Enter and view: Enter and view: The Knights Care Home

Healthwatch Lancashire visited The Knights Care Home in November 2023. The home, operated by Pearlcare, supports mainly people living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease and had 24 residents at the time of the visit. Overall, feedback from residents, relatives and staff was positive, highlighting a caring atmosphere, strong staff-resident relationships and a creative approach to supporting people with dementia. 

The home was praised for its stimulating environment, varied activities, person-centred care and efforts to involve residents in decision-making. Relatives generally felt their loved ones were well cared for and safe, although some raised concerns about communication regarding future care planning and the need for more private spaces for discussions. 

Key Findings

• The home provided a warm, welcoming and dementia-focused environment with themed corridors, sensory features and personalised bedrooms.
• Staff were observed delivering respectful, compassionate and person-centred care and appeared to know residents well. 
• Residents generally appeared relaxed, comfortable and at ease with staff and within their surroundings. 
• Relatives were overwhelmingly positive about the quality of care and many described staff as caring, professional and dedicated. 
• Communication received mixed feedback: some relatives felt very well informed, while others wanted greater involvement in future care planning and more private discussion spaces.
• Activities were valued, but both relatives and staff highlighted the absence of a permanent activities coordinator following a staff departure.
• The home made extensive use of dementia-friendly design features, although Healthwatch questioned whether some themed corridor areas might be overstimulating for some residents. 
• Staff reported feeling supported, adequately trained and generally satisfied in their roles. 

Areas for Improvement

Healthwatch Lancashire recommended:

1. Simplifying information displays so they are easier for residents with dementia to understand. 
2. Improving involvement of relatives in future care planning discussions. 
3. Reviewing themed corridor designs to ensure they do not overwhelm residents. 
4. Displaying visual meal choices to help residents make informed decisions. 
5. Ensuring call bell systems remain fully operational at all times. 
6. Providing ongoing supervision where residents support each other during meals.
7. Exploring additional seating options and private spaces for confidential conversations. 
8. Making complaints, comments and compliments forms readily available. 
9. Improving communication about activities and strengthening activity provision through a dedicated activities coordinator. 

The provider accepted several recommendations, including introducing meal photographs, improving care plan reviews with families, implementing comments and complaints forms, and appointing a new activities coordinator who was due to start in January 2024.