Staff and residents at Tipton’s Leabrook Nursing Home in Ocker Hill are delighted after picking up a Gold Award in the NHS-run Five for Life Awards Scheme.

The privately run home, which has 31 permanent residents and also caters for a small day centre, cares for highly dependant disabled people aged 18 and above. Stimulating the taste buds is all part of the care on offer here. Head chef David Reynolds and cook Angela Caddick pride themselves on the theme nights which may have Mexican, Italian or Spanish food, served alongside suitable music and maybe a video and appropriately dressed up staff.

Awards scheme organiser, Jevanjot Sihra of Sandwell Primary Care Trust, explained: ”Leabrook has worked very hard towards making the necessary small changes required to take them to gold standard.  They have had a series of exciting taster sessions, with a variety of smoothies and other treats, and are planning to introduce even more new flavours to their menus. “The staff at the home are also making a real effort to recycle and buy fair-trade and local goods as much as possible, all factors which have helped them win this award,” she added.

Nursing administrator at Leabrook, Veronica Lovell said: “We have always made an effort to buy local produce, and as much as possible, organic food too.  Recently we have started up a compost bin which we hope will give a boost to our planned herb garden which will also add to the quality and variety of food we serve.”

The award will be presented on Tuesday 9th October at Leabrook Nursing Home when the winners will be joining over 50 establishments throughout the borough who are part of the Five for Life Scheme to encourage healthy eating, food safety, fair trade and the move towards a sustainable environment.