Finalists in the Kent Care Awards

On Friday 17 September, we attended the prestigious annual Kent Care Awards to celebrate the amazing work carried out in the care sector in Kent.

Members of Fairways Management and Senior Staff attended the awards along with our award nominee, Shelly Valler. She was a finalist in the Residential Champion award and was given a commendation for her work in this field. This is a fantastic achievement and is very well-deserved.

The Residential Champion award is delivered for outstanding support and care to people living in residential or nursing homes. The judges look for those who can demonstrate how they enhance the lives of residents, work within a team and deliver excellent person-centred care. At Fairways, we’re proud of our ability to deliver outstanding care and are delighted with this recognition of Shelley’s work.

It was a great evening to meet with those in this sector and celebrate with all of the awards nominees and winners. It’s truly remarkable how staff across the sector have pulled together over the last 18 months and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate each and every one of them.

Thank you also to the Sponsors and Kent County Council as we enjoyed such a wonderful evening.

 


Care Home Awards graphic

Care Home Awards | We’re Finalists in the 2023 HealthInvestor Awards!

Why is it important to receive recognition from leading care home awards?

At ACI Care, we strive to provide bespoke care to elderly individuals across the UK. Recently, we received industry-leading recognition from the prestigious 2023 HealthInvestor Awards.

Read our blog to find out more about our excellent achievement, and what it means to us: 

Care Home Awards: About ACI Care

We focus on providing quality, tailored care to older people living in Kent, East Sussex and Northamptonshire.

Offering residential, respite and dementia care, our primary goal is to enable residents to live independent and fulfilling lives.

Our efforts have earned us recognition from leading care home awards, the most recent being the 2023 HealthInvestor Awards. 

Our care worker chatting to a resident

Care Home Awards: About the HealthInvestor Awards

These awards seek to promote excellence and recognise achievement in the health and social care sector.

We’re proud to share that we’re one of six finalists in the ‘Residential Care Provider of the Year - Small Group’ category. This prestigious industry accreditation celebrates the very best health and social care providers that manage under 10 settings.

Across our care services, we’re both thrilled and honoured to receive the recognition!

Care Home Awards: Our Shortlisting in the HealthInvestor Awards

So, how did we apply for these industry-recognised awards?

As part of the process, we completed an online form and submitted a 2,000-word supporting document. In doing so, we showcased why our ACI Care Group is the perfect candidate for the esteemed accolade. 

Our submission detailed our consistent hard work and dedication to the sector. It included our ‘Good’ CQC rating, increased occupancy levels and community-oriented initiatives.

A Message from our Director

Discussing the shortlisting, our director, Ravi Sodha, said: “We’re honoured to be recognised alongside some other incredible care providers. 

“This is a great achievement for us, and showcases the hard work and commitment we’ve put into ensuring we continually improve upon and provide the best level of care in each of our homes.”

​​We'll discover the outcome on the 7th June 2023 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London. Here, the announcement of the care home awards winners will take place at a prestigious, black-tie ceremony.

We’d like to wish all the finalists the very best of luck!

Photo of Ravi

If you’re interested in finding out more about our care services, please contact a member of our team.


When should I seek care for my loved one?

Realising that a loved one is in need of care is not always easy to accept. The thought of a move into a care home can bring emotions that are difficult for both you and your family member. Often though, when the time comes to make that move there is a sense of relief for all concerned.

Trying to care for a loved one yourself can bring added tensions to your relationship. Especially where dementia is concerned, it can become particularly upsetting. Sometimes just respite care can bring a much-needed break and allow you to know that your loved one is being cared for. Here are some of the things that show that care may be the right option for your loved one:

Your loved one is struggling with day-to-day tasks

Perhaps there is a degree of acceptance that things get a little more difficult as we get older. Of course, that is true, but when a loved one is struggling with basic tasks this could be a sign that care is right for them. Tasks such as:

  • Getting themselves in and out of bed
  • Getting themselves dressed
  • Being able to wash and take care of personal hygiene
  • The ability to prepare meals

If your loved one is unable to perform these tasks, it may well be that moving into a care home is the right move for them.

A loss of mobility

Of course, a lack of mobility will also have an impact on the day-to-day tasks that we have already looked at. However, it goes a little further than this. People who do not receive the care that they need often become isolated and lonely. A lack of mobility sees them unable to leave their home and seek company. Signs of your loved one struggling with mobility include:

  • A greater reliance on aids such as a walking stick
  • Unable to walk around the house without being out of breath
  • The need for a mobility scooter
  • An increase in the number of trips and falls that they’ve experienced

At ACI Care, we ensure that all of our residents lead full and active lives. A lack of mobility doesn’t mean that they are isolated and we actively encourage them to socialise and be part of our community.

A diagnosis of dementia

When it comes to caring for a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia, there is no getting away from the fact that this is tough. There is a drain on family members both physically and emotionally along with the constant worry about their loved one’s wellbeing.

Seeking a care home that provides specialist dementia care is a source of relief. You will have peace of mind that your loved one is receiving the very best care.

A little extra care

There may be steps that need to be taken to keep your loved one in the best state of health possible. These could include:

  • Regular medication
  • The changing of dressings
  • Exercises to improve circulation

When it gets to the stage where a loved one is struggling with these tasks, it could be that it is time to seek care. It could be that your family member is forgetting to take medication or that they aren’t physically capable to change a dressing. Of course, you may be able to assist but over the long term, this can become a struggle.

At ACI Care we ensure that your loved one is given the appropriate care that they need. Our care homes see our residents blossom by learning new skills and rediscovering themselves. Family members find peace of mind and newfound happiness when they see their loved ones prosper.

For help and advice when looking into care for a loved one contact us today


Our Response to the CQC Report

It was very unfortunate for us that CQC came to inspect Gabriel Court just a matter of weeks after we became part of ACI. With our longstanding Manager, Rose, and our new owners, we had already put a plan of action together to work with Fulcrum Care Consulting to rapidly update our processes.

CQC came to visit us in May 2021 before we had a chance to get started but they did not identify anything that we didn’t already know we wanted to improve on. Therefore, we fully accept that the standards at the time needed to improve.

However, the standards now are much, much higher thanks to the incredible work of our staff team, supported by ACI and our excellent consultants. Within a short period of time, we have transformed the way that we work and developed considerably.

We are very confident that our standards are reaching the high level that we set ourselves and we continue to work on this to ensure the best possible care for our Residents.


Gill S | Review

"My mother is very happy there because she feels safe. It is very friendly staff go the extra mile and provide a wide range of activities. The room is lovely with a lovely view of beautiful grounds. I'm glad we chose this home. Mum also loves the little dog who is very friendly."

Review from Gill S (Daughter of Resident at Mountside)


M M | Review

"The staff are extremely caring, supportive and dutiful in their care for the residents. The food is superb all freshly cooked daily. Mum has flourished and improved at Fairways."

Review from M M (Daughter of Resident at Fairways)


S S | Review

"My dad was a resident here for over a year, and we were very happy with the care they provided, very homely. I always found the staff lovely, caring and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Very happy memories of dad's time spent there. Especially his singing and dancing."

Review from S S (Daughter of Resident at Fairways)


John S | Review

"My brother lived at Mountside for a year, and I have to say, it was great to see him so happy and relaxed. It was very sad for us that he had to move to a home, but once he had settled, it had brought back his old glow and charm. He always said he was well cared for, and the building was beautiful.
We are so happy that he managed to get another year of being himself again after struggling so much at home. He always loved the weekly bingo!"

Review from John S (Brother of Resident at Mountside)


Margery | Review

"Everyone was kind and helpful and very nice to us. My uncle always said very positive things and seemed to be very happy and relaxed."

Review from Margery S (Niece of Resident at Mountside)