Latest news with #VeteranFriendlyFramework
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Forest Healthcare Centre, Grace Manor, Latest in the Network to Achieve Veteran Friendly Framework Member Status
05/14/2025, Borehamwood WD6 1EP // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Grace Manor Care Centre, a private 24-hour nursing home in Gillingham that is part of the respected Forest Healthcare network, has confirmed that it has successfully achieved accreditation through the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF). The centre is now able to claim the title of a Veteran Friendly Care Home—the most recent centre in the group to complete the process. The VFF is a collaboration between the Royal British Legion (RBL), the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, and Royal Star & Garter. Its goal is to encourage care centres to improve health and well-being outcomes for the approximate 25,000 veterans currently living in English care facilities. The Importance of Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation for Grace Manor Care Centre Forest Healthcare has already committed to becoming VFF accredited across several other of its high-quality care centres. Grace Manor is the latest to concentrate on developing support systems and training resources for carers to ensure the needs, well-being, and happiness of veterans are a focal aspect of personalised care planning. Research conducted by the RBL found that around 8% of all care home residents in England and Wales, excluding partners and spouses, have served and that concerted efforts are needed to ensure they receive acknowledgement and additional support. The charitable organisation has identified challenges associated with varied emotional and physical needs, the impacts of military duties on the lives of older adults, and the key importance of recognising and understanding how best to ensure Armed Forces community members receive acknowledgement, access to community groups, and connection with other veterans. To apply for VFF accreditation, care centres must submit an application demonstrating their adherence with eight standards. They must, for example, provide evidence of provisions that will ensure care home residents with Armed Forces status are recognised and their needs incorporated into care plans, sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, and ensure there are signposting policies in place to connect residents with charitable and statutory support services. Grace Manor Care Centre's Pathway to Achieving VFF Membership While many private care centres may have a proportion of veteran residents, VFF membership was particularly important for Grace Manor Care Centre. The care home is close to several military bases and barracks, past and present, including closed bases such as HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks, which opened in 1902 and is now part of the Universities of Medway, and the Royal Marine Barracks based at Gun Wharf Chatham, which closed in 1950. Several other meaningful bases or military installations remain near Grace Manor, including the Royal Engineers Museum located within Kent town and the Royal School of Military Engineering, which has a campus in Brompton built along the remains of the Chatham Dockyard Great Lines and remains active today. Although the veteran proportion of the population in Kent is around the average for England and Wales, there is a high likelihood of dedicated nursing centres in and around these specific areas to welcome residents with an Armed Forces background. Commenting on the application from Grace Manor Care Centre, the VFF mentioned that it was of an 'exceptionally high standard' and represented a commitment to 'forging some meaningful connections' with the local Armed Forces community and healthcare services. Celebrating Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation at Grace Manor Gabriele Jerome, Manager of Grace Manor said, ' It was wonderful to receive confirmation of our accreditation and our Veteran Friendly Framework Certificate, which is now proudly displayed in the centre. Enormous thanks go to our talented, dedicated, and compassionate care teams, who embraced the opportunity to reinforce and enhance their learning about how best to support our veteran residents and embarked on this project with such enthusiasm. The accreditation process gave us a fantastic chance to access new educational resources, identify local services and communities that can enhance the quality of life for veterans, and look at new ways to ensure Armed Forces status residents are recognised and supported and that their military history is recorded as an integral part of care planning.' Grace Manor Care Centre is one of six Forest Healthcare centres now officially recognised as VFF Friendly. Belmont Lodge in Chigwell, Essex, Ash Court in Camden, London, Bridgeside Lodge in Islington, London, The Poplars in Maidstone, and Pinehurst in Crowthorne, Berkshire, are also featured on the VFF Status Care Home Map published online through the Veteran Friendly Framework. Read more about Forest Healthcare - Forest Healthcare Network's The Grange Care Centre Scoops Prestigious Accolade in Awards 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
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Salisbury care home to host 1940s-themed street party to mark VE Day
A Salibury care home is set to host a 1940s-themed street party to celebrate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Salisbury Manor, on Shapland Close, will open its doors to the community on Thursday, May 8, from 2.30pm to 4pm, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. VE Day, which was celebrated on May 8, 1945, marked the end of the war in Europe after Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the news on the radio. This sparked spontaneous street parties and celebrations across the country. The team at Salisbury Manor has been busy organising a special commemorative event, which will see residents and guests enjoy an afternoon of food and entertainment from local singer Charlie Greenwood, who will perform wartime songs. READ MORE: VE day commemorations at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection The mayor of Salisbury and children from Chafyn Grove will join residents, their family members, and other community members to embrace the spirit of the 1940s. The home will be decorated with bunting, flags, sandbags, and nostalgic wartime pictures, while the Royal British Legion will also be present to share information. Resident Tony Child said: "As Winston Churchill said on his VE Day speech, 'This is your Victory', Lest we forget." Skye Williams, general manager at Salisbury Manor, said: "We love building and maintaining intergenerational relationships here at Salisbury Manor, so we're pleased to be opening our doors to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day for a special day of sharing memories with children from Chafyn Grove and the wider community. "Intergenerational relationships can be incredibly beneficial to both younger and older people alike and can help provide residents with a stronger sense of wellbeing and purpose. "It will be inspiring to see the residents sharing their experiences and memories from wartime Britain – and hopefully a fascinating history lesson for the children, too. READ MORE: VE Day 80 beacon lighting ceremony to take place in Ringwood "We're looking forward to marking such a significant milestone on what we anticipate will be a nostalgic and enriching day at our VE Day street party." Salisbury Manor has officially received 'Veteran Friendly' status for meeting eight standards laid out in the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion and NHS Veterans' Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The VFF framework involves noting Armed Forces status within residents' care plans, addressing social isolation, and signposting residents and their relatives to relevant support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans and their partners. Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Salisbury Manor incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. To find out more about Salisbury Manor visit the Care UK website.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Ash Court Care Centre, Part of the Forest Healthcare Group, Achieves Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation
03/03/2025, Borehamwood WD6 1EP // PRODIGY: Feature Story // A private nursing care centre based in Camden, London, part of the established and well-regarded Forest Healthcare Group, has been awarded an accreditation that recognises its commitment to outstanding care and support for veterans. Ash Court Care Centre is the first non-military care facility in the city to achieve this quality mark, showcasing the centre's commitment, dedication and passion for person-centred care and its efforts to forge connections within veterans, families, healthcare services and the Armed Forces community. The Impacts and Importance of Veteran-Friendly Care Homes and Nursing Centres This is the second such award achieved by individual centres within the Forest Healthcare network and something the specialist residential care provider aspires to achieve throughout its residential homes. The accreditation represents compassionate, welcoming and high-quality environments that go the extra mile to ensure veterans and their families are supported. Launched as an initial pilot project, the Veteran Friendly Framework, or VFF, was created in collaboration between charities and organisations, including Royal Star & Garter, the Royal British Legion, and the NHS Veteran's Covenant Healthcare Alliance. It is also assisted with financing from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to achieve better well-being and health outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in residential care centres in England. Research conducted by the Royal British Legion has identified that 8% of care home residents are veterans, excluding spouses and partners who may also have complex and unique care needs. However, the study also found that less than 1% of care homes offer specific support for veterans and that many find it challenging to understand how best to connect, address loneliness and create environments where veterans feel supported, seen and respected. The Veteran Friendly Framework is an initiative that endeavours to ensure care and nursing centres deliver the right levels of support, understand the mental and physical outcomes of a career in the Armed Forces, and demonstrate best practice, focusing on relationships, community and education. Ash Court Care Centre Reflects on Achieving the Veteran-Friendly Framework Accreditation Ash Court Care Centre was required to demonstrate how it met eight defined standards, each of which is mandatory to be awarded membership in the framework. These include making provisions to ensure Armed Forces statuses and needs are incorporated into care planning, signposting to relevant charitable and statutory bodies, and signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant. On confirming that the Ash Court team had met every requirement, the VFF commented on the application's 'exceptionally high standard' and the centre's 'hard work and commitment' in welcoming the VFF team and implementing new training and awareness to upskill staff members. Amanda Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Forest Healthcare, says, 'We are very proud to be an officially recognised Veteran Friendly Framework accredited nursing centre and to continue hosting varied events, activities, and community workshops that provide space and time for veterans to share stories as they wish while ensuring every individual is respected, supported, and given proactive help to safeguard their well-being. Veterans and families who have served in the Armed Forces have often given so much, many of whom have incredible memories and accolades for bravery, sacrifice and courage that might be unknown or forgotten—but that form a vital aspect of a person's sense of self, lifetime achievements, and the mental and physical scars many experience. With a solid focus on social interaction, friendships, veteran-friendly events, and connecting veterans with other individuals and groups in the local community, we are committed to continuing our work to ensure that Ash Court and our sister care centres throughout the group are well-equipped to offer holistic support to veterans of every age.' Forest Healthcare's Ongoing Efforts to Align With Veteran-Friendly Framework Standards Alongside progressing towards VFF accreditation at each of the residential centres within the Forest Healthcare group, the care and nursing specialists are continuing to introduce improvements and additional resources that progressively augment and extend the levels of personal support on offer to veterans. Each care home recognised on the VFF map is considered part of a family and is subject to ongoing reviews in the spirit of partnership to improve care standards for veterans and families across the residential care sector. Amanda adds, 'This has been an extraordinary learning process and a chance for us to reflect and see how, as a high-quality, private care team, we can provide new or adapted activities, recognise the contributions veterans have made, and uphold the highest possible standards of care for residents of diverse backgrounds.' 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. (020) 7250 0156
