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A 91-year-old resident at our Driffield Manor, on Middle Street North, has enjoyed a purl-fect return to work after the team brought her wish to life. When colleagues discovered retired wool shop worker Joan Hall wanted to step back behind the counter, they recreated the look and feel of her former shop inside the home. Fittingly, Driffield Manor is built on the site where the original store once stood. The home's sweet shop was transformed for the day, with yarn replacing sweets and knitting needles taking pride of place. Residents and team members joined Joan as she greeted customers, shared memories and offered knitting advice, reliving a role she loved. The experience was part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which supports residents to reconnect with treasured memories, revisit lifelong passions or try something new. Donna Henderson, Home Manager at Driffield Manor, said: “When we learned Joan’s wool shop had once stood on this very site, we knew we had to create something special. Seeing her step back into a familiar role and watching her face light up was wonderful. “Supporting meaningful reminiscence is an important part of life at Driffield Manor. Reconnecting with happy memories and past achievements helps residents maintain their sense of identity and wellbeing. A huge thank you to the team for making Joan’s wish a reality.”
Our Liberham Lodge Care Home, in Little Bookham, recently crowned the winners of its much-loved dog show, bringing together residents, team members and relatives for a fun-filled afternoon. The competition featured 11 dogs competing for a range of light-hearted awards, including ‘Most Waggiest Tail’, ‘Prettiest Pooch’ and ‘Most Like Their Owner’. Stanley, an Irish Setter, was named Best in Show, with Retrievers Lochie and Follie taking second and third place respectively. Residents Erica Schwatz, Ron Barnes and Jackie Lamble formed the judging panel, enjoying the opportunity to meet the canine contestants and select the winners. Resident Sue Crate, 56, said: “I absolutely loved the dog show, it was brilliant. It reminded me of when I had my own dogs, two Golden Retrievers and a Hungarian Vizsla, who all would have loved the dog show.” Jagpal Singh, General Manager at Liberham Lodge, said: “Our dog show was a fantastic success and it was wonderful to welcome so many four-legged visitors into the home. The residents thoroughly enjoyed meeting the dogs and helping to judge the competition. “Animals can have a hugely positive impact on older people, helping to lift mood, encourage conversation and spark fond memories. Many of our residents had dogs throughout their lives, so this was a wonderful opportunity for them to reminisce while spending time with some truly adorable companions. “Congratulations to all our winners for helping to make the day so special.”
Care UK is celebrating success at the 2026 Care Home Awards after being recognised across multiple categories, including winning the prestigious Outstanding Larger Group Care Provider award. The awards recognise the dedication of colleagues across Care UK in delivering high-quality care, creating exceptional environments for residents and driving innovation across the organisation. Alongside the overall provider award, Care UK homes and teams were recognised in several categories, including Outstanding Care Provider in a Group (Parsons Grange), Best for Care Home Development (Blossomfield Grange) and Best Facilities Management, Maintenance or Housekeeping Team (Ridley Manor). Heathlands House was also highly commended in the Best for Nursing Care category. These achievements reflect the consistently high standards across our homes. In England, 91.5% of Care UK homes are rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC, while all homes in Scotland are rated Good or Very Good by the Care Inspectorate. The awards are a testament to the passion, expertise and commitment of colleagues across Care UK, and the positive difference they make every day for residents and their families.
Care UK is celebrating a record-breaking year at the Stars of Social Care Awards after being shortlisted in eleven categories – the highest number of shortlistings the organisation has ever received. The shortlist recognises both individual colleagues and company-wide initiatives, including the Future Leadership Programme, VE Day campaign and Open Doors scheme, alongside outstanding colleagues from homes across the country. The Future Leadership Programme has been shortlisted for the Learning & Development Award in recognition of its impact since launching in 2020. The programme has helped increase internal promotions, improve colleague retention, strengthen performance and support career development across the organisation. Our VE Day campaign has been shortlisted for the Great Marketeer Award following nationwide celebrations across more than 150 homes. The campaign generated significant local and national media coverage, including a live broadcast on BBC Breakfast and a special appearance on This Morning featuring Care UK residents. Open Doors has also been recognised in the Recruitment & Retention category. The initiative provides students with employer encounters and work experience opportunities within our homes, helping to showcase the variety of rewarding careers available in social care and encouraging more young people to consider the sector. We wish all of our finalists the very best of luck ahead of the awards ceremony on 13 June.
We’re proud to share that three Care UK colleagues have been shortlisted at the West Sussex Partners in Care Accolades, recognising their dedication to delivering outstanding care and support for residents every day. Diane Pranskuniene from King's Lodge has been shortlisted for the Ancillary Award in recognition of her passion for person-centred care and creating meaningful experiences for residents. Through a varied and engaging lifestyle programme, Diane helps residents build memories, maintain connections and enjoy every day to the fullest. Ian Thompson-Escott from Skylark House has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Dementia Care Award. Ian is recognised for his compassionate approach to dementia care, focusing on understanding individual needs and promoting positive, non-pharmacological support. He has also introduced dementia workshops for relatives, helping families better connect with and support their loved ones. Trevor Holden from Darlington Court has been shortlisted for the Care Worker Award. Trevor consistently goes above and beyond to ensure residents feel valued, supported and cared for, delivering compassionate care and thoughtful moments that enhance residents’ wellbeing every day. The awards ceremony will take place in Worthing on Thursday 21 May.
Awards season is well underway in the care sector, and we’re proud to have been shortlisted for two major awards this week. We’ve been nominated for the Residential Elderly Care Provider of the Year (Large Group category) at the Health Investor Awards, recognition of our continued focus on attracting, developing and retaining talented colleagues to deliver the highest standards of care across our homes. As a growing provider, we’re committed to supporting and developing our teams, guided by our values of Caring, Passionate and Teamwork. This shortlisting reflects the dedication and hard work of colleagues across our homes and our Support Centre in Colchester. We’re also celebrating the success of our colleague Daniel Phillpott, Hotel Services Manager, who has been shortlisted for the Training and Apprenticeship Award at the Public Sector Catering Awards. Daniel has played a key role in the success of our Chef Academy since it launched in 2020, showing real passion for developing others. One apprentice he supported progressed from host to Head Chef, completing Levels 2–4 and becoming a finalist in both a National Association of Care Catering award and our Chef of the Year competition. This recognition highlights Daniel’s outstanding commitment to developing others and supporting future talent at Care UK.
There was double the celebration at our Amherst House care home in Horley as two incredible residents marked extraordinary milestones. Joyce Frogley and Phyllis Long celebrated their 105th and 109th birthdays with a special party at the home, complete with two birthday cakes baked by our Head Chef. Residents, team members and family gathered together to mark the occasion with purple and pink decorations and a celebratory glass of sherry – something Joyce credits as part of her secret to a long life. Joyce, who was born in Leytonstone in 1921, moved to Horley with her husband Robert after spending time in Scotland during his military posting. Together they had two children, Marion and Roger, as well as four grandchildren who regularly visit her at Amherst House. Joyce previously worked for the Admiralty in London and was a keen bowls player at Horley Bowls Club for over 50 years. She still enjoys embroidery today. Phyllis, born in 1916 in Wallington, met her late husband Vic before marrying in 1939. During the war she worked at Croydon Airport sewing material onto Wellington Bomber aircraft. She later spent many years volunteering with the St Helier Hospital League of Friends and has always enjoyed cooking and spending time outdoors. Reflecting on their longevity, Joyce says her secret is “a glass of sherry every day and the love of a wonderful family,” while Phyllis believes “fresh air, good food and laughter” are key.
Care UK has once again been confirmed as the headline sponsor of the Dementia Care Awards 2026, marking our second consecutive year of support. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to championing excellence in dementia care and celebrating the people and organisations making a real difference every day. The Dementia Care Awards recognise outstanding practice, innovation and leadership across the sector. We are proud to support an event that brings together health and social care leaders to share best practice, recognise achievement and inspire continued improvement in dementia services. As one of the UK’s leading care providers, we remain dedicated to improving quality of life for residents and their families. A key part of this is The Big Dementia Conversation, our free online advice hub where our specialists share practical guidance and real-life insights to support anyone caring for someone living with dementia. By returning as headline sponsor, we are helping ensure the exceptional work taking place across the dementia care community receives the national recognition it deserves.
We are inviting the local community to join us for a free dementia advice event at our Darlington Court care home in Littlehampton. On Wednesday 4th March, from 2pm–4pm, our team at Darlington Court on The Leas, off Station Road in Rustington, will host a special session as part of The Big Dementia Conversation – our nationwide initiative designed to help people better understand dementia, recognise common symptoms, and learn how it is possible to live well with the condition. While awareness of dementia has improved, our research shows many families still face challenges when communicating with loved ones. Nearly four in ten people avoid visiting relatives with dementia because they find communication difficult, and the vast majority feel these barriers prevent meaningful interaction. To help address this, we are running The Big Dementia Conversation for the third year, encouraging greater understanding and practical support within local communities. Our ‘Adjusting to a dementia diagnosis’ session will be led by dementia expert Barbara Stephens and will explore what to expect following a diagnosis, as well as positive ways to live with the condition. We encourage the Littlehampton community to join us as we work together to build a more dementia-friendly area. For more information or to book a place, please contact Customer Relations Manager Diane Tapp on 01903 868589, email diane.tapp@careuk.com, or visit careuk.com/darlington-court.
At Care UK, we believe that age and dementia should never be a barrier to living a fulfilling life. Our Wishing Tree initiative is a simple but powerful way we help make that belief a reality. Residents are invited to share wishes – big or small – based on what matters most to them. From revisiting lifelong passions to experiencing something completely new, fulfilling these wishes creates moments of real joy, connection and meaning for residents, families and teams alike. Some of our most memorable wishes include welcoming two penguins into a home in Banbury, supporting a 92-year-old resident to go skiing, arranging a return to the ballet for a former dancer, and even helping an avid angler land a personal best catch. Each wish tells a story about the individual behind it – and the care and creativity of the teams who make it happen. While Wishing Trees are part of everyday life in our homes, World Wish Day is a great opportunity to shine a light on the compassion, imagination and dedication of our colleagues. It’s initiatives like this that reflect what working at Care UK is really about: putting people at the heart of everything we do.
