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Summer 2011 www.avantepartnership.org.ukAvante News

Residents and staff all celebrate the Royal Wedding

Stepahead Support away day trip

Honeyfield Glitz and Glamour

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across your organisation. On behalf of Karen and Lyndsay, can I apologise to everyone who sent in a story or photographs and we’ve not been able to share them with the readership. Please keep them coming in though, and hopefully we’ll get them in the next edition. What about a 30 page newsletter Karen and Lyndsay?

I hope you have been following and/or taking part in our journey to develop and embed a new Philosophy of Care in the delivery of the almost 1000 people we care for and support in our 16 care homes. Our Philosophy of Care is based on the Eden Alternative approach and each of our homes are making progress in achieving a formal Eden Alternative Accreditation to evidence that the service we provide is of the highest quality and standards. I was delighted to hear recently that our Honeyfield and Court Regis care homes have now reached that standard and can now say that they are fully ‘Edenised’. This really is great news for everybody involved in these two homes.

Right now, not a day goes by without some part of the organisation or other being subject to a loss of income or a reduction in funding. These are truly challenging times for our local authority partners, and we understand that they cannot find all of the

savings they need from within their organisations. How do we respond positively to these changing times whilst ensuring that we maintain the integrity of our services? We work harder and smarter and we squeeze efficiencies out of every part of our organisation, whilst at the same time not losing sight of what people really want and need from us.

At the end of March, Oliver Mills, Kent County Council’s Managing Director responsible for adult services, moved on after many years of sterling service. I would like to use my introduction to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Oliver for all the work he did to support our organisation and wish him well in whatever he goes on to do in the future.

I hope as you read this newsletter you get a sense that Avante Partnership is an organisation heading in the right direction and our fantastic staff are making ‘a positive difference every day to the lives of the people we care for and support’.

Until next time.

Cedric FrederickChief Executive

Welcome to this bumper edition of Avante News

I had to laugh the other day when my PA Karen who edits our newsletter with Lyndsay our Marketing

Manager, were bemoaning the fact that they had so many great stories from around the organisation submitted for

this edition, that they were struggling to agree which ones to take forward and which ones to leave out. I thought, in between chuckling, what a great place to be, to have too many stories that show what’s going on

Cedric Frederick - Chief Executive

After a successful career in the City, Mike decided that he

wanted to give something back to Kent communities and having heard about the organisation’s work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community he wanted to establish a relationship with Avante Partnership. What followed from that phone call went beyond what anyone could have expected!

In just over 2 years since that phone call, The M Foundation arranged for over 1100 of our residents and service users to attend over 90 concerts and events in a VIP suite at the O2 arena in London. Residents from our care homes and Supported Living services have been able to attend performances

The End of a Beautiful Friendship

by El Divo, Katherine Jenkins and the live performances by the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘X Factor’ contestants to name but a few. Hundreds of young people from our Stepahead Support services were able to sing and dance along at performances by Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and Westlife. Through the generosity of the M Foundation, residents and service users had the time of their lives in VIP splendour.

Our time with the M Foundation recently came to an end and by way of a small ‘thank you’, Mike and Juliette popped into our Head Office where Cedric, Avante Partnership Chief Executive, was able to present them with a token of our appreciation.

In 2008, we received a phone call out of the blue from The M Foundation, founded by Mike and Juliette Moody.

A warm welcome is extended to Richard Macintyre, Operations Manager Practice Development.

Richard joins this directorate to support Jacqueline Morris, the

departments Director, on the implementation and delivery of Avante Partnership’s 3-year dementia strategy, Avante Partnership’s philosophy of care based on the Eden Alternative, quality assurance systems, ISO 9001 and Avante Partnership’s in-house quality assurance framework.

Jacqueline and Richard are supported by Frances Lake PA, Philip Moore Community Engagement Officer, with Darren Carrett, and Sam Potter, as the teams Quality Assurance Administrators.

Practice Development Department

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Caroline has joined Avante Partnership’s Property and Business Development Team as Marketing Manager. Having just moved back to Kent from Scotland,

Having left school at sixteen Janys followed family tradition and went into banking and joined Nat West in the West End of London.

Diane was born in Kent and after college moved to London where she started her HR career in the hotel and hospitality industry

Lyn was born in Buckinghamshire and moved to Essex when she was 8 years old to complete her education.

Belinda began her career in the care industry 15 years ago as a relief Sheltered Scheme Manager for Tonbridge

Gary was born in London and spent his primary school years in Australia.

Most of his working life has been in the

for several years before moving back to Kent to start a family. Once returning to work after having her son Diane continued her HR career in private sector companies before moving into the public sector which included Kent Police for 6 years and prior to joining Avante Partnership, Kent Fire & Rescue Service. Diane’s hobbies include cooking, DIY, reading -and shopping!!!

care sector. Indeed, he worked as a Care Assistant at Barnetts when it was owned and operated by Kent County Council and which now, of course, is one of our homes! After a varied career which included working in KCC’s area finance and contracting sections, Gary became an Inspector with Inspection and Registration in 2000 and regulated care services throughout the various incarnations of NCSC, CSCI and CQC.

and Malling Housing Association. In more recent years she has worked as a Registered Residential Home Manager and Area Manager Residential for a private sector company.

Belinda has an NVQ 4 in both Health and Social Care and the Registered Manager Award. She would like to study for a Diploma in Dementia, an area that is close to her heart.

Janys quickly realised this was far too stuffy a career path for her and left to join Tesco. After a brief stint in the cash office to use those bank skills, she was given the opportunity to train in HR and that was the start of her 24 year career in HR. This has included roles with other retailers, both high street and independent, to the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry and more recently in supported living for adults with learning disabilities.

where she worked as Group Marketing Manger for Highlands and Islands Airports Caroline is reacquainting herself with marketing colleagues within the area. Her previous marketing roles have included working for Eurotunnel, P&O Ferries, Leukaemia Research Fund and DMB and B advertising agency. Caroline is married, and enjoys anything to do with travel, motor sports, historical sites and walking.

On leaving school she married and had 5 children. When her 3rd child reached 6 months old she worked as an Auxiliary Nurse at her local NHS hospital.Lyn went from there to a private domiciliary care provider as a carer and worked her way through the ranks to become a registered manager at a Kent branch. She was then lucky enough to be offered a new challenge as Operations Manager at Avante Care and Support.

New business team

Established 1990. Avante Partnership

A Company Limited by Guarantee(Registration No. 2565021, England)A Registered Charity(Registered No.1002727)

Registered office: De Gelsey House, 1 Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD

Tel: 01795 597400 Fax: 01795 597419Email: enquiries@avantepartnership.org.ukWebsite: www.avantepartnership.org.uk

Kaylea Jemmett joined Avante Partnership in April 2010 as part of a scheme called ‘The future jobs fund’ through Kent County Council. She started her role as a Trainee Administrator working with

the team in the Community Support department, which she found very interesting.

It is not for the organisation or any individual within it to have a view on the

results of the General Election on May 6th and the momentous events that have taken place since, with the formation of the

country’s first coalition government in 70 years. However, like almost every part of our society, Avante Partnership is feeling the effects of the coalition government’s key policies and their efforts to reduce the deficit.

The financial challenges faced by our local authority partners in particular are significant, and we understand the need for us to play our part in supporting them to meet their cost reduction targets. At the same time, we remain totally committed to ensuring that we not only continue to provide the highest quality services possible, but strive to improve the quality of our services. In order to achieve this we are asking ourselves tough questions about what we do, how we do it and whether we can do it more efficiently. We remain very ambitious for the organisation, the people we care for and support and our wonderful staff who work so hard to achieve the results and outcomes that we want. Yes, we make mistakes and we do not get it right every time, but when things don’t go as well as we would like, we are quick to acknowledge our mistake and commit to learning lessons and working hard to ensure that we get it right in the future. That being said, I am very pleased to say that we get it right much more often than we get it wrong.

For many, the highlight of the summer should have been England returning from the World Cup clutching that gold trophy. As we know, it didn’t quite work out like that. The team didn’t gel and too many players under performed. Perhaps Fabio Capello should have taken a leaf out of the Avante Partnership book and popped into Amherst Court, our newest 112 bed residential care home in Chatham for some advice about teamwork, commitment to excellence and achieving the goals you set for yourself. Fabio only had a squad of 23 footballers to think about, whilst my colleagues Tracey Jones and Geoff Ward led a team of literally hundreds of people to achieve what is a fantastic result.

Congratulations and ‘thank you’ to everybody who has worked so hard to deliver a great new care home.

As ever, I hope you enjoy reading this new look edition of Avante News.

Cedric Frederick - Chief Executive

As a charity, Avante Partnership is ‘apolitical’ in that we operate outside of politics, working for the benefit of our service users with whichever political party is in control at a national, regional or local level.

More recently Kaylea has been working alongside the Chief Executive’s PA, Karen Flynn, where she has been learning about the organisation as a whole. One of Kaylea’s many tasks was to help with this edition of Avante News which she has really enjoyed.

Working with:

Members of:• National Housing Federation

• The National Care Forum

• Kent Community Care Association

• IAHSA

Cedric FrederickChief Executive

Caroline WilliamsMarketing Manager

Belinda WatsonOperations Manager

Gary BartlettRegulation Manager

Diane RogersOperational HR Manager

Janys NessHR Manager

Carmel StevensonOperational Manager

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• First prize in the Kent & Medway Sustainability Project at Canterbury Christ Church University for his Report on expanding the involvement of volunteers in care homes.

• Special recognition for outstanding voluntary work in Strategic Development – Kent & Medway Sustainability Project at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Owl or lark? Owl

Alarm set for? 6.25am

Tea or coffee? Tea

Smart, casual or scruffy? Casual

Highlight of week ahead (work)? A children and young peoples conference in London

Highlight of week ahead (my time)? The rugby end of season dinner

Favourite meal? Spaghetti Bolognese

Evening unwind? A bath and glass of wine

Favourite music/artist? Robbie Williams

Favourite holiday destination? Egypt

Favourite hobby? Rugby

Favourite flower? Agapanthus (look it up!)

My luxury treat? Manicure

Carolyn McVittieJob Title: Managing Director Stepahead Support

Second Interview6

Celebrating Success

Philip received his prize and certificates, with others, at a special ceremony held at the historic St. Martin’s Priory at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Philip Moore, Avante Partnership’s Community Engagement Manager, has been successful in achieving:

What’s Happening in Community Engagement? ?

Holmesdale Technical College in Snodland is to consider pathways into involvement with Avante Partnership Pilgrims View Care Home just a few streets away.

If you know of anyone, yourself included, who might volunteer to enhance the lives of our services users, young and old, then just let: Philip Moore know at De Gelsey House on: 01795 975 453

A team from a large UK company, Wates Construction, is sending a volunteer team of 20.

Wates Construction, with two large projects currently

in Canterbury, is to send a group of 20 volunteers from their staff for a day to construct a substantial new fence for the safety of the residents, a children’s play

area and a picnic area in the grounds of The New Close Care Home at Bridge. Not only are they donating the manpower but supplying all the materials and equipment too. This is part of the company’s Community Involvement policy.

Young Million?We are heading for a staggering statistic in the UK - one million unemployed young people. Many are desperately looking for jobs (and there are plenty of schemes designed to help them do so), but what about the leadership development opportunities they would have received if they were currently in employment? They are our future leaders, but without these opportunities we risk a “lost generation”.

Avante Partnership has offered to support ‘Common Purpose’ in its ‘Young Million’ Campaign.

What can we do?Common Purpose wants to do its part and offer 18-25 year olds the leadership development they would receive if they were employed. Avante Partnership would like to donate some time and money by offering to help run the courses that will broaden their networks, experience and self confidence. Just £100 will fund a young person to take part, whilst speakers or hosts for the courses themselves are also needed.

The Calypso Café at Amherst Court was the scene for an enthusiastic

encounter between Acting General Manager, Steve Rowley, Philip Moore and the Reverend Alan Smith, Vicar of the local Anglican Parish Church, St. Stephen’s Chatham, with lay minister Barry Wallington. St Stephen’s is already involved in providing regular services within the home but a broader partnership is developing to

include the church and local community using Amherst’s state-of-the-art Day Centre facility, the Calypso Café itself, as well as inviting more able residents to be taken to church services and events. Pastoral care is offered to residents, staff and family members, a dementia carers’ group; staff training in bereavement and end of life experience may be developed too, as well as deeper links to the Diocese of Rochester.

Providing for the spiritual needs of our service users is no less important than catering for the physical.

Volunteers are very important to Avante Partnership work, and another phase of recruitment is under way.

Taking a further step forward in the partnership between Avante and the Orchard Academy in Swanley, ‘Artist in Residence’, Sharad Bawdeker, is to present two of his paintings to Honeyfield Care Home in Hextable, following on from one given to Northbourne Court in neighbouring Sidcup. At a meeting between Honeyfield and Orchard Academy staff, chaired by Philip Moore, Avante Partnership Community Engagement Manager, plans

were made to involve students from the Academy in the life at Honeyfield through music, art and mutual visits where possible – watch this space.

Our congratulations go to Philip for his hard work and to

recognise his success.

1st

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Avante Partnership recognises that throughout each year individual members of staff reach a milestone, or achieve success that is worthy of special recognition.

With this in mind Avante Partnership invited those staff members that had achieved long service or a work related qualification, to celebrate that success

together on May 16th at The Bridgewood Manor Hotel in Chatham, at which 49 members of staff were invited to attend.

Those staff members that were able to attend received certificates of their achievement from Trustees, Bob Bushell, Molly de Courcy, Amanda Cottrell, Michelle Gardener and Richard Bond. We were also pleased to have Brian Munday, Chairman, in attendance at the event.

Cedric Frederick, Chief Executive, was delighted to welcome staff members to the second event of this kind, and gave his personal thanks for their contribution to the success of the organisation and positive difference to the lives of the people we care for and support.

NAME CATEGORY SERVICESue Gibbs Long Service Award - 20 years WeybourneGeraldine Rose Long Service Award - 20 years Northbourne CourtClaire Hyde Long Service Award - 20 years Amherst CourtJennifer Chilcott Long Service Award - 20 years Community SupportYvonne Munn Long Service Award - 30 years Barton CourtMarcus Reeves-Smith NVQ Level 2 Dementia WeybourneAnne-Marie Malyon NVQ Level 2 Dementia WeybourneCatherine Earl NVQ Level 2 Dementia WeybourneElizabeth Edimo NVQ Level 2 Dementia Northbourne CourtEddie Hall NVQ Level 2 Dementia Northbourne CourtJanice Hildreth NVQ Level 2 Dementia WeybourneKim Petherick NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care HoneyfieldJennifer Owen NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care HevercourtKim Leach NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care Hevercourt NVQ Level 2 Health and Social CareNkechi Onyemaraeme NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne Court NVQ Level 2 Health and Social CarePrincess Amadi NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne CourtAngela Sutton NVQ Level 2 Housekeeping Barton CourtBelinda O’Neil NVQ Level 2 Prevention and Control of Infection Level WeybourneDianne Cavender NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne CourtShirley Broughton NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne CourtNaomi Maxim NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne CourtPhilomena Cooling NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication Northbourne CourtNicola Price NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneLiezida Bowels NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneDavid Stewart NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneGertrude Quaye NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneFlorence Asante NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneAlan O’Neil NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneGladys Agor NVQ Level 2 Safe Handling of Medication WeybourneJosie Ortiz NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care HoneyfieldNina Nicholas NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care HoneyfieldDavid Henderson NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care Barton CourtSylvia Olcha NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care Community SupportJill Jones NVQ Level 3 Palliative Care Northbourne CourtRosario Concepion NVQ Level 3 Palliative Care Northbourne CourtMichelle Dunn NVQ Level 3 Palliative Care Northbourne CourtMelissa Roberts NVQ Level 4 Leadership and Management in Care Services Northbourne CourtLesley Entwistle NVQ Level 4 Health and Social Care Amherst CourtEugenie McDowell NVQ Level 4 Health and Social Care HoneyfieldPhilip Moore NVQ Level 5 Volunteer Management Head Office

Achievement Awards

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At Maryville Court Supported Living the Royal wedding was celebrated with a meal whilst watching the wedding on the new TV in the lounge.

Residents had knitted dolls of Wills and Kate and guests and these were taken to the local school for the children to enjoy.

Grand opening of Dementia Cafe Whiteoak Court, SwanleyOn 8th April, Jeanette Ponton & Dawn Dwyer were privileged to be invited to the Grand Opening of the Dementia Café in Whiteoak Court, Swanley, in which the Mayoress and local MP’s were also there to join in the celebrations.

Some of the residents at Hanover Way Sheltered Housing Scheme were

joined one afternoon a week for two months, during February and March, by 6th Form Girls from Townley Road School and the Community Police, where they carried out a project on fashion, past and present.

On Friday evening 18th March the residents involved were invited to Townley Road School for a wonderful

Fashion through the Agespresentation night, where they showed off their artwork and a beautiful crochet dress made by one of the residents when she was younger. The girls and Community Police laid on a super array of food and refreshments, and a good time was had by all.

The residents were joined by their Support Officers Ann and Diane.

Whiteoak Court is a sheltered housing scheme for 54

Residents. Jeanette took over the scheme in 2009 from KCC and now supports 25 Residents.

Dawn is now Branch Manager for Dartford/Swanley and also manages the Staff in Whiteoak Court. Jeanette has taken on a new role as Branch Manager for Greenwich.

It was a great afternoon; all the residents were invited and had a great time.

The Dementia Café was set up by the Volunteers Group in Swanley and will be held once a month. This is to get people in the Community who are unfortunate to have dementia together, so that they can meet and talk about their experiences and feelings. Family and Friends are also invited.

The photograph’s show Residents Norman Beniot and Alice Kitchener with the Mayoress and Dawn.

A Royal Feast

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The title of the Away Day was “Can we Fix it? Yes we can!” The day

provided an opportunity to acknowledge our current position, discuss burning issues, air concerns and look to the future. We also took the opportunity to learn more about our Person Centred Philosophy. Faye Geary and Virginia Cornwell lead a very interesting and insightful workshop about the Person Centred Approach, and during the day we used Solution Circles (a person centred tool) to find solutions to our problems.

It has to be mentioned that we also discovered new talents within the team. In groups we invented raw egg protectors in all different shapes and sizes, then dropped the eggs from

On 8th April Stepahead Support held a much needed Away Day. Stepahead Support had been through the most difficult period in its history in regards to uncertainty and loss of funding as the sector faces unprecedented funding cuts from the Government. Throughout this time what has shone through, and indeed continues to shine, is the dedication, passion and commitment of the team who continue to provide the best possible support to young people and families receiving our services.

a 10ft height. Not one egg broke! Pretty good if we do say so ourselves! Everyone who attended participated enthusiastically and shared their ideas, thoughts and suggestions, for now and the future – no matter how off the wall they were! The day provided the opportunity to spend quality time together and highlighted the desire we all have to make Stepahead Support the success it deserves to be and how all of us have a part to play in achieving it. “Can we Fix It?

Together we believe we can!”

Carolyn McVittie, Managing Director, said “I really enjoyed

our Away Day and hope everyone else did too. It was so good to listen to the great discussions and debates

going on throughout the day and even more pleasing to hear so much laughter as well. I have always known there is a real passion within our service to deliver the best support possible to the many and varied young people and families we come in contact with, and this came out so strongly at the Away Day”.

Virginia Cornwell, Keyworker Tonbridge, said “I enjoyed the day, particularly I appreciated the fact that management emphasised that we are a team and encouraged our participation by asking for our thoughts and ideas on how to improve and move forward the business, aware that we are the people on the front line and so may have a different perspective”.

“I think the Away Day was a very positive and much needed day for everyone following a difficult time. I

think it is therapeutic and encouraging for all of us to get together and exchange ideas, suggestions, ask questions, try to find answers to some of those questions and generally spend quality time with like-minded colleagues. Sometimes, especially through the difficult times, it is not always easy to stay motivated and passionate about what we do, but after our away day, I felt re-ignited, passionate and optimistic about the future of Stepahead” said Faye Geary, Keyworker, Swanley and Sevenoaks.

Jenny Bedding, Keyworker in Thanet, said “I just wanted to say that the Away day was probably one of the best I have been to. The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly and entertaining. The bonus was being able to be outside in the sunshine. A really nice day. Thank you”.

Can we Fix it? Yes we can!

””

I have always known there is a real passion

within our service to deliver the best support possible

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On the 20th April Stepahead Support from Margate and Canterbury organised a market stall in Margate High Street.

We requested donations from work colleagues

and families we support as well as our own. We were very fortunate with the amount of items we received. We carefully priced each item and on the 20th April staff and young people started to move all the items from the office to our allocated spot. Up went the tables which quickly became full with goodies and alongside the tables we had clothes rails and boxes.

The sun was shinning and within minutes our first item sold. We had young people from Canterbury and Margate helping, along with a parent. It was really exciting, all who took part during the day enjoyed it. The young people took over with the selling, and the more they sold the more they wanted to sell. As the day was coming to an end we were all guessing how much we took. WOW £215.

Goal!When I first went to Ramsgate sports centre, I had such a great time. I got to meet other young people and started talking to them and playing football. It is great when we go into the sports hall because it is such a big playing surface with two football nets at each end. It is great when you play a match because

you have to communicate with everyone and you need to pass the ball or defend to get the ball back. The best thing is getting a hat trick or a goal or two! I personally would not be a goalkeeper because I’m not particularly good at it, it’s very tiring but it keeps you fit and active and is a worth while experience.

When I went to the pottery workshop I thought to myself

what would it be like? I was quite excited as I had never done pottery before. The Pick ‘n’ Paint a Pot studio in Margate is a welcoming atmosphere run by a lovely couple who own it. It was very colourful and bright with pots and plates on display. We all sat together at a table and if you wanted you could have a tea or a coffee. We

A smashing time at pottery

were given a demonstration and we made our own plates using skyscraper designs and sunsets, all with coloured paints. I decided I would go for an orangey-yellow sunset design for my plate with my name on it. We all had a lovely experience full of chat and laughter. I was very pleased to collect my pottery plate the following week. I am more than happy to go again because I had a wonderful time.

Strike!When I went to Bugsy’s bowling alley in Margate one afternoon I got a real sense of enjoyment. I felt happy to mix with other people and staff as well, because you can have a laugh with them. I knew the bowling shoes looked cool because I’ve played before! We chose a lane and picked our bowling ball. I tend to go for the lighter bowling balls because I prefer

those. I still don’t know why the bowling ball rolls to the left and right - I think there is a magnet underneath the lane floors! The best thing was getting a strike as it is such a great feeling. It can become competitive and we all encouraged each other, but also put each other off playing sometimes, but it is only a bit of fun and I cannot wait to go bowling again!

Mark SeddonStepahead Service User

A BIG THANK YOU to all who attended and donated items.Donations would be greatly received again, as yes we are doing another one soon!

The day after Stepahead’s fantastic market stall the young people at Community Impact had a ‘Cook and Eat’ day which involved the young people making pizza as well as egg decorating and lots of other fun and entertainment. You can see from the pictures a lot of fun was had by all with plenty of pizzas baked for everyone to eat!

Corrina CollinsSenior Keyworker

Youth Forum LunchWhen we meet up at the Harvester in Broadstairs for the Youth Forum, we sit at the table and order some drinks of our choice, eat as much salad as we wish and order a meal of our choice.

The idea of going to the Youth Forum is to have your say about Stepahead Support, for example, what concerns me, what I would like to see improved, as well as acquiring additional support in my flat and around the local area. Plus there is also the opportunity to think of some new activities/workshops that we would like to do in the future.

I feel more respected going to the restaurant to express my opinion.

Pick ‘n’ Paint a Pot workshop

When I went to the Pick ‘n Paint a Pot studio in Margate I

was amazed with the variety of pottery options available. I chose to do a Fernando Torres plate and it came out well when it was painted, glazed and fired in the kiln. It took two hours to design and complete the plate, which included a tutorial introduction at the start of the workshop. The owners of the studio, Teresa and Stuart, are lovely people and accommodated me and the rest of the group.

Michael Clarke Stepahead Service User

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Maddison House News

Last time you heard from Maddison House we were celebrating Christmas at The London Dungeon. This time around, we are pleased to report that we have housed all five of our residents in their very own one bedroom flats.

As you can see by the photos of Jake Matthews and

Aaron Asbury, two of our participation volunteers, we have some very happy ex-residents!

This would not have been made possible without the help and support of Gravesham Borough Council, who housed four of our residents in great locations. Gravesham Church Housing have been housing our homeless service users for a long time, and are a huge asset to the Gravesham community – we would like to give a big shout out to Dominic Norvell the Estates Manager, who always gave 100% and was easy to approach, even when we had rent arrears! Thanks to Dominic also for arranging for us to keep all our furniture in our rooms otherwise we would be living in empty flats!

Residents and staff would like to say a huge thank you to

both these organisations for making it happen!

Last but certainly not least, residents and staff would like to say thank you to the Salvation Army, who saved the day and helped move three of our residents, as well as donated furniture, curtains and bedding. Some of the residents have agreed to chip in and buy the volunteers, Emma and Mandy, a thank you gift.

The Maddison House keyworkers would like to say thank you for all the cards

and wish Resident’s every success in the future. We are really pleased that we have received funding to continue working with our ex-residents.

On a sad note, due to cut-backs, our drop-in service at Gravesend has had to say farewell to Shelter, who used to provide a surgery there, three hours a week. All the staff would like to say thank you for helping us through the minefield of housing legislation. The service was well-used by local people, and Paul Barr often had to work longer than the designated period in order to see everyone.

It must be said, however, that they still continue to do an amazing job and are always there at the end of the phone.

Please, if you can spare some of your time, sign their petition and campaign for better housing on www.shelter.org.uk I know that they would really appreciate this.

Jake Matthews would like to say thank you to the Tenant Participation Team at Gravesham Borough Council, who offer free training courses to the Gravesham community. Jake said “My Keyworker and I both went on a Fire Safety course. It was brilliant, especially when we dealt with a chip pan fire, as you can see from the photo! Thankfully we didn’t get burnt, as we were wearing protective clothing. I will not be having a chip pan in my flat - I think I’ll stick to oven chips!”

Co written by our participation volunteers

Jake Matthews and Aaron Asbury

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Plans for the “Indoor Street Party” at Northbourne Court started many weeks before the actual day. By the 29th April the home was decked in red, white and blue, from the reception area to the Piazza and each lounge and dining room, to get everyone in good spirits. On the 28th April Keats’s Suite even held a hen party in Katherine Middleton’s honour!

The Royal Wedding

The Piazza was beautifully decorated with bunting, balloons, banners and

posters of the happy couple. The tables were dressed in union jack table cloths and flower decorations made by Eddie (Suite Manager).

The residents who chose to join in had a wonderful day. We all enjoyed much flag waving whilst watching the wedding on the large screen. An amazing buffet lunch was served by the kitchen staff, including some

traditional favourites, jam or spam sandwiches; they were demolished before the prawn ones! Jelly and ice cream and cup cakes followed.

Everyone thought the wedding was wonderful, with a beautiful Bride and a handsome Groom. The lovely day was completed with some traditional entertainment donated generously by Keith. There is nothing like a good rendition of “I’m getting married in the morning.”

I was called back into the army on 26th April 1952 – of all days it was the

Cup Final Day. Arsenal were playing Newcastle and lost 1–0.

Four of us, me included, did not go to Korea.

In 1956 myself and my friend Peter used to cycle, when the days were lighter, from North London to various villages in Kent.

We used to cycle and take a turning just a few miles from Sevenoaks, on the road to Westerham, the birthplace of General Wolfe. Sometimes we took a left turning on the Westerham Road to Toys Hill, where we would buy beautiful strawberries.

In 1957 we commended a bike ride to Canterbury on Maundy Thursday. In our young days we did not think that Shooters Hill was a hard hill to climb. Progressing through many villages we arrived at Canterbury. The Cathedral was very awe inspiring. I thought it must have taken many years to build it.

From Canterbury we had a restful ride to a youth hostel at Dover. From there we proceeded to Folkestone, where we followed the miniature railway line. We then arrived at Rye, a very nice village where we stayed at a National Cyclist Union accommodation. The next day we passed by Hastings, going

A generous cash donation of £500 to Pilgrims View was

received from Members of Paddlesworth Masonic Lodge on Friday 25th March.

Rod Butler, who is a member of the Snodland based Lodge, presented the donation to Pilgrims View Home Manager, Jane Wiltshire.

Whilst Riverdale Court was under construction it

was decided by Avante Partnership that we would hold a naming competition for the new home and its four suites. So with great enthusiasm from residents, relatives and staff we received a sack load of entries. It was vital that we found a name that linked in with the area where the new home is situated; so with the River Dale running through Welling it only seemed right that we chose Terry Kirks wonderful suggestion of Riverdale Court.

All we had to do now was decide what to call the four

suites at the home. Riverdale Court boasts beautiful gardens surrounding the home, with various different trees planted, so Julie Rowe very cleverly put forward that the suites should be named after trees, and so Maple Suite, Willow Suite, Cherry Suite and Rowan Suite were born!

On the 17th February to thank both Terry Kirk and Julie Rowe, Terry Heslington, Care Manager, presented them both with three bottles of Champagne each and a certificate to thank them for the fantastic names, for both the home and the suites; they truly are great names, so well done to you both.

Naming Competition

Charitable DonationJane had arranged for food and drink to be enjoyed during the presentation and for residents to participate, by topping up refreshments and giving out plates of home made food.

The presentation was a huge success with the members of the Masonic Lodge being made to feel very welcome during their stay.

A Trip Down Memory LaneIn the army in1948 I spent two years in glorious Wiltshire then I was back home in 1950 to a job in the city, in a Lloyds Underwriting Brokers. 1957 saw me move to a larger Lloyds Insurance Brokers, Alex Howden & Company.

down a very steep hill, where I nearly came a cropper. My brakes would not work, and so I crashed into a hedge and saved myself from disaster.

We proceeded along the coast road to Severn Sisters Hill, where we took photos of each other. We had a fine fish lunch at Brighton, where we had a lazy afternoon in the sun. We proceeded to Purley, making our way then to Elephant & Castle and back home on Easter Sunday at 8am.

In 1960 we had a day trip on the Royal Soveren boat to Southend and back, from Tower Pier. I looked over Deptford Reach and thought that I would live

there. In 1968 I moved to Deptford Reach and lived there until 1999.

I found Greenwich fantastic. So much to see. The Cutty Sark, the beautiful Chapel (Royal).

I took walks around Cutty Sark on a path along the edge of the Thames. The Gypsy Moth at Greenwich, the beautiful Greenwich park with its rose gardens and I walked through flower gardens to Blackheath. Such glorious views in all directions. The beautiful walk down the hill to Lewisham market.

The view at night between Greenwich and Maze Hill was amazing. The lights at night gave a fairytale sight. Good to be alive!!!

Leonard Bulaitis, Service User at Perrygrove

I crashed into a hedge and saved

myself from disaster

18 19

On Friday 18th February Sue Gibbs, Home Manager of

Weybourne, was invited to a surprise gathering at St Pauls Academy, not knowing what was in store for her. Sue attended a presentation about St Pauls Academy and what work they had achieved so far on their community fundraising project, and to Sue’s surprise St Pauls Academy handed over a cheque for £2000 for Weybourne Care home.

St Pauls Academy chose three charities that they would like to raise funds for and after this

Honeyfield recently invested in a push along lawn mower

for the residents and on a warm sunny day one of our resident’s started to mow the lawn. The joy and satisfaction of this ‘normal’ activity meant so much to him. With Sam our Scheme dog, he never misses coming to one of the residents at tea time, to get his cup of tea

that she gives him. You can set your watch by Sam, just before the tea arrives Sam comes and sits at the resident’s feet. Honeyfield has really concentrated on making residents feel as though they live in their own home. A resident takes it upon herself to wash the floors. Isn’t that what life is about, doing chores and having fun.

Eden Alternative

The Eden Alternative is seeking to remake the experience of ageing

around the world. The bulk of our work to date has been in de-institutionalising the culture and environment of Avante Partnership care homes, day centres and community support services.

The Eden Alternative is about changing the culture of care and support services. The departmentalised, task-orientation of the current institutional model has created a culture that is characterised by pessimism, cynicism and stinginess. By moving away from the top-down bureaucratic approach to management and moving decision making closer to service users. Edenising organisations is helping to support a meaningful life for their service users.

Studies show that the implementation of The Eden Alternative is a powerful tool for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in care homes. Also, homes that have adopted Eden as an organisational-wide philosophy have found

that there is improved staff satisfaction and retention and significant decreases in medication. Most

importantly, service users supported by their caregivers, can once again direct their own daily lives.

Honeyfield, our care home in Hextable, for those with Dementia type conditions is the first of two care homes, to be accredited with the Eden Alternative Certification. The other care home within Avante Partnership to be accredited is Court Regis in Sittingbourne.

Congratulations and CelebrationsNot so long ago Homeleigh had the pleasure of two young people on work experience with them. With the Royal Wedding coming up, it was suggested that they make some cards.So armed with coloured card, glue and peel-offs, they made some lovely creations for William and Kate. These were sent to the palace for the happy couple with good wishes for their future happiness.

was decided, the Academy held an Advent Charity 2010, with a target of £6000 to be raised – and this was done

so within 19 days, which also included two bouts of snow thrown in for good measure too!

Fundrasing events included

a fun run, Christmas fayre, raffles, cake sales etc. Avante Partnership would like to say a huge thank you to St Pauls Academy for such a generous donation to Weybourne.

The Eden Alternative is based on the core belief that ageing should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline.

Easter at RiverdaleThese are just some of the residents living at Riverdale Court enjoying our first Easter celebration. The eggs, baskets and cakes were made by the residents and were very much appreciated by their fellow residents.

Very well done ladies

Like millions of people throughout the whole world, here are some

of our residents at Riverdale Court, enjoying the fun and celebrations around the Royal Wedding.

During the morning we were all glued to the TV commenting on the outfits and outrageous hats, but then came the real thrill of seeing the happy couple. There was a genuine feeling of being part of the Wedding

Ceremony. It was very moving to see tears of joy flowing for the happy couple.

There had been much planning to get the ‘Street Party’ looking the way our residents remembered the parties that were held to celebrate the Queens own Wedding in 1952. A special menu had been prepared and enjoyed.

Beryl RichardsGeneral Manager

The Royal WeddingSt Pauls Academy handed over a

cheque for £2000 for Weybourne

Care home

Life at Honeyfield

helping to support a

meaningful life

20 21

Day Care at Northbourne Court celebrated St Patrick’s

Day. Clients are always involved in decorating the room, some by just telling Dawn, Activities Co-ordinator, where they would like the decorations to be placed. There is much discussion and laughter can be heard as Dawn gets it all wrong!

Dawn will take the opportunity to celebrate any event that will give the clients a different view of life or occasion, for fun and laughter and results in them all chatting about what they used to do.

This year the room was decorated with old and new decorations, many made

by the clients themselves. The dining-room table was decorated in green, gold and white and the serviettes positioned so they looked like the Irish flag. The gentlemen had Guinness to drink while everyone had decorated cakes to accompany their afternoon cup of tea.

During the morning they had all joined in a sing-song and tried to do an “Irish Jig”, resulting in much laughter.

Dawn had even managed to find a bunch of “real” Shamrock for one or two clients to wear.

I am sure everyone went home tired but had had an enjoyable time.

Court Regis Community Involvement

support as it would be for a very local charity. Since then, more and more residents have gone to have a coffee or cheeky half in the bar, to chat with the local people and once again feel part of the community. The people who use the bar are now aware of who they are supporting when

they donate money to the charity events that are put on throughout the

year, and a nice relationship is being formed as a result, strengthening the local community.

The same has happened with a local hairdresser only a two minute drive from the home.

Several ladies have been keen to use them, to again maintain their position in the local community (and have a bit of a gossip). They also fully support us in all of our fundraising and help advertise local events etc.

We at Court Regis are keen to maintain this relationship that we have with the local community and to build on it throughout the years, as we believe that it helps our residents to maintain their lifestyle as much as possible.

And speaking of visits to the hairdresser…..One of our residents had not been out of the home for nearly two years. She occasionally receives visits from her family, but generally is a very private person and likes to keep her own company. Despite staff’s

efforts to encourage her to go out on trips and socialise within the home she has always declined and kept herself to herself. However, when she heard that we were making appointments to see a local hairdresser she showed a small interest. Over the months we built up a more trusting relationship based on this interest and eventually she agreed to travel to the hairdressers. Since then she has gone several times and even made a visit to the local garden centre to help choose plants for the home’s garden. She has also been socialising a lot more and taking part in events that have been going on within the home recently (fundraising, royal wedding party, etc) which is a vast improvement on what she was like several months ago. Just goes to show what the smallest of ideas can lead to.

One rather rainy day a member of staff, returning with a

couple of residents from a hospital appointment took the residents to the wine bar for a couple of drinks. Our staff member got chatting to the landlady who took an interest in her new customers and the member of staff talked about how the home is always fundraising and on this particular occasion, for a new minibus.

The landlady offered to hold charity nights at her bar to help raise money for the home, as her customers would be keen to donate and

Court Regis is lucky as it is situated within a small village setting with all local amenities close by. A short walk into the village and you come to a local greengrocers, shop, museum and wine bar.

Day Carestrengthening the local community

22 23

It appears the residents at Court Regis quite fancied a spot of seafood, so seafood is exactly what they got, with a little sunshine thrown in at Herne Bay!

It’s great to see the residents at Court Regis making the most of the sunshine.

Residents enjoy a Glitz and Glamour Evening

A Fishy Day Out!

The event was held on Wednesday April 26, and included a day

centre being transformed into a restaurant for the evening, complete with waitresses and butlers.

There were 12 service users who were at the ‘invitation only’ event and before enjoying a three-course meal, they took an exclusive trip around Swanley, Dartford and Farningham.

Activity co-ordinator, Diane Walker, said: “It was just absolutely unbelievable.

Honeyfield care home wowed its residents by taking them for a limousine drive during a ‘Glitz and Glamour’ evening.

They all received a hand written invitation and some of them were asking if the Queen was going to be there. They had wine galore and they really enjoyed it, some of them are still talking about it now.”

Upon entering the ‘restaurant’ they were greeted with huge flower arrangements, pot plants and posters of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.

The meal included a starter of melon with orange, a main

meal of either steak and chips or chicken with Wensleydale cheese wrapped in bacon and for dessert they had scones with strawberries

and cream, and Irish coffee to follow.

One volunteer and five staff members, including the home’s

manager, Julie Ayres, waited on the residents and helped to transform their evening into something special.

The idea for the event came about as a wish from a resident who is always asking

for steak and chips, so instead of giving him just his meal, the home went a little bit further.

Two local businesses helped to make the event the success it was. Ashley Flowers kindly donated the flower arrangements, while Stephen Gay Funeral Parlour provided the limousine.

It was just absolutely

unbelievable

Homeleigh vets its visitors very carefully!

Colouring the Community

Colouring the Community is a scheme run by Dulux

Decorator Centres which aims to give a helping hand to local community groups and charities, by donating paint and materials to help them restore their premises, community centres and surrounding areas.

So with this in mind Weybourne approached their good friends at St Pauls Academy - based just around the corner from the residential care home – to see if they would be keen to help ‘paint a difference’ within the home. St Pauls Academy jumped at the chance and offered some of their students to paint murals and scenery for the residents to admire and enjoy, so with that the entry form to Dulux was posted!

After lots of votes and support from staff, family and friends, it was with great excitement that Weybourne was announced the winner of the Colouring the Community competition in February this year.

The next job was to choose what paint and products Weybourne needed. So on a sunny February morning, Jan Stevens from St Pauls Academy, Sue Gibbs, Home Manager from Weybourne, Lyndsay Hopper, Marketing Manager and Adam French from Perrygrove, (who also very kindly drove the Perrygrove minibus for us to collect the paint), all headed to the Dulux store in Beckenham to pick out what colours and equipment were required.

Since then the colour has been flowing throughout Weybourne, with many beautiful scenes and murals being painted for the enjoyment of the residents.

Attached are a few examples of just some of the work taking place at Weybourne with St Pauls Academy.

Thank you St Pauls Academy for all your hard work and well done Weybourne, it’s looking good!

In October 2010 Weybourne residential care home entered themselves into the Dulux decorator ‘Colouring the Community’ competition, where £1000 worth of paints and products from Dulux could be won.

24

“An Eveningwith Dementia”

presents:

Written and performed by Trevor T Smith“An Evening with Dementia” is a new play which daresto deal in depth with an issue theatre often ignores

The one hour play takes its audience on an illuminating, and at times humurous, adventure

into the wilds of the mind of an old actor who has been cut loose from society by a fading memory. It brings new insights to this poignant condition which affects nearly a million people in the UK, but which is little understood.

The causes of dementia remain a mystery. Science seeks a cure for it with research into its physicality, but Trevor T. Smith achieves in his play a different understanding to this heart-rending problem.

At last year’s Edinburgh Festival the play was given fi ve stars by The British Theatre Guide which hailed it as “...one of the most essential pieces of theatre to come out of the Fringe”.

“An Evening with Dementia” will be playing at the Arden Theatre, Faversham on the 30th June and 1st July 2011, 7.30pm

Tickets £8For more information or to book tickets please call

01795 597417 or email lhopper@avantepartnership.org.uk

www.avantepartnership.org.uk

If you would like to receive the next edition of Avante News by

email please contact Karen Flynn, PA to the chief Executive, at

kflynn@ avantepartnership.org.uk