- Care home
Darwin House Limited
Assessment report published 15 June 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Assessment date 18 May to 2 June 2026. Darwin house is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 22 older people. At the time of our inspection, 20 people were living at the service.
There was a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Darwin House, where people appeared well cared for and comfortable. A strong, positive culture was evident throughout the service, centred on delivering personalised, person-focused care. Staff consistently treated people with kindness, dignity, and respect, demonstrating a thorough understanding of each individual living at Darwin House.
People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. The home was clean, and people were protected from the risk and spread of infections. There were enough staff available to assist people to meet their needs in a timely way.
People's needs were assessed, and care delivered in line with best practice. Care plans and supporting documentation included people's individual choices and preferences. Risks in relation to people's care were identified and detailed information about how risks could be mitigated.
Accidents and incidents were recorded and analysed to identify any trends or patterns. This helped to mitigate future risks and ensured lessons were learned.
The provider had a safe recruitment process which assisted them in recruiting suitable staff.
A training plan evidenced staff had received appropriate training to carry out their roles effectively. Competency assessments were also in place for things such as medicine administration.
People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet which included their preferences. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Throughout the inspection we observed staff interacting with people in a caring and considerate way. We saw staff gaining people's consent prior to carrying out care tasks. People we spoke with were complimentary about the care and support they received.
The management team carried out regular audits to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. The management team took appropriate actions to address any issues. People and their relatives had confidence in the management team and felt they were approachable.
People's experience of this service
People told us they felt safe living at Darwin House. People living at the home, their relatives, and staff were all positive about the registered manager and how the service was run.
There was a strong and visible person-centred culture. Staff were highly motivated to provide care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity. Relationships between staff, people using the service, and their carers were warm, supportive, and caring. Staff knew people well, and people’s social and emotional needs clearly informed their care and support. Treating people with dignity, respect, and delivering person-centred care was at the very heart of the service. People told us they were treated with dignity and were supported to set their own goals and outcomes. One person said, "The staff are very kind and very dedicated. They [staff] are a very special bunch of people.”
Staff were helpful, welcoming, friendly, and contributed to a calm atmosphere across the home. Staff were constantly interacting with people, showing attentiveness, patience, and a genuine caring approach. Staff listened to individuals, respected their choices and adapted their approach to meet each person’s needs. Staff upheld people’s privacy and dignity at all times.
People were treated as individuals, with their choices and preferences were respected. People told us staff were very professional and always respected their dignity when undertaking personal care tasks.
People and their relatives described the service as safe, comfortable and supportive. Feedback was consistently positive, with particular praise for the caring nature of staff and the quality of support provided.
People were supported to participate in activities they enjoyed and chose to take part in. One relative said, “They know [relative] loves music so they will go out of their way to encourage them to join in. [Relative] can get very down at times, but once staff encourage them with the music it changes them.” People spoke positively about the food provided. One person said, "The food is nice, it is homecooked and it is lovely."
Staff supported people in a timely and caring manner. People responded positively to staff and engaged in meaningful conversations. When individuals became distressed or upset, staff responded appropriately to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
People, their relatives and the staff all spoke highly of the registered manager. One relative said, “The manager is very approachable, and when I ask silly questions, she says nothing is a silly question about your family.” Staff told us the registered manager was very approachable if they needed support. Staff said they felt well supported and told us they enjoyed their roles.