Enter and view: The Willows Care Homes
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Healthwatch Derbyshire conducted an Enter and View visit to The Willows Care Home, a 42 bed residential nursing home catering for residents with dementia, on 20 February 2018. Healthwatch Derbyshire invited local health and social care organisations to nominate services where an Enter & View was considered suitable and would benefit both the service and the provider and/or commissioner of that service. All nominations are passed through the Healthwatch Derbyshire Intelligence and Action Group to determine whether an Enter & View appears appropriate and justified. The Willows Care Home was one that had been nominated by Hardwick Clinical Commissioning Group.
Healthwatch Derbyshire Enter and View Authorised Representatives found that the building and grounds are well maintained with the home itself offering a welcoming atmosphere and staff were observed to be caring and attentive to resident needs and preferences. The further noted that all relatives interviewed felt involved with their family member’s care and there was good signage throughout the property. Several improvements/refurbishments were advised of by staff; installing a hearing loop within the communal lounges, developing a sensory room on the first floor and a re-design of the ground floor dining area.
A number of observed and reported good practice were noted. These were: flexible visiting times, staff were observed to be caring and attentive to resident needs and preferences; all relatives interviewed felt involved with their family member’s care; two male care staff available to meet residents’ preferences during the delivery of personal care; and a two hour ‘repositioning’ schedule to help maximise resident mobility.
The report makes eight recommendations including suggesting the Home consider increasing the frequency of outings for residents, and requesting that Healthwatch Derbyshire are kept apprised of the progress of the refurbishments and improvements.
The Willows Care Home management responded positively to the recommendations with an acknowledgement and/or the action taken against each one.