Care Home Notice Boards: Making them meaningful, not just compliant
- Bright Copper Kettles CIC
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Walk into almost any care home and you’ll find a notice board (or five).Some are colourful and engaging.
Others… quietly fade into the background, full of curling paper and last month’s dates.
But, care home notice boards can be so much more than a “tick-box” exercise for CQC.
When used well, they tell a story to residents, families, staff, and inspectors, about life in your home.
Why notice boards matter
Notice boards are often one of the first things families see when they walk through the door. They offer reassurance, transparency, and a snapshot of daily life. From a CQC perspective, they also support evidence around:
Person-centred care
Well-led services
Meaningful activity and engagement
Communication with families
But only if they’re used thoughtfully.
What should be on a care home notice board?
Here are some ideas that are both family-friendly and CQC-appropriate.
1. What’s on this week?
A clear, up-to-date activities timetable is a must.
Make sure it’s dated
Keep it realistic
Reflect what actually happens, not what you wish happened
This shows planning, structure, and intention - all things inspectors look for.
2. Life in the home (with consent)
Photos are powerful.
Activities
Special moments
Celebrations
Everyday joy
Families love seeing their loved ones engaged, and inspectors love seeing evidence of meaningful interaction rather than just paperwork.
A smiling photo often says more than a laminated policy ever could.
3. Resident voice
This is one area that’s often missing - and it’s such a missed opportunity.
Consider including:
Short quotes from residents
Feedback from residents’ meetings
“You said… we did…” examples
This clearly demonstrates listening, responding, and valuing people’s opinions.
4. Who’s who in the home
Introduce your team.
Photos of activity staff (and other key staff)
A short “about me”
Include their favourite activity or hobby
This helps residents feel familiar and helps families connect names to faces.
5. Celebrations and achievements
Give some thought to what's important here - community. Ask residents about whether they'd like to share their birthdays, just like they would with their neighbours and friends in the past.
Notice boards are a lovely place to celebrate:
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Theme days
Awards or milestones
Resident achievements (big or small)
Celebration is part of wellbeing - and that matters.
6. Information for families
Families appreciate clarity.
You might include:
Visiting information
Upcoming events
How families can get involved
Contact details for key staff
This supports openness and good communication.
7. CQC information
Your CQC rating should be clearly displayed, along with:
The inspection date
How families can access the full report
Keep this tidy and professional - it matters.
Less is more
One gentle reminder: It’s better to have one or two well-maintained notice boards than lots that are out of date.
An inspector (and family members) will notice:
Old calendars
Past events still displayed
Faded, curling paper
Showing outcomes, not just plans
One of the biggest shifts you can make is moving from:
“This is what we planned” to “This is what happened and how it made people feel”
Photos, comments, laughter, engagement, connection - these show impact, not just intention.
And that’s where meaningful activity really shines.
Notice boards aren’t just walls to fill. They’re a chance to tell your story.
When they reflect real lives, real voices, and real moments, they become something families trust, residents recognise, and inspectors respect.
If you’re ever unsure what to include, ask yourself: “Does this show how people live well here?”
You don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. The Activity Coordinators Toolbox is there to support you with clear, thoughtful resources that help you provide meaningful activities and wellbeing throughout the year.
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