Boston College’s £750,000 Care Centre of Regional Excellence (Care CoRE) has been opened.

Part funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, the Care CoRE is an innovative, multi-functional training centre for the care sector.

It focuses on teaching the industry’s future workforce and is recognised as a centre of regional excellence for training and personal development in the area.

It was opened at a ceremony today (Tuesday 26th April) by Sandra Williamson, Chief Operating Officer of the East Locality NHS Lincolnshire CCG.

Located on the second floor of the College’s Rochford Campus, the area was reconfigured to provide health and social care learners with an industry-standard clinical ward and a realistic working flat for social care including a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom to model supported living.

The project also included re-roofing and replacement windows and the installation of a lift providing access for everyone to the centre.

As part of the development, learners will benefit from brand new equipment including virtual and augmented reality, smart technologies such as fridges, motion sensors, remote monitoring capabilities, ceiling track hoist, vital signs monitor, a diabetic foot, medical screens, mannequins, iPads, laptops and furniture.

Jo Wright, Boston College Curriculum Leader for Health and Social Care, said: “We are delighted to have been given these fabulous resources to support health and social care in our community.

“The Care CoRE will support not just students starting on their care career journey but also professionals in practice. The ward emulates a real-life working environment with all the latest equipment, and the flat is set up to support a person with complex needs.”

As part of the official opening, local employers were also invited to participate in a morning of activities and networking covering current factors impacting the industry including training opportunities to meet skills needs, sharing best practice, the implications of Covid-19 on the sector and recruitment.

Pat Doody, Chair of Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “This excellent new facility has been created with support from the LEP through the Government’s Getting Building Fund, and we’re very pleased to see it fully open and operational.

“As we all know, the care sector is of vital importance, especially in Greater Lincolnshire where we have a higher-than-average proportion of older residents, and technology is changing how we support them.

“The Care CoRE will provide training for those working in the care sector and will focus on digital skills and new technology, such as virtual and augmented reality, mobile apps, smart fridges, motion sensors and remote monitoring capabilities.

“These new technologies will support more people to live at home for longer, reflecting the shift from centralised care to individualised care in the home and the community.  We’re delighted to have been able to help make the Care CoRE at Boston College a reality.”

Our photograph shows Boston College learners Julija Lengvinaite and Layla Allgood with Sandra Williamson from the East Locality NHS Lincolnshire CCG; Jo Wright, Curriculum Leader for Health and Social Care at Boston College; and Claire Foster, Boston College Principal and CEO.