News
Not-for-profit Anchor secures funding to improve heat networks
Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, has been successful in securing revenue grant funding to improve communal heating systems at three of its housing developments. Anchor will receive more than £45,000 from the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme [HNES], funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Anchor will use the funding to carry out optimisation surveys on the performance of communal heating systems at Hurst Place, Haywards Heath in West Sussex, Jubilee Lodge in Cramlington, Northumberland and Birch Court, an extra care scheme in Leicester. These housing locations each have a central boiler room which supply a combined 140 homes. The three locations have been selected
for surveys due to the different types of heating systems in place at each site. Once the optimisation studies are complete and upgrade work has been identified, it is expected that future rounds of HNES funding will offer the opportunity to bid for capital grant funding to carry out the improvement works across a range of Anchor locations. This work will identify system
improvements to ensure high performance and maximum efficiency, aiming to lower heating costs for residents, improve comfort levels and reduce carbon emissions. Liz Davenport, property sustainability
director at Anchor, said: “We’re delighted to have been successful in our bid. Greening our customers’ homes and communities, lowering heating costs and reducing carbon emissions is a key aim for us. With these funds, and our own significant investment, we will be able to do that.
“We have been engaging with our customers on the need to green homes and communities as part of our Environmental Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Strategy which sets out high level targets and a pathway to meeting the net-zero carbon target by 2050.”
Belong achieves gold standard for end-of-life care
Dementia specialist Belong has earned the Quality Hallmark Award for demonstrating best practice in end of life and palliative care. The recognition follows Gold Standards
Framework (GSF) assessments at its Warrington and Newcastle-under-Lyme villages.
Assessors praised the not-for-profit group’s ‘village living’ model for its high care standards and for helping to promote living independently. Activities provision, focus on exercise and falls prevention awareness, and relationships with external bodies such as music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, were amongst the examples of strengths highlighted.
The report commended ‘clearly dedicated staff’ who work alongside families to prepare for the final stages of life, prioritising dignity, compassion, and a person-centred approach. Family communication and Belong’s in- house Admiral Nurse were also cited as key indicators in the appraisal.
Sue Goldsmith, Belong’s chief operating officer, said: “Dealing with the subject of
January 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Care UK to Open Doors and inspire future workforce
Care UK has partnered with the Careers & Enterprise Company on their Open Doors careers project. Open Doors provides secondary school students with the opportunity to learn about the careers available to them within a care provider. The first Care UK Open Doors event was hosted at Silversprings care home in Essex, where students from St Helena’s School Year 10 students learnt about the variety of careers available within a care home, as well as careers across the company. Students met with carers, nurses, and residents, and discussed career pathways with managers. Following the tour, the students engaged with Care UK staff to learn more about the different opportunities and career development routes that are available. Omar Taylor, Care UK’s regional director
death is often still taboo, but we recognise how imperative it is that we support customers to experience a good death. This starts with being able to open channels of communication, both with residents and their families, to prepare well for end of life. Providing exceptional care that meets people’s preferences is never more important than at this difficult time. “We are therefore pleased to be accredited
with two sets of top scores for the GSF Quality Hallmark Award, which serve as testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams who have perhaps one of the most challenging but rewarding of jobs.”
for Essex, said: “I am delighted for us to have hosted this opportunity for local students, so that they can learn more about a career in care and how care homes operate. I am proud that, as a region, we are working hard to pilot a formalised work experience programme to further allow those interested in a career in care to learn more and experience the workplace. We have a number of early career initiatives that we are developing, and we are also working with SEND schools and disadvantaged groups to raise awareness of what they can achieve, and the support on offer to them.” Care UK’s head of resourcing Victoria Cole commented: “Care UK is dedicated to attracting young talent to the sector and developing the care work force of the future, so that they can embark on a fulfilling career with us.
“Increasing our engagement and activity with schools and other education providers is key to helping younger generations find out more about the opportunities available to them, and it raises awareness of careers across care.”
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