Activities at Southerndown Care Home

The residents and staff at Southerndown care home are so excited to announce they will be embarking on a mammoth ‘Sponsored Cyclethon’ in the hope of raising funds to support the amazing work Be Free Young Carers do across Oxfordshire. Our residents, just like the younger generation enjoy getting out and about and spending time with their friends. During this past year this simple pleasure has been difficult to achieve for all ages.

We've all found it hard, and understand how tough it's been for the younger generation, particularly those with additional responsibilities. So we've set ourselves a challenge, in the hope our efforts will go some way to brighten these young people’s lives. The Cyclethon will be ‘physically’ undertaken by staff and residents within the home using foot/hand pedal cycles suitable for all abilities. Each team will be covering c.20-30 miles a week over a 5-week period. Total round trip miles to achieve = 124 miles.

To send motivational wishes & donations, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Barchester Every penny of your donations goes directly to the BFYC charity.

We want everyone, old and young to feel involved and will be hosting virtual tea parties at each home as the team arrives; zoom invitations will be posted to our Facebook pages inviting the local community to ‘join in the fun’ and spur the next team on!

Our wonderful Head of Housekeeping has just received a prestigious Long Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 20 years.

Sue Busby, started at Barchester in March 2001. Sue joined the team initially as a house keeping assistant, joining the Southerndown in the footsteps of other family members. After a few months she moved onto working in care.  During her 5 years in this role, Sue achieved her NVQ and became a Senior Carer.

Sue is such a people-person; she loves making the residents comfortable and spending quality time with them. Feeling more at home in housekeeping, she decided to apply for the Head of Housekeeping role and has never looked back!

Over the past 15 years in this role, Sue has worked hard to ensure her team exceed the Barchester whole-home cleanliness standards. She continues to make time for the residents, knowing everyone by name and ensuring their rooms are as kept clean, tidy and set up as they like them!

Ela Solomon, General Manager said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 20 years of loyal service with Sue. Chef; Bong prepared a personalised cake for Sue and I’m so pleased to present her with her long service badge, certificate and shopping voucher. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Southerndown when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Sue!”

Congratulations Sue from all at Southerndown #BarchesterTogether

Over the weekend our residents made the most of the early spring sunshine. They enjoyed exploring our beautiful grounds and seeing the spring flowers that have already bloomed. We couldn't resist picking a few daffodils to decorate the tables for our St David's Day lunch.

Our gardening group took advantage of the great spring weather today, venturing outside to clear the pots and raised beds ready for planting. We're working together on what to plant for spring? Vegetables or fruits ... maybe both, suggestions welcome.

Spring is starting to get our home and residents itching to get out into the garden. Over the coming weeks we will be repotting and clearing away the autumn leaves. Today our residents helped the activities team put together a 'wishing well' ... flat pack assembly is definitely not as easy as it looks!

After almost 17 years of continuous service here at Southerndown our much-loved Maintenance Assistant, Robert Tinkham affectionately known by all as ‘Uncle Bob’ has decided to retire. Today; staff and residents took time-out to send Bob off in style, with a personalised ‘Uncle Bob; tankard, cake and other gifts to thank him for many years of dedication to our beautiful home.

During his time here, uncle Bob has been the glue that keeps our home together, from his decorating, gardening and handy man skills, to his singing whilst driving our minibus when taking our residents on days-out. “Uncle Bob is one of those people who was born to care for others, a real ‘people person’ he has such a huge heart and will be greatly missed by his Southerndown family – ‘Uncle Bob’ we wish you all the best for a relaxing retirement”.