Member Article

Heathcotes rated one of UK’s top 20 care providers

Chesterfield-based Heathcotes Group is celebrating a milestone achievement following its official rating as one of the top 20 adult specialist care home providers in the UK.

Last month’s listings published by Laing Buisson ranked Heathcotes at 16, with 86% of its services rated Outstanding or Good by the Care Quality Commission, representing the company’s first appearance in the top 20 since its foundation in 2004. Heathcotes Group offers a range of specialist care provision and the majority of its 60 services support adults with learning disabilities, challenging behaviours and associated complex needs.

Brendan Kelly, Managing Director of Heathcotes (Northern) commented on the achievement:

“Breaking into the UK’s top 20 is fantastic reward for the hard work which Heathcotes have maintained over the past 14 years, continually developing our service models and seeking new ways to improve our systems. We are constantly striving to achieve Outstanding ratings from the Care Quality Commission. In the past year our quality audit team has been focusing on empowering services users with an extension of our person-centred care, including step-by-step personal development plans to help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

“We also encourage service users to enjoy more involvement in shaping their service, their support and their day-to-day activities with regular planning and review meetings to ensure they have their say. We have increased the use of picture card formats and easy-to-read booklets to help service users to communicate and express their feelings as well as providing them with easier understanding of subjects such as safety, healthy eating, the internet, using public transport and voting in local and general elections.”

Mikkel Togsverd, Managing Director of Heathcotes (Southern) added:

“This year we have commenced workshops on person-centred care for all staff, providing detailed learning modules to supplement their induction training. All of these measures form part of a Group-wide objective to help our service users achieve a transition to a more independent life. Our services are often utilised as an intermediary between hospital and supported living and I think that our top 20 rating is a reflection of the success that we have achieved in providing this important function on a nationwide basis.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Jones .