Craegmoor Launch Service User Involvement DVD

Craegmoor Healthcare, the largest independent provider of long term specialist care in the UK, recently launched a new training DVD directed by and starring the people who use its services.

The DVD has been made to underline to every member of staff at Craegmoor the importance of involving the users of the company’s services in the delivery of the care and support that they receive. The company intends the DVD to be watched by all existing staff and will also incorporate it into the staff induction process.

The original concept of a training DVD was developed following discussions between Craegmoor staff and service users at the company’s February “Your Voice” National Forum. Your Voice, which started in 2006, is Craegmoor’s groundbreaking service user involvement project which ensures that the company listens to, involves and is influenced by the people who use its services.

The DVD was produced by Craegmoor service users following many months of hard work and a survey of over 1000 people who use Craegmoor’s services and whose opinions have been expressed. Craegmoor teamed up with Inspired Services Publishing Ltd to produce the DVD, which was filmed over three fun-filled days. Craegmoor service users subsequently visited Inspired Services’ studios to spend a day editing the DVD and choosing the music.

Everyone involved in the DVD’s production was then invited to an exclusive premier screening held at the Holiday Inn Gloucester where they were presented with awards by Craegmoor’s Chief Executive Ted Smith. During the ceremony, Ted Smith thanked everyone involved for making such a valuable contribution to the way Craegmoor operates.

Craegmoor’s Chief Executive, Ted Smith, said today:

“Service user involvement in the training and development of our staff is what every provider should seek to encourage as no one knows better what the people who use our services want, than the service users themselves. The Your Voice scheme is something that Craegmoor remains strongly committed to and I look forward to hearing fresh ideas at our next National Forum”.

For further information please contact the Craegmoor Press Office on: 01905 459 813

Notes for Editors

• Photography from the premier screening of the DVD is available upon request.
• Craegmoor is the largest independent provider of long term specialist care in the UK with a turnover of approximately £170m and employs over 6,500 people.
• It has a portfolio comprising specialist and nursing care homes, mental health hospitals, specialist adult colleges and supported living schemes with over 4,700 beds across 234 homes.
• The wide range of services offered by Craegmoor include:
• Specialist care and support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses
• Nursing and residential care for the elderly
• Independent Hospitals
• Craegmoor has 2229 Specialist beds including 143 beds in three colleges.
• Craegmoor has currently 2242 Older People beds and 237 beds in the company’s Independent Hospitals.
• Working closely with local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts, Craegmoor is committed to building partnerships focused on constant service improvements which meet the needs of individual people and which are in line with regulatory requirements and best practice.

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