Enter and view: Chiltern House, Buckinghamshire

Healthwatch Bucks conducted an unannounced enter and view visit to Chiltern House on 4 April 2016. Using survey and observation methods, the team engaged with 2 members of staff and 8 residents. The visit looked into dignity and care in the home.

Staffing levels was raised as a concern. The team observed limited interaction between staff and residents. The staff were found to be time-constraint, with only the regular staff providing person-centred care. Residents were concerned about the use of agency staff suggesting that they had to explain their care to staff every time. Residents are encouraged to engage in meaningful activities and participate in the running of the home. If able, the residents enjoy the garden and go to the town centre. There are organised activities for residents, however, they suggested they would like more choice. Although there is no lounge area in the home, the residents told the team that they like socialising with each other.

The team made recommendations to the home including, reminding staff to respect the privacy of residents in their bedrooms, to consider more variety on the menu, to recruit for more volunteers to expand social activity opportunity for all residents, to follow up on resident suggestions at the subsequent meetings and to consider providing evening entertainment.

The service provider responded to the report, however, did not agree with the recommendations.