Newborn lambs brighten elderly residents’ day
LEAPING lambs brought smiles to the faces of elderly visitors, from Queens Meadow Care Home, during a trip to Saltholme Nature Reserve. The reserve’s newest arrivals have been drawing in the crowds, including residents from care homes in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. Queens Meadow Care Home and Ingleby Care Home, both operated by the Hill Care Group, took their residents on a day-trip to the popular tourist attraction. They were delighted to see the newborn lambs, some as young as three days, during their visit. Although Lambing Live took place between 30th March and 15th April this year, some of the reserve’s sheep are still giving birth in the lambing shed. Kirsty Walsh, activities coordinator for Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, in Ingleby Barwick, said: “Even though it was a windy day, the residents loved being out in the fresh air, seeing the baby lambs chasing their mums and also all kinds of different birds. After visiting the lambing shed, many of the residents said they wanted to take the lambs home, as they’re so cute. We’ll definitely be back to see how they’ve grown in future.” Debbie Wilkes, activities coordinator for Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road, in Hartlepool, said: “ Saltholme Nature Reserve is very close to our care home so we take regular trips to see the birds and enjoy lunch in the café. We are great supporters of the reserve and everyone loves visiting – especially at lambing time. The residents thoroughly enjoyed seeing the babies and everyone left with big smiles.” Queens Meadow Care Home and Ingleby Care Home are part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. Saltholme Nature Reserve has a visitor’s centre, hides and screens to let bird watchers get close to water rail, yellow wagtails and terns, plus a family discovery zone, cafe, play area and accessible trails. For further information visit https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/saltholme#hrFl5GGo62i18L70.99. For all media enquiries or fro more information about Queens Meadow Care Home please contact Sam Schofield on 07895 127353 or email sam@schofieldcomms.co.uk.
Encouraging student nurses to ‘Be Brilliant’ in Northampton
Reports suggest that the nursing shortage is the worst it’s been since records began, figures from NHS Improvement highlight that the NHS in England is short of 100,000 staff one in 11 of the entire workforce enter the Be Brilliant initiative. The nursing shortage, combined with fears that nursing is an increasingly stressful and undervalued job can put people off becoming nurses; however, the University of Northampton is trying to change that. One of the ways they are doing this is by providing a highly supportive training environment for their students on its adult nursing course that fully prepares them for the role. Cindy O’Dell, the Adult Nursing lead at Northampton University says that students at Northampton receive tremendous support during their three years from a personal tutor, as well as academic and clinical colleagues. Cindy says: “Nursing is such a unique career where people get the opportunity to have a real physical, emotional and spiritual connection with people. No day is the same and there are broad career opportunities available in Northamptonshire and nursing in general.” The University offers a highly rated, three year undergraduate adult nursing course, which leads students to a BSc Adult Nursing (Hons) and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. A big draw for students this year is a new £330m campus, which opens in September, across the road from Northampton General Hospital and close to Northampton’s theatre, bars, restaurants and shops. Students also receive a skills bag to use in the new skills suite. This includes a pocket mask, stethoscope, pedometer, pen torch, alcohol gel and scissors. Its purpose is for nurses to start to take ownership of their learning and appear professional from day one. Central to the programme of support is the University’s Be Brilliant initiative. Be Brilliant encourages lecturers and students to aspire to always provide the best care for patients with compassion, courage and commitment and to celebrate nurses and their achievements. As part of this, workshops during the students’ induction are offered on resilience and how to bounce back, how to be compassionate, as well as how to cope with the demands of a nursing degree and maintain good wellbeing. One student benefiting from this supportive approach is Gail Purves, who worked as a dental nurse for eleven years before enrolling on the adult nursing course. She says the course provides an ideal mix of in-depth academic learning and interesting ward placements. Gail says: “The support network here is incredible and Be Brilliant is really important as it encourages us all to go the extra mile for patients, for colleagues and ourselves.” Another student, Jessica Jennings-Bland, who has just completed the adult nursing course says it is ‘the best career decision’ she has ever made. Jessica has taken on a fulltime role at Northampton General in the vascular department. She says: “Nursing is my vocation and I love it. There is a great team environment at Northampton General Hospital which has really helped me. Even when we are really busy, we work so well as a team, I feel confident we can do a great job for patients and, there is also usually a ward sister nearby if we need support.” Students studying in Northampton University are offered a two-week European exchange option, plus they can work toward a ‘Changemaker’ certificate. The Changemaker initiative encourages staff and students to find solutions to environmental or social problems to improve people’s lives, either at home or abroad. The University is a part of the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ recruitment campaign and is partnering with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and St Andrew’s Healthcare, to recruit more nurses and doctors and encourage them to relocate to Northamptonshire. Encouraging student nurses to train and remain in Northamptonshire is a key campaign goal. For more information about the Be Brilliant initiative go to www.theguardian.com
Nottingham domiciliary care agency rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Break Barriers Nottingham Ltd, to be Outstanding following inspections in July, August and September 2017. Break Barriers is a domiciliary care agency which supports people in their own homes who live in the Nottinghamshire area. Inspectors found staff were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well-led care. A full inspection report has been published on the Care Quality Commission website: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-884621519 Under Care Quality Commission’s programme of inspections, all adult social care services are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Break Barriers Nottingham Ltd is rated Outstanding for being responsive and well-led, and Good for being caring, safe and effective. Rob Assall-Marsden, CQC’s Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care in the central region said: “Our inspection team was really impressed by the level of care and support offered to people in their own homes who used Break Barriers Nottingham Ltd. The service was outstandingly responsive and well-led. People’s care plans clearly reflected their individual needs and personal wishes. People and their relatives were fully involved in the development of their care plans and these were reviewed regularly. There were varied activities that respected people’s cultural diversity that suited everybody’s individual needs. People were extremely complimentary of all aspects of the service provided and spoke very positively of both staff and the management team. People received care and support from kind, caring and compassionate staff, who respected their privacy and dignity at all times. Those using the service had full confidence in the registered manager and the way the service was run. The vision and values of the staff team were person-centred and made sure people were at the heart of the service. All of this meant people received a high standard of care, which is why it has been rated Outstanding.” Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “The quality of care which our inspectors found here was exceptional and I am very pleased that we can celebrate the service’s achievements. An outstanding service is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved.” For more information about the Care Quality Commission please visit www.cqc.org.uk
Ablyss CMS Release Version 7
Ablyss CMS is set to release Version 7 of their Care Management System later this month. This much anticipated version has a new modern and streamlined look, a number of brand new features and a completely new tablet app which utilises many of the technology features around today. Of the many new features, the most notable is the all new “TASKS” facility. This handy tool allows you to set ongoing tasks for individual or groups of residents. You can use this new “TASKS” feature to set up any activity, whether it be the recording of fluids, turn charts, or night checks. You can set these tasks to be completed on an hourly, daily or monthly basis, dependent on the individual task and the resident’s needs. All scheduled and overdue tasks will be accessible across all of our products, whether you are using CMS Tablet for point of care documentation or our desktop version for more concentrated analysis. A handy missed episodes indicator will also make it easy for you and your staff to keep track of task performance. Another new feature is the creation of “RELATIVE & VISITORS ACCOUNTS” which enables a relative or visitor such as a social worker or GP to have direct access to the system to view specific areas, for that resident only. This tool was originally developed to promote an open relationship of care between the home, its residents and their relatives. With the arrival of the new GDPR regulations at the end of May, this new feature means that professional visitors can access the areas of CMS needed to carry out their duty effectively whilst ensuring you are compliant with GDPR. Our tablet app has also had a redesign. It’s faster, slicker and more versatile and as expected it will also work offline. So if WiFi is an issue in your home, this won’t have any impact when recording at the point of care. The new tablet app also provides you with an improved overview of records across the whole home as well as the individual resident. If you would like to find out more about all of the new features of the Ablyss CMS, speak to a member of our team on 01625 535685 or visit our website www.ablyss.co.uk . FREE 30 day trials and demonstrations are available.
Care home managers: What you need to know about blended families
Care homes in the UK accommodate people from across a full spectrum of society e.g. blended families and there will likely be a vast array of familial backgrounds in any given residence. One particular scenario we are seeing increasingly often is the emerging trend of residents who have blended families – where two or more families are brought together through marriage. This might be the residents themselves, who have married multiple times and as a result have various children, step-children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. The term also applies to residents who have only ever married once themselves, but their children have undergone multiple marriages. Any scenario involving a blended family can complicate legal matters when it comes to wills, especially if a resident passes away without a will, or with an outdated will that does not reflect their current family situation. Invalid and contested wills can result in lengthy court procedures that may well leave unpaid bills, including vast sums owed to care homes. With this in mind, what should care home managers be aware of when it comes to wills involving blended families? What if there is no will? When a person dies without making a will, intestacy rules come into play that dictate how the estate will be distributed to remaining relatives. Where a person dies leaving a surviving spouse and children the law states that any surviving spouse inherits the first £250,000 of the deceased’s estate, all of their personal possessions and half of anything that is left. In the example of a resident who has recently remarried but who has children from a previous relationship and an estate worth less than £250,000, the intestacy rules would mean that the recent spouse would get everything and the children would receive nothing. It is also worth bearing in mind that the act of marriage revokes an existing will, so even if the resident in this case had previously made a will that passed all of their assets to their children, their recent remarriage would make this null and void. Conversely, if a resident with no will had a long-term partner at their time of death but they were not married or in a civil partnership, their estate would pass to their own children in equal shares and the partner would not be entitled to anything. If a resident wants to ensure this does not happen then they need to create a will dictating their precise wishes. Mental capacity Mental capacity is a common issue that care home managers come across. With regards to blended families, it can be especially pertinent as the implications of an invalid will can be further-reaching than those involving more conventional family structures. If a family member is concerned about a loved one’s mental capacity, they should in the first instance discuss this with the person in question and explore the possibility of them becoming an attorney by creating Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). This would mean the family member can handle the resident’s finances and make decisions regarding their health and welfare, including areas such as their accommodation and care. Members of a blended family, such as step-children and step-grandchildren, have every right to become an attorney for the resident in question as a donor chooses their own attorneys to act for them and they do not have to be any kind of blood relation. Care homes might wish to discuss LPAs with residents, as they can be beneficial for all kinds of reasons, but ultimately the only person who can appoint an attorney via an LPA is the individual themself. The above scenario ensures decisions can still be made in the event of future loss of mental capacity, but if somebody is looking to make a will and mental capacity is already a concern, assessing this is the job of the solicitor instructed to create the will. This is standard practise for solicitors, who must assess the person’s capacity to enter into the document and ensure they are satisfied that the instruction to create the will came from the individual and not any member of their family – whether that is a blended family or otherwise. If the solicitor has any doubts they then instruct a doctor to assist with the assessment of capacity. In cases where it is accepted that the resident lacks capacity to make a will, an application can be made on their behalf to the Court of Protection. This will create a statutory will that aims to ensure the resident’s estate is suitably distributed to between members of their blended family. Offering advice Clearly, there are many scenarios when residents and their loved ones require expert advice and guidance. When it comes to legal issues, care home managers should not try to provide this themselves as it can put them in a very difficult position. Instead, explaining the importance of updated and comprehensive wills and LPAs is a wise move and something which care homes should outline to residents at regular intervals. They can then arrange meetings with solicitors on a case-by-case basis. We have seen matters where a dispute between family members exhausts the assets of an estate and leaves the estate insolvent. If the care home has outstanding fees at death then the amount due could be reduced or they may not receive payment at all. Even in a solvent estate, contested will disputes or estate disputes can go on for a number of months or years – so it could be a long time before the outstanding bills are paid, which could affect your cash flow. With that in mind, it makes sense for care home managers to ensure residents understand that problems can arise when they have blended families, and the importance of taking professional advice to try and prevent legal disputes. For more information about blended families please click here
Balhousie Care Group finance director scoops national award
Mike Reid, finance director of Balhousie Care Group, has been named Finance Director of the Year at the prestigious FDs’ Excellence Awards. Mike won the award in the category of private company with turnover of £20m+ for his work in helping turn around the Perth-based care home group. Mike joined the company in 2014 and has helped transform Balhousie Care from a firm facing major challenges and losing money, to one which is a leader in its sector and turning a profit. In 2017 he oversaw a £49m refinancing of the business, now in its 25th year of operation and with 25 care homes across Scotland. The FDs Excellence Awards were held this week at the Royal College of Physicians in London as part of the 2018 FD Surgery which brought together more than 250 entrepreneurial finance directors for a day of debate, learning and networking. Balhousie Care Group’s Chairman Tony Banks said: “Balhousie Care Group’s journey over the last three years – from a company facing challenges within a sector under major pressure, to where it is today – has been remarkable. The appointment of Mike in 2014 was integral to turning things around. He came with a strong financial pedigree but no previous experience in the care sector. That fresh, analytical eye proved crucial in helping us steer our ship back on course to be nationally recognised as a leading independent provider of care services in Scotland.” The FDs Excellence Award is the latest in a line of national accolades for Balhousie Care Group. Operations Director Louise Barnett took the title of Operations Manager of the Year at the National Care Awards. Last week dementia nurse consultant Yvonne Manson was named as a finalist in the RCNI Nurse Awards,which celebrates excellence in nursing care U.K.-wide. To find out more about the FDs Excellence Awards or Balhousie Care Group visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
North East dementia charity leads the way in infection prevention
When working in a care environment, managing the risk of infection is of paramount importance, when the people in care are also dementia patients however, this ups the ante even more so for dementia care professionals and visitors alike. For many years, researchers have been examining the links between the body’s natural immune system and the progressive symptoms of dementia. Research conducted by specialists in recent months suggests that the inflammation of cells in the brain, caused by the presence of inflammation or infection elsewhere in the body, can in some cases actually contribute to the worsening of a patient’s condition. At Dementia Care, we are dedicated to providing the highest possible quality of care to our service users and as such, our staff take infection control very seriously. As a matter of best practice, all of our staff receive rigorous infection prevention training as part of their induction process. As part of this, staff are issued with PPE and are encouraged to uphold good personal hygiene, including thorough handwashing at regular intervals throughout the day. We also operate a strict sickness policy and insist that staff remain at home if they are unwell. Our preventative measures however extend beyond the staff. At our headquarters just outside Newcastle, we operate extensive weekly cleaning schedules as well as a deep cleaning schedule for all of our furnishings, which is supplemented by regular carpet cleaning and the use of antibacterial products throughout the building. Staff ensure that any spills which occur are immediately cleaned up and that any soiled clothing is laundered safely and correctly. “We take infection prevention very seriously,” said Carol Brown, head of care at Dementia Care. “Our service users and their families trust and rely on us to provide the best possible care and do everything in our power to ensure that our Centre is a safe, hygienic environment for them to enjoy. “Our staff are all highly-trained in their respective fields and if any of them detect an early sign of infection with any of our patients, they know to seek professional medical advice immediately.” Dementia Care provides specialist care, support and advice to people living with dementia, their families and carers. Delivering a range of day services, residential care and support services across the North East, 2018 marks Dementia Care’s 25th anniversary as a registered charity. For more information about Dementia Care please click here.
In-house Gym and Physiotherapy at Edinburgh’s Finest Care Home
Edinburgh’s newest and most luxurious care home, Cramond Residence, is to have a state-of-the-art gym and give its residents access to unrivalled health and fitness support, including innovative fall prevention classes. Due to open this summer, Cramond Residence has announced an exclusive physiotherapy partnership with Balanced Edinburgh, which specialises in functional rehabilitation and fall prevention to help older people become more independent. After joining Cramond Residence, each resident will be given a thorough, initial assessment which the physiotherapists will use to create a bespoke care plan. Plans will be tailored to an individual’s physical fitness, care needs and personal desired outcomes and may include exercise, massage, moving support or fall prevention classes. Residents will then be reassessed every six months to ensure their needs are being fully met. Cramond Residence will also have a supervised gym, specially designed and equipped to rehabilitate older people and a private, comfortable treatment room for the physiotherapy, massage, podiatry and complementary therapies. Eileen Gray, General Manager at Cramond Residence, said: “We are committed to delivering the highest standard of care which is why we have partnered exclusively with Balanced, who have a reputation for excellence and results.” “We want our residents to feel happy and independent and to live as active and fulfilling lives as possible. The physiotherapy services will be a hugely important part of this and will ensure each resident receives the healthcare they require from the comfort of their own home.” Balanced is led by Chartered Physiotherapist, Judith Paterson, who has over 25 years’ healthcare experience. She said: “We are very excited to be working with Cramond Residence and believe the bespoke healthcare programmes we create for the residents will be a fundamental part of their care. We aim to not only deliver safe and comfortable moving and assisting support, but to improve each resident’s health, well-being and mobility. We will work closely with the Nursing Care staff to regularly review care needs and to help promote fitness and independence for as long as is possible throughout each individual’s stay.” The Information Suite at Cramond Residence is now open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday for anyone interested in viewing a sample ensuite bedroom and lounge. It is located at 49 Cramond Road North, Edinburgh, EH4 6NQ. Balanced is Edinburgh’s premier physiotherapy provider, with five prestigious wellness centres across the city and a multi-disciplinary team of Physiotherapists, Massage therapists, Podiatrists and Exercise Specialists. For more information about Cramond Residence please click here
Romsey Community Unite for National Care Home Open Day
For National Care Home Open Day, Abbotswood Court opened its doors to bring the local community together for a day of family fun. To celebrate National Care Home Open Day, Abbotswood Court Care Home in Romsey has united local Romsey residents, charities, businesses and community groups at a special family-friendly community event. The attendees came together to host stalls and participate in a range of entertaining activities. Abbotswood Court Care Home linked people from different cultures and backgrounds in celebration of the National Care Home Open Day’s 2018 theme, ‘Linking Communities’. Among the entertainers and stall holders were a classic Punch and Judy show, HotchPotch Ukulele Band, Romsey Men’s Shed and Oasis Books. Solent Austin 7 Club introduced the public to Herbert Austin’s vintage cars and steam engine, whilst the Hobbs Rehabilitation team, Romsey Rapids and Romsey Arthritis Hydrotherapy Group demonstrated the benefits of sports and physical exercise for people of all ages. The National Care Home Open Day event gave attendees an opportunity to interact and build connections, establishing new relationships in the community. Motivating communities to work together and care for the ageing population, the luxury care home provided attendees with the opportunity to meet staff, speak with the residents and see their modern facilities first hand. Gemma Ridout-Bowden, General Manager of Abbotswood, said: “Through our National Care Home Open Day celebration, we managed to bring together a diversity of people from different backgrounds and professions. We would like to thank all those who attended and helped us deliver a memorable community day. We made a lot of new friends who we hope to see again very soon.” Kate Channing from Romsey Rapids said: “On behalf of the Romsey Rapids, I want to thank the organisers for inviting us to this fantastic event. We had a great time and we also got to give a preview of our toning suite which we highly recommend for the elderly and those who want to get back into fitness after suffering from illness or injury.” Graham Gowman from Romsey Men’s Shed said: “We were delighted to be involved in this great community occasion. Romsey Men’s Shed aims to reduce social isolation and promote active healthy lifestyles in later life so we were thrilled to take part in the day which also highlighted the importance of connecting with the community and being active together.” For more information about National Care Home Open Day, accommodation and services Abbotswood Court provide, visit www.cinnamoncc.com
