Hastings Court care home recognises dedicated staff in business awards win

Hastings Court care home has attributed its success to its dedicated staff, after winning in the annual 1066 Business Awards.

The 80 bed care home on The Ridge in Hastings beat nine other local businesses to win the Start-Up award at the ceremony at Bannatyne Spa Hotel in Hastings on Friday 15th July.

Hastings Court opened eighteen months ago, offering residential, nursing and dementia care that focuses on every resident as an individual.

The state of the art home, which includes a beauty salon, a library, cinema and gym, opened its doors with just twelve staff.

“The last eighteen months have seen us grown incredibly quickly,” commented general manager, Katie Brewster.

"We’ve gone from just twelve staff to 70. We have carers, chefs, hairdressers, a lifestyle team, nurses – all from the local community.”

The home, which is owned by Oakland Primecare, was chosen by the judges because of how well it had become part of its community in a very short space of time.

They also highlighted “the outstanding reputation for their excellence in care and leading the way in East Sussex with the Dementia Care Matters Butterfly Project.”

They added: “Every attention to detail is catered for at Hastings Court.”

Managing director of Oakland, Harnoop Atkar, said: “The team at Hastings Court have built a caring and comfortable place in which people can live a fulfilling life. Katie and her staff never rest on their laurels, they are always striving to improve and finding ways to make life better for the residents.

“The home will be the first in East Sussex to gain ‘Butterfly status’ which is a national accreditation scheme for excellence in dementia care. The staff are all working hard to make that happen and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Among the members of the team present to collect the award was resident, Fred Day. A full time carer for his wife, Sheila, he moved them both into Hastings Court in March.

He has launched a gardening club at the home and created a ‘garden of love’ rather than a garden of remembrance where family members can be celebrated, and where the town’s mayor, Cllr Judy Rodgers, planted the first rose bush.

“I wanted to come to Hastings Court because it was somewhere we could still live together,” said Fred. “Sheila has dementia and their dementia care is exceptional. I needed to know that she would be looked after should I die before she does, and I’m completely assured of that fact at Hastings Court.”

Hastings Court will be looking to add to its workforce in September when St Michael’s hospice in-patients move out of its temporary home there and into new premises.

“Care homes like Hastings Court are a great place to work,” said Katie Brewster. “We hope this award shows people that the care industry is somewhere you can build a career.

"Our team here are fantastic, they work with as well as for the residents, Fred being a good example, and we are thrilled for that to be recognised.”

Hastings Court will now go forward to the JP South Sussex Business Awards which is being held at The Grand Hotel Brighton on September 30.

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