Recently, our specialist Prader-Willi syndrome service in Oldbury, Barnford House, completed their annual quality audit. This internal review is completed to maintain effective oversight of our services and assesses what they’re doing well or where there might be improvements needed. This helps our services to create opportunities for success and promote the safety and wellbeing of the people we support.
Barnford House were assessed across our five ETHOS values (Empowering, Together, Honest, Outstanding, and Supportive). During the audit, they received some fabulous feedback, scoring an impressive four ‘inspirational’ ratings – the highest score available. Feedback highlighted successes in many areas from safeguarding and safety, communication, and leadership and management, to health and wellbeing, colleague engagement, and the experiences of the people we support.
The team’s dedication to providing life-changing support has taken them from strength to strength. Applying strong leadership and a collaborative culture goes a long way to creating an environment where the people we support can thrive.
We caught up with Service Manager, Jeana Bircher, to learn how they achieved such a positive audit.
Why is this a key achievement for Barnford House?
We are so proud of everyone’s hard work. To score four ‘inspirational’ scores was incredible.
This is a key achievement for the team as it demonstrates strong leadership, personal growth, and exceptional care. The team’s passion and dedication has gone a long way to creating a home that promotes the safety and wellbeing of people with Prader-Willi syndrome.
What helped you to achieve such a successful quality audit?
I feel our approach to recruitment has played a key role in us receiving a successful quality audit. It ensures everyone in the home works to our company values and enables the people we support to thrive.
When we opened Barnford House in 2024, we had a vision to create a home where individuals could blossom, be empowered to make their own decisions, and feel safe.
By working collaboratively we’ve been able to form an amazing team and transform Barnford House into more than just a home.
Jeana Bircher, Service Manager
When we recruit new members to our team, we share this vision and ensure they have the same ambitions as us. We include the people we support in the recruitment process, so we gain their input and feedback. This helps us understand whether new team members will fit our ETHOS. It also gives the people we support confidence that whoever joins the team can successfully provide them the support they need.
By working collaboratively as a team, we’re able to treat audits and inspections like any other day. Over time, this has enabled us to form an amazing team and transform Barnford House into more than just a home.
By taking this approach, it’s easy to demonstrate our love, care, and passion for the jobs we do!
How did you involve the people we support?
The people we support were so excited when the Quality and Compliance Manager arrived. They welcomed them to their home with hot drinks and food, and were intrigued to find out more about the quality audit.
To help prepare them, we explained what was happening and ensured everyone that the inspection was about demonstrating the support we provide at Barnford House. The Quality and Compliance Manager was then taken on a tour of the home, where the people we support explained the different activities they get up to.
So they could get a real insight, Zid, one of the people we support, showed them how he does his daily health and safety checks of the home, while Jamie invited them to his house meeting, where he works through a list of actions for the home.
Involving the people we support didn’t just enable them to feel involved and appreciated, it empowered them to voice their achievements and progression since moving to Barnford House.
How did your result celebrate the care you provide?
We were delighted to receive such brilliant feedback. To hear nice comments about how we’ve developed the home, progressed the people we support, and how the team love working here, left me feeling quite emotional.
I was particularly proud to see us score highly for the quality of support we are providing to the individuals living here, alongside how well our home is managed day to day.
Our person-centred approach has been key and helps us understand how each individual wants to live their life. Receiving this recognition from the quality audit, really does showcase how happy the people we support are at Barnford House. It also recognises that we’re all doing a great job!
What’s next for Barnford House?
Achieving an inspirational score was fantastic, but we aren’t stopping there! We strive for quality each day and we’re motivated to keep developing. We’ve created a new action plan following the audit, which will enable us to work towards future success.
We’ll work closely with the people we support to push for new goals, promote empowerment, and continue supporting them to live fulfilling lives.
Find out more
To find out more about our specialist Prader-Willi syndrome support and how we can help you, a client, or a loved one, complete our quick form and a member of the team will get back to you.
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