Enter and view: Bradwell Hall Nursing Home Ltd

Healthwatch Staffordshire conducted an Enter and View visit to Bradwell Hall, a 171 bed Nursing Home, on 31 march 2014. The purpose of the visit related to concerns raised during Care Quality Commission and Staffordshire County Council inspections.

At the time of the visit some areas of the home were undergoing renovation and redecoration and in the new financial year another part of the home was to be updated. The Enter and View Authorised Representatives were advised by the owners that they update/ redecorate the units on a rota basis.

The visiting team found that, overall, staff seemed dedicated to the residents that they looked after with none of the residents or relatives spoken to having any complaints about the staff.

All the residents spoken to advised that the food was good. The main meals were prepared in a central kitchen and taken to the 5 units by way of hot trollies. If residents changed their mind about the choice they had made, the kitchen accommodated this. Each unit had its own small kitchen area in which to prepare breakfast and also to provide snacks and drinks throughout the day when requested by the residents.

The Home was able to offer it staff in-house training and this was done during work hours which prevented the staff losing any days off unless absolutely necessary. There was also an activities coordinator on each unit as well as a full time hairdresser who visited each unit on a particular day of the week. Unusually there was also a social worker employed at the home.

The recommendations made in the report were:

Hand sanitizing facilities should be available in all units of the home.

All doors in the home should have automatic release mechanisms so that in the event of a fire, the residents are afforded the protection of the doors.

More interaction is needed with the residents when for example when helping them to eat.

Need to ensure that activities are encouraged and activities coordinators have the appropriate resources to carry out their role.

Activities should be tailored to the needs of the residents.

Need to look at the ability of family members to stay the night, especially if a family member was at the end of life stage. Currently there are no facilities to allow this.

Look at possible training for the staff with regard to nail care for the residents, at the moment it is only those residents with Diabetes that have this service.

The flooring in the EMI unit should be looked at. Carpets can be hazardous and cause trips and falls. Suggest that hard flooring would be more appropriate.

The visiting team felt that as the Home was undergoing significant redecoration at the time of the visit, it would be beneficial to revisit the home in 6 months when this has been completed.

There was no provider response included within the report