Enter and view: Brandon House Nursing Home
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Healthwatch Leeds carried out an announced Enter and View visit to Brandon House Nursing Home on 18th December 2023. The visit was undertaken as part of a planned series of visits to care homes in Leeds and had been prompted by the feedback they had received from Leeds City Council and members of the public. They spoke to 7 residents, 8 relatives and the manager.
The majority of people (92%) found all or most of the staff to be caring. All who were able to answer said staff were respectful and that they or their relative felt safe at Brandon House.
11 out of 13 (85%) responses stated that they felt that care met their needs (or those of their friend/relative), with two saying they weren’t sure. The reasons given were that they would like staff to give more attention to care needs.
People were very positive about the activities they took part in at Brandon House. There was evidence that staff encouraged people to participate and that activities were flexible according to people’s interests and preferences. However, according to people’s feedback, activities didn’t always happen when scheduled, particularly at weekends when the Activities Co-ordinator wasn’t working.
Most people who were able to respond felt that they or their relative was given a choice about their daily routine all or most of the time and encouraged to be as independent as possible.
Most people who were able to answer (4 out of 5) said that they felt that their religious and cultural needs were met. Several people mentioned the vicar who visited the home regularly.
There was mixed feedback about food with one person saying that there wasn’t much choice and another saying it wasn’t always healthy or nutritious.
Just under a third of respondents (31%) said that their care plan was regularly reviewed with them although some said that they felt able to talk to staff if they wanted changes in their/their relatives’ care.
There was a mixed response in relation to opportunities to give feedback with 6 respondents (46%) saying they did have opportunity, 5 (38%) saying they didn’t, and 2 (15%) weren’t sure. Most people mentioned informal ways of giving feedback such as speaking to the manager or other staff. Only two respondents said the care home had shared with them any changes that had taken place as a result of feedback they’d shared.
All respondents said they knew how to raise a concern or complaint and would feel comfortable doing so.
Healthwatch observed recently refurbished communal areas of the home to be bright, comfortable and relaxed spaces. They found that it was difficult to get through on the phone to Brandon House and messages were not always returned. This was echoed by the feedback from one relative.
The report contains five recommendations about activities, care plans, getting feedback, food choice and the reception.