SheffCare News

New strategy aims to deliver the services people want in future

The new strategy proposed by the SheffCare board will enable it to provide more care services for people living at home while still retaining some residential accommodation for those who need that extra care.

Three of our homes will be rebuilt to provide specially designed residential care for people with dementia or short-term care needs such as respite care or rehabilitation for people who have just come out of hospital.

Another three homes will be redeveloped - in partnership with a housing association - to become ‘extracare’ housing. This is a form of specialist sheltered housing where someone retains the independence of having their own front door but has the benefits of communal facilities and staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SheffCare will also develop intensive community services for people in their own homes who live near existing SheffCare centres. This will enable them to remain living at home, knowing help is at hand if they need it.

Changing Demand

Our services for day care clients will be re-assessed to make sure that they provide the kind of activities that people want.

Also, fewer people are being referred to residential care in Sheffield and SheffCare needs to respond to this change. We have reviewed all of our sites and decided to close two of our homes - Primrose View in Walkley and Roewood in Firshill.

Over the coming months we will be working closely with residents and relatives to help the 54 people affected choose a new home in a way which will cause them the least disruption possible.

We will also be talking to our staff and their trade unions to make sure that, if at all possible, there are no redundancies as a result of these closures.

Many of our staff have been with us a good number of years and we will endeavour to help them find alternative posts within SheffCare and its new structure.

“The strategy adopted by the SheffCare board will involve an investment of several million pounds over the next five years. Our aim is to respond to changing need and ensure we provide the kind of services which will be needed by the people of Sheffield in future years,” says David Roulston, SheffCare’s chief executive.

Trustees outline the future of SheffCare Service

Over recent months, SheffCare has been giving much thought to how its services for older people should be provided in the coming years.

Now, after meetings and talks with residents, day clients, staff and other people involved in our care service, the trustees have proposed a new way of facing the challenges ahead.

We have learned that SheffCare is generally well thought of by users, staff and professionals, but that our services need to change in future.

Change is needed because while at present most services are paid for by local authorities, in future more and more services will be bought directly by the individuals who need them.

The Government is encouraging local authorities to give people their own personal care budget to spend, rather than buying on their behalf.

Given that most people would prefer to stay in their own homes, they will need more services that provide help and support there.

In Sheffield, fewer people are being referred to live in residential accommodation.
Also, a number of SheffCare’s homes are now nearly 40 years old and people’s expectations of the standards of comfort they expect has rightly risen.

So we need to review which homes continue to be suitable and which need to be closed or replaced.

The changes proposed by the trustees will help SheffCare continue to provide an excellent level of care in a way that meets people’s needs and preferences.

David Roulston
chief executive

Ancient arts keep Cotleigh folk fit and active

They’ve been doing it in China for hundreds of years but now residents of Cotleigh Home are enjoying the benefits of Tai Chi - a gentle form of exercise.

SheffCare decided to run a 16 week trial of Tai Chi sessions at Cotleigh after managers were shown evidence to suggest that Tai Chi would help our clients remain mobile and active Residents and day centre users have been taking part in the Tai Chi sessions provided by a specialist company run by James Lewis.

You're never too old to rock and roll - UPDATE

The pop video is now available for viewing. Click Here to View

-- ORIGINAL ARTICLE --
Dominoes and bingo took a back seat at Hawkhills when residents were asked to help make a pop video. Sheffield singer Richard Hawley and his crew spent a day at the home recently shooting footage for his new single, Valentine. “The film company contacted us and explained that Richard’s new song is about an elderly man who is remembering his life and the love of his life, so they wanted a suitable location,” says manager Ann Cullen. Richard and the crew from Warp Films, also Sheffield bred, turned up and took over the lounge, setting up a stage for the band to perform on. Some of the residents made up the audience and were filmed along with the actor playing the part of the character in the song. “They really enjoyed the music and were getting into the swing,” says Ann. The song, Valentine, will be on Richard’s new album, Lady’s Bridge, out in August. It will also be released as a single with the video later in the year. All of Richard’s albums have a Sheffield connection. His last, Coles Corner, was named after the popular meeting place for courting couples. Pop star he may be, but he’s a down-to-earth Sheffielder first and foremost and got on well with residents. When he took a break from filming, he struck up a conversation with 93 year old Arthur Goodyer who, like Richard, had acquired a Hawaiian guitar in his youth. He was also brought up near to where Richard used to live. As well as some great memories of the filming, Hawkhills residents now have a £500 donation to their comfort fund from the film company. “Richard also said he’d like to include Hawkhills as one of his Sheffield charities and has offered to help landscape our patio area,” said Ann.

Gaffer Gordon gets things growing

The sight of empty raised flower beds in Cotleigh’s new garden has spurred Gordon
Hopkinson into action. Gordon rounded up other green fingered residents in the home and together they spent a couple of days visiting garden centres choosing
plants before getting down to the job in hand. Now Gordon ´ the gaffer´
ensures that the garden is watered on a regular basis to provide a colourful
addition to the home for residents.

He’s working with Wendy, the activity worker, to get more residents involved in the next stage - planting the bulbs for spring.

Watch out Alan Titchmarsh..

New challenges as SheffCare works to build a sound future

SheffCare has a new chief executive officer, David Roulston, who brings more than 20 years experience in social care and housing.

He joined SheffCare in July and replaces Mike Vickers who retired earlier this year.

David has previously worked as a senior inspector managing a team responsible for inspecting care homes. He has also been a director of services with a charity for people with learning disabilities and the managing director of Enterprise 5 Housing Association in Newcastle. His most recent job was with Midlothian Council near Edinburgh where he was responsible for commissioning new services for adults and negotiating contracts with organisations like SheffCare.

I am delighted to be joining SheffCare at a very exciting time for the organisation, says David. The recently completed rebuild of Cotleigh has shown the high standard of accommodation which we aim to provide for all of our residents and it´s important that we keep up the momentum. We want to replace all of our older homes over the next few years.

A qualified social worker, David has an active interest in research.He graduated from Northumbria University with an MBA with commendation in 2003 and was subsequently invited to be a visiting fellow to the University.

He is particularly interested in the needs of people with dementia. Recently he chaired an advisory group overseeing research by Edinburgh University which is looking at the best ways to deliver services for people with learning disabilities and dementia.

Challenge

It´s estimated that the numbers of people aged over 65 will increase by 30% over the next 15 years so there will be no shortage of demand for services for older people, says David.

"Our challenge is to recognise that people will expect even better and more personalised services in the future and to look at ways in which SheffCare can continue to improve in everything it does."

"I´m looking forward to meeting staff, residents and their relatives so that they can tell me what SheffCare does well but also advise me on the changes that SheffCare needs to make so that it´s services get evem better."

Healthy eating award

Chefs at SheffCare have cooked up another accolade - the Sheffield Healthy Choices Award.The award recognises the home’s achievement in providing food that is not only tasty but also healthy. “It’s a fairly new award which is being run jointly by the council, Sheffield Primary Health Trust, Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Heeley City Farm,” says Marie Weston, one of SheffCare’s three head chefs. “We’re the first residential home to be given the award.”“We provide low fat meals, don’t add salt and use oil rather than lard for frying. “Residents help us decide menus and we cater for individual likes - such as the lady who enjoys half a banana on her breakfast cereal.”

Oh what a night

You couldn’t keep SheffCare residents off the dance floor when Past Masters let rip with some 60s sounds at the Park Gardeners club recently.Activity workers organised the night after one of the band, Derek Brown, offered their services when he was visiting his stepfather, Norman Newman at Knowle Hill.Residents turned out from nearly all of SheffCare’s homes and they had a roaring evening with buffet laid on. “Residents loved it, says activity worker Janet Bradshaw. “Joyce Mitchell, one of our residents never sat down. She danced the whole night away.” Residents all wanted to know when the next 60s night would be. Well, watch this space and keep your dancing shoes ready.

Passing on the garden lore

Expert gardener John Wild, has a new apprentice at Burnt Tree Croft - toddler Sam Oxley.John, who was 90 in March, has taken on the role of gardener at the home for the past three years. He is currently nurturing flowers and seedlings in the home’s greenhouse to ensure a blooming good display - as well as a few tasty vegetables - this summer.But he still found time to spare for young Sam, a regular visitor to Burnt Tree Croft. After learning how to develop green fingers, young Sam might well go on to photography - John’s other hobby.

You're never too old to rock and roll

Dominoes and bingo took a back seat at Hawkhills when residents were asked to help make a pop video. Sheffield singer Richard Hawley and his crew spent a day at the home recently shooting footage for his new single, Valentine. “The film company contacted us and explained that Richard’s new song is about an elderly man who is remembering his life and the love of his life, so they wanted a suitable location,” says manager Ann Cullen. Richard and the crew from Warp Films, also Sheffield bred, turned up and took over the lounge, setting up a stage for the band to perform on. Some of the residents made up the audience and were filmed along with the actor playing the part of the character in the song. “They really enjoyed the music and were getting into the swing,” says Ann. The song, Valentine, will be on Richard’s new album, Lady’s Bridge, out in August. It will also be released as a single with the video later in the year. All of Richard’s albums have a Sheffield connection. His last, Coles Corner, was named after the popular meeting place for courting couples. Pop star he may be, but he’s a down-to-earth Sheffielder first and foremost and got on well with residents. When he took a break from filming, he struck up a conversation with 93 year old Arthur Goodyer who, like Richard, had acquired a Hawaiian guitar in his youth. He was also brought up near to where Richard used to live. As well as some great memories of the filming, Hawkhills residents now have a £500 donation to their comfort fund from the film company. “Richard also said he’d like to include Hawkhills as one of his Sheffield charities and has offered to help landscape our patio area,” said Ann.