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Double-award success for Wessex House

The team at Wessex House in Somerton are celebrating winning two regional awards which recognise the care and support they provide to residents and colleagues.

The team were crowned winners of two categories at the South West Care Home Network Awards: Addressing Inequalities in Care, and Managing Deterioration.

The awards celebrate care homes and care professions who have demonstrated outstanding practice in the face of what has been an incredibly challenging couple of years.

Addressing Inequalities

The Addressing Inequalities accolodae was awarded to Wessex House in light of their innovation and progressive thinking, as well as their inclusive culture.

Wessex House Manager, Lorna Cross, explains why the home has much to celebrate:

Research to better understand dementia

“Wessex House is a ‘Research Active’ Nursing Home, working in partnership with the Exeter University Medical School on a project funded by UK Research and Innovation.

We’re taking part in research to address dementia in detail and understand how we can improve on equality of effective care delivery which supports personalised needs. Every resident deserves to receive the highest quality of care which is tailored to their individual needs, regardless of any medical conditions that they live with. The more we understand about dementia, the more we will be able to close the gap on the inequalities which have traditionally existed for those who live with dementia.

Empowering people

“We have joined forces with Mencap in Supported Apprenticeships, as we believe that identified conditions should not hold people back from achieving independence or living productive lives which give self worth and self actualisation. We believe in empowering people to become achievers.

At Wessex House, we support Apprenticeships, Work Experience (Colleges) and Nursing Placements including Duke of Edinburgh Awards (High Schools) community time. We open up avenues for those who otherwise, may have felt that there is no way forward, in the working environment.”

Enriching lives and embracing diversity

“We have made connections with the Men’s Shed and Filo Project to see how we can support our younger and more mobile residents. We also use a translation app to allow us to speak the chosen language of our residents, ensuring that we meet their needs and provide equality of choice.

Our staff room supports LGBT with a lovely feature wall of rainbows. The staff chose this for themselves. We are a progressive Home.

We have internal Staff Ambassadors (different nationalities/genders) for staff to feel understood or heard, if they are facing any challenges. External “Speak up Champions” support our Staff Ambassadors. We ensure that inequalities are given serious consideration and are addressed efficiently.”

Managing Deterioration

Wessex House were also awarded the South West Care Home Network’s Managing Deterioration Award, for the preventative measures they put in place to support their residents before they are in need of urgent medical attention.

An amazing team

Congratulations to the Wessex House team for this fantastic achievement!

If you would like to find out more about the care and support offered at Wessex House, please call 0800 8174 990 or email [email protected].

To view our latest vacancies and apply to join the Somerset Care team, please visit our careers site.

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