Activities at Southerndown Care Home

Residents at Southerndown care home in Chipping Norton, run by Barchester Healthcare, are celebrating Housekeeping Week, which takes place from September 12-18. Residents wanted to thank all the wonderful housekeeping staff at the home, whose hard work and dedication make a real difference to the lives of those living there.

Housekeeping Week is an annual event held every year during the second week in September. The week is dedicated to recognising the efforts of hard-working housekeeping staff around the world.

Throughout the week residents and staff have reminisced about how housekeeping has changed during their lifetime, our residents talked about when they first got domestic appliances such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners, and how their lives were changed by advances in technology over the years.

Carole King, our Resident Ambassador loves to support the housekeeping team and has taken on the duty of preparing our ground floor restaurant ‘The Mill’ for all its diners. As a key member of the team, Carole joined the housekeeping staff at today’s presentation by Deputy Manager, Rosalynn Forson who gifted them all with chocolates and thank you cards from everyone at Southerndown.

Lorraine Ball, General Manager said: “It is so wonderful to be able to celebrate Housekeeping Week and thank our fantastic staff for all that they do to keep our home clean and safe for our residents, staff and visitors alike.”

Thank you team from all at Southerndown!

It was an absolute pleasure to see the return of Church Services within Southerndown care home yesterday. We give thanks to Rev. Judith Marshall and volunteer Rose for taking the time to visit from St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton

The service of worship included readings from John 15. 1-5 and, beautiful hymns; ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine’, ‘Love Devine’ and ‘Come down, O Love Devine’ all musically accompanied by Rose on the keyboard.

Our residents thoroughly enjoyed the service and sang along to each hymn. After service, Judith took time to speak to our residents, many of whom were regular St Mary’s church going parishioners.

We very much look forward to the next service and spending time with Judith and Rose - their prayers and kind words lifted our hearts.

We have a large selection of jigsaw books which are a wonderful way to introduce our residents back to puzzles. They help with reminiscence, taking each residents back to a time of nostalgia. Our care team love doing these jigsaws with our residents, reading about the appearing image together opens up conversation, and a wonderful sense of achievement for both parties on completion.

Beautiful blooms arranged with love by our wonderful ladies; Beryl, Ann and Carole now on display around the homes communal areas for all to enjoy. Thank you ladies, they look and smell amazing!

A 500 piece Jigsaw puzzle is not for the faint hearted, particularly when it’s one as detailed as this portraying a grid map of Chipping Norton! With carer Sylvia's help, resident 'Queenie' this week made it look easy. Well done ladies.

Today, Monday 23rd August, 2021 Southerndown Care Home received an unannounced inspection from the Food Standards Agency and, we’re absolutely delighted to say we have been awarded a 5-star food hygiene rating by the local authority.

The achievement is the highest rating a care home can receive from an Environmental Health officer, and shows the home has complied with all the statutory obligations; showing outstanding food hygiene standards.

Senior General Manager, Lorraine Ball commented “We’re extremely pleased to have been awarded 5 stars for our food hygiene. Achieving the highest possible standard is incredibly important and I’m so proud of the kitchen team at Southerndown. They are being recognised for their continued hard work in maintaining the hygiene and cleanliness standards in our kitchen.”

Food hygiene ratings are an inspection given to a food business that reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of inspection or visit by the local authority.

The ratings assess:

- How hygienically food is handled – prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled and stored.
- The cleanliness of a business, including taking into consideration layout and ventilation.
- How food records are managed.