Staff Newsletters

Hi Team! 

I hope and trust you are well.

As you are aware of the current increase in Covid-19 cases. I just want
to remind each and everyone of us to exercise precautionary measure when
supporting our clients. As a provider we have ensured that we have the adequate
PPE for our staff. For those who don’t have masks I kindly ask you to get some
from the office.

Thank you for your dedication and support. Remember every life matters
we need to ensure we are safe so as to preserve our lives, our clients and our
loved ones

Together we can fight this like we did on the first lockdown.

Take care and God bless!

***

With the Coronavirus pandemic breaking out in the first quarter of 2020,
the world was disrupted in several ways. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of many.

From the 5th of November the UK will be under lockdown for a month.

Given the growing intensity of the pandemic, the UK has enforced strict
rules such as maintaining 2 m distance between persons, limiting contact and
minimizing exposure to the virus through face masks and other measures. The
Coronavirus is spread through droplets when an infected person is coughing,
sneezing and speaking. The risks of the virus spreading are more apparent
indoors than outdoors.

At Vine Social Care we are committed to keeping you and our clients
safe. We are therefore following the Government’s rules. Help spread the
awareness and power of safety measures and save lives through small yet
important precautions.

There is special training available for how to provide care safely under
Covid-19. If anyone needs to take this or get a refresher, please contact the
office to arrange this.

Tips to Cope During Pandemic

With the pandemic bringing an upheaval, whether big or small, in
everyone’s lives and causing much more harm than anticipated initially, it is
important for us to learn to cope with it effectively. This includes addressing
the emotional toll the pandemic can have on people as well.

Some tips from Vine Social Care to cope during the pandemic include

· staying emotionally connected with loved ones

· discussing matters of worry

· helping, and supporting others

· remembering to take care of oneself.

Taking time out, on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis, to do what
brings you joy is also a great way to buoy your motivation during these tough
times.

Let us stick together in mind and spirit even as we follow the rules of
social distancing for the well-being of others and ourselves.

International Stress Awareness Week

This year’s International Stress Awareness Week will be held from the 2nd
to the 6th of November 2020.

The event highlights the importance and necessity of addressing mental
health problems that arise due to stress. Notably, International Stress
Awareness Day was founded in November 2019 by the International Stress
Management Association to increase awareness of stress.

At Vine Social Care, we aim to help our clients to deal with stress by showing
kindness, empathy and offering stress management exercises. We can also assist
in understanding the impact of stress and devising coping mechanisms for each client
accordingly. We can also help arrange confidential talking therapy and
practical support for problems like anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and
insomnia which help with handling stress.

We also have support for any staff who are struggling with stress. Feel
free to contact the office if you think you might benefit from support with
managing stress.

Care for Dementia

Dementia is a dangerous disease that causes several health problems like
reducing thinking and judging capabilities, loss of language, movement
disabilities, cognitive impairment and memory loss.

Research shows that more than 40,000 patients of dementia go missing
annually in the UK. People with dementia need a lot of care and attention due
to their forgetful nature. They are at constant risk of running into trouble,
apart from their physical ailments.

This month we would like to thank you for your hard work in supporting
some of our clients who struggle with dementia. 

World Diabetes Day

The increasing number of diabetic patients naturally raises the concern
for diabetes. The World Diabetes Day is on November 14 2020.

This year’s World Diabetes Day emphasizes the importance of nurses in
managing and preventing diabetes. Studies and records show that obesity in the
UK has doubled in the last 20 years. This is a cause of great alarm, as obesity
is one of the primary causes of diabetes. World Diabetes Day seeks to create
more awareness in and around diabetic patients so that they can lead a better
life.

Feel free to contact the office if you need to update your training on
how you can help clients with diabetes.

Writing Good Care Notes Helps Improve the Quality of Care

At Vine Social Care we aim to provide excellent care to our clients and make
life as easy as possible for our staff.

As a team we support each other by taking good care notes and making sure
important details about a client and how they are coping are documented and available
to anyone who might need to get up to speed with a client’s history.

I would like to thank you for your continued consistency in taking good care
notes and raising any issues or concerns that arise while you provide care.

To maintain our standard of services, let us support one another in striving
to maintain good care notes and making sure we order contact sheet books and care
forms from the office in advance.






***

Thank you for being a part of our team and for bracing through these
turbulent times with such efficacy and diligence. It is you our passionate,
committed staff who make Vine Social Care what it is, and I would like to
express my heartfelt appreciation.

Pianist Suffering from Dementia Creates Music on World Alzheimer’s Day

Paul Harvey, a patient of dementia, has had a talent of
composing original tunes at random. His talent was recognized on World
Alzheimer’s Day when his son tweeted a video with a piece of soulful music
composed out of a few of Paul’s notes.

Hundreds of people across the globe are suffering from the
devastating effects of dementia. Music has always had the power to entertain
and delight. It has for long been a part of dementia therapy in the UK.

Help spread the power of music across thousands of lives and
be a part of the cause:

Lockdown Restrictions Worsen Conditions for People with Muscle and Bone Ailments

According to research conducted by the University of East
Anglia (UEA) on 678 people suffering from musculoskeletal diseases across the
UK, the condition of 53% of the patients has worsened during the lockdown.

Managing muscle, joint and bone diseases requires a
combination of medications and physical activities. Coronavirus has become a
great challenge for the wellbeing and health of young as well as older people.

Over one-third of these patients have been needing access to
the hospital rheumatology and GP departments.

Please contact the office if you need to refresh your training
on how you can support clients with muscle, joint and bone diseases.

World Mental Health Day

An initiative by the World Federation of Mental Health, the
World Mental Health Day is all set to be celebrated on October 10. The event
aims at creating mental awareness among the global mass.

All of us have a contribution to make. We can help an
individual battling mental health problems lead a dignified life. With one in
ten children suffering from a mental health problem every year, it is time we
come together and make the world a kind place.

Let us join hands and do our bit in spreading awareness of
mental health.

For more information visit the World Federation of Mental Health website:
https://wfmh.global/

World Smile Day

Celebrated on the first Friday of every October, the
possibility of the World Smile Day was initiated and authored by Harvey Ball, a
business craftsman residing in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Millions of people celebrate this day every year as an effort
to express generosity and help individuals smile. Every person that smiles is
one happy soul added. After Harvey Ball’s demise, a foundation named “Harvey
Ball World Smile Foundation” was created to commemorate him.

Join us on in spreading happiness this World Smile Day (Friday
2 October 2020).

The UK Announces New Restrictions to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

The entire world is battling a monster named COVID-19.
England’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the implementation of new
measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In addition to the social distancing guidelines, the list of
restrictions for the next few months includes:

- Pubs, restaurants and bars to close at 10:00 P.M
- All restricted to table service only
- Work from home to be implemented wherever possible
- Face masks are compulsory for all bar staff as well as non-seated customers, shop workers and serving waiters
- Guests at weddings restricted from 30 to 15
- Return of fans to sporting events will be paused
- "Rule of six" will be applied to all indoor team sports
- Fines for not “wearing masks” or “following rules” have been increased to £200 for the initial first offence

Sarcoma Awareness month

For those administering care to sarcoma
patients, Sarcoma Awareness Month is occurring across July. Starting on July 1st,
there will be a number of events under worldwide health that focus on Sarcomas.
These are rare cancers that can develop in the cartilage tendons, blood vessels
and fatty tissues. They can affect the legs, arms and truck and they can also
appear in the stomach.

Bone sarcomas and other forms of sarcomas
can affect people of any age and they can often require care professionals to
manage as they worsen. With 10 people diagnosed with sarcoma every day, this
represents 1% of the total cancer diagnosis across the country.

A greater awareness for this condition and
improved training for care can make you a more versatile care giver.

World youth skills day

The youth of the UK are 3 times more likely
to be out of a job over adult workers. What often happens with younger workers
is that they are exposed to lower quality of jobs, larger labour market
inequalities and more insecure transitions from their education into the job
market. Rather than working under temporary contracts or undertaking part time
jobs, world youth skills day will highlight the best new training programs for
secure career paths for youths across the nation.

At this event, you may have the option to
sign up for a wealth of educational resources and find out more about the
event, how to undertake the programs and more. On this day we highlight a
commitment to helping young people access training programs and improve their
skills.

Coronavirus fears: Why people aren’t calling 999

There are rampant fears associated with
calling 999 or going to a hospital these days. Ambulance calls are down by 35%
across the nation and this is causing a spike in many people over the age of 65
dying at home of stroke and other conditions.

Many people are avoiding calling 999
because they don’t want to burden the already taxed system. They also don’t
want to be exposed to the virus during their time in the hospital. As a result
of this change in ideology, stroke deaths are up by 54% in the home compared to
the 5 year average.

Regardless of the current feelings towards
the healthcare system, emergency department and more, it is crucial that you
call an ambulance when you notice the signs of a stroke. The signs of a stroke
may start with facial numbness, arm paralysis, speech problems and more.
Spotting these early signs can save lives and accessing timely care is crucial.
If you think you are having a stroke or you recognize the signs of a stroke,
call 999.

Looking for a new plan in social care?

44,000 people have signed a petition asking
for social care to be considered for NHS compensation. With focus into the
school system and national healthcare service, social care is not being visited
at a nationwide level. Many MPS are suggesting that social care is highly
important to national health. Long term support systems for social care can be
crucial to making sure workers can access the compensation they deserve and so
that everyone can feel more secure in the job market.

As the newest manifesto for NHS
compensation and support is examined, it will be interesting to see if social
care is brought into policy inclusions as well. 

Coronavirus updates

Restrictions are beginning to open up in July
with coronavirus with people in the UK able to go on European holidays in the
near future. Face coverings have become compulsory in shops across the UK. The
end of June saw some of the most promising numbers regarding Coronavirus
related deaths with values down significantly on the start of the month.

As we see new restrictions lifted, we still
see many businesses and events that have been challenging, from pub reopening’s
to football game celebrations, citizens of the UK are finding it difficult to
stay distanced and manage restrictions. As more businesses open and more events
take place, it will be interesting to see where the numbers fall for Coronavirus
in August. Overall, we are seeing positive strides forward with reduced fatalities
and infection rates.

National growing for wellbeing week 2020

The next Growing Week for Wellbeing is
taking place on the 1st-7th of June 2020. The goal of the
organization is to assist with wellbeing therapy, gardening and organization. The
event could assist a new generation of caregivers with support and activities
that can be used for improving patient’s lives.

The overall goal of these therapies is to
offer an ongoing growth in physical and mental wellbeing. With 1-4 adults and
1-8 children affected by mental illness, having access to a gardening focus can
help with connecting with others, acquiring new skills and getting outdoors.

If you are interested, be sure to visit the
website or attend!

Reserves Day 2020

Reservists are responsible for serving in
our reserve forces. These teams will balance their regular lives as well as a
career in the military. The reserve forces are 1:6th of our national
defense force and reserves day will be celebrating them nationwide. No matter
the size of your business, you can show you support on June 24, holding a
workplace workshop, showing your support and more.

Coronavirus update

The moving average for coronavirus related
deaths is at a slow fall. With the 7 day moving average well below figures we
saw in May. Admissions rates for coronavirus related symptoms are also lower
and there could be a chance for some restrictions to be lifted soon. Wearing
masks and continuing to practise physical distancing is crucial to preventing
the spread of the virus.




Choice and communication: our values

We regularly refocus our values over time
and include a focus on respecting clients wishes as we provide care. We want to
make sure that our clients can keep the maximum amount of independence as well
as full respect from our staff.

We also want to offer our clients the
option of choice when it comes to care and activities. Making sure that we can
present multiple options and give our clients free will remains important.

We remain open to feedback from family and
clients as well. In order for our procedures and our staff to see improvements,
we need to regularly recieve feedback for our management team. With the ability
to create new changes within the workplace, we can push forward and offer more
to our clients.

Healthcare workers are reporting emerging
mental health concerns in many of the patients they see

Many healthcare workers are reporting
increased rates of mental health in people that they look after on a regular
basis. Findings are suggesting that there have been higher levels of anxiety
and a series of mental illnesses that have emerged as a result of COVID-19 and
isolation. Recognizing the signs of mental illness can be an important first
step.

Many healthcare workers are recommending
seeking new care that will increase after the lockdown. People may require
treatment for years to come for people that need intensive care or that may
have lost someone over COVID-19.

If you are starting to recognize the signs
of loneliness and mental illness, make sure that you are checking in with
patients, learning more about their experience during lockdown and work at
guiding them through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing when anxiety
hits.

We are all facing a difficult dilemma each
time we go to work these days. In every career that works with the public, it
can be difficult to find courage knowing that you could be exposing yourself to
a life changing virus each day on the job.

Finding your courage and understanding that
you represent the greater good in this world can be crucial. We are showing
courage each day by going into our jobs, by providing help to the people that
need it most and by training and recruiting future generations of social care
workers to show their courage also.




Coronavirus unpaid elderly caregivers

Coronavirus has been especially challenging
for the elderly population and as well as impacting mental and physical health,
there are many workers that are being impacted that work with the elderly.
Caregivers in the UK that are unpaid have had to take extra time off and make
new working arrangements to care for those in need.

These are individuals not being paid to
look after seniors in their community and accepting the same risks of burnout
and anxiety. There are many people now forced to care for relatives and friends
around the clock and without the ability to pay for assistance to access their
break.

Without a revamping of current policy
towards fixed care and assistance for healthcare workers, this will be the
reality for many people. A new plan for social care reform may be required to
make sure our caregivers are well taken care of.

Professional Excellence

At Vine Social Care one of our core values is competence. Competence is essential to our mission to provide excellent care for each individual, everyday and everywhere. We are always looking for ways to support and empower you to provide the best care possible. That is why we have made all essential training resources available online to anyone who needs them. For those of you interested in additional or specialist training, feel free to contact the office.

While Coronavirus restrictions and guidelines on social contact remain in force, on-site training facilities will only be available for absolutely essential training that cannot be done remotely. If you are unsure of whether the training you need can be done online, contact the office to find what remote training options are available.

 

 

Staff Feedback and Suggestions

Over the last few weeks a few of you have offered some feedback and suggestions on how you are getting on with your work and what we can do to support you in your work.

One of the things that was raised was that occasionallycalls were cancelled without notice. Unfortunately, sometimes clients may need to cancel a call at the last minute and we cannot control this. Wherever possible we aim to provide you with at least 24 hours’ notice when a call is cancelled.

If you would like to make any suggestions or provide feedback, feel free to give us a call and we will do everything we can to accommodate your suggestions wherever this is possible and aligned with our values.



Coronavirus Update


Trial for a new drug is underway
A new drug formulated by UK scientists to cure the coronavirus patients is being trialled at the University Hospital Southampton. The medicine utilises a protein related to interferon beta that the human body generates when we acquire a viral infection. Preliminary results from the trial are expected by the end of June

Calls for inquiry as the UK reports the highest death toll in Europe
The country has the worst COVID-19 death toll on the continent. The total of mortalities across the country reached over 31,000 at the time of writing for those people who tested positive for the virus. It now goes beyond the 29,029 that was verified in Italy.

No schedule for returning to school
Will schools reopen before the summer holidays? It is not likely the case as there has been no date set. Childminders, kindergartens and schools in the country are still offering care for kids whose parents are key workers critical to the coronavirus response and who can’t be cared for at home. They are also providing care for kids who are considered vulnerable.

 

 

Families of Care Workers and NHS staff Who Die due to the Pandemic Will Receive a Pay-out


There are sixteen social care staff and 82 NHS staff who have lost their lives to the battle of the COVID-19. Health secretary Matt Hancock announced that the government is establishing a life insurance program for social care and NHS frontline colleagues.

“Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential frontline work will receive a £60,000 payment,” says Hancock.


The program will cover social care workers and frontline NHS staff in England. What’s more, funding will be presented to support similar programs in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The pay-outs will apply to locum, part-time and full-time NHS as well as public health care workers. It includes retired staff, dentists, GPs and second and final year students taking up paid front line owners.

 

 

Think Tank Plead to the Government to Acknowledge the Heroic Contribution of Care Workers during the Pandemic

IPRR plead to the government to issue guarantees to social care workers throughout the pandemic. It is all about offering the heroes the security, support and protection they require.

•  
• Care
• Mental health
• Pay
• Accommodation
• Safety

Martin Green, chief executive of Care
England, says “Never again must social
care be the underdog. Social care must retain its rightful status, which will,
therefore, necessitate adequate resourcing, funding and status.”



Mental Health Awareness Week!


Mental Health Awareness Week will happen from May 18 to 24, 2020 and is organised by the Mental Health Foundation.

Access to treatment is essential. However, support networks, finances, employment, and housing play a vital part too for those affected with mental health. That’s why the organisation will be raising awareness of the six core components required for a community model of care for individuals living with a mental health problem. These are:

• access to clinical services
• volunteering
• finances and employment
  housing
• physical health
• social connectedness

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, how can you improve your mental health while at home? Here are some tips:

• open up to somebody
• practise meditation staying in the moment
• get some exercisetell yourself something positive
• write down something you are thankful for

If you need support with your mental health at work, please get in touch and we would be happy to arrange any support you need.

If you need mental health help or information, there are many organisations to call, such as:

• Anxiety UK
• Bipolar UK
• Young Minds
• CALM

This Month is also National Walking Month


This month is National Walking Month! National charity Living Streets is working to establish a safe, pleasant and pleasurable society that will motivate people to walk along with their successful annual initiatives. The organisation hope to demonstrate to adults and kids how simple and rejuvenating walking is.

Did you know that walking supports strong bones and enhanced balance? It also lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease. Walking also helps improve your pulmonary and cardiovascular fitness.

But as a busy social care worker, how can you fit exercise into your schedule? Here’s a simple way:

• Go for a walk in the morning before work
• Go for a walk during your break  
• Walk around your home when you take or make a call on your phone

We tried something different for this month's newsletter, see the images below.

 

 

 

Nutrition and Hydration Week

It’s Nutrition and Hydration Week from the 16th to the 22nd of March! The goal is to establish a movement, which will strengthen, concentrate, rejuvenate and make activity and engagement for nutrition and hydration as a vital element to sustaining the well-being and health of our community.

The Nutrition and Hydration Week strives to showcase, support and rejoice improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration nationally.

Concentrating on enhancements in nutrition and hydration across health and social care, we are now spreading our wings.

For night shift workers working outside the average 7 AM to 6 PM time, you might find eating healthy a considerable challenge. Here are some tips you could do to make your workday much healthier:
 

• Eat your main meal before going to work
• Stay away from high-fat, spicy or fried foods
• Cut down caffeine
• Drink more water and take active breaks

 

 

Social Care Workers Receive WHO Tips to Control the COVID-19’s Mental Health Effect

 

The guidance from the World Health Organisation involves advice for care workers of older adults, those people in isolation and those with complicated health scenarios.

The new regulation recommends that older adults might become more withdrawn, agitated, stressed, angry and anxious during the outbreak. Here are some of the tips directly from WHO.

• Safeguard yourself and be supportive to other people
• Seek information mainly to take steps to prepare your plans and safeguard yourself and loved ones
• Prevent watching, listening or reading to news causing you to feel distressed
• Get some rest, eat well and exercise
• Always stay connected

 

 

Health Secretary Requests MPs for Cross-Party Talks on Social Care

 

The health secretary Matt Hancock has invited all MPs to present their opinions on how to secure an enduring solution for social care and plans to begin “structured talks” in May. He wanted to hear their thoughts, their proposed solutions and concerns about reforming the way people pay for their care as part of the cross-party talks.

These will help social care workers to leave their significant jobs and volunteer temporarily in the event of a widespread pandemic.

 

 

Prime Minister Promises PPE for Every Care Worker

 

Boris Johnson made the promise of more aprons, gloves, masks and other PPE equipment in parliament during PMQs on March 25. They are massively increasing their testing campaign going at least 25,000 each day.

Compared to NHS workers, a lot of supermarkets are failing to acknowledge care workers in priority shopping. The role of the care sector has been underestimated.

Mr Johnson said: “On the tests, the answer is we want to roll that out as soon as we possibly can and the personal protective equipment, the answer is by the end of this week.”

 

 

 

Care Workers Listed among ‘Key Workers’ Whose Kids Could Attend School

Police, delivery drivers and frontline health care staff are among the list of workers considered “critical” to the COVID-19 response. Each school in the country will be closed after today as part of efforts to handle the outbreak.

However, schools will be requested to stay open with a “skeleton staff” to offer care for those included in the key worker’s list, and for those vulnerable kids.

The schools in the UK will be closed from Friday, March 20.

 

 

Coronavirus Symptoms

As a social care worker, it’s essential that you understand the symptoms of the coronavirus and how it spreads:

Common Symptoms:

• sore throat
• muscle pain
• chills
• fever 
• shortness of breath
• cough
• new loss of smell or taste

Preventive Steps to Take

• wash your hands often
• prevent close contact
• cover your nose and mouth with a cloth face cover when around others
• cover sneezes and coughs

 

 

 

 

February Staff Newsletter

 

 

Coronavirus Update

 

 

This month, a third case of the coronavirus confirmed in the United Kingdom. Government guidance states that travellers going back from Iran, Hubei and particular regions of South Korea must self-isolate on reaching home or their destination. This is necessary, even though they don’t show any symptoms.



COVID-19 Stops Routine CQC Inspections to Support Care Delivery

The CQC has recently announced it will be halting routine inspections. As an alternative, they will concentrate on supporting health care providers to present safe care throughout the outbreak.

The major goal of the CQC is set to be backing providers up to keep folks safe during a time of extreme pressures on the health as well as the care system. Thus, routine inspections have been perceived as an obstacle. Inspection powers are being used in small cases where there exists evidence of danger.

The CQC is required to consider the complicated recovery stage every healthcare provider would experience before regular activity could resume in any future inspections.

 

The UK’s Biggest Killer Dementia Ignored

 

 

Recently, national campaigner Silver Voices has critiqued the “disgraceful neglect” of individuals who have dementia – considered as the major killer of the UK. Silver Voices is requesting for the Chancellor to allot an additional £8 billion a year in his March Budget for social care to deal with the neglect of individuals suffering from the disease.

There were more than 370,000 emergency admissions of individuals with dementia from 2017 to 2018. According to Silver Voices, the costs of dementia to the society amount to £30 billion each year.