The Spires Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

10/10/2025

🎉 Awel-Y-Mor Celebrates Excellent Ratings 🎉

Awel-Y-Mor Care Home in , Swansea passed a recent Care Inspectorate Wales inspection with ‘Excellent’ ratings - the best possible ratings – across the board, after being praised for operating a safe, well-maintained, caring and well-led service.

The CIW report stated that there was a strong sense of belonging and teamwork in the home, nurtured by a very well-respected management team that encourages a positive culture.

Highlighted in the report was that the care staff knew residents well and were dedicated and driven to offering them the best possible care, going above and beyond to do so.

A relative commented: “I can’t speak highly enough about the place, they are so good at the little things, all the residents come first here. My loved one has a good life here.”

Our CEO, Dr Pete Calveley, visited Awel-Y-Mor to congratulate Rachael, General Manager, and her team on the home’s Excellent ratings and award every member of staff a £500 voucher to celebrate their achievement.

Huge congratulations to everyone at Awel-Y-Mor – what a fantastic achievement! 👏

Here are some of the highlights from the day.

08/10/2025

⭐ We’re Finalists for the National Care Awards ⭐

We’re delighted to share that Barchester Healthcare has been shortlisted in the Large Care Home Group category for this year’s National Care Awards.

The National Care Awards are the largest awards recognising excellence in the UK care sector, celebrating the very best people and companies across the sector.

A huge congratulations to Aila Evangelista from Atfield House Care Home in , London, a finalist in the Care Registered Nurse of the Year category, and to the entire team at Atfield House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare, also shortlisted for Dignity and Respect Care Home of the Year. 👏

We’re so proud of all our teams who work tirelessly to provide the very best care for residents, patients and their families every single day.

The winners will be announced on 7th November at Park Plaza London – good luck to all the finalists!

07/10/2025

🖌️ Pinetree Residents Get Creative with Mosaic-Making 🎨

As part of their first home anniversary celebrations, and together with volunteers from partner company CBRE UK, colleagues and residents at Pinetree Care Home in set to work on a joint project to commemorate the occasion.

Residents were asked what they would like to do to celebrate and decided to create a beautiful mosaic sign for the home.

The project was a wonderful collaboration that everyone at the home could join in with. The end result is a fitting tribute to the home, which now hangs in reception for all the staff, residents and visitors to enjoy.

A resident commented: “It is so wonderful to try new hobbies, I had never made a mosaic before but I absolutely loved it and have been bitten by the bug! I can’t wait to have another go and see what else we can make. I really enjoyed sitting down with everyone else and working on something together, it gave us all a fantastic sense of achievement.”

What a beautiful mosaic! Well done to all involved. 👏

03/10/2025

♥️ The Power of Music: a heart-warming moment at Ochil Care Home ♥️

Colleagues and residents at Ochil Care Home in were over the moon to uncover a beautiful piece of history when they heard an original recording by one of their much-loved residents, Wilma, who used to be a professional singer years ago.

Wilma’s husband, Donald, had lovingly kept the original master copy of Wilma’s debut album which was recorded in 1996. Staff at the home helped Donald transfer the precious recording onto a CD to preserve it.

Everyone at the home watched the heart-warming moment when Wilma, who is living with dementia, realised the recording being played was her voice from almost thirty years ago. Her reaction was absolutely magical as her memory of that time in her life came flooding back.

What’s more, the video of that extraordinary moment showing the power of music to connect, has now been viewed over 65,000 times.

Such a beautiful moment! ✨

Ochil Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

02/10/2025

Today we had the joy of surprising Frances with a special gift – her very own gardening tools and a beautiful plaque with her name on it! 🪴✨ She has such a green thumb and a true love for flowers, so this little surprise was the perfect way to celebrate her passion.
To make the day even brighter, she created the most gorgeous flower arrangement inside a pumpkin 🎃💐 – a stunning mix of fall beauty and her natural creativity.
We’re so lucky to have her share her talents and joy with us every day. 💕

01/10/2025

🥨🍻 Oktoberfest Celebrations 🥨🍻

Oktoberfest was a huge hit with residents, patients, families and visitors this year.

Our care homes and hospitals joined in the celebrations with themed decorations, live entertainment, community events and plenty of fun.

Our talented chefs and hospitality colleagues prepared a selection of pretzels and Bavarian dishes, all complemented by some refreshing cold beers.

It was a day to remember - here are some of our favourite moments.

30/09/2025

☕💚 World’s Biggest Coffee Morning ☕💚

Colleagues, residents, patients, families and friends across the country came together to enjoy charity coffee mornings and bake sales, raising funds and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Our care homes and hospitals hosted a variety of community events, inviting everyone to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious, all for a great cause.

Residents and patients enjoyed spending time with friends and relatives, and members of the local community. Our talented chefs baked plenty of cakes, biscuits and pastries for everyone to sample.

The events were a great success – thank you to everyone who took part and helped support this important cause.

Here are some of our favourite moments. ✨

26/09/2025

🚤✨ What a lovely week it’s been here at The Spires!
A few of our residents enjoyed a peaceful canal boat trip, taking in the fresh air, beautiful views, and plenty of smiles along the way. 🌿💛
And a big thank you to everyone who joined us for our Macmillan Coffee Morning ☕🍰 — together we raised both funds and spirits in support of such an important cause. Your generosity and company made the day so special. 💚
Here’s to more wonderful outings and gatherings together! 🌸

26/09/2025

A Life of Service and Dedication
From the humblest beginnings in the classroom to the grand honour of receiving an OBE from the late Her Majesty the Queen, the story of our resident here at The Spires is one of quiet perseverance, dedication, and service to others.
The guardian of David's well- being during this part of his life is a dear friend, Nigel O'Mara JP. (pictured here). Having met over 25 years ago as a result of their mutual passion for fine wine and dining, classical music and the English Language to name but a few, Nigel and David continue to enjoy quality time together, especially in the company of Jenny & Teddy (two special four legged Retrievers)

24/09/2025

Congratulations to Charlotte our amazing carer on getting employee of the month 😀🏅🎉

24/09/2025

🖌️ Virtual V&A Make-along 🎨

In celebration of National Day of Arts in Care Homes, residents and patients across the country enjoyed a wonderful V&A Virtual Make-along experience with Holly from the V&A Learning team and designer-artist Rafin Jannat.

Taking inspiration from the South Asia Gallery at the museum, everyone had the chance to experiment with paints and pigments made from everyday ingredients, creating their own unique artworks.

It was a calming, creative experience that everyone truly enjoyed. A big thank you to the Victoria and Albert Museum team for leading such an inspiring session!

Here are some of our favourite highlights. ✨

National Activity Providers Association

22/09/2025

⭐ We’re Finalists in the UK Customer Experience Awards ⭐

It’s awards season and we’re thrilled to share that our talented Customer Experience Team has been shortlisted in not one, but two categories in the prestigious UK Customer Experience Awards:

💡 Best Use of Customer Insight
💻 Best Use of Technology

We’re proud that Barchester Healthcare is the only company from the health sector to be recognised in either of these categories. The winners will be announced at Wembley in October – wish us luck!

Our nomination for Best Use of Customer Insight comes from our Tell Barchester survey, which gathers invaluable feedback each year from more than 13,500 residents, patients and their families. Every single piece of feedback helps us shape and improve the care and services we provide.

In the Best Use of Technology category, our new Connex CRM system, powered by Salesforce, has been recognised for transforming how we manage every customer interaction – making the care journey seamless.

We’re so proud of our team and grateful to everyone who shared their feedback with us.

22/09/2025

It’s not too late to share your feedback.

Our annual customer satisfaction survey, Tell Barchester is still open!

There’s still time to provide feedback on the care and service received by residents, patients, their friends and family. We love listening to your feedback, and use this to improve and provide the best experience possible.

If you’ve not received your email invitation, please check your junk/spam folder or speak to our team. You can also complete the survey at anytime in our homes and hospitals by using QR codes on display.

All the team really appreciate your time sharing how you feel about life at Barchester.

21/09/2025

World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 – Why It Matters More Than Ever 💜

World Alzheimer’s Day, observed annually on 21st September, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

With nearly 1 million people in the UK living with dementia, understanding, support and research have never been more important.

Alzheimer’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s, and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

At Barchester, our commitment to dementia care goes beyond World Alzheimer’s Day. We strive to make a difference every day, providing compassionate support, innovative programmes, and expert care for residents, patients and families.

To find out more, please see our latest blog here: https://www.barchester.com/help-and-advice/world-alzheimers-day-2025-why-it-matters-more-ever-barchester

Breadcrumb Home / Help and Advice / World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 – Why It Matters More Than Ever At Barchester World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 – Why It Matters More Than Ever at Barchester Blog / Alzheimer's disease 16 September 2025 Share 7 minute read What Is World Alzheimer’s Day and Why ...

18/09/2025

🍂 Autumn is here at The Spires !We’re adding some seasonal warmth and coziness to make everyone feel at home. 🍁✨
Just a little reminder – our Macmillan Coffee Morning is coming up soon! ☕🍰 We’d love to see you there to enjoy a slice of cake and support such a wonderful cause. 💚

16/09/2025

⭐ Happy National Housekeeping Week ⭐

This week we’re celebrating the fantastic housekeeping teams across our care homes and hospitals.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognise their dedication to keeping everything spotless and creating a welcoming environment for residents, patients, families and visitors.

Thank you to all our colleagues for their continuous hard work and support – you truly make a difference every day.

12/09/2025

🎉 Lotus Manor is Now Open 🎉

We’re excited to share that Lotus Manor Care Home in has opened its doors in style, with a Grand Opening performed by the Deputy Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Jane Tyson, in front of invited guests from the local community.

Our CEO, Dr Pete Calveley, and General Manager, Candy Guo, hosted the event and invited guests to view the stunning new 64-bed care home.

Designed with residents’ comfort in mind, Lotus Manor Care Home will offer residential support, respite stays and specialist dementia care, all delivered by a dedicated and passionate team of trained professionals.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments from the event. ✨

12/09/2025

All emergency services are welcome to come join us and enjoy a free hot drinks and tasty pastries on Tuesday 30th September from 10am - 12pm

11/09/2025

Don’t forget to join us for our macmillian coffee morning Friday 26th September 🙂

11/09/2025

🚑 Celebrating Emergency Services Day 🚒👏

Residents, patients, colleagues and visitors marked this year’s Emergency Services Day in style, recognising the contribution of local emergency services, volunteers and heroes.

Our homes and hospitals hosted a variety of community events, from coffee mornings to afternoon garden parties, inviting emergency services personnel to join for hot drinks and delicious home-made cakes.

Everyone had a wonderful time, visiting local emergency services sites, engaging in conversations and sharing inspirational stories of emergency services heroes, both past and present.

09/09/2025

✨🦅 Special Visitors at The Spires 🦅✨
Today we had some truly magnificent guests join us — a stunning display of Birds of Prey right here at the home!
Residents (and staff too!) were amazed to meet these incredible creatures up close. From elegant owls to powerful hawks, it was a wonderful opportunity to see their beauty and learn all about them.
The joy, smiles, and curious questions from our residents made the afternoon extra special. 💛
A huge thank you to owl adventures for bringing this unforgettable experience to us.

09/09/2025

"What a glorious day on the Staffordshire Canals! ☀️ Yesterday, our residents from The Spires enjoyed a relaxing trip on the 'Truman's Enterprise' narrowboat, cruising from Shares Hill to Coven, with a lovely stop at The Anchor.

We were treated to some amazing sights – huge dragonflies and flashes of bright blue kingfishers! The sun was shining, we had a delicious packed lunch, and everyone had a brilliant time. Days like these are what make life at The Spires so special!

To find out more about life at The Spires please visit us at https://www.barchester.com/home/spires-care-home

"

08/09/2025

Our Tell Barchester Annual Survey is LIVE!

For the 5th consecutive year, our annual customer satisfaction survey Tell Barchester is OPEN!

The survey gives our residents, patients, their friends and family the opportunity to tell us how they feel about their experience, helping us learn, improve and celebrate what people love about life at Barchester.

Residents and patients are able to complete the survey with our teams, invitations to take part are emailed to all friends & family members we have contact details for – have you received yours? It’s also possible to take part in our homes and hospitals using the QR posters on display.

Tell Barchester is quick and simple to complete, your time is much appreciated and this feedback shapes the care and service received across Barchester.

In the meantime, if you have feedback you would like to share you can talk to us at any point, our door is always open.

07/09/2025

💐✨ A very special day at The Spires✨💐
Our wonderful residents came together to make heartfelt cards, and we all joined in to throw a surprise baby shower for one of our amazing carers. 🍼💝
There were smiles, laughter, and even a few happy tears as we celebrated this exciting new chapter. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day so memorable – it was truly a beautiful example of our home’s family spirit. 💖
Wishing our lovely colleague all the best on her journey into motherhood! 🌸👶