EDGE Services Winter 2019 Newsletter

EDGE services
Winter 2019
NEWS
LETTER
General Election 2019:
Don’t Politicise Health Service - NHS Boss
NHS Providers chief Chris Hopson has
warned political parties against using
the NHS as “a political weapon” in the
election campaign.
The long-term future of the NHS
and social care is likely to be a key
battleground in the run-up to the 12
December election with both the Tories
and Labour vowing to spend billions to
improve care.
Mr Hopson, who acts for health
trust leaders in England, said “overdramatising
NHS difficulties” or making
“disingenuous” funding claims did the
service “no favours”, and he urged
parties not to make “empty promises”
or create “unrealistic expectations”.
Training Across the UK
• People Handling
• Children Handling
• Inanimate Object
Handling
• Understanding and
Managing Behaviour
that Challenges
• Bespoke and Advanced
Skills In-house Training
The Tories are expected to trumpet
extra spending on the health service
in England, including a £2.7bn
investment for six hospitals over five
years and £100m for a further 34
hospitals to start developing future
projects. This is on top of an extra
£20bn in funding agreed by Theresa
May’s government up to 2023.
Labour argues the NHS is reeling from
the tightest funding squeeze in modern
history since 2010, which it says
has left nearly four and a half million
people waiting for treatment and seen
thousands of cancelled operations last
year. Jeremy Corbyn has said he will
end austerity in the NHS via a “proper
funding settlement”, with the exact
details to be announced ahead of the
launch of the party’s manifesto.
Writing on the Times website, Mr
Hopson said it was understandable
that during election campaigns
politicians should “cast themselves as
champions and defenders of the NHS”
but he has called for a “proper, mature,
evidence-based” debate on what the
NHS needs.
“Let’s not resort to the cheap political
slogans and skimming across the top
which is what we’ve seen over the last
four or five elections.”
It is unrealistic to expect the parties to
dial down their highly charged debates
on the subject but NHS Providers
argue that things are already getting
out of hand.
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853
The NHS in England seems unable
to keep up with growing demand for
care, which is “particularly worrying”
with winter looming. Hospital chiefs
are known to be concerned that
there was intense pressure in recent
weeks before winter had really set in.
How that pressure develops before
polling day could be a major issue in
this campaign.
While there are areas where “the
NHS is falling short”, Mr Hopson said
“over-dramatising or distorting the
difficulties for political ends will do
nothing to help those frontline staff
who are working flat out for patients.
Equally, disingenuous claims about
extra funding, or promises that
create unrealistic expectations,
may be tempting in the heat of the
election battle, but they do the health
service no favours.”
Carrie MacEwen, from the Academy
of Medical Royal Colleges, said
undeliverable promises “simply set
up the NHS to fail”.
“The NHS’s role is to manage the
health of the nation, not to be used
as a tool to swing voters in a threeway
marginal,” she told the Times.
“Our fear is in these febrile times
we will see irrational, undeliverable
promises or even outright lies.”

2 Winter 2019 Newsletter
Editor’s column
Welcome to EDGE Services’ winter newsletter. As
you will see there’s been a lot going on and we
have interesting stories about a new treatment for
Alzheimer’s and a very positive piece on arts workshops
at the Belong Care Village in Crewe. (And
then there’s a General Election!)
It’s also lovely to recall EDGE Services’ small
beginnings 21 years ago and to reflect upon our
growth since then. It’s given me the opportunity
to thank the thousands of delegates who have
attended our courses over the years, but if you will
indulge me (and Christmas is the time for indulgence)
I’d also like to thank the EDGE team: our
amazing trainers (past and present) who travel
the length and breadth of the UK (and sometimes
further afield!) delivering training of an exceptional
quality, and our brilliant office team who keep the
whole operation ticking so smoothly with professionalism
and good humour!
It takes both excellent staff and satisfied customers
to build a successful business and it would be hard
to imagine where we might be without you all!
A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to
you and yours from all of us at EDGE!
Kate
Kate Lovett
Director
Xmas Presence
2019
EDGE Services are delighted to support ‘Xmas Presence’
for the third consecutive year.
This wonderful community project in York helps to
alleviate the sadness of older people who find themselves
alone at Christmas time, by providing transport, a roast
dinner & refreshments, entertainment, presents & good
company for 60 people on Christmas Day.
The Xmas Presence team do this completely free of
charge via donations and volunteers and they need help
to make it work.
They are looking for kind donations for their homemade
hamper gifts – baked, pickled, knitted, crocheted, sewn
– in addition to decorations for the tables on Christmas
Day.
If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by family
and friends at Christmas time, please help to share
the goodness and gratitude a little further by making a
donation.
Information about how to donate or help can be provided
by contacting the Xmas Presence team:
E-mail: xmaspresenceuk@gmail.com
Facebook: @yorkxmaspresence
The Xmas Presence project has inspired other
community groups and care businesses to run their own
festive events for elderly people who would otherwise be
alone on Christmas Day – and we hope to see its reach
grow across the UK because, as the team say, no-one
should have no-one.
Merry Christmas!
EDGE services

Council Opens its
First Care Home in
25 years
Liverpool City Council has opened its first council care
home in over 25 years.
The £8m Brushwood care home in Speke has been built
to meet growing demands for dementia care services.
The 60-bed home has 48 beds for long term residential
care and 12 for assessment.
It is the first of two new local authority-built homes in the
city, with the second, Millvina House, opening in Everton
in November.
Kathleen Doyle, 89 is one of Brushwood’s first residents.
Her daughter Carol said she was relieved to have her
mother living in an area “she is familiar with”. Having
regular contact with family and friends and being in an
area she knows “makes so much difference”, she added.
Liverpool City Council spends almost £50m a year on
residential and nursing care, plus a further £11m on
dementia and memory loss services. It has borrowed
money to build the two centres, with the repayments
covered by income from the leases on each site.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said an increasing
elderly population means the council is facing “a
significant challenge” to ensure the social care system
meets people’s needs.
He said: “The decision to invest in these two new
purpose-built care homes, that will offer residential and
nursing dementia beds and carer respite, is part of our
‘invest to save’ strategy and will help ease pressure on
other, more costly parts of the health service such as
hospital beds, and save the public purse money.”
Brushwood care home is a joint partnership between
Liverpool City Council and Shaw Healthcare who will be
delivering care.
Geraint Evans, Commercial and Development Director for
Shaw Healthcare said the home “provides state-of-the-art
accommodation”, adding: “The team at Brushwood will
take a person-centred approach to care to achieve the
best outcomes for residents. Our goal is to deliver the
type of care that we would want for our own loved ones.”
With many councils closing or selling off their care
homes, Liverpool City Council are very much ‘bucking the
trend’ in their opening of two new homes. If the decision
is a success, and we hope it is, it could mark the start of a
new trend for the care sector.
Winter 2019 Newsletter 3
Drug Slows Alzheimer’s
A US drug company Biogen claim to have created the first
therapy that could slow Alzheimer’s disease, and say that it
is ready to bring it to market.
There haven’t been any new dementia drugs in over
a decade. Existing drugs currently only help with the
symptoms of Alzheimer’s, there are no drugs that slow its
development.
Biogen are planning to seek to file the paperwork for
regulatory approval in the US in early 2020 for the
“groundbreaking” drug, called Aducanumab. The approval
process could take 1 – 2 years. If successful, the company
aim to offer the drug initially to patients previously enrolled
in its clinical studies.
The announcement is somewhat surprising because the
company had discontinued work on Aducanumab in March
2019, after disappointing trial results. Biogen claim that a
new analysis of a larger dataset of the same studies shows
that higher doses of Aducanumab can provide a significant
benefit to patients with early Alzheimer’s, slowing their
clinical decline so they preserve more of their memory
and every day living skills - things that the disease usually
effects.
Aducanumab targets a protein called amyloid that
forms abnormal deposits on the brains of people with
Alzheimer’s. Scientists think these plaques are toxic to
brain cells and that clearing them using drugs would be a
massive advance in dementia treatment, albeit not a cure.
Biogen’s chief executive Michel Vounatsos said: “We
are hopeful about the prospect of offering patients the
first therapy to reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s
disease.”
Hilary Evans from Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “People
affected by Alzheimer’s have waited a long time for a lifechanging
new treatment and this exciting announcement
offers new hope that one could be in sight.
“Taking another look at Aducanumab is a positive step
for all those who took part in the clinical trials and the
worldwide dementia research community. As more data
emerges, we hope it will spark global discussions about
the next steps for delivering much-needed treatments into
people’s hands.”
Prof Bart De Strooper, Director of the UK Dementia
Research Institute at University College London, said: “It
is fantastic to hear of these new positive results emerging
from the Aducanumab trials. We currently have no effective
treatments to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s
disease and I hope this signifies a turning point.”
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853

4 Winter 2019 Newsletter
Mental Health Sick Leave Rises for
Emergency Workers
New figures suggest that there has been a rise in
emergency service staff requiring time off for reasons
including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and
depression.
Data behind the figures, taken from 57 fire, police and
ambulance services in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, shows that the overall number of staff who took
time off due to mental ill health rose by a third between
2014 and 2018.
The government said it was funding support for workers to
“counter the stigma” around mental health and that it urges
all workers to “seek help” after traumatic events.
Colm Porter from Unison said the rise may be down to staff
being more willing to seek help with mental health.
Mr Porter said: “Demand on the ambulance service is at an
unprecedented high as GP, mental health and social care
services struggle due to chronic underfunding.
“It’s obviously not good news that so many are suffering,
but the rise in cases does show the taboo surrounding
mental health is lifting, meaning we can begin to assess
the real scale of the problem.”
Figures released to the BBC under the Freedom of
Information Act show:
•More than 5,000 police officers, serving with 29 out of the
UK’s 48 forces, took time off sick for mental health
reasons during 2018-19, compared with just over 4,300
in 2014-15.
•This was 586 fewer officers taking time off in 2018-19
than the year before, however for 16 of the 29 forces it
was the highest number over the five-year period.
•Just over 2,700 ambulance staff took time off at nine of
the UK’s 15 services in 2018-19, compared with just
under 1,700 five years earlier.
•There were 837 firefighters who took time off for mental
health reasons at 19 out of the 49 services in the UK,
compared with 608 in 2014-15.
•More than 365,000 working days were taken off by staff
due to mental health in 2018-19 alone, according to
figures for 56 out of 111 services that were able to
provide that data, up from almost 247,000 in 2014-15.
Author of ‘How to get Outstanding’
Launches New Campaign to Share
Best Practice
Former care home manager and best-selling author
Isaac Theophilos has launched a new campaign to
share best practice.
#missionoutstanding aims to break down barriers
within the care home sector by sharing best practice
across the nation.
Isaac said: “The intention is to spread the excellent
working ideas to share nationally. We want to bring
the sharing of best practices to the next level now.”
Individuals working in care homes are invited to write
800 to 1000-word blogs sharing their best practice
on how an innovative solution has worked for them.
The blog will be emailed to more than 10,000
people working in the care sector and shared widely
on social media. Each contributor will receive a
£50 Amazon voucher for sharing their practical
knowledge.
Isaac added: “The idea can be something simple
or a complex change, but it has to be innovative to
attract and benefit our readers. People can write
about the ideas they have implemented in their care
home that have resulted in positive outcomes for
residents, staff or the community they are serving.
The purpose is to share best practice resulting in
improving the quality of care. People can write on
any aspect of the care home.”
To find out more visit: https://outstandingcarehomes.
co.uk/share-your-care-home-best-practice-2/
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The government has
funded, and continues to invest in, a number of services
and initiatives to support staff across all three emergency
sectors.
“We are also working to counter the stigma around mental
ill health and encourage those who may need it to seek
help and support.”
EDGE services

CONFERENCES, PUBLICATIONS &
EXHIBITIONS
The National Back Exchange Conference: ‘Working Solutions’
23 – 25 September 2019 in Hinkley
The plenary sessions were thought provoking , opening with David Nolan,
Clinical Lead, Staff Physiotherapy Service - Sheffield Teaching Hospitals,
who examined the research regarding back pain and work absence. He
looked at some of the common myths associated with back pain and
discussed conflicting evidence with regards to bending and twisting and
awkward postures.
Various workshops took place throughout the conference. Elizabeth Hallows
sharing her experiences as an expert witness, explaining clearly the
necessity for professionals to carry out and document accurately a robust
risk assessment was an interesting insight.
It was really useful to see so many exhibitors showcasing their latest
equipment. There was great interest in Spectrum’s one-leg stool as well as
their Ergoraiser, which is a truly ergonomic limb raiser and support. Oxford
Joerns and Select Healthcare both showcased new stand aids.
The conference was busy and well attended, and was a perfect opportunity
to discuss questions with colleagues and representatives. The closing
plenary session presented by Alex Ruck Keene, barrister at 39 Essex
Chambers, was a fascinating session entitled ‘Practising Lawfully in Patient
Handling’, he explained clearly the legal framework referencing several key
cases with application to The Human Rights Act and Mental Capacity Act.
In summary the conference proved yet again to meet expectations enabling
professionals to develop skills necessary to practise effectively and safely.
Winter 2019 Newsletter 5
Forthcoming
Events
20 November 2019
The Independent Care Group
Conference – York Racecourse
https://www.independentcaregroup.
co.uk/conference.php
27 - 28 November 2020
The Occupational Therapy Show -
NEC, Birmingham
https://www.theotshow.com/
10 March 2020
Older People’s Health and Social
Care Conference – London
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/
older-peoples-health-social-careconference
17 - 18 March 2020
Dementia Care & Nursing Home
Expo – NEC, Birmingham
http://www.carehomeexpo.co.uk/
Dementia Care – A Behavioural Approach to Manual Handling.
By Melanie Sturman & Bill Varnam.
This is the 6th volume in this
professional series that can be used
in conjunction with The Guide to the
Handling of People book.
The book is written by two
experienced professionals who aim
to guide the reader through this
complex topic of how to positively
assist people who are living with
dementia.
The book is primarily directed to
those formal and informal care
givers/workers who may struggle
with the behavioural challenges
that a diagnosis of dementia may
bring. The book provides theoretical
information to underpin and assist
towards the practical application of
manual handling activities. It guides
the reader towards a proactive
approach in managing care,
particularly if a person’s behaviour
is negatively impacting on the ability
of formal or informal carers/workers
when providing manual handling
assistance and also reinforces the
necessity in understanding and
responding to the holistic needs of a
person living with dementia.
Approximately half the book is
dedicated to assisting the reader in
understanding the complexity of the
topic by proving ‘a toolbox of different
strategies to use throughout the day
to cope with varying levels of function.’
The content is clearly laid out to help
the reader easily navigate through the
book whilst also providing excellent
references to support additional
reading if required. There is a section
that also directs the reader towards
useful organisations. The book has
its roots in two key areas – the first is
that of understanding and managing
behavioural challenges and the
second in the practical application of
manual handling. Informal and formal
carers/workers who support people
living with dementia require special
skills in managing this complex
condition. The book goes a long way
to support a person-centred approach
but also encourages ‘creative
thinking.’
For EDGE Services’ manual
handling trainers, the most
anticipated part of the book was
the guidance around the practical
application. Techniques are set out
clearly, supported by pictures. It
is useful to have descriptive case
studies to support the practical
application of techniques. One of the
most reassuring aspects of this book
was that EDGE Services is already
promoting many of the techniques
demonstrated. Apart from some very
useful additional tips and hints, Edge
trainers are already familiar with
the techniques. This is particularly
helpful as over the last few years
organisations have become
increasingly anxious in providing this
type of support.
EDGE Services are confident this
book will provide a useful resource
for trainers as well as informal and
formal carers/workers alike.
This eagerly awaited book is now
available to purchase at £30.00 from
the National Back Exchange.
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853

6 Winter 2019 Newsletter
People Handling and
Risk Assessment
Key Trainer’s Certificate
Our flagship course has established
EDGE as one of the leading providers of
training to the healthcare and social care
sectors.
Course Overview
This 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
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.
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;
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of
risk assessment;
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of
‘controversial techniques’;
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of
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
This course is a Royal College of
Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
Approved Learning Award and is certified
by the CPD Certification Service. Upon
successful completion of this training
delegates will receive a certificate,
endorsed by both accrediting bodies, from
EDGE Services, in addition to a Level 4
Award from RoSPA Qualifications. Both
certificates are valid for two years.
Forthcoming Public Training Dates Include:
7 - 10 January 2020, York
28 April - 1 May 2020, Birmingham
14 - 17 Jan 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 4 - 7 May 2020, Glasgow
21 - 24 January 2020, London
12 - 15 May 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury)
21 - 24 January 2020, Glasgow
9 - 12 June 2020, London
4 - 7 February 2020, Exeter
16 - 19 June 2020, Manchester
17 - 20 February 2020, Manchester 23 - 26 June 2020, Brighton
18 - 21 February 2020, Birmingham 21 - 24 July 2020, York
25 - 28 February 2020, Edinburgh
28 - 31 July 2020, Glasgow
3 - 6 March 2020, Glasgow
18 - 21 August 2020, London
10 - 13 March 2020, London
1 - 4 September 2020, Edinburgh
17 - 20 March 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury) 8 - 11 September 2020, Birmingham
17 - 20 March 2020, Peterborough 15 - 18 September 2020, Exeter
31 March - 3 April 2020, York
22 - 25 September 2020, Glasgow
14 - 17 April 2020, Cardiff
29 Sept - 2 October 2020, Peterborough
21 - 24 April 2020, London
EDGE services
Discounts often apply.
Go to
www.edgeservices.co.uk
for details.
Public Training Courses
Forthcoming Dates:
See below for full list
Course Duration: Four Days
For your convenience if you have
small numbers of delegates.
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: Four Days
We can tailor-make this course to
suit your requirements.
Delivered onsite, at a venue
convenient for our clients with a
programme to suit clients’ specific
learning needs.
Course Materials Comprise of:
• A 256 page professionally bound,
full colour 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.
• Access to an exclusive on-line
Resource Library full of useful
information sheets, skills sheets and
training tools.
• Access to an exclusive e-learning
programme designed to cover the
theory content of people handling
training for ‘front-line’ staff.
All the above and more are included in the
course price.

Winter 2019 Newsletter 7
People Handling and
Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s
Certificate (Refresher/Update)
Public Training Courses
Forthcoming Dates:
See below for full list
Course Duration: Two Days
For your convenience if you have
small numbers of delegates.
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: Two Days
We can tailor-make this course to
suit your requirements.
Delivered onsite, at a venue
convenient for our clients with a
programme to suit clients’ specific
learning needs.
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 ‘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
Course assessment comprises:
• a practical skills assessment, which
takes place continuously throughout
the course;
• informal Q&A throughout the duration
of the course.
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
This course is a Royal College of
Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
Approved Learning Award and is
certified by the CPD Certification
Service. Upon successful completion
of this training delegates will receive a
certificate, endorsed by both accrediting
bodies, from EDGE Services, in addition
to an Advanced Level 4 Award from
RoSPA Qualifications. Both certificates
are valid for two years.
Course Materials Comprise of:
• A 256 page professionally bound,
full colour course text book.
• Access to an exclusive on-line
Resource Library full of useful
information sheets, skills sheets
and training tools. Plus 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.
• Access to an exclusive e-learning
programme designed to cover the
theory content of people handling
training for ‘front-line’ staff.
All the above and more are included in the
course price.
Forthcoming Public Training Dates Include:
28 - 29 November 2019, Birmingham
10 -11 December 2019, Brighton
16 - 17 December 2019, Manchester
18 - 19 December 2019, Glasgow
7 - 8 Jan 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury)
14 -15 January 2020, York
16 - 17 January 2020, Glasgow
30 - 31 January 2020, London
4 - 5 February 2020, Manchester
6 - 7 February 2020, Glasgow
11 - 12 Feb 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury)
13 - 14 February 2020, London
13 - 14 February 2020, York
27 - 28 February 2020, Birmingham
12 - 13 March 2020, Glasgow
17 - 18 March 2020, Cardiff
24 - 25 March 2020, Edinburgh
24 - 25 March 2020, Peterborough
26 - 27 March 2020, London
31 March - 1 April 2020, Exeter
31 March - 1 April 2020, York
2 - 3 April 2020, Oxfordshire (Banbury)
16 - 17 April 2020, Birmingham
30 April - 1 May 2020, Glasgow
12 - 13 May 2020, London
19 - 20 May 2020, Manchester
26 - 27 May 2020, Glasgow
26 - 27 May 2020, Birmingham
28 & 29 May 2020, York
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853

8 Winter 2019 Newsletter
Children Handling and Risk
Assessment
Children Handling and Risk
Assessment (Refresher/Update)
KEY TRAINER’S
CERTIFICATE
Public Training Courses
Course Duration: Four Days
KEY TRAINER’S
CERTIFICATE
Public Training Courses
Course Duration: Two Days
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.
24 - 27 March 2020, Birmingham
9 - 12 June 2020, Brighton
6 - 9 October 2020, Birmingham
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: Four Days
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.
11 - 12 Feb 2020. Birmingham
16 - 17 June 2020, Brighton
13 - 14 Oct2020, Birmingham
17 - 18 Nov 2020, Birmingham
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: Two Days
We can tailor-make this course to suit
your requirements.
Please call us on 01904 677853 to
discuss your requirements.
We can tailor-make this course to suit
your requirements.
Please call us on 01904 677853 to
discuss your requirements.
Course Accreditations:
Course Accreditations:
For more details please
visit our website www.
edgeservices.co.uk/courses
For more details please
visit our website www.
edgeservices.co.uk/courses
Understanding and Managing
Behaviour that Challenges
KEY TRAINER’S
CERTIFICATE
Public Training Courses
Course Duration: Four Days
Understanding and Managing
Behaviour that Challenges (Refresher/
Update)
KEY TRAINER’S
CERTIFICATE
Public Training Courses
Course Duration: One Day
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.
21 - 24 April 2020, York
21 - 24 July 2020, Birmingham
17 - 20 November 2020,
Glasgow
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: Four Days
We can tailor-make this course to suit
your requirements.
Please call us on 01904 677853 to
discuss your 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.
20 April 2020, York
20 July 2020, Birmingham
16 November 2020, Glasgow
In-House Training Courses
Available in-house across the UK.
Course Duration: One Day
We can tailor-make this course to suit
your requirements.
Please call us on 01904 677853 to
discuss your requirements.
Course Accreditations:
Course Accreditations:
For more details please
visit our website www.
edgeservices.co.uk/courses
For more details please
visit our website www.
edgeservices.co.uk/courses
EDGE services

The Benefits of Arts in Care Homes
This spring, the Belong care village in Crewe organised an eight-week
programme, which involved artists in residence delivering workshops for
residents. The programme was part of three-year project, Where the Arts Belong,
run in partnership with Liverpool’s Bluecoat centre for contemporary arts and Arts
Council England.
The aims of the programme were to assess how to effectively bring art - from
expressive dance to sculpture and storytelling - into care environments.
The outcomes in Belong Crewe were resoundingly positive. Natalie Ravenscroft,
experience coordinator at the village – the first to pilot the programme – said
“Everything improved, from the customers’ mood to their physical health.”
Some 55 of the village’s 67 residents, many of whom have dementia, took
part in the programme, including contributing to creating artworks. Most of the
workshops were highly interactive and encouraged residents to form close
friendships. Ravenscroft described the bond between three residents at the
village, formed in large part because of the activities. “Around the time we started
the project, three individuals moved into the same house,” she said. “Soon,
they were coming to all the sessions together, and would even ask to sit next
to each other.” The effects of these friendships and bonds, adds Ravenscroft,
are incomparable: “It just makes [the residents] happy. It helps them to remain
healthy, both emotionally and physically.”
Ravenscroft adds that it has been particularly touching to see residents take pride
in the work they produced. “It’s really lovely to watch someone be so passionate
about something. For instance, we had one gentleman spend hours just finalising
the detail on a clay sculpture he made,” she said.
In addition to providing a goal and purpose, the workshops also helped residents
to combat memory loss.
London-based artist and filmmaker Suki Chan organised one-to-one voice
recording sessions with residents, asking them about their lives and recording
their responses. In the process, long-forgotten memories were revealed. In one
session, a resident was able to recall her feelings on being evacuated during
the war. “As the story developed, she started adding other, smaller details, like
the name of the lady that took her in. Her brain was building a bridge between
memories and telling the story perfectly. You could 100% see that she was in that
moment.”
The pilot undertaken at Belong Crewe now stands as a prime example of the
benefits that creative workshops can have in care environments. Benefits of the
programme were not limited to residents within the home; they also extended
to relatives who were able to watch their loved ones engage with a new activity.
“You get everything: smiles, amazement, tears … They’re just like ‘oh my god –
look at what mum has made!’” says Ravenscroft. She adds that families would
often join in workshops themselves.
Residents communicated their excitement less explicitly, through smaller albeit
equally significant gestures. “They put their hands on your face and smiled, and
you knew that was their way of saying thank you,” says Ravenscroft. For her
and her colleagues, responses like that were invaluable. “Just that one comment
made a difference. My job as experience coordinator involves a lot of work; it’s a
big role. So it’s good to get such encouragement.”
While Ravenscroft was sad to see the spring arts programme come to an end,
she is confident that the seeds have been sown at Crewe, as both staff and
residents continue to develop the skills they learned. For the residents, these
included sculpture, painting, photo editing and dance. For the staff, it was the
variety of ways art can be used to improve residents’ memories and lifestyles.
“These artists have completely changed our perception of what art can be,” says
Ravenscroft. “Hopefully we can keep sustaining these skills and eventually we
might have permanent artists in residence.”
Winter 2019 Newsletter 9
Legal Case
CQC Fine two
unregistered providers
£4000 each for providing
services
Two companies that provided
personal care services even
though they were not registered
with the Care Quality Commission
as required by law, have been
fined £4,000.
CQC has issued fixed penalty
notices to both companies – each
based in Freshwater, Isle of Wight
after they admitted providing care
services while unregistered: one
from 5 November 2016 to 23
October 2017 and the other from
18 July 2018 to 17 May 2019.
It is an offence under the Health
and Social Care Act 2008 to carry
out a regulated activity – in this
case, providing personal care
- without being registered with
CQC.
Joyce Frederick, Deputy Chief
Inspector of Registration, said:
“The law requires all care
agencies to register with the
Care Quality Commission. This
then ensures that all registered
providers are then subject to a
system of monitoring and ongoing
inspection to make sure that
standards are being maintained.
“Providers of personal care
services deal with people whose
circumstances can make them
vulnerable, and who may not
be able to report abuse or poor
care. We do not hesitate to take
further action to protect people
from providers who ignore the
requirements of the law.”
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853

10 Winter 2019 Newsletter
21 Years of EDGE Services
Kate Lovett, Company Director reflects on
EDGE Services’ 21st anniversary.
On 5th November 1998, 21 years ago, I delivered EDGE
Services first ever training course to a domiciliary care
agency based in West Yorkshire. Ten, keen to learn
delegates, were all seeing this brand-new collection of
small manual handling aids for the first time including
slide sheets, turntables, bed blocks etc.
It was a time of real change in the care industry. The
manual handling legislation was still in its infancy and
employers were waking up to their responsibilities to
their staff and clients to keep them as free from harm
as possible when undertaking moving and handling
activities.
I remember at least two of the attending delegates
who had worked as care workers for several years had
long-term back problems and could see the benefits
immediately of the equipment I was showing them. Other,
younger delegates said that they worried it would take
too long - a concern all manual handling trainers still hear
regularly to this day!
I recall trying to make the legislation interesting (nothing
has changed much there!) and reeling off some scary
statistics about the prevalence of back injuries among
nurses which had the impact I was looking for from my
delegates - their attention! The practical session was
peppered with lots of questions from delegates and
anecdotes from myself and the time went quickly. At
the end of the session I was very pleased and relieved
to get positive feedback from all those attending. This
domiciliary care agency booked several further training
sessions and became one of our largest clients for some
time.
Shortly after this, EDGE embarked on a nationwide
marketing campaign and soon I was delivering training
in Stirling, London, Manchester and even further afield,
which is when we bought other trainers on to help
manage the increasing workload as well as administrative
support to answer the phones and manage bookings.
Things have changed quite dramatically in the intervening
21 years within people moving and handling circles.
Hoists, now a staple of any care organisation, were
infrequently seen 21 years ago. New legislation such as
the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations have come into force tightening up the
requirements to use all equipment safely. Factors such
as ‘single-handed care packages’ and managing the
movement of morbidly obese clients are relatively recent
issues with new equipment being developed all the time
to help.
Special needs schools rarely undertook moving and
handling training in the 1990s but are now more aware
of their own risks and, thankfully, equipment with children
in mind has developed over the years. These schools
do undertake this training now and we are able to take
specific equipment to show them how risks can be
reduced.
The UK economy has boomed and busted in this same
time period also massively impacting on care and
education organisations training and equipment budgets.
It will be fascinating to see how the next 21 years pan out
- will we still be using the same equipment, or will things
have changed dramatically again?
My prediction is that the issues with handling the morbidly
obese clients will lessen but that we will be dealing
with more issues of challenging behaviours as cases of
dementia increase across the world. I think more people
as they age, will be cared for in their own homes, but that
the houses people live in will be smaller and less able to
accommodate mobile hoists so we are likely to see many
more cases of ceiling track or gantry mounted hoists. I
think there will be many more complex care clients being
cared for by one care worker and that new equipment will
be developed to accommodate this change. Only time will
tell as to whether any of these predictions will come true.
In the meantime, I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you
to everybody who has trained with EDGE over the past
21 years - there are thousands of you out there, and I
am eternally grateful that you have played a part in this
journey with me.
Best wishes to you all.
Kate Lovett, Director.
2020 Public ‘Key Trainer’ Courses - Time to Book Your Place!
EDGE has recently completed our 2020 Public Course
Training Schedule.
With over 100 public courses at 12 locations across the
UK there are plenty of dates and locations to choose from
but remember, places on each event are limited!
EDGE services
•‘People’ and ‘Children Handling and Risk Assessment Key
Trainer’s Certificate’ (4 day)
RCOT Approved Learning Awards, CPD Certified and RoSPA
Qualifications Level 4
•‘People’ and ‘Children Handling and Risk Assessment Key
Trainer’s Certificate (Refresher/Update)’ (2 day)
RCOT Approved Learning Awards, CPD Certified and RoSPA
Qualifications Advanced Level 4

Winter 2019 Newsletter 11
Need to know
Training a Person with Sight Loss
In the care sector we come across a
wide range of staff that need training
and assessing in the workplace
and some of those individuals may
have additional needs such as sight
impairment. As a trainer it would be
useful for you to understand a few
basic principles of how staff with
sight loss commonly communicate
and how you can best assist them to
ensure they get the maximum out of
your training programme.
Preparation
Individuals with a sight impairment
will have different needs and these
should be organised at the outset of
training if effective learning is to be
achieved. Where possible, discuss
the format of your training and ask
the learner, in private, about any
particular requirements they may
need in advance of the start of your
training so that you can get these
ready before the day. Hopefully they
can give you a clear indication of
what is going to help them.
Effective Communication
It is crucial that all those involved in
communication with the learner use
good communication strategies such
as:
•Find out where the best place to
sit will be – for some sight impaired
learners they want to position
themselves at the front of the class.
•Face the sight-impaired person
directly – on the same level and
in good light wherever possible.
•Position yourself where possible so
that the light is shining on your face,
not in the eyes of the learner.
•Do not talk to the person from
across the room – not being able
to see each other when talking is
a common reason people have
difficulty understanding what is being
said.
•Identify yourself – don’t assume
the person will recognise you by your
voice. Name yourself and the person
in question. In a group situation
introduce other people present.
•If you leave the room or after the
lunch break, make sure you identify
yourself and others in the room
again.
•Speak naturally and clearly – sight
loss does not mean loss of hearing.
•Continue to use body language in
the usual way – this will affect the
tone of your voice and give a lot of
extra information to the learner who
is vision impaired.
•Use every day language – don’t
avoid words like ‘see’ or ‘look’ or
talking about everyday things like
watching a video or looking at course
handouts.
•Ask how to best present the course
handouts and other written materials
– course handouts or PowerPoint
slides may be presented in a larger
font, a bold font or on a different
coloured paper/screen to aid vision.
The learner is the best person to
advise you how these should be
presented.
•Never leave a conversation without
saying so – make sure the sightimpaired
learner knows if you are
now talking to someone else by
introducing them by name to the
conversation.
•Know where to position yourself - if
the sight-impaired learner sees better
in one eye than the other, try to make
a point of remembering which eye
is better so that you can position
yourself for maximum sight of you.
•Avoid situations where there will
be loud sounds where possible -
some people with sight loss are
very sensitive to loud sounds. This
reduced tolerance for loud sounds is
not uncommon, if you can avoid this
it can help the situation.
•Use accurate and specific language
when giving practical directions for
example ‘the emergency lowering
button for this hoist is on the lower
left-hand side of the mast’ rather than
‘the emergency lowering button is on
the mast.’
•Have delegates repeat specific
information to you - if you are giving
specific information that is important
and you want to make sure it has
been seen this can be a useful way
to reassure you that the information
has been seen and understood.
•Pay attention to the learner
- a puzzled look may indicate
misunderstanding, tactfully ask
the sight-impaired person if they
understood you or ask leading
questions so you know your message
got across.
•Avoid situations where there is
competing noise this can make it
more difficult for the sight impaired
person to concentrate on what is
being shown them.
In Conclusion
Recognise that everyone, especially
the poor-sighted, has a harder time
concentrating and understanding
when tired, so be mindful of frequent
rest breaks and not overrunning on
your training session
At the end of the training session
discuss with the learner where they
think things have gone well and
where they think they have not done
so well. Identifying what they felt
worked well and what strategies they
used can give them, and you, clues
as to how to improve future training
events.
www.edgeservices.co.uk
01904 677853

EDGE services
What Makes Us
Different?
✔ Healthcare Professionals All EDGE Services Trainers
are nurses, occupational therapists or physiotherapists
with at least ten years clinical experience and at least ten
years training experience in this field.
✔ Fully Accredited All our People and Children Handling
and Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate courses
are accredited by RoSPA Qualifications to Level 4 or
Advanced Level 4. They are RCOT (The Royal College
of Occupational Therapists) Approved Learning Awards
and are recognised for providing continuing professional
development by the CPD Certification Service.
✔ Compliance with Professional Training
Standards All EDGE Manual Handling Key Trainer
events comply with The National Back Exchange Training
Standards (2010); The All Wales NHS Manual Handling
Training Passport and Information Scheme (2010) and The
Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme (2014).
✔ Invaluable Training Resources
Professionally
produced, fully illustrated and comprehensive 256-page
course textbook. Plus proposed documentation to assist
and support in onward training delivery, these include:
course agendas, hand-outs, PowerPoint, filmed practical
techniques and tips for staff training and assessing.
✔ On-Line Resources Library
Our training is supported
by an extensive and informative on-line resources library
offering training tips and tools to develop and enhance
onward training.
✔ E-Learning Module
Our training is supported by a
dynamic and user-friendly e-learning module designed for
front-line staff’s use.
✔ Post Training Support Recognising that many
questions from delegates happen after the training event,
our full-time administrative team will put you in touch
with one of our senior trainers to assist you.
Tel: 01904 677853
Email: Follow enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk
us on:
/EdgeServices
Web: www.edgeservices.co.uk
@EDGEhandling
EDGE services
01904 677853
enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk
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