Claremont Court crowned Team of the Year

A prestigious award for our team’s exceptional efforts supporting residents living with dementia.

The awards, hosted by BBC Radio Surrey presenter Sylvie Blackmore, recognise the most dedicated and talented professionals who go over and above to provide the best care possible to residents in the county.

The judges were impressed by the home’s “strong sense of a team who strive to provide exceptional care with no exception.”

Our 57-bedroom care home cares exclusively for people living with dementia, and the team has achieved Platinum status in the Gold Standards Framework. Manager, Karen Byers said: “Everyone is absolutely thrilled, to win an award like this is fantastic.

“Claremont Court is such a rewarding place to work, and the entire 75-strong team works tirelessly, spending quality time with residents, getting to know their life stories, building relationships and making a real difference to their lives.

“It’s about what we can do, not what we can’t do. If someone’s living with dementia, it doesn’t need to define them. We support all residents to still be active, engaged and enjoy rewarding experiences.”

Our home runs a varied and ever-changing programme of events and activities which residents can choose from, and each team member plays a vital part in ensuring the home’s mission to provide ‘exceptional care, no exceptions’ is met.

“We’ve got a busy activities schedule at our home – some of our gentlemen were off bowling the other day and we have ladies who lunch, the knit and natter club and a jewellery making club to name but few,” added Karen, who has been our home manager for eight years.

“We do all that we can to give our residents a quality of life that isn’t led by dementia. They’re living with dementia, not suffering with dementia.”

Other activities held at the home recently have including a virtual walk across the English Channel, singing and dancing workshops, cheese and wine tasting and getting creative with artwork.

Our team even includes two affectionate therapy cats called Clare and Monty, and a Pomeranian pup called Ruby.

One of our residents – Rita – came to Claremont Court needing one-to-one, 24-hour care. Soon, she began to engage with the various therapies and activities on offer at the home. Within 12 weeks, Rita had become much calmer and no longer required one-to-one monitoring.

She now happily spends her time as she chooses. Sometimes playing interactive games and music on the OMi table – a specially designed interactive sensory projection system.

The judges highlighted Rita’s case, together with the platinum Gold Standards Framework award and high-scoring surveys from residents and relatives, as demonstrating the team’s “excellence”.

A relative of one of the home’s residents said: “The quality of care for my mother and reassurance for me has been exceptional.

“The whole team need to be congratulated. They are an exceptional workforce from top to bottom.”

Rebecca Pritchard, Chief Executive of Surrey Care Association (SCA), said: “These awards recognise the huge achievements of these winners and highlight the fantastic services those working in social care provide.”

Angela Murphy, Department of Health & Social Care – Assurance Team and Southeast Lead who was a member of the Surrey Care Awards Panel, said: “So many [of the award nominations] have shown the uniqueness of social care roles – and the opportunity they bring to feed your own soul, and those of others you have contact with.

“The importance of people’s relationships and networks as being at the heart of social care came through strongly in so many of the submissions.”