NATIONWIDE / AGILITYPR.NEWS / December 16, 2024 / News release
December 2024
Harbour Healthcare recognised with European award and ‘Outstanding” CQC for its personalised dementia care
An award-winning family-run care provider is celebrating a twofold boon after being recognised on a European scale for its “exceptional” person-centred approach to dementia care and receiving an “Outstanding” rating acknowledgement by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Harbour Healthcare, which manages 23 care homes throughout England and Wales, 18 of which provide specialised dementia care, was recently named ‘Dementia Care Provider of the Year’ by ElderCare Review Europe, in recognition of how it “skilfully blends innovative approaches with personalised care to deliver top-quality services to residents.”
These “innovative approaches” include its sector-leading Harbour Community Hub Programme which transforms care homes into dynamic, engaging spaces where residents can continue to enjoy their lifelong passions together with others with shared interests.
CQC inspectors said Harbour was “exceptional at maximising the effectiveness of people’s care and treatment.”
The report said: “Staff and management understood the importance of supporting people to have stimulating activities that they enjoyed and were delivered to meet their needs and preferences.”
Paul Courtney, director of development at Harbour Healthcare said: “The personalisation of care is key to our values and ethos. We believe that residents should not simply leave their lives at the front door when they enter one of our homes.
“Our lifestyle activities teams organise events and activities which not only foster interpersonal relationships and connections, but also help to tackle boredom, isolation and depression. The outcomes of these are evidenced in the well-being and satisfaction of our residents and that's truly the most rewarding part of our work."
The company follows guidance from Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) in creating supportive care environments. It aims to achieve DSDC accreditation for all its homes to align with these ambitious standards.
Inspectors praised the group for involving people in planning their own care and support, with each resident completing an “About Me” record. A former musician was supported to attend live music sessions thanks to specialised equipment purchased by the team, while staff also sang with them individually.
Harbour has embraced the "Think Local, Act Personal" initiative as the central tenet of its dementia care programme. This approach emphasises the importance of individualised care, recognising that each resident has unique needs and preferences.
In addition, Harbour has also adopted the UK's "Making It Real" programme, further reinforcing its commitment to individualised care through the "I Statements" framework. This framework encourages residents to express their needs and desires, enabling staff to provide tailored support that truly reflects each person's identity and experiences.
Paul said: ““As a company, we actively look for and implement evidence-based research, global best practices and the latest technologies to ensure meaningful and positive outcomes for residents, their families and our staff members.
“These initiatives, endorsed by the CQC, highlight our dedication to providing responsive and compassionate care across our dementia homes. By placing the individual at the heart of our care philosophy, we continuously strive to create a meaningful and fulfilling life for every resident.”
For more information about Harbour Healthcare, please visit www.harbourhealthcare.co.uk, email info@harbourhealthcare.co.uk or call 0161 429 0307.
ENDS
For all media enquiries, please contact Liz Bowen at liz@conteur.co.uk or call 01905 670881.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Harbour Healthcare has dementia-specialist homes in the following areas:
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