On behalf of Service Management teams in St. Michael's House Adult Service Areas 1 and 2, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all the remarkable frontline staff across our adult day, residential and individualised services for their relentless work ethic, professionalism and most of all caring attitude to the people we support during these difficult times. We would also like to thank our families and carers for their continuing support in 2021.
In the early days of the pandemic, we had to make the difficult decision to close our day services in order to support our residential centres, a decision which meant the redeployment of day service staff to our residential centres across the breadth of St. Michael's House.
Our day services staff, some of whom never worked in residential services before, not only supported and accommodated the restructuring of our adult residential services but adapted so quickly in this environment. With the support of their residential colleagues, our staff created a safe, homely environment during times when there was so much uncertainty and insecurity for our service users and their family members
Our services had to be re-shaped but our frontline staff maintained the fundamental core values of St. Michael's House and that was to provide a caring, trustworthy and safe service to the people we support.
Our new residential structure meant that staff had to change their working arrangements to meet the demands Covid19 had placed upon us. So often at last minute, we were reliant on people adjusting their own home commitments and circumstances to support our service users and many of our frontline staff made huge personal sacrifices in order to support the people within our services due to staffing crises or outbreaks and we are most grateful for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the people within our services
Our residential staff have been so creative in adjusting rosters and supporting fellow colleagues in other centres and service areas when most needed. We have seen tremendous teamwork across the service areas and what we have learnt is our frontline staff have gone above on beyond and we have seen new leaders emerge in our services over the last 20 months or so.
Because of their efforts, families and friends of the people we support were and are assured their loved ones are as safe as possible during these difficult and unprecedented times
Our staff continue to demonstrate great resilience as we enter yet another year of this pandemic. And we fully appreciate and acknowledge staff are tired and exhausted from the relentless battle against Covid, but who continue to display unbelievable courage, dedication, compassion, skill and professionalism and their support has been unwavering to the people in our services and we remain indebted to them.
Without doubt our frontline staffs humility, kindness and strength is greatly appreciated by the management teams in St. Michael's House Service Areas 1 and 2 and we thank all our staff for being St. Michael's House guiding light in the face of this adversity.
As Directors of Adult Services, we would also like to thank our management teams for their commitment, dedication and support during these very challenging times.
On behalf of the management and staff in St. Michael's House Service Areas, we would like to thank and wish all the frontline staff across our day, residential and individualised services, our service users, families, carers and supporters a very Happy, Healthy and Safe Christmas and New Year.
Best regards
Conor Kenny & Michael Farrell
Directors of Adult Services (Service Areas 1 and 2), St. Michael's House