Working at Normanhurst Residential Home

Staffing is adequate but there are busy pinch points in mornings and afternoons, and they recruit casual workers to cover shortages.

staff member commented, 'Yes I think that there are enough carers although there seem to be pinch points in the morning and afternoon.' The service was recruiting for new care workers for casual shifts, to cover any shortages or short notice absences.

Only standard training like safeguarding and dementia awareness, no specialist courses or funded qualifications.

Staff training included safeguarding, moving and handling, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), dementia awareness, medicines, health and safety, infection prevention, behaviours that challenge, nutrition, fire safe and equality.

Activities include a coordinator, singing, gardening and some community visits but no specialist programmes or distinctive approaches.

There was an activities coordinator who worked four days... afternoon singing session... pictures of people involved in gardening... people attending the nearby Age Concern group... school groups often visited.