Grove Lodge

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Date of assessment: 24 September 2025 to 2 October 2025. We carried out an inspection to confirm that Grove Lodge now met legal requirements, following the breaches in regulation found at our previous inspection and to also inspect all key questions due to the length of time sine they were last inspected. Grove Lodge is a residential home providing support to older people who may be living with dementia. When we assessed, there were 17 people using the service.

We spoke with people, their relatives and staff. This included the registered manager.

Pre-assessments were completed prior to people moving into Grove Lodge and formed the basis of person centred care plans which were reviewed regularly. Staff worked in partnership with people, families and professionals to plan and deliver care tailored to people's individual needs and preferences. Staff spoke positively about working at Grove Lodge and the management of the service.

The provider did not always have effective governance and performance management systems to identify and drive improvements at the service. Systems and processes did not identify concerns we found during the inspection. For example, around visiting arrangements, fire and water hygiene safety, and safe and effective staffing. The provider was responsive to feedback during the onsite inspection and took immediate action to address some of these concerns.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to consent. Improvements were found at this inspection and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to good governance. Improvements were not found at this assessment, and the provider remained in breach of this regulation.

The provider was in breach of legal regulation in relation to independence, choice and control.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
 

People's experience of this service

We spoke with 9 people to gather information about people’s experience. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

People were positive about the quality of care and treatment. One relative told us, “I don’t think they realise the peace of mind they have given me. Before my loved one came here, I was a nervous wreck. Grove Lodge has given me a bit of my life back. I do not panic now. I have peace in my heart that they cared for…they are happy and not being ignored. I see the way my loved one looks at the staff and they are content. Grove Lodge has been an absolute blessing for my loved one and me.” Another relative commented, “I think they provide the best life that people suffering from dementia can have…It is a proper home and has a friendly caring atmosphere – you see people playing cards and people reading papers… If I needed to go into a care home, I would be happy to come here.”
Whilst people expressed general satisfaction with their care, our assessment found care did not always meet the expected standards. We also found governance systems had not always been used effectively to identify shortfalls found during our inspection.