The Gold Standards Framework

The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) aims to deliver training and support that brings about individual and organisational transformation, enabling a ‘gold standard’ of care.

The GSF is the most comprehensive programme ever introduced to enhance end of life care in hospitals and care homes and it aims are to improve the quality, coordination and organisation of care. Since it started in 2004 almost 1500 homes have undertaken the training. It is endorsed by all the major care home organisations and supported by Age UK.

http://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/

National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People

NAPA is a registered charity and a limited company with a small permanent staff. It is administered by a Board of Trustees who are all volunteers with a keen and active interest in promoting high quality activity provision for older people.

http://www.napa-activities.co.uk

The Cinnamon Trust

The only specialist national charity for people in their last years and their much loved, much needed companion animals.

A network of 15,000 volunteers “hold hands” with owners to provide vital loving care for their pets. We keep them together - for example, we’ll walk a dog every day for a housebound owner, we’ll foster pets when owners need hospital care, we’ll fetch the cat food, or even clean out the bird cage, etc.

http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

Vegetarian for Life

Vegetarian for Life was launched in May 2008 - funded by the Vegetarian Housing Association (VHA).

VHA was established in the 1960s and provided sheltered housing and meals to older vegetarians. This activity became increasingly unviable in recent years, because of changes in society, and in 2007 VHA decided to wind down its housing activities and redirect its resources to funding the formation of VfL - a charity whose aims are in sympathy with those of VHA.

http://www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk/

Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission is the new health and social care regulator for England. We look at the joined up picture of health and social care. Our aim is to ensure better care for everyone in hospital, in a care home and at home.

http://www.cqc.org.uk/

Social Care Institute for Excellence

SCIE is an independent charity, funded by the Department of Health and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland. SCIE identifies and disseminates the knowledge base for good practice in all aspects of social care throughout the United Kingdom. Only by understanding what works in practice - and what does not - can services be improved, and the status of the workforce be raised.

http://www.scie.org.uk/