- Care home
Alderwood
Assessment report published 12 February 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 7 to 15 January 2026. Alderwood is a nursing home for up to 29 people with complex mental health needs, including those subject to the Mental Health Act such as Community Treatment Orders. People usually stay at the service for a 12-week assessment period prior to being supported to move back home or to less supported living environments. At the time of inspection, 28 people were using the service.
Since the last inspection the organisation has changed its name to Everyturn and there has been a change of registered manager. We completed this inspection as part of our routine programme and because of the length of time that has elapsed since the last full inspection was completed.
Overall, Alderwood demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led care.
People predominantly moved to the service following admission into local mental health hospitals. Staff effectively supported people to develop the skills and confidence they needed to move back to their own home or into less supported living environments. Staff followed a recovery journey model of rehabilitation, and this had proved to be successful, as people were routinely enabled to go to their own accommodation. Also, staff assisted individuals to develop robust plans to deal with potential crises they might face.
Staff worked collaboratively with health and social care professionals to ensure timely interventions and continuity of care. People were supported to live healthier lives through health promotion activities and proactive discharge planning. Staff understood people's needs and how to manage any presenting risks and the assessments assisted staff to identify how to mitigate risks. Professionals praised the service for successfully rehabilitating individuals with complex mental health needs and enabling safe discharge into the community.
The provider’s ‘people team’ had ensured a robust training programme was in place. They constantly evaluated its effectiveness; in terms of the impact it had on how staff delivered the service; if it assisted staff to effectively support people to improve their mental health and whether it had assisted the organisation to embed the overriding cultural principles of ‘Here so no one struggles alone.’ The provider valued the diversity within the team. When this was going to be adversely affected because of a change in requirements for international workers the senior management and Trustees proactively changed their minimum pay scales. The People’s director was actively engaged in discussions with the government about salary sacrifice schemes and measures which would make sure there was equitable access to benefits.
The Trustees, senior managers, quality and safety team, clinical leadership teams and the management team within the service constantly reviewed the operation of the service and actively made changes as and when these were needed. The empathetic, caring and person-centred approach demonstrated by senior leaders was mirrored in the way staff worked with people in the service. Their interactions were based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, engagement, and understanding challenges and the needs of people and the community.
The provider’s governance department had ensured robust quality assurance measures were in place. The quality and safety team had designed systems, which readily assisted them and staff to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. They continuously looked at the systems to see where enhancements could be made. Routine service reviews were completed, and these had been nuanced to suit each location. Both senior managers and trustees took part in these reviews and completed listening exercises with people.
The service was responsive to people’s needs and feedback. Care records were person-centred, and staff acted promptly when circumstances changed. Staff enabled people to plan for the future in a proactive and sensitive way. Relatives and professionals praised the team’s ability to manage complex situations effectively.
People's experience of this service
People valued their time at the home, the relationships they had formed and individuals who had moved on regularly visited the friends they had made at the home. People were confident staff knew how to effectively support them and how to manage any potential risks. People were very positive about the quality of their care and support offered at the service. Everyone we spoke with told us how caring and supportive the staff were and how they worked hard to ensure people’s needs were met. Observations confirmed staff interacted with people in an unhurried and respectful way, creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere. Relatives echoed this, saying staff were “always helpful and pleasant” and keen to do the best for their loved ones. A person said, “I love all the staff and they have really helped me deal with my problems.”
People were treated in a non-judgemental way and supported to reach their full potential. They felt safe and their dignity and human rights were fully promoted. People were encouraged to make decisions. One person said, “Being here has helped me turn my life around and I feel much better than I have in years.” People told us about the positive impact the service had had on their lives. A person said, “Staff have been great at helping me look at what I need to change, and I now feel ready to move to my own place.” A relative said, “The staff have really helped [person] get their life back on track.”
People experienced care that was highly personalised. Staff worked in partnership with individuals to plan and review care, encouraging choice and independence. Case studies showed how staff went above and beyond to meet people’s wishes, such as arranging a Hawaiian-themed party for someone nearing end of life and supporting another person to move into their own flat, even helping decorate it in their own time. These examples demonstrated creativity and compassion in practice.
Staff promoted positive risk-taking to help people regain confidence and skills for independent living. Relatives and professionals praised the responsiveness of staff, noting they acted quickly when needs changed. Activities such as community outings, exercise sessions and themed events were offered, and people were encouraged to maintain social connections. Feedback from professionals confirmed Alderwood successfully rehabilitated individuals with complex mental health needs, enabling safe discharge into the community.
People felt their cultural and personal preferences were respected. Staff demonstrated sensitivity to individual needs and communication styles, and the environment was described as homely and relaxed.