice.

ACORNS Children’s Hospice inWorcester has taken receipt of a newSOLO disposal unit courtesy of HaighEngineering.

Designed to dispose of usedcommode pots, bedpans, urinebottles and other pulp items, theSOLO is an ideal solution for Acornsas it has a small footprint and isextremely efficient to use.

They had previously used astandard washer unit to try and meettheir requirements. A vastimprovement on the washer unit, theSOLO will deliver a wide range ofbenefits including cost and userefficiencies.

In addition to providing the team atAcorns with the new SOLO, Haighalso managed the disposal of the oldmachine.

New disposal unit for hospice

ISA 4U Ltd (International StudentAdvisors) is pleased to offer theopportunity for nursing andresidential care organisations toprovide work places for Filipinonursing and healthcare studentsstudying BSc nursing degrees,foundation degrees in health andsocial care and HND health andsocial care levels four and fivecourses at universities and collegesthroughout the UK.

With a wealth of experience in thePhilippine healthcare arena, ISA is afull-service consultancy unrivalled byany other companies in the samefield, and will support both thestudents and work placementorganisations throughout the entireprocess.

With the ability to select studentstaff from video interviews, throughinternet, Skype or personalinterviews in the Philippines,combined with ISA’s expertise, youcan be sure you will be taking onqualified carers to look after thepatients entrusted to yourorganisation.

ISA 4U offershomes Filipinostudents

VINE were retained by a residentialcare organisation as a consequenceof a CQC/HSE inspection whichidentified major shortfalls in theirmanagement approach to health andsafety.

Vine developed risk assessmentsand safe working procedures,planned maintenance, servicing andtesting regimes, the review of existingcontractor services compliances andfacilities staff operating procedures.

As a result of the work undertook,our contribution to the overallimprovements achieved inefficiencies, safety and workingpractices, our client’s subsequentCQC inspections have resulted in allstandards having been met.

Vine retainedby care group

BOND Holidays and Holidays withCare have launched a new respiteservice for 2011.

It will be available across all theBond Hotels, including Blackpool, StAnnes and the new Bond SouthBeach, which is set to open in March.

Holidays with Care will provide avariety of packages which will beavailable from an hour a day throughto a full day’s care, whether yousimply want to relax in the hotel orexplore Blackpool and thesurrounding areas. Holidays withCare is registered with the CQC andwill provide a comprehensive careservice to all guests who shouldrequire assistance while on holiday.

Bond launchesrespite service

A NEW set of seminars lookingspecifically at staff training arebeing launched at the Care ShowBirmingham next month.

The QCF Training Pavilion willdiscuss the new Qualifications andCredit Framework, which replacesthe National QualificationsFramework in January. Created inassociation with Skills for Care, theseminars will cover the reasons forthe changes being made and how itwill affect care workers.

Visitors can also pick up usefuladvice to help increase profitwithin their business withoutlowering standards of care.

The MyBusiness Seminar Theatrewill provide a range of new money-saving tips and offer guidance foranyone looking to acquire a newcare home for the first time.

Speakers already confirmedinclude Nigel Newton-Taylor fromHealthcare Property Consultants

and Phil Hall, director of JonesLang LaSalle.

Returning to Birmingham are thepopular keynote seminars, and thespeakers include Heather Denby ofThe Sammons Group advising carehomes on best practice inrecruitment and staff retention.

Dawn Oliver, head of probate atHarrison Clarke, looks at theMental Capacity Act and how toensure you comply, while RNHA’sFrank Ursell addresses the issue ofinfection control in the careenvironment.

New exhibitors include Red RoomInteriors, The Jackloc Company, C-Tec, The Talley Group and Hill andHill Design. Industry leaders suchas Boots Care Services, YTMFurniture, Huntleigh Healthcare,Electrolux and DDC Dolphin willalso be among the 150 exhibitors.

The Care Show Birmingham takesplace on November 10 and 11.

Care Show Birminghamfeatures new seminars

WITH talk of a ‘double dip’recession, forecasted increase inunemployment and spending cutsin the public sector currentlylittering the media, businessowners may well feel they shouldsit tight and see out the next fewyears before considering sellingtheir business.

However, when the factsregarding business acquisitionsare reviewed, it would appear thatnow is one of the most buoyanttimes seen in the healthcare sectorwithin the last decade, and it maybe worth considering selling nowwhile you have strong historictrading rather than look to returnto the market on the back of lower

figures.Numerous purchasers are

currently backed by private equityfirms looking to venture into thehealthcare sector in the next 12months before consolidating,driving the values of businesses toa high level.

Business owners who aregenuinely planning to sell withinthe next five years should giveserious consideration to thefinancial requirements they needfrom a sale, as selling now mayresult in them receivingsignificantly more than they willreceive if they wait another fewyears.

Sector is buoyant for owners

Do you have a story for Caring UK magazine?Get in touch with healthcare editor DominicMusgrave by emailing dm@whpl.net or callhim on 01226 734407.

WALLPAPER murals and giant arthave become very popular in carehomes throughout the country asthey have proven to enhance theenvironment and create a positiveeffect in the care of the elderly.

Murals FX is a family run businesswith over 15 years’ experience in wallart, who offer more than 400 differentdesigns. They also offer a custom wallmural service where your own choiceof image can be tailor made tobecome a unique piece of wall art orwallpaper.

Images usually around 12’ x 8’ 6”’(3.6m x 2.5m) of woodland scenes,bright, colourful floral gardens orfaraway places prove to be the mostpopular. There are also smaller vividimages such as door-size telephoneboxes, indoor scenes andcontemporary art, starting at around£21 including delivery.

Murals createpositive effect

CareDocsstays aheadCAREDOCS keeps ahead of the curve,in touch with subscribers, listening totheir needs and suggestions, andbuilding these into the systemwhenever and wherever possible.

One thing that has been mentionedmore than a few times is thatsubscribers would love to be able touse CareDocs for everything withintheir homes, so, to meet this need,the company’s 2011 version comescomplete with a new section.

‘Documentation’ will be the oneplace where all the paperwork youuse every day in your home can bestored, accessed, completed andprinted.

Not only will it hold templates forall the standard forms you use, it willautomatically produce these whentriggered by the addition of a relevantevent report or daily occurrence tothe system, automatically filling inwhatever details are known by thesystem too, update existing reports,taking inputted information andautomatically adjusting reports tokeep them up to date.

MIT offers itsknowledgeMIT Consultancy offers care homeoperators a breadth and depth ofknowledge.

The company’s services includeassisting the nominated person tocomplete outcome 16 visits andacting on homes’ behalf to ensurethey are compliant.

They can also help with the re-registration process as care providersmust complete a declaration to statethat they are compliant with the newregulations and outcomes.

MIT consultants have successfullyassisted a number of providersthrough enforcement/closure noticesand adult protection issues.

44 19/10/10 17:05 Page 1

Caring UK A-Z DirectoryArt Print and FramingEasy ArtUnit 1-4Tylers Business ParkLewis RoadBlackboysUckfieldPN22 5LFTel 0845 1662 732customercare@easyart.comwww.easyart.com

Bathrooms/HygieneCistermiserUnit 1 Woodley Park Estate59-69 ReadingRG5 3ANpr@wardturner.co.ukwww.cistermiser.co.uk0118 9691611

Business ServicesNetwork Care15-16 Queen SquareLeedsLS2 8AJTel:0113 281 6772info@networkcareuk.comwww.networkcare.com

Care MonitoringSystemsCM20004 Oakhouse160 Lychfield roadSuttonCoalfieldB74 2TZTel: 0121 3083010www.cm2000.co.uk

CateringFowler UKUnit 9 Link 59 Business ParkDeanfield DriveClitheroeBB7 1QJ0800 6199337david@fowleruk.comwww.fowleruk.com

Catering EquipmentAlfamax ltd.Watchmoor Trade CentreWatchmoor RoadCamberleySurreyGU15 3AJTel: 0844 357 4030Fax 01276 62696www.alfamax.info

ClothingBoyd Cooper3 Long AcreWillow Farm business parkCastle DoningtonDE74 2UGTel: 01332856566catalogue@boydcooper.comwww.dimensions.co.uk/Boyd_Cooper

ConstructionJab Enterprises1 Bickenhall MansionsBickenhall StreetLondonW1U 6BPTel: 0800 0141 366jon@jabenterprises.comwww.jabenterprises.co.uk

Corporate BadgesBig Badge111 Waldegrave RoadTeddingtonTW11 8BTel 020 8614 8880sales@big.co.ukwww.biggroup.com

Furniture SpecialistsCare ChairEnterprise HouseCranswick Industrial EstateDriffieldYO25 9PFTel 01377 271700sales@carechair.uk.comwww.carechair.uk.com

Health Care productsBeaucare Medical LtdCrimple Court,Hornbeam Square North,Hornbeam Park,HarrogateNorth YorkshireHG2 8PBTel: 01423 873666 Fax: 01423 873444sales@beaucare.comwww.beaucare.com

Holidays/ExcursionsThe Bond Hotel120 Bond StreetBlackpool01253 341218karen-dixon@bondhotel.co.ukwww.bondhotel.co.uk

Home Care ProvidersCaremark Domiciliary Care ProvidersUnit 4 The Colonnades17 London RoadPulboroughWest SussexRH20 1ASTel 01798 873770info@caremarkuk.comwww.caremarkuk.com

Infection ControlEnvironmental Hygiene Solutions65 Riverside 3Medway city estateRochesterKentME2 4BHTel: 08000 434270www.enhys.com

LaundryElectrolux Laundry Systems99 Oakley RoadLutonBedfordshireLU4 9GETel: 08444 631 260info.elsuk@electrolux.co.ukwww.laundrysystems.electrolux.co.uk

MieleFairacresMarcham RdAbingdonOX14 1TW0845 3650555slawrenson@themediashop.co.ukwww.miele.co.uk

Legionella TestingAquacertSentinel House11 High streetLong BuckbyNorthantsNN6 7RETel: 0800 7835226info@aquacert.co.ukwww.aquacert.co.uk

Nurse call/PatientSafety SystemsSafety Systems Distribution LtdUnit 11B Hobson Industrial EstateNewcastleNE16 6EAneilrobson@safetysystemsdistribution.co.ukwww.safetysystemsdistribution.co.uk0800 3282951

Sensorcare SystemsTP HousePrince Of Wales Business ParkVulcan StreetOldhamOL1 4ER0870 4214288Paula.matsikidze@tpgroup.co.ukwww.sensorcare.co.uk

Safety & SecurityUniversal Hardware Direct UK LtdUnit 202 Kingspark Business Centre152 178 Kingston RdNew MaldenSurreyKT3 3ST

Fireco31-32 High StreetBrightonBN2 1RP01273 696007Alan.buckle@b3partnership.co.ukwww.firecoltd.com

Solicitors/Legal ServicesBates Wells & Braithwaite2-6 Cannon StLondonEC4M 6YH020 7551 7652020 7551 7741s.marchant@bwbllp.comd.tuck@bwbllp.comwww.bwbllp.com

TrainingHealthcare Training College7200 the QuorumOxford Business Park NorthOxford6X4 2JZ0844 8006801info@healthcaretrainingcollege.com

44 A-Z 23/9/10 15:55 Page 1

CARINGNEWS

Transport

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SUE McMillan, north westregional director for the CQC,Paul Spencer, a barrister from 3Serjeants Inn ChambersLondon and a representativefrom the Natwest Royal Bank ofScotland Group are the speak-ers at a conference next month

Network Care UK has teamedup with law firm BeachcroftLLP to devise a programme ofseminars to provide an insightinto the future of inspectionand regulation. They are inresponse to an increasing con-

cern amongst care providersabout the complex process ofre-registration under the newHealth and Social Care Act.

Director Sean Cassidy said:“The CQC is currently downsiz-ing and is losing a significantnumber of middle managersthrough voluntary and involun-tary redundancy programme.

“This loss of experience andknowledge from the organisa-tion poses potential difficultiesfor our clients in the nearfuture. The abolition of the

quality rating system hasreceived mixed reviews fromour clients and with no clearreplacement for identifying thequality of services clients arebeginning to raise concerns asto the scope of CQC’s remit.”

The first seminar will takeplace at Beachcroft'sManchester office onNovember 23, and will explorethe regulatory, legal and finan-cial implications of the legisla-tive changes for providers ofhealth and social care.

Speakers unveiled for conferenceEx-skater goesback on the iceA FORMER professional skater was one of more than60 residents from 12 Oxfordshire care homes who tookto the ice as part of UK Older Peaople’s Day.

Angela Humphrey, 81, from The Meadows care homein Didcot appeared in a number of television showsfrom the BBC’s early years of production in the 1950s.

The visit to the Oxford Ice Rink was arranged bySharon Wheeler, activities and volunteers manager atThe Orders of St John Care Trust’s Oxfordshire countyoffice, was also attended by pupils from a local primaryschool.

They were treated to a performance from local iceskating troupe the Oxford Freestylers, winners of thisyear’s ITV Dancing on Ice talent competition.

Sharon added: “This is the fifth year we have organ-ised this event at the ice rink, but we have never takenso many residents before.

“We regularly treat our residents to trips out and it’s agreat opportunity for staff, residents and volunteersfrom the homes to get together, make new friends andshow off their skating skills.”

DIVA Lesley Garrett added her voiceto a South Yorkshire dementia chari-ty’s new fundraising campaign.

Lesley, who is a patron of LostChord, which provides interactivemusical experiences for people withdementia in care homes and day cen-tres nationwide, was the star guest atthe launch of the High Notes Appeal,a campaign to raise more than£100,000.

Organisers are aiming to involvebusinesses, schools and the commu-nity groups of South Yorkshire, NorthNottinghamshire and NorthDerbyshire in the new initiative byfundraising manager Tina Harrison.

The money will provide concerts bya team of professional musicians at40 homes across the region eachmonth for the coming year.

Chief executive Helena Muller said:“Although we are small we pack a bigpunch, affecting the lives of morethan 1,000 people every month.

“Professional trained musiciansprovide more than 800 interactiveconcerts each year, operating in morethan 70 residential care homes inSouth Yorkshire, NorthNottinghamshire, London, Cardiffand Coventry.

“Our musicians use a variety ofinstruments and styles to produce aprogramme designed to stimulateresponses from people living withdementia who may be unable towalk, talk, feed themselves or com-municate in any other way."

The appeal was launched at anevent at Sheffield United FootballClub. Lesley Garrett at the launch.

Lesley adds her voice to campaign

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