Worcestershire Care Group who provide home care in Bromsgrove, Redditch, Droitwich and Worcester were shortlisted in three categories to represent the West Midlands at the Great British Care Awards.

Representatives of the company went to the splendid Guildhall in London and were treated to a wonderful evening. They did not win the national award but were delighted that they had represented the West Midlands in the following categories:

• Newcomer To Care: Amy Hughes who works in the Worcester area.
• IT Innovation Award for their use of technology to ensure they deliver a quality service.
• Home Care Innovation for their Rapid Response Scheme that gets care packages started immediately.

Stephen Ewin, a Director of Worcestershire Care Group said it was a great honour to represent the West Midlands, and getting this far demonstrated the effort that the staff put into providing a great service to all our clients.

Due to increased demand the Company’s coverage now extends to more areas in Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Dianne Ewin, Chief Executive, says: “it’s really exciting that our reputation has extended into other areas and new clients in new areas are seeking our help.”

Worcestershire Care Group is now able to visit clients in:-

Bromsgrove - All of Bromsgrove District including Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Belbroughton, Fairfield, Clent, Hagley, Hopwood, Hollywood, Rubery, Romsley and Wythall

Redditch - Extending to Astwood Bank, Mappleborough Green and Studley

Droitwich - Out to Wychbold in the North, Himbleton in the East and Dunhampton and Ombersley in the West.

Worcester - The whole of Worcester City and from Fernhill Heath to Spectchley and Whittington.

The Company entered in four categories and was shortlisted in all of them:

• The Care Company Award
• The Home Care Worker Award. Harry Morrow was put forward for the sensitivity of his care in adapting to and meeting each client’s precise needs. Harry works in the Droitwich area.
• The Care Newcomer Award. Amy Hughes was entered for her cheerful hard work and “can do” attitude. Amy works in Worcester and joined the company in January.
• The care Trainer Award. Michaela Oates was entered for the help she gives staff in achieving the highest standards. Michaela works in the Bromsgrove area but trains staff who work across most of Worcestershire.

They will al be attending an awards ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum on 10th October.

Stephen Ewin, Chairman, said how delighted he was that the company was successful in bieng shortlisted in each category it had entered. “The chosen staff represented a very small cross section of the wonderful staff we employ and who are trained to work to very high standards”, He said. “The company was spoilt for choice as to who to choose from our 80 staff”.

It is anticipated that there will be 4 editions per year.  The company realises that in this time of change it is important to keep other professionals informed of what the company is doing to meet the new ‘Personalisation Agenda’.  Under this new system (which is being introduced into adult social service) clients will be free to purchase what care they want rather than what another professional has thought they need.

Dianne Ewin, Chief Executive, said that although this is primarily for the professional audience, there are articles that will also interest single customers who wish to purchase care.

A copy of the newsletter is available to download below:

Summer 2009 Newsletter

We at the Worcestershire Care Group realise the need for a new Dementia Care Service – “Being Together”, for our private clients.

In October 2009, we are launching our new service”Being Together”. This is a flexible care service for these clients with Dementia, where needs change daily. The care will be outcome based and reflect the needs of the clients on that day depending on their mood and capabilities.

We have teams of well trained, dedicated staff who can work with clients assessing their needs and devising care plans to suit those needs. This will be a move from task based care that is delivered now, which suits a lot of our clients but is not so suited to those with Demetia or Memory Loss.

Another 12 staff join the growing bank of home care assistants at Worcestershire Care Group who have NVQ Level 2.

51% of the home care assistants now have the qualification.  Another 10 staff are about to start work on gaining the qualification which will put that figure even higher.

NVQ’s are the National Skills qualification.  NVQ’s in care concentrate on staff being aware of risk, health and safetly factors, protection of vulnerable adults and being able to undertake the work in a professional and competent manner.

Hilary Overingtom, the registered manager, knows that the well trained and qualified workforce makes for happy clients that are getting the care they need and deserve.

Worcestershire Care Group are delighted to announce that a recent telephone survey of a group of our homecare clients showed that the sittings service is hitting the right spot with its clients.

The overall satisfaction rate is 94.1%. The highest two catagories with the scores of 96.8% and 95.7% satisfaction were about improvement in the quality of life for the clients.

Another pleasing trend was that there were compliments for staff in the office organising visits and those out giving care.

Dianne Ewin, Chief Executive, said that “To get such high scores was overwhelming evidence that the very high levels of training given to all groups of staff was paying off with the satisfaction of our customers”.

If you would like to see the full results please email
enquiries@worcscare.co.uk

The appointment of Hilary Overington RGN as Registered Manager has been approved by CSCI with effect from 23rd January 2009.

Hilary joined Worcestershire Care Group on the 10th November 2008. Hilary was working previously at the Priory Hospital in Edgbaston as a Senior Nurse Manager. She has wide experience of management from her role at the Priory, managing nursing staff, health care assistants, administration staff, medical secretaries and resident medical officers.

During her 26 years at the Priory she developed several systems of work and also trained staff to cover in different departments. She was a member of the nursing directorate and led several groups to achieve the strategic plan.

Her skills and experience in health care organisation are being readily used and adapted to social and domiciliary care. Hilary is in charge of the day to day management at Worcestershire Care Group and works closely with the directors, who are delighted with her appointment.

November 2008

Worcestershire Care Group has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Best Employer of up to 250 staff’ category of the Skills for Care Accolades 2008 in recognition of the importance they attach to workforce development. ‘An important aspect of submitting an entry to the accolades is that it makes you consolidate and reflect on what you are doing.’

Steady and consistent leadership

Their ongoing success is achieved through steady and consistent leadership and an ethos which values the contribution made by all members of the team.

‘Every stakeholder needs to know where the company is going and what part they play in it’ says Dianne. ‘We also have an open door policy where all members of staff feel confident that they can discuss any problems and issues which may arise.’

‘If things go wrong no blame is attributed but an analysis of what happened is undertaken to ensure that it does not happen again.’

We are committed to the continuous professional development of our staff

The company is committed to staff development and a training equality policy ensures that every member of staff receives an individualised training plan tailored to their specific needs and those of their clients.

The company has had Investors in People status since 1993 making it the care organisation which has maintained the standard longer than any other in the country. With a complaint rate of just 1 per 50,000 delivered hours of care it seems clear that Worcestershire Care Group must be getting it right!

The company realises that to retain new staff they need to be supported in the workplace so 10 mentors have been selected and trained from their present staff to support new members of staff during their first few months of employment.

Dianne Ewin Chief Executive is excited about the prospects as it demonstrates the Council’s recognition of Worcestershire Care Group as a quality provider.

Skills for Care is the national organisation responsible for developing the social care workforce celebrates the best providers of care through training in an annual national awards Ceremony.

Worcestershire Care Group entered the awards for the employer of less than 250 employees.

The company will not know if they are a winner until a ceremony in London in November

E –monitoring involves staff ringing in and out on the client’s phone (at no cost to the client) at the beginning and end of calls. This will end time sheets that staff get clients to sign to say the call has been undertaken.

The company envisage a few months of getting used to the system until it is fully functioning.