My Home Life

MHL Medway Launches!

myhomelife — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:59:09 +0000

My Home Life Medway launched last week, and was highly praised by those managers who attended. The day was seen as particularly useful for the amount of information sharing which went on. With discussions about – amongst other things – dental practices which accommodate older people within the home environment, ideas around end of life care and bereavement packs that homes have put together, doll therapy, pet therapy, domestic chores involving residents and cinema nights.

Genette Laws, Social Care Commissioning Manager for Medway Council, commented: “The managers agreed it was tremendously useful to spend time sat around a table with other managers sharing ideas, knowing that everybody is in the same the boat – facing similar problems and hunting for solutions. This two-way sharing of information is absolutely crucial to the My Home Life programme, and it was especially good to see the passing on of information about cost-effective training courses which are available through the Council and the NHS. A number of the managers came away wiser about what exists out there to help them.”

For more information please contact: carol.galvin@medway.gov.uk

Full Steam Ahead for MHL Plymouth!

myhomelife — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:19:14 +0000

Having launched on the 27th of April this year, My Home Life Plymouth is making buoyant progress. There was high demand for the programme and with the homes selected, they are now embarking on their training.

Lucy Yung of Plymouth Council commented: “The feedback we’ve had has been excellent! The homes are extremely positive and enthused about this project, and delighted to be part of My Home Life. There is so much great practice out there that it’s wonderful to have a way that such knowledge and experience can be shared across the network.”

For more information please contact Lucy Yung at lucy.yung@plymouth.gov.uk.

Leadership The Focus in Wiltshire

myhomelife — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:11:44 +0000

In the last eighteen months, the My Home Life Wiltshire programme has been focussing on the best practice theme of Leadership.

A group of eleven care home managers has been funded by Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire to take part in a leadership programme, designed to develop the skills needed to support the culture change that underpins My Home Life. The programme has been a great success and the Council will now be working in partnership with these managers to co-develop and co-deliver My Home Life workshops to other care homes across Wiltshire. These workshops are designed to share the skills needed to integrate other best practice themes into the day to day culture of care homes.

In conjunction with this, the Council is continuing its programme of Dignity in Care training. This is provided free to staff of care homes in Wiltshire and to date approximately two hundred care staff have received this training.

Kathryn Norton of Wiltshire Council said: “We are really pleased that the My Home Life project has generated so much interest and enthusiasm . The managers involved have developed some key skills in managing and delivering change and we are excited that they are keen to continue to work with us and share best practice to other homes in Wiltshire.”

For more information please contact Kathryn Norton at Kathryn.Norton@wiltshire.gov.uk

My Home Life Medway Coming Soon!

myhomelife — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:12:12 +0000

My Home Life Medway launches on the 20th of July in an event at The Corn Exchange, Rochester. Numerous care homes for the elderly from across Medway have been invited, and the day promises to be a great introduction to the My Home Life movement as well as a fantastic networking event.

Genette Laws, Social Care Commissioning Manager for Medway Council, commented: “This is a really exciting time for the care home sector in Medway. We’re really happy to be part of the My Home Life project and look forward to working together and sharing good practice over the coming months and years.”

For further information, please contact: carol.galvin@medway.gov.uk

My Home Life Brighton & Hove Reaps Reward of Successful Launch

myhomelife — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:08:47 +0000

My Home Life Brighton and Hove launched on the 24th May. The day attracted a broad range of providers from the independent and voluntary sector, as well as local authority, who came together to hear what the programme has to offer to support and improve quality of life of those who are living, dying, visiting and working in their care homes. The day long launch session proved to be an excellent start at bringing people together to share good practice, ideas and positive action.

Take up has been fantastic and MHL Brighton and Hove is currently selecting 13 homes to join the programme which will start in September.

The Development Manager Kevin Murphy said: “This is a really exciting time for the care home sector in Brighton & Hove. All the homes are looking forward to working together and achieving the outstanding level of care their residents deserve.”

For further information, please contact kevin.murphy@brighton-hove.gov.uk

My Home Life Kent Update

myhomelife — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:07:22 +0000

My Home Life is working with West Kent Adult Social Services on a programme of training for managers of West Kent homes, both in-house and from the private sector.

In May this year, over 100 delegates from a range of settings attended the launch. It was a great day and feedback from the managers was extremely positive. Furthermore uptake of training places for the programme has been excellent.

Cathi Sacco, Head of Strategic Commissioning, West Kent commented: “Kent is very proud to be working with My Home Life to building good practice and improving the quality of care for both residents and relatives.”

More information about the programme is available from Penny.Dudman.1@city.ac.uk.

My Home Life North East continues developing the INTERACT framework

myhomelife — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:51:04 +0000

My Home Life North East continues to expand and now includes over 110 care homes committed to developing and improving practice. Holding numerous workshops – which include residents, relatives, managers, staff and researchers – the homes have been looking at issues across Maintaining Identity, Creating Community and Promoting a Positive Culture. A specific focus of this work has been on supporting social interaction that has resulted in the development of the INTERACT framework.

This is guidance that is designed to encourage best practice in social interaction in care homes. The framework highlights the importance of:

INDIVIDUALISED type and quality of social interaction

NOTICE the quiet and withdrawn resident

TIME to TALK

ENVIRONMENTAL condition

RECOGNISE and support RELATIONSHIPS

ASSESS individual problems and ACTION plan

CREATE the CARE HOME COMMUNITY

Use TECHNOLOGIES to support interaction

A number of care homes in the area are now working with this guidance and already report that residents have an expanding portfolio of activities and interests, as well as an enhanced range of physical activities. In addition there’s been a greater involvement with social inclusion and community based activities.

Support has come from the Department of Health, Care Services Improvement Partnership and the Regional Department of Health, as well as local companies such as Connect for Care, Fenwicks and Warburtons. As Glenda Cook of My Home Life North East points out: “It’s a case of everybody pulling in the same direction. Once the staff, residents, relatives and others work together, it’s incredible how much can be achieved.”

For further information please contact Glenda Cook on glenda.cook@unn.ac.uk.

My Home Life Leeds Launches!

myhomelife — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:53:49 +0000

My Home Life Leeds had a successful launch at the centre of the city on Monday the 14th of June. A good mix of representatives from council-run and private care homes were in attendance, along with various healthcare providers and other interesting parties. This day long event offered a background to the project and listed the numerous benefits it can bring.

Shelley Musik of My Home Life Leeds commented: “We are tremendously pleased with the way the day folded and hope it heralds good things for the future. Now we ask for homes across the city to get in touch and be part of this exciting development.”

For further information, please contact Shelley Musik: Shelley.Musik@leeds.gov.uk

MHL Home wins prestigious award

myhomelife — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:49:27 +0000

The Old Vicarage Care Home in Dorset (the home filmed for the ‘Keeping Workplace Fit for Purpose’ segment of the My Home Life film project), has picked up an honour at The Great British Care Home Awards. Jan Millward was awarded Care Home Activity Organiser of the Year.

Activities at the Old Vicarage

Jan runs a range of activities, from normal outings to the local public houses, to lunch trips to observe visiting birds of prey. In the last year there have been school visits, drama and music evenings (with performances from local choirs), barbecues, community lunches, opera afternoons, tea dances and many more. A particular highlight was the hatching of ducklings in an incubator in a resident’s room.

Annie Sinnott, director of the home, said: “We’re thrilled that our staff have once again received positive recognition for the work they do. We’re particularly pleased for Jan, who began with us six years ago as an evening carer, and through hard work, commitment and enthusiasm has developed a full time activity role which has proved extremely popular with staff, residents and relatives. Many of whom have some involvement in the activities.”

While Jan herself said: “It’s worth all the effort to see the residents laughing and smiling. Our activities are beneficial for them and for the staff, and it contributes to a happy and vibrant home.”

My Home Life Wales

myhomelife — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:47:49 +0000

Phase 2 of the My Home Life Wales pilot project began in May 2010, with 9 more care homes coming aboard. Phase 3 will commence in November 2010, and will continue until June 2011. By the end of the My Home Life Wales pilot project, at least twenty four homes from across Wales should be part of the network.

In addition, six FREE half-day seminars will be taking place across different regions in Wales over the next year. Each seminar will give you an introduction to the My Home Life Wales programme and how its positive initiatives can be used within your home. The dates for your diary are:

27^th July 2010 – Colwyn Bay
7^th September 2010 – Merthyr
November 2010 – Swansea
January 2011 – Cardiff
March 2011 – Cwmbran
May 2011 – Wrexham

For more information on any of the above, please contact either Laura Jones, My Home Life Wales Programme Assistant (laura.jones@agecymru.org.uk); or John Moore, My Home Life Wales Programme Manager (john.moore@agecymru.org.uk).