Stow Healthcare Group, based in Bury St Edmunds has once again been recognised as the best care provider in the country receiving multiple national accolades for the second year running.
Named as Care Group of the Year at not just one, but two national ceremonies, the local care provider, known for its impressive turnaround work on care homes across the region, was recognised by judges again, having had a notable run of success scooping the title at both awards for third time in four years.
The company took to the stage at both the National Care Awards and the Caring UK Awards where they saw off significant competition to take the coveted trophy having previously won these titles at both ceremonies in 2019 and 2021.
This year, Caring UK judges said of Stow Healthcare: “Our winning group is the industry ‘disrupter’ that turns around the most difficult homes to create vibrant elderly care settings, usually with outstanding ratings. In a crisis like the pandemic, you can choose to ask ‘Why me?’ or you can say ‘Watch me!’ – our winning group did the latter. Its first Memory Centre was a concept created from scratch during the pandemic, researching innovative memory care, and creating a new concept of living. The group also became only the second care home operator in East Anglia to pay the Real Living Wage to all employees in the Spring 2022.”
The team at the National Care Awards added, “What Stow does on career development and what it is doing to produce top skilled staff and provide that leadership journey is amazing. Stow’s homemaker model is really quite impressive. The company shows outstanding individual thinking that is clear and has an impact.”
Professor Martin Green CEO of Care England, the largest representative body for Care Providers in England said “Stow Healthcare is one of the most dynamic and innovative care providers in the UK. The values of Stow Healthcare are enshrined in everything that they do, and they focus on the people who use services and strive to deliver a good life for everyone, rather than just a good service. It is particularly great to see how the Stow Healthcare team can turn services around and take them from mediocre to Outstanding”
The company’s success wasn’t just limited to these trophies though. Other national- level accolades included recognition for the companies training and development programme which saw them named winners for ‘Excellence in Training’ at the sectors prestigious LaingBuisson Awards. The team were also praised for their new care initiative based on Montessori principles led by homemakers at the group’s first ever memory centre at Brandon Park. This new model of care saw the group win the ‘Innovation in Care’ Award at the Care Home Professional’s Leaders in Care Awards in October.
Director Ruth French noted: “Our sector has faced an incredibly challenging few years and this recognition is more important than ever for our teams. To receive these awards is such a morale boost for our staff, the fabulous residents we support, and the communities in which we live. Despite the challenges, Stow Healthcare has still managed to move forward at pace, trailblazing in 2022 acquiring two more failed homes and striving to be examples within our industry. We cannot wait to continue this fantastic work in 2023”
