A care home in Altrincham is celebrating after being announced as a finalist for two prestigious national awards.
Care UK’s Halecroft Grange, on Hale Road, which is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, has been shortlisted in the Care Home Awards 2024 in both the ‘Best for Wellbeing’ and ‘Outstanding Care Provider in a Group’ categories.
The awards recognise teams and individuals that epitomise excellence, innovation, dedication and outstanding contributions within the care sector.
In its approach to wellbeing, the Halecroft Grange team was praised for their commitment to ensuring residents lead fulfilling lives. Judges were particularly impressed by the activities team, whose commitment to planning engaging group and person-centred activities stood out.
The team encourage residents to try new things through gentle, consistent encouragement. This has resulted in residents who were previously reluctant to socialise becoming more involved and developing new friendships in the home.
Therapy is used to improve residents’ wellbeing and help reduce any feelings of agitation, particularly for those living with dementia. The team introduced Namaste care, which is tailored to each resident and delivered in a calming dedicated room. Namaste is an activity all residents can participate in and helps many feel included, especially if they’re unable to participate in other activities.
The home also encourages residents to continue to practise their cultural beliefs. One resident prefers to be called ‘Aunty’ by the team, as this is common within her culture and has a prayer table set up in her room so she can pray as she wishes.
Also shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Care Provider in a Group’ category, judges were impressed by the home’s focus on balanced nutrition. The chefs are experienced in International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), which enables residents with swallowing difficulties to eat delicious and visually appealing meals and is part of its ‘dining with dignity’ initiative, regardless of their food modification levels.
Sharon Parkes, Director of Community Relations at the home, was praised for ensuring residents’ families felt included and valued in life at the home through encouraging, regular communications. She also helps the home build meaningful relationships within the local community, including with youngsters at Broussa Day Nursery and the Trussell Trust Charity. These relationships help residents maintain a sense of purpose.
A relative of a resident at the home said: “The team are all wonderful. Every time I’m there the kindness and attention they show all the residents is outstanding. My father has settled so well. The communication with me too has been such a help. I really cannot praise Halecroft enough.”
Suzanna Sumegi, General Manager at Halecroft Grange, said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted twice in the Care Home Awards. Being nominated for these awards highlights every team member’s commitment and all the hard work they put in every day to make Halecroft Grange a great place to live and work.
“Here at Halecroft Grange, we believe having great relationships with residents and their relatives is the key to having successful person-centred care and contributes to residents leading fulfilling lives. Every single team member goes the extra mile for residents every day, and their determination to provide the highest possible standards of care never wavers.
“We look forward to seeing everyone at the awards ceremony later this year, and hope we come away as the winners!”
The Care Home Awards ceremony will take place on 17th May at the Royal Garden Hotel in London.
Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Halecroft Grange, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.
