Birch Hill Care Home Activities Manager Is Finalist in Great British Care Awards
The team have been celebrating at Birch Hill Care Home this week. This CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ home has cause to celebrate because Stacey Kerr, Activities Manager achieved the level of ‘finalist’ in the Care Home Activity Organiser Award category at the Great British Care Awards. These awards recognise people who go above and beyond in care roles throughout the North-East of England and the awards ceremony took place at a black-tie dinner in Newcastle.
The Care Home Activity Organiser Award recognises carers who provide a needs-led, varied, and appropriate activities programme for residents, showing exceptional creativity and responsibility in organising a wide range of activities. Not only this, but these activities are inclusive, designed to meet a wide variety of individual needs including those of people with dementia and other physical and cognitive challenges.
Everyone at Birch Hill agrees that Stacey lights up the room with her energy and creativity and is a richly deserving finalist. She adapts activities to suit residents and builds rapport with them to ensure that there is some connection for everyone, no one is left out, going above and beyond what is asked of her. Stacey also uses her tenacity to build relationships with local businesses who have donated items for our activities.
Stacey engages everyone in the home, including our colleagues and residents’ families, with events and activities. The effort she makes really produces positive connections for residents, and makes them happy. However, she’s not just there for the positive days, Stacey also does a great job of supporting residents when they are feeling down.
“I love my job and seeing resident’s faces glow with happiness. But it’s so important to be there for someone and appreciate the more difficult memories too,” said Stacey. “If I see a resident who is feeling a bit rubbish, I always say, ‘Do you fancy a cuppa?’ - I am always there for them.”
“Birch Hill offers a very special service for our residents and it’s great to know that this is continuing into the future”, said Jennifer Mackie, Registered Manager of Birch Hill Care Home. “We are so lucky to have Stacey as part of our team here at Birch Hill. She creates an exceptional calendar of events for our residents including pet therapy, relaxation therapies, days out, art and life skills. Stacey takes time to get to know all the residents and create bespoke experiences that are respectful and interesting for them. Congratulations to Stacey on making the finals of the awards, it’s very well deserved and we are so proud of her!”