Covid-19 Vaccinations
Always lovely to receive a complimentary letter from our wonderful Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group, thank you so much!
We are proud to advise 100% of all staff and residents have had their first coronavirus vaccine and over 80% have also received their second vaccine
F.A.O The Manager
RE: Covid-19 Vaccination Program
I am writing to personally thank you for the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program in your care home. It has been noted that Bassetlaw has the highest uptake of the vaccinations for residents, staff and agency staff across the whole of Nottinghamshire.
The data identifying this has been taken from the NHS capacity tracker and in order to continue our vaccination status can I urge that the data around the 2nd vaccinations is submitted in a timely manner.
Please continue to encourage your residents and staff to be vaccinated where they are able to.
Kind regards
Yours sincerely,
Nicola Ryan
Interim Chief Nurse
Have your say....
The Department of Health and Social Care is consulting on making vaccination a condition of deployment in care homes for older adults to protect the people most at risk in our society.
This is a complex and important issue. The Government want to gather a wide range of perspectives from across the care home sector about whether this should be introduced and how it would be put into practice.
The deadline has now been extended for responses to midday on Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Have your say here:
Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Welcoming new residents through safe admissions
We continue to welcome new residents to our home using our robust covid-secure admission process, whilst protecting those who already live with us and offering safe visiting opportunities.
We specialise in providing care to older people and as a small care home with 22 en-suite bedrooms our team really get to know all residents, understand their needs, and encourage social friendships amongst residents living at Farthings.
We have a robust admission process in place to enable us to offer a safe and compassionate start to living within our care home.
- Discussions: will take place prior to any admission with the home’s Registered Manager, this may be with yourself or a loved one. This is to gain an overview of your current care needs and requirements.
- Assessment: if it is likely we would be able to meet your specific needs the Registered Manager will arrange a Pre-Admission Assessment. This is to meet you, discuss what your needs are and how you would like to be cared for. It will also enable us to give you and your loved ones more information about our home and the facilities we have available to you. Ordinarily, dependant on circumstance, this would take place face-to-face but rest assured all of our staff are vaccinated, tested three times per week and would be wearing all the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your safety.
- Time: after initial discussions and assessments our prospective residents are given time to consider their decision, possibly alongside their loved ones.
- Testing: we will provide a coronavirus test which is to be completed two days before moving into the home and returned a negative result.
- Moving In: you are welcome to bring any personal effects to help you feel at home. All our rooms are en-suite, and are equipped with a bed, bedside table, chest of drawers, wardrobe, chair, and a television. You will receive 14-days of in-room care from admission.
- Settling In: a full Care Plan will be developed with you; this will include all the information the staff need to ensure they care for you how you would like to be. In addition, the Activities Co-ordinator will spend some time getting to know you and will arrange tailored activities for your interests. You will receive another coronavirus test around 10 days after admission. Once you have received in-room care for 14-days and received a negative coronavirus test result you will be able to meet the rest of the Farthings family and explore the home.
Here are some commonly asked questions recently regarding admissions:
If I have had a coronavirus test which is negative and have had the vaccine, do I still need to have in-room care for 14-days from admission?
Yes – The current Government Guidance (amended 17.05.21) states that to minimise the risk to residents in care homes during periods of sustained community transmission, all residents being discharged from hospital, or interim care facilities to the care home, and new residents admitted from the community, should be isolated for 14-days within their own room. A 14-day period of isolation is recommended for residents in care homes as older care home residents are particularly vulnerable group and their immune response may differ from younger, normally healthier individuals. Furthermore, the guidance advises even with a confirmed covid-19 negative status, from a test taken less than 2 days prior to admission, a 14-day period of isolation is still recommended, particularly in care homes for older residents.
I’m worried if I’m in my room for 14-days that I will be lonely and in a strange environment.
Please be assured you will receive plenty of visits from staff throughout the day, this is a great opportunity to get to know the team on a one-to-one basis. You will be able to take part in some activities in your room, painting, drawing, jigsaws, reading etc. There is also wi-fi throughout the home so, with the support of staff if needed, you will be able to facetime loved ones, play games or music on the iPad as well as reading the news or even doing some online shopping! All rooms have a call-bell for calling assistance at any time of day or night.
I really like being outside in the garden and worry about being inside for the first 14-days.
We have some ‘courtyard’ rooms with direct access to the gardens, you will be able to go outside as you will not pass-through communal areas.
If my coronavirus test is positive, will I still be able to move in as planned?
No, we would ask you to complete your 14-day isolation in your current location before moving into the home when you will then receive in-room care for 14-days.
Will I receive routine coronavirus testing whilst living at Farthings?
Yes, currently all residents are tested every 28-days in line with Government guidance. Furthermore, all staff are tested three times per week.
Can I still have my coronavirus vaccine?
Yes, we have exceptional links with our local healthcare professionals, the roving team will visit the home to administer covid vaccines, whether that be a first or second vaccine. We are also proud to advise 100% of all staff and residents have received their first vaccine, with over 80% also having received their second.
Am I able to still see my loved ones?
Absolutely! We have several visiting options; each resident is able to identify five named nominated visitors of whom can visit the resident (max two at a time) in their own bedroom. Visits can also take place in our gardens, inside our visiting marquee, gate visits, window visits and of course virtual and telephone visits too.
If you are considering care for yourself or your loved one, please call our friendly team who will be more than willing to answer any questions you may have, 01777 838 219, alternatively you can email [email protected].
Have your say....
The Department of Health and Social Care have launched a five-week consultation to gather as many opinions as possible regarding making the coronavirus vaccine a condition of employment within Health and Social Care.
The closing date for contributions is Friday, 21 May 2021, please share your thoughts on the proposal by following the link below:
Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
April 2021 News
EASTER
Lots of Easter Eggs were around the home and games played throughout the day. The residents and staff alike enjoyed playing mix and match and bunny ring toss. All the residents and staff received an Easter egg from the Easter bunny too. There was also singing and dancing amongst staff and residents, a great weekend was enjoyed by all.
DB ANIMAL THERAPY
Unfortunately, Charlotte will be leaving us soon to progress her new venture, DB Animal Therapy. Charlotte first started at Farthings in 2017 and has worked in a variety of roles since then, she will be greatly missed by the Farthings Family. On 13 April Charlotte treated our wonderful residents to a glimpse of her new venture and brought lots of animals to meet them. From fluffy rabbits and guineapigs, to scaly snakes and lizards, to leggy millipedes to tortoises, Charlotte brought in a fabulous selection of animals for all of the residents to see and hold. As you will see from the photographs there were lots and lots of smiles!!
GAMES
We have enjoyed playing noughts and crosses and mix and match this month!
VISITS
We continue to facilitate lots of visits with loved ones, it has been lovely to see you all. It has also been warm enough to have visits in the garden some days!!
JIGSAWS
Jigsaws continue to be enjoyed amongst our residents, some completed individually and others as a small group.
NEWS
We had lots of discussions around the sad news of HRH Prince Philip passing away, newspapers were shared and we reminisced about the Royal Family.
SUNSHINE
At last the sun has come out, many of our residents have enjoyed sitting outside with their sunhats on enjoying the sun and the birds chattering!
STAFF
We have some staff changes taking place over the coming month, as previously mentioned our wonderful Housekeeper Charlotte will be leaving us to take up her new animal therapy venture, we wish her all the very best and hope to see her again very soon. We have recruited April into the Housekeeping role, April has over 7 years of commercial cleaning experience and we are looking forward to welcoming her to the team mid-May.
Our lovely Care Assistant Alexis has begun her new venture working within a school, Alexis has remained on our bank and we hope to see her again soon. Pauline (previously Activities Coordinator) has moved into the Care Assistant role. We have therefore recruited Emily into the Activities Coordinator role; Emily has several years’ experience of providing support and friendship and is looking forward to getting to know everyone in the coming weeks.
Lisa will also be moving on to a new dream venture, working a farm, she will be missed by all at Farthings, however Lisa has also decided to remain on bank and will hopefully be back soon with wonderful farm stories to tell.
We have welcomed Chayse our lovely Care Assistant back from maternity leave and have also recruited Amie into a Care Assistant role, Amie started with us in early May and has over 8 years’ experience of working in care.