A big congratulations to our general manager, Jan Wilkins, who has been named the region’s top care home manager in the industry’s leading care awards.

Jan, who has led the home since 2011, was selected as the Registered Manager of the Year at the South West heats of the Great British Care Awards. The event was held recently at the Passenger Shed, Brunel’s Old Station in Bristol.

The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events held throughout England to celebrate excellence across the care sector. The regional awards lead to national finals.

Bristol-born Jan has worked in nursing all her career and has overall responsibility for residents, staff and Riversway Nursing Home itself.

Staff members Terri Fisher, Matthew Reed and Rachel Smith were also shortlisted in the awards.

Jan said: “It’s such an honour to be recognised by your peers in this way, and it shows that the hard work being done every day by all the staff at Riversway really is industry leading.

“I have a great team working with me and this award really is down to the tireless commitment of everyone to providing the highest levels of care possible.”

We had some fantastic news last week – four of our staff have been shortlisted as finalists in the South West Great British Care Awards 2014.

The awards are part of one of the care industry’s top ceremonies, and take place as a series of regional events throughout England as a celebration of excellence across the sector. Winners of the regional awards go on to a national final.

Riversway staff Terri Fisher, Matthew Reed, Rachel Smith and Jan Wilkins, our General Manager, have been shortlisted for the South West heats, which will take place on Friday, October 17 in Bristol at The Passenger Shed, Brunel’s Old Station.

Jan Wilkins has been shortlisted for the Care Home Registered Manager award; Chef Terri Fisher, and Chef Matthew Reed for the Care Home Nutrition and Hydration award, and Lifestyle Coordinator Rachel Smith for the Care Home Activity Organiser Award.

These awards highlight the great work that is being done across the care sector in the South West, and we’re very proud to have been recognised in this way.

We’re particularly pleased to see that our work in nutrition and hydration, and activity organisation have been highlighted by the judges. These are vital in a modern healthcare setting and we take great pride in ensuring that our residents live fulfilling lives, including the meals they enjoy and activities they take part in.

Meanwhile, we are celebrating across the whole Springhill Care Group as we’ve had similar good news from all our homes and at Springhill HQ.

Affinity staff member Sara Moss is through to the final of the Home Care Worker Award, and a team of staff from Affinity have been picked as a finalist in the Care Team Award.

At Springhill HQ, chairman and founder Ken Nolan and managing director Donna Briggs have been shortlisted for the Care Employer Award.

Jean Ali from Birch Green Care Home has been chosen as a finalist for The Good Nurse Award. 

Robin Eddleston of Springhill Care Home has been shortlisted for the Dementia Carer Award. At Springhill HQ, chairman and founder Ken Nolan and managing director Donna Briggs have been shortlisted for the Care Employer Award.

Donna Briggs said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to be recognised for even one award, so to see our staff shortlisted in all these categories is brilliant. We wish them all the best of luck.”

The South West awards take place on October 17, and the North West awards on November 1.

Our residents were given a choice recently of where they’d like to visit for a shopping trip out from Riversway Nursing Home.

Marks & Spencer in Longwell Green won the vote, and resident Babs and her husband Eric (known as Todd) attended, as well as resident Doreen who joined us for her first trip out with Riversway, the first of many!

Everyone enjoyed the shopping afternoon with Todd buying new clothes, and in a nice gesture, some flowers for his wife Doreen.

You can view more photographs from the shopping trip on our Facebook page by clicking HERE