Birkdale Park was the exciting venue for an ITV film crew filming for a feature on the state of social care in England. Registered Care Manager Jonathan Cunningham MBE was delighted to receive the phone call from ITV stating that Birkdale Park was regarding at the ‘venue of choice’ due to the outstanding care being delivered.


When Jonathan asked, ‘How do you know that?’ ITV said they had been alerted by their researchers who monitor social media. Birkdale Park was the only choice with their rickshaws, music and unbounded passion for elderly people.


In the last year Birkdale Park has won more regional and UK care awards than any other NW based home. Jonathan personally won, The Most Outstanding Contribution to Social Care for his work with the elderly and passion he has for outstanding end of life care.


Amy Chambers their Floor Manager won the Clinical Support Worker of the Year Award at a celebrity filled awards event in London. Birkdale Park is considered an exceptional home with exceptional staff. There was no other home and the weather did not disappoint either.

Jonathan has recently established the North and South Sefton Care Homes Group after his frustration with lack of representation in the area for the largest concentration of care homes in the UK. This group intends to be the regional voice for all local care homes in Sefton.

The ITV film crew captured a typical day with staff and residents at Birkdale Park. The crew interviewed Jonathan on the impact that BREXIT had on the delay to the Social Care Green Paper and how social care could be improved.


They then filmed staff and interview Senior Carer Chelsey Irwin who was then filmed serving lunch and dancing with Jonathan’s former school master & Army veteran James Highton to some of the old war time songs.

Jonathan said ‘We were hugely flattered by the approach by ITV but it comes as no surprise. Birkdale Park has some of the very best staff, we love our gorgeous residents and their relatives. This is what we do. We are all deeply passionate about care and ensuring we have a laughter filled day until our last one. We are all looking forward to seeing the special news feature’

The film crew led by presenter Hannah Miller was on site for 3 hours and had a fabulous time.

The TV feature will be broadcast on Easter Monday 22^nd April as a Granada News feature ITV 6pm. Birkdale Park and all the staff will be glued to their TVs to watch Jonathan, Chelsey, James and all their residents.

Background. Jonathan Cunningham is a prolific UK speaker on the delivery of outstanding social care. He is passionate that we live every day as our last and our final farewell should be a huge crescendo! Jonathan is also the owner of Rosebank Care Home for Learning Disabilities and the only home local graded OUTSTANDING by CQC. Its time to #rockandroll #Outstandingcare #CareLeadership #Birkdalepark