As we mentioned previously, we are very excited to have been shortlisted in the Neuro Rehab Times Awards 2023 in two categories.

One of these is the Care Provider of the Year award and when seeking nominations, NR Times said:

“After discharge from an acute environment, the care a person receives can play a transformative role in their ongoing recovery; often, it is the support they receive during this time which can truly supercharge their rehab. This award seeks to recognise the providers whose care is delivering beyond-expectation outcomes in a positive environment, with care delivered by a supported and committed team.”

We are proud to be an independent family business where caring really is in our DNA. Richardson Care is now run by the second generation of the family and is one of the few providers that remain independently owned and run. This means that we are not under pressure from shareholders to realise short-term financial gains at the expense of long-term sustainability: We are invested in the future of the business, our staff and our service users. As well as rehabilitation, we provide a home for life for some of our service users and we take that responsibility very seriously.

Our core values remain as true today and they were when Richardson Care was founded 34 years ago. We aim to accomplish:

• Community presence & participation – engaging in the local community developing culturally-valued relationships
• Choice – respecting each persons’ individuality and uniqueness
• Treating everyone with dignity and respect and helping them to attain a valued role within their local community
• Providing opportunities and support to enable each person to develop their ability to skilfully perform functional and meaningful activities
• A positive environment – placing service users at the centre of their care and focusing on what they can do, not on what they can’t.

 

Dedicated person-centred care

Service users are supported by a high-calibre multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of therapists. They provide psychiatric care and neurological psychological, occupational, speech and language and physiotherapy. The MDT informs each individual’s care plan as well as providing therapy sessions. In addition, the Activity Support Workers tie together the work of the therapists, supporting service users in their rehabilitation all day, every day.

This video describes the whole team involved in delivering person-centred care:

 

Our care teams

We employ some wonderful, caring and dedicated people at Richardson Care. Of our 169 care staff, 13% have worked for the organisation for over 10 years and some for more than 20 years. This provides valuable consistency and continuity for the service users, especially those for whom Richardson Care is a home for life.

In addition, 70% of staff have a qualification in care, and the remaining 30% are currently undertaking the Care Certificate or Health & Social Care Levels 2 or 3. 33% of staff have Certificate Level 3, 4 or 5 in Health & Social Care.

Having a skilled workforce not only improves the outcomes and quality of life for our service users, it also enables our staff to be confident, proactive and happy in their roles. We have developed a culture of continuous learning by providing training and exams free of charge and delivering regular training sessions during paid-for hours.

Service users’ activities

We support service users to choose activities according to their individual needs, preferences and goals. They are wide ranging and include music enrichment sessions, arts and crafts, gardening, shopping, going out for coffee or lunch, bingo, cinema, going to the gym, swimming, trampolining and countryside walks.

Where possible, we also incorporate supported visits to families and supported day trips and holidays into each individual’s care plan. These provide valuable connections with people and places or new experiences that are important to everyone.

The view of Dr Seth Mensah, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist

“What is particularly striking and endearing to me, a mental health physician, is the person-centred and bespoke care that Richardson Care provides to its service users in an environment that enhances independence and participation in in-house and community activities.

“People with brain injury or intellectual/learning disabilities frequently have complex comorbidities, and the management of these conditions in the Richardson Care residential homes setting is second-to-none and ensures the best outcomes in terms of care, welfare and safeguarding. Service users are placed at the very centre of care which is provided with utmost courteousness and professionalism by the clinical and care team. The quality of care provided by Richardson Care to its service users sets them apart from many providers that I have come across in the United Kingdom.”

Dr Seth Mensah, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist

Thanks again to all of our care staff and the whole team who work hard to provide the best care and outcomes for our service users that we can.