Aronel Cottage Care Home Limited

Updated 4 April 2025

This assessment was carried out on 15 April 2025. We visited the service in response to concerns raised.

There were two registered managers at the home, as the provider was also registered as a manager. Through the report we refer to the registered manager or the provider to differentiate. The registered manager knew his responsibility to report serious concerns to the local safeguarding team. Posters in the home ensured people knew how and where to report any concerns they might have. There were sufficient qualified staff to keep people safe. Medicines were managed safely.

However, people were not encouraged to be independent. While some people had high support needs, this was not true of everyone and a risk averse approach to care meant some people were unable to live life to their full potential.

Staff were kind, polite and friendly with people, however they did not always treat people as individuals.

We saw staff responding to people when they needed assistance. We did not hear call bells ringing for long periods of time, and the registered manager showed us how they audited call bell times to ensure people received timely care.

The home was clean, calm and quiet; however people were not encouraged to take part in life within the local community.

Staff of various nationalities worked together to give safe care to people. Staff worked well together and saw strength in difference within the staff team.

The service was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to people’s safe care and treatment. Improvements were found at this assessment and the service was no longer in breach of this regulation. Although aspects of injury audits required further monitoring by the provider to ensure records recorded on paper were always transferred to the electronic care system.

The service was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to the ways people’s medicines were managed. Improvements were found at this assessment and the service was no longer in breach of this regulation.

At this assessment the service was in breach of the legal regulation in relation to dignity and respect.

Updated 4 April 2025

People we spoke to were complimentary about the staff at Aronel Cottage Nursing Home. Relatives told us the home was always clean and people were well dressed and cared for. People enjoyed the food and told us the home was warm and comfortable. People felt safe at the home; however several people told us it was too safe, and said they would prefer to go out more, or walk outside in the garden. People said they needed to ask permission to leave and staff were not always able or willing to accompany them.

Some people and relatives felt there was not enough to occupy people at the service. Entertainment was provided, but was passive, people did not have activities they could join in with, or that were targeted at their likes, or strengths.