Liz Jones, Policy Director of National Care Forum was delighted to present the accolades at the recent National Gold Standards Framework Centre awards event.

GSF Quality Hallmark Awards are presented to homes that demonstrate real improvement in the quality of care they provide. Many halve the number of their residents dying in hospital as well as halving crisis hospital admissions, leading to greater satisfaction for families, residents and staff and significant cost savings for the NHS.

Only care homes that have demonstrated their long-term commitment to embedding quality end of life care are considered by the judges. All the shortlisted homes completed the GSF Care Homes training programme and have been accredited and then reaccredited at least once.

This year, as well as the Care Home of the Year Award, ten care homes received the GSF Quality Hallmark Award for the first time, while a further 41 homes were being accredited for the second, third or fourth time.

“Care home residents and their families want and should be able to receive compassionate, personalised and proactive care. The Gold Standards Framework is a fantastic resource to help the care home workforce provide this,” says Liz. “Every home that receives the GSF Quality Hallmark award should be proud they have demonstrated that their residents are receiving that quality of care in the place and manner of their choosing.”

Many NCF members have completed the GSF Care Homes programme since it was launched in 2004 including Whiteley House nursing home in Whiteley Village, Walton-on-Thames, which in May, repeated its success in winning the Quality Hallmark Award from the National Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre. Many have gone on to become accredited.

The Care Homes Programme is accessible and affordable and delivered both by the Centre itself and a network of 18 regional centres across England.

“Congratulations to all who have achieved the CSF accreditation – or re-accreditation – and big congrats to the winners,” concludes Liz.