Gracewell of Camberley is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted for ‘Care Home of the Year’ in the National Care Awards 2018.
The National Care Awards were devised to celebrate the very best in the long term care sector, highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care.
Gracewell of Camberley in Blackwater provides high quality, personalised residential, dementia and nursing care with the individual needs of each of their residents in mind. It is a luxury care home which has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and accommodates up to 91 people in a new, purpose-built environment set within beautiful grounds.
Nothing is too much for the Camberley team. Their home has a standard ethos – when a team member enters the building, they have to ask themselves, "How will I make someone’s day today?"
Through committed and flexible teamwork, Gracewell of Camberley is always there for its residents. Indeed, the CQC stated that the home’s open and inclusive atmosphere has fostered a strong sense of teamwork and continuous improvement.
The home regularly arranges activities for its residents, including sports and exercise events for all to participate in. Whether it is a game of sitting golf, arts and crafts, bingo, baking club or Teapot Tuesday, when it comes to activities and social events, the whole team gets involved.
Maintenance will serenade residents at lunch with an acoustic guitar, the head housekeeper runs a weekly knit and natter group and the concierge team runs a weekly gentleman’s club. Two team members are dedicated to supporting people with meaningful activities and events throughout the home. It ensures it is an active participant in the local community by engaging with local schools who visit for special events and performances, hosting regular coffee mornings and providing families with opportunities to meet the team.
Over the years, the team has developed strong and caring relationships with its residents which respect their independence, privacy and dignity. Residents are encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support, whether it is the personalisation and decoration of their rooms or their food preferences. Residents are always put at the centre of processes to monitor and improve the quality of the services they receive.
Gracewell of Camberley also has a systematic approach to working in partnership with other agencies to improve the care experience of residents. They work alongside a range of multi-disciplinary teams to improve team knowledge, including community opticians, dentists and nurses. The home works with support and advocacy services such as Age Concern, the Alzheimer’s Society and Citizens Advice Bureau, and has a good relationship with the local clinical commissioning group and hospice to provide a high standard of care for those nearing the end of their life.
Melanie Jacobs, general manager at Gracewell of Camberley, says: “We are absolutely honoured to have been shortlisted for the ‘Care Home of the Year’ Award at the National Care Awards. This is a reward for all the hard work of our dedicated team members, who strive every day to provide the best care and support for our residents possible.
“When one team member at Gracewell of Camberley struggles, a colleague will step in to support – no one is alone. It is through this teamwork that we ensure that we are always there for our residents. Our residents are at the heart of what we do, and this nomination is for them too. We look forward to finding out whether we have won!”
Gracewell of Camberley, who is a finalist in what is the 20th anniversary year of the National Care Awards, will discover whether they have been successful at a very special awards ceremony on Friday 30 November in London.
