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.”
St Bartholomew’s Hospital welcomes the public for first in-person View Day for two years, ahead of 900th anniversary in 2023
St Bartholomew’s, the UK’s oldest working hospital, has today opened its doors to the public for the first in-person View Day since the pandemic began in a tradition which has endured for at least 471 years. Dating back to King Henry VIII, the traditional purpose of View Day was to connect the community with the work of the hospital, including a formal inspection of its patients, property and services. Back then, patients were walked through the city streets so that citizens might see them and make donations towards their care. In modern times, View Day is an opportunity for City residents and the wider East London community which the NHS hospital proudly serves, to hear about its vital work and how staff plan to mark St Bartholomew’s 900th anniversary in 2023. Guests can join tours of the hospital, including the North Wing featuring the magnificent Great Hall and Hogarth staircase. Built in the 1700s, the North Wing is the focus of a multi-million pound restoration project lead by the charity Barts Heritage. There will also be entertainment in the hospital square and stalls run by organisations who work across the hospital campus, followed by an evening service at the historic Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great which was founded in the same year. Held on the second Wednesday in May every year, View Day comes just a few months before the hospital celebrates its 900th birthday in 2023. To mark this incredible milestone, an ambitious fundraising campaign – called Barts900 – has been launched. Barts Charity, the hospital’s charity partner, aims to raise £30 million to build two state-of-the-art healthcare facilities – a dedicated centre for breast surgery at St Bartholomew’s and a clinical research facility at The Royal London Hospital (also part of the Barts NHS Health Trust). These will transform care for millions of Londoners, whilst boosting the hospital’s reputation as a centre of excellence. The Barts900 campaign, which brings together the past, present and future of this iconic institution, will unite the entire Barts Family, including Barts Health NHS Trust, Barts Charity, Barts Heritage and St Bartholomew’s the Great Church, to mark this first-of-its-kind milestone for a UK hospital. More events and celebrations will be announced as the anniversary year approaches. St Bartholomew’s Hospital chief executive Professor Charles Knight OBE said: “After two tough years battling Covid, it is wonderful to invite the public back. View Day has always been about connecting the hospital to our community, and we are celebrating this unique relationship again today. To welcome people back on the eve of our 900th birthday makes it all the more special.” Nickie Aiken, MP for Cities of London and Westminster said: “I’m delighted to attend St Bartholomew’s first in person View day since the start of the pandemic. It is an honour to meet and thank the hardworking staff who have worked tirelessly during the difficult Covid period. Barts plays a huge part within its community and I look forward to celebrating its 900th anniversary next year.”
Why care homes need to pay attention to increasing water rates.
In April 2022, business water rates will increase due to the bad debt accumulated throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Ofwat, the water regulator, has introduced the price rise to protect business water suppliers by allowing them to pass on the cost of bad debt to their customers. Most English care homes have never switched water suppliers. Most business decision-makers are not even aware that changing water suppliers is possible. Businesses that have never switched water suppliers pay out of contract business water rates with their default supplier. Default water rates increase each year slightly as the cost of maintaining the water network increases. April 2022 is different; not only will care homes be hit with inflationary increases in water rates they will also be charged more due to Ofwat’s decision to raise prices. You can do two things to combat these price hikes: one is to switch business water suppliers, and the other is to reduce your water consumption as a business. To compare business water suppliers and switch to a new deal, click here. How to reduce your water rates For care homes, it’s imperative to be running a business that uses water efficiently and drives down the cost of any bills. Here are a few tips to help you reduce your water consumption and lower your bills. Use water efficiency devices. Using water efficiency devices like tap aerators reduces the annual consumption of water. Consider using flush efficiency devices to reduce the amount of water needed to flush toilets on your premises.
