Enter and view: Disraeli Close Care Home

Healthwatch Greenwich carried out an Enter and View visit to Disraeli Close Care Home, a small residential service supporting adults with learning disabilities. At the time of the visit, two of the home's three bedrooms were occupied by long-term residents who had lived there for over ten years. Overall, Healthwatch found a caring, family-style environment where residents appeared comfortable, relaxed and well supported by staff who knew them exceptionally well. The service had previously been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission following improvements made after an earlier inspection. 

The home was observed to be clean, tidy and welcoming, with personalised bedrooms reflecting residents' interests and preferences. Staff used a range of visual tools to support communication, including pictorial meal displays, and demonstrated a strong understanding of residents' individual needs, preferences and behaviours. Residents attended local day services several days each week and participated in a range of in-house activities such as games, crafts and sports. Visitors were able to attend freely, and staff worked closely with families to understand residents' preferences and support needs. 

Healthwatch noted that some areas of the home would benefit from refurbishment and modernisation, particularly communal spaces that appeared slightly worn. While the pictorial menu system worked well, there was limited use of visual signage elsewhere in the home. Staff also described challenges arranging holidays and day trips because of some residents' complex needs and behaviours, although efforts were made to maintain activities and social opportunities. One resident's bedroom could become uncomfortably warm because safety considerations limited the use of fans and window opening. 

Healthwatch concluded that Disraeli Close provides a safe, personalised and supportive home environment where staff have strong relationships with residents. Recommendations included refreshing communal décor, increasing the use of pictorial signage throughout the home, exploring opportunities to reintroduce day trips with additional staffing support, and identifying alternative cooling solutions for residents unable to safely use fans or open windows fully.