CAMELOT CARE STRIKES GOLD FOR QUALITY CARE

A Wellington care home dedicated to providing the best possible care for all of its residents right up until the end of their lives, has been recognised with a major national award, and has been shortlisted for a national ‘Care Home Of The Year’ award.

Camelot House and Lodge were among 50 homes from across the UK to achieve the success in winning a Quality Hallmark Award for the first, second or third time from the National Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre, the UK’s largest provider of training in end of life care. Staff from the home will receive the award from Ian Turner, Chairman of the Registered Nursing Home Association, at a special ceremony in London on 30 September.

Stephen Teasdale, development director for Camelot Care, said: “This award is a totally independent endorsement of the quality of care we provide for the people with dementia and mental health problems who live in our homes, and reflects that it is among the best in the UK.

“This is the second time we’ve been received this award – both times with ‘Beacon’ status, which is the highest accolade possible – so we all think it is a fantastic achievement.

“When we heard that we’d made the final seven for the Gold Standard Framework ‘Care Home Of The Year’ 2016 as well we were absolutely delighted. It’s a really meaningful acknowledgement of the person-centred care we deliver.”

To be GSF-accredited, homes must achieve 20 quality standards, ranging from leadership and support to dignity and respect as well as submit a portfolio of evidence.

GSF Quality Hallmark Awards are presented to homes that demonstrate real improvement in the quality of care they provide. Many halve the number of their residents dying in hospital as well as halving crisis hospital admissions, leading to greater satisfaction for families, residents and staff and significant cost savings for the NHS.

Ian Turner said: “Only providers that put the wishes and preferences of every individual in their care at the heart of everything they do, will truly deliver quality care through the duration of their stay. It is a genuine privilege to be able to present the GSF Quality Hallmark awards in the knowledge that all of the successful homes are truly dedicated to providing genuine person-centred, compassionate care right up until the end of their residents’ life.

Everyone in the home, ranging from nurses to the activities coordinator and catering staff, is involved in regular reviews with the residents. All aspects of their lives are considered including spiritual beliefs, personal interests and care preferences. Staff talk to the residents about their end of life care, giving them the opportunity to make decisions and say what they want. This has helped the residents and their families feel secure that they will be comfortable and their preferences considered at all times.

Annabel Foulger, GSF Social Care Programmes Manager, said: “As people approach the end of their lives they want to be cared for in familiar surroundings, by people who know and understand their wishes. By engaging all of their residents and their families in detailed conversations about these wishes, allied with a passion for fulfilling them, Camelot House and Lodge provide an exemplar for care homes across the UK.”

Almost 3,000 care homes have completed the GSF Care Homes programme since it was launched in 2004 and 600 have gone on to become accredited.