A care home in Altrincham is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The team at Care UK’s Halecroft Grange, on Hale Road, is in the running for ‘Regional Care Home of the Year’ in the North category at this year’s Caring UK Awards.
The Caring UK Awards celebrate excellence and achievement by highlighting the outstanding contributions made by care home teams across the care sector in the UK.
Halecroft Grange, which recently received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in their CQC, has been praised for its person-centred care through the home’s use of holistic therapy, which provides one-to-one activities for residents including aromatherapy, soft music, and light projects. This has exceptional benefits for residents’ wellbeing, especially for those who struggle with speech or are non-verbal.
The team has a person-centred approach to care, which includes team members drawing on residents’ history and achievements to inspire activities and encourage engagement. This has included team members creating a ‘wish book’ where residents can share and then pursue their lifelong dreams and ambitions, supported by the team. A recent wish saw a resident who has a love for birds of prey visiting a local falconry centre, where they were able to listen to bird experts and get up close to the impressive creatures.
Fun games and interesting activities are organised for residents, this has included trips to a local museum as well as hosting a dance-a-thon where residents’ families and the local community were invited to take part to help raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Judges also praised the home’s use of cognitive stimulation therapy, where residents are encouraged to talk about their lives to team members and each other, to enhance memory stimulation and create meaningful conversations.
These open and continuous forms of communication are one of the many driving forces behind the home’s approach to care. Now in its 14th year, the residents’ council offers residents the opportunity to express their views and opinions, whilst also being kept informed by team members of important issues or changes at the home.
Judges also praised how resident’s family members are kept informed through a quarterly newsletter and a monthly family meeting at the home.
The home’s catering team has been recognised for their high-quality dishes and dining experience, which offer a bespoke menu of modern and classic recipes, with food that looks as visually appealing as it tastes.
The home’s catering team was also applauded for creating a high-quality nutritional menu that caters to residents’ preferences and dietary requirements each day. The home’s ‘Dining with Dignity’ programme was launched to help residents with swallowing difficulties eat tasty and visually appealing meals that have been tailored to them.
Suzi Sumegi, General Manager at Halecroft Grange, said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for regional care home of the year. Being nominated for this award showcases 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 in.
“Here at Halecroft Grange, we believe in the power of communication at the core of our approach to person-centred care, and in enabling residents to lead 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 Caring UK Awards ceremony will take place on 7th December at the Athena, in Leicester.
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.
