Laurel Place Care Home
Laurel Place is a brand-new, purpose-built care home in Bishop Auckland, designed to support adults living with complex needs.
Part of Exemplar Health Care, one of the UK’s leading nursing care providers, Laurel Place offers nurse-led care for individuals with complex needs arising from dementia, mental health conditions, neuro-disabilities, and physical disabilities.
The home features 32 en-suite bedrooms and six single-occupancy apartments, divided into three small units to create a homely environment. Each unit includes communal spaces, quiet lounges, and sensory bathrooms with Bluetooth and mood lighting.
Lauren Place also boasts a beauty salon, sensory and therapy rooms, a multi-faith space, and a large activities hub with an adapted kitchen.
Outdoor amenities include a wheelchair-accessible garden with wide paths and an allotment for gardening activities and a visitor suite is available to accommodate family and friends who wish to stay overnight while visiting loved ones.
Home Manager of Laurel Place, Luke Skelton, explained that the home’s mission is “to make every day better for the people we support and the colleagues who provide care.”
Luke and his team focus on providing exceptional care in a welcoming, supportive environment, empowering people to achieve their goals while staying connected to loved ones. “We aim to foster dignity, independence, and fulfilment for all,” he said.
In terms of what sets Laurel Place apart from other care homes in the region, Luke explained that at Exemplar Health Care, “more than half of the people we support have previously experienced one or more failed placements.
“Our nurse-led team has the expertise to care for individuals with multiple diagnoses and co-morbidities, who often need a range of clinical interventions, providing truly person-centred care.
“Our holistic approach goes beyond clinical care to support people’s emotional, social, and personal needs, enabling individuals to live meaningful lives and achieve better outcomes.”
By delivering the right care from the start, the team at Laurel Place aim to end the cycle of failed placements.
Laurel Place is also unique in its focus on community-based care. Many of the people the team support would otherwise be living in hospital or secure settings. Instead, they now have the opportunity to receive care closer to family and friends in a supportive home environment.
Ensuring high-quality care for its residents, the team pride themselves on the approach that starts with person-centred care.
Throughout the referral, assessment, and admission process, the assessments at Laurel Place go beyond clinical needs to consider 16 areas of care and support.
“We also conduct a ‘community fit’ assessment which ensures our home is the right ‘fit’ for the individual, and the individual is the right fit for our home and its community.
“Engagement and co-production are at the heart of what we do, ensuring that people are involved in decisions that impact on their lives and on the running of the home,” added Luke.
In line with this and striving to offer something unique, people can become a Service User Ambassador, taking on roles in the home such as participating in peer mentoring, co-developing policies, running the tuck shop, or being the head gardener.
Luke added, “We also prioritise building a highly skilled team. Recruitment is values-based, and our colleagues undergo a comprehensive four-week bespoke induction and extensive training programmes.
“These include role-specific training, apprenticeships, over 50 clinical skills modules, and leadership development through our Leadership Pathway.”
With technology playing a critical role in enhancing care, Laurel Place’s advanced digital systems streamline processes like care planning, incident reporting, and medication management work to free staff members focus on the people they support.
The home has also invested in innovative technology to meet individuals’ unique care needs, including eye gaze systems, fall detection technology, and text-to-speech tools.
The team stays up-to-date with best practices through continuous learning and feedback.
With support from Exemplar Health Care’s clinical teams, quality specialists, and training initiatives, the Laurel Place team embed the latest evidence-based care into everything they do.
“Our work is further strengthened by the expertise of our Quality Team, Audit and Regulation Team, and a dedicated Link Nurse network specialising in areas such as continence, infection control, falls, end-of-life care, nutrition, and wound care,” added Luke.
In terms of future plans and goals at Laurel Place, as a new home, Luke explained that the primary goal is, “to build a team dedicated to delivering exceptional care.
“Over time, we aim to establish Laurel Place as a model of excellence in complex care, with a focus on continuous improvement.
“In the longer term, we hope to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Care Quality Commission (CQC).”
We look forward to following the home’s journey.
exemplarhc.com/care-homes/laurel-place
