News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions

Page created by Frederick Steele
 
CONTINUE READING
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
News and Views
Spring 2021

www.ndirections.co.uk
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Message from our
Managing Director

Reflection and hope

2020 will be forever remembered for         In the last newsletter I talked about
Covid-19. Many of us over recent weeks      the tremendous resilience I have
will have reflected on the last 12 months   seen from individuals we support,
and everything that our colleagues,         their carers and our magnificent New
friends and families have had to contend    Directions team who have always put
with.                                       the people they support first.

The country experienced the first           It is apparent that Covid-19 will be a
lockdown since the Second World             feature of our lives throughout 2021.
War on 23rd March 2020. The impact          With rising cases across Europe, we
has been enormous on our ability to         must continue to be cautious. However,
socialise, the threat to our physical       the development of the vaccine roll-
and mental health and for many - a          out programme has given us hope:
personal loss.                                                                        Mark Fox, Managing Director of
                                            • Hope the restrictions will ease and                   New Directions.
Over the last year across New                 we can connect with friends and
Directions we have tragically lost            family again.
loved ones, some due directly to            • Hope that we can do again what we
contracting Covid-19 and others               used to take for granted.
indirectly. This month we have spent
time remembering all those who we           • Hope that we will be able to hug our
have lost.                                    loved ones safely.

In the last three months, we have sadly     The commitment and determination
lost two team members who have              of the teams of our staff, and the
spent their lives caring for others -       positive comments of appreciation I
Pauline McCormick who passed away           read about them in these pages, are
after contracting Covid-19 and Julie        filled with gratitude and hope.
Corbett who passed away following a         As we move out of our country’s third
very short battle with cancer.              lockdown and into the spring, hope
You will forever be in our thoughts. I      gives us strength and perseverance,
know the people you have supported          and as individuals receive their second
and cared for will be forever grateful.     vaccine we can hope for the best. I am
                                            taking the vaccine to protect those
For the last 12 months, we have been        around me.
in a battle against the virus and its
variants. It has at times felt relentless
with little opportunity for a break.        Stay safe.
                                            Mark

2 New Directions Spring 2021
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
LEFT Jedda participating in our storytelling
session on her first week back.
RIGHT Kate Dwerryhouse finally back at the
centre doing some much-missed Tai Chi.

North Hub
reopens its doors

The North Hub in Southport                     Service Manager Paula Scott said           “ Our reopening on March 1st was
became the latest New                          that staff were really excited at the        a red-letter day for the service,
                                               prospect of the North Hub reopening          and I know all our staff and all our
Directions’ service to reopen                  after almost 12 months of pandemic-          regulars were thrilled about it,”
its doors at the beginning of                  enforced closure:                            concluded Paula.
March.
                                               “ We’re all delighted that we can see      This is borne out by comments staff
A phased return is being implemented             some light at the end of the tunnel      have received from people who attend
to keep the centre Covid-secure with             and we’re really looking forward         the service and their families.
the normal range of activities being             to welcoming some familiar faces
                                                 back to the centre over the next few     One family member said:
reintroduced over time.
                                                 weeks.                                   “ I don’t know what my wife and I
A key element in the reopening has
                                                                                            would do without the North Hub.
been the creation of a two-zone                “ Obviously we’ve been providing our
                                                                                            The staff are fantastic and so
system with staff and people who                 people with one-to-one support
                                                                                            supportive.”
attend the service being based in one            over recent months, but now we’re
or other of them, with no crossover              finally on the way to the whole          Another commented:
between zones.                                   North Hub community coming
                                                 together again, and to eventually        “ You have been so supportive during
Meanwhile, within each zone social                                                          this pandemic. Thank you for
distancing and other infection                   operating our full range of activities
                                                 once more.                                 keeping in touch with us.”
control measures will be used to keep
coronavirus at bay.

Drama group says                               She explained:

farewell to Veronica                           “ After such a difficult year I think
                                                 our members will want to work on
                                                 something light hearted and fun to
                                                 begin with, especially as I’m sure
As the number of South Hub                       it will be some time before our big
regulars returning to the                        shows can recommence.”
reopened centre increases,
                                               In the meantime, New Centre Stage
staff at New Centre Stage are                  has said a fond farewell to friend and
looking forward to the time                    colleague Veronica Morrison who took
when they will be able to plan                 early retirement recently.
some exciting new drama                        Vicky Bennett added:
activities.
                                               “ Veronica worked as a Support               A fond farewell to Veronica after 38 years
Advanced Care Worker Vicky Bennett               Worker at New Directions for 38            with New Directions.

says that she will take the lead from            years and was part of the drama
                                                                                          “ We wish Veronica all the very
people who attend the service in                 team for nine years.
                                                                                            best for her retirement and we
choosing exactly what form these
                                               “ She was a very much valued                 look forward to having a proper
activities will take.
                                                 member of our team who will be             celebration of her contribution to
                                                 hugely missed by all the people who        New Centre Stage - with lots of cake!
                                                 have attended New Centre Stage,            - once it is safe to do so.”
                                                 their carers and our staff.
                                                                                                              www.ndirections.co.uk3
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Keeping fit at Chase Heys with some
                                                                                     – socially distanced – chair-based exercise.
                                                                                   	Chase Heys has played a vital role in freeing
                                                                                     up local hospital beds during the pandemic.

Key Covid-19 role
for Chase Heys
                                          It also gives patients the opportunity                “ I’d also like to express our thanks
                                          to complete the remainder of their                      to the redeployed staff who have
Chase Heys has continued to               isolation period in the safe and caring                 joined us from the Poplars and the
play a key role in the fight              Chase Heys environment.                                 North Hub.
to tackle coronavirus by
                                          Chase Heys Service Manager, Nicky                     “ You have been amazing and we
effectively acting as an extra            Maguire, commented:                                     want to thank you for all your hard
hospital ward for the area.                                                                       work. It has not been easy for you
                                          “ We were delighted that our A Wing
As part of this process the home was        passed the inspection with no                         to change roles and change your
recently assessed by the Care Quality       concerns thus allowing us to                          environment, but we do really
Commission as a designated centre for       continue helping out our local                        appreciate the contributions you
Covid-19.                                   hospitals during the ongoing Covid                    have made in an exceptionally
                                            crisis.                                               difficult year.”
This means it has been inspected
and approved to admit people from         “ This is due to the commitment                       Many people who have stayed at
hospital who are post seven days from       of our front-line care staff and                    Chase Heys in recent months have
a positive Covid-19 test.                   cleaning team who have worked                       written to thank staff for the care they
                                            so hard to maintain the highest                     received. One wrote:
The patients concerned are given the
support and care they need to recover       standards of infection control.                     “ You have all been so amazing and
while they complete their isolation                                                               helped me through what has been
                                          “ It’s thanks to their efforts that
period before returning home or                                                                   an extremely difficult time in my
                                            Chase Heys has successfully avoided
returning to, or moving into, a care                                                              life.”
                                            a major Covid-19 outbreak - the
home.                                       minimum outbreak we did have did                    Another family member commented
Obviously this service helps to free up     not close us for admissions.”                       about her 90-year-old mother:
local hospital beds for other patients.
                                          Elsewhere at Chase Heys everyone                      “ Over the last few months you have
                                          is looking forward to enjoying some                     given Mum a new lease of life. She
                                          better weather and to getting back in                   laughs and has fun, has made new
                                          the garden and to once again making                     friends and her confidence and self-
                                          it look lovely for the summer.                          esteem have returned.”
                                          Nicky Maguire added:
                                          “ It’s been an incredibly challenging
                                            12 months and Jane and I would like
                                            to thank every member of staff at
                                            Chase Heys for their continued hard
                                            work and dedication to the service
                                            and the people we support.

                                           	Everyone is looking forward to spending
                                             time in the attractive grounds at Chase
                                             Heys when the weather gets warmer.

4 New Directions Spring 2021
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Scrubbing up well                         This was a national campaign
                                          encouraging people to make scrubs
at the South Hub                          when PPE was in short supply during
                                          the difficult early months of the
                                          pandemic.
People attending services at              When Cathy returned to work she
the reopened South Hub may                joined forces with her New Threads
have noticed that staff at the            and South Hub colleagues to create
centre have been sporting                 a makeshift workshop, where so far
some natty new ‘uniforms’.                more than 80 sets of scrubs and scrubs
                                          bags have been produced in a specially
The healthcare-style scrubs - which       sourced polycotton material that
also have matching scrubs bags - have     allows them to be washed in hot water.
been produced in-house by Cathy and       Two sets of each item have been
Jacky from the New Threads sewing         distributed to staff at the South
and dressmaking workshop, working         Hub, North Hub and Hudson Road
with Rose, Pauline and Pam from the       residential care home and the response
South Hub.                                from recipients has been very positive.
Cathy came up with the idea last year     Cathy Cunliffe commented:                 	South Hub staff members display the scrubs
when she was off work shielding and                                                   which have proved very popular.
decided to use her sewing equipment       “ It was great to work with our South
at home to support the For the Love of      Hub colleagues on producing the
Scrubs project.                             scrubs and it was very satisfying for
                                            all of us to make something that’s
                                            proved both very practical and very
                                            popular.”

                                   New Directions competition

                               Easter bonnet
                              egg-travaganza
      There are some egg-citing prizes to be                   Entering couldn’t be simpler - just send a photo
      won in our first New Directions newsletter               of your eggs-citing Easter creation to our
                                                               new Communications Officer, Katerina Mabbett, at
      competition.                                             katerina.mabbett@ndirections.org.
      With Easter fast approaching, we’re asking you to get
                                                               Alternatively, you can post your entry snap online on
      creative and produce an Easter-themed bonnet that
                                                               the New Directions Facebook page.
      will make the wearer really stand out from the crowd!
                                                               You’ve got plenty of time to create something
      Whether it’s a traditional design incorporating Easter
                                                               fabulous with the closing date for the competition
      eggs and chicks, or a haute couture item that would
                                                               being 18th April and the three winners being
      grace any catwalk, we want to hear from you.
                                                               announced on 20th April.
      The first prize winner will receive a fabulous grand
                                                               Put your thinking caps – or should we say thinking
      mystery prize, with second and third prizes receiving
                                                               bonnets – on, get creative and show us what you
      Easter hampers including chocolates and other
                                                               can do.
      springtime goodies.
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Warm feelings at
Waterloo Park
                                         	Waterloo Park regulars have really appreciated the various items they have received
                                           from the centre during the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though Waterloo Park                There were even some beautifully                      Michelle Colleran added:
has been closed because of the           knitted hats and blankets to choose
                                                                                               “ These were enthusiastically
                                         from as well.
coronavirus, staff have kept in                                                                  received by everyone and went
regular touch with people who            Waterloo Park Manager, Michelle                         down very well. Lots of people
                                         Colleran, commented:                                    commented on how being
would normally attend the
                                                                                                 remembered in this way had really
service.                                 “ This was a really excellent project
                                                                                                 made their day.”
                                           - we delivered the goodies to our
One of their recent initiatives            people from a safe distance and the                 Waterloo Park has also been receiving
came about thanks to the special           response was fantastic - everyone                   a lot of very positive feedback on
relationship they enjoy with               was so grateful.                                    the home-cooked meals it has been
charity Sefton Opera whose volunteers                                                          delivering to people during the
often visit the New Directions’ centre   “ One lady took to her blanket
                                                                                               pandemic.
to offer massage therapy to regulars.      straight away and one of our
                                           gentleman said it felt like                         One lady - Violet Barlow - said that
Staff at the charity kindly included       Christmas! We cannot thank Sefton                   the support from Waterloo Park has
Waterloo Park people in a project          Opera enough and look forward                       been ‘great’, and she felt that staff
which involved distributing Emergency      to working with them again in the                   had really lifted her mood during
Winter Warmer bags to older members        future.”                                            lockdown and the meals were so much
of the community.                                                                              appreciated.
The bags consisted of lots of fresh      Meanwhile, staff at Waterloo Park also
                                         wanted to ‘share the love’ with people                The centre also received a compliment
vegetables to make a winter-warming                                                            from the carer of Derek Davies who
hearty soup, boxes of cereal, tea        who normally attend the service on
                                         Valentine’s Day.                                      attends South hub saying:
bags and biscuits, and a selection of
tinned goods and other store cupboard    As a result they produced a range of                  “ You girls have been amazing
essentials.                              hand-made cards and home-made                           throughout and we can’t thank you
                                         cakes to deliver to the doorsteps of the                enough.”
                                         people who they support.
                                                                                               Another user of the service, Melsie
                                                                                               Lightwood, said:
                                                                                               “ I would be lost without you girls
                                                                                                 and could not have got through this
                                                                                                 without you.”

                                                                                               And Mike McGuirk - son of another
                                                                                               regular, Tom McGuirk - said that
                                                                                               whenever his dad received anything
                                                                                               from Waterloo Park such as cards and
                                                                                               cakes it really lifted his spirits, making
                                                                                               him feel he had not been forgotten
                                                                                               and giving him reassurance that
                                                                                               everyone would be back together
                                                                                               one day.

                                                                                                 	Waterloo Park helped people who normally
                                                                                                   attend the service to celebrate Valentine’s
                                                                                                   Day with cakes and cards at home.

6 New Directions Spring 2021
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Looking back at a
year of Covid-19
                                            evening to support those who have
                                            been bereaved.
 New Directions recently
                                            Writing to staff in advance of the
 supported the National Day
                                            event, New Directions Managing
 of Reflection on 23rd March,               Director Mark Fox said:
 organised to mark one year
                                            “ This poignant anniversary
 since the start of the first                 signified a moment to remember
 Covid-19 lockdown.                           all who we have lost. My thoughts
                                              are with the families and friends
 Staff throughout the organisation
                                              who have lost loved ones.
 were invited to take part in the day
 which was designed to give people          “ There continue to be tough times
 the opportunity to unite and reflect         ahead, and it is so important that
 on the tragic loss of life over the last     we take time to reflect on our
 12 months, and our collective grief as       collective experiences and support
 a nation.                                    each other. One of our values is
 To mark the day daffodil badges              ‘together as one’ and together we       	Edward and Ruth from Brookdale Resource
 from Marie Curie were distributed            hope for better times ahead.              Centre commemorate those who we have
                                                                                        lost by planting a rose in the grounds of
 to all staff members, and daffodils                                                    the service.
                                            “ I could not be prouder of our
 planted in the grounds of services to
                                              magnificent New Directions team
 commemorate those we have lost.
                                              who have looked after our most
 Staff were also invited to take part         vulnerable through these most
 in a one-minute silence at lunchtime         difficult of times.” added Mr Fox.
 on the day, and to shine a light in the

Boogie on down
with Shared Lives

 Shared Lives families were able to boogie
 on down at an online disco to celebrate
 Valentine’s Day recently.
 Staff organised the Zoom event to mark the special day
 and were delighted with the turnout, the singing, the
 dancing and even some very proficient air guitar playing!

Thanks go to DJ Tracey and everyone         Once again there was a great turnout    The seminars – which were very well
who attended, some of whom could            with first prize going to Stephen G,    attended - and leaflet are designed
be seen enjoying a cheeky prosecco          second prize to Thomas and Hilary       to ease any worries
to get in the spirit of the event.          and third prize to Richard, Linda and   people may be
                                            Phil.                                   experiencing about
More recently Shared Lives families
                                                                                    the vaccines, and
enjoyed the latest in their series of       Elsewhere in the Shared Lives
                                                                                    any hesitancy they
online quizzes with questions this          community staff from the New
                                                                                    feel about having
time on such varied subjects as             Directions’ service have been
                                                                                    the jab.
general knowledge, foodie facts and         hosting online seminars and
guessing the celebrity babies!              distributing Easy Read information
                                            leaflets about the Covid-19 vaccines.

                                                                                                         www.ndirections.co.uk7
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
LEFT A wide variety of pancakes
    were on the menu at the Woodlands
    event.
  	RIGHT Tenant Nick Palmer cooks
    up some tasty treats on Shrove
    Tuesday.

Woodlands busy in
spite of pandemic                                 “ Our new arrivals both said they            “ Our aim has been to provide each
                                                    had never previously been housed             tenant with as much or as little
                                                    in a better place, or received such          individualised support as they
 The New Directions’                                outstanding support from staff.              want, to help them navigate
 Woodlands supported living                       “ Comments like these are a tribute
                                                                                                 successfully through what has been
 service has continued to                                                                        an extremely difficult time.”
                                                    to the warm welcome and ongoing
 operate at full capacity over                      quality of service provided by the         The efforts of staff are certainly
 the last few months, despite                       team here at Woodlands.”                   appreciated by tenants. KS said:
 the coronavirus pandemic.                        Elsewhere at the service staff continue      “ Woodlands staff have helped me to
                                                  to work hard on maintaining its Covid-         get on my feet and sorted me out.
 Liaising with Sefton Council, staff
                                                  free status, both through a testing            I could not have done any of this
 recently organised the emergency
                                                  regime and educating tenants about             without them – all the team are
 admission of two previously homeless
                                                  good practice in terms of preventing           amazing.”
 gentlemen to the 11-room centre in
                                                  infection.
 Bootle.                                                                                       And SW commented:
                                                  They also continue to provide ongoing
 The gentlemen have quickly become                                                             “ Thank you to all the staff for the
                                                  support to tenants on a wide range
 part of the Woodlands community,                                                                kindness and support you have
                                                  of other issues including life skills,
 and have provided some very positive                                                            given to me while I have been at
                                                  general health and wellbeing matters,
 feedback about the care they have                                                               Woodlands.”
                                                  relationships, work, education and
 received.
                                                  managing finances.                           Because of the coronavirus there have
 Woodlands Manager Neil Willis                                                                 been fewer social events than normal
                                                  “ Obviously the Covid-19 restrictions
 explained:                                                                                    at Woodlands over recent months, but
                                                    and lockdowns have placed
                                                                                               residents did get together recently in
                                                    additional pressures on our tenants,
                                                                                               a socially-distanced way to celebrate
                                                    as they have on everyone in the
                                                                                               Shrove Tuesday with a selection of
                                                    country,” added Neil Willis.
                                                                                               tasty pancakes.

                                                                                           At Simonscroft one of the gents has been
                                                                                           potting tomato and cucumber seeds
                                        Keeping active with                                purchased online ready for planting out on
                                                                                           his allotment when spring arrives.
                                        Supported Living                                   At Wavell the men created their own
                                                                                           Valentine’s Day cards, and also took part
                                                                                           in a virtual disco night which was voted a
                                        Since the start of the third                       great success.
                                        coronavirus lockdown residents at                  And at Lyra Road one of the gents devised
                                        New Directions’ Supported Living                   a quiz afternoon for all the houses, and
                                        Service houses in Sefton have                      managed to catch the Service Manager out
                                        been keeping themselves busy                       with one of the questions!
                                        with a range of fun activities at                  Across the houses, as the weather has now
                                        home.                                              started to improve, residents are enjoying
                                                                                           their daily walks and looking forward to the
                                        These activities have included flower              Covid-19 restrictions being eased so they
                                        arranging, baking and cake decorating,             can get back to the full range of activities
                                        games and various Zoom groups.                     they know and enjoy.

                                         	Residents have been keeping busy during
                                           lockdown with a wide range of fun activities.

8 New Directions Spring 2021
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Valentine’s Day spirit
thrives at Brookdale

People who attend a New                        It’s a system that has worked well for     “ Brookdale can provide carers in
Directions’ centre for Sefton                  the centre since it became the first         these households with an important
                                               New Directions’ day service to reopen        respite break, so it’s not surprising
residents living with dementia                 its doors at the end of last October.        that so many of our regulars have
proved that age is no barrier                                                               returned, and that we’ve received
                                               And encouragingly, the response from
to getting in the Valentine’s                                                               such a lot of positive feedback from
                                               people who use the service has been
Day spirit recently.                           excellent over the past few months:
                                                                                            families saying how pleased they
                                                                                            are that the centre is open again.
Regulars at Brookdale Resource Centre          “ Apart from a handful of people,
in Ainsdale enjoyed a day of romance-                                                     “ Now we look forward to the
                                                 all our regulars have come back
related activities to mark the special                                                      day when the service can get
                                                 to us,” said Salwa. “And we think
event.                                                                                      completely back to normal, parties
                                                 that some of those who we haven’t
                                                                                            and all,” added Salwa.
These included making Valentine                  welcomed back yet may well return
cards for loved ones to take home,               once they’ve had both of their Covid     In the meantime families have been
listening to love songs and enjoying             vaccine jabs.                            expressing their appreciation for the
Valentine cakes and chocolate for their                                                   services provided at Brookdale.
                                               “ We’ve even been open for new
afternoon tea.                                   admissions during the latest             One relative wrote to say:
And although Covid restrictions meant            lockdown, which reflects all the
                                                                                          “ The staff are amazing. They are
that staff were unable to arrange                hard work that our staff have put in
                                                                                            caring and conscientious with a
the normal party sing-song with an               - and continue to put in - to making
                                                                                            very human approach. I would
entertainer, people who attend the               the centre Covid-secure.”
                                                                                            regularly phone them for advice if
service agreed that there was still            Salwa also believes that the response        I was struggling at home and they
plenty of love in the air on the day.          demonstrates how much the service            were always happy to help.”
Valentine’s Day was another good               provided by Brookdale is needed by
                                                                                          And another added:
example of Brookdale’s determination           families:
to keep the service as normal as                                                          “ Brookdale staff have provided
                                               “ Over the past 12 months or so
coronavirus rules allow.                                                                    stability and some routine to my
                                                 lockdowns and other Covid-19
                                                                                            grandfather each week during
Manager Salwa Moustafa commented:                restrictions have been stressful and
                                                                                            lockdown. His keyworker has been
                                                 difficult for everyone in the country.
“Our regulars are always up for a                                                           amazing getting him doing his
 party so it was a shame that once             “ However, there has been even more          favourite hobbies.”
 again we couldn’t organise one of               pressure on families living with a
 our traditional celebrations with a             person who has dementia.
 singer.
“ Hopefully we managed to do
  the next best thing by providing
  a variety of romance-themed
  activities for them to enjoy while
  staying safe at the same time.”
Salwa explained that to keep Brookdale
Covid-secure the centre has been
divided up into two zones, with staff
and people who attend the service
being based in one or other of them,
with no crossover between zones.

RIGHT Hilda Wheeler takes part in the
Valentine’s Day arts and craft activities.
LEFT Flo Buckley with one of the Valentine’s
cards that were made for loved ones.

                                                                                                          www.ndirections.co.uk9
News and Views Spring 2021 - www.ndirections.co.uk - Sefton New Directions
Hudson Road
goes interactive                         Hudson Road Advanced Care
                                         Co-ordinator, Elizabeth Robinson,
                                         said:
With all the coronavirus                 “ The various Covid-19 rules and
restrictions Christmas 2020                restrictions inevitably cause
at Hudson Road was very                    more difficulties and pressures
                                           for us, but our staff have worked
different to the normal festive
                                           tirelessly to ensure that residents
celebrations that staff and                are engaged in fun activities and
residents are used to.                     the day-to-day life of the home.
However, with the support and guidance   “ I never cease to be amazed at the
of Operations and the company’s            response of our staff team, and how
clinical advisor, staff managed to         resilient and adaptable they have
support a home visit for one resident      been to the ever-changing situation
to enable him to spend Christmas day       we are facing.”
with his family. This wouldn’t have
been possible without the guidance and   Speaking about Hudson Road, one
                                                                                                	TOP Games of all kinds have proved
support from Michelle and Roz.           family member commented:                                 very popular at Hudson Road during the
                                                                                                  lockdown.
More recently, with the third lockdown   “ It’s amazing how you have
                                                                                               	ABOVE Development works are in the
and even more restrictions in place,       continued to think of new ways                        pipeline at Hudson Road when restrictions
planned development works at Hudson        to keep us in touch and keep us                       allow.

Road have been delayed. However, a         informed.”
gazebo was purchased to help out with      Elsewhere in south Sefton work has                  Everyone wishes Ann all the best in her
window visits.                           begun on planning the reopening of                    new job.
Meanwhile, the recent focus of staff     the Aintree Lane respite care service,
                                                                                               Families continue to express their
at the home has been on supporting       with staff ‘checking in’ with families
                                                                                               appreciation for the service provided at
the emotional and mental health of       who have previously used the service.
                                                                                               Aintree Lane. One family member said:
residents, and finding new ways to       More information on this will appear in
                                         the next issue of the newsletter.                     “ We have really missed the service
interact and engage with them.
                                                                                                 and staff.” Another added: “We’re
As part of this process residents have   In the meantime the team have
                                                                                                 so happy that the service is
the use of a sensory light and sound     said a fond farewell to Aintree Lane
                                                                                                 reopening.”
space, interactive games and other       Advanced Care Co-ordinator Ann Barr
technology to attract their attention    who has taken up a new role with
and engage them in activities.           New Directions at James Dixon Court.

                                           Sunny side up
                                           in the garden

                                           Another lockdown success for Shared Lives!
                                           Colin and David were supported by their carers with planting
                                           sunflower seeds and spending time in the garden feeding, watering
                                           and nurturing them. This gave them a focus as well as enabling them
                                           to spend plenty of time outdoors.
                                           The neighbours in the road where they live had a competition for the
                                           best-grown sunflowers and green-fingered Colin came second! Well
                                           done to him!

                                            	Colin and David pictured with their remarkably successful sunflowers.

10 New Directions Spring 2021
Thanks for a gift                              Shared Lives families                         arts and crafts over recent months.
                                                certainly know how                            Kevin even had a go and made his
 made with love                                 important it is to keep
                                                                                              sister Karen a tea towel.

                                                busy and have fun during                      Jean kindly made Shared Lives a tea
                                                                                              towel to thank us all for our help and
                                                lockdown.
                                                                                              support during lockdown.
                                                Jean, Kevin and Linda have found              The team at Shared Lives would like
                                                different ways of coping during the           to thank Kevin, Jean, and Linda for
                                                pandemic. Jean and Linda (Jean’s              making us smile. A beautiful gift
                                                carer) have a shared interest in craft        made with love! Thank you!
                                                and have been trying out different

                                                                   	Flashback to before the pandemic when delighted staff from the New
                                                                     Directions’ Reablement Service and Domiciliary Care Service celebrated a
                                                                     ‘good’ rating for both teams from the Care Quality Commission inspectors.

Tribute to ‘engine
room’ of services

In the December issue of this
newsletter managers of the
Reablement and Domiciliary
Care services paid tribute to
the remarkable work of their
care staff out in the field
during the pandemic.
                                           “ Clearly it’s down to the Assistant              to be more than equal to the task,
This time round Manager Lorna Irving         Managers and members of the office              and as a result they’ve managed
and Deputy Manager Elaine Lock want          team to ensure that the people we               to overcome all these difficulties
to highlight the invaluable behind-          provide care for receive the level of           and ‘keep the show on the road’
the-scenes contribution made by the          support they need at the time that              successfully throughout the last year.
Assistant Managers and the office team       they need it.
who are the ‘engine room’ of both                                                          “ Working side by side with their care
services.                                  “ However, they play an equally                   staff colleagues, they’ve ensured
                                             important role in supporting their              that the people we support have
Manager Lorna Irving explained:              colleagues and streamlining the way             continued to receive the care they
“ Our care staff have done a fantastic       they’re able to operate, whether                need in spite of the worst public
  job over the last 12 months,               that’s through effective scheduling             health crisis for a century. I’m very
  remaining as busy as ever and              or organising stocks of PPE.”                   proud of all of them,” concluded
  having to cope with a number of                                                            Lorna.
                                           And just as the pandemic has made life
  additional pressures, not least the      more difficult for care staff, so it has        *People who use the Reablement and
  enhanced Covid-19 infection control      for the Assistant Managers and office           Domiciliary Care services continue to
  measures, and often having to put        team:                                           show how much they appreciate the
  on PPE and sanitise in the car or on                                                     care they receive. One wrote recently:
  the doorstep.                            “Like everyone else, we’ve had to
                                            adapt our procedures in line with the          “ You’re such a big help to me. I
“ What these staff have managed             ever-changing Covid-19 regulations               always look forward to your visits
  to do in difficult circumstances has      over the last year,” added Lorna.                and you always have time for a nice
  been little short of amazing, but it’s                                                     chat.”
  important to remember that their         “ However, they have also had to
  achievements have only been made           factor in the effects of developments         Speaking about a family member,
  possible by the organisational skills      like shielding and self-isolating in          another person wrote:
  of our Assistant Managers and the          terms of both staff and the people            “ The jobs you do for her are big jobs
  members of our office team.”               we support, resulting in significantly          that make such a difference to her
                                             more operational changes than                   environment and her life. She says
Lorna pointed out that these staff play      normal, and many of them often last
a vital role in terms of supporting the                                                      she enjoys your visits and could
                                             minute.                                         not manage without your help and
people who use the service and their
care staff colleagues:                     “ Fortunately, they have all proved               support.”
                                                                                                                 www.ndirections.co.uk11
The new sensory spa guarantees

New bathroom offers
                                                           bathers a VIP experience.

VIP experience
People who attend the Poplars                 Manager Victoria McTaggart
respite service in Southport                  commented:
can now enjoy a VIP bathing                   “ Rose will be very much missed by all
experience.                                     and we wish her a long, healthy and
                                                happy retirement.”
A major bathroom upgrade - delayed
by the pandemic last year - has finally       Meanwhile, Beth Delaney has been
been completed and the new sensory            promoted from Support Worker to a
spa bath that has been installed              Team Leader role. Congratulations!            The Poplars is one of the New
features water jets and its own light         The Poplars team also report that their       Directions’ services that has remained
and sound system.                             ‘festive foodraiser’ proved a big success     open throughout the coronavirus crisis.
These new features will ensure that           at Christmas.                                 Victoria McTaggart added:
anyone taking a dip at Poplars in             Rather than sending each other cards
future is guaranteed a much more                                                            “ It’s been a difficult 12 months but
                                              team members and staff from other               thanks to the outstanding efforts
exciting and dramatic experience than         New Directions’ services were asked
previously!                                                                                   of our staff team we’ve continued to
                                              to make donations to Southport                  provide emergency care when it has
Elsewhere at the service there have           Foodbank instead.                               been required.
been a couple of staff changes in             The response to the appeal was
recent months.                                                                              “ I’d like to pay tribute to all of them
                                              excellent. Thanks to everyone who               for their hard work, commitment
The Poplars said a fond farewell to           contributed towards helping a very              and adaptability during this
Rose Diamond who retired after many           worthy cause.                                   challenging period.”
years’ service.

                                              Multi-sensory unit
                                              opens at South Hub
                                              A new multi-sensory unit                       co-ordination to simply enjoying
                                              has been unveiled at the                       themselves and finding it deeply
                                                                                             relaxing.
                                              New Directions’ South Hub in
                                              Netherton.                                    “ It’s a great new resource for the
                                                                                              centre and I’m sure it will be very
                                              The new facility is designed to                 well used,” added Christian.
                                              provide a peaceful environment while
                                              stimulating the senses of the people          Meanwhile other plans for new
                                              using it.                                     projects are in the pipeline at the
                                                                                            South Hub.
                                              South Hub Manager, Christian Hooton,
                                              commented:                                    Christian and his team are looking to
                                                                                            develop part of the site to create raised
                                              “ The way part of the centre has been         beds that will be used to grow fruit,
                                                transformed into this wonderful             vegetables and flowers. In time this
                                                new unit is really striking and I’d like    area could also be home to some small
                                                to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone        animals such as chickens.
                                                who has been involved in the
                                                project.                                    The South Hub team believe the
                                                                                            redeveloped area could help both staff
                                              “ The people who attend the South             and people who attend the centre to
 	The new multi-sensory unit – a great new     Hub will get a huge amount of               gain a wide range of new experiences
   resource for the South Hub.
                                                benefit from it, from developing            and skills.
                                                their senses and improving their

New Directions                                T: 0151 705 0300
3rd Floor Burlington House, Crosby Road       E: info-nd@ndirections.co.uk
North, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 0PJ            www.ndirections.co.uk
You can also read