Feb

Dignity Action Day “Unity & Togetherness”

8 Feb

Dignity Action Day is an annual opportunity for health and social care workers and members of the public to uphold peoples rights to dignity and provide a truly memorable day for people who use care services and nobody does it better than Mary and Joseph House. “Unity & Togetherness” A quote from one of our residents at Mary and Joseph House about what Dignity Action Day meant to him. Our residents enjoyed an action packed 1950s extravaganza, the dining room was turned into an authentic American Diner which included a juke box, the staff dressed up in 1950s style clothing and the menu on the day included burgers, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw, doughnuts, frothy coffee and milkshakes. Music and entertainment was provided by our house band and “Paul” the DJ, who ensured that the dance floor was never empty A wonderful day was had by all, and one of our residents decided to put pen to paper to tell us what the day meant to him “Unity and Togetherness”, you can see the full compliment in the testimonial section of our website

Dec

“OUTSTANDING” CQC rating

19 Dec

Updated 17 December 2016 This inspection took place on 17 and 19 October 2016 and the inspection was unannounced, which meant the registered provider did not know we would be visiting the service. Mary & Joseph House provides high quality accommodation and personal care to adult males with enduring mental health needs. Mary and Joseph House is part of the Joseph Cox Charity founded in 1963, and has been in its present purpose built house since 1993. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people living at the home. The home specialises in the care of people living with Korsakoff syndrome. Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1). Korsakoff syndrome is most commonly caused by alcohol misuse, but certain other conditions also can cause the syndrome. The property provides 11 self-contained flats and 30 single bedrooms. The home has been built to an exceptionally good modern standard, specifically adapted for people living with dementia. The home provides accommodation over two floors arranged in five suites. There is a lift, a games room, dining room, chapel, art studio, project room and two lounges on the ground floor. There was a sensory garden for people and their relatives to enjoy that stimulated the senses of smell and hearing. There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. There was a truly open atmosphere on entering the premises. People could access the internet if they wanted to and could use a tablet computer provided by the service if they wished to send emails or skype family. All areas within the home had been designed for the needs of the people. There was plenty of communal space, lounges, and dining areas were available to people, as were quiet areas where people could sit in…

Sep

SMOKE FREE HOME

23 Sep

20th June 2016 was a significant date in our calendar, as this was the day we stopped smoking in the building. The planning and preparations have been ongoing for the last 9 months: working with the smoking cessation nurse; learning about e-cigarettes and making sure new facilities are in place so that everyone could be ready to take on this challenge residents and staff. Home Manager Julie commented “We’ve all been working hard to achieve this goal but I’d just like to offer a massive congratulations to all our residents and staff for taking this challenge on so whole heartedly, It’s a big change to the culture of our home but we know the benefits to our health and the overall well-being of our home will be well worth the effort.

Sep

Charity fundraising day

23 Sep

ANNUAL FUN DAY – 10th August 2016 The sun was shining and after a lovely barbeque lunch residents and staff were organised into mixed teams and competed in a series of lawn games to become 2016 Champions. This year we had some new games, including Archery, as well as old favourites such as Golf Putting and the infamous “Blind Penalty Shoot-out” as usual the teams were very competitive and everyone had great fun, the games always capture the spirit of Mary and Joseph House

May

Bishop John Arnold

12 May

Bishop John Arnold, the Eleventh Bishop of Salford, was kind enough to visit Mary & Joseph House and offer a mass in our in-house Chapel just before Christmas. The Chapel was at full capacity with residents, staff, Committee members, Trustees and friends of the Charity in attendance. Our dedicated staff worked extremely hard to ensure that everything was just right for his visit. The Bishop was impressed with the spectacular buffet our Kitchen Staff prepared which included Smoked Salmon, as well as the Christmas Medley our house choir performed. Feedback from the day suggested that Bishop John Arnold is a very friendly, down to earth man and residents and staff alike thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and are looking forward to seeing him on his next visit.

Oct

Wi-Fi for all

1 Oct

We are proud to announce that Mary & Joseph House is now equipped with free Wi-Fi access for all residents. This leap forward will contribute to improving the quality of residents’ lives by providing another method of social activity and cultural integration. Access to the internet has been described as a ‘window on the world’ which we believe is very important, especially for those who feel isolated. Residents will be able to look at websites to do with their interests and hobbies, research and gain more insight into their condition and keep in touch with family and friends. This is our first step in using digital technology to enhance the lives of our residents… watch this space!

Sep

Macmillan Afternoon Tea

30 Sep

We would like to express our gratitude to those that gave up their time to attend our Family & Friends Macmillan Afternoon Tea event in September. We are pleased to announce that a total of £377.41 was raised for Macmillan, whose invaluable support has been required at Mary & Joseph House on more than one occasion. Residents told us they thoroughly enjoyed the event during a residents meeting, and staff recognised that the attendance of family and friends helped to make the day truly special.

Mar

We Invest in People

13 Mar

In March 2015 we were assessed by Investors in People. We are very happy to announce that we have received this award yet again, along with a glowing report. Investing in People is what we do at Mary and Joseph House, encouraging staff by enabling them to gain the experience they want and the skills they need. During the inspection, staff had the opportunity to anonymously give their views on Mary & Joseph House as a workplace. The report begins “I can honestly say it was an absolute pleasure to meet the team and complete the assessment at Mary & Joseph House” and goes on to say “People feel valued and appreciated”. One member of staff was quoted as saying they “feel privileged to work with the men” and “care here is not about ‘bath and clean’, its about quality of life, dignity and respect”. We were very pleased that a member of staff told the inspector that “coming to work here has been life changing, I am happy and the job has raised my self esteem, it has made me a better person”. Investors in People was established by the UK Government to help organisations get the best from their people. Organisations that demonstrate the Investors in People Standard achieve the accreditation through a rigorous and objective assessment to determine performance. The Investors in People prestigious accreditation is recognised across the world as a mark of excellence. If you would like to read the full 2015 Investors in People report, please pop in and ask any member of staff who will gladly provide you with a copy.

Feb

Dignity Action Day 2015

1 Feb

As always, we celebrated ‘Dignity Action Day’ (formally Dignity in Care Day) by running an event that both staff and residents can get involved in. This year our Activities Co-ordinator, Andy, organised a ‘Great M&J Bake Off’, which was very successful and resulted in some tasty cakes. We also offered staff and residents the opportunity to update our ‘Dignity Tree’, a project that started in 2014, where people can communicate what dignity means to them. Mary & Joseph House received the Dignity in Care Award in 2008, and has continued to value their principles highly. We strongly believe that each and every individual should be treated with dignity, and has the right to have a ‘voice’.

Dec

Refurbishment

17 Dec

Mary & Joseph House accommodate 11 self contained apartments which have recently had their kitchens refurbished. We would like to commend our residents who made a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the contractors. Our staff utilise their skills in order to help our residents become more independent, and having the use of a clean and modern kitchen will definitely contribute towards their rehabilitation.