- Care home
The Palms
Assessment report published 1 September 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Our view of the service
About the service
The Palms is a care home providing support for up to 7 people. There were 6 people using the service at the time of the inspection. The service supports adults with learning difficulties.
Who the service is for
This is a specialist service for people with a physical disability, learning disability and autistic people. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgments 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.
Key findings
We carried out this assessment on 13 July 2026. This service was previously rated Good. We undertook this assessment to confirm whether the rating remained appropriate. This report focuses on areas where improvement was required or where notable practice was identified.
The service demonstrated a positive culture of learning, openness, and continuous improvement. Staff used handovers, supervision, and team meetings to share information, reflect on practice, and support positive outcomes for people. Staff spoke positively about the culture within the service. One staff member told us, "Really good (culture), it's one of the best places I have worked. Staff are caring and communicate well with each other about people's needs."
People were supported by staff who understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding, risk management, and medicines management. Staff had received appropriate training and were knowledgeable about recognising and responding to concerns. Risks were assessed and managed in a positive way, enabling people to remain as independent as possible while maintaining their safety.
There were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs, and safe recruitment processes were in place. People lived in a clean and well-maintained environment, with staff commenting that, "The registered manager is very keen on making sure if things need doing, they get done quickly." Medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff.
People's needs were regularly assessed and reviewed to ensure support remained responsive and person-centred. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of individual needs and worked effectively with relatives, healthcare professionals, and other agencies to promote positive outcomes and timely access to support.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
A caring and inclusive culture was evident throughout the service. Staff spoke warmly about the people they supported and were committed to promoting confidence, independence, and wellbeing. People were encouraged to participate in everyday tasks and activities that reflected their interests and aspirations.
People's experience of this service
During our assessment, we spoke with two people living at the service and five relatives following our site visit. Feedback from both people and relatives was consistently positive about the quality of care, support, and communication provided by the staff team.
People told us they were happy with the support they received and spoke positively about the opportunities they had to develop and maintain their independence. Both people we spoke with described accessing their local community independently, including visiting local shops and pubs. Staff had supported them to develop the skills and confidence needed to achieve these goals safely. One person proudly showed us their bedroom, which reflected their individual interests, hobbies, and personality, demonstrating they were supported to make their living environment their own.
Relatives told us they felt listened to and that concerns were responded to appropriately. One relative said, “I spoke to the registered manager and members of staff, and my concerns were taken seriously, and the issue is resolved.” Another commented, “The registered manager is good at putting people in a better frame of mind by trying her best to settle any issues.”
Relatives consistently described staff as caring, compassionate, and dedicated. One relative explained that a member of the night staff regularly spent time talking with their family member when they were unable to sleep, which they greatly appreciated. Others highlighted the positive and longstanding relationships between staff and the people they supported.
Feedback also demonstrated that relatives felt people were safe and well supported. One relative told us, “Yes, I feel [Name] is safe with lots of one-to-one support and sometimes two-to-one in the community.” Relatives also praised the service for supporting people's religious beliefs, promoting healthy lifestyles, and achieving positive long-term outcomes.
Overall, feedback from people and relatives demonstrated that individuals were supported by a caring and committed staff team who promoted safety, independence, wellbeing, and inclusion.