Enter and view: Acacia Lodge
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Healthwatch Barnet conducted an announced Enter and View visit to Acacia Lodge, a 32 bed Care home, as part of a planned programme of work to review the level of care provision across the Borough.
The home has 10 shared rooms for those who are friends, all ensuite, and 12 single rooms 9 of which are ensuite. The residents are generally frail elderly people some with dementia, epilepsy and diabetes as well as two with challenging mental health issues and one with a learning disability.
The Enter and View Authorised Representatives reported that Acacia Lodge is a comfortable home providing a good standard of care. There was a relaxed and homely feel and most residents seemed alert and responsive. The residents appeared happy with the services they received and valued the independence they achieved.
Staff seemed to have good knowledge of the residents needs and had good arrangements in place with the local health services. While Healthwatch Barnet did not come across any residents with complaints, they were unsure whether the procedure for complaining was sufficiently visible.
The manager reported being well supported by the owners and staff reported feeling well supported by the Manager.
The report made nine recommendations to the Care Home which included a request that all staff wore name badges that also denoted their role, that there was a daily menu available for residents to see and a suggestion that the Home increase the visibility and accessibility of the complaints procedure for residents and others.
The report also made three recommendations for Healthwatch Barnet and these included liaising with the Quality in Care Homes team to share good practice regarding methods of making compliments, comments and complaints more accessible, and another to liaise with the Quality in Care Homes Team to consider any scope for collaborative transport arrangements.
The response from the provider addresses each of the recommendations.