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We take the risk out
of the referrals process

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 Officer

Dara has over 25 years’ experience in healthcare across many sectors including mental health, neurological and brain injury services. Working with secure mental health services through to community services she understands the clinical progress that can be made outside of very restrictive situations, whilst attracting investment for expansion and development.

Dara is an innovative operator who is solution focused, with service improvement at the heart of her decision making.

As Chief Operating Officer Dara is responsible for service delivery, ensuring the people we support and care for reach their potential and are supported through their diagnostic restrictions.

Michelle Murchan

Director of Operations

Michelle 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.

Gaynor Rhead

Commissioning Home Director

Gaynor has an impressive track record in healthcare management and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Cornerstone. In her role, she will oversee the opening of the two new developments ‘Cale View’ and ‘The Burren’ as well as the execution of the commissioning process for the two sector leading services.

Niki Richards

General Manager

Niki is a registered nurse who has previously worked in senior leadership roles within the NHS, the National Care Standards Commission, Healthcare Commission, CQC and large care providers.

Yusuf Lusiba

General Manager

In a healthcare career of 18 years, Yusuf has demonstrated a clear drive and passion for clinical excellence. Having worked in dementia care and acquired brain injury settings, Yusuf brings a wealth of knowledge to Cornerstone. In 2020, he chose to continue his self-development by completing his Msc in Mental Health Nursing.

Amanda Bulley

Clinical Manager

After 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 Manager

Alena 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.

Mark Pascual

Clinical Manager
Mark started his career in healthcare as a Healthcare Assistant and has steadily progressed to a Staff Nurse, care home Deputy Manager and now Clinical Manager at Cornerstone. Mark is never happier than when he sees his residents smiling, happy and comfortable. This is what makes him proud of the job that he does.

Nicki Hector-Thomas

Clinical Manager
Nicki has been a qualified RGN for 32yrs. She started her career in general surgery, then specialised as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Stoma Care for a total of 15 years. She has also worked in Palliative Care, with the Hospice at Home Team with the Rowans Hospice. Nicki has 15 years’ experience of working as an RGN & latterly as Clinical Lead, in a nursing home in Southsea, before joining Cornerstone in 2022 as a Senior RGN, then gaining promotion to Clinical Manager.

Wayne Foy

Clinical Manager
Wayne has been a qualified nurse since 2014, starting his career in Stroke medicine before progressing to Acute medicine for the older person in a secondment role. Wayne has also worked within the community nursing team in Portsmouth before transferring his skills to a Clinical lead position within a private nursing home. Wayne has most recently spent time as a CQC registered manager for a Domiciliary company before joining Cornerstone at the end of 2022.

Aaron Ballinger

Quality & Compliance Manager

Aaron 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.

Refer now

Health professionals and commissioners:

0333 444 0934

Email our referral team: referrals@cornerstonehc.co.uk
send a message, or arrange a call back using the form below.

Health professionals and commissioners: 0333 444 0934