Adult Services News - April 2006
Benchmarking Nursing and residential homes
Nursing and residential homes in Wigan Borough have been highly rated by a team of independent inspectors, with many being judged as 'exceptional'.
And now staff from the homes are set to become stars for a day when they attend a special Wigan Council awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements.
The Department of Adult Services is holding its sixth annual star rating awards on Wednesday April 12, when 44 nursing and residential homes will receive star-ratings of between three and five.
The ratings scheme is organised and accredited by Residential & Domiciliary Benchmarking Ltd (RDB) in partnership with Wigan Council. Homes are visited and assessed by RDB over two or three days with each being examined for standards in care, accommodation, facilities, food, staffing and staff training, management and administration.
The ratings are:
- One star - inspection and registration standard.
- Two stars - good standard of care.
- Three stars - very good standard of care.
- Four stars - excellent standard of care and facilities.
- Five stars - exceptional standard of care and facilities.
This year three homes received three stars, Fifteen received the four star rating and twenty six were awarded the full five stars.
Wigan Council's Adult Services' Assistant Director for Older People Louise Sutton says: "This year's results show there have been real improvements in standards."
Louise adds: "Homes are awarded a number of stars depending on the quality of service they provide, so people who need to book relatives or friends into residential nursing care can examine the star-rating list before making a decision.
"The assessments are completely objective and take the circumstances of individual homes into account.
"The awards system is positive evidence of effective partnership working between the council and our residential and nursing home colleagues.
"We have seen some fabulous results in the ratings this year and must congratulate those residential and nursing homes recognised as part of the awards for their achievements."
Carers Day - Monday 12 June 2006
A carers day is being held on Monday 12 June. The day will give you the chance to:
- access information and talk to people who may be able to help you in your caring role, and
- participate in taster sessions to promote your health and well being.
You can drop in anytime between 10am – 3pm. Light refreshments will be available throughout the day. Transport can be arranged if needed
To event will be held at: Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan WN3 5BA
For more information please contact the Carers Centre on 01942 683711.
Bridging the gap
The generation gap will be bridged in Hindley on Wednesday 26th April, when the town's young and old get together at Hindley day centre.
Youngsters from Hindley Community High School will be unveiling oral history project work they have done based on interviews with their 'elders and betters' from the day centre.
Organised by Wigan's Over 50s Forum, the inter-generational project aims to break down barriers between old and young people. The students recorded the older peoples' answers and anecdotes about what life was like when they were young, turning a minefield of information into the project work set for display on the day.
Director of Adult Services, Bernard Walker, will be on hand to present certificates to all involved.
Wigan Council's network co-ordinator for older people, Helen Coffey, says:
"Older and younger people have got so much in common and so much to learn from each other. This promises to be a very enjoyable occasion."
Wigan's Over 50s Forum was formed in 2002 and now boasts more than 400 members. It is open to all residents and offers older people a ‘voice’, influences the way they are treated; provides practical advice, and makes sure that issues of concern are raised with those who can do something about them. Anybody wishing to join should contact Helen Coffey on 01942 404501.
Partnerships for Older People Projects
Wigan Council, led by the Department of Adult Services, was successful in bidding for the Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) funding from the Department of Health. Wigan’s POPP initiative will receive a total of £1.76m over the next two years and it’s due to formally commence on 1 May.
The overall aim of POPP is to encourage the development of innovative approaches which will promote the health, well being and independence of older people. Wigan POPP is about providing timely support for people aged over 50 who are experiencing challenging changes in their lives. Such changes can prove emotionally and physically difficult and may lead to a situation worsening or becoming a crisis if there isn’t the right support available. The aim of Wigan POPP is that, through early intervention and the services and support available, potential crises and loss of independence can be avoided. In addition, the need for more costly support that often results such as acute and institutional services.
Wigan ’s POPP initiative comprises a range of statutory and voluntary partners and recruitment for all the posts associated with POPPs is well underway. We have already appointed a team, led by Keele University, to carry out an independent, local evaluation of our POPP initiative. Two of the team will also be involved in the national POPP evaluation.
To launch Wigan POPP and advertise the different services and schemes that are available, the department has organised a celebratory event on Monday 19 June 2006. This will take place at Wigan Town Hall as a drop-in (pop-in?!) event from 10am to 2pm to encourage as many people as possible to come along.
The launch event on 19 June will provide an ideal opportunity to tell people all about the Partnerships for Older People Projects initiative and what’s being offered in Wigan. There will be stands, information and people to speak to about each of the schemes involved in Wigan POPP. Light refreshments will be available.
As well as informing older people about POPP, we also want as many other people to know about it as well, particularly those who may know of, or be in contact with older people who may benefit.
Many of the Wigan POPP schemes are also in need of enthusiastic volunteers to help out in different ways - there are lots of opportunities to get involved. So, to find out more, pop along on 19 June.