September 2009

no.160 • £4.75

In association with

By Dominic Musgrave

AN angry Midlands care operator sayshe may have to ditch plans to buildtwo new care homes because one ofhis existing sites has received a poorrating.

Simon Badland, believes he will findit difficult to borrow the money herequires from the bank to develop landin Cannock because his Bluebrookehome near Bromsgrove dropped froman ‘adequate’ rating to a ‘poor’following a recent CQC inspection.

He was one of many care homeowners and managers to get in touchwith the newsdesk following lastmonth’s story which told how oneoperator was appealing to otherhomes to call for the inspectionprocess to be transformed.

Simon, who runs six homes in totalacross Staffordshire, Worcestershireand the West Midlands under theOldfield Residential Care Limitedname, told Caring UK that star ratingsare vital when it comes to approachingthe banks.

He added: “With the banks you haveto have everything spot on and tick allof the boxes.

“I have not approached them yetabout our plans for Cannock, but I’m

sure the poor grade won’t help usbecause the banks struggle tounderstand everything we have to gothrough and are only interested in thestar rating when it comes to lending.

“Thankfully Bluebrooke is regardedas one of the best, if not the best,homes in south Staffordshire and wehave a lot of private referrals. I’m surea lot of the residents’ families havenever even heard of the CQC, butunfortunately the banks have, and thatis the problem for us.”

Like David Crabtree whom wefeatured in last month’s story, Simonsays he has spent thousands of poundsupgrading the home since it receivedthe one star last year, replacing themanager and appointing a newoperations director.

He added: “All of our other homes areeither ‘good’ or excellent, and good iswhat we aim to achieve across all ofour sites.

“To be fair Bluebrooke probably gotthe rating it deserves last year, but wewere expecting at least the same if notbetter this year.

■ Do you think the inspection andprocess needs to change? Let DominicMusgrave know by ringing 01226734407 or email dm@whpl.net

Poor ratingcould forceplans rethink

Comedian Bernie Clifton launched a care group’sscheme to showcase the talents of the nation’solder people.Best known for his ostrich routine, the entertainerlaunched ‘Bupa Wants Talent’, with a series ofshows planned nationwide to mark UK OlderPeople’s Day on October 1.

Caring UKto sponsorawardsCARING UK willsponsor a series ofglittering awardceremonies thatrecognise the best inthe care sector.

The regional GreatBritish Care Awardstake place across thecountry atprestigious venues,culminating in agrand final at theLondon Guildhallnext June.

All areas of thesector arerepresented in the 18categories, whether itbe older people orspecialist services,residential or homecare.

Healthcare editorDominic Musgravesaid: “We are proudto be involved inthese fantasticawards which willcelebrate all that isgood within thesector.”

The awards will alsosponsor The Maggie’sCentre charity, whichhas sites across thecountry supportingpeople whose liveshave been impactedupon by cancer.

To find out moreturn to page 22.

incorporating

The Number One magazine for the care sector

3CARINGNEWS

AdvertisingSales and Marketing Director:Tony Barry

Sales Manager:Jackie Brook

National Sales Executive:Mandy EdwardsTel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734477

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

Editorial

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

Healthcare Editor:Dominic MusgraveTel: 01226 734407

Reporters:Christina 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.uk

By Louise Cordell

THE UK’s largest ‘extra care’ village hasopened its doors to residents inStaffordshire.

Mill Rise, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, isone of the first schemes in the country tocombine housing for the over 55s with astate of the art primary care centre andintegrated health services.

The £15m project has been developedon a former factory site by a partnershipbetween Aspire Housing and NorthStaffordshire Primary Care Trust.

Sinead Butters, Aspire chief executive,said: “The idea came about as we hadidentified a need for extra care housingin the area and reasoned that therewould be added value to a scheme thatcombined living space with primary carefacilities.

“It had only been done on a small scalebefore so it was a fairly adventurousmove, but we felt it would be beneficialto residents as well as working well as abusiness.”

The development has been designed toimprove residents’ quality of life as a wayof promoting good heath and features 60one and two bedroom apartments whichare available for rent or shared owner-ship.

It incorporates three GP practices, apharmacy, restaurant, cafe, bar and hairsalon and healthcare will also be avail-

able to around 5,000 locals - helpingthem avoid long trips for hospitalappointments.

Sinead added: “Creating the develop-ment from scratch has really given us anopportunity to engage people and findout what they are looking for in a home.

“We brought together a Friends of MillRise group made up of local people andthose interested in living at the home.

“They contributed ideas and opinionsand it now means we have people mov-ing in who have felt really involved in theproject from a very early stage, which isgreat and means that they are fullyengaged.”

Care staff are available around the

clock which means that residents areable to live independently in their ownhomes with flexible support to suit indi-vidual circumstances.

The facilities include a lounge area andconservatory, raised plant beds andgreenhouses, wireless broadband, com-munity activities and scooter storage andcharging points.

■ The Mill Rise village is now set toexpand as negotiations are taking placefor the construction of another 80 resi-dential units.

If the plans are successful, during 2010a group of bungalows will be constructedwhich will be available to rent or undershared ownership schemes.

Country’s largest extra carevillage opens its doors

The new Mill Rise ‘extra care’ village

CARINGNEWS4

Out-of-datefood costshome £12kBy Dominic Musgrave

A PONTYPOOL residential home hasbeen fined more than £12,000 forhaving out-of-date food in its freezer.

Regency House Residential HomeLimited – which owns the privatenursing home for the elderly -pleaded guilty to six food hygieneoffences at Abergavenny Magistrates’Court.

The court heard how on November21 last year, officers from TorfaenCouncil carried out a routineinspection of the residential home,which has 53 residents aged 65 to100-years-old.

Inspectors found a number ofingredients, which were intended tobe used for residents’ meals, werepast their use by date.

After a thorough investigation itwas found that the oldest foodproduct – a leg of lamb – was almostsix months past its use by date. Dicedbeef and diced lamb were also foundto be out of date.

Steve Whitehouse, head of tradingstandards, said: “This authority takesvery seriously the supply/sale of foodpast its ‘use by’ date and the effectthis can have particularly on themost vulnerable in our society.

“Use by dates are used on productswhich are chilled and which are

microbiologically sensitive. One ofTorfaen Council's Trading Standardsservice priorities is to maintain thehealth and well-being of members ofthe Community.

“The service has taken a number ofprosecutions over the last two yearsand would reiterate the importanceto businesses that they understandtheir legal obligations. TradingStandards is only too willing toprovide such advice and guidance tobusinesses to ensure thatinfringements are kept to aminimum.”

Inspectors also found the companyhad failed to implement guidancegiven by food safety externalconsultant and that there was noapparent stock rotation in operationwithin the freezer environment.

There were no audits bymanagement to ensure thatprocedures within the cateringfacilities were followed by staff.

The court fined Regency HouseResidential Home Ltd £3,000 on eachoffence which was reduced to £2,000for pleading guilty at the firstoccasion. A £15 victim surcharge wasalso imposed bringing the total fineto £12,015.

Full costs amounting to £800 werealso awarded to the prosecutingauthority.

Durham residents turn eco-warrierELDERLY residents have beentransformed into eco-warriors at asouth Durham care home.

The county council’s direct servicesteam visited Baring Court Home toshow residents how to save energy,including installing movementsensitive lighting and energy efficientappliances throughout the building.

Home manager Veronica Boltonalso invited waste managementofficer Ruth Smith to give apresentation on recycling and waste

minimisation. She added: “We hopethis presentation enables greaterpartnership working and encouragestenant participation whilst being funand beneficial. We must allremember the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuseand Recycle.”

The presentation covered ways ofminimising waste in the home,including information on the junkmail preference service – which canstop unwanted junk mail – reducingkitchen waste and home composting.

5CARINGNEWS

RESIDENTS and staff at an Essex carehome had a lucky escape when ahuge oak tree crashed into the build-ing in the early hours of the morning.

Windows were smashed and thefascia to an extension at the front ofLittle Oaks Care Home in LittleBraxted was badly damaged, causingdamage estimated at £6,000.

Bridie Everitt, manager of thehome, who was there with one othermember of staff when it fell, toldCaring UK that it ‘sounded like abomb had gone off’ when three treefell into the building.

She added: “There was an enor-mous bang which scared the life outof me, and I wondered what wasgoing on because the whole buildingshook.

“After checking on the residents Isaw that windows were smashed andI only realised it was the tree when Inoticed leaves pushed up against thewindow.”

“The fire brigade asked me to movethe residents to a lounge at the backof the home. They were frightened atfirst about what could have hap-pened, but we have been very lucky.”

“It was dark and I didn't know whatit was, it was like a bomb.

“Windows were smashed and I onlyrealised it was the tree when Inoticed leaves pushed up against thewindow.”

Bridie says Jill and June Valentine,who have owned the home for thelast 10 years, expressed their fearsabout the tree being dangerous to

Maldon District Council on a num-ber of occasions – a claim the author-ity has denied.

A spokesman said it is up to theowners of any tree to make sure theykeep them in a safe condition.

He added: “We have checked ourrecords and there has been no appli-cation submitted to remove this treeand no evidence or reports submit-ted which show the tree to be in sucha condition that it needed to beremoved.

“In 2007, permission was granted toundertake some works to the Oaktree, but it is not clear as to whetherthe work had been undertaken nor isit possible to say whether had theseworks been undertaken that the treewould still not have fallen.”

The oak tree that crashed through the care home

Luckyescapeas oakcrashesontohome

Warriorrewarded forinfection fightA CARE home has been rewarded forits work in stepping up the battleagainst deadly infections.

Over 40 members of staff fromWarrior Park Care Home in SeatonCarew took part in a year long devel-opment programme looking at waysthey could reduce the risk of infec-tions such as MRSA.

They picked up a certificate forcompleting the course at HardwickHall, Sedgefield.

Care home manager LindaHutchinson said: “Infection controlis very important in all settings, butparticularly when we are lookingafter older people. We had six areasto work on to improve infection con-trol, two of the areas were handhygiene and training.”

The scheme was run by theImprovement Foundation, which isaimed at reducing health care associ-ated infections outside hospital.

Top marks for LodgeBAMFIELD Lodge in Bristol hasreceived the maximum three star rat-ing from the Care QualityCommission. The inspection of theAvery Healthcare home, whichopened last year, singled out the sup-port residents receive, the capabili-ties of the staff and the quality of thetraining provided.

Emphasis on paperworkBrian Crossland, manager/ownerCastlerea House, Salford

IN response to your to your article onstar ratings I have had a similarsituation. Having been inspected fourmonths after taking over a care homeI found myself with a one staradequate rating.

Verbally the inspector told me thatthe home was obviously doing anexcellent job of caring for residents. Ireceived an excellent score for thisand adequate in every other area.

The main emphasis was onpaperwork, including a lengthydescription of my breach of the DataProtection Act due to one A4 piece ofpaper being filed wrongly.

I discussed this with the local carehome association who informed methat many homes in the area hadrecently been downgraded and thestar system was useless to those inthe know anyway. Previously thehome had received an excellentrating.

My point is that prior to star ratingsit was in the interests of the localauthority to have a large number ofexcellent homes. It looked good andcost them nothing.

Now it is in their interestsfinancially to downgrade and use starratings to cut costs. The star ratingsare a political device to save money,and have virtually no relation toactual care given.

JANE MCAULEY,St David’s Care Home, Ealing

I AGREE that the system needs to bechanged. I manage the only one starhome in Ealing and no home in thisarea is a three star, so I am led tobelieve.

We have an excellent reputationwith a 98 per cent occupancy rate. Ihave been threatened with residentsbeing moved out and no moreadmissions because of our star rating.

The boroughs that use us havecompleted their own unannouncedinspections and are more then happywith the care we provide. We were letdown by paperwork, not by the careand attention we give to our

residents. CQC recognise that we provide a

good service but one dropped pointmeans the whole rating also drops.Social services, potential residentsand their relatives as well as banksand funding authorities do notbother to read the body of the reportfrom CQC.

They check the star rating and basetheir decision as to whether we are agood home or not on that rating.

Hotels have a five star rating systemso three stars are known to be onlygood in those circles. If we have tohave a star rating it should also befive star so that the general public arenot confused by the system.

‘Rating should be five star so that thegeneral public are not confused’

By Stuart Marchant

The opportunity to challengeinspection reports and star ratingsis an incredibly important one.

My colleagues and I see a lot ofinspection reports. Some are fair,but most of the ones that we aresent to advise upon demonstratesome fundamental flaws when itcomes to consistency, skill andprofessionalism.

It is not usually a lack of care bythe inspector that leads to someunsustainable conclusions; moreconcerning, it is a negative attitudeand an unwillingness to give fairrecognition for the overall quality of

a care home.Unchallenged, the reports can do

serious damage to a home’sreputation and its commercialhealth. Inspectors seem ill-trainedor ill-equipped to produce reportswhich identify areas forimprovement within a constructivecontext that reflects the seriousnessof their role.

Most recently, we have started tochallenge the rating rules of CQCthat deprive even the goodinspectors of any discretion to giveoverall quality ratings that are good(in the commonsense meaning ofthe word) if, for example, aweighted area such as management

or personal care has a couple ofproblems (real or not).

Your ratings are, in some casesunlawfuly, decided upon by a verysimple computer program that hasno relation to the real world.

We have noticed that CQC’sapproach is a harder one to itspredecessor CSCI. Poorer ratingsnot only affect reputation andrevenue, they are also more likely tolead to enforcement action andsometimes to safeguarding referralsas a reflection of institutionalconcern.

We have also noticed that it isbecoming harder to effect a changein ratings at local resolution and at

QRRS levels – which is another wayof saying that CQC managementincreasingly backs its inspectorseven in the face of incontrovertibleevidence. But we don’t stop trying.

And, fortunately, through hardwork and the gathering of effectiveevidence in support of appropriatearguments, we continue to getresults.

Long may we continue to do so.Not just for us, but because it isimportant that CQC is a reflectiveregulator that engenders someconfidence back into the sector bylearning from its own mistakes.

■ Stuart Marchant is a partner atRidouts LLP.

The opportunity to challenge is important

CARINGNEWS6

SINCE our report last issue, Caring UK hasonce again been inundated with calls andemails from frustrated owners demandinganswers to a variety of issues from the CQC.

Managers and owners have also been tellingus that inspectors do not think about theimpact of the grade they award a home in thelong run.

And owners have told our newsdesk that thestar ratings do not reflect the quality of carebeing provided, and are often a reflection ofhow an inspector is feeling on a particular day.

Dr Chris Farrar, director of Total Care HomesLtd, a care home for the elderly in Merseyside,said he sees the inspection process as ‘a form ofbullying’.

He added: “Overall, the inspector may bebiased or just plainly does not like the owner ormanager. In this case the home can be ruined.There is an appeal process, but we all knowthat it is not a good idea to argue and fight withthe CQC unless no alternative exists.

“I see the inspection process as a form of

bullying – a form that can bankrupt a home.There are many fairer systems that can exist.For example, a percentage score, so that onehome is not one star while the other a two stareven though there is perhaps one per centpoint between them. The ratings should alsocoincide with the county ratings.

And Chris de Verenne, who runs three carehomes in Devon, said care associations shouldget behind a campaign to get the inspectionprocess changed.

He added: “Our one star home was re-inspected last March with the inspector statingoff the record that ‘it feels like a good to me’ butit then came back as adequate.

“My operations manager spoke to theinspector who ‘off the record’ stated that it wasborderline and it wasn’t her that made thedecision but her new manager. When told thatwe would appeal she said that we should. Wehave appealed and much of the original reporthas been amended, but we are still left with anadequate rating.”

Care home operators are calling for the CQC’s inspectionprocess to be transformed, claiming the three-starsystem does not work. Dominic Musgrave reports.

Call for ratings toreflect quality of care

7CARINGNEWS

A housing complex for older people on the outskirts of Swansea hasopened following a partnership between the Family Housing Associationand the city council. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

THE state-of-the-art Hazel Courtdevelopment has replaced high riseflats that were on the site of the samename, and enables people to liveindependently for as long as possiblein safety and security.

The site boasts 120 apartments forthe over 55s, with a mixture of oneand two bedrooms, all designed forwheelchair accessibility and hard-wired for the latest assistiveTechnology if required.

Communal features at the develop-ment include craft rooms, restaurant,hairdressing salon and an internetand cinema suite.

Services manager Stephen Hughes,who runs the site and several othersin the city on behalf of the FamilyHousing Association, told Caring UKthat the facilities are available for useby the whole community.

He added: “The development chal-lenges the traditional ideas for carefor people when they get older, andare very much a pro-active step.

“Rather than telling elderly peoplewhat to do we are asking them to tellus what they want, and we run regu-lar meetings where we discuss thehappenings. They are encouraged totalk directly about things they canaffect around the facility.”

“One of the major differencesbetween ourselves and a traditional

care facility is that we are not here tothings and are

The site also boasts a gym, whichhas been kitted out by specialistequipment from SciFit, and is run bythe YMCA. It is also available to thecommunity.

Stephen added: “The equipmentthat we have installed here showsthat fitness should be for all, not mat-ter the age shape, ability or disability.

“They can either create their ownprogrammes or have one done forthem. We also run a series of classesin the adjoining room, everythingfrom belly dancing to Tai Chi, whichcan have massive benefits for theelderly people.”

The development also puts on arange of trips out, including to localmuseums and other places of inter-est.

New facility challengestraditional ideas for care

Services manager Stephen Hughes with SciFit’s Steve Wright and a YMCA gyminstructor

TRAINING at an award-winningHertfordshire care home is not justreserved for the staff.

Burleigh House, which is owned byManage Care Homes Ltd, was namedrunner up in the staff training anddevelopment category at the FSBHertfordshire Business Awards.

But the home’s director Mihir Shahtold Caring UK that the residents arealso encouraged to take part in thetraining, should they wish.

He added: “All of our training isgeared around the core needs of thesector and enabling the residents tomaintain as much independence as ispossible. The studies also helps thestaff to grow both professionally andpersonally.

“We have recently decided to extendall of the training courses to the resi-dents, as we feel it is very importantfor them to have the confidence thatthey are being cared for in the bestpossible way.

“This allows them to ask their carersany questions or bring up any issuesthey may have about how they arebeing cared for.”

As well as the mandatory trainingsuch as health and safety and movingand handling, staff at the home alsotake part in more specialist courses.

Mihir added: “We are focussing a lotof our training on dementia therapyat the moment, but also have staffstudying a variety of different sub-jects, some of which are not event

catered for at the moment within thehome.

“Some studies are done in-houseand some are distance learning. Wealso work with the local college on avariety of courses too.”

And he urged other care home own-ers to continue to develop their staffand not cut training in the recession.

He added: “I understand why a lotof operators my be looking at cuttingtheir training costs in these difficulttimes, but it is something I wouldstrongly disagree with.

“In many ways I think it is the mostimportant because it helps you toensure that your staff are trained andcan provide care to the highest possi-ble level.

Trainingfor all atawardwinninghome Mihir Shah and Burleigh House manager Julie Curtis receive their training award from local news-

reader Susie Fowler-Watt and Herts Regional College’s Jayne Henderson

CARINGNEWS8

MERIDIAN Healthcare’s AcaciaCourt Care Centre in Pudseyreceived the award from LeedsCity Council’s Food and HealthService as part of its ‘Scores on theDoors’ scheme.

The star rating is based on a foodhygiene inspection carried out bythe local authority, which assessesthe following areas: food hygieneand procedures, structuralconditions and cleanliness andconfidence in management.

Home manager Tina Davies toldCaring UK that the scores for eachsection are added together toproduce an overall star rating,from five stars for excellent to zerostars for very poor.

She added: “Mealtimes are one ofthe most important parts of thedays to our residents, and theyspend a lot of time talking aboutfood.

“Our chef Emily Davies ispassionate about food too, and itshows in the food that sheprepares for the residents.

“The five-star rating is testamentto her hard work and dedicationbecause her organisation in thekitchen is excellent and the area isalways spotlessly clean.”

The 41 residents at the home geta wide choice at all mealtimes,including three-course lunch with

two choices of main meals atlunch and snacks including jacketpotatoes, sandwiches orsomething on toast for tea.

All the homes biscuits and cakesare homemade, and the menus areregularly reviewed.

Tina added: “Menus are alwayson the agenda at our residents'meetings, and we are very open totheir requests.

“If a resident says that theyhaven't had something like blackpudding for a while then we arehappy to go and get some for them

– it is their home at the end ofthe day so they can have what theylike.

“Other homes in the group saythat their residents prefer to havethings like burgers or pizzas, but here the residents are more traditional and like theirroast dinners and pies. Emily is renowned for her gravy aswell.”

Residents are also welcome tosnacks and drinks at any time ofthe day should they wish.

KARAOKE is one of the mostpopular activities that take placeat Acacia Court.

Tina said that the residentsenjoy nothing more than singingthe old songs from the 1940s and50s.

She added: “The residents fightover a bit of karaoke when we getthe machine out.

“They really enjoy the old songs.“We also have a lot of

entertainers visiting the home,

and some children from the localschool are putting together ahistory of Pudsey project with theresidents.

“They also enjoy playing gamessuch as 'Play Your Cards Right'and going on trips to the localgarden centre and shopping intotown.”

The home boasts a knitting clubas well, with residents knittingjumpers for the two cats that alsolive at the home.

A West Yorkshire care home has been awarded the prestigious five starrating for the high quality of its catering facilities for the second consecutiveyear. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Five-star testamentto Emily’s hard work

Emily Davies

Sample menuA sample lunchtime menuStarterMelon BallsMinestrone Soup

Main mealRoast chicken with seasonalvegetables and potatoesStew and dumplings

DessertArctic rollYoghurtIce creamFruit salad

Karaoke hits right note with residents

Acacia Court

Councillor inbirthday boostfor homeAN 80-year-old councillor celebratedher birthday by raising over £1,000for a new residential dementia carehome.

Freda Johnson, who is a member ofMalvern Town Council, is also amember of the committee trying toraise £500,000 for a new specialistdementia facility which will formpart of the already establishedFriends of the Elderly Davenhamhome. The official appeal for funds toreach £500,000 will be launched inOctober.

The new facility will house 24residents, which is a relatively smallnumber for a care home but directorof fundraising Jo O’ Boyle believesthat the smaller the number thebetter the quality of service.

She said: “It is quite a small numberfor a care home but we wanted it thatway because they will get a betterquality of care. The new unit willcater specifically for people withdementia and so in that respect itneeds to be quite small anyway inorder for standards to be met. Wewanted to be able to deliver acomplete package of care and thisway we can.”

Home enjoys cake fitfor a Queen guitaristRESIDENTS at a Gloucestershire carehome tucked into a birthday cakeintended for Queen guitarist BrianMay.

The treat had been prepared topresent to him when he visited theannual Royal International Air Tattooshow at Fairford.

But when he was unable to attendthe event – which coincided with his62nd birthday – organisers decidedto donate the cake to the 42 residentsof Hyperion House.

Manager Katie Boyce said: "It was avery nice surprise, and it was lovelyof the organisers to have it broughtin to us. Only one of our residentshad actually heard of Brian, andunfortunately she was in her room.Most of them prefer Vera Lynn andGlenn Miller, although one of theyounger ones likes The Beatles.”

CARINGNEWS10

Calderdalecare homesto be probedBy Dominic MusgraveCOUNCILLORS are to investigate thestate of Calderdale’s care homes afterit was revealed that many wereproviding an inadequate level ofservice.

The review, due to start in theautumn and likely to last for severalmonths, will be led by councillor BobMetcalfe, and will be carried out bythe health and scrutiny scrutinypanel team of seven.

He added: “Work is likely to start inOctober and this will be an in-depthpiece of work that will won’t becompleted overnight. It will involveus visiting several of the homes andtalking to lots of people.

“We know that many of the carehomes provide an excellent servicefor the region’s older people, butthere are several of them that aregiving us cause for concern.”

He said that the panel will also lookat some of the systems that thecouncil and NHS Calderdale has inplace to monitor standards, and whatthey are doing to address some of theweaknesses.

Bob added: “We will also look atissues such as fee levels, staffrecruitment and training areaffecting the standard of care beingdelivered.

“Other issues we will be consideringwill be the processes forcommissioning to these services, andhow the adult safeguarding policyand other schemes from bodies suchas the CQC are being implemented.

“Because we are only in the earlystages we haven’t spoken to any ofthe area’s care home operators aboutour plans, but we would hope thatthey would support what we aredoing, as the safety of the peoplethey are caring for is our primaryconcern.”

Pat Asquith, who runs the 40-bedPennine Lodge Care Home, inTodmorden – one of 14 in Calderdaleclassed as excellent – said she wouldwelcome a visit by the scrutiny panel.

She added: “We would encouragethe panel to have meetings to discussstandards. We would be happy toshare with them and other care homeoperators in the area some of thegood practices we have done toachieve our three-star status, namelyinvestment in staff, training andaccommodation."

According to the CQC, at the end ofJuly there were 63 homes in theregion, three with no stars, 11 withone, 33 with two and 15 with three.One home is currently waiting to begraded.

A WREXHAM care home issending gift boxes to soldiers onthe frontline in Afghanistan.

The campaign has been inspiredby Private Neil Carrington whohas just become engaged to SarahChapman, daughter of Ann, themanager of Pendine Park’s CaeBryn care home near Wrexham.

Just before he returned for thesecond half of his tour of duty inAfghanistan, the couple popped into the home to say thanks.

During the visit, Neil met 93-year-old resident Margaret Elliswho served as a nurse amid thecarnage of Northern Franceduring the early part of theSecond World War 70 years ago.

She was nicknamed SisterSpitfire by German Prisoners of

War because of her forthrightattitude and indomitable spirit.

Ann came up with the idea afterhearing that many of Neil’scolleagues on the frontline werenot receiving any gifts from home.

She said: “Sarah was sendingboxes to Neil every day with littlegoodies you know, crisps, showergel, toothpaste, packs of cards,travel games – just anything thatshe thought he might like.

“But there are so many of thesesoldiers out there that are on thefront line and they don’t getanything and according to Neilthey look devastated.

“As soon as I heard that Ithought we can do something atPendine Park to help these lads.”

Neil with Margaret Ellis

Gift box boost forsoldiers in Afghanistan

STAFF and residents at SanctuaryCare’s Bradwell Court home are celebrating after it received an ‘excellent’ rating from the CQC.

Following an unannouncedinspection the Congleton care homewas upgraded from a two star ‘to thehighest three star’.

The home’s manager LyndaSchofield said: “I am so happy for thestaff as this gives them therecognition they deserve for all theirdedication and hard work.”

The report praised the wide rangeof activities on offer and how thesetake into account residents’individual interests and abilities.

Home celebrates ‘excellent’ rating

Residents get behindnew recycling serviceA CARE home has become one of thefirst businesses to join a newrecycling service launched by Reigateand Banstead Council.

Walton Heath Manor has signed upto the scheme, which enablesbusinesses to recycle their paper and cardboard, reducing the amountof waste being sent to landfill and potentially saving money on their overall waste disposal costs.

Matron Teresa Chandler told CaringUK that the home was in danger ofbeing overwhelmed by an avalanche

of paper, because its residents, allkeen readers, regularly subscribe tonewspapers and magazines.

She added: “Our residents havebeen very proactive in wanting torecycle more.

"We generate a lot of waste paper asmany of our residents take dailynewspapers or have magazines.

"The council’s business recyclingservice means all that waste paper that would otherwise havegone to landfill is now beingrecycled.”

CARINGNEWS12

Ammerhurst KeysFax: 020 8275 5368 • Tel: 020 8275 5360

Email: sales@keysplease.co.uk • PO Box 3020, Barnet, EN4 8ZP

The Key Replacement Service

HELP!We’ve lostour keys

KeyNumber67004

�

No problem!Simply quote the

numbers and lettersstamped on the

lockface and we willpost the keys today.

Visit our website for more details:Order Keys Online www.keysplease.co.uk Simple and Secure

‘‘’’

Claims that payrow has led to‘blacklisting’THE best nursing homes in North Somerset havebeen ‘blacklisted’ by the local authority in a rowover pay, it has been claimed.

Gordon Butcher, leader of the local careassociation and owner of Lyndhurst Park CareHome, says all 18 three-star and two-star homesin the region have been taken off a list that isgiven to potential residents and their familiesafter they refused to accept a new fees offer.

He told Caring UK that the homes have rejectedthe scheme, which would see an ‘excellent’ homereceive 4.6 per cent more, a ‘good’ one 3.6 percent and an ‘adequate’ facility one per cent.

He added: “I have never had somebody from alocal authority say to me that the fees they giveare accurate, and people are paid more stackingshelves in their local supermarket than they arein a nursing home, which is wrong.

“The care homes are effectively being asked toprovide care for the equivalent of a pint of lagerand hour to some of the most vulnerable, frailand sick people in the community.

“The families are not being given full access to

the best care homes in the area, and it isimproper of the council to play with care and usethis dispute as it is a totally separate issue.”

Gordon says the home have been left with nochoice but to trigger a clause in the contract andtake the process to arbitration.

The homes wanted to do this as a group to savemoney, which would cost approximately £16,000,but are being forced to do so as individuals,which could cost up to £380,000. The council saysthis is because is has contracts with individualhomes, not with the association.

He added: “I’m sure in the current financialclimate that tax payer will not be very happy tohear that the council is prepared to squander themoney in this way.

“There are homes in this dispute that haveempty beds, but all seem to see the long-termpicture and are prepared to take the short termhit financially.

“They realise that they have got to take actionnow, but if this dispute is not resolved I can seesome homes being forced to close.”

A SPOKESMAN for North Somerset Council toldCaring UK that placements have been madewhere necessary in the nursing homes coveredby the dispute.

He added: “However,we have notified thesecare homes that, given the uncertainty overfuture fee levels paid by the council and theimpact on possible client contributions, we willnot be actively promoting these care homes fornew placements until the dispute is resolved.

“The council is happy to negotiate withassociation representatives and is due to meetagain shortly. However, arbitration is part of thecontract between the individual care home andthe council.

“The association has indicated it is looking forfee increases of up to £150 per week, which is anannual increase of approximately 37% andwould involve an additional council tax burdenof several million pounds or lead to severe cutsin local care services to older people.

“We believe this action is totally unjustifiedand that residents in North Somerset willsupport our case in these difficult economictimes. The council has offered an averageincrease of 3.6%, acknowledged by anindependent survey of UK Local Authority FeesRates for 2009/10 as considerably higher thanthe national average of 2.5%, a figureacknowledged by industry sources quoted in thesurvey as sufficient to meet efficient operatorscost pressures.”

Council ‘notactively promotingthese care homes’

Residents at a Bristol nursing home enjoyed a trip down memory lane when they visiteda local museum. The treasure trove at the Oakham Treasures and Farm Shop includedeverything from Fry’s chocolate through to Bird’s egg substitute boxes and hundreds ofother items from yesteryear.Picture: Residents Florence Alsop and Betty Andrews remember their days as shopassistants with volunteer Jenny Smith and senior care assistant Elaine Hope.

CARINGCARE SHOW PREVIEW14

THE latest invention to hit the careindustry is already proving to be asuccess – several months before itsofficial launch.

In the July issue, Caring UK revealedhow Hawk Offsite Solutions wasdeveloping the care home of thefuture – individual room pods whichare built in a factory and deliveredonsite complete with all fixtures andfittings.

And company director DominicM’Benga said that even though thepods are not due to be officially

launched until The Care Show inBirmingham in November, operatorsare already wanting to know more.

He said: “We have received aremarkable amount of interest andare speaking to several operators.

“Pods have been around for years inthe hotel industry but not inhealthcare. The advantages are costsavings, time saving and they aremore environmentally friendly.

“These savings allow operators toequip them better so it’s a win-winsituation for everybody.”

A care home built from pods in Chelmsford

Pods successful monthsbefore Care Show launch

THE new Care Show London, willopen its doors at Olympia for the firsttime in October, bringing its industrynetworking expertise to the city andsouth east region’s care home owners,management executives and healthcare professionals .

The exhibition will draw on thesuccess of the shows in Birminghamand Bournemouth by using a similarformat, including free entry to theevent.

Event director Jonny Sullens said:“The expansion of Care Shows intothe London area is an important stepforward for both the organisers andthe industry.

“As the sector expands, it is ourresponsibility to grow the importantplatform we provide to meet thecommercial and professional needsof this market.”

A significant feature of each show isthe seminar theatre, where visitorscan hear key industry speakersaddress a range of topical issuesconcerning the sector. In addition,

the London event will see the firstcare show summit - a free, high levelconference on ‘The Future of Care forOlder People’.

Exhibitors will offer a broad range ofservices and products, including: carehome furniture and interiors,catering equipment and foodsupplies, bathing equipment, hygieneand infection control care, callsystems and patient alarms, carpetsand flooring, mobility, moving andhandling aids, property andarchitectural services and uniforms.

Professional chefs for the caresector will give cookingdemonstrations and tastings in thelive nutrition kitchen, run by theNational Association of CareCatering, and a further feature, thedementia care theatre will promotediscussion on best practice for thecare of older people with thecondition.

The Care Show takes place onOctober 7 and 8.

New show makesits south eastdebut in October

SanctuaryCare’s MarkOrd will beone of thechefs givingcooking atthe CareShow

CARINGNEWS16

AGNES Houston first becameaware of the effects of thecondition after nursing her latefather, who was diagnosed withboth vascular dementia andAlzheimer's, through his last yearsat home.

And despite being diagnosedherself three years ago with theearly onset of Alzheimer's, she isto team up with Scotland's careregulator, the Care Commission,to play a key role in raisingawareness of the condition.

Agnes told Caring UK magazinethat there was a massivedifference in the treatment givento her father at home and latemother-in-law, who also haddementia but was treated in a carehome.

She added: "Both my dad andmother-in-law were diagnosedwith dementia. As a family welooked after my dad at home, butmy mother-in-law didn't live closeby so was looked after in a carehome.

"The differences in the standardsof care were quite dramatic. To methe key to maintaining the lifestyleof a person with dementia is earlydiagnosis, being prescribed thecorrect medication, regularreviews of the medication being

given and personalising dementiacare for each individual.

One of Agnes’ proposals is toencourage care homes to havepictures on their door to helptrigger residents’ memories, andthe use of ‘memory books’, whichhave been proven to play asignificant role in improving thecare for people with dementia.

She added: "Since beingdiagnosed with dementia I havestarted writing a memory book,which is basically a journaldetailing my life history. I am alsocompiling a picture book withphotographs to illustrate my lifethrough the ages.

“It’s images and memories likethis can really help ensure theperson inside the person withdementia is never forgotten.

"I understand that it is oftendifficult in care homes for carersand nursing staff to get to know allresidents on an individual basis,especially those with dementia.”

“I certainly will be looking tointroduce a system where peoplewith dementia in care homes havepictures on their door to helptrigger their own memory andallow nursing staff to get to knowthem.”

A former nurse whohas been diagnosedwith the earlystages of dementiais to use herexperience to helpimprove the qualityof care for peoplewith the condition inScotland. DominicMusgrave reports

Agnes to helpraise awarenessof dementia

Five stars for home in ‘Scoreson the Doors’ schemeSTAFF at a Sanctuary Care home arecelebrating after scooping five starsin South Oxfordshire DistrictCouncil’s Scores on the Doors foodhygiene scheme.

Watlington and District NursingHome received the excellent rating –the highest possible score –following a spot check inspection byenvironmental health officers.

The home was judged on strictcriteria, including food hygiene,structure and confidence inmanagement.

The achievement comes just three months after the homereceived a Healthy Choice Awardfrom the council for food hygieneand the healthy menu choices itoffers.

CARINGNEWS18

Drop in Nottinghamshirepensioners movinginto residential careTHE number of pensioners movinginto residential care homes inNottinghamshire has dropped by 11per cent in the last year, according toa new report.

The county council puts thedecrease down to more peoplereceiving domiciliary or intermediatecare, which helps pensioners regainconfidence after a fall by spending upto eight weeks receivingrehabilitation.

The cabinet has now agreed toearmark an extra £2m to boost thehomecare services the council offerseven further.

A report by Mel Shepherd, cabinetmember for adult services andhealth, said: "An additional £2m willhave a significant impact on people'slives, allowing greater choice andcontrol for people and enabling morepeople to live safely and asindependently as possible in theirown homes.

“In the medium to long term it isanticipated that new strategies inrelation to intermediate care, extracare housing and re-ablement willfurther assist in lowering numbers of

older people admitted into long-termcare, and therefore reducing the costsof residential and nursing care.”

The £2m has only been agreed forthis year until it is clearer whether ornot the additional cash is neededpermanently.

By 2020, it is predicted that the thenumber of over 65s in the county willincrease by 31 per cent – 41,800 morepeople.

Mel added: “This is a long termproject, and there will always besome people that require some formof residential care, which is why weare not planning to abandon italtogether.

“Those staff that work in the homesthat will close will be retrained andmoved to other facilities. We are notexpecting there to be anyredundancies.”

Until March this year the councilpurchased or providedapproximately 80 per cent of itshomecare services from 34independent contractors, at a cost of£16m annually.

But the council recently re-tendered its contracts and added 11more companies to the list – leadingto the need for the extra money.

It is anticipated that furtherdevelopments in home care andindependent care will lead tosignificant savings in the long run forthe council.

Mel Shepherd

New home tocreate jobsA NEW care home in Grantham isexpected create around 75 new jobsonce it is fully occupied.

Avery Healthcare’s Avery Lodge has65 single rooms for residential,dementia and physical disability, allof which have their own en suiteshower and bathroom facilities.

Home manager Caroline Greavessaid: “We will focus on offering thehighest standards of care whilerecognising that this is home for ourlonger term residents.

“We aim to promote each resident’sindividual independence with theemphasis on person centred care.”

Key messagesHOW to deal with oral hygiene, falls,behavioural issues, delirium,continence, diabetes and influenzawere just some of the topicsdiscussed at a Care Home Medicineconference organised by the BritishGeriatrics Society and Royal Collegeof Physicians.

Two key messages of the day werethat the education and training ofstaff is vital and that there must begreater collaboration between thoseworking in care homes and medicalprofessionals.

The conference also tackled whattraining is needed for care homes tobe able to ensure the provision ofappropriate end of life care.

19CARINGNEWS

By Dominic Musgrave

FROM sensory rooms to summerhouses, software and the silverscreen, older people inGloucestershire’s care homes are feel-ing the benefit of major makeovers.

The county council has been help-ing care homes to bid for centralfunding to carry out a range ofimprovements over the past fewmonths

Now most of the 67 successfulapplicants have completed the work,thanks to grants from between £5,000and £20,000.

Among those to benefit are resi-dents at Guild House care home inGloucester, who have been enjoyingthe experience of going to the moviesthanks to their £12,000 grant.

Some of the money was used to buya projector, two big screens, soundequipment and old films on DVD.The home’s activity co-ordinators putup posters inviting residents to thescreenings, which take place in theconservatory.

Manager Moya Neighbour said: “Itfeels just like going to the cinemaand the screenings have been verypopular.

"The residents sit in comfy arm-chairs and are served with drinksfrom our mobile trolley and popcornfor the evening showings.

"Afterwards, they can all talk aboutthe film together, reminisce abouttheir younger days and enjoy a drink.

“As well as watching old films likeGone with the Wind, our staff haveput a film together of various activi-ties the residents have been involvedin during the past two years and theylove watching themselves in that.”

Parton House care home inChurchdown received £14,000 tomake the gardens more pleasant andaccessible for residents, saving a his-torical artefact in the process.

An existing large water feature, orig-inally built by German prisoners ofwar when they were billeted on thesite, has been restored and is now acentrepiece to the front garden. It isnot yet in working order but workwill start on this major project laterthis year.

Alison Andrews, group care manag-er for CTCH Ltd’s six care homes inthe county, including Parton House,said: “The fountain really is a beauti-ful feature now that it has beenrestored and when it is workingagain, it will be magnificent.”

Among the other work done at thehomes included a £20,000 grant tobuild a new summerhouse in the gar-den at Euroclydon Nursing Home atDrybrook, and £10,000 for RodleyHouse in Lydney to make improve-ments to their gardens.

Council helpshomes achievemajor makeovers

The new roomat GuildHouse

A garden fete at a care home in Suffolkraised more than £700 to help local peo-ple with life limiting illnesses.Healthcare Homes’ Mill Lane nursinghosted a summer party in its grounds toraise money for St Elizabeth Hospice andthe East Anglian Children’s Hospices(EACH). Visitors, staff and residents wereentertained by a high street fashion show,as well as local performer Brian Roy.There was also a prize draw and creamteas on the lawn.

The home’s manager Lorraine Barkersaid: “Every year, we choose a ‘charity ofthe year’ to support. This year we haveselected the hospices because of theimportant work they do to meet patients’physical, emotional, social and spiritualneeds whilst giving support to family,friends and carers.”Picture: Lorraine Barker, manager of MillLane joins Marilyn Wright, Administratorof Mill Lane and fete organiser to helpraise vital funds for local hospices

CARINGNEWS20

Recession forcesdelay in closureprogrammeBy Dominic Musgrave

SOCIAL services bosses inBirmingham have delayed closing anumber of care homes for betweenthree and five years as a result of therecession.

The city council is part of the waythrough the closure programme, witheight of 29 homes already shut, but15 homes, part of a second phase ofclosures, will remain open for themedium term.

But cabinet member for adults andcommunities Sue Anderson toldCaring UK that the council has nooption but to put the closureprogramme on hold due to privatesector developers delaying buildingplans due to the recession.

She added: “We had planned tobuild 10 new state-of-the-art carecentres across the city, and have sofar built four.

“The new builds each have 32 longterm beds on the ground floor forpeople with dementia, as well as anumber of facilities that can be usedfor the wider community. Upstairsthey have 32 rehabilitation bedswhich are run by the PCTs and areaimed at getting people back on theirfeet and into their own homes.

“Our plans to build the further sixhave been affected by the recession,but we don’t think it is necessarily abad thing as it is enabling us toreassess the buildings and askwhether the services that they areproviding are correct for the groups.”

Sue added that the care centre staffhave been hand-picked from thehomes that have closed, and thatredundancies were being kept to aminimum.

She said: “The second phase will

take 12-18 months to complete, andthe down side is the staffredundancies, but we are workinghard on this as the individual homesclose.

“Anyone who is on a temporarycontract will go, and we won’t beusing any agency staff unless it isessential. We have offered somevoluntary redundancies and havealso held a couple of job fairs withpeople from the private sectorcoming in to show them what iswhat.

“We have had to issue someredundancies, but we are also doingour best to find these people othertraining and job opportunities indifferent parts of the council.”

The council is also working closelywith Birmingham University, who areconducting a best practice study ofthe work they have done so far.

Sue Anderson

Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova visited Shire Hall care home in Cardiff Bay to meet theresidents and have a tour of the home. The Russian was the guest of honour at thecountry’s Miss Wales competition, and visited the home to see how money the finalistshave raised is helping worthy causes. She is pictured with 100-year-old residentCeinwen Jones

Brush with success forspecialist hairdresserA SPECIALIST hairdresser ishoping to grow her business afterbeing shortlisted for a wildcardheat of a national competition.

Jenny Twigg, of Lily Pins, hasbeen told that she will go throughto the autumn heat of The Pitch,and she could also get financialbacking from one of theentrepreneurs who judged thecontest.

The company was formed whenJenny realised the need for a stylistwho caters especially for those inresidential and nursing homes.

All her stylists are also trained in dementia care and haveextensive experience in providing aspecialist service to care homeresidents.

Among her regular clients are

residents of Tye Green Lodge andAlexandra Lodge in Harlow, andthe company has just beenawarded the contract for the soon to open Partridge CareCentre.

Jenny said: “I was thrilled toreceive confirmation that we werethrough to the regional finals.Many in the care sector remainunsung heroes.

“It was wonderful to receiverecognition for all my staff; wehave all worked incredibly hard toget here.

Earlier this year, Jenny enteredThe Pitch awards in the NewInnovative Business of the Yearsection and was named in the lastsix out of 100 entries in the Londonarea.

21CARINGNEWS

A GROUNDBREAKING newscheme in Sheffield is helping toensure better access to healthcarefor residents in 14 of the city’s resi-dential and care homes.

GPs in the Parson Cross consor-tium – covering 11 practices – gottheir heads together with man-agers at NHS Sheffield to make thechanges, which are seeing resi-dents benefiting from enhancedGP care.

The changes introduced last Aprilas part of a two-year pilot schemehave seen one GP practiceassigned to one home to providecare for all residents – instead ofseveral practices and numerous

GPs going in and out of eachhome.

Residents were offered the choiceof staying with their own GP orswapping to the practice providingthe new service.

Pilot lead Dr Alison Hobbs toldCaring UK the GPs taking part pro-vide weekly surgeries in the homesand have designed care plans forresidents, which look at their phys-ical and mental health, any long-term conditions, and assess theirrisk of falls.

She added: “Having weekly ‘surg-eries’ in the home means the GPs,residents and staff can really startto get to know one another. Care

planning also means GPs cananticipate needs instead of react-ing to a crisis, and gives home staffthe advice and confidence to man-age some of the problems whenthey do arise.

“We are finding that by doingthese two things, homes rely lesson emergency services. Patientsreally are benefiting and it hasstreamlined work for GPs andhome staff too.”

The pilot scheme, which it isanticipated will save the local NHSalmost £150,000 in reduced hospi-tal admissions, will be evaluated atthe end of the two years, and adecision made as whether to run it

elsewhere in the city.Samantha Bradshaw, manager of

North Hill Care Home, which istaking part in the programme,added: "We feel that the weeklyclinics are providing our serviceusers with excellent access to theirGPs. The annual reviews are agreat opportunity for the GP, resi-dents, carers and family membersto work together, plan health care,and ensure residents have treat-ment and monitoring for long termconditions such as diabetes andheart disease. We have found theimprovements very supportive andhope to continue this work in thefuture.”

Scheme aims to bring better GP access

Lib Dem health spokesmanis ECCA keynote speakerLIBERAL Democrats’ healthspokesman Norman Lamb will be thekeynote speaker at the annual ECCAconference.

The ‘Up Close & Personal’ event willlook at personalisation and considerhow providers can meet the expecta-tions of service users as well as politi-cians.

Also speaking at the event will beJeff Jerome, national director forSocial Care Transformation, who willreport on the progress of his strategy

for implementation and PuttingPeople First.

Craegmoor Healthcare chief executive Ted Smith will give his perspective and describe how hiscompany is adjusting its strategy andworking practices to meet the newdemands. One further name in thespeaker line-up will be announcedshortly.

The conference takes place onNovember 12 at the Holiday Inn,Bloomsbury.

FORMER GMTV presenter FionaPhillips hosted the third annualBarchester Care Awards, which cele-brate the staff that have gone theextra mile to make a special differ-ence.

Eleven accolades were handed outduring the ceremony, with Pat ScottOxley, who joined the first Barchesterhome, Moreton Hill, when it opened15 years ago, and has stayed with thecompany, winning the lifetimeachievement prize.

Other award winners were: Hometrainer – Nathan Kidd (The Warren);Activities coordinator – Sandra Baker(Wood Grange); Care services inno-vator – Maria Hutchison (DrummondGrange); Carer of the year – AlicePomeroy (Kirkburn Court); Memory

Lane innovator – The Oulton Parkteam; Registered nurse – Anne Coker(Mount House); Foundation champi-on – Val Baggot and Jo Coombs(Kernow House); Lifetime achieve-ment –Pat Scott Oxley (Morton Hill);Hotel services – Kerie Hegarty (WhiteLodge);

Surprise discretionary award forpersonal care – Natvidad De La Cruz(Queen’s Court); Discretionary awardfor outstanding commitment to per-son-centred care – Rose Guthrie(Drummond Grange).

The winners of each categoryreceived £500 prize money and £250on a personal or career developmentactivity or event, a trophy and certifi-cate.

Barchester registered nurse of the year Anne Coker with director of care and qualityJim Marr and Fiona Phillips.

Fiona hosts care awards

Providers ‘must protect elderly’CARE providers must protect theelderly by ensuring those most inneed have access to residentialhomes, it has been claimed.

Nick Bruce, owner of NightingalesRetirement Care, which runs two res-idential homes alongside a homecareservice, has spoken out after a glut ofhome closures.

He added: “Around the UK there area large number of homes being shut

down and replaced by homecare ser-vices.

“While homecare is a great solutionfor many people, an over-emphasison financial considerations shouldnot deprive the elderly of choice.

“For many, homecare means a lifeof loneliness and while it is a littlemore expensive, residential care canmean a much improved quality oflife.”

CARINGNEWS22

Nominate now for care awardsBy Dominic Musgrave

TIME is running out fornominations for this year’s GreatBritish Care Awards.

The search is on to find thewinners for the five regional careaward events, which will take placein October and November, and willculminate in a grand national finalnext June.

Eighteen award categories areavailable for nomination in eachregion, which represent all areas ofthe care sector, whether it be olderpeople or specialist services,residential or home care.

After judging, all the finalists willthen be invited to attend aspectacular gala dinner at venuesthroughout the UK, where thewinners will be announced.

The winners from the regionalawards will then be invited toattend national events for eitherthe home care or care homessectors at the prestigious LondonGuildhall.

Independent Care Group chairMike Padgham urged people to gettheir nominations in as soon aspossible.

He added: “Last year’s event washailed as such a tremendoussuccess that interest in this year’sawards has been growing fast.

“We are really excited and lookingforward to making this year’sawards even bigger and better thanlast year’s. A great deal of interestwas generated last year and we areexpecting a bumper number ofentries.”

Caring UK magazine are theofficial media partner for theawards, and healthcare editorDominic Musgrave said themagazine was proud to beassociated with them.

He added: “The awards celebrateall that is good in the care sector,and Caring UK is delighted to beassociated with them.

“I would urge everyone tonominate the person ororganisations they think have madea difference to the industry as soonas possible to avoiddisappointment.”

People can nominate themselves,a colleague or a company and mustaccompany their nomination withan account of around 300 wordssaying why they are worthywinners of an award.

Award categories are: CareEmployer; Care Home Care Worker;Home Care Worker; CareNewcomer; Care Home RegisteredManager; Home Care RegisteredManager; Home Care Worker of aSpecialist Service; Care Home

Nutrition; Dignity in Care;Dementia Care; Care Team; CareHome Activity Organiser; PuttingPeople First/Personalisation;Ancillary Worker; Care Trainer; CareInnovator; Carer’s; OutstandingContribution to Social Care.

The dates and locations for the2009 awards are:

■ The Great West Midlands Care -The National Motorcycle Museum,Solihull, October 10.

■ The Great North West Care

Awards - Old Trafford footballground, October 23.

■ The Great East Midlands CareAwards - The East MidlandsConference Centre, Nottingham,October 17.

■ The Great North Care Awards(Yorkshire and Humber) - TheNational Railway Museum, York,November 13.

■ The Great North East CareAwards - The Marriott Hotel,Newcastle, November 20.

Thirsk Community Care Association’s Gill Burn receives the outstandingcontribution to care award from BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration and JillConroy from sponsors Riccall Carers.

23CARINGSPECIAL REPORT

In a Caring UK special report, Dominic Musgrave looks at some of the alternatives a number ofcouncils nationwide are considering to the traditional care home.

ALL of Northamptonshire CountyCouncil’s 10 care homes could closeas part of a scheme to deal with thepredicted explosion in the elderlypopulation in the region.

The five-year plan is in response toresearch which has predicted thatthere will be approximately doublethe number of people over the age of85 living in the county by 2025 – from13,200 to 25,200.

Seven of the homes inNorthampton, Daventry, Towcesterand Wellingborough are rated as‘excellent’ by the Care QualityCommission, with a further three‘good’. They currently provide carefor 399 residents.

Councillor Robin Brown, cabinetmember for adult health and socialservices, told Caring UK that it wouldcost more than £1million over thenext two years to maintain thehomes at the current standard.

He added: “We are looking to con-sult on the future of these carehomes as part of our overall plans totransform and improve accommoda-tion-based care for older people overthe next five years.

“No decision as to the future ofthese care homes has been made yet,but it is clear that although these carehomes are well-managed and offer agood standard of care, their facilitiesare not currently suitable for thefuture care of older people in thecounty.”

Other options that the council hasput out to public consultation for thenext three months include:

Retaining the county council ownedcare homes with the exception ofone, which would be closed in thenext year as the building is unfit forpurpose.

Selling the homes as a going con-cern to an independent provider andpurchase the places required.

Closing the homes over five years ofthe planned strategy for older peo-ple’s accommodation.

Re-providing the homes, working inpartnership with an agreed providerreplacing care provision with special-ist dementia care services.

Taking a locality approach to thehomes with different arrangementsaccording to the needs and serviceprovision in that community.

Ten homescould close incouncil scheme

BRADFORD Council is consideringshutting its 11 care homes and transfer-ring the residents to independently-runfacilities.

It is one of four options which theCouncil’s ruling executive has put out topublic consultation, with the district’selderly population expected to growfrom 9,200 to 13,400 in the next 15years.

And a report by Moira Wilson, thecouncil’s strategic director of adult andcommunity services, states that none ofthe homes are likely to meet futurestatutory registration standards for

room size and en-suite facilities.She added: "This is the start of a wide-

ranging three-month consultation peri-od on how we provide social care forolder people and vulnerable adults inthe years ahead.

"It is based on a positive vision of pro-moting choice and independence forolder people, and meeting the rightlyhigh and increasing expectations forquality provision.

"The consultation concerning thefuture will look at a range of options,along with the pros and cons for eachoption and as much information as pos-

sible on each of the eleven homes. Nodecision would be made until we havefully analysed the results of the consul-tation. Any changes would then takeplace over a ten-year period."

The four options are: � Do nothing, and continue to run thehomes as they are. � De-commission (i.e. withdraw fund-ing from) all 11 homes and buy in ser-vices. � Invest to improve residential homebuildings – either major refurbishmentor new build. � Concentrate on specialist provision.

By Martin Green

IN recent years, local authoritieshave realised that they are not goodat delivering residential care servicesand most of the care services thatused to be provided by local authori-ties are now delivered to a higherquality and in a more cost effectiveway by independent sector providers.

With the move towards personalisa-tion, there will become increasingscrutiny on care services and just aswith the transition to independentlyrun services, there are a great num-ber of issues that need to be scruti-nised when it comes to changing ordeveloping a care service.

Statistical evidence clearly provesthat when you move very frail andvulnerable people there is a highprobability that they will die within afew months of the move. This evi-dence makes it imperative that anyauthority going through the processof closing or decommissioning a careservice needs to be very mindful ofthe potential impact this will have onservice users and their carers.

It is for this reason that no decisionto decommission should be taken inhaste and that the involvement ofservice users and their carers fromthe very outset of planning the tran-sition is essential to a successfulmove.

In any decommissioning or closureprocess, it is really important to getabsolutely clear what the reason forclosure is. So often it hides behind awall of secrecy and the real reason forclosure is cost, but politicians and

managers cloud the water by talkingabout it in terms of quality and ser-vice improvement.

We have seen this at its starkestwith the way in which local authori-ties have been pushing residentialcare for people with learning disabili-ties off the agenda. The headline rea-son for this is to ensure people haveindependence, choice and control.The real reason is the pressure onadult services budgets.

It’s also interesting to note thatincreasingly policy is being driven tomeet the needs of people with lowlevel dependency and a lot of theindependence agenda is directed atthose with mild disability. Our chal-lenge is to ensure that we have a ser-vice that meets the needs of every-body and particularly of the mostvulnerable and most severely dis-abled people.

These people have as much right toa personalised service as anyone else,but they also have a right to ongoingsupport and throwing somebodywith severe learning disabilities intoan unsupported community settingis tantamount to abuse.

What we really need if we are goingto have a system that can deliverboth personalisation and ongoingsupport is a real commitment to amenu of options which must includeresidential care so that people canchoose where they prefer to live, butalso have the choice available tomake the right decision for their careneeds and for their families.� Martin Green is the chief executiveof ECCA.

Issues need to be scrutinised

A CARE home will close and threeothers will be transformed to deliverspecialist care after Bury council’sexecutive approved a report to shakeup the town’s care services.

Under the new proposals, WhittakerHouse would shut permanently,while Redbank residential homewould be replaced with supportedhousing units and Spurr Housewould become a specialist dementiafacility. Only Redcliffe would remainas a residential care home.

Councillor Beverly Sullivan, execu-tive member for health and wellbe-ing, said: “We recognise that the pop-ulation of elders in Bury is growingand we need to prepare for that.

“Demand and expectations arechanging and we need to invest in

services for the ageing population tohave real, positive alternatives as tohow they want to live. Part of thisprogramme is to ensure that eldersremain active, involved in their com-munities and supported when theyneed it.

“We feel this plan will take awaysome of the anxiety about ageing andenable people to remain positive intheir later years. We have a realchance here to make a positive differ-ence to improving the quality of peo-ple’s lives in their later years.”

Under the plans, which could take10 years to implement, two new carevillage sites would also be developedas a major contribution to the esti-mated 500 additional extra careplaces required by 2020.

Three homes to be transformedMoira Wilson

Bradford considers independently-run facilities

CARINGADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT24

THE management and staff ofWinifred Dell Healthcare Ltd werepleased to announce the opening,on July 3rd 2009, of their stunningnew care centre, Winifred Dell, onEssex Way in Warley.

The official opening ceremonywas conducted by the Mayor ofBrentwood, Councillor Tony Sleep,who declared that he was ‘thrilled’with the state-of-the-art buildingand ‘highly impressed’ with theaccommodation it offers. The new,76-bed home replaces the outdated40 bed premises which had existedon the site and the Mayor wasquick to point out that this newcare centre will be a much neededboost for the elderly of the area, notto mention a wonderfulopportunity to provideemployment.

Whether you are looking for a carecentre for yourself or a loved one,this jewel in Excelcare’s extensiveportfolio of care home companies,will fulfill all your needs. Providingnursing and residential care forolder people, the home offerscomfortable and spaciousaccommodation within a stylishand friendly environment. Boastinga cinema and entertainment suite,a hairdressing and alternativetherapy room plus a variety ofoutside garden areas including acourtyard garden, Winifred Dell istruly a home from home in theEssex countryside.

Excelcare chairman OsmanErtosun was full of praise for allthose involved in the re-birth ofWinifred Dell, stating that ‘Sincethe day we received planningapproval we have looked forwardwith enthusiasm to providing amodern Winifred Dell which wouldbe part of the local community andprovide a quality service to theolder people of the county. With thecompletion of this new build wecan now look forward to bringingback temporarily relocatedresidents of the old home andwelcoming new residents. The

home will be seeking to employ ahundred staff, almost three timesthe previous number of staffemployed, and is keen to recruitlocal people with experience andcommitment, as well as welcomingapplications from previous carestaff, to provide for the care needsof residents. We are providing aquality care facility whichrecognises the changingexpectations of older people andtheir families, first rate services andattention to quality standards.

Safety is a key consideration withconsiderate design enabling ease ofmovement between rooms andpublic areas. As would be expectedall furniture is fire retardant and theimportance of effective fireprevention was carefullyconsidered when planning thepremises. Professional advice hasbeen taken with respect to thedesign and fitting of both thekitchen and laundry equipment toensure safety, reliability andeffectiveness. The grounds havebeen landscaped and contain awater feature and gazebos. Ampleparking is available for visitingrelatives, health professionals andstaff. Visitors will find that thehome on inspection illustrates thequality provision one expects of apurpose built care home in the 21stcentury.’

Engin Ertosun is the Director ofconstruction at Excelcare: “Thecompletion of the Winifred Dellproject is a very satisfying andrewarding one for me, myconstruction team and our team ofarchitects. My thanks go toeveryone involved in the projectwho have worked tirelessly to makesure we built this attractive andwell designed home, within boththe time scale set and the allocatedbudget programme. My thanks alsogo to experts whose advice hasbeen sought at various stages of theconstruction. Personally I find theconstruction of a well designedquality care home which will

provide safe, enjoyable livingconditions for old people, wellworth all the time and energydevoted to project management,meeting the challenges ofrecruiting and carefully selecting acommitted work force, makingdetailed planning preparations andensuring close monitoring ofstandards at each stage of our

innovative care development. “Now at last at the conclusion of

all our efforts we can offer olderpeople from Essex a quality carehome which they and their relativeswill be pleased to find, is well built,spacious and constructed with thewell being comfort and safety ofresidents in mind.”

A home from home inthe Essex countryside

Contact: Essex Way Warley, Brentwood,Essex, CM13 3AX, United Kingdom

Telephone: 01277 226856

25CARINGNEWS

New figureson care homeplace fundingMORE than two out of five care homeplaces are funded by the residentsthemselves or their families, newresearch has shown.

The GMB study of more than 200,000care home beds showed that NorthernIreland and the Isle of Man topped theleague of publicly funded beds at 80per cent, followed by the North (75 percent), Wales (69 per cent) and Scotland(67 per cent).

The union said that 56 per cent ofoccupied care beds were fully or partlypaid for by public funds, adding itwould “not be a radical step” to intro-duce universal coverage.

National officer Sharon Holderadded: “The welfare state wasdesigned as a cradle-to-grave service –until the Thatcher governmentredesigned it as a cradle to care homeservice.

“This is grossly unfair as only one in20 elderly people end their days in carehomes. It is a complete lottery as towhich one in every 20 end up in careand being asked to pay for their care.

“As these figures show, over halfalready receive support to pay for care,so it would not be a radical step tointroduce a universal coverage likethat of the NHS for the care service.”

The Southern Home Counties havethe lowest proportion of occupied carebeds supported by public funds. Thefigures show that 43.2 per cent ofoccupied care beds are supported bypublic funds. The South West with 47.5per cent of occupied care beds sup-ported by public funds is the secondlowest.

She added: “Collective insurance isthe only fair way of meeting thesecosts as is already the case in Scotland.There is not room to cut corners onthis.

“The staff in care homes need to beproperly qualified, trained, rewardedand resourced to look after those whoare our mother’s and father’s in theirdeclining years when they really needus. The system we have at the momentdoes not deliver for the elderly or thestaff.”

MARK Wilkinson fromBlackburn had the recipe forsuccess as he won the annualNational Association of CareCatering (NACC) care cook ofthe year competition.

The Northwood Nursing andResidential Home chef came uptrumps with a menu of grilledtrout, wilted spinach and leeks,mashed potato and sauce verige,followed by summer fruit pudding with Cornish clottedcream.

Mark was among six finalistswho qualified for the final cook-

off from a nationwide entry. He took up the challenge of

creating a recipe for a twocourse meal which had to meeta number of criteria. Theseincluded:Imaginative use of ingredientsMenu cost – under £1.30 for twocourses per personSuitability for the clientMeeting NACC nutritional crite-riaPassing a taste test

Mark won a Robot Coupe stickblender and a mixing machinefor his home.

Mark Wilkinson receives his award from NACC national chair Sue Ullmann

Mark finds recipe for success

CARINGNEWS26

By Linda Hutchinson

THE Care Quality Commission(CQC) brings together theregulation of health and adultsocial care for the first time.

So it makes sense that we have amethod with common qualitystandards across all services.

The new system is in the finalstages of development, withlegislation expected to be laidbefore Parliament in the autumn.

Although the legislation is yet tobe finalised, we do expect it to bephased in from April 2010onwards.

NHS trusts have alreadyregistered under requirementsrelating to infection control andthey will be first to be registered infull. The application process willstart from January 2010, with trustsbeing registered by 1 April.

Adult social care andindependent healthcare providerswill be next to register. They willneed to complete an applicationform from April 2010, and will beregistered by October.

It is important to note that wewill no longer register services bylocation, but by organisation. Thismeans that a company providingservices at a number of sites will

not need multiple registrations.The new system represents a

fundamental change to the wayservices will be regulated in thefuture, and how regulation will beused to drive improvement.

Unlike some parts of the healthsector, registration is not new foradult social care services. But thenew system will mean significantchange.

All providers of health and adultsocial care will need to meetessential common qualitystandards, regardless of whetherthey are in the public orindependent sector.

We are required by legislation to

produce guidance which makesclear to providers what they needto do to be compliant withregistration standards. We haveworked with people who useservices, providers and otherstakeholders to design and developthe guidance, which is nowformally out for consultation.

We have developed the guidancearound the experiences of peoplewho use services: what constitutesa positive outcome for a personreceiving care and what providersshould be doing to achieve thatoutcome

We are very keen to get feedbackon the guidance – whether youthink it covers the importantthings and whether it is whatshould be rightly expected of safe,quality services.

Both the registration standardsand the guidance are legallyenforceable, so it is vital that weget this right.

I urge readers to get involved inthe consultation and have theirchance to influence the futureregulation of health and adultsocial care.� Linda Hutchinson is the directorof registration at the Care QualityCommission.

Call to get involvedwith consultation

Linda Hutchinson

Jumping forjoy and charityBy Claire Lodge

STAFF at Hemsworth Park CareCentre raised more than £1,000 forcharity after taking the plunge in asponsored skydive.

The money, which was the largestamount ever raised by the care home,was for Elder Abuse, a charity whichworks to protect vulnerable olderadults. Senior carers Amy Matthews,Jodie Cox, Charlene Bartrop andColin Roberts each had to raise aminimum of £390 to be able to takepart in the dive at Hibaldstow Airfieldin North Lincolnshire.

Amy said: “We were all nervous tobegin with. We got to the airfield andhad 15 minutes’ basic training. Theweather was great as well surprisingly– we couldn’t have asked for a betterday. It was a bit cloudy but it wasfairly warm and sunny so that helpedus a lot.”

Despite enjoying the jump, Amysays she is quite happy to stick totombolas and sponsored walks as away of fundraising from now on.

“We all wanted to do the skydive asa bit of a one off and we all reallyenjoyed it, but it was a lot of effortand we couldn’t do it every year.We’re always fundraising by doingother stuff such as day trips andsponsored walks as well, in fact we’vegot a day trip coming up soon.”

“All the residents have supported usfrom the start and were all eager tosponsor us.”

Double Olympic bronze medallist TinaCook visited a healthy living centre andcare home to mark her appointment aspatron of Guild Care. The GB equestrianstar, who won both an individual andteam gold at last year’s games in Beijing,toured the facilities with the charity’s

chairman Peter Robinson and chiefexecutive Antonia Bunnin, speaking toservice users and staff. She said: “I feelvery honoured to have been asked tobecome a patron of such a wellestablished charity, and I am veryimpressed by their approach to care.”

27CARINGNEWS

By Claire Lodge

A SOMERSET manager says hostingactivity days such as wheelchair linedancing is the key to a successful carehome.

Sue Steeds from Critchell Court saysthat the perceptions people have ofelderly people wrapped in blanketsand having very little fun is complete-ly the opposite to what the care homeis all about.

She said: “Care homes generally geta bad press and if people from theoutside could come in and see whatwe’re doing they’d know that the 80year olds are having just as much funas what the average 18 year old is.They come here to celebrate andenjoy the twilight years. In fact a fewof them were leaning on some of thestaff for balance as they tried to

dance to music that was playing.”The home has just held ‘a taste of

Africa’ activity day where residentsand staff played bongos, drums andpercussion instruments as well assampling ethnic food.

“We’re always holding these activitydays and we try to promote equalopportunities through them too. Wetry to be as proactive as possible andwant to be different in what we do aswe have varied cultures at the home.We have a Cantonese resident at themoment and our cook is fromMorocco so it’s important to cele-brate individuals.”

Activity coordinators Tina Vowelland Claire McCloughlin organisedthe event and cook Fatima Margoumgave residents a sample of ethnic cui-sine.

Activity days keyto a happy home

DEPUTY Lord Lieutenant ofNorthamptonshire Anne GoodmanMBE relaunched a care homewhich celebrated 20 years of pro-viding care to the elderly.

Mayor of Wellingborough PeterMorrell also presented flowers toGrangefield resident Beattie

Ranson, who has been at the homelonger than any other, and who isalso the oldest person inNorthamptonshire aged 107.

He also gave flowers to BarbaraBennett, who has been employedby the home as a carer since itsestablishment in 1989.

Lieutenant helps home celebrate

A FORMER residential care home inStoke has been transformed into acentre to deliver pioneering supportto people with dementia following a£1.3m revamp.

Dementia experts at StirlingUniversity have supported AbbotsHouse Centre of Excellence’s transfor-mation, which features memoryboxes outside residents’ bedrooms,with instantly recognisable itemsfrom the residents’ past such asmedals and pictures, designed toincrease way-finding.

The centre also uses colour schemesto aid orientation and serves meals inspecially designed crockery whichgives contrast and definition to food.

The city council’s Clive Brian, cabi-

net member for adult social care andhealth, said: “We have around 2,700people with dementia in Stoke-on-Trent, and this figure is projected torise to 3,500 by 2025.

“We want to ensure city residentsare able to take advantage of preven-tative and rehabilitative care, insteadof dependency and institutionalisa-tion. Nationally it is recognised that ifservices aren’t modernised in such away the cost of care would increasefrom £17bn to over £60bn by 2025.”

Abbots House has 29 beds – 14 forpermanent residents, 10 for anassessment and therapy unit with arehabilitative focus, and five for ashort break or carer relief facility.

Centre opens after revampClive Brian meets Abbots House's oldest resident Dorothy Bentley and her great-grand-daughter Ellie Dixon.

29

One in five firms could changehands in current climate – study

Caring UK Commercesection brings you all the latest property,business and trainingnews every month.

In this issue:

� Work starts on£6.8m development- page 30

� Second timearound for couple- page 33

� Approval forextension- page 34

� Call for dementiatraining for all socialcare staff

ONE in five companies in theUK care homes industry couldchange ownership as a result ofthe current economic climate, anew study has claimed.

David Pattison, author of thenew Plimsoll Industry Analysis –Care Homes, told Caring UK thatwith a surprising number of“cash rich” competitors waitingin the wings, the market couldbe set for a prolonged period ofconsolidation.

He added: “I am sure anydirector worth his salt wouldagree that, in the current cli-mate, there are simply too manycompanies chasing too littlemarket.

“With many directors eyeingthe exit doors and highly lever-aged buyouts consigned to his-tory for the time being, it reallyis a buyers market out there forcash rich companies.”

He said the new report hasidentified more than 100 com-panies that have a sizeable cashreserve sat on their balancesheets that, due to record lowinterest rates, is generatingnothing.

David added: “One companyhas a £191m cash pot; a whop-ping 80% of turnover. Thesecompanies are now in the posi-tion to buy up large chunks ofmarket share at rock bottom

prices and make that moneywork for them.

“They must be like kids in asweet shop at the moment – allthose distressed competitorsavailable at a fraction of theirtrue value”.

The report analysed 427 com-panies with a turnover of morethan £1m per annum and havepicked out 95 that are primed tobe taken over.

David added: “Buying one ofthese businesses represents amassive opportunity for some-one to enhance their share ofthe market. Either way, the mar-ket is set for a wave of takeoversin the next months”. David Pattison

lan Firth (left) receives his award from Sir Michael Darrington, former CEO of Greggs plcand a member of the judging panel.

MERIDIAN Healthcare executivechairman Alan Firth was honoured atthe regional final of the Ernst andYoung Entrepreneur of the YearAwards.

Alan, who set up Hyde-basedMeridian Healthcare in 1993, wasamong four Greater Manchesterentrepreneurs who received regional

awards at a celebratory dinner.He stepped down as managing

director last October 2008, and isnow the chief executive and aspokesman for the company.

The winners go forward to anational final in October, where 53executives from across the UK willcompete for the overall title.

Honour for Alan atregional awards final

CARINGCOMMERCE30

WORK has begun on a new carefacility in Bristol which will create 60jobs when completed next year.

Developer Earlplace has completeda land swap with the city council overthe site – exchanging land at the rearfor land at the front.

As part of the deal,the company willdevelop a new independent 76-bedcare home for the elderly, with a thirdof the rooms for people withdementia a third nursing rooms anda third care suites complete withsitting rooms.

All three types of rooms will have ensuite facilities, and the home willinclude gardens, terraces, a hairsalon, coffee lounge and a shop.

Earlplace managing director TimMalby told Caring UK a deal hasbeen signed with an independentcare home provider one the building

is complete. He added: “There are very few

major projects coming through at themoment because of the economicconditions, but this is a gloriousexception.

“It is good news for every partyinvolved and also for the city ofBristol. Not only will it provide state-of-the-art medical and care services,but will give a boost to the localeconomy as work is on going.”

A new state-of-the-art assessmentand residential facility for peoplewith complex learning difficulties willbe built at the rear of the site.

Concord Lodge will replace theexisting care home already there,which will be pulled down once theYeovil-based construction firm DRJones has finished the building.

The plans are studied by councillor Bev Knott, cabinet member for care, Martin Walsh,team manager at Concord Lodge, DR Jones projects manager Adie Chappell, Earlplacemanaging director Tim Malby and Horfield ward councillor Cheryl Ann.

Facility to create 60 jobs

Work starts on£6.8m retirementdevelopmentCONSTRUCTION work has begun ona £6.8m development which is set toincrease the provision for a newgeneration of retirement housing inSouth Shields.

Bramble Court, which is managedby Hanover in partnership withSouth Tyneside Council, will consistof 42 apartments and fourbungalows, and is due forcompletion in May 2010.

Sited in the Horsley Hill area of thetown, the new development willprovide an environment for peoplewho wish to retain their independ-ence for as long as possible, but whomay need help and support on aregular basis.

South Tyneside Council leader IainMalcolm, who cut the first sod toindicate the start of the work, said:“We are committed to supporting ourincreasing population of olderresidents to live their own lives asthey would choose with access tohigh quality local services.

“The new Bramble Courtdevelopment will help them to retaintheir independence with peace ofmind that care and support is onhand if ever they need it.

When completed, residents willhave the option to access a whole

host of services including arestaurant, hair and beauty salon, anestate manager services, 24 hour on-site care and guest room.

South Tyneside Council leader IainMalcolm cuts the first sod

33CARINGCOMMERCE

IT WAS a case of deja vu for thestaff at the Farthings Care Homewhen its new owners Dave andJune Ashall took over.

The couple previously owned thehome for seven years before sellingit in 2004 after June, who lookedafter its day-to-day runningbecame fed up with the legislationinvolved.

Dave, who also works as aninsurance assessor, told Caring UKthat he never wanted to put it upfor sale in the first place.

He added: “My wife worked as acarer there and we originallybought it in 1997 in partnershipwith another couple, but that did-n’t really work.

“It got to the stage where theyeither had to buy us out or usthem, and because the bankwouldn’t entertain them but wouldus, we took it over.

“June got a bit tired with all of thelegislation involved with running acare home. It got to the stagewhere you needed a piece of paperto do everything, so we decided tosell it, although I never reallywanted to and she couldn’t let goand still did the odd shift there.”

The home went into receivership

at the end of last year, and the cou-ple, who are both in their 60s, wereinvited to attend a meeting alongwith the staff to discuss its future.

Dave added: “It was suggested tous that we could take over again,but we weren’t sure at first about itat our time of life.

“We thought about it and madean offer to the property agent, andthe rest as they say is history. Wefirst ran it on behalf of the admin-strator, but now all the paperworkhas been sorted.

“The home was in a pretty badstate and the garden was over-grown when we took over, whichwas sad to see. But with a bit ofwork around the place it is looking

a lot better.”Planning permission is also in

place to extend the former farm-house, which is registered for 13residents in 12 single rooms andone double, by a further eightbeds.

He added: “Our focus at the

moment is getting the buildingwork for the extensions started,and once that is built we will lookat refurbishing the main building.

“The atmosphere there now isback to what it used to be, andthankfully we are full and have awaiting list in place, which is nice.”

A husband and wife have taken on the ownership of a Retford care home for a second time.Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Second time around for couple

Farthings Care Home

“The home was in apretty bad state andthe garden was overgrown when wetook over, which wassad to see.”

£5.5m scheme completedA NEW £5.5m extra care housingscheme in Derby has been complet-ed.

The 38 apartment development atHandyside Court is the result of apartnership between Housing 21,Derby City Council and theDepartment of Health. It will alsoprovide a focus for the local commu-nity as people living nearby will beable to share the facilities and accessthe services.

The rented extra care apartmentswill support older people with arange of needs, from fairly low-levelsupport to those with a need for ahigher level of care.

Housing 21 development pro-

gramme manager Juliette Daniel toldCaring UK the aim is to promoteindependence.

She added: “Handyside Court hasall the features you would expect in amodern, high quality sheltered hous-ing scheme but with additional facili-ties, such as a restaurant, hairdress-ing salon and shop.

“Most importantly tenants will havesecurity of tenure, and couples canmove in together even when only oneperson needs to access the care andsupport services on site.”

The scheme provides a mix of oneand two bedroom apartments, eachlarge enough to accommodate twopeople.

CARINGCOMMERCE34

New extra carescheme inPeterborough

Christie and Co has sold Ashfield CourtNursing Home in Harrogate on behalf ofRob and Angie Jackson.The Victorian building has beenextensively refurbished to cater for allaspects of nursing care, and canaccommodate up to 45 people.Run under the personal supervision ofAngie, the home was recently awarded athree-star rating from the CQC.It has been purchased by the MariaMallaband Care Group for an undisclosedsum.

HOUSING 21 has opened a new extracare housing scheme in Peterborough.

The housing and care services for olderpeople provider has purchased StEdmunds Court, a new facility inHampton Vale which will provide 51 oneand two bedroom apartments for rentand shared ownership. The scheme willenable residents to live independentlywith their own front door, but in acommunal setting with care andsupport staff available 24 hours a day ifneeded. The scheme has been jointlyfunded by Housing 21 with a grant fromthe Homes and Communities Agency.

The company has worked with the citycouncil and NHS Peterborough on thenew development, which has been builtby Bovis Homes.

Housing 21 owns two retirementhousing schemes in Peterborough – EarlSpencer Court and Bishopsfield Court.

Approval for extensionBy Dominic Musgrave

A £1.5m extension to a Plymouthcare home has received officialapproval after inspection by theCQC.

Family run Ashleigh Manor hasbeen established for more than 20years, but has recently had apurpose built extension with 28state-of-the-art en suite bedroomsadded.

Co-owner Loretta Maher-Lawleysaid: “CQC registration givespotential residents and theirfamilies independent reassurancethat our care services, thetreatments we provide and theprocesses we have in place toadminister the business, all meet rigorous quality standards.

“We are marketing the newresidential accommodation andbeginning to plan for the next phasein Ashleigh Manor’s development,

which will be a dedicated dementiaunit and an enclosed sensorygarden.

“We would welcome enquiriesfrom anyone seeking the higheststandards of residential care forthemselves or their loved ones andwe will be happy to show themround our new facility.”

All of the new bedrooms have

individually controlled under floorheating, digitally enabled TV points,private telephones and internetaccess.

Many have French door access tothe 1.5 acre grounds and there arefour new lounge dining rooms,bringing the total to 10.

The work was funded byClydesdale Bank Healthcare team.

Rebecca and Loretta Lawley with the new extension

GLP Taylors hascompleted the sale oftwo Cheshire carehomes on behalf ofparent operator CLSGroup. Minster Carehas purchased LoxleyHall in Helsby andCroftwood in Runcornwhich are registeredfor 40 and 41 residentsin mostly single roomsrespectively.

35CARINGCOMMERCE

Call for dementiatraining for allsocial care staffAN influential group of MPs andpeers are calling for all staff workingin social care to receive dementiatraining appropriate to their role fol-lowing the launch of a new report.

The study revealed the workforce isunfit to deliver quality care for peo-ple with dementia. 'Prepared to Care'a report by the All-PartyParliamentary Group (APPG) onDementia found large variation inthe dementia skills of the social careworkforce. Barriers to delivering goodcare included low levels of training,ineffective regulation, lack of accredi-tation for trainers and a limitedunderstanding of dementia by com-missioners.

Jeremy Wright MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group onDementia, said: “It is deeply disturb-ing that the UK is not equipped todeliver high quality dementia care.

“One in three people over 65 diewith dementia. This report identifiessignificant barriers to good care but italso presents unique opportunities toput things right.”

During a four-month long inquiry,families told MPs how a lack of skillsled to poor care for loved ones.Experts reported less than half of

staff providing home care had anydementia training and many weregiven just 15 minutes to deliver goodcare.

The report recommends that work-force development plans outlined inthe National Dementia Strategy forEngland be quickly implemented.

Rachael Fletcher, chief executive ofMedEx Training Ltd, told Caring UKthat the Government should look atways of funding part of the delivery.

She added: “I would agree that it isessential for all staff working in thisenvironment to undertake dementiatraining in order for them to fulfiltheir roles when caring for clientssuffering from dementia.

“However, this is not just aboutticking a box to say training has takenplace, the training provided has to berelevant and be able to show that ithas made a difference.

“Communication and person cen-tred care should be a significant partof the training. There are manycourses available both bespoke andaccredited as well as the knowledgesets developed by S4c to help organi-sations.”

Operator Ideal CareHomes has appointedformer Kirklees Councildirector of adult socialservices Mark Greaves tothe role of managingdirector.He will be responsiblefor the Leeds-basedcompany’s managementand development of allelderly care provisionacross the group.Mark said: “The compa-ny has an entirely uniqueand revolutionary atti-tude towards elderlycare provision and I lookforward to putting thisinto practise.“We aim to personalisecare for every single resident and I’m confi-dent that the experi-enced team at Ideal CareHomes will set a newstandard in the sector.”

DC Care has completed thesale of Holly Lodge ResidentialHome in Kent.The established 16-bed demen-tia home has been operated bythe vendors since 1988, andhas been extended to its pre-sent size over the years.It is a large semi-detached lateVictorian property with accom-modation over three floors con-sisting of 12 single and twoshared bedrooms, seven withen suite facilities.It was acquired by Mr Garchaand Mrs Brah for an undis-closed sum.

CARINGCOMMERCE36

HENDRA House in Ludlow wasrecently named small employer ofthe year at the annualApprenticeship Awards run by theNational Apprenticeships Service ata London awards ceremony.

Managing director VinceBurmingham has been employingapprentices at the home for thepast five years, and currently has 10 working in a variety of careroles.

He told Caring UK that thewomen, who range in age from 18to 52, have provided his businesswith raw talent which can bemoulded into the home’s ethos forcare.

He added: “The apprentices wehave at Hendra have been a breathof fresh air to the business, and arean important part of the jigsaw thatmakes the home what it is.

“They have all worked very hardand have also been instrumental inus retaining our ‘excellent’ ratingfrom the CQC, with excellentoutcomes across all seven of thekey outcomes.

“We take on two each year, but wemay look at increasing that numberin future. They have also improved

staff retention at the home, whichis a major issue in the care sector.”

Of those working at the home,which caters for 23 residents, somehave gone on to become seniorcare assistants, while one has goneon to start a degree in health andsocial care.

Yet Vince said a lot of care homeproviders are unsure about how tosign up to apprenticeshipprogrammes.

He added: “From my experiencesI would recommend apprentices toall care homes, but I think there aremany who are unsure how to goabout having them at theirs.

“They give the apprenticesthemselves a second chance atbuilding a career. Some of the girlsthat we have here for whateverreason didn’t or couldn’t take fulladvantage of the schooling system,so what we can offer them is morethan just a job.

“The employer is the mostimportant part of the process,however. We work closely with thetraining provider to get the resultsthat we desire out of the scheme.

“It would be pointless if we justsat back and then blamed the

training provider should thingsstart to go wrong.� Would you be interested inhaving apprentices at your care

homes?If so let Dominic Musgrave knowby emailing dm@whpl.net orringing 01226 734407.

A family-run care home has scooped a national award for its commitment to employingapprentices. Dominic Musgrave found out more.

Hendra Healthcare’s Vince and Gill Burmingham receive their award from host MattDawson, his Strictly Come Dancing partner from 2006, Lilia Kopylova and IanWright, Parliamentary under-secretary, Department for Children, Schools andFamilies.

Top award for family-run home

Chantview Limited has completed the sale of Paddock Lodge Care Home in Burnley onbehalf of Mr and Mrs Henaghan, who established the business in 1988. The building has16 single bedrooms, with owner’s accommodation built within the roof space.

Christie and Co has sold Stansty House in Wrexham on behalf of Arnold and RosemaryRoberts. Minster Care Group has bought the home, which is registered for 77 in threeindependent units, for an undisclosed sum.

TRACEY Gilmore was named manag-er of the year at the annual AnchorTrust’s Care Services Awards.

The 41-year-old, who is in charge ofthe Swinton homecare branch, whichnow provides more than 830 hours ofcare per week, has transformed theservice in the short time that she hasbeen with the company.

Tracey told Caring UK that whenshe joined last October, BoltonCouncil had stopped making place-ments with the company due to aseries of problems.

She added: “There were a lot ofproblems when I joined, but I put atraining programme in place for thestaff and spoke to them individuallybecause motivation levels were low.

“A few people didn’t like what I wasdoing and left, but those that haveremained are happy and enjoying thework.

“Thankfully the council lifted theban in May, and since then we havebeen recruiting and have alreadybeen awarded more than 90 hours aweek of new business from them.”

Tracey received her award fromwell known broadcaster AngelaRippon at a ceremony, havingimpressed the panel of judges whichincluded Des Kelly OBE, executivedirector of National Care Forum;Stephen Burke, chief executive ofCounsel and Care; and AnnieStevenson, head of older people’sservices at the Social Care Institute of

Excellence (SCIE).She added: “I was shocked to win

the award, because at the end of theday I am only doing the job that Ihave brought in to do.

“But it was nice to be recognised forthe hard work that I have put in. Thechallenge now is for us not to becomplacent and let standards slip,which can be easily done, and raisethe profile of Anchor because its rep-utation has slipped in the local area.

“I have also put a plan in place sothat I regularly spot check that thestaff are where they say they are, andare delivering the care that they aresupposed to.”

A total of 12 awards were presentedat the event.

Tracey Gilmore receives her award fromAngela Rippon

Tracey’s hard work is rewarded

PENSIONERS in Norwich are to beasked if they want to opt out ofreceiving care from a private homehelp firm which was beset with prob-lems.

Norfolk County Council has writtento 525 people who receive care fromCareforce to ask if they want toswitch after initial difficulties withthe contract led to missed or late vis-its and complaints.

The problems with the Stevenage-based firm at the beginning of theyear were caused because lower thananticipated numbers of staff trans-ferred over from the previousprovider, staff decided not to transferat the last minute, rostered stafffailed to turn up to work withoutnotice and there were difficultieswith IT and phonelines.

Council bosses apologised andlaunched an action plan to tackle the

problem, with daily updating by thechief executive of Careforce to thedirector of adult social services; extraresources from Careforce's centraloffice; and daily phone calls to themost vulnerable people receivinghome care. Working together withAge Concern Norwich and AgeConcern Norfolk, the county councilalso commissioned a survey whichhas shown that an unacceptable per-centage of respondents had experi-enced problems.

David Harwood, cabinet memberfor adult social services, said: “Wetake our duty as commissioners ofquality home care services very seri-ously, and the problems experiencedby many people at the outset of thiscontract were entirely unacceptable.

"As a result of our robust improve-ment action plan, we have seen adefinite improvement and we are

confident that many people are nowsatisfied with the care they arereceiving. However, we are not com-placent and we will be asking every-one who receives home care fromCareforce, in Norwich, if this is thecase, or if they would prefer to switchto another provider.”

But Philippa Codd, operationsdirector at Careforce, added: "Wetake very seriously the concerns ofthe councillors and continue to befully committed to improving thequality of care given to the serviceusers that remain dissatisfied.

“The original problems stemmedfrom the numbers of staff available atthe start of the contract and due tothe high level of referred new pack-ages, we have not managed toreplace all of the temporary staff thathave been assisting us since the startof the contract.”David Harwood

Pensioners are given opt-out option

39CARING PRODUCT NEWS

BVS Training Ltd recently celebratedits 10th year as a provider of trainingmaterials for the social care work-force.

The company started with just oneemployee, and in its first year itsproduct offering was just four VHStitles. Ten years later the company’sproduct offering has grown to over 70titles, spanning the social care, domi-

ciliary care and child care environ-ments.

The company’ founder is also adirector of a residential care providerbased in Leeds, and this experiencehas enabled the business to be in theunique position of understanding thetraining needs of the care industry,thus enabling them to provide goodquality training materials.

Training provider reaches milestone LIVE-LINK has added a new set ofproducts to its portfolio.

The Live-Link PIR (passive infrared)range is a complete movement detec-tion system that can aid the monitor-ing of residents leaving their bedswho are prone to falling.

It can also be set up so that if a resi-dent attends their en suite bathroomand does not exit within a pre-deter-mined time, staff will be alertedthrough the nurse call system.

The device can also register if resi-dents are inactive in their living areas,over a time period set by the manage-ment. The unit can be ceiling or floormounted with a wide detection area.

The range is flexible and can beadapted to link with other manufac-turers’ systems. It can also be sup-plied as a stand-alone unit withreceiver panels if there is no existingnurse call system.

New product range added

AID Call’s new Touchsafe range ofwireless nurse call transmitters couldrevolutionise the way you manageyour clients’ calls for assistance.

The new ATX4000 and ATX5000Nurse Call transmitters are the only

bedhead devices to use a dedicatedalarm frequency and a two-way radiotechnology to ensure that all calls aresuccessfully transmitted and receivedby the display panels. An onscreenacknowledgment is also given at the

bedside.The ATX5000 features a LCD screen,

which displays a ‘next call waiting’message, enabling staff to access theirnext call from the current client’sroom, without needing to revisit the

main display panel. This enablesstaff to use their time more effectivelyand efficiently, by improving staffresponse times, reducing unneces-sary journeys and allowing staff tospend longer with clients.

Nurse call transmitter could revolutionise calls

CAREFREE Management Ltd hasbeen supplying software solutions tothe homecare market for the pasteight years, continually developingthe products and services to bothexisting and new customers.

This year has seen the release ofrotas on mobile phones - saving ser-vice providers vast amounts of moneyin time, resources and materials.

This also ensures that they up to

date, with carers being notified of anychanges, omissions or extras beingupdated live.

On-Call allows senior care workersor managers to access CareFree datawherever they are, using standardmobile technology without the costof expensive units like PDAs. It isaccessible by anyone who has inter-net access, which means the informa-tion is accurate and available quickly.

Mobile phone rotas launchedTHE care home industry has beenpraised by the head of a leadingcompany.

Tony Fawcett, managing directorof Hygicare, a leading adviser andprovider of the control of viral andpathogenic infections, has congrat-ulated the sector for its record andhigh standards of cleanliness in themajority of it’s establishments.

But he said the environmentalhygiene inspectors have to protect

consumers from the very small percentage of poor operatorsbecause of the high risks to olderpeople when it comes to infectionsfrom pathogenic bacterial infec-tions.

Cases of food poisoning are on theincrease, while the FSA warned theywere likely to rise as people, espe-cially pensioners, played fast andloose with food dates to savemoney.

Care industry praised by leader

Richmond Villages founder Keith Cockell, who now runs his own consultancy firm English CareVillages, looks at one possible care village model, and argues the case for them to incorporatea nursing home.

FUNDAMENTAL to the care villageconcept is the idea that once a per-son takes up residency, all theirfuture needs will be met, howeverfrail or elderly they may become.

This is achieved by creating fourdistinct types of accommodationwhich range from larger indepen-dent dwellings to services suites anda small nursing home within a vil-lage core, or centre. The mix ofaccommodation would be dictatedby local need.

The village centre can be likened inmany ways to an hotel. Here youwill find the main reception area,administration, restaurants, cafes,kitchen, laundry, library and leisurefacilities. These services can be usedby all the village residents, thoughprimarily they’ll be used by thosewho live in the serviced suites or thenursing home.

It is my belief that a registerednursing home should exist within acare village. One of the biggestobstacles to this view is the opinionof some developers that sales ofindependent apartments and evenserviced apartments could be affect-ed.

This is due to common adverseperceptions of nursing homes. Somedevelopers oppose it because they

think that the marketing and man-agement of a registered nursinghome may be at odds with the moreglamorous marketing activities of abeautifully created retirement vil-lage.

My solution is to create a boutiquestyle facility, which exists unobtru-sively but elegantly and rightfully,within the village centre. The bene-fits are many. Primarily, the care vil-lage would fulfill its promise ofbeing able to meet the needs ofevery village resident should theircircumstances change.Furthermore, the residents of thenursing home would benefit hugelyfrom continuing to be a part of thecommunity they already know andwhere most people are much moreactive and able.

In many cases, the residents of thenursing home would be those whohad once lived more independentlyelsewhere in the village. Imaginehow much nicer it would be forthem, at their stage in life, to stillhave regular contact with the friendsand carers they already know, loveand rely on. They will still be ontheir doorstep.

What’s more, at any point in a mar-riage or relationship, failing healthmay affect one partner more than

the other. If the village has a nursinghome at its heart, the couple neednever be separated by a long or diffi-cult journey.

For those who do not need nursingcare but do need domestic or per-sonal help, a serviced suite is a greatsolution. These are the people who,until recently, would have had toface the prospect of a single bed-room in a traditional residential carehome.

Here, individuals or couples maylive in their own property, with theirown front door, living room, smallkitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms.A real home of their own, availableto buy or to rent, yet with all theirmeals, laundry and cleaning takencare of.

The other two types of accommo-dation, and in many ways the mostpopular and easy to market, areindependent apartments and linkedindependent living units. The for-mer really are totally independent.Nevertheless, those who choose tobuy one know that ultimately, if nec-essary, they have every resource ontap within the village.

The latter is a new product whichbridges the gap between total inde-pendence and full service domicil-iary care. Having two bedrooms also

helps acknowledge the psychologi-cal barriers to downsizing, althoughin practice, many use the secondbedroom as a study.

There will always be those who aresceptical of a retirement communitywhich aims to provide everything foreveryone. To them I can only say,the proof is in the pudding. Go andsee the people that have chosen thisway of life over a more isolated exis-tence within the wider community.

With an active social life and afreedom from worry which would beimpossible in other circumstances,they almost always say they wishthey had made the move sooner.

The need for a nursing home

Keith Cockell

CARINGNEWS40

LIVE-IN care agency Corinium Carehas been shortlisted for a prestigiousNational Training Award.

The awards cover all industries inthe UK, and the aim is to findforward-thinking organisations thatachieve outstanding success byinvesting in staff training.

The company’s managing directorCamilla Miles told Caring UK she isdelighted to be a finalist in thecategory for training providers in theSouth West regional heats.

She added: “We’re proud of ourtrack record on training, so it’sfantastic to have that recognised bysuch a prestigious governmentscheme.

“A high percentage of care agenciesdon’t offer training. But we consider itvital.

“We take carers on because theyhave the right personality and lifeskills. We then do our utmost tofurnish them with the knowledge andskills they need before they’re placedwith a client.”

NTA judges visited Corinium Care’soffices in Gloucestershire to examinetraining plans and evaluation reports,and speak to staff. The winners willbe announced at an awards dinner inBristol on October 15.

The company employs carers fromas far afield as Zimbabwe, SouthAfrica and New Zealand.

Company shortlisted for awardCorinium Care managing director Camilla Miles with staff

SuperFast Thermapen™ thermometerlaunched

ETI has introduced the new SuperFast Thermapenthermometer.

The thermometer is housed in a robust polycarbon-ate, water resistant, case that contains a Biomasteradditive which inhibits bacteria growth. Simply pullout the foldaway, stainless steel, penetration probe totake rapid temperature measurements in under fourseconds.

The large digital display gives a precise read-out oftemperature over the range of -49.9 to 299.9°C with a0.1°C or 1°C resolution and a high accuracy of ±0.4°C.

The new Thermapen has a long battery life of 1500hours continuous use. The instrument will automati-cally turn off when the probe is folded back into theside of the unit or after 10 minutes. If this feature isnot required it can easily be disabled.

The SuperFast Thermapen is available in a choice ofnine colours to help eliminate cross-contamination.

Enquiries: Telephone 01903 202151 or visitwww.etiltd.com

41CARINGPRODUCT NEWS

Press makes ironing quick and easyTHE Blanca Press is a heavy duty table-top ironing press that halves ironing time and gives professionalresults sitting down.

Ironing is no longer a chore as it is comfortable and fast. You can iron anything from a shirt to sheetsin half the time, with the latter ironed up to four layers at a time and garments perfectly pressed. As thereis no rubbing, clothes also last longer.

The Blanca is quick and easy to use, packs away for storage and stands up for continuous heavy-dutyuse.

The Blanca is built to last with an expected life of 10 to 15 years, and a guarantee of spares availabilityfor the life of the press.

Enquiries: For a free trial telephone 01491 419200 or visit www.fastpress.co.uk

Little Giants are ideal for small in-houselaundries

MIELE’S Little Giants are the ideal machines for small in-house laundries, taking up little more space thana domestic machine.

The washer and dryer can even be stacked, requiringonly 600 x 700 mm of floor space.

The PW 6055 and PW 6065 washer-extractors have acapacity of 5.5 kg and 6.5 kg of dry laundry respectively.They benefit from Miele’s unique patented Honeycombdrum, which enables the laundry to glide on a thin film ofwater and affords it unparalleled levels of protection,extending the life of garments and linen.

With spin speeds of up to 1400 rpm and a G-factor of526, water extraction is very efficient, so laundry can bedried quickly and efficiently in the matching tumble dryerafterwards.

New Profitronic L controls offer a wide range of stan-dard programmes, as well as a number of special applica-tions for dealing with specific items such as table linen andpillows.

Enquiries: Telephone 0845 330 3618.

Axis experts answer common questionsabout selling healthcare businesses

HERE, the experts at Axis answer common questions about selling healthcare businesses.I am looking to buy a residential home and have made what I feel is a fair offer. However the owner has

declined the offer saying I have not taken into account the ‘goodwill’ value. What does ‘goodwill’ mean andhow is it valued?

Goodwill is the element of the purchase price that you pay for all the hard work that has been achievedin the business based on the past, present and future earning potential. Goodwill calculations vary depen-dent on the sector of healthcare you operate in and current market conditions.

For a residential home the goodwill value, added to the value of the property, will give the asking pricethe vendor is looking for. The value of goodwill is always debatable, that is why seeking an independentvaluation is critical in achieving a sale.

I am considering selling my domiciliary care business after 30 years to retire, but how do I know what itis realistically worth in today’s market?

The aim is to identify the true net profit for the potential buyer. There are a number of contributing fac-tors such as demand and supply in your local area, how many hours you are billing and whether there’s aregistered manager willing to stay with the business post sale. These answers will determine the ratio to beused to calculate the total consideration.

I have had an offer from a rival company to buy my nursing agency, but I am concerned about disclos-ing confidential information and my staff finding out and leaving. What precautions can I take to ensurethey are serious?

Confidentiality Undertakings or Non Disclosure Agreements must be in place before disclosing any infor-mation and nothing sensitive, such as details of clients, should never be released until a buyer has showna firm commitment to the purchase. There are standard procedures for informing staff. If the staff find outyou are about to sell from a third party it won’t do you or the business any favours.

Enquiries: Telephone 0800 977 5855 or visit www.axisukcare.co.uk

Park House Healthcare celebrates 25thanniversary

THIS year Park House Healthcare is celebrating their 25th anniversary, and having firmly established them-selves as one of the UK’s leadingmanufacturers and suppliers of pres-sure area care equipment and ser-vices to the healthcare industry, theirfuture is looking up.

Janet Backhouse who is now pro-duction manager hand sewed thevery first pair of fleece lined booteesthat have proved to be the founda-tions of this very successful company.

She said: “I can’t believe where thelast 25 years have gone; I have thor-oughly enjoyed been part of a suc-cessful and growing company with a great future.”

Park House Healthcare are proud to have remained in the local area since their inception in 1984, andcurrently boasting their most experienced team of professionals they are committed to providing a com-prehensive range of pressure area care equipment, services and solutions to the healthcare industry.

For further informatioDonna Lattimer on 0845 344 2661 donna.lattimer@parkhouse-hc.com

www.parkhouse-hc.comRef: PH/07/2009/DL

Colourful options in versatile new stackingchairs

A NEW product group has been introduced by KnightsbridgeFurniture to meet demand for multi-purpose stackable seat-ing in a selection of colourful, strong and easy-clean lami-nates.

Hapi, Polo and Calm are all to an upright design which isbased upon a single-piece seat/back, thereby ensuring smoothlines and graceful curves.

Hapi and Polo are enhanced by contemporary cut-outdetailing, while Calm displays a simple continual sweep fromseat to back, making it particularly appropriate for environ-ments where infection control is an issue. To further boost thechairs’ versatility, Polo and Calm are offered in either armlessor armchair configurations.

In addition to a natural beech finish, Hapi, Polo and Calmare also available in a suite of cheerful on-trend shades,including light blue, light purple, light green, pink, beige andyellow.

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

SINCE 1982, Colne (Lancs)based, Richards ResidentialSupplies have concentratedupon supplying simple solutionsto common nursing home prob-lems.

The new WACMAT® adheresstrongly to this tradition.

With its ultra absorbent cot-ton pile and 100 per cent water-proof backing, the remarkableWACMAT® is an ideal accessorywhere spills may occur.

Used as a commode mat, inbedrooms or bathrooms, theWACMAT® ensures full carpetprotection. Then, after use, sim-ply machine wash and tumbledry! It’s that simple...

The WACMAT® will then beclean and odour-free, ready to perform time and time again. Alternatively the flat-laying WACMAT® can beused as an entrance mat, saving you hundreds of pounds in rental costs alone.

Contact: 0800 074 3749.

Simple solutions

CARINGCLASSIFIED AND NEWS42

IT WAS full steam ahead forresidents at a Torquay care homewhen they were treated to a trip on asteam train.

A private carriage was reserved forthe 25 residents and staff of CaryLodge, who made the return journeyfrom Paignton to Kingswear.

Manager Julia Gow-Smith toldCaring UK that the trip was the bestday out the home had held, and thatit appealed to both male and female

residents.She added: “We try to organise a

trip out for the residents at leastonce a month, particularly duringthe summer, but this certainly thebest and most popular that we haveever done.

“We have residents of all physicalabilities and several with variousstages of dementia, but once theywere on that train all of them satdown ad none of them moved about

at all during the trip.“Since then the residents have not

stopped talking about it, and onehas asked us at least a couple oftimes when we can go again.”

Julia added that she hopes to takethe residents on a boat trip down theRiver Dart as well as visits toPaignton Zoo and a cream tea at alocal hotel in the near future.

A HERTFORDSHIRE care homeresident celebrated his Diamondwedding anniversary with his wife.

Gosmore care home’s ArthurBrendling had a table set aside for aspecial lunch with his wife.

Diamond date

Residents enjoy trip on a steam trainResidents and staff from Cary Lodge with the steam train

Care Alarms

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

Business solutions

Uniforms

Management Radiator covers

To advertise please call 01226 734479