Annual Report 2010/2011 - Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT 7
CHANGING
FOR THE BETTER
OUR FOCUS IS ON:
CARE SERVICES, QUALITY
AND COMPLIANCE, AND
BUSINESS EFFICIENCY
RMBI ANNUAL REVIEW 2010–2011
Chief Executive’s report
The single biggest change that
has affected the RMBI this year
was the Health and Social Care
Act 2008 which came into force in
October 2010 and brought with it
a change to the regulator of the
care sector. The new regulator, the
Care Quality Commission (CQC),
announced a fundamental change
to the way in which good care
will be assessed, moving from
a process-based to an outcomebased
methodology. While I hope
that the RMBI has always tried to
provide the care that our residents
want, these changes have
required us to make fundamental
alterations to our policies and
procedures, resulting in a huge
amount of work for the staff in
Head Office, the Home Managers
and the care staff in the Homes.
The fact that all of this was completed
to a very high standard and within
very tight deadlines is a great credit
to them all. The CQC also suspended
the grading system for care homes
in September 2010 and will not be
introducing a replacement system
until summer 2012. This is very
unsatisfactory, particularly for the
three RMBI Homes that were graded
‘Adequate’ at the time. All three
have made significant improvement
since then but cannot change their
recorded grading.
Our resident population is becoming
increasingly frail and their care
needs ever more complex. We
have therefore provided additional
staff training this year, including a
dementia training programme called
‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’. Also,
over the next two years, all RMBI
Homes will be embarking on the Gold
Standards Framework for end-of-life
care. Successful completion of this
demanding programme will enable
us to provide far more comprehensive
support for our residents in their final
day, and their relatives.
Another fundamental change made
this year was the restructuring of
the Care Operations Team from a
regional to a functional basis. The
focus is now on three functions: care
services, quality and compliance, and
business efficiency. The new structure
will enable the RMBI to respond more
appropriately to the new regulatory
framework. It has resulted in the
creation of the post of Deputy Director
of Care Operations, filled by Debra
Keeling. Donna Lee now fills the
role of Assistant Director of Business
Efficiency and this is already beginning
to show dividends in the challenging
financial conditions currently affecting
the care sector. Edna Petzen, who is
now Assistant Director Marketing,
Quality and Compliance, has taken
the lead in our work on compliance
with CQC standards.
The construction of our latest new
Home in the grounds of James Terry
Court in Croydon is progressing
extremely well. Major refurbishment
and improvement projects are also
underway at well over half our Homes
and will significantly improve the lives
of our residents, and also the working
environment for our staff. I am most
grateful to the Trustees for having the
confidence in the RMBI to make this
significant financial investment in
our future.
Finally, I would like to thank all
members of staff for their loyalty,
dedication and sheer hard work.
They are a credit to the RMBI.
David Innes
Chief Executive
“The care and support that the staff give me is excellent.
Staff members are very kind and some give me more than just
physical care – they also offer friendship, which I value. I am very
comfortable with the way my care and medication are handled.”
A resident at Cadogan Court, Exeter
“I consider myself really lucky to have a place here and appreciate
everything that is done for me.”
A resident at Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, Mid Glamorgan