Enter and view: Camelot care home

Healthwatch Wiltshire conducted an enter and view visit on Camelot care home, a privately run nursing home in Amesbury with capacity for 57 older people, both long term and in an intermediate care basis. A multi-disciplinary team comprising a physiotherapist, rehabilitation assistant and occupational therapist is based at the home to provide support with recovery.

This enter and View visit was conducted as part of Healthwatch Wiltshire’s Quality Monitoring work programme and was unnanounced.

Observations from the enter and view representatives included:

- The residents looked alert, happy and well groomed. Those interviewed reported feeling safe and well cared for.

- Residents were joining in enthusiastically with sing songs and dancing. Staff were interacting with them in a friendly and attentive manner.

- All were positive about the food – one person said it was excellent, there was always a choice and it was always hot. Another said he could have drinks and snacks outside meal times.

The report contains five recommendations for the home:

• Recruitment – to address the problem of staff recruitment outlined by the Registered Manager, advertising via Facebook might be an option. The Registered Manager said she would think about this.

• Relationships with the local community – to foster these, the Registered Manager should continue her efforts to establish a Friends group.

• Dementia Friendly adaptations – a large face clock and calendar could be displayed in all communal areas, and toilet and bathrooms doors identified by picture signage. This would help residents with dementia.

• The main entrance and bell to Camelot from the car park should be clearly labelled to help visitors.

• Your Care Your Support Wiltshire website – the Registered Manager should promote the use of this information and signposting resource to her staff and family members - leaflets were left with the Senior Nurse.

The report includes a brief response from the provider.