The Forest Healthcare group has officially become only the 16th care group across England to secure Veteran Friendly Framework accreditation across all of its centres, with the 13 nursing and care facilities in the network now certified.
Led by Group Quality and Governance Manager Michalae Thompson, the success is the culmination of months of project management, ensuring that each centre, spanning London, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, meets a set of defined quality and care delivery standards.
The Work of Forest Healthcare Ltd to Achieve 100% Veteran-Friendly Framework Recognition
The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) is a project launched in a partnership between Royal Star & Garter, a charity that supports veterans living with dementia and disabilities, the Royal British Legion, the Armed Forces charity, and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, a group of NHS providers developing best practices for the Armed Forces community.
It aims to ensure residential settings for older adults have the skills and resources to offer support for veterans in England, tackling prevalent issues such as isolation and loneliness.
Care and nursing homes can register voluntarily to be accredited, with eight standards split into four categories that they must meet to adhere to the requirements. These include offering signposting to help veterans connect with charities and statutory services, and proactively identifying the needs and wishes of veterans to ensure they are respected.
Working through the standards one care centre at a time, Forest Healthcare has successfully met all the requirements across its 13 facilities, an achievement that places the group among the top 16 in England. Forest Healthcare centres now comprise a remarkable 5% of all VFF-accredited care homes.
This level of dedication prompted Royal Star & Garter to remark on Michalae's work, a sentiment echoed by the Home Managers and Regional Operations Managers at Forest Healthcare.
Amanda Scott, CEO of Forest Healthcare says, ‘Becoming veteran-friendly was a clear commitment from everyone at Forest Healthcare, and we do not underestimate the enthusiasm it took to develop new policies, partnerships and collaborations across our regions. Michalae is a fantastic part of the group, and we are thrilled that her drive has meant every centre is now fully equipped to provide exceptional care for members of the Armed Forces community.’
Reasons Behind the Need for Veteran-Friendly Framework Approved Care Homes
Data shows that there are currently over 26,000 veterans living in care and residential care homes across England and Wales, comprising almost 8% of all care home residents. Many have significant care needs, especially in later life:
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48.7% of veterans have a disability compared to 24% of the wider UK population
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31.3% of people with an Armed Forces background say that they feel lonely some of the time, often or always
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39.4% of veterans who have a disability are also affected by isolation and loneliness
Prior to the formation of the VFF, research conducted by the Royal British Legion found that only 20 of 15,000 UK care homes had specific support systems in place for those with a military background, and that few had the resources to recognise the emotional, social and physical needs of veterans.
Since its inception, the VFF has allocated Project Officers to 225 care centres who have completed the accreditation process. Many have identified Armed Forces members in their communities they had not known had served and have now ensured they offer social support systems and individualised therapies to protect their well-being and deliver better health outcomes.
Veteran-Friendly Framework Standards Achieved By Forest Healthcare Ltd
The eight standards cover various areas, including staff training, joining the Armed Forces Covenant, incorporating military statuses into care planning, and committing to understanding the broader impacts that service life may have had on resident veterans.
Amanda says, ‘For Forest Healthcare, the real focus is on ensuring every resident, in every centre, of every age, has the best possible quality of care, which extends far beyond the practicalities of personal care or nutrition. Signposting veterans and their loved ones to support services, knowing how to recognise their accomplishments and sacrifices, and being respectful of preferences, such as being addressed by rank, cannot be undervalued, and mean those who have given so much remain respected and protected in later life.’
The Veteran Friendly Framework website offers further information about the accreditation process and a register of care homes that have thus far completed the certification.
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About Forest Healthcare
Forest Healthcare is an established care provider dedicated to consistently delivering an outstanding quality of life to the residents they serve. With a network of care centres across South-East England, Forest Healthcare specialises in catering to a wide range of care requirements, including; residential, nursing, dementia and specialist care. The organisation’s mission is to provide a family feel to the exceptional care they deliver by valuing, respecting and caring for each and every person who lives and works at Forest Healthcare.
Media Contact:
Chris Salter
(020) 7250 0156
Source: Digital PR
Release ID: 1784163
