East Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative (EMPSC) has recognised the achievements of care homes in the region in their latest care home awards, focusing on care homes which have involved and worked with residents and families to improve care.

Yew Tree Care Home in Dowsby, Lincolnshire announced as the main winner at the ‘Connecting Together’ care home webinar on 3 November.

A resident’s daughter put the care home team forward for the award. She explained that her mum has advanced dementia and the staff show kindness, understanding and compassion, and have supported them both through their difficult journey, including creating an Advance Care Plan. The daughter says the team support her mum’s ever-changing needs, which have allowed her to remain with them - where she is settled.

She said: ‘They took so much time in considering mum’s needs and what her best interests were. We all worked with the GP to devise a plan to meet mum’s needs and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions – which both my mum and myself find very distressing.’

Watch the winner’s announcement

EMPSC also awarded Juniper House Care Home, Brackley, in Northamptonshire a Highly Commended award. In the nomination, the team was described as going from `strength to strength’ with their approach to personalised Advance Care Planning, ensuring resident and family wishes are taken into account. They are focused on aftercare, not only for the family but also for the staff team.

The East Midlands care home awards are part of the ‘Connecting Together’ series of webinars for care homes and give the chance for anyone working with the care home sector to shine a light on carers and show them how appreciated they are, by nominating them for an award.

The Connecting Together network of care homes is led by the East Midlands Patient Safety Collaborative, part of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network. It delivers the NHS national Patient Safety Improvement Programmes, including work with care homes to improve the management of deterioration – how to spot and manage when a resident’s condition worsens.

Find more information on our support for care homes webpage.