Four Seasons collapse: What will happen to 17,000 care home residents?
The care home operator Four Seasons has gone into administration, leaving 17,000 residents and 20,000 staff under a cloud of uncertainty. The appointment of administrators by two of Four Seasons’ holding companies marks the biggest care home business collapse since 2011, when Southern Cross suffered the same fate. Cracks first showed at Four Seasons in 2015, when the company sold off property in a bid to avoid further financial difficulty. In 2016, credit rating agency Moody’s predicted the company would suffer from the National Living Wage introduction coupled with fall in funding from local authorities. Simon Bottery, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund, said: “Today’s announcement will be worrying for the 17,000 Four Seasons residents and their families, though it is important to recognise there is no immediate threat to the operation of Four Seasons’ care homes. “The problems facing Four Seasons show the extreme pressure that the social care system in England is under. Despite recent moves to shore up social care providers, years of chronic underfunding have left services at crisis point. As the Competition and Markets Authority has identified, many care homes that rely on publicly-funded residents are now financially unsustainable. “It is not just care homes but the whole social care system which desperately needs reform. Successive administrations have promised to overhaul the system, yet two years after the government committed to publishing a social care green paper, it is yet to see the light of day.” What will happen to the residents? No plans have been made to move residents. The group’s medical director Dr Claire Royston commented: “Today’s news does not change the way we operate or how our homes are run or prompt any change for residents, families, employees and indeed suppliers. “It marks the latest stage in the group’s restructuring process and allows us to move ahead with an orderly, independent sales process.”
Hull care home closes as operator has CQC registration removed
A care home operator has had his Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration cancelled following a rating of “inadequate” in a recent inspection. The CQC took the action to cancel the registration of Mr Thurairatnam Nadarajah Prakash and he is now no longer legally allowed to provide care at his service Durham Care Homes in Hull, which has since ceased operation. The CQQ said in a statement: “The latest inspection, in February 2019, rated the service inadequate overall and it was placed into special measures. The inspection revealed a significant deterioration in the care being provided and inspectors began the process to take enforcement action. “Previously the service had been rated Requires Improvement in October 2017 and November 2018.” The latest inspection, a report on which can be found here, found that safeguarding policies and procedures were not being followed, and some residents’ nutritional and hydration needs had not been fully assessed and met. Staff skills, care of residents, staff interaction and the protection of privacy and dignity were also found to be sub-standard. The CQC added: “We received information from the local authority regarding an escalation of concerns about the service; they had been completing monitoring visits. We completed this inspection based on these concerns. At the time of the inspection, we were aware of incidents being investigated by another agency.” Durham Care Homes has since closed and the CQC added: “Shortly after the recent inspection the provider announced their intention to close the home. The decision to cancel the provider’s registration was completed on 25 April 2019, the provider did not appeal the decision. “Inspectors worked closely with Hull City Council who supported the safe relocation of the home’s 14 residents prior to CQC’s action and its closure.” A report on the latest CQC inspection at Hull Care Homes can be found here
Our Health Heroes Awards – 2019 nominations now open
Don’t miss your opportunity to nominate a Health Hero! Our Health Heroes, the national healthcare awards which celebrate individuals, teams and organisations within the healthcare and care and sectors, are returning for the fourth year and promise to be bigger and better than ever. Launched earlier this month at the annual UNISON Health Conference at Bournemouth International Centre, the Our Health Heroes awards will be delivered by Skills for Health and the National Skills Academy for Health with support from headline sponsor Health Education England. Nominations in eight categories, which recognise the contribution of healthcare workers from a range of facilities across the UK, including those working in the NHS, are being sought from healthcare professionals and members of the public via the dedicated Our Health Heroes webpage. During his presentation to UNISON members at the launch, Adam Causon, Executive Director of Skills for Health, said: “As patients, we remember the doctor who operated on us or the nurse who cared for us, but how many of us thank the healthcare assistants who were there to support us, the cleaner who kept the ward clean and safe, or the porter that kept our spirits up as they moved us round the hospital? “Many of you will know that, behind the scenes, there are thousands of people who work tirelessly to keep the system running smoothly, day after day. Without these people, the NHS couldn’t survive. These are the unsung heroes of the UK’s healthcare sector. “Our Health Heroes rewards those teams and individuals who go above and beyond their usual remit to deliver high-quality care to their patients and support to one another or their teams. If that sounds like someone you know, please make a nomination.” Since its creation in 2016, Our Health Heroes has recognised more than 90 regional and national winners from all four corners of the UK for their dedication to the care and well-being of patients, colleagues and other staff members. Thanks to the ongoing support of headline sponsor Health Education England and category sponsor UNISON, the awards have grown again for the fourth year and will now include the Outstanding Contribution Award and Learning and Development Project of the Year Award. The Apprentice; Workforce Planning Team; Integrated Team; and Clinical Support and Operational Services Support Workers of the Year categories will all return as usual. Healthcare staff from across the UK can be nominated by line managers and colleagues or members of the public via a simple form on the Skills for Health website. Entries will be shortlisted and regional winners and finalists will be chosen either by public vote or by an expert panel, before the winners are announced at the awards ceremony in November. Laura Roberts, Health Education England Director of Skills Development and Participation, said: “Apprentices together with all clinical and non-clinical support workers are a vital part of the healthcare workforce, which is why we are delighted to sponsor the Our Health Heroes again. “We are passionately committed to ensuring that we have a workforce which reflects the community it serves. “With a focus on diversity, inclusion and widening participation from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, our Talent for Care framework supports employers with their workforce supply through programmes such as school’s engagement, volunteering, work experience, pre-employment activity, apprenticeships and access to higher education and registered professions. “Apprenticeships are a key priority for us and we continue to work with employers, government bodies and trade unions to continue the progression of this important agenda in the NHS.” The deadline for nominating someone for the awards is midnight on Saturday 29th June and the ceremony will take place on Wednesday 20th November 2019 at London’s Science Museum. To make a nomination visit www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh
Pupils praised by care home after work experience week
ELDERLY residents have expressed their gratitude to two school pupils after a week working at their care home for work experience. 15-year-olds Hannah Pears and Molly Ratcliff supported staff and spent time with residents living at Pelton Grange Care Home, in Pelton, County Durham. The pupils from North Durham Academy, in Stanley, provided support with the tea trolley and dining, general housekeeping and social activities. Hannah said: “I had a great week. I had a lot of fun listening to the stories of the residents.” Molly added: “I never thought about what it was like in a care home. It was nice to see the residents had so much choice.” Resident Yo Barras, 96, said: “It was lovely to have such lively young girls in the building. They’ve been such a help and I’d like to say thank you on behalf of everyone here.” After completing their work experience, home manager Chris Hogan-Hind presented the girls with certificates as a box of chocolates each to say thank you. He said: “Hannah and Molly have been absolute stars during their work experience week. Such a help to the staff and the residents have all loved chatting to them. “Working with North Durham Academy, we were delighted to give the pupils a chance to experience working in a care home. “We’re always looking to partner with local schools, colleges and other organisations, to support each other where possible.” Pelton Grange Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
New Key Appointment at Runwood Homes
With 33 years’ credible experience within the health and social care sector, Clare Silvester has joined Runwood Homes at its Head Office in Hadleigh, Essex, to fill the recent Head of Quality and Governance vacancy. Beginning her career as a carer, Clare’s passion and drive for good quality care has seen a natural and significant progression within adult and elderly care, gaining valuable hands on experience and knowledge along the way, to become an expert in senior care quality and governance. As Head of Quality and Governance, Clare‘s role will ensure a robust framework to evidence the delivery of personalised, safe, effective, caring, responsive, well lead, high quality healthcare. Clare also monitors Runwood Homes residential care and nursing home services and continuously strives to improves care standards across the portfolio. Speaking of her role with Runwood Homes, which commenced in April 2019, Clare Silvester said, “Initially my priorities will be to review what current systems are working well and looking at immediate opportunities to improve our services. My longer term strategy will be to ensure Runwood Homes is always proactive and forward thinking with all our approaches to care delivery and governance.” Clare Silvester’s previous employment includes working for West Essex CCG in day care and acute elderly wards, advancing to long term employment with Essex County Council with successful roles in adult social care inspection management and quality improvement. More recently, Clare has taken on independent consultancy work, acted as Area Director and was a specialist Advisor for the Care Quality Commission. When asked what the future of Quality and Governance look like within the care service industry, Clare said, “The future holds exciting challenges for the sector; Quality and Governance will be more than just monitoring the overall operations of the business via Key Performance Indicators. We need to provide the entire workforce with appropriate and robust information that can be used consistently up and down the line to ensure everyone’s performance directly supports key objectives and strategies of the business.” Chief Operating Officer of Runwood Homes, Gavin O’Hare-Connolly, adds, “I welcome Clare in this pivotal appointment as we progress our services to a level leading the sector. The provision of high quality nursing and residential care is both expected and standard across our organisation and the investment in quality and governance only cements my clear vision of excellence as standard.” For more information about the Senior Team at Runwood Homes please visit https://www.runwoodhomes.co.uk/senior-team For all general enquiries please call 01702 559797 or email info@runwoodhomes.co.uk
Innovation Centre Of Excellence
A ground-breaking new Innovation Centre aimed at the catering, cleaning and facilities management industries opened its stainless-steel doors for business on May 1 in Peterborough. It is a collaboration between Oxford company, GreenTeck Global Ltd: innovators in alternative green technologies, providing sustainable, energy-conscious and cost-effective solutions that will make a real difference to the environment; and commercial kitchen experts CK Direct. The Centre is based at CK Direct’s factory and showroom just a mile or so off the A1(M) in Peterborough and is unusual in that the company has built a fully-fitted and fully-operational commercial kitchen as its centrepiece . . . all under one, bespoke, stainless-steel roof, or ceiling, also fabricated from scratch on the premises. So visitors can not only see the equipment in situ and in operation but can even cook themselves lunch: if they remember to bring some burgers and buns! In addition to the actual cookers and fryers, equipment on display includes: CK Direct has been in Peterborough for 19 years and MD Tony Ricciardi commented: “We manufacture kitchen equipment and system on-site, starting from stainless steel sheets. When we decided to have Odournet Ltd undertake trials on the AirTeck trioxygen units last year we need find a professional / commercial kitchen for them to work in. The obvious solution was for us to build exactly what we wanted on-site . . . and really the idea for Innovation Centre just grew for there.” While CEO and Founder of GreenTeck Global, David Thurston, added: “We are really excited about the concept of the Innovation Centre. For the first time we think we have gone beyond offering just extraction systems or deodorising solutions and are able to offer a genuine one-stop-shop all under one roof. And that it will be of interest to a wide range of industries and sectors: from catering to care homes, hotels to hospitality, and from universities to food manufacturing and processing.” To arrange a visit to the Innovation Centre or for further information about the product range please contact: Tony Ricciardi, CK Direct, 15 Tresham Road, Peterborough PE2 6SG, Tel: 01733 230378, Email: info@ckdirect.co.uk , Web: https://ckdirect.co.uk OR David Thurston, GreenTeck Global, 42 St Mary Street, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0EU, Tel: 0208 150622, Email: david@greenteckglobal.com, Web: www.greenteckglobal.com.
School invites elderly to see Egg-cellent Easter display
AN EGGSTRA special invitation was sent to care home residents for a Runcorn school’s Easter assembly. Residents from Simonsfield Care Home, on Boston Avenue, were invited to view the school’s display of hand decorated Easter eggs. They had been created by pupils aged five to ten years old at The Grange Academy, on Latham Avenue, for a school competition. The school invited the elderly residents to visit following the care home’s appeal for Easter eggs. More than a dozen of the chocolate treats were presented to residents at the assembly. Debbie Smith, home manager at Simonsfield Care Home, said: “The school teachers and children were very keen to show our residents all the eggs entered into their egg decoration competition. “All the residents who went thoroughly enjoyed the assembly and talking to the children. Resident Emma Adams, in particular, got very emotional and had a little cry. “We would like to say a huge thank you to the school for inviting our residents to attend their Easter assembly and also for the generous donation of Easter eggs. “The residents will be enjoying those with their afternoon tea.” Simonsfield Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
BT staff volunteer at Teesside care home
CALL centre workers swapped telephones and keyboards for shovels and dominoes for a day volunteering at a Teesside care home. Staff from a BT Middlesbrough office carried out gardening work and engaged in activities with elderly residents living at The Gables Care Home, on Highfield Road. As part of the telecoms business’s volunteering programme, almost a dozen call centre advisors and a team manager spent the day at the home. They tidied the garden, removing weeds and sweeping leaves, planted flowers, repainted a fence, benches and plant pots, cleaned the green house and planted seeds for tomatoes, lettuce, onions and other vegetables. After the gardening work, they shared a hot drink with residents, while reminiscing about the town and their own careers, as well as playing a few rounds of dominoes. Ben Donaldson, a BT call centre advisor, said: “I wanted to help change people’s lives for the better and, as team, we wanted to give back to the older generation. “It was a fulfilling experience that really brought the team together in a way that we hope benefited the residents too.” Jacqui McKeown, also a BT call centre advisor, said: “It was rewarding to be able to give something back and the best day we have had as a team.” The Gables Care Home resident, James Haslam said: “It was great to see the guys in the garden getting it ready for the summer and then spending some time with me.” Fellow resident Kevin McKenna said: “They really made a good job of our garden to enjoy in the sun.” Home manager Pam Rodgers said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the BT team for volunteering at our home. “They have made a huge difference to the garden and the residents loved chatting to them and sharing their memories of the town and what they did for a living. “It was a fantastic day, enjoyed by call, and we hope we’ll see them again in future.” The Gables Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. BT’s volunteering programme aims to support charities and local communities. For further information visit https://www.btplc.com/Purposefulbusiness/Supportinggoodcauses/Volunteering/index.htm
NACC Care Chef of the Year 2019 finalists announced
The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has announced the finalists for the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2019 competition, taking it one step closer to crowning the nation’s best care chef. Over the past month, talented chefs working in the care sector have competed in the regional heats to secure a coveted place in the national final of the prestigious culinary competition. Across the NACC regions – Scotland, North, Midlands, Wales, South West and South East – the competition judges have been impressed by the culinary skills and specialist knowledge of all the chefs. The successful chefs now preparing for the national final, stood out for demonstrating flair and innovation, suitability of the menu for a care environment, clear understanding of nutritional needs and dietary requirements of the end user, menu balance and flavour combinations, and technical execution and presentation. The National Final takes place on Wednesday 5 June 2019 at the new venue of Stratford-upon-Avon College. The NACC Care Chef of the Year 2019 finalists are: Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, says: “Congratulations to the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2019 finalists. The calibre of the chefs competing in the regional heats was exceptional so to reach the national final is an incredible achievement. “This competition is specially designed to challenge care chefs and showcase their talent and specialist skills and the knowledge they have of nutrition and dietary requirements, which is vital in a care setting. It also raises the profile of the care sector as a rewarding, dynamic career choice. Everyone who has competed in the competition are fine examples of care chefs up and down the country, who believe food is at the centre of quality care and are dedicated to making sure they deliver the very best. We’re thrilled to be taking the national final to a new location this year, Stratford-upon-Avon College. It’s a fantastic facility for the finalists to compete in and, for the first time, we have a viewing gallery that will allow all the supporters and guests in the audience to see the chefs in action and really feel part of the exciting event. Good luck to everyone!” The NACC Care Chef of the Year competition, which is proudly supported by the main sponsor Premier Foods and the Worshipful Company of Cooks, recognises the excellence of chefs working in the care sector. The competition challenges entrants to create a nutritionally-balanced, two-course menu (main and dessert) that is suitable for service users in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £2.25 per head and it must be nutritionally balanced. The menu must also incorporate one of the listed Premier Foods products. The finalists will have just 90 minutes to produce their dishes and the judges will be looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods they are using and how they benefit their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution and presentation. For more information on the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2019 competition visit www.thenacc.co.uk
