Southend on Sea Darby & Joan Organisation

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Southend on Sea Darby & Joan Organisation's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Southend on Sea Darby & Joan Organisation is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.darbyandjoan.org

1THE SOUTHEND-ON-SEA DARBY & JOAN ORGANISATION |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

CEO Michelle Rogers

Dementia garden, a

comforting space

Registered as a charity since 1949, The Southend-on-Sea

Darby & Joan Organisation Ltd is based in Westcliff-on-

Sea and provides care to the elderly, with a particular

specialism in helping individuals living with dementia, as 69 per

cent of their residents currently live with this. The organisation’s

aim is to provide the best-possible care and attention in a

friendly and informal atmosphere. They pride themselves on the

homely atmosphere, something they take great care to maintain

in both of their care homes. They also stress the importance of

ensuring staff are happy, well-trained and supported. These are

just some of the topics that CEO Michelle Rogers expands upon.

Our origins lie in the post-war period, as we were founded in 1946 with the sole

purpose of caring for the elderly. Over time, the organisation became increasingly

known and valued by people in the community. It was because of this that we had

property bequeathed to us by a local family. By managing this situation shrewdly,

we have reached our current state, with two well provisioned homes, caring for

elderly people from all over Southend, Essex and London Boroughs.

Relaxation in a friendly environment

Integral to our ethos is the creation of a warm, friendly and informal atmosphere.

It’s only in circumstances of this kind that the residents we care for can achieve

a sense of ease and wellbeing. This is especially important for those living with

FACTS ABOUT

THE SOUTHEND ON SEA DARBY

ANDJOAN ORGANISATION LTD

»CEO: Michelle Rogers

»Founded in 1946

»Located in Westcliff-on-Sea

»Services: Care home

»No. of employees: 63

»The founder of the

organisation, which was

originally known as ‘The

Southend on Sea Council For

The Welfare of Elderly People’,

was Edward Cecil Jones, a

local philanthropist

»www.darbyandjoan.org

The Southend-on-Sea

Darby & Joan Organisation

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

2| THE SOUTHEND-ON-SEA DARBY & JOAN ORGANISATION

dementia, as their existing confusion

and anxiety can be compounded by

an unpleasantly alien environment.

Getting the environment right is

therefore more than just an additional

detail; it’s a central and critical

component of ourservice.

In terms of improving our environment,

we were awarded funding from the

Department of Health to create a

dementia garden, which, as evidence

has shown, can have a very positive

impact on lives. In addition to this, we

are upgrading the properties’ interiors

in line with best-practice developments

taking place across the sector.

An example of our commitment to

continue to educate on Dementia is

our recently implemented “Dementia

Friends” sessions. Working in

partnership with Dementia Friends

Champions, we aim to increase

understanding of dementia among

staff and relatives to enable them to

support residents on what is often a

very difficult journey. Furthermore, in

addition to bringing the community

into the homes we believe that

residents should be free to continue to

experience the outside world as much

as possible, despite their move into a

care home. As part of this approach,

we support them to access local parks

cafés and other community activities.

This latter initiative has resulted in a lot

of positive feedback for us.

The environment should also be

pleasant for our staff. Making sure

they are happy will ensure they

perform their duties with greater

enthusiasm, thereby also helping

those we care for. Whenever

circumstances permit, we seek to

increase pay, improve skills, put in

place incentive schemes and improve

their surroundings. By investing in our

staff like this, we let them know that

they are valued.

Training, of course, is particularly

necessary for supporting those who

live with dementia. The issues posed

by dementia are both challenging

and unique. One is not born with a

knowledge of how to handle these

Some of the team at

Darby & Joan

Registered Manager

Jackie Lim with resident

of St Martins

An example of

our

commitment

to continue to

educate on

Dementia is

our recently

implemented

“Dementia

Friends”

sessions

“

3THE SOUTHEND-ON-SEA DARBY & JOAN ORGANISATION |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

situations; it requires proper and

concentrated training. It’s a skill we

cannot afford to do without.

Difficulties in the sector

Politically speaking, there are

challenges. Brexit, for example, means

that the pool of talent available to us

has shrunk. As a sector, it’s important

that immigration rules after Brexit

don’t make it difficult for people from

abroad to work in this field.

Broadly speaking, there is a crisis in the

social care sector, and government is

being too slow to address it. The social

care green paper, for example, has

been delayed – which suggests that

the problem is too low down on the

government’s priority list. Too often, it

feels like we are the forgotten sector,

not least because the people working

in it are unfairly deemed “lower

skilled”. The fact is that the challenges

in this sector are huge, and the people

who work in it are working far beyond

their pay grade.

A better future for the elderly

community

Looking forward, we as an

organisation plan to continue evolving

while embracing change. We expect

that as the sector moves into the

future, many important changes (not

least technological ones) will change

the care landscape. We, of course,

will ensure we stay up to date in this

regard. It’s also important to note that

with an ageing society, we can expect

greater numbers of people being

diagnosed with dementia. Services

like ours will become increasingly

needed, and we will always seek to

play whatever role we can to help.

However, although things will change,

there will be much that stays the

same – namely, our goal of creating

a dementia-friendly home while

developing and supporting our staff

to provide our residents with the best

possible care. The outcome of all of

these efforts is, we hope, that we have

a genuinely positive impact on our

residents’ lives.

Broadly

speaking, there

is a crisis in the

social care

sector, and

government is

being too slow

to address it

“

Residents enjoy activity

with one of our activity

coordinators

www.darbyandjoan.org

This article was sponsored by Southend on Sea Darby & Joan Organisation. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Michael Gove.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster