Enter and view: Greenfields Care Home

The Healthwatch Shropshire enter and view team conducted a visit to Greenfields Care Home on 17 July 2017, as part of their Dignity, Choice and Respect project to explore the quality of life experience by residents in this setting. This visit was semi announced as the Manager was told the representatives will be visiting sometime in July. There were two units in the home where the representatives also observed the residents having lunch.

HW found all the rooms in the home nicely decorated with a lot of natural light and spotlessly clean. There was a calm and caring atmosphere. They observed that staff were helpful, patient and caring towards the residents. Residents, who were all nicely dressed and appeared comfortable, said staff were kind and did a good job. Most residents said the food was good, though some commented that there was a difference in the way food was cooked by different chefs.

"I can't fault the home at all."

"The staff will do anything for you."

"The staff are kind and do a good job."

Senior staff found Coverage Care to be a good employer.

Visitors evidently were always made to feel welcome in the home. Call buttons were provided for some residents, with quick response from the staff. However emergency call arrangements for those without a call button were not clear. HW found some residents were not aware of activities offered by the home; other residents were aware of activities; some wanted more trips.

HW representatives made the following recommendations:

The Greenfield management should congratulate all staff on the environment they have created in the home.

Add regular support for those residents with hearing impairment, including maintenance of hearing aids, into the health support programme for residents.

Ensure that all residents are aware of emergency call arrangements from their bedrooms.

Continue in its efforts to try and fill staff vacancies, particularly nursing vacancies.

Greenfields Care Home responded positively to the recommendations, “Many thanks for your report which was very positive, I have completed the action plan and will take recommendations / suggestions positively with the view of improving services”, an action plan is included in the report.