Celebrating life at Barchester

Manager Lyndsay Scott celebrated her birthday in style!  

The staff made sure she didn’t forget it was her birthday by decorating a party table with flowers, party poppers, her favourite cake, party hats and glasses for everyone to wear.

The party cannons had to be the best bit! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYNDSAY! We hope you have enjoyed all your lovely surprises.  

Liz enjoyed going out of the care home, and a visit to a local café was a lovely way for her to spend her time outside of her usual surroundings.

These trips give the residents a change of environment, fresh air and the chance to engage with the local community, which can be uplifting for mood and wellbeing.

Visiting a café also encourages social interaction, whether chatting with staff, other residents, or members of the public.

Overall, these outings help the residents to maintain a sense of independence, boost confidence, and add variety and enjoyment to daily routines.        

Ralph is a new resident here at Spen Court, bringing with him a warm personality and a lifelong passion for singing.

Music has always been a big part of his life, and he enjoys sharing his love for songs with those around him. Whether it’s classic tunes or familiar favourites, Ralph’s enthusiasm often brightens the atmosphere and encourages others to join in.

His passion for singing not only brings him joy but also helps create meaningful connections with fellow residents, visitors and team members.

Ralph arrived with a songbook in hand and liked to serenade us all after the evening meal. Ralph was the star of the show when we had Karen in the home to perform her show tunes for us.               

Maundy Thursday

Residents enjoyed an Easter Service conducted by Gift of Years. Many thanks to Cecil, Felix, Angela and Anthony for always bringing spiritual support to our residents.

Good Friday

The day that Christians reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made to save us all.  Today we reflected and embraced the meaning of Easter with Easter Quizzes and games, conducted by Martin on Activities. Chef Dario Mozzettini prepared a lovely afternoon tea for everybody, with finger sandwiches and fresh cream scones. Many thanks to Madge’s daughter for her help serving afternoon teas. Activities Lead, Julie, donned her Bunny Ears to deliver the first of our Easter Eggs for some of our residents with special dietary requirements. Residents also pulled out the winning names from the Easter basket for the prize eggs.  

Easter Sunday

Residents enjoyed live entertainment from Julie and Martin, One Girl and The Piano Man and even got up and had a dance with friends, relatives and staff. Julie and Martin sang and played songs from the 50s to the 60s and also added a little bit of classical music too.  The atmosphere was joyful and everybody had a good time, singing and clapping along, giving feelings of joy, meaning, connection and well-being. Later in the afternoon, Ula and Anton continued to deliver Easter eggs to our residents, who were delighted with them.

Easter Monday

What a beautiful afternoon. Well done to our Easter Bunnies who hopped, skipped and jumped their way around our gardens with a little Spring in their step, following the signs to complete the Easter Egg Hunt. You were Eggcellent absolutely Baarilliant finding all the eggs. Our Easter colouring competition was won by one of the little bunnies at Bilton Bizzy Tots. Maria both won lovely Easter eggs. WELL DONE!  

Staff and residents at Overslade House are celebrating following a recent Care Quality Commission inspection which rated the home ‘Good’ after being praised for running a responsive, safe, effective, caring and well-led service. Staff and residents celebrated with a party. A wonderful spread of food was provided by Head Chef Corey Leake. The CQC inspected the home in January. The report was released in March and rated the home as ‘Good’ overall.

Overslade House has a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. One resident said, “I’ve been here about 6 or 8 months, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. My sister brought me here. I’ve been very happy here. I get on with 99% of the people and 100% of the staff.” ”A relative told us, “I can’t fault this place. The home is always well presented and clean.

Overslade House involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect and involved residents as partners in their care. “When I arrived, the home welcomed me and told me what was going to happen. They asked me quite a few questions so they found out about things that I liked and didn’t like.” “The staff are all excellent. They’ve looked after me and they make sure I’m okay. I can have a laugh and a joke with them, and I just need to ask if I want something." A relative told us, “The staff are always kind, and I see them being kind to everybody.” “The staff here are very well-trained. They’re good with mum and the other people here. I think they’re very well-trained and know how to deal with people with dementia.” 

People’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence. One person told us, “I think the staff here are well-trained for this work.” People had opportunities to join in activities provided by the home and also in the community to help support their wellbeing. Residents told us staff usually supported them to complete tasks independently. One person said, “Staff are great, I don’t need much support, but they just keep an eye on me, you know?”

People’s needs are met through good organisation and delivery. People spoke positively about their experiences of care and how staff supported them. One person said, “If there’s anything going on I’ll join in. I enjoy going out in a minibus. I enjoy fitness, bowls and the games. They knock on my door and ask me if I’d like to join in. If I want to join in, I’ll go down. I also enjoy quizzes.” One staff member said, “People’s families are given ‘Getting to know me’ booklets to complete. These tell us all about people’s preferences and hobbies.”    

The service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture. Staff felt valued and managers were visible and gave them support and guidance.

Derrick had always measured time, not in years, but in rides.

His motorbike – a gleaming Royal Olympic, it was more than metal on wheels. It was his first love. Then came Joyce.

Joyce didn’t ask Derrick to give up his bike – not directly. Derrick and Joyce fell in love, upon them getting engaged, the once upon a time first love of his bike was sold for £50.

The bike was sold to save funds to get married and buy a home. Little did they know the home they bought had a shed, which would have been ideal for the bike to live in, but life’s choices had been made.

They went on to have 2 wonderful boys, and the Royal Olympics will forever live in the heart of Derrick.      

Today was a truly special day at Cherry Trees, as we welcomed two very charming guests for a delightful Easter surprise, Ellie and Damson, a pair of beautiful miniature horses. 

Dressed in adorable bunny ears and full of gentle curiosity, Ellie and Damson made their way from room to room, greeting our residents with nuzzles, soft steps, and plenty of Easter cheer. The joy on everyone’s faces said it all. Laughter filled the corridors, stories were shared, and the simple magic of spending time with animals created memories we know will stay with our residents for a long time.

We are incredibly grateful to our wonderful host Karen, who brought Ellie and Damson along for the visit, and to Philipa, who supported throughout the day and helped make the experience so smooth and enjoyable.

It was a heart-warming afternoon that brought comfort, connection, and smiles to all of us at Cherry Trees, the perfect way to celebrate the Easter season.    

There’s a wonderful buzz in the air at Cherry Trees, and for good reason , for the second year in a row!!  we are proud to have been crowned overall winners of Alcester Window Wanderland. 

After taking home the top prize last year, our team and residents were thrilled to take part again, pouring creativity, care, and community spirit into every detail of our display. To be recognised once more as the overall winner for Alcester feels incredibly special, and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved.

On Tuesday evening, Carly and Meg attended the Alcester Community Meeting, where they were presented with our certificate by Mayor David Henderson. This year’s award will soon take pride of place in our foyer, proudly displayed right beside last year’s. 
Our residents have also been enjoying some delicious celebratory biscuits throughout the week’s activities, adding an extra touch of sweetness to the occasion. 

A huge well done to everyone who helped bring our Window Wanderland display to life, and heartfelt thanks to our wonderful community for their continued support. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, and who knows, perhaps we’ll be celebrating a hat trick!             

A ripple of excitement has swept through the Cherry Trees as we welcome the newest member of our community, a sparkling brand-new minibus. Its arrival marks more than just a new set of wheels, it opens the door to fresh adventures, wider horizons, and countless moments of joy for our residents.

From the moment it rolled onto our drive, the minibus has symbolised possibility. Soon it will be carrying our residents on day trips, community visits, and those simple but meaningful everyday outings that bring connection, laughter, and a sense of freedom. Each journey will help us create the kind of memories that stay with you, the ones that make life feel full.

Everyone here is buzzing with anticipation. The residents are already chatting about where they’d like to go first, and our team can’t wait to see the smiles, stories, and shared experiences this new chapter will bring.

This is just the beginning, and we’ll be sharing every step of the adventure. Stay tuned for updates as our new minibus takes us to places old and new, and helps us continue giving our residents the experiences they truly deserve.