Horsfall House update 1st December 2020
Some good news; we test all our staff on a weekly basis and I am pleased to report that for the third consecutive week all Care Home staff have tested negative, The Home is now clear of any active Covid Cases. Equally pleasing is that our Home Care staff also tested negative.
Further positive news comes from a CQC (Care Quality Commission) review of our safety procedures. They were pleased with all the actions and procedures we have either taken or are in place and we retain our overall rating of ‘Good’ . This backed up by the all-important testing means we are now able to accept new residents into the home and already we arranging start dates for a number of new friends. All of this would not have been possible without the hard work of our staff and excellent infection control procedures that were applied in the Home.
Our staff are the most important element of the Care we provide, and we do have a number of vacancies covering most aspects of the Home. We are currently recruiting for Nurses, Carers and Kitchen staff. If you know anybody who may be interested in joining us and perhaps to develop a career in Caring, then please encourage them to apply. We offer full training starting with the ‘Care Certificate’ through to Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications.
The Covid cost is high emotionally and physically but it also has a significant financial cost. The government and Gloucestershire County Council have made best efforts to mitigate this, but they are unable to cover the full cost. We have had at various time 31 staff test positive with a further 5 who have either been self-isolating or shielding all whom we have continued to pay in full. It is great news that all are either back at work fit and well or will be able to return shortly.
We have been unable to provide respite care through these last months a service we started in 2013. Over the last two years we have worked closely with Stroud Hospital League of Friends (SHLOF) who have been funding respite care for two beds. Respite Care is normally available for general and dementia nursing and SHLOF have made it available to any patient registered to one of the GP Surgeries in the Stroud Valleys area. This is of real benefit to the home carer as it relieves both physical and emotional exhaustion, renewing energy recharging batteries through effectively providing a mini-holiday. We have many testimonials not only praising the service we offer but the generosity and support of SHLOF. We are eternally grateful as well, not only is it a pleasure to work with them on this superb facility they have just supported us with a substantial donation helping us through this difficult period where our loss of income has been substantial. Thank you to all involved with the Stroud Hospital League of Friends.
Our fund raising committee has also been active and please do visit our website and read the update given by Duncan Wood who leads that group. The walk through Gatcombe and surrounds raised a significant amount supporting what we do at Horsfall House and it gave a real fillip to our staff.
The next steps for us at Horsfall is to work out how we can open again to family visits; this is a high priority, and we will plan as soon as we are given guidance from the National Authorities.
Christopher Fisher
Chair of the Management Board
Minchinhampton Centre For the Elderly