Social care recruitment and the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, coronavirus, Dementia, Guidance, Information sharing
Care home worker and resident fist bump wearing masks

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for many colleagues working in the social care sector, making retention and recruitment more important than ever. Vida Healthcare's Bernadette Mossman explains how she and her colleagues have been encouraging vaccination among their staff.

I’ve made my choice, so what’s yours?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: coronavirus, Viewpoint, Workforce
COVID-19 vaccine vial and syringe

The thought of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was a little bit scary to begin with for Cygnet Healthcare's Raf Hamaiza. Like many others, he struggled to make sense of information pouring in from all directions. In this blog, he explains how he found clarity and peace of mind - for himself and his colleagues.

Co-production isn’t just for Co-production Week

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support
People discussing complex issues

When you have a ‘week’ or ‘month’ concentrating on a theme or a campaign, it can really focus minds. But there’s also the danger that, once the week or month has passed, the issue gets sidelined. Co-production Week, which the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) ran in early July, got a good conversation going. …

Our experience of vaccination as a condition of deployment

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, coronavirus
Staff member holds up a vaccination badgevaccina

Barchester Healthcare has been working tirelessly, in difficult circumstances, to protect and reassure its colleagues, residents and their relatives about COVID-19 and vaccinations throughout the course of the pandemic. Chief Executive Dr Peter Calveley explains how he and his team worked hard to keep staff updated on the vaccination roll out and allay their concerns …

COVID-19 vaccinations protect us all

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, Communities, coronavirus, Guidance, Information sharing
Vaccination timeline

COVID-19 vaccination has to be comprehensive to be truly effective as protection – particularly for those most vulnerable to infection. While the SAGE recommended levels of at least 80% of care home staff and 90% of residents have been reached and exceeded in many parts of England, regional variation persists. Deborah Sturdy, our Chief Nurse …

Care Home Open Week: a good reason to throw a party!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, coronavirus, Events
Staff and residents met members of the local police force

After what can only be described as an uncertain and difficult 18 months, Care Home Open Week was a fantastic opportunity to focus on the positives and have some fun.  Many of the people supported at Precious Homes have found the pandemic hard. Changes to routine can be a challenge for autistic people, and isolation …

Care Home Open Week: the poetry of personalised care

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Uncategorised
Staff and resident chatting

Often, when people think about moving into a care home, they might picture bingo at 3pm, lounges filled with old people watching endless re-runs of Corrie and early bedtimes. At Maycroft Manor in Brighton, they pride themselves on doing things differently. Care Home Open Week was no exception.

Care Home Open Week: a chance to share happiness

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, coronavirus, Events
Bubble therapy session

COVID-19 has led to many changes in the way residential care is provided and the way care colleagues work together. One thing that hasn’t changed is the sense of family and community within Priscilla Wakefield House, a teaching care home in Haringey, north London. Despite the outside world being turned up-side-down, care staff have succeeded …