Veterans' care accolade for Royal Wootton Bassett care home

A care home in Royal Wootton Bassett has become the first in the South West to achieve Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status.

It means former members of the Armed Forces in Wiltshire benefit from enhanced care and support at the Anchor care home where they live.

Marsh Farm Manor has met the eight standards required to reach the necessary benchmark in an endorsement by Royal Star and Garter of their “...dedication, passion and commitment."

Rob Martin, Anchor’s Managing Director of Care Services, said: “This is fantastic news and it is even more poignant that the town has such a strong military history, and the home is the first Anchor home in the south west to achieve this status and the 21st in total.”

Home Manager Marie Cranfield said: “The team here at Marsh Farm Manor has worked incredibly hard to achieve this in such a short time. 

"Anchor care homes across the country have hugely benefited from gaining Veteran Friendly status and here at Marsh Farm Manor we are looking forward to reaping the benefits for our residents to enable them to enjoy an even happier and more supportive environment and live later life to the fullest. 

"A big thank you goes to Kathryn at Royal Star and Garter who has been a massive support through the process.”

Kathryn Glass, Royal Star and Garter’s VFF Project Lead, said: “The application submitted by Marsh Farm Manor was of an exceptionally high standard and a testament to the dedication, passion, and commitment the home has for providing high-quality person-centred care for residents and colleagues alike. 

"I would like to thank all the Anchor colleagues at the home for their hard work and commitment to undertaking this framework and for being so welcoming to the VFF Team. 

"This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future staff at each location, who are able to access enhanced training and guidance to better engage with the unique military experiences that their residents and partners have lived through.”

Marsh Farm Manor care home is a contemporary residential care home with 66 beds, set in comfortable surroundings and has private landscaped gardens.

The standards a home has to meet to achieve VFF status include referencing Armed Forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans.

The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in residential care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. 

It will help tackle loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England. 

Any care homes interested in receiving more information about the VFF should visit www.starandgarter.org/veteran-friendly-framework, email [email protected]  or call Kathryn on 07435 326070.