PJ Care

Former nurse Jan Flawn started PJ Care in 2000 when she saw a gap in the market for neurological care for young adults who, at that time, were living inappropriately in care homes for the elderly.

Today the private company runs eight units in Milton Keynes and Peterborough providing specialist care and rehabilitation for almost 200 people with progressive or acquired neurological conditions, including Huntington's disease, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

The Head of Joy and Wellbeing is tasked with ensuring staff feel valued and cared for, which has been particularly important during the pandemic and a team of Wellbeing Angels, who work on a voluntary basis, also support the mental and physical health of colleagues on units and in departments.

Healthcare has been one of the toughest sectors to work in during the Coronavirus crisis and PJ Care, now headed by Jan's son Neil Russell, takes care of its own, reflecting its ethos of care, compassion and commitment. Vulnerable staff have been furloughed and it is providing physiotherapy and counselling to an employee who ended up in ITU with the virus and who may never work again, and has committed to paying his salary until his retirement in two years' time.

A number of initiatives have been introduced as a direct result of new monthly surveys, including providing beds for staff working nights to sleep in on their breaks, additional lighting for the car park and providing tablets for staff to do on-line training.