- Care home
The Granary
Assessment report published 10 August 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
About the service
The Granaryis a care home providing accommodation for people who require support with personal care.
Who the service is for
The service can provide support for up to 12 older people or younger adults, including those living with a learning disability, mental health, sensoryimpairmentor a physical disability. At the time of this assessment, 11 people were living at the care home.
Key findings
We carried out this assessment on29June2026.This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of goodremainsaccurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.We found the provider delivered care in line with those standards.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment withappropriate legalauthority. 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 managedDoLSwithin the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA.DoLSauthorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictionsandhad choice,controland freedom over their lives.
People were supported by enough trained and knowledgeable staff to help keep them safe and meet their needs. Potential risks wereidentifiedand carefully managed, with people involved in decisions about their care and support. Strong safeguarding procedures were in place to protect people from abuse, and medicines were managed safely. The service also ensured the environment was safe and suitable for those using it.
The service regularly reviewed people’s needs to make sure they received care that was personalised andappropriate. Support was provided in line with current good practice, helping people receive safe, effective care.
People received kind and compassionate support from staff who understood their individual needs,preferencesand goals. Regular reviews andgood communicationhelped ensure that support remained suitable and responsive to changing needs. This enabled people to achieve positive outcomes whilemaintainingtheir dignity,independenceand freedom of choice.
The service showed a strong commitment to person-centred care. Staff treated people with kindnessandrespect in their day-to-day interactions. They encouraged people to remain as independent as possible and supported them to make their own decisions, ensuring they had control over their lives. Staff knew people well and supported them in ways that promoted their dignity and wellbeing.
Staff listened to people, valued theiropinionsand involved them in decisions about their care.People feltrespected,includedand empowered. The service promoted equality and inclusion, ensuring everyone had fair access to support,activitiesand opportunities, regardless of their circumstances.
The service had a positive culture anda clear visionthat was understood by both managers and staff. Effective leadership and oversight helped ensure care remained safe and ofgood quality. Risks weremonitored, and improvements were made when needed. The service planned resources and staffing effectively to support the ongoing delivery of high-quality care. There was also a strong focus on learning and continuous improvement, with feedback, audits and lessons learned used to make positive changes and improve outcomes for people using the service.
People's experience of this service
People living at the service consistently told us they felt safe, respected and well cared for. They spoke positively about the support they received and the relationships they had developed with staff. One person told us, "The staff are wonderful, they always have time to listen to me and help me when I need it." Another person said, "This is my home and I am happy here. Staff know exactly how I like things done."
Weobservedinteractions between staff and people were consistently warm,caringand person-centred. Staff recognised when peoplerequiredsupport and responded promptly while promoting independence and choice. People's body language, facial expressions and engagementindicatedthey were comfortable, valued and enjoyed positive relationships with those supporting them.
Relativeswere happy with thecare provided. One family member told us, "It’s a fantastic place, they are well looked after there." Another relative said, "The staff are absolutely fantastic, we have no concerns."
People’scare and support were delivered in a way that reflected their known preferences, life history, cultural needs, personal goals, and what was important to them as an individual. Meaningful choices were consistently offered throughout the day, including choices relating to daily routines, meals, activities, clothing, personal care, and who provided support where possible.
Weobservedstaff who actively listened and adapted their approach based on the person's expressed wishes and non-verbal communication. For example,Aperson became upset in acommunalarea due to increased noise and activity, staff recognised the signs of distress and responded calmly. Staff used familiar reassurance phrases that helped the person feel safe, reduced distractions, and supported the person to move to a quieter area.This personalised approach helped the person feel calmer and more comfortable, making it easier for them to accept support from staff.
Staff were consistently kind, caring, and approachable in their interactions with people. It wasevidentthat staff knew each person well and had a good understanding of their individual personalities, preferences, and support needs.
Staff respected people's privacy and dignity, providing support in a discreet and sensitive manner. They encouragedpeopleto make their own choices andmaintainas much independence as possible, offering reassurance andassistancewhen needed while promoting confidence. Person-centred support wasclearly evidentthroughout observations.