Pineapple Care Services

Lavena

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January Newsletter

Congratulations to Leeann, PA to the Directors who celebrated 1 year’s service on 23rd January.  Thank you for everything you do for us all.
We have recently taken over supported living in 2 locations and would like to welcome both staff and residents to Pineapple Care.
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Wednesday 26th March 2025 11am-1pm
Grand Re Branding
“The Valerie Oakley Training Suite”
In loving memory of Pineapple Care’s MD, Lavena’s Auntie Valerie.
Auntie Valerie was a loving Mum, Grandmother and Auntie who gave her time to the local church until she became another victim of “Dementia”.
In honour of her, Lavena has re branded her training suite.
We currently offer family and friends of Dementia sufferers to come in and experience our virtual dementia experience so please contact us if you would like to attend.
Valerie’s daughter, Lana is also giving her own time to support
Coming soon………………………….
Dementia drop in coffee mornings
Pineapple Care is running a ‘Dementia Drop-in coffee morning’.  We will have Dementia Professionals and members of the public who have firsthand experience or family members who have or had Dementia. We would like to invite you to come along and chat with the professionals, gain some tips and knowledge or even just to release some steam. Have a mingle, a cup of tea and a biscuit. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page Pineapple Care Services Ltd
for further details.
Friday 7th February Club Pineapple is welcoming a singer, please call the number above to book your space
Exciting news – we are currently in talks with a dance teacher to start classes for people with a disability. Watch this space
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Bike2Work Scheme is a free employee benefit approved by the government, designed to get more people cycling to work and living healthier lives.
Government Cycle To Work Scheme – Bike 2 Work Scheme
If you are interest please let us know
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Introducing a new brand of golf attire and accessories brought to you by the Green Keeper of a local golf course and son of Pineapple Care’s Managing Director.
Please support a local business bringing-zest-to-golf-soft-lemons-golf (softlemonsgolf.com)
Some great new items, so please take a look
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Wednesday 12th February 2025
4pm-7pm
Recruitment Fayre
Come along for an informal chat to find out more about what we provide, our benefits and what vacancies we have available
location
Pineapple Care
Orsett Hall, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
No appointment needed
Thank you as always
Lavena, Nicola & Lisa
& our Pineapple Team

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December Newsletter

Congratulations to our carers, Amy and Lauren on the births of their beautiful daughter’s
Dottie-Sue and Mandy-Jean
Well done to Pineapple’s carer Teresa Spence, on winning a prize in Thurrock’s Christmas competition for going above beyond by making and delivering Christmas dinners for our service users who are alone at Christmas
Congratulations to Sam Maffey, Pineapple Care’s Quality Control Administrator who celebrates 2 years service this month
Our LD team have been running a Christmas card competition for our service users, please check out our socials as the winner will be announced shortly
Throughout December prizes of Turkey and Gammon are given out to our carers for the best Christmas photos
In November, Team Pineapple had the pleasure of taking part in a Christmas Wellbeing Market at Civic Hall, Grays
While there we raised £73 for St Lukes in memory of a special friend of Pineapple Care, Dave Carey
Pineapple Care’s service users made cakes and biscuits and sold them in the office in aid of St Lukes
They raised £106, a big well done to everyone involved
This weekend the office team and directors had the pleasure of hosting our carers Christmas party, carers went home with a Pineapple Christmas present
Thanks once again to all our carers – we couldn’t do it without you all!
Big thank you to our internal team for giving up their time to serve and entertain for the day and evening.
Coming soon…………………………………………………
The Valerie Oakley Dementia Suite
In loving memory of Pineapple Care’s Managing Director, Lavena’s Aunt Valerie, we will shortly be unveiling a training suite dedicated to her
Wishing all our staff, service users and their families a Merry Christmas
Lavena, Nicola & Lisa & our Pineapple Team
Please look on our website www.pineapple.care for our current vacancies

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November Newsletter

Congratulations to Hayley Gray Pineapple Care’s Deputy Manager and Medication Officer who celebrated 3 years of service on 21st October 2024.
Well done Hayley and thank you for everything you do
Well done to Naomi our Learning Disabilities Coordinator who completed NCFE Cache Level 2, Certificate in understanding mental health first aid and metal health advocacy in the workplace
Introducing Bazil who joined the Pineapple team in February 2021. He is a support dog for our clients and wellbeing support for the internal and care staff.  He regularly joins in charity walks and events and is a valuable and very much loved member of our team.
As promised in last month’s newsletter……………………
Pineapple Care and everyone that supported our coffee morning on 4th October raised a total of £127.
Thank you
Picture below are some service users that took part and Club Pineapple attendee’s
PINEAPPLE CARE INVITES YOU TO
Club Pineapple is a social hub for elderly residents of Thurrock. We run fortnightly from 10am – 2pm at our offices at the Orsett Hall, Orsett, Essex. Our fortnightly social hub is a great opportunity to meet other local people and enjoy a light lunch, tea/coffee and biscuits and a good old natter!
If you would like to attend the free social inclusion hub, please contact the office on 01375 808303 and ask to book your place. Pineapple Care are offering a safe environment to enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to order a fish & chip lunch at a reduced OAP cost.
We will have playing cards and board games available, family films being shown, music and lovely company.
Halloween Winners
Well done to Nicola & Sarah, for going out dressed up on Halloween and putting a smile on our service users faces by getting them involved.
They were our best dressed and are pictured here with Pineapple Care’s Branch Manager Lisa and their prizes of a massage each.
Enjoy and thank you for all your hard work x
Introducing Pineapple Care’s new Senior Carers uniform
Mama’s Cabin Corringham is supplying dinner, treats & entertainment for free for any lonely and elderly people.  Dinner will be served at 1pm on Christmas Day at the café.
Please call 07301898973 to book
A BIG thank you to PPG Knitting Club who have knitted lots of lovely blankets that we have had the pleasure of delivering to our service users to keep them warm this winter.
Pineapple Care’s own carer Ange has also been busy knitting blankets to give to service users.
A BIG thank you to Ange x
We are looking for people to donate wool or knit squares for Team Pineapple to make blankets to keep our service users warm during winter.
Please drop them into the local office.
This years Carers Christmas Party will be held on Sunday 15th December 4-10pm
Please look on our website www.pineapple.care for our current vacancies
Thank you as always
Lavena & Nicola
& our Pineapple Team

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October Newsletter

3rd October marked Pineapple Care’s 7th year anniversary we employee over 120 local people and complete over 500 care calls per day within the local community.

We would like to thank all our staff and service users with special thanks to the following members of Team Pineapple

Paris Coordinating Team Leader 7 years service

Daisy Our longest serving Carer with 7 years service

Lisa our Branch Manager 6 years service

Laura recently marking 1 year as our Reviewing Officer

Lisa Clemson recently 1 year as our Trainer

Introducing Shaye, she joined the Pineapple team in July and has recently been promoted to Trainee Coordinator

Welcome to our newest member of the team Nicola Manning who has recently joined Pineapple Team as Quality Control Manager.

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Introducing a new brand of golf attire and accessories brought to you by the Green Keeper of a local golf course and son of Pineapple Care’s Managing Director.

Please support a local business bringing-zest-to-golf-soft-lemons-golf (softlemonsgolf.com)

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As we approach winter season, it’s time for carers and people at risk to be booked in for their free flu jab. Boots, Asda, Superdrug and many more now offer flu vaccines as well as your local heath centre.

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Pineapple Care held a Macmillan coffee Morning on the 4th of October.

We sold  tea, coffee and some lovely cakes, we also held a raffle to raise extra funds for Macmillan, which is a fantastic cause.

We had lots of lovely visitors and will share how much we have raised and some pictures in next months newsletter.

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This years Carers Christmas Party will be held on

Sunday 15th December 4-10pm

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We are looking for people to donate wool or knit squares for Team Pineapple to make blankets to keep our service users warm this winter.

Please drop them into the local office.

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Join the Team – Current Vacancies

We are looking for an Office Administrator

This position is Office and Community based and is a great opportunity for someone to develop within supporting young adults with Learning Difficulties.

Duties will include:

Co-ordinating and scheduling support shifts.

Answering the phone, dealing with queries and passing calls through to the relevant departments.

Responding to correspondence via emails.

Arranging activities and creating social plans for service users.

Liaising with other professionals and management within an office environment.

Supporting individuals with learning difficulties.

Attending social events.

Promoting life skills.

Driving is essential for the position and you are required to hold a full UK driving licence and be willing to drive in all areas of Thurrock

If you think this role is for you, please give us a call on 01375 808303 or alternatively send your CV to LD@pineapple.care

Current Care Vacancies

Morning and Lunches in Corringham on WEEKDAYS

Teas and Beds in Corringham on WEEKENDS

Teas and Beds in Grays WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS

Weekends in all ALL AREAS OF THURROCK

DRIVING IS ESSENTIAL

At Pineapple care we offer the following:

FREE Bupa Employee Health & Wellbeing Programme

£50 Probation Bonus

£100 INTRODUCE A FRIEND

FREE Training

FREE Uniform

FREE Staff Christmas Parties

FREE Blue Light Card

Mileage Paid

Friendly and Supportive Team

 Thank you as always

Lavena & Nicola

& our Pineapple Team

By

August Newsletter

On Friday the 26th of July our service users with learning disabilities had a fantastic time doing a sports day over at our Pineapple lodge. They took part in 6 events which consisted of egg and spoon race, the three-legged race, the sack race, mini hurdles, the bean bag distance game and a football match. All the service users that took part each received a medal and enjoyed a delicious ice cream at the end.

Childhood Awareness Month September 2024.

The Children with cancer charity, MCA Trust will be promoting awareness during September through the medium of dance. The MCA Trust are planning to get groups of people together, from all walks of life to dance in formation to the popular song, Jerusalem. A video of the very simple choreography is available from Jo Isaacs on 07956124575.
The charity is already in discussions with the police, nurses and doctors, fire service, Tesco, local councillors, Southend football club,
Potters resort, Maldon ladies club, the Lightning and Thunder drama group and Orsett cricket club with a view to participate in the dancing. All dancers will be professionally filmed, which will then be edited and placed on social media to raise awareness.
If this is something that you can help with, please get in touch.
01375 466951
07771 544015
www.MCATrust.co.uk

National Eat Outside Day – 31st August
Friends, fresh air, and good food are the focus of National Eat Outside Day every year on August 31. Whether at home, a park, a favourite restaurant or food truck, or the beach, food just tastes better when we eat it under the open sky.

National Eat Outdoors Day has been observed since at least 2006. However, we were unable to identify the source of the observance.

LD BBQ + Games – 30th August.

On the 30th of August Residents from Pineapple Lodge and LD students will be getting together for some lovely BBQ food and Garden games.
The garden games will include rounders, large garden skittles and catching & throwing games.
Look out for some great pictures in next month’s newsletter.

Pineapple Networking Group
Pineapple Care are looking for people from our local community to attend our Networking group on a monthly basis to discuss how we can all work collaboratively to achieve a better Thurrock.

Do you feel that you would be able to provide an insight into your area / what’s missing?

We would like to connect with both professionals, ex professionals, group leaders, councillors, shop owners, school workers, colleagues, ex nurses, NHS workers, Support Workers or anyone who feels that they would be able to contribute to the group.

If you would like to express your interest, please contact the office by either email on mail@pineapple.care or phone on 01375 808303.

FOOD HYGIENE RATING FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL HOME
The food hygiene scheme gives you clear information about businesses’ hygiene standards.
The scheme is run in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The scheme gives businesses a rating from 5 to 0 which is displayed at their premises and online.

5 – hygiene standards are very good

4 – hygiene standards are good

3 – hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

2 – some improvement is necessary

1 – major improvement is necessary

0 – urgent improvement is required

What the rating covers:
Ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection. It is the responsibility of the business to comply with food hygiene law at all times.

This includes:
Handling of food
How food is stored
How food is prepared
Cleanliness of facilities
How food safety is managed

It’s fantastic to see our lovely residents being looked after at the highest of standards.
Well done to everyone involved.

PINEAPPLE CARE UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION
Pineapple care recently completed an unannounced inspection from Thurrock Council.
The inspection looks at many different areas of the business including staff conduct, training and knowledge, service user visits and feedback.
Pineapple Care is very pleased to announce that we have successfully maintained our status of Excellent.
This was a massive achievement in 2021 as we were the first provider in Thurrock to obtain this grade, keeping this status takes dedication from every member of staff, commitment to our values and upholding the standard of care provided to all our service users.
We would like to say a massive thank you to every member of staff for your continued support.

Join the Team – Current Vacancies
Pineapple Care have the following vacancies available: –
4 on 4 off in the Aveley and Ockendon area.
7am – 2pm Ockendon Monday to Friday and every other Weekend.
Friday 6pm – 11pm in Grays.

Teas and Beds in Corringham and Stanford.

Weekends in Corringham and Stanford all day.

Teas and Beds Weekends all areas.
Weekends full availability
Driving is essential.

If you know anyone who is looking for a change in career, a fresh start or has always wanted to work in the care industry and just doesn’t know where to start, refer them to Pineapple Care and receive a payment of £50 once probation has been passed. Please contact the office and ask for the recruitment department for more information on 01375 808303. Or email recruitment@pineapple.care

Look out for our next Newsletter in September.

Until next time………..