Quartet of Leeds care homes awarded Good rating by CQC
Four Orchard Care Homes in Leeds have been awarded ‘Good’ ratings by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care. Nesfield Lodge, Middleton Park Lodge, Paisley Lodge and Lofthouse Grange & Lodge were given the ratings following scheduled inspections. The homes were assessed across five categories – safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership, achieving ‘Good’ ratings across all criteria. Offering residential dementia care and short-term respite care, the homes promote a person-centred approach to care that provides residents with independence, compassion and empathy and all play a vital role in their local communities. One resident at Paisley Lodge said “The staff are kindness itself. They make this place what it is, a home, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” Relatives with family living at Nesfield Lodge confirmed “The carers are brilliant, they bend over backwards for residents and their families – it’s more like home, so welcoming and kind.” Sarah Armitage, Regional Director at Orchard Care Homes, commented “I couldn’t be more proud of our Leeds homes for the hard work and commitment that they have put into achieving their Good CQC Ratings. Our focus now shifts to maintaining this Good standard and continuing to improve ourselves.” Quality of care and invigorating best practice is at the forefront of Orchard Care Homes’ strategy and this latest CQC rating is testament to the group’s impressive record to provide the highest quality of care to its residents, with 71% of its homes now rated ‘Good’ and a 5* Food and Hygiene rating across all of Orchard Care Homes services. www.orchardcarehomes.com
Family-run company works with region’s ambulance service
Harrogate-based Yorkshire Care Equipment has supplied Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) with over 50 Raizer emergency lifting chairs that are now being used by first responders, falls teams and care homes in the Sheffield area. YAS and NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have started a project in the city that aims to get people who have fallen back on their feet as soon as possible. The Raizer chairs are part of this joint project which provides staff with appropriate lifting equipment and focuses on residents having an improved experience. The results will be shared with other ambulance services, some of which are also trialling the equipment. Yorkshire Ambulance Service responds to nearly 800,000 emergencies every year with around 10% of these related to people who have fallen. Many of these calls come from care homes where staff are either physically unable to lift the person back to their feet or are unable to do so because of lack of training and access to appropriate equipment. Karen Owens, Director of Urgent Care and Integration at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Feedback from the care home staff and residents in the project described the Raizer chair as something which will help staff move people safely and with dignity and will give staff the confidence to assess injury prior to making the decision to moving someone. We very much appreciate the collaborative working and funding provided by the CCG on this project.” The Raizer is completely unique from other falls lifting products because it only takes one carer to operate it. In turn, this saves money and time for care staff. Steve Ellis, Yorkshire Care’s Raizer Specialist, said: “When we worked with YAS last year, we knew that the Raizer could make a real difference to the level of care they were providing. Even when I’ve carried out training with their staff, you can see how much more confident the staff feel when they know they have a device that will genuinely improve the quality of care they provide.” For more information about Raizer please visit https://www.yorkshirecareequipment.com/product/moving-handling/fall-assists/
Care Sourcer launches free health and wellbeing support
Care Sourcer launches free health and wellbeing support for over 800,000 UK care workers Care Sourcer, the UK’s first comparison and matching site for elderly care, has today announced that it is launching a free Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to all UK care provider employees. The free programme, provided through Health Assured and initially funded by Legal & General, is available to employees of both care homes and care-at-home providers. Care Sourcer’s EAP will provide a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7, covering a wide range of issues including mental or physical stress, bereavement of residents they have formed close bonds with, money worries, and general low morale. Stress, depression, anxiety and sickness are highly prevalent amongst care workers and can force them to take extended time off work. In many cases, it leads to high turnover of staff. EAPs provide invaluable support to help people taking time off work to deal with mental and physical stress and can even get them to return to work sooner. Care Sourcer estimates that around 800,000 care workers, many of whom face daily challenges such as stress and depression, will benefit from their EAP. Care Sourcer is free for people seeking care and searches thousands of registered care providers across the UK to bring a tailored list of local care providers to users within 48 hours. Legal & General will fund the EAP for the first 12 months of its operation. Last year, the FTSE100 financial services company announced it was investing £6m in Care Sourcer, before launching its care-focused Retirement Living Solutions division earlier this year. Care providers can register for the free EAP at caresourcer.com/behind-every-care-worker Andrew Parfery, CEO, Care Sourcer: “Care workers are local heroes; they dedicate their lives to caring for others but often there is no one to care for them in their time of need. Stress and depression, a lack of confidence and anxiety are all big challenges facing people in the care workforce. “At Care Sourcer, our goal is to use technology to help create a fairer care system that is easier for those seeking support to find the care their loved ones need, but we also want to get behind the UK’s care workers. Many often go above and beyond to help the people they are looking after and we’re proud to offer our support by providing this free EAP that can help those working in the care sector in their own time of need. “Improving the retention of staff is central to creating a better care system. Our EAP will support providers to better the work-life balance of their caring staff, supporting them in their time of need, and ultimately help care homes and at home care companies to build sustainable, quality-driven businesses.” Steve Ellis, CEO, Legal & General Retirement Living Solutions: “We invested in Care Sourcer as we want to help transform the care sector by making it better for both those in need of care and the care workers that work so hard to support thousands of people across the UK. “Our Group Protection business has long supported EAPs as an effective initiative to tackle stress and depression amongst employees and ultimately help them return to work sooner. For Legal & General, supporting Care Sourcer’s EAP launch is another positive step towards our long-term aim of building a better, fairer society for all.” Richard Muncaster, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity, offered his support for the EAP, saying: “Our own research shows that care workers often face challenges with finances, mental health, care needs at home, and not feeling valued, so news of a free employee assistance helpline for the sector is very welcome. Now all care organisations, regardless of budget, can offer care workers professional support to talk through any personal challenges, and provide guidance on how to get further help.” Find out more
Bluebird Care Mid Essex is one of the best care providers
Bluebird Care Mid Essex has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. Only 1% of home care providers receive this rating. The CQC rating was awarded following a comprehensive inspection in May 2019 and is a significant achievement, making Bluebird Care Mid Essex one of the best home care providers in the area. Bluebird Care Mid Essex provides flexible and high-quality homecare and support services to people living in their own homes in the community, including older people and those with mental health, physical disability or sensory impairment needs. The team provide a variety of services, including Dementia Care, Respite Care, End of Life Support, Live-in Care, Night Care & Support and Specialist Care services for a wide range of other medical conditions. The CQC’s report showed the service provided by Bluebird Care Mid Essex was widely praised by clients, their relatives and the healthcare professionals working for them. Those receiving the service said the staff went above and beyond expectations, remarking that, “They [staff] make me feel human, worth something and feel valued”. Similarly, relatives had confidence in the ability of staff, with one remarking: “I couldn’t praise them highly enough. They are brilliant, wonderful [and] they go far and beyond what they need to”. The inspectors also praised the staff noting that they ‘spoke with compassion when referring to the people they cared for’ and carried out their roles with ‘people at the heart of the service’. They were commended in particular for their continuity of care, with relatives receiving a weekly rota that is strictly adhered to. Daily communication in relation to the service was described as excellent by people using the service, relatives and the healthcare professionals involved. In addition, Bluebird Care Mid Essex were described as ‘exceptionally proactive’ in recognising social exclusion and isolation in the community and for their work to collaborate with other local services, including the fire service and the police. You can read the Bluebird Care report in full on CQC’s website at https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-730988372. The report found that the service provided an ‘Outstanding’ quality of care – the highest accolade they can award. This is an endorsement of not just the quality of care, but the systems they have in place and their treatment of staff. The CQC noted all the correct systems were in place to monitor the delivery of care audits, spot checks, staff observational supervision and quality assurance questionnaires. Additionally, lessons that were learned to improve levels of care were documented and shared with the management team and in staff meetings. Moreover, the wellbeing of care assistants is viewed as key by management and care assistants in turn said they felt ‘valued and supported’. Fundamentally, the CQC viewed Bluebird Care Mid Essex as an excellent service with a ‘people first’, caring ethos. Key to their service is the delivery of person-centred care and the overriding view of their relationship with people using the service as a ‘partnership’. Lucy McCormack, Director of Bluebird Care Mid Essex, said: “I am really proud of this rating and I am so pleased that the CQC has seen all the hard work and dedication of our team. The team work so well together and always go above and beyond for their customers. “The whole Bluebird Care Mid Essex team will continue to work every day to maintain this ‘Outstanding’ service and put our customers and their needs first. It is a great privilege to work with staff and customers who are such wonderful people and I am so grateful for their continued support.” Yvonne Hignell, Managing Director of Bluebird Care, said: “It’s wonderful to see such a glowing endorsement of the Bluebird Care Mid Essex team. They are a really hard working group of individuals and the leadership at this office has a lot to do with its strong success. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the delivery of our outstanding services in Mid Essex and look forward to seeing what is to come from this team in the future.” For more information about Bluebird Care Mid Essex visit https://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/mid-essex or call 01245 263 962.
All Borough Care Homes Rated Good By CQC
All of Borough Care Homes for older people are rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. This follows inspections at Bamford Close, Bruce Lodge and Cawood House, which all recently received a ‘good’ rating. Borough Care is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has eleven homes in the borough. The CQC said of Bamford Close in Cale Green that: “The service had an open and supportive culture.” The CQC noted that: “People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their own lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.” In its report for Bruce Lodge in Offerton, the CQC states: “Staff talked to residents with respect and attention. People’s dignity and privacy was respected by staff.” At Cawood House in Brinnington, the CQC observed that: “Staff displayed caring values; they treated people with kindness, dignity and respect during care delivery. People were cared for by staff who knew them well.” Dr Mark Ward, CEO at Borough Care, says: “It’s great that the hard work and dedication of all our teams has resulted in each of our homes now being rated as good by the Care Quality Commission. We have been working hard to achieve a good rating across all of our homes and I’m pleased everyone’s effort and commitment has been rewarded. We will continue to strive to deliver the very best care for every resident. We understand choosing a care home is a big decision and it’s important to make the best choice for a loved one. At Borough Care we recognise that every resident is unique and should be treated as such. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all option, our staff take time to find out what each and every person loves so they can deliver the care and support residents need to continue to live fulfilled and valuable lives.” For more information about Borough Care Homes please visit https://www.boroughcare.org.uk
NCS Young People Get Arty At Borough Care’s Lisburne Court
Borough Care recently welcomed young people taking part in a National Citizen Service – NCS – project to its Lisburne Court home in Offerton. Borough Care, the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport, has linked up with The Challenge, one of the leading providers of the National Citizen Service. NCS is a government-backed programme open to young people between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. The programme helps them develop skills for their working life and the transition into adulthood. The group of young people met with staff and residents at Lisburne Court to decide what the project should entail. It was decided the outside area where residents sit needed brightening up so the young people came up with a mural design, which was painted onto wood and attached to the building. Circles of wood, from a felled tree, were decorated by residents and the young people working together. These will be hung from tree branches, as a memory of the day. Commenting on the National Citizen Service project, Donna Allwood, Activity Lifestyle Facilitator at Lisburne Court, says: “The young people did an amazing job. They were very friendly towards our residents and interacted with them brilliantly. Being involved with a National Citizen Service project has been great for our residents, who have loved having the buzz of young people around. There have been benefits for the young people too, as they have got to know more about people from a different generation and really made a difference to their lives. The young volunteers were first introduced to our residents at a tea dance we held at the home, which was a great way for everyone to meet and do something fun together. Young and old alike had a great afternoon. On the day they painted the mural and wooden plaques for the trees, it was lovely to see the young people interacting with some of our residents and helping them create some beautiful artwork that everyone at the home will be able to enjoy.” Shivani Oza, 16, from Bramhall was elected as the project’s Team Director by her fellow National Citizen Service participants. Shivani says: “Doing this project has made me more aware of dementia and what some of the older people are going through. Doing something so worthwhile is great. I’ve enjoyed helping the residents to paint. The mural we’ve all produced features a bee, to represent Greater Manchester as a whole, and forget-me-not flowers, which are associated with dementia. All our artwork will really brighten up the garden for residents.” Tambir Ahmed, 16, decided to participate in the National Citizen Service programme as he wanted to challenge himself and help out for a good cause. Tambir says: “My confidence has improved, I’ve mixed with different people and made lots of new friends. Working with the older people has been great. It’s been lovely to see the residents getting involved, creating something together and seeing them happy. Being involved in this project, I’ve learnt a lot more about dementia.” Praise Owoeye, 16, thinks she has got lots out of the project. Praise says: “Getting to know people from different generations and seeing a different side of life was a new experience for me. I really enjoyed helping the older people with the painting. Participating in the National Citizen Service scheme has given me more confidence too.” To raise money for the materials to complete their project, the National Citizen Service participants did a sponsored litter pick around the trail of giant painted frogs in Stockport.
Residential Care Home Thriving as New Extension is Announced
The Beeches Residential Care Home has announced the addition of a new extension to its current home, enabling more people in the area to access care and support. Located in Ixworth near Bury St Edmunds, the home has extended their building with an additional ten en-suite bedrooms adding to the existing single, double and en-suite rooms. The new addition also features a landscaped courtyard where residents can enjoy outdoor space and socialise with friends and family. The home has plans to celebrate the unveiling of the extension with friends, family and the local community invited to take a tour and meet residents. Fitted with modern furnishings, the new addition to the home includes en-suite showers, along with room for residents’ own belongings to make them feel at home. Angela Wade, The Beeches Registered Manager, explained the secret to the home’s success; “By finding the right staff, delivering the best care and creating a friendly, welcoming environment, we have been able to thrive over the past 13 years, and now even extend. “We are proud of the compassionate care that we provide to our residents each and every day. Our first priority will always be the happiness of our residents, creating a place they can call home and this expansion is testament to the commitment of our care team. “Our residents and care team are already excited by the prospect of meeting new people and welcoming them into the community.” The Beeches provides specialist dementia residential care with a team of dedicated care staff who provide around the clock care for residents. For more information on The Beeches Care Home, or to take a look around the home, please call 01359 230773 or visit https://www.thebeeches-ixworth.co.uk
CM urges the social care industry to embrace technology
Leading care workforce management solution urges the social care industry to embrace technology A market leading workforce management technology company is urging local authorities and care providers to embrace technology and digital solutions to tackle the social care crisis. Part of HAS Technology Group, CM (previously CM2000) provide innovative mix and match technology to suit the needs and budgets of local authority and private care providers. With the social care industry at a tipping point, and many providers struggling to be financially sustainable, technology is providing the ability to gather intelligence, support the achievement of outcomes and ensure the right care is delivered at the right time. Launched in 1999, CM created the electronic homecare monitoring market at a time when manually processing timesheets was the norm and transparency of care delivery was non-existent. CM started as a simple visit time recording solution and has grown rapidly now supporting 122 local authorities and over 3,000 care provider branches with integrated care monitoring, scheduling, safeguarding and financial management solutions, as well as latest innovations including wearable technology. CM has continually innovated to meet the changing needs of the social care market and has been at the forefront of supporting outcomes-based commissioning and continuity of care delivery, with over 240,000 service users currently benefiting from CMs technology services. North Tyneside Council commented: “One word we associate with CM’s technology is SAFE – safe in the knowledge my customers are receiving the best possible service, delivered at the right time providing the right care and that my staff are safe while at work.” Mark Kennion, CM director, added: “CM has come a long way since its inception, initially adopted as an efficiency tool. Advancements in technology, and the innovative nature of our business, has enabled us to continually adapt and develop systems that will ultimately improve the quality of care delivered to the end user. “Our technology has already proven to enable capacity, reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. This has to be about improving the quality of care people receive and the social care industry need to treat digital projects as long-term business change projects.” CMs vision is to help improve the efficiency and quality of home care delivery with the belief that care should be good quality with services that are transparent. Whether care is funded by an individual or the state, CM believes that you should only pay for what is actually delivered and this needs to work in tandem with a fair price for care. Cllr Kathy Williams, Cabinet Member for Long-term Care, Gloucestershire County Council added “Our top priority has always been to make sure vulnerable people across the county receive the care they need. CM has helped us ensure that care is being met”. HAS Technology Group offers a variety of services, including CM, PAMMS and ARMED, which provide holistic prevention, commissioning and a delivery package of solutions. The group is leading the way with an innovative approach to social care technology solutions to ensure ongoing improvements in delivery and quality of care.
Northampton General Hospital hosts Qualified Nursing Open Day
Northampton General Hospital (NGH) is holding a Qualified Nursing Open Day on Saturday 7th September 2019, for registered nurses looking for a fresh challenge to find out about career opportunities across Medicine, Paediatrics and Theatres, meet staff and take a tour of the hospital facilities. Northampton General Hospital provides acute care services for 380,000 people and has two gynaecology theatres and 2 obstetric theatres that are open 24/7. The hospital has recently invested in new facilities, including an emergency centre and a new chemotherapy suite, offering a great work environment for its healthcare teams. It is the first hospital in the UK to have achieved the Pathway to Excellence® accreditation, an international programme to validate workplaces, where nurses are supported to develop and flourish. The hospital also takes part in the DAISY® awards, an international programme which recognises the hard work of nursing staff. Andrew Belcher, Clinical Resource Planning Manager at Northampton General Hospital says: “We are investing in the future of the hospital and our staff and the Qualified Nursing Open Day is a great opertunity. We recently opened the country’s newest emergency assessment unit and started a new way of working to streamline the flow of patients through our services. A key focus for us is the education, training and development of our nurses. “We offer a supportive and engaging working environment where nurses can thrive and progress. We have a great development programme with our practice development team and excellent Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) results for our international nurses. We encourage qualified nurses looking for an exciting, challenging and rewarding career move to come along to the Qualified Nursing Open Day to find out more.” Northampton General Hospital is one of the key partners in the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ recruitment campaign. It is the first campaign of its kind to bring together several NHS providers to address the national shortage of doctors and nurses by highlighting the many benefits of relocating to Northamptonshire, including the varied career opportunities and better quality of life. The campaign unites the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital (KGH), St Andrew’s Healthcare and Northants GP. The Qualified Nursing Open day takes place on Saturday 7th September 2019 at Northampton General Hospitals, Cripps Centre, Area J, NGH, 10am – 2pm. For more information click here.
