Frith House

Updated 18 February 2026

This assessment was carried out between 31 March 2026 and 7 April 2026. We visited the home on the 31 March and the 1 and 2 April 2026.

Frith House is a care home which specialises in the care of older people including people living with dementia. It is registered to accommodate up to 83 people. At the time of our visits there were 65 people using the service.

At our last assessment, we rated this service outstanding overall. At this assessment, the overall service rating has remained outstanding.

We observed a calm, welcoming environment where people were supported by staff who knew them well. Treating people with dignity, kindness, respect and person-centred care was at the very heart of the service.

The care and support provided by kind and compassionate staff led to meaningful outcomes for people using the service. This included improved wellbeing, emotional reassurance, enhanced engagement, reduced distress, strengthened relationships, and positive lived experiences.

People told us they felt safe living at Frith House and we observed positive, caring interactions throughout the assessment. Staff were attentive, responsive, and respectful. Staff were committed to working collaboratively with people and supported them to maintain their independence where possible.

Care plans were comprehensive, highly personalised, and reflected people’s life histories, preferences, values and wishes. Risk assessments were detailed and regularly reviewed, supporting safe and person‑centred care. The service had systems to support people’s eating and drinking needs, and where inconsistencies were identified, leaders responded promptly, using these as learning opportunities to strengthen practice and oversight.

The provider was exceptional at supporting workforce wellbeing and enabling staff to deliver high‑quality care. They strongly valued diversity in their workforce.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs, and staff had the skills and knowledge required to support people safely. The service had comprehensive training, supervision, and competency checks, with clear leadership oversight.

The registered manager and wider management team were highly committed to continual learning and improvement. They took part in research and projects to develop practice and enhance staff skills. This included working with health care professionals to promote healthy eating and drinking. This was aimed at increasing people’s wellbeing, reducing falls and infections and minimising the need for people to be admitted to hospital.

The service had robust governance systems and quality assurance processes. The oversight of these systems helped to ensure, a high quality of care was given to people, with any shortfall identified and addressed. There was a strong focus on learning from incidents, complaints, and audits, with evidence of effective governance arrangements. We saw examples where learning led to improvements in care planning, staff guidance and monitoring arrangements, showing the provider used information effectively to improve outcomes for people. Leaders were visible, approachable, and fostered a positive, open culture where staff felt supported and listened to.

Overall, Frith House demonstrated an extremely positive, person‑centred culture, with a committed leadership promoting a strong culture of dignity through designated dignity champions and end‑of‑life champions. The leadership team had a clear focus on continuous improvement to ensure people received safe, effective, and compassionate care.

Updated 18 February 2026

People and relatives consistently spoke positively about the care provided at Frith House. People described the home as having a feeling of family which gave them a sense of belonging. One person told us, “I love being here. These are my family. Everything here I like.” Another person told us, “Having dementia I wouldn’t choose anywhere else to be.”

One relative wrote they experienced “Incredible compassion, strongest of support, and true professionalism” and described staff as “Always there” for their family member during their final days of life.

The provider always treated people with kindness, compassion and dignity. During our visits, the atmosphere across the home was calm and welcoming, and people appeared relaxed in their surroundings. We observed positive interactions between people and staff, with staff taking time to engage in meaningful conversations and responding to people in a kind and respectful way.

People were empowered as partners in their care. Staff supported them to live in a way that reflected their individual preferences, ambitions and life histories.

Care records were detailed, highly personalised and demonstrated people’s involvement in decisions about their care. For example, care plans clearly described people’s routines, values, and communication needs, which helped staff provide consistent, person‑centred support.

People were supported to have the upmost choice and were involved to make decisions regarding their care. People were encouraged by staff to make day‑to‑day choices, such as what to wear, where to spend their time and which activities they wished to take part in.

People told us they felt safe and well cared for. Staff knew people well and understood how to support them when they were distressed or anxious. We observed staff offering reassurance and gentle support to minimise people’s anxiety. Where people were legally deprived of their liberty, staff were aware of the conditions in place and how to support people in the least restrictive way possible.

The provider was exceptional at promoting people’s independence. People were supported to maintain relationships and take part in meaningful activities that were important to them. This improved their emotional and physical wellbeing. This included opportunities for social engagement, one‑to‑one interactions, and group activities. People were able to share their hobbies and interests with others who lived at the home by leading activities. We saw people had given talks on subjects they were passionate about, provided musical entertainment and led religious services.

People were supported to practice their faith, and records showed this was arranged in response to people’s wishes. People and relatives provided positive feedback about the compassion shown by staff.

Overall people experienced care and support which was very attentive, caring and responsive to their needs and promoted people’s health and wellbeing. People were treated with dignity and respect and included in all decisions about their care and the running of the home. Ongoing engagement between people, relatives and staff led to a positive culture where people felt valued and engaged.