Latest News Articles from AveryHealthcare.co.uk

Avery Healthcare Employee Wins Prestigious Award - National Care Activities Coordinator 2011

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At just 23 years old Helen was one of a national list of entrants nominated by residents and their families. Along with 3 others shortlisted Helen was invited to attend an interview in London with a panel of judges from The National Care Awards.

Helen said of her win, “I am absolutely thrilled. I plan a range of activities to keep all of our residents mentally challenged. Every one is different and as such has differing needs so its important Recreation & Leisure Organisers everywhere work to ensure the individual needs of residents are being met. Creativity isn't just about being able to paint or draw. It's about expression, ideas, passion, problem solving, individuality and adapting each resident's qualities into the personal planner that I design with residents for the enjoyment of day-to-day activities. All the activities I create within the activity programme are to treat people not to entertain people, but to inspire one another and learn from each other how to live, laugh and love life."

Avery Healthcare’s Group Recreation & Leisure Organiser, Lindsay Kelly commented, “We are enormously proud of Helen. She really is an inspiration to residents and employees alike. Avery Healthcare has a positive approach to investing in all staff. Investing in training our R&L Organisers is at the top of our agenda. As the care landscape is changing, especially in regards the increase in number of people living with dementia we need to ensure we are constantly evolving policy and practice which includes supporting employees with the training they need to ensure residents achieve their maximum potential. Mental well-being is as important as physical good health – Helen winning this award proves that we are leading the way in setting the standards for the future.&rdquo ;

LUXURY NEW CARE HOME CREATES 70 NEW JOBS IN HATFIELD

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Acacia Mews Care Home is located on the site of the old Police Headquarters on St Albans Road East. The site was bought by UK care operator Avery Healthcare following the relocation of the Hatfield Police Station

The luxury residential and dementia care home is a £3.5 million refurbishment project and was built by Avery Healthcare. Acacia Mews provides a variety of spacious room options across its 3 floors including single en-suite rooms opening on to a charming courtyard garden and for those residents looking for a home with added independence, the home also offers generously sized ‘suites’. These rooms are purposely designed with extra space for those residents who want to participate in the community atmosphere of the home whilst retaining an element of independent living. These rooms are larger and have additional space for residents to entertain guests. Residents can even order refreshments delivered to their door!

Acer Court Care Home offers the very best in clinical care and support services, landscaped gardens, a hair salon, hotel style dining and a varied leisure and recreation programme,

Avery Healthcare is a leader in innovation and change within the care sector. Its homes are an excellent example of how the business is at the very forefront of bringing about positive change. Having won awards for the design of its buildings and the innovation of services provided within its homes, Avery is working hard to change perceptions in the way we care for our elderly today.

Home Manager Anna Marah said of the opening, “We are looking forward to welcoming residents to Acacia Mews. We ran a rigorous local recruitment programme and are pleased to have appointed a highly skilled team of professionals and support staff to work with us here. The home is simply stunning, beautifully appointed, with a team of professionals who really can help improve the quality of life of residents. Our chef will provide restaurant style dining, our recreation and leisure programme will be wide and varied and our residents certainly won’t have time to be bored as we will have an exciting programme of activities and we will be engaging with the local community - bringing the outside world in to the home. We look forward to welcoming our first residents in January.”

Anna Marah went on to say “In the coming months we will be inviting local schools, clubs, businesses and other organisations to visit us here. I am keen to hear from local organisations interested in visiting residents at Acacia Mews.”

Acacia Mews Care Home is situated on St Albans Road East and its doors are open to visitors by calling Anna Marah on 07557 56054 0

LUXURY MILTON ROAD CARE HOME WELCOMES HOLIDAY GUESTS

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Acer House, which opened in October is owned and run by Avery Healthcare. Avery is one of the UK’s leading care operators and runs more than 30 top end care homes across the country.

The guests from Avery’s Hempstalls Hall Care Home spent a week with Acer House residents. They enjoyed day trips to Weston’s famous Pier, Sanders Garden World and Cadbury Garden Centre. They watched some classic movies in Acer House’s very own cinema room and after dinner there was evening entertainment, such as the Secret Auction where residents bid for items and the highest sealed bid won. A bottle of champagne won on the night was later shared on the last evening of the holiday.

The holiday has proven to be so popular Hempstalls residents will be visiting Weston again in January.

Acer House Home Manager Tracey Green said of the holiday, “We were thrilled to welcome our visitors from Hempstalls. Weston has such a great traditional British seaside reputation that it was a pleasure to share it with our guests, especially taking them to visit our wonderful new pier. It’s been such a success that we are considering inviting guests from our other homes across the country to visit us here.”

Manager at Hempstalls Care Home Lorraine Ford, said of the holiday, “Our residents at Hempstalls Hall in Newcastle under Lyme have an extremely active community lifestyle, often spending time away on holiday. We had the opportunity to meet Acer House Manager Tracey, earlier in the year when she paid us a visit. Tracey invited residents to stay at the new home when it opened and several residents were very keen to accept her offer. Those who did visit had a thoroughly enjoyable time and have been invited back again. Many new friends and acquaintances were made. On return they all commented on how beautiful the home was and how much they had enjoyed their holiday in what they described as a five star hotel. Staff were very helpful and they were all made to feel very welcome. Everyone would welcome another holiday in the new year”

The luxury £5.1 million home located next to Ashcombe Park on Milton Road opened in October this year and created over 50 local jobs. The home provides 60 luxury en-suite rooms - all equipped to a high specification. Acer House Care Home offers the very best in clinical care and support services, beautiful landscaped gardens, a hair salon and nail bar, hotel style catering and a varied leisure and recreation programme.

The home has appointed a highly skilled team of clinical professionals and support staff. It is beautifully appointed, all rooms are en-suite and residents enjoy restaurant standard dining and its recreation and leisure programme will include the opportunity to engage with schools and local business through its Community Engagement Programme - bringing the outside world in to the home.

Acer House Manager, Tracey Green can be contacted on 01934 637350

The care home is situated on Milton Road in Weston-super-Mare and doors are open to visitors .

Whitchurch Chef Wins National Health Care Operator’s ‘Cook Off’!

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Richard 51, from Redfield in Bristol, competed against 4 other chefs from Avery Healthcare’s homes across the country in the second of the regional heats. Richard who joined Bamfield Care Home in July 2011 started his career as a chef in the Royal Navy and saw action in the Falklands War. Following the end of his service Richard worked at various hotels and restaurants across the West Country before finally joining Avery Healthcare.

Richard said of his win, “I am thrilled to have won this round and am looking forward to competing in the finals this spring. Meal times are an important time for residents both socially and nutritionally and the team here at Bamfield aim to create first class food. It is a challenge as we need to cater for a wide range of palates, and many residents have specific nutritional needs but this means I am motivated to develop my skills further as a chef and the skills of my team”.

The event, the second of the regional heats, was held at The Red Lion in East Haddon, Northampton run by Michelin Star Chef Adam Gray.

Richard added, “The second round of the competition was fantastic and to be coached by Michelin Star Chef Adam Gray was inspiring. Although winning was and is important to me, I gained a tremendous amount from the day. For me by far the most important thing is looking after residents in a way I know how. Many do not have family – there is no better feeling than seeing someone face light up because of something I’ve prepared for them. I had an open mind entering this competition and I feel a great sense of personal achievement to have got this far. I look forward to the final”.

Avery Healthcare is a national care operator with a superb reputation for producing top quality food across it’s homes, in 2010 Simon Lawrence, chef at Aire View Care Home Care Home in Leeds won the Chef of the Year Award at the National Care Awards where he competed with chefs from care homes around the country in the national ‘Cook Off' to win the coveted ‘Chef of the Year’ award.

Hayley Strowbridge, Commissioning & Hotel Services Manager at Avery Healthcare, “We have a rigorous recruitment policy at Avery, all employees go through an intensive interview process and we make significant investment in a continuous staff training programme to ensure we remain at the top of our game. Our chef’s are selected for being extremely talented individuals with a true passion for food.
As part of their training programme we planned a short course at Adam’s Cookery School where our chefs are required to prepare their interpretation of a set dish under the careful tutelage of Adam and to bring a fun element to events, Avery decided to host its very own Masterchef Cook Off. All winners from the regional heats will compete against each other - the winner will secure a weekend away for two at the magnificent Stapleford Park Country House Hotel near Melton Mowbray.&rdquo ;

CARE HOME RESIDENTS ARTISTIC TALENTS GOES ON SALE!

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Residents attending the weekly art group at the home, run by Recreation and Leisure Coordinator Eli Figueiredo, spent 2011 preparing their individual artworks for the final calendar completed and printed this month.

Eli said of the calendars, “Our residents worked extremely hard to produce these stunning pieces of work and with many of our residents living with dementia this really is a superb personal achievement for all of the residents that took part. They are of a very high standard and printed to a great quality and they’ve been simply flying off the shelves - families and friends have been buying the calendars and have raised over £500 already. The money will be split - a donation will be made to Alzheimer’s Society Scarborough and the remaining money will be reinvested in to activities for residents in 2012. It was important to residents that we invest back in to the community and Alzheimer’s Society is a perfect charity to support.“

“The calendars are available for sale to the general public and will make superb Christmas presents!” added Eli.

Available at £5.00 each they can be purchased by calling Eli or Charlotte on 01723 381594

Scarborough Hall is run by national care operator Avery Healthcare - a leader in innovation and change within the care sector. Its homes are an excellent example of how the business is at the very forefront of bringing about positive change. Having won awards for the design of its buildings and the innovation of services provided within its homes.

Recent investment in Scarborough Hall Care Home in Scarborough has seen the start of a major face-lift for the home. The home was taken over by one of the UK’s leading health care providers, Avery Healthcare, in December 2010. Scarborough Hall is now well into its refurbishment programme, the residential and dementia care home provides 85 en-suite rooms with showers - all equipped to a high specification. It offers the very best in clinical care and support services too, a garden with raised flower-beds, a hair salon and hotel style catering. Moreover, it has introduced an exciting new leisure and recreation programme.

Scarborough Hall is located on Mount View Avenue, Scarborough. The homes Manager Charlotte Thompson and Recreation & Leisure Coordinator Eli Figueiredo would like to develop further links with the community. If your business or organisation would like to learn more about how it can become involved with Scarborough Hall, Elilie or Charlotte can be contacted on 01723 38159 4

Avery Healthcare Raises More Than £6,400 For The CPBF!

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The Mad Hatters Tea Party event launched in 2010 by the CPBF invites care home staff, residents and carers across the country to host a tea party to raise cash to support the charity.

The 2011 event took place on 24 August in 26 of Avery’s care homes across the UK and a raffle was held at Avery’s Head Office in Northampton where gifts were donated by local and national organisations. The £6,485.96 raised by Avery is an impressive increase on the £3,902.87 raised in 2010.

Managing Director at Avery, John Strowbridge said of the event, “Residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the first Mad Hatters 2010 event last year, so we encouraged all of our homes to engage residents in choosing their own fund raising activities to support the tea party this year.”

“Hempstalls Hall in Newcastle Under Lyme raised over £745 alone. They held a tea party, a sponsored walk where residents joined in and their local radio station promoted the event. Many personal and corporate donations came in off the back of the radio and the sponsored walk. It’s encouraging to see how support of this event is growing so rapidly.

John Strowbridge went on to say, “As a founding member of the CPBF, the charity is close to Avery’s heart. We invest heavily in our staff – we offer training and support throughout their career with us however, we are all aware that any manner of event can impact on anyone’s personal circumstances, the CPBF do a tremendous job at supporting those people who have worked in the care sector who happen to find themselves in a situation where they need financial support or just simply need some advice. Avery Healthcare will continue to support the CPBF in the great work they do”.

Shaun Turner from the CPBF said, “Avery Healthcare have once again been absolutely amazing with their support of the charity. With heart breaking pleas for help coming in on a daily basis, Avery’s support will help us to continue to be there for industry colleagues in times of need.&rdquo ;

RACE ONLINE DIGITAL CHAMPION MARTHA LANE FOX VISITS AIRE VIEW

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Aire View, in Kirkstall, is set to welcome the head of the Race Online initiative on 29 September 2011 at 10.00 am.

Having installed broadband in all of its homes, Avery Healthcare was one of the first care operators to introduce residents to the internet having recognised that many older people have much to gain from being online - many care homes recognise the benefits to residents but do not have the skills or resources to implement such an activity.

Avery is committed to leading change within the care industry and getting all residents online is a top priority. Having commissioned Finerday.com to pilot the scheme earlier this year at several of its homes, Avery is now in the process of rolling out the digital platform in all of its homes across the UK, investing in training its Recreation & Leisure teams to facilitate the activity. Today residents are enjoying the benefits of being online, allowing them more regular contact with friends and families and access to resources they quite possibly never thought possible.

John Strowbridge, Managing Director at Avery said, “Many residents can at times, still feel isolated from their families as visits are often slotted in around work and other commitments. And increasingly more and more people are choosing to live and work abroad widening the geographical gap between loved ones therefore the opportunity to visit and maintain contact with any regularity for many has become extremely difficult. Connecting people via a social network like Finerday allows them to communicate 24 hours a day. The activity will fall under the stewardship of our Recreation & Leisure coordinators – as well as the obvious emotional benefits this will provide it dovetails perfectly with our programme of activities designed to keep residents mentally active”.

Aire View’s home manager Paula Pearson said of the initiative, “There are so many benefits in getting residents online. Having access to the internet means residents no longer need to wait for a visit from family or friends, then can now actively engage with them via this online social network. We introduced our residents to Finerday in August?? this year. The digital platform enables residents to connect with families and friends; sharing news, messages, skype, photos, memories and so on”.

Paula went on to say, “We have seen first-hand the positive impact for both residents and family when they are connected on-line – there is a marked increase in residents personal happiness and well being”.

Finderday.com was developed by Lilla Harris, who has herself managed a care home and understands more than most, the sizeable benefits of being able to connect residents to friends and family through the internet, using a simplified web interface that has been designed with accessibility to the elderly in mind. Finerday.com enables elderly residents to connect with those that matter most, friends and family who, for a variety of reasons, are not able to visit as often as they would like to.

Aire View home has joined ‘Go ON Leeds’. UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox will visit Aire View as part of her Race Online campaign - to be the first nation in the world where everyone can use the internet .

Care Home Face-Lift Brings Exciting New Opportunities To Residents in Scarborough

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The home was taken over by one of the UK’s leading health care providers, Avery Healthcare, in December 2010. Scarborough Hall is now well into its refurbishment programme, the residential and dementia care home provides 85 en-suite rooms with showers - all equipped to a high specification. It offers the very best in clinical care and support services too, a garden with raised flower-beds, a hair salon and hotel style catering. Moreover, it has introduced an exciting new leisure and recreation programme. The refurbishment will be completed shortly when the home will open its doors to the public for its Open Day event.

Charlotte Thompson, home manager commented, “Prior to Avery Healthcare taking over, the care home based in Mount View Avenue had been struggling to meet its obligations to residents in terms of care and support services. The injection of cash has not only raised general standards at the home but also improved the quality of ‘softer benefits’ such as well considered recreational and leisure activities and family involvement programmes, the value of which, are often underestimated by other care providers.”

Recreation and Leisure Coordinator, Eli Figueiredo said of the homes activities programme, “Our range of activities are designed to help improve the quality of life of residents. Many other care homes have a ‘one size suits all’ mentality and set very simple recreational tasks for all residents despite their abilities. Whist we recognise the importance of setting achievable goals, it is also our aim to set residents challenges that will expand their mental capability and for those residents living with Dementia we tailor our activities programmes to their needs - all our activities are well designed and planned to meet the changing needs of all of our residents. Our Arts and Crafts activity is a good example of how we do that and it has proved to be one of the most popular activities we offer. There is always a great turn-out for this weekly event and residents are consulted in the planning of future projects. We strongly believe that keeping residents mentally active is as important as general good health.”

Charlotte Thompson went on to say, “We also have plans to engage the local community - bringing the outside world in to the home. We are looking to invite local school children and other organisations in to Scarborough Hall to participate in activities with residents and we will be encouraging residents to take part in trips out too.”

Avery Healthcare is a leader in innovation and change within the care sector. Its homes are an excellent example of how the business is at the very forefront of bringing about positive change. Having won awards for the design of its buildings and the innovation of services provided within its homes, Avery is working hard to change perceptions in the way we care for our elderly today. With plans to build a further 15 high end homes across the country by 2014 Avery continues to work to meet the growing demand for top quality care ensuring our older citizens don’t compromise on the quality of care they receive.

Scarborough Hall is located on Mount View Avenue, Scarborough. The homes Manager Charlotte Thompson and Recreation & Leisure Coordinator Eli Figueiredo would like to develop further links with the community. If your business or organisation would like to learn more about how it can become involved with Scarborough Hall, Ellie or Charlotte can be contacted on 01723 38159 4

Luxury Care Home Opens in Nuthall and Creates 80 New Jobs

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The residential and dementia care home will provide 78 en-suite rooms - all equipped to a high specification. Acer Court Care Home offers the very best in clinical care and support services, landscaped gardens, a hair salon, hotel style catering and a varied leisure and recreation programme, and for those residents looking for a home with added independence, the home also offers generously sized “premier’ rooms. These rooms are purposely designed with extra space for those residents who want to participate in the community atmosphere of the home whilst retaining an element of independent living. Premier rooms are larger and have additional space for residents to entertain guests. Residents can even order refreshments delivered to their door - another example of exemplary attention to detail provided by Avery Healthcare.

Home Manager Paul Hutton-Cornish said of the opening in October, “We are looking forward to welcoming residents to Acer Court. We ran a rigorous local recruitment programme and are pleased to have appointed a highly skilled team of professionals and support staff to work with us here at Acer Court. The home is simply stunning, beautifully appointed, with a team of professionals who really can help improve the quality of life of residents. Our recreation and leisure programme will be wide and varied – our residents certainly won’t have time to be bored as we will have an exciting programme of activities and we will be engaging with the local community - bringing the outside world in to the home. We look forward to welcoming our first residents in the coming weeks.”

Avery Healthcare’s Managing Director John Strowbridge commented, “There has been much ‘down talking’ surrounding the state of the care industry of late but we must remember that there is a lot of extremely good work being done in the care sector today – Avery’s homes are an excellent example of this. Avery is at the very forefront of bringing about positive change to the sector. We deliver only the very best in quality care and support services to our residents in all of our homes. This is borne out through the awards we are winning across the industry for the design and service innovation of our homes. Our future plans include a further 15 high end homes across the country by 2014 meaning we are working to try to meet the growing demand for top quality care ensuring our older citizens don’t compromise on the quality of care they receive – they should not have to and Avery is proving that in our homes, nobody needs to compromise on receiving top quality care and services.”

In the coming months Acer Court will be inviting local schools, clubs, businesses and other organisations to visit. Avery builds strong links with local communities in all its homes – the benefits are many, it helps keep residents mentally active, which is as important for them as general good health. The social impact such relationships have are extremely positive and manager Paul is keen to hear from local organisations interested in visiting residents at Acer Court. Paul can be contacted on 0845 190 2057

The care home is situated on Nottingham Road in Nuthall and will open its doors to residents in October .

FLAGSHIP CARE HOMES HOLDS CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

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The Xmas party arranged by Northampton based Care Operator Avery Healthcare, was held to enable families from both Brampton View Care Home and the newly opened Cliftonville care home to celebrate Christmas together. Residents, families, friends and staff from the homes gathered at the hotel and were entertained by a DJ and a festive Quiz. Chefs at the hotel prepared traditional roast turkey and all the trimmings for the delighted120 guests.

The Care Homes owned by local company Avery Healthcare, based in Grange Park Northampton, is one of the UK’s leading providers of care for our older citizens. The business is headed by local businessmen John Strowbridge and Ian Matthews, both have extensive experience within the care sector.

Brampton View Care Home is located in the prestigious village of Chapel Brampton and forms part of the Brampton View Care Village. The facilities provided at the care village range from luxury retirement apartments and cottages to nursing, residential and dementia care delivered in the luxury care home. Residents can enjoy the gardens, the community activities provided through the dedicated recreation and leisure team, hotel style dining, a hair salon and all the 88 rooms in the care home are en-suite with TV/DVD players.

The 106 bed Cliftonville Care Home offers not only the very best in clinical care and support services but also a gym, a cinema, landscaped gardens, hotel style catering and a varied leisure and recreation programme.

Marius Feeney, home manager said, “Avery build the type of care home that should be the norm today. Avery is a trailblazer in terms of designing care services that make a real difference to the lives of many people – residents and families alike. We really wanted to celebrate Christmas in style and The Park Inn provided us with the perfect setting for our party. We had a fantastic time and everyone got into the spirit of the event by wearing their party hats and generally joining in the fun. I am sure it will become a tradition that we will hold for many years to come.”

Andrea Feeney, Brampton View manager added, “It was wonderful for residents from Brampton View and Cliftonville to get together to celebrate Xmas. Keeping our residents mentally active and engaged in the community is very important to their well being so we actively promote events such as this.”

Cliftonville Care Centre is located on Cliftonville Road, next to the Northampton General Hospital. Call Home Manager Marius Feeney for further information on 01604 238850.

Brampton View is located in Chapel Brampton. Home manager, Andrea Feeney can be contacted on 01604 850700 .