A dream come true: Willenhall care resident experiences bucket list wish with visit to Molineux Stadium
A resident and football enthusiast from a Willenhall care home has fulfilled his bucket list wish of returning to the football stadium of his favourite club — where he was previously offered an academy team contract. Keith Love, a resident at Willow Rose, a state-of-the-art care home in Willenhall, returned to Molineux Stadium, a place he considers a second home, after expressing his dream to do so via the home’s Wish Tree. After the care home got in contact with the stadium, Keith was invited for a full tour of the grounds, which included pitch side access and a look round the dressing rooms — before being presented with keepsakes from the team in the gift shop. Keith’s deep-rooted passion for football dates back to his school years, where he actively participated in both junior and senior teams. Keith was also offered a place with the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy, an opportunity he regrettably had to decline due to family circumstances. Nevertheless, Keith’s devotion to the team remained unwavering, becoming a dedicated season ticket holder. He also followed the England national team visiting Germany, Denmark, Africa, Brazil and Norway to watch them play. However, in 2015 Keith had to stop travelling due to his declining health, but kept up with the games on the TV and longed for one more opportunity to get back out to a stadium. When the former AF Blakemore lorry driver wasn’t immersing himself in football, Keith loved to stay home spending time gardening with his wife, Gill, who he has been married to for 56 years, sharing two daughters together. Shelly-Ann Trotman, Deputy Manager at Willow Rose, said: “Seeing our residents smile means the world to all of us and we were so thrilled to be able to give Keith a day he won’t forget. We can’t wait to honour more of our residents’ Wish Tree dreams and create more special memories.” Honouring care residents’ bucket list wishes helps to uplift spirits, instil a sense of purpose, and brings joy to their lives. It creates a deep sense of fulfilment whilst helping to create lasting, meaningful memories for all involved. Commenting on his special day Keith said: “I would like to thank everyone who made my dream come true. I’m over the moon and very grateful. I truly appreciate the effort put in by the staff at the stadium to go to such lengths for my experience to be so memorable.” The Macc Care Group owns a collection of thirteen homes across the Midlands. The group prides itself on three core values — love, care and compassion. Its luxury developments address elderly nursing, dementia and residential care with a commitment to support and enrich the lives of all its communities. For information on the Macc Care group, please visit https://www.macccare.com/ or for further information on Willow Rose, visit https://macccare.com/our-homes/willow-rose/.
West Yorkshire care home rated ‘Good’ in recent inspection
Croft House Care Home is a located in Gawthorpe, West Yorkshire, has been rated ‘Good’ in all areas following a recent Care Quality Commission inspection. The 66-bedded care home in which specialises in the provision of nursing, residential dementia and dementia nursing care and is part of the nationwide Maria Mallaband Care Group, was found to offer safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led care, with a ‘Good’ rating across all inspected areas of provision. The newly published report, which follows an unannounced visit from two CQC inspectors in May, reflects a positive picture of life in the home. The inspectors sought feedback from those living in the home and their families, who “felt safe and staff were caring and supportive.” One person living in the home told inspectors: “I love it here, it’s the best move I ever made. I feel safe.” Inspectors also found that “care was person-centred” and “people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.” The management team were praised as “approachable, supportive and informative” and having “created a culture of effective teamwork.” Croft House Care Home Manager Rob Ashton said: “I am delighted with this hugely positive CQC report which rightly highlights our person-centred approach, and the way in which our strong caring team work so brilliantly together to deliver a high quality of care. “We consistently focus on embedding a culture of treating everyone with respect and supporting their independence, individuality and choices – so it is particularly pleasing to see that reflected in the inspectors’ findings.” The report also notes that those at the home felt that there was “enough staff on duty”, that they “had been recruited through a robust process.” And that the care environment was “warm and welcoming” and “clean”, and rooms were “personalised.” The four units at the home were fully refurbished in April 2021, and Croft House benefits from a number of communal areas including spacious lounge and dining areas, quiet lounges, sensory room, garden room, hairdressing salon and beautiful gardens.The majority of bedrooms have en-suite facilities. People also told inspectors that the home welcomed and took on board their feedback, as the report notes: “One person said, “I know if I raise things that they are sorted out.” Another person told us, “They do ask how they are doing and there are questionnaires in the reception area.” Adds Rob Ashton: “I am so proud of this report, especially some of the lovely comments from those living with us. Their wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do here, so to know we’re doing a good job, and that those in our care feel safe and happy is the best result we could achieve. We will keep on working and giving our best to ensure that is sustained and built on.” To find out more about Croft House Care Home visit: https://www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk/care-homes/croft-house
Andrew Samuel, Member of The Order of The British Empire, Joins CareDocs as IT Manager
CareDocs (Care Management Systems Ltd), one of the UK’s leading person centred software providers for care and nursing homes, welcomes Andrew Samuel as its new IT Manager. Mr Samuel brings extensive experience within IT, having previously worked for Nexus Open Systems, techrelate and many others. Most notably, Andrew was listed in the New Years Honours 2023 and received the British Empire Medal for his work in supporting his local community throughout the pandemic. Having spent many years volunteering for charities, namely being part of the team that reopened a local theatre in Taunton, known as The Brewhouse, after it fell into administration, Andrew was nominated for this prestigious award after creating a support group of volunteers to support vulnerable people in his community during the pandemic. “I created a support group of volunteers to offer any assistance that people may need. I set up a central telephone number and built a small army of volunteers to answer phones, collect prescriptions, shop, dog walk, mow grass… you name it! “We hand delivered thousands of leaflets with our telephone number so people know how to get in touch. I also decided to write an online software application to log calls and track each request through to fruition.” All of which took place within the first two weeks of the first lockdown. Mr Samuel also decided to open a shop, the Wilton & Sherford Community Shop in his local area to support a number of elderly and vulnerable people. Locating a venue, registering a community interest company, raising grants, hiring staff and created a robust operating procedure that aligned with covid restrictions amongst other things. He opened the shop to the public only two weeks after he had the initial idea. The support group set up by Andrew took nearly 2,000 calls and the shop generated around £12,500 over the course of 40 days. Andrew Pulsford, who nominated Andrew Samuels also commented, “Andrew was an enormous asset to our support group during covid. He brought enthusiasm, ideas and solutions and proved he would go the extra mile to help people. It’s been a privilege to volunteer with him and to see how much he cares and the lengths he’ll go, to help people and to see how modest he is. He just always wants to help where he can, and he’s always looking for opportunities where he can make a difference.” Mr Samuel was informed by the Cabinet Office that he would be recommended to His Majesty the King for the honour of Medal of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 New Year Honours List. The ceremony was held at Castle House in Taunton and presented to Mr Samuel by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. Mr Samuel and his wife were also invited to attend the Coronation Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. General Manager at CareDocs, Alan Pocock, also commented, “We’re so pleased to have Andrew join the team. He will be an integral part of propelling CareDocs into the future of digital healthcare. We’re very lucky to have someone join us who is so caring and passionate, and will add to the passion CareDocs has for supporting UK care homes into the work we do.”
‘Guerrilla’ campaign launched to bust myths about care homes
Leading UK not-for-profit care group Greensleeves Care has launched Keys To Open Minds – a campaign to de-bunk common myths about life in care homes. The guerrilla-style community outreach campaign is set to share more than a thousand myth-busting messages with local communities and businesses all over England – from London and Ipswich to Hastings and the Isle of Wight. Teams and residents from Greensleeves Care’s homes all over the country are going out into their communities, placing keys in landmarks and public areas and sharing them with businesses. The sustainably-produced wooden keys carry tags with messages that spell out common myths around care homes, and challenge them with facts. The keys are designed to create intrigue and to encourage people of all ages to engage with the reality of care home life, join the conversation on social media at #KeysToOpenMinds or visit their local Greensleeves Care home to see first-hand. The campaign, which launches in time for Care Home Open Week 2023 (26th June – 2nd July), comes after reflecting on the perceived divide between public understanding and the reality of care home life. Greensleeves Care’s recent customer satisfaction survey across its 28 homes in England shows that 93% of residents who responded are happy with their care and the vast majority feel empowered to make choices about their day-to-day life. For people like Margaret, 81, moving to a care home three years ago was nothing like she expected. She said: “If you would have said a few years ago I was going into a care home, I would have said “get stuffed!” My opinion was that I would be told what to do, when, and how to do it.“I now know that life in a care home is good, I am still very much in control of my life despite living in a care home. I can still make decisions myself and find the staff helpful and caring. I feel here I still have a purpose.” Shona King, Director of Business Development at Greensleeves Care, said:“The main aim of our Keys to Open Minds campaign is to prompt better conversations, reduce stigma around care homes and encourage people to reconsider their preconceptions. “Misconceptions around care homes abound – from the quality of the food to how residents are supported to live with dignity. As our own data shows, the reality is that for the vast majority of residents, care homes are a positive, much-valued chapter in people’s journey through later life.“Long-standing myths are damaging not only for the sector, but for the thousands of families looking for specialist, 24-hour care for their loved ones. They want to feel confident and empowered in the choices they make. At Greensleeves Care, we believe that feeling empowered starts with having a myth-free, more accurate idea of what it is like to join a care home community.” The campaign is further supported through online content that tackles head-on the top 7 myths of care homes. Greensleeves Care is also committed to continuing the myth-busting beyond Care Home Open Week, including through public presentations and events.
Kent care home makes resident’s dreams come true with furry friendly alpacas
A Kent care home has made one of its residents’ dreams come true by welcoming friendly alpacas to the home as part of its ‘Together-We-Can’ initiative, which aims to fulfil the wishes of its residents, visitors, and employees. Fairways Care Home, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, welcomed Alpaca Annie and her team to the home, much to the delight of one resident, Dave, who exclaimed that they were ‘lovely’ and made him smile. Dave lives with dementia, but with the help of his friend, Nicola, the home was able to deliver on his wish. The initial surprise soon turned to delight as Dave became particularly fond of one ‘cheeky’ furry visitor, Bebe. The alpacas, provided by Alpaca Annie in Romney Marsh, were introduced to the residents in the home’s garden, complemented by sunny weather and a delicious cream tea. Annie’s business originally started when her own mother was suffering from dementia and found animals therapeutic. The herd has now grown to 87 alpacas. Alison Yarnley, Registered Manager at Fairways, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made Dave’s wish become a reality. We know that he’s unlikely to remember much from the day, but we also know that the ‘in the moment’ experiences matter so much to someone like Dave, who is living with dementia. It also created lasting memories for his friends and the home to treasure.” The alpacas are just one of many activities Fairways organise for its residents, which often include regular visits from various different animals due to their therapeutic effects. Animals can provide sensory stimulation through tactile activities, stimulate memories and positive emotions, while their playful nature brings joy and laughter to residents, helping to enhance their overall wellbeing. Alison continued: “The day was amazing, even down to Dave wearing his very apt hoodie that said: ‘Adventure? Alpaca my bags’. It’s clear to see how much he loves the animals, and how the day really was a dream come true for him. For us to be a part of that was so special.” For more information about Fairways Care Home, please visit https://aci.care/fairways/. Or for more information about ACI Care, visit https://aci.care/.
Parklands changes perceptions with intergenerational sports day
Care home residents and school children in Alloa have taken part in a joint sports day at Meallmore Group’s Parklands home, as part of an intergenerational programme. Residents and staff from Parklands hosted the event at the care home, located on Alloa Park Drive, with Primary 7 pupils from St Mungo’s RC Primary School. The two generations came together for sports day classics including a relay and an egg and spoon race, as well as other sports day-themed events. The sports day was the most recent event of their intergenerational programme which has been running since November 2022. Every week, pupils from the school visit those living at Parklands. Together, residents and children spend time chatting, playing games, reading, painting, and listening to music. Since the programme’s inception, residents and pupils have formed ties and learnt to appreciate the other generation in new, different ways. Studies show that intergenerational programmes not only benefit older people by lowering social isolation and providing a sense of purpose, but also benefit young people – and by extension, communities – by transforming perceptions and reducing ageism. Rick Murray, Area Manager for Meallmore said: “Creating meaningful activities and lifestyle options is a huge part of the work we do at Meallmore. This intergenerational programme at Parklands helps residents build up new relationships and allows them to share experiences and their life stories with younger people. “Welcoming the pupils is a weekly highlight and is a real benefit to our residents and colleagues, but it also allows the children to learn. It helps them to challenge some of the perceptions of what happens when you get older, as well as break down preconceptions of care home living. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.” Meghan Walker, teacher at St Mungo’s RC Primary School said: “At the start of the programme, the children were a bit apprehensive and shy as they didn’t know what to expect. But since last November, they’ve built up great relationships with the residents and now have strong, intergenerational friendships. “All our pupils very much enjoy chatting and playing with the residents and love their weekly visits; Parklands almost feels like their second home now! The school is very thankful for this local, community partnership with Meallmore.” Eric Burnside, resident at Parklands Care Home added: “The programme with the school is great; the children are wonderful, and they light up the place and bring us so much joy. “I really enjoyed the sports day. I might have cheated in the race though as I’m not going to get shown up by these youngsters!” Parklands is a purpose-built care home situated at 60 Alloa Park Drive and provides nursing care for older people and specialist services for people with dementia. It is run by leading care home provider, Meallmore Ltd. More information about Meallmore Ltd can be found at https://www.meallmore.co.uk/ More information about Parklands can be found at https://www.meallmore.co.uk/our-care-homes/parklands/
Musical memories: Kettering care home resident with dementia recites the verses of his career as a professional saxophonist to mark World Music Day
A former professional saxophonist and Kettering care home resident living with dementia has been reminiscing over his days fronting a band to mark World Music Day 21st June. Gabriel Court, a branch of ACI Care that specialises in residential, respite and dementia care, has been encouraging its residents to share stories and memories about music, with Roy Tosh’s anecdotes particularly striking a chord with other residents and carers. Roy’s journey into the world of music began at a young age when he discovered the saxophone, albeit after initially aspiring to play the clarinet. Reminiscing about his early days, Roy fondly recalls the joy of attempting to play along with the hits on pirate radio, with early experiences shaping his deep passion for music. After working as a potato picker, Roy eventually found his way to the saxophone when his clarinet needed new reeds, before eventually selling the instrument to purchase a ring for his now-wife, Jessie. In 1970, The Roy Bishop Sound was born, named serendipitously after a bishop’s chess piece that happened to be in Roy’s hand during a discussion about different names. The band began as a three-piece ensemble, and over time, it grew in numbers, incorporating a bass player, guitarists, and singers. Roy, 87, who now lives with dementia, spoke fondly of his musical past: “I’m left with so many memories of happy times and a keen ear and passion for music. I still remember attending the concert of one of my biggest influences, Victor Silvester OBE, a musician from the British dance band era. The lights went down on an empty stage and when they came back on the piano player was sitting there and began playing, captivating the audience. I knew then I wanted to perform in similar venues, and I went on to have a lovely career.” Music has a unique ability to stimulate memories and emotions, allowing individuals to reconnect with their past and evoke positive feelings whilst also helping to reduce agitation and improve mood — especially in those living with dementia. Reminiscing about these past times on World Music Day helps individuals to engage in meaningful conversations, promoting a sense of identity and belonging. Dale Knighton, Activities Coordinator at Gabriel Court, said: “Talking to Roy about his past in music has made it clear to me that music has a great impact on people’s memories and emotions. It’s been lovely hearing Roy share these memories and listen to some of the music of his life. Music is generational and is a great way to open up someone’s world.” For more information on Gabriel Court, please visit https://aci.care/gabriel-court/ or for more information ACI Care, visit https://aci.care/.
Social care leader receives OBE in King’s birthday Honours List
Inspirational social care leader Zoë Fry has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal for services rendered to social care and to nursing, in the King’s birthday Honours List. Zoë has received the medal and been recognised for her long service and ongoing dedication to adult social care, which includes collaboratively founding and transforming the Community Interest Company The Outstanding Society, working as a frontline nurse in the sector, and purchasing and operating a care home which was one of the first in Sussex to receive the Care Quality Commission’s Outstanding rating. Zoë’s drive for quality care saw her home twice rated by the CQC as Outstanding, as well as winning many national awards. In 2021, Zoë’s passion to support other providers in the sector saw her sell her care home, Valerie Manor, which provides residential and nursing care for the elderly across West Sussex, so that she could focus her time on further expanding The Outstanding Society. Zoë’s passion and knowledge to be able to advocate at the highest level of social care leaders was also highlighted in the nomination and Honours List. Commenting on the honour, Zoë said: “I am incredibly proud that so many people believe that my contribution to the sector has been enough to make me deserving of an OBE medal. Since starting my career as a nurse, I have been dedicated to helping people across the UK and doing everything I can to contribute to a sector that supports creativity, innovative care and best practice for everyone accessing its services. It means so much to be able to provide a voice for the sector and accept this prestigious honour on behalf of so many amazing colleagues who make a difference to people’s lives every day”. In 2014 Zoë became one of the principal founders of The Outstanding Society, an organisation that was established by a small group of social care operators to support the driving up of quality care across the UK. Over the last two years, Zoë and the founding team have transformed the free-to-access support organisation, shaping it into a driven Community Interest Company with over 3,000 members across the country. Since its inception, Zoë has played a crucial role as a Director, particularly working in partnership with multiple organisations, including Skills for Care and Care England, and providing trusted insight into both the challenges and innovative best practice that is emerging across the sector. Zoë has also been the driving force behind The Outstanding Society’s ambition and vision to expand its membership and reach different adult social care services across England. As its reach has grown, The Outstanding Society has introduced a range of free support available to services regardless of CQC rating, including webinars, and podcasts. Commenting on Zoë’s achievement, Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “Zoë has played a crucial role in developing, supporting and promoting high-quality health and social care services across the UK, particularly through the founding and development of The Outstanding Society. I believe Zoë’s work has been of great significance and she has personified and championed the values and behaviours that are the cornerstone of high-quality social care services”. Oonagh Smyth, CEO at Skills for Care, added: ““Skills for Care supported Zoë’s nomination for this well deserved OBE that recognises her years of dedication to high quality, person centred services, both as a care home owner and through her work with The Outstanding Society. Zoë has been a driving force behind the Society contributing its insights into what makes outstanding practice to a wide range of Skills for Care’s guidance and advice. This honour reflects Zoë’s significant contribution to adult social care in England, and that of Outstanding Society members who make a real difference to the lives of people who draw on care and support.” Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, commented: “I am delighted to see Zoe justly recognised as a nurse leader within social care. She has tirelessly promoted social care nursing, demonstrating her inclusive approach with passion and commitment and helped many others flourish in their work. She is truly deserving of this national recognition”. For more information on The Outstanding Society and its services, please visit www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/
It pays to be a home care worker at award-winning London provider
A LEADING home care provider is on the hunt for more support workers and carers to meet with growing demand – and is offering pay above the London Living Wage. SweetTree Homecare Services, who are based in South Hampstead, London, have been operating across London for more than 20 years helping more than 18,000 people in the capital to live more independently. The impact of both Brexit and Covid had impacted the hiring of new staff, but the award-winning home care provider has been steadily recruiting and is still looking to fill vacancies. The London Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay, currently set at £11.95 and is calculated independently to reflect the high cost of living in the capital, however, SweetTree Care Home offer a minimum of £12 per hour. The current National Living Wage is £10.42 per hour (aged 23 and over), £10.18 (aged 21–22) and £7.49 (18–20). SweetTree Home Care Services is aiming to increase awareness about a career in care with them at Health & Social Care Jobs Live – the UK’s busiest recruitment event dedicated to the health and social care sector run by specialist event company Job Shows – at Westfield Shopping Centre in London on June 16-17. Michelle Palmer, Director of People & Values at SweetTree Care Home, said: “We’re actively recruiting across London to meet demand with our sole aim of continuing to provide a premium service to facilitate more and more people remaining in their own homes with dignity, independence and control over their lives. “Care sector recruitment has been impacted by first Brexit and then Covid but working in care is still one of the most rewarding and flexible jobs ever and we’re keen to speak to any candidates who’re looking to join the profession or return to it. “At SweetTree Homecare Services, we remain an independently-owned provider and we’re delighted to be able offer staff more than the London Living Wage, and empowering our employees with training and support to aid career development. “We’re proud to have been a Sunday Times Best Company to work for and be rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission two years in a row. We’re also very humble after winning five awards at the National Home Care Awards this year.” SweetTree Homecare Services recently attended a general Job Shows event in White City last year and is looking forward to exhibiting at the health and social care industry specific, Health & Social Care Jobs Live, show in June. “We attended the White City event which was our first post-pandemic show and it was really successful for us,” said Palmer. “It was really important for us to meet potential candidates ‘off screen’ in a friendly face-to-face environment. “We were able to do ‘on the spot’ interviews and we filled lots of vacancies. Even months later we heard back from people who were not quite ready to make the move at the time who got back in touch and joined us later on, “The fact Health & Social Care Jobs Live is aimed at specifically health and social care convinced us to sign up to this one too. We’re looking forward to raising awareness about a career in care at SweetTree and speaking to people who have a genuine interest in joining the care sector and making a real difference to people’s lives.” SweetTree won five awards at the National Home Care Awards 2023 including the Grand Prix Golden Award for their outstanding overall performance and services for the past 21 years, the Day Care Expertise Award in recognition of the unique SweetTree Fields Farm which provides day care activities for their clients that promote self-development and independence, Specialist Care Award received by SweetTree’s highly skilled Brain Injury and Neurological Conditions Service team, Infection Control Award in recognition of the company’s highly effective response to the pandemic and Most Outstanding Independent Home Care Provider High Commendation due to their maintained Outstanding CQC rating and shining reviews.
