Suffolk Care Homes going the extra mile

Event organiser Nichola Burley with Oscar!

Yesterday I attended the first award ceremony for the Suffolk GEM (going the extra mile) Awards at Trinity Park outside Ipswich.

These awards were created to recognise and reward best practice in Suffolk’s care homes.  So often we only read about care homes when something goes wrong and this does nothing to give us confidence if we, or those we love, find ourselves needing care.

Recognising this, in 2011 the Suffolk Safeguarding Board took a number of measures to ensure not only that that those in care homes in Suffolk are looked after properly, but also that the residents of the county as a whole are reassured about standards.   The GEM awards were created as part of this programme.

Homes were judged in six different classes reflecting good practice in areas such as provision of a homely and inclusive environment, innovative and imaginative catering options and responding to residents’ individual choices.

There must have been around 20 homes shortlisted, and they assembled in Ipswich yesterday for a spectacular cream tea plus an Oscar type prize winners’ ceremony complete with appropriate Hollywood style music, glittering fairy lights etc.

I was very proud to be asked to give the prize in the ‘Inside and Out’ Category, which looked for best practice in the various activities that are offered to residents.  The winner was Oakwood House in Kesgrave where the manager's enthusiasm has meant that the home has lead the way in offering holidays and trips for their residents, including those with special needs. 

 Representatives from the Home, along with residents, were kind enough to let me take their photograph.