Exemplar Health Care – residents getting into the Christmas spirit
As the countdown to Christmas begins, care home provider Exemplar Health Care have revealed how they are working to make this Christmas special for their residents. Providing care for adults with complex needs, Exemplar homes and services are tailored to the needs of the individuals in their care. With the aim to make every day better, it’s no surprise that there is a great deal of activity and enthusiasm about the Christmas season. Supporting independence is at the core of care plans and this year Exemplar have worked with their Service User Council to develop a Christmas card competition. Residents across the care homes have been involved in designing cards to be sold from their home with regional winners announced. Exemplar’s Service User Engagement Manager, Sophia Feurtado said “We were impressed with the entries to the competition and loved seeing residents’ creativity come to the fore. Over the last year we’ve seen the people in our care show entrepreneurial spirit and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to support them in creating the Christmas cards to help them increase the money available in their activities funds.” The winning homes have received £100 towards their activities fund and each individual home that sells the card designs will be able to use the income towards fun, additional activities such as cinema trips, visits to National Trust properties and simply a coffee in town. The card competition follows other entrepreneurial activity from residents such as the opening of a pop-up coffee shop, The Platform at Quarryfields in Doncaster. The space is being transformed for Christmas and has a new menu of festive-themed treats and gifts available, alongside a cookbook of recipes that the volunteer-led team have created since the pop-up opened in April. For food lovers in Exemplar’s care who have swallowing restrictions, Exemplar’s Catering Manager at Willowbeck Care Home, Claire Fretwell has been developing pureed food techniques to provide plates of pureed meals that look like the whole foods. Claire has utilised moulds, piping bags and blenders to display the food so that it looks like a traditional Christmas dinner, mince pies, Christmas cake, and cheese and crackers. Claire and her team have been working with her team since the summer to perfect the creations so that they look as realistic as possible. Claire said “Christmas can be an incredibly joyful time of year, but it can also be difficult for some of our residents. This might be because it’s the first year in a home setting or because it evokes memories. Food is usually at the heart of gatherings at Christmas and we understood that those in our care would enjoy and benefit from us transforming their meals into recognisable Christmas treats.” She added “We always try to make anything that’s requested, and we’ve included a few other dishes to our Christmas selection to make it even more special. The team are excited to see the faces of our residents when the foods are served over the Christmas period.” As well as supporting food related traditions, the care team at Havenmere in North East Lincolnshire are working together to present a Panto-like nativity performance to delight their residents. The performance will be made up of short scenes with lots of music and dancing to get the Havenmere residents into the Christmas spirit. The nativity isn’t going to be your traditional Christmas nativity with lots of Pantomime tropes such as ‘me-to-you’ scenes as the stage is set and Angel Gabriel lecturing on health and safety policies and procedures. For more information about the care Exemplar provides for adults with complex needs please visit www.exemplarhc.com
Borough Care Residents Enjoying New Meal Service
Borough Care residents have welcomed the changes to the food on offer at meal times since the service was brought back in–house earlier this year. Borough Care is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has eleven homes in the area. As part of Borough Care’s commitment to ensuring its residents eat healthily, the company appointed apetito as its catering partner six months ago. apetito is the leading producer and supplier of meals for the health and social care sectors. Commenting on the new meal service, Mark Dale, Catering & Hospitality Manager at Borough Care, says: “The feedback from residents on the new meals has been really positive. Staff have also embraced the changes, as they can see the difference it has made to residents’ eating habits. We have standardised the food choices, along with raising the quality of what’s on offer throughout our homes. We’ve also introduced a great nutritional tool, which can track a resident’s food consumption, enabling us to make sure people are receiving the correct nutrients in their diet. Dishes that have proved particularly popular include; cottage pie, roast beef dinners, lasagne and chicken korma, along with all the desserts.” As Christmas approaches, residents are looking forward to enjoying a number of festive meals. In addition to the traditional Christmas Day lunch of turkey and all the trimmings, Borough Care is hosting festive buffets for residents and their families throughout the festive period. www.boroughcare.org.uk
Abbotswood Court Coffee Morning Supports Carers In The Community
Abbotswood Court, a luxury care home in Romsey, Hampshire, hosted a carers’ coffee morning on November 29, to mark Carers Rights Day 2018 (November 30), with expert speakers. Some 20 carers attended a special information event organised by Abbotswood Court care home in Romsey, marking Carers Rights Day 2018. The coffee morning, which was open to carers from the Abbotswood Court family and the wider community, saw staff at the home and expert speakers, from Hampshire County Council, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Unity Volunteering, sharing information and tips to help carers understand their rights and how to access the vital support they are entitled to. Sharing information about the ways in which their organisations can support carers were Sue Pidduck, Head of Transformation, Design and Implementation for Adult’s Health and Care at Hampshire County Council, Jenny Little of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Hampshire, and Terry Bishop, Chief Executive of Unity Volunteering. The free event was held at the home on Thursday, November 29, ahead of Carers Rights Day on November 30. This annual day, organised by the charity Carers UK, brings together organisations from across the country to help and advise carers in their local communities. Gemma Ridout Bowden, General Manager of Abbotswood Court, said: “This is a cause close to our hearts; as a day care and respite care home, as well as a residential home, we work with many families caring for loved ones at home, so we well understand how isolating and overwhelming an experience it can be. “We were so pleased to welcome this group of carers to join us here at Abbotswood Court for this special event, and to provide an opportunity not only to share useful information, but also a chance for them to meet fellow carers, chat and take a little time for themselves.” Sue Pidduck, Head of Transformation, Design and Implementation for Adult’s Health and Care at Hampshire County Council, said: ““One in eight adults in the UK is a carer, meaning that they help to look after someone on an unpaid basis. That’s around 6.5 million people throughout the UK making a huge contribution to their communities and to the lives of those they care for. “We know that caring responsibilities can take a heavy toll on carers, impacting their relationships, their mental and physical health, and their finances – especially for the 1 in 5 carers whose caring responsibilities lead them to give up working entirely. “It is vital that every carer is aware of the support that is available within their communities and that they know how to access this support. For everyone in Hampshire the Connect to Support Hampshire website is an excellent starting point. Community events for carers, like the one held [today] at Abbotswood Court, help to ensure that carers are supported with the right information, which they can use themselves and share with others.” To find out more about Abbotswood Court, please visit https://www.cinnamoncc.com/care-homes/abbotswood-court/ To find out more about Carers Rights Day, please visit https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/carers-rights-day
Charity inaugural ball raises over £20K
Local provider of at home and live in care, Bluebird Care, were headline sponsored of a charity’s ball, where all proceeds go to fighting chest, heart and stroke conditions. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) put on a night to remember at their first ever St Andrew’s Ball at The Hub set on the historic Royal Mile. In true Scottish fashion guests were piped in to celebrate a night of fine-dining, ceilidh dancing and supporting the charity’s vital work of helping people in Scotland rebuild their lives after diagnosis of a chest or heart condition or a stroke. Celebrity hosts, much loved weather present, Judith Ralston and Scottish comedian, Bruce Devlin made sure that everyone had a fabulous evening. Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted at the success of our first ever St Andrew’s Ball! “It was fantastic to welcome over 200 people in their finery to help us support the 1 in 5 people in Scotland living with chest, heart and stroke conditions. And thanks to their support we raised over £20,000, which is just incredible! “These vital funds will help people to rebuild their lives, regain their confidence and live their lives to the full. “It was our first time putting on this event and we are so grateful to everyone who supported us and made the night possible. Special thanks to our headline sponsor, Bluebird Care. Their sponsorship enabled us to host the event and ultimately move closer to delivering our ambition to ensure there is no life half lived in Scotland.” Jane Perry, Director and Owner of Bluebird Care Edinburgh & Bluebird Care Glasgow South, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in the inaugural CHSS St Andrew’s Ball. The evening was a wonderful celebration of all the excellent work that CHSS do and highlighted the vast differences that their work can make to people. “I myself have had a defibrillator fitted due to a defective family gene and know only too well how families are affected by strokes and heart attacks. I have been given a lifeline and an opportunity to make a difference which is why I am so passionate about the work I do at Bluebird Care and with this special charity. “This cause and the differences the charity makes really matters to us at Bluebird Care and getting the message across that people can live full lives with the right support at home is crucial.” www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
Nantwich Retirement Village Rated ‘Outstanding’ For It’s Domiciliary Care
Regulators gave Richmond Nantwich Retirement Village the highest possible rating, putting in the top 3% of services in England A retirement village in Cheshire has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ for its domiciliary care after a visit from regulators, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The inspection report puts the Richmond Nantwich amongst the top 3% of home care providers in England. Opened in 1996, Richmond Nantwich provides a range of independent and assisted living suites for residents aged 55 and over. As part of this the village provides personalised care packages for residents as required – employing its own domiciliary care team who can help residents with things including personal care, shopping, preparing light meals and accessing local facilities. Set in an inclusive village environment, Richmond Nantwich has a range of high-end facilities including an on-site hairdresser and beautician, bowling green and landscaped gardens. It also offers a wide range of activities, and helps residents with regular shopping trips and outings, including theatre trips and visits to the local marina. The inspector praised the village for supporting people to live independently for as long as possible, whilst also providing compassionate care. The report commented that “a remarkable standard of person-centred care was being achieved and delivered for people. Staff knew people’s background, previous occupation, likes and dislikes extremely well and went the extra mile to create positive experiences for people.” In another example of excellence, the report highlights a ‘rhythm and rhyme’ group which brought together visitors from the age of eight months to 102 years old, to create a “heartfelt warming experience for everyone involved.” Elsewhere it notes how colleagues helped residents connect with their past. One resident with expressed how they used to work on a farm, and so colleagues arranged for a local farmer to bring down Midnight – a prize-winning cow. The report notes how this left the resident “with an expression of joy and fulfilment on their face”. Lynne Griffin, Village Manager at Richmond Nantwich said: “We’re over the moon to be recognised for the hard work that our domiciliary care team puts in. They go above and beyond for our residents every day, and so this means a lot to us.” Philippa Fieldhouse, Managing Director for Richmond Villages, added: “The Richmond Nantwich team are a shining example of outstanding domiciliary care, putting the residents’ interests at the heart of everything they do. This is a fantastic achievement and the whole team should be very proud.” Debbie Westhead, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care for the CQC commented: “It was clear to us when we visited this service that the provider has reviewed the care they provided and committed to improve it further for the benefit of the people they support. We saw how the management team continually sought people’s views on their care, and engaged with technology based solutions to overcome some health care barriers. “This showed us that the service really valued people receiving person-centred care and worked hard to enrich people’s lives, whilst promoting their independence and respecting their dignity. “Staffs efforts were recognised and celebrated, and were clearly respected by the provider. The leadership team had a clear demonstrable vision to enable staff in delivering high quality, meaningful, person-centred care people deserve. A fantastic improvement and well deserved Outstanding rating, well done.” The CQC’s inspection gave Richmond Nantwich an Outstanding rating for it’s overall domiciliary care, finding it Outstanding in both the ‘responsive’ and ‘well-led’ categories. The home care offering was also rated as Good for within the ‘safe’, ‘effective’ and ‘caring’ categories. In addition to the independent and assisted living suites, Richmond Nantwich also has an on-site care home for up to 41 residents, which is separately rated as Good by the CQC. Richmond Villages is part of Bupa and currently has seven villages across the UK, with three more under construction, including Richmond Wood Norton which will open in spring 2019. The full CQC report for Richmond Nantwich is available here. For more details about Richmond Villages visit richmond-villages.com.
Father Christmas helps raise over £1,000 for care home residents
FATHER Christmas made an appearance at a Chester-le-Street care home’s festive fayre – helping to raise over £1,000 for residents. The event at Pelton Grange Care Home, on Front Street, attracted dozens of visitors, including family and friends of residents and staff. Santa’s grotto, jewellery and bric-a-brac stalls, homemade Christmas cards, cakes and hotdogs all helped raise £1,016. The money will be added to the residents’ fund, which helps pay for events, activities and outings throughout the year. Resident Florence Besford said: “It’s lovely to see you, Father Christmas. Christopher Hogan-Hind, home manager at Pelton Grange Care Home, said: “A massive thank you to everyone who came along and supported our Christmas fayre. “We had a fantastic turnout and everyone had a wonderful time, including our residents, who enjoyed meeting Santa and chatting to visitors. “The support Pelton Grange Care Home gets from the community is fantastic and has helped give our festivities a great start this year.” Pelton Grange Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Raizer deal gives a lift to retirement villages across the UK
The ExtraCare Charitable Trust has recently invested in some Raizer emergency lifting chairs to help residents get back on their feet across 21 retirement villages. The charity hopes that this will help reduce the number of ambulance call-outs its staff have to make for people who have fallen and cannot get back up. Falls are one of the costliest problems facing the healthcare sector, and it is estimated that falls cost the NHS about £2.3 billion annually. Supplied by Yorkshire Care Equipment, the Raizer is assembled around a fallen person by a single operator. You can then begin lifting the person back to a seated or standing position at the touch of a button, allowing you to keep eye contact and maintain conversation with the person and make sure they are okay. Yorkshire Care’s Raizer specialist, Steve Ellis, said: “The Raizer is the perfect solution for ExtraCare and its retirement villages. I held some training at the Lark Hill Retirement Village a few months ago and the staff were saying that their residents were sometimes waiting up to six or seven hours for paramedics to come help them get up. “With their 20 new Raizers, the ExtraCare staff will be able to avoid these sorts of call-outs and will help to provide their residents with the best quality of life and care possible.” As the exclusive Raizer dealer from the heights of Scotland down to the depths of Birmingham, Yorkshire Care Equipment are the go-to experts for this innovative and time-saving device. The company has also decided to knock money off of the Raizer for the rest of 2018 to help other organisations and charities like ExtraCare get the best deal available before 2019 prices kick in. One member of the ExtraCare team who preferred to stay anonymous said: “I have to say, everyone is very impressed with the Raizer and are looking forward to being able to assist residents where this is possible in the future rather than having to call the emergency services.” By using the Raizer, staff at various ExtraCare retirement villages from Bristol to Liverpool will be able to get people back on their feet in a safe and dignified way that will prevent any unnecessary 999 calls. You can see how the Raizer works here.
Inexpensive Staff E-Learning for Nurses and Care Professionals
Quality patient care is the objective of every service provider. To achieve this requires considerable planning, long-term commitment and careful management within a tight budget. More importantly, it requires highly skilled and well-trained staff with a dedication to a career that can be extremely stressful. A study by the Communities and Local Government Committee found that 48% of care staff leave within a year of starting. A lack of career development and quality training are common complaints when leaving. Investing in LowCost E-Learning can make the difference. Low costs Face-to-face training is outdated. It lacks flexibility in a sector where many employees have different schedules making it difficult to arrange one time that suits all. With online training, employees can access their courses from anywhere, cutting costs dramatically. Furthermore, enrolling many employees can often attract large discounts due to fewer required overheads. Flexible Online training is available 24/7. Training can be arranged at any location and around work schedules at short notice. All through the internet. Self-Paced Study Individuals learn at different speeds. With online learning, employees can work at a pace that suits them. Interactive online courses provide staff with active learning, helping to increase their retention of all course material. Accurate Information Online courses are designed to provide accurate information in an engaging format. Unlike traditional media, online materials are constantly revised ensuring that each user accesses only relevant information. E-learning allows immediate access to current legislation and modern healthcare practices. Bespoke Training Not every employee will require the exact training at the same time. Our platform allows training to be tailored tothe specialities of the individual. As an employer,you are investing in areas of their development making them feel valued while increasing the efficiency of your core business. Certification Upon completion of each course, your employees will receive immediate results and informative feedback. Candidates can track their progress revisiting areas of concern before submitting their final assessment. Additionally, we provide each successful candidate with a certificate of completion. The certificates act as evidence of compliance for their professional development with many courses also contributing towards CPD hours. LowCost E-Learning offers specialised care related training courses online, with high volume discounts at a fraction of the cost of traditional teaching. For more information (and to claim a 25% discount) visit www.lcel.co.uk/getstarted or call 0370 218 7890 today.
Encore Care Homes continues to invest in its team
Five team members from Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth, have completed the ‘Be an Effective Leader’ programme. Great Oaks is managed by Encore Care Homes, which invests significantly in the personal development of its staff and presents them with regular training opportunities throughout the year. The ‘Be an Effective Leader’ programme was launched to provide staff with the skills and tools required to manage a team successfully. The ‘Be an Effective Leader’ course is carried out over a six-month period and consists of five one-day workshops and five half-day workshops. These workshops cover a range of topics including managing teams through communication, time management and how to resolve under performance. In-between training, each team member is asked to demonstrate what they have learnt so far in the daily working environment. At the end of the programme, all participants create a presentation to share with the rest of the team, which details what they have learnt and how they have developed through the training. Sarah Sims (administrator), Lisa Mosses (head housekeeper), Sue McManus (registered nurse), Patrick Fensterseifer (head chef) and Tony Hill (senior healthcare assistant) are the first to complete the training at Great Oaks. Luke Wiltshire, training manager for Encore, said: “It has been a pleasure facilitating the group’s learning and seeing people grow session-by-session. Our workshops cover a range of topics but heavily focus on learners exploring their leadership style and recognising how to adapt to different situations. Leadership is not a simple concept that can be taught in one training session. Our in-depth programme means that learners have a chance to implement what they have learnt in the classroom, into their role in our care homes, and then come back and evaluate their learning in a group setting. “At Encore, we are passionate about learning and development and we hope by offering regular training opportunities such as this initiative, we will build a well led and inspired workforce for the future.” Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, which are designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 087444.
