Community News

Disability Confident Committed

We are proud to be part Disability Confident, a Government scheme which encourages employers to create a movement of change and think differently about disability, to take action to improve how we recruit, retain and develop disabled people.

At Ashall Care we commit to the following:

1. Ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, we will do this by:

1. • ensuring against discrimination
   • making job adverts accessible
   • providing information in accessible formats
   • accepting applications in alternative formats

2. Communicate and promote vacancies, we will do this by:
   • advertising vacancies through a range of channels, and we will use our Disability Confident badge to make sure potential applicants know we are an inclusive employer
   • getting advice and support from Jobcentre Plus, Work and Health Programme providers, recruiters and our local disabled people’s user led organisations (DPULOs)
   • we will review our current recruitment processes

3. Offer an interview to disabled people
   • We will encourage applications by offering an interview to an applicant who declares they have a disability who meets the minimum criteria for the post advertised.

4. Anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as required
   • As an employer we have a duty under he Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared with their colleagues.

5. Support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

Disability Confident Certificate - 08.07.21-04.07.24

by Charlotte Shatwell

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.

The government guidelines were amended on 18 June 2021 and as such we too have amended our processes inline with differing scenarios as follows:

A Pre-Planned Admission from the Community

In order to follow this process the individual must satisfy the below requirements:

• Be fully vaccinated (plus 3 weeks wherever possible) – evidence will be required
• The local guidance from the Director of Public Health about community transmission of variants of concern is followed
• No known contact with a COVID-positive person
• We will take into consideration the current circumstances at home in terms of risk
• An enhanced testing regime is followed, which consists of PCR prior to admission (within 72-hours), a PCR test on day of admission (day 0) and a further PCR test 7 days following admission (day 7) and daily rapid lateral flow testing until the results of the day 7 PCR have been received

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.  Once a decision has been made please get in touch with the Registered Manager again who will work alongside you to arrange your admission at a time which is convenient to yourself, this could be the same day, in a couple of days or in a few weeks’ time, it is your choice.

Testing: we will provide a PCR coronavirus test which is to be completed within 72-hours before moving into the home and returned a negative result.  A further PCR will be required on the admission day (day 0) and on day 7.  In addition, rapid lateral flow tests will be required daily until the results of the day 7 PCR has been received.

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 are welcome to bring a named visitor with you to help you settle in, they must follow the current visiting guidance which will be discussed prior to 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 are welcome to have visitors in line with the visitor guidance.

An Admission from Hospital, an Interim Care Facility, another Care Home, an Emergency Community Admission or a Community Admission unable to satisfy the requirements detailed above

Discussions: will take place prior to any admission with the home’s Registered Manager, this may be with yourself, a loved one or a healthcare professional.  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.  Once a decision has been made, please get in touch with the Registered Manager again who will work alongside you to arrange your admission at a time which is convenient to yourself, this could be the same day, in a couple of days or in a few weeks’ time, it is your choice.

Testing: we will provide a PCR coronavirus test which is to be completed within 72-hours before moving into the home and returned a negative result.  A further PCR will be required on the day of admission (day 0) and again on day 12.

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.  If you have an essential care giver, they will be able to help you settle in and visit throughout your 14-days of in-room care, subject to the necessary visiting requirement.

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.  Once you have received in-room care for 14-days and received a negative coronavirus test result from your day 12 PCR swab you will be able to meet the rest of the Farthings family and explore the home.

Every admission is different and above outlines some key stages throughout the admission process, however they are adaptable for everyone’s individual situations.  A thorough risk assessment will be carried out prior to any admission and the requirements for admission will be fully explained beforehand.

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].

by Charlotte Shatwell

Visitor Guidance

All visits MUST be pre-booked through our online booking system: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/[email protected]/bookings/

Bedroom, Marquee & Garden Visits

• Every resident care nominate up to 5 ‘named visitors’ who will be able to enter the care home for regular visits (up to 2 at a time and only 2 on any one day)
  • Names, addresses and phone numbers of the 5 named visitors must be given to the Registered Manager prior to any visits taking place.
• A visitor questionnaire is to be completed before coming into the Home and the visit must not take place if the visitor has:
  • any coronavirus symptoms; high temperature, cough or loss of taste or smell
  • been in contact with someone who is covid positive
  • been instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
• A Coronavirus Lateral Flow Test (LFT) must have been conducted on the day of the visit. These can be provided and taken at Farthings or can be taken home to conduct prior to visiting.
  • It is a legal requirement for LFT’s to be logged on the government website https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result utilising Farthings Unique Organisation Number (UON) 10122059 and evidence of negative result MUST be seen prior to entry to the Home.
• Full PPE MUST be worn at all times throughout the visit, this includes, IIR facemask, apron and gloves all of which will be provideds.
• The visitor will be escorted to the marquee or residents bedroom.
• Visitors are politely requested to maintain strict social distancing from other residents, visitors and staff at all times.
• Staff will return to escort visitors out of the Home at the end of the visiting time or visitors can press the residents call bell to request to be escorted out.

Gate, Window & Virtual Visits

• Additional friends and family to the 5 named visitors are able to have gate, window or virtual visits but they must still be booked via the above booking link
• The resident will be ready waiting for the visit to take place at the booked time
• A face covering must be worn if conducting a gate visit and strict social distancing must still be adhered to
• During a window visit the window must remain closed
• Virtual visits will be supported by a member of staff if required

Visits Outside of the Home

• Any visits being conducted outside of Farthings MUST be discussed with the Registered Manager beforehand, this is to enable a Risk Assessment to be carried out and to establish whether any isolation will be required upon return to the Home.

by Charlotte Shatwell

Important reminders from NHS Test and Trace

Accessing regular rapid lateral flow tests

Anyone can now get regular rapid lateral flow tests (LFT) without having symptoms.  Rapid lateral tests from the universal testing offer can be ordered through:

Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

About 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others, this is why universal testing is so important.

Please continue to test regardless of the vaccine

It is vitally important that you continue to test regardless of whether you have had the vaccine or not.  While the approved vaccines provide protection to a vaccinated person from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, we do not yet know if they prevent someone from passing on the virus to others.  You can still carry the virus on your body and clothes if you come into contact with it.

Everyone must continue to follow guidance, including wearing the correct personal protection equipment (PPE) and undertake regular testing to continue to protect themselves, the people we care for, your family, friends and colleagues.

by Charlotte Shatwell