Overview
We have five households and we take care to ensure that these mirror people on their journey and it is not unusual for someone to move through the houses if we feel that their needs are better met in another environment. When someone comes to live with us we will match them to a House in which we feel they can receive the most individualised support. This means we can also match our staff to the different houses depending on the qualities they can bring.
Approach
Simply - that our family members can live well if we are committed to their emotional wellbeing as a priority. Our beliefs are based on the work of Tom Kitwood who developed a flower which illustrates the fundamental needs of each of us.
The Butterfly Household Approach ©
In 2013 we stood back and assessed ourselves and we realised that we needed to change. We were supporting people based on task - this meant prioritising their physical needs above all else. What we saw was people who were well supported but often unhappy.
We made a commitment to change this and worked with Dementia Care Matters. Using their Butterfly Household model © we learned how to make it possible for our family to live well.
Integral to this is the Household Model. Each House is a home and we live and work together. We have no barriers - that means no uniforms, drug trollies, separate staff rooms or anything which creates a divide between us and our family members. Our night staff wear uniforms on the principle that this encourages family to go to bed.
Each House shares a domestic feel with the kitchen as the central hub and a HomeMaker who looks after domestic life with the help of our family. You will see family preparing food, washing up and helping every day. Our catering staff promote choice and involvement and work tirelessly so that mealtimes are a central and enjoyable part of each day. We all sit down together and share the mealtime experience.
Environment
As soon as you walk in you will see an explosion of colour. We are not a hotel and we don't aim to be tasteful and sterile; we are a family and we need vibrancy and stimulation. The Houses are full of occupation based around the life histories of family. If someone wants to get up and go to work we can make that happen. The walls are decorated with stimuli to prompt conversation and involvement and to make our family feel valued and part of life. There are busy bustling areas and quiet reflective spaces so, like us all, we can choose spaces to match our mood.
Each House has access to an outside area at all times - fresh air and freedom are essential for our family members' wellbeing and we promote involvement in gardening and other outdoor occupation.
Type of service
Nursing homes
Service specialism
Caring for adults over 65 yrs
Caring for adults under 65 yrs
Dementia
Mental health conditions
Physical disabilities