Wray Park Care Home - Delivering High Quality Care

Wray Park Care Home was established over 25 years ago in a Georgian mansion in Reigate. Since coming under the ownership of Antony Coomb in 1992, it has grown to care for 24 residents.

The Home is registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and at any one time may care for frail and elderly clients including those with conditions such as: dementia, sensory impairment, physical disability and other minor mental conditions. Wray Park employs about 20 people ranging from managers and care workers to chefs, housekeepers and handymen/gardeners. 
 

Getting Started

Antony Coomb, owner of Wray Park, says: “In the last twelve years, we have invested in the home’s facilities and a comprehensive range of staff training. I firmly believe that our employees are our business and our asset. We have to communicate well and ensure our staff understand what constitutes good practice and how to achieve it, otherwise we will have no business.”

During the 1990s, Antony began investing in NVQ qualifications for his team, but at that time found the volume of paperwork to be both onerous and impractical for staff to manage. Then few colleges offered NVQ training, frequently the location and timing of the courses did not fit the home’s needs and there was little government support to help homes develop employees.
Moving On

However, in 2002, the home decided to manage training in-house. After researching a lead from the Care Sector Development Project (a joint partnership between Surrey County Council and Surrey Learning and Skills Council), Wray Park appointed external training company, R & D Care Training Centre to help run its NVQ programme.

Antony Coomb explains: “We are not training experts and have found that external trainers suit our business needs better than college based schemes. Firstly, trainers come at a time that suits us and give individual attention because they are dealing with fewer trainees. The training also takes place in the workplace so we do not lose valuable work time.”

With more than twenty years experience in the care sector, Antony Coomb is very clear about the need to plan staff training. He identifies the skills required to perform well in a job, then, with his managers, assesses individual employees’ skills needs and pinpoints the training that will help them achieve high standards.
Antony says: “In effect, this creates a personal development plan for every employee. By investing in training and reviewing progress every six months, we aim to ensure our staff are content and give high quality care. Bearing in mind that training represents just one per cent of a home’s operating costs, it is worthwhile expenditure to protect your most valuable assets.”

Now, thanks to the Care Sector Development Project, Wray Park has found an ongoing source of advice on employee development.
Antony says: “The project has helped to guide employers on setting training objectives, as well as being a useful source of information about training and workshop opportunities.”

Through the European Social Fund and Topss, the care sector skills council, Wray Park has also benefited from financial support for training. Antony Coomb says: “In the last two years, there has been a tremendous improvement in terms of the help and resources available to develop staff and as a result we have been able to train at a faster rate.”

Results

Wray Park is so committed to employee development that it has notched up some impressive results. Three senior employees achieved the Registered Managers Award and NVQ level 4 within six months, when normally it would take two years to complete. Another manager will qualify soon. A further ten care workers are working towards NVQ levels 2 or 3 and by October 2004, the home will have exceeded the government’s target for 50 per cent of employees to hold NVQ qualifications.

Three Wray Park employees are also undergoing accreditation to become NVQ assessors and once qualified, the home may be able to dispense with external assessors, although plans to continue to use R & D Training for training and to verify its NVQs.
Antony Coomb is convinced of the benefits of his training investment. “Communications have improved vastly, staff are now happier about NVQs and we have been able to reward those who qualify with salary increases and promotions. The NVQ system has enabled us to offer a clear career path too. One of our younger employees has been so enthused that she achieved NVQ level 3 in the shortest time possible and before more experienced employees. ”

Wray Park can also identify bottom line business. Antony Coomb explains: “When you work with independent training companies, you can make private arrangements to pay for training in instalments and that helps to maintain cash flow. The Registered Managers Award also includes a business plan module that covers forward planning and budgeting, both of which are crucial skills for preparing the business for expansion and possible future diversification.“
Advice

Antony Coomb says: “The best advice I can give to any care home owner is to look after your staff because your home and business will function much better. What is more, take up the funding opportunities now open to the care sector, as they help to control your costs.”

Wray Park Care Home achieved the Investor in People Award in March 2004.

visit the website:
http://www.carehomesofdistinction.com/