Enter and View Report: 169 Lodge Hill
The purpose of our visit
We’re carrying out a series of visits to learning disability care homes, supported living, and respite facilities in Greenwich to understand the quality of life, and views of those using the service and the experience and perceptions of relatives and carers.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 allows local Healthwatch authorised representatives to observe service delivery at providers across a range of health and social care services such as hospitals, GPs, and care homes.
Enter and View visits can happen if people tell us there is a problem with a service. They can also occur when services have a good reputation, so we can learn about and share examples of good practice from the perspective of people who experience the service first hand.
Through the programme we help providers to identify what is working well with services and where they could be improved.
How does it work?
Our trained staff and volunteers visit a Greenwich health and social care service. We then spend time at the location, talking both to people receiving care and those providing it.
After our visit, we analyse all the feedback that we have collected and write a report which is published on our website. We share our reports with the organisations involved, the local commissioner, the CQC, and with Healthwatch England.
To protect the safety of service users and staff, we conduct risk assessments and DBS check all our staff and volunteers.
Executive summary
169 Lodge Hill is a two story, six bed, purpose-built care home for individuals with learning disabilities. The home is located in a peaceful and beautiful area. Currently, it has five residents, with plans for a sixth. Only one of the six bedrooms has a hoist limiting the number of wheelchair-using residents to one. The care home's location is very secluded and impacts the variety of activities and amenities available for residents. The absence of transport and the lack of a van driver not only limits their activity options but also impacts their medical appointments. The care home maintains a clean and inviting atmosphere but the dated furniture and cracked wall paint raise the need for refurbishing to further improve the overall living experience of the residents. During our visit we observed staff engaging warmly with the residents. Staff and management use tools like flashcards and YouTube videos to ensure effective interaction and understanding. They have monthly tenant meetings that allow residents to share their wants and needs. The families receive weekly updates via various methods and are welcome to visit when they want.
Recommendations
- Consider installing secure locks on the main door for the safety and security of the residents.
- Create access to wider range of activities for guests.
- Develop strategies to overcome communication challenges with the community due to the care home's location.
- Establish a regular method for group communication and feedback with families, such as a newsletter or group meetings.
