Local care homes shortlisted in national awards

Home news

Oct 01, 2020

Two local care homes are celebrating after being shortlisted for national awards. 

Lifestyle teams at Appleby House, in Epsom, and Sherwood Grange, in Kingston Vale, have been shortlisted in the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) annual awards. 

The NAPA awards recognise the quality and innovative nature of arts activities taking place within the health, housing and social care sector. 

The homes have both successfully demonstrated the breadth of beneficial arts-themed activities as part of the award submissions, noting specifically the positive impact the inclusive and creative activities have on residents’ lives and experiences.  

The team at Appleby House has been shortlisted for the Community Engagement Award. Shona Bradbury, home manager at Appleby House, and her team, who have always promoted a strong sense of community, were praised for their programme called ‘Pillars of the Community’. 

By inviting four local schools, the local fire brigade, police, ambulance service and GP to put forward their designs for the ‘pillars’, the project has built upon the already strong links the residents and team have with the community in Epsom. The project has also helped in dispelling the myth that care homes are not creative spaces, and shown that older people of all abilities, including those living with dementia, can benefit from creative activities with those within the community. 

Commenting on the shortlisting, Shona said: “It’s fantastic to be shortlisted for a NAPA award for our ‘Pillars of the Community’ project. The sense of wellbeing throughout the project was palpable every day as the project progressed, residents couldn’t wait to get into our art studio to work on the pillars and there was discussion about the designs from dawn to dusk.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team at Appleby House and the trailblazing work they do to support people to live well with dementia, while engaging fully with our local community. This has been more important than ever over the last few months, where our strong relationships have been shown through the support and encouragement we have received from those locally. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for a win next month!” 

Also shortlisted, the team at Sherwood Grange is in the running for the Activity Team of the Year Award. Led by lifestyle lead, Kimberley Atkin, the Sherwood Grange team impressed judges with their dynamic and engaging activity programme. Activities, prior to the pandemic, included jazz and opera evenings, a holiday to a sister care home in Dorset, and even a boat trip along the Thames. 

With a strong appreciation of the arts, Kimberley and her team organised a life drawing class, prior to the pandemic, with a professional artist to guide the session and a professional model, following a request from one of the residents. This was so successful that they arranged a further session, this time with birds of prey, including a vulture and a bald eagle. 

Throughout lockdown, Kimberley and her team have ensured all residents have remained engaged and meaningfully occupied and, most importantly, have had access to their families and friends via virtual calls. This year has also seen Sherwood Grange awarded an Outstanding rating by the CQC, with the lifestyle team praised by both residents and their relatives for the enjoyment they give residents every day. 

Home manager at Sherwood Grange, Rick Mayne, said: “I’m thrilled that the hard work and creativity of our lifestyle team has been recognised. They work incredibly hard to ensure all residents have the opportunity to take part in a huge variety of meaningful activities, enabling residents to live fulfilling lives. Good luck to all those shortlisted, we eagerly await the results of the shortlisting!”

Appleby House and Sherwood Grange care homes provide full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care homes offer plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Sherwood Grange, please call customer relations manager, Tracey Fountain, on 0333 920 1017, or email tracey.fountain@careuk.com

To find out more about Appleby House please call please call 0333 4343 002 or email home manager, Shona Bradbury, at shona.bradbury@careuk.com

For more general information visit: careuk.com