Enter and view: Avondale, Buckinghamshire

This is an Enter and View report from Healthwatch Buckinghamshire (HWB). Four representatives visited the Avondale home on the 10th July 2015.

The team have summarised their findings for this report through the following themes: How people are treated; personal choice; 'just like being at home; privacy and quality of life. This was an unscheduled Enter and View visit in that the care home were given up to 2 weeks’ notice of the intention to visit but not the time and date. Authorised representatives noted what they observed and were told. Avondale is a home for 90 residents who live in 6 units, each with their own dining room and lounge. Three of these provide nursing care whilst the others provide care for those living with dementia. The representatives were given full independent access to all units and talked to 5 relatives, 10 members of staff and 10 residents in communal areas. They also observed another 20-30 residents and staff in the same locations.

The HWB team made this summary of findings:

-Avondale demonstrated very high standards of care with regard to dignity and respect,

-staff worked confidently around us and told us they enjoyed working here,

-both residents and relatives praised the level of individualised care given

The HWB team made the following recommendations to Avondale:

-periodically suggest to residents in the nursing units different locations such as the garden and quiet rooms where reading, art,cards or other activities could be done just to add variety.

- regularly review the temperature in communal rooms, such as the dining room we visited, when it is particularly hot outside and take S

Service Provider Response

The manager agreed that the report was factually accurate and had no other comments to make.