Horndean care home secures prestigious accreditation

A Horndean care home has been recognised for its standards of person-centred care for veterans and launched a new regular event to celebrate.

Care UK’s Pear Tree Court, on Portsmouth Road, has officially received ‘Veteran Friendly’ status, and invited the community to its first free veteran breakfast club this month. The club will continue to run on a quarterly basis and has been accredited by Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs.

At the events, guests can learn more about how the team can support those who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces over brunch, specially prepared by home’s Head Chef.

The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

To achieve its Veteran Friendly status, Pear Tree Court was required to meet eight standards, including noting Armed Forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services such as its local Royal British Legion branch, along with other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans. 

Aimee Sparks, Home Manager at Pear Tree Court, said: “We’re so proud to have become a VFF-approved care home.

 “We pride ourselves on being warm and inclusive to all and with many veterans and veterans’ spouses in our home, it was important for us to ensure we can provide the right environment for them to lead fulfilling lives. We’ve learnt so much in the process, and we were very excited to host the first of many veteran-friendly breakfast club events in the local community.

 “The entire team has been working tirelessly to achieve the accreditation, and I’d like to say a big thank you to them all. We really enjoyed our first veteran brunch – especially the 1950s singing from Charlotte Millicamp.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming more veterans from the community into our home!”

Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and is responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. 

She said: “We’re delighted that Pear Tree Court has achieved VFF status. This is a great commitment to their continuous improvement in the delivery of person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners. 

“This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future team members at Pear Tree Court, who are able to access enhanced training and guidance to better engage with the unique military experiences that the residents and partners have lived through. 

“Being a VFF care home means that there is an increased understanding and recognition for the veteran community in the Horndean area.”

The home also offers a free veteran fish and chips lunch every other Friday, from 1.30pm. 

Pear Tree Court is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.