National Dementia Care Award for Dovehaven's Innovative Approach to Pain Management

Dovehaven Care Homes is celebrating national recognition for its commitment to improving the lives of residents after Head of Clinical Governance, Jo Hadfield Cubbin, won the Technology & AI in Dementia Award at the UK Dementia Care Awards.

The award recognises Jo's leadership in introducing PainChek® across Dovehaven's 23 care homes throughout the North West, helping to transform pain management for residents, particularly those living with dementia and other conditions that can make it difficult to communicate discomfort.

Improving Pain Management in Dementia Care Across the North West

Providing high-quality dementia care means recognising that pain is not always easy to identify. For many people living with dementia, discomfort can go unnoticed if they are unable to clearly communicate how they are feeling.

To support more consistent and objective pain assessments, Dovehaven introduced PainChek® in 2023. Since then, colleagues across the organisation have embedded the technology into everyday care practices, helping residents receive timely support when signs of pain are identified.

Today, Dovehaven achieves a HealthChek score of 100% every month, reflecting the consistent use of PainChek across all services and the organisation's commitment to delivering high standards of care.

Making a Meaningful Difference to Residents' Lives

Since introducing PainChek, colleagues across Dovehaven have seen a meaningful difference in the comfort, wellbeing and quality of life of residents.

The results have been significant:

• 67% reduction in severe pain
• 41% reduction in distress incidents
• 50% reduction in hospital admissions following a fall

These outcomes reflect the dedication of teams across Dovehaven and the positive impact that early identification and management of pain can have on residents' everyday lives.

By recognising signs of discomfort sooner, colleagues can provide more personalised support, helping residents feel more comfortable, reassured and able to enjoy a better quality of life.

National Recognition for a Team Effort

Jo's award win highlights the success of the programme and Dovehaven's ongoing commitment to innovation, learning and continuous improvement in dementia care.

Jo said:

"Our focus has always been on improving outcomes for residents. Pain can often be difficult to recognise in people living with dementia, so having a consistent approach to pain assessment is incredibly important. These results are a reflection of the dedication shown by colleagues across Dovehaven who use PainChek every day to support residents with compassion, dignity and understanding."

Supporting Compassionate, Person-Centred Care

At Dovehaven, great care will always begin with people. Technology such as PainChek helps teams identify when residents may be experiencing pain, but it is the compassion, skill and dedication of colleagues that turns those insights into meaningful support. The programme reflects Dovehaven's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect Diversity, Excellence and Strength in Unity, ensuring every resident receives the support they need when they need it most.

As one of the North West's leading providers of residential, nursing and dementia care, Dovehaven remains committed to investing in innovation, training and best practice that improves the lives of residents and supports colleagues to deliver outstanding care.

While Jo's award recognises her leadership, it is also a reflection of the care, compassion and commitment shown every day by colleagues across Dovehaven. Together, they are helping residents live more comfortably, with dignity, understanding and the support they deserve.

At Dovehaven, we're committed to helping every resident live with comfort, dignity and the support they deserve. To find out more about our care homes and person-centred approach to care, contact our friendly team today.

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