Introduction

April is National Stress Awareness Month, in the UK. Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 in order to bring awareness to the affects, causes and cures for stress in modern times. 

As we observe National Stress Awareness Month, understanding and managing stress is crucial, not just for general well-being but particularly for its profound impact on mental health.

In this article, we explore how stress impacts mental health, particularly for those with existing conditions, examining its biological effects and its role in therapeutic processes.

What is Stress?

Stress is best understood as a state of being that encompasses both physical and psychological responses. We often perceive stress as a mental state, but it primarily begins with a physical response, involving hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, as well as various neurotransmitters. These biochemical changes affect various bodily systems, from our gut health to our cognitive focus.

So rather than saying that stress is a feeling or an emotion, we can more accurately say that stress is a state of being that affects our feelings and emotions.

The Function of Stress

Stress heightens our alertness, energises our muscles for quick action, and prioritises energy for vital functions—known as the ‘Fight, Flight, Freeze’ response. While this is crucial in survival situations, in the absence of an immediate physical threat, it becomes counterproductive, interfering with our ability to focus on tasks and manage daily activities effectively.

As we’ve adapted to our environment over thousands of years and particularly the last few hundred, we’ve removed so many threats and dangers from our everyday lives. This is obviously something we can be very grateful for, but it’s also made stress less of a protective force and more of a negative force that causes distress and even harm.

Is Stress Always Bad?

Not at all, stress can have a positive effect too. For example, if you’re trying to build muscle by lifting weights, you’re stressing your body. Lifting weights causes very small tears in your muscle fibres, which results in your body adapting to the stress and increasing your ability to resist that muscle damage in the future—until you increase the weight again, of course.

This kind of controlled stress is what allows us to become resilient to the stressors we’re being exposed to. Our immune systems work in a similar way.

Where stress becomes harmful is in the hormones that are released into the body during a stress response. Our bodies aren’t designed to function with these hormones—primarily adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol—circulating for extended periods. Short bursts can be advantageous; for instance, adrenaline is useful when running the hundred-yard dash but not so much if you’re performing heart surgery.

When our bodies are exposed to these hormones for extended durations and with some regularity, they can cause widespread issues. Prolonged exposure to cortisol can suppress immune function, increase susceptibility to infections, and contribute to weight gain and heart disease. Similarly, chronic high levels of adrenaline can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems like hypertension and heart attacks.

Stress and Mental Health

Now that we understand the basics of stress, we can look at how it directly affects those who live with existing mental health conditions.

Stress can disrupt the progress of individuals who are seeking to improve their mental health. To explain why that is, it’s important to understand what’s going on in the brain while that improvement is taking place.

Mental health is a huge topic, so we’re going to simplify things a bit in the interest of getting to the point. 

Mental health issues arise from diverse causes and can manifest in numerous ways, whether they’re congenital or developed over time due to various factors. What remains consistent is the fact that these mental health conditions adversely affect an individual’s ability to live comfortably and engage with the world optimally.

While therapeutic interventions vary, most of them share a common goal: to shift from maladaptive patterns of thinking and behaviour to those that enhance one’s ability to deal with life’s challenges and experience its joys.

Improving Mental Health

Getting from a state of poor mental health to a state of improved mental health, is often a difficult undertaking. If a particular mental health condition has been persistent for some time, then it becomes even harder. What needs to happen in the brain in order to promote lasting change is very demanding on our mental energy resources.

One of these necessary, but energy consuming tasks is the creation of new neural connections. You can think of neural connections as patterns and pathways that exist in and between brain systems, which dictate how we respond to the world around us. When these connections are maladaptive, individuals can experience the world more negatively. 

Consider someone with claustrophobia who is asked to get into an elevator. Their brain has reinforced neural connections that perceive enclosed spaces as threats. The intense fear response they experience is biologically normal, the brain really does believe that the elevator is a threat to its survival. It’s a normal response, but maladaptive in safe environments. Overcoming such deeply ingrained fears requires gradually rewiring these connections, which is a difficult and energy consuming task. 

Stress as a Barrier

So change is possible, but it isn’t easy, which is where stress comes back into the picture. Changing patterns of thought and behaviour is in itself, stressful. However it is a concentrated and focussed effort that means individuals can persevere through the discomfort and create those new neural connections, leading them toward a new default mental state and better mental health. 

Stress from the outside world adds extra difficulty to the process of improving mental health. Sometimes it can be enough to cause setbacks and affect progress. It’s so important to be able to recognise when we are stressed, what our stressors are and how to mediate or eliminate them where possible.

Recognising Stress

Knowing what kind of effects stress can have on the already difficult task of improving mental health is important, and sets up the need to know how to manage stress effectively.

There are many stress management techniques out there, we’ll take a look at a few of them in a moment. The first thing to understand is when we are actually feeling stressed. Oftentimes stress can build up undetected as a result of small disappointments, frustrations and misfortune. 

There is the obvious stress that comes on rapidly, for example, blowing a tire on the motorway when you’re already running late for an important job interview. But this less obvious type of stress that builds up, can make itself harder to detect and often our bodies are operating in a state of stress before our mind has realised it.

Here are some signs your body is actually in a state of stress that you may not immediately notice:

Physical Symptoms: These can include headaches, muscle tension or pain, fatigue, and changes in sleep patterns. Stress can also manifest through stomach upset or changes in appetite.

Emotional Responses: Feelings of anxiety, irritability, or depression are common emotional responses to stress. You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed or having a sense of losing control.

Behavioural Changes: Stress can lead to changes in behaviour, such as withdrawing from social activities, changes in eating habits, increased use of alcohol or drugs, and exhibiting nervous behaviours like nail-biting.

Cognitive Effects: Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, constant worrying, and indecisiveness are cognitive signs of stress. These can affect your ability to make decisions and impact your productivity.

If you feel any combination of these, it is worth pausing a moment and asking yourself the question “am I stressed”. Remember that this stress state affects everything you feel and do in some way. If you can address and ease this state, you might find improvement in areas you didn’t even realise needed it.

Managing Stress

Once you recognise the signs of stress, you can employ various techniques to manage it effectively. Thanks to a concept known as “biofeedback”, we can kind of “hack” our brain’s stress response by convincing it that it’s safe. This conscious effort to replicate the state of calm our brains naturally produce when they’re at ease, is the key to a short term cure for stress. Here are some examples:

Short Term Stress Management

Box Breathing: Also known as square breathing, this technique involves breathing in for four counts, holding the breath for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and then holding again for four counts. This method helps regulate the nervous system and can calm the mind quickly.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): This involves tensing each muscle group in the body tightly, but not to the point of strain, and then releasing the tension. This exercise helps focus on the difference between physical tension and relaxation, which can signal the brain to relax.

Mindful Walking: This can be particularly effective if you feel confined or restless. Focus on each step, the movement of your legs, the touch of your feet on the ground, and the rhythm of your breath. This can ground your thoughts in the present moment and reduce stress.

Guided Imagery: This technique involves closing your eyes and imagining a peaceful scene or setting. This visual mental escape can reduce muscle tension and lower stress in the body by promoting relaxation.

Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing: This involves deep, even breaths from the diaphragm rather than shallow breaths from the chest. This type of breathing can help reset the stress response system by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.

Long term Stress Management

The best approach is prevention. By building resilience to external stressors and preempting the brain’s tendency to become stressed, we can weaken stress’s influence and enhance our capacity to manage it effectively.

Here are some techniques to incorporate into your daily life, even just one of these will be a tremendous help if applied consistently:

Regular Exercise: Physical activity can help reduce stress by producing endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. It also helps you get better sleep, which can be negatively affected by stress.

Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and improve your overall mental health. These techniques help you focus on the present moment and can provide a calming effect on your mind and body. Try sitting comfortably, placing one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, breathing deeply and focusing on the sensation of your hand being moved by your body.

There is no shortage of resources on mindfulness!

Time Management: Effective time management can help reduce stress by making daily tasks less daunting and more manageable. Prioritising tasks, setting realistic goals, and taking breaks can help manage workload and reduce stress. Try starting with a daily planner, then work your way up to planning your weeks.

Healthy Social Interactions: Engaging in social activities can improve your mood and distract you from stressors. Talking to someone about how you feel can also release built-up tension and provide new perspectives on stressful situations. Finding a club for an existing hobby is a great way to talk to people you already have something in common with.

Professional Help: If stress becomes overwhelming and persistent, it may be helpful to speak to a professional. Psychologists or counsellors can offer strategies to manage stress effectively and help you deal with underlying issues that may be contributing to your stress.

Conclusion

As we conclude this exploration during National Stress Awareness Month, it’s clear that stress, while often perceived negatively, plays a complex role in our lives. Understanding how stress functions biologically and its impact on our mental health is crucial, not just for those with existing mental health conditions but for anyone interested in maintaining psychological well-being. While stress can sometimes be a catalyst for growth, it often presents significant challenges that can impede progress in managing mental health conditions.

Effective stress management involves recognizing stress signals early, employing both short-term techniques to alleviate immediate stress and long-term strategies to build resilience. Whether through mindfulness practices, physical exercise, or professional guidance, learning to manage stress is an invaluable skill that can significantly enhance our quality of life.

Congratulations

Bellwave Apartments would like to congratulate Katie Bethell who has accepted the position of Home Lead for the downstairs floor of the Apartments. Katie has worked for the company for a number of years and has gained experience as a support worker, senior support worker and now feels she is ready for the next step in her career.

Employees of the Quarter

And another big congratulations to 2 of our Employee of the Quarter winners, Alisha Biston and Claire Walters. Alisha is known to regularly go above and beyond her role. Claire’s dedication to her role and willingness to go the extra mile has seen her become a core member of the Dom Care team. 

Bellwave House

At Bellwave House, residents have been fully immersed in the excitement of the 6 Nations rugby tournament, cheering on Wales with great enthusiasm. Despite the outcomes, the spirit of togetherness during the matches has been a highlight. 

The Bellwave Choir has been a lovely addition to our activities, with many residents participating. The joy of singing together has made this a much-anticipated regular event. 

Our culinary and performance skills were showcased in the Great Bellwave Bake-off and Bellwave’sGot Talent. Resident GB stole the show in the talent competition with a captivating dance routine. 

Weekly pool games have become a crowd favorite, bringing together residents from all services for some friendly competition. As the weather begins to brighten, we’re looking forward to more outdoor walks, embracing the beautiful surroundings of Porthcawl. In a wonderful example of co-production, resident DW has taken on the role of Activity Coordinator at Bellwave House, leading activities for and by our residents.

Bellwave Corner

On March 20th, 2024, we marked the first anniversary of Bellwave Corner’s opening with a vibrant talent show. GB dazzled everyone with his dance moves, clinching first place. Home Lead Efa Petrou’s poetic prowess earned her second place, while ND’s cool dance moves secured third. 

St. David’s Day was celebrated with homemade Welsh cakes and themed activities like word searches, coloring, and a Welsh quiz. JK and NW have been enjoying pool tournaments at the Brogden with residents from other homes, and MF has recently joined in, discovering a passion for pool. 

MF is eagerly anticipating his holiday to Tenby next month, a trip organized with the help of our staff. He’s also excited about getting a new tattoo in June. On March 3rd, 2024, MF enjoyed a sunny stroll on Porthcawl beach, indulging in a secret ice cream and admiring some cool motorbikes. During the Wales vs. Italy game, all residents at Bellwave Corner relished some pizza, adding to the enjoyment of the match.

Bellwave Drive

At Bellwave Drive, our residents have been actively participating in a variety of events and activities. The excitement of the 6 Nations rugby tournament brought residents and staff together, with everyone enjoying the camaraderie despite Wales’s performance this year. 

Our house even hosted some of these events, welcoming residents from other schemes to join in the fun. In our residents’ corner, we’re pleased to share that PM has been settling in well at Bellwave Drive after moving from Bellwave House. This transition marks a significant milestone for PM, who had lived at Bellwave House for several years. 

PM is now embracing independence, preparing his own meals, managing his shopping, and maintaining a clean room. We’re proud of PM’s progress and achievements!

Bellwave Apartments

In March 2024, the staff and residents at Bellwave Apartments began making the most of the improving weather with several walks in nearby nature reserves. The residents have also been participating in the group pool tournaments every Thursday in Porthcawl, with resident SD showcasing his new bicycles. 

The Bellwave Choir group’s visit to the Bellwave Apartments was a highlight of the month, and we extend our gratitude to everyone who attended from other homes. Additionally, the Easter coffee morning and quiz were well-received, and we thank all participants for their involvement. Steve continues his dedicated volunteer work at Theo’s in Kenfig Hill every Friday and Saturday. 

Our residents have also been enjoying social outings, including shopping trips to Cardiff, Porthcawl, and other local areas, further enhancing their community engagement and enjoyment of the season.

What is Autism?

Autism 101

This article seeks to increase awareness and understanding around what is now called “Autism Spectrum Disorder”, or ASD. The technical side of this topic is fascinating, but it’s not always the best way to have a subject resonate with us. We’ll save that for another time. Luckily there are so many individuals nowadays who have the platform to share their experiences with many different disorders, ASD being one of them.

One of our writers, who has ASD and is a parent to a child with ASD, brings a unique viewpoint to this complex topic. By combining personal experience with a technical definition which we’ll take from the DSM-5 and the ICD-11, we hope to offer a brief overview of what ASD is, what it can look like and how it can affect those who have it.

Defining Autism Spectrum Disorder

The DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Revision) and the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision) are developed by the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organisation respectively, and they share a very similar definition.

For our purposes we will define Autism Spectrum Disorder as: 

“Characterised by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests, or activities that impair everyday functioning and are atypical or excessive.”

This definition is precise, but it’s also a little abstract. To make it more relatable, let’s explore the commonalities and differences between individuals with and without ASD.

How We Differ as Individuals

It’s important to remember that we all have the same basic needs, in that way we are all similar. We’re all essentially trying to minimise suffering and maximise wellbeing.

Equally important is understanding how we differ. We couldn’t list all the ways that we differ if we tried. Including the different ways we might seek to achieve those ends.

Relevant to our topic though, are the different ways in which we perceive, relate to and interact with the world around us. What we might call our “sensory and social processing”. This is key to understanding individuals with ASD.

The Museum Analogy

To give an example, let’s imagine you’re walking through a museum. You’re wearing a jumper and as you walk into the next room, you notice it’s a lot warmer than the previous room. You’ve just perceived a change in temperature. You relate to that change in temperature by thinking “I’m too warm now, I should remove my jumper” and you interact by removing your jumper.

That’s how a typical person might experience that situation. An individual on the spectrum might not even notice until they’re sweating and someone asks them if they’re alright. On the other hand it may have only been a temperature change of one degree that required them to take their jumper off.

This is just one example of how differently we can experience the same objective conditions present in one situation. It also foreshadows a later topic; Sensory Processing Disorder, almost always associated with ASD.

We may all have slightly different sensory and social processing characteristics, (you might have found the increase in temperature to be just to your liking) but in the case of the autistic individual, the difference is more extreme, atypical and not merely a preference for warmer climates.

Persistent Difficulties in Social Communication and Interaction

Perceiving, relating to and interacting with people is where we step into the first part of our definition 

At some level we all have some difficulties with social communication and interaction. It certainly doesn’t come naturally to all of us. Even those who are extroverted can have issues with this, just in different ways.

While it’s true that challenges in social communication and interaction are part of the human experience, those with ASD often encounter unique difficulties in these areas. 

These challenges are not solely due to a lack of knowledge about social norms and behaviours. Instead, individuals with ASD may process and respond to social information entirely differently, which can impact their ability to apply social concepts in real-time interactions. 

Some examples of social difficulties that individuals with ASD can experience are, but are not limited to:

1. Challenges with Nonverbal Communication: This can include difficulty interpreting body language, facial expressions, and gestures, leading to misunderstandings in social contexts.
   
   Non verbal communication is an integral part of how we humans interact with each other. Especially when subtlety is required, you might indicate something to someone by tilting your head, making a subtle facial expression, widening your eyes, etc. This might lead someone on the spectrum to say “Why are you doing that with your face?”. 
2. Taking Things Literally: Individuals with ASD may have a hard time understanding sarcasm, idioms, or figurative language, leading them to interpret statements very literally.
   
   Sarcasm for example is often used as a form of expression that, when understood, can strengthen social bonds. It relies on mutual trust that the intended humour will be appreciated rather than taken as an offence. Humour is an important factor in building connections.
   
   This makes it difficult for individuals with ASD. They very genuinely may not understand when something is being said literally, figuratively or with sarcasm. It can lead to confusion and asking questions, which disrupts the natural flow of an interaction.  
3. Restricted Interests and Conversational Challenges: Individuals with ASD may have intensely focused interests and might predominantly talk about these interests, sometimes at the expense of mutual exchange or recognizing the interests of others.

This is not an exhaustive list, we will write in more detail about this in future articles. But the last point about restricted interest leads nicely into the second part of our definition.

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours, Interests, or Activities 

Much of what we’ve discussed so far have been things that most of us can relate to on some level. It’s not uncommon for neurotypical individuals to miss a joke, or to get carried away talking about an interest. What makes those with ASD different is again the persistence and severity of these difficulties. 

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours, Interests, or Activities (RRBIA) are core features of Autism Spectrum Disorder, characterised by a notable repetition of actions, an intense focus on specific interests, and a strong preference for sameness and routines. Some examples:

1. A Strong Need for Routine and Sameness: You might have heard “variety is the spice of life”, for many of us that’s true. For individuals with ASD however, there’s profound comfort and security in routine and predictability. Even minor changes can be unsettling, leading to distress. The predictability of routines offers an anchor in the overwhelming sea of sensory and social information. 
2. Deep Dives into Special Interests: Individuals with ASD often have specialised interests pursued with remarkable intensity and focus. These interests provide not only joy and satisfaction but also a unique lens through which they relate to others and the world. These special interests can become sources of expertise and pride, but they can sometimes overshadow opportunities for broader social exchanges.
   
   To give one example, one of our writers’ children is currently obsessed with Pokémon. Not uncommon for a child of 5. What is slightly unusual is the greeting of people with Pokémon noises with no context, as if they understand what he’s doing. Crawling around like a Pokémon in non-play type settings, and pretending to engage in Pokémon battles, again without any context. Which just appears as if he’s attacking his peers unprovoked. 
3. Repetitive Behaviours: “Stimming”, or self-stimulatory behaviour, like hand-flapping, rocking, or repeating phrases, might seem unusual on the surface. However in the case of ASD these aren’t voluntary behaviours. They’re actually serving multiple purposes from self-soothing to expressing joy and they’re important for self-regulation.
   
   It’s likely that this is because it provides predictable and controllable stimuli that can provide comfort in an unpredictable or out of control situation.

The underpinnings of RRBIA and Persistent Difficulties in Social Communication and Interaction, are thought to be related to differences in brain structure and function, including variations in neural connectivity and sensory processing. From a neuro-developmental perspective, RRBIA are reflective of the brain’s attempt to regulate sensory input and create predictability and order in the environment.

Impair Everyday Functioning and are Atypical or Excessive

When we combine the first two factors in our definition, it becomes clear that there are many combinations of sensory and social processing issues that can arise. If we consider our earlier statement, that we’re all just trying to maximise wellbeing and minimise suffering, we see that unfortunately there are many pitfalls for ASD individuals while trying to achieve this optimal state. 

We didn’t have time to go into Sensory Processing Disorder, which is almost always accompanying ASD. It makes the world a far more volatile space for ASD individuals. When taken with the first two factors we looked into, we can conclude that the everyday functioning of individuals with ASD is impaired, completing this deep dive into our definition.

Conclusion

Stimming, Sensory Processing Disorder, Sensory Burnout, Meltdowns, Masking, Shutdowns. These are only a few things that we could write full articles about to do with ASD. And we will!

For now though, it’s important to understand that ASD is not simply a few quirky behaviours or a clearly defined list of symptoms. It is an entirely different way of perceiving, relating to and interacting with people and the environments around us. 

Crucial to understanding ASD fully is that it is a spectrum disorder. That means individuals with ASD are going to vary in their level of severity and combinations of characteristics. It certainly adds to the complexity of understanding this topic. Adding to the complexity is the crossover of characteristics between other conditions such as ADHD and OCD. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder may sometimes be difficult to relate to and understand deeply, even for those closest to those individuals who have it. But with patience, understanding and education we can get closer to relating to our ASD friends and other neurodivergent individuals.

Leadership Excellence Initiative

Serendipity has initiated leadership development workshops to standardise leadership across the organisation. Home Leads have been enrolled in the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 3 program, and they’re excited to enhance their skills.

A Move to Supported Living

It’s been over ten years at Bellwave House for one of our beloved residents, PM. But now he has moved to our Supported Living Service at Bellwave Drive.

Embracing his newfound independence, PM has been excitedly personalising his space and venturing out solo to explore Porthcawl. Paul’s transition showcases the transformative power of supportive living, as he navigates bus trips and social outings with newfound confidence.

Latest Home News

Bellwave House

Bellwave House has welcomed a new resident, DW, to Room 1. DW is taking his next step towards independent living, coming from Cefn Yr Afon Residential Rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, our previous resident, PM, has moved to a more independent setting at Bellwave Drive after nearly ten years with us. Congratulations to PM on this remarkable achievement!

Our weekly arts and crafts session has been so popular that it’s become a regular event. Our activity coordinators are exploring new ways to enhance our offerings, recognising the importance of activities for well-being.

The Wales vs. Scotland rugby match was thrilling, with Wales’s second-half comeback keeping everyone on the edge of their seats, despite the result not being in our favour.

Our residents and staff have enjoyed outings to scenic spots like the Bwlch in the valleys, known for its stunning views. We’re planning more visits to scenic locations as the weather improves.

Bellwave Drive

Bellwave Drive is excited to welcome new staff member Elisabeth James. Elisabeth recently completed her university studies in Psychology and Criminology, followed by a master’s in Crime and Justice. She has settled well into the team and looks forward to gaining more experience in Mental Health Services.

In other news, Mark Davies, the Registered Manager of Bellwave House, has joined Bellwave Drive this month to take over the management of the service.

Mark has been a great asset to the team and residents over the past few weeks, providing support and sharing his extensive knowledge, experience, and skills. He will be working between the two services, and the team is eager to continue collaborating with him.

Bellwave Drive also celebrated Pancake Day on February 13th. Residents Paul and Amelia hosted the event, making pancakes for everyone who attended. Residents from other services joined in for an afternoon of pancake making and decorating.

Bellwave Apartments

In February, Bellwave Apartments celebrated the birthdays of three residents: Steven (48), Nathan (33), and Vicky (58). They enjoyed celebrations with both staff and family. Additionally, a Coffee and Quiz day was held, where residents and staff competed for prizes, with Vicky emerging as the quiz winner!

Some residents also participated in a choir group at Bellwave House.

Looking ahead, there are exciting plans for future activities, including music jam nights, up-cycling furniture, and bike projects.

Steve’s volunteer work at Theo’s in Kenfig Hill continues to be highly appreciated, with positive feedback on his work ethic. Steve has also customised a new bike, which he is very proud of.

Bellwave Apartments 2 has welcomed Sophira Shannon as the new Home Lead for the upstairs property. Sophira is eager to start and has many ideas for activities for the residents.

Residents have been enjoying social outings, such as shopping trips to Cardiff and coffee outings in Porthcawl. Nathan, SD, Viv, and Vicky particularly enjoyed visiting the duck ponds in Porthcawl.

Bellwave Cottage

Congratulations to MB on being appointed the new Activity Coordinator at the cottage. MB has embraced the role with enthusiasm and has already contributed great ideas to the activities group. Well done, MB!

The residents of the cottage recently enjoyed a fantastic group outing to Cardiff. The day kicked off with a delicious breakfast, followed by a shopping spree at St David’s Shopping Centre and a visit to Costco for some bargain hunting. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all.

MB has also become a fully-fledged member of the local United Services Club. He has been making the most of his membership by using the club’s facilities to play snooker, darts, and watch the Six Nations rugby match between Wales and Scotland.

A New Ratings System

In light of Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) upcoming implementation of a rating system for care providers, Mark Davies, Bellwave House Manager, is creating a steering group to enhance Serendipity’s ratings. They will benchmark current performance, devise strategies to meet standards, and ensure readiness for the 2025 rating system implementation.

Bellwave Apartments

Staff Updates

We would like to welcome two new staff members to the team at Bellwave Apartments, Charlotte Griffin and Jan Hoseason. We look forward to working with you and seeing how amazingly you contribute to the growth here at the apartments.

Latest News

In October, we had a blast celebrating a special birthday at the apartments. Our birthday star absolutely loved basking in the limelight and tucking into her much-anticipated rump steak!It was a double celebration as we also toasted to her first year with us.

A massive shout-out to all our apartment staff from Kelly & Matt – you guys are amazing! Your hard work and team spirit never go unnoticed. A big thanks to our friends from the other homes who chipped in; we couldn’t have pulled this off without you. Your dedication to our residents is what makes this place special. Cheers to all!

Bellwave Corner

Latest News

Bellwave Corner has been buzzing with pool games, swims, dog walks, and baking sessions. Two residents celebrated World Mental Health Day in Porthcawl, while Halloween saw us pumpkin picking and enjoying spooky movies on the big screen.

We’ve been sharing tips on healthy eating and saving energy, and a shout-out to MF for smashing it at slimming world.

Also, our staff Mental Health Support Group is thriving, this week’s mental health Bingo offered self-care goodies for prizes!

Bellwave House

Staff Updates

Bellwave House is thrilled to welcome new team members Sue Thomas, Rio Morgan and Ria Griffiths. We are grateful to have such amazing people working for Serendipity and we’re happy to see that trend continue with these new additions.

Latest News

Bellwave House is sprucing up, with fresh paint for the kitchen and dining area. The Wales v Argentina quarter-final was a blast despite the loss, complete with a buffet and a rousing rendition of the national anthem! Cheers to AE, who’s moved to supported living, a real success story of growing independence. We’re all rooting for her in her new chapter.

Mark’s attendance at the Social Care Wales ‘Well Being’ conference has sparked new ideas for staff and resident well-being, including Efa’s mental health support group. He’s also been recognised for his input on ‘Compassionate Leadership’, something we’re keen to expand on.

Our recent ‘World Mental Health Day’ event was a hit, where discussions on mental health prevalence, autism, treatments, support groups, and celebrity experiences helped in normalising the conversation and tackling stigma.

Bellwave Cottage

Latest News

Halloween at the cottage was a scream—literally! The residents had a chillingly good time watching horror flicks and getting visits from Trick or Treaters.

World Mental Health Day was a huge success. It was a powerful chance for us all to come together, spread knowledge, and advocate for mental health as a fundamental human right. It set the perfect tone for more events like this in the future.

Big cheers for our own MB, who’s a true local hero, volunteering every Monday at theBridgend Foodbank Warehouse. He’s not just helping with orders and deliveries; he’s making sure those in need have access to essential food items. Hats off to you, MB!

Exciting Announcement

We are excited to announce that Serendipity Care and Support has been shortlisted for an IIP (Investors In People) award. The awards will be held 14th November and we are all very excited. Thank you all for your contribution towards this nomination.

Serendipity’s Support Group

We are very pleased to share that our new mental health support group has started this month. Every other Thursday, the group will meet for group discussions as well as one-on-one support, monthly diaries, resource sharing and other ways we can support people through hard times in their lives. A big thank you to Eva for setting this up.

Bellwave House

Audits

Bellwave House has undergone a number of audits over the past few months and we’ve received excellent feedback in all. Among the audits was one by the  Health Board Commissioners. Unsurprisingly to us, they did not highlight any areas for improvement. We are all committed to providing excellent quality care at Bellwave House, and Serendipity as a whole are always striving for continuous improvement in all areas of care.

Off to College

One of our residents (AE) started college a few weeks ago. This is a huge achievement for AE given her anxieties of being in crowds. AE is learning catering level 1, she is already an excellent cook but will use this course to develop her skills further and start to cook more complicated dishes. It goes without saying that all of us are very much looking forward to that! Well done AE for facing your fears!

Aiming for Excellence

In other news Mark Davies and Matt Penpraze recently attended a CIW forum where the main topic was around the implementation of a new ratings system.  The ratings system classifications will be as follows:  Excellent, Good, Needs Improvement, Poor.  It goes without saying that Serendipity will be aiming for Excellence, but in order to achieve this we will need to be sector-leading!

Bellwave Corner

Fun times Continue

We’ve had a great month of fun and plenty of activities at Bellwave corner. The  pool tournament from last month is ongoing, we’ve been enjoying more shopping trips and even a round of mini golf.

End of Summer Festival

We also hosted an “End of Summer Festival”, allowing residents and staff an opportunity to connect with their friends from across the other properties. It was a great afternoon!

Bellwave Apartments

September Events

We have had a great month at Bellwave Apartments with lots of exciting events. We’ve had awesome movie nights, trips to Aberavon seafront, shopping excursions and much more.

An Artist Among Us

We were also excited to discover one of our residents amazing artistic talent. We were blown away when he presented an incredible portrait he had drawn of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd, one of his favourite bands.

Bellwave Cottage

The King (of Rock and Roll) Arrives in Porthcawl

Bellwave Cottage is a-buzz as the Elvis festival has descended on Porthcawl. To celebrate, we enjoyed a fantastic music festival put on by Bellwave Corner with music and games.

A Visit to The Bay

Aside from that spectacle, a visit to Cardiff Bay was organised for the residents. We spent time taking in the views and historical buildings such as the Norwegian church art centre.

Staff Updates

Congratulations to Julie Humphreys who has recently been promoted to Acting Senior Support Worker for Bellwave House.

Julie has worked in the social care sector for a number of years having worked in a nursing home prior to joining Serendipity. Julie enjoys her work and feels extremely rewarded by supporting vulnerable people to lead fulfilling lives. Julie is doing an excellent job and is enjoying her new role.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]