A Luxury Home with Outstanding Views over Swanage Bay

At Clifftop Care Home

You will enjoy the company of interesting active gentle folk while receiving 24 hour 5 star care. Excellent seasonal fresh local produce is home cooked by our chef, sweeties, fresh fruit and pure cool spring water are always available. Tea, coffee, homemade cakes and biscuits are served daily together with complimentary wine and sherry. Special diets are also catered for.

We also have some of the best views of Swanage Bay, all rooms are ensuite with quality furnishings, fresh flowers and Sky TV is available. Most importantly, the finest professional help and care is provided.

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Christine Harrison - Owner

Original founder of Clifftop Care Home together with husband David.

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I took over Clifftop with my husband David in 1995; many of my staff from that time are still with us.

I had always cared for members of my family and buying a care home seemed a natural progressing having had hotels previously. In fact not long after taking over Clifftop the local vicar commented that he thought "I had found my vocation in life".

We have 30 to 32 residents, all our rooms are well designed, en-suite and many have full sea views. We have endeavoured to keep common rooms homely and cheerful. The conservatory is a special place to relax and take in the beautiful views of Swanage Bay and from here you can see all the way to Peveril Point. On sunny days many residents take their supper in the garden and sometimes lunch.

Stepping out into the garden from the conservatory I cannot help but marvel at the fact that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Just to watch the myriad of life upon the water, this is just one of the many things that make our home special.

I enjoy cooking and I like taking influence from our travels to distant lands. This love of food reflects in our menus and the quality of the meals served. We always consult residents as to what the menus are going to be and try to accommodate favourite dishes. We source locally meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. My husband and I regularly take our meals from Clifftop. The dining room is light and airy and reflects a Mediterranean feel.

Entertainment is very special at Clifftop, I was a professional actress when I was younger and know how a great show can lift the spirits. We have pantos and shows from London as well as local talent. Buffets, wine and sherry are served at show times. There is always something going on at Clifftop, weekly piano, motivation sessions, karaoke, scrabble, quizzes, bingo and painting.

As well as travelling, cooking and theatre I also read and enjoy walking the beautiful Swanage countryside. I love what I do because I feel we make a difference to people's lives, there is a preconception about care homes and we dispel that. It truly is a happy home where everyone is cared for in their own right, that is what makes my job so special. I also get to have lots of mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and friends, all under one happy roof.

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Claire Birch - Registered Manager

20 years experience working in care including social services, NHS and voluntary.

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I have lived in Swanage, or the surrounding area, for all my life, only leaving for career opportunities, but have always returned to Swanage where my family live.

I have over 20 years experience working in care. In different sectors from the NHS, social services and voluntary sectors. In my last post as a registered manager of a Poole care home, I achieved the highest CQC rating of outstanding.

My wish was to return to Swanage as a registered manager and upon the retirement of Clifftop’s registered manager I was pleased to to be chosen to lead this prestigious homely care home.

I have been a care home manager for over 6 years and obtained my level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care along with a variety of other relevant training. I am very keen to continue with any future professional development having already gained a wealth of experience. This has enabled me to promote and develop the highest standards ensuring the very best is achieved in order to create a comfortable relaxed person centred environment and the highest levels of care.

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Testimonials

I Just want to say thank you to the Clifftop Care Home for protecting my gran so well, before lockdown Claire Birch you were ahead of the game, amazing from the Murray/Dunn Family - T Dunn granddaughter of resident.

I'm very lucky to live here, I have what I think to be the best room in the house, its like one big family and everyone is so caring, and you can get everything you need - Resident.

Thank you all for everything you do for mum, her birthday was celebrated in style, nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, it is such a relief to know she is well cared for, and so was I during all my visits - Daughter of long term resident.

It is such a lovely place to live, you have everything you need without any of the worry.  - Resident.

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About Clifftop Care Home

We the owners, Christine and David Harrison originally started the care home for our parents as we could not find a home that met our exacting standards. Rather than an institution, we wanted a true home from home where our residents would feel at ease, able to ask for anything and always to be listened to. We cannot adequately describe Clifftop in words or pictures, it has a unique atmosphere that can only be experienced by a visit.

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Clifftop is the only care home in Swanage with unrivalled views across Swanage Bay. Watching fishing boats, sailing boats , canoes, ships and occasionally paragliders, creates the perfect location for gentle retirement. Support is there, when required, and supplied by dedicated, caring and respectful staff, where a happy and homely ambience is created. We have a bubbly team of experienced, caring and dedicated staff who bring compassion to their work. The team enjoy sharing lots of ideas in order to gain the very best for everyone and provide high-quality person centred care.

Our friendly staff are committed to the latest ongoing training with a core group that have been working at the home for many years. New staff are recruited in order to continually develop the family team.

Our residents are at the heart of everything we do at Clifftop with each day being different. Many residents join Clifftop to enjoy our social ambience with like minded interesting folk to talk to. Past and present residents include doctors, writers, musicians, midwifes and even members of the royal household! Local doctors, mayors, and relatives, who want the best for their loved ones, choose Clifftop.

Regular activities include - Piano Man, music and movement, Mr Motivator, large scrabble board and quizzes. More varied options include discussion groups, sing-a-longs, film afternoons (with popcorn), art classes and flower arranging, theme days and visiting children from the local pre-school. We regularly have London based theatrical groups coming to perform in-house.

How about joining our newly formed choir? Or you can simply relax and enjoy the wonderful views over the famous Swanage Bay. Outings are also varied, these can include - The mystery tour, theatre, beach walks and shopping trips, as well as having any excuse for a good party!

Dining is very important. We only serve the best quality balanced meals with lots of fresh vegetables. Our food is home cooked, locally sourced, organic and free range where possible. There is always plenty of choice on offer, with your suggestions being an integral part of the menus. Home cooked meals are accompanied by complimentary wine served in our spacious airy dining room. Fresh fruit and sweeties are always available in bowls around the home to help yourself. We have cool filtered water with tea, coffee and soft drinks available throughout the day. Afternoon tea is the treat it should always be - scrumptious home made cakes, bone china cups and saucers, plates and teapots. When the weather is lovely why not take your lunch or supper in the garden?

All our rooms are ensuite and beautifully furnished, you can furnish your own room completely or bring a few treasured items. Rooms can also be decorated to your own colour scheme, two of our rooms cater for couples. Many rooms have amazing sea views over Swanage Bay, some over the lovely Purbeck Hills.

Rooms are easily accessible for all, either being on the ground floor or by passenger lift. Two premium ground floor rooms have glass doors opening onto a private patio and the garden. Pets are welcome subject to suitability.

We have a large communal room, TV room, separate dining room, quiet areas and a stunning conservatory. The conservatory is a popular meeting place adorned with hanging baskets and small trees overlooking the lovely garden which in turn overlooks Swanage Bay. The tranquil garden has a pergola, garden swing and plenty of comfortable seating to enjoy lovely lazy days looking out to sea.

It is easy to stay in touch with your loved ones as Clifftop has the latest fibre optic Wi-Fi throughout the home. Friends and relatives are welcome at all times with no formalities, why not join your loved one for lunch, afternoon tea or supper?

Call 01929 422091 to arrange an informal visit, we look forward to welcoming you and having a chat over a cup of tea and homemade cake.

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Entertainment

Claire Leyman - Lead Activities Coordinator

I have a degree in drama and a masters degree in creative writing. These are useful tools to have, especially when I can utilise them at work. I have lived in Swanage on and off for the last 25 years and joined Clifftop in November 2019 and there are never two days the same. The residents bring such an inspirational amount of wisdom, joy and laughter to my day that it is hard to think of it as ‘work!’ I always value their feedback with any activity I create and this is paramount for when I am planning ahead.

There are many creative individuals in the home which means I am never short of ideas to help keep residents minds and bodies active. A typical day is usually split into two activities where I attempt to encompass a contrast with the morning and afternoon sessions. A lot of the time it is essential to think outside the box and occasionally think on my feet. We are lucky to have the local voluntary bus service that takes us on outings too. Sometimes it is just nice to get out with an afternoon tea and sit with Corfe Castle in the background.

Due to the beautiful location of the home a lot of our residents enjoy getting out in the garden, particularly in the warmer weather. Many residents relish their time outdoors and enjoy reflecting about their own gardens/allotments. Last year the home and local primary school linked up to combine and encourage interaction between care homes and primary schools, this created a wonderful window of opportunity for each of the generations, as both parties gained an insight to each other’s lives.

Below are the many activities we like to take part in:

Sensory activities, singing, musical instruments, giant Scrabble, quizzes, bingo/picture bingo/rhyming bingo, theme days, baking, arts and crafts, reminiscence, story telling, movement and sports, meditation, stretching and yoga, manicures, pamper days, gardening, wildlife and nature, pet therapy, trips out, knitting and nattering, a day at the races (on screen), film afternoons, and quite possibly a lot more!!

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