Click on the facilities you would like to know more about

The members of our staff receive significant support from management to ensure that they have the most efficient aids to ensure the comfort and safety of residents and the well being of the care team. To achieve this goal the following facilities are available.

1. Hoists   Residents are encouraged to make the best use of all the opportunities they have to lead as independent and fulfilling a life as possible. However, if they are unable to get out of bed or move from chair to chair then they should not be prevented from making the best of their life by being trapped in a bed unnecessarily. Some residents need help to be able to make the most of their limited abilities.  To help everyone there are many styles of manual handling aids or hoists to suit individual people with differing needs. These vary from wheeled ‘standing hoists’ that encourage people to be able to weight bear although they may not have the strength to actually lift themselves from a seated position but by having some help they are able to enjoy the satisfaction of being able to stand and this can have a beneficial impact on their morale. Other residents would find this impossible so there is a selection of other hoists to transfer from one situation to another. These may be in the form of manually operated hoists, or battery assisted or indeed the most luxurious of overhead gantries and electric ‘boxes’. The latter are very popular with residents and these are positioned in various places and rooms around the home and in every main bathroom. Back to top
2. Bathing   Bathrooms and shower rooms are positioned around the home close to all bedrooms. Rather than having a small en-suite bathroom that may be impossible to care for residents safely by being both sides of the bath with the risks that that imposes, the home has decided on a policy of providing large well planned rooms that enable residents to enjoy in safety, either a bath or shower, depending on their preference. There is at least one bath on each floor and the bathroom has every facility that can be provided for the ease and enjoyment of resident. Overhead gantries make getting in and out simple and risk free. Special elevating and lowering baths ensure most comfortable access and for staff the ability to work at the correct height so that the residents’ feel secure. One of the baths even has a Jacuzzi that is extremely popular with some residents. Other residents enjoy a shower and on every floor there is at least one large fitted shower room that allows the entry of wheelchairs and, of course, complete privacy. Back to top
3. Bedrooms   All our bedrooms are single rooms although we are registered for three double rooms generally these are occupied as a single unless there is a reason to share, such as married couples. The rooms are fitted out to be as homely as possible and all residents are encouraged to bring in personal items and photographs. Memorabilia is important to most of us and the residents here are no different. Their bedrooms are their home and they are encouraged to feel that way. Communicating with friends and family is important to some residents so every room has the ability to be connected to the main telephone network and residents can call whoever, whenever they want. Their individual ‘front doors’ have a knocker so that it gives that feeling of ownership. In the rooms are wardrobes, drawer units and bedside tables, just as you have at home. Some residents choose to spend a great deal of their time in their room so individual flat screen TVs are provided in every room so their own choice of radio or tv programme can be selected. If the resident chooses to have a large screen tv then they may bring them in. There are wash basins in every room so personal needs can be met without fuss or palaver. The beds are finished in a wood effect to give that domestic feel but in fact they are specialist three way electric profiling beds. These beds are designed to enable people to be set at whatever configuration that is most comfortable and beneficial for them. They are able to sit up in bed without that tension on the lower regions that many of us have experienced. This enables them to be able to relax and be confident that there is no reason why they should develop ‘bed sores’ as they are commonly known. To further help the well being of the resident an appropriate mattress will be provided be it a memoflex  or even a alternating air mattress for residents who are particularly vulnerable to skin problems. These air flow mattresses use a dedicated air pump to constantly inflate and deflate cells in the mattress to stimulate the circulation of blood and in so doing reduce the chances of pressure sores or as they as now more fashionably described ‘skin bundles’. The profiling beds have built in bed rails that are unobtrusive when not needed but comply with the highest demands of the HSE for safety when up. From time to time bed rail bumpers will be considered for particular needs and these are available. Whilst on the subject of resident safety and wellbeing in every bedroom the residents own medication is kept, except such medication that needs to be kept in a fridge. Each bedroom has a securely fitted individual drug cabinet. No more drug trolleys here and the risk of dispensing drug to the wrong resident is reduced to an absolute minimum. One of the joys of our listed building is the floor finish of herringbone pattern wood block and these are sealed to give a warm wood glow to most rooms.  It also has the advantage of being easily cleaned to reduce the chances of any spread of infection. Back to top
4. WiFi   In this the 21 century the computer has had an incredible impact. Despite the fact that some of us consider it way beyond them, others enjoy the opportunities it offers. At College Fields choice is respected and if residents want to bring their computer then they can be certain that they are able to link into hyper space with our free wifi available to everyone who wants to use it. Back to top
5. Hallways  The home is so lucky to have such broad hallways that would not be found in most modern buildings. This has many advantages such as enabling wheel chairs to pass with no difficulty or areas where residents and other visitors can congregate for a sociable chat without disruption. Back to top
6. Reception  The main hall houses the reception area. Here visitors are greeted and welcomed. Their needs understood and the relevant person found and the visitor guided to them. The main hall sets the scene for the whole home with high ceilings, cornices and an open staircase with atrium all the way to the top floor. The balustrade is the one from the original building. Back to top
7. Lounges  There are two lounges and a conservatory for the use by residents in addition to the dining room. The main lounge on the ground floor is a magnificent room occupying a corner position and having windows that face south east and south west. It has been recently been refurnished with leather tub chairs that are grouped into small gathering but allowing wheel chair to join in the groups. Oak furniture is such as sideboards are there to give that homely feel and even a fireplace. The shining original wood block floors give the feeling of luxury and in it is reflected the wonderful windows. The feel is enhanced by the high ceilings and cornices. To complete the lounge is a 50” HD TV that is put on for special occasions, such as the Royal Wedding when the lounge is packed with residents, friends and family, who are often bedecked in appropriate headgear! Regular concerts are also held in the room and some of the entertainment is ‘home made’ and others are professional artists who come in to provide some excellent events.

The other lounge is known as the library and there are occasional settees and chairs and room for wheelchairs. Back to top

8. Dining room  The dining room is adjacent to the lounge and opposite the kitchens. like the lounge it is a magnificent room with similarly high ceilings, glistening wood block floors and panelled walls. Residents choose where they wish to take their meals. They may have their meals in company in the dining room or in the privacy of their own rooms. Some choose to accept invitations from other residents to have their meals together in one another’s rooms.  The dining room is also used for other social activities. Back to top
9. Kitchens  When we have visitors and family at our traditional home it is not unusual to offer a cup of tea when they arrive. At College Fields it is a priority that this should continue. In fact regular visitors and family are encouraged to make their own cup of tea or coffee. On each floor there is a small kitchen with tea and coffee, milk in the fridge and sugar together with cups or mugs and these regulars are asked to help themselves! The main meals are prepared in the main kitchen on ground floor. As explained elsewhere the members of staff prepare meals to suit everyone and the kitchens are fitted out to support the staff to do this. There is every piece of equipment necessary to prepare these meals. The most recent addition to the equipment is a blast chiller so that food that has been prepared can be quickly and safely brought down to a low enough temperature to go into the fridges and comply with the most demanding food preparation and safety guidelines. There are separate stores for dry goods and separate freezer rooms. Preparing hot appetising meals is only part of the story of getting the food at the correct temperature to each resident even at the furthest part of the building. To achieve this objective there is a ‘fleet’ of electrically heated ‘bain marie’ trolleys to transport the meals at their optimum temperature throughout the building. Everyone should enjoy the food that has been carefully prepared at its best. Back to top
10. Laundry  There is a mini commercial laundrette at College Fields. Hidden away at the back of the building is the laundry where an immense amount of washing and ironing takes place. The members of the dedicated laundry staff have the right equipment to undertake their tasks and infection control is of paramount importance. Strict procedures are in place to ensure clean, infection free washing takes place. The home does ask residents or their families to ensure that every item of clothing is clearly marked with the resident’s name to reduce any chance of clothing going missing. It can be so frustrating for all concerned when this does occasionally happen. Back to top
11. Passenger lifts.  In 2011 a new lift was installed to improve the access to all the floors. When the home opened over 20 years ago the lift was selected as it was ideal for the needs then. Wheel chairs were able to enter and leave easily, food trolleys able to do so also. Over the last twenty years demands have changed. Electric wheel chairs have become more common as have bespoke chairs. The result was that the doors to the lift were starting ‘to wave the white flag’ and breakdowns became more frequent with the resulting inconvenience. So a new lift has been installed with much wider doors and a wider lift car. This lift gives access to all three floors. Once on each floor there are no other changes of level to negotiate other than to the rear of the ground floor where there are two rooms and administration rooms and cleaner’s stores. To allow easy access to this level there are not only the three steps but also a platform lift that easily takes a wheelchair. Back to top
12. Scales   Nutrition is an important part of residents well being. It is important to know if individuals are putting on or losing weight. This can have an important bearing on their health and well being. The kitchen staff ensure nutritious meals are available but sometimes a diet is advisable or alternatively food supplements. If a close record is not kept of each resident’s weight then there is no way of knowing what is going on. To help record the weights of everyone they are asked to be weighed usually monthly. Some residents are unable to sit in the scales that are normally used. These are similar to the scales we have seen used by jockeys at race meetings. In the case where it is not possible to weigh a resident in this manner the home has specialist scales that can be attached to overhead gantries. This enables residents to have their weight recorded with the least fuss and inconvenience. Back to top

Quality of life considerations

13. Entertainment  As has been mentioned above quality of life considerations are important to residents. To help in this all members of staff are encouraged to spend time with residents, to find out their likes and dislikes, their interests and get some background to their earlier life as this can make all the difference to an enjoyable lifestyle. Some resident enjoy their own company others prefer some entertainment. For those who enjoy the entertainment a programme of activities is prepared with the interests shown by residents as key to those offered. The professional entertainment is always very popular as is the church service. Bingo is a bit like Marmite, love it or hate it, the choice is the individuals but for those who enjoy it, it is usually on twice a week.  Christmas is always special at College Fields. The decorations by the staff have to be seen to be believed. Some residents so enjoy helping prepare the decorations and making suggestions. The planning starts early in the year and culminates with the Christmas party when residents and their families join together. Before the party is one of the highlights, for most residents. Children from local nursery schools come to visit. They are spell bound with not only the decorations but the costumes worn by staff and residents. Stories are told and they even get to visit Santa in his grotto. The children then often entertain the residents in the lounge with some carols. Occasionally, they will give individual residents a carol in their own rooms. How special is that? Back to top
14. Garden   Our garden is ideally suited to our home. Like much of the building it enjoys views over the Bristol Channel and waterside of Barry. The garden is the result of selfless dedication by some members of staff and around the hard paths that are so easy for wheelchairs to negotiate, are gardens to be proud of. They are a small orchard, a bog garden and formal planted areas. Benches are strategically placed to make best use of vantage points and where wheelchairs can join in. The large hard area has fixings for large awnings that give protection from the sun and rain in the summer. In the garden on hot summer days the professional musicians will from time to time play to the residents. It is a delight to experience this. The garden has won the Vale of Glamorgan in Bloom competition for three consecutive years. In 2011 they were forbidden by the organisers to enter to give others a chance! Back to top