Fitzwarren House

Updated 1 May 2026

Date of assessment 6 and 7 July 2026. Fitzwarren House provides care and support for older people, including those living with dementia. The home is arranged over 2 floors and provides both nursing care and residential dementia care for up to 64 people.Fifty-eight people were living at the service at the time of this assessment.

We identified 2 breaches of the legal requirement in relation to safe care and treatment and governance. Risks were not always fully assessed or managed, including in relation to safeguarding, fire safety and medicines management. Some care records did not contain sufficient information to guide staff in managing health-related risks, and Mental Capacity Act requirements were not consistently applied. Staffing levels and staff training did not always meet people's needs. Some people reported delays in receiving support.

Infection prevention and control measures were not always effective for example, areas around the service were malodourous and visibly unclean. Whilst audits and quality assurance processes were in place, actions identified through these processes were not always completed, followed up or sustained. People’s information was not always stored securely; shortfalls were not always identified and records showed previous concerns had not always resulted in effective and lasting improvements.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

The provider effectively supported continuity of care, involving people in decisions about their care and treatment, and promoted choice and independence. Healthcare professionals spoke positively about the nursing team's knowledge and competence, and people told us they felt treated with dignity and respect. Staff were observed interacting with people in a warm, caring and person-centred way, and relatives described the service as friendly and supportive.

The provider had systems in place to share learning from incidents and worked collaboratively with external professionals. People were able to access healthcare services when required, and care records reflected efforts to understand people's preferences, life histories and what was important to them. The provider demonstrated positive partnership working with healthcare professionals, who described staff and managers as approachable and receptive to advice and support.

Updated 1 May 2026

Feedback was mixed regarding some aspects of people's experience. Several people raised concerns about staffing levels and delays in receiving support. Comments included, “I don't think there's enough staff,” and people described occasions where they had to wait for assistance after requesting help.

Feedback about activities was also mixed. Some people enjoyed the entertainment and opportunities available to them, while others felt there was insufficient stimulation. One person told us, “There is little or nothing for me to do.”

People and relatives also raised concerns about aspects of the environment, including housekeeping resources, odours and the condition of some areas of the home. Feedback about food was similarly mixed, with some people expressing a desire for more variety, fresh fruit and vegetables, while others were satisfied with the meals provided and relatives described the food as wholesome and home cooked.

People and relatives were generally positive about the care provided and consistently described staff as kind, caring and respectful. People told us, “It’s lovely here, staff are nice,” and relatives described staff as “friendly, warm and always available.” Another relative said staff worked hard to make people feel at home and that nothing seemed to be too much trouble.

People and relatives spoke positively about the way staff promoted independence and respected individual preferences. Examples included supporting people to maintain privacy, encouraging participation in activities and helping people continue with interests that were important to them. People also felt involved in their care and support, and 1 person told us their move into the home had gone smoothly.

Relatives and people valued the dedication of staff and recognised that many staff members knew people well. One relative commented that long-serving staff were a key strength of the service.