Enter and view: Milford House

Healthwatch Derbyshire conducted an announced Enter and View visit to Milford House, a Residential Care Home, on 12 February 2014. For the purpose of this visit, Healthwatch Derbyshire wanted to observe ‘What good looks like’ within a care home setting.

Milford House was randomly selected, alongside 9 other Care Homes who had been awarded the Derbyshire County Council Bronze Dignity Award.

The Authorised representatives observed that the staff at Milford House provided a holistic style approach to care, placing residents at the centre of all they do by taking into consideration the personal preferences of their residents.

According to the visiting team, Milford House appears to be a well run care home in which staff, residents and their families came across as happy, safe and relaxed. The report also noted that staff and resident interaction appeared good, as did that between staff and management. The Dignity Principles were shown to be understood and put into practice on a regular, daily basis as a matter of fact and resulting in residents who feel safe, happy, not afraid to bring up complaints and issues when necessary and feel respected and dignified with choice in all their daily activities, resulting in feelings of wellbeing.

Residents all spoke of being extremely content and at home, and staff reported their pride in the establishment.

The report made no recommendations however, the provider response included in the report queried why the extensive evidence of activities observed on the day did not warrant a bigger mention.