CARE
Family – Moonrise staff getting in the mood to celebrate.
These homes will be an asset to the community and will also bring jobs here.” residents living close to the properties, planning officers saw the benefit of the proposed facilities and gave the go-ahead for John and Jessica to open their four comfortable and well-equipped homes for up to a maximum of 11 children who desperately need them.
Like the planning teams, Angie is certain these communities will quickly come to realise these facilities are an asset and not a hindrance.
She said:“ In Redcar and Cleveland, we did experience some resistance from elements of the local community, and it was quite emotive initially.
“ However, we have managed to make assurances that we are there to support and enhance the local community, not to cause any issues or concerns.
“ These homes will be an asset to the community and will also bring jobs here.”
Angie adds that the home in Redcar and Cleveland, described as being“ on the way to Guisborough”, is close to a community cafe, and when representatives from Moonrise went around to talk to them, the cafe owner was very positive about the children’ s home.
Angie said:“ The owner said,‘ I would love to see you here’ and they plan to put special things on for the new customers it will bring to them, so it’ s benefiting local businesses as well.
“ We are transforming a property that could have become an Airbnb or may have gone to rack and ruin and with all the properties that will become children’ s homes, we are building something that will be a positive aspect of the local community for many years to come.
“ The way Jess and John have improved the properties inside and out is exceptional and no expense has been spared.”
Angie, who has many years of experience in managing care facilities, including 24 years working with Stockton Borough Council, is looking forward to getting the right staff in place at each of the four homes.
She will then support and supervise them to ensure everything runs smoothly and, crucially, make sure the children using the facilities receive the highest quality care and support.
She said:“ I will support the new staff to put easy-to-follow routines and structures in place and give them the guidance and support they need until each of the care homes gets its own manager, who I feel will be competent to take over from me.
“ I will not walk away until I am satisfied we have the correct people in place – and I will also continue to supervise the manager of the disability home.”
Angie plans to run her own care consultancy business in the near future, but for now is firmly focused on the work she is doing with John and Jessica, which she says has been“ so nice”.
Angie, Jessica and John have all been working with independent auditors to ensure the children’ s homes are the best they can be and to iron out any potential problems before they arise.
Angie says:“ We all want someone who will challenge us professionally and get us ready for Ofsted.
“ Most importantly, we are all keen to ensure the children in our homes are safeguarded appropriately, as they are our first priority, at the same time as responding to the care needs of the local area.
“ At the end of the day, the young people who will be in these homes are just children who have additional needs, and it is an exciting prospect getting the right staff and managers in to support them to live happy lives.”
Find out more at moonrise. co. uk The voice of business in the Tees region | 35