Welcome to the Florence House web page!

Florence House, 220 Park Road, Peterborough, PE1 2UJ  01733 315900  florencehouse@hotmail.co.uk

Special Events and Latest News

Prayer Meeting for  Florence House

Wednesday 15th February 2.00 pm at Florence House  All welcome to come and praise God for Florence House and pray together for the needs of the home.

Service of Thanksgiving for Florence House, Saturday 17th March, 2.00 pm at Park Road Baptist Church.  Speaker Rev Tim Edworthy.  The service will include a look at the history of Florence House and information regarding the future of Florence House.  Andew Jessop (Chief Executive of the Pilgrims’ Friend Society) will speak about the work and mission of their charity which provides Care for older Christians.

Room Vacancies

We currently have room vacancies and we are also in a position to offer limited respite care.  If you would like further information, or to arrange a visit to Florence House – please contact the Home Manager – Barbara Olim on: 01733 315900.

Current Job Vacancies  

For more information on current job vacancies, or if you wish to request an application form, please contact Barbara Olim on: 01733 315900.

Can you help?  We are currently looking for volunteers to fulfil a variety of roles.  These include: relief cooks, volunteers to help with resident activities and outings, volunteers to chat to and befriend our residents, a volunteer to coordinate  the rota for daily prayers.  Daily prayers is an important  time of worship which is very much valued by the residents who attend.  If you are willing to help – please contact Judith Darling at Florence House.   Volunteers will need to be CRB checked.

20th Anniversary Annual Report  The Annual Report is available from Florence House or Park Road Baptist Church.  Please feel free to take a copy for a friend or relative who may be interested in the home.

Following the last unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Comission in October 2011, Florence House  was found to be compliant in all areas. We continue to strive to maintain high standards of care.

About our Home

Florence House is a Christian residential care home managed by Park Road Baptist Housing Association and we have a close relationship with Park Road Baptist Church and other churches in the Peterborough area.

The home has 17 single rooms and two double rooms, each with it’s own ensuite.  All rooms are centrally heated and have a nurse call system, TV aerial and phone sockets so residents can have their own television and private telephone if they so wish.  These services are payable by the resident.

Bedrooms are fully furnished, but small items of personal furniture may be brought by prior arrangement.  Full board is provided with main meals served in the dining room or in bedrooms during times of ill health.  Trianed staff are on duty 24 hours a day.  The Manager and two deputy managers are qualified nurses.

Morning and afternoon cups of tea and coffee are served and a range of activities are provided within the home.  Visits to places of interest and outdoor events are arranged from time to time.  A short midday worship time (daily prayers) takes place each week day and Sunday services are held fortnightly.  Residents have use of the communal areas in the home and also the  attractive  private garden and visitors are always welcome.

Everyone endeavours to make Florence House a loving, caring and relaxing home, providing both privacy and companionship as each resident desires.  The home is well maintained employing it’s own Maintenance Manager, and the garden is also well cared-for.

Above all we strive to be a Christian witness in the community and maintain our Christian ethos.

Our Values

From the start, there has been a commitment to work through the following principles: 

the belief that each individual is valued.

The desire to enable each individual to retain his/her sense of self-esteem and personal dignity at a time of life when independence may seem to be threatened.

Orientation of care towards enabling each resident to achieve his/her full potential by way of self-care, but always aware of changes in needs.

Encouragement of physical, social and intellectual activities, while respecting the individual’s right to choose when to be quiet and alone.

Allowing residents to maintain individuality and autonomy in making choices and plans as far as possible, in continuing the life-style and routine that they enjoyed previously.

Encouraging all to recognise that this is a family home for those who choose to live here, with consideration of others’ needs and wishes.

Vision

In 1982, a church conference was looking forward to the vision for the church in the years ahead. One of the issues raised was our care for the elderly, and out of that conference, the vision came for a retirement home for elderly Christians who could no longer live alone. And so in 1985, the Housing Association was born, with a Management Committee with close links to the church. Money was raised in many enjoyable ways, and by 1988, it was possible as a step of faith, with a massive loan from a Building Society, to begin the venture in earnest.

The Past

Years ago, 220 Park Road which is now Florence House was the manse for Park Road Baptist Church. It was bought in the 1950’s as a home for the then pastor, and his wife, Rev’d and Mrs George Hooper. Much later, in 1988, the new pastor at that time already had a home of his own, so the manse at 220 Park Road became available, and was bought by the newly formed Park Road Baptist Housing Association.

 Florence House opened in 1991, named in memory of Mrs Florence Hooper, who had herself been a nurse.  A photo of Rev’d and Mrs Hooper hangs in the dining room. Initially there were 11 rooms, each with en-suite facilities, two of the rooms being available if required for double occupancy. Later, in 1997 it became possible to buy 218 Park Road, and with great imagination and care, both by the architect and Ray Finding who acted as Clerk of Works, the addition to the premises was made with as little disruption to the residents as possible.

The Homes Management

The first manager to be appointed was Mrs Christine Lightfoot, who continued until her retirement in 2007.   She was succeeded by Mrs. Barbara Olim who had been her deputy for some years.  Both of them have brought their own gifts to the task, each a committed Christian, who has based their work ethic on their faith. Members of the staff care team are on duty to cover 24 hours a day, supported by ancillary staff as cooks and domestic workers, an Administrator and Maintenance Manager.  

                                                                    Volunteers                                 

From the beginning, the work of the staff has been supported by a committed team of volunteers who help in many different ways. Morning coffee, afternoon tea, and a Tuesday evening quiz night are all run by teams of volunteers. Family prayers each week day are led by a volunteer for a brief time of reflection between coffee and lunch time, and so is a monthly Sunday afternoon service. Others provide support in the 101 tasks of maintenance of the premises and the gardens.

Future

Perhaps you would like to be part of the Florence House story? If you or one of your relatives wants to know more about becoming a resident, the manager would be pleased to make arrangements to show you round. If you want to consider becoming a staff member, then the administrator would tell you what is involved.  There may be others who would enjoy helping in some way, on a regular or occasional basis and if so, the volunteer team would be delighted to hear from you.

  Want to know more?

Contact us on 01733 315900 and the Manager will be happy to arrange your visit.

As with all Care Homes, Florence House is inspected regularly by inspectors from the  Care Quality Commission, and a report is published on the CQC website.  The current copy of the report is also available to read at Florence House or you can pick up a copy of the Annual Report.  In addition, at Florence House there is a photograph album which in pictures and text, traces the story of Florence House for the first 10 years, or there is available a short booklet “The First 10 years 1991 – 2001″.