N E W S L E T T E R I S S U E 4 .

IN THIS ISSUE

Corporate News

Why our people are our biggest assetKirstie Jones, Group HR Director

Positive Behaviour SupportZoe Anderson, Head of PositiveBehaviour Support for Pathways,Modus and Clearwater

SalutemThank You

Beast from the Eastby Lisa Deane

Charity Events

Charity SkydiveRosedene

From the Homes

Q&A with Jo Nicholls

A to Z ofSalutem Homes

Gemma ParnellGoing onmaternity

Apology toStaceyat Fairholme

In MemoriumMichael Odion

Valentine’sMontageGreenways &Fairholme

Harmony HouseDesign Project

News fromThe Homes

Wallsall StreetAdam’s Story

Why our people are our greatest asset

At Salutem we only have one objective, which is putting the care into care.

Put simply – we care. So how do we do that? We can only achieve our aims with your support.

I know that working in some of our services can be challenging at times, but I also know that being

able to make a difference to that person’s life can also be extremely rewarding. Our success is a direct result

of the experience and quality of you all. Your talent and passion are the driving force behind how we achieve our

aims as a business, and without you we would not be able to demonstrate our passion and commitment to our service users.

So how do we ensure that you know how much we value you?

We understand that engaging our workforce is critical. We are therefore committed to attracting and retaining the very best talent and supporting you to become the best that

you can be. Wendy Brown, our new Head of Learning and Development, has joined the team to help us ensure that we are offering the right development opportunities for you, alongside providing access to regular learning for all. We believe that everyone should have access to learning so that they can perform to the very best of their ability.

Each person brings his or her own set of values to the workplace and we recognise that one size doesn’t fit all - we will be working hard to ensure that we provide the right level of learning for all of our teams, so that you can all realise your own career aspirations, whatever they may be.

To demonstrate this, we want to know what you all think and gain your views. We recently commissioned our first Staff Engagement Survey, and the results will be with us very soon. I can tell you though, that we had a great response. Thank you very much. Your feedback will help develop our reward strategies and the work we do around communication and engagement.

Once we have the results, we will introduce “You Said, We Did” boards within each of the homes/services so we can feedback directly to you the results of the survey and the actions

that we have taken.

Hopefully you will see suggestion boxes popping up during the next couple of months within the homes or services you work in. These are for you to put any suggestions or

ideas you have. We really do want to hear from you all, your views and ideas are valued by every member of the Board and Exec team.

Alongside our survey and suggestion boxes, I want to ensure that you are all able to contact me directly. I would love to hear your thoughts on how we

can continue to make improvements and make your job easier. If you do have any ideas, please don’t hesitate to use the suggestion boxes...

Kirstie Jones Group HR Director

2 I S S U E 4 .

...or contact me directly. My email address iskirstie.jones@pathwayscaregroup.co.uk or call me on 07526 178466.

I am really proud of the work that you all do to ensure our service users have the best possible outcomes and fulfilled lives. I want you to know how much we appreciate your dedication and commitment to our service users and to the organisation.

On a final note, I know that you will all be aware that the health and social care industry is under increasing pressure, with regards to recruitment and retention, and I wanted to thank you all for continuing to support us to reach our goals and reassure you that we value the feedback, and act wherever we can to improve the benefits of working for us, which we believe will support retention and therefore consistency for those that we support.

A note from Gemma Parnell,Regional Manager, Modus CareTo her Team before she left for her maternity leave at the end of January 2018.

“Well, what a few months it has been, lots of change, challenges and reporting that we have all needed to adjust to.

I wanted to take the opportunity to share with the wider organisation that despite these challenges, your dedication to the complex and challenging people that we support has not wavered, for which I thank you. We continue to offer fantastic support, achieving so many positive outcomes which often get lost in everyone’s vision to keep pushing for more and further results. I want you all to know that I see these results and they wouldn’t happen without you driving and leading your teams, we have people in our services using less medication than they ever have, accessing the community more than they ever have, maintaining relationships with families and significant others in a safe way, residing in community based residential care for longer than they ever have - this is down to you all including our extended team of finance, facilities and behaviour support- thank you and well done. I look forward to keeping in touch and hearing the fantastic results you continue to achieve and will miss you all (in one way or another!)”

Gemma also wanted to share with us that Vic Breslford-Ward received confirmation recently of her CQC registration - congratulations Vic!

We also would like to extend a welcome to the newest members of the management team - Helen Jude (Gemma’s maternity cover) & Zoe Anderson Head of PBS. Welcome to you both!

In Memorium(Written by Kathy Davies)

MICHAEL ODION

Michael was the Home manager at Harold Lodge and Haroldstone, he sadly passed away in January 2018 following a cardiac arrest at the age of 40. He leaves behind his lovely wife, Nina and three children.

Michael was, in the words of so many of us, a character; he loved colourful shirts and was always impeccably dressed. He was always happy in his work, and his staff team and colleagues loved to hear about how he would sneak out for a MacDonald’s when his wife wasn’t around as she did not allow him to eat fast food!

Michael was an experienced manager, who had just completed his degree in Health and Social Care. He was an active member of his church and he was known for supporting others in his community.

He is, and will be, sadly missed by all who knew him.

I S S U E 4 . 3

Valentine’s Day Montage

Several Homes celebrated St Valentine’s Day in a wonderfully ‘schmoozy’ fashion this year!

Emma, Manager at Greenways, sent in the following pictures to show what they got up to.

Emma says “Greenways has been very - ‘schmoozy’. It has been Valentine’s week, and there has been love in the air. The residents were really proud of their love hearts, and the presentation of their work.”

Fairholme also celebrated in style as you can see from the pictures below, sent in by Manager Stacey Abdu.

Stacey explained that at Fairholme, they decided to celebrate the Love of Food (and why not?!) so that any single residents weren’t left out on St Valentine’s Day.

The Chef, Eric, prepared a veritable feast of amazing dishes which were served by staff dressed as waiters/waitresses to a hungry and very appreciative group of service users.

8 I S S U E 4 .4 I S S U E 4 .

Walsall Street SUPPORTED HOUSING

Read Adam’s Story

Hi, my name is Adam and I moved into Walsall Street in December 2017.

The staff helped me to sort some work experience. I recently started a work placement at the Toll House restaurant, and I love working there. I help with dishwashing, meal prep, and plating up dishes. Working in the kitchen and cooking is something I would like to do in the future. I have a great staff team, they help me a lot. If I have stuff on my mind they listen and talk to me, and help me stick on the right path. I have made friends with the guys I live with, we are like a big family, I feel safe here. We all have a laugh and lots of banter. The staff always push me to try new things for a better life.

I am building a social life with the right sort of people, I enjoy going to local disco, and the gym. I really enjoy going out all together with my house mates and staff.I am glad I moved into Walsall Street, as I would not have changed my life around. I celebrated my 31st birthday at Walsall Street. It was one of my best birthdays, as we all went for a meal then I was surprised with cake, presents and banners. I have never had that before.

Fairholme APOLOGYAn apology for an error in the last newsletter - Fairholme.

In the last newsletter, we managed to get 2 people and their job titles muddled up and switched around, and I apologise for that.

To set the record straight, the Manager at the home is Stacey Abdu and Nicola is Deputy Manager.

I S S U E 4 . 9I S S U E 4 . 5

Home Makeover! HARMONY/SOUTH VIEW HOUSEKelly, Manager at Harmony House explains

“Staff at Harmony House have taken on a task on their own initiative to transform our South View House into a street that the clients can relate to, as well as making the lounge area more homely. The unit where the work has been done is the smaller of our two units - South View which is home to 11 clients with learning disabilities and elderly residents with dementia. They love their home, so the staff thought they would do something extra special for them. Staff have displayed the name of the street ‘St Cuthbert’s Street’ and put up pictures of the local ship yards on the wall, so our clients can relate to the local area that they were brought up in. It is more personalized for them and takes the stigma away from what an elderly care home should look like. The ideas the staff have for the clients are amazing. All I do is give the go ahead and they take on the challenge whilst encouraging the clients to have their own input and even go out with staff to purchase the wall paper of their choice. I can’t wait to see the rest of what they have in store when it gets started!”

The change is unreal and the clients are thrilled to bits with it. They have even had their room doors changed to proper old-style house doors with their numbers on them and the dining area has been transformed into South View Tea Rooms. I am so proud of the hard work and effort from the staff and also that they took on this task as an idea from themselves and went with it.

6 I S S U E 4 .

News from the Homes

Ashleigh House have been perfecting their cooking skills. Service users were cooking their own omelettes and showing off their skills with staff present.

Fairholme celebrated the Chinese New Year and welcomed in the Year of the Dog with a delicious Chinese banquet. They decorated the dining area in a Chinese theme and thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Westgate

Happy Birthday to Chad, who recently celebrated his 54th Birthday and enjoyed a party with his friends and staff at home. Munish said that “Chad was very excited about the big day - especially the present opening!”

John went on his annual holiday to Blackpool recently and came face to face with the Queen!

Actually, it was a wax work at Madame Tussaud’s, Blackpool! John really enjoyed his visit to the Wax Works and on his return to Westgate, using non-verbal communication, chose to send his picture with the Queen in for this edition of the Newsletter.

I S S U E 4 . 7

Charity Skydive

A Big Thank You

Ash, Manager of Rosedene said:

“I have 4 of my staff who are going to be doing tandem skydives for a charity of their choice.

I wanted to share this, as we are going to involve our residents in supporting them to raise money - they have to raise a minimum of £395.00 each for their charities.

I have Nicky Cutler jumping for Make a Wish Foundation, Abigail Tillot jumping for Birmingham children’s hospital charity, Kerry Jarvis jumping for Autism West Midlands and Roisin Murrihy jumping for Deaf and Blind UK.

They all need to pay £70 deposit to secure the place and will each need to raise a minimum of £395, ensuring that their charities will receive a minimum of £140. Salutem have offered to pay

their deposits to help them on their way to raising the required sums for their chosen charities.

Once we have sent in the registration forms, we are looking at around the 14th May this year to complete the jumps and will be doing it at our nearest centre which is Brackley, Oxford.

We are planning on getting them T-shirts representing our Home and Company and for our residents to go and watch them do this and to show support as well as making banners etc. and obviously photos.

They are also going to have individual Just Giving pages on social media to help raise the minimum amount of £395 each.

We are also going to try and have some fundraising days at Rosedene to help towards the charities of their choices.”

Beast from the East – February/March 2018

The Executive Team at Salutem would like to say a big thank you to all staff who braved the challenges that the extreme winter weather brought to our shores recently and managed to get into work to support those that we care for.

Your dedication and care was much appreciated by the Senior Team and those who rely upon your support in their day to day lives.

Board Director Ian Morley also commented that the proposed Values Day had to be cancelled due to the terrible weather conditions.

“They say man plans and God laughs. No better example than the Values Day we had planned for Thursday March 1st. The Beast from the East led to its cancellation. Not to be defeated we now have it re-arranged and invitations will be going out shortly to Senior Managers.”

8 I S S U E 4 .

Q & A with Jo NichollsThe Grove, Tiptree, Essex

BACKGROUND: I have worked in care for 15 years, working mainly with adults with learning difficulties.

I ventured into working with children and young people about 2 years ago, and I love it!

I have 2 children – a boy and a girl.

Q. Owl or lark?A. Owl.

Q. Twitter or telephone?A. Telephone.

Q. How many unread emails are in your inbox?A. None.

Q. Watch or play sport?A. Play.

Q. Classic Sunday roast or the latest foodie fad? A. Sunday roast.

Q. Essex or Egypt?A. Essex.

Q. Jeffrey Archer or JK Rowling?A. JK Rowling.

Q. High Tea or Full English breakfast?A. Full English breakfast.

Q. Roses or daffodils?A. Roses.

Q. Bracing winter walk or duvet day?A. Duvet day.

Three mandatory questions!.

Q. Marmite, love or hate?A. LOVE IT!!

Q. I couldn’t get through the week without...A. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

Q. I never leave the house without...A. My phone.

Beast from the EastStories from around the Homes.

A thank you message from Lisa Deane, Chief Operating Officer (photo) plus some stories from around the Homes.

“Well, we are all (as a team) genuinely overwhelmed with the lengths that the staff teams have gone to in these adverse weather

conditions to support the service users in our homes, making personal sacrifices to make sure people are safe. This has certainly made a difference.

A few examples of this that I’ve been made aware of, where staff have gone the extra mile are -

1. All the staff met up at a meeting point and walked in together

2. Staff doing triple shifts so that there was no risk to service users

3. A manager taking the time in his own car to collect all the staff

4. Day staff staying over and working nights

5. Staff and service users sharing hot chocolate and cake that was made to keep them warm

6. Staff hiking or walking to work, some taking 3 hours

7. Local staff putting up staff who were not local.

I’m sure that there are other examples of selfless acts and I would really like to be made aware of them as I would like to send a card to thank everyone for their support during this period of heightened weather conditions.

It’s at times like these when I do believe that our staff show why they came to work in the care business. We intend to build on this and we are looking at training that we can put into the homes to support staff with this, such as a structured induction which will emphasise mentoring and a buddying system. Also, by implementing the new e-learning platform and apprenticeship programme this will support personal development and succession planning.”

I S S U E 4 . 9

Kelly, Manager at Harmony House said:

“I’d just like to mention that all the schools have been shut down for the week up here in the North East, so staff have changed shifts with staff who have children so they were not losing pay and can work the shift back when the schools reopen. The school issue has been massive up here as staff have no other alternative child care. It appears teams really pull together when things get tough which is lovely to see.”

Sarah at Kazdin House said:

“KN was told last night that there may be more staff sleeping at Kazdin due to it being unsafe to drive home. She instantly went to her bedroom and got her inflatable bed and gave it to me to pass to staff if they needed it. She also said, if they needed any blankets, she had loads that they could have. Just wanted to pass this on as it was amazing to see as she was really thinking of how she could help.”

Elaine at Parkdale said:

“I would like to thank all the staff at Parkdale and Newlands for getting in for shifts even if they had to go home early, they at least came in. Lyn, deputy manager at Newlands made a 3-hr train journey to get in and then stayed overnight to ensure the service was safe. Neil, night staff at Newlands, not only went out to pick staff up for Newlands but also picked staff up for Parkdale.

I myself took two hours to drive in - a journey that normally takes 10 minutes, and remained at Parkdale for 3 days and 2 nights. Catnapping on the floor to ensure staff could go early and get home safely. I do believe it just goes to show what great staff I have.”

Mike, Manager at Warwick House said:

“Basically, I would like to thank the staff for being so supportive during the recent snow. I had staff walk 3 miles just to get to work.”

Andrew at Westbrooke Grange said:

“Staff at Westbrooke Grange volunteered to stay on overnight in the snowy weather. Two of the night staff walked in and Jenny the cook made everyone hot chocolate and a cake to keep spirits up.”

And finally….

Zoe Anderson, Head of Positive Behaviour Support, takes the biscuit for the most unusual behaviour due to the inclement weather!

She apologised for a slight delay in submitting her article for the newsletter saying that “Friday was a delightfully challenging day. We had a very exciting power cut and I needed to take some leave in the end. Luckily we had Easter eggs in the house to eat for lunch and tea....”

When asked how she kept warm ,she replied “Luckily we have a log burner and lots of chopped wood. I ended up going to the pub, (who also couldn’t provide food due to lack of power, but did have medicinal wine) with wait for it... a lizard stuffed up my jumper in an attempt to keep him warm!”

PenhayesWestbrooke Grange

The Highlands

Ashleigh HouseAshleigh House

Penhayes

The A-Z of Salutem Homes AZALEA HOUSE (NUMBER 69 & 71)

10 I S S U E 4 .

Number 69 and Number 71 Winifred Road are homes registered to provide accommodation for adults, male or female, requiring nursing or personal care. Who, on admission, have a learning disability, mental disorder (excluding dementia), or disability.

The home is situated in Bedford and is within easy reach of local amenities, shopping facilities and the River Ouse. There is public bus transport close by to access the town centre and other places within the area. The railway station is a mainline service to the south and the north.

Bedford has many facilities that offer leisure, educational and employment opportunities e.g. theatre, cinema, health clubs, gyms, swimming pools, colleges, a Day Resource Centre that offers activities and therapies such as art therapy, music group, computer skills, cooking, art and craft, film club, psychotherapy group, service user meetings, women’s community support group, men’s group, pottery, relaxation, yoga, walking group, gardening, aerobics, photography group, voice hearers support group, collage/painting.

Number 69 has three bedrooms. Each bedroom is individually decorated to the service user’s personal taste. Service user’s may make use of

the furniture provided or in addition to this bring their own furniture to personalize their bedroom.

The home at present has service users who are aged between 40 and 52 years old.

Azalea House (number 71)

Number 71 has five bedrooms, and the home at present has service users who are aged between 43 and 62 years old.

Both homes have a lounge, dining room, kitchen, laundry room, a bathroom with toilet, bath and shower, a separate toilet and a garden. Both homes have bedrooms that can be decorated and personalised to the individuals own taste and requirements.

The home encourages the service users to participate in the planning of the weekly menu whilst ensuring balanced, nutritious and appealing meals with adequate and appropriate fluids which meet individual needs, preferences, religious and cultural requirements and choices. The service users are encouraged and enabled to be as independent as possible.

Snacks and hot and cold drinks are available at all times.

I S S U E 4 . 11

The physical environment of both homes is designed for service users’ convenience and comfort .We aim to provide a homely environment that ensures the service users are protected against the risks associated with an unsafe or unsuitable environment by amongst other things:

• Ensuring the home is of a suitable design and layout to meet individual needs by undertaking risk assessments regarding the safety and suitability of the environment and making adaptations of the home environment where possible to meet service users changing needs, and by meeting all relevant legislation e.g. fire.

• Being secure and being adequately maintained both internally and externally.

• Having a private space for meeting friends/ relatives/ significant others which ensures privacy and ensuring the service users have safe and secure storage facilities and ensuring the home protects the service users rights to privacy, dignity, choice, autonomy and safety.

At Azalea House we aim to:

• Enhance the life of the individual people who live within the home regardless of their disability by including and involving them in all aspects of daily living within the home as far as they choose and to encourage and enable the individuals to live as independently as possible by encouraging and enabling each individual to achieve their aspirations and reach their full potential.

• Treat the people who live in the home as individuals, with a person centred care plan, which supports their personal development and needs and offers the opportunity for each individual to attend a range of social, educational, occupational and recreational opportunities.

• Hold monthly service users meetings and provide the service users with quality feedback forms to ensure quality care standards are being met to the service users satisfaction.

• Regularly review the service users care plans with the individuals and their significant people to ensure quality standards are met, and the service users remain satisfied with the standard of service we provide and to ensure effective,

safe and appropriate, personalized care and support to the service users whilst respecting their individual needs, preference, rights, choices and diversity.

We strive to ensure that everything we do in the home is driven by the needs, abilities and aspirations of our service users and not by what staff, management or any other person would desire. We also recognise how easily this focus can slip. We will monitor to ensure the facilities, resources, policies, activities and services of the home remain service user-led.

We are committed to achieving our stated aims and objectives for the home and we welcome the scrutiny of our service users and their families and representatives.

It is our commitment and aim to provide a total range of care in collaboration with all appropriate agencies in order to meet the overall personal and health care needs and preferences of our service users. In order to deliver the best possible care we aim to deliver effective, safe and appropriate, personalized care and support to the service users whilst respecting their individual needs, preference, rights, choices, values, safety, life-control and diversity.

Each service user has a Care Plan based on the thorough assessment of needs, which they have access to and are encouraged to participate in as fully as possible. The Care Plan is regularly reviewed. In circumstances where other service providers are also involved in the care, treatment and support of the service users, the home ensures confidentiality, cooperation with other providers and appropriate record-keeping that respects individual’s rights, safety, confidentiality, welfare and choices.

12 Salutem Healthcare Limited. Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor, SL4 1EG • 01753 255 777

HEAD OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT FORPATHWAYS, MODUS AND CLEARWATER

About Me

I am a 42 year old mother to two children and a menagerie of pets. I live in a dilapidated cottage in South Devon and base my diet on cream teas and pasties. As I have aged, gin has replaced cider, and lie-ins with DIY. Despite some early dalliance with bar work I have always worked with people with Learning Disabilities who problem solve in unusual ways. I started in Residential Care, supporting an exciting young man, (we were both young then!) who taught me a lot about how the world appears through an Autistic lens. I followed him into a local Inpatient Unit when he became unwell, where I ended up staying. This started a 20 year career with Specialist Learning Disability and Challenging Behaviour NHS services, studying with the Tizard centre and Cardiff University in Applied Approaches. About 12 years ago I was given the wonderful opportunity to develop my own Multi Disciplinary team in South Devon, created to prevent

placements failing and inappropriate hospital admissions, delivering on the principles of Positive Behaviour support. Having joined Modus and Pathways I am delighted to discover that the same, not so young, man is supported by Modus and I will have the opportunity to work on his behalf again. I’m still trying to work out if he will be as pleased about this as I am!

My Approach to Positive Behaviour Support and my hopes for the future

I have written a lot of very clever and long worded reports that have been filed in dusty cabinets, only to be dragged out when things are going wrong. Positive Behaviour Support is only as good as the people delivering it, and people need more than long reports and three months assessment delays when the world has become scary and distressing. Technical skills are useful, but do not have a patch on empathy and curiosity. We are given a unique and trusted opportunity to meet people in their worlds. I don’t have any magic wands, (sadly) but I can encourage you all to stop and listen to some of our most vulnerable folk and grab the opportunity to be creative and brave, especially when the voices they have are difficult to hear. Enabling people to have full and meaningful lives is the most effective tool we have in facing challenges and should lead all that we do.

With this in mind I am invested in developing strategies and materials that are practical and proportionate to the challenges that people face. Systems that are accessible and encourage learning when things are going well, and not so well. Hopefully I will have some easy tricks you can use when you get stuck and some trickier debate when things get interesting.

Should we meet in the future, I like my tea with milk, no sugar, ideally next to a slice of cake!

Zoe Anderson,Head of Positive Behaviour Support for Pathways, Modus and Clearwater.

For further information on PBS please click on the following link.

http://www.bild.org.uk/capbs/pbsinformation/introduction-to-pbs/