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ISSUE 6WINTER 2024The Official Consultus Care NewsletterCARER EXPERIENCE VIDEOSWe are very lucky to have so many amazing carers with incredible stories to tell. Recently, we met with two of those carers to find out about their experiences with Consultus. We hope that sharing these carers’ stories will help those considering a career in live-in care.Consultus Care and Nursing Ltd, 17-19 London Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3ABwww.consultuscare.com +44 (0) 1732 355231 care@consultuscare.comAward Finalists! Training CoursesConnect Updates Happy New YearLIVE-INCARERS&LIVE-INNURSESPROVIDINGCOMPLETEPEACEOFMINDEst. 1962LIVE-INCARERS&LIVE-INNURSESPROVIDINGCOMPLETEPEACEOFMINDEst. 1962

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESAnother very warm welcome to our highly valued clients, carers, and nurses, and to our inhouse staff and managers to this Winter 2024 Edition of ‘Consultus Times’: the 6th issue in the current series.In this issue we focus on the further developments of our inhouse developed Apps for our carers, nurses and clients, and for their extended family members as well as for our regional care consultants, and inhouse departments.Because these Apps are developed inhouse by our own software development team, as distinct from ‘vanilla’ care sector products produced by third parties, these Apps are tailored to the precise needs of specific users.This edition also touches on our recent Awards, and I’m particularly delighted to hear of the experiences and feedback from two of our typically outstanding carers : Tina and Jacky (in their Videos).They reflect real world experience, and are of obvious interest to our existing carers but also to our clients, and their families. I oversaw the 24/7 live in care of my own Mum in her own home for nine years, and I saw in the Consultus carers that looked after her so well, much of the feedback from Tina and Jacky : typically caring and capable ladies with empathy and an overall positive attitude to life and to their important and valuable roles as carers.This edition also provides an update on the further courses now available from our inhouse Training Centre which, uniquely for a care provider in the UK, is recognised by the national carer syllabus setting Organisation : Skills for Care as a UK national ‘Centre of Excellence’.Amongst further news in this Winter edition of Consultus Times, is confirmation of our Affiliate Membership of SOLLA : the ‘Society Of Later Life Advisors’. One of the major advantages for families using live in care for their loved ones is the retention of the family home which naturally increases in value over time, and which can be used to flexibly fund live in care where market pressures have forced the major finance providers to be much more flexible and competitive than hitherto. Rates are lower than they used to be (notwithstanding the recent higher national interest rates) and clients have the flexibility to ‘draw down’ only the funding they need when they need it, thus incurring interest only on the funding required : for example : for the next three months care only.My thanks as usual also to all our hardworking and capable Head Office staff and managers on Reception, Triage, Recruitment, Training, and to our Care Consultants, and Nursing Consultants, as well as to our Operational Support and Administration teams, Finance & Admin, HR, and our Carer Housekeepers on our houses when carers are on training or taking a well earned respite break.My best wishes to you all, PeterWe are delighted to share that we have been announced as finalists in the following awards:Award Finalists!The Home Care Awards• Respite Care Expertise• Nursing Care Expertise• Training and Development Expertise• Live-in Care ExpertiseCongratulations everyone!The Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards• Julie for the HR & Recruiter Category• Susan for the Talent Development Category

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESConnect Updates:Our in-house app, Consultus Connect, was created to improve communication between all parties and enable the best care for your loved-ones. Carers can log their activities throughout the day. Under our Managed Care service, these are then reviewed by our team.The app also provides a client portal which gives access to booking information, invoices and more.Updates for Managed Care Service ClientsWith the latest version of the app, we have now moved all client care plans to Consultus Connect. The care plan is the fundamental set of documents that are carefully maintained to support our clients’ care needs. Having them available to our consultants, carers and client representatives will ensure that everyone has live access to view the correct information and receive updates in real time.In line with CQC guidance and best practice, the care plan must be reviewed and signed-off by the responsible family member periodically. We are moving the digital signing process for care plans from DocuSign to the Connect app from January 2024.We would like to take this opportunity to thank our carers for their continued hard work.We hope everyone, clients and carers alike, enjoy the benefits of using our app.Updates for Managed Care Service CarersNew Online Care PlanCare Plans on Connect are now up and running, fully functioning. This feature means you will be able to see the clients’ most up-to-date, full, Care Needs Assessment. This will include a more detailed Care Plan, Mental Capacity Assessments, Specific Care Plans, Calendar and more.Update for the Managed Care Service Clients & Carers: Shared CalendarConnect now has a calendar that is accessible and visible to the carer, the client’s family and the Regional Consultant. Everyone who has access can also add calendar entries. The calendar shows bookings as well as the weekly schedule and any entries added by those who have access. Entries can only be edited or deleted by the individual who originally made the entry. If you believe something needs changing or removing, please let your Regional Consultant know.To make an entry, just double-click / double-tap the calendar and input the necessary details.Connect UserguideOn connect, please press the (? ) in the top corner for the user-guide and more information on Connect for you as a carer. (Section 3.1 for new Care Plan and section 9 for the Calendar).

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESCarer Experience Videos:Meet Tina, an incredible carer from South Africa who embarked on a life-changing journey with Consultus in the UK. Over the past 5 years, she’s discovered a whole new life and career.She tells us her story, why she decided to take on her first carer role, what the process was like and how she finds living and working in the UK as a carer, and finally what she thinks of Consultus Care & Nursing!You may be surprised by all the opportunities working in the UK has bought to Tina. Like her you can start your new chapter today. Contact us and make it happen!TINA

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESWe are very lucky to have so many amazing carers with incredible stories to tell. Recently, we met with two of those carers to find out about their experiences with Consultus. We hope that sharing these carers’ stories will help those considering a career in live-in care.Meet Jacky, a very lovely lady who has been a Consultus Carer here in the UK for nearly 5 years. She is British but now lives in Spain.Jacky talks to us about why she wanted to become a carer and her journey to become a carer, as well as her experiences of being a carer and working with Consultus Care and Nursing.We are always looking for more carers to share their stories. If you’re interested, please do get in touch with us at marketing@consultuscare.comJACKY

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESThe Consultus training team are now offering a range of care-related virtual training courses, designed to increase your knowledge and expertise across a variety of health conditions that you may encounter whilst caring for your clients.Delivered by our knowledgeable trainers using Microsoft Teams, these three hour virtual training sessions will provide in-depth information across the specialist areas as detailed below, enhancing your professional and personal development, and giving you the confidence to provide the best possible care to any clients who may be living with these conditions.Virtual training not only allows you to conveniently attend from wherever you are, but also eliminates travel costs and reduces time spent travelling to us.Training Courses:

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESDementia AwarenessWith approximately 900,000 people currently living with Dementia in the UK, it is essential that carers have a good level of understanding of this condition, and the importance of a person-centred approach to Dementia care. This interactive course looks at providing a deeper knowledge of Dementia, featuring video clips, and looking at the common types of Dementia, signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. We discuss the impact that Dementia has on individuals, including changes in behaviour and difficulties with communication, and how we can tailor care to meet the unique and specific needs of a person living with Dementia.Stroke AwarenessIn the UK, someone has a stroke every 5 minutes and there are over 1.3 million stroke survivors currently living in the UK. Endorsed by the UK Stroke Forum, this virtual course will increase your knowledge and understanding of the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and the importance of acting FAST if you suspect an individual has suffered a stroke. We look at how best to support a client who has had a stroke and may be experiencing problems with communication, balance, swallowing, eating and drinking, weakness and paralysis, and cognitive changes.Parkinson’s ExplainedThe Parkinson’s UK course provides an insight into the key challenges faced by individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease such as mobility, communication, the importance of medication and the impact it has on their daily activities. Interspersed with useful video clips and information, our aim is to equip you with the tools to provide the highest level of care to support those who are living with this disease.End of Life CareCaring for someone who is approaching the end of their life is a vital and rewarding part of a carer’s role, however, it can be daunting for those who have never experienced the death of another person. This course is designed to help carers understand the principles and aims of palliative and end of life care, and how to support an individual nearing the end of their life with compassion and empathy. We consider dignity, personal care, the dying phase, care after death, the importance of communication, the stages of grief and supporting both yourself and others experiencing bereavement.

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESCongratulations Laura!We are very happy to now share the news that our Registered Manager, Laura, passed her Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care exam!We would like to say a massive congratulations to Laura who worked extremely hard to achieve this qualification.Congratulations Kim!On Thursday 17th August, Kim completed her charity skydive! Kim and her 9 skydiving companions have raised an incredible £6,880 so far for Oli.Oli was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor at 16. A lot of fundraising has allowed Oli to receive treatment that is not available in the UK, helping Oli to still be with his family today. Unfortunately, the treatment is no longer effective and the wonderful fundraising by Kim and others is now for Oli’s bucket list.Please remember to use #consultuscare to share your stories and experiences with us!

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESIn a previous issue of Consultus Times, we mentioned we would be offering a prize to the carer who logged the 1 millionth care point on our app, Connect.We are now pleased to announce that the carer who logged the 1 millionth care point on Connect was Deborah Cooper. Congratulations Deborah, we will be in touch with your prize.There has since been a huge increase in Connect usage. At the time of print, over 1,382,000 care points have been logged on Connect.1 Millionth Care PointWe’d love to hear about your experience with Consultus Care, contact us to leave a Review.SOLLAConsultus are proud to be an affiliate member of SOLLA, the Society of Later Life Advisors - Jan 2024We have direct contact with a team of SOLLA accredited financial advisors who specialise in providing long-term, care-funding advice, and who are knowledgeable about the various self-funded and state-provided care options available.To become an accredited member of SOLLA, advisors must achieve Later Life Advisor Accreditation (LLAA), the gold standard for those advising in Later Life matters. As an affiliate member, we are invited to attend regular meetings and seminars with SOLLA advisors to learn about the latest industry and legislative guidance on Later Life Financial advice and to provide information about how we at Consultus can work with the advisors to help their clients remain in the comfort of their own home with live-in care and nursing.For our clients that are worried about on-going funding of care: we cannot offer financial advice, but we can recommend a few SOLLA-accredited Financial Advisors who can help you.

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESWe hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Here at Consultus, we really got into the festive spirit.Every year we run an office Christmas tree competition. This year we had some amazing entries!Julie Seldon, our fabulous competition judge comments below on the entries:Xmas Tree CompetitionIf you would like to share any stories or photos of your festive fun, please do email them in to marketing@consultuscare.comJoint Winners - Managed Care & NursingMy goodness me, I could not believe that all the decorations had been handmade & knitted, they were brilliant. What talented ladies you all are, and the crowning glory at the top, made by Laura, was stunning.Joint Winners - Finance & AdministrationAnother amazing idea by the Finance girls. The elves were endearing and amusing, and their little outfits were delightful, but they were a little bit naughty leaving their footprints on the carpet!ReceptionYour tree was themed on the particularly relevant message of ‘Peace on Earth’, cleverly decorated with white handmade wool balls, doves and olive tree twigs, and it certainly related the message beautifully.Introduced Care & Central SupportA very pretty, elegant Christmas tree and I loved all the fluffy, little animals, warming their hands by the fire. Wonderful.TrainingWell I certainly got a bit of a shock when the Grinch appeared out of nowhere by the Grinch Christmas tree! What a fun idea, brilliantly executed - and thank you to Kim for tolerating the heat and lack of air under the mask!RecruitmentI definitely felt as if I was in a snow-covered Swiss chalet at Christmas, cosy and warm with a lovely tree and decorations. What could be better?

ISSUE 6WINTER 2024ConsultusTIMESLive-In CarerAs a professional live-in carer you will be working independently within the client’s home. Clients have varying degrees of dependency and medical needs. Your presence will ensure they feel safe, secure and comfortable. Preparing nutritious meals, and completing everyday tasks in the home will be part of the job, the core role being to improve the quality of life for your client by ensuring he or she is as comfortable as possible, and by offering companionship and support.Live-In NurseTo become a Consultus Nurse, you must be a Registered General Nurse (RGN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and have had at least three years’ post-registration experience.Before making a booking, we will match your skills to the needs of the client. Your placement will usually be from 4-14 days, rotating with another nurse on a two-week cycle, so you can offer one-to-one continuous care, but with flexibility to plan your time off.View our current jobsConsultus Care and Nursing is founded on the vision that ‘people feel better at home’. We’re looking for like-minded carers and nurses, who have a passion for changing people’s lives.CURRENTJOBSLIVE-IN CARELIVE-IN NURSINGIf you are looking for a live-in care role or a live-in nurse role in the UK and share our drive to deliver exceptional care for clients in their own homes, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll be introduced to clients by a friendly, family owned and led firm with over 60 years’ experience of care. All of our roles are rewarding and satisfying, and you’ll be highly valued by us, the client and their family.What’s stopping you?You will also receive our complimentary in-house training package from our award-winning Training Centre worth over £350, along with 3 nights free accommodation in one of our beautiful carer houses whilst you complete your training.

Head OfficeConsultus Care & Nursing Ltd17-19 London RoadTonbridgeKent TN10 3AB+44 (0) 1732 355231office@consultuscare.comwww.consultuscare.comLondon OfficeConsultus Care & Nursing Ltd1 Northumberland AvenueTrafalgar SquareLondon WC2N 5BW+44 (0) 20 7147 7083office@consultuscare.comwww.consultuscare.comConsultus Care & Nursing Ltd is a registered nursing and care agency. We specialise in providing live-in nurses and carers to private clients in their own homes.Carers and Nurses provided across the UKConsultus Care and Nursing was established in 1962 in Tonbridge, Kent, a mere 40 minutes by train from London. Today, over 60 years later, the historic market town remains the home of our headquarters.HIGH QUALITY LIVE-IN CARE AND NURSINGEnquire now or call us on +44 (0) 1732 355231 to arrange Live-in Care or Nursingwww.consultuscare.com/ask-a-carerAsk aNURSEwww.consultuscare.com/ask-a-nurseConsultus Care & Nursing has amongst the best and most well-trained carers and nurses in the sector who literally change people’s lives. I know this personally as I oversaw the care of my own mother for nine years. Our carers and nurses do an extraordinary job which results in over 125 written and spoken compliments about their service every single day.We’re now looking for more amazing people like you who change our clients’ lives, and whilst you can safely take our word for all this, you don’t have to – you can ask our existing nurses or carers directly via our website.So whether you have questions about travel, hours of work, pay rates, or anything else you want to know, our Consultus community are on-hand to answer all your questions.Peter Seldon, CEO Consultus Care & NursingLIVE-INCARERS&LIVE-INNURSESEst. 1962PROVIDINGCOMPLETEPEACEOFMINDLIVE-INCARERS&LIVE-INNURSESEst. 1962PROVIDINGCOMPLETEPEACEOFMINDValid until 08/2025Finalist 2024Valid until 08/2025Finalist 2024Valid until 08/2025Finalist 2024