Enter and view: The Old School House Residential Care Home

Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire conducted an Enter and View visit to The Old School House Residential Care Home on the 18th February 2019. They engaged 10 residents, staff and visitors during the visit.

They found that the home was in need of some re-decorating but areas had been improved since the last visit in November 2017. The food hygiene rating has dropped from 5 to 2 due to te condition of the kitchen which is being refurbished. All staff were clean and tidy and wore a uniform which were of different colours according to their role; none of the staff however wore name badges which made them difficult to identify for both residents and visitors. Residents mostly ate alone at portable tables in the large lounge although large dining tables are available. This meant that some residents had not moved from the same chair throughout the course of the visit and that they had only interacted with any person that had chosen to directly approach them. Residents had their own rooms which they were able to personalise with their own possessions.

Recommendations include: All staff to be provided with and to wear name badges; Signs or posters to be displayed around the home to detail daily menus, activities/trips out, a calendar, the weather. These to be current, visible and easy to read. A clock to be provided for the main lounge; A dining area to be defined in the large main lounge using the round tables and window space already available. Tables to be set with cutlery, napkins, condiments, by a designated member of staff possibly with help from residents. Residents who are able, to be encouraged to take their meals at these tables to promote and encourage social interaction; Re-launch the ‘Key Worker’ system. Specific responsibilities should be outlined to staff for the residents that they are responsible for; residents should be made aware of their ‘Key Worker’ and their specific responsibilities – in part by the introduction of posters on the back of residents doors (an example of which has been supplied by HWERY).

The service provider expressed an interest in working with Healthwatch to make further improvements.