Flexible Caring: The Need for Change
Christian Brøndum is the CEO of Planday, a start-up that provides workforce management software to businesses working across all sectors including both hospitality and care homes. Here, he tells Care & Nursing Essentials about how software can aid flexible caring and help deal with the challenges of retaining staff… Recently, Carers UK announced the results of a report which found that over 600 people quit their job every day to prioritise caring for older and disabled relatives. Anyone working in the care sector will be familiar with the unique stresses of caring for an elderly or disabled person. Perhaps even more stressful is the fact that often, employers fail to provide the flexibility necessary for workers to keep their jobs whilst caring for their loved ones. Whether you work in the care sector or find yourself struggling to care for relatives whilst working, the need for flexibility is a pressing issue. Care work was found to be the most stressful profession in a recent survey; respondents cited the workload in the industry, having to cope with tight deadlines and the potential impact of making a mistake as their reasons for feeling stressed. Alongside this, 47.4% of respondents mentioned that work-related stress impacts their lives outside of work, highlighting the need for a refreshed look at work-life balance in the industry. A new perspective is needed to revitalise the motivation and culture of the sector. New resources brought about by technological advances can help care homes deal with these particular challenges. The arrival of the cloud, for example, has encouraged businesses across all industries to provide online and mobile platforms which redirect more control over scheduling back to employees. The sophisticated technology helps with increasing contact with employers, speeding processes to ensure deadlines are more achievable, and helping teams to communicate more easily to avoid mistakes. A ‘personal’ management style is not always enough when dealing with teams with varied skills across multiple sites. Digitalizing your management approach reduces the amount of time spent on traditionally manual processes and lowers frustration amongst employees, meaning that retaining those employees becomes much easier. With a 2018 Skills for Care report finding that employee turnover rate in adult social care is 30.7% (equivalent to around 390,000 leavers in the past 12 months), there’s a considerable need for an improved focus on retention. An online platform for workforce management means that problems are flagged and dealt with before they cause any complications. Mistakes are fewer and both patients and employees benefit from a more open and efficient process. The trend for flexible working is increasingly being adopted in other sectors and has the potential to go beyond being merely a trend and become the norm. All workplaces can make small changes to put welfare at the core of their management style, and help to have happier, more effective employees. For more information on flexible caring, see the Planday website.
Great Oaks is a home from home
Making the decision to move into a care home, or to help a loved one move in, can be a hugely upsetting and challenging time so making the right choice is important. Vi spoke about her experience of choosing Great Oaks, managed by Encore Care Homes, for her partner Derek and how it feels like a home from home for both of them. Sadly, my partner Derek can no longer do anything for himself as he has Alzheimer’s disease and chronic kidney disease, so we needed to choose a care home that would be able to cater for all of his care needs. Great Oaks is situated just a few minutes away from our home in Wallisdown so we made the decision to view it and were not disappointed. The rooms and facilities on offer are outstanding and finished to such a high standard, which confirmed this was the right place for Derek to live and call his home. It was an incredibly hard choice to move Derek into a care home, but the whole process has been made so much easier by the caring friendly nature of the team at Great Oaks. The staff are all so kind and welcoming every time I come in, and I’ve got to know those that are looking after Derek and trust them 100 per cent – I know they genuinely have his best interests at heart. Three carers in particular, Alison, Katie and Karen show Derek a great amount of care and attention. I have also built up a great rapport and relationship with them, which has helped to make my visits even more enjoyable. There is a real family vibe at Great Oaks, and a homely feel, not just for the residents but for their spouses and families too. I visit every day, and I’m always actively encouraged to use the communal areas as well as the facilities, which I really enjoy doing with Derek. Particularly taking part in the home activities. I’m always made to feel so relaxed. Recently, Derek’s condition has deteriorated. His concentration has gone, which makes it hard for him to focus on activities. Thankfully there are lovely gardens at Great Oaks which Derek will happily take a stroll in during the warmer weather. He does also like to spend time with another resident, Terry, as he is encouraged to socialise by the care team. I can honestly say that we have been made to feel part of the family at Great Oaks, which has made the whole transition process so much easier. Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease and it’s heart-breaking to watch a loved one with this terrible illness. But when I see Derek smile, it really lifts my spirits. I’m glad he is living somewhere comfortable, homely and surrounded by such compassionate and friendly nurses and carers. The care Derek receives is exceptional, and I couldn’t really ask for more. Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, which are designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. For more information please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk or call 01202 087444 to speak to a member of the team.
