ASH Healthcare Training – Training is our passion
We, at ASH Healthcare Training, have an outstanding reputation, not only for delivering 1st class training, that is current, informative and tailor made to suit your needs, but our staff and colleagues have an enviable knowledge and skills base, as well as a professional manner. We do not hesitate to go the extra mile for you. With national coverage, and specialist, professionally qualified trainers, to ensure that the delivery of care is right for you, First time, Every time. Our specialists include: a University professor of Nursing, MacMillan nurse, Diabetes specialist nurses, Head and Neck specialist, Emergency nurses, Tissue Viability specialist and two Dr’s of Nursing, our trainers have published research articles and even textbooks. With this range of nurse trainers, we can provide training on a wide range of subjects, from basic life support or safeguarding, to Tracheostomy care and Insulin administration. We also offer QCF Diplomas and Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care from Levels 2-5, we offer study days to our learners to help build their confidence and study skills and complete their qualifications quickly. We are currently working hard to get all our qualifications CPD accredited by the end of 2019. Does your training provider offer all of this, for a cost lower than you expect? As you can see, with a great team, working together, to deliver expert knowledge, in accordance with the NMC Professional Code of Conduct (2018), we make learning fun and informative using a varied amount of training techniques to make your learners learn. Tell us YOUR needs, we will be there for you. Find out more
Bluebird Care’s Franchise Support Office Team Receive Dementia Training
Bluebird Care, a national provider of home care services, recently invited Informed Dementia Care to come in and deliver their outstanding ‘dementia suits experience’ to members of Bluebird Care’s Franchise Support Office team. The purpose of the dementia training was for team members from Head Office to experience, first-hand, how ageing can impact the body and mind, and better understand how dementia can affect a person’s wellbeing and safety. The dementia training highlighted the key signs that many people miss when an individual living with dementia is in distress or experiencing some kind of discomfort. Many of the Franchise Support Office team work hard to benefit those living with dementia on a day-to-day basis, but rarely come into direct contact with many of their customers. Therefore, the training gave the Bluebird Care team real insight into how everyday tasks can be a struggle for people living with dementia. Attendees experienced a number of ageing symptoms and scenarios throughout the three-hour training programme, including: The team remarked that everyone in the social care sector, whether in direct contact with those living with dementia or not, should experience this training. Sam Hart, Bluebird Care’s Training Manager, said: “As part of developing our expertise in supporting customers in their own homes, we felt the dementia suits experience programme would empower our Franchise Support Office Team and allow them to fully understand what dementia could be like.”
Unique training programme launched at Encore Care Homes
Son of local care home resident launches unique training programme at Encore Care Homes Encore Care Homes has added a new module to its successful ‘Mind the Gap’ dementia training programme, which was launched last year across the care homes it manages in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Fareham. The new module, which is called ‘The Lived Experience’, will be led by Andy Babbage from September 2019. Andy’s mother has dementia and lives at Fairmile Grange care home in Christchurch, which is managed by Encore. This complimentary training will be available to both staff members at Encore, as well as the family members of residents across all three homes. During the workshop given by Andy, attendees will learn the importance of understanding what a resident was like before they were diagnosed with dementia, and why it is essential to continue to interact with each individual in a way that they are comfortable and familiar with. There is also an opportunity for staff at Encore to learn from Andy, his first-hand experience on what impact the diagnosis of dementia can have on a person, as well as their family and the crucial role the care team should play in ensuring that each relative receives the correct support. Andy will also be sharing ideas on what care and support people outside a care home environment, should show to someone who has dementia. Commenting on this new module, Andy, said: “Following my mother moving into Fairmile Grange, I contacted the team at Encore and explained that I was keen to improve my knowledge of dementia and understand in greater detail the person-centred care that is given to every resident by the Encore care team. I felt this was important as it would help me to provide the best care possible for my mother and also help me when interacting with other residents during my visit. “This was when I was introduced to the ‘Mind the Gap’ training programme, which was extremely beneficial. When I completed all the modules, I decided to approach Encore about the possibility of me bringing my first-hand experience of knowing someone before and after they have been diagnosed with dementia, into Encore to benefit the care team and other relatives who were in the same situation as me. “Ultimately, ‘The Lived Experience’ module has been created to emphasise the importance of making sure there is a comprehensive life story available for every resident, which the care team can refer to in order to provide the highest standard of care going forward.” Luke Wiltshire, training manager for Encore, added: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Andy, who has a significant amount of experience in delivering various training programmes across numerous sectors. “The purpose of this training programme is to create more awareness about dementia and the impact it can have on the person who has been diagnosed, as well as their family. ‘The Lived Experience’ module will be a great addition to ‘Mind the Gap’ training and we look forward to the first workshop in September.” To find out more information about ‘The Lived Experience’ module, contact the Encore team on learning@encorecarehomes.co.uk or call 01202 087 444.
Hft awarded Centre of Excellence status for exemplary training
The national learning disabilities charity, Hft, has been awarded Centre of Excellence status in recognition of its exemplary training provision by Skills for Care. Hft is only the third charity to receive the accolade and one of just 24 organisations to have the bespoke quality mark which is awarded to the providers with the best learning and development programmes within the adult social care sector. Since 2016 Hft has been accredited as an endorsed provider in recognition of the significant difference training makes, both to the learner and the people being supported. This has now been superseded by the Centre of Excellence status awarded for going above and beyond with training provision. This required providing robust evidence of the charity’s innovative and continually evolving approach to the delivery of learning opportunities to ensure the needs of learners are met. The examples cited by Hft included: Sue Hill is Hft’s Head of Organisational Development. She said she is delighted that Hft’s commitment to developing its workforce has been endorsed at the highest level by Skills for Care. “I am so proud Hft has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence,” she said. “Our team constantly strives to offer exemplary learning and development opportunities to everyone in the organisation; they work tirelessly to offer excellent customer service and to help deliver learning that ultimately improves the lives of the people we support. I have always believed that what we do is excellent but having the endorsement from Skills for Care is such an honour and a testament to the dedication and commitment of the team in creating an engaging and innovative learning experience. I am thrilled we have achieved this.” Lori Barber-Field, Skills for Care Project Manager said: “It has been great endorsing Hft as a Centre of Excellence. They’ve demonstrated dedicated commitment to the core requirements, such as effective leadership and management, robust quality assurance, ensuring staff development is based on equality of opportunity, and finally that working with learners is a central feature of all learning and development. We look forward to working with Hft in the future.”
Collaboration launched to safeguard the lives of care home residents
An initiative to safeguard the lives of care home residents and reduce the impact on ambulance services, particularly during periods of winter pressure, has received the backing of Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething. The break through project, developed in partnership with the National Collaborative Commissioning Unit, Welsh Ambulance and Mangar Health received funding from the winter pressures support package announced by the Welsh Government last December. Building on recommendations in the Mills, S & Whitehead, R (2018) Amber Review, the project recognises that patients that have called for an ambulance to attend and are allocated an amber category often end up waiting too long for an ambulance, resulting in a negative impact on long term health. An uninjured fallen resident living in a care home will routinely be allocated as an Amber category by the ambulance service, which can result in long wait times and have the associated health implications. Concern around this practice has been growing as leaving a resident on the floor for more than an hour is associated with complications such hypothermia, pressure areas and kidney failure. (ROSPA 2017). A key recommendation from the Amber Review proposes; “the longest waits for patients in the community must reduce.” More than 10,000 residents living in care homes in Wales will fall every year and often traditional manual handling policies restrict the options care staff have for lifting. It is common for care homes to rely on a paramedic to perform the lift, even though more than 45% of fallers will be uninjured. The new Wales Care Home project is designed to create better outcomes for residents through safeguard and the education of staff and the use of appropriate lifting equipment. The initiative empowers care staff to apply post fall management protocols, including the introduction of health assessment techniques used by paramedics. Care Homes across Wales have received a Mangar Camel Lifting Cushion, specifically selected because it delivers a safe, secure lift for residents and protects the carer performing the lift from injury. In addition, care homes have been taught the consequences of leaving a resident on the floor for long periods of time while waiting for an ambulance to attend and when it is appropriate to call for an ambulance, contact their GP or ring 101. Falls account for more than 10% of all ambulance call outs and an early project evaluation has seen care homes report an 80% reduction in decisions to call an ambulance within the first month of receiving the support package. Simon Claridge, CEO at Powys based Mangar Health says, “This project is a perfect example of how public and private sector organisations can work together to achieve better healthcare outcomes for vulnerable people relying on healthcare services in Wales. “Mangar Health’s lifting equipment has been used by Ambulance Services across the UK since 2006 and by drawing on our experience in both the ambulance and care home sector we have been able to develop a package of support that will bring considerable benefit to both.” For more information and articles such as the safeguard of care home residents click here
Bluebird Care, launches Nursing Associate Training Scheme
Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire have partnered up with the University of Lincoln and Lincolnshire Care Association to introduce the Nursing Associate Programme for home care Care Assistants who wish to gain further qualifications. Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire have begun offering this apprenticeship style placement to encourage further training and career development, without having to give up work, or go off to University. The Nursing Associate Programme provides the qualification between a Care Assistant and Nurse, a strong career progression for Care Assistants who want to upskill. Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire all provide a unique service and approach to home care. They offer a wide range of clinical care services, which is not typical of all home care providers. Debbie Ferguson is the Nursing Manager and works across all three franchises to offer expert care to her customers. Over the next two years, Debbie will be training her new student, Rachel Lear. Rachel, 44 began the Nursing Associate Programme on 21st January this year and will finish her training as a qualified Nursing Associate. Rachel has worked at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire for almost two years and has progressed during her time with the home care provider. She started as a Care Assistant and within just six months, had been promoted to a Care Assistant Mentor. Before this, Rachel was a teacher and had been in the teaching profession for 15 years, after which she decided to have a career change and go into domiciliary care. This opportunity came about after the University of Lincoln approached Bluebird Care Lincoln asking if they would like to take part. The University have been running the Nursing Associates Programme for two years and, when they learnt Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire offer a more clinically focused service, knew they had to offer them the chance to be the first home care provider in the UK to offer the Programme. This opportunity is so unique because home care providers do not usually offer such a clinical service, this is usually left to nursing homes and hospitals. However, the care team and Director of Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, Victoria Webber, are passionate about ensuring people are comfortable in their own homes, while receiving the care they need. The Programme was offered to all staff who work at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire and the idea was received with great interest and following a formal interview process, Rachel was selected. The University has a new intake of students every year and seeks to grow learners in a professional environment. The Programme also offers a placement at another care provider, and Rachel will be doing hers in a hospital, where the hospital student will join Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire for two weeks. The qualification is funded by the local authority, but the students wages are paid by Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire Rachel Lear, Trainee Nursing Associate, Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said: “I am thoroughly enjoying the TNA course. Every day is different, it is a good mixture of delivering care to our customers and training both at university and with our Nurse Manager. There is lots to learn however everyone at Bluebird Care are so supportive, giving me a wide range of experiences, which I approach enthusiastically.” Victoria Webber, Director of Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said: “This training is such a fulfilling opportunity and I’m really pleased we have been able to give someone the opportunity to keep learning while also working. Rachel has taken to the role so well and Debbie is doing a wonderful job of overseeing her and guiding her through. Thank you also, to the University for making this possible, it has always been my ambition to give my staff as many career development opportunities as possible and this Programme is a great way a broadening the already strong options we have at all the Bluebird Care franchises across Lincoln.” Debbie Ferguson, Nursing Manager at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said: “I am really pleased to see another member of the team training to be able to do nursing. My job is extremely enjoyable and I see great importance in being able to provide a nursing service to people in the comfort of their own homes. Rachel is a wonderful student and I think it is great that Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire and the University are giving her and other students this opportunity to gain further skills and make a real difference to people’s lives.” For more information about Bluebird Care click here
The power of networks in adult social care
Good managers and leaders in social care are committed to embedding best practice through engaging with their peers, sharing information and growing their knowledge. The importance and value of networking shouldn’t be underestimated. Skills for Care facilitates registered manager networks, covering every local authority area in England. They offer registered managers the chance to meet locally with other like-minded managers who often face similar, everyday challenges. These networks are a great source of information and support for registered managers who can find themselves isolated in this pivotal role. They are led by network chairs, who are themselves registered managers and who understand the daily pressures of working in social care. Local networks meet at least three times a year and ensure topics are relevant to the attendees. Case study: a registered manager network in action Sam King is registered manager at Hightown Housing Association and also a network chair for Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. She talks about the many benefits of registered manager networks. “I’m really pleased with how the network has grown and the feedback I hear after each meeting. If a network can help even one manager feel more supported and less isolated then that’s great. Most of the registered managers in my organisation attend network meetings now – and I often hear my colleagues refer to it in other meetings – that’s a good sign! “Networks empower managers and are one way of helping them recognise just what an important part of the social care workforce they are. Some of our attendees are new managers and attending network meetings has increased their confidence. It’s a role that can feel lonely sometimes, but through attending they can see that everyone has the same sort of issues. Every manager attending also learns from the opportunities to share best practice that the network provides. The network has also been a good way to engage with stakeholders – everyone faces the same issues and sometimes having a group of people as a collective ensures that stakeholders receive one, consistent message. “Our network attendees have benefitted from hearing from local Care Quality Commission (CQC) representatives, the chance to raise issues and having a better understanding of CQC processes. This also supported relationship building; the inspector speaking to us was clear about wanting to work in partnership with us. “One of the things we are working on, as a network, is a list of the speakers we want to hear from in the future. We have National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) speaking to us soon about medicines management and we also want to ask our local authorities to attend the network to talk about local changes they are making. “Finally, thinking about what the network gives us as managers – I think it’s important not to underestimate the benefit of protected time away from a busy workload and service; every manager needs time to stop and reflect on things.” Join your local registered manager network Find out more about joining your local registered manager network here.
