An Darach House

Updated 10 July 2026

Date of assessment: 27 August 2026 to 24 September 2026. We conducted a site visit of the home on 27 August 2026 and an out of hours site visit on 6 September 2026. An Darach House is a residential care home without nursing. They support younger adults, autistic people and people with a learning disability.

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.

Medicines were generally managed safely, some areas for learning and improvement in relation to records were identified by inspectors. The registered manager took immediate action to address these.

People received safe, person-centred care from a skilled and knowledgeable staff team who understood their needs well. Risks were managed effectively while promoting independence, choice and community involvement. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and worked proactively to keep people safe. The environment was accessible, well maintained and personalised. Staffing arrangements ensured people received consistent support from staff who knew them well.

People's needs were assessed in detail and care was delivered in line with good practice. Staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals and internal teams to achieve positive outcomes for people. People were supported to attend healthcare appointments and pursue personal goals. Care plans were comprehensive and provided clear guidance to staff, although there were opportunities to strengthen some documentation through the use of more positive and person-centred language in places.

Staff were observed to be kind, caring and respectful. People appeared comfortable and relaxed with staff and were supported to make choices about their daily lives. People and relatives felt listened to and involved in decisions about their care and support.

The service was responsive to people's changing needs and provided information in accessible formats to support understanding and involvement. People were supported to access their local community, maintain relationships and plan for their future wishes and aspirations. Care was reviewed regularly to ensure it remained relevant and person centred.

The service was well led, with a positive and inclusive culture promoted by an approachable and supportive registered manager. Effective governance systems provided oversight of quality and safety. Feedback from people, relatives, staff and professionals was positive. The service was well-managed and achieved good outcomes for people showing a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement.

Updated 10 July 2026

We used a variety of methods to communicate with people and seek their views about their experiences of care at An Darach House. We used speech, Makaton and Talking Mats. Makaton is a communication method that uses signs, symbols and speech to support understanding and expression. Talking Mats helps people communicate their views and choices using pictures and symbols. We also used an observational tool known as ‘SOFI’. SOFI helps assess people's experiences through structured observation when they cannot easily express their views.

People and their relatives spoke very positively about the service and the care provided. Relatives consistently told us their family members were safe, happy and well supported by staff who knew them well. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect and were supported by a consistent staff team that had developed positive relationships with them.

People were encouraged to make choices about their daily lives and were supported to be as independent as possible. Staff understood people's individual needs, preferences and routines and provided personalised support that reflected what was important to them. People were supported to access healthcare services, maintain relationships and take part in activities they enjoyed both at home and in the local community.

Relatives described staff as caring, responsive and attentive to changes in people's wellbeing. They told us staff communicated well and kept them informed about important events and any concerns. People were supported to understand information in ways that met their communication needs, including through the use of easy read information, pictures and social stories.

People lived in a clean, well maintained and personalised home with access to spacious outdoor areas. They were able to move around their home and local community freely and were supported to take risks while remaining safe.

Relatives spoke highly of the registered manager and staff team and told us they felt listened to and involved. Feedback about the service was overwhelmingly positive. One relative said, “We are chuffed to bits and would give them 100% for [my family member’s] care.” Another relative said, “I would not want [my family member] to be anywhere else.”