Exotic Animals Amaze Berkshire Care Home Residents

The residents were astonished and delighted to meet the animals who were brought in by a specialist from Wild Science an organisation that promotes animal education and animal therapy Residents had the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the animals habitat diet and welfare

Taking part in this activity resident Joan Williams was amazed when she held the giant snail She said: The body is not as slimy as I thought it would be And the shell has so many ridges! It s a lovely texture

Resident Tony Cleave felt brave enough to handle a gecko I had never held a gecko It s such a fascinating creature It weighs so little and it has the tiniest toes and feet he said with a twinkle in his eyes

Sharon Fletcher one of the Activities Coordinators at Prince

Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court said:

It was really lovely to see the residents faces light up when these animals came in! They brought joy to our residents boosted their mood and encouraged social interaction

The Home also has two guinea pigs Elvis and Ginger Stripe who have become everyone s pets

The animals are gorgeous said Activities Coordinator Sharon Fletcher

They provide the experience of looking after an animal and also boost our residents mental health and wellbeing

RMBI Care Co Home Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court is run by RMBI Care Co part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation For more information please visit: http://www rmbi org uk/

Black Swan’s Youngest Care Home Manager

Appointed at The Beeches Care Home in East Harling

In a demonstration of support and commitment to developing staff into management roles Black Swan s newest and youngest Care Home Manager has taken up her new role Now aged just 24, Chloe Boon started with Black Swan in September 2016 as an apprentice care assistant aged just 17 Chloe takes up the story of her career in social care with Black Swan: “I’d never done care before and felt welcomed into the home and discovered the role of a Carer I then moved over to the Activities Co-ordinator role, before becoming a Senior Care Assistant In 2018 the opportunity came up to become a Trainee Deputy Manager I learned so much valuable knowledge in that role and in 2019 I progressed to Deputy Manager

“Alongside my experience in my previous roles, Black Swan supported me with my Level 3 and 5 Diplomas in Health and Social Care to further my knowledge, and I then became a Peripatetic Deputy Manager, where I developed wider experience of other Black Swan homes and teams

“When the opportunity came up for the Manager’s role at The Beeches I knew that the time was right for me and I m really excited to be joining our outstanding-rated team at the home I m so grateful for the support I have been given throughout my career with Black Swan

Amanda Bensly Black Swan’s Regional Manager expressed her pride in Chloe: “At just 24 we are really proud to be appointing Chloe to the Care Home Manager role at The Beeches She s been with our Black Swan family for over 6 years and has so much experience in different roles She’s already a big asset to us and it shows all our staff that we have a career pathway to support them to develop and grow with us and to find a long-term successful career in social care ”