Enter and view: Whittle Hall Residential Nursing Care Home

Healthwatch Warrington conducted an Enter and View visit to Whittle Hall, a 74 bed residential Nursing Care Home, on 30 April 2018 as part of a planned programme of work. As a relatively new home in the local area, Healthwatch Warrington also thought it would be particularly worthwhile to build a strong working relationship with the service in order to help strengthen the voice of residents, carers and relatives at this crucial formative stage.

Whittle Hall is a purpose-built facility (over two floors), located in a quiet suburban area of Great Sankey. Whittle Hal loffers Residential, General Nursing Care, Palliative Care, Dementia Care, Dementia Plus and Dementia Palliative Care, according to the needs of individual residents.

Healthwatch Warrington Enter and View Authorised Representatives reported that that Whittle Hall is able to offer residents high quality surroundings in a well-kept facility which lives up to the provider’s values in this respect. However, they observed that, although the home’s interior was beautiful it did not appear to be appropriate for people living with Dementia as there were many highly reflective or patterned surfaces. They also observed that the home’s environment felt too formal at times and felt this was reflected by the fact that very few residents were enjoying the social ‘hub’ facilities which detracts from a homely atmosphere. Overall,the report concludes that there are still changes that need to be made in order for Whittle Hall to live up to the provider’s stated values.

They did note, however, that staff and, in particular, the new manager, appear to work well as a team and are focused on improving the experience of the residents. The manager has initiated bi-monthly residents and relatives meetings, has been working closely with Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group to develop a robust improvement plan, and has also developed strong working relationships with Hollins Park (to support residents’ mental health needs), local GP Services, the Enhanced Care Home Support Team, Hospital Doctors and Community Psychiatric Nurses (palliative care is also provided).

Two recommendations were made in the report suggesting the Home install a 'Who is Who' board in reception and also that the home invite staff from the Alzheimer's Society to offer advice and support on the best way to meet residents needs in light of plans to refurbish some areas of the Home.

No response from the provider was received