New opening
power the home’s hot water system. This embrace of new technology extends to acoustic monitoring in bedrooms. Safety monitoring at Norden House does not, however, mean the use of CCTV, except in communal areas. “We’ve got CCTV, but we don’t have it in the households because it’s a real intrusion,” Annie tells me. “When you talk to families, they don’t want mum filmed, which I understand.”
Recruitment and staffing Perhaps surprisingly, given the persistently high vacancy rates in adult social care, Annie tells me that she has had no problems recruiting staff. “We’ve got nurses lined up who want to come and work here. When staff come through the door – once they see the building – it’s a real seller,” she says. Staffing levels at Norden house will
grow with resident numbers, with each household having specific staff and nursing requirements. “As we grow, the idea is that the
households will have people at the same stage of dementia … and that will affect the staffing level [for each household],” Annie explains. “[Each resident] will be with people who are at a similar stage with their dementia. That’s why the household model works so well,” she continues. “You could have a household of purely residential [needs] – whether with dementia or not – so that would be staffed by very skilled, senior carers, but then on the other side, you could have a nursing model for people with high nursing needs, having had strokes or more advanced dementia. So it means you can reflect your staffing levels accordingly. “One group of staff will look after two households,” Annie says. “That means that rather than a traditional care home where you’ve got staff looking after 30 or 40 residents, the most they will ever care for is 16 residents. So you get that personalised care – those residents will have the stability
of that staff team. “The fact that you’re not doing a drug round for 40 people – you’re actually doing a drug round for 16 [people] – is very different. A completely different model of care. We’ve turned care on its head, really.”
No compromises
The vision for Norden House may have been ‘homely’ rather than ‘luxury’, but a tour of the home reveals that this has not meant any compromise when it comes to the quality of furnishings, finish, or building materials.
The home – which has both in-house kitchen and laundry services – is bright and airy, with plenty of natural light. Each household feels distinct from the others – almost like a separate ‘home within a home’. Balconies look out over extensive landscaped gardens, and quiet areas at the ends of corridors give residents the opportunity and space to unwind and relax. Downstairs bedrooms boast their own outside areas, where residents can watch their plants grow. The exterior of the building is distinctive – some outside walls are embedded with hand-placed rows of flint, while others boast burnt cedar cladding, and there is a large
open-air area on the first floor that residents will be able to enjoy when the weather warms up. It was an absolute pleasure to visit Norden House. Annie and HMT have a very clear vision for the home – one that puts the wellbeing and dignity of residents living with dementia at the centre of everything they do. I have no doubt that Norden House will play an important part in the care of Littlehampton’s elderly community for many years to come.
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SCAN HERE
To view the Norden House: aerial view video
Suppliers list
Developer: Brackley Investments Ltd Architects: Hunters Contractor: Highwood Construction Ltd Interior design: Frank Beirne Fabrics Ltd Nurse call and acoustic monitoring systems: Adaptive Care Laundry machines: WashCo Baths: Arjo Beds: Harvest Healthcare Elevators: Otis Televisions: Mitchell & Brown
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com June 2024
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