News

Hi Team Derian,

 

With lots going on around the charity, I thought it a great time to update you on a few things….. happy reading!

 

1. There’s still time to book your tickets for the exclusive friends and family screening of Derian House documentary, The Little Things, taking place at Bolton Cineworld on Saturday 19^th October at 5:45pm. Some additional seats have now become available so if you have already booked but would like to add a guest this is now possible. Please email movie@derianhouse.co.uk.  We have over 200 people joining us on the night and it is going to be wonderful.

 

2. It’s been Hospice Care Week, and the theme of this year’s week of celebration is retail, which is very fitting seeing as our retail team has been working round the clock to get our Chorley store ready for opening after its big revamp. The Chorley store will set the standard for how we want our shops to look and feel and we can’t wait to see the finished product.

 

3. Our Family Engagement & Advocacy Team got a special thank you from trustees for their work in setting up this piece of the jigsaw in our offer for families. The team are currently working with families on what improvements we can make to services, access and the way we communicate with them.

 

4. Over in fundraising our very first fire walk event was a red hot success with “Walk This Way” raising a wonderful £13,472.64! Well done to everyone involved, and all of the staff who took part, some even in fancy dress.

 

5. Our annual supporter magazine, Stories & Smiles (formerly Danni’s Diary), is out now. The newsletter is jam-packed with good news and family stories from the year. You should all feel really proud of the part you had to play in making these success stories happen.

 

6. You may have noticed the front of the hospice has been lit up blue and pink. This is to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs from 9-15 October. The idea of lighting up the hospice to remember all of our babies was first suggested by the parents of baby Iris last year and we’re really pleased to be able to carry on this important tradition. Thanks to our facilities team for their work on this.

 

7. We hosted a successful afternoon tea event last week to celebrate the end of the Morrison’s and Together for Short Lives Partnership. So far, the stores have raised £149,925 for Derian House, with more money still to come in.

 

8. Our personalised stamps for bereaved parents, launched as part of our Say my Child’s Name campaign last year will be returning in time for Christmas thanks to a generous donation by Leyland Trucks, who have paid for 100 stamps to help parents who have suffered a loss to remember their child in Christmas cards this year.

 

9. We had a very successful QSI meeting this week with Trustees with focus on due diligence,  governance, safety, data, performance, risk and an update on progress against our strategic plan.

 

• We’ve produced an article written to celebrate that we currently have all aspects of the NMC register covered which includes health visiting, learning disabilities, midwifery, children’s,  adults, mental health nursing and public health.

 

• Welcome to new staff who started in the last couple of weeks –

 

• Maria Williamson – Perinatal Midwife
• Vicky Tadman – RN
• Sam Jackson – RN
• Shannon Gaynor – RN

 

• Joining us in the coming weeks are Vicky Robinson as Community Team Leader and Beverley Alty, as Lottery and Individual Giving Administrator.

 

• Sadly, it didn’t work out for Tracey Scott who joined to lead our Finance team, and so we are now reviewing the position and will be hopefully filling the gap as soon as possible

 

• Recruitment remains a key priority and we have a 2^nd Open Evening for nurses this week.  We are also offering an incentive for staff who recommend nurses to Derian, look out for the leaflet and your chance to receive a £500 bonus (subject to deductions) when you recommend someone and they commence in their role.

 

• A massive thanks to the care team who have changed shifts and swapped days to accommodate end of life and sunflower admissions and potential admissions recently, we wouldn’t be able to offer this element of care consistently without your flexibility.

 

• Bridget and Kim are currently sorting the details for our flu jabs, more details as these are offered.

 

• And finally, I’m pleased to share that Kim has decided not to leave Derian, and therefore the hunt for a new HR Director is no longer required.

 

Have a great week everyone

 

Best wishes   Karen   Karen D Edwards OBE CMgr Chief Executive Officer