We are delighted to announce that Westgate Healthcare has been named a finalist for Care Home Group of the Year at the 2026 LaingBuisson Awards.
More than 700 entries were received across this year’s awards. As a result, the finalist selection was particularly competitive.
The winner will be announced at the prestigious LaingBuisson Awards ceremony on Thursday 19 November 2026 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.
Recognising excellence in care
Now in their 21st year, the LaingBuisson Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the UK health and care sectors. The awards recognise organisations that establish new benchmarks of excellence, with entries independently assessed by experienced judges.
The Care Home Group of the Year category celebrates excellence in residential or nursing care for older people. It has a particular focus on innovation and engagement with residents and service users across a care home group.
These principles are central to our approach at Westgate Healthcare.
Across our nine care homes in London, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire, we aim to create welcoming places where residents feel at home. They receive personalised care and are supported to live well in ways that are meaningful to them.
Putting people at the heart of care
For us, excellent care begins with knowing the person behind the care plan.
Our teams take time to understand each resident’s life story, interests, relationships, routines and preferences. This helps us provide care that reflects the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Residents and their families are also an important part of life across our homes. Their experiences, ideas and feedback help us understand what matters most. In addition, they identify opportunities to continue improving the care and wellbeing we provide.
From meaningful activities and community connections to the way we support individual choices and independence, we want residents to have a genuine sense of belonging and involvement in their home.
Continuing to invest in innovation and learning
We are continually looking for ways to strengthen the care and support we provide. At the same time, we invest in the knowledge and confidence of our teams.
Our recent Outstanding Dementia Training Award from Training 2 Care UK is one example of this commitment. The award recognises our approach to developing dementia-informed care across our nine homes.
We have also invested in innovative experiential learning, with our Group Training Manager, Maria, becoming a licensed facilitator for DIET – Dining Immersive Experiential Training. This means Westgate Healthcare is one of only three organisations in the UK that can deliver the specialist programme in-house.
By bringing this training into our homes, we can give colleagues a greater understanding of the experiences of people living with dementia. In addition, we help translate that learning into compassionate, person-led care.
It is one example of how we continue to invest in learning and explore new approaches. Also, we look for ways to enhance the experience of residents across our homes.
Creating opportunities for residents to live well
Innovation at Westgate isn’t limited to care and training. We also look for new ways to enrich everyday life and create opportunities for residents to connect with their interests, communities and the people around them.
Our Westgate in Bloom: Grow Together initiative is one recent example. The project brought residents together with children and local community groups to plant, grow and harvest fruit and vegetables. Afterwards, they used their produce to create dishes with our chefs.
The project gave residents opportunities to share their knowledge, enjoy familiar interests and build connections with people of different generations. At the same time, they created something they could take pride in together.
Across our homes, we shape activities and experiences around the people who live there. This ranges from creative sessions, music and reminiscence to outings, exercise, hobbies and community events.
A finalist recognition we are proud to share
We are incredibly proud to have been named finalist for Care Home Group of the Year, particularly among more than 700 entries from across the health and care sector.
This recognition reflects the dedication of everyone who contributes to life across Westgate Healthcare – our residents and their families, and the colleagues who care for, support and spend time with them every day.
Looking forward to the awards
We look forward to joining the other finalists at the LaingBuisson Awards on Thursday 19 November 2026. At the event, the winner of Care Home Group of the Year will be announced.
Whatever the outcome, becoming a finalist is an achievement we are delighted to celebrate with our residents, families and colleagues.
Good luck to everyone across Westgate Healthcare – and fingers crossed for November!
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