An Overview Of The Scottish Masonic Homes
Sir James McKay House, Edinburgh - registered to provide care for older people in a residential setting.
The Marcus Humphrey House, Bridge Of Weir - consisting of a residential unit registered to provide care for older people and a Day Centre offering care and support to older people with dementia.
Operating Policy, Aims And Objectives
The Scottish Masonic Homes and their related Care Services for older people, which are owned and run by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on a non-profit making basis as part of its charitable work, are registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. The following is a statement concerning the operation of the Homes and their related Services. This is designed to clearly outline the Organisation's philosophy and ethos and to give an insight into the aims and objectives which underpin the operation of all of these Services.
The Grand Lodge of Scotland strives to provide a high standard of care and support for older Freemasons, their wives, widows or dependants and other appropriate applicants who, for various reasons, are seeking residential accommodation, either on a permanent or a temporary basis, in a comfortable and secure environment or who require some support in their daily lives which can be provided via the Day Care and Outreach Services which are attached to the Homes.
The Grand Lodge of Scotland acknowledges and respects the rights of Residents and Service Users as individuals who are actively encouraged and facilitated to retain a level of independence according to their personal circumstances, abilities and wishes. The management of the Homes, the Resource Centre and the Day Centre is geared towards recognising that each person is an individual and, as a result, the aim is that the care provided should be wholly person centred.
The ethos of the Staff in the care of those using our Services, which is prevalent in all of the training given to them by the Organisation, is to be sensitive to the personal needs and wishes of Residents and Service Users, to respect each person's right to privacy, to act positively to preserve dignity and to encourage Residents and Service Users to make choices and decisions for themselves, within their capabilities. Those who reside in the Homes and use the related Services are treated with respect at all times, thus enabling each individual to maintain and/or establish a sense of dignity. The aim is always to provide an appropriate level of support and stimulation in order to maximise the quality and enjoyment of life for each individual. This is facilitated by the use of appropriate assessment tools, regular informal and formal Reviews of care and support and the compilation of Personal Support Plans, all of which Residents and/or their families/advocates/representatives are actively encouraged to participate in.
Residents and Service Users are encouraged to be involved in the running of the Homes and their related Services and to contribute their views and suggestions. This involvement is facilitated by regular meetings with Residents and Service Users and their participation in Reviews and the development of their Personal Support Plans.
For those entering one of the Masonic Homes or using one of the other Services, a Key Worker will be appointed who will be responsible for compiling individual case histories, the dates of any events of special significance, such as Birthdays or Anniversaries, and any particular likes or dislikes which they may have. The aim of this is to assist The Grand Lodge of Scotland in its approach to providing individual and person centred care.
In the allocation of the duties of the Care Staff, Grand Lodge endeavours at all times to make provision for Staff to spend time with Residents in the pursuance of leisure activities and other interests. Residents will be encouraged to continue any existing hobbies and/or develop new interests.
Grand Lodge recognises that the accommodation which is provided within the Homes and related Services must be suitable for the purpose for which it is intended. The furnishings and decoration in each individual area, including bedrooms, communal lounges and dining rooms and group living units, are carefully planned to create an optimum environment for the service which is being provided for the particular client group using each facility.
For the health, safety and benefit of Residents and Service Users, Grand Lodge has developed Policies and Procedures for the guidance of Staff in the operation of its Services. Grand Lodge, as an employer, is committed to the provision of training for its Staff as a means of ensuring that a high quality and meaningful service is provided for Residents and Service Users.
All of our Services are operated in such a way as to enable those who use them to have freedom of choice, where at all possible, with the maximum degree of flexibility within the day-to-day running of the Services. By the appropriate use of the development of meaningful Support Plans, Reviews and Risk Assessments it is aimed to provide the level of support necessary to allow each individual as high a level of independence as possible in their daily lives and for Day Care attendees this is delivered in such a way as not to diminish their individual life skills or be detrimental to their ability to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. The same principles apply to the delivery of Outreach Care to Service Users in their own homes.
The recognition of the rights of Residents and Service Users as individuals underpins the way in which Grand Lodge's Services are managed and delivered and is acknowledged within the documentation which supports their operation, for example, this Statement of Operating Policy Aims and Objectives, the Policies and Procedures Manual and the Charter of Rights.
Within the delivery of an appropriate overall person centred care package, Grand Lodge recognises that, in addition to direct care, careful attention must be paid to the ancillary aspects of the operation of its Services, for example, that legislation relating to fire safety, health and safety etc. must be adhered to, that hygiene must be of the highest standard, that appropriate equipment must be provided and maintained accordingly, that buildings and grounds must be maintained to a high standard and that soft furnishings and decoration should be of a high standard.
The ultimate aim of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is that the experience of Residents and Service Users should be enjoyable, positive and meaningful and should enhance their quality of life and that services should be provided in a comfortable, secure and homely environment where Residents and Service Users feel happy and at ease. To this end, all aspects of the Services which Grand Lodge provides are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the existing standards are maintained and that quality of service is at the highest level possible.