Bookshelf – Care and nursing books for staff and families
We take a look at some of the new care and nursing books out there for staff and families. Covering a range of topics, these titles off CPD, advice and comfort as well as proving a great resource for activities. Sign up to our magazine for more care and nursing books and look out for book package prizes on our competitions page… Namaste Care for People Living with Advanced Dementia: A Practical Guide for Carers and Professionals By Nicola Kendall (£18.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Namaste Care is a therapeutic approach to caring for those living with advanced dementia, focused on improving their quality of life through a simple, soothing and rewarding process. This step-by-step guide is for anyone looking to translate the principles of the Namaste Care approach successfully and professionally into a home or care setting, with an emphasis on the value of volunteers in the community in implementing this. The Namaste Care approach is focussed on giving comfort and pleasure to people with advanced dementia through sensory stimulation, especially the use of touch, and this book provides extensive guidance on every stage of the process, including harnessing community interest, recruiting and training volunteers, and managing pain and discomfort. In a time of ever-growing strain on healthcare resources, this practical guide is a timely reminder of the power and value of informal care and compassionate communities in helping to care better for people with dementia, and is essential reading for carers, professionals and family members. In this book: • The author brings extensive personal experience to the book, having implemented its processes herself, in her own community. • Foreword by Joyce Simard, the original developer of the Namaste Care method. • Extensive detailed information on the actual implementation processes involved in delivering Namaste Care. • Details of a very cost-effective method of caring for those with advanced dementia; appropriate for current economic strain on healthcare systems. About the author Nicola Kendall is a qualified psychotherapist, complementary therapist and mindfulness teacher, as well as the Namaste Lead at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham. She is responsible for setting up a community project involving trained volunteers delivering Namaste Care to people living with advanced dementia at home. Making Sense of Dementia (Orchard Care Homes) If you work in a care environment with people who have dementia you will know that one vital aspect of their wellbeing is continued positive interactions with visits from relatives and friends. But what must it be like for the children who visit? It can be a scary and confusing experience for children. Orchard Care Homes, a leading provider of high-quality care for the elderly, has launched a new children’s activity book, ‘Making Sense of Dementia,’ designed to develop understanding and remove some of the fear and confusion associated with the condition. The book features fun traditional games such as mazes, spot the difference, optical illusions, memory tests, word searches and much more. Every activity is linked to the challenges somebody with dementia may face, with many pages asking children to question what they could do to help. By taking part in these activities, children will better understand the difficulties of having dementia as well as empathise and bond with family members who have the condition. See orchardcarehomes.com to find out more about the book and about how the Reconnect specialist dementia care model will deliver a holistic approach to caring for people with dementia that is significantly improved over traditional dependence on medication. Evidence-based Practice in Dementia for Nurses and Nursing Students by Dr Karen Harrison Dening (£24.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Dr Karen Harrison Dening, editor of Evidence-based Practice in Dementia for Nurses and Nursing Students, discusses why dementia care is changing over time – and what care staff should be taught to ensure they can offer the best support… More people are living longer in old age, thus we are seeing an increase in both the prevalence and incidence of age-related conditions such as dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe a syndrome; a collection of symptoms, including a decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills, and a gradual loss of skills needed to carry out daily living activities [1]. The symptoms are caused by structural and chemical changes to the brain as a result of neurodegenerative change and processes. These include tissue destruction, compression, inflammation, and biochemical imbalances. In other words, the process of dementia is the end-stage manifestation of numerous brain disorders [2]. But that is the underlying technical rationale for what is going on; what about dementia care? Dementia care has changed massively on many levels since my days as a student nurse in the 1970s where people with dementia were contained in ‘back wards’ in large psychiatric hospitals. We saw the advent of such marvels as the ‘Kitwoodian’ approach to person-centred dementia care [3]. Also as the large psychiatric hospitals were closed we saw the expansion in a variety of dementia care settings and range of dementia services, education, technology, validation and revalidation of professional registrations…need I go on? As I moved through my career, reflecting on my practice and knowledge I would sometimes find myself saying ‘if only I knew then what I know now’ – then where would I be today? What resources might I have benefited from during my years of training and then as an early career nurse? I would have highly valued a book such as this that introduces the knowledge I needed, the evidence base for practice but that also the guidance to transfer this newly acquired knowledge into my everyday practice. The book was an inspiration following the publication of a very successful series of articles on dementia that ran in a well-known nursing journal between 2015 and 2017, which included 30 individual papers in all from prominent practitioners and academics in the field of dementia care and research. The section editor for the journal approached me and invited me to plan, commission and co-edit on a range of issues and topics on dementia and care
Future Healthcare returns to London in 2019
Future Healthcare is the UK’s only exhibition and conference showcasing healthcare products and services to a global audience. Taking place at Olympia London from 18-19 March 2019, Future Healthcare gathers more than 4,000 buyers from 65 countries for two days of education, networking and cross border purchasing. The event is organised in association with UKIHMA – a strategic partner of Healthcare UK, a UK government trade promotion organisation jointly funded by the Department for International Trade, the Department of Health and NHS England. Event Director, Dawn Barclay-Ross said: “Gathering thousands of buyers from around the world, Future Healthcare 2019 is a fantastic springboard for suppliers to find new business on the international stage.” Future Healthcare 2019 is a unique opportunity for healthcare products and service providers to showcase their solutions on a global scale. The 2018 event gathered senior buyers from the likes of Cleveland Clinic, Ministry of Health Oman, Moorfields Private Hospital, Horsens Hospital Denmark, Nelson Mandela Clinical Service for Africa, and NHS trusts from across the UK. Exhibition of 350 brands From healthcare providers and training establishments to equipment and product suppliers and technology experts, visitors can expect to see the very latest products and services from over 350 brands in the exhibition, including an extensive number of Country Pavilions. Also featuring; Thrive Wearables Zone – a showcase of the latest advancements in wearable technology and Health Tech Theatre, hosting a series of 10-minute presentations from pioneers of exciting innovations. Future Healthcare 2019’s recent Call for Innovations, provided an overwhelming number of applications for a limited number of companies to exhibit within the Innovation Pavilion and pitch to a line-up of VIP judges that drive innovation in the UK. From innovations looking at ways to solve big challenges in delivering care, to the elderly using robotics, to AI powered technology providing life-enhancing products and services. World-class conference Over 60 expert speakers will take to the stage over two days to address the central theme of ‘embracing innovation in healthcare delivery’. Sessions will address the impact of Brexit on the current healthcare landscape; helping SMEs access and work with the NHS; how to scale up innovation, and start to trade with overseas markets. Looking at the experiences of big spenders such as China and Japan, and tackle the global view of future healthcare delivery. The 2019 line up of speakers include: Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary; Stephen Dorell, Chair of the NHS Federation; Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England; Sam Shah, Director for Digital Development, NHS England; Dr. Amanda Begley, National Director of NHS Innovation Accelerator; Dr David Parry, CEO, SEHTA and Professor Roland Schlesinger, Chief Medical Officer, Lancor Scientific. They will be discussing big issues such as: The Big Debate: a ‘re-imagined’ healthcare system. What does it look like? For further information on exhibiting, sponsoring or visiting Future Healthcare 2019, click here. The exhibition is free of charge for pre-registered visitors. Conference delegates get early bird rate if booked before November 30 2018.
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.
Society’s social care training benefits residents and staff alike
Anne Kasey, Home Manager and Clinical Lead for maritime charity, the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, discusses the importance of investing in training in the social care sector and how it benefits residents… It doesn’t matter which sector one operates in – having the right staff for the job is paramount to the success of any business. In the social care industry, this is more important than anywhere as staff are fundamental to the health and wellbeing of residents and have a duty of care to fulfil. The social care sector is currently facing difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified staff – in fact 15% of vacancies across the entire UK economy are in the health and social work sectors according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). To combat this, up-skilling employees is part of a solution that contributes to the smooth running of a care home. Here at the Royal Alfred we have an in -house trainer, allowing our staff to have consistent one-on-one training on site. This helps to ensure all staff are working to the same standard and addresses any gaps in knowledge, it also demonstrates to employees that they are part of a supportive workplace. Having staff that are equipped with the necessary qualifications, skills and training not only increases job efficiency, but can drastically improve morale and enables staff members to feel empowered and valued in their roles. All of this helps to achieve a better experience for residents as well as complying with Care Quality Commission standards. As a charity serving former seafarers, we understand our residents’ individual needs and recognise the people who call Royal Alfred home are deserving of the best standard of care. Earlier this year we commenced specialist training with our pioneering Maritime Acquaint Training programme to provide staff with a knowledge of the maritime industry. Funded by a close supporter of the Society, our staff took part in a training day hosted on a P&O cross channel ferry from Dover to Calais. This now annual programme was created by our CEO, Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, to help staff better understand residents’ physical and psychological needs and the care required for each individual. This training session allowed our staff to fully immerse themselves in how life would have been like at sea, and the understanding of how large vessels operate at sea, often in treacherous weather conditions and across long journeys. This is key for us to help employees understand our residents’ past experiences and is what makes our residents’ stay truly unique. Benefits of such in-depth training within the care sector are not just experienced by residents. At Royal Alfred, we provide not just a job, but a career. We think training improves staff morale, which is key to the smooth running of any care home and boosts staff retention. Recently we commended five members of staff with long service awards for dedicating ten years of their working life to the home to make them feel valued and supported in their roles – just one example of a success story at Royal Alfred. We have many long-serving staff and I myself having been with Royal Alfred for over 30 years and Margaret Brazier (Executive Assistant to CEO Brian for over 50 years). It shows that people really do invest their careers with us due to good training, career progression and opportunity. For the Royal Alfred, training creates better experiences for our residents that depend on the expertise of staff for their day-to-day care, while staff develop their careers at the same time. At a time when social care recruitment is proving difficult, the time has come to consider training to help plug the gap and we urge any care home to consider investment now for sustained success. For more information on the social care which Royal Alfred offers, see royalalfredseafarers.co.uk
