Parkhaven Trust is an investor in its people

Last week the Trust was reassessed to confirm its status as an investor in people. The Trust was first assessed three years ago. The assessment confirmed that it does invest in its staff and generally achieves standards well in excess of the basic award. We hope that we will shortly receive additional recognition for that investment. Social care is about its staff, if the Trust wants to provide an excellent service then it does need to invest in its staff at all levels. This we do.

Staff who are appointed to work at the Trust do so after an interview, references are taken up and then subject to a criminal records bureau check before appointment is confirmed. Once appointed, there is a three day induction checklist which the manager goes through with a new member of staff to ensure that new staff are made aware of, and become familiar with, the important things in the their first days. Then the member of staff attends a two day induction and is given an induction handbook which she/he has to complete. Staff are appointed for a three month probationary period. Each month a probationary interview is undertaken, only after successful completion of the probationary period is a member of staff considered a substantive appointment. Subsequently most of our staff are then enrolled on to NVQ 2 or 3, or now the apprenticeship courses. Annually all our staff have to attend the mandatory training, which following staff feedback we will be changing each year. The purpose is to freshen up and reflect changing priorities of the Trust. In addition other staff have the opportunity to attend other training to ensure their needs and the needs of the Trust are met. Regular supervision and annual appraisal ensure standards are maintained and staff are supported.

We are determined that all staff that work at Parkhaven Trust should be clear about their role, have a job description, have regular supervision and support, have the training to do the job and receive feedback from their Manager to ensure they know how they are doing. It is only in this way will the Trust be able to deliver excellent services. We are, we believe, an investor in people for the people who use our services.

Hilary Rowland

Chief Executive

16.12.10

Quality not Quantity

A briefing published last month by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Market profile, quality of provision and commissioning of adult social care services (November 2010 http://www.cqc.org.uk/), summarised the improving quality of adult social care services assessed by CQC. Several headlines emerged.

They noticed that smaller homes performed better, although all homes had improved between 2008 and 2010, and those that were run by the voluntary sector had the highest percentage of good and excellent services.

The paper provided a profile of the changing provision between 2004 to 2010. The report noted that the number of residential homes had reduced during this period but the number of overall places had increased, which reflected a shift from the smaller residential homes to larger nursing homes. The increase in the number of nursing homes reflects the growing demand, as people with complex needs are living longer.

The paper also noted that there was an increase in the number of home care services year on year, reflecting government policies aimed at supporting people to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

It is interesting to see how Parkhaven Trust is a microcosm of this report. The Trust, a registered charity, has reduced the number of registered homes it runs from 11 in 2004 to 6 on 2010. It has also reduced the number of places. All these homes have been assessed as good or excellent. And consistent with the national trend, the Trust developed its own domiciliary (home care) service, Parkhaven@home. Although not subject to the inspection and regulatory process and therefore not mentioned in this report, the trust developed a day service during this period for adults with dementia, a valued service which impacts on the lives of approximately 100 people a week. So changes at Parkhaven are definitely mirroring those observed nationally.

Hilary Rowland
Chief Executive
9.12.10

Kyffin Taylor House

The joy of the outdoors

Parkhaven Trust has the immense gift of acres of Parkland. Thus many of our services are located in a beautiful setting which undoubtedly rubs off in a positive way on our service users, whether by having a green expansive outlook or the opportunity to walk the grounds, or enjoy some gardening within the grounds.

Part of the vision for the Trust is to develop a health and social care park and a crucial component of that is our one mile path. This path meanders through our grounds and is open to the general public. In an article in the Times on the 17^th November 2010, its headline claimed that ‘a brisk half hour walk each day will keep you healthy and sane’.

Contributors to the article remarked on the creativity that is unlocked with walking, the sense of well being that is felt. It was said that you never come back from a walk feeling worse. ‘Walking restores awareness’. As a regular walker myself, you never get bored even on the same routes; the light may be different, the birds will be different, the trees will be different and underfoot will be different, whether it is the crisp snow or the leaf strewn paths. Walking can unblock blockages; it is a time for thinking and reflection.

Exercise is recommended as one of the activities to try and prevent, stave off dementia. Thus our one mile path is part of our array of services both to support people with dementia, but also as part of the prevention.

Hilary Rowland

Chief Executive

2.12.10

The Parkhaven Mile Path