Member Article

Care home rated 'outstanding' by Care Quality Commission

The Joseph Cox Charity’s Mary & Joseph House, a residential care home in Ancoats, Manchester, has been awarded an overall ‘outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission in a recent report, making it one of only four in the UK and the only residential care home in the north west of England to hold the status in all five areas of inspection.

Home to 41 adults aged between 40 and 80 years old, Mary & Joseph House is part of the Joseph Cox Charity, which was founded in 1963 by Joseph Patrick Cox and his close friends Alan Bancroft who become the first chairman of the management committee and the local parish priest Canon McClernon as a result of concerns raised for the welfare of homeless men in Manchester.

Now chaired by Joseph’s son, John Hubert Cox, the charity opened Mary & Joseph House in 1993 in conjunction with Collingwood Housing Association now Contour Homes part of the Symphony Housing Group, to address the increasing demand of homelessness in Manchester.

Mary & Joseph House has become a role model in its approach to ‘partnership care’, working with residents to facilitate their rehabilitation through meaningful activities and tailored care programmes to suit the needs of the individual. The home provides residential care for gentlemen suffering from mental health conditions and alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD).

Under the direction of a dedicated management committee, the charity now oversees two houses – Mary and Joseph House in Ancoats and Joseph Cox House in Didsbury, which is managed in partnership with The Depaul UK and is part of the Safestop Manchester project, supporting young people affected by homelessness.

Julie Hoszowskyj, home manager of Mary and Joseph House, Ancoats, said: “This is an absolutely fantastic achievement for everyone, the trustees, management committee, residents, and staff, to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. The home is a truly unique place that centres its care about the principles of dignity and respect. Something our residents recognise and take on board in their approach to their own rehabilitation.

“We aim to help residents cope with the difficulties they have faced in life and show them an alternative path that is not centred around alcohol consumption or misuse. Our residents become keen gardeners, artists, carpenters, musicians and this helps to redefine them as valued members of society and rebuild their confidence.”

John Cox, Chairman of the Joseph Cox Charity, added: “The work that Julie and her team carry out day after day is nothing short of miraculous. They have helped so many people turn their lives around; we have men who were once residents that now either volunteer or work for the House, having been given the opportunity and confidence to realise what they are truly capable of.”

Mary and Joseph House are proud of the unique approach we have to providing care and the opportunities that we offer to our gentlemen to help them rebuild the lives. some of our residents will be affected by the symptoms of alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) for the rest of their lives, however we will work in partnership with them to recognise their potential and help them to achieve it with support and care delivered by our fantastic team,“ said Julie.

Mary & Joseph House is providing this valuable support in time of great need for residential homes to address the crippling pressure on health and social care services in Greater Manchester, as well as the number of people now sleeping rough in the region.

According to the latest figures – based on estimates carried out over one night in November 2016 – there were 189 people sleeping rough in Greater Manchester, compared with 134 recorded in 2015.

“Now is the time that we need to support those in need and work with them to rehabilitate them effectively, so they have the opportunity to make a change to their lives. It is not-for-profit organisations such as ours that must do all we can to offer a lifeline to these individuals,” added John.

For more information about Mary & Joseph House please visit: www.maryandjosephhouse.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Joanna Taylor .