Enter and view: Highclere Care Home

Healthwatch Milton Keynes conducted an authorised enter and view on 17th January 2019 at 10:30am to 1:00pm.

Members of the authorised representative (AR) visiting team were given a tour of the home by the Manager and were free to move around all of the communal areas and, if consent was obtained, into private rooms. The ARs used a semi-structured conversation approach when meeting with residents one-to-one, and recorded the conversations and observations via hand-written notes. It was recognised that, because many residents have impaired cognitive capabilities, there would be a limited number of people who would be able or willing to engage with an interview or detailed conversation. A total of 5 residents spoke to the team; 3 were aged 80+; 2 were 90+; 4 were female. The activities co-ordinator was also interviewed.

Staff were observed to be friendly, considerate and respectful to residents. There was an attractive, homely environment with very large well laid out communal space. A varied programme of daytime activities and entertainment was available seven days a week including community engagement outside visits, and light physical exercises.

Healthwatch Milton Keynes recommended that the activities co-ordinator got in touch with organisation such as U3A or AgeUK Milton Keynes to source speakers on interesting topics or invite local groups, and that Highclere management ensured a smooth transition with the arrival of a new manager.

Highclere responded to these recommendations.