Enter and view: Ingersley Court Care Home

Healthwatch Cheshire East undertook an announced enter and view visit to Ingersley Court on  1 June 2026. They spoke to 10 people. The visit aimed to understand residents' experiences, observe care practices, and identify areas of good practice and improvement. 

Overall, Healthwatch found Ingersley Court to be a well-maintained, welcoming and generally homely environment. Staff interactions with residents were observed to be caring, respectful and attentive, and the atmosphere in communal areas was calm and positive. Relatives consistently reported that their loved ones were well cared for and that staff took time to understand individual needs and preferences. 

The home demonstrated strong links with healthcare professionals, including regular GP visits, district nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and occupational therapists. Staff described positive relationships with local healthcare providers and were proactive in monitoring residents' health and arranging additional support when required. However, the home reported difficulties with medication deliveries from its pharmacy provider and occasional delays in receiving hospital discharge paperwork. 

Privacy, dignity and respect were promoted through staff training and everyday practice. Staff were reported to knock before entering residents' rooms, seek consent before providing care, and use preferred names. Residents' care plans were reviewed regularly, and those with capacity were involved in decisions about their care. The home was preparing to move from paper-based to electronic care records, which management identified as a significant forthcoming challenge. 

Relationships between staff, residents and families were generally very positive. Relatives praised the compassion and professionalism of staff, and flexible visiting arrangements enabled families to maintain close contact. One resident highlighted concerns about staffing levels and occasional communication difficulties with some agency staff, although Healthwatch observed staff to be approachable and committed. The home was relying on agency workers due to staff sickness but was actively recruiting to reduce this dependence. 

Activity provision was viewed as a mixed area. Healthwatch observed a successful music and movement session that residents appeared to enjoy. The home offered a range of activities including games, crafts, gardening, karaoke and reminiscence activities, and had recently introduced personalised music devices for people living with dementia. However, survey feedback suggested some residents wanted more activities, greater consistency in activity delivery and more opportunities to influence what activities were offered.

The home promoted a person-centred approach through initiatives such as its "Resident of the Day" programme, which includes room reviews, wellbeing checks, pampering sessions and discussions about personal interests and meal choices. Monthly residents' meetings were also held to gather feedback and address concerns. 

Healthwatch found the communal areas spacious, clean and accessible, with clear signage and good natural light. Some décor appeared tired, a few corridors were poorly lit, and occasional unpleasant odours were noticed near bathrooms. Residents' bedrooms were personalised and homely, and the garden had been significantly improved within the previous year, providing an attractive and accessible outdoor space. 

Feedback on food and drink was largely positive. Most residents reported being very happy with the quality, taste, quantity and availability of food and drinks. However, Healthwatch noted that the handwritten menu was difficult to read and one resident reported limited access to additional snacks from the upper floor. 

Healthwatch's recommendations included increasing residents' involvement in planning activities, strengthening community links with schools and colleges, improving the hairdressing salon environment, making menus easier to read, exploring the use of reminiscence therapy resources such as RITA, and accessing additional end-of-life care training for staff. 

The service provider accepted the recommendations and provided an action plan. This included booking end-of-life training, investigating reminiscence therapy resources, consulting residents about activities and salon improvements, developing community partnerships, and redesigning menus to improve accessibility.