Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire and National Citizen Service visit to Elm Bank Care Home, Kettering

Healthwatch Northamptonshire undertook an Enter and View visit to Elm Bank Care Home in Kettering on 30 and 31 July 2018. The visit was carried out by 15 young people from National Citizen Service working with Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire. They found the home to be welcoming, homely and generally safe, with residents speaking positively about staff, activities and opportunities to socialise. The environment was described as bright and pleasant, with accessible gardens and communal spaces.

The young people observed many examples of good practice, including strong relationships between staff and residents, a wide range of activities, regular refreshments and efforts to help residents feel at home. Many residents said they felt safe and valued the ability to build friendships with staff and other residents. Visitors were also welcomed and the home appeared accessible for families.

However, several concerns were identified. Some residents felt lonely and wanted more attention from staff, while the young people observed occasions where residents may not have received sufficient support or follow-up after meals. Concerns were also raised about the visibility of door entry codes, a persistent beeping noise from the call system, very warm temperatures in parts of the home and the quality of the Wi-Fi. Feedback about food was mixed, with some residents expressing dissatisfaction.

Overall, the visit concluded that Elm Bank provided a safe environment with many positive features and caring staff who often went above and beyond their duties. Recommendations included improving Wi-Fi, increasing staffing levels, ensuring entry codes are kept secure, reducing noise from the call system and ensuring residents, particularly those needing more support, are properly cleaned and cared for after meals.