Willow House

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

Willow House is a residential care home providing the regulated activity accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic people. At the time of our assessment there were 5 people receiving a regulated activity. We visited the service on 17, 18 and 22 September 2025. This is the first assessment since the provider changed in January 2022. The assessment was a fully comprehensive inspection, which looked at key areas which included infection prevention control, medicines management, staffing, choice and control, governance, management and leadership and safeguarding people.

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Providers must also ensure they have an understanding of ’Stopping over medicating of people with a learning disability and autistic people’ (STOMP). We found people received care and support in accordance with the principles of this guidance and medicines were being managed safely.

People felt safe and staff were aware of their responsibilities to identify and report potential abuse. Staff received safeguarding training and were confident any concerns raised would be properly dealt with. Staff worked with people to assess any risks they faced. There were detailed risk management plans, which gave staff clear guidance on what to do to support people safely.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, and people were supported by a consistent staff team. People were complimentary about the staff and positive relationships had been developed. Staff had been recruited safely with all pre-employment checks completed prior to them starting. People had a comprehensive and individualised care plan, which had input from relatives and other chosen family.

People's experience of this service

We received positive feedback from people and their relatives. People told us they were happy and felt safe. Comments from people included “I like living here”. Another person indicated by signing that “food is good” and “I have a choice”. Where people could not tell us about their experiences, relatives told us “Willow House provide exemplary care” and “under the leadership of the registered manager, staff are excellent”. Further comments included “I know how my relative feels based on their facial expressions and when they stay with me, they are always excited to return to Willow House”.