Enter and view: St James House

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out an Enter and View visit to St James House, a 30-bed care home supporting adults with a wide range of needs, including dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The home received an overall green rating. While representatives felt parts of the environment would benefit from refurbishment and the garden could be better maintained, the home was found to be clean, comfortable and welcoming. Residents were overwhelmingly positive about living there, frequently describing both the home and staff as excellent, friendly and supportive. 

A notable strength was the positive culture within the home. Staff, including managers, care workers, cleaners and kitchen staff, were observed to know residents well and maintain warm, respectful relationships. Healthwatch noted strong social cohesion despite the diverse resident group, with younger residents often helping older residents and participating in community life within the home. Residents consistently praised the care they received, reporting that staff were kind, attentive and responsive to their needs.

Food was particularly well regarded. Residents praised the quality, quantity and flexibility of meals, reporting that the chef regularly accommodated personal preferences and special requests. During the lunchtime observation, meals appeared appetising and nutritious, and staff were attentive to residents' dietary choices. However, Healthwatch identified some opportunities to improve the dining experience, including greater social interaction during meal service, offering water more routinely and making better use of adaptive equipment for residents experiencing difficulties eating independently. 

The main area for development related to activities and community engagement. Although exercise sessions, movie nights, arts activities and technology-based activities were available, many residents felt there was not enough to do beyond watching television. Healthwatch suggested greater use of community resources, outings, social prescribing and a dedicated activities role to support residents' interests and independence. The report also recommended more regular keyworker conversations to ensure quieter residents felt able to raise concerns and requests. Overall, Healthwatch concluded that St James House provided caring, person-centred support within a friendly and inclusive environment.