Enter and View: Wrottesley Park House Care Home

This was an unannounced Enter and View visit which was conducted in response to concerns Healthwatch Wolverhampton had received about the home - principally around building/maintenance works being carried out and consultation with residents.

The home provides a range of specialist care options for loved ones which can met the needs of young physically disabled adults, brain injuries, mental health care, general nursing and people with learning disabilities.

Summary of Findings

Recommendations included:

• Urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that building contractors take responsibility for storing their materials and equipment safely when not being used. Plus assurance that the building contractors are qualified, have the necessary skills and knowledge and insurance to carry out this work.
• Management should block access to any area where building work is being undertaken, and consider temporarily relocating residents in empty rooms while construction work is being undertaken in an area that puts them at risk of dust, noise and other health risks. Need to have sight of the Risk Register and risk assessments undertaken for building work being undertaken.
• Need clarification about who is actually the registered Manager.
• All doors that are required to be kept locked are kept locked and not left open or unlocked.
• Volunteer Policy and training available for volunteers.
• Staffing: evidence to show that annual appraisals are undertaken for all staff; training around respect and dignity for residents to avoid incidents where they are moved and fed without any communication between them.
• Check status of Infection control; display Food Hygiene certificates; improve building signage.
• All paperwork containing personal information should either be filed or archived and kept in locked storage.
• Management to find more ways to engage and involve residents and get their feedback.

This report was produced by the previous Healthwatch Wolverhampton service provider, Engaging Communities Solutions CIC.