Enter and view: Hilton Lodge Care Home, Barnet

Healthwatch Barnet conducted an announced Enter and View visit to Hilton Lodge Care Home on 4 February 2015. The team engaged with residents, relatives and members of staff during the visit.

The team considered the home to be well run, acknowledging the positive feedback from residents and relatives. The residents deemed the staff to be kind and caring, reflecting the team’s observations. Residents engaged with activities when they were held, although there was no activity coordinator. Although the care plan the team viewed appeared comprehensive, none of the residents were aware that they had one in place. Their relatives, however, did know about the care plans. Staff felt supported and trained for their role. There was an issue raised with staff not wearing name badges despite caring for residents with dementia. The physical environment raised some concerns. The team felt the home could be redecorated and parking was deemed an issue, particularly in regard to access for emergency services.

The report made a number of recommendations. These included improving the home’s safety; fitting gates at the top of stairs and labelling doors. In addition, it was recommended that staff wear name badges and give the residents the opportunity to clean their hands prior to eating.

The report included a response from the service provider. The recommendations were acknowledged with some being acted on and some being considered.