Sevenoaks care home receives Care Fit for VIPS accolade

 

A care home in Sevenoaks has been awarded a prestigious accreditation for person-centred dementia care – Care Fit for VIPS.

The internal accreditation has been awarded to Care UK’s Weald Heights, on Bourchier Close, and recognises the team’s work alongside residents and families to improve the lives of those living with dementia.

Developed in 2004, the Care Fit for VIPS framework was introduced by dementia experts and is centered around four key aspects: valuing those living with dementia, treating everyone as an individual, showing empathy towards those living with the condition, and recognising the need for a stimulating social environment.

Weald Heights achieved the accreditation by offering an extremely high level of care for those living with dementia, achieving an impressive score of over 93% across all elements of care.

Suzanne Mumford, Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia at Care UK and a key advocate for the Care Fit for VIPS accreditation, commended Weald Heights for its person-centered care, finding examples in residents’ care plans of life histories and tailored notes on how to support individuals in ways that promote self-worth. 

During the assessment, the team’s kindness and attentiveness were commended. Colleagues were seen engaging with residents in communal areas and hallways, ensuring regular check-ins on their wellbeing. They also received praise for offering a wide range of activities tailored to the abilities of each resident. These activities included musical events, art workshops, household tasks, which can help residents feel a sense of purpose, and regular exercise sessions.

Weald Heights was also recognised for its dementia-friendly environment. The home features thoughtful touches such as memory boxes personalised with residents’ preferences, tailored signage to assist a resident to their room, and other areas including a birdwatching area and a seating space with stained-glass decals.

Namaste care, a holistic approach to dementia care, was another aspect the report highlighted. The home delivered an impressive 298 Namaste care sessions in the previous 30 days, both in group settings and one-on-one, ensuring that residents receive compassionate and individualised attention.

Maria Covington, Home Manager at Weald Heights, said: “We’re thrilled that our work to ensure residents living with dementia live happy and fulfilled lives has been recognised through receiving this accolade. The team put their all into delivering exceptional care ensuring each and every resident feels supported.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to all the team for their dedication as well as the residents and relatives that make Weald Heights a wonderful place to live. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality care across the board.”

Weald Heights is a purpose-built care home designed to deliver luxury hotel-style comfort for residents, complete with a café, hair and beauty salon, cinema and beautiful gardens. The home is divided into separate residential, nursing and dementia care suites, encouraging close-knit communities where residents can get to know each other, and where people with similar needs can be cared for together.