Otterly Informed (October 2024)

Introduction

Welcome to the new edition of our internal newsletter Otterly Informed and the first version securely hosted on our website. We will try to make this a monthly initiative going forward.

Our family of clients continues to grow, and I am pleased to announce that we now have 22 clients under our care—a remarkable achievement considering that we only received our CQC registration in January this year. This growth is a testament to your dedication and the high standards of care you provide. I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and I really hope you’ll continue this journey with us for a long time to come.

Our aim is not just to grow our hours but to also enhance the quality of care for our clients and improve support for you, our team. We are always striving to do better, so if you have any suggestions or feedback on how we can improve, whether for clients or for the team, please don’t hesitate to speak to Cherie or me.

Once again, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and trust in Otter Homecare.

Best wishes,

Jamie

Get to know Cherie

As you should all know by now, Cherie has taken on the role of Care Manager for us now. Cherie brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role and I thought it would be useful to ask her a few questions so we can get to know her and her way of thinking a bit better.

What got you into care in the first place?

The reason I got into care was because I spent the majority of my childhood with my grandparents. My nan has always been my role model and I seen her look after her neighbours with such care and attention. It just made me want to look after people the way she did.

What do you think are the key aspects of a really well-run home care organisation?

I think dedication, communication and honesty are the key aspects. It’s not just a job, it’s making a difference to peoples lives that come first.

Do you have any tips for Care Professionals on how they can go about making a really good connection with their clients?

Just be yourself. Take the time to listen to a service users wants, likes and dislikes. Treat that person as if you were caring for your own family member.

What’s the most rewarding part of your day working with our team and clients?

Just knowing that one small task you have completed for a client could make such a big impact and help them in their daily lives. That makes coming to work a lot easier.

Otterly outstanding work

We love hearing about the meaningful moments you're sharing with clients. Here are a few highlights from the past few weeks:

Holly’s heartwarming update: Holly was invited to join VP’s special birthday party with her family.

Danielle has gone above and beyond with her work with her clients and recently took VS to a local pet shop which (as you can see from her smile) she really loved.

If any of you have suggestions or ideas for special outings or activities we would love to hear them. Don't forget though that we need to get clients' consent for taking photos or videos with them. We can help arrange photo consent forms from the office.

Otter Homecare Happy Hour

Do you ever wish there was just a little more time to do something special with your clients? Perhaps an excursion to a community event, or even just dedicating an hour to an activity that’s meaningful to them? We’re excited to introduce Otter Happy Hour—an initiative where we’ll provide clients with a free extra hour of service, giving them that little bit of extra care without any cost to them.

How it works: Simply propose your idea to the office, detailing what you'd like to do, with whom, and when. We’ll schedule it so that you’re paid for the hour, but your client won’t be charged. Hopefully it will allow us to do more outstanding activities with our lovely clients.

If you’re looking for ideas, feel free to reach out to the office, and we’ll happily share suggestions to make your Otter Happy Hour experience extra special.

Safeguarding Reminders

As always, safeguarding is a top priority for us as we seek to keep our clients and each other safe throughout our working day. Here are some reminders to keep both you and our clients safe:

Stay vigilant: Keep an eye out for signs that a client may be experiencing abuse or neglect. It’s always better to report a concern, even if you're unsure.
Self-care matters: Remember, safeguarding includes looking after yourself too. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable in a situation, reach out to Cherie or myself immediately.
Documentation is key: Ensure all incidents, no matter how minor, are documented properly in the Access Care Planning app.

Your first point of contact if you ever have any safeguarding concerns or queries is the office. So give us a call on 01225 690022 or on the on-call phone, 07564 842728. If you need a refresher on safeguarding protocols or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

HR reminder:Call the On-Call Phone for Absences

Please remember, if you are unable to work or will be late for a shift, call the on-call phone directly. Text messages can be missed, and calling ensures that we can adjust the schedule quickly to maintain client care.

That’s everything for this edition of Otterly Informed! Thank you all once again for your ongoing compassionate care and dedication for our clients.