Christmas went very well at the Chase considering that it was a rush job to get it organised, at least next year I will have more time to plan out menu’s and to make it really nice for the residents.
The owner spoke to CQC (inspectors)yesterday as the local area manager had written to him, he explained that I had taken up position and was told, ‘You have a good manager in place and we may come to see how you have progressed within 6 months.’
This is excellent news for several reasons:
1. I left my last employment on a low, something that I hadn’t planned, but unfortunately it turned very ugly.
2. Both my new employer and myself feel that The Chase will receive a good rating on the next inspection.
3. We also feel that we could well be on the way to an excellent rating as already the training has started with me delivering Medication Awareness yesterday and supervisions have been organised to start next week.
4. Residents files are now approximately half completed with review dates already planned.
The owner has accepted my idea for increasing the awareness of the home, one which had been completely dismissed by my previous employer, but we have since found out that at least one senior member of the local RCHA uses this, and her home is full with a waiting list, so we have high hopes that the home will receive good publicity and we will start to fill.
The staff group are coming together and are starting to function as a team with the new seniors starting to find their feet with assistance from me. For the first time in a year I feel comfortable and relaxed even though I am working on average 10 – 11 hours every day, being genuinely appreciated makes a vast amount of difference and that cannot be taught it has to be natural and come from the heart, some people who may read this should take note.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Masks
Here is a re-issue of a blog I posted almost 3 years ago, it came to mind after what has recently happened to me by a previous employer, it is now even more relevant.
What makes you what you are?
Are you really the person you'd like to think you are?
Who looks out at you from the mirror each morning?
Are you proud or comfortable with that person?
Reality check
I'd like to think I had the good looks that male (after all I am male) movie stars have (without all the surgery), but thats not who looks out of the mirror at me in the morning.
Yes I have a full head of hair, brown and now with some flecks of grey in, which are far more obvious once I've visited the hairdresser, thats when my kids and wife, bless them, take great pleasure in telling me I'm going grey....Thanks babes.
Where I used to have a nice flat tummy, I now have what I affectionately call my 'one pack', the only downfall about this is that my wife, when she sees it exposed, has to scrape herself up off the floor where she's collapsed with laughter and the kids will come up and pat it and ask me when its due. Its not through lack of trying to get rid of it, well at least cut it down to size. I walk to work everyday, about two - three miles, come rain or shine, but I think the real reason for it suddenly expanding is that I gave up smoking on 23 July this year.
Yes I can remember the date and the time, that my addiction had to stop, and with an embarassed admission, better than I can remember the wedding aniversary, (I've never been good with dates!) The trouble is that my appetite increased, and so did the tummy, but worst of all I really miss smoking, my stress reliever, my comforter, my friends.
OK, I drifted off the point a bit here. So going back to the main point,
Are you who you think you are?
Do people view you how you think you are?
The answer I think for everyone is no.
People always tell me that I'm kind and patient and have a knack of speaking my mind, but in a kind way trying not to demolish people and trying to help anyone who is in distress, or I feel has been unfairly treated. Except my wife who hears me swearing in the kitchen when something goes wrong, or I drop something (even though I say I love cooking), and there are other small pointers that all may not be well with this inside view. Intolerance of others in particular the hatred of abuse of others and as a trainer of what constitutes abuse I can look around me and see abuse everywhere I look.
From the person in street barging past an elderly person or a mother with a young child to 'clever' comments left in full view for others to see, either on desks or worse still on the internet. Snide remarks said just within earshot, and all this with an inability to see the damage that is being done to a fellow human being. These are just the 'light' side of abuse before it gets to the physical or mental or emotional side. On the net it is even worse as many will hide behind an alias, otherwise they would not be brave enough to be so cutting or nasty.
I also don't mean those who tell the truth on the net, those who have been treated badly, abused, or just treated shamefully by cowards, bullies and cheats, they know who they are, yet they hide behind the 'law' or behind company policy, these are the real criminals, as their dishonesty is a far deeper one, it is branded into their soul.
These are the masks we all wear, whether you be male or female, there are the feral among us, for whom to deliver abuse is normal and natural, but then ask the question, if I can see this, what may be going on behind closed doors?
So are you, who you would like to think you are?
And are you what you would like others to think you are, or are you wearing a mask for our benefit?
What makes you what you are?
Are you really the person you'd like to think you are?
Who looks out at you from the mirror each morning?
Are you proud or comfortable with that person?
Reality check
I'd like to think I had the good looks that male (after all I am male) movie stars have (without all the surgery), but thats not who looks out of the mirror at me in the morning.
Yes I have a full head of hair, brown and now with some flecks of grey in, which are far more obvious once I've visited the hairdresser, thats when my kids and wife, bless them, take great pleasure in telling me I'm going grey....Thanks babes.
Where I used to have a nice flat tummy, I now have what I affectionately call my 'one pack', the only downfall about this is that my wife, when she sees it exposed, has to scrape herself up off the floor where she's collapsed with laughter and the kids will come up and pat it and ask me when its due. Its not through lack of trying to get rid of it, well at least cut it down to size. I walk to work everyday, about two - three miles, come rain or shine, but I think the real reason for it suddenly expanding is that I gave up smoking on 23 July this year.
Yes I can remember the date and the time, that my addiction had to stop, and with an embarassed admission, better than I can remember the wedding aniversary, (I've never been good with dates!) The trouble is that my appetite increased, and so did the tummy, but worst of all I really miss smoking, my stress reliever, my comforter, my friends.
OK, I drifted off the point a bit here. So going back to the main point,
Are you who you think you are?
Do people view you how you think you are?
The answer I think for everyone is no.
People always tell me that I'm kind and patient and have a knack of speaking my mind, but in a kind way trying not to demolish people and trying to help anyone who is in distress, or I feel has been unfairly treated. Except my wife who hears me swearing in the kitchen when something goes wrong, or I drop something (even though I say I love cooking), and there are other small pointers that all may not be well with this inside view. Intolerance of others in particular the hatred of abuse of others and as a trainer of what constitutes abuse I can look around me and see abuse everywhere I look.
From the person in street barging past an elderly person or a mother with a young child to 'clever' comments left in full view for others to see, either on desks or worse still on the internet. Snide remarks said just within earshot, and all this with an inability to see the damage that is being done to a fellow human being. These are just the 'light' side of abuse before it gets to the physical or mental or emotional side. On the net it is even worse as many will hide behind an alias, otherwise they would not be brave enough to be so cutting or nasty.
I also don't mean those who tell the truth on the net, those who have been treated badly, abused, or just treated shamefully by cowards, bullies and cheats, they know who they are, yet they hide behind the 'law' or behind company policy, these are the real criminals, as their dishonesty is a far deeper one, it is branded into their soul.
These are the masks we all wear, whether you be male or female, there are the feral among us, for whom to deliver abuse is normal and natural, but then ask the question, if I can see this, what may be going on behind closed doors?
So are you, who you would like to think you are?
And are you what you would like others to think you are, or are you wearing a mask for our benefit?
Friday, 25 December 2009
Fighting the Fight
I have found that fighting the fight for justice in both employment and for good care is now almost illegal and can have serious consequences on your wallet by unscrupulous people.
I suppose I shouldn't, but I find it strange that those with the most to hide for one reason or another, are the most likely to reach for the phone to contact a solicitor as they feel that they have been treated unfairly, but these are most likely to be the people who use and abuse systems themselves, and use bullying tactics to get what they want.
All I can say is that what goes around comes around, and often these people get affected by their business suffering. Professionals who are in places where they can advise will often only use these business's as a last resort, where there is nowhere else available.
The learning curve for this sort of person is circular, they never learn, they never manage to retain the better staff, and they often end up with the type of business that others have turned down, but they don't care as long as the tills keep ringing.
I suppose I shouldn't, but I find it strange that those with the most to hide for one reason or another, are the most likely to reach for the phone to contact a solicitor as they feel that they have been treated unfairly, but these are most likely to be the people who use and abuse systems themselves, and use bullying tactics to get what they want.
All I can say is that what goes around comes around, and often these people get affected by their business suffering. Professionals who are in places where they can advise will often only use these business's as a last resort, where there is nowhere else available.
The learning curve for this sort of person is circular, they never learn, they never manage to retain the better staff, and they often end up with the type of business that others have turned down, but they don't care as long as the tills keep ringing.
The Chase
The new position has started very well. The home was understaffed and Christmas hadn't been organised, but that was just the state of flux the owner and the home had been in. I soon had Christmas well sorted, employed some very nice staff who have excitedly got caught up in the natural buzz the home has, and within two weeks I filled four beds. 2 permanent residents and 2 for 5 week respite with another 2 respite residents for just after Christmas.
Having spoken to both the Inspector of the home and the Social Worker monitoring the home, they both have high praise for the owner, who almost single handedly turned the home from a poor rating with enforcement close to being shut by the time he brought it, to a one star ADEQUATE rating as this was his first experience in owning a care home, this man has my greatest respect, he has achieved where others I have met in the past have failed.
The home is moving forward so fast that it is like a roller coaster ride and such fun, although there are problems that cause me headaches, but what has been achieved with my usual speed and dedication has paid back with a wonderful person as an employer, and a home that is happy and relaxed and filling steadily. So far I have almost doubled the residents that were there when I first started, this is because my work and dedication is appreciated, currently I am working between 10 - 12 hours a day and loving it, although my wife is getting a bit annoyed, but she loves and knows how much I love my work when with the right people.
I shall keep this blog updated, so to date:
Christmas organised and sorted out
4 new residents all care plans completed and signed off by the residents or their families.
Started to review existing care plans.
Training booked for medication awareness and Fire Training which I will deliver
Training Matrix in place
New Health and Safety Folder started
New Daily Notes sheet organised
Online shopping organised with lists for the cooks
Supervisions started to be planned for the new year
New staff taken on with proper robust procedures
Web site has been designed and started, but still not complete, must chase Max!
New Statement of Purpose has been started.
I am expecting to have 6 months before the next inspection and I expect at the very least to achieve a good rating and return the home to preferred provider list, but secretly I know that if things continue there is the possibility of an excellent rating, its is just if I can get all the paperwork in place and also have the audit trail to prove it works.
This is such a wonderful relief after my sad departure from my last couple of homes where I thought I had found my niche, but being a cup half full sort of person I am now looking forward to an exciting future with someone who is great to work for and has a wonderful personality and is willing to get his hands dirty.
I feel so happy and magnanimous, that as it is Christmas morning I am seriously thinking about dropping a Tribunal case I have going, as I know that I am the bigger person and not the problem.
Having spoken to both the Inspector of the home and the Social Worker monitoring the home, they both have high praise for the owner, who almost single handedly turned the home from a poor rating with enforcement close to being shut by the time he brought it, to a one star ADEQUATE rating as this was his first experience in owning a care home, this man has my greatest respect, he has achieved where others I have met in the past have failed.
The home is moving forward so fast that it is like a roller coaster ride and such fun, although there are problems that cause me headaches, but what has been achieved with my usual speed and dedication has paid back with a wonderful person as an employer, and a home that is happy and relaxed and filling steadily. So far I have almost doubled the residents that were there when I first started, this is because my work and dedication is appreciated, currently I am working between 10 - 12 hours a day and loving it, although my wife is getting a bit annoyed, but she loves and knows how much I love my work when with the right people.
I shall keep this blog updated, so to date:
Christmas organised and sorted out
4 new residents all care plans completed and signed off by the residents or their families.
Started to review existing care plans.
Training booked for medication awareness and Fire Training which I will deliver
Training Matrix in place
New Health and Safety Folder started
New Daily Notes sheet organised
Online shopping organised with lists for the cooks
Supervisions started to be planned for the new year
New staff taken on with proper robust procedures
Web site has been designed and started, but still not complete, must chase Max!
New Statement of Purpose has been started.
I am expecting to have 6 months before the next inspection and I expect at the very least to achieve a good rating and return the home to preferred provider list, but secretly I know that if things continue there is the possibility of an excellent rating, its is just if I can get all the paperwork in place and also have the audit trail to prove it works.
This is such a wonderful relief after my sad departure from my last couple of homes where I thought I had found my niche, but being a cup half full sort of person I am now looking forward to an exciting future with someone who is great to work for and has a wonderful personality and is willing to get his hands dirty.
I feel so happy and magnanimous, that as it is Christmas morning I am seriously thinking about dropping a Tribunal case I have going, as I know that I am the bigger person and not the problem.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
When Will It Stop
When will people who have no care experience, no people skills even stop being allowed to own care homes.
In the past 10 years I have come across several owners who quite honestly should not have the title 'Responsible Person' next to their names on CQC registration documents. Just in Eastbourne alone I know of three owners who have consistently flouted the rules, have consistently been in receipt of a Poor rating or have been placed on Enforcement, yet they are still allowed to remain as Care home owners, this is a disgrace.
Many of these people have also been expanding their business empires, being allowed to acquire even more homes or in the case of one US based company build more homes. What is going on? I believe that owners of care homes should be placed on probation for a three year period as a minimum, in that time they should have to go on training courses designed for the safe running of Care Homes, then once they have successfully passed they should be monitored for the remainder of their probationary period.
At any time they should be able to have their care home seized if they consistently fail to provide a good stable home for the vulnerable people in their care. This could be in the form of a total ban of going into or communicating with the home, or being forced to employ someone who is able to run the homes properly without interference from the owners.
This country needs to change and it needs to do it fast, we are getting too many cowboy owners who are running rings around an increasingly helpless inspection unit which will not take the action needed to force these cowboys to provide good stable environments for their service users.
In the past 10 years I have come across several owners who quite honestly should not have the title 'Responsible Person' next to their names on CQC registration documents. Just in Eastbourne alone I know of three owners who have consistently flouted the rules, have consistently been in receipt of a Poor rating or have been placed on Enforcement, yet they are still allowed to remain as Care home owners, this is a disgrace.
Many of these people have also been expanding their business empires, being allowed to acquire even more homes or in the case of one US based company build more homes. What is going on? I believe that owners of care homes should be placed on probation for a three year period as a minimum, in that time they should have to go on training courses designed for the safe running of Care Homes, then once they have successfully passed they should be monitored for the remainder of their probationary period.
At any time they should be able to have their care home seized if they consistently fail to provide a good stable home for the vulnerable people in their care. This could be in the form of a total ban of going into or communicating with the home, or being forced to employ someone who is able to run the homes properly without interference from the owners.
This country needs to change and it needs to do it fast, we are getting too many cowboy owners who are running rings around an increasingly helpless inspection unit which will not take the action needed to force these cowboys to provide good stable environments for their service users.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)