Enter and view: St Brannock's Residential Home, Mundesley

Healthwatch Norfolk undertook an enter and view visit to St Brannock's Residential Home in Mundesley.  This was part of a project specifically focussed on residential and in-patient care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Norfolk. Healthwatch implemented this project in response to the tragic events at Cawston Park, in which three residents with learning disabilities died between 2018 and 2020. One of the key findings from the Safeguarding Adults Review was that residents and their families were not being listened to. They spoke to 4 residents, 2 family members and 1 member of staff.

During this Enter and View visit Healthwatch focused on what residents thought about their care, and the degree to which they were being listened to by the home staff. 

Voice choice and personalisation: There were regular residents’ meetings at the service, as well as one-to-one discussions about other matters. People were supported to develop independence skills, and they said that they were happy with this support. They were also supported to do most of the household chores themselves. Relatives said that they were happy with how the home communicated with them, but had some issues with the management of the broader chain. 

Premises: The building is a large detached house, which is spacious and well-equipped, and was clean and tidy throughout when we visited. People’s rooms were spacious and well-personalised, as were the communal spaces, often featuring artworks produced by the residents. 

Activities: All the people Healthwatch spoke to said that they were happy with the range of activities they were offered inside and outside the home. They all attended the chain’s day service, which people all told us that they enjoyed, particularly its creative activities and working with the farm animals. People also went on unaccompanied outings, and had one-to-one outings with staff each week, if they wanted them. 

Relationships and community: People said that they liked the staff, and the interactions Healthwatch observed between staff and residents were positive. Relatives said that the staffing at the home had been fairly consistent over the years, which helped their family members to have good relations with staff. People said that they got on well with the other residents, and people also spent time out and about in the local area quite regularly. 

Food and health: Everyone Healthwatch spoke to said that they were happy with the food they were offered, and people were involved in preparing their meals. All of the people here got regular exercise, using the exercise bike in the home, and attending regular keep fit classes at the day centre. 

Relations with the broader health and social care system: The manager said that all of the services that they use supported them well, including the GP surgery, pharmacy, dentists, local Learning Disabilities Team and NCC’s Integrated Quality Service. 

Overall, all of the people Healthwatchspoke to at St. Brannocks told us that they were happy with the service, and that it listened to them well. They also seemed to be supported well to develop their independence skills. The relatives were also happy with the service