At the Great British Care Awards 2023, North East and Scotland Region, we had a winner alongside finalists in two categories.   The awards ceremony took place on 9 November at the Grand Gosforth Hotel, Newcastle.

Our People Team were finalists in the Three ‘R’s award for the quality of the recruitment, retention and rewards in the charity, and Lee Scrimshaw was a finalist in the Care Home New Comer Award.  Lee works at Sandown Road in Billingham and is making a great contribution there.

Lisa Alcorn, our Chief Operating Officer won the Workforce Development Award which acknowledges the importance of the role of workforce development and looks for a person who has shown incredible enthusiasm and determination in identifying training and development needs of care staff. 

From one of the judges: “Lisa blew me away today with the passion for her workforce, for the things they do for their teams, and the funding they get for the amazing work they do. One of the things Lisa said today was ‘they care for people’, not older people, not younger people, just people.”

Well done everyone!

November 2023

Living Wage Week is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement and with energy and food costs still high, paying the real Living Wage has never been more important.

This year’s theme celebrates the movement of employers who are committed to the Living Wage and decent work to ensure staff always have decent work and can always live a dignified life.

SJOG was accredited as a Living Wage Employer in February 2021, making the commitment to pay its employees more than the minimum wage.   The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum.

The new 2023-24 real Living Wage rates were announced on the 24th October as £12 across the UK, £13.15 in London. Find out more here.

SJOG colleagues are fantastic and it’s great to make the commitment to paying our colleagues a Real Living Wage.

For more info, please click here: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week

November 2023

Anti-Slavery Day takes place every year on 18 October. Anti-Slavery Day is part of Anti-Slavery week, a UK and European awareness week, which this year runs from 16 – 22 October 2023.

An Act of Parliament of the UK made in 2010 introduced a national day to raise awareness of the need to eradicate all forms of slavery, human trafficking and exploitation.

Anti-Slavery Day provides an opportunity for individuals, charities, churches, schools, communities and businesses to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation.   

 What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people through the use of violence or deception in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labour or sexual exploitation for financial or personal gain.

People can be trafficked and exploited in many forms, including being forced into sexual exploitation, labour, begging, crime (such as growing cannabis or dealing drugs), domestic servitude, marriage or organ removal.

It is estimated that there are now 50 million people living in conditions of modern slavery, an increase on 10 million since the Global Slavery Index was published in 2018. 

What are we doing at SJOG?

SJOG is currently the UK’s largest provider of safe houses for people subject to modern day slavery and trafficking, and provides a voice for this marginalised and vulnerable group, and specialist support to help people recover from their experiences, to rehabilitate and rebuild their lives.

Raising awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking and supporting survivors of this abhorrent crime is a priority for SJOG.

Marking the week in collaboration with The Salvation Army

A football tournament is taking place to commemorate the week by celebrating and showcasing the skills of survivors through sports and further creating awareness of trafficking and modern slavery.  It’s an opportunity for survivors to engage and participate in activities outside of their services and which help to build confidence and key skills necessary for recovery.

Good luck to the SJOG team - a lot of training has been put in and kits are ready for the occasion!
 

To watch a film commissioned by SJOG that tells the story of people who have been subjected to this crime, and for further information visit: https://sjog1810.uk/

18 October 2023

A trip to Granada organised by SJOG UK enabled some of our colleagues to walk in the footsteps of John of God, to see the places he lived, the cell where he was imprisoned, and to get a sense of the man and the times that he lived in.

Our colleague Mariia summed up the visit beautifully: 

“It was a life-changing trip to Granada, the special place of Saint John of God. Through the lens of this brave and generous individual, we gained a deep understanding of what true hospitality means. It made me reflect further on the purpose of my work. In my particular context, I see hospitality as a relay race.

Just over a year ago, I was warmly welcomed in the UK when I needed a safe place, and now at SJOG, I have had the privilege to extend that hospitality by helping Ukrainians navigate the challenges of life during these turbulent times. After the current project finishes, I would love to continue following in the footsteps of João Duarte Cidade with his noble dedication of helping others.

One of the highlights of this trip was the opportunity to connect with Brothers from the Order in different countries. It was inspiring to see how our missions align, all united by the exemplifying personality of Saint John of God, and how we can draw inspiration from each other's efforts to aid those in need.

Lastly, it was inspiring and funny to catch up with colleagues from different departments in an informal atmosphere. It was a reminder of what an incredible team we have, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Special thanks has to go to Brother Alex who did most of the organising and led our colleagues on the tour.

September 2023

The Dalby View team certainly know how to throw a good party and this occasion was no different.  A 90s theme gave rise to some throwback outfits and interesting shirts!

The occasion marked 30 years since Dalby opened its doors to eight young people with physical disabilities after a major fundraising appeal to fund the new purpose-built bungalows that had been built in consultation with the people for whom this would become their home.

Damian and Neville were two of the eight people to move in back in 1993 and still live at Dalby today.  Emma, who was too young at the time, came a little later.  Her stay was originally to be just a night as a ‘taster’ but then she never left!

The photos and an anniversary video tell a better story of the day – see them here: https://sjog.dphoto.com/

September 2023

The Great British Care Awards pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work, with twenty-one award categories representing all areas of the social care sector. 

We’re extremely pleased that we have finalists in three of the award categories in the North East/ Scotland Region of the Awards.

Lisa Alcorn, SJOG’s Chief Operating Officer is a finalist in two categories:

Workforce Development – this award acknowledges the importance of the role of workforce development within the care service and looks for a person who has shown incredible enthusiasm and determination in identifying training and development needs of care staff, establishing rolling training programmes, searching for and gaining funding and proving their ability to enthuse and energise staff to attend and request training.

And the second one - Outstanding Contribution to Social Care. This special award will be presented to the individual whom the judges believe has made a long-term outstanding contribution to social care.

The three ‘R’s – our People Team are finalists in this category which recognises organisations / teams / individuals who have adopted an innovative approach to Recruitment, Retention and Recognition. The judges are looking for examples of strategies that recruit on values; promote diversity and inclusion; recognise excellence in the workplace, and retain a highly motivated and skilled workforce.

Winners are announced on the awards evening on Thursday 9th November held in Newcastle.

Good luck SJOG finalists!

! STOP PRESS ! – Lonnie Migochi has been shortlisted for the Care Home Registered Manager Award in the South East Region. 

This award recognises managers who have demonstrated a high level of expertise, who show vision in developing person-centred care and supporting staff to meet the ever-changing needs of their residents.

Lonnie’s interview takes place on 12 October – good luck Lonnie!

September 2023