10th October is World Mental Health Day
Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10 October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.
If you know someone who may be struggling with mental health, it can be difficult to know what to do, or if you are a sufferer yourself, it can be even harder to know who to turn to.
Don’t forget that our mental health is just like our physical health – everybody has it and we need to take care of it.
Helping others
If you’re worried about someone and unsure how to help, here are 3 top tips:
- Don’t be judgemental – try to understand their situation
- Speak to them – be a listening ear and allow them to open up
- Get prepared – know what to do in a crisis
Please visit the World Mental Health campaign website for more information and resources.
Recognition for our Comfort Call team in Tameside
We were contacted this week by Joanne Brannen, Regional Manager – North West and West Yorkshire, about some amazing news she’d received from Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Tameside, along with Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership, had been shortlisted for the prestigious National HPMA awards.
The shortlisting was for the The University of Bradford award for cross-sector working, and recognised a pilot scheme which the Comfort Call branch was instrumental in setting up. The team at Tameside was very pleased to confirm that the scheme had won the award.
Dave Wilson, manager of the Tameside commissioning team, said; “I wanted to say a huge thank you for your work. You should all be very proud of this.”
Dave continued, “This will be a proper achievement and something that, already, other authorities are looking at doing and are asking us for advice. Well done Comfort Call and thank you very much for being so fab to work with.”
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Flu vaccine update
Owing to the level of demand, supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine are being delayed. It is important, however, that as many people as possible have the vaccine this year, so we urge you to keep checking with your pharmacist or GP and to get your jab as soon as you can.
Public Health Wales has confirmed that in line with the other UK nations, home care staff in Wales are eligible for the flu vaccine free of charge from community pharmacies.
A thank you to staff at Bowles Lodge
Magda Trepczynska, Regional Manager – South, has been in touch to pass on some wonderful feedback from the family of a service user. The resident of the Bowles Lodge Extra Care scheme in Kent had sadly contracted Covid-19, and her family had nothing but praise for the team’s response:
“I just wanted to give some feedback over the unprecedented last few months. The care that mum has received has been excellent, you and your staff have gone over and above in meeting the needs of the residents. Undertaking shopping, keeping supplies and increasing calls have all ensured her welfare. Thank you for the support, and helping the relatives and carers like myself to step back in order to protect during the pandemic knowing our loved ones are safe.
“Once again huge thanks and hoping the next few months will see life get back to a more normal.”
Amazing feedback, and the team have clearly made a huge impact for this family during the pandemic.
A poem about mental health
Following our article on mental health awareness last week, Gail Hodgkinson from our central recruitment team got in touch to share a poem, Samaritan, she’s written on the subject.
Gail told us, “In support of mental health week, and in view of the effect the current pandemic is having on so many, please find a short poem I wrote some years back. I hope it reaches out.”
Samaritan
The lifeless eyes were cold, yet bright,
She really didn’t want to die tonight,
She dialled the number “please talk me down”,
The unsung soldier was always around
The volunteer that came in peace,
For all he could offer was a release,
To talk it through, ‘til it made sense,
To give her fear less credence.
He helped to dry up all those tears,
A culmination of years and years,
With mug of tea in wise old hand,
The unlikely hero from tank top land,
But tonight he may have saved a life,
A gentle ear, a shoulder wide,
So don’t under rate our distant friend,
Samaritans listen to the bitter end.
Thank you Gail, we hope the poem connects with anyone whose mental health and wellbeing has been affected by the pandemic. If you need to speak to someone, don’t forget it’s free to call Samaritans on 116 123 where you can get confidential support.
More contract success in Redcar and Cleveland
In addition to the successful Comfort Call bid in Redcar and Cleveland we reported last week, we’re pleased to confirm that the Careline Homecare have also retained their contract in the area. Alongside Comfort Call, the Careline team will continue to provide care in a new framework contract starting from November.
A huge ‘well done’ to the bid team and everyone in the local ops team who contributed to the bid and secured the contract.
Weekly Blog 13 Nov
Considerate coordination recognised at Sagecare
One of our Regional Managers, Milka Kimani, sent us a heartfelt thank you from a social worker and family of a service user. They particularly wanted to thank Jeannette Nouwimana, a London-based coordinator at Sagecare, for her response and quick thinking after the service user’s dementia deteriorated quickly.
The family wrote:
“We would like to thank you, personally, for your input and support with regards to our mum. With your experience and observations whilst coordinating the night care visit for mum and your input in making a positive decision, our mum is now in safe hands.
“It has been a really worrying and challenging time for me and my sister, and we can now at least have some peace of mind that mum is safe.
“Also we take the opportunity of thanking Sagecare carers for looking after our mum, and we really appreciate the care and love mum received from you all.
“Thanks you once again. Best wishes and stay safe.”
Despite all the challenges, the Sagecare team did an amazing job of keeping the service user safe at all times. Anne, the service user’s social worker added, “I would like to add my heartfelt thanks for keeping her safe and as happy as possible especially over the last few months. It has been much appreciated. I will be forwarding the family’s thanks to our commissioning team as well.”
Marking Remembrance Day at Leaholme
Tracy Asbery and Katy Smith sent us a section of photos showing the work that our London Care team had done to mark Remembrance Day at the Leaholme Extra Care scheme.
Staff decorated the scheme with poppies and served up a selection of red, white and blue-themed treats for the residents.
Appreciation for our team at Willow Barns
Our Comfort Call team at the Willow Barns extra care scheme in Stoke-on-Trent received some great feedback this week. Following a quick response to a night-time incident, the local housing team got in touch to pass on a compliment they’d received from the tenant involved:
Well done to everyone involved for the amazing support you delivered to this couple.
Flowers for dedicated Delia
Delia Boonziar, a member of our SCRT team in Wishaw, has been recognised by the Daily Record as a winner of their ‘Say it with Flowers’ award. Nominated by her friend Toni for going above and beyond in her role, Delia has made a huge impact in her local community over the past three years.
Toni says of Delia, “She gives her all to the company. She even came back from her holiday early to help us out. That’s the sort of person she is.
“Anything she can do, she will do it for you. She is a brilliant person, but she doesn’t get the recognition she deserves.”
Congratulations Delia, this award was certainly well-deserved. You can read the full Daily Record article here.
Debt management – four steps to reduce your debt
Getting out of debt isn’t easy and there are no quick fixes. It takes time, commitment and sacrifice, but it’s not complicated – it just takes four steps:
For CCH employees, please take a look at the LifeWorks app or website to read the four-part series Four Steps to Reduce your Debt – where each step is broken down into manageable chunks.
Remember, there is no quick fix to overcoming serious debt problems, but if you stick with the plan, the benefits are well worth the effort.
New contract wins
Good news this week as we heard that Guardian Homecare has been successful in its bid to join the Flexible Purchasing System for Extra Care in Liverpool. Although this does not guarantee any direct award of business, it does put Guardian in the running to bid for Extra Care opportunities in Liverpool as well as Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral (and possibly St Helens).
Well done to the bid team and all those that contributed to putting the submission together.
Coming up: Alcohol Awareness Week – 16th to 22nd November
Next week is Alcohol Awareness Week, run by the charity Alcohol Change UK.
The annual campaign’s aim is to get people thinking and talking about alcohol and its effect on our lives and those around us, and to take actions to change our drinking behaviour for the better.
This year’s theme is Alcohol and Mental Health. In a year of extraordinary change and uncertainty, it offers us a chance to think about ways in which we may sometimes use alcohol to help us cope when we’re feeling low, anxious, stressed or worried. It also offers opportunities to highlight some of the more serious mental health problems that can go hand-in-hand with very heavy drinking.
Key facts:
Throughout next week, we will share resources and information regarding the links between alcohol and mental health along with signposting to help and support if you have concerns about your alcohol consumption or that of a loved one.
Weekly Blog 6 Nov 2020
A new home for Athena Care
Our live-in care company, Athena Care, has this week relocated from their Leicester base to Redhill in Surrey. Building on their existing high quality care, the move allows our live-in care teams to expand into new areas, including Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire.
Through expansion of Athena Care’s service, we can also offer group customers more options during the coronavirus pandemic. Live-in care allows vulnerable people who may otherwise need to move into a care home to stay in their own homes with a regular care team – minimising their contact with others.
If you know of any of our existing clients in the area that may benefit from a live-in service in the near future, you can contact the team at enquiries@athenacare.co.uk or call them on 0800 234 6306
Uber Eats and Care Provider Alliance discounts for care workers
The Care Provider Alliance has partnered with Uber Eats to provide discounts on food deliveries for social care staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
Staff can access the deal by joining the CPA 10% DISCOUNT Uber Eats account – you can find out more here.
A thank you for Advance Healthcare UK’s angels
Lorraine Fennell, General Manager at Advance Healthcare UK in Willenhall, let us know about heartfelt message she’d received this week. The family of a late service user wanted to express just how much of difference the team had made to the lives of their parents:
Thank you for sharing Lorraine.
Recognition for social care staff from the NHS in Leeds
Leaders from NHS Trusts across Leeds, as well as the Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, recently wrote to social care teams in the area thanking them for their support through the coronavirus pandemic. Our teams in the area were included and recognised for helping to minimise the impact on health services:
Raising spirits in extra care
Our Comfort Call teams at the Astley Court and Monica Court Extra Care schemes got into the spirit of Halloween this year by dressing up in ghoulish outfits and sharing spooky treats with residents. Joanne Brennan, Regional Manager – North West and West Yorkshire, shared some great photos of the event.
Mental health and money worries
Over recent years, one of the main causes of stress in the UK has been money worries. The stress that money problems bring with them can make you vulnerable to anxiety and depression. This in turn can affect your sleep, social life and relationships and lead to feelings of isolation.
Poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder, and worrying about money can make your mental health worse. It can start to feel like a vicious circle.
Sorting your money troubles might feel like an overwhelming task, so why not try to take things one-step at a time.
Taking control of your mental health is a vital part of managing your financial wellbeing and a great first step. Why not try the following techniques to improve your mental health:
For City & County staff, check out the resources available on the LifeWorks app and website, to support with money worries. Helpful articles include:
Please also remember you can call LifeWorks 24/7, on 0800 1691920 for immediate confidential support to help you cope with your money worries.
In addition, the charity Mind has a money and mental health section on its website, which shares practical tips on managing your money and improving your mental health.
Next Week – Debt Management
Feeling more in control of your financial situation helps set your mind at ease. To do this, you need to move away from worrying to problem solving instead. Next week we will look at practical ways to tackle debt problems.
Weekly blog 23 October 2020
Care Quality Commission State of Care report published
The Care Quality Commission has published its annual report on the state of health care and adult social care in England during 2019-20.
Inevitably, the report highlights weaknesses in the system highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, lending further weight to the argument for a viable long-term funding settlement for adult social care.
You can read the report here.
Max Wurr appointed
vice-chair of the UKHCA
We’re pleased to announce that Max Wurr, our own Director of Policy and Communications, was last week appointed Vice-Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA).
UKHCA is the home care sector’s professional association, of which City & County Healthcare Group is one of the largest members. Their Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Honorary Secretary are elected from the UKHCA’s fourteen non-executive directors, who each serve for a period of three years.
Thanks to the Comfort Call team at St Andrews house
Geraldine Dunne, Team Leader at the St Andrews House Extra Care scheme in Nottingham, received a heartfelt message from the family of a service user this week. After recently moving into the scheme, the service user was taken into hospital and sadly diagnosed with a serious, previously unseen condition. Her diagnosis meant that the service user needed to move to end of life care.
The Comfort Call team at St Andrews House worked closely with the hospital to make sure she would be allowed to return back to the scheme that she now called home. The service user’s sister, who travelled from Kent to be with her, had these wonderful words for the team at St Andrews House:
Crucially, under the dedicated care of the team, her family had an opportunity to spend some valuable time at her side – something they would not have been able to do in a hospital.
Weekly Blog 15 October 2020
City and County acquires Advance Healthcare UK Limited
It is with great pleasure that we announce that on 8th October we completed the purchase of Advance Healthcare UK Limited (AHUK). AHUK is a homecare business providing a range of care services – including domiciliary care, Extra Care, prison services and daycare.
AHUK is based in the West Midlands and operates 10 Extra Care schemes, as well as delivering homecare packages for a number of Local Authorities in the area. In addition, our purchase of AHUK will help build City & County’s presence in daycare and introduce our brand to prison services. AHUK is well-respected in the market for the quality of its care, with 100% ‘Good’ CQC inspection ratings.
AHUK fits our strategy to acquire community care businesses to which we can add our financial and technical resources to help their growth. AHUK’s services will help further strengthen City & County’s position as the UK’s leading homecare provider.
Ambulance crew say thanks to our Ulverston Branch
Emma Cooper, one of our registered managers, received an inspiring email this week recognising three amazing care workers from HSG’s Ulverston branch. The crew were called to the home of a service user earlier this month, and were thoroughly impressed by the professionalism of the HSG team, writing:
Emma told us, “These three carers – Tim Balchin, Nicola Henry and Chloe Cunliffe – went above and beyond for the service user in his final hours”.
Rating success for The Windings scheme
Congratulations to team at The Windings Extra Care scheme in Cheshire West. The scheme has been rated ‘Good’ in all areas in its first draft report.
Scott Higgins-Wright, Regional Manager – Central, would like to say special thank you to the scheme manager, Maxine, and to Kim Nicholson for the support they gave.
A huge ‘well done’ to everyone who helped with this inspection.
Considerate care in a crisis
We were contacted this week by Ross McCrann, branch manager for Guardian Homecare, about a heartfelt complement the Preston team had received from the family of a service user. The message was in response to the exceptional crisis care delivered from the branch, and in particular the dedication of care worker Joanne Collins:
Amazing work by Joanne and the team in Preston.
Praise for the Comfort Call Gloucester team
Nicola Johnson, Branch Manager at Comfort Call in Cheltenham, wanted to share an amazing message she’d received this week. The family of a client contacted the branch to recognise the exceptional care that the Gloucester Team had delivered to their mother:
Thank you to everyone for the great work you’re doing to improve the lives of our service users and their families.
Weekly Blog 9 October 2020
10th October is World Mental Health Day
Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10 October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.
If you know someone who may be struggling with mental health, it can be difficult to know what to do, or if you are a sufferer yourself, it can be even harder to know who to turn to.
Don’t forget that our mental health is just like our physical health – everybody has it and we need to take care of it.
Helping others
If you’re worried about someone and unsure how to help, here are 3 top tips:
Please visit the World Mental Health campaign website for more information and resources.
Recognition for our Comfort Call team in Tameside
We were contacted this week by Joanne Brannen, Regional Manager – North West and West Yorkshire, about some amazing news she’d received from Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Tameside, along with Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership, had been shortlisted for the prestigious National HPMA awards.
The shortlisting was for the The University of Bradford award for cross-sector working, and recognised a pilot scheme which the Comfort Call branch was instrumental in setting up. The team at Tameside was very pleased to confirm that the scheme had won the award.
Dave Wilson, manager of the Tameside commissioning team, said; “I wanted to say a huge thank you for your work. You should all be very proud of this.”
Dave continued, “This will be a proper achievement and something that, already, other authorities are looking at doing and are asking us for advice. Well done Comfort Call and thank you very much for being so fab to work with.”
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Flu vaccine update
Owing to the level of demand, supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine are being delayed. It is important, however, that as many people as possible have the vaccine this year, so we urge you to keep checking with your pharmacist or GP and to get your jab as soon as you can.
Public Health Wales has confirmed that in line with the other UK nations, home care staff in Wales are eligible for the flu vaccine free of charge from community pharmacies.
A thank you to staff at Bowles Lodge
Magda Trepczynska, Regional Manager – South, has been in touch to pass on some wonderful feedback from the family of a service user. The resident of the Bowles Lodge Extra Care scheme in Kent had sadly contracted Covid-19, and her family had nothing but praise for the team’s response:
“I just wanted to give some feedback over the unprecedented last few months. The care that mum has received has been excellent, you and your staff have gone over and above in meeting the needs of the residents. Undertaking shopping, keeping supplies and increasing calls have all ensured her welfare. Thank you for the support, and helping the relatives and carers like myself to step back in order to protect during the pandemic knowing our loved ones are safe.
“Once again huge thanks and hoping the next few months will see life get back to a more normal.”
Amazing feedback, and the team have clearly made a huge impact for this family during the pandemic.
A poem about mental health
Following our article on mental health awareness last week, Gail Hodgkinson from our central recruitment team got in touch to share a poem, Samaritan, she’s written on the subject.
Gail told us, “In support of mental health week, and in view of the effect the current pandemic is having on so many, please find a short poem I wrote some years back. I hope it reaches out.”
Samaritan
The lifeless eyes were cold, yet bright,
She really didn’t want to die tonight,
She dialled the number “please talk me down”,
The unsung soldier was always around
The volunteer that came in peace,
For all he could offer was a release,
To talk it through, ‘til it made sense,
To give her fear less credence.
He helped to dry up all those tears,
A culmination of years and years,
With mug of tea in wise old hand,
The unlikely hero from tank top land,
But tonight he may have saved a life,
A gentle ear, a shoulder wide,
So don’t under rate our distant friend,
Samaritans listen to the bitter end.
Thank you Gail, we hope the poem connects with anyone whose mental health and wellbeing has been affected by the pandemic. If you need to speak to someone, don’t forget it’s free to call Samaritans on 116 123 where you can get confidential support.
More contract success in Redcar and Cleveland
In addition to the successful Comfort Call bid in Redcar and Cleveland we reported last week, we’re pleased to confirm that the Careline Homecare have also retained their contract in the area. Alongside Comfort Call, the Careline team will continue to provide care in a new framework contract starting from November.
A huge ‘well done’ to the bid team and everyone in the local ops team who contributed to the bid and secured the contract.
Weekly Blog 2 October 2020
Don’t forget about flu vaccinations
Flu vaccinations are now available for care workers across the UK without charge. Please encourage your care teams to get the seasonal jab this year to help reduce pressure on primary health services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reducing flu cases will mean services can focus their resources on the coronavirus, also helping to keep staff absence down.
In England, home care workers should visit their GP or community pharmacy (although it is advisable to check availability beforehand). There is no official requirement to provide ID or a voucher, but we do recommend that care workers take their ID badge, payslip or some other form of evidence of their care worker role in case they are challenged. Some resources for branch managers are here.
In Wales, care workers can obtain their vaccination from their community pharmacy. Branch managers can find posters and other resources here.
In Scotland, vaccination is being arranged via local NHS Boards, who will be contacting social care providers directly (if they have not done so already).
In Northern Ireland, vaccines are being provided through participating community pharmacies from week commencing 28th September. Branch managers are advised to check here whether their local pharmacy is participating in the scheme. The RQIA will also be providing home care agencies with posters to raise awareness.
Supporting our mental health
The pandemic is testing all of us in different ways, and prioritising our own mental health is really important in ensuring we have the resources to deal with it. However, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start.
We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass, but sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.
World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year. The day is held globally to encourage people to think about their own, and others’ mental health, and to raise awareness of efforts to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
Whether you want to take the first steps towards getting some help or learn more about helping those around you, there are many different ways to get help and support:
Maria’s recognition from Southwark Council
We were delighted to hear about some fantastic recognition for Maria Vizureanu, a Supervisor from our London Care team at Lew Evans House. Juliana Ingabese, Maria’s area manager, contacted us to confirm that Maria had been nominated for the Southwark Care Awards.
The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Southwark Council wrote directly to Maria to let her know the good news, stating; “we wanted to thank you for the work you do, and continue to do through this pandemic”.
Sadly, this year’s awards ceremony had to be cancelled because of event restrictions during the pandemic. However, Southwark Council will be recognising Maria and other amazing carers in the borough with a ‘Thank You Southwark Carers’ video. Maria and the other nominees have been asked to provide photos and videos which show a positive message about the care industry during this challenging time.
We can’t wait to see the video, congratulations Maria.
Contract win in Redcar and Cleveland
The bid team has received formal notification that Comfort Call has been successful in its bid to retain our homecare contract with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. The company will now continue to provide care in the area, delivered from the Middlesbrough Comfort Call branch.
Congratulations to the bid team and those in the local ops team that contributed to the bid who secured the new framework contract starting from 1st November.
Last chance for our branch September Special Prize Draw
Don’t miss out! We’re rewarding branches with the chance to win a bonus for your team this month. But time is running out! Every branch that reaches their target for new packages by Sunday 4th October will be entered into a live prize draw.
We’ll be totalling up the packages and announcing the winners in the next few days, so don’t miss your chance to get involved.
Remember, the only restrictions are that we won’t be including TUPE transfers as well as crisis and rapid responses. Good luck!
If you have any questions on the scheme please raise them with your regional management.
Welcome to our new branch and scheme managers
A warm welcome to our newest branch and scheme managers working across City & County Healthcare Group.
In Salford, we were recently joined by Amanda Lowe. Amanda will be managing Extra Care schemes in the area.
Welcome as well to Lisa O Reilly, who has started her new role at the HSG branch in Liverpool and the nearby Latham Court Extra Care scheme.
We look forward to getting to know you both.
Weekly Blog 25 September 2020
Appointment of Head of Private Pay and Live In
We are pleased to confirm Sarah Thomas’s appointment as Head of Private Pay and Live In from Thursday 1st October. This is a new role, focused on developing our service offering in these two important areas.
We plan to develop our private pay offer predominantly through Live In, where Sarah already leads our operating company Athena Care. Sarah will also use her wide care-sector experience to help grow the private pay service we currently deliver through our branch network.
As a result of this change, our regional managers Milka Kimani and Karin Lockhart will now report to Sarah Kwofie. Sarah Kwofie is looking forward to welcoming the new teams to her region.
We wish Sarah all the best for this exciting opportunity, and we’re sure that you will all welcome her into this new role.
City & County welcomes total Community Care Limited
We’re pleased to announce that on 22nd September we completed the purchase of Total Community Care Limited (TCC).
Based in Leicester, TCC is a complex care business providing specialist care for individuals living with spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions. The TCC team manage more than 60 complex care packages for CCGs across England, delivered to clients in their own home.
Running alongside our existing complex care brands, ICCM and SCP Complex, TCC will help build City & County’s position as one of the UK’s leading complex care providers.
We look forward to sharing more information about TCC and their work in the coming weeks.
Gifts of thanks to our care teams
It’s always amazing to see our teams recognised by the families of people we care for and our partner organisations. Even a small ‘thank you’ helps us remember just how big an impact we can make on the lives of our service users. This week were contacted by two of our service managers about gifts that teams had received in recognition of their work.
Firstly Nkeiru Amatobi, registered manager at Danbury Gardens Extra Care Scheme in Leicester, got in touch. The Help at Home staff at the scheme were gifted hot drinks, chocolates and biscuits by the local housing team at Anchor Hanover in thanks for their hard work and support during the lockdown.
Sam Johnson, deputy manager for Guardian Homecare in Blackburn with Darwen also contacted us after the team were given no less than eight tubs of Celebrations!
“The family of a service user who has now passed away brought these in for the double up team in Darwen,” Sam told us. “The family wanted to give a ‘thank you’ for all their hard work and for making the service user’s life a lot happier whilst having care from us.”
Thank you both for sharing. If your service has recently received a thank you gift or message from anyone we care for then please let us know.
CCH Acquires Total Community Care
On 22nd September, City & County Healthcare Group completed the purchase of Total Community Care Limited (TCC). TCC is a complex care business providing specialist care for individuals living with spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions in their own home.
Based in Leicester, TCC manages more than 60 complex care packages for CCGs across England. As well as their CCG-commissioned work, they also deliver a combination of self-funded, insurance-funded and case-managed care services. TCC is well-respected in the market for the quality of its care, with a ‘Good’ CQC inspection rating.
TCC fits CCH’s strategy to acquire community care businesses to which we can add our financial and technical resources to help their growth. Running alongside existing complex care brands, ICCM and SCP Complex, TCC will help build City & County’s position as one of the UK’s leading complex care providers.
Weekly blog 18 September 2020
Recognition for our teams from Oldham Council
We received some amazing feedback from Oldham Council this week, praising the response from our local teams during the coronavirus pandemic. Coming directly from the Director of Adult Social Services and Assistant Director of Joint Commissioning, it’s clear just how much they value our dedicated care and support staff:
“We know this has been the most challenging six months that many of us have ever experienced in our time in health and social care. We know there have been days when you will have questioned whether you are doing enough, or the right thing or have been worried about exposing yourself or your families to risk. We know that even on these days, you have done everything you can to support the people that rely on your support.
“Your commitment, dedication and resilience has been humbling to witness. We have received many letters from family members directly and via providers praising the work you have done in caring for their loved ones during the pandemic. You should be very proud of everything you have achieved and we are grateful for your dedication and care.
“So thank you. Thank you for being a part of Team Oldham. Thank you for giving of yourself every day and putting the people you support first. They deserve your very best, and you have shown them exactly what this means.”
Superstar Karla saves the day
Recently, the Dartford team from Home Instead Senior Care posted on their Facebook page about how they’d ‘met a superhero in disguise’.
“We were made aware of a traffic accident right in front of our office, involving someone that was known to us, and when we arrived at the scene, a lovely and kind woman had already stopped her car and jumped into the damaged car to help the person inside.
“She stayed with that person the entire time until the ambulance arrived, speaking calmly, reassuring them and just being awesome. Everyone around thought she was a paramedic off-duty. As it turns out she works for another care company and just wanted to help.
“Karla, if you see this: you are a superstar and your current employer can be very proud of having you in the team!”
Well, someone did see this – Karla’s branch manager, Melissa, who forwarded the message onto us. We’re all incredibly proud to have Karla as a member of our Kent SCP team, changing lives every day – even when you’re off-duty. Well done Karla, you are definitely a superstar!
National Fitness Day – Wednesday 23rd September
This year National Fitness Day will take place on Wednesday 23rd September.
The day is a chance to celebrate the role that physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier and active lifestyles.
Why is this important?
National Fitness Day inspires the nation to move a bit more and better understand the benefits of an active lifestyle. It is not only proven to improve our physical health, it also has an incredible effect on our mental health, our confidence, our social connections and helps us build better communities.
This year’s theme is ‘Fitness Unites Us’. With the aim to demonstrate that coming together to be active is a great way to overcome the myriad of challenges we face across society. It is a day when people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities come together to celebrate the fun of fitness, whether that be ‘plank offs’, yoga and Pilates classes, treadmill challenges, high-street HIIT classes, dance-offs or mass walks.
Join the movement!
Keeping physically active means something different to us all, but fitness is for everyone. We want to hear from you!
Tell us about your fitness journeys here and inspire your colleagues to take up exercise! We will share your stories in our communications over the coming weeks.
You can also use #Fitness2Me on social media – Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To show what Fitness means to you and how it’s helping you unite with others!
This is just the start
Of course, National Fitness Day isn’t just about one day, it’s about committing to change your routine for a lifetime of benefits. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be promoting ways to improve physical health – so watch this space.
Cycling for sepsis awareness
Vicki Kinder, Care Coordinator at the Careline Homecare branch in Ashton-Under-Lyne, contacted us this week about her close call with sepsis earlier in the year. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death – and is caused by the body overreacting to an infection.
Vicki told us, “I was diagnosed with Sepsis back in April and was told that if my daughter hadn’t called the ambulance when she did, I wouldn’t have made it. I am back at work now and a hundred times better than I was, although still not 100% obviously.”
“I’ve decided to try and do my bit so have signed up to do a 150 mile bike ride from 1st to 30th September. I’ll be riding with my kids to raise some valuable money for such a good cause and also raise some awareness to the illness.”
Please support Vicki’s bike ride on the Just Giving page here, where you can also read more about the traumatic events that nearly took Vicki’s life.
Vicki has set up a display in the branch’s reception raising awareness of sepsis, with posters and leaflets provided by The UK Sepsis Trust. You can find out more about their work and spotting the signs of sepsis on the Trust’s website.
Recognition for Andrew at the Southwark Care Awards
Congratulations to Andrew Walby who recently won the Home Care Worker category of the Southwark Care Awards.
Organised by Southwark Council, the Southwark Care Awards celebrate the impact that paid and unpaid carers have in the local community. Sadly, due to the impact of Covid-19, there couldn’t be a physical awards ceremony this year – but Southwark Council are looking into ways to recognise Andrew and the other winners.
A member of our Sagecare team, Andrew was nominated for the award by David, a local social worker, after seeing the impact he’d made on the life of a non-verbal client. As part of the nomination David commented, “On my initial visit the client look dishevelled, he sat on a wooden chair, his curtains were shut and he just stared at his TV. He didn’t speak or look at anybody, so I requested a change in carer.”
“The new carer, Andrew, was Incredible. I visited a few days later sand the client was smiling and there were A5 pieces of paper with e alphabet on. The carer and purchased a small birthday cake, and the client blew out the candles.
“Within a few weeks, the client was managing to write a few words, he was starting to remember things. Andrew found a guitar, cleaned it and passed it to the client – who started to play it. He was beaming.”
Amazing, well done Andrew. You’ve made a huge change to the life of this service user.