Maintaining staff and customer satisfaction with cloud technology
Working in the care sector can be extremely demanding with long hours, complex job requirements and sometimes multiple sites to visit in a day. Providing excellent staff management is of paramount importance to care homes. Care home owners have the responsibility to rotate staff regularly, ensuring they receive the right amount of time off duty as well as making sure the right skills are available within the team on duty at all times. Many care homes are still reliant on manual and time-consuming schedule management solutions such as pen and paper or excel spreadsheets for staff management. This can lead to shift management being confusing for staff, with time and hard-earned money being lost as shift changes are not correctly changed or recorded. It can also lead to hours of unnecessary time being spent on admin by the care home management. However, the introduction of cloud-based technology means we are now in an established digital age, where processes can be transitioned to more reliable and efficient online systems. Cloud technology is revolutionising shift work in organisations across all industries, from hospitality, leisure through to the care sector. Planday is changing the way the care industry operates through the use of user friendly cloud-based software. It is an online and mobile based shift management tool that places more control in the hands of employees, and can significantly contribute towards better staff retention and higher levels of staff satisfaction. Planday allows staff to swap shifts as they need to and according to what skills are needed where, and automatically syncs changes directly back into the central online records. Planday customers save on average seven hours of admin time per week and an eighth of the time they had spent previously on scheduling, freeing up time and budget for essential care staff. A group of four care homes across Scotland, Avondale Care, implemented Planday technology last year and have already noticed the benefits it’s made to their small, but growing company. The Director of Avondale Care, Adrian Hendry commented, “We are a forward-thinking company, always looking for the next innovation to help the care industry. From a managerial perspective, Planday provides more transparency as everything can be done electronically and quickly. Any contract or policy changes that need to be made, can be implemented simply through the system and everyone has sight of it. This in turn helps us with employee satisfaction, as all parties are aware of any changes to either day-to-day shifts, or larger scale business changes.”
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All your Data Protection Needs – Covered
The GDPR deadline has passed, but compliance need not be a daunting task. ZURI, the mobile, web-based care management solution developed by Care Software Solutions, has got all your GDPR compliance needs covered. The EU General Data Protection Regulation becomes active on the 25thof May 2018, and contains requirements on how businesses process and protect personal information. In the health care industry, protecting sensitive information is nothing new, what is new is that GDPR requires that the organisation must be able to describe how keeping this sensitive information safe is intended before doing so and show how it will remain compliant through policies, procedures and guidelines. This is where Zuri comes in. As the main holder of the data, your business will be considered as a ‘processor’ but as the data storage and data handling provider, Zuri® will be considered as the ‘controller’ and as such, Zuri assures it provides a system that is fully GDPR 2018 compliant and ready. The key points in the GDPR 2018: 1) Individual Rights 2) Subject Access Request (SAR) 3) Data Breaches Zuri® takes data protection very seriously and in this vein, this is how Zuri can help your business comply: Individual Rights Under the new GDPR, the person you hold data for has the following rights: – The right to be informed – The right of access – The right to rectification – The right to erasure – The right to data portability – The right to object Zuri® complies with all of the above by giving access to the record held as required, from anywhere at any time. This allows the individual to be informed on the data held about them as well as rectify them if necessary or object to some of the data being held. Should an individual request that his data held in Zuri® be deleted, they can then make a request and this will be processed. Additionally, if an individual would like the data held to be handed over to be imported across to a different system, this can be provided in various formats upon request. Subject Access Request (SAR) A SARs request that is made directly to Zuri® in writing, will be responded to within 40 days as per the GDPR requirements with no fee if the request is reasonable as per the regulations. Zuri protects the interests of its’ clients by requiring specifics of the data required upon application, all SARs will require identification of the data subject or third party as evidence that the request is compliant with the current regulations. Zuri will only supply data after all security conditions have been met so as to safeguard your business and your client’s sensitive data. Data Breaches Zuri® has been designed from the ground-up to be ultra secure. Data is hosted on secure servers, databases are secured and most importantly, data records are encrypted. However, data breaches often happens at the front end of any system where users login and access data. To combat this, Zuri has password rules to make sure the passwords used by users are sufficiently secure, two-factor authentication to prevent someone else from accessing a user’s profile with their password, the option to change the password on regular basis, and fingerprint authentication on smartphones and tablets to ensure only your approved users are accessing their profiles. For more details, please visit www.zuri.care Email: info@zuri.care Call: 0800 210 0094
Volunteers wanted for care home’s edible garden project
An edible garden project is calling for volunteers to help tend the latest crop of produce. Lever Edge Care Home won funding from the Bolton Transformation Fund to install the multi-sensory garden – which includes fruit, vegetables and herbs. The home now runs regular gardening sessions with Natural Education, a Bolton-based initiative aiming to improve mental health through outdoor activities. Volunteers are being welcomed to the Monday sessions, running from 10am to 3pm every week. They are also running a Grow Your Own Pizza session during the school half-term holiday, from 1pm to 3pm on Monday, 28th May. Parents and children are invited to participate in the workshop free of charge, when they will be able to plant their own seeds before harvesting later in the year for pizza toppings. Sarah Urmston, from Natural Education, said: “We believe that nature can provide us with the means to improve our own lives through growing your own food. “We work with local authorities, schools, care homes, community groups and more to demystify gardening and reconnect people with the natural environment.” Karen McMahon, home manager at Lever Edge Care Home, on Lever Edge Lane, Great Lever, said: “Since winning the funding from Bolton Council, everyone at the home has been thoroughly enjoying installing and tending to the multi-sensory garden during our weekly sessions with Sarah from Natural Education. “We’ve also welcomed the community to join us in planting fruit trees, herbs, peas and tomatoes, which we’ll all harvest later in the year. “We’re running our latest session during the school holiday to try to get as many children and their parents along as possible to grow their own pizza toppings. We’ll be planting seedlings and we’ll even take care of them for participants until they’re ready to plant in the garden. “Anyone with an interest in gardening or growing their own produce should join us for the day.” Lever Edge Care Home are part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Wolverhampton domiciliary care agency rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission has found the quality of care provided by Care 4 U Wolverhampton, to be Outstanding following an inspection in March. Care 4 U Wolverhampton is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to older adults living in their own houses and flats in the community. Inspectors found staff were caring and compassionate and people were being provided with safe, responsive, caring, effective and well-led care. A full inspection report has been published on CQC’s website: http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1568347523 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. Care 4 U Wolverhampton is rated Outstanding for being caring and well-led, and Good for being responsive, safe and effective. Maggie Hannelly, CQC’s Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care in the central region said: “Our inspection team were impressed by the level of care and support offered to people in their own homes by staff at Care 4 U Wolverhampton, which we found gave them an enhanced sense of quality of life and well-being. “The provider was passionate about providing person centred care. The leadership within the service was strong and an open and a positive culture was promoted. “People and their relatives were extremely positive about the care provided by the service and said that they felt safe receiving care in their homes. “Everyone said staff went above and beyond what was expected from them and people spoke highly of the extremely friendly, caring and kind staff who came to visit them “People were placed at the centre of their care and told us they felt listened to and valued by staff by the staff who supported them. “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.”
Flumpet craze comes to Hartlepool to raise funds for hospice
The Flumpet Craze is invading Hartlepool as elderly residents sold the cute, cuddly toys to generate donations for a local hospice. The residents and staff at Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road, have been supporting Alice House Hospice with their fundraising activities. The hospice cares for those with life limiting illnesses and their loved ones in Hartlepool and East Durham. So far, the home has raised over £30 through the sale of the Flumpets, which are designed by Care Fundraising Supplies and sold for £1.50 each. Queens Meadow Care Home and its sister Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, in Peterlee, are also supporting the upcoming Alice House Hospice Colour Run. The homes, both operated by the Hill Care Group, are sponsoring the official t-shirts for the event, which takes place on 21stJuly on Seaton Carew seafront. Julie Hildreth, fundraising manager for Alice House Hospice, said: “Alice House is delighted to receive support from Queens Meadow Care Home. “We couldn’t operate without the support from our local communities.” Julie Armstrong, home manager at Queens Meadow Care Home, said: “Alice House Hospice provides an amazing and vital service for the people of Hartlepool and East Durham. “As part of our commitment to help the community, we wanted to do everything we could to support the hospice, so we’re getting involved in this year’s Colour Run and we sold Flumpets to raise funds. “The Flumpets have proved really popular with school children and collectors, as they’re really high-quality toys, each with their own cheeky character. They sold out within just a few days.” Queens Meadow Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. Alice House Hospice ensures people affected by life limiting illness or the death of a loved one have the care, comfort and support they need. For further information visit www.alicehousehospice.co.uk/. Flumpets are designed and sold by Care Fundraising Supplies. For further information visit www.carefundraisingsupplies.co.uk/fundraising-products/flumpets.
Brenda gets Employee of the Month at 79
A 79-YEAR-OLD care home worker has been awarded Employee of the Month after more than two decades of service. Brenda Tooby is a domestic cleaner at Alderwood Care Home, in Salford, where she started working at the age of 59. Emma Willoughby, home manager, said: “She never complains and always has a smile. She goes the extra mile for the residents and is the life and soul of the home. “All the staff and residents at Alderwood Care Home appreciate everything Brenda has done and continues to do.” Alderwood was Brenda’s first care home job, having lived in Salford her entire life. Born in Boothstown in 1939, she was one of nine children. At 15 years old, she helped at St James School as a primary teacher and then Piggot Street Day Nursery as a child nurse, both in Farnsworth. She met her husband, Norman, at 16 at Turners Dancing Hall, before being married five years later at 21 and eventually having their son Lee at 29. When Lee started attending school, Brenda volunteered at her friends’ shops, Jess and Walters Bakery and Green Groceries Shop. She later got a job at Worsley Hall Gardening Centre. In 1998, she applied for a job as domestic cleaner at Alderwood Care Home, where she has since celebrated her 60th, 70th and soon 80th birthdays. She said: “I have no plans on retiring anytime soon because I absolutely love interacting with the residents and the staff. I love their company. “I feel fit, healthy and active and I regularly go on walks with Norman around Wigan, Leigh, Worsley and the Trafford Centre. “That’s the key to a good, healthy life, as well as plenty of vitamins, lots of fruit and even garlic daily.”
Teesside care homes celebrate royal wedding with parties
Royal wedding celebrations have taken place at care homes across Teesside – from a mock ceremony to parties. The Gables Care Home, in Middlesbrough, made the most of the sunshine and held their royal wedding ceremony outside. Home manager Kate Charlton played the groom and care assistant Farrah Brannigan was the bride. Care assistant Julie Pink was bridesmaid, resident Jean Polano was mother of the bride, and activities coordinator Cath Taylor was the vicar. Homemade cake from resident Margaret Thomas’s daughter, Alison Small, was served after the ceremony, when a picnic with party food and bucks fizz was held. Kate Charlton, home manager of The Gables Care Home, on Highfield Road, said: “The residents thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle of the mock wedding as well as the picnic and celebrations to mark the royal wedding. “Everyone was particularly amused by vicar Cath’s false teeth, which she had decided to fit for the ceremony but they kept slipping as she spoke.” At Ingleby Care Home, in Ingleby Barwick, a wedding party was held with entertainment from dementia friendly musician and singer Trish McLean. After watching the ceremony on TV, residents Arthur and Gladys Green, who have been married for 64 years, once again declared their love for each other. The home was decorated with bunting and everyone was treated to a slice of wedding cake. Carol Singleton, home manager of Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, said: “Feedback from our residents and their families has been amazing. “One of the families told us that it’s the best day their relative has had since arriving at the home, they had so much fun.” The Gables and Ingleby care homes are part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Inspiring outstanding practice at Care Roadshow Birmingham
Returning to Villa Park Stadium on 3rd July, Care Roadshow aims to inform and inspire its visitors throughout the one-day event. Free educational seminars will be running across the day from 10am onwards and include an array of speakers from Care Quality Commission to Ladder to the Moon focussing on innovation and outstanding practice. Developed with care practitioners in mind, the programme has been carefully selected to ensure that all aspects of the care industry are considered from a diverse range of exhibitors providing support on the latest technologies and innovations, to speakers covering inspections, dementia and training that consistently innovates, improves and delivers high quality outcomes. The 2018 event will also feature a host of interactive elements from workshops to on-stand entertainment. Following on from last year’s visit to Birmingham, Care Roadshow anticipates a good take up to the show, as it provides an ideal platform for networking and business opportunities for all those who work in the care sector. For those who enjoy putting pen to paper, Creative Minds will be hosting two workshops throughout the day titled ‘By the seaside’ where visitors will make art from shaving foam and polystyrene – if you thought that wasn’t possible then come and find out for yourself! We encourage everyone to get involved as you may learn something that might surprise you. Put the spring back into your step this Summer by attending an event tailored for you. Register for your free tickets for yourself and colleagues today by visiting the website www.careroadshows.co.uk or call the team on 01425 838393 who will do this over the phone for you. We look forward to seeing you soon.
