We would to take this opportunity to welcome new staff to the team and welcome the new clients to the service. We hope you will be happy here at DICE.
Spring 2025 Starts Thursday 20th March (March equinox) lasts 92 days, 22 hours & 42 minutes.
There are far, far better days ahead than any we leave behind. – C.S. Lewis
The following natural events occur in spring:
- The Earth’s axis starts to tilt towards the sun.
- Days start to get longer.
- Snow begins to melt as the weather gets warmer.
- Plants begin to grow and flowers begin to bloom.
- Animals awaken from hibernation.
- Babies – not just human babies – are often born in spring.
You are aware that we are in the process of updating and improving our online presence including social media platforms. We would like to improve our Google ranking and we need your help. We would kindly ask if you have any positive comments to complete a google review and in return we will offer a free Easter egg to you or a loved one. If you are unable to do this, but would like too, please ask for the support of a staff member who would be happy to help.
Headquarter events March-June 2025
All welcome including relatives and close friends of existing clients.
| Date | Time | Event | What to expect |
| Friday 7th March | 12:00-14:00 | International woman’s week | Pie and Peas |
| Friday 2nd May | 12:00-14:00 | African world heritage day | BBQ in the garden |
| ‘Fryday’ 6th June | 12:00-14:00 | National fish and chip day | Fish and chips in the garden |
Since the last newsletter we have become members of the Chambers of Commerce. With this membership we have been given access to various opportunities, grants and resources including an energy audit of the business. This has highlighted some areas where we can save energy and reduce our carbon footprint. You may have seen that staff members are working in pairs, this is to reduce their fuel consumption and reduce the carbon footprint. This also includes being eligible for funding to install solar panels on the main office building. We are also using the funding to install a new kitchen so that we have an area available to train any new staff with basic cooking skills. If you have any particular recipes you want us to incorporate into the induction training, please let a staff member know.
We have also updated the induction programme and added new training modules to the staffs eLearning schedule. This is to improve knowledge and provide all staff with additional subjects to add to their Continued Professional Development (CPD) folder.
We have installed NatWest ‘TYL’ Tap to pay app which is now live. This app is designed to save customers time by allowing Managers to take payments over the phone at the main office. Please remember cheques will no longer be accepted as form of payment after the 1st June 2025.
Birthdays March-June 2025
Clients
- Mr RH 28th March
- Mr JA 14th April
- Mr KN 20th April
- Mr AS 19th May
- Mrs KB 21st May
- Mr CT 17th June
Staff members
- Mr KM 23rd March
- Mrs MG 14th April
- Mr IM 17th April
- Mrs BE 8th May
- Mr TC 7th June
A very happy birthday to all.
Community
Caring for our communities
We are looking for people to take part in a companywide vote to select our 2025 charity of the year. We actively engage in fundraising already through a yearly bake off, donations and sweepstakes with the staff but would like to include all clients and their loved ones this year. Our chosen charity’s this year are as follows:
- Alzheimer’s society
- Parkinsons UK
- Cancer research
- British red cross
Please send your vote with the care staff or to the office.
We have a new member of office staff starting on 3rd March 2025. She is going to be managing our social media and marketing for the business. Maalika is currently studying for her Master’s degree at Nottingham Trent University.
Client Information
We are still waiting for an inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This is the regulatory body that inspects the service every 3 years. We have not been inspected for 6 years now and we are hoping this is going to change soon. We have made many changes and implemented lots of new things since our last inspection in 2019 when we were rated *Good*. We are now aiming to achieve an *Outstanding* rating which we are confident we can achieve. If you have not been asked already and would like to give feedback to the CQC Inspectors about the support you receive from us, please let the office know on 01623 880133.
Complaints Procedure
We take all complaints seriously and use complaints to improve the service we provide. We thought it would be useful to provide you with a reminder of our complaints procedure which you can find below but also which you should find a copy in the DICE folder in the clients property and on display within DICE Headquarters.
All comments, compliments, suggestions or complaints should be made to the Care Co-ordinators- Joe Rilett or Lisa Crewe in the first instance.
Written complaints will be acknowledged by letter within seven working days. The service will then investigate the complaint and send the complainant a letter outlining the result of the investigation, usually within 28 working days.
We strive to ensure that our standards of care and service meet your expectations. If however you have reason to complain, we will try to resolve this promptly.
In the first instance, your complaint (however small) should be made to your Care- Coordinators. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, please contact the Service Manager or the person in charge on that day. If a satisfactory solution is not reached you may refer it to the Directors. If after contacting the Directors you consider that your complaint has not yet been resolved satisfactorily, you may refer it to the local Ombudsman.
Local Government Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
Coventry
CV4 0EH
Tel: 0300 061 0614
The relevant contact telephone numbers and addresses are available on request.
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You said, we did
Here at DICE we have implemented a “You said, we did” board. The purpose of the board is to display any comments or suggestions you may have around the service we provide and look at how we can improve the service through listening to your views. We thought it would help if we communicate the changes and improvements we make to ensure you are fully kept up to date and involved in how DICE is progressing. Please ask your care worker to use the comments box in the staff room to post any ideas or comments you have, alternatively you can ask for a you said we did slip from head office to be posted to your home address. You will also receive short questionnaires throughout the year which also allows you to make comments about different aspects of the service. Your co-operation in completing these surveys is greatly appreciated as again your feedback is vital in helping us to improve the service we provide.
Thank you…from us to you…
DICE would like to thank you all for your support over the recent months…we hope you have found this Newsletter useful. Newsletters will be sent quarterly in line with the change in seasons. We look forward to seeing you at our events and activity days over the next few months. Remember, if you have any queries no matter how big or small, please speak with a staff member who will be only too happy to help.
Thank you from the DICE Team