Care England Visit to Nightingale House

Care England Visit to Nightingale House

On 29 April 2022, Care England’s policy team visited Nightingale Hammerson‘s Nightingale House in Clapham, South London. They are the first care home provider in England, allowing staff and visitors to not wear a facemask throughout their premises following the covid pandemic.

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the home’s Director of Care, Nuno Santos Lopes. We were given a guided tour of the care setting. We spoke with the inspirational frontline staff who dedicate their days to caring for the residents across the home’s residential, nursing, dementia, respite and palliative care facilities. Carers spoke passionately about the importance of the adult social care sector and how fulfilling their work is to them.  

It was a privilege to witness Nightingale Hammerson’s Engagement Programme first-hand. We watched Live Music Now perform for us and the residents, who entertained us with their instruments in a room of residents, and children from the on-site nursery. This was the first time in two years that this had happened due to Covid, making this a particularly poignant moment. The children danced, and the residents clapped along, lighting up at the familiar rhythms. This intergenerational connection continued with a Shabbat ceremony led by the on-site religious coordinator Rafi Fuchs and the care home’s Intergenerational Programme founder Judith Ish-Horowicz. Children from the nursery came and participated alongside the service users, singing both traditional and modern rhymes. Again, connecting with a younger generation in a traditional ceremony had a wonderful impact on residents.

The visit to Nightingale House was insightful for the policy team. Being able to witness first-hand the dedication those in the sector possess and talking with them about their work has provided us with valuable feedback from those on the frontline of adult social care. From this, we can take away worthwhile intel to inform our work, such as our partnership on the intergenerational music programme ‘Together with Music,’ our work on the effects and repercussions of the pandemic on providers, and our ongoing lobbying on behalf of the workforce.

Seeing the passion from the workforce and the happiness they create for the residents was invaluable and has provided us with a stark reminder of the importance of our advocacy on behalf of the sector.