News

Hello Team Derian

 

Welcome to the 1^st edition of my weekly e-update….. a brief email which I’ll send out personally each Friday to keep everyone up to date on relevant hospice wide matters.  You’ll be pleased to know that it won’t be war and peace, just a few paragraphs of useful information to keep you in the loop.

 

So…here’s this week’s news….

 

1. I’ve completed three staff briefings over the last week – they’ve been really well attended and very participative, so thank you to everyone who has managed to get along to one of the dates.  Thanks also for everyone’s honest contribution – that’s really welcome and appreciated.  For those of you who have managed to escape the briefing so far, fear not, I’ll be sending a brief video version of the presentation so that everyone receives the same message.
2. As you all know, Luke will be leaving us in a couple of months, progressing to a great opportunity in Facilities Management.  We have been busy behind the scenes searching for his successor and I am delighted to share that John Boe will join us on Monday 20^th November, enabling a really great handover between Luke and John.
3. We are currently advertising for a Catering Manager, we’re looking for someone who can be really flexible, working a varied shift pattern and who can help shape our catering offer going forward to align with our plans for increased activity across the hospice.
4. Christmas has arrived at the hospice, it’s been lovely to see the daily additions of decorations, lights, snowmen etc etc…. Christmas is absolutely welcome at Derian in November!  My tree at home is going up next week…. Am I the first ????
5. Kim and I are currently interviewing for the new Head of Governance and Compliance role – fingers crossed we find the right fit for Derian and get them in post quickly.  This is probably are biggest risk area at the moment.
6. Catherine has the final part of her application process for Registered Manager status with the CQC in December, and so hopefully we’ll complete that then.  It’s been a fairly long process so far, but with myself as Responsible Individual we are fully covered until the application process concludes.
7. The Say My Child’s Name has to be one of most significant campaigns that we have ever run.  Congratulations to everyone involved.  70 bereaved families have taken part in the research which is just amazing.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to have a look at this please see the attached research document, or here’s the practical “how to speak to bereaved parents” guide for friends and family: derianhouse.co.uk/bereavement and here’s a link to the video: Say My Child’s Name – YouTube.

 

That’s about it for now, have a great weekend everyone whatever you are doing…

 

Best wishes   Karen   Karen Edwards OBE Chief Executive Officer