Award-winning care provider Boutique Care Homes has taken a novel approach to launching its newest home, inviting key community partners and stakeholders to spend the night at Keymer Hall before it opens to residents.
The pre-opening sleepover event on 4-5 December brought together the Mayor of Burgess Hill, the CEO of Burgess Hill Town Council, local GPs, social prescribers, and representatives from community organisations, including Befriended, to provide an immersive experience of the home’s care environment, facilities, and catering.
Martin Murphy, Operations Director of Boutique Care Homes, said the event was designed to build integrated care relationships from day one.
“We wanted the people of Burgess Hill to experience Keymer Hall exactly as our residents will, from the warmth of the welcome to the quality of the food and the comfort of every space,” he said. “The relationships we’re building with local healthcare professionals, community organisations, and the Town Council are fundamental to how we care. This wasn’t about a ribbon-cutting ceremony, it was about demonstrating our commitment to genuine partnership working.”
Attendees included Councillor Stuart Condie, Mayor of Burgess Hill Town Council, Julie Holden, CEO of Burgess Hill Town Council, Jennifer O’Grady, Head of Community Engagement, Dr Mandy Claiden of The Brow Health Centre, members of the local social prescribing team, and Gail Millar, CEO of Befriended.
The evening included tours of the purpose-built home’s residential and dementia care communities, a three-course meal prepared by the in-house chef team, and a quiz night – giving attendees a genuine sense of daily life at the home.
Dr Mandy Claiden of The Brow Health Centre said: “It has been such a pleasure to look around this new home, it’s wonderful, very comfortable. Really a home from home.”
Gail Millar, CEO of Befriended, said the event demonstrated the provider’s commitment to community integration: “You have the most exquisite and beautiful home, it does feel like you’re walking into a five star hotel with a very homely and welcoming feeling. But for me what I love is that as an organisation you have worked so hard to build connections with community. Delighted to be working with you and coming in regularly.”
The social prescribing team, who will play a key role in referring individuals to community activities and support services, described the home as “warm and welcoming” with “absolutely beautiful” décor.
The following morning, local radio station Mid Sussex Radio broadcast its breakfast show live from Keymer Hall’s bistro, extending the community engagement beyond the overnight guests.
Mid Sussex Radio presenter Mike Bonsor, who has personal experience of the care sector, said: “I haven’t been in this kind of facility for many years since my mum was going through a care home journey and I only wish this kind of place had been around when she was looking. The standard of the building, accommodation and the attention to detail that has been put into what the team are looking to provide is quite mind-blowing. Putting the needs and wants, the desires of the residents front and centre.”
Christine Bunce, Home Manager at Keymer Hall, said the team is now ready to welcome residents: “Seeing our guests settle in for the evening, enjoying our chef’s incredible food and having such a wonderful time together, that’s exactly what we want life at Keymer Hall to feel like every day. We’ve created something really special here, and watching people experience it for the first time has been genuinely moving. This is what care should be.”
Councillor Stuart Condie, Mayor of Burgess Hill Town Council, said: “I was delighted to attend the launch of the Keymer Hall care home, it is a well planned facility in a beautiful location which is going to be well loved as a home for many of our residents. The staff and the team behind Keymer Hall are not only professional but also caring.”
Keymer Hall opens later this month, offering residential care, specialist dementia care (Nostalgia Care), and short stay respite care. The home features ensuite bedrooms, a bistro, cinema room, hair and beauty salon, hobby rooms, and landscaped gardens
