Specialist brain injury care home celebrates fourth consecutive ‘Outstanding’ rating

1SC celebrated achieving four consecutive 'Outstanding' Headway accreditations

A Chingford care home that provides nursing care and rehabilitation services for people living with an acquired brain injury has received four ‘Outstanding’ Headway accreditations in a row.

Team members and residents at specialist care home 1 Sewardstone Close celebrated the achievement with balloons, banners, and raised a glass of fizz.

The Approved Provider Scheme ran by Headway – the brain injury association is a standards-based accreditation for care homes that deliver comprehensive support and rehabilitation for individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

The expert multi-disciplinary team at the care home are specialists in neuro and acquired brain injury care, with a focus on increasing independence.

The report praises the team at 1 Sewardstone Close for their “strong person-centred approach, with highly individualised support plans”.

The 29-bed specialist care home was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in the association’s report following a visit on November 8, 2024. Over the last four years, the care home has consecutively achieved an outstanding rating in all six areas of its assessment.

The report said: “Assessors met two residents who were practising in their new one-arm drive wheelchairs, offering them more independence rather than needing to be pushed by others.

“There are therapy key workers and named nurses who support residents to review progress towards their goals. Goal setting and reviews happen weekly and at monthly interdisciplinary team meetings.”

Home manager Marie is a member of an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for acquired brain injury. She said: “I am so proud of the whole team! To achieve an outstanding rating in all areas, four years in a row is an exceptional achievement.

“The achievement is due to the commitment and dedication of the whole team, our residents and their families, and Enable Care’s commitment and passion to deliver outstanding brain injury care – something that is much needed with the massive shortage of ABI beds we have in the UK.

“The home is a lovely environment, and we have the best resources available to ensure our residents can rebuild key skills and improve levels of independence.”

The care home provides slow stream rehabilitation, a long-term therapy programme that helps people to regain skills and live more independently after a brain injury or other neurological condition.

The report praised the care home for its “sensitive and flexible ethos, to maximise the residents’ privacy, dignity, independence and control over their lives.”

Marie and her team are commended for their use of Brainkind rehabilitation mantras and promoting ideas such as ‘every interaction is rehab’. The assessor stated: “These ideas are cascaded down to the whole team so that every opportunity is taken to support achievement with the residents.”

Marie explained: “Every interaction is important for recovery. Not just obvious ones such as physio in the gym, everyday interactions like playing a game, making a cup of tea, or going shopping.

“For example our cleaners support our residents in cleaning their own bedroom. Everything we do is an opportunity for rehabilitation.”

1 Sewardstone Close offer a comprehensive programme of meaningful and engaging activities to all residents that support therapy goals and rehabilitation.