Concentrates vs Ready To Use – World Refill Day
June the 16th represented World Refill Day, we at Alliance Online look at one way care homes can also get behind the initiative of opting to refill opposed to dispose of and buy new. The day itself has been created to try and reduce plastic waste generated by discarding bottles or containers needlessly when refilling is an option. So, how can care and nursing homes embrace World Refill Day? The easiest way is to take stock of your cleaning chemical supply and review what ready to use options you have and if there are concentrate options available. The purpose is to check if any of your ready to use sprays can be replaced by buying in bulk as there are many benefits for both the environment and your business when using concentrates over ready to use. Price Understandably, the initial cost for 5L of concentrate compared with 5L of ready to use formula is far cheaper in favour for the latter. However, as concentrates are diluted to their recommended percentages, the solutions created cost less than standard ready to use options. Ready to use options also incur higher manufacturers costs due to additional packaging, meaning again in the long-term concentrates represent the economical form of cleaning in terms of cost per use. Ease of Use Naturally, ready to use cleaners are often an easier to use option. Obviously, this is because ready to use solutions live up to their name of being able to use immediately without the need to dilute. Equally, most ready to use options also benefit from being packaged in a bottle which either possesses a spray dispenser or a flip top cap. Concentrates on the other hand require proper dosing and the correct amount of water being added before it can be used. However, for large scale cleaning such as mopping large areas, concentrates are easier as they only need to handle a small amount of chemical cleaner before topping up your bucket with water. Environmental Impact As a general rule, it can be agreed that the more concentrated a product is, the less packaging and energy it requires. A concentrated cleaning product represents a smaller carbon footprint compared with ready to use as it lasts much longer meaning it is shipped less frequently. There is one caveat with concentrates and their environmental impact, they need to be properly diluted to prevent potential damage to local ecosystems and drain integrities. Best Concentrates for Care Homes Below are a few of the best concentrates care homes can use to ensure they are getting the best deal economically: At Alliance Online we aim to provide all customers with options that suit their business needs. For businesses with many surfaces or floor areas to clean we would always recommend utilising concentrates. Over the course of the product life cycle concentrates are much more economically beneficial for businesses compared with ready to use options. They also generate less waste and when dosed correctly go much further. Contact us today for assistance in implementing a concentrate cleaning system.
Log my Care’s new research reveals the sentiment in the social care sector and technology’s place in its future
Log my Care has revealed the results of new research – The future of care: an analysis of job satisfaction and technology in social care. Prompted by the reports of a sector in crisis, Log my Care disseminated a survey to better understand the sentiment of the social care workforce, if an exodus of care workers leaving the sector is on the horizon and how technology can support them to stay. The survey identified a workforce that was predominantly happy in their role. Reflecting these high levels of happiness in their jobs, only a small minority of respondents said they wanted to leave the care sector: Findings from the survey also revealed a workforce that is drawn to the sector for altruistic reasons: However, the stressors of the pandemic have exacerbated some of the unpleasant factors associated with working in social care: When asked how digital they felt their workplace was already: There’s a positive sentiment towards the digitalisation of social care: Sam Hussain, Founder and CEO of Log my Care, comments, “The reports of the care sector in crisis are at odds with the incredible dedication and optimism voiced by many of our customers in our daily conversations. We wanted to dig a little deeper with this research — to understand the sentiment in the sector, why so many people were leaving it and what place technology has in supporting them to stay. Although we were surveying an industry clearly in crisis, the passion and commitment of the people working in it is a light in the dark. We know it’s time for a change – with low pay, long hours and a lack of employee development coming up time and time again as the reasons our care staff are leaving. Technology can play a vital role in this change and by encouraging even the smallest care provider to go digital, we can begin to combat some of the problems highlighted by this survey.” Read Log my Care’s full report here !
The Care & Occupational Therapy Show 2022
June 21st, 2022 will see the launch of a brand new show. A show that is set to take the care sector by storm. Inspired Motive acquired the ‘South West Care Show’ during the pandemic and have rebranded the show to make it more encompassing, ‘The Care & Occupational Therapy Show’ has been born. With over 30 years of experience in the event industry, Inspired Motive will be hosting The Care & Occupational Therapy Show at Westpoint, Exeter. The visitors will include buyers from Care Homes, Domiciliary care companies, Care Groups, NHS, Trusts, Individual Carers, and Individual Practitioners also. Attracting 3000+ visitors, it will truly be a festival of business for the care community. Their goal is to enable companies across the UK to exhibit innovative products that will aid care sector professionals to enhance their brand/services, with 175+ Exhibitors, 30+ Industry Leading Speakers and a Live Demo Area, the show is perfectly positioned to put you on the road to success. The show have confirmed some very impressive keynote speakers from the likes of Care England, Digital Social Care, and Care Quality Commission with more. They already have some great exhibitors at the show, from the likes of – Albert Goodman, Motor Tech, Appetito, Nourish, Oysta Technology and Reval Continuing Care. All of the show’s seminars are CPD accredited so you can also earn your CPD points whilst attending the show. Driven By Health will be moderating a great panel discussion at the show. The panel discussion will be surrounding digital transformation within the care sector. They have gathered some great panellists to take part in the discussions. They have Katie Thorn Digital Social Care, Jonathan Papworth from Person Centred Software, Nuno Almeida from Nourish and Sajit Razman from Everylife that will all be discussing the topic on the day. All tickets for the show are free and available now. You can book your tickets here. If you are interested in exhibiting your own products/services at the show, please contact Luke Outram on 02045 178 888 or email – luke@inspiredmotive.co.uk. Care & Nursing Essentials are official show media partners and we very much look forward to seeing you all there.
Social care providers urged to check data protection by 30 June 2022
Sheffield care home director recognised by Buckingham Palace
Nicola Richards, Director of Palms Row Health Care in Sheffield, was invited by Her Majesty The Queen to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace this week in recognition of her dedication to the social care sector. Whilst at the Palace, Nicola also took the opportunity to deliver a card for the Queen from Northfield Nursing Home congratulating Her Majesty on her 70 year reign. The Platinum Jubilee card was hand made by 90 year old Northfield resident, Jean Horton. This invitation is the second time that the Palms Row team has been recognised by the Royal Family. In 2020 a photograph taken at a Palms Row care home was one of those that inspired the Duchess of Cambridge to launch a new exhibition to capture the ‘resilience, bravery and kindness’ of the nation during the coronavirus pandemic. Nicola, who runs Northfield Nursing Home and Westbourne House in the city, became a leading voice of the care sector as Covid-19 tightened its grip, highlighting issues ranging from access to PPE and tests, lack of support from government, the mental wellbeing of care home staff and residents and long-term funding for care homes. Nicola’s tenacity ensured the government could not continue to ignore the challenges facing the sector and as a result of her work, she was appointed to the Board of the National Care Association. Nicola commented: “It’s not every day that an invitation from Buckingham Palace lands on your doormat. It was a huge honour to attend The Queen’s garden party yesterday and I am delighted that the work we do at Palms Row is being recognised in this way. The past two years have been extremely challenging with carers often left feeling overlooked and demoralised. I will continue to speak up for the sector and its legion of dedicated employees, who are essential to the lives of millions of vulnerable people around the UK.” Nicola’s experiences during the pandemic prompted her to found Support Social Care Heroes, an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care. She is a leading champion of care workers in the North of England.
New initiative launched to boost care worker wellbeing
Social care heroes across Yorkshire will have a simple way to keep healthy thanks to a pilot project launching today (Weds 18 May 2022). Homes that are signed up to the Support Social Care Heroes pilot programme will be receiving fruit baskets to help care workers make better snack choices. “Wellbeing Wednesday” fruit baskets are the first phase in a new Health For Heroes scheme which, later this summer, will expand to include a series of short films where care workers are encouraged to complete simple fitness and nutrition challenges to help them live a healthier lifestyle. The clips will feature easy-to-follow recipes and workouts suitable for all fitness levels, as well as tips on how to fit in exercise and healthy eating when working long shifts. The Health for Heroes programme has been launched by Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care. Nicola Richards, Founder of Support Social Care Heroes, said: “Carers perform a vital role and work long hours often with little recognition from wider society. Their dedication and compassion makes a huge difference to the lives of millions of older people around the country. “The past two years in particular have placed a huge physical and emotional strain on care workers, but self care often comes low down the priority list. We want to change that by helping carers to make small changes which will boost their overall wellbeing. We urge care home managers to get involved in the Health for Heroes Challenge and help their team to become healthier, happier and less stressed.” For more information, to access the films visit: www.ssch.info or follow “Support Social Care Heroes” on social media.
Brunelcare Launch New Dementia Coaching Initiative
Brunelcare, a Bristol-based charity providing housing and care for over 80-years, has announced the launch of its new Dementia Coaching Initiative, where colleagues at the charity can become certified Dementia Care Coaches. Colleagues at Brunelcare have been taking part in an exciting learning and development initiative designed to enable people working in care settings to deliver the best possible, personalised outcomes for people living with dementia. Significantly improving quality of life, opportunities and engagement, the FITS, (Focussed Intervention Training and Support) into Practice Programme was developed by the Association for Dementia Studies at Worcester University following extensive research. Stuart Wright, Dementia Care Lead at Brunelcare, has delivered the programme to colleagues and supported them through the pilot FITS programme. Nine colleagues took part in the programme, where over nine months, the participants completed ten successful training days. Stuart has worked at Brunelcare for nearly 20 years and specialises in Dementia Care. He has developed and implemented the Human Rights Framework and Standard for people living with dementia, and turned his passion into his career. He now works full time at Brunelcare delivering state-of-the-art Dementia Coaching Sessions to Brunelcare colleagues and external audiences and supporting the various teams across Brunelcare. FITS Participants said: “The FITS training has been very in depth, fun, interactive, emotional and very rewarding. Having nearly completed the FITS training, I now feel more confident to cascade the knowledge I have gained to my colleagues and promote a better understanding of dementia care.” Stuart Wright, Dementia Care Lead at Brunelcare, said: “There is a growing body of evidence that shows people working in care learn best from each other, rather than purely from classroom-based education. The role of the Dementia Coach is to deliver “on the job” learning and development that immediately has an impact on the quality of care and life for residents. This way of working also raises the skill, competence and confidence of those providing care and support.” About the FITS Programme FITS uses evidence-based resources to support practice in a very hands-on way. The FITS into Practice programme is taught by Dementia Practice Development Coaches (DPDC), who have completed the masters level academic module at the Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester. FITS into practice is an evidence-based training and support programme developed and evaluated in successive UK-wide research projects and is shown to provide positive outcomes for colleagues, residents and care homes. To learn more about the work of Brunelcare, visit: www.brunelcare.org.uk
Fears for wound care patients after COVID pandemic
Around 28% of patients are managing their own wounds due to the pandemic, according to a new report.[ii] One in fifty people in Britain – around 3.8 million – currently rely on wound care services, but variation in standards means patients are having mixed experiences of care across the country. The new report, published today, has been jointly produced by The Patients Association and Mölnlycke; it calls for action to ensure people living with a chronic wound are not forgotten by healthcare leaders in the service recovery, and that both patients and nurses are involved in discussions about wound care service redesign post-pandemic. The report highlights the impact that chronic wounds can have on patients, both physically and mentally. It also reveals how many patients were forced to manage their own wounds throughout the pandemic, finding that while some had a level of confidence in doing this, a large proportion (30%) did not.[iii] Commenting on the report, Rachel Power, Chief Executive of The Patients Association said: “This report shows the impact the pandemic is having on patients who live with a chronic wound and need wound care services to stay well and active. In England, many of these patients have had to manage their own care or access support remotely. The report makes it clear that many found managing on their own hard. “The brighter news is that some patients found they liked being in control of their own wound care, while still having the remote support of nurses. The report shows how important it is for healthcare professionals to work in partnership with patients to understand their needs. Practising patient partnership and shared decision making are the way to make wound care work for the 3.8 million people living with a chronic wound.” The majority (88%) of nurses fear that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on wound care services as they struggle to cope with the pressures of the pandemic, such as staff being redeployed to other services. Eight out of ten nurses also expressed concern about the delays to seeing patients that COVID-19 has caused, which they worry are affecting patient outcomes.[iv]Sarah Gardner, Independent Tissue Viability Consultant, WoundMatters Ltd and Trustee of the Society of Tissue Viability: “As we recover from the pandemic and consider how wound care services should be designed, we shouldn’t just assume that changes made in the middle of a crisis will remain suitable at all other times. Instead, we should take time to reflect on what worked well and not so well, have a conversation around what patients actually need, and then redesign services that are based on innovation, collaboration and patient partnership.” The report calls for action to drive change in a way that works best for patients and staff, by listening to their experiences of the pandemic to bring positive innovation to wound care services. Oliver Law, Business Director, Wound Care and UK&I General Manager at Mölnlycke said: “Going back to business as usual is just not an option – wound care services were under strain before the pandemic hit. It is vital that as services rebuild in the wake of the pandemic that the voice of both patients and HCPs is heard – and Mölnlycke are committed to supporting this every step of the way.” The report is the first part of a Mölnlycke project aimed at improving the provision of wound care services for both patients and those delivering care.
FRIENDS OF THE ELDERLY ENCOURAGING TEAMS TO ‘UNMIND’ Charity Boosts Its Commitment To Staff Wellbeing
Friends of the Elderly, the charity which runs care homes, day care services and a grant giving service for older people living on low incomes, has continued to build on its commitment to its teams by expanding upon its Wellbeing Pledge and introducing a new online workplace mental health platform. Through engaging with the Unmind platform, the charity is empowering all its employees to proactively measure, understand and improve their mental wellbeing and see, first hand, how it can, and will, change over time. The outcomes and results of the collected – anonymous – data will help the management team to make more informed decisions about wellbeing of the charity’s workforce. The team at Unmind collaborates with clinicians, authors and academics to provide interactive digital tools that encourage and promote all aspects of mental wellbeing. From sleep to calmness, fulfilment to happiness, the platform can be accessed and used from any device – a computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone – at any time the member of staff needs it. Commenting on the Unmind platform, Friends of the Elderly’s Head of Human Resources, Mathew Yates said: “The wellbeing of our teams is our top priority. Respecting everyone’s individual needs albeit physical, emotional, mental or occupational is essential to us. Working in the care sector and caring for others is so important as well as rewarding; however, it can also be very challenging and put a strain on a person’s mental health and wellbeing. At Friends of the Elderly we recognise this important issue and have made it our priority to ensure that our teams’ mental and physical wellbeing, health and welfare are looked after. “By using the Unmind platform, our teams can easily access a wide range of proactive mental health and wellbeing exercises, courses and tools to help and support their own, specific needs. “This could be mindfulness meditations and breathing exercises, sleep melodies, storytelling, yoga or healthy recipes. Being able to do this wherever they are, at whatever time of the day or night helps an individual to relax, focus, unwind and recharge.” Back in 2020, the charity hosted a series of employee workshops to discover and put into action, how it could deliver better support and improve wellbeing in the workplace for each team member. The feedback from the workshops led to the creation of the Friends of the Elderly’s Wellbeing Pledge, which outlines the charity’s ethos, values, future and ongoing plans to ensure its teams’ workplace wellbeing. Using and maximising the new Unmind platform is an additional element to the Pledge and continues to reaffirm the charity’s commitment to everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing. Rachel North, the charity’s Learning and Development Advisor added: “Unmind is an extremely useful, easy to use tool. Another feature we have utilised is the ability for the charity to add bespoke signposting information to our internal support systems such as our Employee Assistance Programme, the HR Team, Learning & Development Team support and to the financial support that we offer our staff. “Apart from our bespoke signposting function, we have extended the rest of the Unmind platform to family members of our teams. This has been very well received – and used. For example, my Mum uses it on a daily basis and thoroughly loves it. Another unique feature is the ability to send praise to your colleagues, to say thank you and show how they have inspired you. I’ve definitely found this a lovely tool to use.” Mathew concluded: “Our Wellbeing Pledge was the first step in our wellbeing journey as an organisation and adding Unmind is another valuable component in our ongoing commitments to our valued teams.”
