- Care home
Yew Tree Cottage Residential Home
Assessment report published 20 May 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Yew Tree Cottage Residential Home provides accommodation with personal care and support to up to 7 older people. At the time of this assessment there were 4 people living at the home. At our last comprehensive assessment, published 10 January 2020, we rated this service as good. The service has remained rated as good.We carried out this unannounced comprehensive assessment between 21 April 2026 and 7 May 2026. We visited the home on 28 April 2026.
Yew Tree Cottage was found to be a good service where people received safe and effective care. People told us they felt safe and well supported by staff, and we observed warm, kind and respectful interactions throughout the home.
The environment was clean, well maintained and welcoming, including the garden, which people spoke positively about. Risks were well managed, staff understood safeguarding processes and there was a clear learning culture when incidents occurred. Staffing levels were appropriate to meet people’s needs and staff were well trained, supported and knowledgeable about the people they cared for. Minor improvements were identified in relation to recruitment record-keeping and medicines management, including cold storage arrangements and dating of some medicines, which managers acknowledged and took action to address. People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the home. Care plans were personalised, regularly reviewed and reflected people’s preferences and routines. Staff knew people very well and supported them to maintain their independence and make choices wherever possible, including choosing how to spend their day, when to get up or go to bed, and being involved in decisions about their care.
People and relatives were positive about the quality of care, describing staff as kind, patient and attentive, and said they would feel confident raising concerns if needed. Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure continuity of care.
Leadership and governance arrangements were effective, with an open and inclusive culture where people, relatives and staff felt listened to and valued. The culture was one of compassion, teamwork and continuous improvement.
People's experience of this service
People said they felt safe living at the home and knew who to speak to if they had any concerns. One person told us, “I feel safe, staff are nice to me,” and another said, “I would tell someone if I wasn’t happy. Hopefully, they would do something.” The atmosphere throughout the home was calm, warm and welcoming. During our visit we observed positive, affectionate interactions between people and staff. People were relaxed and at ease in their surroundings. The home was clean, well maintained and personalised to reflect people’s preferences, helping it feel very homely.
People spoke positively about the kindness and approach of staff. One person told us, “Staff are all nice, gentle with me,” and another said, “Not met anything here but kindness.” People felt staff treated them with dignity and respect and took time to listen to them. One person told us, “Staff are brilliant; nothing is too much trouble. Just ask and they are there.” Relatives also shared very positive feedback, with compliments praising staff for going “above and beyond” and providing care with “dignity and compassion.”
People told us they were supported to make choices about their day-to-day lives, including where to spend their time and being supported to go out. One person said, “You can get up when you like and go to bed when you like,” and another told us, “They [staff] make every effort to take you out.” People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends, and visitors were welcomed at any time.
People were positive about the food and drinks provided. Meals were well presented, and drinks were offered regularly. People told us, “The food is fine, I like it,” and “Meals are very good.” Staff supported people with their medicines in a reassuring way, explaining what medicines were for and responding promptly when people needed support.
Overall, people experienced care that was kind, person-centred and responsive. Relationships between staff, people and relatives were strong and trusting, and the home had a calm, friendly atmosphere where people felt valued, listened to and well supported.