Why high-quality hand sanitisers are essential
By Sam Greaves, MD and fourth generation owner of The Cleenol Group, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial cleaning and hygiene products Sales of hand sanitiser soared by 255% in February 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. With recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) to: “Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water”, the global hand sanitiser market has grown exponentially from $1.53 billion in 2019 to an expected $3.04 billion in 2020. Producers responded quickly by increasing production – here at Cleenol, we managed to increase production by a massive 40%. Despite these efforts, there were points during the first year of the pandemic when buying hand sanitiser was as challenging as finding toilet roll. To help the industry plug the gap in supply, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) started to fast-track applications to produce denatured alcohol, a key ingredient in hand sanitiser, to allow for an influx of new manufacturers. The UK Government’s Health and safety Executive (HSE) has recently revised this flexibility in a recent bulletin. “In response to the pandemic, HSE took steps to assist industry’s efforts to increase the availability of hand sanitisers to help reduce the spread/transmission of COVID-19. One of these steps was establishing special arrangements to issue critical situation permits that enable short-term derogations from the normal Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) requirements for product authorisation. As these short-term permits begin to approach their expiry dates, HSE has gathered information from a range of stakeholders about the current availability of hand sanitisers on the UK market. The outcome suggests that, whilst there is an ongoing need for hand sanitiser products, current demand can be met by products supplied under the normal arrangements in BPR. This means that the special arrangements for supplying hand sanitiser products, put in place at the beginning of the pandemic, will be discontinued. The assessment of any ongoing applications made under the current arrangements will be completed. Any hand sanitiser products that have already been granted a permit can continue to be supplied and used until the permit expires”. Quality-assured hand sanitisers increase trust to your business Cleanliness and hygiene have always been an important part of hospitality and care service delivery, but the last two years raised the awareness to new levels. Enter hand sanitisers. One thing has been abundantly clear – not all hand sanitisers are created equally. The Importance of a High-Quality Hand Sanitiser Recalls and authority alerts for hand sanitisers containing methanol, rather than ethanol became almost common place. So, what do you need to look for in a high-quality hand sanitiser? There are two major considerations here: efficacy of the product and making the experience pleasant for the user. Product Efficacy Alcohol content: The WHO and America’s CDC recommend hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content. Many quality manufacturers contain 70%, Cleenol’s included, which kills all enveloped viruses within 60 seconds. Quality testing To be sure that the hand sanitiser you are buying is fit for purpose, you can check that it has been tested against European Standards (EN). The relevant standards are: BS EN 1500 for Hygienic Hand rubs, BS EN 1276 for killing 99.999% of bacteria and BS EN 14476 for killing 99.99% of enveloped viruses (coronaviruses are an example of enveloped viruses). Beyond the effectiveness of the hand sanitiser, the customer experience should be considered. The Product Experience in your hand Viscosity Some hand sanitisers can be very runny and if you are dispensing in a public place, can easily run off the hands onto the floor creating a slip hazard, or run down your sleeve. Either way, the experience is less satisfying for consumers and so may be avoided, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. After effects Some hand sanitisers leave your hands feeling sticky, a sensation most people dislike. Again, if consumers don’t like how it feels, they’re less likely to continue to use the hand sanitiser, increasing your risk. Consider a hand sanitiser that includes a moisturising agent, such as Cleenol’s Medisan 70% Alcohol Hand Sanitiser which contains glycerine. Smell If you’re serving food, this will be of particular concern, as smell directly contributes to taste. If you provide a hand sanitiser that has a strong chemical smell that lingers, it can be unpleasant and alter the dining experience. Ultimately, you want to find a highly effective hand sanitiser to protect your business, staff and patrons whilst improving the customer experience, to benefit from customer trust, ongoing loyalty and repeat business. Different hand sanitisers on the market: alcohol-free hand sanitisers vs. 70% alcohol hand sanitisers News reports had put in doubt the efficacy of alcohol-free hand sanitisers. However Cleenol, with decades of experience in the cleaning industry, recognises that both alcohol-based and alcohol-free hand sanitisers have their place, with advantages and disadvantages to both. Cleenol originally started developing alcohol-free hand sanitiser to satisfy a rapidly growing customer base in the Middle East, where the use of alcohol-based products is not permitted for those observing the Islam faith. Cleenol’s alcohol-free hand sanitiser is certified as Halal by the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC). Demand for alcohol-free hand sanitisers also grew in hospitals, care homes, prisons and schools with young children or students with special educational needs and disabilities. Alcohol-free hand sanitiser is more suitable for dry skin, and the risk of accidental ingestion of harmful quantities is low due to the relatively low toxicity of the active substances. Active ingredients could include Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) or Benzalkonium chloride (BKC), which are both members of the quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) family of disinfectants. You would have to ingest a large amount of these before any ill effects were felt. Additionally, alcohol-free sanitiser can provide long-lasting protection from bacteria and viruses. As it dries, it leaves a protective layer on your skin which acts as a shield, protecting you for up to four hours. What we do know in our post COVID world, is that hand
Surrey Care Home’s Time Capsule Will Give A Living History To Future Generations
At Redcot, Friends of the Elderly’s residential care home in Haslemere, Surrey, the residents have been marking not only the charity’s Royal Patron, Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but also commemorating the last few unprecedented years by burying their very own time capsule for future generations to discover. Residents decided to fill and bury their time capsule, which is made of galvanised metal and measures 30 cm in length, as they all felt that due to the COVID pandemic and resulting restrictions, they saw so much change over the last two years in their everyday lives, that memories of this unmatched time needed to be commemorated and remembered. Coupled with The Queen’s Jubilee, everyone agreed it was the perfect time to leave their own perspective, on not only the world today, but what life was like at Redcot during the pandemic. Commenting on the time capsule, Redcot’s Activities Co-ordinator, Amanda Snelgrove said: “I was chatting to our residents about our Jubilee celebrations and our conversation turned to reminiscing about how much they enjoyed the festivities, past royal celebrations and how life had changed so much for them over the last few years. We chatted further and the residents decided that they would like to a leave a lasting record of their thoughts, memorabilia, keepsakes and recollections of how things have changed for them during, and following, the COVID pandemic. “I’d read about the oldest known time capsule – The Samuel Adams and Paul Revere Time Capsule – that can be found in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House. Supposedly, this time capsule was buried in 1795, which makes it the oldest known time capsule in the United States and possibly the world. Buried by former Governor Samuel Adams – who was one of the founding fathers of the United States – and Paul Revere, I suggested The residents thoughtfully chose what they wanted to go into their time capsule. Everyone was keen to pass on their experiences and stories to the people in the future so they would know, first hand, what went on at Redcot and what life was like over the last two years which, in their words, “have been like no other.” Practical items such as facemasks, a lateral flow test, a plastic apron and blue COVID protection rubber gloves were included. “The gloves and lateral flow test symbolise two of the many safety measures of our residents’ lives at Redcot during the pandemic. Our Manager’s old iPhone also made the cut as mobiles became so much more important to our residents as they were one of the communication methods we used to keep everyone in regular contact with their families and loved ones,” added Amanda. Bunting from Redcot’s Jubilee party, a series of stories and quotes from residents, a selection of the care home’s weekly activity posters and monthly newsletters were also included, along with a special current affairs piece especially written by one of the residents, Juliet Fuirer. The piece not only covered life at Redcot and the COVID pandemic, but also what was – and still is – happening throughout the world. For example, the Ukraine crisis, the political landscape both in the UK and overseas and the cost of living. The resident writer wanted to give the future capsule finder a clear idea of 2020 to now, as well as who was at Redcot, the residents and care team and what they were doing on a daily basis. “The Redcot Time Capsule is now safely buried in our beautiful grounds, waiting patiently for the future to roll around and to be found. All our residents thoroughly enjoyed creating and filling the time capsule and it’s great to know that what they so carefully put together will hopefully be found in years to come and give insight not only to the COVID pandemic years, but also to how they spent their days at Redcot, which is truly their home,” concluded Amanda.
Dimensions announces five point plan for social care work force
Dimensions, the UK’s largest not-for-profit support provider for working-age adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, has announced a new workforce manifesto to call on government to alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis in adult social care. The manifesto details the five key points that the Government must implement urgently to help resolve the crisis that currently places an unbearable burden on both the health and social care sectors. In the first three months of 2022, 170,000 hours of home care per week could not be delivered due to staff shortages, a sevenfold increase on the same period last year. New workforce manifesto includes benchmarking minimum support worker pay at NHS Band 3 Sector-wide staffing crisis has left more than half a million people awaiting adult social care assessment At the same time, demand for services is increasing unabated. More than half a million people are now waiting for an adult social care assessment, while the social care sector faces having to employ double its current share of the working-age population to fulfil demand by 2033. Without urgent action, the staffing situation is only going to get worse, with devastating consequences for those who rely on support. Dimensions therefore calls on the Government to: Benchmarking pay at NHS Band 3 means paying support workers a minimum of £10.40 per hour with higher rates paid according to the complexity of a person’s individual support needs. This will ensure not only that support workers earn a wage commensurate with their skills and responsibilities, but also that they receive parity of esteem and pay with their NHS counterparts. Establishing a Care & Support Work Skills Framework, as envisaged in existing plans and perhaps administered by Skills for Care, will underline the skilled nature of support work and lessen the need for retraining when a support worker is TUPE transferred to another one of the 23,000 social care providers in the country. It will also facilitate proper leadership training which, alongside pay in proportion to responsibility, will provide the sector with the strong local leadership that is critical for providing good support. Preparing people for work applies to the quarter of working-age adults in the UK who are not currently in work. Through apprenticeships, work readiness programmes, and supporting more people with disabilities into employment – 21% of all working age adults are now classed as disabled – the sector can recruit from a new potential workforce more effectively than any Government-led recruitment advertising campaign. Achieving truly integrated health and care will result in a national workforce of highly trained colleagues who can support people with complex health needs out of hospitality more quickly. This will lead to less bed-blocking, fewer cases of burnout among staff, and better person-centred support for those who need it. An annual workforce plan for adult social care will help ensure that the condition of the health and social care workforce remains sustainable for the long term. Having committed to overhauling workforce funding and training as per the previous four points, the Government must embrace formal workforce planning as a constructive tool to sustain this progress. Dimensions’ workforce manifesto comes as the recruitment and retention crisis continues to place an unbearable burden on adult social care. Latest figures from Skills for Care indicate that the sector has 105,000 vacancies, with an average vacancy rate of 6.8% across England, although in some regions it is as high as 8.9%. In addition, the average turnover rate is 28.5%, with 410,000 people leaving adult social care roles in the last year. Dimensions’ proposals are therefore designed to support the sector in retaining high-quality staff as well as recruiting them in the first place. Dimensions workforce manifesto is available in full here. Rachael Dodgson, Chief Executive of Dimensions, said: “Every day thousands of support workers help people to gain choice, control, and agency over their life. They undertake complex delegated nursing tasks, tackle the causes of distressed behaviour, and support employment. They are skilled, professional workers. “Yet many of them are going to leave the sector, not because they don’t love their job but because they have their own families to think about. Few people are in a position to stay in one job when there are better paid alternatives available. As a result, organisations across adult social care are struggling to recruit and retain high-quality staff. “We hope that this five-point plan provides the Government with a simple blueprint for resolving the staffing crisis and delivering measurable, accountable improvements in the quality and quantity of adult social care in this country. This is a goal towards which every provider strives, and we have collectively urged the Government for some time to do more to meet this aim. For the sake of those who rely on the sector, we simply cannot delay any longer.”
National care hero award for Sheffield carer.
Anita Schole, a Carer at Rosebank Care Home in Sheffield, has won a national social care hero award in recognition of their hard work. The award has been made this week by Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care. SSCH launched the monthly award programme this year to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 1.54m people working in social care in the UK. Anita, who was nominated for June 2022, is the 6th award winner. Anita was nominated by her colleagues, who said: “She’s a real asset and a team player, always willing to learn new things, she’s kind, caring and responsive to the resident’s needs, well done Anita, well deserved.” On hearing they had won the award Anita said: “It’s lovely to be recognised by both Rosebank and SSCH, thank you so much!” Anita will receive a £50 voucher for the grocery store of their choice, a box of chocolates, certificate, a SSCH hoody and Rosebank Care Home will receive a bunch of flowers. The prizes have been sponsored by VAT Solutions. The social care workforce is often overlooked yet they keep the most vulnerable people in our society safe and well. It is hoped that SSCH will receive significant support following research which found that the overwhelming majority of the public feel that social care staff are undervalued (81%) and underpaid (80%). The monthly care hero awards have been created to show that care workers are appreciated. Nicola Richards, Founder of Support Social Care Heroes, explained the thinking behind the idea: “Social care staff often do not get the recognition that they deserve despite being valued by their managers and employers. “Many care homes already have ‘employee of the month’ schemes and we really felt we should do something to bring all these nominations together from around the country to celebrate all our social care heroes and the amazing work they do. “The pandemic has brought social care colleagues across the country together as we have supported each other like never before. I hope these awards will provide a positive boost to carers, managers and the wider care home teams. “These awards are the first step in our long-term plans to ensure those who need care, and those caring for them, are valued by all in society. “Our country’s social care heroes have been on the front line and in the headlines for almost two years and this new initiative will help show them that they are valued and recognise the work they do.” Social care employers are encouraged to nominate their staff for a care home hero award (employee of the month). Taking part has been made simple and easy: post a photo of your employee of the month and which care home you represent, to social media, with the hashtag #SocialCareHeroAwards and tag Support Social Care Heroes page. Tell us in 160 characters why the person is a social care hero. All nominations will be curated by the Support Social Care Heroes team and on the last Monday of each month a winner will be chosen at random. Anyone who wishes to donate to Support Social Care Heroes can do so by visiting: www.ssch.info.
98 Years Young
Friends of the Elderly’s Care Home Resident Celebrates Her 98th Birthday – Saying Cake, Swimming and Family are Her Secret to a Long and Happy Life At Orford House, the Coulsdon-based care home run by charity Friends of the Elderly, the team has been celebrating resident Dora Jefferies’ 98th Birthday with an afternoon tea party in the home’s glorious gardens, complete with a delicious birthday cake. Alongside the care home celebrations, Dora also enjoyed her special day with her daughter, Tracy and three sons, Michael, Simon and Clinton. Dora, who has been a resident at Orford House for nearly two years, grew up in Lincoln. Born in 1924, the same year as the first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, it’s no surprise that at school, Dora’s favourite class was Physical Education. “I was particularly fond of the gym lessons and playing hockey, as I liked running about. When I left school, I would have loved to have been a Gym Mistress; instead I went to work in the Accounts Department at the railway – my Father was a Signal Man there,” said Dora. As a teenager during World War II, Dora was lucky not to see any fighting, but added: “During the war, I loved going to the dances with the Airmen who were stationed near Lincoln. I knew a few of them as I volunteered at the NAAFI and remember serving them beans on toast.” Dora’s energy never left her as she met her husband, Jeff, at Lincoln Swimming Baths. Dora’s Daughter, Tracy recalls: “Mum loved swimming and swimming the sea, even if it was freezing. She’d be in there, floating about on the back with her bright orange swim cap on bobbing around in the waves.” Dora married Jeff – a Chemical Engineer – in 1947 at St. Martin’s Church in Lincoln and they honeymooned in London. She is a proud Mother to five children Clinton, Anna, Michael, Tracy and Simon and now a devoted Grandmother to 14 Grandchildren, Tim, Louise, Andrew, Ivan, Victor, Naomi, Stevie, Jack, James, Dominic, Petula, Conrad, Jordan and Eric. The charity’s Regional Director, Cheryl Rothschild who oversees Orford House said: “Dora is always busy and gets involved in many of the daily activities at Orford House,” with Dora adding: “Singing is my favourite.” Talking about her Mum, Tracy continued: “I have so many great memories of Mum, she’s not only our Matriarch, but also our rock. We’ve always been a close family and Mum has always been very nurturing and involved with us all and with all her Grandchildren. She is always good fun and happy to get involved in whatever is going on, we really have laughed a lot over the years. “Another memory that sticks out is Mum learning to drive – it was so entertaining. Back when it was, I suppose, allowed, all us children would be sat in the back of the car with Mum and her Instructor in the front. Unfortunately, Mum never quite mastered driving and finally decided that she’d rather be a passenger. “Mum’s always been a very busy and practical person. I vividly remember her high up on scaffolding painting the windows at our three storey Victorian terraced house. Also, coming home from school on Tuesdays – Mum’s baking day – to the delicious smells of homemade cakes and biscuits. We always went blackberry picking in the autumn and Mum would make jam and lots of apple and blackberry crumbles – she’s always loved a pudding.” Cheryl added: “It is a pleasure to have Dora with us. She’s a fantastic lady who always has a smile for everyone. She’s a well-loved and well-liked member of the Orford House family and is a joy to be around. We’re so glad she had a great day – a great day for a great lady.” “I’ve had a wonderful 98th Birthday with my family and care home friends. I so enjoyed my birthday cake – and I do love cakes. I think that cake, family and of course my years of swimming, really are my secrets to a long and happy life,” Dora concluded.
10 reasons to go digital with electronic care planning and medication (eMAR) systems
Time More time to care Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more. There are so many time-consuming tasks such as writing care notes, completing paper assessments, filling in charts, preparing handovers, and countless other administrative tasks. Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable the recording of care interactions in real-time, ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care. Control Better Control Controlling paper-based systems can be an onerous job. It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost, copied, and, potentially, fall into the wrong hands. Digital care systems are safe and accessible, maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data. This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR. Furthermore, digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls. Staff only see what they need to see based on their role. AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality, including this lock screen functionality for use in medication administration rounds! Protection Protect your business Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business. With multiple regulatory bodies, such as the CQC, CIW, Care Inspectorate, RQIW, Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams, not to mention families and the justice system. Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice. Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide. In addition, as a digital system has a complete audit trail, you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and complete. Costs Costs and environment The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time. While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles, this alone makes going digital worthwhile. Additional cost benefits include savings on printing, paper, stationary and confidential waste bin collection. These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead. Furthermore, going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries. Therefore, going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly. Risk Reduced risk Manual systems carry many risks. It is challenging to manage, analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security. Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk. Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed, whether that’s a care plan change or a fall report. Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met. Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care, which can be analysed to identify trends and risks, and demonstrate corrective action. AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement. Retention Improve staff retention Staff recruitment and retention remain long-standing challenges for the care sector, and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff. Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff. Using electronic care systems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users. Additionally, providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR software to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress. Quality Improved quality of care With pre-built assessments covering all aspects of health, you can get to know your service users intimately. But it’s not just health; other characteristics such as emotion, likes/dislikes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be recorded. Because any changes can be affected at the point of care, updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift). This information is then easily accessible by other system users, supporting a personalised care experience. Evidence Demonstrate quality of care delivery While the delivery of person-centred care is paramount, care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver, and regulatory bodies are actively encouraging the user of technology. For example, the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery. During an inspection, under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE), question E1.3 asks How is technology and equipment used to enhance the delivery of effective care and treatment and to support people’s independence? Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this! Visibility Improved visibility Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real-time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care. On an electronic care system, it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go. A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care service at a glance. AutumnCare contains a customisable Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time. Users Happier service users Last, and by no means least, going digital can make your service users happier. Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration. There are benefits to happy service users, including positive reviews from family and friends, which may help grow your service. Wondering how to go digital? If you’re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation, AutumnCare can help! AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR software, enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care. We can walk you through what is required step by step, as well as provide training and support every step of the way. To realise all of the benefits above, plus
DARCO Group serving as the UK distribution hub specialising in foot and ankle products.
V-M Orthotics Ltd started out as a family run business operating in Suffolk. In 2018 we became part of the global hg DARCO Group serving as the UK distribution hub specialising in foot and ankle products. DARCO is a global business operating across: • the USA with DARCO International (where the business started) • Europe (Raisting in Southern Germany), • India (Karnataka) • China (Shanghai) DARCO International Trading Ltd. • and more recently the UK (V-M Orthotics Ltd in Halesworth, Suffolk). We work in partnership with a small number of distributors: • Algeos • Beagle Orthopaedic • Performance Health • Prestige Healthcare Currently we offer a total range of 35 devices across the following categories: -Therapeutic ShoesHealing Shoes (Long and Short Term)-Off-loading Shoes-Cast Shoes & Boots-Height Compensation Shoes -Orthoses & Walkers Lower Leg-Foot-Ankle -Positioning Devices & Off-loading Devices Positioning Splints -Pressure Off-loading Device -Insole Systems & AccessoriesInsole Systems -Accessories (Toe Caps) Some of our latest products to join our portfolio can be viewed here: Commodus Open® – VM OrthoticsA solution for ulcerations and wounds. The open design of the Commodus Open® makes it particularly suitable for the treatment of postoperative wounds and lesions located medially at the MTP I joint, laterally at the MTP V joint and in the entire dorsal and plantar forefoot. The Commodus Open® (sold individually) is used to stabilise the foot and provides shock and pressure redistribution following surgery or when ulcerations occur. Relief Dual® Plus – VM Orthotics The New DARCO Relief Dual® Plus offloading shoe (sold individually) with high ankle support provides 64% higher profile than the Relief Dual® and also provides improved foot and ankle support. Its features include: • an adjustable heel cap • easily accommodates bulky dressings • for treatment of postoperative forefoot conditions, plantar wounds in the forefoot area and dorsal wounds at the heel Body Armor® Heel Reliever – VM Orthotics and which features in the accompanying article. We have a number of exciting new devices in the pipeline for the latter part of 2022/early 2023. These include a new walker and insole system, in addition to the Gentle Step range of shoes, where we will be offering 22 full/half sizes specifically for those patients diagnosed with Diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and bony abnormalities of the foot. For further information or to join our mailing list please call us on 01986 798 120 or email info@vmorthotics.co.uk Please click here to view our latest video explaining who we are and what we do. Sharing our DARCO story with you – VM Orthotics We look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Green Commercial Contracts
Our professional Commercial Contracts team is equipped to meet all your B2B flooring and furniture needs. Our Account Managers have a wealth of specialist knowledge, a vast sample library and huge showroom to share with you and will help you choose the furniture and flooring options that are just right for your care or residential home. Our status as a leading independent furnisher established in 1956 allows for a closeness with our clients and attention to detail that you are unlikely to experience with the bigger multinational companies. Peter Green is to this day family owned and run and we take pride in assisting you with your projects from start to finish. How to Sympathetically Incorporate the Latest Design Trends into your care home Most of us must agree that the environment that we live in plays an important role in how we feel about ourselves and go about our daily lives. So it doesn’t take a giant leap of the imagination to understand the positive role that an uplifting and inviting environment can play in the daily lives of the elderly or those with higher care needs, when they are living in a residential care home. Our intention here is not to speak about the health and safety side of care home furnishings, as these we know are all likely well-rehearsed in your heads but more to bring to you some enlightening ideas that can inspire you when making choices. Developing your own ‘unique style’ in furnishings is important, because after all that what’s makes it a ‘home’ isn’t it? It shows that as an organization you ‘care’ enough to have taken the time to provide something unique and that you offer a point of difference to your clients. This may help steer potential customers away from choosing one of your competitors based purely on price point, but instead to focus on the lifestyle and quality of care they are going to receive. There are three major interior design movements that have taken off in other sectors that we feel would be equally valid for a care home situation… 1-Mid-Century Modern The mid-century era produced a furniture style that comprised of simple designs, elegance and functionality. Modern versions of this style comprise of light weight pieces that are easy to interact with. The colour palette is a collection of warm and welcoming oranges, browns, golds and soft greens. Window treatments and wallpapers have strong geometric patterns harking back to the 50s and 60s – a familiar era for many care home residents. 2- Maximalism Maximalism has made a resurgence just lately in the hospitality industry. The maximalist interior relies heavily on bold, mismatched prints, powerful bright colours, contrasting textures and an eccentric mix of accessories. Furniture styles, window treatments, flooring and artwork vary in style and pay homage to many different periods. The overall look is grand and exciting, full of quirky surprises and is supposed to reflect the eclectic nature of a real home. Many patterns and designs incorporated in this style will be familiar to residents, helping maintain psychological comfort and improving recall and memories. Along with the nostalgia, there is a fresh energy and liveliness that is both uplifting and exciting. 3-Modern Scandi Design The appeal of Scandinavian interior never really goes away, probably because the light, bright, white decor lifts the spirits. Monochrome palettes with hints of creams, browns, greys, taupe and tans lend themselves very well to the care home situation… and the overall look is relaxing, calming and clean. Using Nordic minimalism, Scandi furniture has clean lines and good form, flooring is subdued and window treatments are non-fussy. Add some Danish ‘Hygge’ in the form of soft fluffy throws and a little boho with some macramé and you will have created a stylish setting that anyone can call home. Peter Green Commercial Contracts – flooring – furniture – beds – wall coverings – window treatments – accessories – and more! School Lane, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire SO53 4DG tel: 02380 810455 | contracts@petergreen.co.uk
The Importance of Degreasing
Degreasing – Where there are kitchens, there is grease and knowing how to deal with it is essential to making sure your kitchen runs smoothly. It doesn’t matter whether you work in a restaurant kitchen, hospital kitchen, school kitchen or any other kind of cooking area, grease is one of the many universal aspects of kitchen life. Now, you may be asking what is grease exactly? Well grease (in a food waste context) is the common term for animal fats and vegetable oils and can be found in the following when cooked: • Food Scraps • Baked Goods • Cooking Oil • Margarine, Butter and Lard • Meat Fats • Sauces • Dairy Products What are the issues surrounding kitchen grease? The key issue with grease is the frequent incorrect disposal of it by way of the kitchen sink or external drains. It is mistakenly assumed that because the warm oils are liquid they therefore can be poured away. It may appear harmless due to its lack of viscosity and fluid form but as grease cools it begins to solidify causing build ups in pipes becoming a hardened mass. The more grease which is disposed of in this manner leads to large deposits of solid grease which restricts drain flow causing clogs. These blockages can result in burst drains, flooding and seeping water from in between floors and low-level brickwork. Ultimately, hardened grease residue is one of the key contributors to large scale sewage blockages which coined the aptly named “fatberg” term between 2008 and 2010. As a result of mass public campaigning due to the expense required to remove fatbergs from the UKs aging Victorian sewer system, both domestic and commercial kitchens now dispose of FOGs in a more sustainable manner. But, with hardened grease being a problematic substance to get rid of once solid, what should commercial kitchens do with cooking equipment which is prone to grease build up? Invest in a commercial degreaser. The best answer for commercial level grease is a commercial grade degreasing agent / cleaner. Using anything less than a solution which has been designed and tested for professional kitchens will fall short. Domestic ovens are not subject to the same level of use as that of capital equipment in businesses, so you need the right cleaning agent. Should FOGs be allowed to build up in your kitchen it can impact the efficiency of your machines like ovens and ventilation systems meaning such kit takes longer to heat up and requires more energy to maintain constant temperatures. So, to prevent you from requiring many hours and a metal scraper, what degreasers are available? The following are all great options to help keep on top of grease levels in your kitchen: • Deepio Heavy Duty Degreaser Spray – Deepio’s degreaser is a popular choice amongst restaurants and quick service eateries. It is highly efficient and effective at breaking down grease with ease making cleaning equipment a quicker process. The formula features surfactants and high alkalinity to deliver grease-cutting cleanliness. It is also unperfumed. • Flash Professional Degreaser – This ready to use spray is not just a degreaser but a disinfectant too. It is great at degreasing surfaces (not to be used on grills) along with kitchen utensils. It also benefits from being EN14476 accredited and EN1276 / EN13697. The solution is also unperfumed and bleach free. • SURE Cleaner & Degreaser (Concentrate) – SURE’s eco-range of cleaners includes a degreaser option which is perfect for cutting through heavily soiled and greasy surfaces. Perfect for kitchen equipment, cooker hoods and counter tops the degreaser is perfect for any commercial kitchen. It can also be used on tiled floors too. There are many other options but as wholesalers to multiple industries, including the healthcare, care and nursing sectors we’d recommend the above as they are proven across a variety of kitchens in numerous environments. At Alliance Online we have over 20 years’ experience providing quality and professional cleaning solutions to businesses across the UK. As such we are confident in our product offering and options we provide to the care industry. For more information about our care ranges and ways we can help companies in the sector contact us on hello@allianceonline.co.uk or call us on 01270 252333.
