Victoria House manager receives Community Award
On International Women’s Day 2020, Nirmala Singhvi, manager of Victoria House day centre for the elderly in Watford, received the Community Impact Award. The award was presented by local organisation, One Vision Project, set up to create better everyday life for the people of Watford, and particularly supports the vulnerable, promote equality and address injustice. Nirmala, known by all as Nimo, believes that she was nominated “as the local community thinks we are a really good day centre, in the heart of the community, making a difference to the lives of others,” she said. Nimo has managed Victoria House, a busy day centre in Greenbank Road, Watford, for over 13 years. The centre exists for the older generation, including those living with dementia, to enjoy. Members can visit 7 days per week and take part in organised, meaningful activities and feel a sense of belonging in the kind, safe and supportive environment provided. Runwood Homes’ Regional Operations Director commented, “The whole community recognises Nimo’s unwavering passion and dedication to enhancing the care and wellbeing of others at Victoria House and celebrates her well-deserved achievement. Nirmala has been an integral part of the management team at Runwood Homes for so many years and is a true asset to the organisation.” The successful Runwood Homes day centre includes church services, singing, celebration of Holy Days, arts and crafts, gentle exercise, gardening, ball games, hand massage and manicures, cookery, coffee mornings, discussion groups, board games, poetry reading, library, themed events, meals and excursions as well as a regular walking group. The manager, Siddharth Vaghela, of neighbouring care home Greenbanks said, “The team at Greenbanks would like to congratulate Nimo for her fantastic achievement. We are so proud and privileged to have ‘amazing Nimo’ as a part of our team next door at Victoria House.” Nimo is not new to receiving accolades for her work. In 2006, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Runwood Homes and, in 2007, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Clients of Victoria House can enjoy the large dining room, sensory room, TV room and an activities room as well as a large secure garden, surrounded by woods with a park nearby. For more information please call 01923 255369 or visit Victoria House in Greenbank Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 4JR.
Care home to close after further inadequate CQC rating
A care home in the London borough of Havering is to close after being rated Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Alton House, in Hornchurch, was rated Inadequate for being safe and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being caring, effective and responsive, following the inspection in January 2020. Alton House leadership has now made the decision to move all residents out of the service. They have been supported by the local authority commissioning team to ensure suitable alternative placements have been identified for people. Alton House is a care home, providing accommodation and support for up to 23 older adults including people who may have a diagnosis of dementia. At the time CQC inspected, there were 15 people living at the service. Inspectors found risk assessments and the management of medicines were inadequate and did not support staff to ensure people received safe care and told CQC they felt safe; however, the systems in place did not always protect people from abuse and harm. Staff did not receive an adequate induction or relevant up to date training to ensure they could provide effective care. People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. People were not always treated in a kind and dignified manner. Alton House has been in Special Measures since 15 October 2018. During this inspection the provider did not demonstrate that improvements have been made. CQC found for one resident, many parts of their care file had not been updated in 14-15 months. Specifically, risk assessments for ‘sight, hearing and communication’, ‘personal care’ and ‘skin’ had not been updated since November 2018. Some staff members were not competency assessed and had not received training to handle medicines. Records confirmed that four staff members had not completed medicines training and eight staff members had not had their competency to administer medicines assessed. Alison Murray, CQC’s Head of Adult Social Care inspection in London said: “It is always sad when a provider decides to close a service, it is paramount that people get good quality care and that was not happening at Alton House. Everybody who was living at Alton House has now moved out and we wish them well in their now homes.” You can read the report in full when it is published on CQC’s website at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-6326493716
Effective time & attendance with biometrics results in staff accountability
The demand for efficient and reliable employees in the sector is essential for a sustainable business model and technology provides expertise to assist desired results. An excellent proven example is the introduction of Biometrics into the care home providing the identification of people based upon their physical characteristics such as their fingerprints, here the person themselves becomes the single source of information for time attendance within the home, and not by what he/she has to input through paper and pen data. Specifically, this creates the expansion of the “paperless” work place. When sheets of daily time Record are provided where the employee records for themselves the day and time they come in and out from office is seen as not reflecting the real record of his/her attendance. Biometrics dispenses with this as employees who come on shift go directly to the biometrics clocking unit and at that moment, the day and time is recorded. That data can never be changed resulting in arriving late or leaving early is recorded and dealt with accordingly. Accountability: Using a physical characteristic rather than simply using a swipe card or PIN, ensures the employee is actually present. This avoids issues such as “buddy punching”, a term used to describe when other employees clock in and out for one another. Efficiency: Using a biometric time and attendance software allows for increased efficiency in multiple areas. Firstly employees don’t have to worry about remembering to bring in a punch card or remembering a PIN, so there is less time spent on recovering lost passwords and manually inputting an employee’s clock-in time. Secondly when it comes to payroll, it is much easier to track in and out times by simply downloading the data from your biometric scanning device, and populating the time sheets on your time and attendance software. Profit: A natural bi-product of increased accountability and efficiency is increased profit. By making employees more accountable to attendance times, you will increase productivity and efficiency and only pay for time actually spent working. Martin Jones Managing Director Fusion Care Solutions Ltd www.fusion4care.com
Naidex 2020 Important Information
We know many of you were planning on visiting Naidex next week, so we wanted to let you know that the event has been postponed – please see statement below. Naidex 2020 and All Co-Located Events Rescheduling Due to Coronavirus The organiser of leading independent living show Naidex (17th-18th March 2020, NEC Birmingham), has been closely monitoring updates on the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Like many large event organisers, the health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is always our number one priority. This is particularly pertinent in the care and health sector communities that Naidex brings together. Many of our visitors are, or are on the frontline of supporting, the most vulnerable in society. This combined with the fact that health and social care workers will be critical to ongoing containment and management strategies, means that we have taken the decision to reschedule Naidex to later in the year and will confirm this date by Monday 16th March 2020. This will include all events co-located with Naidex including Smart Home for Assisted Living, Dementia, Care & Nursing Home Expo, Home Care Expo, Care Tech Live, European Neuro Convention, Medical Imaging Convention, European Oncology Convention and AI&ML Convention. While this is not a decision that has been taken lightly, we feel that it is the right one – not just for the care and health sector but for the wider community as a whole. We are of course, in ongoing communication with our exhibitors, speakers, partners and suppliers. Those we have managed to speak to thus far have been exceptionally understanding. If you are affected and the team hasn’t managed to reach you yet, please know that we will be in touch very shortly. Alternatively, please contact the event team directly at Enquiries@ROARB2B.com or +44 (0) 117 990 2107. Thank you for your understanding and support and we look forward to welcoming you later in the year. Please click here to be taken to the Expo website for future updates on when the show will be held.
Volunteering at Gracewell of Bookham Care Home
Local Married Couple Give Insight Into Volunteering at Gracewell of Bookham Care Home Volunteering is both admirable and rewarding, and at care homes such as Gracewell of Bookham, the volunteers are a friendly face and helping hand for residents and the staff. Anne and David Funnell have been volunteers at Gracewell of Bookham for over two years. In this time, they have really got to know all the residents and their families as they have organised and assisted with fun activities. Gracewell of Bookham provides high quality, personalised nursing and dementia care, and also offers a wide variety of activities for residents and the wider local community to ensure they maintain happy and fulfilling lifestyles. Anne and David both volunteer at different clubs and events at Gracewell of Bookham, helping the care staff to organise and run the activities and encouraging residents to participate. They said: “The Friday Flower Club is one enjoyable experience where the floral arrangements are then placed in the Bistro to provide everyone with a welcoming atmosphere. We feel by volunteering we are part of the larger family and our interactions to date have enabled us to encourage participation in the varied activities available.” Anne and David both remarked that their experience volunteering at Gracewell of Bookham has been extremely rewarding. They have also received on the job training and opportunities to develop their skills. Vicky Radmore, Home Admissions Advisor at Gracewell of Bookham, said: “Anne and David are part of a wonderful team of volunteers at Gracewell of Bookham. All of our volunteers help us to make every day special for everyone who lives here. They do this by supporting or running activities that enrich the lives of residents.” Vicky added: “This can be something personal such as a one to one chat over a cup of coffee or a stroll around our beautiful gardens. It can also be supporting larger events that we run within our home such as family BBQs or themed afternoon teas. We are so grateful for the support they give us and our residents.”
Brunelcare’s Robinson House Care Home retain its CQC ‘Good’ in all five services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out a two day unannounced inspection in January 2020 of Brunelcare’s Robinson House Care Home. The home achieved ‘Good’ in all five domains – Safe, Effective, Responsive, Caring and Well Led which in turn, gives an overall rating of ‘Good’. Brunelcare’s Robinson House is a 70-bed home and has successfully maintained its ‘Good’ rating during this inspection. Robinson House was awarded a ‘Good’ overall in their previous inspection in July 2017. The CQC inspection report states: “Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff received training in dignity, equality and diversity. Staff were observed addressing people by their preferred name and speaking to people in an appropriate tone and positioning themselves, so the person knew they were talking to them. Staff were observed knocking on doors and waiting for permission to enter. Staff clearly described how they supported people in a way that promoted their dignity and independence. The service had been accredited with the Gold Standard Framework for their end of life care. Staff supported people exceptionally well in this area continuing to provide a very person-centred approach, taking into consideration the wishes of the person and their family.” A family member of a resident living at Robinson House said: “All the staff are brilliant, I cannot find any faults with the care, I turn up sometimes and someone is sat with my mum” and “The caring staff have made the transition from home easier, I couldn’t be happier with my choice all the staff cannot do enough for her. When I leave she is happy we cannot fault the place.” Sandra Payne, Director of Nursing & Care Homes said: “This result is testament to the compassion and dedication of every member of the team every single day. Robinson House is a great place to live and work and we are pleased that the Care Quality Commission recognised this during their visit.” Sandra has been Director of Nursing & Care Homes since July 2019 and oversees all CQC inspections that happen at Brunelcare’s care homes. Sandra has been working hard to open Brunelare’s newest Care Home, Little Heath Care and Support, due to open this Spring in Cadbury Heath, Bristol. To find out more about Brunelcare visit: www.brunelcare.org.uk
Mental Health in Care Homes
The most effective care organisations take a truly holistic approach to healthcare, encompassing both mental and physical health. From our earliest years to later life, both must be looked after by people who care for us. Mental health in young people is an important subject and it’s well documented that social media has a big part to play – but rising social media use in young people is not the only trend that concerns mental health. At the other end of the spectrum, older age has its own obstacles. As we live longer and richer lives, we often require help and support from a care community for a much longer period. While many older people can and do choose to maintain their independence, some prefer the extra help that being part of a care community can bring, while others may need more direct, one-to-one assistance. Older age, and the transition to a care setting can both have their own challenges. Maintaining wellbeing when joining a care community Staff in care communities have a crucial role to play in supporting those making the transition. Any change in circumstances, especially for people with care and support needs, can be difficult on the individual’s mental health and their family, so this is an important stage in the process for care staff. My team and I believe that the key element during this stage is highly bespoke communication about and with them – all the time. That means engaging in interesting conversation about their life and things that are personal to them. We provide support and advice every step of the way – whether it’s what happens when you move in, or a form that needs filling out, we communicate the how and the why. Upon arrival we ensure there are no communication barriers and remind residents they can come to us with any worries they may have. By making sure we’re communicating effectively at every stage of transition, a difficult change becomes a well-communicated set of simple steps, meaning no one is overwhelmed. Protecting the mental health of long-term residents Maintaining and improving the mental health of our residents at Red Rose after they’ve joined us is a distinct task that requires a different approach. Building links with other residents and staff can take time but we tailor activities and conversational topics to each individual. Relationships with family can sometimes deteriorate if they are not supported and able to visit their loved one. And as people age, they may find it more difficult to take part in general activities that have been designed to bring them together. Thankfully, these issues are easily avoided with due care and attention. At Red Rose we fully support visitors coming to the home and keeping their loved one’s company. From this, we have implemented an ‘open all hours’ facility for families to come and go when is most convenient for them. The resident’s happiness is paramount to us – by putting extra effort into designing activities that are inclusive for those who are less physically able and may have poor eyesight or hearing, we can work together to combat loneliness and mental health effectively. Article by Diane Watson, Red Rose Care Community
Aqualease – aquariums for the health care sector
Aqualease have been providing aquariums within the health care arena since 2003. Including GP surgeries, dentists, residential care homes and mental health and wellbeing sites. All aquariums are expertly installed and maintained by our technicians, incorporating colour schemes, logo’s and attention to detail to create a real ‘wow’ factor to your establishment. Aquariums are known for their calming and therapeutic effects. Researchers from the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth University and the University of Exeter discovered that watching fish swim, improved mood and kept people’s attention for longer. As well as noticeably reducing blood pressure and heart rate, helping people feel instantly relaxed. Aquariums have proven benefits for dementia sufferers too, particularly in relationship to mealtime experiences. In an American study, housing an aquarium in a dining hall encouraged residents to eat, enjoy their food and help them to gain weight. For further information or to chat to one of our helpful members of staff, please contact Aqualease on 0300 30 33 145 or go to www.aqualease.co.uk Come and visit us on stand D541 at the Dementia Care Expo!
Why not consider an apprenticeship to start your career in healthcare?
During National Careers Week, Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) is highlighting the many benefits of taking an apprenticeship route into a healthcare career for people of all ages. Apprenticeships offer people on the job training and the chance to earn and learn. Apprenticeships lead to nationally recognised qualifications and are a unique stepping-stone into a chosen career. NHCP has recruited a record 300 apprentices in the last 12 months into a variety of health and care roles including nursing degrees and nursing associate roles, as well as pharmaceutical, engineering and administrative roles in business, IT, HR and finance. Laura Lydia Watts, Project Manager for Apprenticeships and Work Experience at NHCP said, “This National Careers Week we want to highlight the many varied apprenticeship opportunities in health and care. For school leavers looking to develop a career in healthcare, but who don’t know where to start, an apprenticeship can offer an opportunity to develop self-confidence, gain valuable work experience and to earn while learning.” One young apprentice is 20-year-old Casey Brown, who has just completed a Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMMS) apprenticeship at Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust. Casey is currently on a two-year apprenticeship and has recently submitted her final piece of work. As well as working on a ward, Casey has one study day off every two weeks to complete assignments and meet her tutor. Casey says, “I really enjoy the work environment and I love working with patients from the first time they come in and are not feeling well, to the point of them being discharged and seeing the fantastic improvement. “During the apprenticeship I’ve received great support from the people around me who have always shown interest in what I’m trying to achieve. I had a brilliant mentor on the ward and guidance was also always available from nurses whenever I required it. “Apprenticeships are well suited to people who prefer hands-on experience rather than classroom-based work. Through the course, I met a range of healthcare experts and had real-life experiences on the ward which really helped with the assignments. “I now find it easier to communicate with other people and feel less nervous and more confident. I am working alongside nurses who engage with patients and their families and they help me deal with any challenges that may arise.” Another young apprentice is 21-year-old Elanor Jones, an ESR Administrator (Workforce Systems Administrator) who has been working at Kettering General Hospital since June 2019. Elanor did not have any qualifications when she left school so getting a qualification from an apprenticeship programme is a huge bonus for her. Elanor says, “I really love my role and the way the hospital motivates you to develop and build your career. The support I’ve received from the team and my manager has been amazing and training is ongoing to help me progress. “There are great career opportunities for apprenticeships in healthcare, with the variety and diversity of roles within the NHS, which makes it such a great place to work. The best thing about being an apprentice is getting the experience as well as getting paid.” For apprenticeship jobs please visit: www.jobs.nhs.uk To ‘find your future career’ in health and care, please visit: FindYourCareer. Several of Northamptonshire’s health and care providers are part of the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ recruitment campaign, which unites the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KGH), Primary Care and St Andrew’s Healthcare in recruiting doctors and nurses to relocate and live and work in Northamptonshire. Part of the campaign is focused on recruiting apprentices across the county. For more details on apprenticeships available visit: www.bestofbothworlds.uk.net/northamptonshire-apprenticeships/ For more information on other vacancies visit: www.bestofbothworlds.uk.net
