Corinium Care Reaches Finals of Great South West Care Awards

Live-in care agency Corinium Care made it to the finals of the Great South West Care Awards.

The company, based in Nailsworth, was shortlisted for the Care Employer Award for organisations with less than 250 staff.

The awards are a celebration of excellence across the care sector. They aim to promote best practice and pay tribute to outstanding standards, enterprise and dedication.

Corinium Care’s MD Camilla Miles is delighted that her company has been recognised.

“There are three strands to our business: our clients, our carers and our office staff, and our commitment to care permeates every aspect,” she said.

“We recognise that care and compassion is what our clients most want. At the same time, the live-in carers we place with them need to know that we are there to support them.

“We make a concerted effort to get to know all our clients and carers personally and do our utmost to create a good match so both are happy. We’re proud of our record of putting two people together who go on to develop a bond of mutual respect and loyalty.

“Our head office staff also maintain regular contact with our carers so they know we’re only a phone call away.”

She added that all new staff at Nailsworth get a bunch of flowers on their first day at work.

The winners of the South West Care Awards were announced at a dinner in Bristol on November 5. The 20 categories represent all areas of the care sector in the South West, from residential homes to the NHS and big business.

Corinium Care Launches First Recruitment Drive in Ireland

Corinium Care is staging a major recruitment drive in Ireland for the first time.

The agency will host six seminars all over the Republic, seeking live-in carers for the company’s elderly and disabled clients.

“In the current economic uncertainty we’re aware that working in England might appeal to people who want a new start in life,” said Managing Director Camilla Miles.

The company, based in Gloucestershire, is one of the leading care agencies in Britain. It has 15 staff and more than 800 registered carers from Britain and abroad. It has recruitment offices in South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

This is its first attempt to seek carers from Ireland.

“Our business has quadrupled in the past ten years and our search for suitable carers has been relentless,” said Camilla, who founded Corinium Care in 1995.

“The reason for that growth is linked to the growth of the elderly population in the UK. At the same time, more people are choosing to remain in their own homes with a live-in carer,” said Camilla.

The agency provides 24-hour care for elderly and disabled people in their own homes.

The seminars take place from November 20-26 in Dublin (November 20), Wexford (November 22), Cork (November 23), and Limerick (November 25), and Galway (November 26).

In charge will be Corinium Care’s Director of Operations Amanda Butler and Director of Care Services Clare Armstrong who will give presentations on what the role of a live-in carer involves.

“We hope to speak to people who have considered starting a career in live-in care but are wary of taking the plunge,” said Amanda.

She added that carers tend to be women aged 45-60 whose children have left home. They don’t need any experience but must have an EU passport or be eligible to work in the UK. “For many it’s a new start and a new lease of life,” she said.

Corinium Care has an award-winning training programme, and was rated ‘Excellent’ in 2010 by the UK’s Care Quality Commission.

Camilla Launches Recruitment Drive to South Africa

MD of Corinium Care, Camilla Miles, is flying out to South Africa on a major recruitment drive.

Since she set up the live-in care agency in Gloucestershire 15 years ago, the company has expanded rapidly, and the search for suitable carers has been relentless.

It led her to set up Corinium Care offices in South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2005, followed by a new venture in New Zealand last year. Her latest trip involves hosting eight seminars in five South African cities, seeking carers for the company’s elderly and disabled clients all over the UK.

“South Africa offers us a great opportunity. The people are hard-working, with the right life skills behind them,” said Camilla. “We do get applicants from the UK, but not nearly enough.”

The seminars take place from October 7-15 in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Knysna, and Capetown.

The aim is to explain to potential carers what the role of a live-in carer involves. Several South African carers who have worked for Corinium Care in the past will be there to answer questions.

“They are the ones who have packed their bags, travelled thousands of miles and landed at London Airport in the snow to work in a foreign country. They can tell others what to expect,” said Camilla.

She added that carers tend to be women aged 45-60 whose children have left home and who want to travel or visit relatives in Britain.

“They have spent a lifetime caring for their families. For many it’s a new start, and a new lease of life,” said Camilla.

Corinium Care is one of the leading care agencies in Britain with 14 staff at its head office in George Street, Nailsworth and 800 registered carers. Hard work and high standards have helped Corinium’s business to quadruple in the past ten years.

“We benefit from the fact that the elderly population in the UK is soaring and at the same time more people are choosing to remain in their own homes with a live-in carer,” said Camilla.

Trudi joins Corinium Care in Nailsworth

Live-in care agency Corinium Care has welcomed Trudi Powderly to its team in Nailsworth.

Trudi is the new Bookings Assistant at the company in George Street.

A former pupil of Thomas Keble School in Eastcombe, she trained as a nursery nurse at Stroud College.
After a spell as a nanny in Bristol and Jersey, she returned to Gloucestershire in 1985 with her husband Kevin, a rugby coach. Their two children, Beckie and Chris, are now 23 and 21.

Trudi, 48, has been a classroom assistant at Minchinhampton School for the last 15 years. Her job with Corinium Care, which provides 24-hour live-in care for the elderly and infirm, is a departure from education.

“I’ve spent a lifetime in schools talking to parents about their children. Now I’m talking to children about their parents – it’s both a challenge and a change,” she said.

Corinium Care was founded in 1995 by MD Camilla Miles. “I’m thrilled that Trudi is joining us. She’s a great addition to the team,” she said.

The company has 14 staff in Nailsworth, and 800 registered carers on its books.

Care Agency's New Faces

LIVE-IN care agency Corinium Care has welcomed two new staff to its team in Nailsworth.

Laura Graham, 35, has taken up a new post as assistant care manager at the company in George Street. She moved to Gloucestershire in 2009.

Maisie Shrubsall, 28, is the new recruitment and training coordinator. A former pupil of Katharine Lady Berkeley's school, she went to London to study in 2003.She has just returned from travelling and lives in Wotton-under-Edge.

Care Quality Commission awards Corinium Care an ‘Excellent’ rating

CORINIUM Care staff are delighted that the company has won an ‘Excellent’ rating from inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission awarded the live-in care agency in Nailsworth three stars, the highest accolade.

Inspectors spent a day with Corinium Care staff in George Street, and sought feedback from clients and care staff.

They judged the company on factors such as personal care, management, training, and standards of service.

Corinium received particular praise for its attempts to make sure its elderly clients have a live-in carer with whom they get on well and who takes on board their likes and dislikes.

“The agency works hard to match the right care staff with people and the feedback we received is that they do this very well,” said Inspector Sharon Hayward-Wright.

There was also praise for the award-winning training which Corinium Care provides for its carers, all of whom undergo a five-day induction and are offered regular refresher training.

Ms Hayward-Wright added: “We received very positive feedback about the high standard of service this agency provides to people who use the service and care staff.”

The CQC noted that Corinium Care staff also provide comprehensive information to clients, carry out excellent assessment of clients’ needs before finding them a carer, keep in close contact with clients and their families, and are always helpful and caring to clients and carers.

MD of Corinium Care, Camilla Miles, was pleased with the report.

“Our three-star rating is testament to the effort that goes into making Corinium Care such a good company. We put the personal touch at the heart of everything we do. And it’s very rewarding when that is officially recognised,” she said.

To see the full CQC report, click here

Amanda and Rachel rewarded for their efforts

WHEN Rachel Dedman and Amanda Butler reached their tenth anniversary at Corinium Care, their boss couldn’t let the occasion go by without a celebration.

So Managing Director Camilla Miles arranged a trip to the Billy Elliot show in London – and took the whole company along for the ride.

Ten staff piled into a bus at the Corinium Care offices in Nailsworth, had a luxury picnic on the way, stopped off for some shopping in Kensington, and enjoyed the show at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

“It was a very nice gesture,” said Amanda. “The show was excellent, and it was great to share the event with everyone else. We’re a very close-knit team.”

Amanda, Director of Operations at Corinium Care live-in care agency in George Street, grew up in Minchinhampton. She worked in the newspaper industry until 1998. In 1999 she met Camilla Miles when they both lived in Bisley and walked their dogs together.

Amanda started working for Camilla in an administrative role for a few hours a week in 2000. She became Director of Operations in 2007.

“I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I’m very proud of the company and of what we’ve achieved in ten years,” she said.

Rachel grew up in Nailsworth. She trained as a nursery nurse, and then as an accounting technician. She is now Company Secretary.

“It’s a pleasure to have been involved in the growth of Corinium Care. And the trip to Billy Elliott was wonderful – a very memorable evening,” she said.

Camilla paid tribute to Rachel and Amanda’s loyalty and hard work. “They’ve both been fantastic. Corinium Care wouldn’t be what it is today without them.”

She decided to book the Billy Elliot outing because she knew both wanted to go to the show. “It’s not the sort of thing their husbands are interested in, and it seemed like a good idea,” she said.