In this short piece Mark discusses ‘relational leadership’ and what he learnt through his My Home Life England programme…

“Many people who find themselves in manager positions are those that have worked for a company, or within the sector, for a longer period of time and have climbed the career ladder.

However for many of us, the upskilling and training in leadership and management isn’t offered and this can lead to burnout and job failure.

‘Relational leadership’ is the process of bringing people together to accomplish change or make a difference. In this piece, I explore the three biggest barriers to this and some steps I learnt from my My Home Life England programme to overcome these.

Difficulty handling change

Change management can be challenging, but it is an essential skill for any manager or leader. I learnt from My Home Life that you need to be aware of the discomfort that many people have with change. Ensure you communicate effectively with the team about what is happening, what they can expect and any potential impact to them and the organisation. It is important to effectively listen, provide support and lead by example.

Through my programme I learnt how to celebrate small wins, praise staff when they are doing a good job and to be patient when managing resistance.

Inability to work well in a team

My Home Life teaches you great things about how to increase your ability to work well within a team, whether that is with your direct reports or with stakeholders and senior managers.

It taught me and the rest of my cohort about how to self-reflect and identify issues within yourself, how to constructively seek feedback, methods to improve communication and how to adapt your management styles when needed.

Poor interpersonal relations

Many of us are not extroverts, so overcoming the fear of having to be bold and standing out above the crowd does not always come easy! However as a manager it is one thing that we need to develop.

The My Home Life England facilitator from my programme taught me and the cohort I was in so much about stepping outside your comfort zone, as well as the importance of setting yourself goals, how to practice small talk and even how body language can come across.

The My Home Life programme is an amazing resource for managers – both newly appointed and those who have been in the role for a longer period of time – as it provides you with some real practical and tangible tips and tricks to engage with your team and to make a huge impact with the people you are supporting.

It doesn’t just stop at the end of the programme as, with the catch up sessions and the friendships/relationships you make with your cohort, you have a support team around you for the future.”

Thank you Mark! You can find and follow Mark on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

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For more information, please see our flyer:

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In this blog, David Unsworth, Charge Nurse at St Bartholomew’s Court, tells us how he recently used the cards from his programme in a session with care staff to promote team building, hear perspectives and connect emotionally.

Dave said:

“Prior to running the picture card session, I had spoken with a student nurse who I was mentoring. She was based on the South side within St Bartholomew’s Court, completing her Leadership and Management placement. She showed particular interest in the different approaches to leadership, taking special consideration of how these approaches work when in charge of the unit.

It was during this conversation that I mentioned that I had completed a My Home Life England leadership support programme.

I felt the programme had played a significant role regarding my own approach to leadership, whilst supporting employees and making them feel valued, in turn optimising patient care. I believe that demonstrating this approach on a day-to-day basis makes for a more positive workplace overall.

I decided to run a picture card session, to develop best practice together and focus on therapeutic staff relationships, thus creating an action centered learning environment and having caring conversations.”

Context

“The past week had been a very difficult time within our workplace. This was due to death of a long term resident, and also due to care staff sickness – some staff had worked overtime, or worked with one member of the care staff down.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to deliver a session that would promote team building, allow everyone to hear the care staff’s perspectives and also connect emotionally and empathically with each other. Plus the session would show how this positive approach can improve the working environment, and support care staff by allowing them time to express them their experiences, feelings, thoughts, opinions and any ideas they have to improve their working environment. This also supports and encourages their physical and emotional well-being.

The student nurse was also able to observe how this leadership approach could be put in practice, and the benefits of creating a positive working environment.”

Approach

“I laid out 20 Picture Cards which I thought would encourage care staff to express their thoughts and feelings. I explained that there were no right or wrong answers and everyone should pick one or two cards, then explain the reason why they chose them.

At first everyone just looked and studied the cards. I picked the first card and stated what I felt the picture made me think of and the reason why it stood out from the others to me. This gave everybody an idea of how the session would run.

All the care staff were really engaged and gave their views on what the cards meant to them. The cards opened conversations and enabled people to talk about their feelings, opinions, and their emotions that they had been experiencing over the past week.”

Following the session, the main outcomes were:

• “We recognized that, due to the service demand of residents, the way in which their needs were attended to was unevenly balanced. As a result of this imbalance, it was identified that there was scope to change the group dynamics. This ensured that, whilst still meeting people’s needs and ensuring optimal care, staff workload was evenly distributed and staff felt less strained.
• We identified that more support is required for all team members when dealing with bereavement following the death of a resident. Some care staff felt that it was not only them that felt the loss, but everyone within the work setting, i.e., Domestic, maintenance, kitchen and admin staff, also required support following the death of a resident.
• Some care staff were having difficulties in their personal lives and were made aware that they could be offered support with their mental health and wellbeing and with finances.
• We also identified that senior members of staff should reflect on how they approach prior to communicating with care staff.”

Conclusion

“I felt that the session had a very positive outcome with regards to creating a positive working environment.

It was very empowering for care staff – it had a focus of well-being and self-esteem, thus improving the therapeutic relationship amongst all members of the care team. Plus, of course, following the session, working practices were changed, thus letting care staff know that they had been listened to. It also gave the student nurse another leadership technique to utilise in her future career.

I realise how much the care staff enjoyed taking part because they were chatting among themselves on their lunch break, and they also discussed the session with the care staff on the North side of the home. Also, the Day Care Centre staff approached me and asked if they could utilise the picture cards for the residents who attend Day Care, as this would help them to express their thoughts and feelings and improve their therapeutic relationship with the attendees of Day Care.”

Dave Unsworth, said:

“I really enjoyed the My Home Life England programme that I attended. It made me look at myself and my management and leadership skills.

There are so many areas of the training that made me self-assess my approach towards leadership, but the part that I utilise is the ‘Focusing on Relationships’.

As stated during the training “the My Home Life vision recognizes the importance of a positive relationship between older people, relatives and staff, as well as between care homes. To achieve good relationships and quality of life in this context, it is suggested that we need to consider what gives everyone a sense of security, belonging, continuity, purpose, achievement and significance.”

Though utilising these stages, I have built better relationships with the staff within my setting, hence the reason I initiated the team building session with the picture cards.”

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Professor Julienne Meyer CBE is to chair a new Older People’s Housing Taskforce, announced as part of the government’s Adult Social Care Implementation plan, published by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Julienne is a leading expert in care for older people, and is the co-founder of My Home Life and Professor Emerita of Nursing at City, University of London (where My Home Life England is based).

The 12 month taskforce will work across housing, heath, and care sectors to drive an increase in the volume and range of housing options and it will make recommendations to the Government. The panel is expected to include up to 14 members with expertise from the social and private retirement sector, local government, adult social care, and from investors and developers.

Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean, said:
“Making sure older people can access the right homes that meet their needs later in life is a government priority. And by unlocking more housing for older people, we can also have a hugely beneficial impact on their health and wellbeing.

I am very excited to have Professor Meyer leading this taskforce, as we radically improve the choices available to older people, whether that’s retirement housing or support to help people live independently for longer.”

Older People’s Housing Taskforce Chair, Professor Julienne Meyer, said:
“I am delighted to be leading the taskforce, an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of older people. Working between housing, health and social care will be critical to its success and I’m looking forward to advising government on proposals that give older people more choices in later life.”

Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said:
“Today’s plan sets out the progress we’re making with our vision for Adult Social Care reform. That vision involves helping people to live fuller, more independent lives for longer – and a big part of that is making sure we’ve got the right housing available.

We want a thriving older people’s housing sector based on choice, quality and security. That’s why we’ve set up this new taskforce – to work out how we can deliver that across the country and make sure everyone has somewhere suitable to live in later life. The more housing options there are, the more choice people have over their care.”

Congratulations Julienne!

This information is available here on the Government website.

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On the third anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown (23rd March 2020), My Home Life England shares new insights from care homes about their experiences of the pandemic.

‘Rebuilding Together’ is a report based upon conversations with over 200 people from 34 care homes across England.

It offers insight into what support care homes received during the pandemic which they felt was valuable, in order to inform future responses to crises. It also explores what support care homes need right now, knowing that the pandemic is still evident in many care homes, both in terms of COVID-19 infection and the long-term trauma that it has left behind.

Report findings

Teamwork, loyalty, resilience, commitment and connection to one another were critical for people living and working in care homes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. When support was absent, particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, this led to people feeling alone and sometimes very scared. Care home managers expressed a desire to be recognised, supported and appreciated (on par with NHS colleagues), and for guidance and policy to be clear, consistent and timely.

They also identified a desire to sustain some of the positive changes experienced during the pandemic, for example greater knowledge of IT systems, infection control procedures and different forms of communication with families and community links.

The report concludes that there is a vital need for care providers, the wider health and social care system and local communities to invest in the wellbeing of care teams, to actively engage in open conversations with people living and working in care homes and to explore what would help them now and into the future.

Oluwafunmilayo Vaughn, report author, said:

“This report offers the privilege of delving into the rich lived experience of those who were at the forefront of a devastating pandemic. It captures stories of tenacity and grace, giving us insight into how care homes coped amidst such difficult times. Finally, the report highlights some positive ways to support social care into the future. We are immensely grateful to all those who have contributed to the creation of this report.”

Vic Rayner, OBE, said:

“The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the people living, working, visiting and dying in care homes. This report represents insights from people working in care homes across England at the time.”

Tom Owen, Director of My Home Life England, said:

“At My Home Life England, we continually learn from the people we work with in the care sector. We are conscious that, for many, the emotional and physical impact of the pandemic remains, and that COVID-19 and its impact has not gone away. This report reminds us of the commitment, care, courage and connections that exist in care homes.”

Oluwafunmilayo Vaughn is an associate of My Home Life England and has a research interest in frontline care staff, including developing and evaluating initiatives to improve wellbeing at work. Vic Rayner OBE is a widely respected expert in the field of care and has an honorary professorship at City, University of London. My Home Life England is part of City, University of London, based within the School of Health and Psychological Sciences.

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It was amazing to be joined virtually by so many people on Wednesday 22nd February 2023, as we shared the outcomes and impact of Care Home Friends and Neighbours (Care Home FaNs): Intergenerational Linking – England’s biggest intergenerational project with care homes.

We held a national webinar to share our findings from the project, as well as a link to our full research report and free resources.

Care Home FaNs: Intergenerational Linking was a national social action project that originally ran from 2019-2022 and was targeted in 11 less socio-economically advantaged areas of England. It connected young people aged 5-14 from schools and youth organisations, with older people living in care homes.

Over the past 3 years, more than 4,000 young people have connected with an estimated 2,000 older people living in care homes!

In addition, there have been other community connections and partnerships formed as a result of the local links, as well as children outside of the main project who took part in the 2022 ‘Become a Care Home Friend’ Challenge.

Of those surveyed:

• 95% of care home leads reported that residents appeared to enjoy the intergenerational interactions ‘very much’
• 91% of school leads reported that their children appeared to enjoy the intergenerational interactions ‘very much’
• 90% of school and care home leads reported that they would recommend intergenerational linking to others.

Some of the reported outcomes of Intergenerational Linking included:

Care home lead:

“I was surprised by the fact that the residents’ attention, mood, energy, and enjoyment all increased when the students came to visit – they’d come alive. It is nothing short of a miracle!”

Primary school student:

“Meeting older people has definitely boosted my confidence, talking to all of the care home residents has been a pleasure.”

Local broker:

“A teacher talked about some of her pupils with autism when they met residents living with dementia. Almost a mutual understanding and the comfort of sitting in silence. She said it was really beautiful to see.”

A large proportion of the school-care home partnerships created through the project have expressed a desire to continue linking, which is fantastic news given sustainability was a key aim.

Outputs

Download the full research report.

It can be cited as: My Home Life England and The Linking Network (2023). Care Home Friends and Neighbours (Care Home FaNs) Intergenerational Linking Project Final Report: Discovering the untapped potential and social value of connecting younger people with older people living in care homes. City, University of London

Download an 8 page summary of the full research report

This highlights the main findings in a shorter format.

We have also created a free guide to Intergenerational Linking.

It shares information, tips and learning from the project, to help create more intergenerational connections between schools and care homes.

Acknowledgements

It’s been a privilege to lead this project over the past 3 years, in partnership with The Linking Network and brilliant local organisations.

This project was funded through the #iwill Fund. The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities.

The Dunhill Medical Trust acted as a match funder for this project and awarded grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund. We are so grateful for their support throughout the project.

The post The outcomes & impact of Intergenerational Linking: what our research project tells us about linking schools & care homes appeared first on My Home Life England.

Care Home Friends and Neighbours: Intergenerational Linking was originally funded to run from 2019-2022.

We are pleased to share a range of outputs and resources from the project, including our full research report and a practical guide to Intergenerational Linking for schools and care homes, as well as other materials to help support new intergenerational links.

We hope the below will be useful to you:

A practical guide to Intergenerational Linking

Download our free guide. It shares information, tips and learning from the project, to help create more intergenerational connections between schools and care homes.

Care Home FaNs: Intergenerational Linking full research report

Download our full research report – “Discovering the untapped potential and social value of connecting younger people with older people living in care homes”.

Care Home FaNs: Intergenerational Linking research summary

Download our research report summary – We have condensed our full research report into an 8 page summary which highlights the main findings.

Additional resources

Our handbook above has lots of information about how to start an intergenerational connection. We recommend reading it if you are interested in starting Intergenerational Linking.

We also have the following resources to support you:

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Download the programme of options below.

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Vic Rayner OBE has been awarded an honorary professorship at City, University of London, where My Home Life England is based.

A widely-respected expert in the field of care, Rayner is CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF), the leading association for not-for-profit care providers. Rayner also contributes to multiple strategic groups with a focus on the social care workforce, digital transformation, new models of care and regulation. In 2021, Rayner received an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the social care sector.

Through her Honorary Professorship, Rayner will be located in the School of Health and Psychological Sciences and will support My Home Life England as we start implementing the next phase of our work through our new strategy. My Home Life England is an evidence-based, research-informed initiative, part of City, University of London, that works to promote positive practice and improve quality of life for those living, visiting and working in care homes and other care settings.

My Home Life England’s new strategy supports the translation of research into practice. It places emphasis on supporting leadership within the care sector, research, community engagement and providing bespoke support to local care providers to take forward quality improvement. This is against the backdrop of the increasing challenges care settings are facing and the introduction of new quality statements by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Vic Rayner said:
“I was very pleased to receive this honorary professorship which will enable me to work more closely with colleagues at City, University of London. It is very valuable for adult social care provision to work in partnership with academia as we grapple with the many changes that face those receiving care and support, working in the sector and managing services. Evidence based approaches to working in care are vital, and My Home Life England is an exemplar of putting research into practice. I look forward to exciting times ahead.”

Tom Owen, Director of My Home Life England, said:
“We are delighted that we are able to work closely with Vic to ensure that My Home Life England is delivering the research, services and consultancy support that the care sector needs at this very challenging time. In particular we have developed an offer directly for provider organisations.”

Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health and Psychological Sciences at City, University of London, said:
“I’m delighted to support this appointment. The work of My Home Life England is a key element of our strategic priorities, including the translation of research into practice, social responsibility, promoting the health and wellbeing of individuals their families and wider communities and equality, diversity and inclusion.”

Download the full press release below.

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As we enter 2023, we’re delighted to share some short thought pieces from some of our colleagues about the year ahead, and the contribution frontline social leaders make every day whilst there are so many challenges within the system.

By Dr Jane Brightman, Assistant Director of Programmes – System Reform, NHS Transformation Directorate

“I’m pleased to be asked to share some thoughts on the year ahead with everyone connected with My Home Life England.

2023 is now upon us, it crept up quickly. We’ve started the new year with a health and social care system in crisis, finally buckling under all the pressure.

I have been interested in the media narrative that people aren’t being discharged from hospital into social care because there isn’t enough staff, is that true? I polled the Outstanding Manager Network which has over 7,000 care manager and leader members, turns out 49% aren’t able to take hospital discharge care packages because they simply can’t afford the local authority rates. Lack of staffing was at 28% and then poor discharge information 10%.

It’s fair to say that this isn’t scientific research, but it does give us a picture of what is happening and yes, none of this is easy to solve. It highlights to me that policy makers and health leaders need to get much better at listening to and communicating with social care colleagues. What might be learned, for example, if policy makers spent time in care services. I don’t just mean an hour-long visit, I mean days, a week, to really see what is happening and what can be done to improve and reform.

The team I work in is supporting the social care sector to become more digitised, our primary commitment is for 80% of care providers to have a digital care plan in place. The benefits include improved communication and sharing of data between services and time saving. But we appreciate that right now, heads are down, coping with all the winter pressures and going digital might be slipping down the list of priorities. If you are interested and have a small amount of spare time to think digital for a moment, sign up to our newsletter and find out about funding opportunities and resources.

But let’s go back to my point on listening to people from the social care sector. A couple of years ago I discovered an amazing time banking system for health and social care called Hexitime. It’s free to use and there are some great opportunities on there. Working with Department of Health Social Care and NHS England we have created our own community area on the platform. I’m looking for anyone working in or with the adult social care sector to join up and get involved. No matter what your role or where you work. If you are curious, please take a look.

I’m going to end by wishing everyone a healthy and stress-reduced new year, ever the optimist. Things are tough but our sector pulls it’s socks up and powers on every day, it’s quite remarkable.

Keep seeing the opportunity in every difficulty and most of all, make sure you take time for yourself, as often as you can.”

With thanks to Dr Jane Brightman

Jane is on Twitter here: @TOMNetworkUK

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