As part of our regular review processes, we support every service user in each home to complete an annual questionnaire. This asks them questions about various aspects of their life. For example, how much they like their home environment – their bedroom, the lounge, dining room, garden, etc. It also asks them about how they feel about the food options available to them, their involvement in their care plan, the activities they do, or would like to do.

In addition, we ask the service users if they would like to be involved in the interview process when we recruit new activity support workers. One person said that they would like to meet potential new employees and show them around the home, another said that they would like to ask them questions, and others didn’t want to be involved.

Due to the wide variation in cognitive skills of our service users and the small sample size, there is little value in collating the results and presenting the combined data. However, the survey is important for each individual and enables us to gain their views in a formal way, which is then reviewed and followed up. It helps us to support them to make decisions about their life and their care.

Below are some examples of specific feedback that we received.

“I like preparing cakes, listening to documentaries, doing sudoku and bowling.”

“I like the food, but I would prefer more spicy food.”

“I like my bedroom and TV. I like the garden.”

“The staff are nice. I like to talk to them.”

“I enjoy gardening and feeding the birds.”

“I would like to be more independent with planning and preparing my own meals.”

“The staff are friendly but I don’t want to be asking them things all the time.”

“ I would like to go to the Mosque on Fridays.”

“I know what to do if I need to make a complaint.”

“I like the environment, the bedroom, working and sunbathing in the garden.”

For more information about our care homes go to: https://www.richardsoncares.co.uk/our-care-homes/