Capable Care

29/07/2025

🎵Widening your knowledge is always a good thing - and we were delighted to learn a bit more about the Music Therapy services offered by Chiltern Music Therapy at Penge East Community Centre

🎸There's bags of evidence that music is good for us - whether you use it to lift your mood in the car or for a crazy kitchen disco. There's also growing evidence of it's power with dementia - lots of people who rarely talk will often be able to sing or hum along to a tune when are skills have faded. We didn't really know a lot of about music therapy - but heard some powerful testimonials about it's use across a range of areas too extensive to cover here.

🎺The new Music Therapy Hub at Penge East Community Centre is a place for people aged 16+ with varying needs, including learning disabilities, mental health and social challenges, to access music therapy services within a community setting. There is both 1:1 and group sessions at the hub and referrals can be made via the Chiltern website: www.chilternmusictherapy.co.uk/get-support

🥁The team run a Jamming Group on Wednesday afternoons 3-4:30pm. The Jamming Group is a community music therapy group, for people 16+ to come together in a non-judgemental space and use music-making to support their mental health. There is a suggested voluntary contribution of £10 to cover running costs, making this an affordable way of accessing psychological support. Sessions are led by a qualified, HCPC registered music therapist and include musical improvisation, learning/listening to precomposed music, with relaxation and mindfulness exercises for general well-being. No musical experience is necessary.

🪇The team are super nice - that's Josh on the bottom left of the pic - and it was very interesting. Thanks for having us!

27/07/2025

We often talk about our local community - we work at the heart of it and that means we know lots of groups, sessions and support activites that are happening. We also know that for a lot of people, losing someone you love can be tough. We work with many people at the end of life. Dying at home can be lovely - we work with expert community teams from St Christopher's, the District Nurses and GPs to keep people pain free and comfortable. People are in a place that's familiar, with friends and family around. Or in the case of one lady - all seven of her cats - one of whom insisted on drinking from our washing bowl each time we did a bed bath!

That said - it can be very hard to lose someone. There's really good support in Beckenham for bereavement. It's normal to feel angry, sad, cross - and lots of things. Talking about it and realising you aren't alone ofen helps. Here's where you can find help:

🩵 This bereavement group is starting at St Edmund's Church, Beckenham on Village Way in September. You don't have to be a Catholic or attend church - it's open to everyone. Contact beckenhambsg@rcaos.org.uk

🩵 Christ Church Beckenham runs Cafe Matthew - again you don't have to be Christian or atttend church. It's just part of how they give something back to the community. Contact the office on office@ccb.org.uk or visit them on Fairfield Road.

🩵 St Christopher's Hospice offer a session for Carers - it's a chance to share what the pressures of caring for someone with a life limiting condition. We recommended it to a client of ours recently - he was reluctant to go but came back full of praise for the session saying it helped him realise he wasn't alone. Https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/caring-for-carers-course/

If you know someone who needs help or wants to work with a team that offer a holistic approach to care - please get in touch. We're on 020 8650 7264 or hello@capablecare.co.uk

25/07/2025

Well - what a great week! We're celebrating a fab collaboration we'll be announcing soon. The youngest member has been elbow deep in building this "Palace Champ" figure -he's still celebrating the win! We're enjoying a glass of from and all seems good! Wishing everyone else a brilliant weekend as we slide into summer holidays.

Are you this Friday?

❤️

17/07/2025

Last week we were busy updating ourselves at the Bromley Council Domiciliary Care Forum. This regular forum is a chance for CQC registered providers to meet, share experiences and stay updated about changes to all kinds of areas. We heard from Skills for Care London Fire Brigade and occupational therapy teams as well as these flyers from dementia hub

We regularly refer people to the Fire Service but for those that don't know they offer an online questionnaire for fire risks and can arrange a home check for vulnerable adults. It's a brilliant service we highly recommend!

07/07/2025

Many of you will know that I worked in London at major teaching hospitals before moving into social care. I did my degree at UCL and loved the complexity, tolerance and constant shifting of being in the heart of London.

I lived in halls just around the corner from Tavistock Square and usually walked along the street where the No. 30 bus exploded. I regularly got the tube and considered myself a Londoner.

On the day of the bombing, by chance, I was over in Sloane Square, not walking my usual routes. I was meeting a friend and we complained about the tardiness of the train. We would later learn his tube had been just in front of the explosions that had delayed him.

The streets were like nothing I'd ever seen - the whole of London had emptied out and it felt like the city was in an apocalyse as sirens wailed all around us. We were very lucky that a friend drove in from West London to scoop us up and whisk us safely back to their house.

For months after, Kings Cross was scattered with flyers and posters begging for information about the people who has been lost. As the posters faded and became more tatty and weatherworn I often used to feel it was a physical representation for the fading hope these families must have had.

Each year the anniversary of 7/7 makes me feel incredibly lucky to be alive. Whatever you do today - enjoy the life you have - not everyone get's to keep theirs.

04/07/2025

who provide our business service are currently experiencing problems in the BR3 area. We have backup internet but it's a lot slower so please bear with us until it is restored. Thanks!

01/07/2025

Sounds like an interesting role if you have lived experience of SCI.

SIA are currently recruiting for a new support network coordinator in the London area to join our team ⭐

Our support network coordinators have the responsibility for delivering, maintaining, and expanding the support services available to people with spinal cord injury and their families in their region of the UK.

NOTE ... for this role it is essential that an applicant has a personal lived experience of a SCI or Cauda Equina Syndrome, and lives within the Greater London area.

Full time - 35 hours per week Monday to Friday | Home based
Closing date: 28 July 2025

Find out more and APPLY > https://spinal.jobs.people-first.com/jobs/search

01/07/2025

This week we have the lovely Ellie with us on Work Experience! We know the hot weather can be tricky so Ellie has put together some top tips for staying cool in the sun. We took our own advice yesterday and stopped for an ice cream! She designed these posts herself so feel free to like and share!

16/06/2025

We've never seen our clients doing this....👀

11/06/2025

Community - This week we've sharing our passion for disability education and accessibility by working with our local 1st Beckenham South Christ Church Scout Group
Local superstar and accessibility campaigner Gill came with Anne-Marie and we had a great time talking to the children about what disability means, what adaptations and equipment can be useful and why making an accessible world is good for everyone.

You can find out more about the badge here https://www.scouts.org.uk/beavers/activity-badges/disability-awareness/

07/06/2025

Wishing everyone celebrating a happy Eid al-Adha!