A Dorset care home has been awarded the highest possible Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Quality Hallmark Award for its outstanding delivery of palliative and end of life care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Care Dorset’s Streets Meadow in Hanham Road, Wimborne, was one of just 75 care homes, hospitals, hospices, primary care practices, retirement villages, and domiciliary care agencies across the country to receive accreditation at the GSF Conference and Awards ceremony in London.
The Gold Standards Framework Centre provides expert training for frontline staff in health and social care, to enable a ‘gold standard’ of care for people nearing end of life.
Streets Meadow, which provides care and support for older people and for those with memory loss and dementia, received the centre’s highest level of accreditation, the Platinum hallmark.

Streets Meadows’ GSF action group oversees the management of end of life care at the home and consists of family liaison co-ordinator Julie-Anne Ricketts, out of hours administrator Hannah Baxter, administrator of GSF matrix updates Sara Boddington and quality assurance administrator Tanya Pollock.
Tanya said: “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious accreditation.
“At Streets Meadow we believe end of life planning shouldn’t be a taboo topic and we actively promote advanced care planning with our residents and their loved ones.
“This is fantastic recognition for the GSF team and the whole of Streets Meadow, which has actively contributed towards our success.
“The pandemic was an extremely challenging time. But we are delighted that things are returning to normal and during the summer we were able to re-start our grief support group, the Butterfly Café, which provides solace to friends and families of residents whose loved ones have passed away.
“The Café meets at Streets Meadow every four months for refreshments, reminiscing and a warm friendly chat and has been a tremendous source of comfort to many.
“In 2023 we also plan to open the Butterfly Café to the wider community, to support many more people who have lost someone special in their lives.”
Patricia Tate’s husband Alan, a Royal Navy veteran who was later diagnosed with dementia, received nursing care and eventually end of life care at Streets Meadow.
Patricia, from Wimborne, said: “Alan was at Streets Meadow for 16 months until he passed away last year and I can’t fault the care he received there in any way.
“The staff are exceptionally caring and genuinely interested in the people they are caring for.
“Alan enjoyed the art classes and other activities and I am glad the home has received this recognition which is richly deserved.
“Even though Alan has now passed away, I return to Streets Meadow for the Butterfly Café and enjoy seeing the staff who helped us so much.”