Enter and view: Docking House

Healthwatch Norfolk conducted an Enter and View visit to Docking House, a 39 bed residential care home with dementia support, on 17 January 2018.

The Enter and View Authorised Representatives observed that, while the home lacked a 'homely feel, staff were helpful and caring towards residents, there were a choice of menus available and that residents were clean and tidy in appearance.

The building is light with wooden floors throughout, although there are no curtains or blinds at windows apart from in the dining room. There was a collection of pictures on the wall titled 'memories' although the team were advised that these were not pictures of places the residents had visited.

The bedroom the Enter and View Authorised Representatives were shown was pleasantly furnished with the resident's own pictures and personal effects. Residents are offered two menu choices for each meal with the menus being read to residents as many of them are unable to read them themselves. If residents are unable to understand the choices, they are shown the prepared food at mealtimes. A tea trolley is taken around in the morning and afternoon for drinks and snacks.

The home shares an activities co-ordinator with other homes in the group and, while there was a weekly schedule of activities displayed, no residents were observed to be engaged in any activity at the time of the visit.

Recommendations made in this report were: display pictures of food with the menus to make it easier for residents to choose; 'memory’ pictures could be more specific to residents’ experiences; place books/games in lounge areas for residents to sit and look at; Curtains/ blinds in public areas would help give a more homely feel; display more pictures on the walls; add seating/flowers/plants to the paved outside area.

Healthwatch Norfolk has not received a response to the report.