Iris Newsflash October 2025
LINE MANAGERS:
Please ensure a copy of this newsletter is either downloaded, printed, displayed or shared with your teams.
Hello everybody! Welcome to your October edition of the Iris Newsflash.
As October settles in, the darker mornings and evenings remind us that Autumn is truly here - so, perhaps, a time to slow down a little, wrap up warm, and take extra care of our wellbeing. Whether that means getting outside for a walk in the crisp air, making time for rest, or connecting with colleagues over a cuppa of something comforting, it’s important to look after ourselves, and each other, as the seasons change.
This month’s newsletter is full of crucial updates and an overview of events and plans that shine a light on the great work happening across our organisation. If you’d like to share something from your team, a personal highlight, or even a wellbeing tip of your own, please do send it my way - I’d love to include more of your voices in future editions. So, make yourself comfortable and read on.
Nominations & Awards
Thank you so much to everybody who took time out to nominate their colleagues for this year’s Iris Care Group Staff Annual Awards Ceremony. We had just under 500 nominations in total - that is a staggering amount of shout-outs! Thank you. Judging this number of nominations will be a mammoth task. Please watch this space to see who is shortlisted for the Annual Awards event in December.
Here are just a few of last year’s prize winners but, of course, you are all winners in our eyes.
Annual Staff Survey - Have Your Say!
Your voice matters - and now’s your chance to make it heard. The annual Staff Survey is an important opportunity for every member of our team to share honest feedback about what’s working well and where we can improve together.
The survey is completely confidential, so you can speak openly and know that your individual responses cannot be identified. Every comment, however, helps to shape decisions about how we work, the support we provide and the culture we’re building as an organisation.
When more people take part, we gain a clearer picture of what matters most to our teams. So, please do take a few minutes to complete the survey and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Let’s make sure every voice is heard - because together, we can make our workplace even better.
COMPLETE STAFF SURVEY
Commissioner’s Conference 2025
On 14 October we held our second Annual Commissioner’s Conference at the ICC in Newport. The event was attended by nearly 90 people and external speakers included Dr Nutmeg Hallett from the University of Birmingham, Sarah Leitch from Bild and Restraint Reduction Network, and Angela Munley from the Ministry of Justice. The topics discussed on the day ranged from reducing restrictive practices, to creating bespoke environments, and our care pathways. th
This was a well-attended and positively received event that gave us the opportunity to showcase the brilliant work that you deliver in frontline services.
Flu Vaccines
I wrote out to you earlier this month to encourage you to get a flu vaccine, if you’re able to do so. Our message is:
“Getting the flu vaccine is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus. For those of us working in care, where we support vulnerable people every day, vaccination is not just a personal decision - it’s a professional responsibility.”
We are now moving into flu season so let’s, if we can, take another small step towards protecting others as well as ourselves.
Recommend a Colleague
Please don’t forget that we offer a financial reward for people who are referred to and join/stay with Iris Care Group as a Support Worker, a Senior Support Worker or a Nurse. Terms and conditions apply but if you have family or friends who, perhaps, already undertake or have previously undertaken caring responsibilities, they may be our next employee!
Full details of the Recommend a Colleague scheme can be found here.
Record Occupancy Figures
Occupancy isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet - it’s a vital part of how our services run and how we deliver the best possible care to the people who rely on us. In simple terms, occupancy refers to the proportion of available beds, rooms, or placements that are filled at any given time. But behind that percentage lies the bigger picture of quality, stability, and sustainability.
When occupancy levels are healthy, it means we can plan our staffing, resources, and activities more effectively. A steady occupancy rate supports financial stability, ensuring that funds are available for improvements, training, and little extras that make our Iris Care Group environments feels like home. It also allows teams to build stronger relationships with residents and clients, fostering consistency and trust.
Conversely, low occupancy can lead to underused resources and financial pressures, which can limit what we’re able to invest back into our services. That’s why everyone has a role to play - from providing excellent care that encourages positive word of mouth, to ensuring smooth admissions and great communication with families and partners.
Ultimately, maintaining strong occupancy isn’t about numbers - it’s about people. It’s about keeping our college, hospitals, and homes/services vibrant, sustainable and ready to offer the best possible care to every person who walks through the doors.
We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your hard work and dedication, we achieved a 90% occupancy rate in October. This is a fantastic result that reflects your commitment to quality care, teamwork, and a welcoming environment that families can trust. Every conversation, every act of kindness, and every bit of extra effort makes a difference - and it shows.
Healthy and Safety: Door Wedges
Our Health and Safety team have, from time to time, found door wedges being used to prop open fire doors. Fire doors must never be propped open by a door wedge, a fire extinguisher or anything else. This is because fire doors are crucial in saving lives, in the event of a fire, by containing fire and smoke and allowing people, especially vulnerable people, time to escape. Please play your part in ensuring that fire doors are never propped open.
Cyber Security
In health and social care, protecting people’s information is just as important as protecting their wellbeing. Every day, we handle sensitive data - personal details, medical records, care records, and financial information - all of which must remain secure. Cyber security helps us safeguard this information from theft, misuse, or accidental loss.
A single data breach can have serious consequences: service disruption, financial loss, and most importantly, loss of trust from the people we support. With the rise of phishing emails, fake links, and malware, it’s vital that we all play our part. This means using strong passwords, locking screens when away from our desks, checking email senders carefully, and reporting anything suspicious immediately.
Good cyber security isn’t just an IT issue - it’s everyone’s responsibility. By staying alert and following best practice, we help protect our colleagues, our organisation, and the individuals who rely on our care and support every day. Please, therefore, ensure that you always remain on top of your regular cyber training sessions.
Mandatory Training
Everybody should now have access to their personal training record on the Iris Academy (our online training repository). If you have not yet accessed this, please do so at the earliest opportunity. This system now holds all our mandatory training which includes topics such as Safeguarding Adults, Health and Safety, and Governance and Record Keeping. It is essential that you ensure that your mandatory training is kept up to date at all times as these are the minimum requirements for you role. If in doubt about your obligations in this regard, please speak to your Line Manager or a member of the Learning and Development team.
Additional Roles/Employment
We wanted to take a moment to share a gentle reminder and some helpful guidance around taking on any additional work outside of your role with Iris Care Group. Whether you’re currently working in another role, or considering doing so in the future, it’s important to be aware of a few key points to ensure that everything is managed appropriately and in line with your contractual obligations.
To help protect both you and the organisation, we ask that any external employment, including voluntary work, is disclosed to us before it begins. This allows us to ensure that everything is managed appropriately and in line with your contractual obligations.
We also wanted to raise a point for consideration regarding any plans to take on additional work. Whilst we understand that extra roles can be fulfilling, whether for professional development, financial support, or personal interest - managing multiple commitments can impact your wellbeing and consistency of work. It’s worth reflecting on how changes in routine might affect your energy, performance, and overall balance.
We truly value the dedication and contribution of every team member, and we’re here to support you in making informed decisions that work for you and your role. If you’re thinking about taking additional work, please feel free to speak with your line manager or the HR Team - we’re always happy to help.
New starters
We wish a very warm welcome to the following people who joined our teams in September:
Sophie Clements - Speech and Language Therapist
Sumaira Nawaz - Learning Support Assistant
Imogen Schwarz - Speech and Language Therapist
David Price - Maintenance Officer
Lauren Thorp - Support Worker
Willow Ginbey – Positive Practice Worker
Rebecca Hodges – Positive Practice Worker
Ehimen Omo-Ojugo – Support Worker
Okechukwu Onyia – Support Worker
Dandison Sokari – Support Worker
Paul Phillips – Support Worker
Sam White – Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Billiat Billiat – Support Worker
Ibukunolawa Toye – Support Worker
Liam Morgan – Support Worker
Wasiy Ibrahim – Support Worker
Stephen Britton – Maintenance Officer
Chantelle Anderson – Support Worker
Lara Golding – Senior Finance Business Partner
Abigail Saiah – Support Worker
Ruby Hutton – Support Worker
Sam White – Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Umeonwuyiala Esther – Support Worker
Jason Brownett – Gas Engineer
Thank you all for choosing Iris Care Group for your next role. We hope you will be happy here.
Yvonne Murray People Director
communications@iriscaregroup.co.uk
As always, please do forward ideas, suggestions and feedback communications@iriscaregroup.co.uk - this is your comms update - we’d love to hear from you!