Yorkshire Care Equipment Scales Up Its Flagship Product
Having launched its own Lento Care Chair last year, Yorkshire Care Equipment is now announcing that it has redeveloped and launched a second Lento Hospital Spec Chair. The company developed and designed the Lento from scratch, and it is now thought to be the most flexible care chair on the market. The team have now redeveloped a new model to be in line with infection control standards – a key priority in hospitals all over the United Kingdom. Padraig Finn, a band 6 Physiotherapist at Yorkshire Care said: “When we first launched the Lento, it was great because of how flexible it is. It can suit about 80% of the populations’ needs – but it needed some redevelopment to be better-suited to hospitals. “The Lento has built-in adjustable seat width, height, and depth to make it as easy as possible for carers and nurses to adapt one single chair to many different patients’ needs.” Yorkshire Care’s seating team worked closely with NHS hospitals to make sure that every item was covered in the new hospital Lento. One of the first things on the list was getting rid of was the Velcro because it provides a good surface for bacteria to harbour and grow. The Lento legrest cushion, seat cushion, and all backrest cushions now stick to the chair using magnets to completely minimise the chance of any cross-contamination between patients. The cushion on the footrest has also been redesigned to have a zip cover rather than Velcro. Tristan Hulbert, Managing Director at Yorkshire Care Equipment said: “It’s been a great year for us following the launch of the Lento and loads of people have been impressed. It just seemed like a natural progression for us to redesign it specifically for hospitals. “Obviously hospitals have lots of protocols in place to keep the risk of cross-infection to an absolute minimum, and we’ve worked to those standards to make sure that the Lento can provide hospital patients with the same flexibility and support.” To keep up with the demand for the Lento chair, Yorkshire Care keeps ready-made chairs in stock for quicker delivery, meaning that clients don’t have to wait so long for their chair to arrive. You can see how it works in this video. www.yorkshirecareequipment.com
Bluebird Care offices in the South and East London area celebrate big win
Bluebird Care offices in the South and East London area celebrate big win at National Bluebird Care Conference Anoop Sekhon, Director of Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping has won one of the top awards at this year’s Bluebird Care Conference. The Spirit Award is presented to the Franchise Owner who it’s felt best captures and demonstrates the ethos of the Bluebird Care business and Anoop was seen to deliver best in this area out all Bluebird Care offices across the country. On the night, all the awards were presented by Paul and Lisa Tarsey, Bluebird Care’s Co-founders. Bluebird Care held their annual conference at the De Vere Orchard Hotel in Nottingham on Thursday 27th September. They invited all franchise owners, team members and other senior members of the Bluebird Care team to join sector leading experts, and a number of exhibitors at the conference. The event was centred around a Pride, Passion, Progress theme. The event also had three well known speakers from the sector: Sonya Hinds, Chief Administrative Officer at Interim HealthCare Inc, who spoke about the keys to building and maintaining an engaged workforce. Sue Powell, a Career Coach, who spoke about the Act of Leadership, an important topic for those who attended the conference. Colin Angel, Policy Director of United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), who spoke about home care services and updated the guests on current issues within the sector. Also speaking at the event were Bluebird Care Chairman and Co-founder, Paul Tarsey, Bluebird Care’s Director of Operations, Yvonne Hignell, and Bluebird Care’s Director of Finance, Julie Marshall. Anoop Sekhon, Director of Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping, said: “Here at Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping, we are very excited to have received the Spirit Award from Bluebird Care. “The Spirit award is presented to the office who best demonstrated the ethos and living values of the Bluebird Care business . The award highlighted the fact that both offices are going above and beyond in our day to day business. This award has meant so much to the offices and it’s nice to get recognised for all the hard work our teams do. “Thank you to everyone at Bluebird Care, from head office to all the care assistants across the country. Everyone’s hard work is so important and is hugely appreciated, by our customers, who are always at the centre of everything we do.” www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
EA Dribble
Regard Partnership Group, one of Britain’s largest care providers, have completed the acquisition of Learning Difficulties Group Solar Care Homes, Cornwall for an undisclosed sum. The sale was negotiated by veteran Agent Eddie Dribble who has been active in the Private Care Home industry for over 45 years. Emanual A Dribble, better known in the Business Transfer market as Eddie Dribble, has been in the Care Home transfer agency business for around 40 years. His extensive knowledge and expertise is second to none in negotiating a satisfactory conclusion for many long standing clients In 1972 he founded and subsequently developed the care home division, of then the National Transfer Agents, Luxton and Lowe Limited. Since that time he has personally travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles inspecting and evaluating every type of care home. No matter what size and what cost he has negotiated sales to a range of buyers, which include large companies and single private individuals. He has established a reputation throughout the industry which provides a truly personal service, always remaining fully confidential. Luxton and Lowe Limited were taken over in 1991 by a large London property agent. At this time to keep the personal service and confidentiality, which was also his strict code of practice, Eddie Dribble decided he needed to form his own private transfer agency to continue to provide a high quality individualistic service. Since this time he has continued to serve the industry with his own brand of personal and confidential negotiations and keep his commission rates at a competitive level. To this day care homes of every size and description and in every location are continuously required for a list of carefully vetted applicants. www.eadcarehomes.com
Great Oaks is a home from home
Making the decision to move into a care home, or to help a loved one move in, can be a hugely upsetting and challenging time so making the right choice is important. Vi spoke about her experience of choosing Great Oaks, managed by Encore Care Homes, for her partner Derek and how it feels like a home from home for both of them. Sadly, my partner Derek can no longer do anything for himself as he has Alzheimer’s disease and chronic kidney disease, so we needed to choose a care home that would be able to cater for all of his care needs. Great Oaks is situated just a few minutes away from our home in Wallisdown so we made the decision to view it and were not disappointed. The rooms and facilities on offer are outstanding and finished to such a high standard, which confirmed this was the right place for Derek to live and call his home. It was an incredibly hard choice to move Derek into a care home, but the whole process has been made so much easier by the caring friendly nature of the team at Great Oaks. The staff are all so kind and welcoming every time I come in, and I’ve got to know those that are looking after Derek and trust them 100 per cent – I know they genuinely have his best interests at heart. Three carers in particular, Alison, Katie and Karen show Derek a great amount of care and attention. I have also built up a great rapport and relationship with them, which has helped to make my visits even more enjoyable. There is a real family vibe at Great Oaks, and a homely feel, not just for the residents but for their spouses and families too. I visit every day, and I’m always actively encouraged to use the communal areas as well as the facilities, which I really enjoy doing with Derek. Particularly taking part in the home activities. I’m always made to feel so relaxed. Recently, Derek’s condition has deteriorated. His concentration has gone, which makes it hard for him to focus on activities. Thankfully there are lovely gardens at Great Oaks which Derek will happily take a stroll in during the warmer weather. He does also like to spend time with another resident, Terry, as he is encouraged to socialise by the care team. I can honestly say that we have been made to feel part of the family at Great Oaks, which has made the whole transition process so much easier. Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease and it’s heart-breaking to watch a loved one with this terrible illness. But when I see Derek smile, it really lifts my spirits. I’m glad he is living somewhere comfortable, homely and surrounded by such compassionate and friendly nurses and carers. The care Derek receives is exceptional, and I couldn’t really ask for more. Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, which are designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. For more information please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk or call 01202 087444 to speak to a member of the team.
Autumn Budget 2018 – what it means for healthcare
Chancellor Phillip Hammond has announced the government’s Autumn Budget. He promised: “A budget for hard working families who live their lives far from this place and care little for the twists and turns of Westminster politics.” Over the past year, Brexit has affected the workforce as many European staff feel their future is uncertain, and the number of EU nationals registering as nurses in England dropped by 92% following the 2016 referendum (see https://www.theguardian.com). As NHS leaders called for more funding to end the healthcare crisis, and the Prime Minster recently told the country that “austerity is over”, we decided to take a look at how the budget will affect healthcare in 2019//20. ’NHS is our No.1 priority’ Mr Hammond announced that public sector net borrowing is set to fall to its lowest in a generation by 2024, which is set to hit the NHS where it hurts in terms of funding. He said that in June the “single largest cash commitment to our public services ever made by a peacetime Government” in the form of an £84bn five-year deal for the NHS had already been announced. Such boosts in funding have been facilitated by moves including a change in the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate Threshold taxes, and the scrapping of Entrepreneur’s Relief. My Hammond said this was “half as much again as the increase Labour offered the NHS at the last election”. He added: “Let me be clear: We are delivering this historic £20.5bn real terms increase for the NHS in full over the next five years. So, in a very important sense, we made our big choice for this budget, four months before it was delivered. And this was the right decision: our NHS is the number one priority of the British people; and as we approached the 70th anniversary of its foundation, they had a right to know the scale of our commitment to it.” But Anita Charlesworth, Health Foundation Director of Research and Economics, tweeted in June after the funding announcement was made: “Most important take home about NHS spending announcement – it’s enough for standstill service quality, it’s NOT enough for a shopping list of improvements. It excludes capital, training, public health and social care – all must get extra funding in the Autumn Budget.” Mental health funding Regarding mental health, Mr Hammond said: “There are many pressing demands on additional NHS funding, but few more pressing than the needs of those who suffer from mental illness. And today I can announce that the NHS 10 Year Plan will include a new mental health crisis service, with comprehensive mental health support available in every major A&E, children and young peoples’ crisis teams in every part of the country, more mental health ambulances, more ‘safe havens’ in the community, and a 24-hour mental health crisis hotline. “These new services will ensure that people suffering from a crisis, young or old, can get the help they need, ending the stigma that has forced too many to suffer in silence and the tragedy of too many lives lost to suicide. “We are proud to have made this extraordinary commitment to funding our NHS – a precious institution that has been nurtured for most of its life by Conservative Governments.” Social care funding As the Chancellor said the Social Care Green Paper was due to be published “shortly”, he vowed to build on the £240m for Social Care winter pressures announced earlier this month, with a further £650m of grant funding for English Authorities for 2019-20 and an additional £45m for the Disabled Facilities Grant in England in 2018-19. Richard Murray, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said: “The social care system cannot continue to get by on last-minute, piecemeal funding announcements. Adult social care in England needs at least £1.5 billion more per year simply to cope with demand meaning that the funding announced today, which will also need to cover children’s social care, falls far short. This highlights the need for a long-term plan for how social care will be funded and structured so that it can meet increasing demand. Successive Governments have dodged tough decisions on social care and the forthcoming Green Paper must now ensure social care gets the long-term plan it so desperately needs. “Two billion pounds for mental health confirms the early signals that this would be a key priority for the forthcoming NHS long-term plan. But years of underfunding have taken their toll and this is no more than a small step on the road to parity of esteem. Mental health services need more than money to meet demand. A chronic shortage of mental health staff means that, despite the new funding, the service won’t improve until the Government and the NHS provide a plan to increase the workforce.” Jonny Bottomley, Co-Founder & CEO at Edyn.Care, a company which provides tech-enabled solutions for the care sector, said: “We watched the Budget announcement closely today and even though we were hoping to see some money set aside for an independent body tasked with modelling the amount of funding needed by social care in the future, a £650m investment for councils is still welcomed. However, it fails to close the funding gap of £2.2 billion. We think it will continue to enable the home care industry to survive but not flourish.” Read the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget speech in full here. Photo credit: Twocoms / Shutterstock.com
New Care Home Opens, Bringing 50 Jobs to Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s newest and finest care home has officially opened its doors and welcomed its first residents. The much-anticipated Cramond Residence offers 74 luxury en-suite bedrooms and provides the highest quality person-centred nursing care for older people in the capital. Now, having filled a number of key positions before opening, the Residence is recruiting for a further 50 roles, including care assistants (SVQ2 and above), team leaders, nurses, laundry and domestic staff, and food service assistants. The care home comprises nine distinct houses to promote small community living, each of which has been uniquely designed to reflect well-known areas of Edinburgh. It also boasts a wide range of lounge, dining and activities rooms, as well as a hairdresser, nail bar and cinema. Thanks to an exclusive partnership with physiotherapy provider Balanced Edinburgh – specialists in functional rehabilitation and fall prevention for older people – residents will be given a thorough assessment on arrival, which will be used create bespoke care and fitness plans, tailored to individual needs. The team will be led by general manager, Eileen Gray, who is well established in the care industry with over 20 years’ experience. She said: “We are very excited to have opened our doors at Cramond Residence and are really looking forward to welcoming our first residents into their beautiful new home. “We are now moving into the final stages of our recruitment campaign and are seeking talented and compassionate individuals to fill a further 50 roles. “We are passionate about delivering the finest care and it is hugely important to us that our residents feel independent and have as active and fulfilling lives as possible, so we are looking for the highest calibre of person to fill each and every role. “Cramond Residence is a place where people can really enjoy their later years and we would encourage anyone with a passion for caring who is interested in working with us to enquire as soon as possible.” Cramond Residence is managed exclusively by Walker Healthcare, which has over 20 years’ experience leading successful healthcare partnerships and operational management of well-respected care homes. Reservations are now being taken and private appointments can be made by phoning 0131 336 1064 or emailing enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk
Abbotswood Court Care Home To Celebrate Community Volunteers
Abbotswood Court care home is working with the voluntary sector support organisation, Unity, to celebrate volunteers making a significant contribution to charities and community groups across the Test Valley. Recognising volunteers that show commitment, consistency, and dedication with an “over and above” attitude in the face of adversity, the Unity Volunteer Awards 2018 are set to take place on Friday 23rd November at the Grosvenor Hotel, Stockbridge. This year, the awards have been sponsored by Cinnamon Care Collection’s Romsey-based care home, Abbotswood Court, which will be commending the Test Valley’s “Unsung” Heroes of volunteering. Cinnamon Care Collection is an exclusive group of luxury care homes and retirement developments occupying beautiful locations around the UK. Abbotswood Court actively engages with many community groups and organisations across Romsey and beyond by hosting regular coffee mornings, events, and fundraising initiatives. Approached by Unity to support the Volunteer Awards 2018, Abbotswood Court’s staff were keen to aid the organisation in commending the contributions of volunteers across the Test Valley. Debbie Holmes, Homes Admissions Advisor of Abbotswood Court, said: “At Abbotswood Court we regularly work with community and charity organisations and are consistently blown away by the dedication and commitment of their volunteers. By sponsoring the Unsung Hero Award, we want to commend these selfless individuals whom without many of these organisations would not exist.” The Unity Volunteer Awards 2018 are open to all volunteers who support either a charity or a community group based in or working in Test Valley. Free to enter and nominate, entry forms are available by contacting Christianne Ireland, Unity’s Voluntary Sector Support Officer, via email – christianne.ireland@unityonline.org.uk. Nominations must be submitted by Monday 29th October 2018. The winner of the Cinnamon “Unsung” Hero Award 2018 will receive a trophy, certificate and £50 cash prize; two runners up will also each receive a certificate and £25. Terry Bishop, Unity Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to have Abbotswood Court supporting this year’s Unity Volunteer Awards. The backing of our sponsors enables us to recognise deserving volunteers from the Test Valley and reward them for their pivotal work in our community.” Community and charity organisations plus members of the public can also nominate volunteers for two other categories – ‘Volunteer of the Year’, sponsored by Ansvar Insurance, and ‘Group of the Year’. For more information about the care, accommodation and services Abbotswood Court provide, visit https://www.cinnamoncc.com/care-homes/abbotswood-court/.
Avalon Nursing Home – Celebrating Those Who Have Gone Before
Residents, families, friends and staff of Avalon Nursing Home in Bridgwater have come together to celebrate the lives of loved ones at the home’s yearly memorial service. In preparation for the occasion, those planning to attend were invited to write names, and memories or quotes on wooden doves in memory of loved ones, to hang on a tree in the garden of the home. Sarah Biffen from H Biffens & Sons funeral directors, opened the service with a poem before inviting everyone outside into the garden. In warm autumn sunshine, the doves were then placed in the branches of a tree, and Sarah led a touching service in the open air before bringing proceedings to a close with another poem. Emma Hill, activities co-ordinator for Avalon said: “We hold our yearly memorial service to remember those we love and the relationship that we have with them, so it’s an ideal time to acknowledge the stories, memories, and moments that we shared with those people. “It’s a time to recognize that death may have taken away a person’s physical presence, but they will continue to live on in our memories and stories. “So we regard our memorial service as a true celebration, and it was lovely to see so many familiar faces at our gathering, and to have the opportunity to share fond memories of past loved ones together.” Avalon Nursing Home is run by specialist dementia care home group Camelot Care www.camelotcare.co.uk who have further homes in Wellington, Plymouth and Yeovil.
Gracewell of Ascot Celebrates Grand Opening
The red carpet was rolled out for the grand opening of new care home, Gracewell of Ascot, on Thursday 4th October. The care home, on Burleigh Road, will offer high quality, personalised nursing, residential and dementia care to older people right in the heart of the local community. To celebrate its opening, Gracewell of Ascot was delighted to host a very special launch event. The celebration saw the welcoming of VIP guests including High Sheriff of Berkshire Graham Barker, Deputy Mayor Colin Rayner and Alan Carr MBE. Residents, local members of the community and health care professionals were also in attendance to enjoy the festivities, prosecco and delicious canapés. Guests were treated to a live performance from the Charters School Jazz band and the soothing sounds of harpist Luisa-Maria Cordell. A ribbon was cut by founder member of Gracewell of Ascot June Wheeler, who also sliced a 3-tiered cake that featured decorative jockeys and horses to tie into the day’s ‘at the races’ theme. Alongside the official opening event, Gracewell of Ascot is also marking the special celebration by offering 10% off residential fees for the first three months*. Gracewell of Ascot is set to welcome up to 80 residents to its beautifully-designed and stylish en-suite bedrooms, with a full team of dedicated and compassionate carers and nurses on hand to deliver high-quality and personalised care. The home also has a beautiful courtyard which overlooks a picturesque sensory garden for all residents to enjoy. The luxury care home will be the 21st home to be opened in the UK by Gracewell Healthcare. Each resident will receive a tailored care plan, created with their individual needs in mind. Residents will also benefit from the home being within walking distance to the local high street, railway station and local shops, as well as the famous Ascot racecourse. And, like all Gracewell care homes, Gracewell of Ascot will offer a busy calendar to its residents, full of a diverse array of stimulating and engaging activities and events. Stella Putt, General Manager at Gracewell of Ascot, said: “We are very excited to have opened Gracewell of Ascot. We hope we showcased the high-quality and compassionate care we will strive to provide every single day, as well as the active role we are keen to play in the community. “I am very proud to be leading a team of dedicated staff, who have been busy preparing our new home to ensure it meets the needs of all residents. “We would like to thank everyone who made our opening event such a success and are now looking forward to welcoming residents over the coming weeks and months.” Click here to find out more information
