Cwm Gwendraeth Retains Huntington’s Disease HDA Accreditation

Cwm Gwendraeth Lodge has successfully retained accreditation from the Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA), with its evidence portfolio recognised as an example of best practice.

Cwm Gwendraeth, our specialist complex nursing home in Upper Tumble, Wales, has once again been awarded accreditation by the

Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA), confirming its continued commitment to high-quality specialist nursing care for people living with Huntington’s disease.

The Huntington’s Disease Association is the national charity supporting individuals and families affected by Huntington’s disease across England and Wales. As well as offering advice and advocacy, the organisation works closely with health and social care providers to improve understanding of the condition and raise standards of support.

Through its Quality Assured scheme, the HDA recognises homes that demonstrate the knowledge, skills and environment needed to provide specialist care for people living with Huntington’s disease.

Following a recent review process, Cwm Gwendraeth has successfully retained its HDA accreditation – offering renewed reassurance to families and professionals seeking experienced, specialist care.

Helen Santini, Team Leader at the Huntington’s Disease Association, welcomed the achievement and highlighted what stood out during the review. She shared, “one of the things that particularly stood out during the re-accreditation process was Cwm Gwendraeth’s standard around activities and social stimulation.”

She continued, “There was an excellent range of activities at all levels and designed to cater for individuals’ different needs. Creating opportunities like this takes real investment and resources, but it also makes a huge difference to the care and experience of people living in a care home.”

Alongside confirming the outcome, HDA assessors also praised the quality of the portfolio submitted as part of the accreditation process. The evidence compiled by Home Manager Lis Bielak was so clearly structured that assessors asked whether it could be used as an example for other services working through the scheme.

What HDA accreditation means in practice

For families affected by Huntington’s disease, choosing the right nursing home is rarely straightforward.

Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement, behaviour, communication and thinking over time. As the condition develops, people often require specialist support delivered with patience, flexibility and deep understanding

The HDA Quality Assured scheme exists to help identify homes that demonstrate that level of knowledge and commitment. Rather than focusing solely on policies, the scheme looks at how care is delivered in practice – whether colleagues understand the condition, whether support adapts as needs change, and whether people are able to continue living meaningful lives.

At Cwm Gwendraeth, that philosophy is embedded into everyday life within the home. Activities and social engagement, for example, are carefully designed around the interests and abilities of each person supported. From shared activities that bring people together to quieter individual moments of connection, the aim is always the same: helping people feel included, stimulated and valued.

It was this thoughtful approach to meaningful engagement that particularly stood out to HDA assessors during the review.

Recognition for Lis and the team

The accreditation process required a detailed portfolio of evidence demonstrating how the home supports people living with Huntington’s disease.

The submission was led by Lis, Home Manager at Cwm Gwendraeth, who worked with colleagues to bring together examples of the team’s daily practice and approach.

For Lis, the process was less about preparing for an assessment and more about clearly demonstrating the work that already takes place within the home.

The portfolio brought together evidence showing how the team adapts support for individuals, communicates with families and ensures care plans reflect each person’s needs and preferences.

When reviewing the submission, the HDA noted that well-structured portfolios help the accreditation process run smoothly, particularly when evidence is clear and easy to navigate before and during observation visits. That clarity was one of the reasons the portfolio stood out.

Assessors explained that it is always helpful when evidence is “clear and well laid out”, as this supports the process for everyone involved and allows the review team to better understand how a home operates in practice.

As a result, they asked whether Lis’ submission could be used as an exemplar for other homes working towards accreditation – a recognition that reflects the team’s professionalism and attention to detail.

Why maintaining accreditation matters

Achieving accreditation once is an important milestone. Maintaining it over time says even more about the stability and consistency of a home.

According to the Huntington’s Disease Association, seeing homes retain accreditation is always encouraging because it demonstrates continuity in the level of care being provided.

Helen Santini explains that the scheme is also about building long-term relationships with homes that support people living with Huntington’s disease.

She said, “it is always really positive to see a care home retaining accreditation, because it shows continuity in the level of care. For the HDA, the scheme is also about building relationships with homes so we can support them over time, because maintaining high standards of care always involves reflection and development.”

That ongoing partnership helps ensure that homes continue learning and evolving as understanding of Huntington’s disease develops.

For Cwm Gwendraeth, retaining HDA accreditation reflects the team’s continued commitment to specialist knowledge and thoughtful, person-centred care.

A specialist home shaped around people

Supporting someone living with Huntington’s disease requires a unique combination of clinical understanding and compassion. Needs can change over time. Communication can become more complex. Routines often need to adapt around the individual.

At Cwm Gwendraeth, the team focuses on creating a calm, supportive environment where people feel comfortable and understood.

The recognition from the Huntington’s Disease Association reinforces that this approach is making a real difference. It also sends a reassuring message to families and professionals looking for specialist Huntington’s disease care: that Cwm Gwendraeth is a home where experience, understanding and compassion come together to support people living with a complex condition.

Looking ahead

For the team at Cwm Gwendraeth, retaining HDA accreditation is a moment to celebrate, but also motivation to continue building on the standards that made the recognition possible.

The accreditation reflects not just a successful review, but the daily work of supporting people living with Huntington’s disease with dignity, patience and understanding.

And while the plaque and certificate will soon arrive, the real value lies in what they represent: reassurance for families, confidence for professionals and recognition of a home committed to getting specialist care right.

Looking for specialist Huntington’s disease support?

If you are looking for experienced nursing care for someone living with Huntington’s disease, the team at Cwm Gwendraeth would be happy to help.

Our home provides HDA-accredited specialist support, shaped around each individual and delivered with warmth, expertise and consistency.

When thousands of colleagues across ivolve took part in this year’s annual colleague survey, they weren’t just sharing feedback about their workplace. They were helping support something much bigger.

Thanks to record participation in our annual colleague survey fundraising initiative, we’ve proudly donated funds to both Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK, turning colleague feedback into meaningful support for two charities that touch the lives of millions of people across the UK.

The donations were formally presented during a special cheque presentation event attended by representatives from both charities, celebrating the collective impact that can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

At ivolve, listening to colleagues isn’t simply something we do once a year. It’s part of how we shape our culture, improve experiences and create a workplace where people feel valued, heard and empowered to make a difference.

This year, however, the survey delivered something even more powerful. For every completed survey response, we pledged to donate £1 to charity, giving colleagues not only the opportunity to share their views but also a direct say in where the money would go.

The result was our highest ever level of survey engagement, with thousands of colleagues from across our nursing, residential care and supported living homes in England and Wales taking part.

Together, those individual responses created a collective contribution that will now help support people affected by dementia and fund life-saving cancer research.

How Colleague Survey Fundraising Made a Difference

At ivolve, we believe that every voice matters. Our colleague survey plays a vital role in helping us shape the future of our organisation.

The insights colleagues share influence decisions, improvements and priorities across the business, helping us continue building an environment where people can do their best work while delivering meaningful care to the people we support. The colleague survey fundraising initiative was designed to reinforce that belief.

By linking survey participation directly to charitable giving, colleagues could see first-hand how sharing their views could make a difference beyond their own workplace.

The response exceeded expectations. Thousands of colleagues took the time to provide feedback, demonstrating not only their commitment to improving ivolve but also their desire to support causes that matter deeply to them.

When it came to selecting the charity, colleagues were invited to vote for the cause they wanted the donation to support. The result was incredibly close, so rather than selecting a single winner, we chose to split the funds between the two charities that received the highest number of votes: Alzheimer’s Society and Cancer Research UK.

The decision ensured that both charities would benefit from the generosity and engagement of colleagues across the organisation. It’s a simple idea, but one that reflects something important about our culture.

We know that meaningful change often starts with small actions. Completing a survey may seem like a small act on its own, but when thousands of people come together, those actions can create a powerful impact.

That principle sits at the heart of our employee value proposition and the culture we’ve worked hard to build. It’s also one of the reasons ivolve has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work by The Sunday Times for three consecutive years. We know that when colleagues feel listened to, valued and involved in shaping the future, everyone benefits.

"We simply can't reach those who need us without support from incredible fundraisers like ivolve Care & Support."

Jodie Jarecki,
Regional Fundraiser – Alzheimer’s Society

Supporting Causes Close to Colleagues’ Hearts

The charities selected by colleagues represent causes that affect countless families, communities and colleagues across the UK.

Alzheimer’s Society works tirelessly to support people living with dementia, fund groundbreaking research and campaign for change.

Speaking following the cheque presentation, Jodie Jarecki, Regional Fundraiser for the East Midlands at Alzheimer’s Society, highlighted the difference the donation will make.

“We are so grateful that ivolve Care & Support chose to support Alzheimer’s Society. We provide vital support to people living with dementia, funds groundbreaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be. It will take a society to beat dementia.”

She continued, “There are around a million people living with dementia in the UK including 14,006 in Derbyshire. We all have a role to play in ending the devastation dementia causes. We simply can’t reach everyone who needs us without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like colleagues at ivolve Care & Support.”

"Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research."

Joyce Clifford,
Alfreton Representative – Cancer Research UK

The donation will help Alzheimer’s Society continue providing vital support services while funding research aimed at improving lives and finding solutions for future generations.

Cancer Research UK, meanwhile, remains the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving and improving lives through research, influence and information.

Representing the charity at the presentation event was Joyce Clifford, Chairman of the Alfreton and District Committee for Cancer Research UK.

Reflecting on the occasion, she said: “A lovely morning to celebrate, and so well organised. Thank you so much for choosing to support Cancer Research UK. Every penny raised goes towards vital life-saving research.”

This is why initiatives like this matter. Behind every donation is the potential for hope. Hope for better treatments. Hope for greater understanding. Hope for brighter futures for individuals and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges. And we’re proud to be part of that in some small way.

A Workplace Where Feedback Matters

The success of our colleague survey charity donation initiative is a reflection of the culture we continue to build.

Across our organisation, we support more than 1,150 adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex support needs through more than 185 homes and support services across England and Wales.

Delivering high-quality support starts with having engaged, motivated and valued colleagues. That’s why listening matters.

Every year, our colleague survey helps us better understand what’s working, where we can improve and how we can continue making ivolve a great place to work. The feedback we receive directly informs actions, priorities and improvements across the organisation.

Divisional Head of People for England, Keeley Denman, believes this year’s initiative demonstrates the power of collective action. “The response from our colleagues demonstrates their shared commitment to making a difference and shows that small individual actions – such as completing a survey – can come together to create a significant collective impact.

“The success of our colleague survey fundraising initiative reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back. Our annual survey remains a key part of how we gather insight and shape our future and we have been delighted it has further benefitted not one, but two charities close to the hearts of our colleagues.”

That commitment to listening has helped shape a culture where colleagues feel able to speak up, share ideas and influence positive change. We’ve recently been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for the third consecutive year, reflecting the experiences and feedback of colleagues across the organisation. While awards are never the goal, they provide a valuable reminder that listening to colleagues and acting on what they tell us makes a real difference.

Whether it’s supporting people to achieve personal goals, volunteering within local communities, raising money for important causes or sharing ideas that help improve our organisation, our colleagues consistently demonstrate the values that make ivolve special.

"The success of our colleague survey reflects the culture we continue to build, while also reinforcing our commitment to giving back"

Keeley Denman
Divisional Head of People for England at ivolve

Small Actions, Lasting Impact

The cheque presentation marked the end of one fundraising initiative, but it also highlighted something much bigger.

When people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they contribute. And when thousands of people contribute together, remarkable things can happen.

What began as colleague survey fundraising became an opportunity to support two incredible charities, fund important work and demonstrate the positive impact that colleague voices can have both within and beyond the workplace.

At ivolve, we’re incredibly proud of every colleague who took the time to complete the survey, cast their vote and help make these donations possible. Their feedback will continue helping us shape the future of ivolve.

Their participation has already helped make a difference to two charities doing extraordinary work. As we begin reviewing this year’s feedback, we’ll continue using those insights to strengthen our culture, improve colleague experience and ensure ivolve remains a place where people can thrive.

Because when colleagues feel heard, supported and empowered, positive things happen – for our teams, for the people we support and, as this initiative has shown, for the wider communities around us too.

Looking for a workplace where your voice matters?

At ivolve, colleague feedback helps shape decisions, drive improvements and create positive change. Explore our latest opportunities and discover how you can build a meaningful career with us.