A Hallmark care home rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission has become the first care home in Ipswich to receive an accredited certification in end of life care.
Bucklesham Grange Care Home in Ipswich, Suffolk received the accreditation from St Elizabeth Hospice following a two year partnership where the home sought advice to improve care outcomes for residents requiring end of life care.
In order to receive the accredited certification, Bucklesham Grange undertook a supported self-improvement programme consisting of accredited training, education and development, to improve practice and raise standards of end of life care.
The accreditation has validated Bucklesham Grange’s end of life practice with links to employee knowledge, skills around advance care planning with residents, family and friends, and their ability to recognise when a resident may be in the last days of life as well as their ability to provide individualised care.
General manager at Bucklesham Grange, Daniel Rowark says: “I remember first meeting with the team at St Elizabeth Hospice in 2016 with the goal to promote a professional relationship of mutual support. At the time I did not know this meeting would lead to the development of An End of Life Care Accreditation for Care Homes in Ipswich and I am incredibly pleased to have been a part of this process.
“For Bucklesham Grange to be the first care home in Ipswich to achieve this makes me immensely proud as we are able to provide the best possible standard of end of life care for all those that need it.
“The team at the home are excited to continue to support St Elizabeth Hospice by becoming a cluster site to support and develop other homes towards achieving this accreditation.”
Head of education at St Elizabeth Hospice, Mandy Summons, says: “Working with Bucklesham Grange to support them improve their palliative and end of life care has been a real pleasure. The team have shown great commitment to achieving the accredited certification.
“St Elizabeth Hospice is proud to be at the forefront of a local campaign, ‘No place like home’, which supports people to die in the place of their choosing rather than in hospital, for many this will be the care home where they live. By working with local care homes to help raise standards of end of life care we are giving people the dignity and choice they deserve.
“The hospice has been providing palliative and end of life care for nearly 30 years and has a CQC rating of outstanding, which places us in an excellent position to support other organisations looking to improve in this area. This accreditation will give families reassurance that the team at Bucklesham Grange are knowledgeable and well trained to deliver a high standard of end of life care.”
