Caring UK Weekly August 23

Group founder thanks staff at celebrations

THE founder of Parklands Care Homes has paid tribute to his staff and the local community for its support over the past 30 years.

Managing director Ron Taylor kicked off the 30th anniversary celebrations at a community event in the grounds of Parklands in Buckie, the company’s first care home.

Hundreds attended the free event which was billed as an opportunity to thank staff, past and present, residents, their families and local businesses and individuals who have supported the care group over the years.

Ron founded Parklands in 1993, having been a carer for his grandfather, an experience he said had been life-changing.

“Three decades ago I embarked on a journey inspired by the love and care I provided to my own grandfather,” he added.

“Being his primary carer was a life-changing experience that touched me profoundly.

“It was during those precious moments that the seeds of Parklands were sown – a vision of a group that would deliver the highest standard of personcentred care to others, just as I had given to my grandfather.

“When I set out on this path I never imagined that we would reach the scale we have – nine care homes, two more under our management, 700 employees, 400 older people in

our care.”

Ron paid tribute to staff across the Parklands group.

He said: “I am humbled by the dedication of our staff and the love they pour into their work. Their compassion, empathy and selfless dedication have made Parklands what it is today.”

He also thanked the local community for its support, particularly during the pandemic, and said it was a privilege to care for older people:

“Their smiles, their stories and the joy they bring into our lives are what drive us to do better each day,” he said.

“For the past 30 years we have strived to make every life we touch that little bit brighter. That has always been our guiding inspiration. I feel so humbled by what we have achieved, together.

To mark the anniversary occasion, Ron buried a time capsule in the grounds of Parklands, alongside his mother Ishbel Taylor, wife Elaine and Denise Risk, the care home manager.

The capsule included a signed lyric sheet from Speyside care home’s Heart Strings Choir, a poem from the team at Glenisla in Keith, a picture of the residents and staff at Parklands and Burnbank, a Buckie Thistle scarf, a miniature bottle of local whisky and several local newspapers.

Homecare provider Walfinch Bolton and Bury has received a ‘good’ rating following its first inspection by the Care Quality Commission. The inspection involved extensive engagement with the care staff, service users, their relatives, registered manager, Caroline Flood and managing director Monique Gadd. The assessment focused on evaluating the safety, effectiveness, level of care, responsiveness and leadership of the service provided. Walfinch Bolton and Bury received ‘good’ ratings in all five key areas. Monique said: “We are incredibly proud to have received our first ‘good’ rating following the inspection. This positive outcome is the result of the team’s unwavering dedication to providing a highquality service. “Achieving ‘good’ ratings across all assessed areas in our first official inspection is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional care.”

Nominations deadline extended

EXCITEMENT is building for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s Caring UK Awards the best one yet.

The deadline for entries has been extended due to high demand and will now close on Monday, September 18.

The awards evening will celebrate excellence throughout the industry, with trophies in 20 categories up for grabs at the glittering ceremony taking place on the night of December 7.

Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester – where host Emma Jesson will reveal the

winners. Awards include Regional Care Home of the Year, Care Employee of the Year and Activities Team of the Year. Other categories include Best Innovation in Care, Best Outdoor Environment and Care Employer of the Year.

Previous winners have reported an increase in profile and positive media coverage.

Event director Dominic Musgrave said: “Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we have received so far from homes up and down the country.

“If you’ve not entered your care business yet then I would urge you to do so sooner rather than later.”

To enter visit www.caringuk awards. co.uk/nominations

Grayson & Dawn Taylor

Lamont Johnson Ltd

Specialist Property Agents

Dear Grayson and Dawn

What an enormous relief for Christine and I, that the sale of Mount Pleasant, has completed so successfully. Never in our wildest dreams, could we have imagined such a straightforward and simple sale and much of that undoubtedly, can be attributed to your continual support and efforts on our behalves, throughout what could have been a very stressful process.

As you know, Mount Pleasant has been in our family ownership for over 38 years and therefore, we were very nervous about the selling process and choosing the right agent was crucial.

Thankfully we knew from the very first moment that we met you both, that you were the ideal choice of agent for us. Unlike many of the corporate agents in the sector who are invariably only available 9 am – 5 pm, five days per week, we knew that you would support us irrespective of working hours and that proved very much to be the case. Many of your so-called competitors should take a leaf from your book!

Your introduction/recommendation of a specialist healthcare solicitor in our case, and an excellent healthcare finance broker on behalf of our buyer, made all the difference to the success of the transaction. The recommended solicitor, from day one helped our cause enormously, and was a major contributing factor in enabling the transaction to move forward seamlessly to completion.

Thank you for all your efforts once again.

Kind regards to you both.

Lamont Johnson is delighted to confirm this weeks completed sale of Mount Pleasant, located in the affluent Cheshire “money belt”, close to Knutsford.

The original charming farmhouse building was converted and established as a Home by our clients in 1985.

The property is set in 5+ acres was extended in 1992 and a 3-bedroom bungalow added in 1993.

Presently registered for 25 and with the home having a current CQC status of “Good”.

The Home has been sold on behalf of John and Christine Padden and acquired by the Buxton based Andrew Care Ltd to complement their existing homes in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Firth and Woodford.

and Christine Padden (Vendors) with Grayson Taylor (Managing Director Lamont Johnson)

Home achieves ‘Good’ rating and appoints new manager

VALE View Heights, a 55-bed care home in Sidmouth, East Devon, is enjoying a double celebration as it announces it has achieved a ‘Good’ Care Quality Commission rating and the appointment of Izabella Maican as its new manager.

The care home, which provides residential, dementia, nursing and respite care, achieved an overall rating of ‘Good’.

The recently published CQC report found that residents ‘were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives’ and that people were helped to ‘stay active, to develop and maintain social relationships and to take part in a range of social activities’.

Staff recruitment and training were commended and the report stated ‘there were enough staff to meet people’s needs’. Nutrition and food were described as ‘excellent’ by a number of residents.

With fortunate timing, the CQC report was published at the same time Izabella Maican was announced as Vale View Height’s new manager.

She said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a ‘Good’ rating from the CQC.

“The staff here work tirelessly to ensure that our residents feel safe, well-looked after and are always treated with dignity and respect.

“This well-deserved acknowledgement is testament to the professionalism and passion the team has for caring for every resident here at Vale View Heights – this award is for them.

“I am personally thrilled to have the

Care home welcomes nursery to silent disco

opportunity to lead Vale View Heights into its next, exciting new era and I am determined that the home will continue to improve its service and provision in all areas.

“A happy and well-run care home depends upon the quality and dedication of its carers, so I will ensure that my caring team feel truly valued and supported to deliver the top-quality care I see here on a daily basis.”

Izabella trained as a nurse in Romania before coming to England to work as both a carer and a nurse in a nursing home. After becoming a deputy manager, where she turned around a home that had required improvements, she became a clinical lead at another care home.

After a period working for a caring agency, Izabella joined Vale View Heights in May.

Staff continue exercise class in Ken’s memory

STAFF are continuing to run a popular exercise class at a Surbiton care home in tribute to the resident who originally led it.

Wellbeing coordinators at Royal Star & Garter have continued running the Star Moves with Ken classes in memory of Ken Harris, who died shortly before Christmas, aged 88.

Ex-soldier Ken was a former fitness instructor who set up his class soon after moving to Royal Star & Garter in September 2021.

With the help of the home’s in-house physiotherapist, he drew on his experience as a YMCA weight instructor, teaching low-impact exercises to over-60s, to design seated-movement exercises, aimed at improving mobility and boosting mental and physical wellbeing. Such was the success of the class, that it was soon taking place six

days a week. It also relocated to a larger space in the home due to its increasing popularity.

Wellbeing coordinator Suzie Elliott often assisted with Ken’s classes, and vowed to him that it would continue running.

It is now known as Ken’s Star Moves with the Wellbeing Team, and Suzie said: “When I last saw him, I made a promise to Ken that we would continue running Star Moves with Ken.

“He didn’t say anything – he closed his eyes, smiled and nodded. It was very emotional.

“The classes meant the world to Ken. He loved them and he was so good at it. He looked forward to it and so did the residents who took part.

“We miss him a lot but this means his legacy will live on – I think he’d be happy to know that.”

A LUXURY Cheshire care home has welcomed a local nursery to take part in a silent disco — a unique initiative aimed to bridge the generation gap and rekindle the residents’ memories through music and dance.

Priesty Fields in Congleton recently played host to The Nursery, who, full of excitement, injected some youthful enthusiasm into a silent disco hosted in the home’s state-of-the-art communal space.

Home manager Gill Williams said: “It was an absolute pleasure to have welcomed The Nursery for our intergenerational silent disco at the home.

“Seeing the residents and children come together in such a vibrant and uplifting way was truly remarkable.

“To witness the power of music evoke memories and bridge generations throughout the event was very special and we are grateful for The Nursery’s participation and the positive impact it had on our residents’ well-being.”

A day filled with joy and laughter,

many of the children quickly formed friendships with residents, encouraging them to dance and exchange comical glasses and props.

Recognising the profound impact of music on mental well-being, this event ignited joyous childhood memories among the residents.

The carefully curated playlist, skillfully crafted by Pete Goldup, offered an eclectic blend of timeless classics and contemporary hits — catering to a diverse audience, spanning almost a century in age. The home’s retro popcorn machine, which proved very popular among the children, also ensured everyone had enough energy to keep dancing throughout the afternoon.

Despite the differences in age, the energy and innocence of the children had a huge impact on the residents — promoting physical activity far beyond their daily norm and introducing them to modern children’s music such as ‘Baby Shark’ — which was quite the contrast to Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

Home re-establishes link with local pre-school

TEAM members and residents from Care South’s Maiden Castle House in Dorchester have re-established its community relationship with The Grove Pre-School Playgroup, with the children regularly visiting the home and participating in activities with residents.

Maiden Castle House and The Grove Pre-School Playgroup had strong links prior to Covid, and was something both parties were keen to re-establish.

Activities lead Emma Norman said: “It is wonderful to have re-established this relationship with The Grove Pre-School Playgroup. Watching the relationships develop between the different generations is lovely and both the residents and children look forward to their visits.

“We have some exciting upcoming plans which include a teddy bears picnic before the end of term and further activities are in the pipeline from September. We cannot wait to continue watching this relationship go from strength to strength.”

Each week several children visit the home with their teachers and engage in a range of activities with the

residents including arts and crafts, food, fun, exercise and games.

The activities that the pre-school children get involved with are planned in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and are designed to be engaging for all, but free flowing so that the children and residents can participate as much or as little as they wish.

Izabella Maican

Festival honours leaders of soul and inspires celebration

EXCELCARE hosted its Heart ‘n’ Soul Festival annual awards ceremony at the Braxted Park estate.

The event was a grand celebration of exceptional achievements, recognising leaders who lead with their ‘heart & soul’ – with a person-centred approach, inspiring outstanding outcomes for each and every individual, whether they live in an Excelcare home, or receive visits from Excelcare’s homecare team.

Themed “Heart ‘n’ Soul,” the awards event highlighted the profound impact that leaders across the Excelcare family have on the lives of residents, families and colleagues.

Sam Manning, chief operating officer at Excelcare, said: “To us, leaders are visionaries who see how things can be improved and inspire others to move towards that better vision.

“Leadership is not confined to a specific background or path; everyone has the potential to be a leader. It’s about taking action and creating conditions for innovation, partnership working, and success.”

The Heart ‘n’ Soul Festival, in collaboration with sister companies Guildmore and Dinardo Care & Support, provided an opportunity

for attendees to reflect on key achievements from the past year and pay tribute to individuals and teams for their remarkable triumphs. The Leaders of Soul Awards were presented by the executive leadership teams from each company, creating a heart-warming atmosphere where winners were celebrated by support and cheers from their colleagues.

Ayrshire home celebrates its golden anniversary

MALIN Court care home in Girvan, Ayrshire, is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing residential care in the community.

More than 80 guests including current residents, their family and friends, and staff joined celebrations for a fun-filled garden party with musical entertainment from local singer Edwin Laurence and a BBQ lunch.

Home manager Louise Dunlop said: “Over the last 50 years, Malin Court has firmly established itself in the heart and minds of the local community, with so many of us holding treasured memories of visits to the hotel and its restaurant. It’s an honour to continue that legacy and ensure that many more happy memories are made at Malin Court.

“Celebrating 50 years with residents and the wider community was a fitting way to truly recognise its legacy within the local community.

“Our team of care home staff go over and above every day to ensure our residents get the best quality of care and support, and we’re looking forward to continuing this over the next 50 years.”

Malin Court was founded as a care home, restaurant and hotel in 1973 by Malin Housing Association.

The unique set up of the home, believed to be the first and only hotel, restaurant and care home hybrid in Scotland, quickly became an important part of the local

community.

Many residents who currently reside in the home have celebrated major life milestones at Malin Court previously.

This includes Betty and Bert Dunlop, who recently marked their 70th wedding anniversary together as residents, sharing previous happy memories celebrating the occasion in Malin Court’s restaurant.

The care home arm of the business was acquired by Renaissance Care Group, which manages more than 16 sites across Scotland.

The fall out from the Covid-19 pandemic saw the closure of the restaurant and hotel offering. However, these spaces have now been converted to spacious, communal areas for residents and visitors.

A momentous highlight of the event was the surprise presentation of the prestigious ‘Mr Bailey Award’ to Excelcare’s four regional operations directors: Kelly Morris, Louise Jones, Helen Bennett, and Celia Hardill. Chosen by CEO Ozzie Ertosun and COO Sam Manning.

This accolade honours individuals who embody the morals and values of

Excelcare and inspire positive change for the people who the provider homes and homecare service support.

The directors’ dedication and leadership were recognised with heartfelt video messages from their teams and family members, making the award ceremony even more emotional and meaningful.

Following the awards ceremony, attendees were invited to experience the Heart ‘n’ Soul Festival on the back lawn.

The festival featured an array of attractions, including fairground rides, cocktail-making classes and festival-style food huts.

A captivating stage hosted ‘Excelcare’s Got Talent,’ where winners from the 2023 competition showcased their talents, fostering a sense of appreciation for individual skills beyond the workplace.

An exhilarating ‘beat the boss’ basketball competition pitted attendees against CEO Ozzie Ertosun, generating laughter and joy throughout the event. As the day progressed the festivities moved into a soul-themed nightclub, complete with live drummers and a glow bar, providing the perfect atmosphere for a memorable celebration.

Craftwork helps rescue dogs find ‘forever homes’

CRAFTY ladies at a Dorset care home rounded off months of careful attention to detail with a sale of imaginative handmade items at their village festival.

Dog rescue charity Waggy Tails was the beneficiary of gifts designed, knitted, crocheted and decorated by 11 residents of Colten Care’s Brook View in West Moors and sold at the nearby Westival.

Fairy jars, woollen bird hangers, floral wands, turtle coasters and cardboard tube puppies were among dozens of items made in craft sessions and put on display to tempt visitors at the summer get-together.

Companionship team member Jo Vardy said: “Our residents worked hard over several months producing craftwork to sell from very cute cardboard puppies to pretty flower wands and many other summery items.

“On the day, we were joined at the stall by Brook View volunteer Claire Valvona and a Waggy Tails

representative.

“Together, we chatted to customers and it wasn’t long before we had a steady stream of sales, with the crocheted animals and woollen birds, especially the garden robins, proving popular.

“We also have an order book with specific requests such as more cardboard tube dogs in particular colours so our tally of around £120 for the day is still on the rise and our residents will be kept busy creating for some time to come.”

As well as the stall at Westival, a ‘doggy food bank’ of donated items was arranged back at Brook View ready for collection by Waggy Tails manager Nicky Chapman.

The idea of choosing Waggy Tails as the home’s main charity for this year came from senior receptionist Sarah Weaver. She took on her late dog Buddy via the charity.

He used to come into the home while she was on duty, proving a hit with residents, staff and visitors.

Chance encounter leads to Judith rekindling her connection with centre

A SALTBURN care home resident has rekindled her connection with a rescue and rehoming centre for dogs after a chance encounter with a Teesside schoolboy.

Care home supports butterfly release

THE Wharf Care Home in Stourporton-Severn has once again given its support to KEMP Hospice, sponsoring a heartwarming butterfly release event at Bodenham Arboretum.

The Wharf, part of the Maria Mallaband Care Group, is a long-time supporter of KEMP The Wyre Forest Hospice, which offer care and support to patients, families and carers who are experiencing life-limiting illness and bereavement.

The home has sponsored the annual butterfly release for the past two years, contributing £1,500 to the hospice’s work, and it is getting behind it again, sponsoring this year’s event taking place at Bodenham Arboretum in September.

Participants in the butterfly release honour their loved ones while also supporting the essential services provided by KEMP Hospice. By making a suggested £30 donation they can dedicate a butterfly to the memory of a loved one. Hundreds are released together at the event, creating a living memorial and a

source of comfort and hope.

Rachel Price, deputy manager at The Wharf, said: “It is an honour to support such a heartwarming event. It means a lot to our home and to those in our care who have been supported by KEMP Hospice in the past and currently.”

Participants in the butterfly release receive one free entry to the arboretum for the event. They will join together to remember their loved ones, and each person will have the opportunity to release their own butterfly – a symbol of remembrance offering comfort during difficult times – and watch it take flight amongst the flowers and plants at the Bodenham Arboretum.

Rachel added: “Having worked with the hospice many times we know the incredible service they offer and the difference it makes to so many local families.

“They are a very special organisation and we are so grateful to show our support for everything they do for us, our families, and our community.”

First tattoo is the missing ink in resident Hilda’s bucket list

HILDA Parsons’ wish of getting a tattoo was fulfilled at the age of 89 as the carers at Maiden Castle House, a Care South care home, arranged for a tattoo artist to make her persisting dream come true.

She had mentioned to the team at the Dorchester home that she had the wish of getting a tattoo on her bucket list.

After consulting Hilda’s GP for any potential health risks and ensuring Hilda she what the process would involve, Beccy, one of the carers, reached out to a local tattoo artist.

Nathan from Tattoo Lounge in Weymouth created a design to capture her love of bird watching, with Hilda choosing a dainty artwork of birds on a branch.

After a careful risk assessment, Hilda sat patiently whilst her tattoo was taking shape. She now has the tattoo she longed for permanently inked on her forearm.

Hilda said: “There’s not many people my age having their first tattoo. The lovely team at Maiden Castle House did everything to make my wish possible and nothing is ever

too much trouble. I’m so pleased with my tattoo.”

Hilda’s unusual bucket list request was a hit on social media, with comments like ‘absolutely love this’ and ‘what a legend she is’.

Ash Smith, manager of Maiden Castle House, said: “We work hard to ensure that our activities are person-centred and that we can make dreams come true. We’re pleased to have helped Hilda fulfil her wish. The tattoo looks great and is a permanent reminder of her outgoing nature.”

Judith Pearson, 78, joined the organising committee for Maxi’s Mates Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Dunsdale more than a decade ago, back in November 2012.

After moving to Hazelgrove Court in Saltburn, in 2021, Judith could no longer volunteer at the centre, where she also used to walk the rescue dogs.

However, a coincidental encounter with another Maxi’s Mates volunteer, 14-year-old Charlie Main, who attends Rye Hills Academy, in Redcar, gave Judith an idea of how to support the centre again.

She launched an appeal for donations of blankets, toys, food, and other supplies.

The care home was inundated with donations, which have since been delivered to Maxi’s Mates.

Judith and Charlie have also kept in touch, after being paired together by Crafting Connections, which is run by national charity The Together Project.

The charity pairs school children with elderly care home residents to reduce loneliness, boost wellbeing, foster community connections, and create intergenerational experiences.

Charlie began by writing to Judith and sending artworks, as well as photos of him volunteering at Maxi’s Mates, when the pair realised their shared connection with the dog centre.

He previously won a Blue Peter badge for his work with hedgehogs and has been volunteering at Maxi’s Mates for more than two years.

Since then, Charlie has visited Judith at Hazelgrove Court, and Judith has gone to see Charlie at Maxi’s Mates when he’s there with his mother, Sarah-Jane, on Sundays.

Judith said: “It is wonderful that Charlie and I share this interest in Maxi’s Mates.

“It is great to see that a teenager is doing volunteering work, especially with something so close to my heart.

“If it was not for Crafting Connections we would never have met.

“It was great to reconnect with Maxi’s Mates and it was wonderful they still remembered me from when I was on the committee. The work they do rehoming all the dogs is outstanding.”

Sarah-Jane added: “We took part in Crafting Connections as we saw firsthand how lonely it can be in a care home after my Nana (Charlie’s Great Nana) was taken in one day during lockdown.

“It was especially tough when the homes were put on lockdown and visitors were not allowed.

“We thought it would be nice to make another elderly resident smile and we were really surprised to find out Judith lived so close and had Maxi’s Mates in common with Charlie.”

Interesting guests visit

RESIDENTS at Millway House in Andover have enjoyed a visit from a selection of interesting animal guests recently.

The group of creatures – which included an owl, Guinea pig, lizard, snake and centipede – popped into the nurse-led care home from Feathers, Fangs and Furries, a local animal welfare organisation, and everyone was excited to meet them.

Visiting Millway House as part of an animal therapy session, the special guests were taken around the care home to interact with residents.

Home manager Claire Lousteau said: “Interaction with different animals helps stimulate our residents’ brains and helps to keep them mentally active and engaged.

“Animal therapy also helps to decrease agitated behaviours of residents who have dementia, as it helps them to remember and talk about past pets and animal experiences.

“The smiles on our residents’ faces said it all – they were delighted to

have the chance to meet and hold each of the different animals, and it was fantastic to see.”

The team from Feathers, Fangs and Furries made sure every resident had the chance to say hello to its animals, and made a special visit to the room of a 103-year-old resident who was unable to make it to the lounge.

Judith Pearson with Charlie Main.