Social Care News

Care homes shortlisted for NHS Awards for advanced care planning work

Five care homes in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area have completed an NHS training programme - and have now been shortlisted for the NHS Awards, along with the Health Board itself.

The homes have been working on Advance Care Planning (ACP) and have carried out the NHS Improving Quality Together (IQT) Silver Award, the first time in Wales nursing homes have been supported to gain this award.

The shortlisted homes are: 

• Capel Grange Nursing Home
• Crick Care Home
• Glanyravon Nursing Home
• Millheath Nursing Home
• Llantarnum Abbey (religious order rather than a home)
• Jill Thomas Lead Nurse Primary Care working with Red Rose Nursing Home

'Projects will set benchmark for end of life care'

ACP involves a series of conversations in which a patient's wishes are explored, identified and then recorded.

The homes have worked in partnership to support care homes in standardising documentation and how ACP should be communicated once agreed and reviewed. Training has included the need to assess mental capacity, 'best interest' decision-making, communication and how to recognise when someone may be ready to start these difficult conversations.

Tanya Strange, divisional nurse for Primary Care and Networks at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: "We are absolutely delighted that all the homes who have participated in the IQT Silver Award have passed! Their projects will, we are sure, set the benchmark for improvements in end of life care and improved patient experience across the sector.

"We would like to say a huge thanks to the nursing homes in our area (and our staff who have delivered training) for proactively supporting the improvement work and enhancing patient experience both within these projects and through their continued participation at the provider forum. 

"A special thanks also to our colleagues in the ABCi Team who have, for the first time in Wales, engaged nursing homes in the IQT Silver Award. Your expertise, delivery, positive encouragement and support to the care homes has been absolutely invaluable."