Enter & View Report

Good practice observed on our visit

Control and Choice: Good Practice

• Time taken by staff using personal care times and meal times to get to know residents.
• Residents treated as equals with staff ensuring they are in control of what happens to them. For example, residents were asked where they would like to eat their dinner. Staff not making assumptions.
• Opportunities for residents and family members to participate in regular residents meetings
• A range of comfortable seating areas each with a television.
• Easy access around the home.
• Residents have life story books and a book called 'Somerset Centenarians' has recently been published by Somerset Care.

Communication: Good practice

• The Enter and View team observed that effort had been made to ensure that all residents had received notification of their visit and information about Somerset LINk.
• Availability of Internet access for residents and support in using it.
• The information board in the lobby showing activities for the day.
• Availability of information in accessible forms (e.g. one resident was observed listening to the local paper on cassette).

Eating and nutritional care: Good practice

• The staff were observed as being social and supportive at meal times, joining residents at tables.
• Choices are offered in where and with whom to eat. Dignity preserved for those who may have eating difficulties and prefer to eat in private.
• Snacks and fresh fruit were available between meals. Residents can make snacks in their room.
• Drinks regularly offered to all residents.
• Food was hot, tasty and appeared nutritionally balanced.
• Vegetarian choice offered.
• Meals available to visitors.

Pain management in practice: Good practice

• The use of PCS (Proactive Care System) is understood to reduce human error, save staff time and help to ensure that medicines are administered more efficiently. Use of pain killing medication administered on a PRN (Pro re nata (as needed)) basis was also managed by the PCS system.

Personal hygiene: Good practice

• There was wide availability of alcohol hand gel dispensers throughout the home. It was felt that there was a good balance between their visual availability without drawing attention to them with signs or large posters and therefore distracting from the homely appearance of the home.
• Staff were observed wearing latex gloves when assisting with personal care.

Practical assistance: Good practice

• Staff were trained in NVQ level 2 or above + Vulnerable Adults training was ongoing.
• Computers were available for staff use on each floor improving their access to residents' records and helping to ensure they were more available to residents.
• Staff observed were always available to residents in communal areas.

Privacy in practice: Good practice

• Availability of private pay phone area and option for residents to have their own phone line.
• Residents have the option to lock their room and have a place to lock away valuables.
• Staff observed during the informal tour of the home knocking and gaining permission before entering a resident's room.

For more information

For more information, read the full report or contact Jonathan Yelland on jonathon.yelland@helpandcare.org.uk.