One of Scotland’s leading care providers has been recognised for its outstanding practice with a nomination for one of the care industry’s top awards.
Bield, which provides specialist housing and care to more than 15,000 older people across Scotland has been shortlisted in the Care and Support Provider category at this year’s 24 Housing Awards.
Designed to celebrate the achievements of organisations who have implemented innovative and original schemes that provide communities with a value for money, high quality, care service, the UK wide awards provide an opportunity for Bield, to showcase its outstanding work in the field.
The provider has been shortlisted for its new innovative evening care service at Whitehill Court in Kirkintilloch. This new service is an extension of the traditional day care service that Whitehill has offered for 20 years, providing support to carers and cared for older people living with Dementia in East Dunbartonshire.
Engaging With The Local Community
The day care service offers fortnightly outings that enable service users the opportunity to access activities and engage in local community events that would not normally be possible for them, helping to alleviate social exclusion and giving their carers a break from their caring duties.
Rhona Forrest , Manager at Whitehill Court said: “We are thrilled to have been nominated for the award. After listening to the concerns of carers we believe we have fully understood their needs and have tailored our care programme to reflect this.
“A series of carer support meetings brought to our attention the need for an extended day care service and we now offer an evening service that allows carers to have a full day break from 9am – 9pm meaning that they no longer have to ‘clock watch’.
“This enables them to do things that we all take for granted in our day to day lives from going out for dinner with friends to late night shopping without feeling under pressure by time restrictions.
“The feedback we have had has been extremely positive and it has made a real difference on the quality of the lives of both dementia sufferers and their carers. We are delighted that the 24 Housing Awards have recognised the hard work of our team in relation to this project and we look forward to attending the ceremony in November.”
The success of the scheme has been illustrated by the growing waiting list of people wishing to take part. Originally the focus was on supporting five carers and five service users but after just six months of establishing the project, Bield has benefitted 44 carers, eight of whom had not had a break from caring for over a year.
Bield has been shortlisted alongside 3 other care providers and the winner of the award will be revealed during an evening presentation at Aston Villa Football Club on November 7. More information about the awards can be found at http://www.24housing.co.uk/awards
Bield is a registered charity which grew from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness to become a major of a wide range of housing and services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authority areas.
