A 'Veteran-Friendly' home Boost for Armed Forces Veterans living at Sunnybank House
Sunnybank House has been officially recognised as a veteran friendly care home, having achieved the standards required for the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF). This means that former members of the Armed Forces community who live in the care home will benefit from enhanced person-centred care and support.
The aim of the VFF is to support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community in residential care homes across England by providing training and resources for the care homes to access and improve the care they offer.
To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Sunnybank House was required to meet eight standards. These included: noting Armed Forces status within care plans; addressing social isolation; and signposting to support services such as the local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans.
Jessica Wooldridge, Home Admissions Advisor, Sunnybank House said, ’It is a privilege and honour to have achieved the standards and to know that we go above and beyond in the support we offer to members of the Armed Forces community.
“As a result of the assessment, we have made both subtle and larger changes to enhance our person-centred approach. Simple measures such as placing the poppy logo on residents’ doors make a big difference, giving everyone the opportunity to start a relevant conversation. We also host a monthly Armed Forces Breakfast Club which is growing month by month.
“We are so proud that 9 members of the Armed Forces community have chosen Sunnybank House as their home, and we look forward to welcoming more veterans and their families in future.”
The VFF was set up to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England. It is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. She said: “We’re delighted that Sunnybank House has achieved VFF status. This shows a great commitment to their continuous improvement in the delivery of person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners.
“This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future staff at Sunnybank house who are able to access enhanced training and guidance to better engage with the unique military experiences that their residents and partners have lived through. Being a VFF care home means that there is an increased understanding and recognition for the veteran community at Sunnybank House.”
Take a tour of Sunnybank House by calling the team on 02380 603120 or get in touch via our Contact Form for more information.