Enter and view: The Franciscan Convent

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out an Enter and View visit to The Franciscan Convent, a 13-bed residential care home for older women, including members of the Franciscan order and women from the wider community. The home received an overall green rating and was described as a caring, community-focused environment where residents benefited from high staffing levels, long-serving staff and a strong emphasis on person-centred care. Residents, relatives and staff all provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about life at the convent. 

The convent was found to provide a spacious, peaceful and well-maintained environment, set within extensive gardens overlooking Corporation Park. While faith-based activities formed part of daily life, residents who were not members of the religious order reported feeling entirely comfortable and under no pressure to participate. The home offered a range of communal spaces, including lounges, gardens, a chapel and dining facilities, and residents praised the welcoming atmosphere, cleanliness and opportunities to maintain independence. 

A key strength identified by Healthwatch was the exceptionally personalised nature of care. Staff were observed to know residents well, support individual preferences and spend meaningful time with residents beyond basic care tasks. Relatives spoke highly of the flexibility shown by staff, including support for outings, family visits and special occasions. Residents reported being involved in decisions about menus, activities and daily life, while staff highlighted the benefits of high staffing ratios that allowed them to provide one-to-one support and companionship.

Healthwatch concluded that The Franciscan Convent offered a highly supportive and homely environment where residents felt safe, respected and valued. Food, activities and social opportunities were well regarded, and the report highlighted strong relationships between residents, relatives and staff. The overall impression was of a close-knit community providing high-quality, individualised care, with one resident commenting that she would not want to move elsewhere and a relative stating that he could not find a better place for his mother.