Corinium supports Sandi Toksvig at Literature Festival

Dame Joan Bakewell thanked Corinium Care for its support and its work with the elderly when she hosted an event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Dame Joan, appointed the Government’s voice for older people in 2008, was chairing a discussion panel, sponsored by Corinium Care.

It featured the family of the author Jennifer Worth who wrote the book upon which the TV series Call the Midwife was based, starring Jenny Agutter and Miranda Hart.

Corinium also sponsored a packed Literature Festival talk by Sandi Toksvig about her latest book, Valentine Grey, as well as her life as a comedian and broadcaster. The novel tells the story of a woman who went to fight in the Boer war, disguised as a man, in place of her cousin Reggie.

“With our roots firmly in Gloucestershire, we try to support local enterprise whenever we can, and we are therefore very proud to be associated with the Literature Festival,” said Managing Director of the live-in care agency Camilla Miles.

“It is also significant that Jennifer Worth wrote a final book about the importance of absolute dignity at the end of life which struck a chord with our values at Corinium Care.”

The Cheltenham Literature Festival is one of the largest in the UK and relies on sponsorship for its survival.

Corinium scoops award for best customer care

Corinium Care has won a prestigious award for its exceptional customer care.

At a glittering ceremony, attended by 260 people, it won the Customer Care and Service category in the Stroud Life Business Awards, set up to celebrate business excellence.

Editor of the Stroud Life Jason Chare said competition was tough as big names went head to head with small and medium-sized businesses.

He and the other judges praised Corinium Care for its high standards, saying: “The business takes pride in exceeding its customers’ expectations and nothing is too much trouble for its carers. They will even clean out the hen house and walk the dog.”

Director of Care Services at Corinium, Clare Janik, was thrilled to be a winner.

“When they announced we were the winners, it was marvellous. I was so proud of the company. Everything we do is definitely a team effort and I’m really proud to be part of it.”

The award sought to commend a business which is passionate about customer care and service and could show that it is an integral part of the company.

MD of Corinium Care, Camilla Miles congratulated her team. “Exceptional customer care and service is at the heart of everything we do. The personal touch is key, and all the staff and registered carers live and breathe that philosophy,” she said.

“The company provides proof that ‘caring’ and ‘business’ can and do go hand in hand. That concept is the cornerstone of Corinium Care’s continued success since its formation in 1995.”

Corinium Care, based in George St, Nailsworth, provides 24-hour care for frail and elderly people in their own homes. It has 17 staff at its head office and 800 registered carers worldwide.

It has twice been rated Excellent by the Care Quality Commission. Last year it won the title Business in the Year in the Gloucestershire Media Women in Business Awards. It was also a finalist in three categories of the Great British Care Awards.

The Stroud Life Awards ceremony took place at the Old Lodge in Minchinhampton.

Corinium is a finalist in Stroud Life Business Awards

Corinium Care is delighted to be a finalist in the Stroud Life Business Awards 2012.

The company, based in Nailsworth, is shortlisted in the Customer Care and Service category in the scheme set up to celebrate business excellence.

Editor of the Stroud Life Jason Chare congratulated all the finalists and said competition was tough as big names went head to head with small and medium-sized businesses.

“What really impressed the judges was the vast number of high quality entries,” he said.

MD of Corinium Care, Camilla Miles, said: “We are thrilled to receive such praise. Exceptional customer care and service is at the heart of everything that Corinium Care does. The personal touch is key in every element of our business, and all the staff and registered carers live and breathe that philosophy.

“The company provides proof that ‘caring’ and ‘business’ can and do go hand in hand. That concept is the cornerstone of Corinium Care’s continued success since its formation in 1995.”
Corinium Care, based in George St, provides 24-hour care for frail and elderly people in their own homes. It has 17 staff at its head office and 800 registered carers worldwide.
Last year year it won the title Business in the Year in the Gloucestershire Media Women in Business Awards. It was also a finalist in three categories of the Great British Care Awards.
The winners of the 12 categories in the Stroud Life Awards will be announced at a dinner at the Old Lodge in Minchinhampton on July 12.

Cakes for our charity go down a treat

Staff at Corinium Care have cooked up a great recipe for fundraising.


The team based in Nailsworth asked their live-in carers to join them by making a cake and selling it to support the company’s adopted charity, Homes In Zimbabwe (HIZ).

Dozens got out the mixing bowls and cooked up everything from pecan pie to a gateau that looked like a hamburger.

Leading the team effort was Corinium Care’s Director of Care Services Clare Janik who said cake-baking was a way in which carers, staff and clients could all join in.

“A lot of our live-in carers are with clients all over the country, so this is a good way of including them in a team effort,” she said. “They’ve more than risen to the challenge and when it comes to their weekly support call, cakes are often mentioned!”

Corinium Care chose to support HIZ because many of its 800 registered live-in carers come from Zimbabwe. The charity provides food and medicine to the elderly who are struggling because of the collapse of the economy in Zimbabwe.

In the last 18 months, staff have done a sponsored bike ride, organised a fitness day and sent a truck load of medical equipment to Zimbabwe. They are now collecting equipment to fill a second truck and fundraising to cover the shipping costs.

Corinium Care, based in George Street, Nailsworth, specialises in providing 24-hour live-in care for the elderly and infirm. It has recruitment offices in New Zealand, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Anyone who wants to support HIZ can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Corinium-Care

Corinium Care stages first palliative care training for carers

A new training course in palliative care has been launched by Corinium Care.

The live-in care agency, based in Nailsworth, has more than 800 registered carers who provide 24-hour care for elderly people in their own homes.

“Caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life and needs palliative care can be daunting, but it’s also a privilege to see someone through that process,” said Training and Care Manager Jeannette Pellatt, who worked as a qualified nurse before she joined Corinium Care.

“Our carers have often had a lot of experience and some have looked after their own parents at the end of their lives, but they need support and the confidence that they will know what to do when someone dies. It’s not difficult if they are prepared.”

The one-day course includes personal care, nutrition and moving and handling. But the most important element is communication.

“We take a holistic approach,” said Jeannette. “Our live-in carers have already helped fulfil one of their client’s biggest wishes – enabling them to stay in their own home. We pride ourselves on the fact that the personal touch is at the heart of all we do and that’s never more important than at the palliative care stage.”

Corinium Care launched its first palliative care course last autumn. The trial was so successful that a second was arranged and was quickly fully subscribed.

The company makes training a priority and won a National Training Award in 2009 for its five-day course for carers. It was rated ‘Excellent’ by the Care Quality Commission and won the title of Business of the Year in the Gloucestershire Women in Business Awards in 2011.

Launched in 1995, Corinium Care has 17 staff in Gloucestershire and recruitment offices in New Zealand, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

CORINIUM CARE SAYS THANKYOU TO BJ

Billie-Jane Mozley has been a client of the Corinium Care agency for 15 years – and it doesn’t seem a day too long.

To mark the anniversary, Billie-Jane (BJ) was a special guest for lunch at the agency’s HQ in Nailsworth.

BJ, 36, from Oakley in Cheltenham has cerebral palsy and needs full-time live-in care. She and her carer Lisa Pistorius were joined for lunch by Managing Director Camilla Miles, Director of Operations Amanda Butler and the rest of the Corinium team.

“It’s important that all our staff get to know our clients personally so we can find them a carer they really get on with,” said Amanda, who is also BJ’s Care Manager.

BJ is passionate about pink, sports tattoos and copious jewellery, and attends St Vincent’s day centre in Cheltenham in her wheelchair. She also goes to Lourdes almost every year.

“I like to be busy, have friends round and go the cinema. The staff at Corinium have been great at finding the right person for me,” she said.

Corinium Care, based in Nailsworth, has been providing her carers since she was 22.

The award-winning company is one of the biggest live-in care agencies in the UK, providing 24-hour care for the elderly and infirm, as well as for severely disabled adults.

“BJ is an extraordinary character who has been with us for a long time,” said MD Camilla Miles.

“She’s a great example of how 24-hour live-in care can transform lives. Her strength of spirit is a lesson to us all that life is what you make of it.”

Lisa, 31, has been BJ’s carer for a year. Trained as a professional nanny, she left her native South Africa in 2010 to work in the UK.

“It’s very fulfilling. We get to do some awesome stuff. Helping someone else has its ups and downs, but more ups than downs,” she said.

Trio join Corinium Care team

Three new staff have joined Corinium Care in Nailsworth as the live-in care agency experiences unprecedented growth.

Maureen Basterfield, 56, from Stonehouse, joins as Bookings Assistant after two years in an administrative role at Stroud College. “All the staff at Corinium have made me feel very welcome,” she said.

Jo Wilkins, 45, is the new Client Services Manager. A former pupil of Eastcombe Manor (now Thomas Keble), she spent 11 years at the Stroud & Swindon building society in customer services.

“Corinium is a great company to work for – a really nice bunch of people,” she said.

Former Stroud High School pupil Katie Godwin is the new Administration Assistant. Born and bred in Stroud, Katie, 21, took a gap year after school and spent time as a play ranger.

She then worked briefly in a care home. “It opened my eyes to the other end of the age spectrum and I discovered I really enjoyed working with older people,” she said.

When not working, Katie plays flugel horn for the Chalford Senior Band, along with her mum and dad, two sisters and two uncles.

Managing Director of Corinium Care, Camilla Miles, welcomed Maureen, Jo and Katie. “As we continue to expand, the importance of finding the right staff is crucial. All three have already become invaluable members of the team,” she said.

The award-winning live-in care agency, based in George Street, provides 24-hour care for elderly people, those with dementia and young adults with physical and learning disabilities. Founded in 1995, it has 19 staff and 800 registered carers.

Last year it was Business of the Year in the Gloucestershire Media Women in Business Awards.