RMBI NEWS Issue 13 • Winter 2015
Care homes mark British Food Fortnight P4 - 5 RMBI’s innovative training programme P6 - 7
Caring is our way of life www.rmbi.org.uk
Embracing change in our Homes P10
Welcome OSKAR Awards ....................................................... 3
In the latest edition of RMBI News, we find out what some of our Homes got up to during this year’s British Food Fortnight .......................................... 4 - 5 British Food Fortnight - the biggest annual, national celebration of British food and drink. RMBI’s innovative training ................................... 6 - 7 New website .......................................................... 8 Fundraising ............................................................ 9 Embracing change ................................................ 10 Creative therapy...................................................... 11 2 RMBI NEWS • WINTER 2015
Read about how our staff members have been keeping up to date with the recent changes to social care following the introduction of the Care Act 2014, and how, as an organisation, we ensure we are always providing the highest standards of care. We have also launched our new website. Read on to learn more about some of its new features.
David Innes, Chief Executive Welcome to the latest issue of RMBI News. It has been another extremely busy year, during which we have tried to maintain our focus on providing the highest standards of care for our residents whilst, at the same time, supporting and developing our staff. A very exciting new initiative that helps meet both these aims is ‘Experiential Learning’. This innovative training technique has been created at the RMBI and I invite you to read more about it in this issue. I would like to offer huge congratulations to the staff teams at Cornwallis Court in Suffolk, Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court in Essex and the Tithebarn in Liverpool, for gaining the top kite mark award (Level 1) from ‘Dementia Care Matters’ to acknowledge the exceptionally high standards of dementia care provided. Less than 20 Homes across the whole of the UK have achieved Level 1 which puts our Homes in a very select group indeed; an outstanding achievement. Thank you to all our residents and their families who recently completed the Satisfaction Surveys in our Homes. This feedback is extremely important as it helps to highlight our strengths as well as identify some areas where we can improve our services.
As some of you may be aware, it has recently been announced that I am to leave the RMBI next year to become the first Chief Executive of the new Masonic Charitable Foundation. I am both excited and slightly saddened by this news; saddened by the fact that it has been a huge privilege to lead the RMBI over the past seven and a half years, and I will miss working with a tremendous staff team, at every level, for the benefit of our residents. Excited by the opportunity that the formation of the MCF provides to promote and develop wider charitable support both within and outside the Masonic community. As we come towards the end of the year, I would like to say a huge thank you to all staff members for your continuous hard work and efforts. I would also like to say a special thank you to all our supporters including the Association of Friends and the many Freemasons who work endlessly to help provide our residents with the best quality of life. Happy Christmas to you all.
OSKAR Awards In 2014, as part of our commitment to recognise and reward outstanding service shown by staff, we launched an internal recognition scheme called OSKAR – ‘Outstanding Service, Kindness and Respect.’ Over a year later, 22 RMBI staff members have now achieved this award and earlier this year, we also announced the first annual OSKAR award winner, Cathy Davis, Care Support Worker at The Tithebarn in Liverpool. Colleagues, residents, visitors and managers are all invited to nominate a member of staff who they feel goes above and beyond to help others. If you would like to nominate someone for an OSKAR, please speak to your Home’s reception or contact the HR Manager at hr@rmbi.org.uk.
Above: Linda Milton, Registered General Nurse at Scarbrough Court in Northumberland was nominated by a relative of a resident
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RMBI care homes celebrate British Food Fortnight All our care homes recently took part in British Food Fortnight, the biggest annual, national celebration of British food and drink, which took place between 19 September and 4 October. The Homes’ staff and residents held an array of food related activities including visits from local chefs, harvest festival services and coffee mornings for charity. Staff and residents at Prince Michael of Kent Court in Watford, recreated their very own farmers’ market scene in the Home’s lounge with local produce including vegetables and fruits. Local chef David Bassett joined residents and staff at Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in Mid Glamorgan, to share his top tips on how to make the perfect beef burger. Several Homes marked the event by giving back to the local community, including Ecclesholme in Manchester who held a harvest festival service, inviting residents’ families and staff to donate
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tinned and dried foods which were later taken to a local charity. Other activities included visits to the local farmers’ market, ‘Great British Bake Off’ competitions, tea parties with traditional local recipes like stottie cakes and bakewell tarts, and English breakfasts with sausages from the West Country. “Mealtimes are a focal point in our care homes. It gives residents an opportunity to come together to socialise and build friendships. The British Food Fortnight campaign is especially important because it promotes the benefits of buying and eating locally made produce. “Staff and residents at our Homes have had a wonderful time taking part in a variety of local food inspired events to mark the special occasion,” said Edna Petzen, Assistant Director of Marketing, Quality and Compliance at the RMBI.
Staff and residents at Prince Michael of Kent Court in Watford (left) and Queen Elizabeth Court in Llandudno (above) celebrate British Food Fortnight. RMBI 5 RMBI NEWS NEWS •• WINTER SPRING 2015 2015 5
Experiential Learning A pioneering technique in the way carers are trained has been revealed at the RMBI. The tool is being used to support empathy, so that carers can better understand what it might feel like to be a resident in a care home. We are pushing for the technique to be adopted by the entire care sector. In June this year, Prince Michael of Kent Court in Watford invited key journalists from the BBC, Reuters and Radio 4, to take part in the RMBI’s innovative training programme, Experiential Learning.
During the session, journalists were given the opportunity to experience some of the daily challenges felt by some 800,000 older people across the UK, supervised by trainers at the care home.
The initiative puts carers in the shoes of their residents as part of their training, to allow them to experience first-hand what it could be like to be a resident in a care home.
As part of the training session, journalists were invited to take part, alongside carers, in a variety of scenarios from a positive and negative viewpoint including: • being pushed in a wheelchair with artificially impaired vision • being supported to eat a meal by a carer • having their face and neck washed by a carer • being left alone in an empty room whilst unable to move from their chair or bed, and • wearing a wet incontinence pad for an extended period of time. We have adopted a ‘person centred’ approach in our care homes for a number of years. This type of care is all about treating people as individuals and understanding that people have different needs. “In 2014, we reviewed our recruitment and induction programmes for new care staff. We wanted to ensure that we were recruiting individuals not solely based on their technical skills or abilities, but on their values and attitudes to care,” said Louise Bateman, HR Director at the RMBI. “We realised it was important for our carers to have an empathetic approach and be able to step into the shoes of residents. We talked to recently joined carers as well as managers to develop our thinking and from this, we re-designed the induction programme that now includes Experiential Learning, so that we could improve the quality of our service and provide residents with a deeper level of person centred care,” Louise added.
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“The staff always do their best to make it feel like a home and my mum is as happy as she can be there.” A relative of a resident at Cadogan Court, Exeter.
Above: Carers at Prince Michael of Kent Court in Watford experience how it might feel to be a resident in a care home
The initiative has been in place since October 2014 in all RMBI care homes for new care staff, from Nurses to Activity Coordinators, Carers and Shift Leaders. Plans to build and expand upon the training are also well underway, which will include additional scenarios such as brushing someone’s teeth. Nina Stephens, Senior Carer and Trainer at Prince Michael of Kent Court, who led the session, said:
“This new way of training carers has already improved the lives of the people in our Homes. “Having this training allows our care staff to have a greater insight into some of the challenges faced by our residents. We feel that Experiential Learning should be adopted by the whole care sector, as part of the drive to raise care standards to the highest level.”
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RMBI launches new website We have recently launched our new website, adopting a design and feel that is in keeping with the brand refresh that took place last year. The new website’s main focus is to be user friendly and informative. It now contains more interactive features including a featured care home and news section and a care homes’ search functionality. There is also an advanced careers section which allows prospective candidates to sign up to job alerts or submit their CV. The new ‘Your Care Checklist’ feature supports all the different things a person needs to consider when looking for a Home, as well as a more detailed media section with case studies and key facts. 8 RMBI NEWS • WINTER 2015
Staff, residents and relatives have also been providing feedback so that we can ensure the website is user friendly and addresses people’s different needs. Alan Baker, a resident at Queen Elizabeth Court in Llandudno, said: “The new website has a much more attractive and concise format. It gives a clear picture of what we have on offer at our Homes.” We welcome your feedback so please do fill in our online survey by using the link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7XYBWB5
Fundraising Karen takes on the London Marathon for the RMBI A record number of people entered the ballot for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016, so we’re very excited to announce that we have received a place for next year’s marathon. Karen Geddes, Business Administrator at Shannon Court in Surrey, will be running on behalf of the organisation. Aged 58, it has been one of Karen’s dreams to compete in the London Marathon and in 2016, she’ll be doing just that, whilst helping to raise funds to support our residents. Karen will be training for the 26.2 mile run with her local running club and alongside her family and friends, we will be supporting her all the way. Every pound raised will go towards supporting our residents. For more information and to support Karen, please visit www.justgiving.com/Karen-Geddes1.
Above: Karen Geddes, Business Administrator at Shannon Court in Surrey, will be running the London Marathon for the RMBI.
Sun and fun: RMBI Holidays Holiday-makers enjoyed an exciting two week holiday this year in Westcliff-on-Sea with the RMBI. Alongside the Southend & Essex Masonic Welfare Trust, and financial support from the Masons of Essex, the holiday-makers enjoyed a stay at The Westcliff Hotel which boasts spectacular views over the Thames Estuary. Daily outings included a visit to the House of Commons, London Show ‘Jersey Boys’ and Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens.
Each year we organise four annual holidays in Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Llandudno and Westcliff-on-Sea. The holidays are available to Annuitants and recipients of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity Masonic Relief Grant. They are the perfect opportunity for people who fancy a change of scenery and fresh sea air. If you’d like further information about our holidays, please contact Maggie Holloway, Team Manager of the Advice and Support Team on mholloway@rmbi.org.uk.
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East Lancashire Festival The East Lancashire Province concluded its RMBI Festival on 29 October with a Festival Banquet. Over 550 guests attended the dinner which was held at the Macron Stadium, in Bolton. Peter G Lowndes, Pro. Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England attended, alongside the Provincial Grand Masters from the Province and surrounding Provinces. RMBI Grand Vice Presidents and Trustees were also present including President James Newman and Chief Executive David Innes. The Province has raised over £2.5 million over the last five years through its hard work and huge efforts. Various fundraising events have taken place during this time from a relay bike challenge covering over 230 miles in two days to visit 27 lodges, to barge pulling along the Bridgewater Canal. Above: Sir David Trippier with his wife, Lady Trippier, and the guest of honour, Peter Lowndes, Pro. Grand Master.
We would like to congratulate everyone involved in the East Lancashire Festival for all their support and tremendous efforts to raise funds for the RMBI.
Embracing change in our Homes Over the past few months, our Care Operations Team has been visiting all our Homes to talk to staff members about the changes to adult social care. The team has been holding a series of interactive workshops with all members of staff from Care Support Workers to Shift Leaders, Registered Nurses and Home Managers. The sessions explain the changes made to social care brought about by the introduction of the Care Act 2014. This includes how each person’s role is affected at the Home and how we can
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make sure we continue to deliver the highest standards of care to our residents and their families. The sessions also provide a platform for open discussion, as well as help staff to gain a better understanding of how they can actively contribute to embracing change in their Home. Lucy Gates, a Care Support Worker at Shannon Court in Surrey, attended the roadshow there. She said: “It gave me an insight into how our Home performed last year and this year and where we need to improve. It was also nice to be congratulated and praised for all our hard work.”
Creative therapy Activities play an important role in our care homes. From movie nights to art and crafts, keeping active both mentally and physically allows our residents to experience wellbeing and lead a meaningful life.
“Our craft sessions at Cadogan Court are very popular. They can be relaxing and calming, especially when we finish with reminiscences and a poem, and they are always fun-filled,” said Angela.
Recent reports have shown that adult colouring books have soared to the top of bestsellers’ lists for online websites like Amazon. The charity Arts 4 Dementia has also called for music therapy to be available on prescription for people with dementia.
“We always try to include crafts that allow our residents to pursue their interests or previous hobbies. We encourage everyone to come along, regardless of skill level, as help is always on hand and we’re always up for trying new things.”
Creative therapies are becoming more and more popular, often being used as a tool to enable relaxation, not just for older people, but for people of all ages. Angela Webb, Activities Coordinator at Cadogan Court, in Exeter, plans a variety of regular events at the Home to help stimulate creativity and the use of different senses.
Below: A resident at Cadogan Court in Exeter enjoys a pottery class at the Home
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Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 60 Great Queen Street London WC2B 5AZ Phone: 020 7596 2400 Fax: 020 7596 2427 Email: 1enquiries@rmbi.org.uk www.rmbi.org.uk facebook.com/thermbi twitter.com/thermbi Registered Charity No: 207360