RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our

 
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RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
RMBI
N E W S                                          I S S U E 17
                                                 AU T UMN /
                                                 W I NT E R
                                                 2017

      p2              p3                         p4

RMBI Care Co.   Investing in our         Getting to know the
  rated top     dementia                Associations
  employer       facilities              of Friends
    by staff

                               Caring is our way of life
                                               www.rmbi.org.uk
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
Send your comments about
this issue or any suggestions for
future issues of RMBI News to
marketing@rmbi.org.uk or
write to us at RMBI News Team,
60 Great Queen Street, London
WC2B 5AZ.

If you would like an audio version
of RMBI News, please email
marketing@rmbi.org.uk or
contact us on 0207 596 2400.

CONTENTS
 1 Message from Mark LLoyd, MD / News in brief

2 RMBI Care Co. rated top employer by staff

3 Investing in our dementia facilities

4 Getting to know the Associations of Friends

6 Taking action against dementia with
  Alzheimer’s Society

 7 RMBI Care Co.’s first care village is coming
   to Berkshire

8 Masonic Charitable Foundation

9 Friendships blossom at Zetland Court

10 New Values Statement
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
BUILDING FOR                                                  NEWS
THE
         FUTURE                                               IN BRIEF
In 2017, we have spent around £2m on building                 Surrey residents awarded
improvements at some of our Homes. This has                   Legion d’Honneur
included redecoration, boiler and window                      Two RMBI Care Co. residents have
replacements, as well as more specialist work such as         received a Legion of Honour award,
creating new dementia services. We now have over              the highest decoration in France,
280 placements dedicated to dementia care and these           which was awarded to all surviving
numbers are likely to increase. We’re committed to            D-Day veterans. Jim Humphries, 98,
investing in our services to ensure our Homes remain          received his award at Shannon Court
fit for the future. At present, we are looking to create      in Hindhead in a special ceremony
new ‘dementia streets’ at Devonshire Court in                 which coincided with the 300th
Leicester and James Terry Court in Croydon.                   Anniversary of Freemasonry in June.
                                                              Godfrey Wilshire who lives at James
We are fortunate as we continue to benefit from legacies,     Terry Court received his award in
donations and Festival funds as well as the generosity        time to mark his 100th Birthday
of our hard working Associations of Friends who help          this year.
to enhance the quality of life for our residents. I visited
Connaught Court in York recently to see some of the           One of the UK’s longest
newly refurbished areas and enjoyed a Caribbean themed        married couples mark
event in one of the Dementia Support Houses at the            their 77th anniversary
Home. The music, food, entertainment and atmosphere           Residents Ethel and Richard McMillan
amongst staff and residents was great to experience.          celebrated their 77th Anniversary in
                                                              July. The couple, who live at Prince
We are also looking at new opportunities in 2018 and          Edward Duke of Kent Court in Essex,
plan to build a new care home for up to 72 people,            marked the special occasion with
which will replace Lord Harris Court in Wokingham,            residents, family and staff at the
Berkshire. I am pleased to say that residents, families,      Home. The oldest married couple
staff and the local Masonic community are fully               known in the UK are thought to
supportive of the new Home which will be built, subject       have celebrated 80 years of marriage
to planning approval. Alongside the new care home,            earlier this year.
we are also looking to build a number of Assisted Living
apartments for people who may need some support but           New Impact Report
wish to live more independently, with a                       Our Impact Report 2016/17 is now
proposed launch date of 2021.                                 available, highlighting some of our
                                                              biggest achievements over the past
I hope you enjoy this issue with                              year, as well as our current projects
more stories from our residents,                              and plans for the future. You can also
staff and charity activities over                             read more about what life is like at an
the last few months.                                          RMBI Home from our residents’ and
                                                              relatives’ stories. Request a copy by
                                                              emailing marketing@rmbi.org.uk or
                                                              visit www.rmbi.org.uk to view the
                                                              digital version.
                                          Mark LLoyd
                                         Managing Director

                                                                   RMBI NEWS AUTUMN / WINTER 2017   1
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
RMBI CARE CO. RATED
TOP EMPLOYER BY STAFF
An employee survey* at RMBI Care Co. carried out earlier
this year has revealed a high level of employee satisfaction.
Over 800 staff members took part in the survey conducted
by Agenda Consulting on behalf of the charity.

Staff members were asked to                      RMBI Care Co. as a good place      Development initiatives,
share their views across 11                      to work; 85% telling us they       including our Leadership and
different work areas including                   would willingly put in extra       Management development
Communication and Change,                        effort to help the organisation.   at all levels. We enhanced our
Cultures, Values and Wellbeing                                                      induction programme for all
and Quality of Service. RMBI                     The findings have been             new joiners and feedback from
Care Co. received a high                         benchmarked against data           this year’s survey shows that this
Employee Engagement                              collected from 15 similar care     has been well received by
Index score of 83% which                         organisations in the UK and        our employees.
was recognised by Agenda                         show that RMBI Care Co.
Consulting with a special award                  staff are more satisfied with      “We now also offer all care
for positive engagement levels.                  their pay, working tools           home staff a comprehensive
                                                 and equipment, training            Employee Assistance
Amongst the findings, 90%                        and leadership, than the           Programme which they
of respondents said the work                     average benchmark for              receive from their first day
they do gives them a feeling of                  similar organisations.             of employment. We are
personal achievement, whilst                                                        committed to being
91% said they are given the                      Louise Bateman, Human              an employer of choice and
necessary training to do their                   Resources Director at RMBI         creating a working
job effectively. The survey                      Care Co. said: “Over the past      environment where staff
also revealed that 81% of                        three years we have invested       are listened to, feel
employees would recommend                        in our Learning and                supported and valued.”

    90%                                   81%                         90%                        82%
       of staff said                        of people                    of staff said              of people
      the work they                           would                     they are given            said they are
      do gives them                        recommend                     the training              proud to tell
       a feeling of                      RMBI Care Co. as                necessary to              people they
        personal                          a great place                  do their job             work for RMBI
      achievement.                           to work.                     effectively.               Care Co.

* RMBI Care Co. Staff Survey 2017, based on 815 responses.

2
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
INVESTING IN OUR
DEMENTIA
FACILITIES
Albert Edward Prince
of Wales Court launches
new areas for people
with dementia
                                                                          Left: David Innes, Chief Executive,
                                                                          MCF, Mark LLoyd, Managing Director,
RMBI Home Albert Edward Prince                                            RMBI Care Co. and Sir Paul Williams,
of Wales Court in Porthcawl,                                              Chairman of RMBI Care Co., Gareth
Mid Glamorgan has opened a                                                Jones, Provincial Grand Master of South
new Dementia Support House                                                Wales Province. Above: Deputy Home
and range of facilities for people                                        Manager Nina Stephens with resident
                                                                          Vivienne Williams at Prince Michael
living with dementia.                                                     of Kent Court.

The new area officially              to support the new facilities.       was named in memory of
opened on 24 June to mark            RMBI Care Co. is also investing      resident Marjorie Baker, whose
the 300 Years’ Anniversary           £750k in 2017 for extensive          family donated
of Freemasonry. Designed to          remedial works at the Home.          to the project.
support older people with
complex needs, facilities include    A new street themed                  “Over the past few years, we
additional nursing rooms with        garden for Prince                    have been looking at all
overhead hoists, a palliative care   Michael of Kent Court                aspects of the Home to see
suite and specially equipped                                              how we can make the most
bathrooms. E Wyndham Powell,         Residents at Prince Michael          of each space so that it is
a new Dementia Support               of Kent Court have been              meaningful to our residents.
House, features 12 bedrooms,         enjoying their new ‘street           By recreating this street of a
reminiscence areas, themed           themed’ garden, which is             bygone era our residents
corridors, kitchen diners and an     set in the Jersey Dementia           living with a dementia can
internal courtyard with sensory      Support House at the Home            relate to this period in time
plants and seating.                  in Watford, Hertfordshire.           through reminiscence. It
                                     The unique garden was                enhances their sense of
The works have been funded           launched in July to support          wellbeing and gives residents
by the Masonic Benevolent            residents with dementia.             purpose by providing daily
Fund of South Wales who                                                   activities that are familiar
donated £300,000                     The new-look garden called           and mean something to
                                     Barnato Street, features a level     them,” says Home Manager
                                     crossing with traffic lights, post   Beverley Roberts.
                                     office, café, bus shelter, signage
                                     and telephone booth from the         The project was funded by
                                     1960’s era. A traditional flower     a number of supporters,
                                     stand has been named ‘Lizzie’s       including the Barnato Lodge
                                     Flowers’ after former Home           No. 2265 Benevolent Fund
                                     Manager Elizabeth Corbett,           who donated £30,000 and
                                     who helped create the garden         the Association of Friends of
                                     concept and Marjorie’s Bakery        Prince Michael of Kent Court.
                                                                          RMBI NEWS AUTUMN / WINTER 2017        3
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
GETTING TO KNOW
THE ASSOCIATIONS
OF FRIENDS
We’re always looking for reasons to celebrate life
and the people living and working in our Homes.
The Associations of Friends, who support each of our
care homes, work tirelessly throughout the year and
often in the background alongside the Homes’ teams,
to enhance the quality of life for our residents.
“We have two major                  Each Home’s Association of             Ambulance and the local
fundraising events during the       Friends help to organise a             community to join residents,
year, a Spring Fair in May and      variety of events to support           families and staff. Wales Air
a Christmas Fair in December,”      RMBI Homes, bringing an                Ambulance brought a special
says David Barber, Chairman         opportunity for people to              surprise on the day when they
of the Association of Friends       come together to socialise with        landed a helicopter near the
of Prince George Duke of Kent       residents and staff as well as         Home’s grounds. Guests also
Court in Chislehurst, and a         fundraise along the way.               enjoyed a range of stalls selling
member of the Friends for                                                  local cheeses and wines and
over 17 years. “In addition,        At Queen Elizabeth Court in            family entertainment included
we organise a Strawberry Tea        Llandudno, Conwy, the Home’s           a choir and mini quad bikes for
in June, where we source the        Association of Friends helped to       children.
strawberries locally and get our    raise a whopping £20,000 for
scones from a neighbourhood         the Home during their summer           Activities Coordinator Gary
bakery. The residents really look   fair, which also coincided with        Carr said: “It was a hugely
forward to the event.”              the 300 Years’ Anniversary             successful event and provided
                                    of Freemasony this year. The           a great opportunity for the

                                           “
                                    Home invited local charities           residents, families and the local
                                    including Blind Veterans UK, St        community to get together
                                    David’s Hospice and Wales Air          to celebrate 300 Years of

                                                      It was a hugely successful event and
                                                      provided a great opportunity for the
                                                      residents, families and the local
                                                      community to get together to celebrate
                                                                                                      ”
                                                      300 Years of Freemasonry.
                                                      Gary Carr Activities Coordinator at Queen Elizabeth Court

                                               Left: Staff at a 1950’s party at Prince George Duke of Kent Court.
4                                              Far right: Resident Patricia Neville doing the hoopla.
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
Freemasonry.    arts, pet therapy sessions and   Left: Resident Joan Mailing at Prince
                I don’t think       day trips.                       George Duke of Kent. Above: The
        we’ve ever had a                                             Tenovus choir performs at Queen
                                                                     Elizabeth Court’s Summer Fair.
bigger event at the Home            Being a member of the
and are hugely grateful to our      Association of Friends has
Association of Friends for          enabled David to understand
their support.”                     what it means to be an
                                    older person in unfamiliar
Speaking of what motivates          surroundings. “I can support
David as a member of the            people to help them feel
Friends, he says: “Working with     they are not alone and
the Home’s staff for the benefit    that each person
of residents is an immensely        is valued,” says David.
satisfying experience. It enables   “It has proved to
us to directly help our Brethren    me that giving
and their dependants to have a      money is important
better quality of life.”            but giving time
                                    for the benefit of
The Association of Friends of       others is far more
Prince George Duke of Kent          rewarding.”
Court has helped to buy items
such as wheelchairs specially       If you are interested
adapted for use in the Home’s       in becoming a
minibuses, a TV screen in the       member of the
nursing area and entertainment      Associations of Friends
system to provide enhanced          and supporting one of
music facilities at the Home.       our Homes, please contact
They work closely with Susan        the Secretary of your local
Goodrich, the Home’s Activities     Association of Friends. If you
Coordinator and each year           are a member of the Friends or
the Friends raise in excess of      a volunteer at an RMBI Home
£7,000 to support the variety       and would like to share your
of entertainment offered from       story, please write to us at
themed parties to creative          marketing@rmbi.org.uk.
                                                                     RMBI NEWS AUTUMN / WINTER 2017          5
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
TAKING ACTION AGAINST DEMENTIA WITH

ALZHEIMER’S
SOCIETY
To help raise awareness of dementia, we have
teamed up with Alzheimer’s Society to encourage
all staff members to become a ‘Dementia Friend.’

The Dementia Friends initiative,   Anne Child, Pharmacy and               Sara-Jane Little, Programme
set up to change people’s          Dementia Specialist Lead at RMBI       Partnerships Officer at
perception of dementia,            Care Co., leading the awareness        Alzheimer’s Society said:
encourages everyone to             activity said: “We’re really excited   “Alzheimer’s Society’s
learn a little more about the      about getting involved with            Dementia Friends programme
condition by attending a face-     Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia         is the biggest ever initiative to
to-face information session, or    Friends initiative. Around             change people’s perceptions of
by watching an online video.       one million people will have           dementia. It aims to transform
Those who wish to become           dementia by 2025 and this figure       the way the nation thinks, acts
more involved can also sign up     is projected to rise to over two       and talks about the condition.
to become a Dementia Friends       million by 2050. We support
Champion and run their own         over 1,000 older people across         “Whether you attend a
sessions to help educate others.   17 care homes in England and           face-to-face information session
                                   Wales and we believe that people       or watch the online video,
Staff members at RMBI              can still live full and meaningful     Dementia Friends is about
Care Co.’s Zetland Court in        lives with dementia. It’s vitally      learning more about dementia
Bournemouth have shown their       important however, that we             and the small ways you can
support by becoming Dementia       create a better understanding          help. From telling friends
Friends, while other team          in the wider public to recognise       about the Dementia Friends
members have joined together       the symptoms of dementia and           programme to visiting someone
and are planning to climb the      how it can affect people, so           you know living with dementia,
Great Orme in Llandudno to         that we can really support those       every action counts.”
raise awareness.                   living with the condition.”            Below: Staff at Zetland Court have
                                                                          signed up to become Dementia Friends.

6
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
RMBI CARE CO.’S
FIRST CARE VILLAGE
IS COMING TO BERKSHIRE
If you’ve ever wondered what care homes will be like in the future, so
have we. At RMBI Care Co., our development team is always looking
at our how our services can and will evolve over time, catering to
different generations as well as a variety of complex care needs.

Our first care home of              leisure facilities. The new care   ensure that our environments
the future can be seen in           home will be built alongside       continue to be suitable for
our plans for Lord Harris           the current Home at Lord           people living with dementia
Court in Berkshire where,           Harris Court and will replace      and other complex needs,”
subject to planning                 it upon completion.                said Mark LLoyd, Managing
permission, we will develop                                            Director, RMBI Care Co.
a care village concept.             “We’re delighted to announce
                                    the plans of RMBI Care Co.’s       “In addition, we want to
The proposed care village will      first care village in Berkshire.   address the needs of older
consist of a residential care       This concept is becoming           people who may require
home for up to 72 people with       increasingly popular as the        some support but still wish to
nursing care and dementia           needs of our older population      live independently, which is the
support, as well as over 70         are evolving and changing over           focus of our Assisted Living
Assisted Living apartments and      time. While we still need                      apartments and
some bungalows for people           traditional residential                            bungalows,”
who require some support            care, we are now                                     Mark adds.
but who wish to live more           looking at the
independently. It will also         future of our
have a restaurant and other         services to

                                 Plans for the new
                                 care home at Lord
                                 Harris Court in Berkshire.

                                                                       RMBI NEWS AUTUMN / WINTER 2017       7
RMBI Care Co. rated top employer dementia facilities - Investing in our
MASONIC
CHARITABLE
FOUNDATION
Have you heard of the Masonic
Charitable Foundation?                                                    Above: Jean and her family were
                                                                          supported by the MCF.

You already know that at RMBI        Jean’s husband was a                 into a Masonic care home.
Care Co. we provide high quality     Freemason and after he passed        The whole process was seamless,
care for older members of the        away, she moved in with her          and the staff were lovely
Masonic community, but did           daughter Lindsey. The family         throughout. The nurses were
you know that many of our            first got in touch with the MCF      ready to greet mum at the
residents may also be eligible for   when Jean’s mobility started         door and were reassuring and
support through the Masonic          to deteriorate and the charity       welcoming from the start.”
Charitable Foundation (MCF)?         provided a rise and recline chair.
                                                                          It may be reassuring for you to
The MCF builds better lives for      “The chair made such a               know that if any resident in one
Freemasons and their families        difference to Mum’s life, but        of our Masonic care homes is
by encouraging opportunity,          being a carer meant I didn’t         no longer able to fund their
promoting independence and           get to spend much time with my       care, they can continue to live
improving wellbeing. Not             husband, so the MCF agreed to        in our Homes as long as we are
only are Freemasons living           fund respite care to give us the     able to support their needs.
in our Homes potentially             chance to go away together as        Beyond this, all Masonic
eligible for support – so too        a couple. Unfortunately, Mum’s       residents and some of their
are their married, life or           care needs changed and I was         close family members may be
widowed partners, and their          no longer able to care for her at    eligible for a wide range of
grandchildren under the age of       home – it was at this point we       grants and other services from
25 and in full-time education.       started to discuss Mum moving        the MCF, including:

                  Financial support                                       Health & Wellbeing
                  •   Essential daily living costs                        • Medical treatment
                  •   Help through a personal crisis                      • Mobility aids & home
                  •   Funeral bills                                         adaptations
                  •   Emergency home repairs                              • Counselling

                  Educational expenses                                    Care
                  for children                                            • Masonic care homes
                  • University scholarships                               • Respite care
                  • Support for exceptional                               • Guidance & support from
                    talent                                                  professional advisers

Can the MCF help you? Call today to find out at 0800 035 60 90 or email help@mcf.org.uk.
8
FRIENDSHIPS BLOSSOM
AT ZETLAND COURT
Located a few minutes’ walk from the sandy beaches in Bournemouth,
Zetland Court is home to Jenny Withenshaw and Jean Best. Jean
and Jenny have developed a special friendship since living at the
Home and are currently planning a week’s cruise together along
the River Rhine in Germany.

Jenny, 91, came to live at           Speaking about daily life at                       Residents Jean and Jenny
Zetland Court in May 2016 from       the Home, Jean says: “I enjoy                      of Zetland Court.
Somerset with her husband            playing scrabble, bingo and
Dennis. She was born in              doing quizzes with Jenny.
Germany and moved to England         We like to go shopping,
in 1950 where she worked as a        join trips out on the mini
nurse in Liverpool. Dennis was       bus and we often go out
a Freemason of Wen Lodge in          to lunch together.
North Wales and Northbourne
Lodge in Bournemouth where           Jenny also enjoys Jean’s
he was an Almoner for several        company and looks
years. Sadly, Dennis passed away     forward to playing scrabble

                          “
in December 2016.                    together and having a laugh,
                                     although she jokes that they
Jean, 84, moved to the Home          have to hide the cutlery if
with her husband Reg in              Jean loses.
February 2014 from their
home in Bournemouth.                 On most days, we assist                Excited about their upcoming
She has two sisters who live                                                holiday together, Jean says:
in Australia with their children     the activities team                    “I’m looking forward to our
and Jean went to visit them last
year for a six-week holiday.         serving teas and coffees               river cruise on the Rhine for a
                                                                            week in October. I am so happy

Originally from Lancashire, Jean
                                     to our fellow residents.               that Jenny and I get on so well,
                                                                            wherever we go.”
moved to Bournemouth in 1945
to live with her family and to
                                     We also work three                     To find out more about our
support her grandfather after her    mornings a week in our                 RMBI Homes, including our
grandmother died. She worked                                                locations, eligibility criteria,
                                     shop, Zetland’s Corner.
                                                                        ”
in an office during most of her                                             advice and information about
career and retired from Barclays                                            paying for care, please visit
                                     Jenny, resident at Zetland Court
Bank in 1993 after 20 years’                                                www.rmbi.org.uk/how-we-can-
service. Reg, Jean’s husband,                                               help. You can also contact the
was a Freemason at Ethlebert         Activities Coordinator Karen           Home Manager of the relevant
Lodge in Bournemouth and the         Casey, says: “Jenny and Jean are       Home, call 020 7596 2400 or
couple enjoyed attending Lodge       both a pleasure to be with and         email enquiries@rmbi.org.uk
events together in the local area,   their help is invaluable. They are     where our care team will be
including social evenings and        always pleasant and like having        able to support you.
ladies’ nights.                      a laugh or joke.”
                                                                            RMBI NEWS AUTUMN / WINTER 2017     9
Culture, Values, Vision
Delivering professional and individual care
services which make a real difference to
everyday lives.

We are Kind
We are kind to our residents, their families and each other because we are
passionate about how we deliver care. We believe that everyone should be
treated with dignity and their wishes respected at all times.

We are Supportive
We are here to help and be supportive in our approach to care, placing
residents at the heart of all we do. We treat each person as an individual,
recognising the things that are important to them and working as a team
to achieve this.

We are Trusted
We are open, honest and trusted in delivering care to Freemasons, their
dependants and the wider communities. We have been supporting older
people for over 170 years, and we work closely with our residents, their
families and each other to offer a safe environment.

Caring is our way of life

The Royal Masonic Benevolent
                                                                                                          Design by nimdesign

Institution Care Company

60 Great Queen Street
London
WC2B 5AZ

Phone 020 7596 2400
Fax 020 7596 2427
Email enquiries@rmbi.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1163245
Company No 1293566

Published in October 2017
                                                                              www.rmbi.org.uk
RMBI Care Co. is part of the Masonic Charitable
Foundation – a charity for Freemasons, for families,
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for everyone. For more info visit www.mcf.org.uk.                              www.twitter.com/thermbi
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