Dawn Harrison, Activities Manager at Forest Healthcare’s Belmont Lodge Care Centre in Chigwell, Essex, has received a Silver Award presented for Outstanding Services to Social Care. The accolade was delivered by Deborah Sturdy CBE, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, in recognition of Dawn's dedication to enriching, diverse and inclusive activities for care centre residents.
As part of the Adult Social Care Awards, each prize winner is selected by a panel that includes senior management teams for nursing across NHS England and NHS Improvement. The Silver Award is designed to highlight exceptional performance.
The Importance of Activities and Entertainment in Quality of Life for Care Centre Residents
The Essex care home, Belmont Lodge is one of several care centres within the Forest Healthcare group, which offers specialist care support alongside residential and nursing care for adults of all ages, including rehabilitation, respite and long-term care.
The care provider is known for its attention to detail and care planning that goes beyond practical and healthcare support. It also works to develop bespoke lifestyle programmes for residents based on their interests, passions, and favourite hobbies.
Countless studies have shown that activities and varied entertainment are enormously important, especially for care home residents with limited mobility, ongoing medical conditions or for whom communication is challenging. Research has also found that social and leisure activities are an indicator of quality of life and well-being, where qualitative care is as meaningful as nursing or personal care.
Belmont Lodge’s Award for Care Centre Activities
Dawn was selected for the Silver Award following an assessment of the programmes and new activities she facilitates, ranging from handicrafts and musical evenings to gardening and quiz afternoons, keep fit sessions and shopping trips – all while supporting an active resident’s association.
The 24-hour care centre has 40 private rooms and suites and makes the most of the grounds and terrace as a venue for barbecues and outdoor dining in warmer weather. Residents can also use quiet reading nooks, an accessible internet connection, a beauty salon and a library of books, games and DVDs.
Belmont Lodge Manager Anastasia Abdel-Malek says, 'We couldn't be prouder of Dawn and the commitment to superb person-centred activities we provide here at the centre. She is a well-deserving recipient, and it is fantastic to see a care team member acknowledged for her outstanding services.
The team here cares deeply about providing sensitive, respectful care but also encourages residents to feel active, engaged and part of our community – we are delighted to have seen our activities programme recognised in such a public way and to hear what an impact this makes.”
Criteria to Be Awarded the Adult Social Care Silver Award
The Adult Social Care Awards were set up to recognise outstanding contributions and the talents and skills of many carers, support staff, and nursing teams—much of which goes unnoticed outside of the care setting.
To be considered a candidate for the award, each nominee must have demonstrated:
- Excellent clinical practice and experience that exceeds the expectations the NHS would place on a nurse or social care worker.
- Commitment to service users through person-centred care that is recognised as outstanding by colleagues, family or friends.
- Strong leadership in developing services which create improved performance or outcomes.
- Championship of inclusion and diversity in the care setting and with colleagues.
- Constantly outstanding standards of care that are recognised by colleagues and service users.
Candidates for the award must also meet requirements in terms of their place of work or professional registration. Nominations are reviewed against the above factors, and successful award recipients are presented with a digital certificate and publicly announced acknowledgement of their contributions to social care by the Chief Nurse and the Department for Health and Social Care.
Read more about Forest Healthcare - Forest Healthcare London Nursing Care Centre Secures Third Consecutive Outstanding CQC Rating
About Forest Healthcare: Forest Healthcare is an established care provider dedicated to consistently delivering an outstanding quality of life to the residents they serve. With a network of care centres across South-East England, Forest Healthcare specialises in catering to a wide range of care requirements, including; residential, nursing, dementia and specialist care. The organisation’s mission is to provide a family feel to the exceptional care they deliver by valuing, respecting and caring for each and every person who lives and works at Forest Healthcare.
Media Contact:
Chris Salter
(020) 7250 0156
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Source Company: https://www.foresthc.com
Published by: Steve OBrien