Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed the Care Quality Commission’s State of Healthcare and Adult Social Care in England report published this morning.
 
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:
“CQC’s annual report, State of Care, identifies workforce and inadequate funding as major concerns and echoes the sector’s call for a long term strategic plan for adult social care. 

A market-leading technology company, HAS Technology, is urging local authorities and care providers to embrace digital solutions and innovation to tackle the social care crisis, following the release of the CQC State of Care report.

The CQC State of Care report, an annual assessment of health and social care in England, states that ‘the wider challenge for providers and health and social care communities is to now consider technology in the broader strategic sense, as an enabler of high-quality care’.

Various barriers to adopting new technologies were identified in the report, including funding to invest in technology; attitudes of staff towards technology; IT infrastructures; and data protection.

On the 10th October, the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) celebrated outstanding contributions to the care catering sector at the NACC Awards 2019.

The winners of the prestigious awards, which recognise teams and individuals from across the sector that demonstrate innovation, excellence and dedication in their field, were announced at a gala awards dinner at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.

The special event was attended by the NACC’s members, patron and ambassadors together with industry colleagues, partners and guests.

The 2019 NACC Award winners are:

Care Establishment of the Year Award, sponsored by Hobart: Ferndown Manor, Care UK

The preferences of residents are at the centre of mealtimes at Ferndown Manor. Menus reflect their tastes and needs, whilst attractive, relaxed dining rooms create enjoyable and unhurried restaurant-quality dining experiences.

Dorset and Hampshire based live-in care provider, Promedica24, has been awarded by homecare.co.uk as one of the top 20 providers in the area. 

With care reviewers giving an impressive overall total score of 9.8 out of 10, Promedica24 received the accolade for being one of the most favourably reviewed home-care providers in the region. 

The high score follows 100% of reviewers expressing that they’d be ‘Extremely Likely’ to recommend Promedica24 to others and 90% deeming their services ‘Excellent’. With research showing that 97% of people don’t want to move into institutional care if they become unwell or less mobile*, Promedica24’s live-in care service is vital in enabling them to continue living the life they want at home, while receiving necessary care and assistance. 

Fire Safety Week survey shows unsafe fire doors in homes and that their work place is at risk of serious fire. The results of the study were released in order to mark Fire Door safety week, which is now supported by the London Fire Brigade

A leading scientist and Scotland could be the country responsible for the breakthrough of allowing people to take a pill to prevent dementia.

£1.5 million has been awarded to the next generation of dementia researchers by motor-racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart and his charity Race Against Dementia, which was formed after his wife of 57 years was diagnosed with the frontotemporal dementia.

Home Instead Senior Care launches ‘The Third Stair’ campaign bringing to life the importance of in-home care as an option for older people  

The 30 second ad is the first national campaign for award-winning in-home care provider, Home Instead Senior Care and tells the touching story of Stanley; whilst offering a glimpse into a decision and process that many people may face at some point in their life.  

We learn that Stanley, recently widowed, is facing the prospect of having to leave his family home, and he reflects over memories with his wife – with a focus on the creaky ‘third stair’ he never got around to fixing, he is understandably pensive. His daughter offers the lifeline of staying at home with an in-home care package, before going on to deliver the poignant strapline: “You don’t have to go anywhere Dad.”  

Report finds home care workers love their profession, but endure poor pay, abuse and fear the impact of Brexit and automation

A new report on the state of the home care industry has found that home care workers are facing extremely difficult social, political and economic challenges in carrying out their roles. 

The report by leading home care reviews site, homecare.co.uk, surveyed 1,305 members of the home care workforce. The findings show that home care workers continue to be dedicated to their jobs – with 94% saying they enjoy the role and 81% not intending to leave the profession – but they are working in challenging conditions.

Jonathan Bruce, Managing Director at Prestige Nursing + Care, discusses the need for politicians to focus on the future of social care.

They say a week is a long time in politics, and the past few have seen the long-term future of British healthcare plunge deeper into uncertainty.

The latest episode of this healthcare crisis was aired in May, with the news that the Social Care Green Paper was not to be published for at least another five months. It had been originally slated for Autumn 2017.

What makes this issue and development particularly worrying is the supposed disagreement on how to fund the plans, between No10, the Treasury and the Department for Health, which has become so wide that there have been rumours that the Green Paper could be dropped permanently. This would be disastrous for all concerned in the care industry.

Great Oaks invests in robotic technology to boost residents’ health and wellbeing

Residents from Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth have benefited from the addition of two new robotic animals as part of the home’s pet therapy sessions, Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat. Great Oaks is already home to the residents’ pet budgie called Smuggler which often brings a smile to everyone’s face when he starts to sing.

It has been recognised since Smuggler was introduced to the home, that he has encouraged social interaction and visibly reduced stress and anxiety in residents with dementia. Biscuit the robotic dog and Arthur the robotic cat are a welcome addition to the home’s dedicated pet therapy sessions. Biscuit responds to touch and speech, just like a real dog would, making him the perfect companion.