An award-winning care organisation is the first in Wales to implement a ground-breaking “gold standard”.
It’s hoped that many others will follow the example of the Highfield nursing home in Wrexham.
The Gold Standards Framework in care homes training programme was developed in in England in primary care for GPs and District Nursing teams.
It has been shown to greatly benefit patients, families and staff by improving the organisation and quality of care provided.
Highfield, part of the Pendine Park care organisation, is the first home in Wales to sign up for the current programme.
The aim is to promote quality of life for care home residents from the day to the end of their lives.
Theresa Richards, the GSF Facilitator, is also a Macmillan Nurse working with the Specialist Palliative Care Team at the University Health Board.
She said: “The GSF looks at providing best quality care for residents from the time they come in to the care home until the time they are very poorly to ensure that they get the best standard of care.
“A crucial part of the training is working with residents and their families to establish what kind of care they want and where they want it.
“Their preferences are then documented to help staff deliver the care residents want.
“It could be something as simple as wanting their dog to come in to see them if they are very poorly or maybe they prefer to have the light left on at night or have a shower instead of a bath.
“Residents may wish to remain in the home if they become very poorly. This programme gives care home staff the tools to enable that to happen – reducing the number of so that they can stay in their preferred place of care.
“The comprehensive programme takes up to a year to complete and includes all staff in a home, including housekeepers and cooks.
Once the training is complete and everything is in place, Highfield can apply for accreditation to receive a Quality Hallmark Award and be recognised as a Gold home.
Gill Hughes, Pendine Park’s Responsible Individual who promotes clinical excellence within the organisation, is extremely keen about the initiative.
She said: “The GSF will give us a better understanding of the wishes of residents throughout their time here.
“This is about facilitating freedom of choice. If they want to do something special we will try and accommodate them – if they want to go to a football match we would try and take them to one.
“It fits in perfectly with what we are trying to achieve with Smartcare, our in-house Teaching Care Centre.
“Our aim is to roll out the Gold Standards Framework to all of our care homes so that we can continue to improve the experience of our residents.”
Pendine Park’s Activities Manager, Gerry Humphreys, is also a convert.
She added: “We offer a lot now and this is going to enable us to become even more responsive to the residents’ wishes and preference.
“Here at Highfield, we currently are the only home in Wales taking part in this training programme.
“This is about our constant quest to raise standards. Pendine Park’s standards are extremely high anyway but we are always aiming to raise the bar.”
Any other care homes interested in signing up for the Gold Standard Framework should contact the Gold Standards Framework Team on 01743 291895.
