Sway care home wins national award

A care home in Sway is celebrating after scooping a national accolade in the Care Home Awards 2022.

Care UK’s Sway Place, on Church Lane, won the ‘Best for Wellbeing’ award, a category which recognises the care experienced by residents to be impressively person-centred. 

The Care Home Awards highlight and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery. 

The team at Sway Place was recognised for its resident led approach to care. This approach includes a forum held at the start of each new season, where the team and residents get together to discuss ideas for the coming months. 

An activities plan is created with an exciting range of options for residents to enjoy each day of the week. These include everything from art and crafts, minibus outings, poetry talks, village walks, exercise classes, reminiscence exercises, gardening, music, and even croquet. 

Dedicated to fulfilling lives, when resident Colin wished to continue woodworking when he moved into the home, the team helped to create his very own workshop. Colin now gives talks and makes bird boxes for charity, and he has even inspired other residents to get involved – to the point where a bigger work shed is now needed. 

Colin has also been supported in his ambition to raise fund for charity, raising an impressive £3,000. Colin has become the home’s Resident Ambassador, attending meetings and colleague recruitment interviews, and acting as the voice of residents. 

Colin said: “The team are attentive, compassionate, and treat me with respect. They’re always friendly and smiling and go out of their way to offer any support. I’m delighted to call this my home. It’s an amazing place to live where I continue to lead an active and fulfilled life.”

It was also noted that the home team constantly looks to improve and innovate its approach to wellbeing. During the pandemic the team got more creative, and a highlight of 2021 was a 12-week ‘world trip’ where residents and colleagues ‘travelled’ virtually to a new country each week, including France, where everyone enjoyed French food, music, dress, and traditions.

The team at Sway Place has also been celebrated for their determination to get to know each resident as well as possible, including their hobbies, interests, skills and life history, as well as the things they would enjoy now.

One gentleman expressed a wish to learn how to play the guitar, so a member of the activities team gave him weekly lessons. The resident enjoyed the lessons and talked happily about it to his family when they visited. 

A relative commented: “My dad has settled better than I could have hoped for, and I have no doubt that the activities and outstanding support of the team has been a huge help. They give him focus and added structure to his routine. There is nothing I like more than when he tells me he hasn’t had a chance to call as he has had a busy day at crossword club, bingo, or art club.” 

Rachel Bedford, General Manager at Sway Place, said: “We are thrilled to have won the ‘Best for Wellbeing’ category at this years’ Care Home Awards for our approach to person-focused approach to care. 

“Winning is proof of the team's dedication and innovative problem-solving in ensuring that each resident enjoys a happy and fulfilling life. It is genuinely incredible to watch the team design activities and plans that are uniquely adapted to each resident before watching them blossom and gain confidence. I'm delighted Sway Place has received recognition for the positive impact they have on residents' wellness every day through thoughtful care.

“I am really proud of the team at Sway Place and this award willhave pride of place at the home.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Sway Place, which remains open to potential residents, incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home provides full-time residential care, dementia care and respite care. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, and 14 independent living cottages, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.

To find out more about Sway Place, please call Laura Blake, Home Admissions Advisor, on 01590 607371, email laura.blake@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/sway-place