Activities at Hickathrift House Care Home

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Hickathrift House to enjoy a Summer Fête that was held in the home’s grounds on Saturday 18th August.

Hickthrift House hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including crafts and jewellery stalls, live entertainment, a raffle with some fantastic prizes, which were donated by local businesses; and an amazing BBQ, courtesy of BrambleBee Farm. The Deputy Mayor, Peter Human, opened the fête, and everyone loved meeting him.

Staff at Hickathrift House made everyone feel welcome and were delighted to see different generations having fun together – it really was a team effort!

Staff, volunteers and residents had a lovely time on 4th & 5th of July when they went to visit the Rose Fair, which is held every year in Wisbech.

We were lucky enough to have beautiful sunshine for the day and the ladies especially loved looking at all of the fantastic flower displays in St Peters Church. They also spent some time looking at the stalls and eating ice creams. We always enjoy our visits to the Rose Fair and can't wait until next year's.

A couple from Walsoken enjoyed celebrating their 73rd wedding anniversary on Friday 13th July.

Ernie & Pearl missed out on celebrating their actual anniversary on 23rd June due to Ernie being in hospital at the time ,and he wanted to make it up to Pearl. Ernie is staying at Hickathrift House for some respite care following his hospital stay, so he asked staff to help him put a plan in action.

Staff set up a private dining area in the home, where Pearl joined Ernie for a romantic meal, and he was waiting with a bunch of flowers and looking very dapper in his bow tie.

Ernie and Pearl married in 1945 and haven’t been apart from each other until recently due to Ernie’s ill health.

Not only has Paula Colman at Hickathrift been crowned ‘Memory Lane Champion’ for Barchester’s Central Division in the 2018 Barchester Care Awards, but we are also very proud to announce that General Manager, Ceri Mills, has also won the divisional title for ‘Apprentice/Learner of the Year’

The awards celebrate staff and volunteers who go the extra mile for the benefit of individuals living in Barchester care homes. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Maintenance Champion’ and ‘Team of the Year’.

More than 1,500 nominations were received from homes across the UK. All entries have been of a very high standard and Paula is thrilled to have been named top in the region.

Ceri Mills will now oversee the running of home and will be responsible for a team of 60. Ceri has over 12 years’ experience within the care industry and originally joined Hickathrift House in 2007, but left in 2009 to gain experience within a different setting, returning to us in 2011 and working her way up the chain of command to eventually become Deputy Manager in 2014, and finally General Manager this year.

During Ceri’s time here, she has gained her NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Sare, and she is currently working towards her NVQ Level 5 in Leadership & Management.

Most of you already know Ceri, but she is really looking forward to seeing you all over the coming months and, as always, her door is always open.

Our next relative and residents' meeting will be on 7th September 2018 and, by then, Ceri will be able to update you on the projects she has planned between now and Christmas, with the help of her team.

Hickathrift House had a fantastic day commemorating Armed Forces Day two days early on Thursday 28th June.

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. This year, Hickathrift House had a staff fancy dress day and an afternoon tea party for the residents. The activities team decorated the whole home in balloons and bunting.

Head of Maintenance, Jamie Hall, previously of the Royal Engineers and a current reservist solider, brought us lots of memorabilia for the residents, and loved chatting to them about his career.