Celebration Day 2025

MHL Celebration Day 2025

The MHL Celebration Day 2025 took place at the Titanic Hotel Belfast on 1st July 2025.  The Celebration Day included 86 Care Home leaders from across 73 care settings in Northern Ireland, who completed the 2024/25 MHL Leadership Support Programme.

In his Opening Speech the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt said

"Ulster University’s delivery of the My Home Life (MHL) Leadership Support Programme for Care Homes on behalf of the Department, has been one of the key drivers in improving the quality of life for care home residents, relatives and staff across Northern Ireland (NI) since 2013.  Over this time, the programme has built up a sustained and growing level of support from the care home sector and from other organisations who champion the wellbeing of people who live in care homes and their families.   Moving into a care home is a major life event for the person making the move and their family. All available research has shown that wellbeing and quality of life for people living in care homes, can only be improved by investing in the people who care for them.  The My Home Life Programme provides crucial support to care homes, and it remains important that the HSC continues to support and fund, where possible, quality initiatives such as this.  The tools, frameworks and significant knowledge of best practice provided under the Programme creates confident, accountable teams who are equipped with practical, evidence-based insights to enhance the quality and the reputation of their services.  For those engaging in the Programme, it has brought many benefits including increased resilience for staff, meaning they are less at risk of burn-out resulting in reduced staff turnover and sickness. Care home staff are empowered to drive forward their own quality agenda, resulting in improved relationships with residents, their relatives and external agencies such as the commissioning Trusts and RQIA.  Additionally, through the professional development support provided by the Ulster University you as Care Home Managers have developed key leadership and communication skills, improved professional confidence and personal resilience and I have no doubt you will continue to build on this".

During the Celebration Day event participants were able to showcase and share their Quality Improvement Projects which highlighted the 4 key areas of Community Engagement, Transitions, Model Complaints Handling Process and Meaningful Connections.  In addition, participants were able to express how the Programme had impacted upon them personally and as a group.

All participants received their own MHL Certificate and were formally welcomed as an 'MHL Associate'.

Professor Assumpta Ryan, Director of My Home Life Northern Ireland said

“We are delighted to be celebrating another year of our My Home Life, Leadership Support Programme.  Feedback over the past five years shows the very  positive impact of the programme on care home staff and, in turn, on people who live in care homes and their families. Alongside this, the programme has also directly influenced the Department of Health’s adult safeguarding policy and its reform of adult care and support. We look forward to continuing our work with the sector and with our statutory and charitable partners to enhance leadership and quality improvement initiatives in care homes all across Northern Ireland”.