Enter and view: Birchwood, Buckinghamshire

This is an Enter and View report by Healthwatch Buckinghamshire (HWB) to the Birchwood care home.

This visit was an announced visit in that 2 weeks notice was given and representatives entered on their chosen date. The representatives divide their findings into the following themes: How people are treated; Personal choice; Just like being at home; Privacy; Quality of life and additional findings.

The home had 14 current residents with cerebal palsy living in 3 connected bungalows and a flat. The representatives spoke to 3 staff and 5 residents.

A summary of findings by the HWB team was as follows:

- Birchwood demonstrated high standards of care with regard to dignity and respect,

-staff were patient and treated each resident as an individual, and

- there is a wide range of group and singular activities going on.

The representatives made the following recommendation to the home:

- Contact Choice Support who helps the Care Quality Commission recruit, train and manage individuals as Experts By Experience. This

would be of interest to those residents expressing an interest in accompanying inspectors on their visits.

Birchwood said they found the report fair and objective. Those who live at Birchwood were positive about the visit and “this is because of the open culture developed at Scope. The principles of person centred care underpin everything we do here and dignity is at the heart of our care. We strive to keep getting feedback and pride ourselves on improving as a result of it.”