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Phone
020 8984 8983
George Brooker House sits in the heart of the local community in Dagenham, Essex overlooking green parkland. Built in the early nineties, our house was designed specifically to support the needs of older people requiring residential aged care. It offers single accommodation for 45 residents within a homely setting. We specialise in providing care to the frail and elderly, and to those with dementia. Our professional team provide a nurturing environment where residents live as independently as possible, cared for with dignity and respect.
We are members of The Abbeyfield Society, a leading national charity founded in the fifties. As a not-for-profit charitable organisation, all income generated by the home is reinvested for the benefit of our residents. The charities mission is to enhance the quality of life for older people. The East London Extra Care Society is committed to the same ethos. Our dedicated staff provides comfort, companionship and security for our residents.
The Executive Committee has ultimate responsibility for the running of the home through the management team. Their primary concern is the wellbeing of the residents and the maintenance of a quality home. The committee comprises of a team of voluntary trustees who give their time for the benefit of the residents. They have expertise in a variety of specialisms, and meet on a regular basis with the house team and the Residents Group.
The Management Team are responsible for the day-to-day running of the home. Margaret Strong, the registered manager has worked at the home for over 20 years. She leads our experienced team with the support of a Deputy Manager, finance officer and a board of trustee’s.
If there were more people like you, the world would be a nicer place.
The house carries the name of George Brooker who was a local councillor and Dagenham born man. He held the influential position of council leader for Barking and Dagenham when Vic Evans, who was involved with Abbeyfield sheltered housing in the area, approached him with plans for the house. George recognised the need for a local residential home and supported the proposal. He campaigned for the home and was a key player in securing land neighbouring the local park for the building plot.
Vic Evans became the first secretary of The East London Extra Care Society’s Executive Committee; the home has a commemorative rose garden bearing his name in remembrance. George Brooker was an active supporter of the home throughout the remainder of his life and was the president until his death.
John Bradley became a supporter of the house a few years later. He was already involved with Abbeyfield and accepted an invitation to become the treasurer of the committee. He later took on the role of chairman also. There is a commemorative plaque (right) in the garden by the rockery, celebrating his long service and dedication to The East London Extra Care Society.
Prospective residents and their families are always welcome. However, we kindly request that you make an appointment, to ensure that a member of staff is available to conduct a tour. Please telephone: 020 8984 8983 to make an appointment or contact us here.
It is fully inclusive of accommodation and 24-hour care and support from the dedicated team. Three meals per day with choice of menu, cleaning, laundry services, gardening and all service bills (gas, electricity, water and council tax) are included.
The residents personally fund the following services: hairdressing, private dentistry, chiropody, optician services and privately installed telephone line charges.
The Care Quality Commission, who enforces exacting standards in aged care, regulate the home. They previously recognised the house as a 3 Star Home of Excellence, their highest possible rating at the time. They since revised their national award structure, and you can find our latest report on our website.
We want our residents to call our home, their home. 24-hour support is always at hand but independence is respected. Although routines such as times of meals are stated, there is flexibility in how residents wish to spend their day. They are free to choose where they spend their time. The daily care programme is organised according to each resident’s personal needs.
No, relatives and friends are always welcome. We also encourage day trips and outings away from the home with loved ones.
Our team likes to work closely with the friends and relatives of our residents. We are always ready to listen and to receive feedback and suggestions. A Relatives Group also meets regularly and has become an important part of the running of the house. The management team finds their suggestions invaluable in ensuring that we continue to improve the services we are providing. The group produces a regular newsletter; subscribe to our Friends of George Brooker House Newsletter here.
Health and Safety is of paramount importance to us. Staff receive regular training in all aspects of health and safety; e.g., fire procedures and risk assessments. Our appointed health and safety officers receive specialist ongoing training. Fire safety checks are carried out on a weekly basis to test the efficiency of the smoke alarm system and fire doors. We also carry out regular fire drills with all members of staff.
We invest in a variety of professional training courses to ensure the highest level of quality care for our residents. All of our carers hold NVQ Aged Care qualifications. Staff also receive specialist training in a range of other relevant and age related topics. The Dementia Care Team attend an intensive training course accredited by the Alzheimer’s Society. The course gives guidance in detecting dementia and provides training on how to deliver appropriate care.
George Brooker House has 45 single bedrooms, 21 of which are en-suite with toilet and washroom. Bedrooms that are not en-suite still have built in washstands. All bedrooms are equipped with divan beds, wardrobe, reading lamp and television and telephone points. Residents are encouraged to bring in small pieces of personal furniture and items of particular significance to them.
We welcome ministers/representatives of any religious denomination to remain in regular contact with residents to provide support for their spiritual needs. If residents wish to attend church or any other religious centre and need an escort, staff will willingly accompany them.
We currently have 1 vacant room. For all enquires please contact us here.
Moving into the care home does not affect eligibility to State Pension for those who are self-funding, but it is counted as income when Social Services are carrying out a financial assessment to work out how much they will pay towards care home fees.
Financial support is available from the Social Services Department. However, eligibility depends on the level of care required, income, savings and personal circumstances. The local authority carries out a financial assessment, or means test, to work out how much of the fee it will pay for and how much must be self-funded. Even if there is no entitlement to financial support to pay care home fees, there may be an entitlement to certain benefits that are not means-tested:
The Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to give help and advice on benefit entitlements and general financing.
Recognised excellence in aged care
If only we could have a house in every street to which everyone could be treated the same and share equally the kindness of the community around them.
From one man’s vision to put an end to the loneliness and neglect of London’s older citizens grew one of the UK’s leading charities. The Abbeyfield Society has helped thousands of people across Britain and the world since its humble beginnings in the 1950s. The charity’s story is quite remarkable.
When Richard Carr-Gomm became Britain’s first male Home Help in 1956, he was shocked at the isolation and loneliness of some of the older people he visited. Deciding he wanted to do much more, he resigned from his commission in the Coldstream Guards and set about doing just that. He bought a small house in Bermondsey, South London and invited two local residents who had been living alone, to join him. The first Abbeyfield house was born.
Quickly, more people were invited to live in the house and like-minded volunteers became involved. Soon, all sorts of people started fundraising and donating money to assist, which allowed Richard and his team to continue their good work. Together they continued to improve the lives of older people who had been living without friendship or support. Within two years, there were 6 houses and 26 residents enjoying Richard’s vision of better living in later life.
By the end of 1960, Richard had created eight new societies across London and fifteen outside of the capital. Through the groundbreaking efforts of Richard and his volunteers, The Abbeyfield Society continued to grow. Richard’s original vision went on to become an international reality. Through the spirit of its founder, the charity continues to make the lives of older people easier and more fulfilling today. You can discover more about the Abbeyfield story here.
What makes George Brooker House special is our loyal team of dedicated people. They provide the highest standards of residential and specialist dementia care within a real ‘home from home’ environment. Many members of staff are long serving employees of the home, which is a testament to the fact that they are happy in their work and genuinely care about our residents. Every hour of every day, house staff are working to make sure every resident receives quality care to meet their individual needs.
What makes George Brooker House special is our loyal team of dedicated people. They provide the highest standards of residential and specialist dementia care within a real ‘home from home’ environment. Many members of staff are long serving employees of the home, which is a testament to the fact that they are happy in their work and genuinely care about our residents. Every hour of every day, house staff are working to make sure every resident receives quality care to meet their individual needs.
Our professional team is led by Margaret Strong, the registered manager. She has various heads of departments to support her in the day-to-day running of the home. Daily hands on care is carried out by our senior carers and care assistants who are all professionally qualified in caring for both the frail and elderly, and for those residents with dementia.
The Executive Committee oversee the running of the home through the management team. Their primary concern is the wellbeing of the residents and the maintenance of a quality home. The committee comprises of a team of voluntary trustees who give their time for the benefit of the residents. They have expertise in a variety of specialisms, and meet on a regular basis with the house team and the Residents Group.
I joined the Board of Trustees at George Brooker House at a time of need for both them and for me. Since joining, nearly four years ago, I have become the Chairman and fight daily to ensure that we are able to support the excellent, dedicated professional workforce in their endeavours to support the residents to live in dignity and to afford them the right to choose by basing our service upon Person Centred Planning and Ordinary Way of Life.
We have a fabulous team of volunteers, who give their time to make a positive difference to our residents’ daily lives. Whether sharing their skills, lending a hand, fundraising or simply being there to chat with residents, as a charitable organisation we are most appreciative of their efforts. We would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in volunteer work at the home. No matter how much time you have, you can make a difference. To get involved please contact the home by telephone or email here.
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