July Newsletter From Radfield Home Care Derby

A warm welcome to the latest edition of our Community newsletter. Our aim is to keep you up to date on all things relating to Radfield Home Care Derby, Ashbourne & South Derbyshire. This issue shares our latest news, community activities, and health advice to help you and your loved ones age well.

You can also keep updated by following us on social media.

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Alfred the Great

A few words about a very special client called Alfred. Radfield have had the pleasure of knowing Alfred for around four years. In that time, he has become more than someone we just support, he has become a cherished part of our lives.

Alfred has not left his house in all the time he has been with Radfield. The Care Professionals are a vital part of Alfred’s life and he counts them as friends. Alfred is always happy to see us.

Anyone who knows Alfred will know about his favourite things. Give him a jigsaw puzzle, some colouring books, some pencils and of course some chocolate and he’s a very happy man indeed. Alfred has a unique way of becoming fully absorbed in a puzzle or colouring project, showing patience, focus and determination that we all love.

But perhaps Alfred’s greatest achievement isn’t completing a jigsaw – it’s having all us Care Professionals wrapped around his little finger! Somehow with a smile, a look or just being his wonderful self, Alfred always manages to get what he wants. The truth is we wouldn’t have it any other way.

It is a privilege to know Alfred and to be part of his journey. Thank you for all your smiles, witty comments and the ability to still surprise us with your comical banter. Thank you for keeping us on our toes over the years and for many more years to come.

Fun at the day centre

American-themed afternoon & independence day

Day Centre clients and staff enjoyed celebrating Independence Day with a fun-filled American-themed afternoon! Our clients put their knowledge to the test with a quiz on US Presidents, took on a USA general knowledge quiz, completed word searches, and shared wonderful memories of holidays and special times spent in the United States.

It was lovely to hear everyone’s stories, reminisce about favourite places, and learn something new together. Days like these are a fantastic way to spark conversations, encourage reminiscence, and celebrate cultures from around the world.

World emoji day & World cup day

Pleased to say Radfield Day Centre finally caught up on two fantastic themed days:

• World Emoji Day: Everyone had great fun designing and creating their very own emojis. There were lots of smiles as we completed emoji-themed activities, tackled a word search, took part in a general knowledge quiz, and even found time to get our knitting needles clicking.
• World Cup Day: We made up for World Cup Day by working together to name flags from around the world. It was a brilliant team effort, with plenty of laughs and friendly competition along the way.

Samaritans awareness day

Radfield Day Centre came together to recognise Samaritans Awareness Day to highlight the incredible work of the Samaritans. We spent the day celebrating kindness, friendship, and looking after our wellbeing together.

• Kindness Jars: Everyone enjoyed creating their own Kindness Jars, filling them with sand, shells, and little reminders of the people, memories, and things that make us feel grateful, happy, and bring us comfort.
• Sensory Yoga & Bingo: During a gentle yoga session, we explored how using our five senses can help us feel calm, grounded, and present, giving us simple techniques to use whenever life feels overwhelming. We also shared plenty of smiles and laughter with a game of bingo, ending the day with lots of fun and togetherness.

“I really enjoyed making my kindness jar today. It was lovely choosing the little shells and bits of sand and thinking about all the things and people that make me happy. It brought back some lovely memories and gave us all something nice to chat about. We had a good laugh together too, and it was a wonderful way to spend the day with everyone.”

Fish & chips and games

Today was all about good food, great company, and a little bit of friendly competition! We enjoyed a delicious traditional favourite, fish and chips from our local chip shop, followed by an afternoon of puzzles, games, and plenty of laughter.

We brought all our favourite puzzles to the table, along with some much-loved traditional games, and spent time chatting, reminiscing, and working together to solve challenges.

Community connections & recruitment

Amanda, our Recruitment & Training Manager, has been busy building connections within our local community this month:

• Boulton Lane Baptist Church: Amanda has continued her regular visits to the weekly Coffee Morning at Boulton Lane Baptist Church in Alvaston, where she has enjoyed spending time with the wonderful group there. Each visit brings a warm welcome, friendly conversations, and the opportunity to meet new people, catch up with familiar faces, and hear their stories.
• Community Job Fair: Amanda attended the Community Job Fair at the Village Learning Centre in Derby, representing Radfield Derby and sharing the exciting career opportunities available within our team. The event, held in partnership with Derby Jobs and other local organisations offering employment opportunities, was a great chance to connect with job seekers, answer questions, and share more about rewarding roles, training, and ongoing support.

Disability confident committed

At Radfield Derby, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to work, grow, and make a meaningful difference. Becoming a Disability Confident Committed employer is an important step in our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming workplace where people are supported to succeed, regardless of disability or long-term health conditions.

As a home care provider, we know that every individual brings unique experiences, skills, and perspectives. It’s these differences that make our team stronger and help us provide compassionate, person-centred care to the people and families we support across our community.

This commitment isn’t just about recruitment – it’s about building a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to be themselves. We’re proud to play our part in creating a more inclusive Derby, both for our colleagues and for the people we care for every day.

If you or someone you know has been thinking about a career in care, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re experienced in care or looking for a new and rewarding career, we’ll support you every step of the way.

Employee of the month

Our Care Manager Amanda simply couldn’t choose just one winner! Throughout the recent heatwave, every single one of our incredible Care Professionals went above and beyond to ensure all our clients continued to receive the outstanding care, compassion, and support they deserve.

Working in such challenging temperatures is no easy task, but the team showed unwavering dedication, professionalism, and kindness every single day. So for July, we celebrated ALL of our amazing Care Professionals.

Celebrating our team

• A huge congratulations to Emma (Care Professional) and Emma (Day Centre Co-ordinator), who have both successfully passed their probationary period.
• Both Emma’s have also achieved their Care Certificate, demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality care and support.