Norfolk's nursing homes are amongst the best in the country - it's official!

Added: 14/07/2008
Category: Norfolk County Council

Nursing homes in the Norfolk area are amongst some of the best in the country - and that's official after two Norfolk nursing homes were amongst the first in the country to be accredited with the Gold Standards Framework for delivering excellent end of life care.

Sun Court Nursing Home in Sheringham was also one of only five homes in England to achieve Beacon Status under the Gold Standards Framework, which means that they will now be able to share their good work and help other homes develop skills and expertise.

Claremont at Caister also gained accreditation and the two Norfolk homes were amongst only 34 in England. This is the first year that nursing homes have achieved accreditation from the Gold Standards Framework Centre and Help the Aged for delivering excellent end of life care.

Other nursing homes in Norfolk are currently working towards accreditation, which takes them through a demanding two year programme before it can be achieved.

Norfolk County Council's Adult Social Services department is working alongside independent nursing and residential homes to help raise the quality of care in Norfolk and the Gold Standards Framework is a key way of achieving this.

Chris Mowle, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services said: “This is excellent news for Sun Court and Clairmont who have worked very hard to get national recognition for the work that they do.

It is also really good news for Norfolk residents who can be assured that they will receive some of the best care in the country in the final stages of life. I am really pleased that Norfolk's nursing homes are taking on this challenge and offering quality care.”

Val Ridley, Sun Court's Registered Manager said: “The Gold Standards Framework begins almost as soon as a person comes to live at Sun Court. They are given the opportunity to make decisions about how their care will be managed in the very final stages of life and given confidence that they can be comfortable and pain free at this time.

“But Gold Standards Framework is also about living well now, feeling confident and getting the very best from the remainder of life. Families are also supported and encouraged to be as involved as they want.”

Lynda Parsons , manager at Claremont said: "The Gold Standards Framework is about effective communication, teamwork and planning. Dying is a subject that as a nation we often avoid talking about, but since working with the GSF the staff at Claremont House are much more proactive in involving our residents and their family in decisions and making choices about future care.'