Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare Top National CQC Rankings
Residents and team members at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare are celebrating after the care home providers were named the best in the country by Market Analysts Laing & Buisson based on inspection ratings undertaken by the CQC. 100% of all inspected Gracewell homes, and 96% of all Sunrise communities, have been rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, demonstrating the exceptional standard of care offered by the providers across the country. Sunrise has been ranked top for residential care, and Gracewell has come first for nursing care. Sunrise has also come second for nursing care. The CQC is the independent regulator of all health and care services in the UK. The rankings demonstrate the success of Sunrise and Gracewell’s resident-centred approach to care, which ensures residents lead happy, fulfilled lives. Sunrise and Gracewell’s personalised approach has been further enhanced in recent months with the introduction of CareConnect, a secure electronic health record system that tracks individual resident care plans to ensure they receive the very best care and support, according to their individual preferences and care needs. Sunrise Senior Living has 25 communities throughout the UK and Gracewell Healthcare has 20 homes. Joanne Balmer, Senior Director of Care and Quality for Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, said: “We are delighted to have been ranked as the best providers of residential and nursing care in the UK by the CQC, demonstrating the high-quality, person-centred care that we provide to all residents. “This achievement is testament to the hard work and dedication of all team members within our care homes, as well as strengthening the strong, robust governance processes that has driven Sunrise and Gracewell forward. “We will continue to strive every day to ensure all residents receive the exceptional care they deserve, and will not rest on our laurels as we go from strength to strength.” For more information on the CQC please click here
A Master-ful solution for care homes
Infection control is key within healthcare settings and anything that can be done to complement current protocols is looked at with great interest. With an ageing population and a squeeze on budgets, the importance of environmental hygiene is growing. So what are our solutions. Biomaster antimicrobial technology from Addmaster offers product protection that looks to do this, complementing current infection control protocols. Reducing levels of bacteria on treated surfaces, it offers a second line of defence in the area of product protection working alongside existing hygiene procedures. This invisible additive provides round-the-clock protection against several pathogenic bacteria, such as MRSA, E.coli, VRE Listeria, Legionella and Salmonella which can cause serious harm, especially if an individual’s immune system is weaker. The Biomaster additive can be incorporated into a range of products at any stage of manufacturing and is available in liquid, powder and masterbatch formulations to continuously inhibit the growth of bacteria throughout the lifetime of a product. The growing number of Biomaster partners. From paints, flooring and work surfaces, through to nurse call systems, washroom facilities, door handles, pull cords and even radiator covers, the versatility of Biomaster is endless. Contour Bathrooms – a specialist in disabled bathrooms, level access showers and walk in wet rooms – offers over 60 shower trays all featuring the Biomaster technology. Dart Valley System and Medi-shower both feature showerheads with Biomaster technology protecting the shower from contamination. The traditional multifilament braid designed pull cord can be a breeding ground for bacteria due to its uneven surface, making it difficult to clean. The Biomaster PullCord’s anti-ligature wipe clean surface not only includes Biomaster but can also be used with standard cleaning products. Resincoat is just one of the many wall covering suppliers to benefit from the Biomaster technology within its ranges. Its antimicrobial surface coating is suitable for walls, flooring, ceilings, doors and trims and comes in a variety of applications, offering an extensive colour spectrum. So how does it all work? When bacteria comes into contact with Biomaster protected surfaces, the active antimicrobial agent inhibits bacteria from growing, dramatically reducing the levels of bacteria on the surface and protecting the product 24 hours a day for the effective life of the product. For more solutions please click here
Scottish dance visits Sees care home
94-year-old Lilly Tideswell was transported back to her childhood in Scotland when care home, MHA Homewood, invited the Leamington Spa branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society to the home for a Scottish dance night. Lilly, who has lived at Homewood since July last year, learned to dance when she was 8 years’ old. Mrs Tideswell grew up in Greenock on the west coast of Scotland, where she paid “two shillings and threepence” for dance lessons each week, often donning the McGregor tartan. This is the second time Scottish dance and the local Scottish country dancers have come to Homewood to showcase their talents. A number of residents first learnt about the history of Scottish country dancing and what it entails, before being treated to three different dances by the visitors, enjoying a cup of tea and chat at the end. Scottish country dancing is always a social dance, it can be fast, such as a hornpipe, jig or reel, as well as slow, like the strathspey. Resident Lilly enjoyed seeing the traditional dances from her childhood once again with friends in her new home. Jackie Tudor, activities coordinator at Homewood, said: “It was so lovely to see Lilly with the dancers, as it clearly took her back to her childhood in Scotland. You could tell she was really enjoying reminiscing about all the days she spent dancing those steps! It’s so important to have these sorts of events that connect our residents to past memories.” Deborah Allen, home manager said: “We have all kinds of activities going on all the time here at Homewood. But it’s great when groups from the local community and our residents can learn and interact with each other – it really is what we’re all about”. You can contact MHA Homewood by calling 01926 423 519, and for full details on the Scottish dance or the local RSCDS classes, please visit: www.leamingtonspaRSCDS.org.uk
Sunrise of Winchester receives ‘Outstanding’ rating
Sunrise of Winchester in Hampshire is celebrating being awarded a prestigious ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Only 1% of homes receive this overall, making Sunrise of Winchester one of the country’s top care communities. The Care Quality rating was awarded following a comprehensive inspection in December 2017, which found “a warm and homely environment” where “people, their relatives and staff were very proud of the community they lived and worked in”. The quality and commitment of the management at Sunrise of Winchester was highlighted by the Care Quality Commission who said: “the registered manager embraced the registered provider’s visions, values and a Mission, “To Champion Quality of Life for all Seniors”. This mission was evident throughout the community in the way people and staff were supported, respected, nurtured and worked together for the good of people who lived there and those who were important to them” The rigorous, high-quality training at the home was remarked upon, including around dementia care, with inspectors reporting that “the specialist dementia care training… was evident in all staff interactions with people which were excellent”. The focus on the individual was also noted throughout. The CQC found that “person centred care planning was evident throughout and there was a high level of engagement with people about their previous life experiences and hobbies”. They also found that “people enjoyed an excellent dining experience at the home which respected their choices and promoted their independence” and that “special dietary needs were met and cultural difference in diets had been celebrated with themed meals”. This focus on person-centred care has been further enhanced in recent months with the introduction of CareConnect, which is a secure electronic health record system that tracks individual resident care plans to ensure they receive the very best care and support, according to their personal preferences and care needs. Sunrise of Winchester is part of the Sunrise Senior Living group that manages 25 homes throughout the UK. Sunrise of Winchester provides luxury care facilities for up to 103 residents, including specialist dementia care. Sharon Hare, General Manager at Sunrise of Winchester, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team here at Sunrise of Winchester. It pays testament to the pride our team members take in the care we provide, and the dedication they show to the residents that live here. “We are all delighted and we would like to thank everyone who makes our home such a special place to live and work.” Joanne Balmer, Senior Director of Care and Quality for Sunrise Senior Living UK, said: “Our team works exceptionally hard to deliver high quality person-centred care which emphasises quality of life for every individual. We are very pleased that this has been recognised by the CQC, and are proud of everyone at Sunrise of Winchester. “We will continue to provide the support needed to help ensure that the community maintains its highest standards, fulfilling our commitment to ensuring that all residents receive the exceptional care that they deserve.” For more information on the Care Quality at Sunrise of Winchester please visit www.sunrise-care.co.uk
Derby care service rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Turning Point – Derby to be Outstanding overall following an inspection in January. Turning Point – Derby supports adults who have a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder and whose behaviour may challenge, to live as independently as possible. Staff provided personal care to eight people living in their own properties and to four people living in a single house of multi-occupation at the time of our inspection. Inspectors found that the care quality was excellent and all staff were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well-led care. Under CQC’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. Turning Point – Derby is rated Outstanding overall as well as 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 using Turning Point – Derby. “People receiving support from the service received highly individualised person-centred care. Support plans contained detailed and personalised care plans improoving their care quality and we saw people had been supported to have a full and meaningful lives which allowed them to enjoy interests, take part in new experiences and be active members of the local community. “The provider, registered manager and staff actively promoted a positive, inclusive and open culture. We found this approach had a positive impact on the quality of the service people received. The structure of the service worked for people, so that team leaders were always available to support staff and people. “The service worked in conjunction with other organisations to improve care for people with learning disabilities. There were robust quality assurance systems in place which monitored the service, identified potential areas for improvement, and the provider took action to improve where needed. “We found that people were supported with daily living tasks such as grocery shopping, meal preparation and cooking and staff encouraged people to eat a healthy diet. They were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives and inspectors observed people using the service being treated as equals and individuals. Staff always endeavoured to help people maintain their independence and make their own decisions. “Support was provided by a consistent group of staff who, in some instances had been specifically recruited to reflect the preferences and interests of people they cared for. Positive and caring relationships between people using the service and staff were evident and this had a positive impact on people’s quality of life. “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 on the care quality provided from Derby care service has been published on CQC’s website www.cqc.org.uk
A new hope for adult social care
The future doesn’t look entirely rosy for adult social care as our increasingly ageing population, puts pressure on our already meagre budgets. And with a predicted funding gap of £2.3 billion by 2020, it’s difficult to see how local authorities are going to be able to meet the needs of care recipients in the future It’s clear that local authorities are striving to do better, wanting to deliver a personalised approach to care, while ensuring the services they deliver are monitored and managed effectively. However, with individual budgets to manage and a variety of services from home adaptation through to home or residential care provision, it’s often difficult for local authorities to keep track of what is being spent and to what benefit. And, it’s not just local authorities who find managing care challenging. A piece of research we conducted last year revealed that the majority of care recipients have little knowledge about the care options available to them, and a concerning number of recipients don’t even know how much their care costs. To create an adult social care market for the modern world providers must deliver more services and support to an increasingly diverse community. And, local authorities need to offer greater support to all those within the system to allow for greater visibility and control to encourage greater involvement in care experiences to achieve better outcomes. To do this, authorities need to change the way in which they deal with demand and work together with partners, providers and recipients to adopt radically different relationships in order to create a sustainable approach to adult social care. YPO, the professional buying organisation for the public sector, recognised these challenges facing local authorities and the need for a holistic approach to managing care. With the aim of revolutionising the way in which care is managed it has launched the Managing Care Solutions framework to help provide greater visibility, remove barriers for entry into the market for care providers and to encourage more diversity within the system. The framework offers a way for care commissioners to create an evidence hub that can inform strategic planning, and which helps promote community assets and enable self-care. The time for change within social care is ripe and this framework offers true innovation to local authorities. Younifi is the sole solution provider on the frameworks and can help adult social care professionals address the daily challenges they face managing the care needs of our elderly population, which have largely until now been constrained by out of date solutions and practices. For more information on managing care solutions and adult social care please visit www.younifi.co.uk
How to encourage more young people to become professional carers
In the UK, we have nearly seven million carers, both paid and unpaid, but with an aging population and government cuts, we are in dire need of more young carers. We need new talent to bolster the professional care industry. Care work is still one of the most underpaid jobs in the country – but also one of the most important. One of the biggest barriers for young people who are considering a career in this sector is the salary – and the industry has repeatedly come under fire because of this. As a society we have moved away from looking after our senior citizens, turning our backs on carers. When I was 12 years old, my father was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 52 and died 10 years later. It was extremely difficult growing up and coping with my father’s condition, spending my teen years helping to care for him. During this time, I worked with a number of professional carers, spoke to them about their experiences and witnessed first-hand how they cared for my dad. This made me realise that we need to attribute more value to professional carers, raise awareness and educate the younger population on why being a carer is an incredible career choice. The reality is that it can seem a very daunting career path for a lot of young people. Many may not have spent much time with the elderly before, but this is certainly not a reason to be discouraged from becoming young carers. Being a professional young carer enables you to develop a wide range of skills and puts you to the test in ways that your average desk job simply doesn’t. As a carer, you are constantly learning, reacting to situations which demand spontaneity and meeting individuals who have seen and lived through so much. We owe a lot to the older generation, these are the people who survived the World Wars – and they often give the best life advice. Through my experience with my dad, I noticed there was, and still is, a real lack of innovation and use of technology in the care sector. To combat this, we need to find new ways to solve old problems, encouraging the use of breakthrough technologies and inspiring young people to choose a career in this field. After my experience with my father, I left my corporate full-time job at a Magic Circle law firm and founded Shift8 because I knew I wanted to do something more personal to me and bring some good out of a highly difficult situation. Shift8 is committed to changing the world with young carers by introducing socially responsible and life changing products to UK and Ireland. Our first product is called Tovertafel (Magic Table) – a series of award winning games for people with mid to late stage dementia to stimulate physical, social and cognitive activity. As part of the service, we have created the Tovertafel Buddy scheme to help inspire the next generation to get involved in dementia care and potentially end up working in the field. A Tovertafel Buddy is a volunteer in the local area, usually aged between 17 and 23, who visits the care centre where the Tovertafel has been installed and shows the staff, family members and residents how to get the best out of the Tovertafel. Becoming young carers is an extremely rewarding career choice and I feel we need to raise more awareness of this. The residents that you work with can be cheeky, charming, hilarious and wise. When you see a smile and you know you’ve engaged with that person, it is extremely fulfilling – and knowing you’ve made a real impact and have supported someone else on their journey is worth more than your own personal gain. For more information on young carers and becoming one please visit www.tovertafel.co.uk
CCTV could cut the cost of insurance for Care Sector
The cost of insurance for care home operators could be slashed by installing CCTV, according to Philip Scott of pioneering safety organisation Care Protect. Mr Scott is calling on insurers to take the reduced risk to patients in homes with CCTV systems installed, and subsequent reduction in financial and reputational risk to homes, into account when calculating premiums. The operator of a care home with 70 beds can currently expect to pay up to £10,000 a year for insurance, while the premium for nursing homes and those offering specialised services can be significantly more. Care Protect’s monitoring system employs the latest sound and motion sensitive technology which when activated by a ‘resident event’, triggers recording which within seconds alerts the 24/7 professional monitor. This reduces risk because assistance can be provided to a resident within seconds of the event having occurred, and encourages staff behaviour conducive to a low risk environment. Phillip Scott, who worked as a nurse and manager in the care sector before founding Care Protect, said: “The cost of running care and nursing homes is going up, so I’m calling on insurers to help out their customers by cutting premiums for premises where CCTV can demonstrably reduce risk “Rising wages, mandatory pension contributions, labour market uncertainty and the apprenticeship levy, on top of squeezed local authority budgets, are putting huge financial pressures on homes, and insurers can help. “CCTV not only makes homes safer for residents and provides peace of mind for their families, but enjoys widespread public approval. This means that by rewarding responsible home owners with lower premiums, insurers would also be encouraging best practice across the care sector. “We have statistics and case studies showing how much safer care homes can be with CCTV, and are willing to work with partners in the sector and insurance providers to help reduce costs.”
