- Care home
Sheepwalk House
Report from 4 July 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 19 August to 17 September 2025.
Sheepwalk House is a residential care home providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. At the time of our assessment the home was supporting 5 people who were in receipt of the regulated activity personal care.
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.
Right Support:
People were encouraged to lead their lives in their chosen way and took control of decisions about their care. Independence was encouraged and supported. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were kept safe. Staff understood and managed risk while supporting people to take part in activities in their local community and try new things. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications, and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular supervision to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and people had regular health checks and medication reviews.
Right Care:
People received dignified care that respected their privacy and human rights. Care and support was person-centred. Individualised care and support plans were in place that enabled staff to provide appropriate and safe care for each person. People’s preferred communication styles were known and respected. Staff used simple signs and knew what people were communicating by patterns of actions, gestures, or noises.
Right Culture:
The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services led confident, inclusive, and empowered lives. Staff and managers had shared values which were based on supporting people to have a have fun, smile and live a good life. Staff were being supported by an internal positive behaviour support practitioner who worked with them to understand individual’s specific needs.
People's experience of this service
People at Sheepwalk House were not able to give us their view of living at the service. We observed people throughout the day in the home being supported by staff. We saw people were involved in day-to-day decisions about how they spent their time. Some people had busy and full days and were out for most of the day that we were on site. We contacted relatives for their views and feedback on this service.
Relatives were very happy with the support their family members received. Relatives consistently told us they felt their loved ones were safe, happy, and well cared for. Many described the service as a place where their relatives felt at home and were treated with genuine warmth. They felt that staff were kind, caring, and committed. Relatives spoke about how staff went the extra mile, and showed real affection and understanding, especially during challenging moments.
Relatives felt communication was a strength at Sheepwalk House and said they were kept well-informed, whether it was about health updates, changes in care, or day-to-day matters. They felt listened to and involved.
Relatives described the registered manager as approachable, compassionate, and deeply knowledgeable and relatives felt reassured knowing they were in charge and trusted their judgment. One relative said, “[registered manager] needs ten stars out of five, they are amazing, wonderful and kind.”
Sheepwalk House was described as clean, welcoming, and well-run, with a strong sense of teamwork and consistency among staff. Relatives appreciated being involved in care planning and reviews, and felt their input was valued. Activities and outings were seen as enriching and tailored to individual needs, helping residents live full and meaningful lives.