In the UK, the Care Workers Charity (CWC) provides support to carers throughout the year. In challenging times, they are often the lifeline that keeps carers afloat. The CWC also challenges misconceptions and helps shine a light on wonderful relationships, as well as many of the challenges that exist when providing care to others.

Our partnership with the Care Workers’ Charity enables us to support their efforts. So we look forward to every year’s Professional Care Workers Week, where we are able to participate, learn, and celebrate the wonderful world of care and the staff that make it happen.

This year we enjoyed many fantastic talks and activities. Monday was spent learning about the realities of social care, how it affects those around us, and how we can drive change and have an impact. It was an empowering day filled with insights, followed on Tuesday by a roundtable on the future of the social care workforce. During the morning roundtable, prominent leaders led discussions, followed by a roundtable led by carers themselves in the afternoon.

Wednesday offered a chance for reflection and self care in the form of a wellbeing seminar led by the Voices of Care podcast host Suhail Mirza and the Care Workers’ Charity’s always inspirational Karolina Gerlich.

Thursday was the day we had been waiting for the most. While we enjoyed taking part in the charity run the previous year, we (our knees) decided it would be better to focus on more sitting based fundraising activities this time.

What better way to enjoy sitting than with a cup of tea and some friends?

A great time was had by all sharing stories and munching on homemade snacks. In order to participate, several people made the trip into the office. This allowed us to catch up with old friends and relax. All for a worthy cause!

We also took it as an opportunity to practise some of our games before The Care Show in October. With the games getting a little competitive it was a great chance to test the rules and make sure everything was working before our trip to the NEC.

The posts of people heading out on the South Downs Trek came through on Friday morning, reminding us of last year’s endeavours, and the people who this week celebrates annually. Professional Care Workers Week is a great time to raise money, but also to take time to appreciate the incredible effort and passion carers contribute to our communities every day.

Our founder and CEO, Nuno Almeida, is featured on Care Home Professional’s cover for July 2023. 

Nuno shares his thoughts on the social care sector, the growth and future of Nourish and how we align closely with the ambitions of our customers. 

“We think we have the best product in the market. What makes the difference is our understanding of how a good digital product – with the right integrations, data science, sector knowledge, when all brought together – can translate into better outcomes for people needing care. We can do this from a single care home to hundreds of locations with a variety of types of care.”

Read the full interview here

In July, there are a number of events across the country for care services to find out more about Nourish and why using a digital social care records platform is beneficial to your care delivery. 

Some of the events are focused for care services in specific areas to find out about what ICS funding is available in their region. Nourish will be attending the events listed below to give insight into relevant topics, demonstrations of our platform and answer any questions you may have about making the switch to digital care planning. We are working in partnership with Integrated Care Systems to support you with accessing funding and to make your transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible. 

Care & Occupational Therapy Show | 12th July | in person  

At this free one-day event attendees will have the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with key figures in the industry as well as potential suppliers who can add value to your organisation. Attend informative panel discussions on various topics including clinical intervention, occupational therapy assessment methods, advertising ideas for healthcare providers, diagnostic tools and more. 

The Nourish team will be on stand 252 and are available for a demonstration of the Nourish platform.  

Register for the event here.  

Worcestershire ICS | 13th July | in person  

Worcestershire ICS and West Midlands Care Association have organised a Digital Social Care Marketplace event to give care services in Worcestershire the opportunity to find out more information about digitalising care records and funding available. The event will be held on Thursday 13th July, 10am – 2pm, at The Bank House Hotel, Bransford, Worcester, WR6 5JD. 

Find out more and register for the event here. 

How digital can impact the lives of people with learning disabilities and release ICB capacity | 13 July 1pm | Online

Join Paul Skuse (Head of Data & Analytics, Nourish), Lorenzo Gordon (CEO, Maldaba), Charlotte Downing (Membership & Engagement Manager, TSA) and Andrew Kendall (CCO, Alternative Futures Group) to discuss the role of digital and how it supports the life of those with learning disabilities. 

Find out more and register for the event here.  

Suffolk & North East Essex | 13th, 19th  & 25th July | in person 

At Nourish we are working in partnership with your local Integrated Care System (ICS), East Suffolk & North East Essex ICS, to support you with accessing this funding and to make your transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible.     

To give all care services in East Suffolk & North East Essex more information about digitalising care records and funding available, the ICS are hosting three events throughout July: 

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. Digital care planning platforms, including ourselves at Nourish, will also be exhibiting. Our team will be hosting two workshops at 11.10 – 11.35 and 15.00 – 15.25 at all three events. We will demonstrate our platform, discuss what going digital means and outline all the benefits that come with going digital.  

Find out more and register for the event here. 

In June, there are a number of events across the country for care services to find out more about Nourish and why using a digital social care records platform is beneficial to your care delivery.

Some of the events are focused for care services in specific areas to find out about what ICS funding is available in their region. Nourish will be attending the events listed below to give insight into relevant topics, demonstrations of our platform and answer any questions you may have about making the switch to digital care planning. We are working in partnership with Integrated Care Systems to support you with accessing funding and to make your transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible. 

This industry leading conference brings together an exceptional blend of key influencers in the sector and with exclusive LaingBuisson insight and world class expertise, this is a must attend event for social care sector leaders. 

Nourish founder and CEO, Nuno Almeida will be on the panel ‘Stream B: Care Home – The changing face of Care Home provision’ at 2.35pm. This panel will give people the room to explore the innovative approaches being fostered in care homes. New technology and acceptance of new ways of working are changing how we care for people, as people regard themselves as consumers who deserve the best care they can access. How do we face the challenges this brings? 

Register for the event here 

This conference’s focus is utilising data to drive health and social care developments. Key stakeholders and policymakers will discuss what measures are needed to improve and transform existing health strategies, and build public trust in order to encourage engagement. There will also be discussions on how health providers can overcome challenges in utilising data to improve services, the implementation of data protection policies, and the development of digital infrastructure to support integration of data-led processes. 

Nourish founder and CEO, Nuno Almeida, will be speaking in the talk ‘Use of electronic patient records to streamline care delivery – integrating records across health and social care, and the role of integrated care records in streamlining service delivery’ at 9.15am. 

Register for the event here 

Black Country ICS and West Midlands Care Association have organised a Digital Social Care Marketplace event to give care services in the Black Country the opportunity to find out more information about digitalising care records and funding available. The event will be held in Bescot Stadium, Stadium Suite, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, WS1 4SA on Thursday 8th June between 10am – 2pm.   

Sign up to the event here 

Birmingham and Solihull ICS and West Midlands Care Association have organised a Digital Social Care Marketplace event to give care services in the West Midlands the opportunity to find out more information about digitalising care records and funding available. The event will be held in Solihull College and University Centre, Blossomfield Campus, Blossomfield Road, Solihull, B91 1SB on Wednesday 21st June between 10am – 2pm.   

Sign up to the event here

Can’t see an event in your area? Get in touch today to find out how Nourish can assist you with accessing funding and moving from paper-based care planning to digital care planning. 

You may also be interested in:

What is the ICS funding?

Funding for Digitalising Care Records: Year Two

How to access funding for digitalising care records

Technology is an innovative and interruptive force felt across the world, its application as varied as its interpretation. These interpretations have presented themselves across health and social care, in pursuit of better patient outcomes, productivity and connectivity. Noble aims, but a focus on results can cause us to lose sight of the journey. An especially concerning effect for us in the world of social care. A world where the journey matters far more than the destination.

Lorcán Murray, our Marketing Manager, participated in an industry panel discussion at Care Roadshows Glasgow. Focussed on the importance of balancing technology and human connection. The panel consisted of Quality Compliance Systems Head of Social Care Content Lindsay Rees, Scottish Care’s Technology and Digital Innovation Lead Nicola Cooper, Abbey Court’s Care Home Manager Brian Murray and Activist Peter Hope. A verified buffet of experience and perspectives from which we have drawn these five informative morsels.

Scottish Care has been working hard to support social care in Scotland and help guide its development and effectiveness. A key part of their support for people engaging with technology in care has been the development of their Care Technologist role. A Care Technologist is someone who helps people trial new technology in their care, and find out what solutions would be the most effective for them. This provides the user with an opportunity to test technology and provide feedback on its effectiveness. An endeavour that firmly roots technology in human experience. Providing a resource for the continued improvement of technological initiatives in social care.

Peter Hope had himself experienced the benefits of working with a Care Technologist when introducing new technology into his life. He also made a point of detailing the value of involving people in each step of the process. The difference between offering someone a cup of tea, and going with them to the kitchen to make it together. Self actualisation is at the heart of care, where dignity is experienced and shared in equal measure for all participants. By involving people throughout the process we, in the words of Scottish Care’s CEO Dr Macaskill, “make room for dignity to flourish,” and avoid the trapping of technological advancement purely for the sake of efficiency.

When people bring technology into their care, or really introduce measures of any kind, it is always with the aim of improving their service. However, a common mistake is waiting for these improvements to show up on the ‘eye test’. Establishing the standard of your service before you introduce new technology is crucial, as it establishes a baseline for you to measure your new initiatives against. Otherwise, you can spend far too long trying to work out the specifics of the success and the shortcomings of the changes you implement.

Where you begin your change is as important as the change itself. While decisions are traditionally made at the top of a company, they will never be successful when said success is determined by their ability to trickle down through your company’s processes and positions. Whether it is new monitoring equipment or management software, it must be implemented from the bottom up to ensure it reaches every part of your service and those who rely upon it.

Finally, and most crucially, the power of Why? With new technology so frequently the focus is on more tangible questions; How do we use this system? Where do we apply it? Who is in charge of it? Throughout the onboarding process of any new technology the most fundamental question that everyone in your company and using your service must know the answer to is: Why?

When people know the purpose of their efforts, when people understand the ambition of the new initiatives that are taking root in vital areas of their lives, it is far easier to implement, understand and benefit from technology. Too often we are told simply how, what, when and where. Ensure everyone involved in your service understands why new technology is being brought in, and your chances of success increase significantly, while your ability to get lost down rabbit holes and in the weeds is considerably reduced. When you know why you started something, you also know when to stop an unsuccessful initiative.

These are our five key takeaways from our time on the panel in Glasgow. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative experience, and one we look forward to undertaking again at Care Roadshows Liverpool on the 25th of May.

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In May, there a number of events across the country for care services to find out more about Nourish and why using a digital social care records platform is beneficial to your care delivery. The events are ICS focused, for care services in specific areas to find out about what funding is available in their region. Nourish will be attending the events listed below to give insight into relevant topics, demonstrations of our platform and answer any questions you may have about making the switch to digital care planning. 

We are working in partnership with Integrated Care Systems to support you with accessing funding and to make your transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible. 

To give all care services in Surrey more information about digitalising care records and funding available, Surrey Heartlands ICS are hosting the event ‘Surrey Heartlands: Digitisation of Social Care Event’ on Wednesday 24th May, 9am – 5pm at the Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SG. 

Sign up to the event here 

Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICS have organised a Digital Social Care Marketplace event to give care services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire the opportunity to find out more information about digitalising care records and funding available. The event will be held in The Kindle Centre, Belmont Road, Hereford HR2 7JE on Thursday 25th May between 10am – 2pm.  

Sign up to the event here 

To give all care services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire more information about digitalising care records and funding available, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS are hosting an event on Friday 26th May, 11am – 3pm, at the John Godber Centre, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.  

Care providers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are invited to drop in throughout the day to meet digital care planning platforms and discuss the funding available.  

Sign up to the event here

Can’t see an event in your area? Get in touch today to find out how Nourish can assist you with accessing funding and move from paper-based care planning to digital care planning. 

You may be interested in:

What is the ICS funding?

Funding for Digitalising Care Records: Year Two

How to access funding for digitalising care records

The biggest free care show of spring is nearly here! Join us at Health Plus Care: The Residential and Home Care Show at ExCeL London on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th April.  

Pick up useful tips for your service, listen to thought provoking debates and discover new solutions to help improve the care and support you provide. Nourish Care will be on-hand at stand D22 to show you our digital care planning platform and answer any questions you may have about going digital and what funding is available for you to digitalise your care records. 

As well as being on stand D22, Nourish are participating in a number of talks across both days. 

Wednesday 26th April | 11.00am – 11.30am | Technology Theatre 

Nourish Care will present the journey of ‘Joe’, a young man with learning disabilities, walking through the current and future impact of the transformative adoption of digital care records. Join Nourish as we talk through the holistic transition away from paper to a digital platform and how this can impact your entire care service and the people you support. 

Wednesday 26th April | 15:30pm – 16:15pm | People & Business Theatre 

The VIVALDI Social Care Study‘s mission is to improve the quality of life for people living, visiting, and working in care homes, while also reducing the risk of infections and avoiding hospital admissions. They endeavour to achieve this through the study that utilises existing data, with minimal input required from care home providers.   

With Nourish CEO, Nuno Almeida part of the panel, on day one of the show, the VIVALDI study will be officially launched at 3:30pm in the People & Business Theatre followed by drinks and canapes in The Outstanding Society Learning Lounge where care services can sign up to be part of the study.    

Thursday 27th April | 11.30am – 12pm | The Outstanding Society Learning Lounge  

Join The Outstanding Society and Nourish as we discuss falls management in care services. In 2017, the Public Health Outcomes Framework reported that 220,160 emergency hospital admissions were related to a fall in the over 65 age group. A fall can have enormous repercussions to someone’s life, affecting their mobility, independence and health. 

Meet the Nourish team on stand D22 of Health Plus Care so we can show you our digital care records platform and answer any questions you may have about going digital. We look forward to seeing you there! 

If you are unable to attend The Residential & Home Care Show, book a free personalised demo with us today.  

You may be interested in:

May Events

7 simple steps to digitalising your care records

ICS Funding: What’s the catch?

Easter is here and bringing with it plenty of opportunities to make it memorable for the people you support.  

Decorating Easter bonnets does not have to be limited to the school classroom. Why not hold an Easter bonnet competition for the people you support. If you have a connection with a local school, you could host their Easter bonnet parade or invite a class of children to make bonnets with the people you support. This activity is both reminiscent of childhood pastimes and a booster of self-esteem, a stress reliever and just plain fun! Community connections are essential for those living in a care setting as it reduces social isolation and maintains interests and relationships with the wider community.  

Create centrepieces for Sunday lunch on Easter Sunday with the people you support by painting wooden, ceramic, or polystyrene eggs to sit in nests on the tables. Or arrange vases of daffodils with spring-coloured ribbons. You could even decorate the shared dining areas with bunting, cutlery, and placemats. This would be considered activities of daily living and goes a long way to promote independence and enjoyment, particularly for those who were keen homemakers.  

A tradition first started in 1898, sending Easter cards with messages of Christianity is still important to some members of the church. Sending a handmade card is an easy, simple way to make someone’s day and for some, a longstanding tradition they had perhaps lost. But the cards do not have to be religious, they can simply be messages of well wishing. 

Nest cakes and Easter biscuits are a traditional homemade treat alongside Easter eggs. As we come out of the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, activities involving food can be reintroduced into your care setting. However, if this still feels too soon or there are other challenges in traditional baking, there are alternatives to actual baking you can try. Decorating pre-made biscuits or cakes or decorating chocolate eggs with icing and melted chocolate are fun and delicious alternatives. This method is not only more COVID-friendly but also provides the opportunity for 1:1 attention. 

If any of the people you support follow Christianity, you could invite a local church to host an Easter service or visit a church for a service. Enabling the people you support to continue activities in the wider community that are important to them is integral to wellbeing. Ensure you cater to all religious holidays observed in April, including Passover for Jehovah’s Witnesses and Ramadan for Islam. 

If the people you support and your colleagues have children amongst their friends and family, why not host a family fun day. You could hold an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts stations, an egg and spoon race and if the weather is nice, a BBQ or a picnic. Ensure you take lots of photos (with permission) and use the photos for reminiscence activities in the future. Facilitating and encouraging close relationships will not only benefit the people you support but their family and friends as well.  

Don’t forget to tag @NourishCare on social media if you use any of our activity ideas! 

To receive our monthly activities planner, sign up to our newsletter in the footer below.

In March, there a number of events across the country for care services to find out more about Nourish and why using a digital social care records platform is beneficial to your care delivery. Some events are ICS focused, for care services in specific areas to find out about what funding is available in their region. Other events are open to all care services in all areas to find out more about the benefits of using a digital social care records platform. Nourish will be attending the events listed below to give insight into relevant topics, demonstrations of our platform and answer any questions you may have about digital transformation. 

The Adult Social Care Transformation Fund is supporting the Government aim of having all (but at least 80%) of CQC registered adult social care providers to use digital care records by March 2024. Registered care providers are now able to apply for grant funding from their local Integrated Care System (ICS) which will pay for 50% of their annual license fee for a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) system such as Nourish. Find out more about the funding here. 

On Wednesday 1st March at the Hilton Northampton, we will be attending the Northamptonshire Registered Managers Conference. 

The sold out conference for registered managers in Northamptonshire gives managers a chance to network with other managers and share knowledge. The conference includes sessions from PainChek, Gabriella O’Keefe (ICB) and more, as well as a panel discussion.  

The East Midlands “Connecting Together” Care Home Celebration Event aims to bring together care services in the East Midlands to celebrate the fantastic work and share valuable learning between peers.  

On Thursday 2nd March, we will be attending the event at the Trent Vineyard Conference Centre by The East Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative. If you’re attending, pop by the Nourish stand to find out about our digital social care records platform and how we can help you access funding. 

On Friday 3rd March, Bradford Care Association have organised an online webinar to enable care providers in Bradford to find out more about Assured Suppliers and how Nourish can support you in making the switch to digital care planning.  

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. Our team can show you our platform, discuss what going digital means and outline all the benefits that come with going digital.     

Find out more and sign up the webinar here. 

Join Nourish CEO Nuno Almeida, Oli Johnson from Sona and Geraint Thomas from Guided Innovation for an in-depth discussion on how technologies can support frontline teams to deliver the best care possible.  Technology is becoming increasingly present in care settings as providers digitise, but many are missing out on an opportunity to make care-focused staff a central part of that transformation. They will also explore the growing importance of employee empowerment in modern care delivery.    

Held on Thursday 9th March, this webinar is open to all care providers who are interested in finding out more about the impact of technology on frontline teams.  

Find out more and sign up for the webinar here. 

To give all care services in the Derbyshire more information about the funding available, Joined Up Care Derbyshire are hosting the event ‘Introduction to Digital Social Care – Drop In Event’ on Thursday 9th March, 10am – 2.30pm, at the Post Mill Centre, in South Normanton.   

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. We will also be exhibiting, and our team can show you our platform, discuss what going digital means and outline all the benefits that come with going digital.     

Find out more and sign up for the event here.

On Monday 13th & Tuesday 14th March, we will be attending the National Care Forum Managers Conference in the Leonardo Hotel Hinckley Island.  

Hosted by NCF and Skills for Care, and in collaboration with ARC England, this sold out conference champions and supports the crucial role of managers in adult social care. It will bring together managers from across the country to share knowledge, ask questions and network with colleagues. The programme includes a mix of main plenary sessions and practical workshops, as well as panel discussions where managers will hear from others in similar roles.    

Find out more about the event here.

On Thursday 16th March, we will be attending the Care England Conference, held in the Church House Conference Centre in Westminster London. 

The conference will be of interest to all residential and domiciliary care providers, especially owners, directors and senior managers who support older people and those with dementia, learning disabilities and long term conditions. Non-Care England members are also welcome.

Find out more and register for the conference here.

Held in the NEC Birmingham on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd March, UK Care Week aims to bring together the care community and address the biggest challenges facing the care sector today.  

Nourish will attending on Stand F52 to answer any and all questions about digital transformation and the NHSE funding available.  

Find out more and register for the event here. 

If you’re unable to attend any events or would like to know more how Nourish can benefit your care service, book your free personalised demo today!

The Adult Social Care Transformation Fund is supporting the Government aim of having all (but at least 80%) of CQC registered adult social care providers to use digital care records by March 2024. Registered care providers are now able to apply for grant funding from their local Integrated Care System (ICS) which will pay for 50% of their annual license fee for a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) system such as Nourish. Find out more about the funding here. 

Nourish are working in partnership with the 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICS) across England, to support you with accessing this funding and to make the transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible.    

In February there are a number of events across the country where ICS’ will provide more information about the funding and how to access it. Nourish will also be attending these events so you can find out more about digital care planning.

To give all care services in the West Midlands more information about the funding, Black Country ICS and Birmingham and Solihull ICS are hosting the event ‘Digitising Social Care Information and Marketplace’ on Thursday 2nd February, 10am – 4pm, at Bescot Stadium, Walsall. 

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. Digital care planning platforms, including ourselves at Nourish, will also be exhibiting where we can show you our platform, discuss what going digital means and all the benefits that come with going digital.  

Find out more and register for the event here. 

To get you started on your digital journey, Hampshire Care Association are hosting the event ‘All Things Digital The One Stop Shop’ on Wednesday 8th February, 9.30am – 2pm, at the Kings Community Church in Hedge End. Digital care planning platforms, including ourselves at Nourish, will also be exhibiting where we can show you our platform and discuss all the benefits that come with going digital. 

Find out more and book your place now.

To give all care services in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West more information about the funding, the ICS are hosting an online webinar on Wednesday 8th February 2023. 

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. We will also give a demonstration of the Nourish platform, showing what going digital means and all the benefits that come with being digital. Nourish will be on the webinar between 16.20 and 16.50. 

Find out more and register for the event here

To give all care services in Lincolnshire more information about the funding, the ICS are hosting an online webinar on Wednesday 9th February 2023, 10am – 11am. 

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. We will give a demonstration of our platform showing what going digital means and all the benefits that come with being digital.   

Register for the event by emailing denise.tack@nourishcare.co.uk 

We are working in partnership with South West London ICS and South East London ICS, to support care providers in their remit with accessing this funding and to make the transition from paper to digital as smooth and easy as possible.     

The ICS’s are hosting the event ‘Digitising Social Care Engagement‘ for South London care services on Wednesday 15th February 2023, 10am – 5pm, at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in London.  

You’ll be able to find out more about the funding and how you can digitalise your care records. Digital care planning platforms, including ourselves at Nourish, will also be exhibiting and demoing. Our team can show you our platform, discuss what going digital means and outline all the benefits that come with going digital.   

Register for the event here.