Enter and View Combined Care Home Report

Report - 21 November 2020

Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire carried out Enter and View visits across a number of care homes as part of a combined report in November 2020. The aim was to understand the quality of care, safety, environment, and resident experience across services. The visits focused on how well residents were supported, how staff were working during the COVID-19 period, and whether homes were meeting people’s needs in a safe and dignified way. Overall, the report highlighted a mix of good practice and areas where care homes were performing well, alongside some inconsistencies that required improvement.

Key findings

  • Most care homes were clean, safe and well maintained
  • Staff were generally described as kind, caring and respectful towards residents
  • Residents were supported with dignity and appeared comfortable in their surroundings
  • Good relationships between staff and residents were commonly observed
  • Infection prevention and control measures were in place during the COVID-19 period
  • Some variation was found between homes in how consistently good practice was applied
  • In some settings, communication with families and residents could be improved
  • Opportunities for meaningful activity and engagement were not always consistent across homes
  • Feedback systems were in place, but it was not always clear how feedback led to change

Recommendations

  • Strengthen consistency of care standards across all homes to reduce variation in experience
  • Improve communication with residents and families, especially during periods of restriction
  • Ensure clear and visible processes for using feedback to drive improvements
  • Continue to support staff training, particularly around dementia care and communication
  • Increase opportunities for meaningful activities and social interaction for residents
  • Maintain strong infection prevention and control practices while supporting resident wellbeing

Downloads

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Enter and View: Combined Care Home Report
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