Exemplar Health Care – South Elmsall Care Home Refurbishment

Exemplar Health Care (Exemplar) is one of the UK's leading providers of nursing care for adults with complex and high acuity needs, operating over 50 care homes across England.

Project Overview

Exemplar appointed Pennington Choices to provide Employer’s Agent, Quantity Surveying, and Pre- and Post-Contract services for the refurbishment of Hamilton Springs, a 37-bed care home in South Elmsall, West Yorkshire.

Hamilton Springs supports adults with complex mental health needs, dementia, neuro-disabilities, and physical disabilities. It provides long-term community care, preventing prolonged hospital stays or placement in inappropriate settings. The home features 37 en-suite bedrooms across three units, creating a small group living model that fosters a supportive and responsive environment. Additional facilities include communal dining and living spaces, sensory bathrooms, an activities hub, a therapy room, and a large accessible garden.

Our Approach

To deliver the required services, we assembled an expert team comprising a Head of Project Management and Cost Consultancy, a Senior Quantity Surveyor, and a Senior Project Manager. Our scope of works included:

• Initial cost planning
• Creation of tender documents
• Tender analysis
• Production of the contract offering
• Pre-start meetings to ensure a smooth handover to the post-contract delivery team
• Chairing project meetings
• Issuing instructions
• Overseeing and managing the project from inception to completion
• Monthly financial evaluations and reporting to the client
• Cost forecasting each month to maintain budget control
• Predicting and mitigating any potential cost changes

The refurbishment did not require major internal reconfiguration but focused on upgrading existing areas to align with Exemplar’s modern specifications. Key improvements included:

• Fire safety enhancements, including fire door replacements and fire-stopping remediation
• Electrical upgrades, including rewiring, socket replacements, and installation of a new nurse call system
• Lift modernisation to improve accessibility and efficiency
• Full fit out to Exemplar specification and finishes

The project was procured through the JCT Traditional form of Contract 2016 edition. Having successfully completed multiple projects with Exemplar Health Care, Pennington Choices has established itself as a trusted partner, offering an in-depth understanding of their operational needs and expectations.

Our Achievements

Despite a tight eight-month schedule, we successfully delivered the refurbishment on time and within budget. The upgraded facility was inspected and registered in accordance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, ensuring compliance with health and social care regulations in England.

Exemplar aspire to increase their portfolio by increasing their locations and number of bed spaces annually, with our collaboration on multiple projects having supported them in meeting this objective. Following the success of this refurbishment, we continue to work on multiple projects with Exemplar across the UK.

Discover how we supported Exemplar with our Employer’s Agent and Quantity Surveying works to construct a 33-bed new build care home in Cannock, Staffordshire here.