Enter and view: George Dooley House

Healthwatch Ealing conducted an announced Enter & View visit to George Dooley House in Southall on 24 March 2026. The service, operated by Community Housing and Therapy (CHT), provides supported accommodation for adults with complex mental health conditions, autism, learning disabilities, substance use challenges, and brain injuries. At the time of the visit, three of the six resident rooms were occupied. 

Healthwatch found that the home was well maintained, tidy, and provided appropriate facilities for residents. The accommodation included a communal kitchen, lounge area, garden, and a dedicated room used for group therapy, community meetings, and other activities. Healthwatch observed good safety arrangements, including secure entry, visitor sign-in procedures, and readily available information for residents and staff. 

Feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive. All residents reported feeling safe and happy in the home and were satisfied with cleanliness, staff helpfulness, health-related support, and the outdoor space. Residents described staff as “funny, nice and caring” and said they had received an appropriate introduction to the service and information about their rights when they moved in. One resident specifically praised staff for helping them escape a situation involving financial abuse.

Residents also highlighted the range of activities available through the therapeutic programme, including community-based outings. However, some would like more outdoor and recreational activities, such as tennis, badminton, or cinema trips. Residents suggested improvements to the environment, including bathroom renovations, new kitchen equipment, and refreshed décor in communal areas. 

Most residents felt comfortable raising concerns and making requests, although one resident felt neutral about how responsive staff were to questions, requests, and complaints. It was noted that managers did not always answer or return calls promptly. 

Staff feedback was also positive. Staff reported enjoying their roles, feeling supported in their work, and receiving regular training in areas such as safeguarding, fire safety, food hygiene, and medication management. They felt able to communicate effectively with residents and families and generally felt safe at work. Staff particularly valued helping residents improve their wellbeing and become more integrated into the community.

Some challenges were identified by staff, including difficulties supporting residents who were struggling with their mental health or displaying challenging behaviour. Staff expressed a preference for more practical, hands-on training and suggested that additional mental health and wellbeing programmes for staff could be beneficial. 

Healthwatch concluded that George Dooley House provided a safe, supportive, and positive living environment. Recommendations included involving residents in decisions about décor, exploring requests for additional kitchen equipment, progressing bathroom upgrades with the landlord, increasing opportunities for outdoor activities, improving responsiveness to resident concerns and complaints, and considering enhanced wellbeing support for staff. The provider responded positively, outlining existing initiatives and planned improvements, including future renovation works and continued resident involvement in decision-making.