LOROS Internal Communications
Welcome
Welcome to June issue of LOROS’ internal newsletter. I hope that you are all keeping safe, sane and sober-ish! This issue is packed full of useful initiatives for staff, like the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian role; a really interesting spotlight on our Supporter Data team – sexier than it sounds, as well as some really moving and insightful reflections on our ‘new normal’ by a variety of staff.
Especially touching is the beautiful thank you that our fabulous Ward Sisters – Tracey, Agnes and Helene, have written to all those currently working so hard to support and care for the patients on our Ward. It is so good that it got top billing in the Pin Board, but may I advise you have a tissue to hand!
Please don’t forget that all staff news and information is also available via the Staff Internal Homepage, important information about COVID-19 and LOROS is here, and information about the future of the Hospice is here. These pages are updated daily and are packed with information. If you have a question, it’s likely to be answered by the information on these pages.
Stay safe and keep smiling.
Sophie x
Our Ward Team
We, the Ward Sisters, would like to shine the spotlight onto our fabulous Ward Team.
Our Team includes nurses, health care assistants, doctors, housekeepers, domestics, catering, ward clerks and runners. We want to share with you how, at this most difficult time and with so many daily changes, the whole Ward Team has come together and supported each other in providing dedicated and compassionate care to our patients, families and their colleagues.
We have never had to face and deal with such distress and heartache, when everything that is ‘nursing’ has changed. The Coronavirus has stopped all visiting – just imagine not being able to see, speak to, or hold your loved ones hand at their end of life…
We have witnessed such compassion from the staff, from reading heartfelt letters to the patients from loved ones, sharing a story, holding the iPad so families can FaceTime their messages, holding a patient’s hand when they are distressed and letting them listen to songs recorded from their families. They have performed this with such dignity, even though when they leave the room, the tears fall.
‘Going above and beyond’ is exactly what they are all doing right now. Though they may be anxious, scared or even frightened of passing anything onto their own families, they carry on regardless.
We have never felt so helpless as nurses, as we do at this unprecedented time. COVID-19 is ‘horrendous’, as one colleague has said. Gowning up with full PPE to keep safe, gloved hands that blocks out your touch, indentations on faces where masks have been worn and visors that block your face out almost completely - nurses looking more like spacemen!
Stopping at the door to a side room, thinking: “Do I need to go into this patient?” even though they are on their own with the door shut. This goes against everything we have been taught as a nurse and everything we are about as a Hospice.
But the camaraderie, respect for each other, dignity shown to the patients, reassurance to families that they will be there with their loved one at the end, is above all, absolutely amazing.
Masks could stop the spread of the virus, but it didn’t stop the smiles to our patients, the gowns never stopped our hearts from pouring out heartfelt love, the gloves never stopped the compassionate touch, and the visors never stopped the tender, loving look from our eyes.
A huge thank you to each and every one of you. We are so proud to work alongside you all, you really are the most wonderful team.
Sr Tracey, Sr Agnes, Sr Helene
The Ward Management Team
Good news
Marathon Kids!
Naomi, our Information Governance Lead, has two rather brilliant kids; they challenged themselves to run a marathon for LOROS and it took them only ten runs to do it! Very impressive considering they are only eight and seven! Johnson and Georgie have raised over £100 for LOROS, as well as donating some of their own pocket money. Here they are with their medals - thank you so much for all your efforts!
Cupcakes from Di’s family
Di Linley’s lovely daughter popped into the Hospice with some delicious LOROS cupcakes for staff to enjoy while they continued all their hard work on the Ward. Thank you so much!
Volunteers Drivers afternoon tea
Recently our lovely drivers held their very own virtual 'Tea at 3' hosted by Paul, our wonderful Transport Volunteer Co-ordinator. There was an abundance of home baked treats, chats and smiles all round as everyone tuned into the group WhatsApp and shared photos of their wonderful creations and even raised more than £200 for LOROS.
Paul said he was very proud of his drivers and we are too. A big thank you to everyone who got involved, we only wish we could've been there to have a scone or two!
Looking ahead
You might have noticed a new page has been added to the staff intranet called Looking Ahead. Whilst the Important information pages remain a vital tool; updated daily with information, advice and changes relating to Coronavirus and the Hospice, the ‘Looking Ahead’ section is there to provide staff with as much information as possible about the organisation that LOROS is going emerge as from this unprecedented time.
Led by John Knight, the ‘Looking Ahead’ page is where you will find information on the ‘Tomorrow Teams’, John’s regular video updates, news on John’s Zoom sessions as well as how to ‘Ask John’ any burning questions you may have. Go check out the pages to be part of where LOROS is going.
The latest update from John will be posted today.
Senior Management Committee (SMC)
From John Knight
The senior team are busy progressing the Tomorrow Teams, with a focus on planning for the future.
I do encourage you to visit the ‘Looking Ahead’ section introduced above, as here you will find our regular updates.
We have now held four Zoom sessions with both staff and volunteers. The sessions have been well attended, with over 130 people, and some really good questions asked and thoughts contributed. It is true to say that often people ask a question which immediately leads to us learning or thinking differently, so everything everyone has asked has been really useful.
We are now going to hold weekly sessions for staff and a second session for volunteers – all with the intention of keeping people informed, but also so that questions can be asked in an open and transparent forum. Thanks to all those that have attended so far. If you haven’t yet managed to come along, then do please book and come along. June’s dates are available here.
I am also really pleased that the LOROS Enterprises Team is now working towards a phased reopening of shops starting week commencing 15th June. Much of this is having to be managed under Government Guidance and also with consideration of the Charity Retail Association guidelines.
The safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is paramount to us and therefore creating a COVID Secure environment, whilst also being able to retail profitably is a big challenge.
Initially we will open 12 shops, which shops they will be is still to be decided. This will then be followed by two further phases, one being three weeks later and the second some six weeks later.
There is now a list of dates (please see the update below for dates and times) for people to start making donations in a planned and managed way at the Glenfield Warehouse. We are expecting quite a deluge of goods as people have had lots of time to clear out lofts and spare rooms.
Overall, we do hope to gain lots of donations and then swiftly turn them in to cash funds for the Hospice. Our thanks to Gary, Mary and the other Enterprises staff who are focussed upon a smooth and successful re-opening and also to Michael Bridge, our Health and safety Officer, for his guidance in creating safe environments.
Thank you for your continued support.
Hellos and goodbyes
Welcome to our new starters. If you fancy having a look at who they are then you can access staff profiles via Select HR.
Hellos
Dr David Wenzel |
SpR in Palliative Medicine (Medical Department) |
Goodbyes
Craig Machiwenyika |
Lead Nurse Tissue Viability |
Rebecca Paulson |
Specialist Palliative Care Nurse (Community) |
Ruth Needham |
Lottery Project Co-ordinator |
Amy Moore |
Education Administrator |
Laura Brewin |
Discharge Liaison Sister |
Policy and clinical updates
New and revised policies are available to view within Organisation Information on the Common (G) Drive: G:\13. Organisation Information\Policies
Paper copies of polices can also be found on the Inpatient Unit behind the Ward Clerk’s desk but don’t go looking for them at the moment!
Policy Number |
Title |
New/Revised/Deleted |
1.23 |
Consent |
Deleted |
3.16 |
The Prevention and Management of Patient Falls |
Revised |
4.1 |
Management of Accidents/Incidents |
Revised |
4.25 |
Refrigeration and Refrigerant Gases – Monitoring/Control of Temperatures |
Revised |
COVID-19 Changes – your experiences
Dan Smeeton – Community Volunteer Visiting Services Manager
B.C. (before COVID!) the Home Visiting team and over 80 volunteers provided support, companionship and a listening ear, to patients and their families, living in the community.
We are now in D.C. (during COVID!). Home Visiting is obviously not possible with the lockdown and social distancing restrictions. However, many of our patients and families have chosen to have a weekly, or even daily in some cases, call from their volunteer. This is going really well with some volunteers also video calling people; the volunteers are (as always) eager to continue to make a difference.
With Marjolein on Adoption leave, looking after her wonderful little addition and Wendy and Emma on furlough leave, it has left me and Brenda to hold the fort. Telephone befriending continues and referrals are trickling in for this service, to help those people that are shielding/isolated.
Other jobs and roles that we have been doing to support the Hospice since lockdown include:
· Covering Reception
· Health care assistant
· Housekeeping
· Transport co-ordination
· Bereavement follow up calls
· Co-ordinating Rawlins College making scrubs, headbands and bags for us
· Liaising with Marketing team with photos of donations
· Liaising with community members with kind offers to write letters/cards for our patients that cannot have visitors
· Assisting with bids for grants
The list is as random and varied as it sounds and there is plenty more. It’s all hands on deck and a time to pull together for our incredible organisation. Our patients and families at the very heart of everything we are doing to help.
We miss the rest of our team terribly and we miss our LOROS family who are either working from home, furloughed or not currently able to volunteer for us.
Take care and stay safe all and in the words of Dame Vera Lynn ‘We’ll meet again’.
Dan x
Nikki Coles-Cross – Lottery Promotions Lead
Working from home, and attempting to home school the kids, is what I would call ‘a challenge’. Some days I feel good, I’ve been productive, they’ve learnt at least one thing that day, no injuries or squabbles, we did it! The next day, all change, we’re not winning today, it’s taken me an hour to write one email, there’s stuff everywhere, the kids are eating what they like from the cupboards, there’s felt tip pen on the teal rug and they’ve learnt absolutely nothing, zero, zilch. But hey, that’s fine, I’m not a teacher, they’re doing their best, and we’re just winging this and trying to muddle through the best we can.
But looking at this challenging time differently, through my optimistic spectacles today, I’m doing things now that just weren’t possible or even thinkable before. We’ve started to have a morning run together, timing ourselves each day, with an aim to be able to run 5K at least, by the time they return to school. We take a stroll at lunchtime, chatting about our day. And they’ve been helping around the home more, such as getting the washing off the line, emptying the dish washer, making their own lunch. And as I sit here writing this, my 12 year old is in the kitchen attempting dinner. I’ll be honest, I’m not at all comfortable with that and I’m finding it very difficult not to go in and ‘help’, but I guess that’s home economics. As long as I don’t hear an ouch, the fire alarm or anything smash, then we can tick that off the ‘we did it’ list.
And finally, my smile of today. Issy finished her schoolwork, and said that she was going to help LOROS by making something. Again, I had to trust her, and left her with the craft box and scissors. After about half an hour, she came into me and said ‘Look Mummy, I’m going to make sock masks for LOROS”. How sweet, and imaginative, but I couldn’t stop laughing! So if anybody would like a homemade sock mask, just let me know.
Stay safe everyone. Hang on in there.
Love from Nikki, Issy and Ben
For You – Wellbeing, HR and personal development
We now have a full programme of health and wellbeing events, activities and groups for staff to access whilst working from home. This is updated weekly and is open to all staff, including those who have been furloughed. If you would like to see anything else included in the programme, please email here.
There is an extensive HR section on the Important Information section of the intranet and any additional queries should, in the first instance, be directed to your line manager.
Curve 'Wizard of Oz' Sing-a-long
An invite from Curve
In these strange and difficult times, we're looking to bring together as much hope and joy as we can. With our upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz on the horizon and having seen so many joyful rainbows inspiring people throughout the last few months, we want to put together a video of the iconic song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, featuring as many people as possible.
However members of staff or residents, families and friends would like to perform the song (singing, speaking, signing, dancing), we'd love for them to record themselves on a phone (ideally in landscape) and send the video to us to include.
We are hoping to get as many people as possible involved with this so we have been speaking to several groups about this, is that alright? We are a charitable organisation ourselves but our plan with this project is for it just to be a celebration of community and coming together to sing.
Below you'll find further details on the project which they are working on with Musical Director Alex Parker, who joined us last year for our award-winning production of The Color Purple, to bring this project together and Alex has put together several videos to help everyone sound their best!
In the below link you’ll find an audio track to listen and sing along to, the full score for the song, the lyrics and an instructional video from Alex including harmonies.
If you aren’t sure which tune to sing (soprano, alto, baritone…) have a go and see what feels best for you but if you’re really not sure, please feel free to sing the song as you like! If you’d rather not sing but would still like to take part, you can mime along, dance, speak, sign or even film your pets joining in!
To film yourself, please listen to the audio track in your headphones so we only hear you. If you’re singing as part of a group, please have the music playing as quietly as possible.
Recording the video on your phone is great but however you film, please do it in landscape if possible so you fill the screen.
Ideally, we’d love for you to sing the full song all the way through but if you’d rather sing it section by section or only join in with part of it, that’s fine too!
Once you’re happy with your recording, please send it to f.moore@curvetheatre.co.uk by Friday 12th June. If your file/files are too large to send over email, please use www.wetransfer.com.
Virtual Dementia Friends sessions
We are really pleased to be able to offer virtual Dementia Friends sessions as part of the Alzheimer’s Society social action project to build Dementia Friendly communities.
The short sessions aim to raise awareness about Dementia and reduce stigma, so that people living with Dementia can feel supported.
Everyone is welcome; staff (furloughed or not), volunteers or any members of the public. All you need is laptop, tablet or smartphone with a camera and microphone.
The next two sessions are from 10am to 11am on 3rd and 17th June and you can book your place by emailing or calling Jo Elliot.
You can still ‘Shine a Light’
While we are all currently working from different locations away from the Hospice, we wanted to let everyone know that the ‘Shine a Light’ scheme is still available and open for nominations. If you want to thank someone or give them a shout out for their great work all you need to do is email Jayne. The message will be forwarded onto the nominee and we will hopefully be able to start sharing some of them on the Pin Board soon.
Donations to LOROS Enterprises
If, like me, you have realised during lockdown that you are a borderline hoarder worthy of their own show on TLC, then you probably have a fair few bags of donations that you are itching to give to LOROS. Well great news – our Glenfield warehouse is opening again on selected dates!
· Monday 1st June 10am–3pm
· Wednesday 3rd June 10am–3pm
· Friday 5th June 10am–3pm
At this point they can only accept a limited range of donations:
• Clean clothes
• Bric-a-brac items
• Small electrical items
• Boxed toys and games
• Computer games and consoles.
Please do not bring anything else as they won’t be able to take it and the Glenfield warehouse is the ONLY LOROS outlet open (our shops remain closed for the time being).
The Glenfield Warehouse is located at 1 Station Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8BT in case you weren’t sure. Please remember respect our brilliant Enterprise colleagues and follow their instructions when you arrive.
Business development and Money Matters
No Business Development update from Caroline this month. Look out for the update next month as she has got some irons in the fire!
Financial update
From Wayne Matts
A review is underway to look at the finances of the Hospice in the short term. Money has been received in April and May from Hospice UK via the Government, funds have also been received via the Coronavirus Retail Relief scheme which has generated around £400,000. The Business Rates Relief scheme will generate £24,000 over the financial year and the Government’s furlough scheme has been accessed. The Chancellor announced a further extension to the furlough scheme, which has been extended through to October but there is an expectation that companies will have to make a contribution to this.
Referring to the funds received above, Wayne advised that in the short term the finances are secure for the next 2-3 months, however there is further work that needs to be completed to look at the medium and longer term financial position. When referring to the short term position, this is now until the end of July, medium term refers to August through to the end of the financial year March 2021, long term is April 2021 onwards.
LOROS needs you
Spring into Summer Raffle
‘Smile and the world smiles with you’
It’s safe to say that these are challenging times for us all. It’s the reason why our Spring into Summer Raffle is so important to the Hospice right now!
The generosity of our supporters has been overwhelming, as we reach almost £64,000 in tickets, and £21,000 in donations, that’s a whopping £85,000! Our donation figure has NEVER been anywhere near this high, so we’re absolutely blown away by the kindness of our local community.
With that said, we’re still £6,000 away from our ticket target of £70,000, with only seven days to go until the raffle ends. We’re soooooo close! Don't delay, buy your raffle tickets today. It could be you winning our £5,000 summer sizzler. Entries close on Sunday 7th June 2020 at 11.59pm. Buy online [https://www.loros.co.uk/support-us/raffle/other-ways-to-buy/], by phone (0116) 231 8430, or follow the instructions in your postal raffle pack.
If you’ve already purchased raffle tickets, we’re sending you a big virtual hug. THANK YOU!
Good luck everyone!
Amazon Smile
Don't forget, if you're online shopping on Amazon you can also support LOROS through Amazon Smile!
Just switch to shopping through smileamazon.co.uk or the Amazon app, they will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases straight to us. Easy!
If you’re not set up yet just visit amazonsmile.co.uk, select LOROS as your chosen charity, then click into the app and make sure you’re connected there too. If you're already signed up to Amazon Smile check your notifications in the Amazon app to enable, and you'll be ready to start donating right away.
Team Spotlight
The Supporter Data Team – Who are we and what do we do?
Who are we?
We are a team of 6! There is myself (Laura), Lisa, Abi, Vickie, Nancy and Rashila. You can find us in the admin corridor or upstairs alongside the Finance Team. We are also known as the CRM Team (Customer Relationship Management) but we prefer Supporter Data.
What do we do?
We are a service-based team supporting the Income Generation Teams, Volunteering Teams and Education. We also work closely with other teams around the organisation such as Finance and Information Governance.
Our main responsibilities include processing Fundraising donations ensuring that our supporters are thanked for their support within 48 hours of them giving to LOROS. We also ensure that all the different systems that enable supporters to donate to us, talk to each other and feed into our main supporter database - Raiser’s Edge. We are responsible for claiming Gift Aid from HMRC on supporter’s donations. We can claim (where applicable) 25p for every £1 donated which adds up to a huge amount of money going towards patient care!
We have over 200,000 supporters on our database. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are communicated with in the way they wish, ensuring we are compliant with the Data Protection Act and GDPR. We work alongside the Income Generation and Marketing Teams to send supporters our communications, keeping them up to date on our latest news, activities and appeals.
Another key element to our roles is analysing the data that we have. We provide insights on trends in giving to help us shape our future campaigns and maximise opportunities for growth.
There are 10 principles of good data and our team strives to ensure that LOROS can put a 
tick against all 10:
1. Good data is accurate
2. Good data is accessible
3. Good data is helpful
4. Good data is understandable
5. Good data is measurable
6. Good data is honest
7. Good data is trusted
8. Good data is actionable
9. Good data is prescriptive
10. Good data is valuable
Heads of Department meeting – in brief
This update was from the HoDs meeting held on 14th May; you can access and read all HoDs minutes in full on the common drive.
Lottery collector help needed
The Lottery itself is steady, the biggest concern is cash players with 2,000 players will running out of credit in June. Different options are being explored to try and reinstate cash rounds and one idea is asking staff to support temporarily pick up a round in their local village/town. Please speak to Colette if you think you could help.
Food Donations
Donations of food are now starting to be accepted, with the team cleaning down items from an infection point of view as soon as they are received. Some of the team are still on furlough, with the increase in patients on the Ward this has had a knock on effect on the catering team’s increase in workload.
IT Update
Martin Leman and Lisa Andrews continue to provide cover at the Hospice, meaning there should always be a member of the IT team available on site during office hours. Support requests continue to be received, including offering assistance to those staff working from home. Justin continues to progress project and development work where possible.
Annual leave reminder
Please ensure you have taken all carry over annual leave, and by the end of July 2020. In addition, 25% of your 20/21 annual leave entitlement should also have been taken, this applies to all staff including those who have been furloughed.
The Hospice Pin Board deadlines
The newsletter will be released monthly as per the dates below. To make it as informative and useful as possible we need your stories, content and information share.
Please email anything you would like to go into the newsletter or come and speak to Sophie in the Marketing office (ext. 8472).
| Content Deadline | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th June | Monday 6th July |
| Tuesday 28th July | Monday 3rd August |
| Tuesday 1st September | Monday 7th September |
| Tuesday 29th September | Monday 5th October |
| Tuesday 27th October | Monday 2nd November |
| Tuesday 1st December | Monday 7th December |