Craegmoor Announces Success of Largest Ever Service User Consultation

“Involvement in Training, Recruitment and Budgets agreed” says Craegmoor

Craegmoor Healthcare, the largest independent provider of specialist care in the UK, is pleased to announce the success of its first annual Your Voice national forum. The program, created by Craegmoor’s Managing Director Specialist Business Christine Cameron, designed to give all service users the opportunity to express opinions on the way Craegmoor provides care and support.

Elected service user representatives from all of Craegmoor’s divisions met in Worcester where they had the opportunity to discuss the services the company provides them at a round table discussion. The meeting also involved members of the company’s senior management team and was chaired by Chief Executive Officer, Ted Smith. The meeting marked the culmination of the largest service user consultation ever undertaken by a provider, with all of Craegmoor’s 4500 service users represented.

Amongst the points raised by service users at the meeting were:

• Daniel Crock & Scott Lee, who represent the Specialist South and West division, asking if service users could be involved in the training of staff, Craegmoor agreed that this was a good idea. The company is already putting together DVD designed by and featuring service users for the training of new staff.
• All service users present were also keen that the company includes them in its staff recruitment process. While this already happens in some homes Craegmoor is keen to make it a formal company policy. Over the next few months service users will be given the opportunity to ask questions at interviews, show people round their home and all service users will meet the interviewees.
• Gerald Phillips representing the Older People Division suggested that Craegmoor could encourage residents to get more involved in the upkeep of their home’s garden. Craegmoor agreed that this was a good idea and the company is now looking at the possibility of having a separate budget for service users to buy tools and more flowers.

Craegmoor’s Senior Management Team took note of all input from the day and during the lively discussions. The company would like to thank all service users who were involved and looks forward to working with them to implement the policy changes discussed.

Craegmoor’s Chief Executive, Ted Smith, said:

“The first national Your Voice conference has been a triumph. I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to come to the meeting. It has been incredibly positive and the service users have certainly given us some interesting things to think about. It is thanks to the willingness of all our service users to get involved in the forum that the company has a clearer idea of their wishes and this will benefit everyone across the company.”

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

Notes for Editors

• Founded in February 2007, the Your Voice Intuitive gives service users’ regular access to Craegmoor’s senior management team. The initiative provides a forum where service user’s thoughts and views can be considered and acted upon to the benefit of everyone in the organisation.
• For more on the Your Voice initiative and to watch a short video, please click on the following link: http://www.craegmoor.co.uk/your_voice/default.aspx
• Craegmoor is the largest independent provider of long term specialist care in the UK with a turnover of approximately £170m and employs over 6,500 people.
• It has a portfolio comprising specialist and nursing care homes, 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: 

1.  Specialist care and support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses
2. Nursing and residential care for the elderly
3. Independent Hospitals

• There are 2229 Specialist beds including 143 beds in three colleges.
• There are currently 2242 Older People beds and 237 in 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.