On Sunday 16 June 2024, Southpark Care Home in Edinburgh celebrated a significant milestone as owner and manager Janice Smith spent her last day at the home. This marked the end of an era for the retirement home, which has been a cornerstone of the community for nearly four decades.

Established in 1984, Southpark Retirement Home has provided care and support for up to 30 elderly female residents. The care home has always been more than just a place of residence; it has been a nurturing environment where every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

Janice’s retirement is a moment of celebration and reflection for the entire Southpark family. Her leadership, compassion, and dedication have no doubt left a lasting mark on the home. Scottish Care wishes Janice a joyful and fulfilling retirement, celebrating a lifetime of service and love.

We received an wonderful good news story from Hawkhill House Nursing Home in Aberdeen. Have a read and a look at the pictures below.

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Our team has embarked on a team-building event called the “Allotment Challenge” which kicked off on 13th April 2024. We all gathered at Hawkhill House to prepare our allotments, followed by a mouthwatering BBQ.

This event was inspired by our dedication to grow our own soft fruits and vegetables while promoting sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.

We divided into three teams, each led by passionate staff committed to the objective and fostering teamwork: Joanna, Anna, and Lovell lead teams of staff members and families, all working together to achieve the best results.

Our challenge culminates in September, where the winning team will be determined based on points accumulated through meeting the following criteria:

• Quantity of harvested produce
• Variety of produce grown
• Largest produce
• Longest produce
• Heaviest produce
• Creativity and innovation in gardening techniques
• Sustainability – implementation of sustainable practices
• Best presentation of the final harvest

We will also choose the Best Team Player & Sportsmanship Award based on the most cooperative and good sports among teams.

Prizes will include vouchers, trophies, and gift items from sponsors.

This event not only encapsulates the essence of teamwork but also the satisfaction of striving toward a shared goal.

It underscores the importance of collaboration, creativity, and sustainability, demonstrating how staff can unite to make a positive impact on our environment.

We can’t wait to see the harvest in September,  celebrate the beauty of nature, the fruits of our labour and the joy of sharing with others!

Oakbridge Bridge Care Home in Glasgow recently had a truly memorable experience—they enjoyed tea with a special guest, a horse, courtesy of the remarkable charity, RDA Glasgow Group. It was an immersive afternoon that left a lasting impression on everyone present.

The gentlemen at Oakbridge fully embraced this unique sensory experience with Jake, the gentle and intuitive horse. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated volunteers for their kindness and hospitality. The participants left feeling elated, calm, and truly in awe of big Jake.

In a groundbreaking achievement for Scotland’s social care sector, Visiting Angelz, a Renfrewshire-based nurse-led care at home service, has secured Living Hours accreditation, marking a significant milestone in fair employment practices. They are the first social care employer in Scotland to achieve this accolade.

Established in 2012, Visiting Angelz specialises in delivering personal and domestic care services throughout Renfrewshire. By meeting the rigourous criteria for Living Hours accreditation, including the payment of the real Living Wage, providing advanced notice for shifts, and ensuring minimum weekly working hours, the company has demonstrated its commitment to fair compensation and secure working conditions for its employees.

Angela Magee, the Service Manager and Owner of Visiting Angelz, said:

“In these times of hardship in our communities, it is important to not only pay people fairly, but to provide them with stability and security at work and the opportunities that come with that through secure working terms. “Hard-working, dedicated people should have the opportunities to realise their full potential in all areas of their lives.”

Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Projects Coordinator at Living Wage Scotland, commended Visiting Angelz for their dedication to fair work practices, saying:

“We are delighted to welcome Visiting Angelz as our first social care Living Hours employer.

“There are over 3400 Living Wage employers in Scotland and it is great to see Visiting Angelz take further steps to protect their workers from low pay and insecure work.

“The values that led them to commit to the real Living Wage are the same values that have led to their expanded commitment to fair work at a time when workers need it most.”

According to research by the Living Wage Foundation, over 9 per cent of Scottish workers are in insecure work and earn below the Living Wage, accounting for approximately 250,000 workers.

As Scotland grapples with a significant portion of workers facing insecure employment and earning below the Living Wage, initiatives like Living Hours are crucial in promoting stable incomes and predictable working arrangements. Through Living Hours accreditation, Visiting Angelz exemplifies the values of fair employment and strives to provide its workforce with the means to lead fulfilling lives.

This story was featured on the Gazette, have a read here.

Deeside Care Home in Aberdeen is taking part in the ‘Walk 100K in March Challenge 2024’ for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Staff from the care home will be walking this March for a good cause and to help raise much needed funds to keep our air ambulance crews saving lives in Scotland! We wish them all the best of luck for this challenge!

Once upon a chilly December evening in the cosy town of Hawkhill, the community gathered in anticipation for a magical event as the staff prepared for a Cinderella Pantomime on December 22, 2023.

This enchanting production wasn’t just about dazzling costumes and lively performances; it was a heartfelt initiative to support a local charity, Aberdeen Foyer, a charitable organisation supporting young people in the North East of Scotland towards independent living, learning and work.

The stage was adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, creating an atmosphere of holiday cheer.  As the curtains rose, the magic of Cinderella unfolded on the stage, transporting the audience into a world of fairy godmothers, glass slippers, and charming princes. The energy and passion of the performers, all staff members of Hawkhill House, shone through, making it a truly memorable experience for everyone present.

As the final curtain fell and the performers took their bows, the sense of accomplishment was palpable. Our residents, their families, our staff, and guests expressed their joy, stating that they thoroughly enjoyed the show and the fundraising efforts had not been in vain.   The Cinderella Pantomime had successfully generated a total of £230 for Aberdeen Foyer, funds that would go towards providing second chances, learning, and development opportunities for the young people of the North East.

The spirit of giving and community solidarity lingered in the air, turning this Cinderella Pantomime into a heart-warming tale of generosity and goodwill.

Aberdeen Foyer will visit Hawkhill on the 8^th January along with some of the young people they support to meet us and discuss how we can work closer together.

And so, as the town of Hawkhill bid farewell to this magical night, they did so with the knowledge that their support had help create a brighter future for the youth in their community, proving that the magic of Cinderella went far beyond the confines of the stage.

Professor Alex McMahon, Chief Nursing Officer for the Scottish Government, recently paid a visit to two Oakminster Healthcare care homes for a ‘meet and greet’ with their team and residents.

Oakminster were able to share their vision for Social Care and explored the amazing outcomes that they continue to achieve for both their team members and those residing in the communities, alongside the post COVID-19 impact on the social care sector.

They also spoke about the requirement for greater collaboration in the funding process of acute and the social care sector and the development and the recruitment and retention of Registered nurses, and the importance of upskilling of Senior support worker/Senior Carers.

The visit provided an invaluable platform for Oakminster Healthcare to voice their perspectives on critical matters within the social care sector.

The Neilston Sting Orchestra had a everlasting performance at the Westerfield Care Home last month.  Leaving an indelible mark of joy and reminiscence among residents, families, and dedicated care staff.

The orchestra’s visit was a resounding success, residents and their families thoroughly enjoyed the performance.  The lively and energetic tunes brought back cherished memories, evoking smiles and heartfelt sing-alongs. The resounding applause and beaming faces were a testament to the profound impact of the music, leaving a lasting impression that lingered in conversations for days.

For many residents and their families, the performance served as a reminiscent journey, bringing back memories and eliciting emotional connections through the power of music.  The event not only uplifted spirits but also highlighted the profound joy and fulfilment that comes with creating meaningful experiences for those in care.

Staff were delighted to see their residents so engaged and happy, saying that it’s moments like these that makes their work fulfilling. The anticipation for the orchestra’s return and their next performance is real among everyone at Westerfield, eager to create more unforgettable moments with the Neilston Sting Orchestra.