PEACH NEWS: October
Happy Diwali
This October, we at Peach Care would like to extend our warmest and most heartfelt wishes for a truly joyful and prosperous Diwali.
This important festival is a time of great happiness, celebration, and spiritual renewal for millions worldwide. We especially want to acknowledge and send our best wishes to all our valued clients, dedicated colleagues, and their families from the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities.
Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. We hope that the glow from the diyas and lamps fills your homes with peace, success, and deep happiness in the year ahead.
May the new beginnings symbolised by the festival bring you abundant health, wealth, and continued good fortune. We are sincerely grateful for your ongoing support and collaboration. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful time celebrating with feasting, fireworks, and the company of family and friends.
A very Happy Diwali to you all! 
STAFF OF THE MONTH
We are pleased to announce that our Care Coordinator, Vanessa-Lea Hopper, has successfully completed her probation this month!
Over the past six months, Vanessa-Lea has shown consistent professional growth, making a significant impact on the team. She has brought a much-needed sense of calm and excellent organisation to a demanding role.
We have been particularly impressed by her commendable eagerness to learn and develop in her role. Additionally, Vanessa continues to cultivate strong professional relationships with her colleagues and clients.
We are very happy with her progress and look forward to supporting her ongoing success and professional growth at Peach. 
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY GAILEAN
Wishing you continued good health and happiness on your adventures, from everyone at Peach.
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the wonderful care provided by Peach. Chucks is very good at my care; he looks after me well, and Godwin knows my nighttime routines very well. Your team’s professionalism, compassion and reliability have made a real difference, and I truly appreciate your dedication. Thank you for the outstanding support over the years.
Best Regards,
Cailean.
SPOOKY HALLOWEEN WISHES!
This Halloween, we invite staff to bring the children in their care to our Activity Centre for trick-or-treating! We will have a selection of healthy treats ready for all our very scary little ones.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
“A PEOPLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PAST HISTORY, ORIGIN AND CULTURE IS LIKE A TREE WITHOUT ROOTS”
MARCUS GARVEY
Infection Control
The purpose of this policy is to set out Peach Care Service’s overarching infection control policy and procedures in line with the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) policy specification for Infection Prevention and Control (July 2025).
WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY...
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the wonderful care provided by Peach.
Chucks is very good at my care; he looks after me well, and Godwin knows my nighttime routines very well. Your team’s professionalism, compassion and reliability have made a real difference, and I truly appreciate your dedication.
Thank you for the outstanding support over the years.
Callean
HELPFUL TIPS
FIVE CALMING / REFOCUSING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Slowly rocking the child while they are lying on their stomach over an exercise ball.
Dimming the room lights or establishing a darkened enclosure, such as a tent.
Swinging the child in a circular motion while they face an adult (avoid spinning, as this provides a different type of sensory input).
Calming music, eg Yoga or meditation music
Change the environment – Go for a walk or for outdoor games
Skin Integrity
Understanding Skin Integrity and Pressure Sores
Skin integrity is a key term that refers to the health and intactness of the skin, which is the body’s largest organ and its main protective barrier. When skin integrity is compromised, it indicates that the skin is damaged, weakened, or particularly vulnerable to injury, and it may also signify an impaired ability to heal, often following trauma. Maintaining healthy skin integrity is essential for preventing infection and supporting overall well-being. As a careworker, assisting your client in preserving their skin integrity is an absolute priority.
A major concern related to compromised skin integrity is the development of a pressure wound. A pressure wound is an injury to the skin and underlying tissues that usually results from prolonged pressure, especially over bony areas. These injuries are known by different names, including pressure sore, bed sore, or pressure ulcer. The damage occurs because sustained pressure blocks blood flow to the affected area, leading to tissue death (necrosis).
Key factors contributing to pressure wound development often include:
Pressure: The direct force or weight exerted on the skin, especially when an individual is bedridden or seated for extended periods without repositioning.
Shear: A force generated when the skin remains stationary while the underlying tissue shifts and moves, often occurring when a person slides down in a bed or chair. This stretching and pulling can damage small blood vessels.
Friction: The rubbing of the skin against a surface, such as bed linens, which can remove the outer layer of skin, increasing its susceptibility to breakdown.
Pressure wounds vary in severity, from intact, non-blanchable redness (Stage 1) to deep, open wounds that may involve muscle, bone, and supporting structures (Stage 4). Effective care and prevention depend on regular skin assessments, frequent repositioning, moisture control, and proper nutrition and hydration.
HEALTH AND WELL BEING CORNER...
Baking is good for mental health because it is a meditative, sensory and creative activity that provides a sense of control and accomplishment. The focus required can lower stress hormones and calm anxiety, while the process of creating something tangible boosts self-confidence and provides a pleasurable sense of achievement.
This October, we have found some exciting recipes on BBC Food.
CHOCOLATE HALLOWEEN COBWEB CAKE
Ingredients
250g/9oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
250g/9oz caster sugar
4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp black gel food colouring (optional)
50g/2oz cocoa powder
200g/7oz self plain flour
200g/7oz dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), chopped into small pieces
200ml/7fl oz double cream
10 white marshmallows edible candy eyes
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
To make the cake, grease and line a 20x30cm/8x12in rectangular cake tin with baking paper.
Beat together the butter and sugar with a hand-held mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the black gel food colouring, if using, with the last of the egg.
Sift together the cocoa powder and flour into a bowl. Fold the flour into the butter mixture until fully combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until springy to the touch (a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean). Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the chocolate ganache icing, put the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Add the chopped chocolate, a little at a time, and stir until completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool for a few minutes until it feels just warm to the touch.
Place the cake (on the cooling rack) onto a large sheet of newspaper or baking paper. Pour half the ganache onto the centre of the cake and spread out evenly to coat the top and sides, adding more as needed, to make a nice even coat. Allow to cool and set.
Meanwhile, lightly butter a non-stick saucepan, add the marshmallows and melt over a low heat, stirring frequently (or place in a lightly buttered heatproof bowl and microwave in 10 second bursts until melted, stirring often). The marshmallows don’t need to melt completely before you remove them from the heat – they will continue melting on their own – but don’t burn or overheat the marshmallow.
Check the marshmallow isn’t too hot before taking a pinch between your fingers and pulling it apart so it makes thin strands. Drape the strands all over the cake in an irregular zig zag fashion. When the marshmallow in your fingers cools too much to pull, rinse your fingers in warm water and start again with another pinch. Place the edible eyes in pairs in the gaps between the marshmallow cobweb.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAY'S
Joy
Florence
Shazia
We hope you had a wonderful day. Happy Birthday from everyone at Peach Care.