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26th July 2024 Moonrise proudly marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of exceptional care and support services.

 

 

 

As an invited guest from Moonrise Recruitment, I had the pleasure of attending the Daisy Chain charity fundraising event at Teesside Airport on Friday, the 5th of July. Daisy Chain, a renowned charity organization, is dedicated to supporting families dealing with autism through day-to-day support, educational programs, and therapeutic activities.

The fundraising event was a crucial initiative to ensure these invaluable services continue to thrive and expand. What truly stood out was the overwhelming sense of community and generosity. Volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the event run smoothly, while attendees opened their hearts and wallets to support the cause. The collective effort highlighted the community’s dedication to making a difference in the lives of families affected by autism.

One of the unique aspects of this event was the creative use of Teesside Airport’s spaces. The Departures area was transformed into the main ballroom, offering a spacious and elegant setting for the evening’s activities. The Arrivals area was ingeniously used as the red carpet ballroom, adding a touch of glamour and exclusivity that has never been done before at the airport. This innovative use of the venue truly enhanced the experience and left a lasting impression on all who attended.

To raise funds, the event featured exciting raffles and a lively auction. Attendees eagerly participated in these activities, contributing generously to support Daisy Chain’s mission. The raffles and auction not only added to the entertainment but also played a significant role in the financial success to Daisy Chain.

We at Moonrise Recruitment are looking forward to collaborating with Daisy Chain and supporting their mission in the future. The success of this event reaffirms our commitment to making a positive impact in our community and supporting the invaluable work that Daisy Chain does for families dealing with autism.

Hollie has been working for Moonrise 24hr Recruitment since 2022, when she was 16 years old. She started as a Business Admin apprentice, aiming to achieve her Level 3 qualification in Business Administration. A few weeks ago, Hollie passed her end-point assessment and became a Business Admin Assistant for Moonrise. Now 18 years old, Hollie holds a Level 3 qualification in business administration.

Please read on to find out what a typical Monday is like for Hollie…

A Day in the Life: My Monday Routine

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Settling In

I arrive at work promptly at 9 AM. The first order of business is to settle in and prepare for the day ahead. I pull out my trusty notebook and make a to-do list, prioritising tasks to ensure the most important ones get tackled first.

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM: Managing Emails

Next, I dive into my email inbox. On average we receive (estimate) emails per day. I go through each email, flagging those that contain service user notes. If you’re wondering, the service user notes are just a detailed summary of what each service user did that day, including incidents, concerns, fluid and diet intake, appointments, etc. Once organised, I send these notes to the social workers, keeping them updated and ensuring smooth communication.11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Office Meeting

Our team meeting kicks off at 11 AM. We gather in the main office, where each department provides updates on their progress, completed and pending tasks, upcoming schedules, and any concerns. It’s a collaborative session where everyone participates, ensuring we’re all on the same page.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Break Time

Time to recharge! I take a well-deserved break, stepping away from the desk to relax and refuel for the afternoon.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Email Cleanup

Post-break, it’s back to the inbox. I spend this half-hour deleting spam, flagging emails that need attention, marking those that have been replied to, and clearing out the deleted items folder to free up storage space.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Property Search

This hour is dedicated to searching for properties the company can purchase for placements or supportive living. I focus on finding detached bungalows or three-bedroom houses within our budget. If I find suitable options, I arrange viewing appointments for Jess or John, who will make the final decision.

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Preparing for Meetings

Jess has regular meetings with social workers to discuss our care for service users. To assist her, I prepare detailed summaries of each user’s current status, including whereabouts, well-being, diet, fluid intake, medication log, and any incidents. This preparation ensures Jess can provide comprehensive updates and answer any questions effectively.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Weekly Summaries

Many service user professionals work part-time and prefer weekly summaries over daily notes. I spend this time preparing these summaries, compiling all crucial information from the daily notes. These summaries are set aside to be typed and sent on Tuesday, ready for the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting on Wednesday.

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Wrapping Up

As the day winds down, I review the tasks completed, checking them off my to-do list. Any unfinished tasks are moved to the next day’s list, and prioritised as needed. This final half-hour ensures I am organized and ready for the next day’s challenges.

And that’s a wrap on my Monday! Each day brings its own set of tasks and challenges, but with a structured routine, I manage to stay on top of everything.

Picture: Moonrise 24 hr Staff take a selfie on the red carpet

Moonrise 24hr Recruitment was honoured to sponsor the InspiraTees Awards 2024, held on a beautiful sunny day at the picturesque Hardwick Hall Hotel’s Lakeside Marquee. This year’s event was a resounding success, shining a spotlight on the Tees region’s most inspiring business leaders.

The InspiraTees top 30 list, determined by a poll among the region’s business community, showcased the exceptional talent and dedication of local leaders. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Bill Scott OBE DL of Wilton Universal Group Limited and Wilton Engineering, who was awarded the prestigious InspiraTees trophy for topping this year’s poll.

The event saw 150 delegates enjoying the sunshine, a delectable buffet, and refreshing beverages. The atmosphere was electric as attendees celebrated the achievements of their peers, with framed certificates presented to leaders including Sharon Lane, Gary Dawson, Mike Racz, Zoe Lewis CBE, Imran Anwar, Claire Preston, Alisdair Beveridge, Vikki Jackson-Smith, Frans Caljé OBE, Karl Pemberton CDir FIoD Dip PFS, Alison McGee, Yasmin Khan, and Bianca Robinson.

We are immensely proud to have supported this event and to see so many inspiring business leaders from our area being recognised. The hard work and dedication of these individuals are what drive our region forward, making it a thriving hub of innovation and success.

A special thank you goes out to the Tees Business team—Vicky Nassau, Millie Smith, Chris Garbutt, Bob Cuffe MBE, Martin Walker, and Dave Allan—for organising and hosting such a fantastic event.

One of the highlights of the event was hearing the inspiring stories of the leaders, each emphasising the importance of hard work, teamwork, and authenticity. These themes resonated throughout the day, reflecting the core values that drive successful businesses in our region.

As we celebrated the top 30 business leaders, it was evident that their influence extends beyond their immediate business environments. Many of them are actively involved in local and national charities, making a significant impact on their communities.

The top five business leaders of 2024, as voted by the people of Teesside, were:

1. Bill Scott OBE DL
2. Sharon Lane
3. Catherine Devereux
4. Frans Caljé OBE
5. Steve Gibson OBE

It was a privilege to witness the achievements of these remarkable individuals and to see so many familiar faces. The camaraderie and mutual respect among the attendees highlighted the strong community spirit that defines the Tees region.

Reflecting on the event, we at Moonrise 24hr Recruitment are inspired by the stories of perseverance and success. We are committed to continuing our support for the local business community and helping more companies invest in and support their teams to flourish.

InspiraTees 2024 was more than just an awards ceremony; it was a celebration of the collective achievements and the positive impact of the Tees region’s business leaders. We look forward to many more years of recognising and celebrating the best our region has to offer.

Thank you once again to everyone who made this event possible and to all the inspiring leaders who continue to make Teesside a great place to live and work.

Congratulations to all the winners! Here’s to another year of success and inspiration.

One in one hundred people will experience schizophrenia. Despite being so common the stigma surrounding schizophrenia, as with most areas of mental health, remains high, this is due to a lack of understanding.

Schizophrenia is a very complex condition. It affects how a person thinks, feels and experiences the world around them.

People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can often experience different symptoms including; audio hallucinations (hearing voices), delusions, disorganized thinking and changes in body language or emotions.

The condition is diagnosed by a psychiatrist who will meet with an individual several times to talk about their mental health, and ask about symptoms, experiences, feelings and thoughts and actions.

There are a number of causes of schizophrenia, usually it a combination of several factors, such as: stress, genetics, brain damage, drugs and alcohol, a difficult childhood, menopause.

For some people schizophrenia is a life long condition that will require day to day management. When looking at recovery from the condition it is looking at regaining a good quality of life rather than ‘being cured’.

The management of schizophrenia differs from person to person but can be a combination of medication, talking therapies such as CBT and a good support network. Approximately one in five people with schizophrenia with recover and go on to live independent lives with no further episodes.

There are risks and complications associated with the condition including physical health issues requiring regular physical health checks, higher risk of suicide due to symptoms of low mood, and problems with alcohol and drug use.

There are many myths that have stigmatized the condition, mainly in the media, these include:

• “Schizophrenia means someone has a split personality” – The word itself is combination of ‘schizo’ meaning ‘to split’ and phrene meaning ‘the mind’ however schizophrenia does not mean split personality.
• “If you live with schizophrenia, you can’t work” – Many people who live with schizophrenia do work both full or part time jobs, this is especially true if their condition is stable and they have the right support around them. Work can be a key element in recovery.
• “People who live with schizophrenia are dangerous” – Those who live with schizophrenia are usually dangerous and are more likely to be harmed by other people than to harm others.

Even though there is a vast amount of information available about the condition it remains strongly stigmatized, as with many mental health conditions. National Schizophrenia Awareness Day, which is today, shines a light on the every day challenges that the millions of people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia face and how we can tackle the stigma and discrimination around it.

National Schizophrenia Awareness Day (rethink.org)

Moonrise understands that being a carer or a loved one of someone with schizophrenia has its challenges and through our services we can provide much needed respite for those who need it. Get in touch for more information.

Services – Moonrise 24hr Recruitment

Although older due to planning, July 29^th 2023 officially marks Moonrise 24hr’s 9^th birthday!

Born in 2014 from an idea by Managing Director Jessica Gwaringa the company has grown immensely and shows no signs of stopping any time soon!

With the imminent completion of and relocation to a brand new head office premises, kitted out to our exacting standards the future of Moonrise 24hr is bright.

Happy Birthday Moonrise!!

As we know, the pandemic caused major issues for all of us and saw major changes to how we interact as a society with lockdowns, face masks and social distancing. The most vulnerable in our society were amongst those to whom the pandemic caused the most disruption, with those in care homes and hospitals unable to have visitors.

In response to the visiting policies imposed on care home residents family members of those affected launched Right for Residents in September 2020 in order to mobilise others to campaign for those loved ones whose voices could not be heard.

The campaign so far has been hugely successful resulting in the government being forced to limit all restrictions on visiting other than for outbreak management.

Following the death of her mother, West End actress Ruthie Henshall, joined the campaign which is now for new legislation, named Gloria’s Law after Ruthie’s mother, which would guarantee unrestricted in-person care by appointing at least one essential care supporter. This could be a family member or a friend, who would be assigned as a part of the legal requirement in all health and care settings.

Concerns have been raised by some that the new legislation will make the control of transmission of any virus very difficult, however the National Care Forum have sated they believe that infection control can be managed alongside maintaining personal contact with loved ones.

After listening to campaigners the Minister for Care, Helen Whately has said she is determined on changing the law on visiting after listening to campaigners.

For more information, visit: Home – Rights for Residents

There is no short answer to what wellbeing means, the Oxford Dictionary defines it as:

Wellbeing [noun] – the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy.

However, what one individual feels is their perfect state of wellbeing may be completely different to another individual. Everybody has their own goals, ambitions and personalities, everybody is different.

As well as each individual being different, the different aspects of being comfortable, healthy and happy all have different facets to them that can be interpreted subjectively by an individual. The Oxford Dictionary mentions happiness however wellbeing as a concept is broader than this and has been debated sine the Third Century BC when Aristotle developed the concept of Eudaimonia, which is the contented state of feeling healthy, happy and prosperous. Even though happiness is linked to wellbeing it is multidimensional.

In order to have achieve an overall sense of wellbeing there are a number of key elements that an individual needs to balance. These include:

Physical – including lifestyle choices that can affect the functioning of our bodies. What we eat and how active we are will affect our physical wellbeing.

Emotional or psychological – This is our ability to cope with everyday life and reflect how we think and feel about our ourselves.

Social – This is the extent that we feel a sense of belonging and social inclusion. The way that we communicate with others, our relationships, values, beliefs, lifestyles and traditions are all important factors of social wellbeing.

Spiritual – This is the ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life. It can be achieved through being connected to our inner self, to nature or even to a greater power.

Intellectual – It is important to gain and maintain intellectual wellness as it helps us to expand our knowledge and skills in order to live an enjoyable and successful life.

Economic – Economic wellness in the ability to meet our basic needs and feel a sense of security.

How can you improve overall wellbeing?

There is no set way to improve your overall wellbeing, it is not a quick fix and differs from person to person. However, here are some hints of where to start:

• Slow down often, and take regular breaks, outside in nature if you can, as often as you can.
• Separate work and home life and introduce a healthful balance. Develop a rest ethic.
• Step away from things you are unable to change or influence, and LET THEM GO.
• Remember that you deserve self-care, you need it, and you need to remember to practice it.
• Be active, stay hydrated, and avoid foods that do us harm.
• Keep your thoughts positive and kind, because you are always listening.
• Make sure you plan something enjoyable for yourself every day even if it is only for ten minutes.
• Always ask for help when you need it.
• Focus on small, meaningful goals to work towards. This will slowly but surely reignite your drive and enthusiasm.
• Count your blessings, there is always something positive to be grateful for, each and every day. You will be happier, more productive, and you will sleep more soundly.

At Moonrise not only do we ensure that our Service Users support needs are met but we also aim to ensure that their wellbeing in all areas is the best that it can be.

This week sees the fifth annual World Wellbeing Week, started in Jersey the annual event highlights the importance of wellbeing in all aspects of life. Follow the hashtag #worldwellbeingweek to see more inspiration and how others are ensuring their wellbeing.

This week marks World Continence week, with the support of charities and organisations around the world, this week is run by the World Federation of incontinence and pelvic problems, together they are continuing their commitment to promoting access to care and support. They aim to break the stigma attached to bladder or bowel health issues for individuals and health professionals. With this in mind we wanted to discuss the topic further.

^{Who does bladder weakness affect?}

Bladder weakness affects one in three women and one in ten men, making it more common than hay fever, however the topic still remains taboo and not spoken of openly.

In the UK, around 14 million people suffer with some form of bladder condition, a concern for many individuals who often suffer in silence. The condition can affect men, women, young people and children of all ages.

Breaking the silence is important as a step towards normalising the conditions for millions of people and removing the stigma that living with it is something that should be hidden and not discussed.

It is thought that one in eight of us are living with an overactive bladder, this is around 8.5 million people. 61% of men experience lower urinary tract symptoms, and 34% of women are living with urinary incontinence.

What causes bladder incontinence?

There are a number of causes for urinary incontinence. In men prostate surgery is one of the most common causes. It can also be caused by the urethra being constricted or blocked by the prostate.

In women, pregnancy and the hormonal changes prior to menopause weaken the pelvic floor muscles which can lead to bladder weakness.

Based on the different functional disorders, urinary incontinence is classified into different types, most commonly; stress incontinence, urge incontinence (often referred to as an overactive bladder), and overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention).

Despite the type of incontinence those affected can only be helped fully if the cause is known. If you are experiencing difficulties with your bladder or bowel health, don’t stay silent, visit your GP who can advise you and help to find the best treatment options for you.

So, whether you leak when you laugh, or are constantly on the loo – don’t be scared, you are not alone!

Check out the Uroligy foundation website for more information on World Continence Week here.

If you need care assistance from Moonrise24, please contact us today to see how we can help to support you, click here to contact us.

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities, including household tasks, socialising and managing money, which affect a person for their whole life.

A person with a learning disability often takes longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.

Learning disabilities occur when the brain is still developing, either before, during or soon after birth and there are several things that can cause a learning disability. Before birth there can be things happen to the central nervous system affecting the brain and spinal cord that can cause a learning disability, a child can be born with a learning disability if the mother has an accident or illness while pregnant or if the unborn baby develops certain genes.

A person can also be born with a learning disability if they do not get enough oxygen during childbirth, has a trauma to the head at birth or is born too early.

After birth, a learning disability can be caused by early childhood illnesses, accidents or seizures.

A learning disability can be diagnosed at any time. This could be at birth, noticing a difference in a child’s development. For many it can take a number of years while others may never receive a diagnosis at all. The process to get a diagnosis can be a difficult and emotional experience but is often the first step in accessing care and support.

With varying levels of learning disabilities there are varying levels of support required, these are dependent on the needs of the individual. For example, an individual with a mild learning disability may require support with areas such as getting a job, compared to someone who has a severe or profound learning disability who may require full time care and support with every aspect of their lives. They may also have physical disabilities.

People with certain specific conditions can have a learning disability too. For with Down’s syndrome and some people with autism have a learning disability as well.

There are a number of different learning disabilities, they can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. For all individuals with a learning disability, it is lifelong.

Mild learning disabilities can be hard to diagnose as the individual can often mix well with others and may be able to cope with most everyday tasks, however they may need support in other areas such as filling out forms.

Those individuals with a severe learning disability or profound multiple learning disability (PMLD) will require more care and support with areas including mobility, personal care and communication. There are those with a moderate learning disability who may also need support in these areas but not definitely.

For parents of people with learning disabilities the greatest concern is their wellbeing and future. As a parent of a child with a learning disability it is important to help them by encouraging their strengths and putting in place the right support to help them overcome the things, they find difficult. Every child is an individual with their own individual needs, but putting in place the right support children with a learning disability can lead fulfilling lives in the way that they choose.

There is often confusion between a learning disability and learning difficulties. Learning difficulties, unlike a learning disability, does not affect intellect and can be conditions including dyslexia or ADHD.

Staff at Moonrise are experienced and trained in supporting those with a Learning Disability – contact us to find out how we can support you.

To find our more about Learning Disabilities and this years Learning Disability Week (19th-25th June) visit: Learning Disability Week | Mencap