Care & Nursing Essentials' round-up of news and advice on the coronavirus outbreak for those working in care homes, including a printable guide…

Care homes urge visitors to stay away

As coronavirus cases in the UK continue to rise, many care homes have now taken the decision to ban visitors unless absolutely necessary.

Despite the government’s decision not to advise distancing, many care providers took the decision to reduce the number of people coming in and out of care home settings in order to help stem the spread of the virus. 

Residents and team members at an Epsom care home have put their best foot forward and raised almost £800 for a cause close to their hearts.  
 
The team at Care UK’s Appleby House, wanted to create an exciting fundraising activity for residents and their relatives, which everyone could participate in no matter what their walking ability might be – and so the ‘Appleby Chair to 5km Challenge’ was born.

With the summer in full swing and the recent pandemic situation, the need to spend time outdoors has never been so prevalent. We’ve therefore outlined five of the greatest benefits that a canopy brings to care settings when paired with a nature garden.

English National Ballet announces plans to support people whose lives are affected by dementia.

Central to English National Ballet’s Dance for Dementia programme is a new partnership with Barchester Healthcare which will see the Company deliver an in-house professional development programme for staff as well as a range of dance and music focussed live events and workshops for residents.

In our lifetime, there has rarely been a greater sense of camaraderie than over the past year. The nation united under a common health threat and the common good delivered by a National Health Service at their time of need. In March 2020 the world was forced to stop, readjust, and overcome the barriers this virus has inflicted upon us all. Whilst it has sadly been a tragedy for so many businesses, households, and livelihoods, it has by no means stopped great British ideas, ingenuity, and innovation.

The Cambridgeshire Care Home is an attractive, modern purpose-built care home with beautiful landscaped gardens situated in the Cambridgeshire countryside providing care for up to 72 elderly people. The home prides itself on providing bespoke care for residential, nursing and dementia residents whether their stay is for a short respite period or as a permanent resident.

Registration is now open for Care Roadshows 2021 and these fantastic one-day events are back with a triumph and ready to re-connect the care sector. This year, the Roadshows will be returning to Liverpool, Glasgow, London and Cardiff. As always, the events strive to help attendees deliver outstanding care by bringing them face-to-face with the leading innovation and inspiration in the sector.

The talented recruitment team at Barchester Healthcare has been named Best Recruiter at the 2020 LaingBuisson Awards.  The awards celebrate businesses that set new standards within their industries and celebrate industry excellence across a range of categories.

The 2020 award ceremony, usually held in London, was postponed last year due to COVID-19 restrictions and instead the winners were announced via a virtual awards ceremony held on 22 April 2021.

The Recruiter Award recognises excellence in the recruitment of professionals in the healthcare and social care sectors.

Surrey-based charity The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society is reaping the rewards of its dedicated staff training programme, delivering career opportunities for team members and improving facilities for residents and tenants.

As the days get longer and brighter, CHS Group has been celebrating the new season with a range of activities across its nurseries, care homes and community support services – from hatching chicken eggs to creating bird feeders and enjoying a sing and dance in the garden. 
 
Sunflower Nurseries – Cambridge & Cambourne
Children at CHS Group’s Sunflower Nursery in Cambourne have been exploring nature and looking out for different animals, including ducks at the local lake and rabbits in the surrounding woodland.
 

A care home manager who has dedicated more than half her life to social care, has been named a Healthcare Hero in a nationwide search celebrating key workers.

Danielle Bullent from Gorleston-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth has been awarded the accolade in Quinyx’s inaugural Workforce Heroes Awards. She was nominated by her colleagues from Laurel Lodge residential home in Norwich and her former manager from Park House in Great Yarmouth.

Sue Ryder is amongst the first healthcare providers in England to use the recently launched NHS Deep Cleaning and Advisory Service to meet the new official cleaning standard.  The NHS Deep Cleaning and Advisory Service has completed bespoke training for Sue Ryder cleaning staff and follow-up audits of its premises.
 

Moorland Surgical Supplies is a long established, specialist dispenser of all continence, urology and stoma products that are available on prescription. 

Free training for all staff

Training on all aspects of the management and care of continence, sheath and stoma appliance users is offered to Residential Care and Nursing Home staff free of charge. Certificates of attendance will be issued.

This training can be arranged face to face or via video call and it lasts for approximately 1-1.5 hours. Multiple sessions can be accommodated to suit your needs.

“The simple act of caring is heroic.” – Edward Albert

With the UK’s elderly population continuing to grow, the care home industry is evolving. In fact, by 2030, around 1 in 5 of us in the UK is predicted to be aged 65 or over. Whilst it may not be the first consideration for many looking to take the next steps in their career, there’s so much the care home industry has to offer - whether you're just leaving school or looking to change careers.

The impact of the new COVID-19 variant is being felt across the country and additional staff are urgently needed now to support the adult social care workforce where absence rates have more than doubled in recent months due to self-isolation.