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.

Sep

Yet Another Outstanding!

18 Sep

The Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ is a scheme for volunteer-led community groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area. The assessors look at three core pillars: Community Participation Environmental Responsibility Gardening Achievement There are five levels of achievement, from ‘Establishing’ to ‘Outstanding’. We are very proud to announce that we received an ‘Outstanding’ award in October 2014 for our house gardens. We have now won top awards for our gardens for four consecutive years, the highlight of that being a Gold Medal and Best in Show for our flowerbed at RHS’s Tatton Flower Show. Our residents are given the opportunity to work in the gardens with our Therapeutic Gardener, and winning an award really helps give people a sense of purpose and achievement.