Enter and View Visit to Garden Hill Care Home 12 th November, 2014 Additional information and contact details info@healthwatchsouthtyneside.co.uk 0191 4892627 www.healthwatchsouthtyneside.co.uk Report Prepared by: Margaret Turnbull and C.S. Hargreaves Enter & View Authorised Representatives, Healthwatch South Tyneside.
Healthwatch is the independent consumer champion for health and social care patients and service users in England. Healthwatch South Tyneside has statutory powers under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to carry out visits to gather the views and experiences of service users, patients, families, carers and staff for the purpose of service improvement. Service: Named Manager: Garden Hill Care Home (Nursing & Residential Care Home) Lyndsey Scott Date of Visit: 12 th November, 2014 Announced/Unannounced: Announced Purpose of Visit Healthwatch South Tyneside is continuously receiving intelligence from users, families and carers in relation to health and social care services. This intelligence is analysed to determine common themes across providers or which providers require an Enter and View visit. The focus of this Enter and View visit was linked to general concerns raised. The visit specifically aimed to gather information and views in relation to: This was a general training visit No previous concerns Page 2 of 5
Process During the visit, Enter and View officers gathered information and intelligence using a variety of means: Observations of staff carrying out daily tasks. Discussions with management and staff and an awareness of any sensitive areas in relation to specific service users. Discussions with service users and families using open questioning techniques and non-leading prompts. Observations of the general condition and environment within the home and interactions between staff and service users. Positive Observations Interview with nurse manager was an open and honest discussion. Other members of staff appeared friendly and open to visitors and questions. Uniforms worn to distinguish various grades of staff and staff looked smart and professional. Staff observed using the hoist and communicating with residents was noted to be good. Staff appeared interested but that was only a superficial impression. However individualised care appeared very good as all residents got out of bed at some time during the day, even those with very poor mobility. Staff were aware of the various needs of residents especially the younger ones who had escorted activities outside of the care home, and older ones whose families were encouraged to eat with them in order to improve diet and fluid intake. The care home nurse manager expressed pride in what her staff had achieved with the improvement in the condition of two of her residents. With one lady it was the vast improvement of her diet and weight gain, for another resident it was the healing of her bed sores after a few weeks in her care at Garden Hill. The residential users who did not require nursing care but who were very elderly expressed how happy they were in the care home. Also relatives of the residents who required nursing care expressed confidence and satisfaction with the care and treatment of relatives. Observations of Concern Page 3 of 5
Outside decor poor and in need of painting. Inside decor poor (but due for refurbishment). Entrance area was cramped, and the building a little stuffy but thermometers in all of the rooms. Communal rooms cramped, but plans in situ for enlarging lounge. Activities available and in progress during visit for those wishing and able to partake but activity room very cramped and in need of extending. Dining rooms small but not cluttered and adequate space for residents in wheelchairs or using walking aids. Mostly single rooms all with en-suite facilities. Also two double rooms, all rooms individually decorated and where able colours chosen by residents. Lifts our of order and perhaps in need of replacement as constantly requiring repairs and call outs of engineers. Overall Summary Building and rooms in need of updating, building 21 years old and outdated. Care of residents appeared very good indeed and evidence of individualised care. Overall impression of staff was a caring attitude and pride in the care given to residents. Enter and View Team Signed: Margaret Turnbull Margaret Turnbull Signed: Christopher Hargreaves C.S. Hargreaves Date: 28 th November 2014 Signed: Paul Freeman Date: 28 th November 2014 Page 4 of 5
Draft Report sent to Provider on: To be returned by: 20 th February 2015 By: Date 20 th January 2015 Returned on: Not returned. Provider Comments: No comments from provider. Final Report taken to Healthwatch South Tyneside Board on: 24 th April, 2015 Board Comments: Healthwatch South Tyneside thanks the residents and staff of Garden Hill for facilitating this initial visit and our volunteer training. Distribution: 1. Provider 2. Commissioners South Tyneside Council 3. CQC 4. Healthwatch England 5. Healthwatch South Tyneside Website Signed: Paul Freeman Date: 24 th April 2015 Page 5 of 5