Issue 9 I Spring 2021 - Vivo Care Choices
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Issue 9 I Spring 2021
Welcome to the spring 2021 edition of Vivo’s Newsletter, which has plenty
of useful information about what’s happening across the organisation.
As you’ll no doubt be aware, For periods during the COVID-19 the future is certainly bright for
we’re beginning to come out of pandemic, the people we support Vivo, particularly with the start of
lockdown in England so COVID-19 have been restricted as to what a new long-term contract with
guidance is changing frequently they can do outside their homes Cheshire West and Chester
in line with the roadmap set out or the buildings they attend, but Council (more details are on page
by the Government. we’re looking forward to safely two). We’re looking forward to all
We appreciate these are still supporting people more in the our services returning to normal
worrying times for families and community. It’s important we as soon as possible and
carers so please be reassured deliver our services in the heart continuing to develop them in the
we’re continuing to follow the of the community as it creates coming years.
specific adult social care guidance opportunities and allows people Thank you for your continued
very closely to make sure your to enjoy their lives to the full. support. We really appreciate all
loved ones remain safe and well. While the pandemic has been you’re doing.
We’re assessing the support each extremely challenging for us all, Vivo Leadership team and Board
person needs on an individual
basis so we achieve the best
outcomes.
The vast majority of our staff
have now received their two
doses of the COVID-19 vaccination
and they’ve also been helping the
people we support receive theirs.
Our staff have been going above
and beyond to make sure the
people we support are
comfortable receiving their
vaccination because it’s a new and
worrying experience for some.
Despite the pandemic, Vivo has still been supporting everyone in the best
We’re really pleased with the
possible way, with some people taking part in a range of online Zoom sessions,
progress we’ve made with such as arts and crafts
vaccinations at Vivo.
www.vivocarechoices.co.uk
02
Vivo begins new contract with
the Council
Vivo has exciting plans for the future as it • Review both supported living and respite services
begins a new long-term contract with the around current demand and how they’re being
delivered, looking at new bespoke models for the
Council, aiming to bring services closer to
services to achieve better outcomes for people
the community than ever before and create being supported.
plenty of benefits for the people it supports. • Review the Shared Lives service around referrals,
Over the last couple of years, Vivo has been on a targets and the current model for sessions,
journey of improvement, with all services regulated looking to put in place new models and recruit
by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) now rated as more carers for the service.
good and the Council carrying out positive • Develop a project to explore and find people who
inspections on learning disability day services. are currently out of the area, or receiving
There are ambitious plans to build on this progress expensive care packages that might not be
with the new contract and bring services closer to delivering the best outcomes for them, and help
the community than ever before. Plenty of work has them in their transition so they can benefit from
already been done with local communities to create Vivo’s services.
opportunities for people using services. • Put in place a Progression Model, which will look
As part of the new long-term contract with Council, at four key areas: support for people who are self
there are a number of key projects Vivo will be managing, low-level support in the community,
focusing on. specialist support in the community and
• Extend a pathway with local colleges, helping accommodation-based support.
people develop their skills and creating more More information will be shared in the coming
employment and vocational-related months about Vivo’s new contract and some of the
opportunities. key projects it will be working on.
• Set up a range of social enterprises as separate “We want to be seen as an integral part of the
community interest companies (CICs), helping local community and an employer of choice that
employ people with learning disabilities and
has a workforce with the right values.” – Jacqui
autism in supported roles, offering employment
through therapeutic earnings and redesigning Harvey, Chair of Vivo
older people day services so they become more
community based.
• Continue working with the West Cheshire
Autism Hub so people supported by Vivo can
make the most of the services on offer.
• Review buildings and other assets to make sure
services are delivered in the heart of the
community, with clear and achievable lifestyle
plans for people supported by Vivo.
• Provide 40 people supported by Vivo with the
opportunity to take part in person-centred
reviews and put in place improved outcomes
from the care and support they receive. Training
is currently taking place for staff involved in the
reviews. If this proves to be a successful exercise
for people using services and their families, it will
be repeated and expanded year by year.
03
Take part in the survey for carers
Vivo is carrying out a survey for opportunity for you to help shape services in
the future.
carers to learn more about
This short survey has 28 questions in total and
whether services you’re receiving
Vivo is keen for carers to complete it online
are helping you in your role and life wherever possible. Those who complete it online
outside caring, as well as your will be entered into a free draw for the chance to
thoughts on the services provided win a £100 voucher.
for the person you care for. You can access the survey online by scanning
the QR code below or visiting:
It’s important to Vivo to make sure services
vivocarechoices.co.uk/carerssurvey. If you can’t
support you in your role and find out about any
complete it online, please email:
areas where you feel improvements could be
communications@vivocarechoices.co.uk or
made. Your opinions are really valuable.
speak to your usual contact in your service so a
With Vivo starting a new long-term contract paper copy can be sent to you instead.
with the Council, this survey is a great
The survey is a great way for carers and family
members to shape Vivo’s services in the future
04
Celebrating Vivo’s staff
Vivo is running a brand-new Employee Nearly 50 nominations in total were submitted
Award scheme to recognise some of the across Vivo’s different services and winners for
each of the categories, along with the overall
inspiring achievements by staff across
Employee of the Year, will be announced in the
different services. coming months.
All staff have gone above and beyond during
the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting in these
challenging times to make sure care and
support is still provided to those who depend on
Vivo.
The scheme highlights how staff have lived
and breathed Vivo’s new CARE values:
caring, aspire, respect and enable.
There are six different categories.
• Customer Service Award
• Spirit of Vivo and Community Award
• Family and Carers Engagement Award
• Innovation and Value for Money Award
• Role Model Award
• Team Award
Community Fund continues in 2021-22
Vivo is running its successful • Community activities for people with learning
Community Fund once again in 2021-22, disabilities, autism and complex needs
setting aside £22,000 to support • Community activities for older people and
community initiatives over the next 12 those with dementia
months. • Environmental activities for people with
learning disabilities, autism and complex needs
Vivo ran a Community Fund for the very first
time in 2020-21, supporting 15 projects across • Environmental activities for older people and
Cheshire West and Chester. those with dementia
£11,000 will be available in the first round of Funding can be used to pay for sessional workers,
spring funding, with the application process transport, equipment, volunteer expenses and
closing on Friday 14 May. A further £11,000 in other project costs.
funding will be available this autumn. For more information about the Community
Vivo will be looking to support projects focusing Fund and how projects can apply, visit:
on the following areas. vivocarechoices.co.uk.
05
Building a society for everyone
Staff and people using Vivo’s services took services taking part in a range of activities and a
part in World Autism Awareness Week Bake Off competition.
from 29 March to 4 April, helping create a Vivo will remain a champion for people with
autism all year round and provide the people it
society that works for people with autism.
supports with a strong voice in their community.
Vivo supports many people with autism, as well as
For more information about World Autism
learning disabilities, and is proud of each of them
Awareness Week, visit: autism.org.uk.
and the joy they bring to others.
At Dover Drive, staff organised a Fun Day on site
in line with COVID-19 guidance, with people using
One big team
While the care and support delivered by Vivo overtime and enhancements and handled more than
Care Choices’ frontline services during the 10,000 queries by email over the last 12 months.
pandemic has never been more important, She said: “The pandemic has affected Vivo in many
there’s a whole team working hard in the ways and the biggest change for my team was moving
background to help make sure the from the office at Lightfoot Lodge to working from
organisation continues running smoothly. home.
Many of the staff normally based in the office have “But one thing I have learned is humans are extremely
moved to working from home, but the invaluable adaptable. Payroll must go on no matter where we log
support they offer frontline staff around things like pay on.
and recruitment, finance, IT, HR and communication “Microsoft Teams has been invaluable so I can keep in
and marketing has been unaffected. touch not just with my team, but also with other areas
Angela Carpenter, Business Support Manager, leads a of the business.
small team, which has processed around 1,500 manual “It’s been interesting seeing people’s backgrounds and
pay entries, made more than 80,000 payments for I feel like I know some front rooms really well.”
The support from office-based staff has made
a real difference during the pandemic
06
An opportunity for everyone
at Shared Lives
Vivo’s Shared Lives service provides Gill Gill added: “The rate of pay is increasing each
year, the expenses are very supportive and you
with the flexibility to fit her caring role
receive a lot of ongoing help from the Shared
around other commitments and form Lives team.
true companionships at the same time. “I’ll be 61 soon and I wouldn’t class myself as
Shared Lives offers an alternative to day services, retired yet. This is a great opportunity for me to
respite care and residential care, matching carers work in a flexible, part-time role and make a
with people they can share activities or their difference to some else’s life at the same time.”
family life with. There are a range of
opportunities in day, short-term and long-term
care.
Gill has been a Shared Lives carer for nearly five
years, supporting ladies of a similar age to her
during the day. Before the COVID-19 pandemic,
she would normally support up to five people on
a regular basis.
She said: “I’ve been doing this for a while now
and I don’t see myself as a carer. I’m a companion
for the people I support and they’re a companion
for me.
“Somebody I used to work with was a Shared
Lives carer and supported people in her spare
time so that’s how I found out about the service.
Gill makes a real difference to the lives of others through
“It’s so flexible. I rarely have to leave the house Shared Lives
before 10am and I’m usually back by 4pm so that
fits in really well with my lifestyle and other How to become a Shared Lives carer
commitments I have.
A Shared Lives arrangement can only be
“Before COVID-19, I would take the ladies successful if the carer is able to meet the needs
shopping, visit cafés with them and take them to of the individual and has similar interests to
see their family members. We have a good chat them. Vivo always carefully matches carers with
and enjoy each other’s company. We still get individuals.
out for exercise and other essential things now, Meetings are arranged between the potential
making sure we follow the latest guidelines. matches to make sure they are compatible and
“I really enjoy it and I’m always telling other check everybody involved is happy to go ahead
people about Shared Lives. When people ask me with the placement. All carers are subject to DBS
why I do it, I just explain what I do day-to-day checks and full training is provided before being
and how much I get out of it.” approved, receiving support from Vivo
Not only does Shared Lives allow carers to throughout their time as a carer.
commit to responsibilities that suit them, but To apply to become a Shared Lives carer, visit:
there are many other benefits with the role. vivocarechoices.co.uk.07
Help create a greener and
cleaner environment
Vivo has signed up to all ten green • Flying – a commitment to reduce personal
and business air flights
pledges as part of Cheshire West
• Car emissions – reduce personal or business
Voluntary Action’s (CWVA) campaign, mileage or change to electric vehicles
which provides an opportunity for • Consumption – proactively reduce
individuals and organisations to make consumption as an individual and/or
personal pledges and support actions to organisation
• Reuse and recycle – increase your reuse and
tackle the Climate Emergency called by
recycling of resources
the Council. • 100 per cent renewable energy – move
A Climate Emergency was declared in May 2019, towards using 100 per cent renewable energy
with a plan for Cheshire West and Chester to sources
become carbon neutral as a borough by 2045. • Fossil fuels and high-carbon sectors – a
The Green Pledges campaign has been set up rapid transition to reduced investment in all
fossil fuels and high-carbon sectors
so CWVA and its members in the community
sector can play their part, encouraging • Meat and dairy – reduce weekly meat and
dairy consumption as an individual and/or
individuals and organisations to change their
organisation
behaviours and create a greener and cleaner
• Food waste – reduce your food waste
environment for all.
• Protecting our trees – a commitment to
As part of the campaign, 10 green pledges are planting and maintaining more trees
outlined, but it’s up to each individual or • Plastic free – a commitment to reduced
organisation which ones they’d like to commit plastic use
to. It could be all of them, one of them or
For more information about the campaign and
something new as there’s an opportunity to
how you can make your own green pledges, visit:
create your own pledges.
chesterva.org.uk/green-pledges-campaign.Upcoming dates for
carers
meetings
Chester and Ellesmere Port Carers Group
Venue: Virtual
Wednesday 14 July 2021, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 1 September 2021, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Vale Royal District Carers Group
Venue: Virtual
Wednesday 7 July 2021, 11am to 1pm
Wednesday 25 August 2021, 11am to 1pm
It doesn’t matter whether or not you’ve been before as all carers are welcome to
attend. If you’d like to get involved with any of these meetings, please email:
yolanda.baker@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
How to get in touch
There are plenty of ways you can contact Vivo. Call us on:
0300 123 5059 or visit our website at: vivocarechoices.co.uk.
We’re also active on social media so feel to join in on the conversation. Twitter: @vivocarechoices.
Facebook: Vivo Care Choices Ltd.
If you’d like to receive an electronic copy of this Newsletter rather than a paper version, let us
know by emailing us at: communications@vivocarechoices.co.uk.You can also read
