Couple Holds Wedding at Care Home So Mother with Dementia Can Attend
Rachel Berry and Mike decided to hold their wedding ceremony at the care home where Rachel's mother, Ruth, 75, lives with dementia. The couple, who met through work, initially married at the Usk registry office but moved the celebration to the Foxhunters Care Community in Abergavenny to ensure Ruth ... [More info]
Port Talbot care home worker shortlisted for ‘social care Oscars’
Selomy Dampies, Engagement and Enablement Coordinator at Llys y Seren Care Home, has been named a finalist in the Exceptional Newcomer category at this year’s awards – often described as the “social care Oscars”.
The mother‑of‑three relocated to Wales from Reading in 2024 when her husband took up a new job. Initially joining Llys y Seren as a care worker, Selomy’s passion for empowering residents quickly saw her promoted to her current role with Pobl Group, Wales’ largest provider of housing, care and support.
Since then, she has introduced a string of new initiatives, including a buddy scheme to link residents with little family contact, a sewing room, regular exercise routines, and fundraising that has brought in £4,000 for a new sensory room. She has also made sure residents can enjoy their favourite pastimes, from gardening and baking to trips to the nearby beach.
Selomy said:
“I totally love my job; caring for others comes naturally to me. It doesn’t feel like work because it is so rewarding. Making people feel at home and bringing joy to their lives is what matters most. Being nominated for an award has made me very proud.”
Her efforts have been praised by colleagues and residents alike. Tony Hart, Assistant Director of Pobl Care and Support, who nominated her, said:
“Selomy has been outstanding in what she has achieved in such a short space of time. Residents absolutely love the activities and opportunities she has brought to the home, as well as her infectious energy and positivity.”
The Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales, celebrate excellence across the sector. Chair Mario Kreft MBE said the event highlights the vital role of social care:
“The sector is the glue that binds our communities together. Every single one of our finalists is a winner.”
The awards ceremony, sponsored by Meddyg Care, will take place at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday, October 17.
Selomy follows in the footsteps of other local finalists, including a Swansea grandfather we recently featured who turned redundancy into opportunity and is also in the running for a national award read his story here.
#awards #CareForumWales #careHome #LlysYSeren #Pobl #PortTalbot #WalesCareAwards
Funding agreed for new care home development in Lichfield
https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/09/18/funding-agreed-for-new-care-home-development-in-lichfield/
Edinburgh Charity Worker Steals £30,000 from Vulnerable Residents in Care Home
Margaret Burnett, 69, was sentenced for embezzling nearly £30,000 from vulnerable care home residents in Edinburgh. She worked as a team leader at a Leonard Cheshire home, where she had access to residents' bank cards kept in a secure location. Between 2014 and 2016, Burnett withdrew money from the ... [More info]
Tears of joy as care home cook June serves up success
When June Tong took voluntary redundancy from her admin job during the pandemic, she thought she’d enjoy a slower pace of life. But just months into retirement, she was restless.
“My house was immaculate, my garden spotless — I had to find something else to do,” she laughed.
A part‑time kitchen assistant role at Dan Y Bryn care home in Pontardawe seemed like the perfect fit. Within weeks, she’d swapped jobs with a colleague and found herself running the kitchen.
Cooking from the heart
June, 61, trained in catering as a teenager but spent most of her working life in offices. Now, she’s one of three national finalists for the Excellence in Catering Award at the Wales Care Awards, which celebrate outstanding work in the care sector.
She’s known for going the extra mile — from themed takeaway nights served in newspaper or silver cartons, to a birthday cake iced in braille for a resident who is blind.
“I do all this because I enjoy making people happy,” she said. “To see the residents smiling is what I’m here to do — but to know people are noticing, that’s what makes this so special.”
June Tong(Image: Mandy Jones)More than a job
June still works her 24 contracted hours, but often comes in on her days off to help with arts, crafts and gardening.
“We must remember this is the residents’ home, and it’s our job to make it feel like their own,” she said. “Even if I just make one person happier, then I know I’ve done my best.”
Her colleagues say she’s a “winner in our eyes” whatever happens at the awards ceremony in Cardiff on Friday 17 October.
Janine Marouf, General Manager at Dan Y Bryn, said: “June goes above and beyond daily, putting love and care into the food she provides, and coming in out of hours to carry out activities and decorate the home for special events.”
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “Every single one of our finalists is a winner. The Wales Care Awards recognise the remarkable and vitally important contribution people like June make every day.”
#awards #CareForumWales #careHome #DanYBrynCareHome #ExcellenceInCateringAward #featured #Pontardawe #WalesCareAwards
Plans for expanded care home in Skewen spark public consultation
A proposal to redevelop and extend Cefn Lodge Nursing Home in Skewen has entered the public consultation phase, with plans for a new 50-bed care home now open for comment.
The scheme, brought forward by Oxford Care Holdings, would see the existing building at 16 Cefn Parc extended to include a purpose-built, three-storey facility designed to meet modern standards of residential and dementia care. The extended home would offer en-suite bedrooms, communal lounges, landscaped gardens and improved access for staff and visitors.
The current Cefn Lodge has operated from the site since the 1980s and accommodates up to 35 residents. According to the developer’s Design and Access Statement, the new building would increase capacity and provide a more energy-efficient, accessible environment tailored to the needs of older people and those with complex conditions.
The proposal is now subject to a statutory pre-application consultation, a legal requirement for major developments in Wales. This process allows members of the public to review draft plans and submit feedback before a formal planning application is submitted to Neath Port Talbot Council.
Planning consultants Asbri Planning are managing the consultation, which runs until 25 August 2025. Residents can view the plans and submit comments via the consultation portal.
Once the consultation closes, the developer will consider public feedback before submitting a formal planning application to the council. A decision will then be made by local planners, taking into account the views expressed during the consultation period.
If approved, the new Cefn Lodge would represent a significant investment in local care provision — expanding capacity and replacing ageing infrastructure with a modern, purpose-built facility.
#AsbriPlanning #careHome #CefnLodge #construction #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #nursingHome #Skewen
New Lichfield home offering residential and dementia care to open
Langland care home rated by residents as one of the Top 20 care homes in Wales
The award is based on reviews of the care home written by their residents, as well as their friends and relatives.
It is collated by carehome.co.uk who list all registered care homes in the UK as well as reviews, inspection ratings and detailed and transparent fee information.
Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager of carehome.co.uk, said: “We now have over 360,000 reviews of care homes on carehome.co.uk, which means we can give a really good insight into the kind of care and facilities offered by thousands of UK care homes.
“Our reviews show the quality of a care home’s facilities, as well as the standard of their care and support, staff, activities and nutrition and if the care home is good value for money.
“We would like to congratulate Brynfield Manor care home on being a Top 20 care home in Wales as their reviews show they provide an excellent standard of care. It is such an achievement to be named as a top rated care home by the residents who actually receive the care as well as their family and friends.
“Choosing a care home can be overwhelming and time consuming for both the person going to live there as well as their family, so we hope our awards for the highest rated homes will help simplify the search.”
Jason Banfield, director of Langland Care said: “Brynfield Manor has been honoured with the Top 20 Care Home Award by carehome.co.uk, reflecting its unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and services to its residents.
“The ethos at Brynfield Manor centres on ensuring residents receive the highest quality in all aspects of their care. The home has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment, creating a comfortable and modern living environment. The dedicated in-house staff, without reliance on agency personnel, foster strong relationships with residents, ensuring consistent and personalized care.
“Activities play a vital role in enhancing residents’ well-being. The activities coordinators organize regular outings using a new 16-seater bus, providing residents with opportunities to engage with the broader community. Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is a priority, upheld by a diligent housekeeping team.
“Under the leadership of Manager Mandy Jones, a recognized dementia champion, Brynfield Manor emphasizes compassionate and specialized care for residents with dementia. Mandy’s dedication is evident in her active involvement in community initiatives, such as organizing fundraising events that have significantly contributed to local dementia support efforts.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Brynfield Manor team, reinforcing their commitment to excellence in care and the well-being of their residents.”
Council takes over running of Glynneath care home
The council says that in addition to continuing to provide long-term residential care at the home, it will also introduce a new 12-bed residential reablement service for adults.
The reablement service will provide short-term support, typically lasting up to six weeks. It is designed to help individuals regain independence in their daily activities following illness or being in hospital. The Council’s Reablement Team, consisting of therapy and support staff, will work with people to support their recovery and enable them to return to their own homes as independently as possible.
As part of the changes, the Council’s Digital Enablement Team will be based at the home, showcasing how technology can assist those recovering from illness. This will include technology such as fall detectors, smart home appliance management, and lifeline response services, all aimed at helping individuals regain confidence and independence.
Trem y Glyn was previously run by social housing and care & support provider Pobl, formally known as Gwalia, who entered into a contract in 2011 with the council to to build four new homes in the areas of Neath, Port Talbot, Glynneath and Cymmer to replace the existing care homes in those areas.
Two of the Care Homes were subsequently developed; Llys y Seren in Port Talbot in 2015, and Plas Bryn Rhosyn in Neath in 2016.
The council negotiated several changes to the contract in 2016 including to cease the development of a new care home in Glynneath and to close Trem y Glyn by 31 March 2022
The council subsequently voted to extend Pobl’s contract to continue running Trem y Glyn until 31 March 2025. This new decision will secure the building and staff’s future the council have said.
Councillor Jo Hale, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Health, said: “The decision to combine long-term residential care with short-term reablement is the best way to retain a much-loved local care home in Glynneath.
“The staff working at the home will maintain their roles, and jobs will remain secure, providing continuity of care and stability for all involved.
“Plus, the introduction of a reablement service will offer much-needed support to people as they transition back to independent living, strengthening our commitment to high-quality adult social care in Neath Port Talbot.”
(Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council)
#careHome #Glynneath #Gwalia #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #TremYGlyn
Pontardawe care home rated as one of the top 20 in Wales
There are 1,000 homes in Wales with the top 20 receiving an award from one of the UK’s leading reviews guide to care homes, carehome.co.uk.
The award is based on reviews of the care home written by their residents, as well as their friends and relatives.
Nearly a fifth of the UK population are aged 65 years or older, which equates to 12.7 million people. In 50 years, this is predicted to increase to 22 million, making up 27% of the population.
Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager of carehome.co.uk, said: “We now have over 360,000 reviews of care homes on carehome.co.uk, which means we can give a really good insight into the kind of care and facilities offered by thousands of UK care homes.
“Our reviews show the quality of a care home’s facilities, as well as the standard of their care and support, staff, activities and nutrition and if the care home is good value for money.
“We would like to congratulate Cwm Cartref care home on being a Top 20 care home in Wales as their reviews show they provide an excellent standard of care. It is such an achievement to be named as a top rated care home by the residents who actually receive the care as well as their family and friends.
“Choosing a care home can be overwhelming and time consuming for both the person going to live there as well as their family, so we hope our awards for the highest rated homes will help simplify the search.”
Oliver Reynolds, manager of Cwm Cartref care home said: “We are absolutely delighted and deeply honoured to receive a Top 20 Care Home award, from carehome.co.uk! This recognition truly means the world to us, knowing that the care and support we provide at Cwm Cartref has made such a positive impact is an incredible feeling.
“At Cwm Cartref, our mission is to create a warm, compassionate, and nurturing environment where every resident feels safe, valued, and truly at home. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to offer the best standard of care possible, and it is wonderful to see their hard work and kindness recognised in this way.
“Working in care is truly a gift, and being part of our lovely residents’ lives is an honour. We are entrusted with their care, and that trust means everything to us.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences on carehome.co.uk. This award belongs to our amazing residents, their families, and our incredible team who make Cwm Cartref the beautiful place it is.”
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