Social care opens doors for Jane
A nurse looking after Crewe residents is encouraging people to consider the numerous professional pathways available in the care sector, having built her own successful career in the field after ‘falling into’ a job caring for others. Jane Hughes, 35, never thought she would dedicate her life to nursing older people at dementia care specialist, Belong Crewe. But over a decade ago, fresh from finishing a degree reading Criminology and Psychology, she unwittingly embarked on what would turn out to be the first day of a fulfilling vocation. She explains: “Like many graduates, I didn’t know what sort of job I wanted or even where to start. I applied for a role as a care assistant and, to be honest, it wasn’t really what I wanted to do, and so it surprised me when I fell in love with it straight away – I hadn’t anticipated how gratifying it would be.” During the subsequent years, Jane worked hard to progress through senior care assistant and care team leader positions, before pursuing a nursing degree. Once qualified, she worked in local hospitals but felt something was missing and eventually returned to the Belong village on Brookhouse Drive, having secured the Registered General Nurse (RGN) post. “I came back to social care because I missed the closeness and the relationships you can build with people, over time,” Jane continues. “Working in hospitals, you help patients get better; but then you never see them again. Nursing at Belong enables me to support older people’s physical health needs, as well as their social and psychological wellbeing, on a long-term basis, and so I can get to know them.” “I’m now the village’s lead nurse which affords me autonomy to influence and implement my ideas, coach and train my own team, and continually learn whilst networking with local GPs and nurse practitioners. The best part is being able to work with and help our customers thrive independently in a compassionate setting – it’s a lovely way to spend your career.” Cheryl Davies, general manager at Belong Crewe, commented: “We’re very pleased to have supported Jane’s development and congratulate her on what she’s achieved. It goes to show the opportunities that social care has to offer and how rewarding the profession can be. We provide extensive on-the-job training, meaning people can join us without care qualifications and go on to realise their ambitions, just like Jane.” www.belong.org.uk
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At AASOG Education and Training we are an Awarding Body and Ofqual recognised accredited Further Education training provider. We offer RQF accredited qualifications / training within sectors that include Health and Social Care levels 2,3,4&5 Adults and Children partway, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities part ways, Level 2,3&5 Diploma in Early Years Practitioner and Educator, Levels 2,3&5 Generic Leadership and Management – Team Leading and Business Administration, Assessment and Quality Assurance, Education and Training, bespoke Coaching and Mentoring programmes and STLS qualification. We also deliver accredited Employability qualification in sectors that include Health and Social care, Business Admin, Digital Marketing and Sales, Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Retail, Warehousing and Construction.We offer online and face to face training where possible while providing e-portfolio system for every learner on programme, every learner is allocated with sector specific Tutors whose knowledge implementation and experience is relevant to the qualification delivered inline with learner’s needs.We also offer students support where appropriate to support the learning needs requirement of our learners.Follow us today to keep up to date for course discounts and visit us at www.aasog.co.uk for more information see you online ???.
More freedom, with our help!
If you are one of the millions of people affected by incontinence, you will know that choosing the right product is absolutely vital for your comfort and security. Whether you are looking for disposable or washable items, pads or briefs, mattress or seat protection, we specialise in supplying a range of high quality continence care products to help with toileting, bathing and other aspects of day-to-day life. As a company with over 20 years of experience, we are very happy to advise you by telephone or email, discuss your needs and recommend the best product for your condition. We take great pride in our discreet, confidential and personalised service; we don’t use a call centre, and we never put you on hold! If we are busy, just leave a message and we will call you back. Calls are free from landlines and most mobiles. Alternatively you are welcome to visit our website to view our range and place an order. Most orders will arrive to you on the next working day. If you already use incontinence products, we are highly confident we can supply equivalents or better. And if our products do not meet your expectations, then, subject to terms and conditions, you can return them and receive a full refund. So why not give us a call and try us out? We’d be delighted to send you a brochure and a free sample of one of our disposable products. In summary, we offer: Quality products: we only stock high quality products which are more effective, with an improved fit, offer better comfort and with higher eco-credentials than their cheaper counterpart. Excellent value: quality products mean you will need fewer of them because they will work more efficiently – ultimately saving you money. Greater choice: we have a wide range of products to manage different types of incontinence and cater for all different sizes. Multi-buy offers: buying in larger volumes means you get the lowest prices for the products you use the most – as much as 15% off, usually with free postage! Personal service: if you need any help in choosing the right product for you, please do give us a ring 0800 389 3597. For friendly advice and support, call us on Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm or visit www.arelle.com for more information. We are here to help.
A groundbreaking report by Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) has revealed an increased reliance on electronic systems during the pandemic.
The study, which sought to garner a real-world picture of the lives of professional carers in order to establish what they required to deliver the best care possible, revealed some interesting findings and trends. The ‘Building a Better Workforce’ survey, which was created to identify key challenges that frontline care workers face, found that technology improved the way that care workers did their jobs. The study also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has driven a technological seachange, which has highlighted the need for better communication in the way care is dispensed. As for electronic tools, the survey revealed that technologies – that made care planning, medication management, audit and risk assessment easier – were in great demand. However, it was those systems that delivered guidance and best practice – such as policy management tools – that they valued the most. Over 75 percent of people polled said they had come to rely on them and would continue to do so. Despite a recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, 90 percent of respondents said they were “happy and satisfied” in the work they do, while nearly half of those who were interviewed stated that they had worked in the social care sector for more than a decade. What’s more, 70 percent reported that they enjoyed a good work life balance – a finding that is perhaps at odds with the national trend. Maybe this is due to working in a profession where carers are making a genuine difference to those they support each day. The survey identified several findings, however, that care providers should not ignore. Career development was an area that it was felt could be improved for social care staff with 14 percent reporting that they felt that opportunities to further their career in social care were very limited. Nikki Walker, QCS’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “At QCS, our number one priority is to support and empower people working in social care. To achieve this, we need to provide them with tools to deliver the best care possible to those they support regardless of the setting they work in or the challenges they face. Only by listening to the views of frontline carers and their managers, can we truly understand their ‘painpoints’ and respond to their needs. The findings from this survey and the others that follow will ensure that we can continue to make a difference in the products that we provide.” You can download the report for free here. For more information on QCS, contact our compliance advisors on 0333-405-3333 or email us at sales@qcs.co.uk.
RSM UK warns healthcare providers in England to take steps now as Covid-19 vaccination deadline looms
Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK is urging employers in the NHS and private healthcare to take steps now to fulfil their legal responsibilities, as time is running out to meet the requirements of the government’s Covid-19 vaccination programme as a condition of employment. In England, it is already compulsory for all adult care home staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated, unless medically exempt. This includes third parties visiting care homes such as tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians. This requirement will extend to anyone working in health and social care who has face-to-face patient contact, including doctors and nurses, dentists, receptionists, porters, cleaners and domiciliary care workers from 1 April 2022. As jabs must be given at least eight weeks apart, this means employees currently have until 3 February 2022 to get their first vaccine. The Government has stated that there will be a 12-week grace period between the regulations being passed by Parliament planned for 6 January 2022, and their coming into force. This will allow time for those who have not yet been vaccinated to have both doses. At present, the planned regulations will not require evidence of boosters, but employers are strongly advised to encourage workers to have their booster vaccine when eligible. All care providers regulated by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) will need to include the Covid-19 vaccination requirements in recruitment processes, including job adverts, ensuring all applicants fully understand the requirements. Carolyn Brown, employment legal partner and head of Client Legal Services at RSM said: ‘The government’s Covid-19 vaccination requirement for healthcare workers in England who have direct patient contact puts added pressure on the sector at a time when it is already feeling the strain. We want to support healthcare providers in navigating their new employment legal obligations, ensuring they can continue providing safe, high-quality care. Inevitably the vaccination compulsion for healthcare workers in England will mean further staffing challenges, as those who choose not to be vaccinated may well leave their roles. We have already seen this happen in care homes, and some of those who have moved to other types of caring roles to avoid vaccination may now leave the care sector entirely. ‘Where employees working in a CQC regulated setting refuse to get vaccinated, employers can consider removing patient contact through redeployment, although in many cases this may be difficult to implement in practice. In some cases, termination of employment may be considered as the last resort. Carers wanting to avoid job loss will need to get their jabs or seek an exemption certificate from their GP, so its essential employers make all those affected aware of this requirement.’ The new rules are also expected to put further pressure on GPs as care home workers, who until now have been allowed to self-certify as exempt from vaccination, will need a GP certificate to verify exemption after Christmas. Although form MATB1 will give automatic exemption for pregnant employees, this is not provided until the later stages of pregnancy, therefore pregnant workers who prefer to remain unvaccinated will still need to seek a GP exemption certificate. Employer’s checklist RSM UK is recommending healthcare employers in England take the following steps now to ensure they remain compliant from an employment law perspective as compulsory Covid-19 vaccinations are introduced.
Limbkeepers,non-compression knitted sleeves
Limbkeepers are non-compression knitted sleeves, a new solution helping to protect fragile, thinning skin on arms, hands, and legs from abrasion, skin tears and bruising. These versatile products, which help reduce injuries, allow for continued daily activities, and help to maintain quality of life and independence. Limbkeepers provide cushioned comfort and warmth without added bulk. The universal design allows them to fit either limb. Limbkeepers unisex sleeves are made to look and feel like clothing, worn under everyday apparel, giving confidence and dignity to the wearer. There are many factors contributing to fragile skin, medication induced skin disorders, sun damage, post-surgery healing, wound care management and the normal ageing process. The many features of Limbkeepers help protect these vulnerable areas. They are form fitting without compression, attractive, soft, and comfortable. There are no seams and no fasteners for easy wear and moisture management for easy care, making them perfect for people who do not want or need a compression product. Limbkeepers are manufactured in the USA, are registered with the MHRC in the UK and carry the UKCA mark. More information can be found at https://www.limbkeepers.co.uk/
Manfred Sauer UK launch two new products
Manfred Sauer UK Ltd, are delighted to announce the launch of two new single use catheters. One for male/paediatric use and the other solely for females. They are available to order on prescription now, or if you would like a sample, please get in touch. Male/paediatric Female catheter Not all catheters are the same The hydrophilic catheters have been designed for convenience. They are immersed in saline and ready for immediate use. The male/paediatric version has a non-touch sleeve which permits a no-touch insertion, which helps ensure a clean intermittent self-catheterisation technique. Whilst the female one is completely sterile and available in three sizes. Going the extra mile Manfred Sauer manufacture and distribute innovative urology products. They always put the wellbeing, comfort and happiness of patients first, going the extra mile to provide specialist advice, help and the most suitable products for continence care needs. Their high-quality products are designed by patients and healthcare professionals with unique features and benefits to ensure effective and user-friendly solutions that work. This means many incontinence issues can be managed independently, without worrying about frequent emptying or toilet access and do not impinge on anyone’s ability to live life to the full. Get in touch For more information, advice or to order a sample, call 01604 595696, email helpline@manfred-sauer.co.uk or visit https://manfred-sauer.co.uk/
The power of AI that is giving care home residents a voice
A state-of-the-art medical device with unique innovative pain assessment technology is helping staff at Orchard Care Homes identify if residents living with dementia are in pain. The population of people living with dementia is set to triple by 2050, according to recent data published by Alzheimer’s Society. Currently, around 70% of people living in care homes have a form of cognitive impairment which sometimes leaves them unable to reliably communicate their pain, which in turn goes unrecognised and therefore untreated. Orchard Care Homes has been running care homes across the UK for over a decade and has established a strong reputation in the care industry for providing quality care for the elderly. With 23 care homes in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Midlands, Orchard is the largest care provider in the UK to use the world’s first AI-powered pain assessment tool PainChek®, to identify pain in its residents living with dementia. PainChek® is a secure medical device for use on mobile care devices and tablets and uses artificial intelligence (AI) (facial detection and analysis technology) and smart automation to detect and score pain in real time. Since Orchard integrated PainChek® into its comprehensive dementia strategy, it has seen many positive outcomes for its residents, including a 100% increase in pain assessments for those unable to verbalise pain, a reduction in distress response behaviours, and a reduction in the use of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Hannah Miller, Dementia Lead at Orchard, explains: “Integration of PainChek® in Orchard Care Homes’ electronic care plan system (PCS) has enabled our nursing teams to closely monitor and assess the pain experience of individuals in their care using a mobile care device, providing staff with a long-term view of when a resident is likely to experience pain. “Orchard strives to incorporate technological advances and put them into practice to ensure we are enabling all our residents to achieve good outcomes and be afforded equitable care regardless of their cognitive ability or ability to self-report health concerns such as pain. Residents who are not able to effectively verbally communicate pain that were previously disadvantaged are now on an equal footing with those that can communicate effectively. “As a supporter and advocate of digital technology, Orchard has also introduced a mobile care monitoring system and an electronic medication management system and has developed an in-house governance digital dashboard. Alongside PainChek®, these systems support staff to focus their time and skills on where they are most needed and improve work efficiency. “PainChek® empowers our workforce to conduct effective pain assessments in people that cannot reliably verbalise their pain,” she adds. “The app is easy to use, and staff feel motivated when they see the positive impact they can make in minutes. “Orchard is sharing the data with clinicians to effect change: paramedics can see pain levels, and families feel reassured that we have the latest technology to help those living with dementia.” Innovative approach Prior to the introduction of PainChek®, pain assessment was not approached with consistency. PainChek® was introduced at some of Orchard’s homes in January 2021, and pain assessments increased significantly from a baseline of infrequent assessments that were completed subjectively and often went unrecorded. Orchard’s innovative approach supports the team in meeting the NICE guidance NG97: management of non-cognitive symptoms of dementia, and includes: Reviews and assessments External health professionals now request residents’ pain charts and reports from Orchard, available from the PainChek® data portal. “Orchard is proactively reviewing intervention and data outcomes to improve quality of life,” explains Hannah. “At the micro level, clinicians can effect positive change for a resident. At the macro level, we can see the ‘pain burden’ across the estate. “When a resident is experiencing distress – communicated through behaviour that may have previously been viewed solely through the lens of dementia – PainChek® assessments are added to the care monitoring system. “The app is unique in the way in which it has been developed within social care, for social care, and Orchard is proud to have rolled out the innovative technology to the Orchard estate with conviction.” Real world delivery Orchard achieved effective pain management for a resident, enabling a trial stop of the anti-psychotic medication they were taking. As regular pain relief has increased, there has been a drop in the use of PRN pain relief, and so Orchard residents’ pain is better managed. This has also contributed to a decrease in use as well as in dosage of psychotropic medication administered to residents. As a direct result, since January 2021, the number of residents with regular pain relief available has increased from 25% to around 75%, as pain is now being identified and treated effectively. PainChek®’s ‘follow up’ report shows how quickly a pain assessment was followed up – this level of information has never been seen in the UK before. In June, 83% of severe pain assessments were followed up and 100% of these resulted in a lower pain severity being recorded. Orchard Care Homes enhances dementia strategy with PainChek® Daily challenge PainChek® Senior Business Development Manager Tandeep Gill, comments: “It is a daily challenge for carers and healthcare professionals to assess pain in people living with dementia or other cognitive impairments. Often pain goes undetected or untreated, which can lead to unnecessary prescribing of medication such as antipsychotics, behavioural and psychological issues, and decreased quality of life for residents. “PainChek® was developed as an effective solution to this problem, by utilising AI to address a core issue with pain assessment. It is a secure medical device for use on mobile phones and tablets, and uses AI, facial analysis technology, and smart automation, to detect and score pain in real time. “AI remains the foundation of the technology today. Its Pain Assessment System has an open API, facilitating the integration of PainChek® with care management systems, which allows real-time recording of pain assessments into residents’ medical records, and sharing of those results with other healthcare practitioners.” PainChek® Marketing Officer Drew Hunt adds: “The PainChek® team is united by its goal to provide a voice to those who cannot verbalise their pain. PainChek continues to research and review the link between pain and dementia, and provide free, accessible resources and information such as whitepapers and reports to care providers across the globe to support better pain assessment and management and an enhanced level of care. A recent UK study has been published demonstrating PainChek® is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the presence and severity of pain in people with moderate-to-severe dementia living in aged care.” PainChek is currently used in over 1,600 aged care
Clean Smarter with SmartDose from Diversey
Cleaning can be a time-consuming and arduous task but ultimately a necessary one, especially when it comes to the private and public care and nursing facilities. Regular cleaning is essential in these settings with visitors and residents of such accommodations demanding the highest levels of hygiene and requiring a certain visual standard for their own piece of mind. But with so many surfaces, areas and high-volume touch points to clean, along with caring for individuals. Staff need an easy and straight forward product range to make cleaning efficient. Enter Diversey’s SmartDose range of concentrates designed to make cleaning simpler, smarter and safer. The Bottle The SmartDose bottle has been designed to allow for easy, quick and precise mixing of concentrates making cleaning staffs jobs simpler. Located on the top of the bottle is a bright yellow head which features two clearly marked dosage levels. The purpose of this is so the user can select between two different solution options which are outlined on the bottle (normally these are a 750ml solution for spray bottles and a larger size such as 5 litres for mopping options). The mechanics of the top is a simple pump action which works as follows: Please note the action of pushing down the top once it has been pulled up will dispense a shot of the concentrate so ensure the nozzle is positioned over the container you wish to make the solution up in. The design of the bottle lends itself to being easily transportable around larger multiroom sites and due to it being a concentrate means smaller bottle sizes. With this decrease in size comes a reduction in waste produced. The Range SmartDose offers a complete range of cleaning solutions all which have specific purposes. It also features cross-system options meaning SmartDose has products which work alongside other Diversey systems such as Taski, Suma and Oxivir. For more environmentally friendly options there is the Pur-Eco and SURE ranges both of which can help your business reach its green goals. The numerous options all provide cleaning solutions for the following areas and more: Environmental Responsibility If your care or nursing home is looking to improve its sustainability credentials, Diversey had the following to say regarding what figures you can expect when using SmartDose. A 1.4L SmartDose product typically equates to 280 ready to use (RTU) products. If you use an average of 100 cases of 6 x 750ml RTU product per year, the typical annual sustainability improvements are: SmartDose’s range is ultimately one which aims at making cleaning simpler, safer, smarter and more sustainable and its design and operation delivers on these key areas. For more information about SmartDose please contact us on 0844 844 4300 or email us at hello@allianceonline.co.uk. Equally, for a full product offering of commercial cleaning equipment, chemicals and janitorial appliances browse Alliance Online today. http://www.allianceonline.co.uk/
