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Home of the Quarter | Welcome Home Autumn 2018

Reaching New (Derby) Heights!

After achieving a Good in All Categories last year from the Care Quality Commission, Derby Heights Care Home in Littleover, Derby, has continued to achieve even more! This summer Manager Lance Bosmans and his supportive and dedicated team have been accredited Gold Continuous Advancement Programme (CAP) awards in Housekeeping and Catering, celebrated being crowned Derby Care Home of the Year, and have introduced an innovative Buddy System to develop resident relationships in the home.

Double CAP Awards Win

With under a sixth of CAP participants achieving a Gold Award, Derby Heights have excelled by winning a double Gold Award for both Housekeeping and Catering in June. So, what’s the formula for their success? Answer: teamwork and hard work.

Derby Heights Care Home Littleover housekeeping team CAP award gold

Davesh Kumar, Avery’s Head of Hotel Services, explains: “I have always found great attention to detail at Derby Heights; all department heads work in cooperation and with full commitment with their teams to maintain the standards every day; with the help of the CAP, the team has taken Hotel Services to the next level.”

Derby Heights Care Home Littleover culinary catering team CAP award gold

Lance was full of praise, saying “We have a fantastic team at Derby Heights. The Housekeeping and Catering staff contribute much to the success of the home and residents’ well-being. What they do day in, day out, and their dedication is key to the home’s success.”

Care Home of the Year

The success doesn’t stop there! Derby Heights stepped away with the most prestigious award of the night at the Derby Telegraph’s annual Care Awards this summer: Care Home of the Year 2018. In addition to this success, Sophie White, a Healthcare Assistant at Derby Heights, won the runner-up prize for Young Carer of the Year.

Derby Heights Home of the Quarter Avery team staff awards

The home was nominated by a lady who had to move her father into dementia care in August last year. She said “After visiting many homes, I visited Derby Heights and from the moment I walked through the door, I just knew this was the place I wanted my dad to be in…the staff are smart, approachable and are a harmonious team…making them worthy winners.”

Bosmans’ Buddies

Teamwork involves more than colleagues at Derby Heights. Lance has introduced a new initiative to get residents and staff forming strong relationships. The system, now affectionately dubbed ‘Bosmans’ Buddies’, pairs up residents and staff members who share similar interests and hobbies, so residents have someone they can turn to and bond with.

Derby Heights Care Home Littleover Bosmans Buddies Friendship maintenance staff resident

These genuine connections help with everything from daily conversation to creating lasting friendships. Resident Michael and Maintenance Person Maitland have proven just how effective Lance’s initiative is, being teamed up together following their love of traditional activities. The pair get on so well they often go to football matches together and visit the local pub to enjoy a beer or two.

Although Lance only joined Avery in September 2017, he has made a real impact. “He’s a great leader,” said Rita Flanaghan, Regional Manager, “He’s humble about his successes, but he’s made a real difference at the home for everyone there, including residents, staff and visitors.”

Due to the home’s fantastic teamwork and Lance’s intuitive approach to care, the home continues to go from strength to strength. They are certainly deserving of the ‘Home of the Quarter’ title too!

Article by Helen Bates, Marketing Executive