The Caring Team
1. Leadership
2. Our Carers
3. Training
4. Keyworking
5. Awards
1. Leadership
Registered Manager
Robin Hiney
Robin is a graduate of Durham University with an honours degree in Sociology and a graduate diploma in Psychology.
He has been with St Cecilia since January, 2010, managing the home with Robert and Ruth.
Robin has achieved a diploma in care management.
In his spare time, he is a keen Manchester United supporter and a fount of knowledge on all sporting matters.
Robin Hiney
Robin is a graduate of Durham University with an honours degree in Sociology and a graduate diploma in Psychology.
He has been with St Cecilia since January, 2010, managing the home with Robert and Ruth.
Robin has achieved a diploma in care management.
In his spare time, he is a keen Manchester United supporter and a fount of knowledge on all sporting matters.
Robert Eshelby, Founder
Robert's vision has always been of a world where elderly people are respected for the contribution that they and their generation have made. He was aware of the shortfall in real care for frail, elderly people and has specialised in dementia care since 1981, initially as a social worker and then at St Cecilia since 1988.
Robert studied at the University of Queensland before becoming an English Teacher. He later gained an MA and Social Work qualification at University of East Anglia in 1985. Robert worked in Residential and Field social work in Cambridgeshire between 1981-1986. He moved to Dorset in 1986 and was Senior Social Worker for Poole Hospital, based at Alderney Hospital, caring for elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, until founding St Cecilia Care in 1988.
Since then, Robert has established a reputation at St Cecilia as a leading provider of personalised dementia care in the Poole and Bournemouth area.
Robert studied at the University of Queensland before becoming an English Teacher. He later gained an MA and Social Work qualification at University of East Anglia in 1985. Robert worked in Residential and Field social work in Cambridgeshire between 1981-1986. He moved to Dorset in 1986 and was Senior Social Worker for Poole Hospital, based at Alderney Hospital, caring for elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, until founding St Cecilia Care in 1988.
Since then, Robert has established a reputation at St Cecilia as a leading provider of personalised dementia care in the Poole and Bournemouth area.
Registered Providers - Robert & Ruth Eshelby
Ruth qualified as a speech therapist at Leeds Polytechnic. She has extensive experience as a speech therapist in East Sussex, Surrey and Dorset. She has an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition from Bournemouth University, with a special interest in the care of people with Alzheimer's and dementia.
Away from St Cecilia, Robert and Ruth are both singers with great experience of opera, oratorio and musical comedy. Robert has sung professionally with Queensland Opera and D'Oyly Carte Opera. Ruth was artistic director of Dorset Chamber Opera, which she founded in 1990.
Robert and Ruth are passionate brass players, and can often be heard, with son, Robbie, entertaining our residents with brass trios and singing. All three are members of Christchurch and Highcliffe Band and Wessex Military Band.
Away from St Cecilia, Robert and Ruth are both singers with great experience of opera, oratorio and musical comedy. Robert has sung professionally with Queensland Opera and D'Oyly Carte Opera. Ruth was artistic director of Dorset Chamber Opera, which she founded in 1990.
Robert and Ruth are passionate brass players, and can often be heard, with son, Robbie, entertaining our residents with brass trios and singing. All three are members of Christchurch and Highcliffe Band and Wessex Military Band.
2. Our Carers
Our carers are our most valuable asset in ensuring the highest possible quality of life for residents. It takes a very special person to work with people who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. They must show kindness, patience and understanding at all times. As well as being naturally caring people, they must have a high level of training to underpin their practice. All our carers are NVQ qualified in Care. Those involved in care are encouraged to relate to our residents and create a friendly and lively atmosphere within the home.
Karen Hunter, Compliance Officer
Karen Hunter ran her own hair and beauty salons before changing to a career in care. With qualifications including a diploma in Care Management, Karen worked for 11 years for a large care home company, initially as a care home manager in the North East, and then throughout the country supporting other managers. In 2013, she became a much-valued addition to the team at St. Cecilia.
Karen Hunter ran her own hair and beauty salons before changing to a career in care. With qualifications including a diploma in Care Management, Karen worked for 11 years for a large care home company, initially as a care home manager in the North East, and then throughout the country supporting other managers. In 2013, she became a much-valued addition to the team at St. Cecilia.
Nick, Senior cook
Nick is St Cecilia's Dementia Champion and SPECAL representative.
He came to St Cecilia after a distinguished career in the building industry. He is passionately interested in dementia care and in providing a safe haven for our residents. Nick has impressed us with his genuine passion for his work and dedication to St Cecilia. He was awarded a City & Guilds diploma in Team Leadership and was weekend manager. More recently, Nick has indulged his passion for good food by taking over as our senior cook, producing appetising, nourishing menus for our residents.
He came to St Cecilia after a distinguished career in the building industry. He is passionately interested in dementia care and in providing a safe haven for our residents. Nick has impressed us with his genuine passion for his work and dedication to St Cecilia. He was awarded a City & Guilds diploma in Team Leadership and was weekend manager. More recently, Nick has indulged his passion for good food by taking over as our senior cook, producing appetising, nourishing menus for our residents.
3. Training
At St. Cecilia, we are always looking to improve every aspect of the home. We take the professional development of our staff very seriously. We have always kept up a high standard of staff training at St Cecilia and have an enviable number of NVQs, diplomas and degrees between us. As well as in-house training in all aspects of care, the St Cecilia Dementia Care Philosophy is paramount - all care is given according to the St Cecilia way, with love, respect and understanding.
Through in-house sessions and professionally-accredited seminars, every carer has the opportunity and expectation to optimise their role at St. Cecilia. From Manual Handling to Medication, Food Hygiene to Fire Safety, staff are trained in the latest techniques related to delivering excellent care. All our carers are expected to have a minimum of an NVQ 2 in Care within 6 months of starting work at St Cecilia.
We have decided that, for our compulsory training, we should use one training provider to ensure that all our carers are kept fully up-to-date in all areas. Pinnacle Training has undertaken to fulfil this task over three full-day sessions for each staff member.
With the mandatory training for the year now complete, we are confident that all our staff can put these skills into practice for the benefit of our residents.
The training includes:
Basic First Aid
Client Handling
Medications
Dementia
Infection Control
Equality & Diversity
Fire Safety
Health and Safety
Food Safety
Mental Capacity & DoLS
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults
Through in-house sessions and professionally-accredited seminars, every carer has the opportunity and expectation to optimise their role at St. Cecilia. From Manual Handling to Medication, Food Hygiene to Fire Safety, staff are trained in the latest techniques related to delivering excellent care. All our carers are expected to have a minimum of an NVQ 2 in Care within 6 months of starting work at St Cecilia.
We have decided that, for our compulsory training, we should use one training provider to ensure that all our carers are kept fully up-to-date in all areas. Pinnacle Training has undertaken to fulfil this task over three full-day sessions for each staff member.
With the mandatory training for the year now complete, we are confident that all our staff can put these skills into practice for the benefit of our residents.
The training includes:
Basic First Aid
Client Handling
Medications
Dementia
Infection Control
Equality & Diversity
Fire Safety
Health and Safety
Food Safety
Mental Capacity & DoLS
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults
4. Keyworking
One of our care team is assigned to each of our residents to act as their Key Worker. This role provides a vital function in ensuring high-quality, person-centred care within the home. In conjunction with Robin, Assistant Manager, the Key Worker assumes responsibility for that resident's care plan, noting any significant issues as they arise. The Key Worker role provides a necessary link between the resident, their family, other care staff and the management team. This ensures that each resident receives individual, personalised care.
This care strategy is designed to ensure that any concerns or health issues which may arise, are resolved at the earliest possible moment, through our close contacts with the primary care team at Westbourne Surgery and the dementia care teams in Poole and Bournemouth.
This care strategy is designed to ensure that any concerns or health issues which may arise, are resolved at the earliest possible moment, through our close contacts with the primary care team at Westbourne Surgery and the dementia care teams in Poole and Bournemouth.
5. Awards
Three Silver Medals for Zimbabwe
September 2012
In 2013, St Cecilia Care Home will celebrate its Silver Jubilee, following 25 years of service to people with Alzheimer’s.
This week, at the St Cecilia Summer barbeque, visitors celebrated three other silver medals. Three Zimbabwean staff members have between them, notched up over 30 years of service to Dementia Care.
Owner, Robert Eshelby, was delighted to present Senior Carers, Junior Madzemure and Similo Sibanda with silver St. Cecilia medals and certificates for 10 years of loyal service. Team Leader, Juliet Pasirayi, who was awarded her St. Cecilia medal last year, was on hand to help.
Robert praised his Zimbabwean carers for their loyalty to St. Cecilia and its philosophy of care. St. Cecilia has been at the forefront of dementia care in the UK for a quarter of a century.
In 1981, when Robert left this career as an opera singer with the renowned D’Oyly Carte Opera Company to work for the cause of Dementia Care, most members of the public had never heard of Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Robert was determined to change people’s attitudes. After working as a care assistant in a less enlightened care home, Robert gained an MA in Social Work, specialising in the Care of the Elderly. He worked as a Social Worker in Cambridge and then at Alderney Hospital in Poole before opening St. Cecilia in 1988.
“I am proud of St. Cecilia,” he told us. “Over the years, with help of our dedicated team, we have achieved the sort of care I always dreamed of. Today we have presented silver medals to three carers with hearts of gold.”
In 2013, St Cecilia Care Home will celebrate its Silver Jubilee, following 25 years of service to people with Alzheimer’s.
This week, at the St Cecilia Summer barbeque, visitors celebrated three other silver medals. Three Zimbabwean staff members have between them, notched up over 30 years of service to Dementia Care.
Owner, Robert Eshelby, was delighted to present Senior Carers, Junior Madzemure and Similo Sibanda with silver St. Cecilia medals and certificates for 10 years of loyal service. Team Leader, Juliet Pasirayi, who was awarded her St. Cecilia medal last year, was on hand to help.
Robert praised his Zimbabwean carers for their loyalty to St. Cecilia and its philosophy of care. St. Cecilia has been at the forefront of dementia care in the UK for a quarter of a century.
In 1981, when Robert left this career as an opera singer with the renowned D’Oyly Carte Opera Company to work for the cause of Dementia Care, most members of the public had never heard of Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Robert was determined to change people’s attitudes. After working as a care assistant in a less enlightened care home, Robert gained an MA in Social Work, specialising in the Care of the Elderly. He worked as a Social Worker in Cambridge and then at Alderney Hospital in Poole before opening St. Cecilia in 1988.
“I am proud of St. Cecilia,” he told us. “Over the years, with help of our dedicated team, we have achieved the sort of care I always dreamed of. Today we have presented silver medals to three carers with hearts of gold.”
Courage and Long Service in Dementia Care Home
Press release: October, 2011
Last week’s garden party at St. Cecilia in Branksome was highlighted by the presentation of two St. Cecilia Medals. Proprietor, Robert Eshelby, awarded the silver medallions to two outstanding staff members.
Juliet Pasirayi was given her medal for ten years of loyal and outstanding service to elderly people with dementia at St. Cecilia.
Fiona Wiltsher has displayed conspicuous courage during the performance of her duty at the care home. At grave risk to herself, she protected an elderly gentleman from certain injury at a time when he was extremely distressed. Fiona and two other staff members kept the resident safe until outside help arrived.
Both Juliet and Fiona expressed the pride they felt in caring for people with dementia at St. Cecilia, the enjoyment they gain from working in a caring, family atmosphere, and the great satisfaction their work gives them.
Mr. Eshelby, who has owned St. Cecilia for 23 years, thanked all the carers and families for their continuing support in what was often difficult work.
Juliet Pasirayi was given her medal for ten years of loyal and outstanding service to elderly people with dementia at St. Cecilia.
Fiona Wiltsher has displayed conspicuous courage during the performance of her duty at the care home. At grave risk to herself, she protected an elderly gentleman from certain injury at a time when he was extremely distressed. Fiona and two other staff members kept the resident safe until outside help arrived.
Both Juliet and Fiona expressed the pride they felt in caring for people with dementia at St. Cecilia, the enjoyment they gain from working in a caring, family atmosphere, and the great satisfaction their work gives them.
Mr. Eshelby, who has owned St. Cecilia for 23 years, thanked all the carers and families for their continuing support in what was often difficult work.