A productive and informative meeting was held recently, and the notes from the meeting are recorded below.
Notes from Residents Meeting – 6th December 2023
Present –
V Burmingham (VB), L Lewis (LL), A Marczuk, W Booker, P Ferguson, G Wheal, L Genner (Staff)
A Smith, P Helm, C Mabbutt, B Hughes, D Hughes, D Bounds, S Bounds, A Clayton (Relatives)
M Russell, J Sidebotham, F Hughes, S Warwood, a Lacey, J Stokes, L Swayne, Freeman Windsor, J Cowan, S Mabbutt, B Richardson, R Smith, A Darby, A Merricks
(Residents)
Item 1 – Welcome
VB welcomed everyone to the meeting and identified the purpose of the meeting was to:
· Review past events
· Identify ongoing matters – Seek feedback and comments from residents and relatives
· Share the home’s plans and aspirations for the future.
Item 2 – Apologies.
Joyce Sisters, Peter Stokes,
Item 3 – Matters From Last Meeting
· Toilet Signs
These were requested at the last meeting and have now been purchased and erected.
· Dermatology Issues
LL identified that the recent issues relating to skin complaints have been thoroughly investigated by Dr Morton and a Consultant Dermatologist whose conclusion is that this condition is not Hendra specific and is a type A Topical Eczema, which may take months to resolve.
Item 4 – Staffing Matters & Staff Development
Retirements
VB informed the meeting that two staff members will be retiring shortly.
Sharon Edwards – 25th December 2023
Jane Perks – 1st January 2024
VB recorded his thanks to both members of staff who had been excellent employees and will be missed by residents and colleagues alike.
In addition, VB reported that Rosie Hawkins will be commencing her maternity leave next year.
Recruitment
VB reported that the home had bucked the national trend and had no difficulty in finding two excellent replacements, these being:
Sharon Weavers has 30 years of experience in the sector and holds the Level 3 Award, and Fern Lloyd has worked in domiciliary care and is hoping long-term to complete her Paramedic Science Degree.
In addition, Jaz Ball will return in the New Year after maternity leave.
National Qualifications
VB identified that the home invests considerably in staff development and training. Since the last meeting, the following National Diplomas in Social Care have been achieved or were being completed
Level 4 M Head & A Marczuk are in the process of completing.
Level 3 Lydia Smith, Bev Gurney, Emma Collier, Ellie Pinfield, and Wendy Booker are in the process of completing.
Level 2 W Booker – Completed, and G Wheal is in the process of completing.
Training
VB reported that in addition to completing national qualifications, staff have or will shortly be completing the following training programmes:
· Moving & Handling Trainer and Assessor Training– Wendy Booker (Completed August).
· Phlebotomy Training – with mentoring/assessments by Dr Morton (Completed in September).
· Incontinence Champion Training – (Completed September).
· Gold Standard Framework – Commenced October 23.
· UTI Prevention and Management – (Completed 1st December).
· Safeguarding / Depravation of Liberty, Mental Capacity Act Training, Safe Handling of Medication, Topical Medication, General Data Protection Regulation Training (Completed in November.
· Moving & Handling, Dignity & Respect, and Infection Control training commenced in December
VB identified that all training scheduled for 2024/25 had been booked to ensure we have access to the most suitable and qualified trainers who fully understand the business’s needs and the staff’s different learning styles.
Recognising The Efforts of Staff
VB announced that he and Gill will treat the staff to their annual Christmas Meal during the next fortnight to recognise their efforts during the past year.
In addition, all staff will receive shopping vouchers to help with their Christmas purchases.
VB stated that he intends to introduce the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increase in January 2024 instead of April 2024.
NMW is due to rise from £10.42 to £11.44.
VB reported that all staff members over 23 years of age will be paid above the NMW, recognising staff as the most expensive but most important resource within the business.
Item 5 – Awards / Recognition
VB identified that Hendra defeated Hagley Place in the charity football match, but the downside was that three staff members suffered significant injuries.
VB informed the meeting that the home’s Investors in People Tri-annual Assessment is scheduled for January – March 2024.
Item 6 – Resident Information
LL Reported that the home currently has 1 vacancy.
LL identified that Vaccinations – Flu / Covid were down to each resident’s personal choice (with advice from Dr Morton) and took place in October.
LL identified that the home had been Covid free for 254 days, and we would be as vigilant as ever, but it was likely that, like all establishments, we may experience cases in the future.
LL explained that the dermatology issues discussed earlier in the meeting were not specific to the home but were a national occurrence. The home had sought the best advice from the local GPs and Dermatology Consultants and had even had the whole of the home treated to eliminate any risk of insect infection.
LL identified that the home will commence the Friday Feeling health and wellness sessions on the last Friday of each month.
During these sessions, a full set of observations will be taken to monitor the well-being of each resident and be reactive to any unplanned eventualities.
Item 7 – Residents Activities
LL provided each member of the meeting with the activities programme for December.
In addition to the normal activities that will be taking place in the lead-up to and beyond the Christmas and New Year festivities:
Christmas Crafts, Christmas Lunch at the 3 Horseshoes Carols from Ludlow Primary School and Bishop Hooper School, Communion, Friends and Family Carols on Christmas Eve, New Year Crafts.
In addition, there will be two concerts by professional artists before Christmas Day.
All in all, Hendra is going to be as busy as ever over the Christmas period.
Item 8 – Capital Works
VB reported that the proposed Garden Works agreed upon by the resident’s garden committee commenced today.
The works on the external CCTV discussed at the last meeting commenced with the completion of the system on 12th & 13th December.
A new boiler on the second floor is to be installed shortly.
VB and LL have a meeting with a laundry company scheduled for Thursday to evaluate the laundry equipment replacement. The reason for changing is due to poor responses and backup from current suppliers.
VB stated that it is hoped to replace the cooker and extractor hood in the kitchen during the current financial year 23-24.
VB and LL have looked at a new, updated system of the home’s care plan, which we hope to introduce before March 2024.
VB identified that he had recently reviewed the 2023 – 2024 Business Plan, and it was expected that Capital works in this current year would exceed £100,000.
Item 9- Any Other Business
VB identified that considerable work had been undertaken before the changes to the new inspection criteria were rolled out by CQC, which included reviewing and revamping 129 policies and 72 procedures.
VB enquired as to how many of the family members at the meeting were using the blog and asked as many to use it as possible, as it was updated every fortnight.
To access the home’s website, click the blog section on the top toolbar. The code for residents and families is Hendra1%
Mrs Jean Stokes had received a letter from a former respite resident who wished to be recorded how much she had enjoyed the history and poetry sessions recorded by Care Staff member Paul. VB promised to pass on her comments to Paul.
Mrs Stokes also wished to record her thanks for the help and support given by LL in arranging her trip to Canada to visit her daughter earlier in the year.
Item 10 – Resident & Family Feedback
VB then opened the floor to residents and their families for comments and feedback.
The overwhelming consensus of the meeting was that the home was well run and the residents were treated with love and respect by all of the staff.
There was no other business, and the meeting closed at 18:55.
Item 11 – Date of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday 27th March at 18:00