PRESS RELEASE - 21st DECEMBER 2009

LABURNUM GROVE - RECOGNISING EXCECLLENCE IN CARE

SOUTH WEST NORFOLK, 21 December 2009:Peter Smith, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South West Norfolk, saw an example of excellent care for older people after visiting the Laburnum Grove Housing-with-Care Scheme and Day Centre in Thetford.

Peter met with Pearl Mumford, the manager of Laburnum Grove, to discuss issues relating to care of older people and to meet with a number of local residents who use the facility. Laburnum Grove, built in 1996, is run jointly by Norfolk County Council and the Peddars Way Housing Association and has become one of the best care homes in the county. The facility highlights how forward thinking and good design principles can enrich the lives of residents as well as providing them with dignity in their twilight years.

Laburnum Grove has organised fundraising events to provide residents and day care users with regular activities and social outings. Laburnum Grove also encourages active community participation as well as providing facilities for relatives and families to play a major role in care. Laburnum Grove has recently been nominated for an award with the Elderly Accommodation Counsel after local residents applied for the facility to be recognised for its achievements. It has also been rated "Excellent" by the Care Quality Commission.

Pearl Mumford, manager of Laburnum Grove said:

" At the core of our activities is a fundamental recognition that all of our clients are individuals, each worthy of dignity and respect. Our mission is to provide for their needs in a person-centred manner that avoids the institutionalised approach of the past. We empower our clients to accept as much independence as they can with the assurance that we are able to offer them additional support when they need it. My ethos is to encourage those in our care as much freedom as possible to choose their own path through innovative programmes. We have a staff team that are fully committed to their work, who are very well trained to carry out their duties and feel valued members of a group that is striving to achieve the very best for our clients. By fully engaging with the local community and promoting the involvement of families, we can bring a synergy to our activities that also involve voluntary organisations, Peddars Way Housing Association and Adult Social Services."

Peter Smith said:

"Laburnum Grove is a fantastic example of what forward thinking, good design and strong leadership can achieve. It shows that old age should not and must not mean losing one's dignity but only another stage of life that can be just as enriched and fulfilling as any other. I congratulate Pearl Mumford and her dedicated team, all of who have worked hard to be recognised by the Care Quality Commission and the Elderly Accommodation Counsel. Laburnum Grove is a model that all other care providers should look to and aspire to."

The Labour government has stated that it would be pushing plans to create a National Care Service for all people to ensure they get the care they need while allowing the elderly to remain independent members of society. Laburnum Grove has shown that care for the elderly can be more than merely ensuring a safe environment.

RELEASE ENDS
 
Notes to Editor

Laburnum Grove has been rated excellent by the Care Quality Commission - http://www.cqc.org.uk/registeredservicesdirectory/RSSearchDetail.asp?ID=0000053376&Type=DCA

Laburnum Grove is located at 48 Laburnum Grove, off Elm Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3HS, telephone number 01842 753 185

Laburnum Grove employs 38 staff members and currently has 30 residents.