Dementia specialist Belong has earned the Quality Hallmark Award for demonstrating best practice in end of life and palliative care.
The recognition follows Gold Standards Framework (GSF) assessments at its Warrington and Newcastle-under-Lyme villages.
Assessors praised the not-for-profit group's ‘village living’ model for its high care standards and for helping to promote living independently. Activities provision, focus on exercise and falls prevention awareness, and relationships with external bodies such as music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, were amongst the examples of strengths highlighted.
The report commended ‘clearly dedicated staff’ who work alongside families to prepare for the final stages of life, prioritising dignity, compassion, and a person-centred approach. Family communication and Belong's in-house Admiral Nurse were also cited as key indicators in the appraisal.
Sue Goldsmith, Belong's chief operating officer, said: "Dealing with the subject of death is often still taboo, but we recognise how imperative it is that we support customers to experience a good death. This starts with being able to open channels of communication, both with residents and their families, to prepare well for end of life. Providing exceptional care that meets people's preferences is never more important than at this difficult time.
"We are therefore pleased to be accredited with two sets of top scores for the GSF Quality Hallmark Award, which serve as testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams who have perhaps one of the most challenging but rewarding of jobs."
