We've installed free Wi-Fi across all of our homes - even the older ones - because it gives us the platform we need to use technology in order to improve the experience you, your loved ones and our staff have. It also allows us to introduce the innovations required to provide outstanding care.
For our residents who need specialised pressure care support, we offer the option to use mattresses from OSKA. With the help of leading Tissue Viability Nurses, they've designed products that help prevent and treat pressure sores like no others. Their technology is so effective, we can space out our night checks meaning you get to sleep for longer without being disturbed – leaving you feeling fresh the next day.
Working with Lloyds Pharmacy and Med-e-Care, we have streamlined our entire medication management system using the latest technology. Our digital system keeps you safe by helping staff as they deliver medication and, as the Pharmacy and your GP feed into the system, changes to your medication are reflected quickly and easily. Home and Corporate Management can also see everything going on 'live'.
Through a blend of e-learning and the latest face-to-face training, we make training enjoyable, meaningful and, most importantly, effective. Working with our training partner E-Learning For You, we adapt to each of our staff’s learning styles and offer them support in real-time. We also fund professional qualifications to encourage staff's personal and professional growth.
We use Person Centred Software's (PCS) electronic care system to record & plan your care. Using hand-held devices, carers easily capture the care they deliver as they go whilst being prompted about your preferences. This means no tedious paperwork for them and you get your care the way you like it. Also, your loved ones & the Management Team can see the 'live' care you’re getting from anywhere in the world.
We believe in the importance of Oral Health in Adult Social Care. Sharon Williams, Home Manager of Swn-Y-Mor, sat on the committee that developed a comprehensive All-Wales Oral Health Care Plan. This was rolled out across the entire Handsale Group as best practice and Person Centred Software (PCS) were so impressed, they asked if they could roll it out to all their customers too. Of course we said yes.
All Handsale’s Home Managers across England, Scotland & Wales came together to share best practice learning from their care homes and their respective countries – something most care providers aren’t able to do.
We've developed a robust QA system that still allows Home Managers time to manage. We're 75% towards our goal of Home & Corporate Management digitally seeing everything going on 24/7. Also, our independent QA Partners, NetworkCare UK, provide an expert sounding board to our development.
To help increase awareness of Dementia in our local community, we invited loved ones, friends & professional stakeholders to join our staff in taking part in Virtual Dementia Training. So you can better understand how to care for those with Dementia, this innovative training puts you in their shoes (literally) by manipulating your senses to match theirs.
To mark the end of summer holidays and to help show our appreciation for the best staff team in Paisley, we hosted a mini fun-fair in our car park. Staff members' families were given free tokens to enjoy the rides, as well as face painting, petting animals and food and drink. The day was a great success and we look forward to planning 2019's version!
We were excited to show the Care Inspectorate all the innovations we've put in place to-date during their recent unannounced inspection. It went very well, with the home rated Very Good in all areas inspected. You can download the full inspection report from the homepage.
Our nurses and senior carers do a wonderful job in helping run each of the units at the Care Home. To help ease the burden and to promote career progression, we've introduced Care Home Advanced Practitioner (CHAPS) training to enable our senior carers to develop their clinical skills. We will be piloting this role to enable extra clinical support under the right guidance.
Held at Swn-Y-Mor, in Wales, all Handsale’s Home Managers once again got together to share best care practice from across England, Scotland & Wales. However, this time, they also got to see the largest Handsale Care Home in person and were able to share ideas around environment and activities together too.
We believe we have some of the best staff in care. That’s why in April 2019 we launched the Care for Leadership Programme, which allows our staff to train to become the outstanding Home Managers of the future. A custom built programme using the best guidance from Skills for Care, SCIE, NICE and others, this programme is available only to Handsale staff.
We were asked by Person Centred Software (PCS), to host the PCS User Group for Glasgow & Paisley. The first group was held in April 2019 and enabled all their customers in the area to share best practice and future ideas around Care Planning & Recording. We look forward to our second meeting later in the year.