Enter and view: Magdalene House

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out an Enter and View visit to Magdalene House, a 52-bed nursing and residential care home for older people and people with physical disabilities. The home received a green rating overall and was described as a well-managed, welcoming and homely environment. Representatives found evidence of strong leadership, a positive staff culture and a well-established family ownership model that contributed to residents feeling secure, supported and valued. 

The physical environment was a particular strength. Residents praised the extensive gardens, comfortable accommodation and variety of communal spaces, including lounges, dining rooms and conservatories. The home was clean, well maintained and offered residents a choice of places to relax, socialise or spend time quietly. Many residents spoke positively about their bedrooms, the attractive grounds and the relaxed atmosphere within the home. 

Activities were highly valued by residents and appeared to be well organised and varied. These included quizzes, crafts, films, sing-alongs, exercise sessions with a specialist fitness instructor, themed celebrations and gardening activities. Residents particularly praised the activity coordinator and commented that there was always something taking place. Food also received consistently positive feedback, with residents appreciating the quality, variety and home-cooked nature of meals. Representatives observed supportive and dignified mealtime care, with staff accommodating individual preferences and providing one-to-one assistance where required. 

Healthwatch found strong, respectful relationships between staff and residents and observed staff delivering care in a compassionate and person-centred way. Residents described staff as kind, considerate and attentive, while staff reported feeling well supported through training, flexible working arrangements and positive leadership. Overall, the report concluded that Magdalene House provided a caring, well-organised and engaging environment where residents felt safe, supported and able to maintain their independence and interests.