Congratulations Caleb
Following his nomination last month, we’re very pleased to report that our Group Operations Director, Caleb Atkins, has been elected to join the Homecare Association board. Representing large, mainly state-funded homecare providers on the board, Caleb will help influence sector decision-making and build the prolife of the homecare sector. 
The Homecare Association is the UK’s membership body for homecare providers, with their board primarily made up of nominated individuals elected from member organisations. The board also includes key senior staff and notable people, who represent the homecare sector as ambassadors.
Caleb will start his duties immediately, replacing our Director of Policy and Communications, Max Wurr, who has stepped down from his role on board. Max recently completed his maximum of three terms with the homecare Association, serving an impressive total of nine years with the organisation.
A well-deserved result Caleb – congratulations from everyone at City & County.
Naomi saves the day in Berwick
Danielle Russell, Branch Manager for Careline Homecare, let us know this week about a quick-thinking member of the Berwick team. Naomi Clark was in the right place at the right time, aiding a member of the public when he injured himself after falling from his bike. 
Naomi kindly gave us the details, writing, “I was attending a call when I had seen a man had fallen off his bike. I parked my car and without thinking rushed over and administered first aid as he had a bad cut on his hand. I then thought this is too bad a cut and the man needed medical attention so took him over to Berwick Minor Injuries Unit. The man was lovely and thanked me very much for my help when I booked him in at MIU and receiving these wonderful flowers was just an amazing gesture that being kind to others does pay off.”
Danielle followed up by saying “Naomi is a well-respected member of the team and highly thought of by all of her service users. She has recently taken up position as FCS. Due to her quick thinking Naomi managed to assist the gentleman and assist him to receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner.”
Fantastic Naomi. It’s always amazing to see just how committed our staff are to supporting their local communities – whether that’s for our service users or anyone else who needs our support.
Meeting the Lord Mayor of Westminster
Maria Gerardo at London Care’s Pullen Day Centre, sent us some pictures of a sensational (early) Silver Sunday event at the centre. Maria explained, “As our day centre is closed at weekends so we got to celebrate on Friday instead”. 
Maria told us, “The Lord Mayor of Westminster came to visit our Pullen day centre for silver Sunday last Friday with their singer Lucy Clark. Our clients had a lovely time and they even did some dancing.
“They all got to meet the lord Mayor and have tea with him, it was such a wonderful special day and a day that we all must appreciate our older people on.”
Looks like a great day was had by the staff and service users at the centre Maria. We hope everyone had a super Silver Sunday – or Friday!
Over 600,000 more social care staff needed in the next decade
The Health Foundation predicted this week that up to 627,000 extra social care staff will be required in England to improve services and meet care needs by 2030/31. This represents a 55% growth over the next ten years.
The projections of future health and social care funding requirements also show up to an additional £14.4bn will be needed to meet the country’s social care needs over the same time period.
The report highlights the recruitment crisis currently facing our sector, discussed by Homecare Association CEO Dr Jane Townson in this blog.
Winter funding package for Scotland
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf’s new funding package for health and social care will offer adult social care staff in Scotland who are currently paid the real living wage a pay rise of over 5%.
The £300 million funding package to increase health and social care capacity in Scotland includes over £60 million to maximise the capacity of care at home services and up to £48 million to increase the hourly rate of social care staff to match new NHS band 2 staff.
The package will also include £4 million to help staff with their practical and emotional needs, including pastoral care and other measures to aid rest and recuperation. You can read more here.
Could you contribute to health and safety at City & County?
We are still looking for a branch manager, an Extra Care manager and someone in shared services – such as finance or IT – to join the health and safety committee.
If you are one of those categories and you feel that you could positively contribute, please email hse@candchealthcare.co.uk by Monday 18th October explaining why you think you would be a good fit for the role.
If you have already applied, you don’t need to do so again – we will be in touch.
World Menopause Day – 18th October 2021
World Menopause Day is held every year on the 18th October. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.
So what is the menopause?
Menopause is a natural stage of life that millions of women experience. Menopause is marked by changes in hormones and is the end of the menstrual cycle and childbearing years.
It usually occurs, between the ages of 45 and 55, as women’s oestrogen levels decline, with the average age being 51 in the UK. 1 in 100 women will experience menopause before 40 years of age. Hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy, radiation or a hysterectomy may also cause premature menopause.
What are the symptoms?
Not all women encounter menopausal symptoms and the process can be very different for each person. Commons symptoms include:
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Support options available
Whether you want to find out more information on the menopause for yourself, or you want to be able to support a family member, friend or colleague here are a few options:
- Menopause Matters – website provides information about the menopause, menopausal sypmtoms and treatment options.
- Manage my menopause – Tailored menopause advice provided by experts. Complete a questionnaire and receive a tailored advice document.
- Womens Health Concern – part of the British Menopause Society, providing confidential independent service to women for health, wellbeing and lifestyle guidance. Advice is given by telephone, email and online factsheets.
Don’t miss out on the mandatory vaccination consultation
Remember that there is still time to contribute to the consultation on plans for staff in all health and care settings in England (including home care) to be required to have COVID-19 and flu.
You can add your voice here. You have until 11:45pm on Friday 22nd October.
Astley Court’s crafty ‘Care Crow’
Kirsty Howcroft, Scheme Coordinator Astley Court in Manchester sent us some photos of a creative project by service users at the scheme. Working together with the Comfort Call care team, the service users assembled this super scarecrow, which they have named Care Crow. 
The project will be displayed at the local annual Scarecrow trail, which is held from the 5th of October to the 8th of November.
Kirsty told us that they have also started a harvest festival collection for the local food charity Milk Aid, providing food for families that are less fortunate. Amazing work everyone!
Have your team or service users got involved with a local community activity as well? Send your pictures to communications@candchealthcare.co.uk and we’ll share them across the City & County family.
Recognition for brilliant Betty
Quality Care Services at Newry’s long-serving staff member, Betty Stewart – mother to 7 children, 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and another 2 on the way – recently received an award from Her Majesty the Queen for long standing service to local charities. 
Betty joined the Markethill Community Festival Committee in 1977, she remembers the date as it was the same year the Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee. Since then, Betty has worked tirelessly raising money for many local children’s charities over the years and was ‘gobsmacked’ when she received the award.
It was presented to her recently in Hillsborough Castle and she showed her award to the office team in Newry, clearly bursting with pride. Betty suffered a fall in July and damaged her ribs, but we’re delighted to have her back with us – a valued and loyal member of Quality Care Services.
Congratulations Betty we’re all very proud of you.
