Runwood Homes – Yellow Ribbon scheme
At Runwood Homes, we believe that it is of utmost importance that we treat our residents with dignity and respect in life and after passing. We have introduced the yellow ribbon as a sign of respect and remembrance. If a resident sadly passes away, a yellow ribbon will be present on their bedroom door handle so that all residents, staff and visitors are aware. We believe this is a comfort for families and friends and can help with the grieving process and for everyone to fondly remember them. At the end of life, a Comfort Wicker Basket will be placed in a resident’s room containing some important, personal belongings so that a special item may be picked out by a loved one to keep. The chosen item will be something that provides comfort at an emotional time. A meeting will be held with residents and families to decide what items they’d like included in their basket. Please speak to any staff member to discuss the Yellow Ribbon. www.runwoodhomes.co.uk
NACC Training & Development Forum 2019
NACC Training & Development Forum 2019: supporting care caterers in continued challenging times The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Training & Development Forum returns to the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, on 9-11 October 2019. As care caterers continue to be challenged by political and economic instability, the unique training event is more relevant and essential than ever. With a clear objective to inform, update, support and inspire care catering professionals, the dynamic interactive event offers new perspectives, ideas and solutions on the latest innovations, challenges and guidelines to boost a business’ catering provision. Delegates will enjoy and benefit from a diverse programme featuring a mix of relevant and uplifting speakers, training workshops, live culinary demonstrations, one-to-one supplier meetings and supplier exhibition. Connecting with like-minded colleagues to share ideas and best practice and discuss the pressing issues is a valuable and popular part of the forum. Across the two-day schedule, there will be plenty of opportunities for delegates to interact during frequent networking and entertainment opportunities. The expert keynote speakers set to inform and inspire include Mike Padgham, Owner of Saint Cecilia’s Services Ltd and Chair of the Independent Care Group, Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum and Caroline Bovey, Chair of the British Dietetic Association. The hot topics up for discussion include meeting increasing nutritional needs and managing dietary requirements on decreasing budgets, future proofing care against a backdrop of changing communities and expectations, social care updates, and the impact the ongoing uncertainty in UK politics could have on the care sector. Training workshops: With a choice of four practical, interactive workshops, delegates will gain essential guidance and insight to enhance their catering provision. Live Cookery Demonstrations: A series of culinary demonstrations will inspire delegates with new recipes and techniques tailored for the needs of those in care settings, including: NACC Awards 2019: A highlight of the NACC Training & Development Forum, The NACC Awards 2019 winners will be announced and celebrated at a glittering gala dinner on the evening of Thursday 10 October. The coveted awards that recognise dedication, innovation, excellence and outstanding contributions in care catering include: Care Establishment of the Year; Meals on Wheels Award; Catering Team of the Year; Catering Manager of the Year; Our Care Catering Hero; Region of the Year; Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award; and National Chairman’s Award. Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Training & Development Forum has never been so relevant or essential. As the UK’s older population continues to grow, putting greater demand on the care sector, care caterers continue to be challenged by economic and political instability. Our forum offers vital support to care catering professionals. It gives them the opportunity to come together in the spirit of learning new skills, ideas and perspectives to take back to their workplace, and to engage with like-minded colleagues to share experiences and best practice. “Our exciting and packed forum programme has been carefully designed to help navigate the varied challenges of catering for the elderly, vulnerable and young in care environments. From dementia and end of life care through to ongoing legislative changes, such as allergen awareness and the new International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), delegates will benefit from knowledge, guidance, support and camaraderie that will help them prepare for and embrace these changes.” For further information and to book a delegate place at the NACC Training & Development Forum 2019 visit www.mcculloughmoore.co.uk/nacc
Bluebird Cares and Gains Award
“Healthwatch Star” award presented to care company for treating patients like a family member A Gateshead-based care provider that specialises in working with customers requiring care in their own homes has been awarded a prestigious award from the social care and health champion, Healthwatch Gateshead. Bluebird Care Gateshead is based in the city’s Team Valley and offers personalised home care visits, from 30 minutes to full live-in support. One of its clients nominated the service for a Star award. The Healthwatch Star scheme enables patients to nominate members of the caring professions who they feel have gone above and beyond in their care. The scheme is anonymous and the recipient receives a certificate to display at their place of work. Bluebird Care’s client said: “They look after my care needs on a daily basis and care and compassion ooze from them. If my needs change they look after me and the carers that they employ are brilliant.” Katheryn Haswell, Director of Bluebird Care Gateshead said: “I am incredibly proud of my team and the fact that they have been recognised for their care and compassion. It is a testament to the efforts of our outstanding team that I have the privilege to work with. They believe in the Bluebird Care ethos, that we should be delivering care to the very highest standards, the care that we would want for ourselves and for our own family.” Steph Eduesi, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Gateshead, said: “When people are cared for in their homes they need to feel looked after, safe and confident that their carer has their best interest at heart. We’re delighted to present this Star award in recognition of the support and care that Bluebird Care has shown.”
Mighty marathon hike raises funds for Macmillan
CARE home staff have completed a mighty mixed terrain 26-mile hike across the Peak District to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Six head office staff from the Hill Care Group, based in Chesterfield, took on the Peak District Mighty Hike in pouring rain following a heatwave earlier in the week. Organised by Macmillan, the walk started at Darley Moor and wandered across the Peak District to reach Bakewell Showground. The staff who completed the challenge included Stacey Forster, Kelly Perryman, Kirsty Wright, Sarah Stimpson, Samantha Jackson and Meaghan Cook. They exceeded their initial target of £1,500 for the charity – reaching £1,725 in sponsorship so far. They’re now aiming to raise £2,000 and are still appealing for donations. Kelly, finance manager at the Hill Care Group, said: “After a week of temperatures soaring to over 30 degrees, the weather turned, and we hiked through pouring rain to complete the Peak District Mighty Hike. “It was certainly a challenge but a worthwhile one, as we have raised a fantastic amount for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity close to the hearts of everyone at Hill Care. “We’re still appealing for donations to help us exceed our target, with every penny supporting those with cancer and their loved ones.” Donations to Team Hill Care can be made via their JustGiving fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-hillcare. Macmillan Cancer Support is the Hill Care Group’s chosen charity for 2019/20, with dozens of care homes across the north of England raising funds with events and activities throughout the year. Last year, the group raised over £7,000 for the Stroke Association and, in 2017/18, over £10,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
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.”
Carers seek to overcome loneliness on World Friendship Day
Carers seek to overcome loneliness on World Friendship Day Manorcourt Homecare, a provider of home-based care services in Hornchurch and the surrounding areas, is urging the local community to consider the importance of extending a hand of friendship to those who may be lonely, as part of World Friendship Day. Statistics show that there are around 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK, and half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all*. This number will be significantly higher across all age groups. The homecare provider is using the national day, used to celebrate the wonderful positives of friendship, to remind the community of its new Branch Out scheme that offers informal support to people of all ages and abilities in the local area. The Branch Out service offers people in and around Hornchurch with a ‘Branch Out Buddy’ to help with everything from accompanying them on outings, such as to the shops, concerts, sporting events or the hairdressers, through to helping with daily chores and meal preparation. Alternatively, it can be as simple as sharing a coffee and conversation together to help combat loneliness. Via the service, a Buddy can visit at any time of the day to suit individual needs and any number of visits can be booked. Manager of the Hornchurch branch, Lisa McDonald said, “World Friendship Day is an ideal time for us to remind the community about our Branch Out service. There will be people in the local community who may know someone who could do with a friend and could benefit from our service so that they don’t have to feel alone. “The Branch Out Buddy provides something completely different to our standard ‘care’ packages and are available to any age group or ability. “It’s a completely flexible, informal visiting service that can be as simple as popping round for a chat and a game of cards, preparing a meal together, or even taking someone out to their favourite pastime, such as to a quiz night, karaoke, football match or bingo! “We know that having a visitor from time to time can make all the difference to someone living alone. The aim of our Branch Out service is to give someone something to look forward to or to simply make their lives that little bit easier.” The Hornchurch branch is also actively recruiting more buddies to fulfil the Branch Out service. It offers a fabulous opportunity for those looking for flexible work to select sociable hours to suit, whether it’s around children’s school times for parents or for semi-retired or retired people who may be looking for additional income during the mornings, afternoons or early evenings. Manorcourt Homecare is part of the Healthcare Homes Group and is based on Station Lane in Hornchurch. For more information on the Branch Out service and the other services available, call 01708 472911 or visit www.manorcourtcare.co.uk
Home Instead Senior Care celebrates receiving its 50th “outstanding” CQC rating
Home Instead Senior Care, the provider of award-winning in-home care, today celebrated receiving its fiftieth outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating available. The Wirral office became Home Instead’s fiftieth English office* to receive this highly coveted accolade. Reaching the fiftieth milestone is an incredible achievement for Home Instead, it means an impressive 25% of the Home Instead network in England now boast this outstanding accreditation – compared to the average of home care providers in England which is just 3%. The CQC inspections look for the following things when rewarding an office with an outstanding accreditation: the safety of the service offered, the effectiveness of the service offered and the extent to which the service is caring, responsive and well-led. Martin Jones, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care comments: “To reach fifty CQC outstanding ratings from the CQC truly is testament to the fantastic work that is carried out by our amazing caregivers and teams in the Home Instead network. Each and every day our caregivers are touching the lives of older people, helping them to live well at home for longer and helping in our mission to help change the face of ageing in the UK.” Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone at Home Instead on the fantastic achievement of having 50 offices rated outstanding. Our inspections have consistently shown that people who use their services receive exceptional personalised care from a well led team. “We want everybody to have access to the best possible care and will continue to support providers to share best practice, ensuring that more people across the country are able to access the highest quality care.” Home Instead has been operating in the UK since 2005 and currently employs over 13,000 people, offering care and companionship services to over 14,000 people and its philosophy is based on the belief that care options often lack a truly personalised approach. Across the UK, Home Instead adopts a mission led approach to offering quality led care for people in the comfort of their home. The Wirral office currently has 180 people that it supports with personal care and companionship and recently celebrated delivering its 1 millionth hour of care. It is run by husband and wife duo Mike and Catharine Chalton. The CQC report assessed the Wirral office across several areas, with praise being given for the service which was described as highly effective and as promoting a good quality of life for the receivers of the service. Those receiving care were described as being at the centre of developing their care plans which gave them a real independence. Continuous improvement and training of caregivers was also highlighted with Home Instead being praised for constantly looking for ways that the service that is offered can be improved You can read the full report here.
Log my Care launches new Photos and Zones features
New feature releases are a testament to the responsiveness of the software provider and how committed they are to being designed by carers for carers. Log my Care prides themselves on listening to their community when it comes to releasing new features and updates to their award-winning free care management system. They firmly stand by their commitment to being “designed by Carers for Carers” and are proud to announce the latest update contains two of our most hotly requested features. Evidence outstanding care like never before with the addition of photos. Carers using our Carer App can now add photos when they are making logs. This is great for evidencing outstanding care delivery during CQC inspections and because the photos are taken directly within the App they are super secure and no image is left on the devices themselves. They have also launched Zones. A new and simple way to batch up your service-users and residents into sensible groups such as floors, wings, rooms, beds etc. to easily segment up which care tasks are shown to the corresponding Carers from within the app. Sam Hussain, Founder of Log my Care explains further, “Our latest release shows how much hard work and effort we are putting into both listening to our community and actively adapting the care system to their requirements. Not only am I extremely proud of this latest release, but the speed, in which the team are releasing updates is a testament to our agility as a software provider.” If you’re interested in electronic care management, then there has never been a better time to ditch the paper, save your care service tonnes of time and ease the administrative burden on your care team. Visit www.logmycare.co.uk and create your free account today.
Caring Doesn’t Stop For A Bomb Scare
Hilton Nursing Partners nurse Clare Gingell found herself in the middle of a bomb scare but showing her courage and dedication for her patients, she put their safety first. Police cordoned off areas of Kingston upon Thames in south-west London following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb on the site of a former hotel. However Clare was just about to visit a vulnerable patient. Eager to get to her patient, who was receiving 24 hour care on the Home to Decide pathway, Claire she was able to sign a disclaimer that allowed her to enter the restricted area at her own risk. Once at the patient’s home she was able to explain the situation and ensure the patient was safe. The main concern from authorities was the fact that windows may smash in the event of complications with the bomb disposal. Clare moved the patient away from the windows, settled the patient, and stayed with her all day, until 8pm when a niece arrived to take over the care. Thousands of residents were evacuated as cordons and displacement strategies were implemented with no idea when they could return to their homes, work etc. The road was closed for three days, which meant additional care strategies had to be put in place. Clare liaised with Social Workers to look for temporary accommodation should it be required, and Life Line, a 24 hour response care team there in case of emergencies. Rated “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Hilton Nursing Partners are one the first external companies to offer rapid and cost-effective hospital discharge services. Working with the NHS and Social Care Commissioners to successfully deliver safe, timely and supportive hospital discharges, patient assessments and patient recovery programmes via nurses, therapists and nurse led personal nursing assistants Hilton Nursing Partners have a proven track record in freeing hospital beds, as well as reducing re-admissions and on-going social services support.
