New build


“We look at rest and renewal, and we look


at active lifestyle and vitality as well,” she said. General manager Catherine Komuhangi


(pictured below) added: “Everything here is about creating a community rather than looking at it as a separate care home.” The team said each resident’s preferences


are discussed before they move in, which is then used to shape an individual care plan and their day-to-day experience. Activities are tailored to residents’ interests, alongside shared options such as exercise, movement and food-related activities. The home plans to offer up to eight activities a day. Client liaison manager Ellie Cairns


said that personalisation is part of the everyday offer, with “activities included in the fee.” This approach reflects changing expectations, Ms Cairns added. “It’s a new generation of people looking


for care,” she said, describing residents as more active and health-focused, with their own interests and expectations about daily life. The team said it aims to find out what each person enjoys, what they may have stopped doing and what might help them take it up again Food is another part of its wellbeing proposition, with residents given a choice


Hornchurch is Signature’s


first new-build to incorporate a purpose-built wellness area


between a ‘wellness’ menu, a four-course restaurant menu and an all-day pub menu. The home also plans to offer pillow choices and quieter areas for rest, treating sleep, nutrition, activity and mental wellbeing as connected parts of residents’ experience. Meanwhile, the communal spaces have


been designed to be adapted so they can be used in different ways. For example, the cinema has been configured so residents can choose films, watch streamed sport or use it for family occasions, with the option to open up the adjoining activity space to create a larger gathering area, with access to the garden, Ms Cairns said, adding the home’s layout is meant to allow spaces to have more than one purpose without losing their character. The team said weekly fees at the time


of the interview ranged from £2,200 to £2,680, depending on care needs, with other services included. They said their comparison with local luxury providers showed that the price difference was not substantial, despite the range of facilities and services offered.


A neighbourhood resource As with many new care home developments, engaging with the local community has been seen as a vital element of laying foundations for its success. Early events have included a ‘meet the neighbour’ event, where local people were welcomed with food and drink, and a CPR session delivered with St John Ambulance after a neighbour asked about emergency first aid training. Around 40


30 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com November 2026


people attended the session, which also covered what to do if someone is choking. Other local groups, including a police


ward team, residents’ association and dementia group, also expressed interest in using rooms in the home for meetings, while the team said they were looking at making a consultation room available to people who need help understanding care-related forms. That openness matters, Ms Cairns said,


as families may encounter care for the first time during a crisis, after a fall or hospital admission, without knowing where to turn. Ms Komuhangi added that opening the home’s doors was also a way to make care less daunting: “You can visit, share a meal or try an activity, and see it doesn’t have to be something to be frightened of in future,” she said. That connection is also reflected


in recruitment, Ms Komuhangi said, explaining that staff were recruited with attention to kindness, empathy and fit with the home’s values. “More than 200 people applied before the


team was narrowed to 45,” she said, adding that some staff have local ties, giving them knowledge of familiar streets and places that can help residents sustain a sense of belonging. The building includes a staff room with


garden access, which is less usual in in care homes than you might imagine, and which also includes air conditioning and facilities for breaks. Ms Cairns said the investment in the


working environment is motivated by a drive


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44