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.