Enter and view: Darwin Court Care Centre, Staffordshire

Healthwatch Staffordshire conducted an Enter and View visit on Darwin Court Care Centre, a nursing home with 112 places caring for adults under and over 65 years with varying needs, on 25th July 2017.

The purpose of the visit was to find out the following:

- whether staff can give individuals the appropriate care required;

- the adequacy of the activities available;

- quality of the food/catering;

- whether mattresses are replaced.

The Enter and View representatives reported:

- the Centre is a large, modern purpose-built home that is in good condition; the gardens are well-maintained and a sensory trail has recently been completed;

- internally the home is well decorated and clean; there are several communal rooms, a cinema room, hairdressing salon, reminiscence room; a slight odour was noted in one area;

- they were advised that staff turnover had reduced following new ownership of the home and agency staff usage was decreasing;

- the staff levels in the units viewed appeared sufficient and the interaction with residents was respectful, sympathetic and person-centred;

- quarterly residents and relative meetings are held – the minutes of the most recent meetings showed praise for the quality of care and staff and also raised several concerns about catering and clothing for which the home apologised and carried out a full investigation;

- there are 3 activity coordinators who design weekly programmes in consultation with residents and relatives; a variety of activities take place including church services, singers, minibus outings;

- the menus showed a variety of meals are offered, however residents in the dementia unit commented that the choices were not exciting;

- following a recent CQC report highlighting the lack of attention to monitoring of residents’ fluid, the home advised that more robust fluid intake checks had been introduced;

- with regard to the mattress issue raised in the County Council’s Quality Assurance observation, the Centre believe it related to one specific incident whereas Healthwatch understood it to be a major issue.

Residents commented that staff were lovely and helpful.

Staff commented that:

- training in the home was excellent, and gaining qualifications externally was encouraged;

- the home was a good employer;

- there is good communication and regular supervision.

The report made no recommendations though commented that the quality of catering was falling short of the high standards of other aspects of the home and Healthwatch would look for improvements in a future visit.

The provider responded positively to the visit and further explained the actions the home had already taken to address the catering and mattress issues.