Blog Post

Express Yourself!

  • By Matt Hull
  • 20 Jul, 2018

Summer open day - Expressive art and Hate + Mate crime workshop

On Tuesday 17th July 2018, Manor Community hosted a summer open day, which was open to clients, staff and the public. The day comprised of an expressive art theme, followed by a Hate and Mate crime workshop, organised by Bristol Hate crime and discrimination services.

We held the event at our offices, where we had two rooms set up to cater for the day. The main room comprised of tables for the clients, where they could draw and colour, along with plenty of food on the buffet. This room was also used for the second half of the afternoon to hold the Hate and Mate crime workshop. In the second room we held the Art Workshop, which was taken by one of our fantastic members of staff who has a passion for art. He built and set up a spin art exercise, which everyone loved! Along with portrait drawings and wire sculptures being made! It was great to see everyone get involved with the art and have such a fantastic time. We also put up a chalk board wall in our office, and encouraged anyone to contribute to the wall with anything they wanted to, Express yourself!

The second part of the afternoon, we held the Hate and Mate crime workshop - hosted and performed by Sarah and her assistants from the Brandon Trust with Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination services. there was a strong level of interest in the workshop from our clients, and a lot of audience participation. One particular client of ours who attended the afternoon, likes to wear woman's clothes, and he expressed that this had resulted in him being a victim of Hate crime in the past. He was a very vocal member of the group, which was excellent to see and for him to open up about issues he has faced.

Overall, the summer open day was a success! Everyone enjoyed themselves, as reflected in our client feedback: 100% of respondents said they enjoyed the afternoon. When asked what they liked and disliked about the event, some responses included: "loved the play about hate crime nothing to dislike loved it all really enjoyed all activities" "I liked The work shop on bullying, workshop, relationships, examples on what happens and is classed as hate crime" "It was good informative interesting and fun Nothing I didn't like".

Latest News from Manor Community

Manor Community Blog

By Sophie Chester 29 Aug, 2023

Today we are going to be sharing our training focus this month, with our Training and Development Lead Jeannette. 


As a care worker, caring for individuals living with dementia can be both challenging and rewarding. Understanding the condition and providing the right support are crucial aspects of delivering quality care. In this blog, we will explore some essential training tips that will help you provide the best care possible for those with dementia.

 

1.     Develop Comprehensive Understanding of the Different Dementia Types

Dementia encompasses various conditions, each with its unique challenges. Take the time to understand the most common types of dementia and their associated symptoms:


Alzheimer's Disease: Trouble recognizing people, communication difficulties, and impulsive behaviour.

Frontotemporal Dementia: Excessive emotions, shaky hands, and problems with balance.

Lewy Body Dementia: Inability to concentrate, muscle rigidity, and reduced facial expressions.

Vascular Dementia: Hallucinations or delusions, misplacing items, and poor judgment.

By understanding these conditions, you can better tailor your care approach to meet the individual's specific needs.

 

2.     Top ways to tailor your care approach:

Simplify the Environment!

Creating a safe and easy-to-navigate environment is essential in dementia care. Here are three simple steps to simplify the home:


Remove Potential Hazards: Eliminate objects that can cause confusion or stress, particularly in hallways, to reduce the risk of falls and accidents.

Maintain a Clean and Comfortable Environment: A tidy and clutter-free home can help the individual feel more at ease, enabling them to remain sociable and inviting to friends.

Use Labels and Post-Its: Assist the individual in finding things and remembering appointments by strategically placing labels and post-it notes around the house.

A simplified environment can significantly reduce confusion and enhance the overall well-being of the person you are caring for.

 

3.     Utilising communication skills

  Communicating with individuals with dementia requires patience, empathy, and understanding. Follow these communication tips to enhance your communication skills:


Speak Calmly and Reassuringly: A soothing tone can help them feel more at ease during conversations.

Use Clear Language: Keep your language simple and straightforward to avoid confusion.

Utilize Physical Prompts: Incorporate gestures and visual cues to aid communication.

Maintain Eye Contact: Eye contact fosters connection and makes them feel valued.


Remember, effective communication is key to establishing trust and rapport with the individual!

 

4.     Encourage Meaningful Activities

Engaging in activities that align with the person's interests can improve their overall well-being and provide a sense of purpose. Here are some activities that provide visual stimulation:


Painting: Artistic activities can be incredibly therapeutic and enjoyable.

Gardening: Tending to plants can be a calming and rewarding experience.

Completing Jigsaw Puzzles: Puzzles can stimulate the mind and enhance cognitive abilities.

Playing Board Games: Simple board games can encourage social interaction and fun.


Activities play a vital role in the treatment and care of individuals with dementia, so ensure you incorporate them into the daily routine.


Thank you for reading and we look forward to next month!

By Sophie Chester 17 Jul, 2023


Hello! Welcome to this new monthly update, where I, Gabriella, will be giving you the lowdown on any important updates happening in social care!

 

Government updates:

It was only last week that the NHS workforce plan was announced. This plan is the governments first ever long-term workforce plan, set to improve recruitment and retention over the next 15 years in the NHS. However, the government has not committed to developing a workforce plan for social care. This has been heavily criticized as a missed opportunity, as both sectors share crucial staff groups, and face the same urgent need for long-term investment to improve staffing recruitment and retention, to be able to provide good quality care. Read more about this here!


A new bill has been announced ‘Social Housing (Regulation) Bill) to improve the quality of social housing, also known as the ‘Awaab’s Law’ after the tragic death of 2-year old Awaab Ishak. Read more here.


Consultation alert: The government are seeking your views on visiting in care and health settings to inform their decisions around making visiting rules mandatory. Read more and submit your response here.



Campaigns you should know about:

 

‘My Time to Care’ is a campaign that starts local carers in Somerset. Six new videos have been launched to empower carers and showcases the strength, resilience, courage, and selflessness of care workers. Watch the videos here.

 

A new campaign ‘The Social Care Superpower Campaign’ launched last week, run by the Cygnet Social Care division. The campaign aims to highlight the extraordinary people who work in care, showcasing the incredible skills and work they do. Learn more here.

 

Age UK are now running a campaign called ‘We can’t wait for care’, putting a call to action for help to end the long wait for care. Learn more about this important campaign here.

 

By Tobias Kitchen 09 Nov, 2021
By Sophie Chester 28 Jun, 2019

We're still buzzing from the talks at the second and final day of the Health+Care Conference in London. Expecting a quieter day than the first, our team thought we might get away early, but stayed right until the exhibitors started packing away due to some fantastic panel discussions...

More Posts
Share by: