Eight Greensleeves Care homes have achieved Gold Standards Framework accreditation for their exemplary palliative (end-of-life) care, the first tranche in a new scheme by the not-for-profit organisation to pursue accreditation for all its homes.
Eight homes have achieved official accreditation, with the remaining 20 already undertaking training to gain accreditation later in the year. This new development is central to ensuring that older people receive compassionate and dignified palliative care that is benchmarked against the highest industry standards.
Described as a ‘practical and evidence-based end of life care service improvement programme’, the Gold Standards Framework (GSF), which has been implemented in fewer than 250 care homes in the country, aims to enable a ‘gold standard’ of care in a person’s last years of life, ensuring people are able to die with dignity and respect, and in the place and manner of their choosing. The Framework has also proven to reduce unplanned hospital admissions.
The GSF encourages care home providers to work together with individuals receiving palliative care, and with their loved ones, in an integrated approach that supports emotional wellbeing for all involved.
Implementing Gold Standards Framework across the organisation aims to enhance and standardise the provision of palliative care in Greensleeves Care’s 28 care homes.
Julie Clarges, Director of Quality and Compliance at Greensleeves Care, said:
“I am so pleased that almost a third of our homes have achieved the accreditation and our remaining homes are making great progress with their GSF training to become accredited later in the year.
“Maintaining an exceptional quality of palliative care is something we have always instilled and supported in our homes. Having this recognition from the Gold Standards Framework is a great way to ensure our care continues to meet the highest industry standards.
“At Greensleeves Care, we prioritise helping people feel good about their care and care choices. We hope the accreditation gives extra confidence to residents and their families of the quality of support they can expect at what can be a particularly difficult time.”
The homes that achieved their accreditation are:
- De Lucy House – Diss
- Glebelands – Wokingham
- Grosvenor House – St Leonards –on-Sea
- Harleston House – Lowestoft
- Queen Elizabeth House – Bromley
- Rose Cottage – Cambridgeshire
- Tickford Abbey – Milton Keynes
- Whitegates – Hastings