Enter and view: Talbot House Nursing Home

Healthwatch Staffordshire conducted an announced Enter and View visit. This is a way of ensuring that all services delivered are acceptable and the welfare of the resident, patient or other service-user is not compromised in any way.

Healthwatch Staffordshire visited Talbot House Nursing Home, on 06/06/2018.

The summary of findings highlighted areas in relation to patient feedback, staff feedback and observation. Healthwatch Staffordshire found that this Nursing Home is in transition and the new Manager is making changes not only in the running of Talbot House, but in improving staff morale and preparing for a major refurbishment. She is getting to know all her staff and is available to speak to staff, not only in her office, but on her actual daily work in the home. Rapid changes have occurred in the up-dating of staff training in manual handling.

The recommendations within the report informs there needs to be a swift resolution of staff training issues in order that the Manager and the owners are aware of immediate and future training needs. The training programme needs to be assessed to see if some training work can be completed by computer in order to make the process easier and more accessible for staff and management. The Manager needs to have a clearer overview of the progress of staff and their future training needs The carpets in two bedrooms are, in our view, dangerous and these were noted on our initial tour of the property and one stair case carpet poses a risk to the unobservant. Fire extinguishers should be properly secured so they do not present a hazard to people and any excess fire extinguished should be removed or moved to a more suitable location. Fire doors should be kept closed as the propping open of these doors poses an increased risk of rapid spread in the event of a fire. They recommend that the Manager arranges a visit from the fire service to advise on fire safety. The home should ensure that residents personal information is not on public display. The home should consider which doors should be kept locked when not in use, such as the Sluice room. A full time Activity Coordinator could benefit the residents in developing more creative opportunities for stimulation of residents. It is hoped that the involvement in carers in the provision of activities would give better activities throughout the week as these could be done even when the activity coordinator was not on duty. They recommend that garden, which needs urgent renovation, is attended to in order to make it appealing for residents to sit out in during the current summer months. In view of the current and ongoing renovations a further visit in six months may be useful to learn what progress has been made.