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Sparkling night of champions as Colten Care celebrates team successes

Colleagues from our 21 care homes and head office are celebrating success at an in-house awards ceremony.
A glittering black-tie evening saw individual and group wins in nine categories at the Colten Champions awards reflecting all aspects of the care mix.

We honoured excellence in nursing, caring, team work, support services and other ways staff make a positive difference to residents, families and each other.

There were more than 1,000 nominations across our homes in Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire and our head office in Ringwood.

Over 400 nominations were submitted by residents and relatives.

Bincy Thomas, Senior Care Lead at Brook View in West Moors, Dorset, said she was taken by complete surprise when she heard her name read out as the winner of the Caring Excellence Award.
Bincy said: “Many people work in support of residents’ care and so I knew others deserved the award too.

“Yes, I was a finalist but I really didn’t think I would win it. It was a surprise and then after I went up, everyone was congratulating me and my fellow carers and nurses were saying ‘you deserve it, we are so lucky you are here’.
Asked for her view of the qualities that produce ‘caring excellence’, Bincy said: “Remember that everything is centred around the resident. You should always be honest and friendly to them and their relatives. I try to take care of everyone as if they were my own family. You act as a problem solver and you support your colleagues on the floor. I look at the team as my sisters and brothers.”

Also a winner, picking up the award for Resident Impact, was Ildiko Csanalosine Fuves, a waitress at Braemar Lodge in Salisbury.
“I was shaking and crying when I heard I had won,” said Ildiko. “I am really honoured and so happy. People said such beautiful things about me. I am so thankful.”
The Values award, designed to recognise an individual who exemplifies Colten’s company values of being friendly, kind, individual, reassuring and honest was won by Senior Gardener Chris Marsh.

He said he was ‘truly humbled’ to be nominated and to go on and actually win it was ‘something else entirely’.
Chris, who has worked for Colten Care for ten years, added: “When the guiding principles and values of your employer align with your own, it makes your job that much more enjoyable and fulfilling.

“Working for a company that recognises the value of outdoor spaces, and promotes the well-being that comes from gardens, social interaction and mental stimulation, makes my role one to truly treasure.

“Colten invests so much in these values, and I am proud to be part of an ambitious team that shares and develops this vision.

“At the heart of everything we do is the best cause of all: our residents. We work tirelessly to give them the best experience possible, to heal and uplift them and ensure they feel safe and valued.”
The awards ceremony took place at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel after a champagne reception and dinner. Afterwards, guests danced to live music from pop rock party band We Are Robot.

Event host was Hampshire-based Manley Hopkinson, a polar explorer and round-the-world yachtsman.
Manley said: “It was a superb evening and the energy was infectious. It was an honour to present the awards and speak to the teams. I felt humbled and inspired in equal measure.”
Colten Care residents were represented by guest of honour Mollie Speirs who travelled to Bournemouth from her care home, Kingfishers in New Milton.

For every resident or relative nomination made, Colten Care donated £10 to their respective care home’s charity of the year.

Colten Care Chief Executive Mark Aitchison and Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer were both present to introduce the awards.
Mark said: “Colten Champions is a brilliant way to celebrate colleagues who truly embody our values and consistently go above and beyond.

“I thank all those who put in a nomination, including so many residents and relatives, and of course congratulate all the winners, finalists and nominees.

“Their success is richly deserved and it is a privilege to work with them.”

‘And relax…’ residents take five to rest and rejuvenate

Our Dorset care home residents enjoyed a beautiful day of pampering and chilling out inspired by an international celebration of relaxation.
Five Colten Care homes co-ordinated a host of gentle activities designed to embrace wellness, slowing down and de-stressing.

Dozens of residents at our homes in Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown and West Moors took part, with input from staff members and visiting therapists.

The activities followed this summer’s International Relaxation Day, a collective ‘stress relief’ occasion launched by a nine-year-old American boy, Sean Moeller, 39 years ago and observed around the world ever since.

The homes laid on a wide range of experiences for residents that included healing therapies such as massage, shiatsu and reiki along with yoga, meditation, gong baths, foot soaks and spas, and hand and nail treatments.

To help create the sense of deep relaxation, lounges were adorned with crystals and soft lighting while ambient sounds and the scents of essential oils permeated the air.

After a head massage and face mask complete with cucumber slices to soothe her eyes, 104-year-old Dorothy Parker complimented carers at Brook View in West Moors, saying: “That was the most I have ever felt relaxed.”

Fellow Brook View resident Iona Midlane said she particularly enjoyed a gentle hand massage from Companionship Team member Elizabeth Carpagnano.

At Canford Chase in Poole there was a focus on breathing exercises. Companionship Team Leader Vicky Day said: “We spent some of the day looking at how we can regulate our breathing to help increase feelings of calm and wellbeing and boost physical energy.”

At Amberwood House in Ferndown, treatments included foot pampers.

“We started with a warm lavender foot soak to soften skin and ease any aches,” explained Companionship Team Member Kirsty Richmond-Cole. “Residents had a light exfoliating scrub followed by a hydrating massage, a treatment that became a firm favourite.

“We finished off with a hand massage to decrease stress and tension and promote good circulation throughout our hands and wrists.

“All the treatments were enjoyed throughout the afternoon and our ladies were glowing as they left the spa.”

A candlelit spa afternoon at Bourne View in Poole featured yoga, breath work, hand masks and massages, complemented by homemade refreshments such as lemon, orange, cucumber and mint-infused water to help hydrate and revitalize bodies and give a sense of detox.

Resident Jean Pickles said: “I would love to have another spa day again.”

In a sensory room at Fernhill dedicated dementia care home in Longham near Bournemouth, a steady flow of residents received shiatsu and reiki from Wellbeing Champion Angela Thorn.

As she came out, Kiki Tormey said: “I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. That was incredible, I’m so relaxed.”

And June Welford, who also lives at Fernhill, told carers: “This has been the best day. Every day is relaxation day with you.”

As well as residents, Fernhill laid on relaxation experiences for staff.

Health Care Coordinator Peter Coburn, a sports massage therapist, performed a destress and revitalise routine for team members.

Healthcare Assistant Terry Harvey said afterwards: “I feel so much better. We do a physical job, using all the muscles in the body, and this kind of treatment really helps.”

Amberwood House care home sets tails wagging with charity dog show

A fun-filled community dog show set tails wagging in the garden of one of our Dorset care homes.
Residents, relatives, friends, staff and prize pooches came together to enjoy the popular annual crowd-pleaser at Amberwood House in Ferndown.

Across ten categories, owners showed off their handling skills as canine competitors vied to win the titles of loveliest lady, most handsome man, fanciest dressed, fastest recall, waggiest tail, best biscuit catcher, golden oldie, best trick, best ball retriever and dog egg and spoon.

Winners included Izzy, resplendent in crown and sash, for loveliest lady and Roly in a tuxedo for most handsome man.

A pair of cowboy hat-wearing dachshunds, Freya and Heidi, won the judge’s hearts to take the fanciest dressed title.

Companionship Team Leader Kirsty Richmond Cole said: “Our golden oldie award was won by Bertie, a regular visitor to the home with his owner Mandy.

“He loves a fuss and makes himself at home whenever he visits. You could hear ‘aww’ coming from the crowd as he did his runway walk.”

The competitions culminated in an egg and spoon race in which owners had to run round a circuit without dropping their egg and while keeping their dog on the lead as they went.

The show was hosted by Home Manager Diane Nicholls and judged by resident John Hyde, home volunteer Hayden O’Neill and Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer.

John said: “It was great fun judging the entries and seeing the dogs entertaining everyone with their personalities, agility and outfits.”

Diane said: “We thank everyone involved for their hard work and all the competitors and visitors for helping to make the show such a success.

“This is an event that we all look forward to and we were thrilled with the turnout on the day. It was even bigger and better than in previous years.

“The egg and spoon race in particular gave the crowd plenty of laughs and it certainly tested doggy owners’ fitness.”

Ahead of the show, residents made dog toys, bandanas, treat jars, resin tags and other crafts that were available to purchase on the day, with proceeds going to the home’s charity of the year, High Mead Farm. Along with entry fees, the sales helped to raise nearly £140.

As the categories progressed, winners and competitors were rewarded with rosettes, certificates and treats prepared by residents.

Crafty care home ladies knit tiny blankets for kittens and cats in need

Nimble-fingered ladies at our Dorset care home have knitted tiny woollen blankets to make life more comfortable for kittens and older cats waiting to be rehomed.
A party from Amberwood House in Ferndown visited the town’s Cats Protection rehoming centre to deliver their colourful handiwork.

They brought along 30 gift-wrapped blankets each made from individual squares of wool carefully knitted and stitched together and sized to fit a cat’s travel basket.

Blankets measuring 60cm by 40cm were aimed at kittens while those earmarked for older cats extended to 90cm by 60cm.

Amberwood House resident Mary Whitehouse has been a cat lover since she was a girl when her postman dad used to bring unwanted moggies back to their home.

Her daughters Christine Whitehouse and Elizabeth Doyle helped the blanket-making campaign by stitching together many of the squares Mary and other residents knitted.
After her minibus trip to present the blankets to Cats Protection, Mary said: “It was so wonderful to see how much help they are giving to the cats in their care who are looking for a new home.”
Fellow knitter Betsy Fisher said: “I felt proud to take the knitted blankets over to the cats. I have really enjoyed being part of this project. It’s all for such a great cause. I understand that we weren’t allowed to touch the cats but they were so cute I do just wish I could have cuddled them!”

Companionship Team member Justine Thorpe, who accompanied the residents on their crosstown trip, said: “Many of our ladies love knitting and when we asked around local charities to see if the blankets we were making would be any use, Cats Protection got back and jumped at the chance. For each cat they rehome they like to do so with a blanket.”

Colleague and Companionship Team leader Kirsty Richmond Cole said: “Back in lockdown we knitted a huge amount of squares which we stored in the home’s loft.

“We got them out last year and decided to do something with them. As well as the blankets for Cats Protection, we made woollen bunnies, fingerless gloves and hats out of the squares.

“We sold some of these items at our Christmas market last year in aid of Ferndown Rotary, raising more than £200.

“It has been a really lovely initiative involving residents, their families and team members.”

Cats Protection says there are many reasons why a cat or kitten may need to be rehomed including their owners moving house or experiencing a relationship breakdown.

Rehoming centres also take in lost and found cats who are reunited with their owners wherever possible. Cats can arrive at the centre after they have been abandoned, often sick or injured with the team nursing them back to health so that they can be found new loving homes.
Tanya Burnett, Deputy Manager at Ferndown Rehoming Centre, said: “We are so grateful for the blankets that the ladies from Amberwood House knitted with such care and attention to detail.

“We were also pleased to be able to offer them a tour of the homing centre and although we aren’t able to offer one-to-one time with the cats during tours, we are glad the residents enjoyed being able to see each of the cats in their individual pens, hear their stories and details of the work we do for cats, both at the centre and in the wider community, as we work to help people see the world through cats’ eyes.”
For more information on Cats Protection and to donate or volunteer for the organisation, visit www.cats.org.uk.

War of words as residents from four of our care homes dabble in Scrabble

Dedicated Scrabble fans from four of our care homes were quick to mind their Ps and Qs as they enjoyed a friendly battle of words in multiple encounters.
Players at our care homes in Dorset and Hampshire pitted their wits against each other to search for the ultimate word score using giant Scrabble boards.

While Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst welcomed friends from Kingfishers in New Milton, there was similar gentle rivalry as Amberwood House in Ferndown took on visitors from Bourne View in Poole.

The inter-home fun, timed to celebrate National Scrabble Day, lasted several hours and featured a sweepstake so non-players could feel involved by guessing the number of words the teams achieved in each game.

At Amberwood House, staff reflected the theme of word play by dressing up as something beginning with the first letter of their name.

Companionship Team Leader Kirsty Richmond-Cole was a Kite, Clinical Lead Hanna Rehbein was a Hot Dog, Home Manager Diane Nicholls was a Dragon, Nurse Anika McQuirk was Alice in Wonderland, and Maintenance Manager Christian Blanch was Clark Kent, unveiling a Superman top from under his shirt.
Kirsty said: “We decided to dress up so residents could have a good laugh and join in with the celebrations even if they had decided not to play. We did have some strange looks and one or two belly laughs. Resident Don Cussen asked us if we had lost our marbles!”
The Bourne View team – Harold Faircloth, Wendy Barnes and Peter Prior – arrived at Amberwood House just before lunch, taking a stroll around the garden and enjoying fish and chips before sitting down for the competition.

In the end, Amberwood House put up three teams itself, with residents Marjorie Hutchings, Rita Bryant and Noreen Hewitt having a closely fought match with Harold, Wendy and Peter.
Kirsty said: “There were some clever moves and a few challenges on words and Marjorie, Rita and Noreen jumped into the lead. But Harold, Wendy and Peter refused to give in and made a word score of 41 which enabled them to go in front. As it went on and with a final push from Marjorie, Rita, and Noreen, Amberwood House cheered with joy as they cleared their rack with a fantastic move and won the game.”
Marjorie said: “It was great to welcome our visitors. Hopefully, it’s the start of more get-togethers. We all love Scrabble, it’s a definite favourite.”

At Woodpeckers, there were also multiple matches with some ties open to family and friends as well as residents.

The most successful residents’ team was Jo Bray, Pam Welch and Molly Wolstenholme.

Companionship Team member Sian Harris said: “Over an hour and a half of playing and 75 words later, Jo’s team were the clear winners with 307 points against 239. Jo also won a prize for the longest word. This prompted a lot of laughter as her word was ‘headstones’.  One resident said, “you have to laugh at these things, even if it’s dark humour!”

There was also National Scrabble Day fun with games between residents living at Avon Cliff home in Bournemouth.

National Scrabble Day is celebrated annually in honour of the game’s creator, an American architect called Alfred Mosher Butts who was born in April 1899 and came up with his invention in 1938.

In the pink as Colten Care residents do their bit to help end breast cancer

Residents and team members at Colten Care have united in a colourful display of solidarity to raise awareness of breast cancer and help fund research into the disease.
Our sister homes in Dorset and the New Forest staged a host of activities and events for the Wear It Pink campaign run nationally each year by charity Breast Cancer Now.

Residents at Court Lodge in Lymington, Kingfishers in New Milton and Amberwood House in Ferndown were among those dressing up in pink and having fun with hands-on fundraising games and get-togethers.

At Court Lodge, Home Manager Rebecca Hannam and Healthcare Assistant Eddie Brion bravely volunteered to stand outside ‘in the stocks’ and have wet sponges thrown at them.

One resident, Jack Harris, felt so sorry for them he insisted on being a target himself.

“Actually I very much enjoyed it,” said Jack. “It’s for a good cause and it was only fair to join in.”
Companionship Team Leader Julia Puia said: “It was a very fun and wet afternoon. We had a great time with lots of laughter. Everyone paid a pound a time to pick up and throw a soggy sponge. Residents enjoyed the activity and seeing Jack volunteer to take part was the best thing.”
Pink-themed goings on at Kingfishers in New Milton included an afternoon party, raffle and information session complemented by a foot-tapping country music singalong led by visiting entertainer Retro Rita.

Resident Jack Phillips said: “I enjoyed the music so much, it really made me want to dance.”
As well as holding a day of games and quizzes, residents at Amberwood House in Ferndown supported Wear it Pink by knitting pink ribbons to sell to friends and family.

Hundreds of pounds have been raised across the homes. Donations are still being collected ahead of a total amount being confirmed.

Breast Cancer Now funds life-changing support for cancer sufferers and research into new ways to help prevent, detect and treat the disease.

The charity has an ambition that by 2050 everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live, and be supported to live well.

Wear it Pink has been the flagship annual fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Now for more than 20 years.

For more information, visit www.breastcancernow.org

Golden shot for Colten Care residents raising a cuppa for Macmillan

Colten Care homes have hosted a series of Macmillan Coffee Mornings with an added Willy Wonka-style twist.
Residents, staff and visitors raising a mug at the annual charity get togethers were served freshly prepared homemade cakes and pastries in the traditional way.

But at each of Colten Care’s 21 homes, chefs baked one of the tasty treats as a ‘Golden Cup Cake’, containing a hidden layer of edible gold leaf through the middle only to be revealed when the cake was bitten into.

The lucky recipient won a bottle of bubbly, chocolates and a donation to Macmillan on their behalf.
“I couldn’t quite believe it was the golden one,” said a smiling Pamela Kately, the winner at Canford Chase in Poole.
More than 100 cup cakes were baked by Chef Izzy Turczyn-Kuzma at The Aldbury in Poole, with housekeeping colleague Michael Sheppard receiving the golden prize.

And at Brook View in West Moors, the cup cake winner was visitor Hannah Kirby who had only just arrived to visit her grandfather Harry.

Moments after making her coffee morning donation along with partner Leigh, Hannah bit into the cake and saw the gold, prompting cheers all round.

Hannah, who was then presented with her bottle of bubbly, said: “I didn’t realise what it was at first and wondered what I had found in the middle. It was a lovely surprise.”

As well as the Golden Cup Cake search, this year’s coffee mornings at Colten Care featured plenty of conversation and other fun. There were mufti days for staff, guess-the-weight-of-the-cake games, cake sales, singalongs and dances.

At The Aldbury, two musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, violinist Jennifer Curiel and pianist and French horn player Kevin Pritchard, performed popular classical pieces and childhood songs such as Run Rabbit Run. Among the residents singing and dancing along were Mary Cooper, Elizabeth Kay and Win Clowerly.

Fellow resident at The Aldbury, Abdu ‘Hobi’ Sabih, did his bit to collect donations. He helped Companion Melissa Siat Caparros to push the fundraising cake trolley around the home, chatting with residents, staff and visitors.
Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We always support the Macmillan Coffee Morning with all 21 of our homes taking part. It’s a fantastic community initiative. We invite families, friends and local contacts to come and join us for a coffee social and enjoy the fun. The prospect of winning a golden cupcake adds even more interest.”
The first Macmillan Coffee Morning took place in 1990 with the simple idea of encouraging people to donate the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan Cancer Support to help the charity’s work for people with cancer. Since then, more than £300 million has been raised.

According to Macmillan, one in two of us will face cancer. The charity’s aim is to help everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.

For more information and to donate, visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

Colten Care residents honour ‘superstar’ carers with Champions awards

Hundreds of residents from our 21 care homes have honoured the staff who enable them to live the best lives they can every day.
Colten Care’s Champions awards prompted nominations across nine categories reflecting a range of clinical and non-clinical care.

Individuals, teams, homes and departments were all recognised as the annual scheme culminated in a glittering evening at Bournemouth’s Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

Around 140 guests dressed up in style for the awards ceremony and celebration, hosted by TV presenter Dr Hilary Jones.

Nominees and audience members mingled at a welcome reception before stepping into a specially decorated ballroom for dinner, the ceremony itself and the opportunity to dance the night away.

[caption id="attachment_13325" align="alignnone" width="1314"] AWARD. Lucy O’Brien, Senior Administrator at Bourne View in Poole, won the Warm Welcome award. With her is Dr Hilary Jones, who hosted the Colten Champions evening, and Elaine Sheppard, Head of Customer Support.[/caption]

Colten Care residents were represented by special guest Jean Smith, who lives in Poole home Bourne View.

She had previously met Dr Hilary at the home’s official opening in spring 2019 when her late husband, former Poole Mayor Ray Smith MBE, became the first resident to move in.

Catching up with the broadcaster and author once again as they stood on stage, Jean said: “I can’t believe I’m here.”

She then presented Rosa Santos, Senior Care Lead at Newstone House in Sturminster Newton, with the inaugural award for Resident and Relative Choice.

This category, which attracted more than 500 nominations from residents and families, was designed to recognise an individual or team ‘who have truly made a difference to your life or your loved one’s life since coming to Colten Care’.

The common theme for Rosa’s multiple nominations was her ‘kind and welcoming approach to both residents and relatives. Rosa has patience to understand residents needs so well which has such a positive outcome for their care’.
One relative wrote: “It is always a please to see Rosa on duty, she cared for my mother and father with such cheerfulness, she would make sure my father was helped upstairs to spend time with my mother when they were on different floors. She works hard to ensure our family are kept informed, added to this her professionalism and positive attitude.”
Among other category winners, Lucy O’Brien, Senior Administrator at Bourne View, who won the Warm Welcome award, described the moment her name was read out.

She said: “It was amazing, a total surprise. I was in a complete daze and then got quite emotional. It was lovely to go up and receive the award in front of everyone and meet Hilary Jones.”

[caption id="attachment_13326" align="alignnone" width="1262"] Colten Care resident Jean Smith, right, was Honorary Guest at the Colten Champions awards. She presented the inaugural Resident and Relative Choice award to Rosa Santos, Senior Care Lead at Newstone House in Sturminster Newton. With them is awards host and TV presenter Dr Hilary Jones.[/caption]
Colten Care Chief Executive Mark Aitchison said: “Colten Champions celebrates the pride and passion our amazing team shows every single day, caring for our residents and their families.

“It is an immense privilege to lead a team full of superstars, always prepared to go above and beyond.

“We thank everyone who put in a Colten Champions nomination and congratulate all the winners, finalists and nominees.”
Mark’s comments were echoed by Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer, who added: “There are so many shining examples of our team supporting and caring for residents, embodying our values and consistently putting the resident at the very heart of all they do.”

After the ceremony, Dr Hilary said: “Colten Champions truly reflects the importance of quality care delivered by a team working together for the benefit of residents. It’s a great initiative and the awards evening is always such a happy occasion.”

As well as the Champions awards themselves, special congratulations were given on stage to Elena Barna, Home Manager at Abbey View in Sherborne, for the home’s recent Outstanding rating from sector regulator the Care Quality Commission.

It means that seven of Colten Care’s 21 homes in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex are officially rated Outstanding, with all the rest rated Good.

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