A Manager’s Guide to Arts in Care Homes
NAPA unveils innovative resource empowering care home managers in arts engagement
The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) proudly presents a ground-breaking resource designed for care home managers seeking to enhance arts activities and creative engagement within care homes.
Alison Teader, the Programme Director of NAPA’s Arts in Care Homes initiative, collaborated with three visionary care home managers actively involved in arts-related work. Together, they crafted a user-friendly resource to inform and inspire managers and activity and care teams. Valuable insights from arts organisations and experienced individuals further enriched the content.
“At NAPA, we believe in creating environments that celebrate creativity, enhance wellbeing, and elevate the quality of care provided. This resource is a testament to the importance of meaningful creative activities in care homes and the invaluable contributions of dedicated care and activity teams.”
Hilary Woodhead, Executive Director NAPA
Funded by The Baring Foundation, this resource was developed in response to a recommendation in the Baring Foundation’s ‘Every Care Home A Creative Home’ report (2022). The report advocates for a systematic approach involving various stakeholders, aligning with residents, staff, relatives, care providers, regulators, social care and arts funders, training providers, arts organisations, and the local community.
“We have known for a long time that whether or not a care home resident has access to creative opportunities is entirely a lottery and therefore inequitable. A systems approach could help change this but requires the input of all stakeholders, including the regulator. We hope this new guide for managers is useful for those homes taking their first steps into developing an arts offer and supports them to demonstrate how this offer supports the quality of care they provide.”
David Cutler, Director of The Baring Foundation
Key Features of the Resource:
The resource emphasises how evidence of arts engagement can bolster the six key evidence categories for Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections.
It addresses potential barriers to developing arts in care homes and provides ideas and inspiration based on successful care home projects and activities.
The resource launch, marked by an online event, featured insights from the three registered managers – Shona Bradbury, Fatma Makalo, and Marlene Kelly, who played a pivotal role in its development.
“Art is not limited to paint and a brush; it involves anything creative that expresses your imagination. Our art activities provide opportunities to learn something new and encourage a sense of achievement and pride. We believe the atmosphere created by art helped us achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating by CQC.”
Shona Bradbury, Registered Manager, Appleby House Care Home
Access the full report and summary version here.
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Notes to editors:
For further information please contact:
Alison Teader, Programme Director
Email: alison@artsincarehomes.org.uk
Telephone: 07538 497607
Twitter: @Artsincarehomes Facebook: @artsincarenapa
About Arts in Care Homes:
Arts in Care Homes and the National Day of Arts in Care Homes is an initiative by NAPA and funded for five years by The Baring Foundation and The Rayne Foundation. Now in the fifth year, it acts as a central hub for delivery of arts and creative activities in care homes with sector research, user friendly resources and ‘How To’ guides for care staff. www.artsincarehomes.org.uk
NAPA is a membership organisation and charity, it is a leader in field promoting the importance of meaningful activities in care homes and the need for training and support for care staff. www.napa-activities.co.uk
Baring Foundation – From 2010-2019 the Baring Foundation’s Arts programme focused on supporting participatory arts with people over the age of 60, including people living in care homes. The Foundation continues to support Arts in Care Homes Day. www.baringfoundation.org.uk