News

Dear Derian House Colleagues,

 

It seems like days since I wrote my last update to everyone at Derian House. It has been a challenging month with COVID impacting greatly on our staffing however, it remains vital that we continue to operate for the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people who use our service. I hope that all those who have been affected by COVID this month are feeling well again or are on the road to recovery.

 

We are continuing to review at the monthly Senior Management Team meetings our approach to COVID following the guidance given to us which is in line with hospital guidance.

 

Even with restrictions we continue to operate a busy and vibrant Hospice and I am proud every day to see the work you do to make Derian what it is. Here are a few headlines:-

 

• I have noticed in the past few days more children and families visiting and receiving the outstanding care we give at Derian House – long may it continue.
• We have lots of activities by the Family Support and Wellbeing Teams in-house and across the communities we serve.
• It is really great to see the Woodland Suite now in regular use by John and Fazila – as we enter Spring and Summer this is a really special place for our families.
• Our Derian at Home Team and ACP colleagues continue to offer their amazing support in Hospitals and across our wider community.
• The Hospice is looking great thanks to Housekeeping and Facilities and it was really special to see a family has commented on the quality and cleanliness of our Hospice on the Friends and Family Survey – well done team.
• Culture and Values sessions – we now have AMAZING word clouds for each of our values and Ben is working on sharing these very soon. Thank you to the 90 staff who attended the sessions and shared your thoughts and values with us.
• We have had a brilliant first quarter financially with income from our Fundraising colleagues being well ahead of the budget also well done to Mick on the hugely successful Stars and Cars event – great work by the team.
• Our Finance colleagues continue to be very busy supporting our year end audit as well as the very busy day jobs and also preparing for our next campaign.
• It is really important we get our message out across the region and we are seeing massive increases in our social media, database and donor numbers with thousands more online and database Derian follows than ever before.
• Our shops continue to be the face of the charity on the high street, thanks to all the shop, warehouse and driver colleagues for their hard work.

 

Around and About the Hospice (and beyond) – things to know …..

 

• Reflection Garden, is now completed and final planting will be carried out shortly.
• Forget me Not Service, will be held on the 8^th May 2022 for bereaved families.
• Accrington Shop, opening in the middle of May.
• Amelie Campaign, Later in May we will be sending our campaign newsletter to our donor base and wider region with nearly 140,000 households receiving this uplifting story.

 

I also wish Eid Mubarak to all colleagues who have been observing Ramadan for Monday the 2^nd May.

 

Thank you all for your support and commitment and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me, any member of the senior team or your line manager.

 

David