Agricola House is re-accredited by Headway!

Agricola House is our specialist brain injury care home in Greater Manchester. They deliver holistic, community-based care to people living with an acquired brain injury. Their support focuses on enhancing lost skills and nurturing meaningful connections within the community.

Our expert team are proud members of the Headway Approved Provider scheme. Headway is the UK’s leading brain injury organisation, and their accreditations demonstrate excellence in specialist support for people living with brain injuries.

Recently, our team were re-accredited by Headway, achieving an overall ‘Good’ rating. This recognises the hard work everyone at Agricola House is doing to ensure their support is empowering incredible outcomes for the people we support.

We caught up with Service Manager, Jack Murray, to learn how they achieved their Headway re-accreditation.

What was the pathway to re-accreditation?

The Headway accreditation process is a thorough review of how well we run Agricola House. The review assessed how each individual is supported, how our support is monitored and reviewed, and how we adapt to meet changing needs.

In preparation for our assessment, we gathered case studies that highlighted each person’s progress, how we were meeting their support needs, and the opportunities that have helped them achieve positive outcomes and greater independence.

The assessment also considered how our team works collaboratively internally and with other professionals, including therapists. We included how we’ve built a positive culture and an environment that promotes independence, by including facilities such as a training kitchen, where individuals can redevelop daily living skills in a safe and supportive space.

What were the biggest factors to success?

Our Headway re-accreditation reflects the dedication of our entire team. From maintaining our documentation and evidencing good practice to delivering exceptional care every day, everyone contributed to achieving this milestone.

Sharing our creative processes and their impact was also key to our success. One example we’re proud of is ‘World with Agricola’, which celebrates culture and diversity while creating meaningful opportunities for learning and engagement. Each month, we explore different countries through activities such as cooking traditional dishes and learning interesting facts, helping the people we support broaden their experiences in an enjoyable way.

Retaining our Headway re-accreditation reflects the commitment and dedication of our entire team.

Jack Murray, Service Manager

Our re-accreditation also recognised our commitment to person-centred support. By taking the time to understand each individual’s goals and aspirations, our team can deliver tailored support that promotes confidence, independence, and meaningful outcomes.

Retaining our Headway Approved Provider Accreditation was a proud moment for everyone involved. It recognised our consistency, commitment, collaboration, and innovation, which goes a long way to making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Why is this a proud moment for the team?

Achieving this re-accreditation gives the people we support and their family’s reassurance that we’re providing the best care possible. Our assessment recognises we’re meeting the required standards and highlights strengths across culture, environment, service delivery and governance, leadership and management, and quality.

These standards are reflected in the amazing outcomes the people we support accomplish. Across our support, individuals have regained valuable life skills, developed greater independence, progressed to supported living, and gained the confidence to embrace their own cultures in the local community.

Seeing the people we support achieve these goals, however big or small, is the most rewarding part of our job. The re-accreditation reflects not only the quality of care provided, but also the positive difference it continues to make to people’s lives.

How did you celebrate the re-accreditation?

Everyone felt so happy and relieved when we found out we’d retained our Headway accreditation. It gave the team a real sense of pride and we didn’t hesitate in sharing the result with everyone.

To mark the achievement, the team joined together to celebrate the successful re-accreditation. This occasion also gave us the opportunity to reflect on the progress of the people we support who live at Agricola House, whose journeys continue to inspire us all.

Retaining our Headway accreditation is just the start and reinforces our commitment to delivering high quality, person-centred support that empowers fulfilling lives for all.