Alt Park Nursing Home

Updated 11 August 2025

Date of assessment: 23 September to 24 October 2025. Visits to the home were on 23 September, 7 and 8 October 2025.

We carried out this assessment due to concerns we had received in relation to people’s care and treatment and the environment. At the last assessment, the provider was in breach of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance. Improvements were not found at this assessment, and the provider remained in breach of these two regulations. We identified a new breach of the legal regulation in relation to dignity and respect.

The provider did not always detect and control potential risks in the care environment. We found significant and widespread concerns with the cleanliness of the environment such as communal areas, people’s bedrooms and the kitchen. The standard of the environment failed to uphold dignity and respect.

The provider did not always work well with people to understand and manage people’s individual risks. Lessons were not always learnt following safety related events to continually identify and embed good practice.

Medicines were not always managed safely. The provider did not always follow good practice guidelines to ensure the safe management of medicines.

The provider engaged in weekly meetings with health professionals to review people’s health. However, further improvements were required to ensure any changes in people’s health needs were escalated in a timelier manner.

The provider did not implement effective governance systems. Overall, there was a lack of oversight and scrutiny of the service by the provider and the registered manager to ensure risks were identified and mitigated. We were not assured effective learning had taken place from feedback at previous assessments to drive the necessary improvements to the quality and safety of the service.

There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s basic care needs. Staff received a thorough induction when they first started in their roles,and we saw they were up to date with training. The provider recognised the need to equip them with the skills necessary for their roles.

The registered manager cared about and promoted the wellbeing of staff. Support mechanisms were in place for staff and all staff we spoke with told us they felt valued, supported and were proud to work at the home.

The provider was responsive to our findings and worked hard to address concerns we raised. At the conclusion of the assessment, we were assured risk had been reduced and noted significant improvements in areas such as the cleanliness and maintenance of the environment.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment in relation to safe care and treatment and dignity and respect.

In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.

Updated 11 August 2025

Overall, people and their relatives provided mixed feedback about their experience of care provided at Alt Park Nursing Home.

People felt there were enough staff to meet their needs. Some people and their relatives felt the provider prioritised their safety whereas others told us they did not always feel safe. When asked if they felt safe, a person told us, “No I always have to be alert of other people here, but I ring my bell if anyone bothers me.” A relative told us they did not feel their loved one was safe as equipment was not well maintained, they said “No, if I take family member out in a wheelchair it is dirty and it has no foot rests.” We shared our findings regarding the safety of equipment with the registered manager who committed to improving this.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring in their approach. Comments included, “Yes, they are gentle and kind to family member” and “They are very kind and caring.” A relative described how their loved one’s individuality was respected as staff took an interest in their culture and beliefs.

Some people told us they got to make everyday decisions such as when they chose to get up and go to bed. However, other people and their relatives told us they were not always given a choice at mealtimes. A relative told us, “I think they just get what comes” and a person told us, “I just get what I am given.”

Some people told us they were happy with the cleanliness of their home. Comments included, “Yes, my room is having a deep clean today.” However, some relatives felt the environment was not clean or well maintained and they told us about the presence of mould in bedrooms and the use of dirty equipment.

Most people and their relatives could not recall if they had been involved in developing their care plans and some told us they had not seen their care plans and were not always involved in discussing changes in their loved one’s health needs.

People and their relatives provided negative feedback regarding the provision of activities within the home. Comments included, “It is a concern as family member needs to be occupied, the last 2 activity staff have left so at the moment nothing”, “There is a list with all these things on but none of them happen” and “Not impressed at all, just left to sit in a chair all day, no activities.”

While some people expressed general satisfaction with their care, our assessment found elements of care did not meet the expected standards.