Home Instead Oxford Monthly Newsletter - October 2025
Gathering Warmth and Community this Autumn
Meet the Team - Robyn
With over eight years of dedicated service, Robyn has become a cornerstone of both our Swindon and Oxford offices. Her role goes far beyond traditional HR — she’s deeply invested in nurturing a positive workplace culture where everyone can truly thrive.
Robyn’s passion lies in staff wellbeing and personal development. She works closely with every member of the team to help them reach their potential and follow their dreams, whether that means advancing their career, developing new skills, or finding the right balance between work and life.
She believes that when our teams feel valued, empowered, and supported, that same care and compassion naturally extends to the clients and families we serve.
Robyn is constantly looking for ways to celebrate achievements, recognise hard work, and create opportunities for growth. From organising wellbeing initiatives to leading professional development programmes, she’s committed to making Home Instead a place where people love to work and grow.
We’re incredibly proud to have Robyn leading our people experience — her enthusiasm, empathy, and dedication remind us every day that care begins from within.
Watch This Space – Our Next WOW Guide is Coming Soon!
We’re excited to share that our next WOW Guide (What’s On When) is nearly ready to launch!
The WOW Guide is our way of helping clients, families, and the wider community stay connected, active, and informed. It’s packed with the latest details of local community groups, clubs, activities, and social sessions happening across Oxford and West Oxfordshire. Whether you’re looking for a dementia-friendly coffee morning, a gentle exercise class, or a creative craft group, the WOW Guide brings everything together in one easy place.
At Home Instead, we know that staying social and engaged can make a huge difference to wellbeing — not just for those we care for, but for family carers and loved ones too. That’s why we’re so passionate about sharing what’s happening in our local area and supporting the wonderful organisations and volunteers who make these events possible.
If you run a local group, club, or activity, we’d love to hear from you! Simply get in touch with our team, and we’ll make sure your event is featured in the next edition of the WOW Guide.
So, watch this space — our new issue will be out soon, filled with great opportunities to connect, have fun, and be part of your community.
Together, we can help make Oxfordshire an even more connected and caring place to live.
Get Ready for Be a Santa to a Senior
The festive season is a time for kindness, connection, and community — and at Home Instead, we’re thrilled to announce that our much-loved ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ campaign is back!
Each year, this special initiative helps us bring a little extra warmth and joy to older people who may be spending Christmas alone or in hospital. It’s a simple but meaningful way to remind them that they are remembered, valued, and cared for.
This year, our team will be putting together gift bags filled with comforting and thoughtful treats — including a cosy blanket, sweet treats, a fun activity book with a pen, and a handmade Christmas card created with love by volunteers and local community members.
Once the gift bags are ready, our wonderful Home Instead team will be visiting local hospital wards (locations to be confirmed soon) to hand-deliver the gifts in person. And because no Christmas visit would be complete without a little music, we’ll be bringing along some festive carols to lift everyone’s spirits and spread even more holiday cheer!
We’d love for our community to join us in making this Christmas brighter for those who need it most. You can support the campaign by donating blankets and chocolates via our Amazon Wishlist — just email [email protected] to donate. We’ll take care of the rest, from packing each gift bag to adding the handmade cards that make them so special.
Every single donation — big or small — helps us bring a smile to someone’s face and a moment of joy to their day. Together, we can ensure that no one feels forgotten this festive season.
Let’s make this Christmas unforgettable for our seniors, filled with warmth, kindness, and community spirit.
Our Annual PEAQ Survey is Back for 2025!
At Home Instead, we’re committed to continuously improving the quality of care and support we provide to our clients and the working experience of our Care Professionals. One of the key ways we do this is through our annual PEAQ survey — Pursuing Excellence by Advancing Quality.
The PEAQ survey gathers anonymous feedback from both clients (and their families) and our employees. This valuable insight helps us identify what we’re doing well and where we can make improvements, ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standards of care and a positive, supportive environment for our team.
This year’s survey will run from 5th November to 3rd December and will be sent via an email link to each client contact. All responses are completely anonymous, and we carefully review every comment we receive. Acting on this feedback is a cornerstone of our promise to always strive to be “a little better” every year.
We believe that by listening closely to those we support — and to those who deliver our care — we can continue to raise the bar in home care across our communities.
We can’t wait to get stuck into this year’s feedback.
Supporting Rural Communities
We know that access to quality care, information, and advice can be particularly challenging in rural areas. At Home Instead, we’re passionate about changing that. Our goal is to connect with rural communities to make it easier for older people and their families to access the support, guidance, and trusted information they need — close to home.
We’re keen to hear from local professionals and community organisations working in rural areas — including pharmacies, GP surgeries, voluntary groups, and other services — to explore how we can work together. Your local knowledge and insight are invaluable in helping us identify where gaps exist and how we can make information and support more accessible.
By sharing your experience and connections, you’ll be helping us strengthen rural support networks and ensure that everyone, regardless of location, has access to the advice, resources, and care they deserve.
email: [email protected]
Supporting Community Groups and Professionals
At Home Instead, we’re passionate about supporting local organisations and community groups with free information, talks, and advice to help older people live well in their communities. We know that staying informed and connected is key for professionals and volunteers working with older adults, and we want to share our expertise to strengthen local support networks.
We can provide tailored sessions on a wide range of topics, including:
- Understanding dementia — practical strategies and approaches to support people living with dementia, helping them maintain independence and quality of life.
- Promoting independence and wellbeing — tips and guidance for encouraging daily activity, social engagement, and mental wellbeing for older adults.
- Home safety and falls prevention — advice on creating safer living environments and reducing the risk of accidents at home.
- Supporting families and carers — information to help carers navigate care options, manage stress, and feel confident in their role.
Our talks and advice sessions can be delivered in-person or online, tailored to suit your team, volunteers, or community group members. We also provide one-to-one guidance for organisations seeking specific advice or looking to collaborate on initiatives that benefit older people locally.
This support has already been well received across the community. For example:
- Care Options Days at GP surgeries — helping patients and families understand care options and services available in the local area.
- Community group talks — interactive sessions on topics such as dementia awareness and maintaining wellbeing, which have been praised for being practical and informative.
By working together, we can share knowledge, strengthen community support, and ensure that older adults and their families have access to the care, guidance, and resources they need. Whether you’re running a community group, providing professional services, or volunteering locally, we’re here to help you make a real difference in the lives of older people.
If your organisation would like to arrange a session, receive advice, or discuss partnership opportunities, please get in touch with our team — we’d love to hear from you and explore how we can support your community:
A Proud Milestone - Launching our Care Skills Academy
We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Home Instead Care Skills Academy — a bold step in how we nurture and invest in our team.
This isn’t just training. It’s a life-changing opportunity for every individual who joins us. From the very first day, our people are supported, challenged, and guided through a structured career pathway — whether they stay in care long-term or use their experience as a stepping stone to new horizons. Every moment is purposeful, every lesson meaningful, and every achievement celebrated.
With industry-leading facilities, expert mentoring, and a commitment to excellence, the Academy reflects what we have always believed: investing in our team is investing in the quality of care we deliver. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and now, more than ever, their growth, confidence, and development are truly our top priority.
This is more than a launch — it’s a statement: at Home Instead, every journey matters, every person counts, and every skill is valued.
