Gold Standards Framework

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The Gold Standards Framework is an on-going initiative supported by the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Programme, and is designed to enable and support staff in care homes, to implement and improve end of life care.  In 2006/7 the Matron and her deputy were invited to attend the Gold Standard Framework training and undertook a programme of workshops with Care Homes in East and West Sussex.

 

In 2008 we were accredited with the Gold Standard Framework Award and in 2011 on re-accreditation we were awarded Beacon status, the highest level that can be attained. In 2021 we applied for re-accreditation and we were awarded Platinum status, which is an achievement we are hugely proud of and is currently the highest status achievable.

 

The Gold Standards Framework has helped Donnington House:

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• To improve the quality of care provided to all resident’s from the moment they are admitted to the care home.

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• Improved relations and collaboration with the GPs, Hospice nurse specialists, Community Matron and other members of the multi-professional team who support us in providing the best possible care and outcomes for our residents.

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• It has enabled us to reduce the number of hospital admissions in the resident’s final stages of life, enabling our residents to die with dignity in the Home, surrounded by family members and familiar staff.

 

The Key Elements of the Gold Standards Framework that we incorporate in the day to day running of the Home are:

 

•We recognise that all members of staff develop a special relationship with residents and their relatives enabling us to provide excellent individualised care to our residents.

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•Advance Care Planning discussion is offered to all residents as standard practice. To enable residents to express how they would like to be cared for towards the end of their life.

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•A care support register and coding of residents, recognising significant changes in residents’ condition, ensuring we do the right thing at the right time, preventing a crisis and unwanted hospital admission.

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•Working closely with our GPs we ensure the residents symptoms such as pain and discomfort are addressed effectively. Anticipatory medicines prescribed in advance as best practise for end of life care.

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•Ensuring Spiritual needs are addressed:  We recognise every resident has individual preferences and practises, and we liaise closely with local priests/pastors from all denominations to ensure spiritual needs are met.

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•Family support and bereavement Care: The care and support we give to our residents at the end of their lives has an impact on relatives, staff and all resident at the home. We offer support, guidance and information on counselling and bereavement care.

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