Our current view of the service
Updated
4 August 2026
About the service
Beechwood House is a nursing home that provides nursing care and support. There were 30 people using the service at the time of the assessment.
Who the service is for
The service provides accommodation, care and support to older people, some of whom were living with dementia and/or physical frailties.
We carried out this assessment on 14 August 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard.
The service supported people whose needs were primarily nursing. It is not registered as a specialist service but did support one person with a learning disability. Their primary need was nursing but we did assess 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. We found that the provider was working to this guidance.
People were supported by staff and leaders who had created a culture focused on safety. There was an emphasis on learning and proactive risk management. Incidents were reviewed individually and thematically to identify trends, lessons learned and opportunities to improve practice. People were protected from avoidable harm through risk assessments, detailed care planning and a well-maintained environment. Risks associated with mobility, falls, pressure damage, nutrition, medicines, infection prevention and emergency evacuation were assessed and regularly reviewed. The environment had been adapted to promote safety and independence, particularly for people living with dementia and sensory impairments.
People received care from a skilled and competent workforce. Staffing levels reflected people's needs, staff received appropriate training and support, and care was delivered in line with recognised guidance and best practice. Medicines were managed safely. 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. One professional described staff as "very receptive and proactive", while another said they were "attentive and helpful" when supporting people's rehabilitation and healthcare needs.
There was a caring culture throughout the home. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and demonstrated a good understanding of individuals' needs, preferences and communication styles. People appeared comfortable with staff and were supported to maintain relationships, make choices and participate in meaningful activities. One professional commented that there was "a lovely atmosphere" and that staff appeared caring.
The service delivered person-centred care that reflected people's diverse needs and preferences. Care planning was personalised, reasonable adjustments were made where required, and people, relatives and staff were encouraged to provide feedback. Leaders and staff applied the principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy in day-to-day practice and sought to remove barriers that could affect people's experiences and outcomes.
Leaders had established effective governance and quality assurance systems to monitor safety, quality and outcomes. There was a culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement, with lessons learned used to strengthen practice and oversight. The service worked collaboratively with external professionals and demonstrated a commitment to improving people's experiences and outcomes. One professional praised the home's person-centred approach, positive working relationships and willingness to act on advice to support safe and effective care.
People's experience of the service
Updated
4 August 2026
We gathered feedback from people living at the service, observed interactions between people and staff, and spoke with relatives and those important to people’s lives. We also used a Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a structured observation tool used by inspectors to understand the experiences of people who may be unable to tell us directly about their care, such as people living with dementia.
Feedback about the service was positive.
People felt safe, well cared for and supported by kind and responsive staff. People consistently told us they felt safe living at the home and had confidence that staff would respond quickly when they needed assistance. One person said, “I know how to use my call bell and staff always come along when I need help.” Another person told us, “I feel very safe as there are always people around me who can help me.” People described receiving reassurance from staff's presence throughout the day and night. One person said, “I feel safe when I go to bed at night as staff are around and when I wake up, I know there is staff there to help me always.” Another person explained how staff supported their wellbeing and social connections, telling us, “I feel safe because staff always make sure I sit in the same chair in the lounge so that I can be next to my friend and chat.”
People and their relatives spoke positively about the caring, compassionate approach taken by staff. Comments included, “Staff are so kind, there is nothing they will not do,” and “Everyone is so lovely and caring here.” One person told us, “I don't know what I would do without the staff, they make such a difference to my happiness.” Another person spoke warmly about an individual staff member and said, “She is so kind, understanding and caring with me and helps me so much.” Relatives echoed these views. One relative said, “Staff are very good to my relative and treat him with respect and dignity. I always feel I can talk to the staff and never have to worry about him, they are truly wonderful, a real family.” Another relative described the service as, “A real family here who care about everyone.”
People told us staff supported them to maintain their health and wellbeing and helped them access healthcare services when needed. One person said, “Having young staff here is good as they can help a lot. I'm going to the hospital for an appointment today and one of them is going with me. I feel safe with the staff as they also sort out all the paperwork to stop me worrying.” Another person told us, “If I am not happy, I will let staff know. I have no concerns about my health at the moment.” People described receiving reliable support with medicines and long-term health conditions. One person said, “I am diabetic and staff look after me well, I have my medication when I need it. I've never missed my medication, staff know what to do.”
Relatives also highlighted positive outcomes for people’s health since moving into the home. One relative told us, “My (loved one) had so many UTI's in his last home and ended up in hospital. In the 2½ years since he has lived here, he has had no health problems and is much better off.” Another relative said, “I am kept fully updated with how he is and he keeps very well here, much better than the last place, they work together here.”
People were supported to maintain meaningful relationships, pursue their interests and take part in activities they enjoyed. People described positive experiences of one-to-one engagement and personalised activities that helped reduce social isolation and improve their wellbeing. One person told us, “I love to be read to as I spend all my time in my bedroom due to my health needs.” They went on to explain, “I enjoy my visits from Gill twice a day as she really helps me keep my mind active with her phone quizzes and name that tune. It also helps me be less lonely and we have built up a good relationship as Gill knows my interests and keeps my days interesting and happy.” The person added, “The care and support are really what helps me.”
People also spoke positively about the range of group activities available and how they were supported to make choices about participation. One person said, “The staff give me a monthly activity programme so I can join in if I want to, which is great. They have musicians, singers and bingo, it's fun.” People were equally complimentary about the food provided, with one person commenting, “We have loads of food, it's too much, but I love it,” and adding, “The food is wonderful, lots of choice!”
People and relatives expressed confidence in the leadership of the service and the quality of care provided. Relatives consistently described the home as well managed and led by caring leaders who were approachable and responsive. One relative told us, “I know the manager very well, she is wonderful and cares so much about everyone and manages everything.” The same relative said, “If I had any concerns at all I would talk with (registered manager), but I don't have any.” Other comments included, “The care is excellent and the home is managed so well by the manager,” and, “It is such a good home, and I couldn't ask for a better managed home.”
Relatives were positive about the overall quality of care and support people received. One relative told us, “I visit every day and spend time with my father-in-law and I'm so impressed, they really care. I'd recommend this place to anyone.” Another said, “My loved one is safe, and staff are so kind, and I visit every day and have not had any complaints or worries.” These comments demonstrated people and those important to them felt reassured by the quality of care, support and leadership provided at the service.