Pocklington House: Northwood, Middlesex

The Centre provides care according to individually assessed needs and the home has achieved consistently excellent reports from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We have vacancies at Pocklington House at the moment and would be pleased to hear from you if you are an older person with sight loss.

Scroll down the page to read more about Pocklington House, or click on the links below to jump directly to the following information:

• Housing, care and support
• Recreation and activities
• The local area
• Charges at Pocklington House
• Becoming a resident
• Further information

Housing, care and support

We recognise that people with sight loss have particular needs which for many mean that daily living is more difficult than for fully sighted older people. The accommodation at Pocklington House is designed for people with sight loss and has RNIB’s Visibly Better accreditation.

Staff work with residents to indentify their care needs, and review these regularly so that support remains appropriate whenever individual needs change. We also offer respite care for people who need short-term care or an occasional break from home.

Accommodation is provided in 34 residential care rooms, and one room which is used for short-term respite care. Each room is fully self-contained with its own en-suite washing and toilet facilities, TV and telephone point. For those who need more help, we have walk in showers, easy access baths and lifting equipment to help you get in and out of bed. Residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms, and the lighting, colour contrasting decorations, signs and fittings throughout the centre are designed to help people with sight loss.

Excellent quality meals are provided in our comfortable dining room and guests are welcome to dine.

In addition to the dining room, communal facilities include a lounge, activity room and several smaller lounges for residents and their guests. The grounds are fully accessible with guided walkways, seating areas and a sensory garden.

For safety and security, an emergency call system is provided in each room, bathroom, toilet and communal area, enabling residents to call for assistance at any time. Our care staff are available 24 hours a day. All staff receive visual awareness training and are professionally trained to understand the needs of people with sight loss.

We have excellent links with the local GP, nursing teams and other specialist agencies, and a hairdressing service is also available weekly.

All services offered at Pocklington House are provided to a high standard, based on national standards of best practice. Our key aim is to enable people with sight loss to live full, active and independent lives, and we involve residents in the quality and development of our services. Managers meet regularly with residents so that they feel part of the running of the home.

Pocklington House is registered with Hertfordshire County Council, and is regularly inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The following is an extract from their April 2009 report:

“Pocklington House continues to offer an excellent service and a high quality of care for service users with a visual impairment. This care is planned to meet the needs of each individual in a holistic manner. Great emphasis is placed on enabling residents to retain all aspects of their independence for as long as it is safely possible for them to do so.”

To view or order a copy of the latest inspection report (April 2007), please visit the CQC website.

Recreation and activities

A full and varied programme of social and recreational activities is provided at Pocklington House, with regular outings arranged by our activities co-ordinator, supported by staff and volunteers.

For further information on forthcoming events at Pocklington House and other centres, please see our events calendar.

Pocklington House is located in Eastbury Avenue, Northwood, Middlesex. Eastbury Avenue is just off the A4125 (the ‘Watford Road’), to the north of Northwood Village, four miles from Watford and Rickmansworth. The centre is approximately one mile from the centre of Northwood where there are a range of shops and banks, and a post office.

• View location of Pocklington House on a map

Further information on services and facilities in the local area is available from:

• hertsdirect.org
  Hertfordshire County Council’s website provides a range of information on the local area, including care and support, community living, public transport, leisure, and what’s on information.
• UpMyStreet
  UpMyStreet provides a range of local information, based on postcode, such as transport, leisure and essentials.

Please note, the above links are provided to help you find out more about the local area in which Thomas Pocklington Trust’s services are based. Pocklington takes no responsibility for the content, accuracy or accessibility of external websites.

We have vacancies at Pocklington House at the moment, and applying to live with us is easy. You can do this in a number of ways:

• Apply by telephone on 01923 824585
  Our staff will post you an application pack or will arrange a time to complete a form with you on the phone.
• Apply by email to Pocklington House
  Our staff will email you an application form for you to complete and return by post direct to Pocklington House.

Once we receive your form, staff will arrange to meet you to assess your needs. If your needs can be met by Pocklington House, you will be offered a room (or a place on the waiting list if none are available). Our eligibility criteria are available on request.

If you would like to read about the experiences of existing residents at Pocklington House, and other Pocklington centres, please see our case studies.

Further information