Carricks Brook

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Outstanding

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

Date of assessment 11 November 2025 to 16 December 2025. Carricks Brook is a care home providing accommodation and support for up to 12 autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection 12 people were living there.

This assessment was prompted by the length of time since our last inspection.

People, their relatives and staff consistently spoke highly of the service. People were supported by an exceptionally kind, compassionate and caring staff team. Staff knew people extremely well and actively used their knowledge of people to improve their independence and develop their skills and enhance their lives. People were supported by staff to make their own decisions and choices. They were involved in planning their own care and in the development of the service. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and promoted by those supporting them.

The management team and staff were very proactive in ensuring people did not experience inequality or discrimination due to their learning disability or autism. The staff team worked together to ensure people were not prevented from doing what they wanted to do and achieving their goals.

Staff received excellent support from the provider and the management team. All staff spoke extremely highly of the support they received. They felt valued and enjoyed working at the service.

The provider and management team were exceptional in their leadership of the service. People’s needs, preferences and wishes were the motivation of all they did. They led by example which meant people received excellent care tailored to their needs. Quality assurance systems were in place which were used to drive improvements in the service.

The home was clean and tidy throughout. Environmental risks were identified and mitigated. People were protected from the risk of abuse, harm or discrimination. Risks to people were managed safely. There were enough staff working each shift, who had been safely recruited, and received ongoing training and support. Staff ensured people received support from appropriate health and social care professionals when they needed it.

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. The registered manager had a good understanding of what the service needed to do to best support people, and this ethos was supported and promoted by all staff within the organisation. The provider was working in line with this guidance.

People's experience of this service

Not everybody was able to communicate with us verbally, therefore we spent time with people and staff observing aspects of their support. We saw positive interactions throughout our time at the home. There was a calm and relaxed atmosphere between people and staff, and genuine friendships were observed. People approached staff freely and staff used their extensive knowledge of people to support them appropriately.

People who were able told us they were happy at the home and well supported. People’s relatives consistently spoke extremely highly of the care and support their loved ones, and themselves received from staff. All relatives told us of the positive changes and achievements they had seen in their loved ones since they moved into the home. They told us how staff identified potential within their loved ones and worked with them to help them achieve their goals. Relatives told us their loved ones were always busy. One relative said, “Whenever we phone, he is out and about doing something.” Another relative told us that people were not prevented from exploring new opportunities due to their disability.

One relative spoke of the staff team and said, “When you find it (good care) it is important that it is recognised and honoured.” All relatives spoke highly about the family atmosphere at the home. One relative said, “It’s an absolute gem, the owners are hands on. There’s a good positive vibe.”