Skelton Court care home celebrates achieving VFF status, enhancing care for veterans

Skelton Court care home in Skelton-in-Cleveland hosted a milestone event to celebrate its achievement of receiving Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status. The celebration brought together local veterans, residents, Anchor colleagues, and members of the Royal British Legion (RBL) to recognise and honour the home’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care for the Armed Forces community. 

Among the notable attendees were Eric Howden, Chair of the Redcar RBL branch; Jules Walker, member of the Royal Star and Garter; and Councillor David Taylor. 

To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Skelton Court care home was required to meet eight standards. These include, acknowledging Armed Forces status within care plans; addressing social isolation; and signposting to support services.

The aim of achieving VFF status 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 offered, it will help address loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the estimated 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England.  

Beyond the celebration, Skelton Court has introduced regular events like “Fish and Chip Fridays” and “Spare Chair Sundays,” which are open to all veterans in the local area. Looking ahead, the home is also preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a veterans tea dance, bringing residents and the wider community to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of veterans.

Home Manager Antony Griffiths said:

Achieving VFF status is a true reflection of the care and commitment of every colleague here at Skelton Court. We are proud to offer a place where veterans are respected and supported, as well as understood. Today, we celebrate not only our achievement but the incredible contributions of the veterans who make this community so special.

The VFF is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and the Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. 

Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. 
 
Kathryn said:

We’re delighted that Skelton Court care home has achieved VFF status. This is a great testament to their continuous improvement in the delivery of person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners.

The application that Skelton Court care home submitted was of an exceptionally high standard and wholly recognised the dedication, passion, and commitment the team has for providing high-quality person-centred care for residents and colleagues alike, along with forging some really meaningful connections to the armed forces community and NHS services.

For more information about Skelton Court, please click here.