Uncategorised News

Homes Visiting Update 06.05.21

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Homes Visiting Update 06.05.21

Dear Residents, Families and Friends.

The government guidance has now been published but is quite vague in some areas around external visits. Therefore, our visiting arrangements below are based on our interpretation of them and how they fit in with the clearer guidance on all other types of visits.  

All residents will be provided with a team escort to visit a polling station to register their vote today if they wish to. Minibus outings will commence to outdoor spaces as soon as drivers are on board.

We expect (hope) to gradually ease out of all restrictions by 21st June with our residents’ home life returning to as normal as possible.

Our full visiting arrangements are detailed below with all changes in blue. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Lock

Managing Director

VISITING ARRANGEMENTS

The following applies to Cabins, Gazebos, and Internal visits (not offsite external)

  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website.
  • Visiting slots are for 20-minutes because of limitations of team resources.
  • Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident.
  • Number of visits is a max of 1 visit per week for each household or 2 if you are the only household visiting.
  • Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
  • Social distancing of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit unless hand-holding has been agreed upon prior to the visit.
  • Care queries about your loved one should be made by calling the home and not during your visits.
  • Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
  • Virtual communication is encouraged, and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
  • Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
  • Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e., particularly those clinically vulnerable to Covid.
  • Face coverings required unless you are exempt or wearing one distress’s your loved one living with dementia, in which case please inform us prior to visiting, in such case you will need to wear a face visor. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.
  • All visits may be cancelled with no or short notice upon guidance by the homes’ local authority.
  • Visits are not conditional upon vaccination; however, it is strongly recommended for the safety of your loved one and all other residents.

VISITING CABINS

  • Continue as before
  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit. 
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

VISITING GAZEBOS

  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

INTERNAL VISITS

  • We can facilitate indoor visiting for up to 2 nominated visitors per resident.
  • These visitors can attend either together twice per week or separately once per week.
  • Up to TWO small children (Under 4 years old) may also attend the visit and are not subject to testing requirements or PPE use.
  • You may hold hands with the resident, but no other physical contact should not take place.
  • If you wish to become a nominated visitor you should contact the home to register prior to your first appointment.
  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website for either a cabin or gazebo.
  • Call the home after making your 20-minute appointment to ask for your visit to be converted to an internal visit.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time for Covid test and screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are required upon arrival.
  • PPE (surgical mask, apron and gloves provided) are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • The visiting area will be a designated safe place set up with hard non-porous easy clean furnishings for infection control reasons.
  • There will be no access to any other internal areas of the home including toilets except for handwashing.
  • Visitor vaccination is a government recommendation for residents safety but not a requirement.
  • Hygiene strict hand wash, gel procedures will be in place.

EXTERNAL VISITS TO OUTDOOR SPACES

Residents may leave our care homes to visit a friend or family member’s garden or go on walks in places such as parks or public gardens.

WITH NOMINATED INDIVUALS

  • Each resident can go out with up to 3 nominated individuals – usually their existing nominated essential visitor and up to 2 nominated internal visitors.
  • They will not have to self-isolate when they return.
  • If there are problems with nominated people, please discuss with the home.
  • If you need the support of a team escort, please discuss with the home.
  • Each external visit collection and return times must be prearranged and approved by the home.
  • The nominated individuals collecting the resident should arrive 30 minutes prior to the collection time to take a Lateral Flow Test and undergo Covid health screening (except essential visitor).
  • The nominated individuals must wear a mask and gloves at all times.
  • The nominated individuals must always stay with the resident.
  • The resident must not meet other people or go into any indoor spaces other than to use toilet facilities.
  • The resident must only travel to and from the visit in the nominated individuals’ car or a private taxi and not by public transport.

WITH OTHER PEOPLE

  • The person must contact the home to make the appointment.
  • The home will assess the visit with an individual risk assessment prior to authorisation.
  • All people meeting the resident must minimise contact with others for 2 weeks prior to the visit.
  • The resident and all people attending the garden visit must have a negative rapid test at the home earlier on the day of the visit.
  • The resident must only travel to and from the visit in the persons car or a private taxi and not by public transport.
  • There must be a room available at the visiting location where the resident can stay for 2 weeks in isolation should anyone attending the garden visit display any Covid 19 symptoms during the visit.
  • The resident must have a rapid test upon return and isolate in their room for 2 weeks.

ESSENTIAL VISITORS

  • We are committed to maintaining the quality of life of our residents and there are some limited circumstances in which essential visitors (care giver) may enter the home.
  • We have now expanded these circumstances to enable more visitors and we expect to gradually expand more and more over the forthcoming weeks.
  • If you think your loved one would benefit from this type of visit, please speak to your home manager about becoming an essential visitor.
  • You do not need to be one of the 2 nominated visitors. So, a resident could have an essential visitor as well as their 2 nominated visitors, if we all agree that is what is needed.
  • We will need to agree how often you visit, when and what support or practical help you might need to provide.
  • You will be subject to the same testing regime as our team.
  • Essential visitors are considered exceptional circumstances and should continue in the event of an outbreak unless there are specific reasons not to do so.

RELUCTANT TO VISIT?

If you have not visited your loved one because they have dementia, and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible. This organisation advocates and provides support for families of residents living with dementia who are finding it difficult https://goldstandardsframework.org.uk/john-s-campaign-dementia

Residents Are Getting A Taste for the Finer Things in Life

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Douglas Court upskills their hospitality team with industry-leading training to ensure residents are ‘served up’ a fine dining experience.

Douglas Court Care Home in Derby knows that it is their team who are the key to a smooth and seamless meal-time experience for their residents. Douglas Court is providing ongoing training, so the team feels confident with creating, serving, and presenting a fine dining experience to the residents.

Continue reading “Residents Are Getting A Taste for the Finer Things in Life”

There Is Only ‘One Stop’ For Local Coventry Care Home

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Local Coventry Care Home, The Knowles says “Thank You” to their local One-Stop Shop in Tile Hill after the Shop Manager nominated them to receive a £500 grant and ongoing support as part of their work with the Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends.

Residents from the Knowles Care Home in Coventry visited the store on Station Avenue to present the store manager and team with a bunch of flowers to say Thank you.

Residents from The Knowles present One Stop team with a bunch of flowers to say thank you

Continue reading “There Is Only ‘One Stop’ For Local Coventry Care Home”

Homes Visiting Update 04.05.21

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater
Homes Visiting Update 04.05.21

Dear Residents, Families and Friends.

I am extremely pleased to announce that from today you may take your loved one out to visit your garden, or for walks.

The external visiting arrangements below are temporary provisional ones because government guidelines are not yet published. We realise that some of the other visiting arrangements conflict with the external visiting arrangements. Please bear with us as we intend to fully review all visiting arrangements as soon as the guidelines are received in the near future.

We expect (hope) to gradually ease out of all restrictions by 21st June with our residents’ home life returning to as normal as possible, including outings for residents in our minibuses.

Our full visiting arrangements are detailed below with all changes in blue. 

Yours sincerely

Dave Lock

Managing Director

VISITING ARRANGEMENTS

The following applies to Cabins, Gazebos, and Internal visits (not offsite external)

  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website.
  • Visiting slots are for 20-minutes because of limitations of team resources.
  • Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident.
  • Number of visits is a max of 1 visit per week for each household or 2 if you are the only household visiting.
  • Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
  • Social distancing of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit unless hand-holding has been agreed upon prior to the visit.
  • Care queries about your loved one should be made by calling the home and not during your visits.
  • Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
  • Virtual communication is encouraged, and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
  • Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
  • Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e., particularly those clinically vulnerable to Covid.
  • Face coverings required unless you are exempt or wearing one distress’s your loved one living with dementia, in which case please inform us prior to visiting, in such case you will need to wear a face visor. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.
  • All visits may be cancelled with no or short notice upon guidance by the homes’ local authority.
  • Visits are not conditional upon vaccination, however, it is strongly recommended for the safety of your loved one and all other residents.

VISITING CABINS

  • Continue as before
  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit. 
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

VISITING GAZEBOS

  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

INTERNAL VISITS

  • We can facilitate indoor visiting for up to 2 nominated visitors per resident.
  • These visitors can attend either together twice per week or separately once per week.
  • Up to TWO small children (Under 4 years old) may also attend the visit and are not subject to testing requirements or PPE use.
  • You may hold hands with the resident, but no other physical contact should not take place.
  • If you wish to become a nominated visitor you should contact the home to register prior to your first appointment.
  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website for either a cabin or gazebo.
  • Call the home after making your 20-minute appointment to ask for your visit to be converted to an internal visit.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time for Covid test and screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are required upon arrival.
  • PPE (surgical mask, apron and gloves provided) are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • The visiting area will be a designated safe place set up with hard non-porous easy clean furnishings for infection control reasons.
  • There will be no access to any other internal areas of the home including toilets except for handwashing.
  • Visitor vaccination is a government recommendation for residents safety but not a requirement.
  • Hygiene strict hand wash, gel procedures will be in place.

EXTERNAL VISITS TO RELATIVES’ GARDENS

  • Residents may leave our care homes to visit a friend or family member’s garden or go on walks in places such as parks or public gardens.
  • They will not have to self-isolate when they return.
  • Each resident can go out with up to 3 nominated individuals – usually their existing nominated essential visitor and up to 2 nominated internal visitors.
  • If there are problems with nominated people, please discuss with the home.
  • If you need the support of a team escort, please discuss with the home.
  • Each external visit collection and return times must be prearranged and approved by the home.
  • The nominated individuals collecting the resident should arrive 30 minutes prior to the collection time to take a Lateral Flow Test and undergo Covid health screening (except essential visitor).
  • The nominated individuals must wear a mask and gloves at all times.
  • The nominated individuals must always stay with the resident.
  • The resident must not meet other people or go into any indoor spaces other than to use toilet facilities.
  • The resident must only travel to and from the visit in the nominated individual’s car or a private taxi and not by public transport.

ESSENTIAL VISITORS

  • We are committed to maintaining the quality of life of our residents and there are some limited circumstances in which essential visitors (care giver) may enter the home.
  • We have now expanded these circumstances to enable more visitors and we expect to gradually expand more and more over the forthcoming weeks.
  • If you think your loved one would benefit from this type of visit, please speak to your home manager about becoming an essential visitor.
  • You do not need to be one of the 2 nominated visitors. So, a resident could have an essential visitor as well as their 2 nominated visitors, if we all agree that is what is needed.
  • We will need to agree how often you visit, when and what support or practical help you might need to provide.
  • You will be subject to the same testing regime as our team.
  • Essential visitors are considered exceptional circumstances and should continue in the event of an outbreak unless there are specific reasons not to do so.

RELUCTANT TO VISIT?

If you have not visited your loved one because they have dementia, and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible. This organisation advocates and provides support for families of residents living with dementia who are finding it difficult https://goldstandardsframework.org.uk/john-s-campaign-dementia

Homes Visiting Update 19.03.21

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Further to my update below that I sent to you last week I announce the arrangements for resident external visits to relatives’ gardens at their homes as per the government announcement. I have to tell you that the government guidance is so onerous that it seems to deliberately discourage take up and makes the exercise pointless.

External visits to relatives’ gardens

  • The relative must contact the home 1 week prior to make the appointment.
  • The home will assess the visit with an individual risk assessment prior to authorisation.
  • All people attending the garden visit must minimise contact with others for 2 weeks prior to the visit.
  • The resident and all people attending the garden visit must have a negative rapid test at the home earlier on the day of the visit.
  • The resident must only travel to and from the visit in a relative’s car or a private taxi and not by public transport.
  • There must be a room available at the visiting location where the resident can stay for 2 weeks isolation should anyone attending the garden visit display any Covid 19 symptoms during the visit.
  • The resident must have a rapid test upon return and isolate in their room for 2 weeks.

Dear Residents, Families and Friends.

We fully understand that current visiting arrangements and local authority suspensions are very difficult for residents and relatives. With my father living in Moat House my family suffers the same.

However, please understand that the situation is very difficult to manage with a government strategy that does not seem to make much sense. Recent guidance for indoor hand holding visits has now been extended to relatives’ taking residents on external trip to their homes for visits in their gardens. This is fantastic, and we are all for it, but the relatives survey feedback was very mixed with many agreeing to this and many not agreeing and believing it is too early. Our decisions have to balance this along with prioritising our cherished residents’ safety. Remember just one infected resident could harm many of our loved ones.

Government guidance is confusing because it wishes us to enable internal visits and residents going to visit relatives’ gardens. But at the same time local authorities continue to suspend visits at a great many care homes, including many of ours, amid government sponsored media warnings to stay social distanced because the virus threat remains high!

It is wonderful that most residents and many of our team have received their first vaccine, but the medical advice is that residents can still contract Covid 19, get ill and infect others. We are advised to continue our robust infection control measures.

Government advice remains that we should suspend a homes’ visits for 28 days upon an outbreak (2 or more team or residents with positive tests) and if another positive test occurs within that period the 28 days restarts. Although it goes on to say we should do everything possible to allow visiting! We have to liaise with each homes local authority for their interpretation of the guidance and final advise and each local area’s advice varies wildly!

We now have hardly any residents testing positive but frequent odd team members that do. This is inevitable as the team live in the community where Covid cases are prevalent. This has resulted in some homes having prolonged repeatedly extended suspensions. We disagree with this and have strongly argued against it because there is no evidence of transmission in the homes and that visiting in our visiting cabins is very safe.

We have therefore decided to take a more pragmatic flexible approach taking each home’s varying factors into account. Wherever possible we will continue with visiting in our very safe visiting cabins. Gazebos and internal visits may still be subject to suspension and we are reviewing arrangements for relatives to take residents to their home for garden visit and will make an announcement next week.

Yours sincerely

Dave Lock

Managing Director

VISITING ARRANGEMENTS

VISITING CABINS

The following applies to Cabins, Gazebos, and Internal visits

  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website.
  • Visiting slots are for 20-minutes because of limitations of team resources.
  • Number of visits is a max of 2 visits per week for each resident.
  • Number of visits is a max of 1 visit per week for each household or 2 if you are the only household visiting.
  • Coronavirus guidelines as set by the government are to be followed.
  • Social distancing of 2 meters apart from all people during the visit unless hand holding has been agreed prior to the visit.
  • Care queries about your loved one should be made by calling the home and not during your visits.
  • Items brought for residents should be easily cleanable; boxes are good but not flowers etc.
  • Resident leaving homes are against government guidelines.
  • Virtual communication is encouraged, and resident assistance is available if resources allow.
  • Visiting arrangement changes are notified via our text service so please ensure that the home has your mobile phone number.
  • Resident exclusion from receiving visits may have to be made by us in exceptional circumstances if a risk assessment determines this is necessary i.e., particularly those clinically vulnerable to Covid.
  • Face coverings required unless you are exempt or wearing one distress’s your loved one living with dementia, in which case please inform us prior to visiting, In such case you will need to wear a face visor. To make communication easier speak loudly and clearly whilst keeping eye contact and avoid concealing your face further with say, a hat.

VISITING CABINS

  • Continue as before
  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit.  
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn to and from the cabin.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

VISITING GAZEBOS

  • Bookings available from Tuesday 9th March
  • Number of visitors is a max. of 2 people from the same household per visit. 
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes prior to appointment time for Covid screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are on hold.
  • Hugs are on hold.
  • Face coverings are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • No Internal access to any internal areas of the home including toilets.

INTERNAL VISITS

  • Prior to booking any visits one person per resident (government guidance maximum) should contact the home to register as the nominated single person authorised to make internal visits to a resident.
  • Visiting appointments are to be booked via our website for either a cabin or gazebo.
  • Call the home after making your 20-minute appointment to ask for your visit to be converted to an internal visit.
  • Number of visitors is a max. of 1 pre-authorised constant person. 
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time for Covid test and screening including a temperature check.
  • Rapid tests are required upon arrival.
  • PPE (surgical mask, apron and gloves provided) are to be worn at all times during the visit.
  • Visiting area will be a designated safe place set up with hard non-porous easy clean furnishings for infection control reasons.
  • Internal access has to be denied to all other internal areas of the home including toilets except for handwashing.
  • Visitor vaccination requirement is legally discrimination, so we cannot insist Although government guidance recommends this to help to keep residents safe.
  • Hugs are on hold, but you may hold hands subject to prior agreement with the home and in line with the resident’s individual risk assessment.
  • Hygiene strict hand wash, gel procedures will be in place.

ESSENTIAL VISITORS

Is a visitor that can make internal There are 2 very limited circumstances where essential visitors may enter the home:

  1. During palliative care it is important that a persons’ end of life experience is a special time with regular family bedside visits to their loved ones following a doctor’s diagnosis of end of life. This is now extended to a resident’s entire palliative journey as well as their end of life.
  2. Specific healthcare needs (to be introduced later once internal visits are successfully embedded): a family member may be asked to regularly visit to help support a wider team to meet the specific healthcare needs of a resident. This will only be in very exceptional circumstances as determined by our Dementia Manager or Dementia Specialist Nurse. We are developing a detailed policy for making these decisions.

You will be subject to the same testing regime as our team members to ensure the safety of the residents. We will provide PPE (surgical mask, visor, apron, and disposable gloves) for you to wear, and only essential contact with your loved one is allowed to deliver care and support.

RELUCTANT TO VISIT?

If you have not visited your loved one because they have dementia, and you have concerns of any type or are worried about how they will respond by maybe not social distancing and trying to touch you etc. Then please ask your home manager to speak to our Dementia Manager, Karen Middleton, who will help you and the home to make visits possible. This organisation advocates and provides support for families of residents living with dementia who are finding it difficult https://goldstandardsframework.org.uk/john-s-campaign-dementia

Pay Day Advance (PDA)

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Pay Day Advance (PDA)

Dear Team Members,

I would like to thank you, our fantastic team, once again for your commitment and hard work throughout the pandemic.

We have awarded you an above inflation pay increases from April and I am pleased to announce an enhancement to our unique team benefit, the PDA scheme, that you have enjoyed for several years.

Introduced to help our team avoid rip-off payday loan sharks, our PDA is today increasing to allow advances of up to £1,000. We do not ask for a reason, charge no fee or interest, and you will pay no benefit-in-kind tax under current legislation.

The amount of PDA depends on your employment period and is limited to no more than your usual net monthly pay. We will deduct your monthly repayments from your pay starting from your next salary payment. You may apply for a top-up at any time. All advances are subject to funds availability, governed by demand.

 EMPLOYED FORMAXIMUM ADVANCEMONTHLY PAYMENT
3 MONTHS£300£30
6 MONTHS£500£50
12 MONTHS£1,000£100

Notes of Interest:

  • To qualify you must be in our permanent employment, up to date with your training and Covid vaccinations and have had no attendance, time-keeping, or disciplinary issues over the past 3 months.
  • In exceptional circumstances (e.g., long-term sickness, disability, or clinical reason for no Covid vaccination) we will consider a PDA.
  • Full terms and conditions are on the PDA agreement.

Yours sincerely

Dave Lock

Managing Director

Pay Review

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Pay Review – 01.04.2021

Dear Adept Team

I would like to personally thank you and the whole team for your hard work throughout this past very challenging year.

From 1st April you will receive a pay increase of at least 2%. This is over double the current CPI inflation rate of 0.7% and made possible because of the financial strength of Adept despite the hefty continuing cost impact of Covid. Your manager has full details.

Many Thanks

Dave Lock

Managing Director

Residents go vegan and discover there is far more to Veganuary than ‘meats’ the eye!

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

With veganism becoming one of the UK’s fastest-growing lifestyle movements and with an estimated 7,000 vegetarians and vegans in residential and nursing care homes, Hospitality Manager, Rebecca Lambert decided to introduce residents to the plant-based diet by holding a vegan festival during the month of January, or better known as ‘Veganuary’.

Continue reading “Residents go vegan and discover there is far more to Veganuary than ‘meats’ the eye!”

Residents go vegan and discover there is far more to Veganuary than ‘meats’ the eye!

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

With veganism becoming one of the UK’s fastest growing lifestyle movements and with an estimated 7,000 vegetarians and vegans in residential and nursing care homes, Hospitality Manager, Rebecca Lambert at The Knowles decided to introduce residents to the plant-based diet by holding a vegan festival during the month of January, or better known as ‘Veganuary’.

“I am taking part in Veganuary this year and when the residents heard about it, they asked me: “What can you eat? Can you still eat chocolates and sweets? Don’t you miss meat?” I wanted to show them how diverse and interesting vegan food can be.”

Continue reading “Residents go vegan and discover there is far more to Veganuary than ‘meats’ the eye!”

Kenny Nelson newly appointed Business Director at Adept Care Homes

Posted on by Maree Leadbeater

Adept Care Homes continues to expand its team and is delighted to welcome Kenny Nelson as its newly appointed Business Director for its Midlands-based care homes.

Kenny brings with him a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge following 7 years working alongside Adept Care Homes as Relationship Director with RBS and later, as Senior Director, Health & Social Care with CYB (Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank).

Continue reading “Kenny Nelson newly appointed Business Director at Adept Care Homes”