March 2021 News
ST DAVID’S DAY
St David is the patron saint of Wales, to celebrate St David’s day on 1 March we had discussions about daffodils, which are coming along nicely in our raised flowerbeds in our courtyard.
WORLD BOOK DAY
On 4 March, Pauline our wonderful Activities Co-ordinator organised lots of reading materials for the residents, books, magazines, newspapers, and crosswords to celebrate World Book Day. Pauline also read a book for the residents to listen to which was enjoyed by all.
VISITS
We were delighted to receive the Governments Guidance on 20 February which stated from 8 March were able to commence welcoming one named visitor per resident back into Farthings. We have been so pleased to welcome some of you back for our marquee visits, following a negative Lateral Flow Test. We have continued with our online booking process and we are of course continuing with our gate, window and virtual visits which are enjoyed by so many.
We appreciate that the past year has been such a difficult time for our residents and their families and friends and we would like to thank you all so much for your patience and understanding throughout.
MOTHERS DAY
Our residents thoroughly enjoyed receiving their Mothers Day gifts from their loved ones on 14 March, thank you to all our wonderful families.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Our first armchair exercise class was delivered by Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) via a pre-recorded link and facilitated by our Activities Co-ordinator Pauline and Charlotte in Support Services. This is a new project and we are working alongside Bassetlaw Commissioning Group (CCG) and BPL to facilitate online exercise classes or meditation classes in our home, being pre-recorded means we can utilise them at a time to suit our residents and as often as they would like to do them. The residents really enjoyed the armchair exercises.
ST PATRICK’S DAY
On 17 March 2021 St Patrick’s Day was celebrated, an Irish theme throughout the day. Irish music was played over lunchtime.
SPRING BEGINS
Finally, the official start to Spring was here on 20 March! After what seems like a very long winter we are looking forward to welcoming more of our families back into Farthings when Government Guidance allows.
PAMPER DAY
Jayne one of our fabulous Care Assistants organised a pamper day and pampered our residents, giving everyone who wanted one a manicure followed by an application of nail polish. Everyone was left feeling relaxed and happy. Thank you Jayne!
JIGSAWS
Our residents had a lovely time on 31 March completing jigsaws together around our large round table. There are many benefits in completing jigsaws, a study from Princeton University concluded that jigsaw puzzles can improve motor skills like dexterity. When you pick through small pieces, flip them over, and fit them into small places, it exercises all those small muscles in the fingers and eyes. A study from Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience explained that engaging your brain with activities like jigsaw puzzles can reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s. In addition, the completion of jigsaws can inspire socialisation, boost cognitive ability, boost your short-term memory and offers mindfulness.
Health & Wellbeing - Exercises
During a Provider Forum on 3 March 2021 Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) presented in conjunction with Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to raise awareness of virtual exercise classes. The CCG explained they had been tasked with obtaining support for the elderly within Care Homes who were suffering symptoms of Long Covid (currently classified as experiencing post-covid symptoms 12 weeks after having covid). During the process it was agreed the provision should be widened, not only for sufferers of long covid but any individual within a Care Home, especially due to personal trainers being unable to visit care homes currently.
As such BPL asked if anyone would be willing to trial their pre-recorded exercises classes and give feedback to the team on their suitability for care home settings. BPL advised there were a wide variety of classes available, from standing to seated exercises and tai chi to mindfulness. They were also willing to provide live sessions if that was something that homes would like and could also add or adapt content to suit the care homes requirements.
www.ageuk.org.uk reports that regular activity can:
- lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, some cancers, depression and dementia
- moving helps your thinking skills – like problem-solving, decision-making and remembering facts and words
- being active can lessen aches and pains, help you stay steady on your feet and boost your mood
So of course, Farthings jumped at this amazing chance and Charlotte volunteered Farthings to be part of the project. On 9 March 2021 Lynne had a virtual meeting with the CCG and BPL to discuss Farthings needs and wants and to establish a way forward with the project.
On 15 March 2021 the first Armchair Exercise Class was delivered and over 56% of our residents took part. All residents really enjoyed the session which focussed on exercising legs, arms, hands, feet and the body core.
We look forward to seeing how this project will evolve and aid our residents.
Safely Welcoming New Residents
We continue to welcome new residents to our home with strict covid secure procedures in place. Our team are on hand to discuss any concerns or answer questions you may have.
To safely welcome new residents to our home Government Guidance is always followed.
The process we follow:
- Discussions: will take place prior to any admission with the home’s Registered Manager, this may be with yourself or a loved one. It may also involve any professionals currently involved in you care for example a Social Worker, or home carers. This is to gain an overview of your current care needs.
- 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 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. Should you decide you would like to move into our home, this can happen as quickly or as slowly as you choose. Some residents wish to move in the same day and others book their place for in a months’ time.
- Testing: we will provide a coronavirus test which is to be completed and returned a negative result prior to moving into the home.
- Moving In: you are welcome to bring any personal effects you wish, 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. Wi-Fi is also available throughout the home. You will be required to remain in your bedroom for the first 14-days after admission. This is in line with Government Guidance to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus. We will ensure you receive plenty of visits from our staff team, should you wish, and this will give you and the staff the perfect opportunity for some one to one time.
- Settling In: when you have been in the home for a day or so 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 day 10. Then when you have isolated for 14-days and received another negative coronavirus test you will be able to meet the rest of the Farthings family and explore the home.
How we ensure we remain Covid safe
Throughout the pandemic our number one priority has always been to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our residents and staff.
We have developed and continually reviewed our protocols and processes throughout the pandemic to ensure the very latest guidance is followed.
We protect the people in our care by:
- Enhanced Cleaning: additional enhanced cleaning regimes are in place. We continue to use Virusolve+ cleaning products throughout the home, which is a highly effective cleaner and disinfectant against bacteria, micobacteria, fungi, viruses and spores. Virusolve+ continues to work for up to 7-days on surfaces.
- Accessible Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE is in plentiful supply and is readily and easily accessible throughout the home. Regular PPE audits ensure stock levels are maintained.
- Testing: ‘soft signs’ are checked as a minimum twice daily for all of our residents, this includes temperature checks and checks for all symptoms. Furthermore, all residents receive a coronavirus test every 28-days. All staff receive testing three times per week. This enables us to take immediate steps should there be any positive results https://apotekerendk.com/cialis-danmark/. In addition, we ensure any visiting professional i.e. district nurse, GP have had a negative test within 3-days of visiting the home.
- Training: all staff have received specific Covid-19 training in addition to mandatory Infection Control training which is undertaken annually.
- Visiting: we have several options for safe visiting all of which can be booked through our dedicated visiting booking system, these are:
- marquee visits – one nominated visitor is able to visit their loved one inside our newly purchased marquee (a covid-19 test must be taken and negative prior entry)
- gate visits – face to face socially distant visits can take place through our courtyard gate
- window visits – face to face visits can take place through our smaller sitting room window, with loved ones communicating on telephones.
- virtual visits – the homes iPad has facetime, teams, skype, zoom etc which can be used, supported by our staff team.
- Legislation: we have undertaken our Care Quality Commission Emergency Support Framework call and are maintaining compliance. In addition, we are in regular contact with the Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC).
- Activities: a wide range of activities are still on offer at Farthings to ensure our residents remain physically and mentally stimulated. Recently we have held online exercise classes, art classes, quizzes, topical discussions and cooking.
- Vaccinations: we are supporting the National vaccination programme and are absolutely delighted that 100% of our residents and staff have now had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Several staff have also received their second dose. Furthermore, we will continue to encourage all new residents and staff to access their vaccination.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Chayse who has given birth to her gorgeous twin boys.
Fagan has also had her gorgeous baby boy.
We would also like to wish all the very best to Charlie who has commenced her maternity leave too.
Also a big Congratulations to Fagan who has recently completed her NVQ 2 in Health and Social Care, well done https://canadianviagras.net/pill/cialis-black/.
Welcome
We would like to welcome back to the Farthings Family Jamie Shelton, thank you for coming back to Farthings to support our Covid-19 resilience plans. Jamie has been supporting our Housekeeping and Kitchen teams since returning to the home.
We would also like to welcome Amanda and Karen who will be joining our team very soon. Amanda will be our Activities Co-ordinator, she has worked varied roles throughout her career from administration to supervisory roles but she joins us after spending several years working as a community care worker. Amanda has arranged and facilitated many events during her current role and ‘loves making people happy’, we’re looking forward to her joining the team and undertaking resident communications pharmaciepourhomme.fr.
Karen will join us as a bank carer, cook and housekeeper and will also undertake our Communication Co-ordinator role within the Home. Karen has many years caring experience and during her recent retirement has decided to come back to social care. Karen is passionate about ensuring families remain connected throughout the pandemic.
What We've Been Doing Since We've Been Closed To Non-Essential Visitors
We have supported residents to use devices to keep in touch with their loved ones in addition to facilitating when possible socially distant visits in the garden. Please have a look on our Facebook page to watch some lovely sing-along videos too.
A socially distanced walk to the village church was enjoyed, we have enjoyed games and pampering apotheke-zag.de!
Many birthdays have been enjoyed
Additions To The Home
We have additional hand sanitising dispensers around the home, in communal areas and in corridors to encourage frequent hand washing.
A marquee has been purchased to hopefully facilitate visits in the coming months. Along with a sanitising station which can be used within and ‘sneeze screens’.
Six profiling beds have been purchased to replace some of the older beds within the home to ensure infection control measures are effectively maintained. Several rooms have also had their carpets replaced with safety flooring. Additional vinyl chairs have been ordered for use in bedrooms to maintain infection control practices and contract bedside tables with a lockable top drawer have also been put in place.
The Home is now fully using Person Centred Software for care planning and daily notes, the staff have fully embraced the change from laptop entry to mobile devices and entries are being entered in ‘real-time’. We have received many positive comments from the staff team about its ease of use and additional times being spent with residents because of not needing to sit at a laptop to write notes. We have even had residents entering their own notes with a carer on the device, documenting what they had just done or eaten.
Our fabulous colleagues at Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have very kindly donated a Galaxy Tab A with a 12-month subscription of 4G connectivity, primarily to be used by our staff team to access virtual training the CCG offer to us, for example, React to Red, donning and doffing, the CCG provide support for our link champions. The CCG also host our biweekly virtual Provider meetings to ensure we all remain up to date with the latest guidance both in terms of NHS initiatives and NCC information. These meetings have proven invaluable throughout the pandemic and ensure we remain up to date not only at a national level but also locally too. A huge thank you to the CCG for their donation.
We are also busy behind the scenes refreshing our marketing strategy, we are refreshing our logo’s and embedding the new ‘Ashall Care Ltd’ company with Farthings Residential Care Home. There will be a new website, brochures, leaflets and stationery coming soon, we’re looking forward to their launch!
A wall-mounted thermometer has been put in place for staff and professional visitors to the home on entry. Larger lockers have also been installed to ensure belongings brought into the home are stored safely.
Nottinghamshire County Council Quality Monitoring Audit
On 16 October 2020 Nottinghamshire County Council completed a virtual Quality Monitoring Audit at Farthings. We are pleased to announce that we have maintained our Band 5 (highest possible). The Home is audited annually in a variety of areas and scored either excellent, good, improvement required or does not meet for each area. Out of the 19 areas audited we received excellent in 11 areas and good in 8 areas.
A huge thank you and congratulations go to Lynne and her team.
Covid-19 Update
UPDATE
As you are aware we took the difficult decision to close the home again to all non-essential visitors from Monday 21 September. This decision was not taken lightly and we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff team. The decision was as a result of the R-rate increasing and reports we received from our Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) alongside the Department of Health for Social Care (DHSC) that there had been a number of outbreaks within our county’s care homes, affecting both residents and staff.
On Tuesday 6 October we received instruction from NCC we must close to non-essential visitors due to a sharp rise in Covid-19 across the County.
As I’m sure you are all aware we moved into Covid Tier 3 restrictions from Friday 30 October. More recently a National lockdown has been announced, so, unfortunately, we continue to be unable to offer non-essential visits.
However, we would like to reassure you that we remain extremely conscious that you all want to see your loved ones and please rest assured that we are making plans to try and ensure this happens at the earliest opportunity.
We have recruited an additional Activities Co-ordinator, Amanda. We are also creating a Communication Co-ordinator role and have recruited Karen. It is hoped Amanda and Karen will help to facilitate resident communications; in the first instance, this will involve Amanda and Karen getting to know all of our residents and their families, moving forward it will be to help facilitate virtual meetings, telephone calls, letter writing etc. Then hopefully in the coming weeks/months Amanda and Karen may be able to facilitate drive-bys, window hellos or socially distanced visits.
We continue to maintain very good links with our primary healthcare team and now have weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Meetings, to discuss all residents with a range of professionals. This does not replace any urgent care needs which would be referred to a GP/111/999 immediately.
We have a good stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and routine testing is taking place weekly for all staff and every 28 days for all residents.
In addition, the following continues to be in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of both our residents and staff:
- Staff temperatures checked and recorded, and hands washed upon entering the home and regularly throughout a shift.
- All residents’ temperatures taken and recorded twice daily.
- ‘touch area’ i.e. tables, chairs, handles, toilet flushes, taps etc cleaning frequency has increased.
- Handwashing is promoted and encouraged throughout the home regularly, additional hand sanitiser and wall dispensers around the home. Residents supported, if needed, to wash their hands more regularly or to use hand sanitiser.
- Residents are supported to utilise their own ensuites for toileting to reduce sharing of communal facilities.
- Increased PPE stocks.
- Additional thermometers available.
- Devices are available to facilitate video/telephone calls between residents and friends and family.
- Specific COVID-19 training completed by all staff and remain up to date with mandatory requirements. Additional donning and doffing and RESTORE2 training facilitated by CCG.
- Hospital-grade cleaning products used, which kills all superbugs and COVID-19, and continues to be effective for up to 7-days. The supplier also has its own infection control team who are available for advice.
- Additional admission procedures are in place, inclusive of a negative COVID-19 test requirement.
- Previous staff have re-joined the team under a casual worker agreement to ensure continuity of service by known faces. We are registered with the national volunteer forum https://indipill.com/.
- Additional food provisions are stocked, no service disruption has been experienced or anticipated.
- COVID-19 risk assessments are in place.
- COVID-19 notices and information signs are displayed around the home inclusive of the new ‘Tier’ requirements and restrictions.
- On 28 May 2020, the whole home (residents and staff) were tested for COVID-19, all tests performed were negative for COVID-19.
- Communal area rearranged into a socially distant (2m) manner.
- Person-Centred Software, electronic care planning, rolled out across the home.
- Creation of a Responsible Visitor Code as recommended by the Care Provider Alliance.
- Regular home testing commenced 17 August for staff and residents.
- Additional ‘out-break’ supplies purchased.
- Larger staff lockers purchased to store items brought into the home safely.
- Additional wall mounted sanitisers are around the home.
- Additional glove and apron dispensers placed around the home.
- Flooring changed in several areas from carpet to vinyl safety flooring to aid infection control measures.
- Additional contract furniture and chairs purchased which can easily be decontaminated.
- Additional uniforms provided to staff to ease laundry burden.
- Additional profiling beds purchased.
- NCC PPE assurance assessments completed and appropriate wearing of PPE focussed supervisions rolled out.
- Continue to report our bed, Covid, supplies, flu and staffing status to NCC, CQC and the Government through the DHSC Capacity Tracker
- RotaCloud, staff rostering software, rolled out across the home.
We would again like to thank our amazing staff team of who we are immensely proud of; they continue to step up onto the frontline to help us protect the residents within our care against this terrible virus. We are so thankful that we continue to not have any positive cases amongst our residents or staff team.
