Daniel Cluff – Employee Recognition Award

 In July, I was asked to oversee a program in Pepperell that was down a Program Director. With staff shortages, I began to brainstorm with my colleague Sue Gallant about whom I could “recruit” to work in Pepperell. Her exact words were, “I have a great guy who lives 5 minutes from the program but he is currently working in another program that he loves and the ladies in the home just adore him”. I made the call and in two days, he was in Pepperell as a temporary staff for a month as a Direct Care Professional.

 So the fun began – in addition to learning a new home and staying on top of several tasks at one, three of the four individual in the home has dramatically changing medical needs  Yet within days, Dan established a connection with someone who had a difficult time establishing new bonds. Dan managed to get people out on community outings, spring cleaning the entire house, food shop, maintain excellent communication with families, organize paperwork, and make trips to the ER five times in two weeks all while doing the most important work of making the people who live in Pepperell feel valued, advocated for, and treated with the utmost respect and dignity. After all that happened during his temporary one-month assignment, Daniel applied for the program manager position.  He was selected for the program manager job. I know for the house he was at previously, it must feel like a great loss to them but I know the staff, people with support and management are grateful to have Dan Cluff a part of the Pepperell program.

Susan McClurken

Director of Quality Assurance

About the Author: Susan McClurken

Susan McClurken is the Director of Quality Assurance for Alliance for Resource Management, and has over fourteen years experience working in the non profit industry. Susan is currently finishing work on her Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Human Services. Additionally, for the past five years Susan and her family have had two persons with developmental disabilities live with them in their home and join their extended family.