News

Hi everyone, hope that you are all well and enjoying the warmer brighter March days….. here’s your Friday update:

 

1. Staffing update….. we welcomed Paula Buchanon to the team this week in her role in Admin, and today we said a fond farewell to Gareth and Lindsay, and we wish them the very best of luck and thank them for their hard work and contribution to Derian.  We also send Andrea much love as she embarks on her Mat leave, and we look forward to seeing her and baby soon.  We wish Tina a very happy 25^th work birthday today, what an achievement and what an absolute asset to Derian.  Our very own Ellie has been appointed to the Performance and Data Lead role, this is great news and fab to see Ellie progress her career at Derian
2. We have had an amazing response to our recruitment campaign, it was definitely helped by the wonderful video that many of you were part of.  Over 80 applications were received and we will be interviewing 25 candidates for nurse or CSW positions on the 20^th and 21^st March.  We look forward to growing the team over the coming months.  We shortlist next week for the Family Engagement role, and we’re still on the hunt for estates support staff.
3. We’ve had a more positive discussion with L&SC ICB, we’re hopeful we will know more before the end of March regarding the ongoing funding.  GM are a little way behind but we are in discussions and hope to have clarity soon.
4. L&SC have developed a new commissioning framework for children’s palliative and end of life care and are seeking views on the document in its draft form.  We are very much part of driving this agenda, Catherine is representing Derian on the task and finish group that has been set up to drive this forward, and the first meeting of the group is on the 18^th March, here at Derian.
5. We’ve been rolling our Risk Management Training to the trustees and the wider management team.  Don’t be upset that you’ve not attended yet….. its coming your way…. J
6. The CQC awareness workshops have started this week.  Please do get yourselves booked on.  They are really useful and will help us ensure that we are ready and dare I say looking forward to CQC visiting at some time in the future.
7. I have had feedback regarding the generators not coming on at times when we have a power cut.  I can assure everyone that the generators were set to switch on when power had failed and been off for a few minutes (it was set to this to allow the power sufficient time to reset and come back on) and have been working effectively, however since the power cut in the evening a couple of weeks ago we have now changed this and the generators will switch on after 10 seconds.
8. World Book Day efforts across the hospice were brilliant !!
9. We absolute recognise the staffing challenges currently across the care team.  Discussions have taken place at the recent trustee meeting regarding the impact of this and the necessity to reduce planned stays.  A further meeting has been planned for Monday with Trustees, SLT and Care Team Leadership to explore how we can manage the situation and how we can look forwards and agree a process of discharge.  Further discussions will take place about our longer term catchment area and our ambitions for Derians reach/cohort size etc.
10. We’ve welcomed a number of visitors this week, all of whom have been absolutely blown away by everything that you do.
11. We hope the improved benefits package has been warmly received, please do pop in to Kim’s drop in session on the 18^th with any specific questions or queries.
12. Two suggestions boxes are now available for staff to provide feedback, ideas, ask questions etc etc.  Please do use them.  They are located in the Diner and the entrance to Vinten Place.

 

Apologies to Catherine Prince, who celebrated her birthday over the weekend and I hadn’t sent an email out last week, hope you had a great birthday, and celebrating their birthdays this week are Olivia Jones, Amy Wilkinson, Lauren Prochyra, Ellie Smith and Shirley Parkinson.  Happy Birthday everyone !

 

Finally, from me personally, thank you to everyone for your support and well wishes regarding my other half’s ill-health, it is very much appreciated, I definitely feel the Derian love.

 

That’s about it for now

 

As always, I have an open door policy so please do pop in….

 

Best wishes   Karen   Karen Edwards OBE Chief Executive Officer   Please note, I am sending this email now as it suits my work pattern, which may not match yours.