Enter and view: Caddington Hall Residential Home
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Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire conducted an announced Enter and View visit to Caddington Hall Residential Home, on 12 February 2015. This was part of a planned set of visits to social care services to observe service delivery, talk to staff, and consult with residents and relatives about their experience with the service.
Healthwatch representatives learnt that this home had reopened for admissions in March 2014 and in August 2014 several staff left the home due to an uncertain future when it was announced that management of the home would be transferred from BUPA to the Local Authority. Despite planning to recruit permanent staff, they didn’t go forward with that plan due to a current ongoing review of options for the future of the home by the Local Authority. As a result, the home was operating with a limited number of disheartened staff and no activities coordinator.
HW representatives found the home to be clean, warm, light and airy and the residents well dressed and cared for. Residents spoken to found the home to be warm, safe and secure although one commented “the atmosphere seems empty” as the home didn’t have many residents at the time.
All residents were worried about the future of the home. The food was all freshly prepared, and they had a ‘Food First’ nutrition award as they catered for special diets (diabetic etc.)
There is a complaints procedure and resident/relatives meetings are held quarterly. The staff despite feeling ‘let down’ by CBC, worked with passion and dedication.
One relative spoke to said ‘I want my mum to stay here; the quality of care is so good’. HW staff felt that the home is operating to a very good standard of care with regards to dignity and respect despite the uncertain future and the challenges that brings to the staff.
HW made a few recommendations one of which was that the future plans for Caddington Hall be fully explained to the residents/relatives, and their considerations would be taken into account with regards to any changes that will take place.
Caddington Hall responded saying they are happy with the report.