The Old Garden Care Home

Updated 26 August 2025

Date of Assessment: We visited the home on 30 September 2025. Then we assessed records remotely until 13 October 2025. The service is a care home with nursing care providing support to older people living with dementia, nursing needs, and physical disabilities.

The inspection was prompted in part by notification of an incident following which a person using the service sustained a serious injury. This incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident.

However, the information shared with CQC about the incident indicated potential concerns about the management of risk of safe moving and handling. This inspection examined those risks, and we found no evidence people were subject to ongoing risk.

The environment was clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed to support peoples' needs, including dementia-friendly features and accessible facilities such as a therapy pool and sensory garden. Staff were observed to be kind, respectful, and attentive, with positive relationships evident between them and the people they supported.

Care plans were generally well-tailored to individual preferences and needs, and people were involved in decisions about their care. However, some care records required refinement to better reflect capacity assessments and ensure clarity around decision-making processes, particularly in relation to Mental Capacity and Best Interest documentation.

Staffing was adequate, with robust recruitment and supervision processes in place. While most staff felt there were enough staff on duty, occasional shortages were noted during unplanned sickness absences.

Governance systems were comprehensive, with regular audits and clear evidence of learning from incidents. The management team were approachable and well regarded by staff and relatives. Feedback mechanisms were in place and contributed to a culture of continuous improvement.

People had access to a wide range of meaningful activities and community engagement opportunities. Information was provided in accessible formats, and staff supported people to maintain independence and make choices. End-of-life care was handled sensitively, with preferences recorded in care plans.

Updated 26 August 2025

People spoke positively about their experiences at the service. They described feeling safe, well cared for and supported by staff who were kind and attentive. One person told us, “Yes I feel safe here and I’m very comfortable. I like my room and I can have my own things in it. The home is very clean. I get my tablets from the staff.” Another said, “The staff are very caring and very kind, if you’re bothered about anything, you can say and they will sort it out. The staff make you feel beautiful and relaxed.”

Family members also shared positive feedback. One family member commented, “I feel that my [relative] is safe here. It is spotlessly clean and very homely. The staff are lovely and appear to get on very well together. They work hard.” Another said, “All the residents look well cared for and I have no complaints at all. They keep me informed of things and I can approach the managers if I need to. It appears that the place is well run.”

People appreciated the range of activities and outings available. One person shared, “There’s a lot going on here with singers and things.” Another said, “We get a really good list of what’s on and they take us out sometimes.” A family member added, “The entertainment is great and she went to see Swan Lake recently.”

While most feedback was positive, a few people said the food could be better. They said “The food here isn’t good, I don’t like it, today it was chicken and it was cooked to death.”

Despite this people felt listened to and able to raise issues. One person said, “There is a complaints book in the kitchen and we can put our comments in that and it gets discussed at the residents meeting. They do act upon things.” Another added, “If the staff see you struggling to do something, they stop and say let me help you with that.”