Ensuring your care home garden is accessible
Gardens are an appealing feature of any care home – not only can they brighten up the view from inside but, once the sun is shining, they provide a sensory-rich environment for residents. And, for those who are able, a spot of gardening really refreshes mind and body. It’s important to tend to any garden regularly, otherwise they can become problematic. This is suggested by figures obtained by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as in 2007 it was recorded that there were 115,000 garden falls, slips, and trips. As a garden is such a communal space, residents should not feel as though they can’t use it. This guide will advise on keeping your care home garden accessible. Raised flowerbeds When it comes to the garden, i.e. when residents are trying to reach flowers and plant them, it gets harder to bend down for long periods of time and tend to them properly. However, if you’re worried about this, then raised flowerbeds can be a great way of avoiding this difficulty altogether. If residents are able to bend down for a short while, or are in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, then flowerbeds that are 18-24 inches off the ground will help. Alternatively, if residents can’t bend down at all, then opt for flowerbeds that are 30 to 36 inches off the ground. As we grow older, we often become more fragile, and as a result, more people end up needing assistance such as mobility scooters — this means you need sturdy pathways to accommodate. The paths should be around 3-4 ft or 91-121cm wide; the paths should provide residents with enough room and access to every corner of the garden. Try to ensure that pathways are made of a surface that isn’t slippy and provides enough grip. If you use a gravelled surface, then this should provide enough safety for anybody using your garden. Flagstone or tarmac, meanwhile, are cost-effective materials that will last a long time and offer support in terms of grip and safety. A space for zoning out Your garden may be accessible, but it also needs to be enjoyed. This means you need a place to zone out and relax. If you place an outdoor sofa or bench in the corner of your garden, then this can become a mini-retreat within an already tranquil setting – providing you with greater comfort within your garden. For a more alternative approach, embed seating areas within plants to create a floral atmosphere while residents are sitting down and relaxing. The perfect decking For all gardens, the decking is the centre-piece that hosts all of your outdoor activities. It can be a place where everyone sits and admires your green space! It’s important to choose the right composite decking boards that will be a reliable safe space within your care home garden. To boost accessibility even more, handrails should be built in by professionals. A care home garden is a great space where everyone can socialise, and by making it more accessible for all then residents, family members and staff can enjoy without any compromises.
Tackling diversity and retention issues through social work apprenticeship
Joanna Rawles, Head of Social Work at The Open University, discusses its new social work apprenticeship and how a wider range of applicants can be reached… Social work is a sector facing numerous challenges. Despite over 1.45 million workers currently employed, experts have predicted that an additional 650,000 employees will be needed by 2035 for the sector to keep pace with the rising numbers of people aged 65 and over, who rely on their services. Yet this surge in demand is being undercut by diminishing supply. The sector struggles with retention; with figures suggesting around 390,000 workers leave social work each year. These figures paint a concerning picture, and make exploring alternative avenues for tackling this shortage essential for leaders in the sector, who are looking to build a sustainable talent pipeline. The new Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship comes at an opportune time then, as it allows the sector to open up opportunities for all workers looking for a fulfilling and engaging career. With these issues of attraction and retention undoubtedly taking their toll on the social work sector, it is crucial that careers in the sector are open to all, regardless of their background – which is why this new route is crucial, for creating a sustainable talent pipeline. In such a people-orientated field, it makes sense for social workers to reflect the diversity of the society they serve. And diversity can have a positive impact on culture and performance within all organisations. Given that traditional routes into the sector have often proved problematic for certain demographics, The Open University’s Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship, with its mix of online and face-to-face learning, meets the needs of a diverse range of employees, allowing them to fit training around both home and work commitments. This means that the sector is opened up to prospective apprentices who have not previously been able to undertake a conventional degree as a result of time, money or capacity. Taking disabled students as an example, relocating or commuting to university – a huge barrier that comes with in-classroom delivery methods – is removed. This flexibility is exceptionally valuable to the many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pursue degree-level training, helping to widen the sector’s pool of talent. This also means that study is made available to those who have always found themselves simply too far from a typical education hub, or who have struggled to balance the demands of work, training and personal life. The Open University apprenticeship could be particularly helpful in addressing shortages in more rural areas, where education facilities are harder to access. Most learning is delivered online, which allows apprentices to learn whenever and wherever suits them, but those enrolled will also receive face-to-face support from qualified social workers throughout. By offering existing workers the opportunity to earn while they learn, local authorities and private providers can also increase retention and loyalty. Training makes employees feel valued, and also gives them a clear path of their own progression, giving them a reason to remain with their employer, and within the sector. So, the new apprenticeship is confronting some of the issues the social work sector has been facing for far too long. As an important new route into social work, it can help to widen participation, improve diversity and enhance staff retention rates. In turn, this can help to create a more sustainable talent pipeline, addressing support and demand issues both now and in the future. [1] skillsforcare.org.uk [2] linkedin.com
How to make private healthcare more accessible
Rob Cottingham, credit director at consumer finance specialist, Duologi, discusses the pressure on the NHS and how this can be alleviated via accessible private healthcare. Despite efforts to alleviate the issue of NHS staff shortages and rising patient admissions which put the health services under increasing strain, it appears impossible to meet the growing demand for treatment in the UK. In particular, this is hindering the handling of non-urgent care. From hip and knee replacements to IVF, many patients looking to undergo ‘non-essential’ surgeries are waiting up to two years for treatment and – in some cases – procedures are cancelled altogether. Despite not being critical, these operations are often vital for quality of life. Many patients are therefore left with no other option but to turn to private healthcare practices to handle these costly procedures. Flexible finance solutions, however, which enable healthcare providers to split the cost of their treatments into instalments, could help address this issue by making these procedures far more affordable and accessible to those who need them. Not only could this alleviate the pressure on an already overburdened NHS, but private healthcare providers that effectively establish such offerings can expect to attract more patients and simultaneously boost revenue figures. With this in mind, here are a few ways the sector can make private healthcare more financially accessible. Putting it into practice 0% interest – Offer patients flexible finance without any added interest. Our recent research found that 38% of people would be more likely to utilise finance options if there was no mounting costs to consider. By making this type of service more commonplace, private practices can expect to increase their client base. Buy now, pay later – Allow people to make no initial payment for treatment for a fixed period of time. After the agreed timeframe, if the original cost of care has not been paid, then monthly payments will begin to accrue interest. However, as this payment option requires no initial funding it will undoubtedly encourage more consumers to consider private treatment. Effective promotion – Ensure patients are aware of the financial offerings available. Given that 94% of people wouldn’t even think to ask if a merchant offered POS credit, simple tools such as pop-up banners near till points, posters in the waiting room or a clearly visible website header can alert potential customers to the benefits of finance solutions. This provides a clear reason to purchase from that provider in particular. Going forward It goes without saying that our growing and ageing population will only continue to place increased levels of strain on the NHS. The sector must therefore look to capitalise on rising demand for private healthcare. By reducing the financial strain of non-public healthcare and making it more readily available through flexible finance, organisations can expect to increase treatment accessibility, improve patient satisfaction, as well as boosting their bottom line. For more information on private healthcare, see duologi.com
Web-based portal Lifepsychol monitors patients’ quality of life
Chroma, the UK’s leading national provider of arts therapy services, is to pilot Lifepsychol, an innovative new patient-driven system that could ultimately help up to 14 million people in the UK living with long-term or life-threatening conditions who wish to optimise their quality of life. Giving users back control of their care, the easy-to-use web-based portal monitors real-time patient-self-reported quality of life indicators. Measuring 12 essential areas that have the biggest impact on how patients view their rehabilitation and recovery, Lifepsychol helps clinicians and next of kin track their loved one’s levels of: Developed by Innervate Ltd, Chroma will trial the system with clients coming through their new Chroma Case Management (CCM) service. CCM is a brain injury case management service which uses bespoke therapy programmes and digital healthcare innovations to enable patients return to normal life and work following a brain injury. Lifepsychol enables users to record how their quality of life is changing whilst living with a long-term, chronic condition. The system also enables clinicians and case managers to review progress between consultations, so giving a fuller picture of the impact of the treatment users receive. Daniel Thomas, joint Managing Director of Chroma, said: “Having tested Lifepsychol internally over the last few months, we’ve seen the huge potential the system can offer patients, therapists and our case managers.” “Lifepsychol places the individual at the heart of quality of life assessment and encourages healthcare professionals to focus on the impact of the symptoms on a person’s life, rather than just focus on the symptoms.” Used daily, Lifepsychol is a quick and visual approach that shows how actions taken, either by the user or professional, can change a person’s quality of life. Users are more involved and therefore more encouraged to become a partner in the management of their long-term condition. Additionally, it means a more holistic approach to treatment.” Dr Neil Bindemann of Innervate Ltd, who developed Lifepsychol, added: “The Government has recognised that improving the quality of life of people with long-term conditions is a key outcome for an effective healthcare service. However, our own extensive research identified that existing quality of life measures do not properly assess the impact of a condition on issues that patients often wish to discuss. “Evidence from over 600 people, which help develop the 12 issues monitored, also provided further evidence that quality of life assessment needed to take a more personalised approach. Our system helps health professionals to engage in a more meaningful way, making health care more responsive to the quality of life needs and wishes of patients as well as encourages better, communication between healthcare professionals and patients.” Lifepsychol provides a simple way for a service to assess whether it is improving the quality of life of people with long-term conditions, on an individual and population basis. It is presently a web-based system, but a mobile version with the ability to set up alerts will soon be launched. For more information on Lifepsychol, see the website.
Music study investigates communication in people living with dementia
Chelsea Court Place, a residential home for individuals living with dementia, is working with the University of Roehampton in a research project entitled Beyond Words, which uses ‘micro-songs’ to recapture and sustain functional language in people with advanced dementia. The study aims to investigate the power of music, enabling people living with dementia to retain their speech and help communicate their wishes and needs for a longer period than would be normally be the case in the natural deterioration caused by the disease. Researchers, Professor Adam Ockelford, Dr Fiona Costa, Catlin Shanghnessya PhD student and ‘savant’ pianist Derek Paravacini are leading this innovative project with residents from Chelsea Court Place. The weekly, 45 minute sessions include a repertoire of familiar songs (requested by the audience) and proceed into a series of micro- songs; short rhythmic melodies associated with key functional language. Such micro-songs have been successfully used with children and young people with complex needs to scaffold or substitute language but no research has been conducted to understand the extent to which this happens. The project launched in October 2017 and is proving to be extremely popular with the residents. Key finding from this period through to July 2018 have so far included: The key findings were as follows: • Almost all the participants were able to learn the new songs and sing them following demonstrations by the research team. • The songs were recalled initially over a period of a week, a month, and then three months (with no exposure between times). • The songs were motivating, providing participants with information that could be interesting and helpful: for example, introducing the name of the person sitting next to them (and in some cases their own name); the day of the week. Other songs encouraged movement and reinforced laterality. Some afforded the opportunity to express how they were feeling, which engendered some tactile responses. Some allowed participants to indicate their wants and needs. For example: • Contrary to the initial concerns of the research team, they were not interpreted as patronising, but engaging and fun. It appeared that, once they were familiar, the participants did not distinguish between the songs they had known for many years and the new ones. Background There are increasing numbers of people with dementia in the UK. Current estimates by the Alzheimer’s Society suggest that there are as many as 850,000. This number is expected to rise to over one million by 2025 and to two million by 2051. A cure for dementia is still a long way off. It is therefore imperative to find ways of improving the quality of life of those with the disease. To this end, several health bodies have recommended the development of non-pharmacological approaches to care. One such approach is the use of music. Various research studies have shown that participatory music programmes can regulate symptoms of anxiety and depression, reduce agitation and aggression, facilitate social interaction, retain memory and improve general wellbeing. One of the most debilitating symptoms of dementia is a decline in the capacity to speak. This leads to social isolation, a loss of a sense of time and place, and a reduced capacity to make choices. However, it appears that many musical abilities and memories remain intact during the course of the disease. This raises the possibility that music can be used to rekindle and sustain verbal communication – an idea that was the main focus of the ‘MIND: Phase 2’ study. For 10 months, the research team led weekly music sessions with two groups of people with moderate to severe dementia, all in residential care. Each session was preceded with 45 minutes of singing, using preferred music from the participants’ teens and twenties. This was in itself a positive experience. Almost all joined in the singing and were invariably able to recall at least some of the lyrics, thereby accessing language that was normally unavailable to them. Following the large-group session, further, smaller groups were engaged in singing for a further 45 minutes, using, within the preferred pieces, specially composed ‘micro-songs’. These set everyday words and phrases to simple tunes as shown below. Conclusion and next steps These songs, each very simple in content, were relevant to the participant’s lives, and a way for them to navigate their social environments. Taking part raised their confidence in their ability to sing and in their memory, often accessing language that was no longer part of their day-to-day vocabulary. The wider effects, such as improved social interaction with other residents and increased self-awareness were, even if short-term, of benefit to them. It is hoped to initiate a further project that will embed the materials in the daily lives of participants, enabling them to express their feelings and communicate their wishes and needs for a longer period than would normally be the case in the course of the disease. Professor Adam Ockelford comments: “Beyond Words hopes to see successful results showing an improvement in sustained use of language for participants and ultimately offering them an improved quality of life. Evidence has so far suggested that music has a powerful role to play in communication with individuals who have complex needs and we are very proud to be working with the Chelsea Court Place team and residents to investigate and hopefully prove the theory.” Christine Valentine-Bunce, Head of Commissioning and Operations at Chelsea Court Place adds: “Music is very powerful and evocative and the sheer joy experienced by our residents in the Beyond Words sessions is remarkable. We have been very impressed with the way in which our residents have embraced the weekly sessions and are very excited about seeing the results.” About Derek Paravacini Derek Paravacini is a world-renowned ‘savant’ pianist who is working with the University of Roehampton on a ground-breaking research project “Beyond Words” at Chelsea Court Place. Derek first shot to fame when he was just nine years old, playing jazz with the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London. Numerous television
Caring for carers: practical ways to make a difference
Russell Pillar, director of care interiors at Spearhead Healthcare, advises how the right equipment and training makes a huge difference – to staff, residents and families… All of us are aware that the care sector is burgeoning as our elderly population continues to rise. In fact, the Office for National Statistics has predicted a 36% growth in people aged 85+ between 2015 and 2025, up to 2million, and this is expected to lead to even higher demand for care home services. Providing this care is of course reliant on carers, which means attracting and retaining staff is crucial to the sector. However, here there is a growing challenge, with some 110,000 vacancies in England’s adult social care sector at any given time and a 30.7% average annual staff turnover, according to Skills for Care. Outstanding staff care, outstanding resident care It’s unfortunately a common story in CQC inspection reports to see comments about carers being too busy to spend quality time with residents. Also, figures from the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) show that carers have a higher than average risk of developing issues such as work-related musculoskeletal disorders and stress. While care of residents is always foremost, the sector is becoming more aware of the challenges and risks the workforce encounters when fulfilling their duties – and the clear link between well-supported carers and the delivery of outstanding levels of care. So what can be done on a practical level to support carers and raise overall standards? Choose the right equipment In a highly physical job, having the right equipment in place is vital to free up more of carers’ time to spend engaging meaningfully with residents, and also helps to minimise injury risks. Beds that are adjustable in height for example, such as profiling care beds, help reduce the risk of back injuries. Sometimes a low bed is necessary, of course, but homes can opt for specially designed beds that rise to the same height as a standard profiling bed, such as Spearhead’s Encore Low Bed. Providing the right moving and handling equipment such as hoists and slings in the bathroom, and by beds and chairs, will also help to ensure carers are able to move people safely and securely. Equally, the likes of toilet surrounds and seat aids help everyone by enabling residents to be less reliant on assistance. Don’t neglect staff training We offer a fit-out and room-placement service for care homes, which involves taking the furniture into the building, unwrapping, positioning and fixing it in place as required. While this saves handling by staff and ensures that everything is installed properly, it is not a substitute for training staff in how to lift objects safely. All staff should receive training in lifting and moving people and objects with everyone’s safety in mind. When it comes to the vital matter of cleaning, certain chemicals may be necessary to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, but they can often be dangerous themselves if not used correctly. Training in what products to use, and how to do so safely, is absolutely essential. For precisely this reason we are seeing increasing demand for our Platinum Plan cleaning system that comes with detailed cleaning routines and wall charts, with every item is colour-coded for its purpose. Retaining good staff is central to providing high standards of consistent care, as well as complying with regulations and passing inspections with flying colours. Based on our 30 years’ experience as a supplier to the care sector, we can certainly testify to the inextricable link between the health, safety and quality of life of carers and those they care for. See the Spearhead wesbite for more ideas on caring for your carers.
Latest news from BBI LLC, pressure ulcer detection experts
The latest news from BBI LLC, the pioneers in biometric-sensor based medical devices… September 2019 BBI LLC boosts its global team with appointment of Zoe Wood as Senior Clinical Manager Zoe Wood has joined BBI LLC in the new position of Global Senior Clinical Manager. As BBI’s Global Senior Clinical Manager, Zoe’s primary role will be to develop and manage BBI’s clinical and health economics research, post market studies and publication plan. She will also support the marketing team in developing evidence-based claims and messaging for BBI’s SEM Scanner, and the global sales organisations in presenting clinical and HE data to expert groups, customers and other commercial organisations. Kate Hancock, Global Vice President of Marketing and Communications at BBI said: “A Senior Clinical Manager is essential for BBI’s increased growth and focus in furthering our clinical and health economic data. Zoe brings a great deal of experience and is a welcome and important addition to our team.” Zoe joins BBI LLC with more than 20 years’ experience in clinical care, having a Clinical Nursing Master’s Degree – Wound Healing and Tissue Repair and holding positions at high profile organisations including Healogics, Archimed and BUPA. Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I have seen first-hand the impact of pressure ulcers on two members of my family, yet these could so easily have been prevented. BBI’s technology has the potential to help all healthcare professionals revisit their current pressure ulcer prevention strategies, and I am very excited to join this innovative company.” September 2019 BBI LLC extends its partnership with RCSI on diabetic foot ulcer prevention research Manchester, UK, and Dublin, IRELAND, – BBI LLC (Bruin Biometrics), a developer of innovative sensor-based diagnostic products, and the Skin Wounds, and Trauma (SWaT) Research Centre at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), announced today that they have agreed to extend their partnership to undertake a number of collaborative projects that will employ BBI’s proprietary biocapacitance technology, the SEM Scanner. The research programme will continue to explore biocapacitance science as a novel methodology supporting Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) prevention. It seeks to radically alter the progression of the disease while contributing to the biological understanding of DFU development, the underlying pathophysiology and biomarkers, such as sub-epidermal moisture (SEM). The ultimate aim is to prevent Diabetic Foot Ulceration and reduce the prevalence of this significant public health problem. The planned study includes the use of BBI’s SEM Scanner to identify Diabetic Foot Ulceration before it is visible. This clincial research will enable the translation of evidence into contempoaray clinical decision-making, and those at risk of developing DFUs will ultimately benefit from this approach, improving thier quality of life, and saving services money. Highly significant clinical data has been found in the area of pressure ulcer prevention “The team at the Skin Wounds and Trauma (SWaT) Research Centre at RCSI is delighted with the opportunity to extend our partnership with BBI LLC. Our research collaboration to date has yielded highly significant clinical data mainly in the area of pressure ulcer prevention. The planned study will extend our research relationship into the area of Diabetic Foot Ulceration and how it can be prevented through earlier identification by the analysis of the role of biocapacitance technology in DFU prevention. At the heart of our research are patient outcomes that will improve patient quality of life. Our aim is that this study will continue to make a significant mark on the area of earlier identification of Diabetic Foot Ulceration with the resultant outcome that the lives of patients and their families are improved ’ said Professor Zena Moore, Director, SWaT Research Centre. RCSI. “I am delighted to extend the partnership with the RCSI and I look forward to the new advances our continued collaboration will bring in the prevention of this pernicious clinical problem,” said Martin Burns, CEO, BBI LLC Diabetes is a growing epidemic, with associated complexity of treatment and management from a wound care perspective, prevalence of foot ulceration reaches as high as 10%. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic limb amputation in the world. Within 18 months following amputation, almost 50 percent of individuals will develop ulceration on the other limb and of these, 58% will have further amputations within three to five years. It’s worthy of note that the three-year mortality rate after the first amputation is between 20 and 50 percent. This is down to the motor and sensory neuropathy associated with diabetes, resulting in damage to the foots nerve supply. This chain of events leads to further bone, joint and soft tissue damage, which can lead to irreversible cell destruction. Quality of life is threatened through mobility loss, subsequent social functioning and intractable pain experienced in almost 50% of these patients. Within healthcare, diabetic foot ulceration represents estimated costs of €4–6 billion in light of a 1-1.4 million prevalence, placing a significant burden on resource. The SEM Scanner received European CE Mark approval in 2014 and Health Canada clearance in 2016 and is in full commercial use in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the European Union including the UK, Belgium and Spain with additional markets expected to be opened in 2019. Additionally, FDA Authorisation to market the SEM Scanner in the USA was received in December 2018. December 2018 SEM Scanner detects pressure sores before they’re visible Care and Nursing Essentials editor Victoria Galligan spoke to the team at Bruin Biometrics, who are behind the SEM Scanner. The scanner can detect pressure damage before it is visible to the naked eye… Could you outline the workings of the SEM Scanner – how does it detect the moisture under the skin? The SEM Scanner is a, hand-held portable device that has been designed to measure sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) (also known as localised oedema) which is an invisible precursor to the development of incipient pressure damage. The analogy we like to use is one of an oil tanker moving through water. The oil tanker is the actual damage to the skin and tissue, but the big wave in
How hygiene can make up for funding cuts
Steve Nurdin, marketing manager at Cannon Hygiene, explains how an effective hygiene strategy can help care homes providers achieve positive customer feedback and attract new business. The UK social care system is facing a crisis and care homes will be hit the hardest. Spending cuts and unsustainably low budgets – on average £620 a week – have led to care home providers not being able to cover day-to-day costs, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Guardian also recently reported that social care spending has decreased by £7bn since 2010 and English councils plan to push through another £700m in social care cuts by the end of 2019. Care homes increasingly rely on the ability to attract and retain business to survive as a result. Clients expect nothing but excellence from care facility providers and poor high hygiene conditions are usually the main area for complaints and negative customer perceptions. But faced with decreasing budgets many care home owners face staff shortages and cleaning tasks often slip to the bottom of priority lists. Especially with cold and flu season just around the corner, excellent hygiene is crucial to avoid falling below standards and facing mounting customer complaints. Infections such as the common cold and flu are highly contagious and can spread like wildfire through any facility if no precautions are taken. The best defence is introducing a consistent hygiene strategy which can work in the background and take the pressure off already busy staff. Good hand hygiene is the single most important factor which can help prevent a seasonal outbreak of viruses. Hands are responsible for the spread of 80 per cent of infectious diseases and effective hand hygiene is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to kill bacteria before it can spread. Automatic hand sanitiser dispensers should be provided in key areas such as communal spaces and near entrances and exits. In washrooms – if en-suite or shared – proper hand-washing facilities are vital. No-touch solutions, such as automatic taps, soap dispensers and hand driers, can reduce the transfer of germs from the washroom into the wider care home, while also saving staff resources. Airborne germs are some of the easiest to transmit but hardest to prevent. While it is common practice, many people do not cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing. This can quickly spread bacteria between care home residents. The good news is that recent advances in technology means care home operators can now manage indoor air quality effectively and automatically. Air filters can kill bacteria, neutralise pollen and dust and fragrance the air to keep premises smell fresh throughout the day. The key to success lies in the detail, and special attention should be paid to areas where dirt and bacteria can settle and collect unnoticed. Vacuuming doormats may seem sufficient as the surface appears clean, but it only removes the top 10 per cent of the dirt, for example. Instead, they should be professionally laundered on a regular basis. Equally as important are door handles as bacteria can spread through hand to surface touch within hours throughout an entire building. In fact, a study conducted by The University of Arizona found that traces of a harmless virus placed on a door handle spread to half of the surfaces in the same building within just four hours. To tackle this issue there are solutions available that automatically spray an antibacterial mist on door grips and effectively neutralise bacteria. Managers should identify germ hotspots and develop a consistent hygiene strategy that can work in the background without much assistance. Automatic no-touch solutions will provide peace of mind for care home providers that an effective hygiene strategy is in place to protect residents and save resources. See cannonhygiene.com for more details on hygiene and infection prevention
How can nurses and carers progress their careers?
Michael Johnson-Ellis, one of the managing directors of Healthier Recruitment – an agency that fills vacancies for NHS, private and third sector healthcare organisations with permanent staff only – discusses career development… With services under pressure, tighter budgets and a lack of staff and resources, many nurses and carers report feeling stunted with regard to professional development. However, there are a number of things you can do to progress your career regardless of the external situation.Here are some potential pathways to development: Setting Goals Setting goals orients you towards a certain outcome. Scheduling time to sit down and think about your career, options and aspirations and setting a goal with a deadline when you do so is a great start towards development. Having a long term strategy, such as a five year plan, where you not only identify what you’d like be doing, but also the type of organisations you’d like to work for, will also help guide you towards your larger goals. Networking The importance of networking cannot be understated when trying to progress your career. There’s no holy grail when it comes to networking, but some examples are: – Attending events, job fairs, and recruitment open days.– Using LinkedIn and reaching out to fellow healthcare professionals.– Joining professional networks.– Speaking to colleagues, friends or family about potential opportunities. For nurses, networking is also vital for completing revalidation. As 20 hours of your CPD must involve ‘participatory learning’, activities such as attending conferences can be instrumental in completing this. Furthermore, networking helps with other areas of revalidations, such as obtaining five pieces of ‘practice related feedback’ and reflective discussion. The appraisal system Put time aside in advance of your next appraisal and think about development opportunities you can discuss with your appraiser. You could do this three months ahead of your interview by drafting a Personal Development Plan (PDP). If you make it clear with your appraiser how you wish to develop, it will put you in good stead with those senior to you, making it more likely you’ll be considered for future opportunities when they arise. See what’s out there Searching for vacancies on job websites or social media and signing up for job alerts from agencies and employers is an important step to take. Doing so will help you learn which roles are in demand, what the pay, hours and conditions are like, and the requirements that employers are looking for. Also, following potential employers on social media and keeping up to date with the latest news and developments will provide key information on opportunities and expand your market knowledge. See healthierrecruitment.co.uk for more details on CPD for nurses and carers.
