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Care UK has partnered with the Careers & Enterprise Company on its Open Doors project, supporting secondary school students to find out about working in a care home. Care UK’s first Open Doors’ event took place at Silversprings care home in Thorrington, Essex. Twenty Year students learnt about the range of careers available in a care home, as well as careers across the company, including within Care UK’s Colchester-based Support Centre. The students toured the home, where they met residents and Care UK staff with different academic and career backgrounds including carers, nurses, kitchen and hospitality staff and managers. The students were able to ask questions and have an in-depth discussion about the potential professions available to them, as well as hearing colleagues’ stories from their own work experience, early job roles, the lessons they learned over the course of their careers. Omar Taylor, Care UK’s regional director for Essex, said, “I am proud that, as a region, we are working hard pilot a formalised work experience programme to further allow those interested in a career in care to learn more and experience the workplace. We have a number of early career initiatives that we are developing, and we are also working with Special Educational Needs and Disability [SEND] schools and disadvantagedgroups to raise awareness of what they can achieve, and the support on offer to them.”
Long tide, no sea – Basingstoke care home surprise residents with seaside trips A care home in Basingstoke made ‘shore’ residents didn’t miss out on a trip to the beach this summer after organising ten trips to the beach – complete with fish, chips and ice cream. Residents visited Southsea, Burton on Sea, New Milton, and Hayling Island and enjoyed leisurely strolls along the seafront, dipped their toes in the sand, tried their hand at crabbing, and visited the amusement arcades - all topped off with a well-deserved ice cream. During one of the trips, residents also visited Portsmouth Naval Memorial. While there, two of the residents on the trip lay red roses in front of their fathers’ names. One resident, Jennifer Hinchcliffe, aged 86, said: “Having the cold water touch my feet made me feel alive! There is nothing better than fish and chips on the beach, especially when it’s with people that make you laugh.” Dil Perera, Home Manager at Dashwood Manor, said: “Residents have fond memories of the seaside and often share stories from their beach holidays over the years – which is why it was so important for us to arrange trips to the coast in our minibus. "Residents came back from every trip grinning from ear to ear and it was a topic of conversation for a long time. It was certainly a summer to remember!” Dashwood Manor – which opened in September 2021 – is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives while also promoting independence.
89-year-old care home resident steps back in time as a cathedral steward when he returned to the cathedral where he worked for over 15 years. When the team at Care UK’s Salisbury Manor, learned that 89-year-old resident, John Clipson, was keen to relive fond memories of being a cathedral steward at Salisbury Cathedral, they were determined to make his wish to step back in time and re-visit the cathedral come true. John was proud to be a member of the Guild of Cathedral Stewards. He stewarded services in the cathedral for over 15 years, mostly on Sundays, as well as special services including funerals, Christmas, and various festivals. He loved his job and particularly enjoyed the music of the choir and organ. He also liked meeting the congregation and the many visitors to the cathedral. He said: “Welcoming the visitors was often interesting part of the job – I helped at Sir Edward Heath’s funeral during which I escorted Margaret Thatcher and others to their seat.” During the visit, John took team members and other residents on a tour around the cathedral and enjoyed reminiscing about his career there. Keen to remember the day, residents also had the chance to show off their photography skills, by using professional photography equipment to capture photos of the cathedral. All photos taken have been framed and take pride of place in the home’s café for all to enjoy. Care UK installed a ‘Wishing Tree’ initiative which encourages residents to live fulfilling lives.
Sevenoaks care home celebrates double award success. Residents and team members at Weald Heights, are celebrating after receiving a highly commended recognition in the ‘Best for Nursing Care’ category in this year’s 2023 Care Home Awards. The Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery. The team has also been shortlisted for ‘Team of the Year’ at this year’s Nursing Times Awards, which will take place at a prestigious awards ceremony in October. Unlike many other care homes, every member of the senior leadership team at Weald Heights is a qualified nurse. As a result, outstanding nursing and the values that accompany it are at the forefront of every aspect of life at Weald Heights. Since opening in 2017, three team leaders have qualified as nurses, with a further three working at the home who are currently in their second year of university as nursing students. Judges praised how this strong nursing team has built excellent partnerships with other local healthcare professionals. Judges highlighted how these relationships have led to additional training opportunities for the team at Weald Heights to better their caring practice. Key to Weald Heights approach to resident care is that each resident lives a full and meaningful life where they are encouraged to continue pursuing their hobbies and interests ensuring residents’ wishes come true as part of Care UK Wishing Tree initiative.
‘Find a common interest’ – The secret to a long marriage according to Maidstone residents Love was in the air at Invicta Court care home when two residents celebrated a very special milestone. Both residents live at the home together. Ruth Niblett, aged 89, and her husband, Donald, aged 90, toasted their 65th wedding anniversary on 26th July It was love at first sight when Ruth and Donald met at a bellringing event, a common social activity during 1954 in Oxford. Ruth, who was a physiotherapist at St Mary’s Hospital, was taught to ring bells by her brothers, Robin and David, while Donald, who enjoyed a career as a steel research fellow, was taught to ring bells at Mickleton. With a shared interest in bellringing, it wasn’t long before the bells were ringing at their own wedding on 26th July 1958 in Rye. Although the weather on the day started off overcast, the couple recalled fondly how the sun appeared the moment they left the church. Ruth and Donald have two children together, Peter and Elizabeth, four grandsons, Sam, Guy, Ben, and Alex, and one great-grandson, Matt. Commenting on the secret to a long and happy marriage, the couple agreed: “Find a common interest with each other and you’ll always have something to talk about and enjoy together.” To toast the special milestone, Invicta Court’s team decorated the home’s private dining room with balloons and banners, and the home’s Head Chef, prepared a three-course meal for them to enjoy.
Care UK homes from across the country had rainbow flags in hand when they joined the parade to celebrate Birmingham Pride. Teams from ten of our homes from across the country – from Metchley Manor in Edgbaston to Cedrus House in Suffolk and Sandfields in Cheltenham – including over 30 colleagues, took part in the parade to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Care UK has been a long-time supporter of London Pride, but this is the first year we’ve joined the parade for Birmingham Pride which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Metchley Manor team, based in Edgbaston, had an amazing time and kept the celebrations going by hosting their own Pride event at home. The team welcomed Drag Queen Hazel Nuts to join them. Metchley Manor’s catering team also put together a Pride buffet including rainbow cupcakes. Callum, a team member at Cedrus House, who travelled from Suffolk to join colleagues in the parade, said: “It was the first time I had felt comfortable with myself.” Nicky Cahill, Regional Director for Care UK’s North Midlands homes, said: “Equality and diversity i
Cambridge care home praised by national care inspectors A Cambridge care home has received the seal of approval from a national care watchdog, with relatives and residents praising its caring team members. The Care Quality Commission, England’s regulator of health and social care, gave Care UK’s Heathlands House, on Bullen Close, an overall ’good’ rating, following an unannounced inspection. The home received ‘Good’ ratings in all five categories, including safety, responsiveness and having a well-led service. Inspectors commended team members for their dedication to building strong relationships with residents, with one resident sharing that the “staff are wonderful” and they regularly engage in “lots of chats and laughter” together. The team were also praised for the level of respect they showed to residents, with team members understanding that Heathlands House is home for the residents, and therefore spaces belong to them.
Care UK’s double triumph at the Public Sector Catering Awards Care UK teams are celebrating after winning two awards at the prestigious Public Sector Catering Awards ceremony. They were presented with the Care Catering Award trophy at the awards ceremony and Caroline Lloyd, Head Chef at Prince George House, took away the accolade for Unsung Hero. The Public Sector Catering Awards recognise those working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector and are organised by the Public Sector Catering magazine. Care UK’s ‘Dining with Dignity’ initiative, where residents with special dietary requirements are fully catered for in a discreet and respectful manner, saw Care UK take home the Care Catering award. Chefs at Care UK care homes are always encouraged to be playful with their culinary creations, and mark religious or cultural celebrations, or ‘round the world’ days for residents to enjoy such. The recent Chinese New Year saw many of our homes exploring the cuisine, with homes like Metchley Manor providing residents with spring rolls and noodles based dishes.
Care home raises over £600 for local charity A care home in Sutton Coldfield has raised over £600 for a local dementia charity. The team at Care UK’s Bishops Manor, on Jockey Road, have raised £669.40 for the Purple Angel Dementia Campaign by hosting a charity tombola. When Norman McNamara was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 50, he founded the Purple Angel Dementia Campaign. By providing information on how shops, businesses, and other services can help people living with degenerative conditions, the charity seeks to increase awareness, provide hope, and empower people living with dementia. The team put out a call out to friends and family to drop off any unwanted Christmas presents or anything unusual that could be donated to the raffle. Bishops Manor was overwhelmed with how many people donated items. On the day, the team hosted the tombola. They had a great laugh and raised a total of £669.40 for the charity.
Work starts on multi-million-pound Wantage care home HIGHLIGHTED HOME NEWS Work has now started on a new multi-million-pound care home in Wantage, complete with its very own café, cinema and hair salon. When complete, the new Care UK home, on Kingsgrove, will provide residential, nursing, dementia and respite care for up to 72 older people, and will create 84 jobs. The home, which is expected to welcome its first residents in Autumn 2024, will include facilities such as a cinema, café, and hair salon. Secure and wheelchair friendly landscaped outdoor space will include sensory gardens, water features and seating to give residents the opportunity to spend quality time outdoors. Justin Daley, Development Project Manager for Care UK, said: “We’re delighted to announce that work has begun to build our new care home in Wantage. “This impressive development reflects Care UK’s commitment to improving residential care in the region – we take great pride in the build quality of each home, carefully considering design and layout in order to improve the everyday experiences.
