apetito invests £31million in its food manufacturing site
apetito, the UK’s leading food producer for the health and social care sector (and owner of Wiltshire Farm Foods), today announces that it will be investing £31million in its South West based, food manufacturing business resulting in job creation in the company’s Trowbridge site. apetito is a £125m food and nutrition food production company which has been operating in the UK for over 25 years. The company supplies a wide range of products focused on taste and nutrition to hospitals, care homes, local government meals on wheel services as well as via its private meal delivery service Wiltshire Farm Foods. apetito is the largest private sector employer in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and supports over 2000 UK jobs nationwide. The investment enables the company to continue to grow its business; supporting the UK economy and providing continued job security. apetito expects to create around 40 jobs during the building of the expanded production facility. Commenting on the investment, Food Minister George Eustice said: “Our thriving food industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK – bigger than cars and aerospace combined – and this significant investment by apetito is a real vote of confidence in the South West and the UK as a place to do business. “I’m pleased the investment will lead to the creation of so many local jobs, while raising the UK’s global profile and securing our reputation as a great food nation.” The investment will deliver; • A UK new business opportunity worth around £28million to a wide range of suppliers in the construction, design, manufacturing equipment supply and project management • Enhanced manufacturing capacity • Improved manufacturing efficiency • State of the art cooking facilities to deliver the highest standards of taste and nutrition • Continued reduction in carbon footprint – delivering a 47% reduction in carbon intensity 47% since 2017 (CO2 emissions per £m sales) apetito plans to extend its factory to support the planned growth over the next 10 years plus. Detailed planning is now in progress and building will commence in 2018 with the expanded site is due for full completion by 2020. Baroness Scott of Bybrook, leader of Wiltshire Council said: “This is really good news for Wiltshire and, in particular for Trowbridge. I am delighted that apetito as a leading national company has decided to invest further in its food manufacturing site in the county town. This major investment of £31 million is a huge boost to the local economy, securing the company’s presence here, and creating new jobs in the area. The council looks forward to continuing to work with apetito as a strategically important company, on this significant business growth programme.” Paul Freeston, Chief Executive, apetito UK concludes: “As one of largest food manufacturers in the health and social care sector, we remain focussed on building our UK business and in doing so supporting the UK economy and our employees with job security. apetito is proud of its UK manufacturing base and the economic and social contribution that we make here in Britain, whether as an employer – or in the service we provide in delivering nutritious meals to elderly and vulnerable individuals.”
Luxury retirement village celebrates with a week of foodie fun
A luxury Chorley retirement village has taken part in a national initiative surrounding good nutrition and hydration. Residents and staff from The Grange, an assisted living environment in the award winning Buckshaw Retirement Village, took part in Nutrition and Hydration Week (March 13-19), which is supported by official health organisations such as NHS England. The Grange activity coordinator Alison Evans adapted the usual exercise and wellbeing activities to incorporate important advice about nutrition and hydration. Activities were used to promote wider health benefits, which also included a special sing-along and dancing to meet the current 1950’s activity theme which is running at the home. The Grange is operated by not for profit organisation Hica Group. Penni Brown, chief executive at Hica Group said: “Nutrition and Hydration week is a fantastic way to introduce fun activities which are themed around healthy food and drinks as well as wider general wellness. “Chefs at The Grange prepare a range of delicious home cooked meals with the best locally sourced ingredients for those who live in the apartments. All menus are prepared to incorporate balanced and healthy foods, and a range of refreshments are available all day. “Alison did a fantastic job in adapting the usual daily activities programme to include useful advice on nutrition and hydration.” Staff and chefs at The Grange also prepared a range of homemade international cakes and treats for The Worldwide Afternoon Tea Party, on Wednesday, March 15, where residents got involved in baking, crafts and decorating and enjoyed entertainment. The week, which was launched by the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and Patient Safety First, aims to raise awareness of good food and hydration, and the risks of malnutrition and what can be done to prevent the condition in health and social care environments. Buckshaw Retirement Village comprises three distinctive living communities: The Grange, a luxury assisted living environment; The Lodge, a high quality dementia care home; and The Court, which is privately owned independent living apartments. Buckshaw Retirement Village is part of The Hica Group, which operates a portfolio of 19 residential care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a home care service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England. more information, please visit https://hica-uk.com/
E-learning for the Care Certificate receives official endorsement
An innovative e-learning package to support learners and employers undertaking the Care Certificate has received official endorsement from the sector’s lead, Skills for Care. Highfield elearning developed its course to support the introduction of the Care Certificate and the accompanying workbook. And now the e-learning course has been given the prestigious Approved e-Programme accolade from Skills for Care, while Highfield has been awarded Recognised e-Provider status. Highfield is one of the UK’s largest educational bodies and was responsible for developing the official Care Certificate Workbook in 2015 on behalf of the Partnership, made up of Health Education England, Skills for Care and Skills for Health. Highfield elearning’s resource was developed independently of the Partnership, but mirrors the content of the workbook and was created by the same team of health and social care sector experts. The e-learning is flexible so that each learner can complete the standards that are specific to their role, and is mapped to official health and social care qualifications so that prior learning can be recognised. It is also fully customisable so that it meets the needs of individual organisations, and trackable so that learners’ progress can be monitored and verified. Skills for Care’s Endorsement Framework programme establishes a set of strict criteria that organisations must meet to receive official recognition, and must be renewed on an annual basis to ensure that high standards are maintained. Chris Sprenger, Highfield’s Managing Director, said, ‘We’re proud to be one of the first organisations to be recognised by Skills for Care’s Endorsement Framework for an e-learning course. It is a huge accolade, and points to the strength of our e-learning offer, the expertise – both technical and sectoral – behind it, and the recognised and acknowledged impact it can bring to employers looking for effective, efficient learning that delivers value for money’. Claire Eley, Specialist Training Manager at CQM Learning Ltd, said, ‘CQM Learning Ltd (CQM) has introduced over 200 organisations to the Highfield Care Certificate e-learning. Our clients have found the course to be highly effective and efficient, and particularly love the reporting functions available. The most frequently commented on features are the ease of use and the time it saves managers and supervisors from marking workbooks, meaning time can instead be used to observe staff competence while holistically reassessing knowledge across the units. Our clients keep coming back to us for more licences, which coupled with the Skills for Care endorsement, means it’s the only Care Certificate e-learning CQM Learning will consider using’. Janet Glentworth, Vocational Centre Manager at Creative Support said, ‘Since Creative Support began using Highfield’s Care Certificate e-learning package, the uptake and completion of the certificate has increased by 300 percent and is still increasing. Likewise, we have reduced the number of days needed by classroom induction by 50 percent. The LMS is clear, easy-to-use and informative – from registering learners to awarding the certificate – saving time and resources for our admin team. With its ability to track learner progress and completions, and its easy-to-access information for inspections (such as CQC), learners find it easy to use and very accessible, making it excellent value for money.’ For more information on Highfield’s Care Certificate e-learning, go to https://www.highfieldelearning.com/products/care-certificate More information on Skills for Care’s Endorsement Framework is available at http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Learning-development/Endorsement/About-the-Endorsement-Framework.aspx
10 key characteristics of ‘good nutrition and hydration care’
In 2015 NHS England was asked by Department of Health to review the Council of Europe ’10 key characteristics of good nutrition and hydration care’. These have been reviewed and changes been made following feedback from stakeholders that included patient and public representative organisations; NHS providers; commissioners; national NHS organisations; catering providers and independent pharmaceutical food supplements providers and professional organisations (BAPEN, BDA). The implementation of the ’10 key characteristics of good nutrition and hydration care’ is a requirement to meet the Hospital Food Standards SC19 in the NHS Contract for hospitals. The updated 10 key characteristics are: Screen all patients and service-users to identify malnourishment or risk of malnourishment and ensure actions are progressed and monitored. Together with each patient or service user, create a personal care/support plan enabling them to have choice and control over their own nutritional care and fluid needs. Care providers should include specific guidance on food and beverage services and other nutritional & hydration care in their service delivery and accountability arrangements. People using care services are involved in the planning and monitoring arrangements for food service and drinks provision. Food and drinks should be provided alone or with assistance in an environment conducive to patients being able to consume their food (Protected Mealtimes). All health care professionals and volunteers receive regular raining to ensure they have the skills, qualifications and competencies needed to meet the nutritional and fluid requirements of people using their services. Facilities and services providing nutrition and hydration are designed to be flexible and centred on the needs of the people using them, 24 hours a day, every day. All care providers to have a nutrition and hydration policy centred on the needs of users, and is performance managed in line with local governance, national standards and regulatory frameworks. Food, drinks and other nutritional care are delivered safely. Care providers should take a multi-disciplinary approach to nutrition and hydrational care, valuing the contribution of all staff, people using the service, carers and volunteers working in partnership.
Gracewell of Maids Moreton receives ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission
Gracewell of Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire is celebrating being awarded a prestigious ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Only eight other homes have received this rating in 2017, and only 1% receive this overall, making Gracewell of Maids Moreton one of the country’s top care homes. The rating was awarded following an unannounced inspection in January 2017, which found that ‘the service people received was outstanding’ and the feedback the inspectors received from relatives was ‘overwhelmingly positive’. The quality and commitment of the management at Gracewell of Maids Moreton was particularly noted by the CQC, who describe it as ‘exceptionally well-led’. The rigorous, high-quality training at the home was remarked upon, as was the way the leadership work to provide effective support and guidance to the team. Inspectors noted the dedication of the management, including the receipt in 2016 of two awards for Registered Manager Cheryl Rolt. The caring and friendly nature of the home was also highlighted as outstanding. The inspectors observed that all residents are treated with ‘kindness, compassion and a genuine interest’, and the report found that staff at the home pay great personal attention to each resident. Inspectors highlighted the lengths that Gracewell team members go to guarantee that residents can live as full and independent a life as possible – including those with complex medical conditio Maids Moreton is part of the Gracewell Healthcare group that manages almost 20 homes throughout the UK. Gracewell of Maids Moreton provides luxury care facilities for 60 residents, including specialist dementia care. Cheryl Rolt, Home Manager said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team here at Gracewell of Maids Moreton. It pays testament to the pride our staff take in the care we provide, and the dedication they show to the residents that live here.’ “We are all delighted and we would like to thank everyone who makes our home such a special place to live and work.” Michael Burke, Senior Operations Director for Gracewell Healthcare commented: “Our team works exceptionally hard to deliver high quality person-centred carewhich emphasises quality of life for every individual. We are very pleased that this has been recognised by the CQC, and are proud of everyone at Gracewell of Maids Moreton.” “We will continue to provide the support needed to help ensure that the home maintains its highest standards, fulfilling our commitment to ensuring that all residents receive the exceptional care that they deserve.”
Digital care start-up Cera drives deals with Uber & NHS to bring cutting-edge tech to care sector
• Uber partners with on-demand care provider Cera to transform transportation for growing elderly population • Cera to make use of top-rated specially trained Uber drivers as part of a commitment to delivering quick and reliable social care • NHS hospitals and CCGs choose Cera to provide on-the-go care as part of joined mission to reduce bed-blocking across a region of 5 million • Care Minister David Mowat hails partnerships as ‘innovative’ response to challenges facing elderly in today’s society Two of the world’s most pioneering on-demand technology platforms, Cera and Uber, have today announced an exclusive partnership to bring greater independence and mobility to the UK’s growing elderly population. Cera, the multi-award winning social care start-up – backed by former and current heads of JustEat, Standard Chartered bank, UBS and the World Health Organisation – has also been chosen by the NHS to deliver quick, high quality, and transparent social care to patients out of hospital. The partnership will enable Cera’s London-based carers to use Cera’s co-founder Dr Ben Maruthappu Uber to get to the people they are caring for as quickly and seamlessly as possible. It will also give those who need care the freedom to book cars so they can get out and about when they would otherwise have been housebound, or had to rely on someone else. Disabled customers, or those who need a little extra help, will be able to book UberASSIST – or a fully wheelchair accessible vehicle through UberWAV – driven by one of Uber’s hundreds of fully licensed and top-rated partner drivers, who have been through a specially designed disability equality training course. Alongside the partnership with Uber, Cera has also joined forces with several NHS hospitals and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) that cover over five million people, to boost quality and efficiency in the way social care is delivered. Barts Health NHS Trust and the CCGs for Harrow, Brent and Hillingdon, amongst others, will be using Cera’s services to improve care for the elderly, assist with hospital discharge, crack down on bed-blocking and prevent readmissions through higher quality and on-demand home care. Specifically, at Barts Health NHS Trust – the largest NHS Trust in the country with a 16,000-strong workforce and turnover of £1.4bn – Cera will deliver home care for patients including those with dementia and cancer. Cera will operate across the Trust’s five hospitals, which are St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City, including the Barts Heart Centre; The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel; Newham University Hospital in Plaistow; and Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone and Mile End. Within other institutions, Cera’s services include working with stroke units to improve integration across health and social care, and transform home services for those suffering from recent strokes. Launched in November 2016 following a successful £1.3m seed round, Cera uses state-of-the-art technology to match those needing care with a highly experienced carer, at the right time, at the right place. The service, which is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is the only platform of its kind to get a carer to your door or hospital bed in under 24 hours. The start-up, which has already delivered tens of thousands of hours of care up and down the country, allows anyone to book and coordinate emergency or long-term care from their smartphone. Family members can also send messages to and receive updates from the carer in real time via Cera’s online portal, to ensure complete peace of mind about their loved ones, wherever they are in the world. Dr. Ben Maruthappu, Co-founder and President of Cera, said: “This pioneering partnership between Cera and Uber will radically integrate care and transport through technology. Older people and those with disabilities will now have access to the highest quality drivers, while carers will be able to efficiently travel to ensure they can provide services in the right place at the right time.” Commenting on the partnership with NHS hospitals and CCGs, Maruthappu said: “Today we’re firing the starting gun on revolutionising integration between health and social care through technology. These partnerships tackle major challenges in the NHS, cracking down on bed-blocking and delayed discharges, while providing high-quality and efficient care. Cera’s aim is to set the precedent for technology-led care solutions that benefit patients, families and the NHS alike.” Jo Bertram, Regional General Manager at Uber, said: “We’re really pleased to be partnering with Cera to help improve mobility for some of society’s most vulnerable people. Uber’s mission is for everybody to have access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation and this partnership brings us a step closer to making that a reality. Simply by tapping a button on our app carers will be able to get to people quickly and efficiently, while those with mobility needs will have the freedom to get out and about.” Care Minister David Mowat said: “This is an interesting and innovative proposal which will help raise awareness of the challenges faced by the vulnerable elderly, and those with specific conditions that are becoming increasingly common in our society. I look forward to hearing more about the results in due course.”
Coping with cravings in a person with dementia
It’s not uncommon for a person with dementia to experience an increase in cravings for sugary foods, leading to consumption of excessive quantities of sweets, chocolate and cakes. According to Alzheimer’s Association, taste buds can diminish when the disease takes hold. Researchers believe the brain produces insulin, like the pancreas and insulin levels in the brain can drop, causing cravings. This could also lead to weight gain and unhealthy eating patterns. Recent studies have also shown that as dementia progresses, it attacks part of the brain responsible for self-restraint in our diets. Many experts now believe there is a clear link between Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and a recent study published in the journal, Scientific Reports, identified biological links between dementia and high blood sugar. Alzheimer’s Society says that diabetes could double a person’s risk of developing dementia. The World Health Organization recommends we eat no more than 6 teaspoons or 24g of sugar daily. Recalibrate your taste buds – Sugar is addictive. “The more we eat, the more we want,” says Lily Soutter, a nutritionist for Nuffield Health. “By going cold turkey for a month you can recalibrate your taste buds and cravings will subside.” Detox your home – Make sure there are no tempting sugary treats in the house or in your office at work. If you don’t have any biscuits or chocolate, you won’t be able to eat them. “Out of sight really is out of mind,” says Lily. Curb cravings with fruit – “Whizzing some berries in a blender with natural yogurt and seeds will help,” says Lily. “It’s a low sugar snack to curb those cravings.” Eat protein and healthy fats at every meal – “These are great for balancing blood sugar levels,” says Lily. “They keep you fuller for longer, prevent energy dips and reduce sugar cravings. Examples include fish, nuts, seeds, tofu, avocado, cold-pressed oils, beans and pulses.” Try cinnamon – “A teaspoon of cinnamon a day keeps the cravings away,” says Lily. “Numerous studies have shown that it can reduce sugar cravings by controlling blood glucose levels. Try adding 1 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon to your diet each day.” Ditch fizzy drinks – These can contain 9 tea spoons or more of sugar and be wary of fruit juice too, while some smoothies can contain more. Be careful of natural and artificial sweeteners – Natural sweeteners like honey and fruit juice still contain sugar, while artificial options do nothing to reduce our sugar cravings. Get more sleep – “Studies have shown that a lack of sleep may cause us to eat 300-400 calories the next day,” says Lily. “In order to keep sugar levels high we tend to choose sugary quick fixes. Just one extra hour of sleep per night can increase leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite.” How to control cravings and improve eating habits in a person with dementia: • Don’t overstock the house with too many chocolates or biscuits – temptation will always be there. Try to encourage the person to eat lots of fruit snacks so that they can enjoy sweet foods that won’t lead to weight gain. Chop up fruit if need be to make it easy to eat. • Make sure you have lots of healthy snacks to hand – eating smaller meals more often may be a good idea to avoid the person getting hungry and large meals may be off-putting in any case. • Distract and deflect – if the person has had a lot of sugary foods and asks for more, offer them a cup of tea instead and they may well forget about the cravings. • Encourage the person to stay hydrated – thirst can be mistaken for hunger and water regulates many body functions, so encourage the person to drink water at regular intervals. • Avoid mealtime distractions – a noisy environment where there are lots of people bustling around can result in the person becoming easily distracted and not finishing their food. Try to seat the person in a quiet space during mealtimes. • Eat meals together – encourage the person with dementia to eat with you so that you can monitor their eating habits and also provide some company. Eating proper meals regularly will be more likely to reduce cravings for sugary foods later on. • Make eating easier – try a blue plate rather than a white plate, as food will stand out better on a blue plate. That way, the person will be more likely to identify and see what’s in front of them. • Share puddings and sweet treats – if the person is in the mood for a sugary pudding or chocolate bar, share it between you, so that they don’t eat too much. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/living-with-dementia/behaviour/ https://careandnursing-magazine.co.uk/reducing-medication-for-people-living-with-dementia/
High five for new school of nursing
The University of Sunderland is celebrating today (22 February), after being shortlisted for five Student Nursing Times Awards 2017. The five categories are: • Nurse Education Provider of the Year • Student Experience • Teaching Innovation of the Year – The Living Lab • Partnership of the Year – The University’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement partnership (PCPI) led by Dr Lesley Scott • Educator of the Year – Dr Catherine Hayes The University was praised and congratulated in a confirmation letter from the awards organisers, which said: “The judges had a tough job scoring and have commended the high quality of entries – to be shortlisted is a fantastic achievement!” Organisers also said the University should be very proud that it had been shortlisted across such a broad variety of categories. Professor Tony Alabaster, Academic Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing at the University of Sunderland, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and very proud. It’s hard to believe that in the past year we have completed Phase 2 of the Sciences Complex and opened our Living Lab – with its very impressive teaching facilities and simulation equipment – and we’ve launched the Sunderland School of Nursing, welcoming our first cohort of 23 students onto the BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice programme.” Sue Brent, Head of the Sunderland School of Nursing, said: “We have an incredible, positive and proactive team, who are genuinely excited by what we’re doing. We are committed to excellence and delivering highly quality, career ready graduates with the knowledge and training to make a tangible difference to patient care. “We’re all very proud that our hard work and commitment is being recognized. Our school is growing; we’re developing relationships with new health partnerships and continuing to invest in our faculty’s facilities and programme. This is only the beginning!” The award submissions were prepared by Simone Bedford, BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Programme Leader, who commented: “We’re all so excited about our programme and facilities at the University of Sunderland. When I read what the judges were looking for in the Student Nursing Times Awards I knew we had a very compelling case in a number of categories. To be shortlisted in five is tremendous surprise and we’re delighted that our work is being endorsed at this early stage and at such a prestigious level.” Now in their sixth year, the Student Nursing Times Awards are the only awards to celebrate the very best in student nurses and nurse education. Winners will be announced on 27 April in London at a ceremony paying tribute to the students who have demonstrated the academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses as well as recognising and rewarding outstanding educational establishments and honouring those who are committed to developing new nursing talent. More about the University of Sunderland’s shortlisted categories: Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration The move to an all-degree profession calls for universities to undertake significant work in adapting their courses to reflect the changing demands of the syllabus. This award will recognise those universities that offer high standards of academic and practical teaching, and excellent resources. Student Experience This award seeks to recognise universities and providers of nurse education that are putting an emphasis on the overall student experience. This focus ensures students are supported in a learning community that is nurturing of the whole person as well as being conducive to encouraging excellence in learning and sharing best practice. Student experience is even more relevant with the planned removal of the bursary and the cutting of CPD funding post-registration has raised students’ expectations of their education provider. This will give students more choice about where and how they study. Teaching Innovation of the Year – The Living Lab The academic landscape is becoming more competitive, those universities adapting traditional methods or developing alternate ways to offer interesting, innovative and engaging methods of teaching will be most noticed. This is an award that looks for any teaching method that is sustainable, workable and successful – including (but not limited to) use of social networking, modern communication media or new technology. Partnership of the Year – The University’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement partnership, led by Dr Lesley Scott This award seeks to recognise the important collaboration between higher educational institutions and organisations providing healthcare to the public with a view to providing a conducive learning environment. Educator of the Year – Dr Catherine Hayes Excellent teaching is the foundation of the future generations of nurses. A teacher can inspire, enthuse and motivate students and further their quest for knowledge and understanding.
Social housing and care provider raises thousands for cancer centre
A social housing and care provider has spent the past 12 months taking on a whole host of wacky fundraising events to raise thousands of pounds for a valuable cancer centre. Linc Cymru Housing Association, based in South Wales, has raised £7000 for its adopted charity, Velindre Cancer Centre in honour of a member of staff. The association’s social committee organised a wide range of fundraising activities from a Gung-Ho inflatable assault course and a Man vs Horse challenge. Staff from Linc even teamed up with BBC’s Derek Brockway on his “Walking with the Weatherman” challenge, in addition to taking part in sponsored dress-down days, raffles, tea and coffee mornings and cake sales. Linc’s tenants and residents also got a slie of the action by donating to the appeal and the total raised was also match-funded by company directors. Velindre was chosen as the official charity that year after the decision went to a staff vote. The centre was close to many people’s heart after executive director of Linc Homes Nicola Smith received treatment from the centre when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Nicola said: “I am really proud of everyone involved at Linc who have tirelessly raised so much money for Velindre Cancer Centre. “I would like to express my enormous appreciation and thanks to everyone’s generosity. As someone who has experienced the services they provide, I can safely say that Velindre will put this to good use and continue to provide care, hope and treatment for all those affected by this challenging disease, cancer.” Christopher Rees, co-chair of the Linc Social Committee, added: “We always enjoy organising activities and events to raise money for our chosen charity and it’s wonderful that our efforts are generously supported and match funded by Linc’s Directors. We are delighted at people’s enthusiasm and generosity in giving to such a worthy cause. Well done and thank you to all that helped us reach such a remarkable amount.” The £7,000 raised will be ploughed into research, something consultant Jacinta Abraham from Velindre says is vital to maintaining an excellent standard of care. She said: “We are delighted that Linc chose us to be its charity of choice. This significant amount of money raised will be used to directly fund research projects which will help us to improve our understanding of cancer. I have personally had the privilege of treating Nicola, who has inspired me with her remarkably positive attitude and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to her and the team at Linc.”
