The Lyndhurst Residential Home Enter and View Report
Healthwatch Rochdale initially planned to visit in August 2024, but on the day of the visit, 30TH August 2024, the home stated it had not been notified as it had new contact details and a new manager alongside being short-staffed on that day. We rearranged and visited The Lyndhurst Care Home on Wednesday 16th October 2024 as part of a programme of announced Enter and View visits to care homes in the Rochdale borough. The home was notified of our visit in advance by letter and by email. The manager was given a two-week time frame and informed that the visit could take place at any time within that time frame.
Healthwatch Rochdale previously visited this setting in 2019, under the old management and you can view the report here:
Recommendations
The findings in this report are based on nine care quality indicators. The Enter and View visit identified the following areas for improvement and recommended:
1. Safety issues notified on the day of the visit. On the day of the visit, there were two safety issues raised for immediate action:
• There was an extremely hot Bain Marie with unclear signage and no visible way of stopping people touching or leaning on it.
• A fire alarm button that had the front flipped up. Confirmation is needed that action has been taken to address the safety concerns in relation to both these matters.
2. Visible menu board. Recommend the home provides a suitable visible menu board, with the day/weekly menu choices, with images and photos to assist residents with dementia to recognise what is planned.
3. Positive praise/gratitude board: It is important to highlight the positive work of the home and staff team. It is recommended that a noticeboard is created to show evidence of positive praise, gratitude and acknowledged good work of the home, all in one accessible place. This should be regularly reviewed and updated.
4. Spiritual Connection. It is recommended that a spiritual connection is established within the home for residents e.g. a connection with a local church and or lay person.
5. Up to date training. It is recommended that the home further strengthens the training offered to staff as a priority, particularly in relation to dementia, with all staff also being trained in fire safety and relevant staff in first aid.
6. Activities programme: As residents commented “they would like to see more activities” it is recommended that the home continues to review, strengthen and fund the activities programme. To ensure there are suitable activities for residents each day in the home which are advertised on the activities’ board ‘what’s on this week/month.’ For example, introduce more tailored dementia-friendly activities such as memory boxes and music therapy and connect more widely with local community groups or schools (e.g. choirs).
7. Clutter free environment. Given the reduction in storage space in the home and observations on the day of the review, it is recommended the home identifies suitable space that can be utilised as additional storage space and create a more clutter free environment.
8. Dementia friendly review. To review the home’s equipment, environment and staff training so that the home is adapted to meet the needs of residents with dementia. To be done in line with good practice guidance