EDGE Services Winter 2017 Newsletter

EDGE services 

Winter 2017 

NEWS 

LETTER 

Patient Dies Whilst 

Using a Standing Hoist 

An NHS Trust has been fined following the death of 53-yearold 

patient at a Hospital in Boston. 

Lincoln Crown Court heard that the male patient died on 10 

April 2012 from internal injuries after falling onto an exposed 

metal post on the standing aid hoist that staff were using to 

move him. 

The kneepad on the stand-assist hoist had been incorrectly 

removed leaving a large exposed metal post that caused 

the fatal injuries when he collapsed against it after failing to 

stand. 

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found 

the Trust did not have systems for effective training and 

monitoring of staff using the standing aid hoist and unsafe 

practices had developed over time. 

The Trust was found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £1 million 

and ordered to repay £160,000 in costs. 

The trust has also been ordered to pay £3,800 to the patient’s 

family to cover the costs of the funeral. 

In his statement the patient’s brother said: “John didn’t 

deserve to die the way that he did. One day I had a brother 

and the next I didn’t. “ 

Harvey Wild, Operations Manager for the HSE said: “First of 

all, our thoughts remain with the patient’s family. This was a 

tragic and preventable death. 

“If staff had received effective training and monitoring in the 

use of the standing aid hoist this death could have been 

avoided.” 

Training Courses 

across the UK: 

• People Handling 

• Children Handling 

• Inanimate Object 

Handling 

• Understanding and 

Managing Behaviour 

that Challenges 

• Health, Safety 

and General Risk 

Assessment 


The Manual Handling Training Company Ltd 

Moving and Handling 

[People] Trainer 

Band / Pay scale: Salary rates are negotiable and dependent on 

qualifications and experience. Hours: Part to full-time. 

Ref: Trainer. Closing Date: 1st December 2017. 

EDGE Services are one of the leading providers of training in the 

healthcare and social care sectors. 

EDGE Services are looking for a highly-motivated, professional 

person who has the ability to inspire and encourage delegates from 

all grades of the care sector. The successful applicant will have good 

organisational skills and flexibility. As we run courses throughout 

the United Kingdom, the successful candidates will be happy to 

travel, preferably be able to drive and have their own car. 

All applicants for this role must hold an appropriate current 

registered qualification: a nurse, an occupational therapist or 

physiotherapist, and previous teaching/training experience is 

essential. Ideally candidates will have an additional qualification 

pertaining to moving and handling however appropriate training 

will be made available for the right candidate. 

Due to the nature of the post we are willing to negotiate a generous 

holiday entitlement for successful full time applicants. 

EDGE Services are an equal opportunities employer. 

Contact: Ruth Hewitt, Operations Manager, 

EDGE Services, 13 Museum Street, York, YO1 7DT. 

T: 01904 677853 | E: rhewitt@edgeservices.co.uk 

www.edgeservices.co.uk 

01904 677853

2 Winter 2017 Newsletter 

Editor’s column 

Hello and welcome to EDGE Services’ newsletter 

for Winter 2017. 

A Fond Farewell to Trainer 

In this issue we feature a number of recently 

settled legal cases. It is not always easy, I 

understand, to know exactly what to take away 

from these stories, each of which emanates from 

a human tragedy. Do these events underline the 

hazards faced by those in our care or that the 

legal system is working well or, perhaps, a bit of 

both? 

If anyone knows the answer, it is perhaps 

The Health and Safety Executive whose ‘Go 

Home Healthy’ initiative seeks to raise awareness 

and address the increase in work-related ill-health 

in recent years. 

Finally, we mark the departure from the EDGE 

team of Ges Gawthorpe. In addition to the tribute 

paid to Ges in the adjacent column, I would add 

my own fulsome best wishes and gratitude for her 

commitment and friendship over the many years 

we have worked together. 

And to all of you, a very merry Christmas. 

Best wishes, 

Kate Lovett. 

Ges Gawthorpe 

It is with a tear in the eye and sincere gratitude for 

her service that we announce the retirement of trainer 

Geraldine (Ges) Gawthorpe from the EDGE team at the 

end of December. 

Ges has worked for EDGE from almost the very 

beginning - 18 years. During this time, she has been 

both fundamental in helping the company to grow and 

in promoting our reputation for quality training. Ges is a 

fantastic trainer whose specialist knowledge in managing 

challenging behaviour meant that she was the prime 

mover in designing EDGE Services’ ‘Understanding and 

Managing Behaviour that Challenges in the Workplace 

Key Trainer’s Certificate’ course which we now deliver to 

staff across the care industry. 

Lured by the beautiful sandy beaches and great surf, 

Ges has recently relocated to Cornwall where she will 

continue to perfect her body boarding and enjoy the great 

outdoors. 

We are sure that we won’t have seen (or heard) the last 

of her but everyone at EDGE will miss working with Ges 

dearly and we raise a huge glass of gin (her favourite 

tipple) to wish her and husband Steve a very long and 

very happy retirement! 

EDGE services

A nursing home has been forced to close because of care 

failings described as the worst ever seen by inspectors. 

Regulators took the “unprecedented” step after an 

urgent inspection at the nursing home in Enniskillen on 

16 August, 2017 stating that the failings, including dirty 

facilities and a “strong odour of faeces and urine”, posed 

a serious risk to life. 

The care home group who own the nursing home said a 

previous unannounced inspection had found evidence 

of ‘safe delivery of care’ and that staff had not, further to 

this most recent inspection, been given the opportunity to 

address any concerns pointed out by inspectors. 

The Regulations and Quality Improvement Authority 

(RQIA) said it was liaising with authorities to organise 

“appropriate alternative care arrangements” for the 

home’s residents, all of which were guaranteed to be in 

place by 31 August 2017. 

RQIA Chief Executive, Olive Macleod, 

said the home was brought to regulators’ 

attention after information was shared that 

necessitated an immediate inspection. 

“The patient equipment was dirty, the 

patients looked unkempt, their hair had not 

been washed, their clothes were dirty and 

there was a very strong odour of faeces 

and urine,” she said. 

“When we checked the records we found 

there had been substantial weight loss 

recorded against at least three patients, 

and in one patient it was 6kg - which is a 

very large amount of weight for anybody to 

lose in one week. 

Ms Macleod said the RQIA felt the 

‘unprecedented’ closure, the first ever 

closure in Northern Ireland since the 

RQIA’s foundation in 2005, was the right 

one to protect residents. 

“There was no evidence in the records that 

any actions had been taken in relation to 

that case failure.” 

She added that inspectors also spoke 

to visitors who said the home was shortstaffed 

and that they themselves had 

helped to assist other patients eat meals. 

Ms Macleod said that while the RQIA 

would normally have invited the care home 

group to a “serious concerns meeting”, the 

failures were “of such an extent that we 

believed this was the appropriate action to 

take”. 

In an official statement, the care home 

group said it “was not given any prior 

notification of the enforcement action” the 

RQIA intended to take. 

Follow us on: 

Winter 2017 Newsletter 3 

Nursing Home Closed by Regulators 

Due to ‘Serious Risk to Life’ 

“There was not, therefore, any opportunity for the group’s 

staff to engage with RQIA to address any concerns that 

they had with regard to the running of this care home. 

“We are currently working very closely with the Western 

Health and Social Care Trust and other stakeholders to 

ensure that care delivery is provided in a person-centred 

and safe manner throughout this difficult time. 

“Ensuring that residents of this care home receive 

high quality nursing and residential care is of upmost 

importance to us.” 

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care 

Trust said: “As an interim measure the trust will work 

alongside the management of the home to ensure the 

safety and wellbeing of the residents which remains the 

trust’s priority.” 

/EdgeServices 


Value Added Service 

Coming early 2018: 

EDGE Services Online Resource Library 

EDGE are thrilled to announce that our online Resource Library 

is in the final stages of production and shortly due to go live. 

Available to EDGE trained Key Trainers for the duration of 

their Certificate, our Resource Library will feature all of our 

‘Key Trainer Pack’ documents, EDGE Newsletters and a large 

selection of other useful documents and aids which will help 

Key Trainers to enhance their own moving and handling 

(adults and children) training programmes. 

With new documents due to be uploaded every four to six 

weeks it will become an invaluable library of reference 

materials and training tools to all EDGE Key Trainers. 

Coming early 2018: 

EDGE Services E-Learning Tool 

EDGE are delighted to announce that we are developing an 

e-learning programme to enhance the training tools and 

resources already at the disposal of our Key Trainers. This 

programme will deliver moving and handling theory to, and 

then test the knowledge of, the frontline staff that EDGE 

trained Key Trainers will be training. 

Covering relevant legislation, risk assessment, spinal function 

and commonly known controversial techniques this learning 

tool covers all of the theoretical information that EDGE 

suggest is covered during a moving and handling training 

session. 

It promises to be a fantastic resource which will make the 

provision of training a whole lot easier for EDGE Key Trainers. 

@EDGEhandling 


01904 677853 

enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk 

edgeservices.co.uk 


01904 677853


Council Fined After Care Home 

Resident Suffers Burns 

A council in the Western Isles has been fined after a 54-year 

old man who receives 24-hour support from its care service 

suffered serious burns. 

The Court heard how Mr Angus John MacLennan had 

learning difficulties and received a 24-hour support service 

from the council. On 4 May 2016, Mr MacLennan suffered 

serious burns to his body while bathing. 

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive 

(HSE) found the council failed to adequately manage the 

scalding risk, despite being made aware of it in the six 

months previously through their own risk assessment of Mr 

MacLennan. 

The HSE investigation also found that council employees 

had received no training in managing the risks of scalding 

including how to run the bath or check the temperature. 

Staff had also not been provided with thermometers for this 

purpose. 

The council pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and has been fined 

£8,000 and ordered to pay a compensation order of £2,000 

to Mr MacLennan. 

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Hazel Dobb said: 

“The care service run by this council was aware of the risks 

to Mr MacLennan when it came to scalding whilst bathing 

but did little to mitigate these. The staff were not adequately 

trained or provided with equipment to keep the resident from 

harm. As a result, a vulnerable member of the public has 

suffered serious burns that were wholly preventable.” 

Care Home Group Fined After 

Death of Elderly Resident 

A care home company has today been fined almost half 

a million pounds after an elderly resident fell from her first 

floor window and died. 

Guildford Crown Court heard that in the early hours of 

3 October 2013 the 87-year-old woman fell about four 

metres through her window. She was reported missing 

at 1a.m. and found two hours later. She was pronounced 

dead at the scene. 

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation 

found that the window restrictor in place, which normally 

prevents the window from opening fully, was easily 

overridden and therefore not fit for purpose. 

The Essex based care home group pleaded guilty to 

breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work 

Act 1974. The company was fined £450,000 and ordered 

to pay costs of £14,762.44. 

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Rebekah 

Dunn said: “It was clear from our investigation that 

the window restrictor was simply not doing the job of 

preventing the window from opening. It is alarming, and 

tragic, that an 87-year-old woman with dementia was 

able to defeat it.” 

The care home group, “therefore failed to ensure 

the woman’s safety, which is particularly important 

given its unique position of trust. All windows that are 

large enough for people through should be restrained 

sufficiently to prevent such falls. The 100mm benchmark 

should only be allowed to disengage using a special tool 

or key.” 

NHS Foundation Trust Fined Over 

Patient Death 

An NHS Foundation Trust has been fined for health and 

safety failings after a patient fell to his death. 

Adam Withers, 20, from Epsom had been detained as a 

hospital in-patient when the incident occurred on 9 May 

2014. 

Guildford Crown Court heard how Mr Withers was in the 

courtyard with his mother while being observed by a nurse 

from inside the ward when he started to climb up onto the 

conservatory roof. 

The nurse immediately ran into the courtyard but was 

unable to prevent Mr Withers from climbing over the roof. 

He proceeded to climb up a 130-foot industrial chimney 

and, after attempts to talk him down failed, he fell and 

sustained fatal injuries. 

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive 

(HSE) found a series of failures to ensure the risk 

associated with absconding was properly managed. 

There was insufficient communication between 

employees and inadequate systems to ensure the risk 

identified were addressed and remedied. 

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Russell 

Beckett said: “The Trust failed to make appropriate 

changes following previous incidents. Had the Trust 

carried out a suitable assessment and made the 

appropriate changes they would not have allowed a 

vulnerable person the opportunity to end his life.” 

The Trust pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of The 

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined 

£300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £16,769.00. 


Not Enough Being Done to 

Tackle Work-Related Ill-health, 

Say GB’s Business Leaders 

According to new research from the 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 

half of Britain’s industry leaders do 

not feel enough is being done across 

industry to tackle cases of workrelated 

ill-health. 

The research found more than twofifths 

of businesses in Great Britain 

reported a rise in cases of long-term 

ill-health with the majority (80%) 

stating that tackling this growing 

problem is a priority within their 

organisation. 

This news comes as HSE figures 

show that work-related ill-health 

is costing the economy more than 

£9bn a year with 26 million working 

days being lost, making it a priority 

for HSE, as the Government’s chief 

occupational health adviser. 

The views of 300 major business 

leaders were sought and 40% of 

respondents said their industry was not 

doing enough to raise awareness and 

tackle the causes of long-term workrelated 

ill-health. 

The findings were revealed as HSE 

announced its new national campaign 

– ‘Go Home Healthy’. The campaign 

aims to reduce cases of work-related 

ill-health by shining a light on the 

causes and encouraging employers 

to do the right thing to protect their 

workers’ health. 

Speaking after the campaign launch, 

the then Minister of State for Disabled 

People, Health and Work, Penny 

Mordaunt said: “Everyone should 

want to have a healthy and safe 

environment at work. Work-related illhealth 

is a costly issue for individuals, 

businesses, and the whole economy. 

This campaign will encourage 


employers to operate healthier 

workplaces and ensure workers get 

the support that they need.” 

Commenting on the findings, HSE’s 

chair, Martin Temple, said:“The survey 

findings confirmed what we already 

suspected – more needs to be done 

to tackle work-related ill-health. 

“Over the years, figures show that 

as workplace safety has improved, 

health has stagnated. The ‘Go Home 

Healthy’ campaign is about driving 

behavioural change in workplaces so 

we all can go home healthy. There 

is a moral, legal, and business case 

for employers to do the right thing by 

their workers. The importance of more 

joined-up thinking across industries 

when it comes to tackling work-related 

ill-health cannot be overstated.” 

More information on the campaign 

can be found: www.hse.gov.uk/ 

gohomehealthy You can join the 

conversation using #WorkRight 

and follow @Go_Home_Healthy for 

campaign updates. 

Forthcoming 

Conferences and 

Events 

22 & 23 November 2017 

The Occupational Therapy Show 

NEC Birmingham. 

31 January & 1 February 2018 

DLF Moving & Handling People Conference 

(South) 

Hilton Hotel, Watford. 

14 March 2018 

For Later Life - Age UK Conference 

Church House Conference Centre, 

Westminster, London. 

25 & 26 April 2018 

Naidex 

NEC Birmingham 


01904 677853


People Handling and 

Risk Assessment 

Key Trainer’s Certificate 

Please be advised that course prices are set 

to increase from 1 January 2018. However, 

all training booked and confirmed for 2018 

before the end of 2017 will be charged at the 

current rate. 

Our flagship course has established 

EDGE as one of the leading providers of 

training to the healthcare and social care 

sectors. 

Course Overview 

This four day course will provide 

delegates with the knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others in the 

moving and handling of people and in 

the conducting of manual handling risk 

assessments. 

Who Will Benefit? 

This course is for delegates with a 

responsibility for health & safety and 

welfare of carers and clients with 

regards to the moving and handling of 

people. 

Assessment Criteria 

Course assessment comprises: 

• a one hour ’open-book’ test to 

determine delegates’ theoretical 

understanding of the course content; 

• delivery of a group mini-training 

session in order to assess teaching 

skills, organisation, and delivery of 

appropriate course content; 

• a practical skills assessment, which 

takes place continuously throughout 

the course. 

Overview of Course Aims and 

Intended Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the course delegates shall: 

• demonstrate a sound knowledge of 

legislation and professional guidance 

which affects them, their job, their 

employers and employees; 

• briefly understand the workings of the 

spine and how to reduce the risks of 

spinal injury; 

• demonstrate an appreciation of the 

principles of biomechanics; 

• demonstrate an appreciation of 

ergonomics; 


risk assessment; 


‘controversial techniques’; 


up-to-date practical skills in moving 

handling clients in a care setting; 

• demonstrate the skills and confidence 

to convey manual handling knowledge 

and skills to others. 

Certification 

Upon successful completion of the 

course, delegates will receive a 

professionally endorsed certificate of 

achievement from EDGE Services, which 

is valid for two years. 

Public Training Courses 

£750+VAT per delegate - 

all locations apart from London 

£880+VAT per delegate - London 

Forthcoming public events in London, 

York, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, 

Brighton, Birmingham and Exeter. 

In-House Training Courses 

We can tailor-make this course to 

suit your organisation’s specific 

requirements. 

£3,900 +VAT for up to ten delegates. 

Go to our website or telephone EDGE 

Services for further details. 

Course Accreditations: 

Forthcoming Public Training Dates Include: 

18 - 21 December 2017, Manchester 

8 - 11 January 2018, York 

9 - 12 Jan 2018, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 

23 - 26 January 2018, London 

30 January - 2 February 2018, Glasgow 

6 - 9 February 2018, Birmingham 

13 - 16 February 2018, Manchester 

13 - 16 February 2018, Exeter 

20 - 23 February 2018, London 

27 February - 2 March 2018, Edinburgh 

13 - 16 March 2018, Peterborough 

13 - 16 March 2018, Cardiff 


26 - 29 March 2018, York 

26 - 29 March 2018, Glasgow 

26 - 29 March 2018, Glasgow 

3 - 6 April 2018, London 

10 - 13 April 2018, Birmingham 

1 - 4 May 2018, Manchester 

8 - 11 May 2018, London 

15 - 18 May 2018, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 

29 May - 1 June 2018, Glasgow 

12 - 15 June 2018, Brighton 

19 - 22 June 2018, Birmingham 

EDGE Services 

Equivalent to 

30 learning hours 

Course Materials Comprise of: 

• A 234 page professionally bound, 

full colour and illustrated course 

text book. 

• A delegate CD ROM containing all 

notes, handouts, delegate quizzes 

etc that you would need to deliver 

your own training courses as well 

as an hour long DVD of practical 

skills taught. 

• A 27 page full colour ‘Ideas’ book 

with training tips. 

All the above and more are 

included in the course price.


People Handling and 

Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s 

Certificate (Refresher/Update) 

Please be advised that course prices are set 

to increase from 1 January 2018. However, 

all training booked and confirmed for 2018 

before the end of 2017 will be charged at the 

current rate. 


£470+VAT per delegate - 

all locations apart from London 

£520+VAT per delegate - London 

Forthcoming public events in London, 

York, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, 

Brighton, Birmingham and Exeter. 




requirements. 


Go to our website or telephone EDGE 

Services for further details. 


Our flagship course has established 

EDGE as one of the leading providers of 

training to the healthcare and social care 

sectors. 

Course Overview 

In order that trainers keep abreast 

of new legislation and developments 

in manual handling, EDGE Services 

recommend a two day ‘Refresher’ course 

at least every two years. This course will 

further advance delegates’ professional 

development and manual handling skills, 

and provide the opportunity to trade 

experience with others. 

Who Will Benefit? 

This course is designed for those who 

have previously attended the EDGE 

Services ‘People Handling & Risk 

Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate’ or 

simliar course. Delegates not previously 

trained by EDGE Services will be 

required to provide proof of their original 

qualification. 

Assessment Criteria 

Course assessment comprises: 

• a practical skills assessment, which 

takes place continuously throughout 

the course; 

• informal Q&A throughout the duration 

of the course. 

Overview of Course Aims and Intended 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the course delegates shall: 

• have been reminded of, and made 

aware of any relevant changes to, 

legislation and professional guidance 

which affects them, their job, their 

employers and employees; 

• have been reminded of the principles 

of biomechanics and how they can be 

applied to the efficient movement of 

clients; 

• have been reminded of ergonomics as 

a means for the reduction of manual 

handling injury; 

• have been reminded of the importance 

of risk assessment; 

• have been reminded of the commonly 

known ‘controversial techniques’ and 

why some manouevres have been 

classified as such; 

• have had the opportunity to practise 

up-to-date manual handling techniques 

and to review new handling aids; 

• have had the opportunity to assess 

practical moves using current 

assessment tools. 

Certification 

Upon successful completion of the 

course, delegates will receive a 

professionally endorsed certificate of 

achievement from EDGE Services, 

which is valid for two years. 

Forthcoming Public Training Dates Include: 

Course Materials Comprise of: 

• A 234 page professionally bound, 

full colour and illustrated course 

text book. 

• A delegate CD ROM containing all 

notes, handouts, delegate quizzes 

etc that you would need to deliver 

your own training courses as well 

as an hour long DVD of practcial 

skills taught. 

All the above and more are 

included in the course price. 

5 & 6 December 2017, Brighton 

12 & 13 December 2017, Glasgow 

18 & 19 December 2017, Manchester 

4 & 5 January 2018, York 

4 & 5 January 2018, London 

16 & 17 Jan 2018, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 

25 & 26 January 2018, Glasgow 

8 & 9 February 2018, Manchester 

1 & 2 March 2018, London 

6 & 7 March 2018, Exeter 

8 & 9 March 2018, Cardiff 

8 & 9 March 2018, Glasgow 


Equivalent to 


13 & 14 March 2018, Edinburgh 

20 & 21 March 2018, York 

22 & 23 March 2018, Birmingham 

26 & 27 March 2018, Peterborough 

28 & 29 Mar 2018, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 

3 & 4 April 2018, Glasgow 

24 & 25 April 2018, York 

26 & 27 April 2018, Birmingham 

1 & 2 May 2018, Manchester 

3 & 4 May 2018, Glasgow 

8 & 9 May 2018, York 

17 & 18 May 2018, London 

5 & 6 June 2018, Cardiff 

7 & 8 June 2018, Birmingham 

01904 677853 

www.edgeservices.co.uk


Children Handling and Risk 

Assessment 

Children Handling and Risk 

Assessment (Refresher/Update) 

KEY TRAINER’S 

CERTIFICATE 



CERTIFICATE 


This four day course 

will provide you with the 

knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others 

in the moving and handling 

of children/young adults 

and how to conduct manual 

handling risk assessments. 

£750+VAT per delegate 

30 Jan - 2 Feb 2018, Birmingham 

5 - 8 June 2018, Brighton 

16 - 19 October 2018, Birmingham 




requirements. 

This two day Refresher/ 

Update course will further 

advance your professional 

development and manual 

handling skills, and provide 

you with a valuable opportunity 

to trade experience with 

others. 


20 - 21 February 2018, Birmingham 

8 - 9 November 2018, Birmingham 




requirements. 


£1,950+VAT for up to ten delegates. 

Go to our website or telephone 

EDGE Services for further details. 




Equivalent to 




Equivalent to 



For more details please 

visit our website www. 

edgeservices.co.uk/courses 




Understanding and Managing 

Behaviour that Challenges 


CERTIFICATE 



Understanding and Managing 

Behaviour that Challenges (Refresher/ 

Update) 


CERTIFICATE 



This four day course 

will provide you with the 

knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others in 

de-escalation and breakaway 

techniques, which can be 

adopted to deal with individuals 

exhibiting challenging 

behaviour. 

17 - 20 April 2018, York 

10 - 13 July 2018, Birmingham 

13 - 16 November, Glasgow 




requirements. 

This one day Refresher/Update 

course will further advance 

your professional development, 

de-escalation and breakaway 

skills and provide you with a 

valuable opportunity to trade 

experiences with others. 

16 April 2018, York 

9 July 2018, Birmingham 

12 November 2018, Glasgow 




requirements. 


£975 +VAT for up to ten delegates. 







Equivalent to 



Equivalent to 










Please be advised that course prices are set to increase from 1 

January 2018. However, all training booked and confirmed for 2018 

before the end of 2017 will be charged at the current rate.

Gift for Granny Campaign 2018 

Gift for Granny is a campaign set up by Yorkshire 

based the Little Group; a recruitment and compliance 

business primarily working within the Health and Social 

Care sector, which asks people to buy an extra gift at 

Christmas to donate, via Gift for Granny, to an elderly 

lady or gentleman living in a local care home who may 

have no friends or relatives with whom to spend the 

festive season. 

EDGE Services has been registering our York office as a 

drop off-centre for the campaign since 2015 and last year, 

in just 14 days, we received more than 100 gifts. Gift for 

Granny 2016 received over 1000 gifts in total which were 

delivered to almost 40 care homes across the region. 


Overwhelmed by people’s 

generosity, EDGE Services are 

delighted to support Gift for 

Granny 2018 and will be collecting 

donations from 6 November 2017, 

Monday to Friday from 09.00 – 

17.00 at 13 Museum Street, York, 

YO1 7DT (our office door is opposite 

York’s picturesque Museum Gardens). 

Gift for Granny have drop-off centres situated all 

around Yorkshire and the North East. For more 

information or to get involved this Christmas 

contact kyrie@little-group.co.uk 

Brexit ‘No Deal’ Will Seriously Damage the NHS 

The Nuffield Trust has warned that a ‘no deal’ Brexit 

would do serious damage to an already overstretched 

NHS. Its briefing states that patients could bear the brunt 

of a chaotic exit from the European Union if deals are not 

put in place to guarantee the rights of EU staff, secure 

vital cross border treatment in Northern Ireland and 

safeguard access to lifesaving drugs, equipment and vital 

medical products. 

The warning comes in a new briefing, which looks at the 

priorities for the NHS as attention turns to a possible 

trade deal with the EU. The briefing explores five key 

areas [1] where the deals the UK government reaches 

with the EU – or lack of them – will impact upon health 

and social care. It also examines where the NHS might 

have greater freedoms and flexibility once the UK has left 

the European Union and what benefits these could bring. 

The report finds that even with an exit deal on money, 

citizens’ rights and Northern Ireland, trade and cooperation 

deals would be needed to ensure that: 

• Delays or charges at the border do not drive up prices 

of the supplies the NHS relies upon, or risk the loss of 

vital products with a limited shelf life like radioisotopes; 

• British scientists and doctors can keep working as 

much as possible with European programmes, like 

Horizon 2020 which has funnelled €420 million into British 

health research; 

• British patients do not face slower access to life saving 

drugs, and British and European taxpayers do not have 

to pay more for duplicate regulation in medicines. 

The report argues that an exit deal will be needed to 

make sure that: 

• The rights of tens of thousands of EU doctors 

and nurses are guaranteed, minimising the chances of an 

exodus making already concerning staff shortages across 

the NHS worse; 

• A hard border does not obstruct Northern Irish people 

who need to go to the Irish Republic for vital care and 

vice versa; 

• A sudden legal vacuum does not risk supplies of 

already approved medicines, and human substances like 

blood plasma; 

• Ex-pat pensioners who access healthcare under EU 

schemes do not feel forced to return, potentially requiring 

up to £500 million more in annual spending, and 1000 

extra hospital beds. 

The report also highlights areas where the NHS could 

have greater flexibility after Brexit. One such area is the 

opportunity to loosen the restrictions on the hours doctors 

work under the Working Time Directive, which could free 

up time for training. However, a return to the long hours 

of the past would risk driving staff away. Another is in 

removing elements of competition law currently restricting 

collaboration between NHS organisations. But the report 

concludes that the scope for more flexibility here after 

Brexit may in fact be limited. 

Commenting on the report, author Mark Dayan said: 

“Many different parts of EU law and EU institutions play 

an important role in enabling healthcare to be delivered to 

the standards we see today. Suddenly ending them with 

no replacement would do serious damage to an already 

strained NHS. 

“For many things – from medicine regulation to the rights 

of NHS staff – there is a way through if deals can be 

secured. But if negotiations collapse entirely or if political 

red lines get in the way of future co-operation, patient 

care will suffer.” 


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The Care Home Opening its Doors to Toddlers 

A ground breaking new care home-based nursery has 

opened in London. Run by founder Judith Ish-Horowicz, 

the Apples and Honey Nightingale nursery in South 

London is the first inter-generational care facility in the 

UK. Ish-Horowicz came up with the idea many years ago 

after bringing children from her first nursery in Wimbledon 

to visit Nightingale House each term and her proposal 

came at a time when the home was reassessing its own 

approach to care. 

This new nursery is housed in the care home’s 

refurbished maintenance block and has 30 places for 

two-to four-year-olds and several spots reserved for 

the children of care home staff. “Everyone I’ve spoken 

to loves the idea,” says Ish-Horowicz. “The Ofsted 

registration process went smoothly, although there were 

issues finding insurance. We had to explain to them that 

we weren’t going to leave the children in the care of the 

residents (or the other way around), and they didn’t all 

need to be DBS checked. There’s such a positive feel 

around this, you know it’s going to work,” she says. “It’s 

about learning through generations and caring about 

each other. This kind of thing can change society and the 

community.” 

The health benefits of alleviating residents’ social 

isolation may also lead to savings elsewhere. Simon 

Pedzisi director of care services for Nightingale House 

believes “If people are well stimulated and live meaningful 

lives, they’re going to eat well. They’re then at less risk of 

dehydration and falling, therefore you’ll lower the risk of 

hospital admission”. 

However, the concept of inter-generational care is not 

new, but began in 1976 when a nursery school and 

a care home were combined in Tokyo. Since then, 

there have been successful schemes across Europe, 

Australia and the US. So much so, the government 

in Singapore, committed £1.7bn to initiatives to 

improve ageing in the country, including 10 new intergenerational 

housing developments. In the UK we are 

still catching up with the idea, says Stephen Burke, 

director of United for All Ages a development agency that 

for the past seven years which has been working with 

a range of organisations – including local authorities, 

housing providers, care homes and community centres 

– to encourage them to think more broadly about 

opportunities for combining care. 

There is clearly a growing interest in the concept of 

intergenerational care. Burke expects the UK’s first 

housing development for students and older residents 

(as seen in the Netherlands) to launch soon. Nurseries 

are run near to care homes in cities such as Chichester 

and Edinburgh, but Apples and Honey is the first to run a 

nursery within a care home itself, with daily joint activities 

for the children and residents including exercising, 

reading, cooking and eating meals. 

Commenting on this Buke says, “It’s about bringing 

people together. By getting people talking to each other, 

you break down some of the barriers and challenge some 

of the stereotypes [particularly around ageism, dementia 

and other conditions affecting older people]. We see this 

having benefits for all generations.” 


Need to know 

Driving your own vehicle for work 


Driving is commonly the most 

dangerous activity that people 

undertake in the course of their 

work. Research indicates that over 

100 people are killed or seriously 

injured every month on UK roads 

who were driving, cycling or 

otherwise using the road for work 

purposes. 

Under UK legislation employers 

have the same duty of care to 

staff who drive their own vehicles 

for work as they do for staff 

driving company owned/lease/ 

hire vehicles. It is more difficult 

to impose safer policies and 

procedures on staff who are driving 

their own vehicles but none-theless 

there are some health and 

safety obligations that should be 

adhered to and that staff should be 

made aware of via an appropriate 

policy/procedure document: 

Policy aim/purpose 

Most policies/procedures define 

their purpose at the outset and it 

might read something like: This 

policy aims to ensure that all 

staff driving as part of their work 

activities demonstrate safe driving 

and other good road safety habits 

at all times. 

Expectation of safe driving at all 

times 

Ensure all staff understand that 

the organisation expects everyone 

who drives for work does so in a 

safe manner. A statement such 

as this may be detailed to clarify 

this point: All employees must 

ensure, when driving on Company 

business, that they comply with all 

road traffic legislation/guidelines, 

are conscious of road safety, 

road conditions and other road 

users, and apply defensive driving 

techniques at all times. 

Ensure all vehicles are well 

maintained and fit for purpose 

Ensure there is clear guidance 

to staff that any vehicle that is 

deemed or suspected to be in an 

unsafe or illegal condition should not 

be used for work purposes until all 

necessary repairs are completed. 

Furthermore, staff should be advised 

to undertake (and keep records of) 

a service of the vehicle in line with 

manufacturer’s instructions. Vehicles 

should only be used for operations 

that it is designed for, any goods that 

are being carried should be secured 

properly and only carry passengers if 

the driver is insured to do so and all 

passengers should each have a seat 

belt. 

Wellness checks 

Staff are advised to ensure that they 

remain physically and psychologically 

fit to drive. This might include 

advice about eyesight and possibly 

circulation disorders that might be 

made worse by long journeys where 

the driver will be generally immobile. 

Staff will be advised to inform their 

line managers should their situation 

change. 

Vehicle checks 

Employers are best advised to 

provide a checklist to encourage staff 

who drive for work to conduct at least 

twice monthly safety checks. These 

will include that: 

• Tyres are undamaged, have 

enough tread depth and are at the 

correct pressure. 

• Oil, coolant and screen wash levels 

are correct. 

• Brakes are fully functioning. 

• Lights and indicators are clean and 

working. 

• Parking cameras/indicators are 

clean and working. 

• Washers and wipers are working 

• Windscreen and rear windows are 

undamaged. 

As a pre-drive check you might also 

include that: 

• All mirrors are correctly positioned. 

• All occupants are using their 

seatbelts correctly. 

• All head restraints are correctly 

positioned. 

• Any loads are appropriately 

secured. 

Documentation checks 

Employees should be asked 

to be able to provide on 

request and at regular intervals 

appropriate documentation which 

might include: 

• A full driving license for the 

class of vehicle they are driving. 

• Insurance documentation. 

• Vehicle excise duty (tax). 

• A valid MOT. 

• Servicing records. 

Journey planning 

Advice should be given to staff 

about safely planning their 

work journeys including the 

advised frequency of breaks 

(commonly 15-minute breaks 

every two hours but this may 

change depending on driving 

conditions). Staff should be able 

to stay overnight if a journey is 

particularly long, dangerous or 

tiring. Staff might be advised 

to use public transport where 

possible as this is far safer 

statistically than driving. 

Reporting requirements 

Staff who are involved in a 

work-related accident including 

damage-only incidents and 

significant near-misses should be 

required to report it to their line 

manager. 

Drivers who have received 

penalty points, or been 

cautioned, summonsed or 

convicted for driving offences 

(even if not at work) should be 

required to report this to their line 

manager. 

For further information go to: 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ 

indg382.pdf 


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Visit Our Website... 

To learn more about EDGE Services 

why not visit our website, where you 

can book a place on one of our public 

courses or keep updated with industry 

news. 

You can also to: 

• find out about some of our clients and 

read what they have to say about 

EDGE training on our testimonials 

page. 

• browse some of the questions our 

trainers regularly get asked on the 

useful ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ 

(FAQ) tab. 

• order the range of professional 

and invaluable products available 

to delegates who have completed 

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handling and understanding 

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Post-Training Support 

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Service: 


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When you undertake an EDGE Services’ course 

you learn a great deal in a short period of time. 

We understand however that, very often, the real 

learning begins when you return to work and start 

delivering your training. 

PTS - Postcard paul.indd 1 30/11/07 16:41:08 

Out invaluable Post-Training Support Service gives 

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unexpected happens, one of our Senior Trainer’s will 

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EDGE Services Winter 2017 Newsletter

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