CARING & SHARING Stories from Stow

this issue!
New Leadership - Pages 4-5
Stow in the Snow 2024 Winners - Pages 6-7
Industry AwardsPages 8-9


this issue!
New Leadership - Pages 4-5
Stow in the Snow 2024 Winners - Pages 6-7
Industry AwardsPages 8-9
Dear Reader,
The end of Winter has heralded some picturesque sights at our homes as the Spring flowers start to emerge. 2025 also marks 15 years since Stow Healthcare began operations. Over that time, we have grown from one home to eight, and seen staff numbers grow from less than 50 to over 600. As we start 2025, we are delighted to welcome new talent to the company to help us continue to grow and to support our residents and our teams most effectively. We are delighted to introduce two new Regional Managers to the group - Sarah Godfrey and Helen Garfoot – who bring with them many years of combined service in health and care. We are also pleased to share that our homes will be given additional oversight with a new Head of Dementia Care, in an additional role taken on by Brandon Park’s home manager Jan Heti. Jan will be helping to shape new approaches to dementia care across the company. Thank you for your continued support as we enter a year full of promise.
Best wishes,
Roger Catchpole Managing Director
Page 18-19
goings on
We’re excited to share some fantastic updates with you in this edition of ‘Caring & Sharing’ but before we jump into 2025, we want to share with you some updates on building projects at our homes.
Throughout 2024 we’ve taken strides to enhance facilities for residents and staff. Stowlangtoft Hall and Horkesley Manor had vital building maintenance and landscaping, whilst the teams at Manson House, Cedars Place and Horkesley Manor have received much-needed clinical upgrades with new medication rooms or care stations. Improving the dedicated staff space has also been a focus for us over the last 12 months. We are pleased to have completed multiple staff room renovations, investing in facilities to allow our teams to enjoy a restful break whilst at work.
Our largest project at Halstead Hall is now entering the final phase after 18 months of work. The new extension will offer improved amenities including a new kitchen, laundry and medication room, as well as a brand-new enclosed courtyard garden. We were lucky enough to be able to open our courtyard garden in the Autumn catching the final rays of sunshine in 2024. Residents are already looking forward to getting back out into this space and developing the garden later in the year. We are proud to continue to invest in our facilities in 2025.
Congratulations to the team at Halstead Hall who were surprised with the Chief Nurse Team Award in January! The Department of Social Care’s Chief Nurse Team Awards recognises the outstanding contribution that teams have on the lives of the people they care for.
The team were joined remotely by Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care who presented the award to the team for their continued commitment to their residents.
She praised the team's efforts on nutrition and hydration, their participation in the decaffeination project as well their passion for supporting those who are living with dementia to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. This recognition is so well deserved, a big well done to Heather, Matt, Lisa and all the team at the home.
2025 is off to an exciting start as we welcome two new team members to our head office support network. We are thrilled to announce the appointment of two new Regional Managers at Stow Healthcare, who joined us in February. These roles add a new layer of support to our home management teams and is testament to Stow Healthcare's continued success and growth. This additional support will be a huge ongoing benefit for our homes.
Sarah is a Registered Nurse with a BSc in Palliative Care and certifications in Leadership and Strategic Management. With over 30 years of experience, she has advanced from an Enrolled Nurse to leadership roles, most recently serving as Associate Director of Care and Clinical Governance at St Elizabeth Hospice.
She has extensive expertise in palliative care, managing teams and driving high-quality, person-centred care. Her career includes 12 years at St Clare and St Francis Hospices, with previous work in Oncology and Gynaecology. Sarah enjoys family time and walking her Jack Russell dogs and says she’s looking forward to joining Stow Healthcare.
Sarah will provide clinical support across all homes and will be the regional manager contact for Melford Court, Horkesley Manor, Halstead Hall and Cedars Place.
Helen began her career as a nursery nurse, progressing to Registered and Regional Manager roles, where she excelled in turning around struggling nurseries. Helen later joined the Ambulance Service, advancing from Care Assistant to Qualified Paramedic, a role that suited her problem-solving nature as a “fixer.” Shifting her focus to quality improvement, Helen worked in a hospice before joining the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB).
As Clinical Quality Lead, she oversaw care quality for over 50 nursing homes and 100 domiciliary care providers, gaining experience with Local Authority and CQC operations. Most recently, Helen served as Director of Quality and Compliance for a national domiciliary care provider, focusing on innovation and delivering outstanding care.
Outside work, Helen is a devoted mum and stepmum to four children. She enjoys antique shops, upcycling, and coffee shops, with cake whenever possible! Excited to join Stow Healthcare, she welcomes staff ideas to maintain exceptional care.
Helen will provide operational support across all homes, and will be the regional manager point of contact for Stowlangtoft Hall, Manson House, Brandon Park and Ford Place.
Jan Heti, Dementia Care Manager
Jan Heti, Home Manager of Brandon Park, will take on the additional role of Dementia Care Manager for Stow Healthcare starting in 2025. In this role, Jan will dedicate supernumerary time each month to support all homes in the group, drawing on practices developed through the Memory Centres.
Jan will lead the development of Stow Healthcare’s first dementia strategy, focusing on helping residents with dementia lead purposeful lives. She will also review insights from the Memory Centre concept, emphasizing reskilling, promoting independence, and supporting residents with capacity.
Passionate about dementia care, Jan looks forward to collaborating with home management teams to enhance and expand excellent care. We congratulate Jan on her additional responsibilities.
The Maple Memory Centre at Brandon Park and the Aspen Memory Centre at Horkesley Manor provide industry-leading memory care in beautifully designed, tranquil settings. We are committed to delivering exceptional care, comfort, and dignity for those with memory challenges.
Our centres offer premium accommodation with high-quality furnishings, spacious suites that can be personalised to feel like home with access to communal facilities and stunning gardens. Residents benefit from expert, compassionate support in a safe and welcoming environment, ensuring the highest quality of life.
Our annual winter event, Stow in the Snow, is celebrating its fifth year and continues to be a favourite among residents and staff. With all 8 care homes taking part in the competitive fun, the event has grown significantly. The core purpose of the competition is to promote long-term therapeutic activities that encourage participation from residents of all abilities. We’re incredibly proud of everyone’s contributions this year.
Halstead Hall had the privilege of hosting the judges for this year. Our panel of judges included familiar face Julie Martin, former Provider Support Lead at Suffolk County Council, and Charlie Diamond, who had just joined the Stow Healthcare Group Office as Marketing and Communications Lead, for a fresh perspective on the event. The judges met with each team via Zoom before revealing the ‘Best in Stow’ winners at the end of the day. All the homes connected virtually to cheer each other on and join in the excitement.
This year’s winners, Brandon Park, impressed the judges with their festive transformation of the home’s main entrance, turning it into a magical Santa’s grotto with the help of residents. Everyone participated in brainstorming ideas and physically constructing the display. Their efforts also earned them the title of ‘Best Decorated Christmas Tree,’ after an incredible 320 likes on Facebook! The tree, beautifully adorned with handmade hearts bearing messages for loved ones who have passed, touched everyone deeply. Our runners-up, Halstead Hall, created memorable reindeer baubles using residents’ thumbprints, which they then gifted to families, winning the ‘Handmade Holiday’ award. Volunteer James also earned the ‘Best Festive Dress’ title for his enthusiastic participation.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made this year’s competition a huge success. Special thanks to our judges, Julie and Charlie, for dedicating their time, and to all the activity teams across the homes for their hard work in driving the competition forward and capturing the wonderful efforts of our residents. We can’t wait to see what next year’s competition will bring!
Best in Stow Winners 2024
Best Decorated Christmas Tree
Brandon Park
Best Festive Dress, Staff & Volunteers James, Halstead Hall
Best Festive Dress, Residents
Bob, Cedars Place
‘Deck the Halls’
Brandon Park
A Jolly ‘Handmade’ Holiday
Halstead Hall
Best Festive Photograph
Ford Place
Best Christmas Card
Stowlangtoft Hall
Best Festive Food
Melford Court
The Staff Involvement Award
Claire Graham, Manson House
The Resident Involvement Award
Jean, Horkesley Manor
Christmas Jumper Designs Winners
Best Community Jumper, 5 & Under
Halstead Hall
Best Community Jumper, 6+ Years Horkesley Manor
Best Staff Jumpers
Manson House
Best Resident Jumpers
Halstead Hall
Special Mentions
Champion Award 2024
Tony Pilgrim, Melford Court
Star in the Sky
Vivien, Halstead Hall
Stow in the Snow 2024 Overall Runners Up
Halstead Hall
We are extremely proud to share that Stow Healthcare was awarded the title ‘Excellence in Small Residential Care’ at the 2024 LaingBuisson Awards.
The LaingBuisson Awards honor excellence in health and social care, making it a prestigious industry event. Held at London’s Park Plaza Hotel and hosted by comedian Steven K Amos, judges praised Stow Healthcare as a sector leader with a strong corporate vision and personal focus on residents and staff. This marks their third win since 2018, an unmatched achievement, showcasing their commitment to innovation and exceptional care.
In December, the Caring UK Awards held their seventh ceremony at the Athena in Leicester. Manson House in Bury St Edmunds was shortlisted for five categories, including Care Home of the Year (South). Stow Healthcare won three awards, decided by an expert panel featuring Nadra Ahmed CBE and Isobel Jones, who selected winners from up to eight finalists per category.
National Winners- Halstead Hall- Management Team of the Year Award Judges’ citation: “The management team of Halstead Hall focuses on education and empowerment. A recent project has seen the team drive forward improved falls management. The team has developed a structured approach with clear expectations around prevention, triaging and safe care. As a result, falls have hugely reduced due to better risk management and health outcomes post falls are also significantly better.”
National Winners- Brandon Park –Excellence & Innovation in Dementia Care Award
Judges’ citation: “The winning home is a place of empowerment where life is truly lived. The team ensure that life at the home is not delivered for residents but is designed and delivered, by residents. Staff have gained confidence by seeing how simple solutions can have such powerful outcomes.”
National Winners- Stow Healthcare- Best Initiative Award Judges’ citation:
“’A small change, big difference’ that is how the judges summed up this project. The winner has taken resident research to a new level by studying the impact of introducing decaffeinated drinks on falls. The winning group loves experimenting and looking for ways to improve the lives of residents. Since this project started almost 30 other NHS and Social Care Providers have started their own Decaf journeys.”
Stow Healthcare triumphed at the 2024 East of England Great British Care Awards, winning three prestigious awards and receiving three highly commended recognitions. They were named Regional ‘Care Home Employer’ for the first time, with judges praising their unwavering commitment to outstanding care, staff development, and consistently high standards, which set them apart in the industry.
Our ‘Decaf Project’ won the Care Innovator and Co-Production Awards for significantly reducing falls and promoting cutting-edge research in social care. Regional winners will compete nationally at the prestigious finals in Birmingham this March. Congratulations to all finalists for their outstanding and remarkable achievements!
The Care Home Employer Award- Stow Healthcare
The Care Innovator Award- Stow Healthcare
The Co-Production Award- Stow Healthcare
The Care Newcomer Award- Aleksandar Zivkovic, Horkesley Manor
“It was a pleasure to meet someone who made such a life-changing career decision and talked about their day-to-day role with such genuine passion.”
The Dignity in Care Award- Halstead Hall Team
“Any person would be exceptionally lucky to receive care from the Halstead Hall Team!”
The Care Team Award- Ford Place Team
“A very progressive company and employees, forward-thinking with an out-of-the-box approach!”
The 3 Rs, Recruitment, Retention & Recognition Award- Stow Healthcare
The Care Home Activities Organiser Award- Brandon Park Activities Team
The Dementia Carer Award- Corrine Collis, Halstead Hall
At the end of 2024, we proudly celebrated our annual long service awards, recognising staff who reached significant milestones at Stow Healthcare. Their dedication and passion have made a lasting impact on residents, providing care and support throughout their time with us. This year, we honour 200 years of combined service—a true testament to their hard work and commitment.
Staff received their awards at festive events in December, joined by colleagues, residents, and loved ones. These occasions not only recognised individual achievements but also highlighted the strong sense of community and teamwork at Stow Healthcare. Each award symbolised years of dedication, compassion, and invaluable contributions to resident well-being.
We extend heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to these outstanding individuals for their achievements and loyalty. Their commitment inspires us all, and we look forward to many more years of success. Here’s to celebrating the past, present, and future!
10 Years Service
Suan Dellow- Horkesley Manor
Paula Farrington- Horkesley Manor
Arleada Malingin- Horkesley Manor
Aleck Russell- Horkesley Manor
15 Years Service
Hazel Clark- Manson House
Susan Potter- Manson House
Sheila Rampling- Ford Place
20 Years Service
Helen Dent- Brandon Park
Helen Lano- Melford Court
25 Years Service
Susan Loomes- Ford Place
Gillian Marskell- Ford Place
Beverley Rollings- Manson House
In 2024, we welcomed our fourth cohort of Care Home Assistant Practitioners to Stowlangtoft Hall for a specialised training program. Partnering with Training and Assessment in Healthcare, the two-week course aimed to enhance the clinical skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities of our experienced Senior Carers, enabling them to better support nurses and lead their care teams effectively.
The training consisted of ten days of in-person and online sessions, complemented by supervision days to thoroughly prepare for end-point assessments and presentations. Key topics included End-of-Life care, Tissue Viability, Waterlow scoring, basic wound care, clinical observations, identifying signs of deterioration, and leadership skills. The participants impressed trainers with their high-quality work and are now set to confidently apply their enhanced skills within their teams.
Congratulations to Georgina Decarteret, Paige Piesse, Niamh Corby Jackson, and Teresa Nichols, who have successfully completed the program and are working toward their final assessments. They are well-prepared to make a significant impact in their care roles.
At Stow Healthcare, we prioritise workforce development, believing training enhances staff capabilities and improves resident care. We proudly celebrate our staff’s recent diploma achievements with Sara Hobbs from the Essex Care Consortium.
Corrinne Collis- Halstead Hall
Donna Hooper- Brandon Park
Sian Munson- Horkesley Manor
If you are interested in hearing more about training and qualification opportunities at Stow Healthcare, please email training@stowhealthcare.co.uk or speak to a member of your home management team.
At Brandon Park, we love fostering connections with our local community. Our residents light up when little visitors join in, filling our home with laughter and energy. That’s why we introduced Messy Play—an engaging activity that brings together our residents and young children for a meaningful experience.
With our activity coordinator’s background in early years education, we saw an opportunity to create a fun, intergenerational activity. Messy Play allows children to explore sensory experiences while socialising. At the same time, our residents enjoy the excitement and engage their fine and gross motor skills through play.
Our recent session welcomed 16 children (aged six months to four years) and six residents, three of whom were former teachers. Watching the children interact and explore was heartwarming, and residents eagerly participated, reminiscing about their past experiences. A special highlight was cuddling little Poppy, making the day extra memorable.
Beyond the joy it brings to children and residents, Messy Play also allows parents to connect in a welcoming environment. The positive feedback has been overwhelming, and due to its success, we are excited to make this a monthly event.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved, please contact us. We look forward to more messy fun and cherished memories at Brandon Park!
Melford Court, is a premium care home located in a stunning Grade II Listed building in the historic town of Long Melford. We offer the highest standard of residential and nursing care, delivered with a focus on family values and a commitment to excellence.
Our residents can choose from three levels of historic suites, each offering generous living space and quality furnishings. All suites are designed to be personalised, ensuring your room feels like home. With access to communal facilities, Melford Court offers comfort and convenience.
Nestled in Long Melford, a charming wool town, Melford Court provides the perfect blend of peaceful surroundings and local amenities, with shops and cafes just a short walk away.
For more information or to book an appointment for Melford Court please contact our Admissions Team at 0333 2419707 or email: admissions@stowhealthcare.co.uk
This edition of residents’ corner comes from Horkesley Manor where resident Jean has been fundraising for the community. Jean has rediscovered her passion for knitting when she took part in the Knit in November Challenge for Dementia UK. It all began when the activities team were searching for art and craft ideas and stumbled upon the Dementia UK initiative.
When the promotional materials arrived, residents at Horkesley Manor were excited to get started with the project. Jean, who hadn't knitted in years, expressed her interest in helping out; with a little refresher on her knitting skills, by activities team member Maddie, Jean enthusiastically began creating squares for the Horkesley Manor blanket.
Jean and the team worked diligently contributing squares for the home’s blanket, while the other residents cheered them on with great enthusiasm. The team said “the sense of community and support was truly inspiring”.
As the end of November came to a close, the squares were carefully stitched together to create a beautiful blanket. The blanket was raffled at the home’s Christmas Fayre in December to find a new home for the teams creation. Maudie, another resident at Horkesley Manor, was the lucky winner of the blanket, much to everyone's delight.
This experience not only brought joy and a sense of accomplishment to Jean but also strengthened the bonds within our community. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of creativity and collaboration in making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by dementia.
Since then, Jean has been involved in more creative crafts, making coasters and placemats which were entered into this year’s Stow in the Snow competition. Her contribution saw her recognised as the Resident Involvement Award winner beating off competition from across the Stow Healthcare Group to be named overall ‘Best in Stow’. One of the team presented Jean with a framed picture beautifully capturing her creating the items that earned her the award, along with the winning comments.
As we enter the first quarter of 2025, we’re excited to highlight Nutrition and Hydration in this edition of Caring & Sharing, coinciding with Nutrition and Hydration Week in March.
Running from 17th–23rd March, this week brings people together to inspire energy, focus, and fun while raising awareness of the vital role food and drink play in health and well-being within health and social care. In this issue, we provide bite-sized insights into the challenges of supporting individuals with health conditions, their impact on nutrition and hydration, and the innovative solutions our organisation is implementing.
Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. It’s usually caused by certain medicines or health conditions that affect the nervous system including dementia. Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or drinks, while others cannot swallow at all. Over time, dysphagia can also cause symptoms such as weight loss and repeated chest infections.
Signs of dysphagia include:
• Coughing/choking when eating or drinking
• Bringing food back up
• A feeling or sensation that food is stuck in your throat or chest
• A gurgly, wet-sounding voice when eating or drinking
Treatments for dysphagia include:
• Speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques
• Changing the consistency of food and
• liquids to make them safer to swallow
• Alternative forms of feeding, such as tube feeding through the nose or stomach
Some people experience difficulties with chewing or swallowing, making certain foods and drinks a choking risk or causing them to ‘go down the wrong way’ into the airway.
The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) has created a globally standardised framework to classify foods and drinks that are safest for those with these challenges. This framework applies to all ages and care settings and is widely used across Stow Healthcare homes. It consists of eight levels (0–7), with drinks classified from Levels 0–4 and foods from Levels 3–7. The guidance also provides detailed instructions on testing and ensuring that each level of food or liquid is suitable for safe consumption.
Alongside the IDDSI framework, our teams collaborate with GPs, Nutritionists, and Speech and Language Teams (SLT) to ensure residents receive nutrition at the right consistency for their needs.
Before training as a chef, I joined the RAF at 17, cooking for Royal Family members and senior political figures. After my service, I gained hospitality experience, working as Head Chef in Rosetted Restaurants and Hotels before progressing to General Manager roles.
I also worked as Head Chef at a Golf Club, owned a pub, taught in Further Education, and served as Operations Manager for a Coffee Shop chain. After relocating to Suffolk, I joined Stow Healthcare in March 2024 as a Peripatetic Chef and became Head Chef at Manson House by June. I also serve as Group Catering Lead, supporting Homes with menus, budgets, and dietary needs.
Stow Healthcare is embracing nutrition and hydration initiatives. I introduced themed dining days at Manson House, collaborating with the activities team to feature international cuisines and national themes. This has been well received, and I aim to expand it across all Homes. Meal times foster connection and conversation. Moving into 2025, my focus is on delivering beautifully presented, nutritious meals with fresh ingredients, enhancing flavours, variety, and inclusivity for a better dining experience.
Following the success of previous role-specific development days, 2024 saw our first ever
Building on past successes, 2024 marked our first-ever Chef Development Day—a unique opportunity for chefs across the group to unite for hands-on, nutrition-focused training. Joined by nutritional champions and managers, attendees explored ways to enhance a food-first approach in their services.
The morning session, led by IDDSI-trained chef Oliver Smith from Brakes Food Service, featured interactive activities highlighting the challenges of swallowing difficulties. Chefs experienced these firsthand by attempting to drink water while holding a marshmallow in their mouth and f eeding one another.In the afternoon, practical demonstrations showcased how to create delicious, modified meals aligned with the IDDSI Framework. The response was overwhelmingly positive. One chef shared, “The food demonstrations were amazing, and the tasting was an eye-opener— puree/level 5 diets can have much more variety than I imagined.”
The impact is already visible across the group, and we’re excited to continue developing our chefs’ skills throughout 2025!
Brandon Park held its first messy sensory play session for the local toddler community – and while only two little ones attended, the joy was immeasurable! Residents, Shelby the dog, and the toddlers all had a fantastic time.
Cedars Place residents had a fun, messy morning making bird feeders and sharing memories of watching birds in their own gardens. The activity brought smiles, encouraged gentle movement, and sparked conversation. Now, everyone is excited to welcome new feathered friends, bringing even more joy to their garden!
Ford Place was filled with smiles during a visit from Nicky and Daisy of Miniature Dreams for Tiny Tots. Everyone enjoyed watching, stroking, and grooming Daisy, the adorable mini Shetland. Her gentle nature brought joy to all, and we eagerly awaiting her next visit!
Residents at Halstead Hall had a blast making firework breadsticks with chocolate and sparkly sprinkles. The kitchen was full of laughter and creativity, but the best part came after – tasting their delicious creations!
Manson House residents marked Beaujolais Nouveau Day with wine and croissants, enjoying a fun, French-inspired celebration. The annual tradition, celebrated on the third Thursday of November, marks the release of the year’s first Beaujolais wine. It was a wonderful way to relax, reminisce, and share good company!
A lovely time was had by all at Melford Court when residents were joined by a lovely group of singers. The very talented ‘Big Sing’ kept everyone entertained with their amazing voices and selection of song arrangements, they even brought in some edible treats.
Horkesley Manor residents had a heartwarming morning making teddy bears to celebrate ‘National Hug a Bear Day’ and support ‘Children in Need.’ The activity sparked joy and creativity, bringing everyone together for a great cause.
Everyone at Stowlangtoft Hall took part in a visit from the Lavenham Falconry Centre who gave a very informative talk to residents and brought along four different species of birds for them to look at. There was a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl an Eagle Owl and a Kookaburra. Everyone had a great afternoon.
It’s Puzzle Time!
Test your knowledge! Can you find all of the words relating to Spring?
Chirping Blossom
Sunshine Bloom
Daffodil Rainbow
Breeze Garden
Renewal Butterfly
If you have an interesting story, news or an announcement that you would like to share in the next edition of