Taking care to marathon lengths
The chief executive of a Hull-based care organisation, Hica Group, has marked 25 years with the company by walking 25 miles in one day, taking care to marathon lengths. Penni Brown, chief executive of the not-for-profit Hica Group, completed the walk raising at least £3000 for the SHINE fund, used to benefit the users of the Hica Group’s services. On her 25-mile route, Penni visited eight of the organisation’s care homes where she was met by residents and staff, showing their support and cheering her on to reach the finish line. Starting at Horrox Court, where she began her career with Hica as a manager, she also visited Albemarle in Heddon, Elm Tree Court, Wilton Lodge, Raleigh Court and Isaac Robinson Court in Hull, Overton House in Cottingham and The Hollies in Hessle. Penni spent several months training for the walk alongside project coordinator and colleague, Cameron Innes. She completed the walk in 10 hours and 50 minutes, joined by some of her team and residents along the way. She said: “Walking 25 miles was definitely a challenge. To prepare for the walk, I followed a tough training regime. I am very thankful to Cameron, who continually spurred me on and encouraged me to keep going to everyone who walked with me on the day and to everyone who made a donation. Some mornings, I woke up at 5am to train and although it was difficult, I was determined to succeed because of the amount of people that supported me to take on the walk and I know that the money I raised will make such a difference to the people we support.” “I’m very proud that while marking 25 years with Hica, I have raised important funds for our SHINE initiative. The fund enables us to invest in a range of activities, equipment and technology for the people we care for. The money raised from the walk will mean that we can invest in more activities and equipment, which will be hugely beneficial to the people who use our services.” The Hica Group operates a portfolio of 15 care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a care at home service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England. For more information about the Hica Group please visit www.hica-uk.com
Margaret Shares Exotic Travel Stories Thanks to Innovative Care System
A pensioner who enjoyed her first ever foreign trip has been able to share her holiday photos with the boss of the charity who developed the innovative new care support system, CleverCogs, that allowed her to travel to Vietnam. Margaret Sancken, 65, felt confident enough to book her first ever holiday to Vietnam thanks to Blackwood’s CleverCogs system, a digitally enhanced product which aims to keep people as independent as possible. Blackwood has a commitment to push the boundaries of technology to allow property adaptations which make a huge difference to people with disabilities. After hearing the amazing success story and Margaret’s rave reviews of CleverCogs, Blackwood Chief Executive Fanchea Kelly was keen to visit her at the St Leonard’s Court development in Ayr to see the travel photos and hear about what she’d done on the trip. Fanchea said: “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that Margaret had been able to book her first ever holiday thanks to the CleverCogs system. It was brilliant that she felt confident enough to do so thanks to the technology and having been to Vietnam myself, I was excited to hear all about her travels. The trip itself looked amazing and the fact Margaret felt comfortable enough to book such an exotic holiday for her first ever break is testament to the quality and usability of the product.” The CleverCogs system tailors each device to the wants and needs of the individual and gives users control over their care and support. It also enables customers to browse the web, email, do their shopping and even catch up with friends and family. Margaret was joined on the 6,223 mile trip by St Leonard’s Team Leader, Gina McClinton, and the pair spent 11 days discovering the country in Southeast Asia. The pair took in all that Vietnam has to offer and even spent one night eating dinner with a local family. The holiday was so successful that Margaret now has plans to take a longer break to Australia next year and explore the country by train. Fanchea added: “Margaret has been a tenant at St Leonards for 23 years and it’s great to see that we’re still able to help her become even more independent thanks to developments in technology and care. Margaret herself admits that she can’t imagine life without the CleverCogs technology that has given her a new lease of confidence. She said: “CleverCogs is very easy to use and after using it for a while now, I couldn’t imagine life without it. Beforehand, I’d never have though this sort of trip was possible but the system as given me the confidence to try new things and allowed me to go to places I never thought I’d visit. My trip to Vietnam is one I’ll never forget. It’s a beautiful place and it was amazing to take in the different sights” For more information about CleverCogs please click here
New care organisation plans to transform Hertfordshire nursing home
A family owned care operator has acquired a local Hertfordshire nursing home, Chalfont Court, and plans to transform the home over the next couple of years. Acacia Care, who also own a luxury residential home in Nottingham, has recently taken over Chalfont Court and will be carrying out a major internal refurbishment bringing it to the same standard as their existing home. Prior to refurbishment works, Acacia Care will be looking to improve local links, supporting community engagement and helping residents and staff to form relationships with groups and businesses in the area. Chalfont Court is a 42-bed home, specialising in nursing and dementia care, situated at the heart of Rickmansworth. Jay Patel, owner of Acacia Care, commented: “We are delighted to be taking over Chalfont Court and have some ambitious plans to improve the quality of the care and the environment of the home. Our existing care home, Acorn House, provides a real home from home atmosphere, and we want residents to also benefit from this type of luxurious and cosy atmosphere. We also look forward to welcoming the community into our home.” In addition to refurbishment and community engagement, the group will be looking to further improve the quality of care provided at Chalfont Court, as well as provide a weekly programme of personalised wellbeing activities. Acacia Care is a family owned business with over 17 years experience in the care home industry. To find out more about Chalfont Court, or to arrange a tour of the home, contact Care Home Manager Linda on 01923 772 378 or click here
Advinia Health Care acquires 22 Bupa care homes across the UK
Care home provider Advinia Health Care announced today the names of the 22 Bupa care homes it has acquired, as part of a deal with the international healthcare group that closed in February. The acquisition follows the completion of Bupa’s transfer of 110 care homes to HC-One in December. The deal means Advinia Health Care now operates 38 care homes in the UK, comprising 3,250 beds, an increase of over 500%. The company is now among the top 10 private care providers in the UK, and has taken over the employment of more than 3,700 staff who previously worked at Bupa. No reductions in overall staff numbers are expected. The equity for the Advinia purchase, whose price has not been disclosed, was provided by Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, a liver surgeon and ex-McKinsey consultant from London, who co-founded Advinia with his wife Sangita Kanoria. With strong financial backing, the expansion will see Advinia’s quality of service applied across the new homes. Debt was arranged by Credit Suisse Bank in London, and Austrian Anadi Bank in Austria, which is fully-owned by Dr Kanoria. Legal counsel was provided by Allen & Overy. Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, Chairman, Advinia Health Care said: “We are interested in expansion for sure, but not for its own sake. Advinia Health Care is fundamentally about delivering a higher quality of service, as well as value for money. We want more families across the UK to benefit from our commitment to the individual needs of every resident. A well-run care home can make a difference to the lives of residents and loved ones alike. It has an important value in society.” The care homes that Advinia has added are named below: Town/City | Beds | Care home Barrhead | 94 | Millview Norwood Clydebank | 150 | Hill View Falkirk | 116 | Newcarron Glasgow | 297 | Craigbank, Deanfield, Golfhill, Haydale Paisley | 240 | Braemount Elderslie Rutherglen | 225 | Rutherglen Liverpool | 330 | Arncliffe Court, Stonedale Lodge Leigh | 180 | Bedford Bury | 120 | Burrswood House Manchester |143 | Gorton Parks Bolton | 180 | Mill View Staffordshire | 39 | Burntwood Dudley | 260 | Netherton Green, Ryland View Walsall| 162 | Parklands Court Leeds | 178 | West Ridings About Advinia Health Care Advinia Health Care is an experienced provider of nursing and residential services to the older vulnerable population which specialises in complex dementia and Alzheimer’s care. The group operates 38 care homes and 3,250 beds, providing the full spectrum of care services. The senior management team has been involved in care since 1999 and works in partnership with staff, residents, family and social workers. Advinia has won several awards for innovation and quality care. Recently they launched culturally sensitive robots to help dementia residents. The group is currently undergoing a period of growth, with plans to invest and develop further to meet the shortfall of care home places in the UK. For any more information please click here
Rescue dog Teddy joins the team at Eastbourne residential home
A two year-old Yorkshire Terrier/Jack Russell cross who was adopted by a residential home, Oak Lodge, for people with physical and learning disabilities last November is brightening their lives with his infectious enthusiasm for life. The idea of finding a pet for the people who live at Oak Lodge came to one of their senior support workers Geraldine Bird when she noticed how much they enjoyed the company of a dog which regularly spent the evenings with them in the holiday accommodation in Devon where they stayed last summer. Geraldine said: “All the people who met this dog on holiday absolutely loved him, and thought it was great when he laid on the floor and watched TV with them. When we got home again, we all had a chat and decided that it would be wonderful if the people who live at Oak Lodge could adopt a dog of their own. We contacted several different rescue homes before we found Teddy, but he was worth waiting for – he’s the perfect pet for the people who live at Oak Lodge.” As well as getting lots of cuddles and petting, Teddy goes out for daily walks with the residents, many of whom are in wheelchairs. Some of the people who live in nearby services run by Regard also get involved in exercising him, which is delivering additional benefits by strengthening bonds between these neighbouring groups. Geraldine Bird said: “Teddy has been a great hit since day one. Everywhere the people we support go, he goes too. Last week they took him on an assessment visit to see a barge which two of them will be hiring for their summer holiday this year because – naturally – Teddy will be going too.” Having pets around the home has proven therapeutic benefits which include improving a sense of well-being as well as helping people deal with anxiety. Teddy has inspired three members of the Oak Lodge staff team to take part in the UK’s first 2.5km and 5km dog-and-owner obstacle run and raise money to help care for the animals of Battersea Dogs’ Home. Geraldine and her colleagues Sami Baker, Service Manager and Claire Duerdoth, Senior support worker have all signed up for the 2018 Muddy Dog Challenge – with Teddy – and are already in training for the event which will take place in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 29 September. The people who live at Oak Lodge have also decided to donate all the funds they raise at their planned summer fayre in July to Battersea Dogs’ Home. The Regard Group, which runs Oak Lodge, is the UK’s fourth largest private organisation providing supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and acquired brain injury, caring for more than 1,088 people, with a dedicated staff of over 2,600 people working at 163 locations throughout the UK. Further information about Oak Lodge or Regard visit www.regard.co.uk or call Guy Page on 07773 746 614.
Hertfordshire care home rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Tenterden House Care Home in Bricket Wood, St Albans, to be Outstanding following an inspection in January. Tenterden House Care Home is run by Bupa Care Homes (BNH) Limited. It is registered to provide accommodation for up to 40 people who require nursing care. Inspectors found staff were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well-led care. Under the CQC 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. Tenterden House Care Home is rated Outstanding for being caring and well-led, and Good for being responsive, safe and effective. Jemima Burnage, the CQC 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 at Tenterden House Care Home which we found gave them an enhanced sense of quality of life and well-being. The service was exceptionally caring and staff demonstrated a ‘people first’ approach and were innovative and creative to improve outcomes for people. The registered manager and staff promoted a positive culture that was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering, which achieved consistently good outcomes for people. People told us staff helped them live the life they wanted and achieve things they never thought it would be possible after they moved into a care home.” “One person told us about a goal they set themselves and this was for them to once again participate in a half marathon. They told us that four staff members enrolled in a local marathon and when they were close to the finish line, they helped the person cross this with them. “Relatives were extremely positive about the care and support people received. They told us they often saw staff doing little things which had huge impact on people and their relatives. 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.” A full inspection report has been published on the CQC website here
New range of qualifications for the health and social care sector
A new range of qualifications that will bring clarity and structure to the training landscape in the health and social care sector has been launched by Highfield Qualifications. The 13 new qualifications, which sit on Ofqual’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), are designed to support learners in roles within the healthcare, adult care and other related environments. Areas covered include principles of care planning, safeguarding and dignity in adult care, prevention and control of infection, and nutrition and health principles. Also covered are safe handling of medication, understanding diabetes, autism, challenging behaviour and mental health problems. The qualifications are designed to support providers and employers looking to make the most of their European Social Fund (ESF) allocation and Adult Education Budget (AEB), as well as local education authorities with budgets covering health and social care. Jason Sprenger, Highfield chief executive, said: ‘The 13 new qualifications will provide specific coverage of key areas that are vital to the sector. They also provide a clarity and structure to the training in health and social care that has long been needed and will make it easier for employers looking to recruit, or for existing staff to upskill in specialist areas. Most importantly, the new qualifications will also allow providers and employers to make full use of the ESF and AEB, providing the high-quality training needed in the sector’. Highfield Qualifications is one of the UK’s top five awarding organisations (AO) and winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2016, offering over 250 qualifications covering a wide variety of industries including retail, health and social care, rail, food safety, security, catering and hospitality, and logistics. A summary of all the qualifications can be found at https://www.highfieldqualifications.com/qualifications/compliance/healthsocialcare For regular updates, go to https://twitter.com/askhighfield and https://www.facebook.com/askhighfield
New online resources for older adults struggling with mental illness
MindEd for Older People is a new online educational resource that explains a range of mental illnesses commonly experienced by older people, and offers practical advice for dealing with them. A team of older people and professionals are the authors behind the new MindEd resources which cover a range of common problems such as insomnia, depression, medications to be aware of, anxiety and alcohol-related problems. The resources are a vital crutch at a time when demand for mental health services is increasing whilst supply of the mental health workforce for older people is falling. The number of Old Age psychiatrists has declined 8.5% since November 2013. MindEd for Older People aims to equip older adults, families worried about their older relatives, and professionals and volunteers working with older people, with the necessary information to manage their mental health needs. In the community, 1 in 5 older people have depression, whilst the condition affects 40% of those in care homes. It was also revealed last month by Public Health England that 30% of all hospital admissions in 2016-17 were for alcohol related illnesses in the over 65s. The mental health risks of a growing older population have become increasingly apparent. In 2015-16, just 6 per cent of referrals to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) were for people over 65. Families caring for the older generation need simple, clear, free, accessible advice written by experts that they can use online, on phones and tablets, without stigma or ‘referral’. While there are many online educational mental health resources, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says there must be more support to recognise mental health conditions specifically in older people to prevent wrongly attributing symptoms of mental illness to ‘old age’. Dr Amanda Thompsell, chair of the old age psychiatry faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: “Older people are affected by mental health problems but experience them very differently to the rest of the adult population. Multiple physical illness or the side effects of medicine are more likely to result in mental ill health. “But conditions like depression are highly treatable and no patient should be left to suffer simply because they are ‘old’. MindEd for Older People sends the right message that older people have a right to have a good quality of life and that there is support out there.” Keith Chambers, Programme Manager for MindEd for Families said: “We are delighted to build on the success of our existing site and launch these new resources for older people. “Working with older people to produce these resources was vitally important to us to ensure they were accessible. There is a growing need for information like this and we hope that older people struggling with their mental health, or families worried about a loved one, will be able to get the support they need from MindEd.” For more information about at MindEd or to visit the new site please click here
Balhousie Forth View Care Home celebrates latest Care Inspectorate grading
Staff and residents at Fife-based Balhousie Forth View Care Home celebrated achieving two Grade 5 ratings after a recent Care Inspectorate visit by throwing an extra special party. Forth View in Methil was awarded a ‘very good’ rating of Grade 5 for both ‘Management and Leadership’ and ‘Care and Support’ after introducing a number of initiatives including a drive for more ‘person-centred care’ to enable residents to be more supported and involved in decision making within the home. The Care Inspectorate’s visit found that residents and their relatives were very happy with the level of care provided and enjoy many of the home’s activities including a Residents Committee, while staff felt well supported and ‘listened to’ by their managers. People living at Forth View and their relatives commented on having a “great relationship with the staff” and feeling “happy” and “secure”. The Care Inspectorate commented that staff at Forth View “were good at giving care and support in a respectful, kind manner whilst promoting dignity and privacy.” To celebrate, Forth View welcomed staff and residents on Wednesday, March 14 from Luncarty, one of Balhousie’s Perthshire-based care homes and a group of staff and service users from Balhousie’s Advanced Specialist Care (ASC) unit which is also in Perthshire. The ASC team brought an inflatable pub with them to really get the party going and residents from across the homes enjoyed mingling together. Residents from Luncarty enjoyed testing out Forth View’s state-of-the-art Virtual Reality system which enables users to have a range of unforgettable experiences including deep sea ocean diving and riding a roller coaster. Forth View acquired this new technology after Deputy Manager, Samantha Beattie successfully fundraised £1500 through skydiving to purchase the interactive equipment and the team are enjoying being able to share the technology with residents from across the Balhousie family. VR technology has been shown to improve memory, mood and verbal communication among care home residents. Gordon Candlish, Care Home Manager at Balhousie Forth View, was delighted to be able to celebrate the care home’s good news with residents and staff from other care homes as well as Forth View. Gordon said: “Our latest grading from the Care Inspectorate is a culmination of many months of hard work from every member of the team here at Balhousie Forth View and it is incredibly well deserved. Our focus on person-centred care has been embraced by our staff, residents and their families and has enabled residents to be more involved in decision making – it is their home after all.” “It has been fantastic being able to celebrate with a special party and share our good news with both Luncarty and our Advanced Specialist Care unit who came to visit us and join in the festivities. Everyone had a brilliant time trying out or new Virtual Reality system, dancing, singing and enjoying the inflatable pub!” To find out more about the Grade 5 rating that Balhousie Care Group achieved visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
