Number 44, April 2015
Hi everyone,
There's lots to read in this issue of the Beacon, including the article from
one of our parents, information on the new care certificate, job adverts
and congratulations. There is no caption competition this month but there
will be one in April made up of two photos! Enjoy.
Fliss
There were lots of good captions so I have decided on two winners!
Louis, with the caption, “the new boy band – Out of Sync!”
Ryan with “Stephen's Angels”
Important Dates:
Pay day for April is Thursday 30th.
Timesheets and expenses for April in by the 8th May.
Care Certificate
As of 1st April 2014 all social care support workers will be
expected to attain a Care Certificate within their first 12 weeks of
employment. It sets out the basic skills, knowledge and
behaviours that are required to give safe, effective and
compassionate care. It will comprise of 15 Care Certificate
standards. It replaces the former Common Induction Standards
and is viewed as the first step on the career ladder.
The introduction of the certificate means that our induction
training will be changing slightly. The content of training will
predominantly remain the same but staff who now do the courses
will have to complete work books as they work through the three
weeks training. For those of you who have already done the
induction training then you will not need to to redo it.
Congratulations
A little message from the Team Leaders
Jodie white has successfully Please can everyone remember that at weekends and
evenings, oncall is for emergencies, concerns and issues
completed her diploma 3.
you need to be resolved straight away. If it is not
immediate then please wait until Monday then contact the
office. This then frees up the team leaders at weekends and
evenings to respond to urgent problems. Thanks Fliss
Team Leader Internal Promotion Senior Support Worker Internal
Promotion
If you are currently a senior support worker,
and would like to apply for this post,
please write to Fliss and Steve,
explaining why you would like the post,
and what you think you would bring to it
The role will provide you with opportunities to
develop your existing skills, knowledge and
experience within a management role.
Letters to be at the office by the 1st May 2015.
Interviews provisionally booked for the
8th May 2015
If you are interested in progressing in your
career and would like additional responsibilities
and a new challenge, then you should apply for
this opportunity.
Please send a letter to Fliss and Steve telling
them why you think you would be good as a
senior and how you would make a difference to
the lives of the people you work with.
Letters to office by the 1st May.
Interviews provisionally booked for the 12th May
“An Interesting Life”
Angelman Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the
maternal Chromosome 15. Some of the symptoms are profound learning
and physical disabilities, epilepsy, scoliosis, absence of speech,
hand-flapping, inappropriate laughter and lots of smiles.
I am the very proud mummy of 3 sons, 2 of which have Angelmans.
Lawrence is 24 and Daniel is 16.
Lawrence was diagnosed by EEG on April 14th, 1992, aged 16 months,
and Daniel by blood on April 14th, 1999, aged 6 months. Over the
years I've had the looks of pity and such comments like " What a
shame!" And ""It must be hard?!" My answer is "Life is as hard as
you make it!" I've strived to make mine as easy as possible by
being positive and happy. My life is most certainly different to
most but good. I class myself as being a very fortunate person.
Considering both boys have the same syndrome they couldn't be more
different....The only thing they have in common is their
affectionate nature, cuddles can be quite an experience due to
their incredible upper body strength! (This comes from years of
crawling as their form of mobility as walking has never
materialised for either boy), and their love of water.
Lawrence is a 'skinny Minnie', having the typical Angelman
physique, and Daniel is a 'chunky monkey' weighing a fair bit!!
Lawrence's 'hobbies' are listening to music,(Eminem being one of
his favourites), bathing and spinny toys! Daniel is a tv addict,
(being very particular what he watches!) and prefers manipulating
empty shower gel bottles as opposed to playing with toys.
Lack of sleep has always been a problem for both boys due to the
lack of natural Melatonin being produced in their brains at night.
I have help for 5 nights of the week so I can get some sleep, and
I do 2 waking nights myself. This isn't ideal but they are worth
it.
Both Lawrence and Daniel have developed very amusing personalities
with a very prominent mischievous streak! Neither can speak but
they soon make their feelings known using a combination of facial
expressions, body language and vocalisation,(happy/sad noises) and
certainly get what they want pretty quickly!
I would have loved to have heard them say 'mum' but accepted a
very long time ago that this isn't to be. Being able to talk when
they are ill/in pain would be great though.
They certainly make up for their lack of speech with their
constant(and very loud) laughter! My house is full of it most of
the time, and so there is never a dull moment when Lawrence and
Daniel are around!
Having my boys like they are, has definitely made me a very strong
person,(some may say too strong) and have always liked to do
everything for them myself . But, unfortunately this is no longer
possible due to my fairly recent health issues. Which brings me
nicely onto the subject of Crimson Hill.
Daniels social worker brought Fliss to my house for the first time
nearly 8 months ago. My first words to her were "I don't want this
and I don't want you here!"(Fliss likes to remind me of this on a
regular basis!) But what a turnaround all these months on, and no
one is more surprised by this than me! I adore every single one of
Lawrence and Daniels support workers,(as does the boys) who have
come into my house during the past 8 months. I have built up very
good relationships with every single one of you and you're all a
real pleasure to have in my house.
So I'd like to finish this (long-awaited!) article by saying a
huge THANK YOU to all of you and to let you know that your help
and support is appreciated more than I can put into words.
Allison Carter