Borough Care Hosts Employee Achievement Awards
Borough Care, the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport, recently held its Employee Achievement Awards 2019. The annual awards event celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of Borough Care employees. Borough Care staff were nominated for awards in nine categories. The ‘Team of the Year’ title was won by the Night Care team at Bamford Close in Cale Green. Great communication and an excellent working relationship with each other ensures the team works together to carry out their roles in a responsible and caring way. Shepley House in Hazel Grove was awarded ‘Care Home of the Year’. The number of compliments from residents’ families, along with colleagues, made Shepley House the stand out home. Everyone working at Shepley House shares the same goals in providing the highest standard of care to residents. The ‘Kindness in Care’ award was won by Lewis Pierreponte, a Night Care Assistant at Bruce Lodge in Offerton. Lewis takes time to give care and compassion and his natural interactions with residents enhances their day. The winner in the ‘Best Newcomer’ category also works at Bruce Lodge. Sophie Kenyon, a Peripatetic Night Care Assistant, is great to work with and willing to learn. Fantastic with residents, Sophie is thoughtful to their needs and always smiling. Amanda Millett, from Meadway Court in Bramhall, won the ‘Activity Lifestyle Facilitator Award’. Amanda is always considering how to improve daily life for residents by organising activities suitable for everyone. Selina Taylor, Care Home Business Manager at Bamford Close, took home the award for ‘Workforce Development’. The epitome of this award, Selina is constantly striving for herself and the people around her to be the best. Her natural positive energy encourages her staff to rise to their full potential. The ‘Outstanding Contribution to Social Care’ award was won by Barbara Whittey, Casual Senior Care Assistant at Bryn Haven in Brinnington. Barbara’s job is her life and she truly lives and breathes the values of Borough Care. Barbara is an asset to any home and always goes above and beyond in looking after residents. The ‘Most Innovative Team’ award was scooped by the Catering Senior Management team comprising of Mark Dale, Helen Murphy and Denise Lyons. The standard of catering has vastly improved through their leadership. They work closely with the catering teams, training, motivating and upskilling them to ensure food is at the heart of every home. The ‘Frontline Leaders Award’ was won by Karen Littler, Housekeeper Team Leader. Karen is a keen driver for excellence, both for herself and her team. Her attention to detail and expectations are well-known and respected. Karen’s team, along with the feeling of family and belonging she has created, is one of the most important things to her. Dr Mark Ward, CEO at Borough Care, says: “Our annual employee achievement awards event is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and commitment of Borough Care staff and reward people for the incredible job they do caring for our residents. The awards recognise the vital contribution made by employees throughout Borough Care. At Borough Care, we are fortunate to have a great team of people who are dedicated to providing residents with the best possible care and support.”
Sanders Senior Living launched
Following 32 years of success in the residential care industry as the owner and CEO of Runwood Homes, Gordon Sanders and his family have ventured into the premium, private-pay market, under a new brand and company name, Sanders Senior Living; with an aim to be best in class in the luxury care home sector. With a strong background overseeing and implementing care home designs and builds, and with a renowned business success in providing quality care provisions, cemented throughout his professional years, Gordon Sanders’ ambitious vision to drive forward opportunities identified within the healthcare industry, has now become an exciting reality. The new premium care home group has captured the well-oiled care home model of Runwood Homes, and considerately elevated it to produce an impressive, high-end product, specifically classified for the self-funding care market. The Sanders Senior Living concept aims to provide the highest quality living environment for residents, using premium materials and the latest technology to evidence safe and compliant delivery of medication and personal care, and places the wellbeing of people who choose the service at the very centre of its function. The construction and commissioning teams have collaborated with high-end suppliers, who share the same first-class vision, and will be seeking feedback on how their new homes are operating on a frequent basis, to help achieve their luxe-service objective. Registered with the Care Quality Commission, Sanders Senior Living has just opened its first premium care home, Graysford Hall, in Stoneygate, Leicester, (October 2019), and is welcoming its first residents. Graysford Hall is designed to appeal to seniors, including those living with dementia, and with the capacity for up to 69 people, offers a vibrant community with a professional team of carers and wellbeing leaders. A second SSL home, Claridge Place, in Olton, Solihull, is nearing construction completion, with a plan to open at the end of the month (November 2019). Head of Commissioning and Premium Services, Peta Mandleberg, a Registered Nurse who has worked in the care sector for many years, is passionate about the ethos of the new group. “We aim to help our residents enjoy happy, fulfilled lives; enjoying long established hobbies, discovering new ones and being part of a vibrant community. Visitors are more than welcome to join us for a tour at either of our homes, and to get in touch with us to find out about our unique, all-inclusive living package and our attractive Ways Of Working ethos, which gives Sanders Senior Living homes the ‘wow’ factor, setting us apart from our competitors.” The state of the art, private care homes offer large suites for solos or couples, a bar, bistro, private dining, library, hairdressing salon, therapy room, cinema and a selection of lounges, all finished to an impeccable standard of furniture and unique décor. To find our more please visit www.sandersseniorliving.co.uk or email info@sandersseniorliving.co.uk
Could you win the £1000 Cosyfeet OT Award?
The Cosyfeet Occupational Therapy Award 2020 is now open for entries. This £1000 OT award will be presented to an OT student or qualified OT planning a special project that will develop their professional knowledge and skills while benefitting others. Applications are invited for projects including voluntary work, placements, research or other initiatives. The winning entry will demonstrate how the entrant’s chosen project is of value to their clients whilst advancing their own professional development. This award is designed to assist with costs associated with the applicant’s selected project, which could include expenses for equipment, travel or living. Projects may take place in the UK or abroad. Ann Drea, a band 6 locum OT working for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation, won the 2019 award to purchase assessment equipment to facilitate a safe and speedy return home for clients referred by Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s A&E Department and Acute Assessment Unit. “In January to March 2019, our team received 401 referrals, resulting in 143 safer discharges and 116 instances of admission avoidance,” says Ann. “Having a stock of assessment equipment for clients to try out with instruction means we can more readily involve clients and their support network in their safe return to self-management.” Cosyfeet specialises in extra roomy footwear, socks and hosiery for people with extra wide or swollen feet. The company’s goal is to help keep people mobile for as long as possible by providing good footwear to fit swollen and misshapen feet in comfort. If you would like to apply for the Cosyfeet OT Award, visit http://www.cosyfeet.com/otaward for further information and to enter online before the closing date of April 24th, 2020. The winner will be requested to submit a report and photographs about their project, and to feature in Cosyfeet publicity relating to the award. Cosyfeet is the UK market leader in extra roomy footwear for swollen feet, with many styles suitable for people living with diabetes. As well as being extra wide and deep, Cosyfeet footwear is adjustable, so it fits a range of swelling from minor to very swollen. It also accommodates very wide feet, problem toes, bunions and bandaging. Lots of thought goes into Cosyfeet’s shoemaking including carefully placed seams, cushioned support and removable insoles to accommodate orthotics. Cosyfeet also offers a range of specialist socks and hosiery. With over 36 years’ experience of fitting swollen feet, Cosyfeet is a well-known, respected brand that is recommended by over 11,000 Health Care Professionals. For more information email prof@cosyfeet.com or call 01458 449071.
Titan by Jackloc Launch!
Leading window restrictor company Jackloc, announce the launch of the strongest restrictor in the market, the Titan by Jackloc ® Queen’s Award-winning window restrictor manufacturer, Jackloc, announces the launch of the new Titan by Jackloc® folding restrictor for care homes and hospitals. The Titan by Jackloc®, is the strongest restrictor on the market, tested to withstand a force of 4,800 newtons, or the equivalent of five adult males. Following the amendment to the Department of Health guidelines in 2014, after a fatal window accident, this exceeds all standard requirements by nearly 10 times. Jackloc wanted a name that personified the strength and support that the restrictor provides, so the Titan by Jackloc was born. The restrictor can be retrofitted, fitted to side or top hung windows, and as with all Jackloc products, it can be fitted to uPVC, timber and aluminium frames. The product comes with hardened and zinc coated, grade 4 security clutch screws and comes with a 10 year guarantee.And with the risk of burglaries in care sites, the Titan by Jackloc® can provide extra security for open windows. The product is fully metal, with reinforced steel hinges, meaning there is no cable that could potentially be cut. Eric Collins, Managing Director at Jackloc said “Since joining Jackloc earlier this year, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the Titan by Jackloc. It’s a fantastic product – it’s sleek, streamlined and more importantly it’s extraordinarily strong. To have such a compelling product in our portfolio allows us to offer a wide range of possibilities to the market.” Jackloc offer a risk assessment service to ascertain the right restrictor for the site, and also a maintenance service once installed. For more information, visit www.jackloc.comsales@jackloc.com | 01455 220616
Valerie Egan Shortlisted For National Care Award
Valerie Egan, Head of Care at Borough Care, has been shortlisted for a National Care Award. Borough Care is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has eleven homes across the borough. Organised by Caring Times magazine, the National Care Awards celebrate the very best people in the long-term care sector, highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care. Valerie is a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement in Care category. The awards will be announced at a ceremony taking place in London on Friday 29 November. Having a care sector career spanning over 32 years, Valerie has worked at the homes managed by Borough Care for her entire working life. She started work as a casual Night Care Assistant and showed the talent and ambition to work her away up the ranks to become Head of Care. Having previously managed four of Borough Care’s eleven homes, Valerie has a wealth of indispensable knowledge and uses this first-hand experience to help guide and support Borough Care’s team of Home Managers. Commenting on her long care career, Valerie Egan says: “When I first started working in care homes, the night shift fit in with my home life, as I had two very young children. Although I never thought of it being a career at the time, I was lucky to have great mentors who saw my potential and the rest, as they say, is history.” Valerie recently attended an interview with the award judges who will be selecting the winner in her category. Valerie says: “I spoke about Borough Care being a company that promotes talent from within the business and of my pride in helping our staff reach their full potential, which I am always very keen to encourage. I see supporting staff to aim high as a crucial part of my role. I like to attend our welcome to Borough Care induction sessions for new staff so I can tell people that working in care can be a career to be proud of. With the right attitude, people can go far at Borough Care.” Valerie continues: “Besides supporting staff to reach their full potential, other things I am proud of achieving in my career include working with our care home teams to achieve a good Care Quality Commission rating for all our eleven homes and providing personalised care for residents before it became the industry norm.” Valerie Egan was nominated for a National Care Award by Borough Care’s CEO Dr Mark Ward. Dr Mark Ward says: “Valerie has dedicated her working life to caring for older people in Stockport. Her ongoing support helps the teams at each of our homes provide the best possible care for our residents. Valerie is not someone to personally shout about her achievements but staff regularly sing her praises. I was keen to recognise the extremely valuable contribution Valerie has made to the business throughout her long career and the inspiration she is to other members of the team.”
New App to help people live independently for longer
Online health educator, The Sound Doctor, is delighted to announce the development of their new App to help people live independently for longer. The App, aimed particularly at those aged over 70, consists of a library of films created by The Sound Doctor. It includes advice on preventing falls, combatting loneliness and isolation, and managing end of life care. It also offers information, advice and tips on nutrition, hydration, oral health and alcohol. The Sound Doctor aims to create the very best film and audio content available to help people look after themselves better with long term conditions and improve outcomes. There are many issues which really worry older people living at home. Feeling lonely and isolated often leads to other problems including depression. Fear of falling can prevent people from leaving their homes as often as they would like to, and it is easy to get caught up in a spiral of inactivity and dependency. Campaign to End Loneliness states that there are currently 1.2 million chronically lonely older people in the UK and that half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all. Rosie Runciman, Co-Founder of The Sound Doctor said, “The good news is, there is lots of help out there. If older people and their families know what help is available, and can see the potential for altering their lifestyle, there can be dramatic improvements to their quality of life. Our App is a necessary resource that will help with this and is a fantastic project for The Sound Doctor to be involved in.”. The number of people aged 75 or over is expected to double in the next 30 years. A recent report states that depression is the most common mental health problem in this age group. “As we are an ageing society, we need to find ways of living at home longer, but this won’t happen unless we find ways of enjoying life in older age. Health issues affect activities we might have done previously, retirement comes with potential problems of isolation, and we need to find ways of making life work well for us in our later years.” continued Rosie. Many issues can be addressed through understanding both the issues and potential solutions. For older people and their families, education is essential to improving outcomes. The Sound Doctor take great pride in creating films which can really change behaviours and improve outcomes. For more information, visit www.thesounddoctor.org. The Sound Doctor is on the G Cloud 11 Framework.
Mayor of Poole officially opens Oakdale care home at grand launch
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Marion Le Poidevin, officiated at the grand opening of Oakdale care home, joined by members of the community and local healthcare professionals. Guests were given the opportunity to take a tour of the new purpose-built 84-bed, residential, nursing and dementia care home based in Kingsmill Road. Key features of the home were unveiled, such as the tranquil spa room for residents and the bistro which is the real heart of the home, providing residents with the chance to catch up with visiting friends and relatives over a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake. Rachel Dryden, Chief Executive Officer of Encore, commented: “This is the third home we have opened in Dorset, and with each build we have learned from the previous home and made slight tweaks over the years that will benefit our residents. For example, all floors in the home are carpeted in order to minimise noise which helps reduce anxiety for our residents with dementia. “We are so proud of what we have achieved at Oakdale Care Home. We believe that we have made our vision a reality, of creating an environment that not only supports residents’ care, but also the wellbeing of our team. It is our team that turns the building from bricks and mortar into a home and their kindness and compassion really shines through in everything that they do.” Attendees also had chance to meet with members of the care team who introduced the new training room that is also available for members of the community to use. David Taylor, Home Manager of Oakdale Care Home, explained: “We are committed to serving our local community and look forward to getting to know our neighbours over the coming months. We hope the public will use this learning resource and in return give us the opportunity to get to know them. We will provide all visitors with a warm welcome and some homemade cakes.” The home’s architecture has been designed with residents’ wellbeing at its core. The building’s spacious communal areas, large floor-to-ceiling windows and verandas ensure the home is flooded with natural light, creating a warm and bright ambiance. The building’s layout has also been created to allow residents to spend time with their friends in the numerous lounges that are located on each floor. There are also cosy ‘snug’ areas in the home to enable residents to enjoy some quiet time for themselves. Oakdale is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, to open just minutes from Poole’s town centre. Encore now manages three care homes in Dorset including Great Oaks in Bournemouth and Fairmile Grange on the grounds of Christchurch Hospital. The business also manages Hamble Heights in Fareham, Hampshire. For more information, visit www.oakdalepoole.co.uk or call 01202 878 149 to book a visit to look around Oakdale care home.
LST Radiator Experts Create Safer Heating In The Care Sector
In spite of the tight regulations laid down by the Health and Safety Executive, concern is continuing to grow around resident safety in care homes. Some care homes are endangering the safety of the service users by not adhering to strict guidelines around safe surface temperature radiators and pipework. The recommended surface temperature for radiators and pipework is 43°C. Non-compliant homes risk warning notice or even closure by The Care Quality Commissions or The Health and Safety Executive. Under threat of closure and prosecution, many care homes seek the cheapest possible solution covering their often insufficient heaters with budget radiator covers designed for decorative purposes rather than safety. How Contour Can HelpContour Heating supply a range of Low Surface Temperature Steel Radiator Covers, designed to last over ten years, relieving pressures on homes to frequently update radiator guards. Contour provides free on-site surveys to get accurate measurements to supply a bespoke solution for your facility.For further protection, Contour Heating partner with BioCote® to include their anti-microbial technologies in their LST radiator guards. The additives in the powder coating have been proven to reduce bacteria on the surface of the radiator by 99.5% in two hours and is 99.99% effective against resistant bacteria such as MRSA and E.Coli.BioCote® inhibits the growth of these bacteria for the lifespan of the LST radiator, reducing the risk of cross-contamination, creating more hygienic spaces and proving a safer and healthier environment for service users and staff alike.
Bringing people together during end of life care
The team at Benmor say they have recently been touched by the remarkable fundraising efforts of a gentleman raising money to purchase an Aurum+ bed for Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington. The fundraising was inspired by his own experience of spending quality time with his late wife at the hospice, with the hope of making a difference to future patients and their loved ones. When care staff organised for a larger bed to be installed in the room, the couple were greatly appreciative of being able to watch films together and listen to music. The bed even had some space for their beloved guinea pigs, perfect for end of life care. Staff at the hospice recognised the difference when the larger bed was installed and identified that it would also benefit future patients, they were therefore in full support of the need to purchase a larger bed. The Aurum+ was selected as a suitable option for the hospice due to its ability to expand in width from 36” – 48” (3ft – 4ft). At its smallest size, it is the same width as a standard medical bed however when expanded it is wide enough to accommodate two people. Benmor Medical were very moved to learn that a larger bed like theirs can not only be used for bariatric patients but can also provide some form of comfort for inpatients and their loved ones at hospice’s like Oakhaven. To read more about what brilliant work the hospice carries out and their end of life care please visit www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk.
