A Worcestershire care home is celebrating 25 years of delivering care to its residents this month.
St John’s care home, in Droitwich, marked the occasion with drinks, cake and musical entertainment from local singer, David Lawrence. Residents, their family members, and staff, past and present, were joined in the celebrations by special guests that included the Vice Chairman of Wychavon Council, Councillor Tony Rowley, the Mayor of Droitwich Spa, Councillor Shaun Best and Gina Dutton of Worcester University’s dementia studies unit.
The home, run by Shaw healthcare, is a dual-registered service specialising in nursing dementia care and enduring mental health, and has previously won a national Caring Times award for the best dementia care. In its most recent Care Quality Commission inspection, the home was rated to be ‘good’.
The celebrations also included recognition of John Griffin, who is the home’s longest-serving mental health nurse, as well as the longest serving across all of Shaw’s West Midlands’ services, having 
started work for the company in 1993. Commenting, he said: “For some, 25 years in the same job at the same place may be too much, but for me, it’s been nothing but a pleasure. I’ve had the opportunity of working alongside fantastic colleagues and meeting inspirational residents. St John’s is more than a workplace for me – it’s like an extension of my home.”
Shaw’s area manager, Tracy Archer, spoke in glowing terms of the management team and staff at St John’s: “Lorraine [the manager] and Donna [deputy manager] make a great double act who demonstrate the utmost passion for improving residents’ wellbeing, solving problems, and empowering their team of dedicated support staff. We are thrilled to mark this significant milestone for the home and look forward to providing continued quality care in future.”
Shaw healthcare is one of the UK’s leading health and social care providers. Established in 1986, it provides specialist care to individuals in nursing and residential homes, hospitals, supported living arrangements, extra care schemes and domiciliary care settings. Shaw believes that wellness, happiness and kindness should be at the heart of all they do.
