Houndswood House Care Home provides nursing, respite and palliative care.
The home provides quality care for residents, respecting their right to make their own choices, maintaining their dignity and receive the best of care to suit individual needs.
A team of highly skilled staff are motivated to meet the needs of each resident and their individual care plan is tailored around their personal requirements.
The home has several professional chefs who prepare a nutritious daily menu for residents, catering for those with special dietary requirements, while residents can choose to eat in the dining room or in their own rooms.
Houndswood House Care Home's activities coordinator arranges a varied programme of daily activities both in and outside the home, while entertainers are invited to visit the home regularly. Relatives and residents have input the activities programme, ensuring there is something to meet everyone's individual tastes.
Group: brighterkind
Person in charge: Patrick McCrossan (Regional Support Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services: Hertfordshire County Council (click for contact details)
Type of Service: Care Home with nursing – Privately Owned , Registered for a maximum of 50 Service Users
Registered Care Categories*: Old Age • Physical Disability
Specialist Care Categories: Cancer Care • Colitis & Crohn's Disease • Epilepsy • Hearing Impairment • Multiple Sclerosis • Parkinson's Disease • Speech Impairment • Stroke • Visual Impairment
Admission Information: Ages 65+.
Single Rooms: 50
Rooms with ensuite WC: 37
Facilities & Services: Palliative Care • Respite Care • Convalescent Care • Physiotherapy • Own GP if required • Own Furniture if required • Pets by arrangement • Smoking not permitted • Close to Local shops • Near Public Transport • Minibus or other transport • Lift • Wheelchair access • Gardens for residents • Phone Point in own room/Mobile • Television point in own room • Residents Internet Access
Latest Care Quality Commission* Report on Houndswood House Care Home: click here
* Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.
The Review Score of 9.4 (maximum of 10) for Houndswood House Care Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.
a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 10 Reviews over all time. This Average Rating is also the rating value for Houndswood House Care Home in Google's Search Results - more info
b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.8 out of 5 from 8 positive Reviews in the last 12 months.
a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating of all Reviews over all time. For each review the Care Home / service is rated Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Poor or Very Poor on a number of areas eg Staff, Management etc. The Care Home receives points for each rating as follows: Excellent = 5. Good = 4. Satisfactory = 3. Poor = 2. Very Poor = 1. These points are added up and then divided by the total number of completed ratings to generate the average rating.
The Average Rating of 4.642 for Houndswood House Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (84 Excellents x 5) + (30 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 120 Ratings = 4.642
b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 12 months. If there are no Positive Reviews in the last 12 months, then 2.5 points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 2 years. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with 'Extremely Likely' or 'Likely' in answer to the question 'How likely are you to recommend this Care Home to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment?'
The 5 points available are broken down as follows:
4 points are available for the first 5 Positive Reviews, 3 points for the first Positive Review and then 0.25 Points for each of the next 4 Positive Reviews.
1 point is available for reaching a target number of Positive Reviews based on 20% of the number of registered maximum number of service users. If the target is partially reached then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home with 50 registered maximum number of service users has a target of 10 Positive Reviews, if it has 10 or more Positive Reviews it will receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews will receive 0.7 points.
If there are no Positive Reviews in the last 12 months, then 2.5 points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 2 years. The calculation is the same as above, except the points are divided by 2.
The 4.8 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Houndswood House Care Home is based on 8 positive Reviews in the last 12 months and is calculated as follows:
3 + 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.25 = 4
Target of 10 positive Reviews (50 registered maximum number of service users ÷ 5). 8 Reviews ÷ 10 Target = 0.800
When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
Houndswood House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.4 (9.442) from 10 Reviews
Review submitted from a Scanned Printed Card by S C (Respite Resident) on Monday 14 May 2018. Relates to April 2018.
Given the current financial climate on the sector, I am amazed at the quality of the work. They have thought of a lot of little touches, such as the activities on some afternoons and even some exceptions to late night treats such as sandwiches round out a very good day. If I ever need a nursing home for long-term residence this is the first place I would look. Their care contains love and respect.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Website Submission by Jackie T (Daughter of Resident) on Wednesday 2 May 2018. Relates to May 2018.
The care my father has received at Houndswood House has been outstanding. The staff are friendly and genuinely care about the residents, giving their time and attention at all times. The staff at Houndswood are amazing, right through from the receptionist, who couldn't have been more helpful and friendly, to the carers and nurses, who are outgoing and attentive always. We have been delighted with the care and thoughtfulness that has been shown and will not hesitate to use Houndswood House again for respite care in the future. Thank you to all of you lovely people, I am only sorry that I cannot use names to recognise those of you who have taken extra special care to ensure that dad has even been sat with people who he gets on well with at meal times - your care and understanding has gone a long way to getting him back to 'his old self'. Thank you.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Website Submission by Robert B (Son of Resident) on Saturday 28 April 2018. Relates to April 2018.
Recently refurbished. The environment has the feel of a 4-star hotel rather than a care home.
Friendly and caring staff who have a good knowledge of the residents.
As a frequent visitor, always receive a warm welcome and update on our family member.
Considerable effort to entertain and engage with the residence on a daily basis.
Very pleasant dining area. Beautifully appointed rooms.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Mike W (Son of Resident) on Friday 16 March 2018. Relates to February 2018.
Mum needed respite care for just under 3 weeks. The home made her feel very welcome and everyone was extremely friendly and cheerful. I would have no hesitation in recommending the home to others.
The only small criticism would be the quality of the food, which was rather basic and 'cheap' looking from the meals I saw when visiting Mum in the evenings.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Rebekah Saint, Marketing Executive at Houndswood House Care Home responded to this review on 16 Mar 2018:
Thank you Mike for your very positive comments in regard to your mother's stay at Houndswood House, we are delighted that you feel able to recommend our service to others. Thank you also for your comment regarding the dining experience; this is one of our signature elements and I apologise we did not deliver on this. I am pleased to say that we have appointed a Chef Manager who joins the team soon and has vast experience in fine dining together with care home experience. We would like to extend an invitation to you and your mother, to join us for lunch once the Chef Manager is settled in to post so that you can experience and taste the difference.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Pauline D (Wife of Resident) on Tuesday 6 March 2018. Relates to February 2018.
Care and nursing care are wonderful, not only the way they treat my husband but the respect shown to me by them. They will telephone me if anything is wrong with my husband, doesn't matter how small, they keep me informed.
I am always so welcomed when I visit three times a week that I feel like they are family and I come away after visiting knowing how well he is being looked after and am thankful.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Postal Card by J S (Daughter of Resident) on Friday 2 March 2018. Relates to February 2018.
Very caring home. Wonderful team who go the extra mile. Care, good, food, excellent. Many activities. Brilliant nursing for those who need this. Refurbished to extremely high standard. Well done to all concerned.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Alison F (Daughter of Resident) on Friday 2 March 2018. Relates to February 2018.
Houndswood house has turned a corner in the last 18 months - they have a team of excellent carers and having been beautifully refurbished in the last few months it now offers an amazing environment in which to live - keep up the good work!
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Postal Card by P H (Son of Resident) on Friday 18 August 2017. Relates to August 2017.
Very happy with how mum is looked after. Unfortunate that there are building works. Everything is kept clean and tidy. Thank you.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Tessa Matthews, Marketing Manager at Houndswood House Care Home responded to this review on 18 Aug 2017:
Thank you for letting us know that you are happy with your mum's care. We are hopeful that the refurbishment will soon be finished, providing a lovely environment for everyone living at Houndswood House. Fantastic to hear that through this, everything is being kept clean and tidy.
Thank you again.
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Phyll S (Friend of Resident) on Tuesday 4 October 2016. Relates to September 2016.
Every couple of months I visit an ex-neighbour and have always found it very well run. With excellent friendly and caring staff. My friend settled in straight away and is very happy and content. She loves the food and atmosphere. Very well done to you all.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Extremely Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Karen W (Daughter of Resident) on Thursday 4 August 2016. Relates to July 2016.
My mother has been in this establishment for over five years. The accommodation is meant to be getting a refurbishment and hopefully it will be considered the disruption to clients and staff, especially due to dementia suffers and their confusion. Most chairs smell of urine and have stains. Staff I would have put as excellent, however communication can be poor due to English not being a first language.
I usually have to change my mothers pad when I visit as she is incontinent. Sometimes she may be in her room all day and night with not much social intervention due to staff numbers and even then they are limited to how much time they can spend with her.
It seems most of the time the manager is in her office and not much interaction is given to clients families in her approach other than that satisfactory.
How likely would you be to recommend Houndswood House Care Home? Likely
Overall Standard
Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Bethany Gibbons, Marketing Assistant at Houndswood House Care Home responded to this review on 17 Aug 2016:
Thank you for your comments. We welcome all feedback that will help us to improve our care services.
Houndswood House will be undertaking a full refurbishment very soon. Our refurbishment programmes are always carefully planned and managed. The contractors are highly experienced at minimising disruption to our residents whilst they undertake the required work. Residents and relatives are kept informed of the programme, from start to finish. As part of the refurbishment programme at Houndswood House, we will be replacing furniture in communal areas and bedrooms. Details of our plans will be communicated to families when they are available.
All staff members at Houndswood House are recruited through a process which includes a competency based interview, DBS check and 2 work references. Being able to speak English is part of our competency process and all of our team have passed this process. In addition to our care team, the home also has three Activities Co-ordinators, who offer a range of planned activities within the home and who also spend quality one-to-one time with residents who prefer to stay in their rooms. We encourage residents to participate in activities and involve residents in the development of our activity programme.
Right from the beginning we try to get an understanding of our residents, finding out about their life story and getting to know the things they would really like to do via our Wishing Well Programme so that we can help to make their wishes a reality. Each resident will have a monthly engagement review to understand how things are going and to agree any changes and improvements that are required. Houndswood House operates the Wishing Well programme and a recent example of this is found on our website.
I see a vital part of my role of Home Manager is being in the home with residents, ensuring all their needs are met. I make sure I spend as much time as possible with residents each day. I have an open door policy and you are always welcome to pop in anytime to discuss anything you’d like. Although I carry out essential daily team reviews and audits to lead and manage the home, I am available to speak with families and residents. Please do not hesitate to contact customercare@brighterkind.com with any of these issues raised if you would like to discuss further, or pop into see me anytime.
Many thanks
Deby O’Hare, Home Manager
February 2018
September 2017
June 2017
April 2017
There are currently no Care Home Idol entrants who have performed at Houndswood House Care Home