Craegmoor Senior Appointment Boost To National Dementia Strategy

  • Debra Fox
 

Craegmoor the leading provider of specialist support to people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, mental illnesses and older people – has announced a new high level appointment to ensure excellent outcomes for people living with dementia who use the company’s services.

20 August 2009

Craegmoor the leading provider of specialist support to people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, mental llnesses and older people – has announced a new high level appointment to ensure excellent outcomes for people living with dementia who use the company’s services.

Under Craegmoor’s new quality development structure, and in line with the National Dementia Strategy, the company has appointed Debra Fox as Craegmoor’s new Quality Development Advisor for Dementia. Debra will play a key role in:

1. Enhancing the skills of all staff who support people living with dementia.

2. Developing further person-centred approaches across Craegmoor’s older people services and enhancing practice through dementia champions.

3. Involving people living with dementia in the development of best practice.

4. Encouraging staff to learn more about the life history of people living with dementia who use Craegmoor’s services.

Craegmoor has been vocal in its support for the National Dementia Strategy and has made its implementation a major priority for the company. Already, all Craegmoor Managers within the company’s Older People Division have received training from David Sheard, a leader in the field of providing person-centred support to people living with dementia, and further staff training in the field of dementia is ongoing. Following the training, Home Managers have identified five key developments which are having a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of the people living with dementia who they support.

The appointment of Debra Fox as Craegmoor’s Quality Development Advisor for Dementia is a part of Craegmoor’s broader quality development programme, intended to guarantee the provision of first-class bespoke support to enable people living with dementia to achieve what they want to achieve and ensuring dignity and respect.

Prior to joining Craegmoor, Debra Fox spent three years as a Dementia Specialist at the Anchor Trust, before which she was a Mental Health Support Worker with South Hams and West Devon Social Services. The holder of a BSc in Psychology with Law from Plymouth University and an MSc in Dementia Studies from Bradford University, Debra is also a qualified Dementia Care Mapper. Dementia Care Mapping is a tool designed to assess the quality of support provided to a person living with dementia from the perspective of that person, a version of which is being developed as a tool by the Care Quality Commission.

Debra Fox’s appointment follows that of Sue Hatton, former Learning and Professional Development Manager of Autism West Midlands, as Craegmoor’s Quality Development Advisor for Autism. Craegmoor has over the last six months recruited a total of six Quality Development Advisors, each one an expert in their field, who are led by Craegmoor’s Director of Quality Development Mary Horner, who sits on the company’s Senior Management Team.

Debra Fox, Craegmoor’s Quality Development Advisor – Dementia, said today:

“ It’s fantastic to join a team of people who are so passionate about person-centred support and are focused on enabling individuals with dementia to achieve the things they want to achieve. I’m really excited to be helping to shape Craegmoor’s services to ensure the National Dementia Strategy is implemented as this will make a real difference to the lives of people living with dementia, right across the country .”

Avril Evans, Divisional Managing Director OIlder People, said today:

“ Craegmoor is committed to implementing the National Dementia Strategy and the appointment of Debra as one of our six Quality Development Advisors with responsibility for dementia is a fundamental part of making this a reality. It’s wonderful that someone of Debra’s calibre will be playing a key role in shaping Craegmoor’s practices and together we will provide excellent support for people living with dementia which ensures dignity and respect. ”

Notes for Editors

For further information please contact the Craegmoor Press Office on: 01905 459 813

  • Craegmoor is one of the leading independent providers of specialist support in the UK with a turnover of approximately £170m and employs over 6,500 people.
  • It has a portfolio comprising specialist and nursing residential support, mental health hospitals, specialist adult colleges and supported living schemes with over 4,700 beds across 234 homes.
  • The wide range of services offered by Craegmoor include: Specialist support for adults with learning disabilities and mental illnesses, Nursing and residential support for older people and Independent Hospitals
  • Craegmoor has 2,229 Specialist beds including 143 beds in three colleges.
  • Craegmoor has currently 2,242 Older People beds and 237 beds in the company’s Independent Hospitals.
  • Working closely with local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts, Craegmoor is committed to building partnerships focused on constant service improvements which meet the needs of individual people and which are in line with regulatory requirements and best practice.