News

Award Winning Care Home welcomes Chief Executive of National Skills Academy for Social Care

07 January 2010

Hendra House, an award winning residential home in Ludlow, played host to Liz McSheehy, the Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Social Care.

Liz McSheehy was welcomed by Vince Burmingham, owner and manager of Hendra House. She met with the staff team, including Melanie Bowen, Care Manager and apprentice carer Gemma Ingram, who was recently commended at the National Apprenticeship Awards, where Hendra House won an award for Employer of the Year.

Liz was invited behind the scenes in the kitchen by cook Jackie Vickers to see for herself the preparation of a variety of high quality meals, which has earned Hendra House consistent favourable comments from the Care Quality Commission.

Having met many of the residents, Liz commented “the home has a lovely feel, the staff team are welcoming and friendly and it’s clear to see why Hendra House regularly wins awards for the quality of its service”. The visit to Hendra House is part of a wider tour of care organisations by the Skills Academy to understand first hand, the challenges faced by employers in the care sector and to see how employers are working to achieve excellence in skills and training development in care provision.

Liz McSheehy in group photo with the staff of Hendra House

Vince Burmingham said: “Having attending the official launch of the Skills Academy in Westminster London, I’m very pleased to have been able to return the favour and host Liz’s visit to us and give her the opportunity to meet our staff and residents” Liz McSheehy said: “I was delighted to be able to visit Hendra House and see the way in which the staff team are committed to delivering quality care to residents.

“Homes like Hendra House demonstrate how excellence in the delivery of social care has a real positive impact on the people receiving care and that is what the Skills Academy is promoting through training and development. By encapsulating the values that make for excellent social care, the Skills Academy aims to transform the quality and quantity of qualified workers at every level in the sector.”

Editors Notes

About the National Skills Academy for Social Care

The National Skills Academy for Social Care is the first welfare-related Skills Academy in the network of National Skills Academies, developed by employers to deliver the training and skills needed in various sectors of the economy.
The National Skills Academy for Social Care is an employer-led organisation, guided by a 15 member strong Board of employer representatives from across the diverse adult social care sector.
It will direct learning support and training practice to the 1.5 million adult social care workers and 35,000 employers, particularly targeting small and medium-sized employers with limited training and development budgets.

About Hendra House

Hendra House is a 28 bed established family run residential home located in the market town of Ludlow in the heart of the South Shropshire countryside.
The home has retained its “Excellent” rating during its most recent key inspection conducted by the Care Quality Commission in June 2009.
Hendra House was selected as the "Care Business of the Year” at the 2009 Shropshire Care Awards, as well as being voted "Best Small / Medium Care Home in Central England at the 2009 Central England Care awards.
For further information visit the Hendra House website