investor in people

in business for neighbourhoods

Archived News from Langley Residential Home

May and June 2007 at Langley House

Despite the mixed weather during May and June, Langley House service users have had some nice days in the garden where they have played skittles and ball games. On the wet days we have had to revert to indoor hockey, bowls, snakes and ladders etc.

Langley House welcomed back Alyson Lewis who recently returned from a long period of sickness, along with Elsie Huntington, Claire Bentham and Lisa Gourley who have kindly returned as bank staff over the busy holiday period. A big thankyou to all.

Around 18 staff have also been busy attending courses relating to Infection control, and palliative care over a twelve week period, while Joy and Debbie attended courses recently relating to management of medication and Fire Risk Assessment.

A trip down Memory Lane

Seven service users and two staff went on a trip to the Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on the evening of 5th June to see ''We'll Meet Again''. The service users were: Grace Reynoldson, Betty Beck, Betty Hargreaves, Mary Wade, Bob Appleby, Molly Clark, and Jenny Forster, and the staff were; Doreen Davison and Rose Dean.

The entertainment included singing - dancing and jokes with audience participation. Rose Dean said, “Everybody enjoyed themselves - the theatre did not have ice creams so everyone had to make do with iced lollies”.

When the revelers returned to Langley House they joined the other service users and for a night of entertainment and true to Langley House tradition everyone had a very good time.

New bungalows at Langley House

A project to build 4 new two-bedroom wheelchair standard bungalows is due to start on site in August with the contract awarded to local builder, Ronden of Easington Colliery.

The bungalows will be built on part of the garden land of Langley House and will address an acute need for suitable accommodation for people with physical disabilities. The Association is working in conjunction with Durham County Council Social Services Department who will identify those who are most in need of this type of accommodation.

The bungalows are larger than our standard two bedroom bungalows to accommodate turning areas for wheelchair users and they all have a covered car port. The living rooms have a pleasant outlook onto the grounds of Langley House.

Gordon Gray, Head of Housing & Development said, “both Easington District Council and Durham County Council have identified that there is a serious shortage of this type of accommodation in the district, and we are pleased to be able to go some way to address this need and assist in providing suitably designed accommodation for less able users”

The Bowers Singers & Richard perform

The Bowers Singers & Richard delighted Langley House residents at on 17th July with an evening of ‘Songs, Old and New’.

from left to right: Audrey Elliot, Elly Cordner, Audrey Robson, Jim Cowper (Guest Artiste), Marg Brown, Marion Hancock, Una Mack, Richard Lewins (Pianist).

Jim Robinson: "a one-man social history"

Great trip despite the weather

Dreadful February weather didn’t deter Debbie Wild (Deputy Manager) and Joy Atkinson (Manager), taking a small party of service users to visit the The DLI Museum & Durham Art Gallery at Aykley Heads in Durham. They visited the museum and the art gallery where they enjoyed an exhibition of watercolours of street scenes.

The party had light refreshments in the museums café overlooking the landscape parkland complete with ducks pecking on the window in the hope of getting a morsel of cake.

Joy Atkinson said, “We have to acknowledge the excellent service provided by East Durham Community Transport. The volunteer mini bus driver was superb and his knowledge with the lifts to get the wheelchairs on and off the bus made it so much easier. EDCT provided a first class door to door service at a reasonable price”.

New starters in springtime

Daffodils in the grounds at Langley House and the Jackdaws and crows collecting materials for nesting heralded a busy time at Langley House this spring where there has been a new influx of staff since the last issue of The Banner with Sandra Owens in the role of kitchen assistant, a new Housekeeper Dawn Briggs, and three carers; Joanne Hope, Linda Bellerby and Jacqualina Coatsworth.

And they are all working on their professional development. Sandra and Dawn, along with existing staff Sharon and Wendy, are studying for NVQ II in Support Services. Joanne has successfully completed the Skills For Care induction programme. This is an essential for the Care Act 2000. After successfully completing this she will go on to do NVQ Level II in Health & Social Care. Jacqualina has achieved Level II in Health & Social Care and Linda has Level III.

Training news

At management level, Debbie Wild and Joy Atkinson have registered on a 15 week course supported by the University of Teesside on Management of Medication. Joy said the course, “offers critical analysis of our medication policy and an provides us with a useful audit tool”.

Debbie also went on a one-day course on training staff to recognize and deal with occurrences of abuse. Although DAMHA already has a well established policy and procedures on adult abuse to protect all of our residents, the course helps to raise awareness and consolidate good practice.

A total of ten staff started a distance-learning course on Palliative Care. The programme enables carers to recognize, acknowledge and deal with Life limiting conditions. The course is overseen by Bishop Auckland College and is part paid for by DAMHA and part paid for by Business Link.

A Pantastic night

A group called Pantastic entertained Langley House residents and guests on March 20th. The group, which is made up from young people with special physical and other needs play pans which look and sound like steel drums. They played for an hour a good selection of what Joy called “Old ones, new ones and loved ones. They were delightful and we could have listened to them all night but that was night that when the snow was falling fast and they had to get away before traveling became difficult”.

Susan Huntington

On a sad note, Susan Huntington (43), housekeeper, died suddenly at home in January. Joy Atkinson said, “Susan was a very valued member of staff and we will miss her a lot”.

Elsie Huntington, Susan’s mother-in-law who had recently retired at 70 years old, has kindly stepped in to cover for Alison Lewis, housekeeper, who is off sick at the moment.

We all wish Alison a speedy recovery.

A Trio of Awards

Three Langley House staff were presented with NVQ level 2 awards on 27th September. Well done to the three high achievers: Clare Bentham, Sandra Ritson and Mary Kirkup.

Joy Atkinson enlisted to DECHA

Joy Atkinson has recently been voted on to the Durham Employers Care & Health Alliance (DECHA). Joy said "I am flattered that I have been invited to join DECHA. I joined because I believe that DAMHA can gain from my involvement and I want to ensure that DAMHA's view is heard within the County and the Region. DECHA is a very useful source of training information and funding routes such as 'Skill For Care' and Business Link services and promises to help Durham's caring organisations to develop their resources and competencies."

Keeping ahead of MRSA

Joy Atkinson and Debbie Wild recently attended a national conference on MRSA to improve their understanding what MRSA is, how its dealt with, methods of tracing the route cause and treatment. Joy said "We went through reports on essential steps towards safe, clean, care to help us to build on the Government's guidelines to care homes that we have already signed up to. We believe that its essential to find out as much as we can about MRSA and we were also given some valuable support tools and documents that complement our existing risk assessment procedures".

Au revoir Elsie

Not so much goodbye but 'till we meet again' to Elsie Huntington, (70), a popular housekeeper at Langley House who has, (reluctantly), retired from her full time work but will be coming back in 2007 on a casual basis. Nevertheless, Elsie had a lively, and well deserved, retirement party on the 27th of September. Singer Steve Mansel performed and residents and staff enjoyed a buffet. Elsie was presented with a plastic washing-up dish complete with dusters, pegs and 'Marigold' rubber gloves, all beautifully wrapped in ribbons and bows, and, although she was grateful for this 'spoof' gift, Joy Atkinson then presented her with the real gift of a splendid limited edition Coalport figurine of a lady in crinoline.

Langley House Residential Home

The Good Old Days

On 7th November a party of Langley House residents were "cordially invited to step back in time and, for their delectation and amusement, gain a precious glimpse of the exquisite and much-cherished Music Hall era" at the Old Time Variety Theatre at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre.

Not the Last Picture Show

By popular request and, after the success of the mobile cinema's showing of Sound of Music, the mobile cinema returned to show She Wore A Yellow Ribbon at request of June Hudson (Deputy Head of Home). However, June was away in Australia when it was shown - but the residents really enjoyed it. Thanks June!

"You ain't heard nothin' yet!"

Residents were treated to a evocative 'Al Jolson Night' on the 8th November performed by Al Ritchie, the well known Al Jolson tribute singer. For the first half of the performance Al sang the celebrated songs of Al Jolson and appeared as 'the world's most famous singer' in the costume and make-up made famous by Jolson in the film The Jazz Singer. In the second half Al Ritchie appeared as himself singing his own repertoire of popular standards. And, in a seasonal spirit, the evening ended with fireworks and generous helpings of hot broth, sausage and onion buns and roast potatoes finishing off with a serving of fresh gateau.

Jim Robinson: "a one-man social history"

news Friends and staff at Langley House fondly remember John James Robinson who passed away in June of this year, aged 93. Jim regaled everyone with stories about a long and eventful life. Joy Atkinson, Head of Home has poignant memories of Jim telling one story in particular about when he organised a trip to the Battle of the Flowers in Jersey for a group of friends in 1952, including a flight from the old Newcastle airfield in a propeller powered Dakota.

Joy said "Jim's was a one-man social history, he had a natural gift for making you live through the stories with him. We shared a similar sense of humour, and would often have a good old laugh together".

A stalwart of Horden Bowls club, both as a player and an enthusiast, Jim also followed cricket and horse racing over the years and would recall horses from the past with colourful names like 'Loppy Lugs' and 'OXO'. Jim enjoyed going down to the local Deputy's Club and was a nimble dancer: still dancing at local dances in 2004 at the ripe old age of 91!

Originally from Newcastle, Jim moved to Horden when he was seven years old, when his father started work at Easington Pit. Joy Atkinson said "Jim was unique, a real character and a true individual. We will miss him".

The reel thing

Staff recreated the atmosphere of an old-style night at the movies when the mobile cinema visited Langley House this summer to screen the classic film The Sound of Music. Carers were transformed into ice cream ladies when they donned their pinnies and an authentic theatre tray to serve popcorn, 'Eldorado' style ice creams and sweets at the interval. The evening was rounded off with what has been described as a "a bit of a do" including a buffet with wine and other drinks.

A summer of music and flowers

With the long, warm and sunny days this summer, residents at Langley House have had plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy themselves.

They have visited Horden Park to listen to performances by brass bands. Local walks have been enhanced by the lasting benefits of the Horden in Bloom planting that has been well maintained over the last couple of years and is still looking good.

Residents have also been able to make the most of the landscaped gardens at Langley House where new planting and the removal and pruning of aging stock has made this a popular place to relax. The gardens also attract an increasing number and variety of natural visitors including blackbirds, thrushes and hedgehogs.

Staff Training

A group of Langley House staff recently completed a 12 week course on Equal Opportunities and Diversity as part of our continuous professional development programme.

Welcoming new friends

Langley House recently welcomed a number of temporary residents on its popular respite care programme that offers short breaks tailored to the needs of individual residents and carers.

It's a great opportunity for us to make new friends and for potential residents to experience our "home from home" atmosphere.

Langley House

Langley House in Horden is owned and managed by Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association.

Our purpose- built single story 27 bed home provides good quality accommodation, and achieves a high degree of satisfaction with residents, families, and the social care inspectorate.

Details of our admission policy can be obtained from Joy Atkinson, Head of Home on: 0191 5861342

Go to the news archive.