Agincare

Yesterday’s Social Care Day of Action in Westminster, led by Providers Unite, sent a clear message: urgent reform is needed. We stand with care providers across the country in calling on the government to address the growing situation in social care. With the Autumn Budget changes taking effect in April, the rising living wage and employer National Insurance contributions will place even more pressure on a sector already struggling to meet the true cost of care. Whilst we welcome the long overdue recognition of care workers, this can only be achieved through sustainable funding. We applaud the Homecare Association for its tireless advocacy in pushing the government to properly fund social care. It’s time for action. Social care deserves better.

It was a real honour to welcome Sir David Behan, Chair of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to the Avon Unit at our Waterside Care Home in Southwark. Sir David was the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission from 2012 to 2018 and chaired the Board of Health Education England from 2018 to 2022. The Avon Unit, which has 17 beds, has helped ease delayed hospital discharges for people returning home without the need for additional ongoing support. The Avon Unit was officially opened by Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Southwark Council, Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst and Chief Executive Officer Raina Summerson on 7 November 2023. The Avon Unit mitigates failed hospital discharges by supporting patients with round-the-clock care from Waterside’s trained teams, working alongside occupational and physical therapists, NHS nurses and GPs. Sir David enjoyed a tour of the Avon Unit from Waterside Care Home registered manager Catherine Sang 💚💙 and spoke to several patients receiving support. Delighted with Sir David’s visit, Catherine said: “The Waterside team are honoured to be part of such an impactful project, one that has made such a change to people’s lives in the borough. “I would like to thank all our partners from Southwark Council, the rehabilitation and reablement teams and King’s College Hospital who have made the Avon Unit a real success.” Since 2023, Agincare has worked in close partnership with Southwark Council to operate five care homes in the borough - Waterside, Greenhive, Bluegrove House, Rose Court and Tower Bridge under a long-term partnership arrangement. We’re thrilled with the Avon Unit’s success - the result of a fantastic collaboration between Southwark Council, Agincare, and the local NHS.

💖 Happy Valentine’s Day to the wonderful people we support and our incredible teams! Today, we’re sharing heartwarming love stories from our communities. ❤️ At Cheriton Care Home in Dorchester, we spoke to Geraldine. A wonderful character, Geraldine met her future husband, Geoffrey, when he walked into her shop asking for The Southampton Echo. She bluntly directed him to the newsagent, but he stayed for a chat—and the rest is history! Her advice for a long, happy marriage? 💬 “When you start to bicker, calm the situation down straight away. Say, ‘that’s enough, we’ll talk about it later,’ and the argument fades.” 🍽️ At Greenhive Care Home in Southwark, our team hosted a special Valentine’s dinner for three incredible couples—each married for over 60 years! 🎉 Congratulations to George & Esther, Peter & Rosemary, and Mike & Betty! 💕 Peter met Rosemary at Butlins Holiday Camp in Skegness, mustering the courage to ask her for a dance. What a beautiful beginning! 🌹 Meanwhile, at Orchid House, every resident received a personalized rose from the care team, celebrating the meaningful connections built over the years. 🍰 We simply couldn't let this day pass without mentioning the fabulous Valentine’s themed cake baked by our kitchen superstars Olha and Ben! 💞 These are just some of the wondrous, meaningful connections our teams create every day. As one of the few care providers that accommodate couples across our settings, we believe love should never be separated. Wishing everyone a day filled with love, connection, and joy! ❤️✨ #ValentinesDay #LoveInCare #TogetherAlways

Throughout #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, we’re celebrating our incredible apprentices and the invaluable contributions they make to our services! Today, we celebrate Jane Nash, Deputy Manager at The Rose Garden, our extra care service in Herefordshire. Jane is currently in the final stage of her Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (Level 4) apprenticeship. In fact, she’ll be taking her Professional Discussion assessment tomorrow! This qualification will enhance Jane’s ability to mentor her team, evaluate care delivery, and drive meaningful improvements in the service. Reflecting on her apprenticeship journey, Jane shared: “My apprenticeship has had such an impact on my role as Deputy Manager. "I have learned so much and have been truly impressed by how the training directly relates to my daily responsibilities. "The journey hasn’t always been easy, but I am proud of everything I have achieved so far.” Jane is a pillar of The Rose Garden community, dedicating herself to ensuring residents feel supported, valued, and connected. Every Christmas, she and her family spend an afternoon with residents, making sure no one feels alone - her famous quiz is still talked about well into the New Year! In 2023, Jane’s dedication and work ethic were recognized with the Agincare Hero Medal, our highest accolade celebrating exceptional team members. 💙 Good luck tomorrow, Jane - we’re all cheering you on! 👏👏👏 #Apprenticeship #CareSector #Teamwork #ProfessionalGrowth #Agincare

Throughout #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, we’re celebrating our incredible apprentices and the invaluable contributions they make to our services! Today, we shine a spotlight on Ella Henderson, Deputy Manager at one of our supported living services in Dorset. Ella is currently completing a Leader in Adult Care (Level 5) apprenticeship, equipping her with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage a service. Talking about her experience of her apprenticeship so far, Ella said: 💬 "My Level 5 apprenticeship is a key part of my career development at Agincare. “I have learned much from my Learning & Development Coach and the other apprentices in my cohort. “I love how I can fit my training around my role - allowing me to balance my responsibilities as a Deputy Manager.” Her dedication and passion for providing exceptional care truly make a difference! Stay tuned as we continue to showcase the inspiring journeys of our apprentices! #NAW2025

We’re delighted to announce that Eve Clark from our Purchase Ledger team (pictured with Group HR & Organisational Development Director Dan Steadman) has been named Head Office Employee of the Month! Eve was nominated by several colleagues across the organisation, who praised her strong work ethic, exceptional professionalism, and outstanding communication skills. She has been particularly commended for her ability to convey financial information straightforwardly to people from across the organisation. One colleague said: "Her contributions have enhanced efficiency and performance while inspiring others to pursue the same level of excellence." Purchase Ledger Manager Will Hodder was keen to highlight Eve’s achievements: “Over the last year, Eve has worked diligently to establish a great rapport with key stakeholders who recognised her efficient way of working and positive ‘can-do’ attitude." Our Purchase Ledger team plays a vital role in our daily operations - accurately recording expenditures, maintaining strong supplier relationships, providing key performance data, and handling many other essential responsibilities. A big thank you to the team for their dedication! As Eve approaches her first anniversary with Agincare, we celebrate her invaluable contributions to the Purchase Ledger team. You can nominate your favourite Employee of the Month using the link below: Nominate them for Employee of the Month today! https://bit.ly/3MdjOO6

Celebrating National Apprenticeships Week! 🎉 Today marks the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week, a time to celebrate the incredible contributions apprentices make in workplaces nationwide. We are proud to offer comprehensive in-house training including a range of apprenticeships in health and social care, as well as professional qualifications, short courses and career advice. Guided by our expert Learning & Development Coaches, our apprenticeships provide invaluable opportunities for team members across Agincare’s care services to enhance their skills and progress in their roles. Today, we highlight Hazel Bassett, a Team Leader in Medway, who recently completed her Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Level 4 apprenticeship: "My Level 4 apprenticeship has helped me grow and develop as a Team Leader. “My Learning & Development Coach brought out the best in me - understanding my barriers and helping me overcome them. “I really enjoyed the challenge of my Level 4 apprenticeship and can’t wait to start my Level 5!” Throughout the week we'll be shining a spotlight on a handful of inspiring success stories from our apprentices past and present. #NAW2025 #NationalApprenticeshipWeek #Apprenticeships #AgincareTraining #FutureTalent

🙌 Congratulations to the team at our Cheriton Care Home in Dorchester for their recent ‘Good’ CQC rating in all areas! 🛡️ Inspectors highlighted how residents felt safe, with one resident stating, "It’s the best home I’ve been in. I’m safe, and the staff are just superb." 🙏 Feedback from visiting professionals was equally positive, with one noting, "I always find the staff, carers, seniors, and the manager very open and helpful. 💪 Cheriton Registered Manager Matt Dennis-Andrews has over two decades of experience in the social care sector and has seen great successes since his appointment to the role last year. 🤝 The team celebrated their 'Good' rating by appointing a local community lifeline, Dorchester Family Support, as their chosen charity for the year. 🧡 Yesterday, the team presented volunteers with hampers and expressed their excitement about working with the charity over the coming months. 🎖️ Congratulations team Cheriton on the fantastic achievement! 👇 Click on the blog to see how the team have been supporting local good causes and community initiatives over the last few months #proudtocare #teamwork

We are pleased to announce that Alisha Collings from Whitley Court, our Extra Care scheme in Torbay, is January’s company-wide Employee of the Month! She was nominated for the award by several Whitley Court residents who praised her strong work ethic and positive, can-do attitude. Alisha has been working at Whitley Court since 2022 and has proven herself to be a vital part of the team. She has recently started studying for a degree in Nursing and fits in her regular part-time hours around her studies. The team are very proud to support her long-term goals in every way they can. On winning the award, Alisha’s manager, Nicola Fisher, said: “Alisha is much loved here at Whitley Court, and I am so glad that she is being recognised for all her hard work over the last few years. “She is a great advocate not only for Whitley Court but for social care in general - always wanting to learn more and improve her knowledge. “Many of our residents have told me how impressed they are with her, even at a young age showing much confidence and professionalism.” Congratulations, Alisha, from all of us at Agincare!

⭐ Today we celebrate a true stalwart of Agincare, Head of HR Amy Crabb, who celebrates her twentieth year of service! 💪 Amy started working with us in January 2005 and has undertaken a variety of roles across the organisation including Training Manager, HR Business Partner and later in her current role as Head of HR. 💗 As one of the longest-serving members of our Senior Management team, Amy is responsible for all HR matters across our 5,000-strong workforce in over a hundred locations nationwide. 🔥 Even with three decades of experience under her belt, she continues to develop her skillset, recently being awarded Chartered status by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - IOM College. 🙌 Whether launching an Employee Wellness guide, modernising our HR systems or just checking in with people, Amy has spearheaded the positive welcoming environment that our team members have come to expect. 🎖️ At our Agincare Heroes Awards in 2023, we recognised her outstanding achievements in supporting and developing Recruitment, Training, Employment and workforce growth and ensuring good practice across all our services. On reaching this milestone, Amy said: “It’s been the greatest privilege to see Agincare grow and develop our range of care services over the last twenty years. “When I first joined Agincare, it was primarily a Dorset-based care provider with a few other locations across Somerset. “Today, Agincare is one of the few national care providers with the experience and capacity to provide a range comprehensive range of care services, including new children’s service for 2025. A real success story." 🙏 Though she doesn’t want any fuss made, we just want to thank Amy for her exemplary professionalism, endless enthusiasm and good humour that has contributed to our continued growth over the last twenty years. #thankyou #care #proudtocare