Signing up as Dignity Champions
19th September 2011
The management of Care Unlimited have agreed to commit to a very impressive initiative to champion dignity in care. The initiative hosted by Social Care in Excellence (SCIE) has been indentified by our Managers to be an effective way to demonstrate and inspire the best standards in dignitified care. Reza Shamtally explains: 'we have a professional, moral and ethical duty of care to uphold and champion the dignity of over 120 people receiving our care and support services, and hope to work with other organisations to push dignity to the core of all professional social care'. The group is now gearing up to introduce a checklist of way to reinforce awareness of dignity with the 10 suggested guidelines from the initiative. Main items include: More details to follow at the end of September.
SCIE explains:
In support of this campaign, people across the country, from all walks of life, are signing up as Dignity Champions.
Before the campaign launched numerous listening events took place around he country to find out what Dignity in Care meant to people. The issues raised at these events resulted in the development of the 10 point Dignity Challenge. The challenge depicts what high quality services that respect people's dignity should include:
1. Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse
2. Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family
3. Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service
4. Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control
5. Listen & support people to express their needs & wants
6. Respect People's Right to Privacy
7. Ensure People feel able to complain without fear of retribution
8. Engage with family members and carers as care partners
9. Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self-esteem
10. Act to alleviate people's loneliness and isolation
Latest Official Statement - regarding safeguarding at Grennell Lodge
9th September 2011
Yoosoof Assen was found guilty of common assault on a resident in his care at Grennell Lodge in 2010. He has been jailed for 4 months. Care Unlimited support this sentence as a lesson to all carers and nurses with a responsibility for the wellbeing and dignified living of people receiving care, that such abusive practices will not be tolerated. We accept this judicial decision on the basis that Mr Assen has been found guilty, and will not be allowed to practice nursing again. Grennell Lodge's whistleblowing policy was fast and effective, and resulted in the immediate withdrawal of Mr Assen from the Home for safeguarding of all vulnerable adults at the Home. We are pleased to report that the resident concerned did make a full recovery from her injuries, and one year on continues to live at Grennell Lodge.
Yours sincerely
Danny Shamtally
RMN FRSPH MBA (Durham)
Principal Partner (Development)
The Brand New Care Unlimited website August 2011
26th August 2011
We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new look website, built for easier use, and a new interface to better present our latest news and events, as well as more varied services. We welcome any feedback you may have at info@careunlimited.co.uk. Many thanks to our friends at Sammakko Design (www.sammakko.co.uk) for building this new website. The site features new layouts and centres around up-to-date news. We are just populating the site to shout about all the goings on at Care Unlimited. Please comeback to the site soon for more information.
Offical Statement - regarding safeguarding at Grennell Lodge
25th August 2011
Statement from Danny Shamtally, Principal Partner
Care Unlimited - 24th August 2011
Re: Incident at Grennell Lodge – Safeguarding Newspaper
article
Grennell Lodge is the oldest home in the family-run group of Care Unlimited, founded in 1983. It is a nursing home providing 24 hour care for people with mental health problems. Age group from mid 50s to late 80s.
A safeguarding alert was raised on 10th June 2010 following an allegation of physical assault by a member of staff on a female resident. I, Danny Shamtally, Principal Partner visited the home and the member of staff was suspended from duty with immediate effect. The authorities were alerted by the home and the correct procedure for reporting an act of abuse was followed. The resident was examined by a doctor and supported by members of staff following the trauma. What makes this case particularly disturbing is the fact that the perpetrator was a staff nurse who had work at the home for seven years with an unblemished record and has been nursing for nearly forty years.
Care Unlimited has a robust policy of zero tolerance to protect vulnerable people in its care. Our ”No-secret’s and “Whistle-blowing” policies have proven that the process and system work. Two members of staff, one of them who witnessed the incident, came forward and reported the assault.
The matter went through the safeguarding process and was ably handled by our Human Resources Manager, our Quality Assurance Manager and the Home Manager. At the Safeguarding Strategic Planning Meeting the case was referred to the police who were also in attendance. Care Unlimited worked closely with the police and the matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. Care Unlimited under its obligation reported the matter to the Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC) given that the assailant was a registered nurse. This was done as a precautionary measure to make sure that he does not work as a qualified nurse elsewhere. He was dismissed from employment with Care Unlimited on 8th September 2010 following advice from our Employment and Personnel Consultants.
That member of staff was Yoosoof Assen and no longer works at Care Unlimited. He was found guilty of the offence on 15th August 2011 at Croydon Magistrates Court and will be sentenced on 7th September 2011.
In the 28 year history of Grennell Lodge this is the first time we have experienced such a violent incident. It is deplorable, cowardly and Yoosoof Assen deserves the full force of the law. Care Unlimited will always be in the debt of the two members of staff who came forward and attended court as vital witness to make sure that justice is done. I must stress that the Home has no evidence that other residents in our care were physically abused in any way.
Safeguarding of vulnerable people in care remains paramount and zero tolerance will prevail. Care providers have a responsibility to make sure that people in their care are safe and protected from any harm. What we have seen demonstrated that the system is working and anyone who over-step the line will be dealt with and brought to book.
I am Principal Partner of Care Unlimited and also a Registered Mental Nurse and a Registered Welfare Officer. I have worked for the National Health Service, Social Services and now in the private sector. I have been a nurse for 41 years and 15 of those years as a residential social worker. It is very sad that this terrible act should happen in one of our homes. The publicity in the press, I feel, is very balanced. Grennell Lodge has done its duty fairly and robustly. I hope that all those who read the article will reserve judgement and applaud the courage of the staff who have brought an end to Yoosoof Assen’s career and he will never be allowed near the vulnerable again.
Yours sincerely
Danny Shamtally
RMN FRSPH MBA (Durham)
Principal Partner (Development)
