Disciplinaries and grievances significantly higher in care sector
New research from law firm Birketts has revealed that care sector employers are having to deal with a significantly higher number of disciplinaries and grievances than other sectors. Employment lawyers at Birketts warn the number of employment tribunal cases in the care sector could also increase as a result of measures in the Employment Rights Bill, at a time when it will also be grappling with changes to immigration rules. The Birketts view: Employment tribunals in the care sector impact report 2025, which surveyed HR professionals in businesses in England and Wales over a two-year period, found that on average, respondents from the care sector reported 53 disciplinary matters over the preceding 24 months, compared with an average of 37 across all sectors. Grievances were also significantly higher in care sector businesses (29% higher) when compared with all sectors, with respondents indicating that managing grievances was the area in which they thought line managers needed most support. On average, care organisations had received 39 employment tribunal claims in the previous two years, which is broadly in line with the average of 40 across all sectors. The research shows that among care organisations, 60% of HR professionals surveyed had dealt with between 26-50 employment tribunal claims in the previous 24 months. The average amount of time spent by HR professionals dealing with such claims was 4.66 weeks over the two-year period, very slightly below the average of 4.78 weeks across all sectors. Of those who had elected not to engage in the Acas early conciliation process, 54% said it was because they thought it would either not resolve the issue or be a waste of time (compared with 56% across all sectors), with 36% indicating that it was because they were not willing to negotiate with the claimant (32% across all sectors). In contrast, settlement via Acas once the employment tribunal process had started, was reported by 31% of care sector respondents, the most frequent conclusion to claims brought against the business once they had commenced. Holiday pay claims featured more highly in the care sector compared with the average number of holiday pay claims across all sectors. Analysis of the types of employment tribunal claims handled by care businesses in England and Wales in the previous two years shows that those most commonly reported were: unfair dismissal, including constructive dismissal (27%); disability discrimination (23%); wrongful dismissal (20%); and holiday pay (20%). This suggests that the high staff turnover rate within the sector – alongside a legacy of holiday pay claims brought by care sector workers following recent case law developments – has affected employment tribunal rates. A 2022 Supreme Court ruling on holiday pay entitlements for part-year workers (Harpur Trust v Brazel) may also have led to a potential artificial ‘bump’ in claims, according to Birketts. Only 16% of respondents from the care sector reported any cases being struck out by the employment tribunal, compared with 23% of respondents across all sectors. Commenting on the findings, Catherine Johnson, Partner in Birketts’ Employment Team, said: “The care sector is renowned for having high staff turnover, and employers in the sector often face claims on multiple legal grounds because their staff do not meet the two-year minimum service requirement for an ordinary unfair dismissal claim and instead pursue ‘automatic’ unfair dismissal claims. “This includes whistleblowing, as well as discrimination and/or victimisation, which do not require a minimum length of service. However, unlike ordinary unfair dismissal claims, these claims attract unlimited compensation, are complex to handle, and will often require a preliminary hearing to determine issues, such as whether any aspects of the claim are out of time. It is also common for claimants in the care sector to name individual managers as respondents, along with their employer, adding to the complexity. These factors can considerably increase the costs of defending claims. “Because of this, the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill – which will remove the two-year minimum service requirement for bringing an unfair dismissal claim – could, in some respects, be regarded as a mixed blessing for care sector employers. While the number of claims is likely to increase, some of these should be more ‘straightforward’ to manage in the future.” “These challenges, combined with those posed by the recently announced immigration crackdown on care workers, paint a bleak picture for the sector. Employers should therefore act now to get their houses in order before these new measures take effect.” On disciplinaries and grievances: “Employment claims pose huge costs for businesses – both financially and from a resources perspective. While managers may view grievances and disciplinaries as inconvenient, they must take care not to rush their investigations as this could increase the risk of claims being successful. This is where good manager training in investigations and disciplinaries could make all the difference. “While the courts and tribunals are still grappling with a backlog in employment claims and new workplace rights on the horizon, including a ‘day one’ right to claim unfair dismissal, employers in the care sector would do well to ensure they are ahead of the curve and tackle any potential claims early on to avoid costly tribunals.” The most common reason cited by respondents from care businesses for settling employment tribunal claims was witness credibility (36%), with the cost of defending claims a close second (34%). Settlement of claims in the sector often comes late in the process, most commonly the day before (25%) or during the hearing itself (28%). Birketts advises employers to implement clear workplace policies, provide quality training to line managers and maintain open lines of communications between management and employees to avoid an escalation of issues. Last minute settlements The study showed that on average in the past 24 months, the majority of respondents (59%) reported settling employment tribunal claims before the final hearing, slightly lower than the average across all sectors (62%). A quarter (25%) of HR professionals surveyed reported that employment tribunal claims were settled the day before the hearing was due to commence.
National Nurses Day
Jill Shares Her Nursing Journey To Honour This Year’s National Nurses Day At Little Bramingham Farm, the Luton-based residential care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly, which is celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year, 93-year-old resident, Jill Samuel, has been honouring this month’s National Nurses Day – and Florence Nightingale’s 205th Birthday – by reminiscing and sharing her own Nursing journey. Jill, who has been a resident at Little Bramingham Farm for 15 months, knew from an early age that she wanted to be a Nurse. “I was very little when I knew that I wanted to be a Nurse,” said Jill. “I think being able to look after and care for people was my calling.” As a child, Jill attended Beech Hill School on Dunstable Road in Luton. “I liked all the classes, but as soon as I left school, I began training as a Nurse,” Jill continued. “All the training took part in hospitals, and I was fortunate enough to work in lots of different departments.” Jill worked mainly at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, which was opened by Queen Mary on 14th February 1930, working for the majority of her time on the Surgical Wards. “Back when I worked at the Hospital, Wards 1 and 5 were my main focus. I found the work the surgeons and doctors did on these two wards fascinating and so complex and it was wonderful to see how the patients recovered from their operations, illnesses and injuries. “I loved my job, but being in the Theatre and working as part of the Surgical Team was so interesting, it was my favourite – but I was also lucky enough to spend time working in the Children’s Annex, which was also so rewarding,” added Jill. In 1952, Jill married her Husband, Roy and the couple were happily married for 57 years and had two lovely two daughters; and Jill is now a proud Grandmother to four Grandchildren. “I have always loved to cook and sew,” continued Jill. “I think it comes from raising our family; and I still enjoy cooking and sewing today – and also reading. You can usually find me with my nose in a good book at some point during the day.” Jill also has a few surprises about her – she is exceptionally well-travelled having visited Australia, New Zealand and Canada – and has seen the internationally famous singer, Tom Jones at The London Palladium. “I actually met the lovely Bruce Forsyth at the theatre,” said Jill. “As we were walking into the Foyer, Bruce was there, welcoming everyone and chatting away. I was also very lucky as a family friend managed to get me a signed photograph of Tom too. “I decided to move to Little Bramingham Farm as it’s very close to my family, is set in lovely surroundings and my room is beautiful – and, of course, everyone here is so kind and lovely, it’s a really loving home and place to live. There’s always something going on, you could never be bored here,” continued Jill. “Jill is such a wonderful lady and it’s an absolute pleasure to have her living with us at Little Bramingham Farm,” said Emma Lawrance, the Registered Manager at the care home. “She always has a kind word to say to everyone, is always smiling and, if you didn’t know that Jill had spent her career working as a Nurse, I think you would suspect as soon as you met her as she’s so caring, considerate and kind.” “Throughout my Nursing career, I really did love all my patients and thoroughly enjoyed my job, even though it was hard work. I’m always telling my family and friends to prioritise their health, as that what I do, and I’m doing OK,” concluded Jill. www.fote.org.uk/care-homes/little-bramingham-farm-luton-care-home/
Transforming the CQC
Transforming the CQC – does the answer lie beyond the English border?Keeping up with the Joneses (and the MacDonalds and the Maguires) Over the last year, England’s adult health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has suffered an unceremonious fall from grace, marred by severe internal failings and widespread public criticism. Jenny Wilde and Beverley Jones, senior lawyers in health and social care at Acuity Law, delve into recent developments and highlight future transformation opportunities for the CQC. The independent review led, by Dr. Penny Dash and published in full in October 2024, exposed stark deficiencies in the regulator’s operations, including reduced inspection levels, inconsistent assessments, and a worrying lack of clinical expertise among inspectors. These failings have significantly weakened the CQC’s ability to assess and assure the quality of health and social care services across England. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting responded with frank concern, declaring: “It’s clear to me the CQC is not fit for purpose.” His statement reinforced the urgency of reform to restore public confidence in the regulator. That urgency was amplified by the revelations of a failed £99-million transformation programme – an expensive misfire riddled with technical issues and a poor user experience, which caused widespread operational disruption rather than progress. In October 2024, the newly appointed Chief Executive, Sir Julian Hartley, took the helm, inheriting a regulator in crisis. He has since openly acknowledged the CQC had “lost its way” and committed to regaining public trust by rebuilding the organisation’s credibility and performance. Part of that work has involved collaborating with providers and sector leaders, such as the Care Provider Alliance, to map out what a reformed CQC should look like and how it should behave. The transformation is, at last, underway. A sceptic (or perhaps a seasoned lawyer) might view these listening sessions as strategic PR, intended to project an image of reform and responsiveness. The real test lies in whether those views are heard, taken on board and reflected in the final product. But in this moment of reform and introspection, is the CQC missing an opportunity to look outward, beyond England, and learn from its counterparts in the devolved nations? Practical lessons from beyond the English border Each devolved nation has its own regulator: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in Northern Ireland. Lawyers and providers operating across these borders often speak of clear cultural and procedural differences – most notably a more collaborative and constructive approach to regulation. Take CIW, for example. It has a reputation for working alongside providers, offering guidance on training, promoting best practice, and fostering supportive environments to improve care. Inspectors are more likely to offer concrete advice or signpost resources when concerns arise. Compare that with the CQC’s more rigid model: a tick-box inspection, a grade, and often radio silence when providers ask how they might improve. The CQC’s long-held stance – that it is not there to advise providers – feels increasingly unhelpful in a sector that relies on practical improvement and learning. Clients have reported that dealing with Care Inspectorate (Scotland) is like interacting with a fellow care provider and there is no “us and them” approach. The Care Inspectorate’s mission is that “everyone in every community, experiences high quality care, support and learning, tailored to their rights, needs and wishes”. The tone is such that “we” (the Care Inspectorate and the care provider) are for the same reason: to help promote a better outcome for people living in care. There is clear collaboration, and Scottish clients are extremely heartened by the Care Inspectorate’s support. The Scottish regulator also has a “Quality Improvement Team”, which creates excellent resources that are shared on the website and in the weekly newsletters runs. It offers workshops – some virtual, to widen access, some in-person and even provider-specific. For example, a client reported an increase in complaints, so the Care Inspectorate arranged a face-to-face workshop that was attended by all of the provider’s Scottish home managers, and three other colleagues per home. During the workshop, they discussed the client’s complaints process, gave suggestions on what it could do to make it better, and completed coaching with colleagues. The aim of the session was to try and upskill colleagues working on the floor to manage and recognise complaints before they become formal. English providers can only dream of this type of engagement. Since Ian Trenholm’s appointment in 2018, the CQC has leaned into a model of enforcement, often accompanied by harsh press releases that spotlight failure rather than enable recovery. Of course, action must be taken against unsafe providers, but what if the CQC followed the lead of its neighbours and used inspections as an opportunity to guide, not just judge? What if it embraced a more transparent, less adversarial model? We’ve seen CIW and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland share examples of excellent care between providers, encouraging dialogue and improvement across the sector. That kind of openness fosters a climate where providers welcome inspection and feedback rather than fear it. CIW, Care Inspectorate Scotland, and RQIA show that it’s possible to regulate firmly while still being fair and supportive. Their inspectors are present, personal, and pragmatic. And while no regulator is perfect, their approach feels more aligned with the sector’s ultimate aim: improving the lives of those who use services. There’s a cautionary tale in all this, not just for the CQC, but also for the regulators in the devolved nations as well. CIW has recently adopted a rating system similar to the CQC’s, in an effort to promote transparency and aid customer choice and decision making. However, we hope it resists the temptation to drift into the same trap as CQC: chasing statistics and ratings to justify its existence, rather than focusing on meaningful assessments and sector relationships, and improving outcomes for the people supported. Regulators that try to win headlines risk losing the confidence of those they oversee.
CAA statement – Immigration white paper
Today the Prime Minister has announced a tightening up of immigration rules, including proposals to reduce the number of social care workers recruited from overseas. While we recognise that immigration numbers should be controlled, we urge the government to implement changes in a carefully planned and managed way. If these changes are rushed through, there is a risk that social care services that are already under enormous stress will be forced to close, causing harm to the NHS and family carers. We wish to challenge the notion that overseas carers are brought in as “cheap labour”. On the contrary, the many international recruits who work in our care system are highly skilled, and we are fortunate to have been able to attract people to work here who have high levels of compassion and commitment. Care is not a low skilled job. The Prime Minister says if you can work, you should work, and we support him in this. We would like to be able to employ more UK-based care workers, but at present the level of pay is unattractive following long years of under-investment in our sector. To make a career in care more attractive to British workers, we need to recognise the importance of carers by giving them the right pay, conditions and training. Improving the pay of care workers will of course require an increase in funding via local authorities and the NHS. mailto:jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
Care homes celebrate VE Day 80 with VFF
Care homes which are part of the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) family are rolling out celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day with their residents on Thursday 8 May. There are 149 homes across the country that have gained VFF status, with another 90 currently working towards achieving the Framework. The free-to-access programme helps providers to offer appropriate support for veterans living in care homes across England. It aims to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for over 25,000 veterans and their partners. The homes’ managers say the VFF has given them a greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of the veterans in their care, as they prepare to mark VE Day. It also allows VFF homes to better support residents when they are unable to attend national events. Ruth Mountain is Manager at Tamarix Lodge in East Riding of Yorkshire, part of the HICA Group. She said: “The VFF has been a breath of fresh air for us. It has given us the confidence to really celebrate VE Day in a way we wouldn’t have done before. It’s allowed us to build a wonderful relationship with local groups, and residents will be attending several events on VE Day, including the lighting of a beacon, which we’re really excited about. Thanks to the VFF, VE Day will be that extra bit special at Tamarix Lodge.” Rebecca Warburton, the Deputy Manager at The Grove in Middlesbrough, which is part of the Papillon Care group, said: “The VFF has given us a lot more knowledge and understanding of the needs of the veterans we care for. It’s made us more aware and appreciative of what they have done. As a consequence we have the confidence and understanding to really develop a military focus to our special activities around VE Day and other events throughout the year.” Each of AgeCare Care Homes’ nine facilities are currently undergoing VFF accreditation. Sara Gallagher, Head of Care & Nursing, said: “We were delighted to receive the resources and guidance provided by the VFF to get us started in attaining the status. Our homes are eagerly progressing with the Framework , and we’ve already made some amazing discoveries and connections. The training resources are fabulous. We’ve received videos and posters, attended useful e-learning sessions, and have regular meetings with our VFF Project Officer to track our progress. We’re hoping all our homes will be VFF accredited by July and have some fabulous VE Day 80 celebrations planned.” Fatma Makalo is Home Manager at Bridgeside Lodge Nursing Home in Islington, North London. The home has two veterans, with staff and other residents with connections to the Armed Forces. She said that as a result of the VFF, the home had started working closely with its local Royal British Legion. Members of the branch will be celebrating VE Day at Bridgeside Lodge, along with the Islington Mayoress. Fatma said: “Being part of the VFF has helped us focus on how we mark VE Day at Bridgeside Lodge. We’re really looking forward to celebrating with the Islington Mayoress and the Royal British Legion. We’ve received a lot of support from members of the Legion, and they’ve told us how proud they are that we are a VFF home.” The VFF is a collaboration between Royal Star & Garter, Royal British Legion and the NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA – an NHS flagship Armed Forces programme), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Any care homes interested in receiving more information about the VFF can visit https://veteranfriendlyframework.org.uk, email VFF@starandgarter.org or call 07425 326070.
VE Day 80: Veterans recall the end of war in Europe
WWII veterans at Royal Star & Garter care homes have been remembering Victory in Europe (VE) Day, 80 years ago. They recalled celebrations and festivities which took place on 8 May 1945, following Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to Allied forces in WWII, and the end of fighting in Europe. Some also paid tribute to sacrifices made by those who served during the war, and reflected on the difficulties which continued after VE Day. Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe, and now in Worthing, having recently merged with the military charity Care for Veterans. The charity also has services reaching into the community, including Day Care, Lunch Club and a free-to-use Telephone Friendship Service. Those sharing memories of the momentous day live at Royal Star & Garter’s Homes, or use its other services. Among those remembering VE Day was Amy, who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year, and was in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during WWII. The veteran, who lives at the charity’s Surbiton Home, signed up as a 17-year-old in 1942, and was a barrage balloon operator, before becoming a plotter at a station near Hastings. She was there on D-Day in 1944, and again for VE Day the following year. She said: “I was stationed in Hastings and we went on a victory parade. I remember it distinctly, it was jolly good. But I thought about the people that had lost so much. I was there when we sent people across to Normandy [for the D-Day landings], so of course we thought about all the people who were no longer with us.” Bill had joined the RAF in 1943, aged just 15, and was serving at RAF Halton in May 1945. Now a resident at the charity’s Home in Solihull, he said: “It was fairly obvious we were getting close to it [Nazi surrender] the day before. That evening a group of WAAFs came up to our wing and there was dancing in the barracks’ square. That was highly unusual because the barracks’ square was holy ground that you didn’t go on, and we weren’t supposed to associate with women! The following morning they announced we had the day off and we could do what we like. Myself and a couple of friends went to Wycombe and we spent VE Day there. By the time my celebrations had ended the last bus had left for Halton, so I stayed the night, with a couple of RAF friends, at my mother’s, who lived nearby. The joyous nature of that day is hard to describe, it’s was an absolutely splendid occasion. But I was just a young lad, I didn’t dwell on what had been achieved or what had been lost. We had other thoughts.” It was also a special moment for Bill’s father, Jack. He had served in the trenches during WWI, and was injured in the Somme. During WWII he joined the Home Guard as soon as it was formed. Bill recalled: “He did more than his bit for his country over the two World Wars.” For Richard, who lives at the High Wycombe Home, the relief in the air was palpable. He was just 12 at the time, and went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career as a pilot in the RAF. He was in Hazelmere on VE Day, and said: “We were still at war with Japan, but as far as the war in Europe was concerned, it was exciting and interesting [that it was over]. There were a lot of street parties – they had long tables and lots of people on all of them. I can remember it quite clearly, it was a great time actually. There was a tremendous amount of relief that war had finished.” Margaret, from Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, was in Birmingham and aged 13. Now 93, she said: “It was fantastic. There were street parties everywhere. I remember all the tables in the streets. Wives and mums used to go around the street collecting coppers (loose change) towards the street parties. I remember my mum going round all the houses collecting money for the party. It was so exciting!” Other residents also remembered celebrations and festivities. Solihull resident Sue was at teacher training college in Cheltenham. Just 18 at the time, Sue said: “They put out bread and sandwich filling and we had the day off, everybody did what they wanted. We went into town, there was jollifications and flags were going up and church bells were ringing and there was more or less a street party. It was a gloriously sunny day in Cheltenham. Everybody was rejoicing.” Bob was nearly 10 and at school in Tolworth, south west London, on VE Day. Now a resident at the Surbiton Home, he said: “I was going to school and people were putting up flags. An old man said to me ‘it’s all finished now, you can have celebrations tomorrow’. They were putting up bunting, US flags and Union Jacks, all down the road. I put some flags around my aunt’s oak tree. I remember the VE Day parades, they were memories I will never forget. We had special lunches at school. We were allowed to dress up, there were parties in the playground. It was unforgettable.” For RAF veteran Michael, who also lives at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, VE Day not only brought peace in Europe, but his father back from war. Michael was aged seven at the time, and explained: “We were living near Bury St Edmunds and went there because there were parties going on all over the place. You could see these trails in the sky, all these planes buzzing about. Everyone seemed to be happy and everyone seemed to know everyone else. There was much shaking of hands and hugs and laughter and there seemed to be quite
Green Fingered Gardeners and Residents Excited For Summer
Following on from this month’s Community Garden Week, at Little Bramingham Farm, the Luton-based residential care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly, which is celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year, the care team has welcomed back its community partner, YAWN Life, a Community Interest Company (CIC) and the day service related to the YAWN charity, which was created specifically for sociable young at heart adults who have learning disabilities, these green fingered gardeners are looking forward to the summer. The YAWN Life Group have been visiting Little Bramingham Farm for nearly two years and visit the care home every Tuesday for three hours to help with the upkeep and maintenance of Little Bramingham Farm’s stunning gardens. “It’s wonderful to have the YAWN Life Team back for another year,” said Emma Lawrance, the Registered Manager at the Care Home. “Since the gardeners started their regular horticultural visits, the gardens have come on leaps and bounds and never looked better.” To start this year’s ‘blooming adventure,’ Karen Charity, Little Bramingham Farm’s Activities Coordinator, Emma and the YAWN Team visited a local store to pick out a selection of seeds for the gardens. “The YAWN Team and I went to The Range™ and purchased a wide variety of various seeds which they will be planting for us this spring. They included flowers and vegetables as our Chef, Jim Wright, loves to use the fresh produce that is grown in the vegetable patch in his delicious meals,” said Karen. “Our clients thoroughly enjoy their weekly visits to Little Bramingham Farm. It’s hard to say what the favourite gardening task is as they enjoy everything from planting, watering and weeding to caring for the colourful flower beds and vegetable patch. Each activity is undertaken with such care and diligence, it’s great to see,” added one of the YAWN charity Co-founders, Jeanette Tennyson. The weekly YAWN Team visits are a firm favourite on the care home’s vast Activities Calendar. “The residents look forward to the weekly gardeners visits and like to pop out to the garden for a chat with everyone,” continued Karen. “Chatting about their own past gardening experiences is a lovely reminiscing exercise and they like nothing more than sharing their own green fingered tips with the YAWN Team.” “The residents also offer up their own gardening advice as well,” added Emma. “It’s amazing how knowledgeable they are about plants, shrubs and flowers. Since the YAWN Team has been visiting Little Bramingham Farm, the gardens have undergone a terrific transformation, the YAWN Team even built a selection of six raised flower beds in the allotment vegetable patch section of the garden, they really do a great job each week. “We decided to keep Tuesdays as the YAWN Team day as this coincides with our Susie’s Tea Room being open which gives all the community a chance to interact and engage with the YAWN Team members, the residents and each other, it’s a real community day. During the warm spring and summer months, the residents love nothing more than sitting in the gardens, admiring the gorgeous flowers, having a natter and enjoying a tasty treat from Susie’s. The other day a resident said to me that spring is just the warm-up for the real party – summer and they are all keen for the warm weather and good garden days to arrive,” concluded Emma. http://www.yawnlife.co.uk/
Merriman Grange: Prioritising Resident Safety
Merriman Grange, a beautiful new care home from Cinnamon Care Collection, located in Worthing, West Sussex, is designed to provide a warm, comfortable, and safe environment for its residents. Offering exceptional care across three floors, including a dedicated dementia unit, the home prioritises the well-being of its vulnerable residents. Ensuring comprehensive fire safety in such a complex environment is paramount, requiring a tailored approach that balances robust protection with the specific needs of the residents. Care home fire safety is a multifaceted project. It demands a system that not only detects fires rapidly but also integrates seamlessly with other building systems, minimises disruption during installation, and provides reliable, user-friendly ongoing maintenance. For Merriman Grange, Southern Fire Alarms was entrusted with the crucial task of designing and installing a state-of-the-art fire safety system. As a new build project, Southern Fire Alarms had the opportunity to implement a comprehensive solution from the ground up. They chose Hochiki as their primary life safety manufacturer, citing their ESP range’s reputation for ease of installation and excellent compatibility with other building management systems. This integration was crucial for Merriman Grange, allowing for a streamlined and efficient operation of all building services. The system installed was a full L1 category fire alarm system, providing complete smoke and fire detection coverage across all three floors of the building. This comprehensive approach ensures that every area, from communal spaces to individual rooms, is protected. The presence of a dementia unit presented a unique challenge, requiring a system that would not cause undue stress or panic among residents. Hochiki devices were selected specifically for their flexibility in terms of alarm volumes and tones, minimising potential distress for these particularly vulnerable individuals. The ease of use for staff was another key consideration. Hochiki devices are designed to be intuitive, simplifying routine testing by maintenance teams. This user-friendliness ensures that staff can respond effectively to any fire safety event, providing peace of mind for both residents and their families. “When it comes to reliability and ease of installation, Hochiki is our go-to manufacturer,” said Naomi Fell of Southern Fire Alarms. “Their ESP range of addressable products are consistently high-quality, and their integration capabilities are second to none. For a complex project like Merriman Grange, where we needed a robust and dependable system that also considered the specific needs of dementia residents, Hochiki was the perfect choice. Their devices are designed to minimise false alarms and provide clear, reliable warnings, which is crucial in a care home environment. We know that with Hochiki, we’re providing our clients with the best possible protection.” The successful installation of the Hochiki fire safety system at Merriman Grange underscores the importance of a well-planned and expertly executed fire safety strategy. By partnering with Southern Fire Alarms and utilising Hochiki’s advanced technology, Cinnamon Care Collection has created a safe and secure environment for its residents, ensuring their comfort and well-being for years to come. Tel: +44 (0) 1634 266568; E: padams@hochikieurope.com
Cosmetics influencer role after viral TikTok
A 103-year-old resident with an infectious charm and timeless beauty routine has taken TikTok by storm at HC-One’s Millcroft Care Home in Redditch, Worcestershire. A heartwarming video featuring Joan Partridge applying her signature rouge blusher has gained over 180,000 views, earning her widespread adoration and an exciting new role as an influencer for Collection Cosmetics. Joan, known for her radiant smile and upbeat personality, is a beloved resident at HC-One’s Millcroft Care Home. Joan embraces an active social life and eagerly participates in community activities. Her confidence and social flair shine through in everything she does, making her TikTok moment a perfect reflection of her lively spirit. The viral video, filmed by Lifestyle Manager, Sophie Childs, captured Joan sharing her decades-long ritual of applying rouge – a routine she has cherished since forever. The idea for the video sparked during a casual chat between Joan and Sophie about make-up. When Joan mentioned her love for rouge, Sophie suggested creating a TikTok to showcase her expertise, inspired by the platform’s popular make-up tutorials. Joan enthusiastically agreed, and the result was a charming clip that resonated with viewers worldwide. Overwhelmed by the flood of positive comments, she couldn’t believe how many people connected with her story. The video’s success caught the attention of Collection Cosmetics, who reached out via a comment on Millcroft’s TikTok page, saying, “’Hey, we love the recent video of the gorgeous Joan using our blush. We would love to send her some products to try!” A direct message followed, proposing an influencer partnership. Joan, thrilled by the opportunity, is eager to dive into her new role as a brand influencer. As an influencer, Joan plans to create more videos showcasing her full make-up routine, using her trusty sponge and the new products from Collection Cosmetics. Joan Partridge, HC-One’s Millcroft resident, stated: “I know I’m 103, but I still like my make-up. I do it every morning. I didn’t think I would have gained so much attention. I was shocked and overwhelmed. “It was lovely to share my way of applying rouge because I’ve done this for many years. I’m excited to see the collection of make-up. I can’t wait to get some more make-up and show everyone my whole routine. “Beauty to me means natural all over. It’s nice to feel good about yourself, no matter how old you are – you can’t go without your rouge.” A spokesperson for Collection Cosmetics said: “We love seeing Joan share her make-up tips with such confidence and authenticity. Her approach to blush makes her the perfect example of a real-life beauty ambassador, celebrating individuality, self-expression, and the belief that beauty knows no boundaries. We can’t wait to see more from Joan and hope the younger generations feel inspired by her effortless style.” For more information about Millcroft Care Home and upcoming events, please contact the friendly team on 01527 433 384, or email millcroft@hc-one.co.uk. Millcroft is a residential and residential dementia care home located on Alfrick Close in Redditch and rated 10/10 on the care home review site, Carehome.co.uk. With 66 en-suite bedrooms and attractive décor, Millcroft is proud to offer person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.
