New Vacancies Available: Start Your Career at Social Care Alba

Be part of company who makes a real difference to people lives!

Social Care Alba is the highest quality Care at Home Provider in Scotland. We are an Investor in People and Healthy Working Lives award winner.

We believe Care is a Career and not just a job.  Our staff team is fun, friendly & supportive. Due to our rapid expansion we are currently recruiting for the positions of Personal Assistant, Professional Advisor and Team Leader. Join us and we will make a commitment to support your growth throughout every stage of your career. 

Personal Assistant

Job Description

We are looking to recruit "Personal Assistants" to complement our existing staff team in Edinburgh who support vulnerable adults living in their own homes.  You would work and learn from our experienced team of nurses, social workers, OT, physio and pharmacists. 

 Your job would include:

• Providing individual care and support to people in their own homes. This may include cleaning, washing and dressing, providing meals and maintaining community links.
• You may also assist people with continence promotion, catheter care, stoma care, peg feeding, administering medication, oral health and moving and assisting.
• You will be expected to maintain personal files and act as a key worker to service users.

Job Requirements

You should ideally:

• Hold an SVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• Have experience in supporting others.
• Have skills or experience working in a similar role.
• Be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week including evenings and weekends.

 

Professional Advisor

Job Description

We are looking to recruit "Professional Advisors" to complement our existing staff team in Edinburgh who support vulnerable adults living in their own homes.  You would support the manager in the development and expansion of the service to ensure the highest quality of support is delivered at all times.

Your job would include:

• Assisting the registered manager in the recruitment, induction, training and development of the staff team.
• Making recommendations for changes and improvements in our service delivery.
• Developing your own professional projects.
• Providing advice and support to staff, managers, and service users based on your area of specialty.
• Delivering hands on support to service users’ and their families.

Job Requirements

You are required to:

• Hold a professional qualification in Health and Social Care, e.g. Nursing, Social Work or Allied Health.
• Have experience in supporting others.
• Be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week including evenings and weekends.

 

Team Leader

Job Description

We are looking to recruit "Team Leaders" to complement our existing staff team in Edinburgh who provide support to both our staff team and service users.

Your job would include:

• Administering the Support Program, maintaining personal files, preparing reports as required. To liaise with other community services and resources to ensure effective levels of care.
• Providing advice to staff and service users based upon your specialism.  To complete service user assessments and agreed plans of care.  To review support plans on a regular basis.
• You will be expected to provide hands on support to service users to maintain quality and consistency.

Job Requirements

You are required to:

• Have a qualification in Health and Social Care.
• Have experience in caring and supporting others.
• Have skills or experience in management;  Where a management qualification is not held applicants will be supported to achieve this.

• Be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week including evenings, weekends and on call.

Due to the intimate nature of the above posts we require all staff to hold a valid PVG certificate.

Location

Edinburgh South & South East

How to Apply

Please apply before 31st October 2014.CV and covering letter by email to: jobs@social-care.org and quote job title you are applying for in subject.

Contact Us

Facebook:  Social Care Alba
Twitter: @SocialCareAlba
Website: social-care.org

Telephone: 0845 0945 279       
Email: jobs@social-care.org

 

Take A Break

ERGONOMIC BREAKS OR MINI BREAKS

Rest is a key component in ensuring the performance of the musculoskeletal system. Frequent breaks can decrease the duration of a task and help lower the exposure to ergonomic injury risk.

The human body is always active while performing tasks at work. Even while seated, postural muscles are exerting tension to hold the mass of our upper body and head upright. Prolonged exertion can fatigue the muscles, which may lead to injury.

Improper workstation setup, along with certain processes, force people to maintain awkward postures and/or be exposed to compressive forces for long periods of time. Awkward postures and compression can impede the flow of blood, impinge nerves, and injure soft tissue.      

                          

Since 1950, the workplace has been recognized as a suitable space for the promotion of health and then in 1995 it was ratified by the World Health Organization, WHO and the International Labour Organization ILO. 

Active breaks have been one of the main tools of occupational health to promote physical activity focused on improving joint mobility, stretches and exercises that promote changes in position and decreased musculoskeletal loads longer maintenance positions and / or repetitive movements during workday.

  

BUT WHAT EXERCISES TO DO?

As its name implies, is an active pause a moment of activation allows dynamic change in work where you can combine a series of movements that activate the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive system.

These stretching exercises are not provided to cure any existing problems but may help in preventing any future ones. Individuals with previous injury should consult with personal physician before performing these exercises on a routine basis. Always obtain medical consent prior to starting an exercise program.

Exercises and stretches can help decrease exposure to the risk of developing an ergonomic injury. Physical fitness is an important aspect in overall health, so exercise should be integrated into your workday and daily life. Some basic workstation exercises and stretches are showing below.

In the workplace or at home, every two hours stop what you are doing and for the space of about 5 to 10 minutes practice the following exercises 5 second each to both sides.

  

Johana Berbesi

Profesional advisor-Occupational Therapy

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL

“I can’t do as many things as I used to do, but I’m now learning to enjoy what I can do.” — 78 year-old grandmother

Losses occur at every stage in life, particularly in the later years. As we age, we must cope with a variety of setbacks – physical, social, or emotional – that may, over time, affect our ability to function independently, jeopardizing our freedom from relying on others for our needs. The extent to which we accept and adapt to these losses directly affects the quality of life we achieve and maintain.

What kind of loss of independence might we experience?

Physical and Mental Losses

Some changes in the abilities physical and mental, such as not remembering appointments or having difficulty climbing stairs, getting in/out of the shower, opening jars, or walking long distances. Other changes may include:  Vision and hearing problems, less physical energy, less ability to move easily, less stamina, less flexibility, less control over emotions and memory problems.

Social Loss

Physical losses can gradually limit the ability to participate in social activities – sports, cultural outings, parties, and even dining out. As a result over time, less contact with others may lead to fading friendships.

Emotional Loss  

Loss of independence can create tremendous frustration, feelings of uselessness, and sadness, due to a sense of loss of control in one’s life. For example:

• Necessary activities like personal care, grocery shopping and medical appointments might seem impossible to accomplish. Being unable to do what used to be ordinary activities can be extremely frustrating.  People often feel a loss of control when they are unable to get where they want to go when they want to get there.

Some typical reactions to Loss of Independence

When thinking about or beginning to experience loss of independence due to ageing, it is common for people to experience complicated feelings such as:

• Fear: Some people become frightened by their new vulnerability, wondering how they will manage on their own. Overwhelmed, they may begin to expect close friends and family to be always available for them.
• Anger:  Others, feeling angry that they can no longer manage on their own, may take their anger out on their loved ones.
• Guilt. Still others may feel guilty and refuse needed help from family and friends because they think they will be considered a burden.  
• Confusion. It is not uncommon for people to feel confused about needing help and long for “what was.”

Adjusting to Loss of Independence

As losses occur, the need for assistance from others increases. Recognizing your attitude toward relying on others may provide a hint as to how you may adjust to your loss of independence in later years. People vary in their reactions to receiving help. Some are quite comfortable receiving assistance from others, while others are not, for example:

Comfortable with Assistance: Some people have always enjoyed having others do things for them such as cooking or cleaning the house. Not being able to do these things for themselves because of a health problem does not bother them.

Some individuals have had to rely on family, friends, or paid caregivers throughout life because of a longstanding health problem or disability. For them, accepting help does not threaten independence. Rather, help may be viewed as a necessary ingredient to achieving a rich and full life.

Uncomfortable with Assistance: Some older adults have gotten great pleasure from caring for others but are not comfortable receiving help themselves.

There are still others who have always strongly preferred to manage without help whenever possible. For these people, accepting assistance, particularly from someone outside their family, is difficult.

Even the most independent among us have relied on others at some point during our adult lives. Sometimes help comes in the form of a job reference, a financial loan, or moral support. As you grow older your attitudes toward accepting help may change, especially when you experience changes in your health or social life. Those who adapt to accepting help can devote more time to building new and positive experiences.

How can we cope with the Loss of Independence?

Carer Be Patient

Be patient with the people you are caring for. It takes time for them to acknowledge their losses and to understand how these are affecting their life now.

Help them understand that losing independence is a common experience as people age, and not a sign of personal failure.

Help them to recognise their feelings and that it’s OK to feel sad and frustrated at times without putting themselves down for not being able to do what they used to do.

Try to get them to listen to your suggestions about how to make things easier. This is not always easy to do, but there are many ways to keep your service user engaged and interested.

Try to help them to maintain relationships with loving and caring with you, friends and family, work out what help they need and try to encourage them to accept it. Seek help from your manager and family if you are worried to contact the GP if is necessary.

Service user be Patient

Losses are inevitable especially as you age. Recognise and accept that losing independence is a common experience as people age, it is normal and natural.

Remain open, trusted family, friends and your carers might offer suggestions about things you could try to make your life easier. Think about and discuss these options rather than closing your mind to the possibilities. 

Pursue new experiences; develop new friendships, interests, hobbies, and other activities that you physically can do.

Stay connected; continue to maintain relationships with friends, family and your carers.

Volunteer; spend time helping and teaching people, volunteering keeps you intellectually and socially stimulated. It makes you feel useful and provides you with new social networks.

Accept that assistance is needed. It is okay to deal with your loss of independence on your own, but also to have help and support from others make easier to deal this process and help to improve your quality of life.

Allow yourself to find the balance between accepting help and living as independently as possible. Keep in mind that others may feel good about helping you.

Johanna Berbesi

Professional Advisor-Occupational Therapy

Think FAST

Understanding Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is cut off.  If your brain doesn't get enough blood to provide the oxygen and nutrients it needs, your brain cells will become damaged or die. Most people who have a stroke are over 65, but many are younger than this. Anyone can have a stroke, including babies and children.

TYPES OF STROKE

• Ischaemic stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is blocked by a blood clot or a piece of fatty material. This is the most common type of stroke.
• Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding inside your brain. This can happen when a blood vessel bursts inside your brain or, more rarely, on the surface of your brain.
• Transient ischaemic attack (TIA or ‘mini-stroke’) is an episode when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted for a short time. The symptoms are only temporary – they won’t last for more than 24 hours.
• Stroke from cervical artery dissection is caused when the lining of one of the arteries in your neck is torn, restricting the blood supply to your brain.

COMPLICATIONS OF STROKE

Some strokes may be quite mild and the effects only temporary, whereas others may be more severe and cause lasting damage. Complications of stroke include:

• weakness or paralysis, often on one side of your body
• lack of awareness of one side of your body (usually the left-hand side)
• seizures (fits)
• loss of sensation on one side of your body
• difficulty swallowing
• extreme tiredness and sleep problems
• problems with your speech, reading and writing
• problems with your vision – for example, double vision or partial blindness
• memory and concentration difficulties
• difficulty controlling your bladder and bowel movements (incontinence or constipation)
• changes in personality and behaviour
• psychological problems such as anxiety or depression

If you can’t move because of stroke, you could be at risk of:

• bed sores (pressure ulcers)
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – this is a blood clot in a vein in your leg
• pneumonia (infections in your lungs)
• contractures (altered position of your hands, feet, arms or legs because of muscle tightness)

Stroke affects everyone differently. Some people may find several of these complications improve gradually over time, whereas for others they may not.

OUR TASKS.

During rehabilitation the physiotherapist will help the person who has had a stroke with any balance problems, paralysis and muscle weakness. But it is also important that other health professionals also show you how to move and handle the person they are supporting.

For example, helping them in or out of bed so as not to cause injury to them or to yourself.  When a person requires extensive moving and handling, equipment such as hoists should be provided. Someone who has balance problems, muscle weakness or is learning to walk again is likely to fall more easily.  Be prepared for this but do not prevent the person you support from being active as this will slow down recovery. Advice on using aids such as walking frames or sticks should be provided.

After a stroke many people have problems swallowing fluids or food (called dysphagia).  This may reduce a person’s ability to take nutritionally adequate food and drink which can lead to dehydration or weight loss. There is also a risk that food or drink will go into the lungs (aspiration) rather than the stomach, which can cause choking and/or a chest infection.

A speech and language therapist will have assessed whether there are any problems

with swallowing and be able to give advice on how to deal with them. For example,

sitting in an upright position whilst eating and tilting the head down with the chin

slightly tucked in can make swallowing easier. Also making sure food is well chewing small mouthfuls are best.  

Food and drink shouldn’t be mixed in the same mouthful.  For some people food may need to be pureed or drinks thickened.  A dietician may also provide advice on what foods and consistencies are appropriate.  If there are long term problems with swallowing, a PEG tube (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) may be needed.

A stroke can lead to loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence), bowel control (faecal incontinence) or both. Most people regain continence in a few weeks as their body recovers from the effects of their stroke.  For a small proportion of people, bladder or bowel problems can be more long term but with help and treatment can become more manageable.  Medication can improve continence and exercises can help improve bladder control.

Exercises which help mobility will also help to get to the bathroom on time.  Equipment and adaptations to bathrooms may also be appropriate to help make it easier to use the toilet.  Personal items, such as pads, are also available to help the person remain dry and comfortable. The continence nurse will be able to give specific advice.

Stroke can affect the ability to speak write and understand what is being said, this is known as aphasia. The effects of the stroke on speech, reading and writing will be fully assessed by a speech and language therapist and they will give advice on how best to communicate together.  Using simple words and short sentences can help

the person get meaning from what you are saying.  You can find out whether someone can use yes or no, or a signal such as thumbs up or thumbs down accurately. If they can do this most of the time, then you can ask questions to which the answer is yes or no.  You can be shown how to reinforce your verbal message, using facial expressions, gestures, writing or showing pictures if they are finding it difficult to follow instructions or understand what is being said.

More information can be found on the THINK FAST website.

Agnieszka Korpalska

Professional Advisor - Physiotherapy

Dementia Friend

Dementia has been pushed to the forefront of peoples attention this year.  Sponsorship by supermarkets, TV and Internet campaigns or local initiatives all help drive up awareness.

I decided to do my own bit on behalf of Social Care Alba for the month of May.  Here is how I got on.


Week 1

I was contacted by the Intensive Care Unit of Manchester Royal Infirmary. They wanted to help people who had communication problems following surgery, often because they have tubes to help their breathing inserted into their throats.

We supplied our Communication Tool app free of charge to the hospital and it is now in use across ICU and is being introduced to other wards where communication problems exist due to stroke, dementia or multiple sclerosis.

Finally I was able to put them in touch with Clairmont a company we formed links with several years ago.  Clairmont provide signs, clocks and other products that help people with Dementia identify their surroundings, time and place more easily.  Lets hope this small change makes a real difference to peoples lives.

Week 2
Nataly and I attended "Help Make Edinburgh Dementia Friendly".  The idea of the day was to look at all the ways we could improve the city to make it more Dementia Friendly.  The day was facilitated by Edinburgh City Council and Alzheimer Scotland.

It soon became obvious that we all felt that a more appropriate term should be Accessible Edinburgh or Enabling Edinburgh.  This reduced the stigma of identifying one condition and looked to address the common problems across the city.
There were too many different ideas to list, however here are some of the highlights:

• Raising awareness across businesses and the public
• Raising knowledge amongst health care staff
• Specific signage across the city e.g. Toilets, Buses, Banks
• Seating and improved access across the city
• Quiet areas in parks, sensory gardens
• Local Dementia Officer to give Advice and Support 
• Website giving activities, areas of support and Accessible shops and businesses
• Dementia friendly church services films and theater productions
• Dementia Friendly recognition scheme or business

Week 3

People with dementia don’t just lose their memories; they can also lose their friends. This is because people with dementia can start to behave differently. And sometimes those friends might not understand or know how to react.

However, it is possible to live well with dementia, especially with the support of friends. No matter how big, or how small, every action counts.

That’s because people with dementia need friends more than ever.

That’s why Public Health England and the Alzheimer's Society are running their Dementia Friends campaign on TV this month.  They aim to create one million Dementia Friends, who will help people with dementia to live well for longer.

Anybody can become a friend. It’s as simple as just understanding a bit more about dementia. They will give you helpful tips and small ideas to help you support the people you know with dementia and their carers.  I have signed up, so why not visit their website to find out more.

Week 4
Yet to come is a Promoting Excellence conference held by Dumfries and Galloway and the Care Inspectorate. The conference aim to hep people feel more informed and confident in taking part in Promoting Excellence locally. 

It will include talks from Dumfries and Galloway's Dementia Nurse Consultant and local Dementia Champions based in social service settings.

I hope to bring back ideas to Social Care Alba that we can champion in the year ahead.

I hope you found the Blog useful and it has encouraged you to learn more about Dementia.  If we all make just one small change then together we can make a huge difference to the lives of others.

Stephen

Act FAST and Reduce Your Salt Intake

May is Action on Stroke month. Every  year there are approximately 152,000 strokes in the UK. That's one stroke every five minutes, and stroke is the third single largest cause of death, accounting for approximately one in ten deaths.

In the news this week has been the importance of recognising TIA (transient ischaemic attack) or mini-stroke. TIA causes similar symptoms to a stroke, such as speech problems, but may last only a few minutes. A survey of TIA patients found more than one in three had dismissed their symptoms as just a “funny turn”. Yet one in 20 people will have a major stroke within two days of a TIA and this figure rises to one in 12 within a week of a TIA.

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Diet and stroke

So perhaps it is a good time to remind people of the importance of diet in reducing the risk of stroke, and to look at one of the main dietary factors associated with stroke – levels of salt consumption. A reduction in salt intake lowers blood pressure both in individuals with raised blood pressure and in those with normal blood pressure. The fall in blood pressure is shown across ethnicities, men and women. This in turn may reduce the risk of other cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart disease.

Reducing salt may reduce risk of stroke

A recent report in the medical journal BMJ Open suggested that the 15% drop in average daily consumption of salt in England between 2003 and 2011 played a role in the decrease in the number of deaths from stroke over the same time period. The researchers commented that as well as change in salt intake and reduced blood pressure, the decrease in fatalities could be influenced by several other factors such as decrease in total cholesterol and the number of people who smoke, and the increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. It could also be influenced by improvements in medical care and treatment of blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Overall then the changes could be the result of a complex mixture of various health and lifestyle changes in people over this time. Nevertheless, the report lends support to current health recommendations to keep salt intake to no more than 6g per day for adults (around one teaspoon) to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Salt in the Diet

Dietary surveys show that currently the main contributors to salt intake in the older population are white bread (10%), bacon and ham (8%), soup (5%), cheese (5%) and wholemeal bread (5%). Some foods may be high in salt because of the way they are made, others contribute because we may eat a lot of them. Reduction of salt is part of a lifestyle changes for stroke reduction but controlling weight, regular physical activity and avoiding smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are also important.

Act FAST

And don’t forget to act FAST to recognise the symptoms of stroke: fallen Face, inability to hold Arms high, slurred Speech; and to know the importance of Time — to seek immediate medical attention.

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection - C.A.U.T.I.

I know, the title hardly rolls off your tongue, but there is a serious point to it.

For many people passing urine is difficult and they use a catheter to help manage this.  Sometimes that may be for just a short time or in some cases using a catheter may be a lifelong option.

Unfortunately using a catheter does bring with it an increased risk of urinary tract infection.  This can be uncomfortable, painful and debilitating.

NHS Lothian aims to reduce the incidence of infection by 25% over the course of the year.

Social Care Alba is representing Care at Home providers to find ways to make the project a success.  The project is collaborative and includes:

• Service Users
• Family and Friends
• Carers and Providers
• G.P
• Hospital Teams
• District Nurses

A series of initiatives will be rolled out over the coming year including:

• A best practice statement
• Training
• Catheter Passport
• Audit tool

More research material on C.A.U.T.I. can be found here RESEARCH PAPER

Stephen