Enter and View: Newholme care home, Ruishton

This report is by Healthwatch Somerset. It is an enter and view report at a local care home.

Residents living in the home were spoken to during the visit. There are several key findings in the report in summary they cover:

• That there is a real sense that this is the residents’ home, and staff appear to be like family within that home.
• The environment felt homely and welcoming, calm, and organised.
• Interactions between residents and staff were very personalised; staff know residents well.
• It was apparent the home sought to get the right staff to fit the ethos and culture of the home.
• Residents are able to move around the home easily from their rooms to the communal areas as all rooms are on one level.
• Residents are able (within reason) to choose when they eat and what they do throughout the day.
• Residents have regular contact with family members, often facilitated by the home.
• The home has good relationships with the GP and also the local community.

There are recommendations in this report.

• We particularly liked the noticeboard with staff pictures, what the weather would be like, and what activities were taking place that week - recommend this to other homes.
• Recognise existing community links - continue to do this.
• The inclusion of a resident when interviewing prospective new staff - recommend this as good practice.

There are no follow up actions in this report.