Bracebridge Court Care Home Enter and View Report

Approach Used:

Group of four volunteers met with the Manager, to outline the purpose of the visit, go through the visit protocol and gain information about the home.
The group then split into two teams: (CB+DS, and SJ+LW) to visit the two floors of the home.
A brief post visit meeting, to give feedback, was held at the end of the visit.

Summary of Findings:

• Modern building. Good layout. Warm, light and airy. Decorated empathetically with respect to dementia. Well maintained. No overriding odour in the building. Clean and tidy throughout.
• Good sized accommodation over two floors. Each floor has: 33 bedrooms all en-suite with wet-rooms, a bathroom, additional toilets, 2 lounge/dining areas and the upper floor has an additional lounge.
• There is a central paved courtyard garden, (accessed from the café and from some residents’ rooms on the ground floor,) with garden furniture, some raised beds and hard-landscaped borders.
• Higher than expected turnover of staff for a home of this size. Appears to be stabilizing. Agency staff not used as they are unfamiliar with the care-home’s protocols and processes.
• Residents appeared well looked after and were given dignity and respect by the staff. Many of the ladies were wearing jewelry and make-up. Staff knock on bedroom door before entering, announce themselves and inform/seek permission of residents before moving/assisting them – give encouragement when needed.
• Residents appear happy and relaxed – enjoy the meals, entertainment, trips out and activities.
• The majority of residents take their meals in the dining rooms. Currently the menu works on a four weekly cycle. Special diets are catered for and a substitute meal provided when necessary.
• The ReSPECT form is being rolled out to residents. This form is a record of resident’s wishes concerning medical intervention following a major health event e.g. heart attack, stroke or end of life (EOL) care.

Recommendations

• Improve staff retention.
• Re-enforce good practice for Infection control.
• Keep abreast of the training.
• Adjustment to red pull cord by toilet.
• Remove ‘Push pins’ on ground-floor notice board – replace with safer option (blu-tac, flat headed drawing pins, sticky pads).
• Remove black sacks from garden area.
• Keep the relaxed and caring atmosphere.