Castle Care Villages enter Lion Awards for first time

Barchester Healthcare Ltd has entered a resident and staff duo into the Lion awards, which recognise excellence among learners and tutors who have received the City and Guilds Medal for Excellence.

Resident Sarah Moody and staff member Kerry Hilton have worked together so that Ms Moody, who lives at Castle Care village and has learning difficulties, has been able gain qualifications that has allowed her to become a valued member of the home’s hospitality team.

The pair received their medal after Ms Moody met and surpassed the standards required at Entry 2 of the qualification and is now moving on to the Entry 3 certificate.

Ms Moody now has an active role in the running of the home and has recently started working with the activities coordinator to give her a more varied job role.

Kate Mansfield -Loynes, head of learning and development academy, said: "The work that is undertaken throughout the Castle Care Village is truly inspirational. Staff work with service-users in a relationship-centred manner at all times achieving the greatest of results. Kerry, as the assessor, wholeheartedly embraced the concept of the employability and personal development programmes and has worked extremely hard to ensure that they are a success. Through this, Kerry has infected all members of staff with excitement and there is a real buzz around both the learners and the programme. Sarah has been a pleasure to work with. She has shown excitement and real commitment to progressing through the award and she will be starting her next programme in June."

Ms Kilton introduced the scheme which enables service users at Castle Care Village to reach their full potential and is hoping to roll out the pilot to other Barchester homes throughout the country. Other homes have expressed their interest and it is being seen as a great opportunity for people living in Barchester services to contribute to developing alternative and innovative care pathways.

Ms Hilton has been commended for her enthusiasm and understanding about what service users need by using her 15 years of experience to change the way the home has approached the development of residents.

Cyd Akrill, senior general manager of Castle Care Village, said: "I am really proud of Sarah and Kerry. It demonstrates how innovation can assist the care pathways we are working towards between our services to ensure each individual recognises that it is possible to have goals and achieve them."

The City and Guilds Medals for Excellence programme has been recognising success for over 100 years, and the Lion awards acknowledges the best of the best.

This year’s Lion Awards will be celebrated at a glamorous red-carpet ceremony on Wednesday 5 June 2013 at the Roundhouse in London.