We’ve been very busy over the Summer period and the Autumn season has certainly crept upon us!
We have been waiting in anticipation over the last couple of months and holding back sharing some exciting news, which we are now able to share with you all!
Impact have now officially completed the purchase of a new scheme in Malton, The Cornmill….
We are extremely thrilled to have received such a warm welcome to North Yorkshire and have been familiarising ourselves with the local community who are keen to find out more about Impact Living.
The Cornmill Scheme
We have now completed the purchase of The Cornmill in Malton.
We’ve been working closely with Ryedale District Council and local providers to ensure the scheme will enhance existing services in the area.
The scheme will fulfil a long-term housing need for those who require a safe and supported living environment, meeting their individual needs to empower them to live as independently as possible within their community.
We have also been promoting recruitment opportunities within the local area, where we have interviewed some very impressive candidates. For news and updates on the launch of the Cornmill, please keep an eye out on our website.
Purbeck Development
At the start of the summer, we partnered up with Waller & Partners to design and build a bespoke Support Office facility for the Housing Management and Housing Based Support Team, within our Purbeck Court Scheme. Key features will include:
• Office space for up to 5 staff members
• Meeting room
• Kitchen
• Toilet/Shower
• Hallway
• Roller shutters
• CCTV
• Thermal flooring / Kingspan insulation
• Opportunity to convert to a self-contained flat in the future
The development will be ready from early September.
Joe’s Respite
We have reached our goal in raising £2000 for a relaxing respite break for Joe and his parents, thanks to Bev Law and friends for hosting a successful Afternoon Tea as well as all of the generous donations made online!
7-year-old Joe was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2014; a life limiting condition, which currently has no cure.
(www.mda.org/disease/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy).
Joe is a very bright and sociable little boy and has taken to the introduction of his first wheelchair in his stride, mainly due to the flashing wheels!
The diagnosis came completely out of the blue to the whole family and following a period of adjustment, Joe’s parents have decided to make his life as much fun as possible.
Joe has a keen interest in Geography and loves to travel.
Joe is currently enjoying a Respite Break to our Villa in Lanzarote through money raised from kind donations.
Joe’s parents and family wish to say “a massive thank you to everyone involved!”
Impact Day Trips
Staff and residents have certainly made the most of the glorious weather this summer by taking respite daytrips to Whitby and The Lake District!
Tenants and staff from our schemes combined for some Positive Relationship Building, relaxing time away, site seeing and to enjoy some scenic walks together.
We also explored cobbled streets and souvenir shops, counted 199 steps, enjoyed seaside style fish and chips and absorbed beautiful sunsets.
Welcome to the Team
We wish to welcome two new support team members to our Bradford Scheme; Chloe Akers and Niamh Doran.
Chloe Akers
Chloe has joined the Bradford Extra Care Team after studying Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology at the University of Huddersfield 2014 – 2017.
While training as an Extra Care Support Assistant, Chloe is also completing her Masters (MSc) in Investigative Psychology this year, focusing her dissertation on public perceptions of domestic violence with a particular interest in gender bias and raising awareness for male victims.
“I’m excited to work for Impact and it will be nice to put four years learning into practice and make a difference in other individuals lives, who just need a break.
I hope to progress as far as I can and continue to learn new things while furthering my education as far as possible. I always wanted to be a chartered Forensic Psychologist.”
Chloe has also played football for many years and loves Rugby League.
Niamh Doran
Niamh has joined the Bradford Housing Based Support Team.
She has lived in Bradford her whole life and is pleased that Impact has given her the opportunity to help people in local areas and give back to the community.
For the last 3 years Niamh has worked for the prison service;
“Although I enjoyed my role I felt I needed a job that was more support based. I have gained experience and knowledge whilst working for the Prison Service and I am looking forward to using these skills within Impact.”
Niamh has previously studied Public Services for 2 years at college and has been Lance Corporal in the Army Cadet Force for 3 years.
Bringing the Team Together
Impact recognises that it’s important to invest in employees’ futures, so that they feel valued and work together as an effective team.
We continuously explore creative techniques to improve employee morale, including Personal Development Plans, Team Building and Bringing the Team Together.
Communication and Feedback is Key!
That is why we are making small steps to improve in this area through Training Days and Workshops, Team Meetings and even trialling WhatsApp Groups; setting weekly goals and keeping everyone in the loop. In this way we will improve the way we share good practice, while promoting diversity; encouraging the freedom to voice opinions in an open, honest and healthy way.
Personal Development
Over the coming months, we are sending Managers to the Care School Shipley to complete the Care Certificate Assessor Award. This will enable all new staff to achieve the Care Certificate direct through Impact Living.
Staff in our Wilfred Drive and Greaves Street Scheme have completed Medication Handling Training, Mental Health First Aid Training as well as Safer People Handling; enabling these two projects to deliver a Safe and Effective extra care service to those with complex needs.
Safeguarding Week – 25th-29th June
“It’s Everybody’s Business”
“Safeguarding Week is an annual week of learning events coordinated by the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board in collaboration with the Safeguarding Adults Board, Domestic Abuse Partnership, Health and all our multi-agency partners.
The key purpose of the week is to provide a range of learning and development opportunities for staff and volunteers working in the sectors of safeguarding adults, domestic abuse and safeguarding children as well as raising safeguarding awareness with the wider public” Bradford Council.
Impact Living grabbed the opportunity to participate in Bradford Safeguarding week by attending the ‘Safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act; difficult decisions on Capacity’ workshop.
Care, Quality and Service Manager, Mark Mitchell and Housing and Extra Care Trainee Support Worker, Chloe Akers who attended the workshop found it very informative, understanding key principals when undertaking capacity assessments.
Development of New Support Programmes
People with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition are sometimes described as having a dual diagnosis or a co-occurring disorder. These are terms medical professionals use to describe people who have two medical issues impacting them at the very same time.
Sadly Impact have become increasingly familiar with co-occurring related deaths within the last year.
We believe that individuals who are not being monitored and managed effectively is part of this reason, as well as the connection between poor mental health leading to substance use disorder and vice versa.
It is often difficult to determine if a person’s thought, behaviour or decision making and subsequent behaviours are related to their mental health condition or substance use disorder, as both conditions may have similar symptoms. It can also be difficult to determine the circumstances or root cause of a mental health condition, particularly if this is due to any other underlying health issues.
With the experience gained over the last 3 years of providing extra care to people with co-occurring, as well as experiencing the devastating effects of some not receiving the appropriate level of treatment for all of their conditions, we have decided to develop some new support and treatment programmes to address this.
Click on the logos below to find out more…..
Special Thanks:
Skills for Care, Care School Shipley, Source Academy, Aspect Training Sheffield, Moorfoort Training Sheffield, City Training Bradford, CQC, Transforming Care Programme, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Department of Health and Well-being, City Training Services, Waller & Partners Ltd, SIPS@Clays, Mark Hardie, Real Property Finance, Garbutt & Elliot, Langley’s Solicitors
Leaves
by Elsie N. Brady
How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colours gleaming in the sun.
At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.