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We take the risk out
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We provide unique, specialist care for vulnerable people who present with challenging behaviours associated with complex neurodegenerative and mental health needs.
By supporting healthcare professionals and commissioners, we ensure strong placements are made and seldom experience placement breakdown.
Our specialism allows us to consider and often admit individuals who have been rejected by other services. We also specialise in s.117 aftercare pathways.
Knowledge is key
We have a unique approach and attitude towards specialist care which has received industry recognition. Through four core areas, we achieve clinical expertise for our residents:
- Seeing beyond the diagnosis to individual needs and co-morbidity
- Focus on presentation over diagnosis
- Care through to end of life
- Focus on de-escalation and distraction (Restraint Reduction Initiative compliant)
- Proactive framework for reducing 1:1 dependency
- Targeted reviews and assessments
- Mix of general and mental health nurses
- High staffing levels
- Link nurses in 11 specialist areas
- Dedicated activity team
- In-house specialist training to ensure consistency across our service
- Continuity of a specialist, strong team
- Qualitative and quantitative data analysis
- Risk management, not just risk elimination
- Robust, cross-functional Clinical Governance process
- Comprehensive pre-admission assessment
- Use of Restore2 to recognise and respond to early warning signs
- Statistical analysis SPC charts of falls to monitor and mitigate
Outcomes can be difficult to measure but are a crucial part of care planning. We ensure outcome measures are used in every aspect of our care from the sector requirements to our own proactive analysis and initiatives:
- Initial 28-day assessment
- Monthly care reviews to suit resident and commissioner needs
- 1:1 framework which is continually reviewed to justify need
- Audits and quality reviews
- All compliance tolerance levels targeted below the national levels
- Compliance with the national standards and best practice guidelines to measure, monitor and review treatment outcomes
- Surveys and feedback from residents, families and professionals to gain insight
- Service-wide clinical audit process
We do more than the expected
“When my client was discharged to Cornerstone, they proactively liaised with me and the nurses on the previous ward to seek advice and tips as to how to manage behaviours and support needs.”
Social Worker, Adult Social Care
Admission Criteria
Because of our specialism, we are able to consider and usually admit those who are challenging to place. Many of our residents were previously rejected by other services or have experienced placement breakdown.
Male or female
Over 18 years
Those on s.17 leave, s.117 aftercare and guardianship orders are accommodated. Not detained under the Mental Health Act nor those requiring physical restraint, rapid tranquillisation or seclusion.
Challenging presentations including aggression, self-harm, destructiveness, disruptiveness and sexually disinhibited behaviours.
Many people we support have underlying mental health issues with Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases (noncompliance with medication, not eating/drinking/ high risk of falls).
Long term placements – we do not provide respite
Our process
1
Initial conversation with
referrals team to qualify information
2
Assessment of individual
within 72 hours
3
Pre-admissions assessment
document, offer and funding
Clinical Leadership Team
Our clinical management teams have a wealth of experience in the healthcare sector and the well being and care of our residents are their main drivers.
Dara Ní Ghadhra
Group Chief Operating OfficerMichelle Murchan
Director of OperationsMichelle is a registered nurse with extensive experience in management positions for nearly 20 years. She has held various Home Manager roles and more senior roles such as Operations Manager, Regional Manager and Commissioning Manager within both nursing homes and hospitals.
Diana O'Hare
Regional ManagerDiana trained as a RGN in Belfast in the 1980s and has worked in both the public and private sector. Having joined Cornerstone in 2021, Diana has a wealth of clinical experience and has more recently been in operational roles specialising in high end dementia care.
Aimee Sparks
Clinical ManagerAimee started working in care at the age of 17 and began her nurse training in 2010. Once qualified she started at St Richards Hospital in Chichester before taking on a deputy sister post. Aimee then left the NHS to work in a non-dementia care setting as a clinical lead. Her passion for dementia care and mental health nursing lead her to Cornerstone where she took on the post of Clinical Manager in 2020.
Amanda Bulley
Clinical ManagerAfter qualifying as a nurse, Amanda joined the Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service and was drafted to Gosport RNH Haslar. Amanda then became the registered manager for a care home in Southsea which she ran for 25 years. This position took Amanda away from front line nursing and clinical input so she decided to take on the role as a Clinical manager at South Africa Lodge in 2020.
Alena Clemo
Clinical ManagerAlena has been a qualified nurse for 20 years, starting her career working in acute medicine and then moving into respiratory high care. She has also worked in the specialist areas of gastroenterology, cardiology and lung cancer where she was clinical nurse specialist. Alena joined Cornerstone in 2021 as complex care is of particular interest to her.
Clare Relf
Clinical Manager, Mental Health LeadClare qualified as a RMN 19 years ago and started her nursing career in NHS Mental Health facilities. Clare joined Kitnocks House as a Nurse and has been promoted through the ranks to Clinical Manager and is now Cornerstone’s resident, Mental Health Lead.
Annie Lewis
General ManagerAnnie qualified as a RGN and Orthopaedic Nurse in the 1980s before spending four years as an officer in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps where she spent time in the Falkland Islands and on operational standby. Annie has held various senior management roles including regional roles in the field of dementia care and commissioned several services.
Aaron Ballinger
Quality & Compliance ManagerAaron joined Cornerstone in 2008 as a Healthcare Assistant and immediately showed a passion for improving the lives of our residents by data-driven decision making. He has attended the University of Bath in ‘Quality Improvement in Healthcare’ and the Royal College of Physicians in ‘Improving Patient Care: A Data Driven Approach’ and in 2020 he was promoted to his current role as Quality & Compliance Officer.
Dr Hannelie Fourie
Consultant PsychiatristDr Hannelie Fourie is a consultant psychiatrist with dual registration in General Adult Psychiatry and old age psychiatry, having completed postgraduate training at St George’s Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital in London. Her private practices are situated in central London, based at Nightingale Hospital London, and the Roodlane Medical Centre, New Broad Street. She has vast experience in the field of cognitive (memory) problems.
Email our referral team: referrals@cornerstonehc.co.uk
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