Enter and view: Beechcroft Nursing and Residential Home, Halton

On 12 October 2016 Healthwatch Halton completed an Enter and View Visit at Beechcroft Nursing and Residential Home in Runcorn. During their visit the Enter and View team engaged with Staff, Residents and a family member. Observations from the team covered the following:

• Location, external appearance, ease of access and parking - on the day of the visit, the team noted that the exterior of the Home was maintained to a good standard.

• Initial Impressions (from a visitor’s perspective) - Entry to the Home is accessed using a doorbell which was answered promptly by a member of staff. The reception area appeared clean, uncluttered and there was pleasant background music playing. However, from the time the team entered the Home, there was a noticeable smell of urine. There was a comment box, and signing-in book.

• Internal Physical Environment – cleanliness, décor in both communal and personal rooms; choice of meals, access to drinks and snacks and outside spaces. Overall the team felt positive about the environment in which people were living at Beechcroft.

• Staff support skills and interaction – a good level of staff training opportunities were made available. Recent CQC visit had highlighted a number of problems, all of which had or were being addressed by HC-One who managed the home.

• Residents’ social, emotional and cultural welfare – their Activities Co-ordinator offers a wide range of daily activities which are varied and try to meet the needs of individual residents. One resident commented: “I am a very private [person]. I like my own space and the staff respect this, but they are there if I need them at any point”.

Recommendations:

1. Ensure regular use of the various specialised products available to reduce odours within the Home.

2. Ensure that communal toilets are checked and cleaned frequently.