WELLGATE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Summer 2023
WELCOME
INTRODUCTION FROM ALEX, MANAGING DIRECTOR:
Welcome to the summer edition of our popular newsletter! I hope you are inspired by the amazing range of fun events that have taken place over the last few months in our services that are showcased in this newsletter
It is with pride that we celebrate the success of Michelle and her team at the Old Printers in being nominated for two prestigious awards and in recognising Debbie Joy as our quarterly staff award winner for her amazing contribution at Sandgate Manor.
Thank you to the services that took part in our coronation cake competition – it was not easy having to taste all the entries and even harder having to decide on a winner. After much deliberation, The Lodge in Bexhill-on-Sea won and as a prize received a new pool table!!
You will see more photos from team members who have visited our holiday home in the Mumbles, don’t forget to register your interest if you would like to visit. We also get to ‘meet Fabian’ our new Manager at Sandgate Manor from team members who have visited our holiday home in the Mumbles, don’t forget to register your interest if you would like to visit. We also get to ‘meet Fabian’ our new Manager at Sandgate Manor.
Over the next 3 months we will open four new services, The Grafton and The Old Police Station in Worksop, Rose Cottage in New Romney and Wade Court in Stoke Not only does this represent a significant milestone in Wellgate’s history it will mean we can support a further 40 people to realise their ambitions and goals in accommodation of the highest quality. It has taken many, many months of planning and hard work from colleagues across the business to get us to this point – thank you for all your commitment and tenacity, we could not have done it without you!
I hope you all have a memorable summer and get to enjoy some holiday time with friends and family, and I look forward to seeing you all over the coming months.
Best wishes, Alex
HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR NATIONAL LD & AUTISM AWARDS - THE MANAGER AWARD:
What the judges said:
Michelle radiated knowledge of and commitment to the service and her team She and her team have strived to promote community and inclusivity, and she builds her team around these values. She is also being tasked with opening another service
HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR HOUSING WITH CARE AWARD - THE MANAGER AWARD:
What the judges said:
Michelle and her team have completely turned around the service: working extremely hard to build positive community relationships whilst also breaking down stigmas. They should be proud of the work they have done, and continue to do
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER
This quarter we presented our ‘Outstanding Team Player’ award to Debbie Joy from Sandgate Manor in Folkestone. Debbie has worked at Sandgate Manor for many years but still retains such a positive and inspiring approach to everything that she does. Her passion for supporting our residents to have more fulfilling lives is infectious and she exhibits warmth and humour in her role making the service a better place to live and work. Debbie was a very popular award winner amongst her colleagues and the people we support that shows how much we all value her contribution. Thank you Debbie!
STAFF
NEWS
FUN IN FOLKESTONE
TERRYS 80TH BIRTHDAY AT BURNHAM
ENJOYING LIFE AT MILLFIELD
TRISTFORD ACTIVITIES
SKITTLES AT SANDGATE
MEET OUR NEW MANAGER OF SANDGATE MANOR:
1) How long have you worked at Wellgate and explain your role.
I have worked at Wellgate since January 2023. I am a Registered Manager, I initially started managing The Lodge in Bexhill for a few months and then I transitioned into managing Sandgate Manor. I oversee the day-to-day operations of the service.
2) What do you enjoy most about being the manager of Sandgate Manor
One of my favourite things about my role is supporting residents to reach a milestone or achieve a goal.
3) What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love TV, I watch a lot of movies and shows, I also love to travel. One of my travel goals is to visit every single Caribbean island.
4) What is your favourite film and why?
My favourite film of all time will have to be ‘TITANIC’. The special effects of the entire ship sinking is mind-blowing.
5) Who would you like to have supper with past or present, and why?
I would like to have supper with Martin Luther King, so I could ask him about where he got his fearlessness to start the civil rights movement.
6) Surprise us with something we don’t know about you or a fun fact about yourself.
I have my own podcast that’s on all platforms called ‘Everyday Dialogue’.
MEET FABIAN
THE LODGE, BEXHILL
ACTIVITIES IN THE LODGE
Bexhill enjoy lots of activities, including making apple turnover and art
TRIP TO HASTINGS BLUE REEF AQUARIUM AND A TRIP TO PORT LYMPNE:
CHINESE NIGHT AND BINGO DISCO:
UPDATE FROM WORKSOP
Jasmine from Old Police Station in Worksop has been awarded a certificate and £30 gift card by community care officer, Sarah after she was overwhelmed with Jasmines interaction with a person we support during her visit.
Old Police Station staff also visited the library, to build strong community links
The Grafton welcomes a new tenant who visited with Mum and Dad. This is an exciting move as it will be his first home!
THE OLD PRINTERS, SANDBACH
Sandbach organised a day full of competitions to include an obstacle race, egg and spoon race, sack race, the three legged race and many more classic sports day competitions.
Sadly on the day of the event, the sun was not shining in Sandbach, and sports day was moved inside.
SANDBACH SPORTS DAY: SANDBACH ACTIVITIES
DEVELOPING OUR NEW WEBSITE
Wellgate.com
We are in the process of integrating all our websites (wellgatesupport.com, MNPcare.com and Wellgate.com) into one domain which will be wellgate.com.
Both MNPcare and Wellgate Support website domains will be forwarded onto the new Wellgate.com website.
We are integrating the three websites so that all information is one place, making it easier to access and manage.
We will also be integrating the social media pages so that all news stories can be shared with everyone, and we will also be changing everyone's email to @wellgate.com in the coming months.
COMING SOON:
CLUB WELLGATE
WELCOME TO OUR NEW CLUB WELLGATE MEMBERS:
Judith Hurst, Chloe Jones, Lisa Syrett, Krystal Thompson, Alison Goodearl, Morgan Leonard, Caley Somers, Charlie Little-Harris, Amber Lait, Hannah Radford, Anouar Hamdi, Ellie Surridge, Evelyn Otiono, Kylie Tipper, Fabian Morgan, Jasmine Brown, Kim Gregory, Karen Matcham, Karen Hodkinson, Gemma Baxter, Alfie Skinner, Helen Sellors, Nicola Richardson, Emily Mclean, Rebecca Lee, Connor Johnson.
All new Club Wellgate members can book the holiday home by emailing holiday@wellgate.com to find availability.
STAFF HOLIDAY HOME
SARAHFROMHEADOFFICE
Sarah visited the holiday home with her two daughters and her parents
Head of HR Helen headed to the Mumbles in early July:
Ceri visited The Mumbles on her own, and created her own health retreat with meditation, beach walks and yoga in the lounge.
RECIPE OF THE QUARTER
BBQ CHICKEN MARINADE
INGREDIENTS :
1 c. BBQ sauce
1/4 c neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable, plus more for the grill
2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp. smoked paprika
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 lb. bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces
METHOD
STEP 1IN A LARGE BOWL, WHISK BBQ SAUCE, OIL, GARLIC, SOY SAUCE, SMOKED
PAPRIKA, 2 TEASPOONS SALT, AND ½ TEASPOON PEPPER. RESERVE ¼ CUP OF THE SAUCE IN A SMALL BOWL; COVER AND REFRIGERATE UNTIL READY TO GRILL.
ADD CHICKEN TO THE LARGE BOWL AND TOSS TO COAT. COVER AND REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS, OR UP TO OVERNIGHT.
STEP 2PREHEAT GRILL TO MEDIUM HIGH FOR 3 MINUTES, AND CLEAN AND GREASE THE GRATES WITH OIL. ADD CHICKEN, SKIN SIDE-DOWN, AND GRILL, FLIPPING OFTEN AND BASTING WITH THE RESERVED BBQ SAUCE, UNTIL A THERMOMETER INSERTED INTO THE THICKEST PART READS 165º, ABOUT 20 MINUTES TOTAL. SERVE IMMEDIATELY.
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1.
NEW STARTERS
WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR NEW STAFF:
Eyleen Lackner, Anita Thapa, Iyesha Wright, Kate Kilgariff
Yonchena Tumbahangphe, Deepa Pun, Tinotenda Mandizha , Masie
Russell, Melanie Hey, Agboola Oladeru, Terence Loftus, Lisa Brookes, Alex Sharp, Kelly Chapman, Deanna Williams, Sharon Kiernan, Julianne
Barnes, Philippa Kay, Laura Allister, Bimala Rai, Paul Weller, Cristina
Fabozzi, Olasunkanmi Ogbebor , Linda Collins, Matthew Benson, Michael
McGuire, Jessica Jenkins, Gemma Bamford, Dana Ionescu, Dennis Medalla, Chidiebere Ohaka, Emmie-May Brisco, Connor Bamford, Catherine Dunne
REFER A FRIEND
If you know any friends or family who would be well-suited to work as a carer in any of our services, please contact your line manager.
When your referral passes probation and becomes a member of Club Wellgate you will receive £150.