Last week, Kier Hardie’s Ty Enfys Dementia Day Care Unit received the ‘Meaningful Care Matters’ outstanding accreditation, a first to be awarded in Wales.
The audit by Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) found the quality of life experienced by day care patients at Ty Enfys was at the highest level, with outstanding care provided by loving and engaged staff who really cared deeply for their patients whilst bringing joy, dignity and meaning to their care.
The Ty Enfys capital project has seen integrated care fund capital of £1.6M utilised to completely transform the physical environment of a joint health and social care dementia day service. The day care unit’s mission is to provide high quality care to support individuals from the age of 55 years old who have been diagnosed with Dementia that is of a moderate or severe nature.
There are many activities at the day centre which are designed to encourage individuals to participate at different levels, depending on the level of their condition, ensuring they receive the most effective care possible. The centre supports and manages patients’ health whilst helping with memory retention, maintaining independence, and assisting patients with their social lifestyles. The highly experienced staff ensure that all of this is achieved at every opportunity, but also help with other complex elements of care such as giving medication, helping with personal needs, and assisting patients with eating and drinking. All of this is done with great care and consideration ensuring they support their day patient’s dignity throughout the caring process.
MTCBC’s Head of Adult Services, Angela Edevane, said: ‘’We are immensely proud that our Dementia Day Service, Ty Enfys, has achieved this accreditation.
“Ty Enfys is the first fully integrated Health and Social Care Day service to achieve this accreditation in the UK and has been the result of joint working between MTCBC, CTMUHB, the Regional Commissioning Team – which sits within the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board – and Welsh Government through the ICF programme.
“Ty Enfys provides meaningful day time opportunities for people living with a dementia alongside outstanding dementia care and supports carers across Merthyr Tydfil and Cynon to enable them to continue in their caring role.
“This achievement is the result of a true partnership working and the diligent efforts of the team at Ty Enfys to make this accreditation a reality.’’
Julie Denley, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s Director Primary Care and Mental Health said: “Ty Enfys is an important service that contributes to supporting people with dementia to live at home as long as possible by supporting them, and critically, their carers. The redesign is exceptional but achieving an outstanding accreditation is a testament of the commitment of all involved to ensure the experience people have is equally exceptional.”
Speaking on behalf of the Regional Commissioning Unit team, Nia McIntosh, Regional Commissioning Officer, said:
“Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board are delighted to invest Integrated Care Funding to this unique dementia service, which has now been recognised with this accreditation. We understand how important it is for families and people experiencing dementia to have a safe and comfortable place to spend time. Meaningful Care Matters were instrumental in informing a homely and welcoming environment that supports each person’s unique needs.”
Peter Bewert, Managing Director of Meaningful Care Matters, said: “We’re delighted to see Ty Enfys becoming the first day care unit in the UK to be awarded an outstanding accreditation of The Butterfly Approach. It has been testing time for the social care sector, so we applaud their determination to offer an environment where people using their services can thrive and enjoy the highest quality of life possible.
“We look forward to assisting more day centres in facilitating the creation, reinvigoration and sustainable implementation of person‐centred care cultures. It’s coming back to the art and heart of care, where people, and moments, matter.”
Council Leader, Cllr Lisa Mytton recently visited the centre and expressed how thankful and happy she was of this achievement. She said: ‘’The new Dementia care unit is wonderful, the ideas, conception and result provide a first class facility for dementia users and their families. The layout was so welcoming with familiar local additions added. It’s a beautiful setting to help some of our most vulnerable residents. I cannot thank the team enough for the welcome received and all their hard work in bringing it all together.”
Councillor Tony Rogers, Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: ‘’The new Dementia care unit is wonderful, the ideas, conception and result provide a first-class facility for dementia users and their families. The layout is very welcoming, with familiar local additions added. It’s a beautiful setting to help some of our most vulnerable residents and I cannot thank the team enough for their hard work in bringing it all together, especially during the hard times we have all faced.
“In addition to this fantastic facility, hearing the news that they have achieved Outstanding Accreditation just shows the fantastic work of the staff and team and I’m so proud of them all.’’
