Enter and view: Birchfield Care Home (revisit)

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out a revisit to Birchfield Care Home following an earlier Enter and View visit in 2021. The revisit found significant improvements across the service, resulting in an overall green rating. Representatives reported that the home felt warm, welcoming and homely, with clear evidence that previously identified issues had either been addressed or incorporated into an ongoing improvement plan. Staff morale had improved considerably, residents appeared happy and engaged, and management demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to continuous improvement. 

A major strength was the introduction of new facilities and activities. The completed conservatory and landscaped garden had created attractive social and outdoor spaces, while the appointment of an activity coordinator had expanded opportunities for meaningful engagement. Residents enjoyed arts and crafts, gardening, fitness sessions, quizzes, outings and community activities, including planned trips to Blackpool Illuminations. Regular newsletters, social media updates, a tuck shop, visiting clothes shop and hairdressing service helped residents remain connected both within the home and with the wider community. 

Healthwatch found that mealtimes had improved substantially since the previous visit. Dining areas were attractively presented, residents were largely able to eat together, and meals were observed to be sociable, relaxed and person centred. Staff supported residents sensitively, accommodated individual dietary preferences and ensured adaptive equipment was available where required. Residents generally praised the quality and variety of food, and the chef was observed engaging directly with residents to gather feedback and offer choices.

Residents and staff were overwhelmingly positive about the care provided. Residents described feeling safe, well looked after and included in decisions about home life, while staff reported improved morale, strong teamwork and supportive management. Although a small number of residents expressed mixed views about particular staff members or aspects of activities and food, the overall picture was one of a service that had made substantial progress and developed a positive, resident-focused culture. Healthwatch concluded that Birchfield had successfully transformed many aspects of the resident experience and was continuing to build on those improvements.