Coverage Care Services

26/03/2026

🌟 A Heartwarming Visit from Shrewsbury College ESOL Students

Briarfields residental care home were absolutely delighted to welcome ESOL (English speakers of other languages) students from Shrewsbury College to our home for two very special visits.

The time spent together was truly uplifting. Residents and students chatted, shared stories, played games, and learned about each other’s cultures. Watching those genuine connections form across generations was something really special.

Our residents loved every moment — the laughter, the conversations, the energy, and the joy filled the home from start to finish. Experiences like this bring so much positivity and stimulation to daily life, and it was clear just how much it meant to everyone involved.

A huge thank you to the students and their teacher for bringing such kindness, enthusiasm, and warmth into Briarfields. It was an amazing experience, and we can’t wait to welcome you back again soon! 💛

23/03/2026

23/03/2026

Coverage Care Appoints Sue Austin to Lead New Clinical Steering Group

Coverage Care Services has appointed Non-Executive Director Sue Austin as Champion of its new Clinical Steering Group, strengthening the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-quality, resident-centred care across Shropshire.

Sue, who began her career as a Registered Nurse before moving into senior operational roles, brings decades of clinical experience to the position. She said she was “delighted” to take on the role, which allows her to use the skills and insight she has developed throughout her career.

“Being entrusted with someone’s care is a huge honour and privilege, and we only get one opportunity to get it right,” Sue said. “This role is about ensuring we continue to provide the safest, most effective clinical care for every resident in every one of our homes, whilst ensuring that it aligns with best practice and regulatory standards”

Strengthening Clinical Leadership Across Shropshire

The Clinical Steering Group brings together a team of experienced professionals and clinicians , including Nurse Managers, a deputy home manager, training leads, Chief Executive Debbie Price, and HR Director Samantha Woosnam. The group will provide leadership and essential clinical governance to ensure that care across all Coverage Care homes is safe and effective, as we strive for clinical excellence at all times.

Chief Executive Debbie Price said: “Sue brings a wealth of clinical and operational expertise, and her leadership will be instrumental as we develop innovative models of care across our homes. The Clinical Steering Group is a vital part of our ambition to be sector leaders in complex care, and Sue’s insight will help drive that progress.”

Building on Local Success

Coverage Care already delivers complex care at Montgomery House in Shrewsbury, where the model has been successfully tried and tested. The organisation is now exploring how this approach can be expanded to meet growing local need across the county.

The group’s early meetings have focused on reviewing existing policies and identifying priority areas for our continuous improvement strategies.

Action plans are now being developed to guide the next phase of work.

Reassurance for Families, Residents and Staff

Sue said the work of the steering group will provide reassurance for all stakeholders, residents, their families, Commissioners and partners such as the NHS and local authorities.

“We have fantastic clinicians across our homes,” she said. “This work is about supporting them, strengthening our standards, and making sure everyone connected to a resident feels confident that we are delivering the very best care.”

17/03/2026

National Social Care Reform Discussed During Visit to Coverage Care’s New Fairholme

Coverage Care Services welcomed senior local leaders, councillors and MPs to its New Fairholme care home in Oswestry on Friday 13 March for a high-level discussion on the future of adult social care and the opportunities presented by the Government’s national reform programme.

The visit brought together representatives from Coverage Care Services, Shropshire Partners in Care, Shropshire Council, the Casey Commission, alongside councillors, Ruth Houghton Shropshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, and Helen Morgan MP

The meeting followed the Prime Minister’s announcement that Baroness Casey of Blackstock will chair an Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, tasked with examining the current system and making recommendations to secure long-term sustainability, improved access, and better outcomes for those who rely on care and support.

As part of the visit, attendees toured the state-of-the-art facilities at New Fairholme, met residents, and held constructive discussions on the challenges facing the sector — including workforce pressures, funding models, and the increasing complexity of care needs. The group also explored how local providers and councils can contribute evidence and insight to the national Commission.

Coverage Care, as a not-for-profit provider and an active partner within Partners in Care, emphasised the importance of ensuring that the realities of delivering care in rural counties like Shropshire are fully understood at national level.

Debbie Price, Chief Executive of Coverage Care Services and Chair of Partners in Care Board of Directors, said: “Hosting the event provided Shropshire with an important platform to demonstrate the level of frailty and complexity of the people who rely on our services. Ensuring that these realities are understood at a national level is essential, and having a voice within the Casey Commission is a vital step in shaping the future of adult social care.

“For Shropshire, meaningful reform must recognise the unique challenges of delivering care in a rural county with a growing older population. We need sustained investment in social care – not only financially, but through a long-term, strategic plan that acknowledges the pressures faced by our teams and the increasing complexity of need. By contributing directly to the Commission’s work, we hope to ensure that the experiences of our communities, providers, and workforce influence a fair and sustainable model for the future.”

Debbie added that Coverage Care’s partnership with Shropshire's Partners in Care strengthens the county’s collective voice at a crucial moment for the sector.

“As a not-for-profit provider rooted in our communities, we see every day the pressures facing the sector as well as the incredible dedication of our workforce. The establishment of an Independent Commission is a vital opportunity to shape a system that is sustainable, fair, and focused on the wellbeing of the people who rely on it. We are committed to contributing our experience and insight to help drive meaningful, long-term reform.”

17/03/2026

Residents at Greenfields Care Home had a lovely St Patrick’s Day afternoon, made even more special with entertainment from the brilliant Jack Dent!

Plenty of smiles, singing and Irish cheer all round. 💚🎶

16/03/2026

Singing for the Brain initiative brings joy to Coverage care homes

Four Coverage Care homes across Shropshire, including New Fairholme Coverage Care Services in Oswestry, Briarfields residental care home and Montgomery House in Shrewsbury and Greenfields Care Home in Whitchurch are seeing clear benefits after taking part in the Singing for the Brain initiative, delivered in collaboration with Shropshire Music Service.

The music led programme, designed to support cognitive health and emotional wellbeing, has been particularly well received at Greenfields care home in Whitchurch, where residents have been attending weekly sessions.

Staff at Greenfields Care Home report that residents consistently looked forward to the musical activities, which quickly became a highlight of the week. The sessions appeared to have a noticeable impact on wellbeing, with residents showing improved mood, increased engagement, and frequent moments of shared laughter.

Home Manager, Jonathan Cook added, as the weeks progressed, many residents began recalling song lyrics and melodies from previous sessions, with familiar tunes often prompting memories from earlier periods in their lives. The use of simple percussion instruments also encouraged gentle movement and coordination, supporting physical activity in an enjoyable and accessible way.

Greenfield’s staff observed a steady increase in confidence among participants, with residents singing more loudly and enthusiastically as they became more comfortable taking part.

Debbie Price, Chief Executive of Coverage Care, said: “We are delighted to see such positive outcomes from the Singing for the Brain initiative. Music has a remarkable ability to connect, reassure and stimulate, particularly for those living with memory loss. These sessions are making a meaningful difference to residents’ wellbeing, and we remain committed to offering activities that enrich daily life across all our homes.”

Coverage Care says the early results highlight the value of its partnership with Shropshire Music Service and the wider benefits of music based therapies in care settings. The organisation plans to continue offering Singing for the Brain sessions as part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing residents’ quality of life.

11/03/2026

Ball Games Session with George Buckley at Greenfields

Residents at Greenfields enjoyed an engaging and uplifting ball games session today, led by the ever-enthusiastic George Buckley. The activity brought plenty of smiles, gentle competition, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie as residents took part.

These sessions play an important role in supporting physical wellbeing, confidence, and social connection. It was a pleasure to see so many residents participating and enjoying the experience.

We extend our sincere thanks to George for his continued commitment and the positive energy he brings to every visit.

Across all Coverage Care homes, we are proud to offer regular exercise and movement-based activities as part of our commitment to promoting residents’ health, independence, and overall wellbeing.

10/03/2026

With spring just around the corner, Greenfields is full of Easter cheer.
Residents enjoyed a peaceful morning of Easter card‑making, joined by very special visitors — the delightful twins, Daisy and Ewan — whose visit added warmth, joy and plenty of smiles to the activity.

05/03/2026

For over 12 months, Coverage Care's Greenfields Care Home in Whitchurch, has successfully hosted monthly coffee mornings designed to strengthen connection between families, residents, and the care home team. These gatherings provide a safe and welcoming environment where relatives can share experiences, seek advice, and build supportive networks with others in similar situations.

Their continued success highlights the importance of simple opportunities for people to come together and feel understood. Coffee mornings take place on the last Friday of each month, and all families are welcome to attend.

This approach reflects a wider commitment across all Coverage Care homes, where regular coffee mornings help foster community and connection.

23/02/2026

Coverage Care is beginning the year with a positive internal development that reflects the organisation’s continued focus on strengthening support across its homes.

After two years as Operations Manager, Amy Hutchings has moved into a newly created role as Head of Care. The role has been introduced to enhance day-to-day support for Home Managers and provide greater continuity across the organisation.

A key part of this development is the introduction of two Home Support Officers, who will work across all ten homes. Their role is to offer practical, hands-on support to Home Managers when it’s needed most—whether during periods of high pressure, planned leave, or unexpected challenges—while maintaining clear responsibility within each home.

Amy explains that no two days are ever the same in care, and managers are often required to respond quickly to changing situations. The Home Support Officers are designed to ease pressure on management teams, support Deputy Managers, and help ensure homes continue to run smoothly.

In her new role, Amy works alongside a wide range of teams, including Home Support Officers, Home Support Coordinators, carers, nurses, administrators, maintenance teams, and the development support team. Together, they form a strong support network focused on enabling Home Managers to do their roles effectively and maintaining high standards of care for residents.

Looking ahead, Amy is keen to build on the progress made over the past year, particularly following the rollout of new digital systems across the organisation. These changes have helped streamline workloads, improve communication, and support more efficient ways of working. The focus for the year ahead is embedding these systems into everyday practice so they continue to support teams and residents alike.

She also recognises that the role of Home Manager can be demanding and, at times, isolating. The new support structure—including coordinated allocation of support staff to homes that need it—aims to ensure managers feel connected, supported, and able to focus on their teams and residents.

Amy emphasises the importance of ensuring that systems and processes support person-centred care, enabling teams to focus on what matters most for residents while meeting required standards.

As Coverage Care continues to develop, this new role and support structure represent a practical step forward—strengthening teamwork, improving resilience across homes, and keeping compassionate care at the heart of the organisation.

20/02/2026

🌟 Celebrating 20 Years of Dedication – Thank You, Helen! 🌟

Last week, we had the absolute pleasure of celebrating Helen Stoneman’s 20 incredible years with Coverage Care — a milestone that reflects not just time, but heart, commitment, and an unwavering passion for care.

Helen began her journey in 2006 at Innage Grange in Bridgnorth as a relief care assistant, but her story in care started long before that. From spending weekends caring for her grandma as a young girl, to training as a chef, to discovering her calling in the care sector at just eighteen — Helen has always been guided by compassion.

Over the years, she has worn many hats:
• Relief and full‑time care assistant
• Night and day support
• Dementia unit champion
• Relief Assistant Manager
• Trainer, mentor, and advocate
• And now, an integral part of our Development and Support Team

Helen has supported residents and families with dignity and kindness, raised funds for comfort initiatives, delivered training, championed dementia and dignity awareness, and helped shape countless care teams across our homes. Her impact reaches far beyond what most people see day to day — and we are all better because of it.

Thank you, Helen, for being a cornerstone of the team, a trusted colleague, and a generous collaborator. Your dedication, your warmth, and your passion for improving the lives of others shine through in everything you do.

Here’s to 20 years of making a difference — and to all the chapters still to come. 💛

19/02/2026

Moments that Matter

Residents at Innage Grange in Bridgnorth have been thoroughly enjoying the newly added activity stations across all the dementia care units. Having activities clearly visible and accessible has already made a noticeable difference, increasing stimulation, engagement, and overall wellbeing.

A particularly touching moment happened recently when a resident’s daughter arrived to find her mum knitting — something she hadn’t done in years. The sight of the wool and knitting needles on the activity station had sparked a long‑forgotten interest, and she picked it up again so naturally. It was a beautiful reminder of how small changes in the environment can unlock meaningful memories and moments.