WELCOME TO OUR MAY 24 STAFF NEWSLETTER
Thank you for another successful month of delivering the best level of care to our residents. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.
Regardless of the team you are part of (nursing, care, ancillary, kitchen), your compassion and kindness make a difference in the lives of our residents every day, and for that, I am truly thankful.
As we approach the summertime with better weather, I would like to invite you to prioritise your self-care and wellness. In our Rewards Scheme platform, there are plenty of resources under the Wellness Center section. In addition, you have 24/7 access to a GP Helpline (details can be found again in the Rewards Scheme, under the GP Helpline section).
Thank you once again for all that you do, and for being an essential part of our care homes family.
Rich Crocker, Bristol Care Homes CEO
Rewards Scheme & Blue Light Card Roadshow
We’re thrilled to announce that we are planning to do a Rewards Scheme and Blue Light Card Roadshow around all our 4 homes in June!
The roadshow will be a fantastic opportunity for all of us to come together and learn more about the exciting savings, benefits and rewards that you can enjoy. Lorraine, our Contracts & Income Manager, will be sharing with you how she has been saving hundreds of pounds by using these two schemes: the Rewards Scheme and the Blue Light Card. And she will teach you how you can easily and fast save money on your day-to-day shopping.
Stay tuned for more information on the dates and times of the roadshow. We look forward to seeing you at the roadshow!
DID YOU DOWNLOAD THE NEW REWARDS SCHEME APP?
We are thrilled to announce that now you can access our Rewards Scheme benefits more easily by downloading and installing the newly launched app: “Be Saving”.
Available on IOS and Android, the free app will give you access to all the great features, savings and benefits available to you on the go, directly from your mobile – anytime, anywhere.
Click here to see a useful video on how to download and install the app on IOS.
It should be similar to do it on Android, but if you need help, please do not hesitate to contact Alexandra Grozea on PlanDay.
Employee Spotlight
This month we would like to feature in this section our wonderful Activities Coordinator at Field House, Jeremy.
Jeremy joined our Bristol Care Homes family last year and since then he has been doing an amazing job in the activities department at Field House. His passion for helping our residents to have meaningful activities shines through with every activity.
Jeremy, thank you for the inspiring love your have for your role and for making not only our residents’ lives better, but ours too.
New Training Opportunities
Here at Bristol Care Homes, we care about our staff just as much as we care about our residents. This is the reason why, amongst many other benefits, we offer great career pathways to anyone who is looking to develop and grow professionally.
Please contact your home manager to discuss what opportunities are available to you.
Recommend Us & Receive £100
Special thanks to all of you who have recommended our job opportunities to your relatives and friends.
We continue looking for a Night Team Leader to join our team at Glebe House and a Team Leader to join our team at Field House.
If you could recommend anyone for any of these positions, please message Sarah Walker, our Resources Manager, on PlanDay. If they join us and successfully pass the probation period, you will be gaining £100 through our Referral Scheme.
Review Of The Month - Quarry House
Mum was at Quarry House for all of March and some of April for respite care. Quarry House was fantastic!
Had one issue in first week but spoke to staff and it was rectified straight away.
The level of care from the cleaning team to the kitchen team to the carers to the nurses was incredible. They made Mum feel so welcome and they made the rest of the family feel welcome every time we visited!
There were a few exemplary team members there who treated my mum like she was their own mum. I’m not allowed to use names on here, but they will know who they are.
An example of how switched on they are was when a fantastic nurse spotted my mum’s leg was slightly swollen and hot. Within a day Mum was sent for a scan to show there was a blood clot. Medication was sorted straight away and everything on the mend. Fantastic attention to detail! […]
Highly recommend Quarry House!
Latest News From Our Homes
It has been a busy and wonderful month at Field House.
Residents who spend time in their beds or rooms were treated to bedside sensory sessions with Louisa. The theme was Beaches, and Louisa brought a stunning collection of seashells. Residents shared their stories and discussed the subject. Louisa took note of their thoughts and turned them into a poem. Louisa also entertained them, playing her guitar and encouraging residents to sing along.
On another occasion, Lawrence played the violin to residents in their rooms. One lady said she thought it was beautiful and it reminded her of listening to Yehudi Menuhin on the radio as a child.
The main event was a visit to Willow Trust, for a trip down the Gloucester Canal. We set off from Saul Junction Marina and headed towards Sharpness. Residents either sat at the front of the barge or sat inside chatting and watching the world go by. After lunch, some of our residents went to visit the captain, to drive the barge. James, a master mariner in another life, loved the experience. At the end of the day one of the residents said, ‘I’m not sure how we can top that trip’. We would like to thank Claire, from Beech House for arranging it.
Another trip found our Field House residents enjoying the good weather at Weston Super Mare. David said, ‘It was a brilliant trip, the best I’ve been on’.
With Spring in the air, the garden here at Beech House is taking shape with the newly updated raised vegetable bed being planted ready for an abundance of freshly grown organic vegetables grown by our residents to make into lovely food to be enjoyed by all.
We have said hello to some new staff members who have joined the team, Theresa has joined the kitchen team, Naomi has rejoined our nursing team and Ange and Jay have joined the care team, welcome all to Beech House.
Bethan our senior carer arranged for Cattle Country to bring in the beautiful baby animals. We had lambs, rabbits, chicks and guinea pigs. This visit truly made a difference bringing joy to all.
Several of our residents took to the water, cruising the canal, this is an annual trip for our residents organised by the Willow Trust. This was a truly wonderful moment for all. The residents enjoyed the stunning views from the deck and also had the opportunity to steer the boat.
The teams at Beech House are looking forward to some well-being sessions, thanks to a very kind donation from one of our resident’s families. As a home, we pay special attention to the well-being of our staff and like to engage with our team and promote our cultures and diversity.
The home is a thrive of activity, with outside entertainers bringing music and joy to the home. Alongside this, our whole staff team taking a variety of roles to ensure a variety of entertainment is available to all.
Here at Beech House, we are striving to make a difference for all our residents, staff and families. Throughout the home this is evident and the home continues to be warm and welcoming. Another wonderful month and we are all ready for summer.
Spring has arrived, the tulips are out and morale is high.
The 16th April marked 28 years since Glebe House, Bristol Care Home’s cornerstone, was first opened. We celebrated this wonderful occasion with a toast in the lounge and a beautifully reflective and reminiscent speech from Christine Crocker, one of the founders of Glebe House.
We begin the month with an influx of new staff, bringing a wide range of experience and refreshing new ideas to the team.
As you meander through our picturesque gardens you will begin to notice our freshly planted seedlings tentatively revealing their heads. A big thank you to Pam, Peter’s wife, who has been instrumental in donating and planting a beautiful array of wildflowers. She has also begun planting herbs and vegetables in our raised beds that we hope to be able to utilise in our kitchen over the coming months. Helping plant the seeds has provided an opportunity for some of our residents to get their hands dirty and spend some time outside. We know that watching these small green shoots develop into a canvas of colour will bring our residents and staff so much joy.
We are only just into Spring and yet our minds are already planning for the impending Summer. Alongside our prestigious annual Summer Fair, Natalia and I will be bringing out focus to some teambuilding/activities. We have some thoughts up our sleeve, but if you have any ideas please let us know. You’ll be pleased to hear that paintballing was firmly vetoed.
At last, we are beginning to see the rain dry up and the sun trying to come through the clouds. This will enable the residents to access the garden and balconies as those warmer days and evenings quickly approach.
Sarah Johannes, Nurse Associate, is now on her placement at Beech House and has secured her second placement at the Spire Healthcare Hospital.
Elena Codreanu, Nurse Associate from Glebe House, is working alongside Quarry nurses to support her achieve her placement outcomes.
Additionally, we are supporting a student here at Quarry House who currently works at the Spire Healthcare Hospital. We are supporting her nursing placement via the University of Sunderland.
Marcia, Social Engagement & Well-being Manager, and Shelley, Deputy Home Manager, have commenced a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society with the “Singing for the Brain“ programme.
The initiative behind “Singing for the Brain” is to provide and support singing groups within the home where residents can meet new people in a friendly, fun and social environment.
The research suggests that through these singing sessions residents with dementia can improve brain activity, well-being, and mood.
Once the formal training sessions are completed the sessions will be rolled out within two homes from September.
A goodbye this month to Yvonne Decosta who had worked as a carer for 4 years. Yvonne is relocating to live in London. We wish her well in her new journey.
Enjoy One Last Discount Before We Say Goodbye
Enjoy 5% off Sainsbury’s Reloadable Cards
On your Rewards Scheme account, go to Lifestyle Savings, search for Sainsbury’s and select the offer.
Click ‘Use Offer’ and then purchase a new Sainsbury’s Reloadable Card, or add funds to your existing card at a discounted rate. Then spend the card on top of sale and promotion items in-store at Sainsbury’s.
