May 2009

no.156 • £4.75

In association with

By Dominic Musgrave

AN ANGRY care home owner wasforced to take on the might of the careregulator over the ‘adequate’ qualityrating he received.

Allen Heath, who runs Farriess Courtin Derby, spent £3,000 on legal fees toget the grade improved to a ‘good’ afterthe then CSCI inspection claimed thehome was failing over drug security,staff employment and residents’privacy.

He told Caring UK that he was forcedto take the decision because thereasons for the lower rating for the 26-bed home were, in his opinion, wrong.

He said: “After getting my solicitor towrite a letter to the commissionpointing out their mistakes I got aphone call telling me the grading hadbeen changed within a week. It cost meall that money, but I am not angryabout that. I am angry because thebottom line is they got it wrong.

“The regulator came back and saidthat I didn’t need to spend that money,but if I am telling them they are wrong Ineeded to have some clout behind me,and that meant involving my lawyer.”

Allen said that if he had not appealedthe decision he would have lost

thousands of pounds as Derby CityCouncil pays more to higher ratedhomes. He added: “I spent the £3,000on fees so they would listen, but thedifference in stars equates to somethinglike £5 per resident per week, whichwould probably mean around £7,000over a year for a home like mine.”

But Allen’s solicitor Stuart Marchant,who works for London care specialistsRidouts, says many owners arechoosing not to challenge the regulatorbecause they are scared of the possiblerepercussions.

He added: “Many operators tell usthey are scared of taking theinspectorate on, even though they areconcerned about their report, becausethey don’t want to rock the boat.

“At the same time, the care homeoperator needs to look after theirbusiness, and this can impact on them.Now that the reports are widelyavailable to view online, many peoplelooking to put a relative in a care homeor not even considering one with eitherone or no stars.”� Are you scared of the care regulator?Let Dominic Musgrave know by ringing01226 734407 or emailing dm@whpl.net

Home ownerfaces up toregulator

Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips will hostthe annual Skills for Care Accolades ceremony,which celebrate the achievements of socialcare employers. The awards are a partnershipbetween the workforce development agencyand the Department of Health, and entries areinvited from local authorities, private carehomes, training providers, local colleges andindividuals who provide high quality care ortraining.

ReportersuncoverchaosTWO reporters workedundercover as homecare workers for a BBCprogramme whichexposed neglect andchaos in the sector.

The Panorama‘Britain's HomecareScandal’ documentaryuncovered carers onminimum wages –often with very littletraining – frequentlyfrustrated by poormanagement.

It also foundevidence of missedand curtailed visits;failure to keep propercare plans – includinginaccurate records ofwhat medicines shouldbe taken; anduntrained staff usingequipment such ashoists.

ECCA chief executiveMartin Green said:“The Government’spolicy of keeping morepeople in thecommunity must beunderpinned by anunderstanding thatthis is not a cheapoption. If it is doneproperly it requires aradical review of howservices arecommissioned.”� For further reactionto the programme turnto page 22.

incorporating

The Number One magazine for the care sector

3CARINGNEWS

AdvertisingSales and Marketing Director:Tony BarrySales Manager:Jackie Brook National Sales Executive:Mandy EdwardsRachel CollinsTel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734477

Telesales Executive:Karen BrooksTel: 01226 734681

PublishersWharncliffe Publishing Ltd.47 Church Street, Barnsley, SouthYorkshire S70 2AS.Email: info@caring-uk.co.uk

EditorialGroup Editor:Andrew Harrod Tel: 01226 734639 Fax: 01226 734478

Healthcare Editor:Dominic MusgraveTel: 01226 734407

Reporters:Nicola HydeChristina EcclesMary FergusonLouise Cordell

Group Deputy Editor:Judith HalkerstonTel: 01226 734458

Database enquiries to Tel: 01226734695E-mail: circulation@wharncliffepublishing.co.ukWhilst every effort is made toensure the accuracy of all con-tent, the publishers do notaccept liability for error, printedor otherwise, that may occur.

www.caring-uk.co.ukOwners threatenlegal action if feecut goes aheadBy Dominic Musgrave

CARE home owners on the Wirral willtake legal action if a scrutiny committeeapproves a council proposal to cut fees.

The cabinet agreed to cut the fees for2009/10 by 1.3 per cent of the 2008/09rate following increasing pressure fromoperators.

The new figure was agreed after directorof adult social services John Webb per-formed a U-turn on proposals to reducethe money paid to homes by five percent, and he says it would mean aroundfour per cent more being paid than hadbeen originally proposed.

But Mike Vaughan, who runs Red RocksNursing Home in Hoylake and has beenone of the leaders of the campaign, toldCaring UK the plans would still mean acut in fees that would leave them out ofpocket, and inevitably lead to somehomes closing.

He said: “The 1.3 per cent pay cut thathas been agreed is not enough, and in afew weeks it will be ‘called in’ by theConservatives and put before a scrutinycommittee, who will ensure that all con-siderations have been taken intoaccount.

“We will have a barrister with us, and

we hope that after we make our repre-sentations and have put forward our casethat the committee will realise that thecouncil has not done things properly andthat they need to think again.

“I can see some care home operatorsclosing down and getting out if this newcontract is accepted. Homes were alreadyin economic crisis after the council gaveus a take it or leave it contract inNovember which included a three percent cut. Many were relying on an infla-tionary clause in it that in April wouldhave given us a 4.7 per cent increase, andwe see the council’s vote to not to give usthat as a clear breach of contract.”

But Wirral council has defended itsdecision, saying it still pays above theaverage for the North West.

Moira McLaughlin, cabinet member foradult social services, said: “‘The currentsituation cannot be allowed to continueas it is not an efficient use of tax-payersmoney. Some care homes are currentlyoperating with as little as 70 per cent bedoccupancy which demonstrates an overprovision of care home beds.

“It is a very reasonable position that wehave taken. We have listened to the carehome owners’ concerns and haveresponded.”

Residents at a Basingstoke care home weretreated to a visit by animals from a localfarm. The grounds of HVHS Housing Group’sBasingfield Court were transformed into aminiature farmyard, including pens of goats,piglets, ducklings, guinea pigs, donkeys andsheep, which the residents were allowed tohandle, stroke and feed. Manager RachelBarry said: “It is very therapeutic for the resi-dents and many of them invite their grand-children along to share the afternoon withthem.”Picture: Care co-ordinator Dave Jewell andresident Margaret Murray meet a sheep.

CARINGNEWS4

MIDDLETON Hall retirementvillage is on the lookout for a MrMotivator figure to inspire itsresidents to keep fit after spending£500,000 on a gymnasium, spa andpool.

It wants someone to come in andstructure fitness training programsfor the residents, to inspire them touse the facilities and keep fit.

Andrew Grimston, head ofoperations, said the coach woulddevise exercise classes as well asproviding physiotherapy andsupport.

He added: “It's a tall order but theright person must be out there. Wehave had some great candidateswith experience of working withelderly people.

“Experience outweighs everythingelse and we want someonedynamic who can come in andcreate programs that will inspireour residents.”

Middleton offers residential care,complete care and assisted livingwith residents between 55 and 100and Andrew said that fitness wasbecoming a big part of the caringindustry.

“It is all a part of the residents’ allround health and wellbeing and we

are taking it step by step. We arelooking to Motor Motion for ourgym equipment and also HUR – anair pressure system which meansthere are no weights, levers, wiresor pulleys. It’s all very flexible. Wewill also have aromatherapy andtreatment therapy.”

The village had previously takenresidents to a local hydrapoolbefore deciding to invest in its ownfacilities.

“This is a big step up for us andthe first time we have had anythingon this scale. We do a residentsatisfaction survey annually and 65per cent said they would beinterested in using the facility sothat makes it worthwhile for us.”

Another residential home that hascaught the fitness bug is EdenCottage. Owners Maureen Hortonand husband Ralph bought threepieces of cardiovascular equipmentfour years ago in a bid to keepthemselves fit and eventuallydecided to move the treadmill,cross-trainer, and exercise bike tothe care home instead.

She added: “Our staff still use itbut now our residents have latchedon. The original equipment can betoo difficult for some – the majority

A care home which has its own gym and a retirement village searching for its own Mr Motivatorare just a few examples of how the industry is embracing fitness. Lyndsey Smith reports.

Wanted: Dynamic Mr Motivator

of our residents are over 90 – sowe decided to invest in smallerand more practical pieces as well,like mini weights, stability ballsand balance boards.”

The Hortons have turned twobedrooms into the gym aftergetting £8,000 from DarlingtonBorough Council to improvehealthy lifestyles for residents.

“The funding came has a greathelp and we have contributedourselves to make this happen. Aqualified gymnast has seen us

through every step of the way –helping with our risk assessmentand she advised us on whatequipment to get. She has alsoinducted every single person whouses it so everyone is safe.”� What do you think? Is fitness acrucial element in care today?Contact Dominic Musgrave on01266 734407, email him atdm@whpl.net or send a letter to47 Church Street, Barnsley, SouthYorkshire, S70 2AS.

Maureen in the foreground with Eden House deputy manager Sandra Hall helping90-year-old Nancy Andrews on the treadmill

Middleton Hallretirement village ison the lookout for aMr Motivator figure toinspire its residents.

5CARINGNEWS

Placements suspended amidclaims of neglect at homeBy Dominic Musgrave

PLACEMENTS to a privately-ownedcare home have been suspendedafter claims that residents wereneglected and mistreated.

Merton Council’s head of adult ser-vices Terry Hutt took the decisionafter receiving complaints fromsocial workers and members of thepublic about Eltandia Hall carehome.

He told Caring UK that he has alsothreatened the home’s ownersSouthern Cross that he will removeolder people already living there ifthings do not improve.

He said: “We have agreed animprovement plan with SouthernCross, which has given them variousdates to do these tasks by.

“We will review this again in a fewweeks time, but I will only considerlifting the suspension and beginmaking placements again once I seeevidence of sustained improvementover a period of time.

“All of the residents currently livinghere have been individually assessedand, although I’m not looking at ityet, I am prepared to move people toother homes if things do not get bet-ter.”

The main complaints received by

the council about the 83-bed homeinvolved concerns about bedsores on patients, pressure care and wound management, problemsdelivering medication and bed sores.

Terry added: “Southern Cross areworking with us and have madechanges, but I have called on theCare Quality Commission (formerlyCSCI) to carry out an unannouncedassessment at the home.

“This will take place over the nextfew weeks to gather evidence of whatimprovements are being made. We

are not just going to take the group’sword for it.”

A spokesperson for Southern Crossadded: “Following a recent meetingwith Merton Council we have agreedon a temporary suspension on newadmissions to the home.

“Management at the home areworking closely with Merton Council,the commission and social servicesand a comprehensive action andimprovement plan will be imple-mented in order to address any con-cerns raised.”

MORE than a third of the recom-mendations made in a damningreport into council-managed carehomes in Merton have already beenacted upon and new measuresimplemented, it has been claimed.

The study, carried out by the coun-cil's healthier communities andolder people overview and scrutinypanel, found hygiene lapses, inaccu-rate records, allegations of violenceand staff drinking alcohol at work.

But head of adults services TerryHutt told Caring UK that eight of the23 recommendations made in thereport had been dealt with, and that

the council were advertising a newrole within the team.

He added: “The council, the carecommission and the PCT respondedto the recommendations made inthe report, and some of them havealready been implemented. As partof the budget we have put somemoney aside for a new role withinthe department. We have now adver-tised for a new safeguarding officerjob at the council to address issueswithin the older people’s services.”

And he said plans are in place toact on the other recommendationsmade in the report.

Terry added: “Some of the otherrequirements require a more co-ordinated approach, such as train-ing, but we have invited staff to par-ticipate in a variety of courses, andwe will extend that out even further.

“Independent homes may not havethe budget that some of the largerproviders have to make some of thechanges required, such as changingthe carpets because there is a smellof urine. But we as a council will doall we can to support these homesand will try and make some financesavailable for these sort of repairsand refurbishments.”

‘A third of recommendations already acted upon’Terry Hutt

CARINGNEWS6

By Dominic Musgrave

CARE homes with a poor rating inDorset will no longer receiveplacements from the countycouncil.

And those homes who receive aone-star adequate rating will onlyreceive placements ‘with caution’ asthe council aims to raise thestandards of care in the county.

Head of adult servicescommissioning Gill Slade toldCaring UK that the move had beenbrought in as councils faceincreased scrutiny of theplacements they make from CSCI.

She said: “Some home operatorsdidn’t like the decision we made, butwe have had to do somethingbecause the regulator is looking veryclosely at where we place peopleand the balance of our placements.

“I know of one local authority thatlost a star for continuing to place inpoor homes, and we don’t want thathere. We cannot take the risk ofplacing people in poor care homes.Adequate care homes we will treatwith caution, and our departmentwill record the level of failures orrisks in the system and assess eachindividual case accordingly.”

A team of monitors has been setup to work closely with operators oflow grade homes, and Gill said they

will move residents already living inthese facilities if they feel they are atrisk.

“We will do risk assessments of theresidents already living in a homethat gets a poor or adequate ratingto see if their needs are being met,”she added. “If we feel it is necessarywe will move them out into otherhomes, but in some cases it couldhave an adverse affect if the residentis very frail.

“The team will visit the home anddo a report on it. We will then workwith them to try and improve thegrades. Some of the major issuesthat keep cropping up are careplans, staffing and training,particularly with dementia.”

But Frank Ursell, CEO of theRegistered Nursing HomesAssociation, has criticised the

decision, saying councils have notthought about the long termconsequences of their actions.

He added: “If a 30-bed home is nolonger receiving placements fromthe council their numbers willgradually diminish to the point thatthey become a 20-bed facility whichis no longer viable.

“The operator then decides toclose the home, which would meana lot of people out of work whenjobs are at a premium in thisdifficult financial climate.

“What would then happen to theresidents at these homes if theyclose?

“There has been no considerationfor social care in this.

“It is simply a focus on budgets –buying as much as possible ascheap as possible.”

Frank Ursell

A JUNIOR health minister has vowed tolook into events leading up to theclosure of a care home in Scotland.

Shona Robison had previously rejectedcalls by Scottish parliament memberIain Gray for a public inquiry into how ithandled the closure of Cockenzie Housein East Lothian. But she has nowreversed her decision after a delegationhanded her a dossier of information,demanding answers. She said: “Iunderstand how upsetting it can be forresidents when the care home, whichhas become their home, closes. I haveagreed to consider further some of thepoints of particular concern.”

Cockenzie House Nursing Homeclosed last April following criticalreports from the Care Commission. Anindependent report by Peter Danielswas damning of how the councilhandled the closure.

Iain Gray added: “I do not make callsfor public inquiries lightly, but I madeclear to Ms Robison that the familiesand staff affected by the closure needanswers. Issues they have concernabout include the seemingly very highmortality rate of residents affected bythe closure, the methodology of the CareCommission and whether East LothianCouncil acted in the best interests of thewelfare of the residents and deliveredvalue for money for taxpayers. We needto get to the bottom of the closure sothat families can begin to move on.”

Minister agreesto look intohome closure

Poorly-rated homes willnot receive placements

Prestigious award presentedto Tunbridge Wells care homeA KENT care home has received aprestigious award for the way it looksafter its staff and residents.

Mount Ephraim House inTunbridge Wells has been awardedthe Investors in People standard aftermanager Karen Cooper successfullysteered the organisation through aperiod of change.

She joined the home, which has 38residents, in November 2007 after therating had dropped, and discovered anumber of problems including a lackof trained staff, records that were notbeing kept and care practicerequirements not being met.

Karen said: “We had experienced avery difficult year with an enormousamount of changes taking place sowhen it came to our Investors inPeople assessment, I didn’t think wewould achieve the standard but I’mdelighted that we did. It has helpedto give me a good perspective onhow far we have come in the lastyear. Instead of thinking about all thedrastic changes we have had to makeand not realising the benefits, wehave gained a sense of achievement.”

The home received a ‘good’ ratingfrom CSCI at its most recentinspection.

A CARE home’s plan to showcase itsfacilities to potential residents onMothers’ Day fell flat when no-oneresponded to the promotion.

The Kensington Care Home inImmingham launched a competitionfor sons and daughters to nominatetheir elderly mothers in thecommunity to win a prize for being‘the best mum in the world’, with thecontestants being invited to thehome for a special dinner withresidents.

As the women had to be over 70, itwas a chance for the home to showits services to those who may beconsidering residential care in the

near future.But deputy manager Vanessa Cole

told Caring UK that no-onenominated their mothers – becausethey didn’t know about thecompetition.

She said: “We ran an ad for it in thelocal paper but they printed it toolate so no-one entered. The plan wasfor six mothers to enjoy a nicechampagne dinner and trifle and geta bouquet of flowers, then we wouldchoose one to be crowned best mumin the world. We ended up invitingthe mother-in-law of one of ourcarers but there was no-one to joinher.”

Home’s plans fall flat

CARINGNEWS8

Death homeowners clearedof wrongdoingBy Dominic Musgrave

THE OWNERS of an Oxfordshire carehome at the centre of an inquiry afterhalf of the residents died in the spaceof just two weeks have been clearedof any wrongdoing.

The individuals all died of naturalcauses, an inquiry has found.

Oxfordshire County Council saidthere was no direct link between theheating breakdown at the CrownNursing Home in Harwell and thedeaths of the pensioners, who alldied between January 9 and 25.

The home’s central heating brokedown on Boxing Day and was notfixed until January 5.

A spokesman for the council said:"As a result of the detailed look therewas no evidence to suggest a directlink between the breakdown of thecentral heating at the nursing homeand the sad deaths of people livingthere, who all died of natural causes.

“Alternative heating was providedby the privately-run home and thequality of care provided by staffduring this period was found to be of

a good standard. “A further review of the case will be

undertaken by the OxfordshireSafeguarding Adults Board so thatany further learning to be derivedfrom the circumstances of this casecan be disseminated to other careproviders in Oxfordshire."

Owners Southern Cross said theresidents, who included 107-year-oldElizabeth ‘Queenie’ Carpenter, diedfrom “individual chest-relatedillnesses”.

A spokesperson for the home said:“The staff and residents of the homeare saddened by the deaths of theseresidents at the start of the year.

“All regulatory authorities are awareof the deaths and there is no concernover the cause of each death.

“The average age of each residentwas 93 years old, and all had beenhappily living in the home for someyears.

“Management at the home haveevaluated their infection controlprocedures, which were of thehighest standard, and are reviewingnewly issued NHS guidelines.”

CELEBRITY gardener CharlieDimmock officially opened a newcare home in Chelmsford.

She was joined by the city’sMayor and Mayoress Tom andJane Willis and bishop JohnGladwin at Care UK’s ManorLodge, while children from twolocal schools gave performancesof singing and dancing.

The 120 en suite bedrooms havebeen arranged in small groups of15 or 20 bedrooms, each with itsown dining and relaxation areas,while the site also boasts acinema, café, hairdressing andtherapy room.

During the open day, Charlie

viewed the landscaped gardensand raised flowerbeds, which willallow gardeners to continuepursuing their hobby.

Tony Hosking, managingdirector of residential careservices, said: “This is a state ofthe art home, with magnificentresidential facilities and gardensfor residents, their families andour staff to enjoy.

“We look forward to welcomingresidents to the new home and tobuilding a thriving communitywhere residents can stay activeand make their own decisionsabout what they do and how theyspend their time.”

Charlie Dimmock with the home’s manager Pauline Goh

New Chelmsford home blossoming ‘Up Close & Personal’ themefor annual ECCA conferenceBy Nicola Hyde

‘UP Close & Personal’ is the theme for the annual ECCAconference and exhibition inNovember.

The Boots sponsored event, atthe Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury onNovember 12, will look at theGovernment’s personalisationagenda and explore in detail whatit means for care providers.

Chief executive Martin Greensaid: “Personalisation may be atthe heart of government policy,

but what is the best way to deliverit?

“This event will allow careproviders to find out the latest thinking from some of thekey figures in policy and practice and hopefully provideanswers to some of the keyquestions.

“For example, what will it costand where will the resources tofund it come from?”

Discounts are available for earlybookings.

CARINGNEWS10

Hate mail for ownerover extension plansBy Dominic Musgrave

A DEVON operator has been forcedto abandon plans to extend herhome after a hate mail campaignfrom angry objectors.

Pauleen Maitrise, who has run KentFarm in Cullompton for four years,has been left thousands of poundsout of pocket after shelving plans toadd a 10-bed dementia unit on theback of the home.

She believed the extension wouldhave satisfied a demand for dementiafacilities in the area and told CaringUK she was disappointed to have topull the plug after incurring £13,000in fees for architects and solicitors.

Pauleen said: “There is a big gap fordementia in this area so I thought Iwould develop a specialist unit here,with the backing of the local GPs.

“I put my plans on the board at thecouncil and planned an openevening at the home for all localparties, and offered them apresentation but only one personattended. I then found out that morethan 100 letters had been sent tolocal neighbours, calling on them toprotest about the plans, and the basisof their argument was car parking.”

She immediately got in touch with asolicitor about the letters but wastold they could do little about itunless she had the name of theperson sending the letters.

Pauleen added: “A second round ofletters then went out about my plansthat were even stronger, and werepersonal and nasty. They said peopleshould protest on the grounds ofpets’ and children’s safety, and hadsome inaccurate information about

my plans in them.“A planning officer did a site visit

and told me that if I made severalchanges to my original plans thenthey should get passed, but when thearchitect came back with theamendments it looked more like aprison and the rooms like hen huts.

“The quality product I wanted tobuild with high ceilings and bigwindows was gone, and there was noway that I was going to build this. Itis very disappointing, and whatpeople don’t realise is that it costs alot of money, but thankfully the bankhave supported this.

“I’m now thinking about buying asecond home, but it all depends if Ican find the right one of the highestquality. I don’t want to have to sellKent Farm to fund buying a biggerone because we are in demand here.”

Scottishoperatorssign up fornewsletterMORE than 5,000 Scottish careoperators have signed up toreceive an online electronicnewsletter from the CareCommission.

A regularly updated bulletincalled Care News Online hasbeen launched to accompanythe watchdog’s

quarterly magazine, whichfeatures report on best practiceand changes in the sector andgoes to 22,000 homes.

Editor Sarah Wilkie said: “Wewant to keep changing andusing new technology to bettercommunicate with anyoneinterested in care issues, so weare really pleased with theresponse.

“Last year we asked ourreaders exactly how theywanted to receive the magazine.

“While 94 per cent told us theystill wanted the hard copy, morethan half said they’d also behappy to view an electronicversion.”

Heatwave guidelines to be issued for care homesGUIDELINES for care homes tosafeguard their residents during aheatwave are to be launched by theDepartment of Health.

Advice includes ensuring theprovision of cool rooms or areas andcreating cooling spaces, insulatingbuildings and applying reflective

coatings to windows and walls.A spokesman for the Department of

Health told Caring UK: “TheHeatwave Plan, as guidance, does notcontain requirements. The CareHomes Regulations and NationalMinimum Standards includerequirements that the care home

environment must be safe andcomfortable and meet residents'needs.

“Heating, lighting, water supply and ventilation in care homes must also meet relevantenvironmental and health and safetyrequirements.”

CARINGNEWS12

By Dominic Musgrave

A BUSINESSMAN who has boughthis first care home has introduced anew food policy to combatmalnutrition.

Raj Nahal says the first change hemade at Admorre House in SeatonSluice was a new purchasing plan toensure all the food is locally sourced.

He said: “Going to the wholesalersis all right for toilet rolls but not forfood. I want to make sure theresidents eat healthy, and one of thefirst things I did was get a butcher onboard to deliver our meat, a grocer tobring our fruit and vegetables and tomake sure the fish we serve here is ofthe finest quality.”

Raj, who owns a petrol station andother property in the North East, hasalso employed a full-timemaintenance person to ensure thehome is up to scratch.

He added: “If a door handle breaksand needs replacing I don’t want it totake days to get fixed so I have putour handyman on a full-timecontract to make sure any problemsget fixed straight away.”

He spent 18 months consideringmore than a dozen sites in Yorkshireand the North East before settling onthe 17-bed home by the coast.

Now, he expects to purchase asecond home to add to his portfolio

within the next six months.He said: “One of the selling points

to me about this home was thelocation and whether people wouldwant to be here. This was probablythe sixth or seventh home I visited,and it kept coming back to me.

“There is a homely feel that a lot ofthe homes I looked at which hadbetter star ratings than here do nothave.

“That is the most important thingto me. I always work on the theory ofwhether I would be happy to put myparents in here, and I’m glad to saythat I would. I can expand in future,but at the moment I just want tooffer a more personal service.”

Admorre House in Seaton Sluice

New ownerserves newfood policy

Author and MP Ann Widdecombe was thelatest celebrity to visit the NightingaleCare Home in Clapham. She joined 40residents at the facility for a lively debateabout British life, with topics includingknife crime, establishing a zero tolerance

policy within the police force, theGovernment’s management of therecession and the controversial issue ofHolocaust denial.� Ann is pictured chatting with one ofthe residents.

Venue set for NCA annualconference in NovemberTHE National Care Association’sannual conference and exhibitionwill be held at Alexandra House inSwindon in November.

Chief executive Sheila Scott OBEsaid: “There are massive challengesconfronting the care sector – so thisyear's conference is expected toagain be lively and controversial.

“It will be a vital opportunity forNCA members and non-members tolisten to and cross examinerepresentatives of Government, civilservice and national organisations,and meet with fellow care homeprofessionals.”

The event takes place on November11 and 12.

Food hygiene success isgreat compliment to JoyceMAIDS Moreton Hall care homein Aylesbury has become thefourth Fremantle Trust facility toreceive a five-star rating for itsfood hygiene as part of theGovernment’s Scores on theDoors scheme.

Home manager Lynn Winkworthsaid: “We have worked very hardto ensure that our food hygiene

standards are tip top and that ourresidents receive well prepared,well balanced, appetising mealswhich they have had a choice inselecting.

“This award is a greatcompliment to cook Joyce Neiland her support staff and it ishighly pleasing for us to receiveit.”

FIRE SAFETY14

Firm installing evacuation chairsSUNRISE Senior Living UK hasbegun introducing stairwayevacuation chairs from Evac+ChairInternational into all 25 of its homes.

They form an integral part of thecompany’s emergency buildingevacuation plan, assisting it tocomply with Regulatory Reform (FireSafety) Order, 2005. The chairs areintelligently designed, usingcontinuous rotating v-belts toprovide smooth and controlleddescent over stair nosings inproportion to passenger weight. Thisenables a single user to evacuate amobility impaired person down stairsand out to safety in an emergency.

Sunrise Senior Living UK’s firesafety advisors, Quality Fire SafetyManagement Ltd, were responsiblefor specifying the Evac+Chairs.

A spokesman for the company said:“All our staff have a fire servicebackground and so have experiencedthe difficult reality of trying toevacuate people who need to be

carried down stairs when dealingwith a fire. The Evac+Chair is anexcellent solution and an excellentproduct. It is quick, comfortable,safe and reliable and does not requireexceptional strength to operate.”

The homes, which accommodate80-100 residents, all have sprinklersystems, lowering the likelihood ofthe need for complete evacuation ina fire.

Two Evac+Chairs were required forthe majority of the homes forreasonable compliance.

Evac+Chair International also offersa complete aftersales back-up serviceto ensure customers remaincompliant with regulations such asthe Provision and use of WorkEquipment Regulation (1998), givingpeace of mind under the ServiCare©maintenance programme. Sunrise isundertaking the company’s keytrainer masterclass© programme,which enables employees who attendto train others.

Sunrise Senior Living UK

SOME fire services are using out-of-date figures as the basis for carehome inspections, it has beenclaimed.

Tom Welland, fire services managerat Fireco, told Caring UK that the‘two-and-a-half minute rule’ wasused before the advent of fireregulations and fire engineering, butis not part of fire law and is notreferred to in the Residential CarePremises guide.

He said: “I do know of people whouse this figure because there’s no

other way to benchmark evacuationfrom a room or compartment –unless you fire engineer the means ofescape.

“Although, to evacuate an entirecare home to ‘ultimate safety’ in 2.5minutes is, I would suggest,impossible – except for the verysmallest of homes. The RegulatoryReform (Fire Safety) Order states ‘theability of staff to conduct anevacuation of each protected areawith 2.5 minutes is a starting pointupon which to make assessments.”

Inspections ‘using out-of-date figures’

15FIRE SAFETY

Product ‘do not relyon the physicalstrength of operator’SWALLOW evacuation and mobility products has alarge range of products for customers with disabilitiesand also for evacuation purposes.

The huge advantage is that they do not rely on thephysical strength of the operator, meaning helpers orbuddies are happy and confident when using them.

A Swallow spokesman said: “We are an experiencedand committed company who want to improve theexperiences for people, in as many situations as possi-ble.

“We believe we can provide a solution for your spe-cific situation as we believe that one product can’tcover all situations. Our range covers basic downwardevacuation to a powered mobile lift (SuperTrac) thatwill take motorised wheelchair and also for movingbariatric people.”

The range includes:� Chairs that people can be transferred into - thesecan go up and down stairs and a model is available forspiral and flared stairs.� Chairs that the user in their non motorised wheel-chair can be attached to.� A ‘mobile lift’ that a motorised wheelchair and itsuser can be taken up and downstairs as well as normaltransfer.� A plastic security chair or wheelchair which can beused in ‘wet areas’. � A plastic chair with large wheels that can be takenonto a beach and also into the sea. � A plastic bariatric chair that can take people up to200 kilos.

The company will be showing their range at the Fire& Rescue Show at the Birmingham NEC on May 12-14,hall two stand R30.

LEADING care home man-agement specialists BMLHealthcare Ltd has boughtmore than 40 Dorgard firedoor hold open devices toease access for residentsand staff in walk-throughareas throughout its man-aged care homes.

Dorgard from Fireco is thewireless solution that offersthe simplest, most cost-effective way of legally hold-ing open fire doors safely inany position, automaticallyreleasing them should thefire alarm sound.

A spokesman for BMLHealthcare Ltd said: “Thecompany has installedDorgard fire door hold opendevices throughout ourmanaged properties to satis-fy both our duty of care andto provide residents andstaff with a neat and safesolution to meet theirneeds.”

There are more than275,000 Dorgards installedacross the UK. The Dorgardrange is the solution to theillegally wedged open firedoor problem, in any envi-ronment that complies fullywith all relevant Britishstandards and EU directives. The hold open devices ease access for residents

Wirelesssolutionchosen

CARINGNEWS16

Council suspendsplacements atcriticised homeBy Dominic Musgrave

NEW placements to a Workingtoncare home which has been accusedof putting its residents at ‘seriousrisk’ have been suspended by thecounty council.

A pharmacist inspector found inJanuary that, despite improvementsbeing made to the way medicineswere stored, drug record-keeping atthe privately-run Stilecroft home wasso bad that some of the 44 residentswere at risk of being given doubledoses.

The problem was one of severalerrors identified in the CSCI report.

Others included: � Medication records not beingsigned by staff, so that it was notclear whether they had been given ornot.� Doctors’ prescribed doses notbeing followed.� Medicines could not always beaccounted for.� Staff relying on memory tocomplete records.� Some records being duplicated,creating a risk of doubling upmedication.

The report said staff whoadminister medication must be givenfurther training and are assessed ascompetent.

Gareth Cosslett, spokesman forCumbria County Council, said: “Newadmissions have been suspended atStilecroft since the report came out,and until we are happy that the

issues raised have been addressedthen we won’t be putting new peoplein the home.

“We have been helping the home todraw up an action plan to follow. Weare not just leaving them to make theimprovements on their own, and atthis stage there are no plans to movepeople out who are currently living atthe home out. That would be a hugedecision for us to take and one thatwe would not take lightly.”

Local MP Tony Cunningham sayshe is monitoring the situation afterseveral constituents with relatives atthe home made him aware of theproblems.

He added: “I visited the homerecently and spent an hour theretalking to the staff and residents. Alot of the residents told me that it is awonderful place.

“The home has a new manager,whom I also spoke to. She has onlybeen there for a month, and I toldher that the only way we could have areasonable discussion was if sheadmitted that there were problemsthere in the past.

“She told me that she has put a lotof work in at the home since takingover. She agreed to invite me back intwo or three months to tell me whatimprovements have been made.”

A spokesman from Stilecroft (MPS)Ltd, which runs the home, said theywere unable to comment as thematter was with their solicitors.

MANY care homes are required tokeep their entrance doors locked atall times in order to avoid anyresidents wandering out, but also insome cases to prevent infection andcross-contamination.

Aside of using standard key locks,many homes choose to have a pin-code entry system that allows peoplewho know the pin number to let

themselves in or out.The drawbacks with these entry

systems are that they are impersonaland anyone knowing the pin numbercan access or exit the home withoutany controls.

The Virdi-Lock works on the sameprinciple as the pin-entry systems,but uses either a fingerprint or asmart card to identify the person.

It can be used as a stand-alonesystem or, for maximum control, itcan be connected to the ElderlyCare System (ECS) care

management software via a localnetwork.

As both the fingerprint and smartcard are unique, it allows thesoftware to control who has access inand out of the home and when.

Lock allows software to control access

Janet Simpson from the Halle receives flowers from resident Elsie Parker watched byartist in residence Sarah Edwards.

A GROUP of residents from a Walescare organisation put on aperformance with a leadingorchestra.

The concert at Pendine Park inWrexham was the culmination of aseries of creative music workshopswith the world famous Hallé, andfeatured residents from each of theorganisation’s six homes.

Using water as its main theme, theculmination performance was a

multi-media experience involvingthree special compositions, art work,photography and poetry.

The project was the result of linkswith Arts and Business Cymru, whosemission is to bring the worlds ofbusiness and the arts together.

The home’s artist-in-residenceSarah Edwards said the musicworkshops and ‘magical’ finale hadexceeded her expectations.

She added: “We have not triedanything quite like this before andnobody could anticipate how itwould work, or whether it wouldwork, so to see the look on theresidents’ faces made all the hardwork worthwhile.

It was magical – the residents felt it,the staff felt it, the musicians felt itand the audience felt it. We all gotsomething out of it and you can’t puta price on that.”

Orchestra strikes a chord

Tea cosy breaksworld recordRESIDENTS at Bupa care homesnationwide and overseas have helpedto set a new world record for thebiggest tea cosy.

The record was attempted to raiseawareness of the group’s ‘Communi-tea Week’, a giant tea party whichhelps tackle the problems of isolationand loneliness in older people.

It took 64.8km of wool to knit thegiant tea cosy, which is made up of1924 individual squares and stands at3.9 metres tall and 11.1 metres incircumference.

Director of Bupa care homes, DeanCowley, said: “Communi-tea Weekoffers the perfect excuse to put onthe kettle and could make a realdifference to anyone who may bestruggling on their own.”

17CARINGNEWS

Claim that Welsh operatorswho opt out of care standardsscheme will be left behindBy Mary Ferguson

CARE home operators who do not sign upto a new care standards scheme in Waleswill be left behind, it has been claimed.

Mario Kreft, chief executive of CareForum Wales – one of the main instigatorsof the Memorandum of Understanding forSocial Services – told Caring UK that it is inservice providers’ interests to sign up thethe scheme as the country bids to raise thestandards of it services.

“Those who do not agree to this will beleft on the sidelines,” he said.

“If an operator has 100 per cent privatelyfunded people in their care and wants todo his or her own thing then it is up tothem.

“If a care home didn’t sign up to this thenwhat they are really saying is that theydon’t want to be part of any commission-ing and planning of future services.

“It wouldn’t be a good business decisionfor not only them but for their workforceand the residents.

“The government has shown its commit-ment to this by giving £12m a year to pro-vide training and support for people who

provide services, so on the one hand if youare taking part of the money then surelyyou would want to be part of the club.”

There will be a small cost involved to jointhe scheme, but Mario was unable to con-firm how much it would be.

“This is a Welsh Assembly document sobecause it has come from them there willbe some cost involved,though it will prob-ably equate to something like a cup of teaa day,” he added.

“The purpose of this is to put together aprofessional structure for the commission-ing of services, rather than it being five orsix people meeting in a pub each month todiscuss the sector.

“We are never going to please everybody,but the question you have to ask is that if an operator feels this is not for themthen what they are really saying is thatthey don’t want to contribute to the com-missioning and planning of services infuture.”

A new website will be launched in thenear future, informing people of whichschemes have signed up to the agreement,while information meetings will also beheld. Mario Kreft

CARINGNEWS18

Call fordementiachampions

BARBARA says Audley Care strives tooffer a personalised service to itsclients both at its retirement villages and through its homecareservice.

She told Caring UK many peopleare now choosing to move into anextra care scheme as they offer asafety net of support and careservices.

Barbara added: “We are findingthat the average age of our clients isaround 81, and our services includeeverything from doing theirshopping to feeding the cat if theyhave to go into hospital, which cangive them peace of mind and makethem less anxious.

“We offer care and support in a

safe and secure environment. Justbecause a person has dementiadoesn’t mean that they don’t haveany aspirations. A person may wantto do something as simple as goingfor a drink to a coffee shop orcatching a train, and that issomething we can offer as part of acare package.”

She said allowing a person withdementia to stay independent andnot having to move into a care homeis very rewarding for the carer.

Barbara added: “It enriches notonly the person’s life but the carer’stoo. People can have a career in care,and those that are happy with thejob they are doing tend not to leavethe industry.”

BARBARA Hobbs, head ofcommunity care at Audley, whichprovides domiciliary care as well asoperating a number of retirementvillages, says more should be done toimprove the lives of both the personwith the condition and their carer.

She told Caring UK it is time theGovernment stopped spendingmoney on reports and made morefunding available to raise thestandard of care.

Barbara said: “There have beennumerous reports into the conditionsince 2001, some of which have beenvery useful, but not a lot has movedforward. I believe that many careorganisations are merely paying lipservice to the issue.

“I think the way forward is for allcare homes or homecare agencies tohave a specialist dementia championwho keeps up to date with what ishappening and can also inform allstaff of what they need to know byrunning informative trainingprogrammes.

“They should also be a goodcommunicator who is willing tostand up and point out to othercarers what they are doing wrong. Itwould be such a rewarding role.”

She says a simple, personalapproach is required to improve aperson with dementia’s quality of life,and called for all dementia trainingto be standardised and delivered byspecialists in the field.

Barbara added: “Some operators areonly putting their staff throughdementia training or buying the

necessary DVD because the careinspectorate is telling them they haveto.

“This is not the way forward, andthe watchdog should be lookingclosely at what sort of training isbeing provided.

“Not all operators can afford to puttheir all managers through expertcourses from the likes of theAlzheimer’s Association, but moreshould be done to make good qualitytraining and support available to carestaff.”

But before any progress can bemade, Barbara said raising publicawareness and a general change ofattitude towards dementia is requiredin the UK.

She added: “We need to get back tothe core values and delivering a morepersonalised service. Talking to theperson as an individual and findingout about them – everything abouthow they like their cup of tea to whatthey did for a job – is a good start.

“There are some excellent modelsin countries like Australia, NewZealand and across Europe that wecan learn from, to make sure ourelderly can maintain their dignitythroughout.”

Care providersshould have aspecialistdementiachampion to copewith the risingnumbers ofpeople with thecondition, it hasbeen claimed.DominicMusgrave found

out more

Barbara Hobbs

Service offers ‘safetynet of support and care’

‘I think the way forward is for all care homes orhomecare agencies to have aspecialist dementia champion who keeps up todate with what is happening’

19CARINGNEWS

By Louise Cordell

A NEW Forest care assistant who vis-ited a sick resident on her days offhas been nominated for an award forher dedication.

Tina Smit, lead care assistant at TheShelbourne in Sway, has been short-listed for Hampshire The CountyMagazine’s carer of the year accoladeafter being put forward by her man-aging director.

On her days off she regularly satwith residents John Charlton, whowas terminally ill with cancer, and hiswife Barbara, despite her teenage sonbeing posted out to Afghanistan withthe Royal Marines’ logistics corp.

She said: “I was shocked to hearthat I had been nominated because Iknew nothing about it. Whether I winthe award or not I’m not too worried.Just knowing that I am appreciated isenough for me.

“I was off duty when John took aturn for the worse, but wanted to bethere to give support to them both. Ijust sat with them and we talked anddrunk copious amounts of tea.

“It was a difficult time for me also,but I got through it as I always do bythinking positive, knuckling down

and just getting on with it.”

Ken Waterhouse, who nominatedher for the award, said: “This meantso much to the resident and his wifeand she helped to make this difficulttime manageable for the peoplearound.

“While this was a very sad time Tinamanaged to put on a brave face whenappropriate and treat residents andother team members in a sensitivemanner.”

Tina moved to the Shelbournewhen it opened last May, and spendsmost of her time looking after resi-dents with dementia in the ‘NostalgiaNeighbourhood’.

She says her only regret is that shedid not become a carer at a youngerage, having only done it for the pastthree-and-a-half years.

Tina added: “I look after my elderlyaunt who lives on her own havingbeen a widow for a long time. I do alot for her, but only really thoughtabout changing careers when one ofmy friends suggested it to me

“I’ve never looked back since andlove looking after people. I love myjob and could not think of doing any-thing else.”

Nominated for award: Tina Smit

Tina visitedsick residenton days off

Home plans for derelict site in LutonPLANNING permission has beensecured for a 70-bed care demen-tia home on a derelict site inLuton.

The project, which will providespecialist nursing and dementia

care for older people, is one of anumber of care home schemesthat planning consultancy RPS ispursuing on behalf of Cardiffbased Castleoak care develop-ments limited.

CARINGNEWS20

PLANS to give elderly people more ofa say in the care they receive will notsave money, the head of a leadingassociation has claimed.

Nadra Ahmed, chair of the NationalCare Association, says care homeshave always been delivering apersonal service, and that theGovernment is wasting moneyputting together plans for individualbudgets.

“I have been involved in the caresector for many years, and havealways believed that I have beendelivering a personal service,” sheadded. “When an elderly personmoves into a home we put a careplan together and then sit with staffto set out their needs. We look at theindividual as an individual and thendeliver their personal needs.

“Ministers who think this is a betterway of delivering care are mad, andno way will it be cheaper than thecurrent system. They have lost theplot and should put the money theyare spending back into the caresystem and let us deliver what we do.

“If we are doing wrong then theyshould tell us what we are doing

wrong, but nobody went into thecare system to deliver a poor service,and it should now be fundedappropriately.

“Local authorities need toconcentrate on delivery more.”

Nadra, who was speaking at theCare Show in Bournemouth, alsocalled on care home operators todemand extra money from localauthorities for staff developmentwhen they are negotiating fees withtheir commissioners.

“In the annual process I believepeople are not saying enough about

needing more money for training,”she added.

“The recruitment and retentionproblem in the care sector has notgone away, but if a service is in it forthe long haul then they need to get itright, and they should be respectedfor getting it right.

“It is time for the head banging tostop and for the sector to haveconfidence in what it does.”� Do you agree with Nadra? LetDominic Musgrave know yourthoughts by ringing 01226 734407 orby emailing dm@whpl.net

Ministers who backindividual budget plansare labelled ‘mad’

Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association

A CARE home is celebrating afterscooping a South Oxfordshire districtcouncil healthy choice award.

Pat Sanford, catering manager atSanctuary’s Watlington care home,was nominated for the awardfollowing a spot check inspection byone of the council’s environmentalhealth officers.

The facility was judged on strictcriteria, including general hygiene,structure and confidence inmanagement.

The award means the home willqualify for the highest five star‘excellent’ rating in the council’sScores on the Doors food hygienescheme, which is being launched inJune.

Pat Sanford receives her award fromSouth Oxfordshire District Council'schairman Colin Daukes

Care homecelebrates

21CARINGNEWS

A SPECIALIST activities programmewhich features music, movement andgames is being developed for resi-dents at a newly opened dementiacare facility in Huyton.

The events at Roby Lodge havebeen put together by the home’smanager Debbie Wilson and herdeputy Lesley Vaughan based on areview with the residents and theirfamilies prior to the opening.

Debbie told Caring UK that keepingresidents with dementia stimulated isvital for their future well being.

She said: “People with dementianeed to be stimulated, and by keep-ing the brain active we can slow thedeterioration process, rather thanhaving them just sitting in front ofthe television.

“We are putting together a pro-

gramme to meet our clients’ needbased on our findings from the rela-tives, which will include everythingfrom bingo and gardening to tripsout.”

It is also using the Sonas sensoryprogramme, which stimulates resi-dents’ senses using smells, taste andmusic.

Debbie added: “We use variousmusic - everything from classical tocountry and western, stuff from thesixties to the old time songs. It relax-es the residents, as does the armchairaerobics class that we have alsobrought into the the home.”

The 40-bed facility, which wasopened by mayor of KnowsleyMichael Foulkes, also has a relaxationtherapy room which includes sensoryequipment.

Operations manager Debbie Thomson, care centre manager from neighbouring RobyHouse Anne Cowgill and manager Debbie Wilson receive a bouquet of flowers at theopening from the Mayor of Knowsley.

Residents ‘need to be stimulated’

CARINGNEWS22

MISSED and curtailed visits and afailure to keep proper care planswere just some of the issues that thePanorama programme ‘Britain'sHomecare Scandal’ exposed.

Reporters worked undercover fortwo months for Care UK, which has48 care contracts with localauthorities, mainly in England, andCarewatch, which describes itself asthe fastest growing social careprovider in the country.

Its York office hired a Panoramajournalist and allowed her to workwithout waiting for her CriminalRecords' Bureau check to clear.

But the company has hit back at theprogramme, saying it failed to reportthat the company had been takenover by new management shortlybefore the undercover reporterstarted work.

A spokesman said: “Carewatch Care

Services Ltd is very disturbed that theBBC Panorama programmeexamining home care did not presenta balanced view of the industry ingeneral and Carewatch’s service forthe City of York Council in particular.

“Poor editing of the programmealso gave the impression certainservice users were with CarewatchYork when they were actually theresponsibility of other providers.

“A client satisfaction survey carriedout by Carewatch in York since thePanorama reporter workedundercover, revealed that 85 per centof the service users respondingstated they were happy with thequality of the care provided and thetraining and competence of staff.Panorama chose not to report that.”

Care UK has also criticised theprogramme, saying they were‘isolated examples’ and that 93 per

cent of the domiciliary care servicesare rated as excellent or good by theinspectorate.

The spokesman added: “Care UKtakes its responsibilities as a careprovider extremely seriously and weseek at all times to deliver the highestquality of care. We feel a real sense ofduty to the people who depend onus.

“For these reasons we are sorry thatour performance fell below our usualhigh standards in some cases and wehave apologised publicly andprivately where appropriate.

“We are far from complacent andwe have made immediate changesand improvements. This has includ-ed a comprehensive review of all careplans, the implementation of newprocesses backed by new software toimprove the timeliness of visits andfurther training for our staff.”

A BBC investigation into the UK’s domiciliary care services has discovered carers on minimumwages, often with very little training. Dominic Musgrave reports on the effects the programmecould have on the sector.

Industry respondsto Panorama claims

Picture courtesy of BBC/David Gillanders

HOMECARE providers who fail tomake the improvements required ofthem will be closed down, the headof the new regulator has claimed.

Following on from the Panoramaprogramme ‘Britain's HomecareScandal’, Cynthia Bower, chiefexecutive of the Care QualityCommission, told Caring UK that thetreatment which appeared to havebeen received by the people was ‘verydisturbing and of great concern’.

She said: “In general, homecareagencies have steadily improved theirstandards in recent years. But casesof bad practice and, in some cases,sheer neglect do occur and thesemust be rigorously addressedthrough our enforcement process.

“Any evidence shown in thePanorama programme that we werenot aware of will be followed up as amatter of urgency.

“Where necessary, we will use our

statutory powers to take action toprotect the welfare of people who usethose services. Ultimately we can,and will, close down any careproviders that fail to makeimprovements required of them.”

Warning from commission chief

Cynthia Bower

THOUSANDS of people whoprovide the best care they can arebeing undermined by a system thathas been failing for years,according to Gary FitzGerald, chiefexecutive of Action on ElderAbuse.

He added: “It is time that thepublic woke up to the reality ofwhat living at home means formany thousands of older people.

“A minimal service often run on ashoe-string, supported by carerswho are invariably over-workedand under-paid, and provided byagencies who are forced to operatewith smaller and smaller budgets.

“While there may well beindividual carers who must be heldto account for their failings, thereal culprits here are not thosecarers or indeed their employers,but a system whereby localauthorities drive down costs at theexpense of the most vulnerablepeople in our society.”

UKHCA chairman MikePadgham also said funding was atthe root of problem, saying itimpacts on the recruitment andretention of staff.

“It is disingenuous of theprogramme makers to lay thelevels of low pay at the door ofproviders themselves. Homecareproviders can only pay staff atlevels which are allowed by the feesthey receive.

“Providers would be delighted to

be able to reward workers betterand to raise the quality of servicethrough more training and betterretention of experienced staff, butregrettably this is often notpossible under the currentpurchasing arrangements.

“The attention that theprogramme has drawn to theimpact of these practices on realpeople must lead to positivechanges in the way services arecommissioned and funded.”

WRVS chief executive LynneBerry has called on the new CareQuality Commission to crack downon councils and contractors whodo not meet or exceed goodstandards of care for older people.

She said: “The scandal of poorquality care needs to be sorted,and clearly the new Care QualityCommission is in the best place tocrack down on any council or theircontractors who do not offer aconsistently high standard of careto people who need help tocontinue living at home.

“Too many older people do notget the support they deserve,particularly those with the mostneeds. Funding is always an issue,but we also need to sort out theproblem of complacency. The mostvulnerable in our society are rarelyheard and the terrible sufferingthey face when good care is notprovided is often brushed underthe carpet.”

Association leaders say the Panorama programme has highlighted the fact that theindustry is under-funded. Healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave gauges their reaction.

‘Funding is at theroot of the problem’

CARINGHOME CALL24

“I am so excited about this and it isgoing to be difficult for me to leavethe place when it has opened.

“But at the same time I cannot waitto start building our second one inBurnley because when you have oneyou then want another.”

The building is set to come in onbudget following a £5m loan from theRoyal Bank of Scotland, but will behanded over three weeks later thanoriginally planned due to the badweather.

As well as having a coffee shop,beauty salon and a gift shop, thehome will also have a music roomwith baby grand piano and jukeboxand a memory room.

Angela and the home’s managerJulie Peyton have also worked closelywith both the Alzheimer’s Society andan interior designer to choose theright colours and textures that aidthose with dementia.

“A lot of what we are doing is

ground work because we want tomake sure we get it right first time,”she added.

“I don’t want to leave anything tochance and say we can get it right atthe next build.

“It is not about the the buildingthough – the most important thingabout all this is the care that weprovide.

“I am out of my comfort zone whenit comes to care, but I want to puttogether the best possible team sothat what we provide is of the higheststandard.

“The skeleton staff will start amonth before the home opens, andwill do various training courses tomake sure they are ready.”

The home is set to create 60 full andpart time jobs ranging from nurses,care staff, housekeepers andgardeners.

It already has a dozen reservations.

With her first care home set to open in the spring, a former estate agentis already planning the construction of her second. Dominic Musgravefound out more.

A TRIP on a cruise a few years agogave Angela the idea of putting aninternet cafe at the home.

The room will have two computersfitted with Skype and webcams sothat residents can keep in touch withrelatives and friends.

She said: “I went down to the ITroom on board the ship to check myemails and couldn’t get near any ofthe machines because there wereelderly people on them.

“The average age in there musthave been 80, and the staff wereshowing them the basics, such assending emails and searching theinternet.

“There is a feeling that olderpeople aren’t interested incomputers, but why not when theycan keep in regular contact withpeople?

“When I spoke to the ship’soperators they told me that the roomis always full of elderly people whowant to learn, so when I decided tobuild the care home I decided wemust have a computer room forthem.”

Angela says her plans have beenwelcomed by potential residents’families, and those residents who donot wish to use the computers willhave emails delivered to their rooms.

Cruise ship‘surfers’give idea How Angela’s new project

has taken over her life

The building under construction

ANGELA Swift wanted to build a carehome in her home town of Yarmfollowing a disappointing experiencewhen looking for one for her father.

And, after visiting more than 100care homes nationwide as part of herresearch, Reuben Manor, an 83-bedhome which will provide both EMIand dementia care, is set to open.

She said: “At first it was just an ideato go into the care sector, but themore I visited to see what was onoffer the more I thought I could dothat, but better.

“I thought about buying aconverted care home at first, but Iwanted one of my own. It is ironicthat when I was younger I alwaysdreamed of living on Yarm Roadwhere the home is because it was thestreet to live on in the town.

“It has taken over my life, and myhusband never thought he would bethe one that stayed at home. My gymmembership has not been used forthe last nine months, and my sociallife has had to be put on hold.

Angela Swift with Reuben Manor care home manager Julie Peyton

25

Bed shortagepredictedafter closuresBy Dominic Musgrave

A NEW study has predicted a bedshortage in care homes if they con-tinue to close at the current rate.

A Local Government Associationsurvey has found that the currentfinancial climate has already causedat least one independently run homeat one-in-seven authorities to close,putting extra pressure on resources.

And more than three-quarters ofcouncils expect to feel the impact offurther closures in the future,prompting the association to call onthe political parties to make care forthe elderly one of its top three priori-ties.

LGA chairman Margaret Eaton toldCaring UK that several councils areputting new initiatives in place tohelp homes remain open.

She said: “The impact of the reces-sion is being felt up and down thecountry - by everyone from hard-pressed families to struggling busi-nesses. Steps to help care homes stayopen are among the many examplesof things councils are doing to pro-tect their residents from the down-turn as much as possible.

“People who live in care homes aresome of the most vulnerable in thecountry. Any warning signs that there

could be problems providing placeswhere they can be properly cared forneed to be identified in good time,which councils are clearly doing.

“Town halls are taking decisiveaction. By co-operating with privateoperators and taking the lead on pro-viding alternative care, councils areensuring people living in many resi-dential homes will be sparedupheaval and worry.”

In Poole the borough council hasbegun a policy of fortnightly pay-ments to providers, one week inarrears and one in advance.

John Dermody, head of adult socialservices commissioning, said it wasto try and provide financial stability.

He added: “We have put a system inplace which works for us and thecare home operators as it gives thema regular income. I know that one ortwo homes have closed in the area,but I don’t know whether the reces-sion has had anything to do with this.

“We are currently going out to ten-der to increase the number ofdementia beds in the borough. Thiswill also be done a block bookingbasis for three years, rather than spotplacements, because this will againgive owners security in terms of theirbeds.”

Margaret Eaton

Welcome to your new-look Commerce section,bringing you all the lat-est property, businessand training news.

In this issue:

� Approval for £20mextra care scheme - page 26

� Care group buyssecond home - page 28

� Resident sits in onrecruitment interview- page 29

� Caring should becool career choice- page 30

A CARE group’s trainerhas been shortlisted forthe Ceretas nationalhome care awards.

Care South’s KarenHodges will be inter-viewed in the nearfuture before the winneris announced at a presti-gious ceremony at theMarriott Hotel inLondon on June 6.

She has worked in CareSouth’s training andNVQ assessment centresince 2005, following acareer in both domicil-iary and residential caresettings.

� Karen Hodges with train-ing manager Nicky Smith

Property, finance, insurance, training & recruitment

CARINGCOMMERCE26

Lacks of fundsfor training ‘at root ofproblems’MORE money should be madeavailable for staff training in the caresector, it has been claimed.

Jon Gray, regional manager ofUnison in the south west, said a lackof funding is at the root of theproblems facing the sector.

“Nobody comes into this professionto get rich,” he said. “They do sobecause they want to make adifference and want to look afterother people. They cannot do this ifthey are not properly trained.

“There is also a problem with thestatus of the industry, and funding isat the root of it. Poor pay is theprimary factor affecting individualsin the industry, and how muchcommitment Government makes andhow much society makes isfundamental to this.”

Jon also called on better workingconditions to be put in place forpeople working in the sector.

“Carers would work better if theyhad better, high quality informationavailable to them,” he added.

“They should have more flexibleworking hours, which must take intoaccount other responsibilities such asfamily life. Properly structuredworking patterns would help carerdevelopment.”

Approval for £20mextra care schemeBy Mary Ferguson

PLANS to build a £20m extra carescheme in Ormskirk have been giventhe go ahead by the county council.

The new state-of-the-art develop-ment, which will replace the countycouncil’s existing care home on partof the Brookside site, will create 111extra care one and two bedroomapartments as well as a health andwell being centre, enhanced day careservice and an outreach serviceserving the local community.

A local multi-agency consortiumcomprising Lancashire CountyCouncil, NHS Central Lancashire,West Lancashire District Council, AgeConcern, U3A, Alzheimer’s Societyand Arena Housing secured aGovernment grant of £7.32m todevelop the housing scheme last Julyas part of an £80m cash injection intoextra care housing.

Brookside secured the highestamount of the 25 projects across thecountry to be awarded funding. Theremainder of the cost will be met byArena Housing, the County Counciland the NHS.

Len Andrews, director ofindependent architectural practicePozzoni, said: “The funding camewith a couple of stipulations; the first

being that planning would beachieved by March and the secondthat the project should start on siteby September.

“We are delighted we have achievedthe first milestone for our clients inobtaining planning approval,securing the funding arrangementsfrom the Department of Health, andenabling the scheme to move

forward to its next stage.”The new facility will provide

additional community facilities suchas a bistro, library and resourcecentre, fitness suite, hairdresser, ITsuite, lounge areas, meeting roomsfor craft and hobbies, training andeducation, relaxation and recreationfor use by residents and the widercommunity.

An impression of the new development

Lord Spencer opened Avery Healthcare’snew Brampton View care village andadmitted it exceeded all his expectations.The new facility is home to more than 50residents. It also has 20 apartments and14 cottages for assisted living.Lord Spencer, whose Althorp home isnearby, said he was impressed by thebeauty of the care home building anddescribed it as a “really lovely fresh openspace.”He added: “I had an old fashioned view ofwhat a care home might be. But it is along, long way from this fantastic place.“The residents all seem to like it. It islovely that Northamptonshire can nowboast a place like this.”Picture: Lord Spencer unveils a plaquewith Avery managing director JohnStrowbridge

Healthcare company ‘one to watch’says national newspaper surveyHALLMARK Healthcare has beendescribed as ‘one to watch’ in 2009 bya national newspaper survey.

The Sunday Times’ Best CompaniesTo Work For research aims torecognise and acknowledgecorporate excellence in theworkplace by looking at great workpractices and employee care.

Hallmark scored a strong positiveresponse from staff in three key areasincluding: My Company, whichreflects employees overall connection

to their job and the organisation; MyTeam, which indicates howemployees feel about theirconnection with colleagues and howwell they work together as a teamand My Personal Growth, whichoutlines how employees feel towardstraining and their future prospects atthe company.

Hallmark was first recognised byBest Companies in 2005, andmanaging director Avnish Goyal said:“Hallmark is quite a different

business to what it was four yearsago.

“We have expanded considerablyand now have 25 homes in ourportfolio.

“Such growth brings its ownchallenges, but as always, we remaincommitted to nurturing a workforcethat pursues excellence at its core.

“It is very rewarding to hear onceagain that our employees are notonly happy at Hallmark but alsoshare our long term vision.”

Northern Irelandfirst for PrioryTHE Priory Group is to open its first care home in NorthernIreland.

Ben Madigan, a 64-beddedpurpose-built home being built byNMC Developments Ltd, is adjacentto an existing home in Newtonabbey,County Antrim.

Continuity of care and the transferof the existing residents to the newhome will be co-ordinated by homemanager Muriel Shirley, andresidents and relatives will continueto be kept informed throughout themove.

CARINGCOMMERCE28

HELEN and Paul Hutson plan toimmediately add a further 10 staffin a variety of roles to the team atStinchcombe Manor in Dursley.

The additional nurses, carers,caterers and gardeners will take thestaff headcount to more than 90,and Helen told Caring UK theyplan to take advantage of thebetter training opportunities thepurchase has given them.

She said: “The recruitment drivewill allow us to improve the qualityof care we offer. It also provides uswith a great opportunity to takeour business further. I plan to sendsome of our staff from theCornwall home up toGloucestershire because there isbetter access to training availablethan there is down here.

“I want our staff to become morespecialised in the jobs they do, sosome may do training in tissueviability, others in rehabilitationand some in the Mental CapacityAct, rather than just everyonedoing NVQ level 2.”

The couple, who have been in thecare business for more than 10years, also run the Benoni nursinghome in St Just, which they haveextended from 21 to 25 beds, anddomiciliary care service KernowHomecare.

Helen added: “We will be puttinga system in place at Stinchcombethat is successful at Benoni. Bothmy husband and I are very caringpeople and we expect our staff to

be the same. We have a theory thatif the staff look after the residentswell then we will look after them.

“When I am interviewing newstaff I know immediately whetherthey are right for our home. If theyare not right at the beginning thenwe cannot make them. They mustbe dedicated and compassionate,and I always make sure they knowexactly where we are coming from.

“I always work on the theory thatwould I be happy for this person tolook after my parents.”

Helen, a trainee nurse, and Paul,who has a business degree,acquired the home thanks to afunding package from NatWest tosupport the purchase price of£1.75m. She says they looked atseveral other homes before settlingon Stinchcombe because it had the“family feel they were looking for”.

The new home is registered for 36people, and the couple plan anextensive refurbishment over theforthcoming months.

But she says she does not expect

to be making any furtherpurchases in the near future.

Helen added: “We are both veryhands on people and all of the staffknow that we are just a phone callaway.

“If I am at Stinchcombe, Paul isusually at Benoni, or vice versa.

“If we were to buy another homethen I think we would lose that.People like to see the owners on aregular basis and want to knowwho is caring for them, but younever say never.”

Centenarian Martha Hyde joins in the champagne celebration with new proprietor Helen Hutson, Shaun Elliot from NatWest,and home manager Joanne Howells.

A Cornwall-based care group has expanded with the purchase of a second care home morethan 200 miles away in Gloucestershire. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

‘If the staff look after the residentswell then we will look after them’

WORK has begun on the construction of a new 75-bed care home in Whitchurch that when completedwill create 100 jobs.

MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson and town mayor Doris Ankers used acommemorative spade to celebrate the start ofbuilding work of the Coverage Care home beingbuilt by Castlemead.

The so far unnamed facility, which is set to openearly next year, will support older people whorequire nursing care and may have special needsarising from dementia.

Owen said: “With the anticipated increase in the number of older people needing places incare homes, I was delighted to be asked to support this project which will provide additional care facilities and create newopportunities for employment in the centre ofWhitchurch.”

The new two-storey home has been designed toblend in with the surrounding homes by dividing itinto smaller domestic-sized modules, usingdifferent roof lines, gables and dormer windows tocreate a street scene.

MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson and town mayor Doris Ankerscut the first sod with Coverage Care chief executive David Coull

Building begins onhome with no name

Sale of Flintshirehome completedDC CARE has completed the sale ofan EMI registered care home in Rhyll,Flintshire.

Cartrefle, which has 15 singlebedrooms and three shared rooms,has been acquired via a sharepurchase agreement by PradeepGunputh. It is his second acquisition.

Vendors Mr and Mrs P. O’Donoghuehave progressively extended thehome since they first acquired thebusiness in 1984, and made thedecision to sell in order to pursueother business interests.

Care home soldCHRISTIES has sold a North East carehome which was originally a vicarageto a first-time buyer.

Mr Sahajpal and his businesspartners have purchased ManorHouse residential home inFencehouses, Houghton Le Springfrom the retiring Mr Jewitt for anundisclosed sum.

The property is registered for 39residents.

29CARINGCOMMERCE

WHEN Kim Hirst was recruiting for anew member of the night staff teamshe turned to resident AlisonMitchell for help.

Alison has lived at Highroyd resi-dential home for two years, anddespite being unsure at first, she wassoon persuaded to take a more activerole in the day to day running of thehome.

Kim told Caring UK that they bothchose Raeffaella Catone for the job,and that she would definitely useAlison again when she is recruitingstaff. She said: “Alison is a very inde-pendent woman who has a busierlifestyle than me. She goes out mostdays and still does her own shopping,so she was the perfect choice when Ihad decided I wanted to get a resi-dent involved in the interviews.

“I am not here 24 hours and thestaff are not looking after me so I feelit is important that the residentsmake their feelings known and arecomfortable with everyone whoworks here. I will definitely be usingAlison again when we interview. Shesoon got the hang of it and askedsome questions that I wouldn’t havethought of. I’m glad to say that we

both agreed on Raeffaella for thejob.”

Kim also plans to give Alison a lead-ing role in a residents and relativescommittee that she is forming for thehome in the near future, and hasinvited her to staff training sessions.

She added: “I want the residentsand their relatives to get moreinvolved in the running of the home,and by forming this committee theywill able to voice their opinions on awide variety of subjects, includingactivities and what is on the menu.

“Alison says she is shy, but she isone of the more vocal residents at thehome and is always happy to givepresentations and voice any con-cerns she may have.

“When the staff are doing themandatory health and safety and firesafety training, I see no reason whythe residents can not get involvedand be more aware of what to lookout for around the home, so will beinviting them along.”� Do you think it is a good ideainvolve residents when recruitingstaff? Let Dominic Musgrave knowyour thoughts by ringing 01226734407 or email dm@whpl.net

The manager of a Huddersfield care home has enlisted the help of one of the residents when sheinterviews possible new staff. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Raeffaella Catone and Alison Mitchell

Why care home resident Alisonsat in on recruitment interview

CARINGCOMMERCE30

Call to make caringa cool career choiceBy Dominic Musgrave

THE care sector should get intoschools to make caring a coolercareer choice for young people, it hasbeen claimed.

Speaking at the Care Show inBournemouth, Annie Stevenson,programme director for older peopleat the Social Care Institute forExcellence, said it’s important to ‘getpeople while they are young’.

She said: “We have to get themwhen they are young to try and buildup communities again because careis not perceived as being cool.

“We live in a society that is riddledwith age discrimination and thatdoesn’t value older people. We valuepeople who contribute to theeconomy and don’t care for eachother as a community any more.

“This means that those who dowork in the care sector are alsodevalued, and reflects the poorattitudes to the older people they arecaring for like a mirror.”

Annie also said the sector shouldstop complaining about the financial

problems it faces and present itself ina more positive light. She claimsmore people would consider a careerin the industry if carers were moreconfident and proud about the jobthey do.

“It is really difficult to attract newblood into the sector as it istarnished by some sections of themedia,” Annie added. “We need tothink smarter about how we aregoing to attract new, committed andhighly-motivated people to workwith people.

“We need to take a more creativeapproach and be better at sellingourselves as a sector. We need to getacross that you get a sense of prideand status in doing the job well,rather than complaining all of thetime about a lack of money, not thatit is not an issue.”

“But the largest barrier in all of thisis age discrimination, and withoutunderstanding the deeper issues wewill never make any progress.” Annie Stevenson

New carevillage opensA NEW care village has openedits doors in Northampton.

Avery’s Brampton View has 20apartments and 14 cottages aswell as an 88 bed care homeand dementia unit.

The care home andapartments are connected by alarge communal entrance, andfacilities include a hairdressingsalon, shop, lounge andrecreational facilities.

The company has justannounced a £53mdevelopment capital packagefrom Graphite Capital and RBSfor investment in newcompany Willowbrook, whichwill come under the Averyumbrella brand.

AcquisitionKINGSLEY Healthcare has acquired anursing and dementia care home inChristchurch, Dorset.

Highcliffe accommodates 45residents, and Kinglsey is planningan extensive refurbishmentprogramme which will begin withupdating the lounges and diningareas.

GRP Finance has completed a refinancing package for the owners and operators of apurpose-built care home in Shrewsbury. The company were able to secure asubstantial new line of funding for managing director of The Uplands Mandy Thorn, whoruns Marches Care Ltd with her parents Tony and Tricia West. Completed and opened in2007, The Uplands provides 40 nursing beds and 40 nursing dementia beds has receiveda three-star rating from CSCI.

DC CARE has completed the sale ofSpringfield House care home inLaunceston, Cornwall for an undisclosedamount. The business has been operatedby the former owner for approximately 10years, who decided to sell to pursue otherbusiness interests.

A Midlands care group has added another home to its portfolio with the purchase of TheSquirrels. Merron Care has bought the Wolverhampton facility, which is registered for11, to add to the three others it owns across the Midlands.Christies sold the home, on behalf of Mrs Reynolds, for an undisclosed sum from anasking price of £500,000.

Purpose-built home inRotherham to create 80 jobsROTHERHAM Healthcare Limitedhas started construction on a newcare home in a deal funded by theRoyal Bank of Scotland.

The new care home will besituated on the site of the formerMoorgate hospital and willprovide facilities for rehabilitationand services prescribed by aconsultant or physiotherapist.

Due for completion in November,it will create up to 80 jobs.

Rotherham Healthcare Ltddirector Glennys Oliver said:“There is a strong demand forspecialist residential care acrossRotherham and our aim is toprovide residents with a highstandard of care in a homelyenvironment.”

New homefor KingsleyKINGSLEY Healthcare hasacquired a nursing and dementiacare home in Christchurch,Dorset.

Highcliffe accommodates 45residents, and Kinglsey isplanning an extensiverefurbishment programme which will begin with updating the lounges and diningareas.

31CARINGCOMMERCE

By Mark Kerr

THE front page of last month’sCaring UK (‘Home plans haltedamid violence’) highlighted howcontroversial new schemes can bewith local communities.

Proposals for a care home in thenorth east were put on hold follow-ing a furious reaction from somelocal residents to the scheme at anexhibition.

This is evidence of a real chal-lenge facing the care home andhealthcare sector - the ever press-ing need to engage, consult, edu-cate and communicate the aimsand rationale behind every newdevelopment to the people andgroups they will affect.

Fear of change and concernabout all forms of development areto be expected and this is nothelped by a general cynicism aboutthe motivations of developers.

Within this, the care home sectorneeds to address a number of spe-cific misconceptions and obstacles.As shown by last month’s CaringUK story, the level of mistrust andapprehension that exists towardsthe sector and new development isworryingly high. There is a real lackof understanding and deep feltconcerns about what a new care

home could mean for an area.The most pressing issue to

address is local engagement andconsultation on individual projects.A care or residential home forelderly people has very differentrequirements needs than say, anew housing estate, so requires adifferent communicationsapproach.

Increasingly, care home operatorsare looking at sites outside of towncentre locations, potentially ongreenfield (or even in the greenbelt). This can be unpopular andcontroversial and is compoundedby a lack of understanding over therequirements of such development.

Older people and particularlythose with special care needs likedementia are shown to respondwell to calmer, more tranquil envi-ronments. In addition growingefforts to improve care standardshave inevitably led to different siterequirements.

In some cases town centres willstill offer the right conditions – but

there is a solid argument for specialcircumstances that should be com-municated effectively, not simplyto planners but to the local com-munity, for development in moreisolated locations around urbanareas.

Other genuine local concerns alsofall prey to misunderstanding. Forinstance, care homes are oftenopposed on the grounds that theywill cause a significant increase intraffic and place extra pressure onlocal services, particularly localPCTs. Neither of these are found-ed in the facts – care homes bring arelatively low level of traffic, andmeasures can be put in place toreduce this further.

The development of a new carehome should be seen in a positivelight by the local community. Asthe UK’s population ages andhealth issues become more com-monplace, more homes will beneeded to assist people who can nolonger live independently butdeserve a good quality of life.

� Mark Kerr is a director of PPS Group,which was set up in 1990 to advisecompanies on how best to communicate with councils, local communities and the media.

Taking care to communicateChallenges facing the care home developmentsector and the role communications has to play

By Dominic Musgrave

THE value of the UK domiciliary caremarket is expected to grow to£59.4billion over the next five years,according to a new study.

A report by the leading analystsMarket and Business Developmentsays that demand in the sector roseby two per cent in the last 12 months,meaning it is now worth £52.7billion.

The study goes on to predict thatthe it will benefit from the ageingpopulation and more people wantingto remain in their own homes longer,and will increase by approximately 13per cent by 2013.

An analyst said: “The positive mar-ket development is a partial reflec-tion of government initiatives to pro-mote independent living, in line withcontinued emphasis of reducingdemand for residential care throughthe provision of improved domicil-iary services.

“However, figures also show that thenumber of official receivers of home-care is on the decline, although theaverage vale of contracts hasincreased.”

Mike Padgham, chairman of theUKHCA, said the sector faces chal-lenging times over the next few yearsas the government brings in the newpersonalisation agenda.

He added: “Domiciliary care will nodoubt increase over the next fewyears because of the ageing popula-tion, but with it I think there will bemore pressure on funding and costs.

“There needs to be a period of con-solidation in the market place, but weneed to make sure that the smalleragencies survive in the current finan-cial climate when they are finding itincreasingly difficult to borrowmoney from the banks.

“Agencies are going to have to dealincreasingly with individuals underthe new personalisation agenda, andthe challenge is going to be how theysatisfy their needs and meeting theircosts. I don’t think the Government ishelping the sector with the transitionlike it would do others.”

� How difficult is it to make endsmeet in the current financial climate,and are you planning to tackle thechallenges of the personalisationagenda?

Let Dominic Musgrave know byemailing dm@whpl.net or by ringing01226 734407.

Homecare market’s valueto continue growing

UKHCAchairmanMikePadgham

HEALTH secretary Alan Johnsonhas officially opened the £45 mil-lion Buckshaw Retirement Villagenear Chorley in Lancashire.

During his visit he met staff, resi-dents and their families of theOakbridge development, which issplit into three units - The Lodgedementia care centre; The Grangeassisted living facility and TheCourt, which is for residents who

are active and independent but likethe idea of home ownership in avillage community.

Alan said: “Facilities such as theBuckshaw Retirement Village are soimportant. They offer a range ofoptions, providing support yetenabling people to live as indepen-dently as possible for as long aspossible.”

Alan opens new villageAlan Johnson with Oakbridge chief executive Andrew Stow.

HOUSING 21 has been awarded a£2million per year contract to providecare and support services for olderpeople in Kent.

The five year contract is part of theBetter Homes Active Lives PFI, whichis providing 275 apartments for olderpeople in Ashford, Shepway,Canterbury, Thanet, Dover, Dartfordand Maidstone.

Graham Gibbens, cabinet memberfor Kent adult social services, said:“Getting the right care and supportwill make an important difference forthose living in extra care schemesacross Kent.”

Housing 21 signed a deal in October2007 to develop and manage 340 newapartments across 13 sites in Kent.

Housing 21 awarded contract

In-demandcare groupbucks trendBy Dominic Musgrave

A CARE group is defying the currentfinancial climate and is actively look-ing for more staff for its domiciliarycare service to meet increaseddemand.

Pentlow Community Care, which ispart of Canford Healthcare, providesservices ranging from shopping forits clients to helping with householdchores.

The company, which was set up twoyears ago by Barry Lambert andBrian Cooney, also runs three carehomes – two in Eastbourne wherethe group is based, and one inMaidstone.

Barry said: “Increased manpowerwill mean we can reach more peoplein need of support with daily tasks.With more and more people choos-ing to opt for care support in theirown homes, we certainly have thecapacity for more staff.

“We are also looking to expand tojoin the services up betweenEastbourne and Maidstone. We havea variety of full and part time hoursavailable, and training is given to allnew workers.”

He added: “We had a recruitmentdrive at one of our care homes

recently, and that had a betterresponse than usual. In today’s worldwe are stable financially, and lookafter our staff as much as we possiblycan.”

The group is also planning toincrease the care home side of thebusiness, and Barry says the financesare in place to purchase a furtherseven homes over the next 12-18months.

He said: “We want to expand thebusiness, but it would be wrong forus to grow extensively so we aregoing to do it slowly.

“We will be looking to purchasecare homes and extend them overthe next few months, but we are notgoing to rush because the market haschanged so much recently.”

The group is currently building a27-bed single storey extension at itsBarty House nursing home site inMaidstone. All rooms in the glassdominated facility will have Frenchdoors and en suite facilities with wetrooms.� Is your homecare business thrivingin the recession? Let DominicMusgrave know by emailingdm@whpl.net or by ringing 01226734407. Barry Lambert

HOMECARENEWS34

Recession helps company doubleits turnover in just 12 monthsBy Mary Ferguson

OPERATORS of a national homecare service say the recession hashelped them more than doubletheir turnover in just 12 months.

Home Instead Senior Care, whichprovides non-medical help to theelderly, has forecast a turnover for2009 of £30m, compared to £18mlast year.

Operator Trevor Brocklebank saidthe company is dealing with asurge of new franchise owners, asthose finding themselves redun-dant look to invest their lump sumsin a business.

He said: “Even in the current cli-mate, the banks are keen to lend

money to secure businesses andwe have a proven business model.Franchisees are finding it easier torecruit people – often of a highercalibre – because there are so manyout of work, and because manyoffices are now empty, rental priceshave dropped.”

Trevor said enquiry levels are up200 per cent year on year and hitson the website have trebled. But ofan average of 100 franchise appli-cations per month, only one will beaccepted.

“Many people are attracted to thebusiness purely because of theopportunity to make money butbecause we deal with such a vul-nerable group of people we need to

be selective – and we only takethose that are genuinely interestedin helping people. You can teachpeople how to offer care servicesbut you can’t teach them how to becompassionate.”

Home Instead has won a numberof franchise awards and becamethe first care franchise company inthe UK to win a Dignity in CareAward from the NHS.

Trevor added: “With all the legis-lation in care it’s virtually impossi-ble to set up independently. Andnot only is there a huge demandfor care as a result of an ageingpopulation, but there are simplynot enough resources in the cur-rent health system to deliver it.” Trevor Brocklebank

£370kboost forelderlyMORE elderly people will be able to live independently at home in Somerset for the next twoyears thanks to a large cash injec-tion.

The county council successfully bidfor £370,000 which will mean that athousand frail or elderly people willbe helped by the handyperson ser-vice, which gives access to small-scale home repairs for an affordablecharge.

Councillor Justin Robinson, portfo-lio holder for health and well being,said: “This is great news for themany elderly people or those withdisabilities who are living at home inSomerset who will now benefit fromthis scheme.

“This will keep them safe andsecure and help prevent admissionsto hospital or to care homes.”

Council in talks amid angerover monthly pay changesBy Mary Ferguson

A SCOTTISH council is meeting withtrade unions after home care workersreacted angrily to changes to howthey are being paid.

Carers in the Western Isles areunhappy that they will now be paidmonthly, as opposed to fortnightly,while overtime, which used to bepaid on a fortnightly basis will nowbe paid paid every three months.

A spokesman for Western IslesCouncil told Caring UK that manage-ment is hoping to come to a ‘satisfac-tory conclusion for the carers’ follow-ing meetings with the unions.

He added: “Arising out of single sta-tus (a scheme to blend pay scales)the council has recognised the val-ued work provided by the home careworkers and has improved the overallfinancial package accordingly.

“The number of hours a carer works

can vary greatly from week to week,meaning that the payment of over-time can fluctuate also.

“The decision has been taken toaverage out payments over a three-month period to include sicknessbenefit and holiday entitlements,and talks are ongoing on this matter.”

Home care workers are paid £8.29per hour, which rises to £12.43 forevery overtime hour they work.

HEALTHCARE Homes’ domiciliarycare service Manorcourt Homecare hasachieved Investors in People status.

The accolade was presented to theEast Anglia based company followinga rigorous assessment process, dur-ing which 50 staff were interviewedacross the group’s seven offices inNorfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Training director Sandie Oxborrowsaid the staff were proud of theachievement.

She added: “In order to be grantedthe status, we had to provide evi-dence to show how we met the 10national standards against which allprospective recipients are judged.

“The final report took into account

feedback from staff and our values aswell as our vision and plans for thefuture.

“It is part of the Healthcare Homesethos to make our employees feel val-ued and appreciated and we recog-nise the important role they play incontributing to the success of theorganisation.”

Homecare service awarded Investors in People

35HOMECARENEWS

THE founder of a domiciliary careservice plans to create around 1,000jobs in 2009 with the opening of 18new offices nationwide.

Paul Tarsey, who started BluebirdCare with his wife Lisa in 2004 from asingle office in Petersfield, says thecompany has grown by 769 per centin the last 18 months, with turnoverhitting the £5m mark.

He told Caring UK that an increasednumber of potential franchisees arecoming forward, often using redun-dancy payments to fund start-up

costs for their new venture.He said: “Throughout 2008 we

opened on average a new office everythree weeks and, despite the eco-nomic difficulties, I am confidentthat we are going to at least match orbeat that in 2009, including our firstones in Wales.

“We are getting a lot of people whohave either been made redundant orare worried about their job in thesetesting times getting in contact withus.

“But my wife and I are very selec-

tive about who we award franchisesto because we set up the company soit is our brand. There is no waysomeone is going to come in andmake a mess of it.”

The company now has 34 franchis-es in England, Scotland and Ireland,and had a month-on-month growthof 20 per cent in 2008, despite therecession. Each employs between 40and 50 staff.

Paul said the banks are lookingfavourably on lending money to peo-ple who want to join companies like

his, and that potential franchisees donot require a massive pot of moneyto to set up a business.

He added: “Franchises like ours ticktwo key boxes for the banks, and weare working closely with all of themajor ones to secure funding.

“They like franchises because theyare much stronger than somebodylooking to set up their own business.They also like the healthcare sectorbecause it is strong compared to a lotof others.”

The homecare sectoris bucking the trendand the number ofpeople enquiring aboutstarting a new franchise has risendramatically. DominicMusgrave and MaryFerguson found outmore.

2009 plans for 1,000 new jobsPaul Tarsey

Andy Bantock looks through the first newsletter with general manager Janice King

Change will bring branchestogether under one brandEAST Anglia care provider HealthcareHomes has renamed its domiciliarycare division Manorcourt Homecare.

This brings together several compa-nies acquired by the company overthe past year, including its first acqui-sition Manorcourt Care.

The group’s financial controllerAndy Bantock said: “The move willbring together our branches and staffunder one recognisable brand andmake it easier for healthcare organi-sations, social services departmentsand individuals to recognise and findus.

“Manorcourt is a strong brand, syn-onymous with the delivery of high-

quality homecare services and is wellknown throughout Norfolk.

“We want to utilise this brandingand extend it across all of our home-care branches in East Anglia.”

To celebrate the launch of the newbrand, the company has alsolaunched a homecare newsletter.

Andy added: “It is a means of con-necting with all our staff and encour-aging them to connect with eachother.

“As the company grows it is impor-tant to keep everybody up to datewith what’s happening in the divi-sion.”

By Louise Cordell

A DEMENTIA expert has beenbrought in to develop training plansand technology for homecarersacross the UK.

Maria Parsons, executive director at the London Centre for Dementia Care, has worked as a consultant for Sanctuary Care for three years and has nowtaken on the role of lead dementiaadvisor.

She will be responsible for devel-oping a strategy for dementia careservices within the organisationand will introduce a plan for staff

training, help design new homes,and research and introduce newtechnology to enhance the lives of people using its extra care and domiciliary care services.

She said: “I hope to make a difference to the quality of life of people receiving Sanctuary Care services through supporting staff and influencing policy.”

Maria will continue to workpart-time as the executive directorof the London Centre for DementiaCare.

MariaParsons

Dementia expert to developtraining plan for homecarers

HOMECARENEWS36

PURPOSE-built retirement villageshave to date come about because,in each instance, the company thatconceived and developed them hasalso operated them.

But why should a companywhose core expertise is caring forthe elderly also have the skills tolocate a site, get planning permis-sion, design and speculativelybuild housing and all the care facil-ities? Not to mention attracting theright investors.

By undertaking the lot there is areal danger that a companybecomes a jack of all trades andmaster of none.

My solution would be to split thewhole process between three sepa-rate enterprises, namely the

builder, the investor and the oper-ator.

They would co-operate with eachother from the outset, while beingable to focus exclusively on whatthey do best. In other words, thequality builder would build, theexperienced operator would oper-ate and the canny investor wouldhave a solid investment in bricksand mortar with a guaranteedrental income and growth ofassets.

Established quality housebuilders are already in the businessof designing and building manycategories of houses from starterhomes and apartments to execu-tive homes.

Why not add purpose-built

retirement communities with acare centre to their list? In doingso, the all too common situationwhere a house builder needs to sellpart of a larger site to a competitormight also be avoided.

They would design and build allthe saleable residential propertiesin the retirement village based onthe best of the existing models. Butthey would also design and buildthe village centre, with its carehome, restaurant and other facili-ties. The latter would be funded bythe long term investor.

The third and final collaboratorwould be the operator. A companywith a proven track record in theprovision of first class care andcare home management. They will

have been involved in all aspects ofthe design and development andwill then be able to take over oper-ation of a ‘ready-to-go’ business.

Some people may consider thatto have the care industry adoptedby house builders is controversial.Radical even.

But having lived every moment ofevery aspect of the creation of fiveaward-winning retirement com-munities I really believe that thisnew approach will give rise tomore such communities. It willalso go a long way to help breakdown old prejudices.

Given the growing demand, I canonly hope that other key playerswill come round to my way ofthinking.

In the first of aseries of articles,Richmond Villagesfounder KeithCockell looks at theconcept in the UKand how it coulddevelop in the future

Why we should all concentrateon what we do best ...

A FREE emergency homecare service that steps in tohelp people who are cared forby friends and family hasbeen launched inLeicestershire.

Claimar Care have joinedforced with the local councilto provide the back-up ser-vice to cover for unpaid car-ers in case of emergency.

Gemma Holland, Claimar'scare coordinator said: “This isa great scheme, it's free tounpaid or informal carers,those are people who maylook after a spouse, relativeor friend, who, because ofdisability or the effects of oldage, cannot manage at home

without their help. It givesthe carer and the personbeing cared for the reassur-ance that a plan is in place todeliver whatever care theyneed, if in case of emergencythe person who usually deliv-ers care can't do so.”

The cover lasts for 48 hours,to give family time to find alonger-term alternative.

Mark Buckmaster – whocares for his elderly father –and was one of the first people to sign up for thescheme.

He said: “It's like insurance,maybe you'll need it, maybeyou won't, but it's nice toknow it's there.”Eric Buckmaster with his son Mark and care coordinator Gemma Holland

Free emergency homecare service launchedin Leicestershire

CARINGACTIVITIES38

RESIDENTS at the home likenothing more than going for a pintand a meal at one of the manypubs in the area.

So much so that they havedecided to put together a good pubbooklet which they plan to send toother homes, detailing everythingfrom how accessible it is to howcourteous the staff are and thequality of the food and drink.

Manager Andrena Piggins said:“We tend to have a visit to a pub atleast once or twice each month,and decided that it would be usefulto put our findings in a booklet thatwe will distribute to all the otherhomes around here in Harrogateand York at the end of the year.

“We have put together a scoringsystem for a variety of differenttopics, and up to now have foundthat all of the places we havevisited have been very good, butsome have been very helpful.”

Food is vitally important at theClifton St. Annes run home, whichhas recently been upgraded fromtwo stars to three by CSCI, and thechef tries to use as much fresh

produce as possible.Andrena added: “All our

vegetables come from the localfarm shop and are fresh every day.

All our food is home made and thechef regularly updates the menusand responds to the wants andneeds of the residents.

“The chefs have also been goingto classes at Betty’s tea-rooms inHarrogate to get new ideas thatthey can bring back to the home.”

Residents are encouraged to getout into the local community asmuch as possible, and regularlyattend coffee mornings and quiznights at the local village hall.

The home has also forged closelinks with the local school, and anew pen pal scheme has been setup between the two.

Andrena said: “Once a month wetry to bring the local communityinto the home for some sort ofevent, and in the summer monthswe have the children doingsomething on the lawns.

“Ten primary school pupils havealso started writing to the residents,who write back to them tellingthem about their life experiencesand what they are getting up to.”

Those residents that are too frailto leave the home can still get theirweekly dose of exercise as thehome runs armchair aerobicsclasses to music on a Fridaymorning.

Flower arranging, corresponding with children at a local school and putting together a pubguide are just some of the activities that residents at one home get up to. Dominic Musgravefound that there is never a dull moment at St Johns.

Residents to produce pub guide

There are lots of activities planned for residents at St Johns

Homes should ensureregular exerciseCARE homes should make sureresidents exercise regularly to stave off illness, according to anexpert.

Stuart Wise, who runs the PentValley leisure centre in Folkestone,Kent, welcomes groups from day centres across the county and says exercise can keep people both physically and mentallyactive.

“The residents go out of the carehome and spend the day with theirlocal day centres,” he said.

“We have groups of between 10 and15 coming here from a variety ofplaces such as Lifeskills, Home HarmTrust and Shepway Resource Centreto use our equipment.

“Each person is individuallyassessed by one of our fitnessinstructors, and a programme is thencreated tailored to the individual’sneeds.

“There are a lot of things which wehave to consider when putting a plantogether such as whether the personhas limited mobility.”

It was life in the fast lane for a 107-year-old care home resident when she reachedspeeds up to 108mph during four lapsaround Brands Hatch.Dulcibella King-Hall, from Elizabeth FinnCare’s Halliwell nursing home inTunbridge Wells, was driven in a BMW M3by the circuit’s chief instructor GaryPalmer as part of a birthday treat.The charity’s Lena Akers, who organisedthe day, said: “Cars are an abiding

passion of Dulcibella’s; during the SecondWorld War she tested a wide variety ofvehicles commandeered from civilian use.Her love of speed has her constantlyasking our mini bus driver ‘to go a littlefaster, please. What Dulcibella was reallyafter was a chance to go that bit fasterthan ever before; 100mph or more. I’m sopleased she got the opportunity.”� Dulcibella is pictured getting ready forher trip.

ONE of the country’s largest careproviders has launched the firstnational level qualification foractivity co-ordinators.

The new programme will see staffbeing trained to the equivalent ofNVQ level two, and has beenspecially developed by Bupa’s carehomes in association with NAPA.

Tim Brooke, head of hotel servicesfor Bupa care services, told Caring

UK that a key part of the trainingprogramme is to ensure thatactivities are tailored to theindividual needs and preferences ofeach resident.

He said: “The course aims to ensurethat we continue to offer a diverserange of activities tailored to meetour individual residents’ needs,whilst also building on our activityco-ordinators’ existing knowledge.”

Co-ordinator qualification launched

39CARINGACTIVITIES

Vitalyz promote health, independence andemotional wellbeing by training people to

deliver basic chairbased exercises toless able and/or senior persons.

Vitalyz are coming to a town near you!

Level 1 accredited seated exercise courseEndorsed by College of Occupational Therapists

WWW.VITALYZ.COM

023 9235 8285

Book now as spaces are limited!Vitalyz activity training is designed to be

motivational, relevant, useful, achievable & FUN!

“I recommend Vitalyz as the trainingwas Clear, informative and friendly”

Vitalise day centre, Derby

13th May-YORK

15th June-PORTSMOUTH

7th July Falkirk-SCOTLAND

9th July-HARTLEPOOL

10th July-HALIFAX

8th Sept-CAMBRIDGE

Drama therapyhelps residentsshare feelingsRESIDENTS at a London care homeare using a drama therapy as a way ofcommunicating better with eachother.

The programme, run by the CentralSchool of Speech and Drama,involves three students visiting thehome weekly to work with residents,either on a one-to-one basis or insmall groups, using everything frommusic to story telling.

Nightingale head of activitiesAlastair Addison told Caring UK thatthe course lasts on average for 10weeks and has proved beneficial formany people living at the home.

He said: “We are a 200-bed home soit is difficult at times for residents toget one-to-one attention for an hour

every week in this type of environ-ment.

“This is a positive experience forboth the residents and the staff also,as it makes them aware of how theycan communicate with another per-son.”

The course is based on the Sesameapproach, which uses drama andmovement as a key to unlock other-wise closed doors in people's emo-tional lives.

Alistair said some of the biggestchanges they have seen from resi-dents who they have referred to thecourse have come from those whoeither have dementia, have lost aloved one or are finding it difficult tocommunicate with relatives or other

Students work with residents on a weekly basis

people living at the home.He added: “We cannot measure

how successful the course is but ithas helped residents to share howthey feel about losing a loved one, orwho are feeling isolated find a plat-form to speak and gain some worthagain.

“One of the most effective and ther-apeutic ways of using the drama wehave seen is taking a resident’s story

and turning it into a character sothey can see themself through anoth-er person, using props to illustratewhat they are saying.

“Family members have also noticedimprovements in their residents whohave dementia.

“The course provides an opportuni-ty for the person with the illness toshare their emotions and experiencesand tell their story.”

Sensorygardenis built

A NEW sensory garden has been builtfor the residents at a Perthshire nursinghome.

Dundee College’s Prince’s Trust teamhas completed a community project atLouise Brae nursing home, which hasturned a landscaped garden into a safearea for the residents.

The new development took five

weeks to complete, and includes apond, rockery, different textured pathsof bark, gravel, slabs and grass and adecked area where the residents canplant pots. A wall was also built to sup-port a raised flower bed created out ofan old metal container.

Home manager Fran Long said: “Theresidents think the new garden is mar-

velous and are looking forward to get-ting out it in the summer because therewill be more for them to do.

“They really enjoyed watching thegarden being transformed to what it isnow, and are now planning on chang-ing another part of the garden into anallotment where they can grow variousvegetables.”

1940s glamour was the theme of a charity event hosted by a Northamptonshire carehome. People were invited to wear clothes in keeping with the era. The event, forGrangefield residents and their relatives and friends, featured music from tribute bandNew Vintage, and raised almost £850 for Cancer Research UK.Picture: Grangefield care home staff dress up for the 1940s themed night.

RESIDENTS at a Nottinghamshirecare home have taken on the role ofroving reporters and have becomethe news team for their very ownnewspaper.

Those living at Forest Manor CareHome have been given the task ofhunting out stories within the homeor coming up with regular featureideas and columns.

The co-editors of the Forest ManorGazette, David Copley and KeithHoctor, will make sure the content ofeach edition is up to scratch.

The newspaper was the brainchildof activities co-ordinator, MichelleReid. She said: “The idea came froma recent meeting we had with the res-idents to discuss what activities theywould like to do in the home.

“They are really enthusiastic aboutthe newspaper and have put togetherloads of ideas for regular columns

and features. One of our residentswho is deaf has even written a fewpoems to be printed. We are startingwith just a few news pages but plan-ning to add in gardening and sportscolumns as well as regular features asthe paper grows in future.”

Residents will also write reviews ofall events that take place at thehome, which recently have includeda barn dance, a treasure hunt andmurder mystery evening, and thefilms watched at the cinema days.

Michelle added: “We printedaround 40 copies at first and gavethem out to the relatives and friendsof the families, but since then wehave printed a few more and theyhave all gone. One residents is cur-rently undertaking a computer cou-rse so that he will be able to type itup and play around with the designand layout of the paper in future.”

Residents turn roving reporters

CARINGSPECIAL REPORT40

As one of the industry’s biggest players, Southern Cross has been faced with more bad pressthan most and employed Recognition Marketing and PR to help. In the first of a special twopart series, partner Graham Robb advises independent care homes how to handle the media.

AN excellent reputation is essentialto the development of any businessand a care home is certainly nodifferent. It is too important anissue to leave to chance.

It takes years to build areputation, which can be destroyedin a matter of hours, particularlywith today's proliferation of mediaoutlets.

There have been big changes inthe media in the last quarter of acentury. The number of newsoutlets has multiplied tenfold.Digital technology and satellitecommunications have made newstravel faster and further.

The internet provides instantnews updates and most regionalnewspapers now break stories ontheir websites long before the paperis published. But with 24-hournews coverage, tighter time scalesand shrinking budgets, alljournalists are under greaterpressure. If you don’t provide thefacts, they’ll look for ‘the truth’elsewhere. Your crisis can beworldwide news in seconds and it isimperative that you are represented

in the story.There are a variety of ways in

which the media obtaininformation on a breaking newsstory.

Official bodies, such as the policeor fire service place details of majorincidents on a media ‘voice-bank’,which is accessible to all journalistsand checked on a regular basis.

Under the Freedom ofInformation Act journalists canobtain a wide range of informationfrom official bodies, such as thenumber and nature of complaints –this is becoming more commonpractice to build negative featuresaround ‘league tables’ sourced inthis way.

Disgruntled residents, relatives orex-members of staff can be a richsource of information forjournalists. The first a homemanager hears of a possible pressstory about their home could wellbe a call from a reporter asking toverify so-called ‘facts’ they havebeen given.

When a situation arises time is ofthe essence and an immediate

response is required. It used to besaid that the first 24 hours of acrisis were critical. Now, it’s the firsthour. Instant judgments are madeon the basis of photos, eyewitnessreports and early briefings.Recognition has even had tocounter stories based on footagetaken from camera-phones.

In these circumstances it is vitalthat organisations cancommunicate quickly to establishcontrol over a situation.

In cases involving the suspiciousdeath of a resident, an outbreak ofa communicable disease, a fire orserious abuse issue with policeinvolvement media attention islikely and should be planned for.

It is important to remember thatcrisis situations can arise veryquickly and cause a great deal ofstress to everyone involved.

Care staff are not media or PRprofessionals.

Being prepared and practiced willhelp everyone be more confidentdealing with crisis situations asthey arise and help reduce thepressure on everyone. Graham Robb

How to be a media player ...

Coverage canbe frustratingNEWSPAPERS don’t always tell the fullstory and for the operators involved, itcan be a frustrating time.

When a Scottish daily newspaper ranthe headline ‘The Old Rage Pensioners’,it hid the real story behind claims ofsoaring abuse cases in care homes.

The story in the Sun boasted ‘feisty’pensioners were turning their carehomes into ‘violent battlegrounds’ and itquoted figures from East LothianCouncil which stated that 39 forms of‘abuse’ had been recorded at EskgreenOld People's Home in Musselburgh and14 at Fa'side Lodge Old People's Homein Tranent in 2008.

But the council insisted that thesenumbers were simply down to the factthat it had clamped down on thereporting of incidents in all facilities,including leisure centres, schools andeven libraries. And that meant evensomething as trivial as tripping on awalking stick had to be reported as aform of ‘abuse’.

Council bosses weren’t happy with theheadline-grabbing story which was usedin several other newspapers.

Principal communications officer JillMackay told Caring UK: “Any mediacoverage suggesting a shocking outbreakof physical fights within East LothianCouncil managed care homes is far fromthe truth. The information sent in resp-onse to a Freedom of Inquest requestfrom an Edinburgh-based news agencydetailing the range of health and safetyrecords listed at all council owned/man-aged properties was grossly misinterpre-ted and then sold on as a salacious newsstory to various outlets.”

WALKER Lodge Care Home inNewcastle took in an elderly manand his dog when other homesrefused to accommodate his fourlegged friend.

Despite being operated by FourSeasons – which employs its own PRcompany – manager Sylvia Tidmusdecided to tell the local pressherself, generating positive coveragefor the home.

She wrote her own press releaseand invited the newspaper to cometo the home and photograph Oliverand Sheba.

She said: “I got a lot of coveragefrom Oliver and Sheba and I aim toget at least one thing in the paperevery week.

“There are so many things thatlocal media will pick up on and it’snormally things that have the ‘ahhh’factor – like children and animals –that work well.

“We also look at our clients andsee if any of them have aninteresting tale to tell, but it’simportant to make sure you getpermission from them and theirrelatives.”

The home has linked with the localnursery so when the children comein – for example for an Easter egghunt – Sylvia lets the newspapersand magazines in her local areaknow.

She added: “Getting thecommunity involved in the home isa good way of generating coverage.

“A lot of the press only seem topick up on the bad things but thereis a lot of good stuff that goes onand operators just need to tell

people. Part of my job as manager isto market the home and any goodpress we get works as a great freeadvert.”� Has your home done something

to be proud of? Let us know bywriting to Caring UK, 47 ChurchStreet, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S702AS, or email mf@whpl.net

Sylvia with Sheba

You can’t lick good publicity

41CARINGSPECIAL REPORT

Mary Ferguson found out what care homes think about how themedia report their industry news

WHEN Lou Squires, manager of TheMillings in North Yorkshire, contact-ed her local paper after winning anemployment award, she said she wasangry that they didn’t seem to beinterested.

She said: “It’s a classic case of badnews makes good news, even thoughwe are one of the biggest employersin the area. The standards of thesector have been raised brilliantly,but it’s a shame when the publiconly get to read about the bad stuff.

“The care sector has had a poorreputation because of bad stories fora number of years, but with the driveto increase standards, hopefully thatwill change.”

Valerie Gaines, manager ofThreshfield Court in Skipton agreedthat the media rarely seem to reportpositive things about the industrybut said she had been lucky insecuring some good coverage for herown home.

“I can imagine that the negativereporting does create suspicion anddrag people’s perceptions of theindustry down, especially with theconstant debate about fees.

“It would be great for the media to

report on the good things that hap-pen in care homes, but unfortunate-ly that doesn’t sell papers.”

As manager of Heffle Court inSussex, Sue Burke said she hasnoticed how negative news reportsabout care homes affect staffmorale. She said: “They read thepapers and watch the news and Ihear them talking about the awfulthings that have happened but we alldiscuss it and we do sometimeswonder how much of it is true orhow much has been exaggerated.

“If something particularly bad hasbeen reported I make a point of sit-ting down with the staff and we dis-cuss how we could prevent anythinglike that happening at Heffle Court,so in a way we are using the head-lines as a learning tool when wecan.”

Hitting back againstthe headlines ...

“The care sector has had apoor reputation because ofbad stories for a number ofyears, but with the drive toincrease standards, hopefullythat will change.”

WHEN an old lady fell to her deathfrom a window at one care home anda manager was exposed for stealingthousands from her clients at anoth-er, dramatic headlines were printedin newspapers across the country.

It seems that care homes are alwaysin the news – a low star rating fromCSCI can cause negative press atten-tion and operators involved in abusecases can find themselves in the eyeof an even bigger storm. But howmuch damage can the media do?

Daniel Blake, policy manager atAction On Elder Abuse believes newscoverage of abuse cases is a doubleedged sword.

He said: “We welcome the fact thatattention is now being given to thisarea and reporting helps to drive upstandards. However there tends to be

a degree of care home bashing in themedia, which ignores the good workthat many of them do.

“The media don’t portray a bal-anced view of care provision andnegative reporting contributes to thepublic viewing care homes as end ofthe road.”

Daniel said the industry shouldfocus on creating ‘care champions’ tocounteract these views, by letting themedia know about the good thingsthat happen in a facility.

And Stephen Burke, chief executiveof Counsel and Care, said if careproviders do more to highlight goodpractice they can influence publicopinion of the industry and theelderly.

He said: “Positive media coveragehelps people understand the care

industry more and that in turn willplace more value on it.

“The way that older people are por-trayed in the media has a crucialeffect not only on how they are treat-ed by wider society, but also by careand support services.

“Media coverage sets the tone fordebate in this country and if we aregoing to win more resources for carefor older people we need more posi-tive value placed on them and theircare.”

To highlight good and bad exam-ples of media coverage relating to theelderly, Counsel and Care haslaunched The Older People in theMedia Awards to recognise individu-als and organisations for positivelyportraying older people. ‘Raspberries’will be given to those whose work

shows them in a negative light.Martin Green, chairman of ECCA

said negative headlines have a bigeffect on the industry because theyreduce both staff morale and publicconfidence in care providers.

He added: “I think media training isuseful but it is no substitute for beingconfident about your own services.

“If a care home has adverse mediacoverage I would advise the operatorto make contact very early with theresidents and relatives about theissue, and make sure the CareCommission is briefed before itbecomes public.

“The operator must then have agood recovery plan in place whichfocuses as much on how to restorethe morale of the home as it doesdealing with the situation.”

When something goes wrong in acare home, operators can findthemselves faced with tough questions from journalists. In thisspecial report, Mary Fergusoninvestigates how managers canweather a media storm.

‘Care champions’ are way forward

Left:Daniel Blake

Right:Stephen Burke

CARINGNEWS42

Bulgarian visitors come to Bristol for advice ...By Louise Cordell

A BRISTOL care home has showntwo visitors from a Bulgarianinstitution how to provide a betterquality of life for their residents.

Pete Brady, from the Aspects andMilestones Trust’s Russell House inAlmondsbury, invited Yuksel Alievand Porlina Raycheva, from the100-bed Samuil Institution foradults with learning difficulties, tothe home to share ideas aboutimproving standards of care.

He first visited the institutionwhile visiting a Bulgarian children’s

home called Mogilino with thecharity Holding Out Hope, whichhe is also the director of, havingseen the terrible conditions thatthey were living in on a televisiondocumentary.

Pete told Caring UK that the mainpurpose of their visit to the homewas to show that inexpensiveactivities such as drama and artclasses can be beneficial forresidents.

He added: “Homes like this inBulgaria have been calledwarehouses of neglect in the pastbut we want to help change that.

“During their trip we tried topoint out that you can achievequite a lot without a great deal ofmoney. A lot of the activities we doat the home cost very little.

“From our visits to Bulgaria wefound that a lot of residents ofteneither watch whatever the staff arewatching on television or sitrocking aimlessly in their chairs. Itis easy for people in these countriesto say you need money to improvelives, but it wasn’t only aboutchanging practices but attitudes aswell.”

Later this month two Holding Out

Hope volunteers will visit theSamuil Institution, taking withthem £1,000 worth of resources tointroduce a range of new activitieswith patients.

Pete added: “In an ideal worldlarge institutions like the one inBulgaria would be shut down andthe residents moved into smallerhomes or somewhere moresuitable, but that is not going tohappen.

“But we as a small charity aredoing our best to help where wecan to develop regular activities forthe residents over there.”

Groups uniteto implementprogrammeBy Dominic Musgrave

LEADING associations across the UKare to join forces to implement aprogramme of best practice into carehomes.

The groups will come together todeliver the My Home Lifeprogramme, which aims to improvethe quality of life for those who areliving, dying, visiting and working infacilities for older people.

The programme, being led by Helpthe Aged in partnership with theNational Care Forum (NCF) and CityUniversity, wants to celebrate andbuild upon the good practice thatalready exists in care homes andshare it across the country.

Professor Julienne Meyer, executivedirector of the programme, said:“Over the past two years we havepulled the sector together and havedeveloped a pioneering vision ofcare, and we now want to implementthe best practice from our findings.

“We have the support of all of the

organisation and want to develop acentre from which to deliver aprogramme which we hope willimprove the quality of life forresidents, relatives and staff in carehomes.”

Funding for the programme to datehas been provided by Bupa, and thegroup is now in the process offinding other pots of money to helpthem continue.

It is based on eight key themes, twowhich help managers, and six toimprove the experiences of elderlypeople in the home, includingmaking the move from a person’sown home into care easier andcreating a community atmosphere.

The programme is free for carehome owners and has been backedby ECCA, NCF, the RegisteredNursing Home Association, NationalCare Association, Care Forum Wales,Scottish Care and the IndependentHealth Care Providers (NorthernIreland).

A LEEDS care home has donated the prizemoney it received for winning a design award toa local charity.

Rievaulx House care centre in Armley, run byMeridian Healthcare, donated the £500Healthcare Design Award prize to Age Concernafter being nominated in the care home for theelderly new development category.

Judges awarded the home the cheque todonate to a charity of their choice for becomingone of the three finalists for the award.

Manager Carl Stevenson said: “The awardhighlights the quality and innovative nature ofthe development. It’s an amazing care home andit is nice to see this recognised by the industrythrough this award. We had no trouble decidingto give the money to Age Concern, they providean excellent service for older people in the area.”

Rievaulx House manager Carl Stevenson and Meridian operations director (designate) Mandy Bennett present thecheque to Age Concern’s Carol Wardman and Pat Cronin with Pinders director of care and education Steve Marriotand Jerry Webb

Design award cashgoes to charity

CARE homes residents in Hampsteadtasted their 15 minutes of fame whenthey appeared on Channel Four aspart of a programme on dementiacare.

Clients at Rathmore House andCompton Lodge, operated byhousing association Central & Cecil,were filmed enjoying visits fromtheatre group Ladder to the Moon,who engaged residents, staff andvisitors in their virtual world.

The homes were transformed into‘grand hotels’ and the actorsperformed in the lounge for an hour

every afternoon, acting out a story ofa love affair between a maid andguest – with highlights including atea dance and engagement party.Residents also participated inworkshops and activities connectedto the events of the residency,creating wedding collages and bakingcakes. The drama aimed to provideincreased social opportunities forresidents – as well as creating a focalpoint for interaction and creativity –and the nostalgic setting providedfurther opportunities forreminiscence and conversation.

Residents feature in TV programmeTheatre group Ladder to the Moon engaged residents, staff and visitors

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS 43

Complete safeguard innovation from TritonBRIDGING the previously untouched gap between BEAB Careaccredited safety and limited water pressure, Triton has launched itsunique-to-market Safeguard Care Thermostatic Pumped electricshower to offer unrivalled temperature control for areas with lowwater pressure.

Triton has worked with BEAB to create the first BEAB Care safetymark available for the pumped shower sector, setting the benchmarkfor the industry.

Additionally, the Safeguard Care Pumped carries the sought-afterRNIB endorsement for inclusive design, ease of use and overall safetyright from the start; an endorsement previously only awarded toTriton’s Safeguard T100 Care thermostatic shower in late 2008.

Ideal for new or upgrade projects this innovative showeringtechnology incorporates Triton’s unique ‘three stage thermostaticcontrol system’, and with its own built-in pump it is able to deliverthermostatic temperature control in compliance with the BEAB carestandard.

Enquiries: Visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk/triton-for-the-specifier.aspx

Building a better future- student work

placement schemesINTERNATIONAL Student Advisors 4U (ISA) is pleased toprovide students to nursing, residential and domiciliary careorganisations. Those involved in ISA have extensiveexperience in providing students to the UK enabling them toachieve qualifications in chosen fields, whilst working withina full time placement

Unique courses for caregivers, midwives, under boardnurses, registered nurses and other allied medical courses,which allow students to have paid employment and study ata University in the United Kingdom

If you feel you can offer vocational work placements forstudents please contact Tracey or Janet.

Offices in the UK, Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore.International Student Advisors, call 01245226625/226064 or visitwww.internationalstudentadvisors.com

Clean Approach changes its name to AvicaCLEAN Approach, the independent educationsector distributor of medical, cleaning, hygieneand catering supplies has changed its name toAvica, bringing together all facets of itsbusiness.

Formed in 1991 as a family run cleaningsupply company, the organisation grew rapidlyunder the directorship of Jeremy Thorn. In2007 it bought a medical supplies business andin 2008 a catering supplies business. Thecompany now offers a range of nearly 8,000products, supplied direct from its distributioncentre.

Avica is part of Jangro, the largest UKnetwork of independent distributors ofwashroom, housekeeping, catering, floor care, waste management, window cleaning, wiping, health andsafety, PPE and workwear products.

Based in Watford, Avica is becoming one of the largest independent distributors in the south east. Itprovides a next day delivery service on orders placed by 5pm to most London postal codes, Herts, Bucks,Beds, Essex and Middlesex, with weekly deliveries to customers as far away as Bournemouth and Bristol.

Enquiries: Telephone 01923 210009 or e-mail sales@avica-uk.com.

Jangro’s new catalogue now bigger andbetter

NEW from Jangro is the 2009, 150 page full colourillustrated product catalogue, the biggest and best in theorganisation’s 29 year history.

Jangro is the UK’s leading group of independentdistributors of hygiene, cleaning, janitorial and cateringsupplies with 37 privately owned, regional branchesproviding a high quality service throughout the UK.

This new publication is the biggest yet industrial buyers’guide for washroom, housekeeping, kitchen hygiene,catering, floor care, waste management, window cleaning,industrial cleaning, wiping, health and safety, personalprotective equipment and workwear.

The catalogue has an increased range of products inalmost every sector, and is a must for anyone with apurchasing or cleaning function.

It contains thousands of well known products, inaddition to a wide range of Jangro branded products,developed by leading manufacturers to compete with themarket leaders on both quality and performance.

Enquiries: Telephone 0845 458 5223 or visitwww.jangro.net

Greater safety and laundry protection fromMiele

WHEREVER infectious or potentially infectious laundry has to be washed, such as in nursing homes,hospitals and contract laundries working on behalf of such institutions, legislation requires a barrier setupfor clean and unclean sides.

This involves the installation of washer-extractors in a diaphragm wall.

Innovative technology on board Miele's newbarrier washer-extractor guarantees gentlelaundry care, user convenience, safety and cost-efficiency.

The PW 6163 model offers a 16kg load capacityand a whole gamut of optional extras, rangingfrom an integrated weighing system to processdata acquisition.

It features interlocking doors, facilitating thesecure segregation of infeed and outfeedoperations, and has been equipped with ahoneycomb drum. Thanks to its web-like,sculptured surface finish, the drum creates a thinfilm of water on which laundry glides gently.

Once a programme is complete, the drum automatically turns to the unloading position, where it issecured for safety.

Enquiries: Telephone 0845 330 3618 or visit www.miele-professional.co.uk

Premiere’s SDP 35B reduces labour costsand improves hygiene standards

MOP or scrub - which method would you choose to deliverthe highest cleaning standards?

Historically large areas have benefitted from the superiorcleaning delivered by scrubber driers, while smaller areashave been mopped.

Innovation through technology has delivered a threat tothese traditionally mopped areas with a range of compactscrubber driers available from Premiere Products.

Now detergent can be applied, scrubbed and picked up inthe tightest of areas, delivering higher standards with morelabour efficiency.

At the same size as a standard rotary machine, it caneasily be manoeuvred around fixtures and fittings and thefully adjustable handle allows for easy reach under tables andbeds. With its unique parabolic squeegee the SDP 35 canliterally ‘clean on a circle’ allowing wall to wall cleaning with100 per cent water pick up, even in corners. Premiere’s SDP35 is available in both battery and mains options.

Enquiries: Telephone 01242 537192 or emailsolutions@premiereproducts.co.uk

Accessible gardening from NRSPEOPLE with restricted movements no longer have to be denied the pleasures of gardening thanks to arange of new products from Nottingham Rehab Supplies.

The leading provider of rehabilitation equipmentand daily living aids prides itself on offering a vastrange of products that can improve the quality oflife for older people and those with a disability.

And the new Natural Radius grip tools aredesigned to minimise stress on the wrist so thatpeople can work in the garden without painbecause the angled handles ensure the wrist is keptin a natural position, and a non-slip grip providesgreater comfort and control.

The range includes the Ezimate Back SavingAccessory, which is exclusive to NRS in the UK andimproves posture productivity and safety whilegardening.

There are also garden kneelers, reachers and awheeled garden stool, which is ideal for movingalong the edge of a flower-bed while weeding.

Enquiries: Telephone 0845 121 8111 or visitwww.nrs-uk.co.uk

New Knightsbridge suite combines domesticstyling with contract specification

NEW from Knightsbridge Furniture is Madison, a lounge suite which is designed to foster a sense ofdomestic comfort and harmony within residential homes and other caring environments.

Comprising a generously proportionedarmchair, plus twin and triple-seat settees,Madison features a high back, sumptuouslyupholstered arms and seat cushions whichare both removable and reversible to ensureeven wear and prolong fabric appeal.

A full range of upholstery fabrics includevinyls for areas where infection-control is anissue, with customer-specific fabrics alsoaccommodated by request. Complementingthe upholstery are on-trend wooden feet innatural beech, golden oak, cherry, walnut,mahogany and wenge as standard, or inbespoke finishes to order.

Madison is ideal for creating an invitingdomestic landscape within all types of caringenvironments, including facilities for residents with learning disabilities and challenging behaviourpatterns. To meet such special needs, Knightsbridge offers Madison to its ‘reinforced’ and ‘extreme’specifications alongside the standard range.

Enquiries: Telephone 01274 731900 or visit www.knightsbridge-furniture.co.uk

44 CARINGCLASSIFIED AND PRODUCT NEWS

Radiator covers

Uniforms

Furniture

Gardiners Lane North, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex CM11 2XETel: 01268 521033 • Mobile: 07860 894331 • Fax: 01268 284951 • sales@hwpickrell.co.uk

Visit our website for photos of current stock www.hwpickrell.co.uk

No.1 in used Wheelchair Accessible Transport

Always wanted late wheelchair accessible vehicles

ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTAT AFFORDABLE PRICES

• We specialise in the sale and purchase of quality usedwheelchair accessible and ambulance vehicles.

• They can be bought as seen or refurbished andsignwritten to your own requirements.

• 12 months MOT Class 5, and 12 months warranty.

• Independent engineers report supplied FOC.

• Delivery service available.

• All buses fitted with seatbelts and comply to seatbeltlegislation.

Transport

Care Alarms

If you have a storyfor Caring UK emailDominic Musgraveat dm@whpl.net orring 01226 734407.

By Dominic Musgrave

CARE home operators are yet to fullytap into demand for dedicateddementia care services, it has beenclaimed.

A study by Laing and Buisson hasfound that only 57 per cent ofapproximately 142,000 care homeresidents in the UK with dementia arereceiving appropriate care.

The report’s author Alex Mitchelltold Caring UK that residential careoperators were missing out on “sig-nificant fee premiums over non-dementia clients” by not specialisingtheir services.

He added: “Dementia is going toincrease massively and care homesshould consider making changes nowbecause there is definitely going to bea need for more specialist units.

“In the past it was always seen as aCinderella service, and somethingthat is a natural progression for peo-ple when they get old.

“This will change though for the

better now that is has become a polit-ical hot potato, and we have seen thetipping point in this country withregards to dementia for sure.”

But ECCA chief executive MartinGreen says care home operators havenot committed to changing their ser-vices because commissioners wouldnot realise the difference.

He added: “It would cost a lot ofmoney for a care home operator tochange and become a specialistdementia centre.

“I don’t think a lot of local authori-ties would recognise this, and wouldexpect to still be receiving the serviceat the price they would pay a regularcare home.

“Some would look to do block con-tracts, but very few would commis-sion specialist dementia services.”

The report also found that a third ofcare homes specialising in dementiado not provide staff with necessarytraining.

Martin added: “Commissioners in

this country do not recognise demen-tia as a specialist subject, and whatthey don’t realise is that care homeoperators will only start training theirstaff to deliver a service when theydo.

“Having said that, a lot of peoplebeing placed into care homes willhave some form of dementia, andproviders should start making sure itis an important part of their trainingbudget.”

Martin Green

Report claims operators notrecognising dementia demandRESIDENTS at a Barchester

Healthcare home have knittedjumpers to send to a children’s hospi-tal in Malawi.

The knitting club at WimbledonBeaumont, which consists of LadyDacie, Phyllis Pugh, Anne Pendleburyand Joan Parsons were inspired totake up their needles by Lady Dacie,who has been knitting for many years.

Activities manager Paul Christophersaid: “The ladies really enjoy theirknitting club, it’s one of the manyactivities that we offer. They reallyenjoy the social side of it too and it’sgreat that they’re able to put theirskills to good use for the benefit ofpeople in need.”

Residents knit forMalawi hospital

45CARINGNEWS

ALMOST half of care homes inScotland need to modernise theirpalliative care methods, a new reportby the country’s regulator hasclaimed.

The Care Commission study ‘Bettercare every step of the way’ found thatstaff at 449 of the country’s 1036homes did not realise they should beoffering end-of-life care to residentswith life-limiting illnesses.

It also found that 54 per cent of ser-vices had not fully trained their teamor given them enough support to dealwith sensitive issues surroundingdeath and dying, making it difficultfor staff members to talk to residentsand their relatives and carers aboutthe subject.

Susan Brimelow, the commission’sdirector of healthcare regulation, said

the survey had found numerousexamples of good palliative care pro-vided in care homes across the coun-try, but further action needed to betaken to ensure improved access forall residents.

She added: “The increase indemand from an ageing populationmeans that more people are livinglonger with life-limiting, long-termconditions and an increased need forpalliative and end of life care.

“Care home providers and man-agers must recognise the need forincreased knowledge, skills and edu-cational support to ensure residents,families and carers receive high quali-ty palliative and end of life care.Improved access to this specialistcare for everyone who needs it isvital.”

Report says homesmust update methods

A PLYMOUTH care home which hascreated activity plans to suit resi-dents’ needs and interests has beenupgraded to the highest rating fromthe inspectorate.

Four Seasons’ Springfields inPlymouth has been recognised for theimprovements to its services by thecommission, which include improv-ing the gardens and a sensory roombeing installed.

The home, which has a number ofdementia residents, has also under-

gone extensive refurbishment, whilea review of staff and an overhaul oftraining has also been carried out.

Manager Nicola Kelly said:“Following a period of hard workinvolving a great deal of commitmentfrom the staff at the care home andthe support of the managementteam, we have now been formallyrecognised by the commission, aswell as by local medical and health-care professionals, as providing anexcellent standard of care.”

Plymouth home gets highest rating

A RESIDENT’S dream came truewhen he visited the Red Arrows atRAF Scampton thanks to the generos-ity of the owner of the care homewhere he lives.

George Randell, of HallmarkHealthcare’s Tuxford Manor carehome, had always dreamed of goingto see a Red Arrows display, and hiswish was granted after managing

director Avnish Goyal donated a tripthat he had successfully bid for in acharity auction.

Following the experience Georgesaid: “It was a truly fantastic day anda real dream come true for me. I amso happy to have seen the Red Arrowsdisplay in person and it is somethingI will remember for the rest of mylife.”

George Randell and senior carer Joe Robson with the members of the Red Arrows.

Resident’s Red Arrows visit

CHILDREN from a local schoolentertained residents at aWorcestershire care home with aspecial performance.

The pupils from Wolverley

Sebright First School dropped intoWestley Court Care Home and sungsongs from hit musical MammaMia! as well as tunes from theirproduction of The Pied Piper.

Youngsters perform at home

CARINGPRODUCT NEWS46

CQC chair Baroness Barbara Youngwill be the keynote speaker at aconference which will examine howthe government’s strategies can beimplemented throughout the UK-wide network of care and publicservice providers.

She told GovNet’s first AgeingPopulation event in January that theagency wants “to focus on howservices can be improved, rather thanjust achieving minimum standards”.

And she will discuss this and how toensure the UK’s care system is fit forpurpose at the latest event on June 30entitled ‘Strategies for an AgeingPopulation’.

She will be joined by RosieWinterton MP, who has beenappointed to ensure the governmentprovides a high standard of care andsocial equality, and the Departmentfor Health’s head of social carestrategy Alexandra Norrish.

CQC chair to speakat conference

Baroness Barbara Young

Firm gets itsskates onYTM staff donned roller skates topromote their new ytmexpress rangeat the Bournemouth Care Show.

This concept features both furnitureand soft furnishings, and will beavailable in 10 working days fromorder to delivery, ensuring that whenrooms become vacant they can berefurnished and put back on line,keeping revenue loss to a minimum.

Marketing manager JessicaMckenzie said: “We couldn’t think ofa better way to show visitors thatytmexpress is a range availablequickly than by putting on rollerskates and getting visitors to ask uswhy we were wearing them, not tomention the ridiculous outfits.”

INFECTION prevention in carehomes is a big problem and has ahuge impact on the running of ahome, the well-being of its residents,its quality star rating as well as thebalance sheet.

It is possible to disinfect areasagainst C-diff and Norovirus wherethere are soft furnishings and carpets,without causing damage to fittings orhealth risks to staff from aggressivecleaning chemicals.

Cairn, a health, safety and infectioncontrol consultancy, has worked withthe NHS for years to help break the

chain of infection through goodoccupational hygiene, cleaningsystems and environmental controls.Cairn’s joint managing director DrPeter Binns said: “It seems carehomes are often left in the dark aboutup-to-date infection control practicesand information. People are dealingwith serious outbreaks due to a lackof infection control training,equipment and adequate policy.

“We’re trying to tackle the problemat its root in an area where manypatients are over 65 and moresusceptible to infection.”

AID CALL offers a wide range ofproducts including Nurse Call,Staff Attack and DECTcommunication systems, designedspecifically to meet the needs ofNHS trusts, private hospitals, caregroups, sheltered accommodationand care homes.

Aid Call provides individuallytailored solutions to meetcustomers’ specific requirements.Products are installed withminimum disturbance anddisruption to premises, theirpatients and residents.

A company spokesman said: “AidCall is committed to extensiveproduct development to meet thechallenging demands of today’scare industry.”

Wide range

Cairn tackles infection problem

Helping homes’ food needsWITH the imminent review of theNutrition Action Plan and BAPEN’son-going programme of nutritionalscreening, care home managers andchefs need to be mindful of providinggood quality food services more thanever before.

Big multi-site companies and localauthorities can afford to employ adedicated catering specialist to helpthem keep up to date. However,smaller groups and individual carehomes do not have this option.

Care Home Food sets out to fill this

gap, providing help both with specialone-off projects while also offeringeveryday on-going support to helpcare homes keep on track.

The company’s proprietor AndreaGuest said: “Care home managersand cooks are busy people withlimited time to keep abreast andimplement all the latest advice. CareHome Food will help care homes towork out what could work better andsupport them through the process ofdelivering improvements for theirresidents.”

MIELE’S Little Giants are the idealentry level machines for small in-house laundries.

Tested and approved by the WaterRegulation Advisory Scheme, thesemachines can be connected to mainswater in any application, includingcategory five high risk establishmentssuch as nursing homes.

The machines are made with thehighest quality materials and expertworkmanship. All components, fromthe shock-absorbers on the drumcradle and drum bearings to theouter casing and the very last nut andbolt in the machines, are quality

tested to ensure many years of goodservice.

Depending on the model, both thewasher-extractors and tumble dryersare available with either a high-gradestainless steel housing or a high-quality vitreous direct enamelhousing which is resistant tocorrosion, yellowing and chipping.

Miele’s unique patentedHoneycomb drum is made from ahigh-grade stainless steel. In thewasher extractors the patentedhoneycomb drum ensures that thelaundry load glides on a thin film ofwater.

Giants are perfect for small laundriesReva to continue manufacture of Appollo

special needs rangeREVA Industries, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of acrylic baths, has purchased the Appollo brandof special needs baths and will continue to supply the collection to the market.

The Appollo accessible bathing range isdesigned specifically around the needs ofelderly, infirm or physically disabled users.

The collection features powered seats, walk-in facilities and wheelchair accessibility,ensuring mobility problems do not become abarrier to relaxed bathing.

The range comprises seven different models,all of which can be upgraded to include theAppollo Air Spa system so bathers can enjoythe benefits of hydrotherapy.

Each model in the range is suitable forvarying degrees of mobility and the walk inshower bath is particularly suited to those whofind it difficult getting in and out of the bath.

Other models in the range include theAppollo, Aries, Excalibur and Elegance.

Enquiries: Telephone 01482 327704 oremail sales@reva-industries.com

Simple solutionsSINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs) based, Richards Residential Supplies have concentrated upon supplying simplesolutions to common nursinghome problems.

The new WACMAT® adheresstrongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cottonpile and 100 per cent waterproofbacking, the remarkableWACMAT® is an ideal accessorywhere spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, inbedrooms or bathrooms, theWACMAT® ensures full carpetprotection. Then, after use, simplymachine wash and tumble dry! It’sthat simple...

The WACMAT® will then beclean and odour-free, ready toperform time and time again.Alternatively the flat-layingWACMAT® can be used as anentrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 074 3749.

Sky Chemicals launch quick acting odourneutraliser

SKY chemicals have launched Magic, a highlyconcentrated, effective and quick acting odourneutraliser.

It is specifically formulated to destroy urine andother bad odours at the source, and not mask themusing only a small application.

Magic’s modern formulation leaves a long lastingfresh fragrance to the working and living environment.It is suitable for use on carpets, fabrics, upholstery, softfurnishings, mattresses, floors and hard surfaces, andto pre-soak linen before the wash to remove unwantedsmells.

Magic has been tested to BSEN 1276 against MRSAand E-Coli. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, easy to useand environmentally friendly.

Magic is packed in 2x5 litre boxes and costs £4.99per litre. This price includes free full COSHH datasheets, pelican pump dispenser to save on waste,labeled, spray gun in accordance with HSE, freedelivery and 30 day credit.

Enquiries: Telephone 0114 2346730 or emailsales@skychemicals.co.uk