West Drayton care home highly commended in national awards

A care home in West Drayton is celebrating after being highly commended at a national awards ceremony.

Care UK’s Franklin House, on Rickards Close, was highly commended by judges in the ‘Best Facilities Management, Maintenance or Housekeeping Team’ category at the Care Home Awards 2023.

The Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery. 

Leading the commendation for ‘Best Facilities, Management, Maintenance or Housekeeping’ category is Tracey Chapel, the home’s Head Housekeeper who joined the housekeeping team at Franklin House in 2010. 

Determined to support residents and team members, Tracey’s commitment, initiative, and relationships with the residents have seen her embrace roles and responsibilities above her primary job, including: infection control, general maintenance around the home, overseeing Lifestyle team members, showing new residents around, and supporting existing residents in any way she can. 

Throughout her thirteen years at Franklin House, Tracey has used her initiative to better improve the day-to-day running of the home. This has included introducing a labelling machine to ensure items of clothing do not get lost and remain with their owners and introducing smaller trollies after noticing domestic team members were struggling to navigate larger, noisier trollies around the home. 

During the pandemic, Tracey introduced ‘Resident of the Day’ for each of the home’s three floors, an initiative which remains today. The chosen resident is treated to their favourite dishes cooked by the home’s Head Chef, and their favourite activities are arranged by the Lifestyle team. Tracey enhances their experience by having the domestic team carry out a deep and thorough clean of the resident’s room on that day. 

Commenting on Tracey’s friendly and dedicated nature, one resident’s family member added: “A dynamic force within Franklin House, Tracey is a rarity and in a league of her own. Dependable and diligent, Tracey uses her initiative and remains unflustered by any challenges she encounters. On the contrary, Tracey turns these challenges into positive outcomes through her inspired thinking, sheer determination, and tenacious perseverance.”

Commenting on her shortlisting, Tracey said: “I’m delighted that our home has been highly commended by the judges. Franklin House is a wonderful place, both for residents and team members, and I want to say a big thank you to those who put us forward and who help make my job so enjoyable.” 

Mathew V Mathew, Home Manger at Franklin House, concluded: “We are thrilled our Head Housekeeper, Tracey Chapel, has received a highly commended award at this year’s Care Home Awards. 

“This commendation is testament to Tracey’s hard work and innovative thinking to ensure every resident leads a happy and fulfilling life here at Franklin House. It is truly inspiring to observe the interactions between Tracey and residents, and I’m thrilled to see she has been recognised for the difference she makes each day to residents’ wellbeing through her thoughtful care, valued attention and innovative thinking. 

“I know residents and their relatives will agree with me when I say, Tracey is very much at the heart of Franklin House and is a welcome beacon of creativity and care for everyone. Congratulations, Tracey!”