Whitefriars Win Care Innovator Award For Their Resident Volunteer Opportunities Initiative

The team at OSJCT Whitefriars, the 56-bed care home in Stamford, has won the Great British Care Award Care Innovator Award at the regional East Midlands event. The care home, run by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) will now go through to the national final held in Birmingham next March.

The team received their Award for introducing empowering volunteer opportunities to residents in the home. Roles were advertised on an Opportunities notice board, and included Volunteer Manager’s Assistant, Volunteer Housekeeper, and Volunteer Gardener. The response from residents was fantastic.

Shelly Smith, Home Manager, said:
“I am delighted that we have won this Award. The innovation has been a huge success. Residents were very enthusiastic about it, and we received positive feedback from relatives and health care professionals.

“Our residents all have wonderful skills and experience from their working lives or running their own family home. By offering them the opportunity to take on easy tasks, which fall within their capabilities, they feel empowered and purposeful, and their wellbeing increased. It really contributes to that feeling of a family home.”

The team at Whitefriars are already winners, as they received a Ferrers Innovation Award for the residents’ volunteer initiative at the recent OSJCT Lincolnshire Awards.