Enter and view: Ravenswing Manor Care Home

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out an Enter and View visit to Ravenswing Manor, a 24-bed care home providing support for people with dementia, physical disabilities, sensory impairments and older adults. Overall, the home received a green rating and was found to provide a warm, welcoming and supportive environment. Residents, relatives and staff consistently praised the caring culture of the service, the quality of relationships within the home and the responsiveness of management. Residents frequently reported feeling safe, comfortable and well cared for.

The home was described as clean, homely and well maintained, set within attractive grounds with accessible outdoor seating and gardens. Staff were observed to know residents well and interact with them in a respectful, friendly and person-centred manner. Relatives praised both the manager and provider for being approachable, communicative and highly visible during the Covid-19 pandemic, while staff described the home as supportive and family-oriented.

Food and dining arrangements were a particular strength. Residents spoke positively about the home-cooked meals and the chef's willingness to adapt food to individual needs and preferences. During mealtime observations, staff demonstrated good awareness of residents' nutritional requirements, quickly offering alternatives when meals were declined and providing additional support to residents who needed encouragement or assistance to eat. Activities were also well regarded, with residents reporting singalongs, arts and crafts, films, exercise sessions, outings and seasonal events such as trips to Blackpool Illuminations and planned Christmas shopping excursions. 

Healthwatch concluded that Ravenswing Manor provided a positive and caring environment with strong leadership, attentive staff and high levels of resident and family satisfaction. The main areas identified for improvement related to the physical environment, particularly worn carpets, flooring and some aspects of accessibility and orientation for residents living with dementia. The provider had already commenced a programme of refurbishment, including replacement flooring, lounge upgrades, new windows and further development plans, before publication of the report. Overall, the home was viewed as a safe, caring and well-run service where residents were treated with dignity and respect.