Encore Care Homes is celebrating the second anniversary of its Rapid Response Team (RRT), which has helped over 500 older people experiencing a care crisis. 

Encore’s free dedicated RRT service operates across Dorset and Hampshire 365 days a year to assist older people who urgently require permanent or respite care. Relatives and professionals can call the RRT 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to speak to one of Encore’s clinical assessors, who will assess in the hospital or the person’s home to create a bespoke care plan. The RRT can arrange admission into an Encore care home within three hours of the initial call, where necessary. 

The RRT is led by George Jenescu and consists of experienced Registered Nurses in the capacity of Clinical Assessors who respond to calls from the public and frontline services requiring help. Since its inception in 2020, the RRT has helped over 500 older people move into a care home in partnership with the NHS and local authorities, with 300 admissions coming directly from local hospitals in Dorset and Hampshire. 

George Jenescu, manager and founder of the RRT, said: “I am immensely proud of how far we have come in the last two years through innovation, development, and partnership working. We have made a real difference in many people’s lives while supporting our professional colleagues in the NHS, local councils, and other frontline services through times of immense pressure. These are exciting times for the RRT, and I am confident our sustained effort will continue to make a huge impact on the lives of older people who deserve the best care.” 

The Encore family includes Great Oaks in Bournemouth, Oakdale in Poole, Fairmile Grange in Christchurch, and Hamble Heights in Fareham. Encore provides care for residential, nursing, dementia and Alzheimer’s, palliative and end-of-life, and respite residents. 

Les, son of an Oakdale Care Home resident, said: “Urgent respite care was needed to get my father-in-law out of hospital care. The help and support from the Encore Rapid Response Team was exceptional. Within 24 hours, a place was arranged at Oakdale Care Home, and he was out of the hospital within 48 hours, being cared for by the superb care home staff.” 

To contact Encore’s RRT, email RRT@encorecarehomes.co.uk or call 01202 114 724. 

For more information about the care services available at Encore, go to www.encorecarehomes.co.uk