News   ` Welcome - Welcome to the latest edition of the Hendra Herald, the homes newsletter. As you all know things have been, and continue to move on at a pace at Hendra so I hope this newsletter highlights our past achievements as well as our future aspirations for the home and our residents. Residents / Relatives Meeting - A reminder that our next residents meeting will take place at the home on Tuesday 6th December commencing at 7.30pm. Resident News - I am please to report that Rosemary Jennings has returned home after her stay at Hendra House. Marie Jeremy has reluctantly moved to a home in Hove Sussex to be nearer her family. I visited Marie recently and she seems to have settled in well at her new abode. She said that she missed all of her friends at Hendra House, but wished to be remembered to you all. Whilst sad that Rosemary and Marie are no longer residents I am delighted to welcome Elizabeth Cowell and Val Hall as our two new residents. Staff Issues - I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Mel back to work on a phased return after her recent illness. Staff Development - As previously identified our NVQ programme has expanded, with Hospitality and House Keeping staff now on the Apprentice programme. We are proud to announce that 96% of all Care Staff and 100% of Hospitality and House Keeping Staff hold or are working towards National Vocational Qualifications at Diploma Level and above. Cerri Ayres and Anne Walters have recently commenced the NVQ Diploma programme in care. Congratulations to Lorna Workman who has just completed the NVQ level 2 Diploma. Eva Juskova and Lynsey Tipton are progressing well on the Level 3 programme and Lindsay Giess is working towards completion of the Level 4 programme. Congratulations to Celia Bennett who has completed her Customer Service NVQ Award. Laura McNally. Marie Byard, Michelle Griffiths, Lyn Monteith and Gemma Ingram are all making good progress on the same award. These qualifications are in addition to their NVQ 3 care qualifications. Awards - I am delighted to announce that the home was voted Best Care Business in Shropshire at the 2011 Care Awards. This is a fantastic achievement and is the second time we have won the award in the past 3 years. The award was even more memorable because over half of “Team Hendra” were able to attend the awards ceremony in front of 200 invited guests. The night was a double celebration as Lorna Workman was selected as the Best Learner in Shropshire this is a fantastic achievement for both Lorna and the home. I am also delighted to inform you that the home has been shortlisted for the 2012 Care Accolades, known nationally as the “Care Oscars”. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which will be held at the Manchester Hilton in March. As you may be aware we narrowly missed out in last year’s competition, and hope to go one better this year. The judges have already visited the home and spoke to some of the residents and their families. I think it would be fair to say that the judges were impressed with what they saw at the home and commended the staff on their achievements to date. Independent Financial Advocacy Service - With the cuts in public spending it is likely that there will be even less money to support residents in care homes. In order to ensure that each resident irrespective of whether they are self funding or funded either wholly or partly by the local authority it is vital that you are aware of your full entitlements in the future. Each resident and/or their families has access to independent and impartial advice if they so wish. Should you wish to avail yourself of this free advice please speak to either myself or any of the Senior Staff Team who will make the initial contact on your behalf. Gold Standard Framework - Whilst this initiative has been put on hold during Mel’s absence, all care staff will shortly be commencing nationally accredited “End of Life Care Training”. Activities - Special thanks to all of the staff who have been involved in a varied and full activities programme. These have included trips away from the home, which included the Red Kite Centre and the Dams at Elan Valley. The Mary Williams Memorial Concert took place in November and this was a great success, as well as a fitting tribute to a much loved former resident. Ludlow Brownies will be making their annual visit to the home on 29th November. A trip to “Dobbies” in Shrewsbury will take place on 30th November. Christmas activities have also been planned and include band concerts, carols services and visits from local community organisations. I will update you of dates and times at the resident relatives meeting. Building Works - We will be embarking on the final stage of our 6 year capital works programme in January 2012. At the end of the works all rooms will be single occupancy en-suite. In addition we will have refurbished and improved the laundry, kitchen and pantry areas. Rotary Club Tree of Light - The home is proud to be a sponsor of the Tree of Light, which not only raises money for local charities, but also provide the opportunity to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. For further information contact the Ludlow Rotary Club Tree of Light website. Reflections on 2011 - the year has been a fantastic year of achievements with the home being voted best apprentice employer in Shropshire and the West Midlands. Best Care Business in Shropshire for a second time, being voted in the Top 100 Employers in the country. We have achieved the Food Safety Excellence accreditation, and Lindsay Giess and Lorna Workman have achieved individual recognition at national and regional level. These awards recognise the commitment and desire of all our staff to deliver care of the highest standards to all of our residents. I am sure everyone who uses our service will join me in thanking everyone at “Team Hendra” for their fantastic efforts during the past 12 months. This is also the time of year when we reflect on the residents who are no longer with us, but each will be remembered by the lighting of a star on the Tree of Light. I hope to see you at the next residents/ relatives meeting on 6th December 2011, but hopefully sooner. For those of you who I may not see can I close by wishing you a Happy Christmas and healthy and prosperous 2012. Vince