Derbyshire Care Home opens specialist ‘Reconnect’ Mental Health Care Community for older people
Orchard Care Homes is proud to announce that Eckington Court Nursing Home in Derbyshire has opened a Reconnect Mental Health Care Community, providing specialist support for people aged 65 and over living with complex mental health conditions.
Eckington Court is the second home within the group to introduce Reconnect Mental Health Care, a pioneering service designed for older adults living with conditions such as depression, anxiety, delirium, bipolar disorder, psychosis and substance use disorders.
Located on Penny Engine Lane in Eckington, the home is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission and holds Quality Premium status from Derbyshire County Council in recognition of its high standard of care.
Too often, older people with complex mental health needs spend long periods in hospital or in care environments that cannot fully meet their needs. Reconnect Mental Health Care has been carefully designed to address this gap, offering a specialist, long-term home where wellbeing, purpose and pleasure are central to everyday life.
Eckington Court Nursing Home has been redesigned to include warm, familiar spaces that mirror the comfort of home – cosy living rooms, welcoming kitchens, gardens and peaceful areas for relaxation. Residents are supported to use these spaces freely, just as they would in their own homes, promoting independence and confidence. Families are invited to be actively involved, helping to maintain identity, connection and a strong sense of belonging.
To provide this level of personalised support, the home operates an enhanced Specialist Support Worker-to-resident ratio. Colleagues receive expert, bespoke training through the Orchard Academy, giving them the advanced skills and understanding needed to support older people living with complex mental health needs. This ensures every resident receives truly individualised care shaped by their life history, routines and interests.
Trudy Godley, Home Manager, expressed her pride in leading the launch of this specialist service. “Bringing Reconnect Mental Health Care to Eckington Court is a real honour. Knowing we’re creating a place where people feel understood, supported and genuinely at home means the world to all of us.”
Hayden Knight, CEO of Orchard Care Homes, added: “This opening represents a major step in our commitment to providing truly specialised and person-centred care for older people, and I want to thank the Eckington Court team for their exceptional hard work. We’re proud to deliver Reconnect Mental Health Care to the Derbyshire region and to support people living with complex mental health conditions in a way that truly meets their needs.”
Responding to the growing demand for specialist mental health care provision for older people, Orchard’s Reconnect communities are a key part of the group’s long-term strategy to modernise and enhance care for older people across the UK.
Now open and welcoming new residents, Eckington Court Nursing Home’s Reconnect Mental Health Care Community is set to make a meaningful and lasting difference to people and families in Derbyshire and beyond.