- Care home
Holly Tree Lodge Residential Home Derby
Assessment report published 9 June 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 13 April to 20 April 2026
Holly Tree Lodge Residential Home Derby is a residential care home, registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide care to a maximum of 27 adults over 65 years with dementia. At the time of this assessment 21 people were living at the service.
The assessment was carried out due to the length of time since the last assessment.
The provider’s systems and oversight arrangements were not always effective in ensuring people received safe, well-planned and responsive care. Risks were not always fully assessed, and care records did not always contain accurate or up-to-date information to guide staff. Although staff often understood people’s needs well in practice, this knowledge was not always reflected in care plans or risk assessments.
There were not always enough staff deployed effectively to meet people’s needs, particularly during busy periods. This affected staff capacity to provide meaningful engagement and respond to people’s immediate needs. Governance systems did not always identify concerns relating to staffing, medicines management, environmental risks or documentation.
The provider worked positively with healthcare professionals and staff sought advice when people’s needs changed. However, this information was not always reflected in people’s care records, which increased the risk of inconsistent care delivery. Systems to monitor care quality and support improvements were not always effective.
Staff promoted people’s independence and wellbeing and made efforts to celebrate important occasions and provide personalised support. However, opportunities for meaningful activities and future care planning were limited.
People received care from a staff team who knew them well and were committed to providing kind and person-centred support. Throughout the assessment, people, relatives and professionals spoke positively about the caring approach of staff and the relationship built within the home. Staff understood people’s preferences, routines and communication needs and treated people with dignity and respect.
During the assessment, the provider responded positively to feedback and took some immediate action to address concerns identified. The provider acknowledged improvements were needed and shared plans to strengthen oversight. It will take further time for them to embed this and to be able to demonstrate its effectiveness.
At this assessment, we found 1 breach of regulation in relation to good governance.
People's experience of this service
People described staff as caring, respectful and approachable. Relatives told us staff knew people well and understood their individual preferences, routines and personalities. Relatives told us staff responded well when people’s needs changed and encouraged people to maintain their independence. One relative described how staff supported their family member to regain confidence with personal care and mobility.
People experienced warm and familiar interactions with staff. During the assessment, we observed staff speaking with people about their interests, backgrounds and personal histories. Staff communicated with people in ways they understood and responded well to.
People and relatives also described positive experiences around birthdays and celebrations within the home. Staff made efforts to help people feel valued and included by decorating rooms, celebrating special occasions and recognising events that were meaningful to them.
However, relatives told us there were limited opportunities for activities within the home. Although communal activities were available, people were not always supported to take part in activities that reflected their interests and preferences