The Royal Star & Garter Home in Solihull has become a Teaching Care Home after completing a one-year course.

It means the Home in Tudor Coppice can now be considered a centre of excellence in person-centred care, teaching and learning.

Home Manager Cheryl Harbourne, Lead Nurse Pat Cassidy and Lead Health Care Assistant Becky Mullins finished the course, established by Care England and funded by the Department of Health.

The aim of the Teaching Care Homes programme is to develop a network of homes that each show a commitment to providing person-centred care. Teaching Care Homes must also share its best practice with staff, students, residents and the community, as well as having strong working relationships with academic and education providers, and be a resource for other care homes to seek advice.

Solihull Home Manager Cheryl Harbourne said: “We pride ourselves in providing the best care to our residents, and that is reflected by our ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating and retaining our Level 1 Accreditation by Dementia Care Matters. We think it is important to share our knowledge and experience with others, so that we can promote best practice and get across the message that adult social care is an exciting, rewarding, forward-thinking career choice. Being a Teaching Care Home will help us do this.”