Brooklands Care Home in Liverpool Achieves Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation

 Press Release: Boost for Armed Forces veterans living at Brooklands Care Home, Dovehaven in Liverpool

Former members of the Armed Forces in Liverpool will benefit from enhanced person-centred care and support after the care home they live in achieved the standards required for the Veteran Friendly Framework(VFF).

The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in residential care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. It will help tackle loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England.

To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Brooklands Care Home, Dovehaven was required to meet eight standards. These included: noting Armed Forces status within care plans; addressing social isolation; and signposting to support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch, and other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans.

David Wright, Home Manager at Brooklands Care Home says

'I’m incredibly proud that Brooklands is the first Dovehaven home to achieve Veteran Friendly Framework accreditation. This recognition reflects the dedication and commitment of our whole team to understanding and supporting the unique needs of veterans. From completing the Armed Forces Champion training to creating resources for reminiscence and care planning, we’ve all learned so much and are committed to ensuring that any veteran who comes to Brooklands feels understood, supported, and respected. It’s about honouring their service and providing the best possible care every single day.'

The VFF is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garterand Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance(VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. She said:

“We’re delighted that Brooklands Care Home has achieved VFF status. This is a great commitment to their continuous improvement in the delivery of person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners. This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future staff at Brooklands Care Home, who are able to access enhanced training and guidance to better engage with the unique military experiences that their residents and partners have lived through. Being a VFF care home means that there is an increased understanding and recognition for the veteran community at Brooklands Care Home.”

Any care homes interested in receiving more information about the VFF can visit www.starandgarter.org/veteran-friendly-framework, email VFF@starandgarter.org or call Kathryn Glass on 07435 326070.

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