Muscliff Care Home, which is owned by AgeCare Care Homes, has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the CQC again this year, for the third year in a row. It’s an exceptional attainment, both in terms of continuous proof of performance and because this puts Muscliff in the very top tier of care providers in the country: only 3.5% of care homes in England are rated ‘Outstanding’.
When Tom Hayes, Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East, was told about this by Martin Buxton, whose wife is a resident at Muscliff, he immediately arranged a visit to the home. Mr Buxton had praised the exceptional care that the team at Muscliff provides for his wife.
To achieve its Veteran Friendly status, Bullsmoor Lodge was required to meet eight standards. These included noting Armed Forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans or their partners.
Manager Lisa Coombs said “We’re really proud to share that we’ve been officially accredited under the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF)! This has been such a meaningful journey for us, helping our team learn more about how to support veterans and their families in the best possible way.
“It has opened up so many important conversations with our residents. What we once worried might be difficult stories to hear have actually turned into beautiful memories, from heart-warming love stories to cherished memorabilia. It’s been incredible to see how much joy and pride these moments bring to our residents when they’re able to share them.
“We’re excited about what’s ahead, we’ve got some lovely events in the works and new partnerships forming. One of those events will be our VFF Celebration Afternoon Tea (date to be confirmed), and we can’t wait to celebrate together. This is just the beginning, and we truly believe it will help us make a difference – not only in our home but also in the wider community.”
The 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.
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: “The application that Bullsmoor Lodge submitted was of an exceptionally high standard and is a testament to the dedication, passion and commitment they have for providing high-quality person-centred care for their residents, along with forging some really meaningful connections to the AF Community and NHS services.”
All nine AgeCare care homes are undergoing VFF accreditation this year.
