Enter and view: Scarborough Hall

Healthwatch North Yorkshire carried out an Enter and View visit to Scarborough Hall in October 2015. Overall, the home was found to provide a very good standard of care, with residents treated with dignity, respect and compassion. The home operated from modern, purpose-built accommodation with 85 single en-suite rooms, attractive communal areas and secure dementia-care units. Residents, relatives and staff all spoke very positively about the quality of care and the welcoming atmosphere. 

Staff were consistently praised for their kindness, professionalism and attention to residents’ needs. Family members expressed confidence that their relatives were safe and well cared for, while residents valued the wide range of activities, outings and social opportunities available. Food provision was another strength, with varied menus, personalised dietary support and careful monitoring of residents’ nutritional needs. The home also made effective use of telemedicine services and worked closely with local GPs, district nurses and hospice teams to support residents. 

Healthwatch identified some areas for improvement, particularly in relation to dementia care. While the home had a specialist dementia unit and many residents with cognitive impairment, observers felt dementia-friendly features such as signage, flooring and décor could be used more consistently throughout the building. Some relatives also felt there was scope for greater involvement in care planning and more opportunities to use residents’ existing skills and interests in activities. Concerns were also raised about occasional unpleasant odours on upper floors and limited use of the attractive outdoor spaces. 

Healthwatch concluded that Scarborough Hall was delivering high-quality care with strong leadership, committed staff and excellent support for residents and families. Recommendations included updating reminiscence areas, improving dementia-friendly design, keeping better records of activity participation, ensuring invitations to family meetings reached the appropriate relatives, and exploring greater family involvement in care planning. The provider accepted the findings and confirmed its intention to develop these areas further.