Over the Bank Holiday weekend, the Government has issued a press release indicating that new guidance on visiting in care homes would be published ahead of potential implementation from12 April.

We will work through the guidance as soon as it is published to understand how we can apply it safely and we will communicate again with further details by 12 April.

While we assess the guidance, we will continue encourage ‘contact’ visits in all homes not in ‘outbreak’ status.

A single dose of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines gives residents of care homes substantial protection according a study in which The Orders of St John Care Trust was a key part.

The study, led by UCL researchers and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, looked at data from more than 10,000 care home residents in England with an average age of 86 between December and mid-March, comparing the number of PCR-confirmed infections occurring in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

It found that a single vaccine dose was effective at preventing 56% of infections after four weeks, rising to 62% of infections after five weeks. Looking at the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines separately, they found that the timing and size of the protective effect was similar for both vaccines.

Dr Maddie Shrotri of the UCL Institute of Health Informatics, said: “Our study suggests that both vaccines currently in use in the UK are effective at reducing PCR-positive infections in frail, older adults. This new evidence is important because there is currently limited data about vaccine efficacy for this vulnerable population.”

Dan Hayes, Chief Executive of The Orders of St John Care Trust, said: “The results of this study are extremely encouraging. OSJCT has been committed to ensuring all of our residents and colleagues have access to the vaccines since they first became available because we recognise they are a vital part of the roadmap towards returning to some form of normality.

“We have been at the forefront of projects such as this and COVID-19 testing pilots because we recognise that as a leading social care provider we have a key role in looking after not just our current residents but also those who choose or require our care in the future.”

Researchers also found evidence suggesting the infections occurring post-vaccine may be less infectious. Analysing lab samples from positive PCR tests, they found that samples taken at least 28 days after the first vaccine dose contained less of the virus, meaning they were “weaker” positives.

Dr Laura Shallcross of the UCL Institute of Health Informatics said: “Vaccination reduces the total number of people who get infected, and analysis of lab samples suggests that care home residents who are infected after having the vaccine may also be less likely to transmit the virus.

The study looked at PCR test result data for 10,412 long-term care home residents from 310 care homes. The residents were all over the age of 65, with an average age of 86, and had routine monthly PCR tests as well as further targeted tests if an outbreak was suspected.

The data included a total of 36,352 PCR results, of which 1,335 were positive. Researchers estimated the effectiveness of the vaccine by looking at the number of infections within specific time periods after vaccination (e.g., 0-6 days, 7-13 days, 14-28 days) and comparing these to the number of infections that occurred before vaccination.

Among care home residents who had previously been infected by SARS-CoV-2, a single vaccine dose appeared to have little impact, suggesting people who have a prior infection are already well protected.  However, only 11% of people in the study had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 before, so these early findings require further research.

The research is part of the ongoing Vivaldi study, launched in June last year, to investigate Covid-19 infections in care homes and inform strategies to protect residents. The study is a collaboration between researchers from UCL and the University of Birmingham and healthcare providers such as Four Seasons Healthcare, HC-One, The Orders of St John Care Trust, and Friends Of The Elderly.

Dr Shallcross added: “This timely evidence on the real-world effectiveness of vaccines shows the value of collaboration between care homes and research teams. We would like to thank the healthcare providers who shared their data with us.”

140 people attended The Orders of St John Care Trust’s virtual event to support those caring for people living with dementia.

OSJCT specialises in dementia care and is one of the few care sector organisations to employ Admiral Nurses, dementia specialists who are supported by Dementia UK undertake skilled assessments to ensure we meet the needs of family members, carers and residents living with dementia.

The third virtual event in the series focused on providing carers with support and advice on ways to communicate with a loved one who is living with memory loss. A common theme emerged in which families were asking for support on how to communicate with loved ones after they have lost verbal communication.

Among the 140 attendees were families who are caring for a loved one at home and local professionals, many of whom left their details for families to be able to reach out to them to use their free services or gain further local support.

The session was followed with a Q&A session providing carers with support and tips on how best to communicate with their loved one and ways to communicate when verbal communication is not possible.

Angie Williams, OSJCT’s Lead Admiral Nurse said: “Caring for a loved one who cannot communicate and verbalise as they used to can be very challenging and distressing for families.

“At this session we were able to offer support and highlight different ways families can improve communication and their understanding of the behaviours with a loved one”.

As we progress through the roadmap to exit lockdown, we are pleased with many of the processes that have been put in place to support the care sector.

In recent weeks we have noted that a large number of COVID-19 test results are coming backing within 24 hours and, when paired with the ‘instant’ Lateral Flow Testing that we do in our homes for visitors and the success of the vaccination rollout across the UK, this is having a significant positive impact in our homes.

Patsy Just, OSJCT’s regional director for Oxfordshire, said: “The turnaround time for these tests has come down considerably in recent weeks and that really helps us in the homes by bringing more certainty to all of our activities.

“We were pleased to start allowing visiting again and then to allow contact visits in homes able to facilitate them, and the support through the testing and vaccinations programme is further increasing confidence within the homes.”

Since finishing university a couple of years ago, Albert had the ambition of having a job that would allow him to help people throughout his career. At the time, Albert didn’t know what this career path would be.

Albert said: “After university, I was in and out of jobs – mostly retail jobs. I always intended on doing something with my career that helped people. I wasn’t sure which route to go down and then I saw all of the care jobs that were out there after COVOD-19 hit and decided to give it a go.”

Since joining the Oxfordshire Extra Care Housing service Moorside Place in October 2020, Albert hasn’t looked back and feels he is finally in a career where he is making a difference.

“I absolutely love it – it doesn’t feel like a job! It’s a brilliant feeling leaving work each day knowing you’ve helped someone. I feel as if I have made some wonderful friends with residents and staff who have made a lasting impression on me.”

Click here to find out more about working with OSJCT.

Given his success, it is therefore no surprise to hear that Albert sees his long-term future in a career in care.

“I have had some brilliant support during my time in the role. My aim is to keep learning and climb up the ladder. The care industry is definitely for me.”

When asked what his advice would be for someone considering a career in care, Albert said: “I would encourage anyone to go for it – give it a try! I was very open minded before I started and I think this mindset has benefited me.”

Kerry has been with OSJCT for just seven months and already she feels like part of the family.  As was the case for many people, 2020 was a challenging time for Kerry and losing her job as a shop manager of a deli gave her the opportunity to re-evaluate her career.

Kerry said: “I’d just done a Diploma in Hospitality Management and unfortunately lost my job due to COVID-19. I saw there were loads of vacancies in Care. I thought it was my turn to give something back so I went for it, and I’ve loved it every day since so it was definitely the right move.”

Click here to find out more about working with OSJCT.

Working at Digby Court in Lincolnshire, Kerry is delighted to be able to use some of the people skills from previous roles in retail, hospitality and customer service.  She is also excited to be learning new skills.

“I think the perception of the Carer’s role is very underrated. You see everywhere that carers are underpaid and they don’t have a specific skill set and in fact that’s not the case. It’s not just about personal care and assisting with food, there’s so much more to the job. It’s fantastic and it’s so rewarding. It’s not what I thought it was going to be and there is so much more that carers do.”

While the idea that no two days are ever the same might sound clichéd, Kerry has discovered that working in the Care industry with OSJCT, it really is true.

“It’s a bit like being a butterfly, flitting from room to room making a difference to each person, whether it’s with personal care or whether you’re just having a conversation.”

For Kerry, working at Digby Court has offered her the chance to learn new skills, but also to use skills she already had, and some that she never thought she would use in a work environment.

“I’ve done some floristry bits over Christmas, like the wreath on the front door, garlands, residents’ birthday presents – it’s all giving me the chance to bring my hobby into my work place – there’s lots of opportunities here.”

Starting any new job can be daunting, especially during these strangest of times but Kerry’s story is one of positivity.  She would encourage anyone thinking about a career in care to consider OSJCT.

“Everyone at the Trust has been very professional, and if there’s ever been a problem, they’ve dealt with it.  Covid is ever changing but they’re very adaptable and open to change, communication is very good.  We get very good support, and there’s been lots of investment in PPE.”

It is fair to say Gareth doesn’t look like the typical expectation of a Carer with his bushy beard and tattoos. Prior to applying for the job at Jubilee Lodge, Gareth had worked in several hospitality roles. Although he enjoyed aspects of working in hospitality, he wasn’t overly passionate about it.

Gareth said: “I had always looked at work as a way of purely making money. After my hours at a local hotel were impacted by Covid-19, it gave me the push I needed to look for something else. There was something that stood out to me about OSJCT, so I decided to apply and fortunately I got the job!”

Gareth's story from The Orders of St John Care Trust on Vimeo.

Despite doing plenty of research, Gareth admits he wasn’t 100% sure what to expect.

“I knew it would be different to anything I had done before. There were times when I was worried whether I would be able to cope but my friends reassured me. I have always been told that I am a caring and patient person and those characteristics have come to fore in this job.”

Although the role is different to anything he has done before, Gareth says there are aspects he enjoyed about previous roles that he has been able to utilise at Jubilee Lodge in Gloucestershire.

“I have always enjoyed putting the customer first and it is fantastic to be at organisation that does exactly that with person-centred care. It is a privilege to be able to spend so much time with our residents and hear their stories.”

Click here to find out more about working with OSJCT.

Gareth continued: “I now get to do a rewarding job where the aim is to bring happiness to others each day. There are of course always going to be tough days, but I absolutely love it! The managers at Jubilee Lodge are the best I have ever worked under and they have been brilliant at supporting me throughout.”

Finally, Gareth is keen to stress that anybody can be a Carer.

“I certainly don’t look like a typical Carer with my beard and tattoos, but I think it is important to show that anybody can be a Carer and it is great for the residents to be able to see different types of people every day.”  

To find out more about working in care with The Orders of St John Care Trust, go to https://www.osjct.co.uk/careers.

As we leave the third national lockdown I would again like to thank you for your support during this incredibly challenging time.

Every kind word or action has been hugely appreciated by our frontline colleagues who have again been incredible in caring for our residents with the utmost dedication and compassion.

We are delighted to be able to continue to open our homes to visits and increase the levels of contact between our residents and their loved ones which is so important for the health and wellbeing of all.

As I wrote last week, we needed time from the Government’s publishing of the guidance late on Thursday to be able to adopt that into our visiting protocols. I would like to thank our care quality and infection control colleagues for turning this around so quickly.

There are many challenges to changing visiting protocols. For example, we must make sure that our homes have the resources to enable the extra workload required for testing of visitors and the additional cleaning of the visitor room after each use. We must also make sure that our insurers are aware of all activities in our homes and have arrange suitable cover. Whilst we can endeavour to predict and prepare for the detailed guidance following government announcements it is often what is not in the guidance that requires us to contact the Department of Health & Social Care to clarify points.

We are continuing to take  bookings for visits as normal and when you book with your home you will be informed if the home is ready to enable contact visits in which the resident will be able to hold hands (gloved) with one regular essential visitor.

The visit will initially take place in our established visitor rooms where possible but both visitor and resident will be together rather than sitting either side of the glass. This also means that if a second visitor wants to join, they can from the other side of the glass screen.

As well as the regular visitor, residents can receive other visitors as normal where the home is not in outbreak, but they must be received into the screened visitor rooms or outside as weather allows.

All visitors will be required to arrive half an hour before the appointment and have a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) for COVID-19, the results of which will be known within 30 minutes.

PPE must be worn by the visitor, which will involve a mask, an apron, and gloves, all of which will be provided by the home when the visitor arrives. The visits will last 30 minutes, not including the time taken to get the results to the LFT.

We look forward to welcoming you back into the homes and hope that the hard work and sacrifice made by all will ensure that further restrictions are lifted again soon.

Dan Hayes

Chief Executive

A career in care is not something Kay had considered or even thought a great deal about during her life. After spending most of her career in high profile roles for marketing agencies and estate agents, Kay decided to move to the Cotswolds and take up a role at a local estate agency. However, once COVID-19 hit the UK in March 2020, Kay was placed on furlough which gave her time for a career rethink.

Kay said, “Whilst I was on furlough, I realised I wanted to do something more worthwhile with my life and give back to people in the community. I saw the Carer role at Edwardstow Court and decided in that moment to apply for it. Fortunately, I was successful, and I started working there in July.” 

It is fair to say that whilst Kay was excited to be starting a new challenge, she did have some anxious moments due to perceptions she had of the industry.

“There were moments when I didn’t feel I would be up to it. It was a big change for me that came with responsibilities that I hadn’t had before. I also worried that being a carer would just involve providing personal care and I wasn’t sure how I felt about this.”

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the role, Kay can now admit that these fears and perceptions were wide off the mark.

“I love it! This is the most enjoyable job I have ever had. There is so much more to the role than I originally thought. I love the interaction I get to have with our residents, and I get a buzz out of knowing that I have made a difference each day.”

Kay has already built up a good reputation amongst her colleagues and residents within the home.

“They call me the singing Carer because I am always singing around the home! It truly is a privilege to be able to spend time with some amazing people. I treat every resident as if they were my own family.”

It is therefore no surprise to hear what Kay would say to anyone applying for a role in care: “Go for it - you won’t know until you try! It is hard work but certainly worth it. I have had an incredibly supportive and understanding team around me throughout which has made a big difference.”

To find out more about working at The Orders of St John Care Trust go to https://www.osjct.co.uk/careers 

An 85-year-old care home resident married his 91-year-old sweetheart of 26 years after a senior registrar was given special powers to enable the nuptials to go ahead.

Peter Smirles has been a resident at The Cedars care home in Purton, near Swindon for just over a year and had planned to marry Jean Robson sooner but the pandemic saw repeated postponements.

Unfortunately, Peter’s health began to deteriorate and just after Christmas his doctor advised that the wedding should be held as soon as possible.

Amy Thorne, manager of The Cedars, which is run by The Orders of St John Care Trust, contacted Wiltshire’s superintendent registrar Sarah Bradley who secured a special license to enable the wedding to take place within the home. Colleagues at the care home then worked with Jean and her daughters Alison Buckland and Susan Wyths to ensure a ceremony to remember and COVID-safe wedding took place.

On Tuesday, 23 February the blushing bride walked up the aisle and said ‘I do’. The marriage was witnessed by Alison and Susan and Peter’s daughter and granddaughter joined on Skype from their home in Norway.

Jean said: “It was lovely that so many people put in so much effort to make sure this could happen. We have been planning this for so long but it seemed it might never happen. Peter actually first proposed to me about 25 years ago but I said ‘why rush’ and then it never seemed to happen.

“Amy and her team have been so good to make this happen, and The Cedars looked lovely today.”

Peter added: “What can I say but ‘I love her’.”

Alison added: “It has been hard on my mum and Peter, but I can’t thank Amy and Sarah enough for making this happen. It means so much to my mum and to the whole family.”

Both Peter and Jean have lived in Purton for a long time and are well known through Jean’s job as a teacher and Peter’s as a dental surgeon.

Amy said: “I only started as manager here at The Cedars in January and this was about the first thing I was asked to do and we have been delighted to make sure it goes ahead. We managed to get Peter’s bubble together and have a beer or two for a stag do the night before as well.

“The organisation of the wedding has been challenging but we worked through the risk assessments and with our infection control experts to make sure that it was as safe as it could be.”

All visitors to the home were not allowed in until they had returned a negative result from a Lateral Flow test and full PPE was worn at all times.

Sarah added: “It’s been two months in the making, and I was thrilled to be able to do this.