Enter and view: Oak Lodge Residential Home

Healthwatch Walsall conducted an Enter and View visit to Oak Lodge Residential Home in February 2019. The residential care home cares for 17 residents. During this visit, semi-structured interviews were carried out with residents, staff and visitors alongside observations. 

The report found that the home was clean but with dated furnishings. The staff had mixed roles in that they were carers and cleaners. There was no dedicated activities coordinator. Relatives reported that they were made to feel welcome and that the residents were given choices for various things such as bed time and snacks. The Enter and View representatives were told that residents were offered a choice of menu, set on a weekly basis. Generally, relatives were very happy with the care the resident had received.

A number of recommendations were made including that it is important that staff have access to management for leadership and direction. The unknown and ongoing absence of the manager should be addressed. A review of the provision of a dedicated Activities Co-ordinator, (even part time), to ensure sensory stimulation and engagement for all residents needs to be conducted.The home needs to offer choice of activities that can encompass individuals, some male residents may not wish to take part in nail and natter activities. Additionally, the home should consider activities that will mentally and physically engage residents including external visits when weather and conditions permit. It was suggested that staff should record and evidence activities. An individualised care approach should be adopted by staff so that they are aware of individual details of care plans and have opportunities to contribute and change them when needed. Finally, it was suggested that the infrastructure be updated to obtain better storage for staff and suitable staff areas.

The service provider did not send a response.