Issue 35 - Southern Health and Social Care Trust

4 - Profile of a Trust Domiciliary
Care Worker
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Up date
Staff newsletter
Issue 34 November 2010
New Chief Executive for Southern Trust
Mrs Anne Balmer, Chairman of the Southern
Health and Social Care Trust is very pleased
to announce the appointment of Mrs Mairead
McAlinden as the new Chief Executive of the
Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
Welcoming the appointment, Mrs Balmer said:
“We are extremely fortunate to have appointed
a leader who has such a wealth of experience
in health and social care. Mairead has worked
for over 20 years in health and social care
across primary, community and hospital care,
commissioning and service delivery. I wish
her every success in her role at this extremely
challenging time for health and social services.”
Mairead, who lives just outside Lurgan, has
been Acting Chief Executive of the Southern
Trust since September 2009, having joined the
Trust at its inception in 2007 as Deputy Chief
Executive and Director of Performance and
Reform.
She has dedicated her entire career to working
in local health services, taking a ‘bottom up’
approach. Mairead said “After fi nishing my
‘A’ levels, I took a temporary clerical post in
Craigavon Area Hospital, and I really enjoyed
working there – there was a real sense of being
part of a service that made a difference to
people’s lives. I decided to stay on instead of
applying to university, and I’ve never regretted
it”. She worked her way up through the ranks
gaining experience in areas including fi nance,
medical records, health centre management and
planning, and along the way gained a 1st Class
Honours Degree in Business Studies through a
New Dress Code Policy for Trust Staff
part time course at the University of Ulster.
Mairead has held a range of Senior
Management posts since 1995, including
Chief Offi cer for the Armagh Primary
Care Commissioning Pilot, one of 5
pilots in Northern Ireland which shaped
the development of local commissioning
arrangements.
She was Director of Planning and
Performance in the Southern Health and
Social Services Board from 2002 to 2006,
and also worked as Regional Director for
Integrated Care and Treatment Services with
the Service Delivery Unit DHSSPS
Mairead said: “I am delighted and privileged
to be appointed as Chief Executive of the
Southern Trust. I see the dedication of
our staff to the work they do, despite the
challenges in the current fi nancial climate. I
also know how much local people appreciate
and depend upon the
services we provide, and
we value their support. I
am absolutely committed
to working in partnership
with the people who use
our services, local GPs,
Councils, voluntary and
community groups and
other local bodies, to
continually improve our
services and ensure we
deliver safe, high quality
care for all.
The Trust Dress Code Policy for staff working in hospitals has been updated
to apply to all staff working in the Trust, both in a hospital and community
setting. The purpose of the new policy is to provide a standard dress code
for all staff which focuses on the importance of public perception, infection
prevention and control and health and safety.
The policy applies to all staff including:
• those staff directly employed by the Trust
• volunteers providing services on behalf of the Trust
• students on placement in the Trust
It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that staff are made aware
of the policy and abide by its requirements. All staff have the individual
responsibility to comply with the policy. If for medical reasons, religious
requirements or reasons related to disability, a staff member is unable
to adhere to the Dress Code Policy, they should discuss it with their line
manager.The dress code policy can be downloaded from
the intranet under policies and procedures.
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Mairead McAlinden,
Chief Executive
Trust Domiciliary Care
Worker, Marian O’Connor
in uniform
In this issue
2 - Life as a Stranger
3 - Developments in Surgery
3 - Practical Physiotherapy
Workshops
4 - Directory of Parent/
Carer and Toddler Groups

Give the Gift of Life
The Trust is encouraging staff to consider signing up
to the organ donor register. There are around 7,974
people across the UK waiting for organ transplants. Last
year 3,693 transplants took place but there is still an
average of 3 people dying each day as they wait for a
suitable organ to become available.
Following recommendations from the Organ Donation
Taskforce, the Trust has established an Organ Donation
Committee which will raise awareness of organ donation
amongst staff, families of potential donors and the
general public. Interim Director of Acute Services, Dr
Gillian Rankin chairs the committee which includes
Do you Dare to Do Things Differently?
The Trust has launched a £50,000 ‘Dare to Do
Differently’ fund to help staff to realise ideas that will
improve safety, quality, effectiveness, or make the best
use of resources.
Launching the fund, Acting Chief Executive, Mairead
McAlinden said: “Staff delivering services every day may
recognise that there are better ways of doing things. We
hope that this short term support will help to stimulate
ideas amongst staff to develop projects that will improve
our service for the benefi t of patients and clients and to
help to promote effi ciency and effectiveness within the
organization.”
clinical staff, patient representatives
and a chaplain.
Dr Charlie McAllister is the Clinical
Lead for Organ Donation and Specialist
Nurse in Organ Donation, Edel
Livingstone has been appointed to
support staff in dealing with the issue of
donation during end of life care.
Organ donation saves and enhances lives
To join the NHS Organ Donor Register and give the
gift of life, log on to www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call
1300123 123. For further information on the work of the
Organ Donation Committee Email: edel.livingstone@
nhsbt.nhs.uk
Any staff member or team in any front line service or
support function is eligible to apply for a proportion of
the fund.All applications will be considered by the Best
Care Best Value Programme Board. Those who meet the
criteria will be considered for approval in order of date
of submission. Proposals that may be supported could
include specifi c changes to how we deliver aspects of a
service or accessing learning from other providers that
will inform changes to improve services.
Applicants may be invited to discuss ideas further with
members of the Programme Board. Application forms
can be downloaded from the Latest News section on the
home page of the intranet.
Launch of Report on Migrants in Craigavon
A research report on the experiences of local migrant
workers in accessing and using local statutory services
in Craigavon was launched recently in the Seagoe Hotel,
Portadown. The event was supported by the European
Union’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special
EU Programmes Body. The “Life as a Stranger” report
includes accounts from members of a Polish women’s
group in Craigavon and tells of the challenges they face
when accessing local services like social security, health,
and education. Cultural misunderstandings, shortages of
language interpreters, gaps in service delivery; are just
some of the issues identifi ed in the report.
services provided and to highlight ways of tailoring/
developing services for migrant communities in the area
in the future. The Trust’s Promoting Wellbeing Team
and Mental Health services are currently working with
local migrant communities focusing on mental health
promotion and to see how support programmes can be
tailored to meet the needs of migrant workers.
The report was the result of a partnership involving
Queen’s University Belfast, Southern Health & Social
Care Trust, PEACE III Challenge of Change and
Craigavon Intercultural Programme. The research was
funded by the Nuffi eld Foundation and conducted by Dr
Ruth McAreavey, from Queen’s University, Belfast.
The ‘Life as a Stranger’ report will be used to identify
key issues such as gaps and requirements in the
Dr McAreavey with other participants at the recent ‘Life as a Stranger
report’ launch
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Trust Facilities Win
Best Kept Awards
Staff and service users at Southern Trust facilities
were celebrating after winning 2010 SuperValu
Best Kept Health and Social Care Facility Awards.
Roxborough House, Moy came runner up in the
Best Kept Residential Facilities category of the
awards. Manor Centre, Lurgan took the award
for Best Kept Daycare facility and Donard Day
Centre, Kilkeel was runner up in that category.
The judges inspected almost 100 health and
social care facilities for general tidiness,
cleanliness and environmental enhancement.
Manor Centre, Lurgan Best Kept Daycare Facility Award Winners

New Health and Wellbeing Project to REACH out to
Local People
A new project was launched recently which will work
with individuals, families and communities across
the Southern Trust area to improve their health and
wellbeing. The REACH (Regenerating Environments
and Communities’ Health) project has been funded in
the Southern Area for 5 years with a grant of just under
£1 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Safe and Well
programme.
REACH will help those faced with inequalities in health
such as people with a disability, people with a mental
health problem, ethnic minority groups including
Travellers and disadvantaged families and individuals, to
improve their health and wellbeing. The project aims to
help thousands of people in the next 5 years to increase
health awareness, knowledge and skills and improve
health behaviour to allow people to make positive
lifestyle changes.
The Reach Teams are employed by Southern Health
and Social Care Trust and Conservation Volunteers
NI and hosted by partners in the project. For more
information on the project please contact Stephen
Dallas (CB) - Tel: 028 3839 2777, Donna Sloan (NM) -
Tel: 02830 261022, Ellen Morton (A&D) 028 8772 9690
REACH aims to improve people’s health and wellbeing
by delivering a range of programmes on physical activity,
healthy eating, cooking skills and weight management.
REACH also includes other innovative schemes such as
the Green Gym, provided by Conservation Volunteers
Northern Ireland. This scheme involves communities
in practical conservation work such as: managing
woodland, wildlife gardening and growing food.
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Participants at The REACH project launch in Lurgan
Developments in Surgery
Mr Eamon Mackle, Consultant Surgeon at Craigavon
Area Hospital is the Trust’s Associate Medical Director
for Surgery and Elective Care. This Division of Acute
Services includes General Surgery, ENT, Urology,
Trauma and Orthopaedics, Ophthamology and Oral
Surgery.
Mr Mackle is supported by two Clinical Directors, Mr
Robin Brown and Ms Samantha Sloan. Mr Mackle’s
role as Associate Medical Director is to ensure that
the highest possible standards of care are delivered to
surgical patients.
He says: “Part of my role is to liaise with external
stakeholders including primary care for feedback on
service provision and to identify how we can make
improvements. I also work closely with Trust staff on
the delivery of our service and to ensure that access for
patients is as timely as possible.
“One of our biggest challenges is meeting the demand
for our service, including elective procedures and outpatient
appointments and a particular
challenge at present is patients
waiting for review appointments.”
Key developments within surgery
for the Trust recently have been the
expansion of the ENT service and
the opening of the new Orthopaedic
Block which boasts two of the most
up to date theatres in Europe. Mr
Mackle adds: “Future developments
which we are looking forward
to include developing a new local
Eamon Mackle
Ophthamlology Service to complement
the regional service and to becoming one of the three
Urology Centres which will serve Northern Ireland.” For
further information contact Mr Eamon Mackle Tel: 028
3861 2099/2100 Email eamon.mackle@southerntrust.
hscni.net
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Practical Physiotherapy Workshops
Two eminent lecturers, Craig Allingham and Mary O’Dwyer, from the Bond
University in Queensland recently spent a weekend in Daisy Hill Hospital running
three workshops for Physiotherapists from both the private and public sector.
Geraldine McKnight, Regional Offi cer for PhysioFirst NI (The organisation of
private physiotherapy practitioners), co-ordinated and organised these workshops
in conjunction with Roisin Lynch, Team Leader-Physiotherapy Department
in Daisy Hill Hospital. The courses were well attended by participants from
both North and South of the border. The workshops concentrated on shoulder
problems, low back pain and continence problems for both men and women.
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Lecturer, Craig Allingham demonstrates
practical physiotherapy on a participant at the
workshop
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Profile of a Trust Domiciliary Care Worker
A Day in the Life of: A Trust Domiciliary Care Worker
Name: Marian O’Connor
Job title and location: Trust Home Care
Worker based in Craigavon
How long have you been in the job:
7 years
Describe a typical working day:
Each day is different in this job and
depends very much on the individual
clients I am working with on that day and
whether I am working alone or doing
a ‘double call’ which involves two of
us working together. I work a split shift
pattern which means I work different
days and times each week but I still get
two days off each week.
Usually the day begins with me visiting
clients in the morning to help them out of
bed, showered, dressed, help them with
personal care and make sure they take
their medicine. This is the most important
time of the day as clients are often
anxious about a hospital appointment
or other things they have to do that day,
so I will give them a bit of reassurance
that all will be okay. Next I make sure
that they have breakfast and if they are
attending Day Care, I will have them in
their wheelchairs (if needed) and ready
to be collected by bus or taxi. Thankfully,
these days, there is a lot of high-tech
equipment that the Trust puts into
people’s homes such as remote control
hoists to help with manoeuvring people
from bed to wheelchair etc.. which are
now so much easier to operate than the
old manual hoists. Before moving on, I
will record information about the health
of the client in the Clients’ Care Plan
and I record any changes to the client’s
condition from the previous night. This
record can then be referred to by my
supervisor or the wider team looking after
the client including District Nurses and
Social Workers.
Lunchtime and I’m back to help clients
with their medicine and to take care of
their personal care, as well as serving up
a meal.
In the early evening (4-6pm) I return
to serve their evening meal and again
deliver personal care and medicine. It’s
also a time to catch up with them and
find out what they have been up to during
the day. I am very aware that for a lot of
people I might be the only person they
actually talk to during the day so I try and
spend a bit of time listening to them as
they will often confide in me and I need
them to feel they can trust me. Once
you have the trust, I find that the barriers
come down and the client no longer feels
awkward about receiving personal care.
Later, depending on what shift I am
working, I might be back to help some
clients with getting ready for bed, getting
into bed and again sorting out any
medicine and personal care issues.
What do the clients and their families
think of your work?
You do get close to the clients and
their families and a bond really
does form. I would say that 99%
of the feedback from clients and
their families is very positive and I
have one client, Mrs Edith Duddy
who calls me her angel sent from
heaven and she actually bought
me an angel pin which I wear on
my coat. I have been invited to
weddings and other events as you
really become part of their family
and vice versa. Many of my clients
would get anxious when I go on
holiday and would be counting
the days until I got back to work. I
always find it difficult when clients
pass away and I have got very
close to many families as I have
cared for their loved ones who have
Directory of Parent /
Carer and Toddler Groups
The Trust recently launched a Directory of Parent/ Carer and
Toddler Groups operating within the Southern area. A Parent and
Toddler Group is an informal setting where parents or carers can
attend with their children and share their experiences, pleasures
and complexities of bringing up a small child.
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died following long term illnesses.
How would you describe your job
to other people?
I remember once somebody saying to
me ‘you’re a home help’ and I replied
I’m not a home help, I work for the
Trust as a Homecare Worker. People
still think that we only make beds
and put coal on the fire but we work
as part of a bigger team of District
Nurses, Social Workers etc. and we
have a big responsibility to take care
of all our clients needs. It is a very
challenging job as we are taking care
of people with complex needs such
as dementia and lots of our clients
have disabilities and are not mobile.
I always say to people that this is the
first job in my life I look forward to
getting out of bed and getting into work
- it’s just so rewarding! A few years
ago the Trust gave me the opportunity
to study for an NVQ which was not
something I was expecting to be doing
at my age but I loved it.
Trust Domiciliary Care worker, Marian O’Connor
pictured assisting one of her clients; Mrs Edith
Duddy with her medication. Edith describes
Marian as her ‘angel sent from heaven’
The availability of this Directory will ensure that up to date,
accessible and accurate information is readily available for those
families who would benefi t as well as for Trust and other staff who
will be able to signpost families they may be in contact with.
Attendees at the recent launch of Directory of
Funding received through the Early Years Development Fund as Parent/Carer and Toddlers Groups
a result of a successful partnership application from ArKe Sure
Start and the Promoting Wellbeing Team has enabled this valuable resource to be developed.
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The Directory is available from a range of locations throughout the SHSCT including local libraries, GP Surgeries
and Health Centres. It is available to download from www.promotingwellbeing.info or you can request a copy from
the local Promoting Wellbeing Team on Tel: (028) 3834 4973.
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