During an assessment under our new approach
Date of assessment: 21 May to 28 May 2026. Arthur Bliss House is an extra care housing service providing personal care and support to people living in their own self‑contained flats within a shared building. This was the first assessment of a newly rated service. At the time of the assessment, the provider was supporting people with a range of needs, including long‑term health conditions and increasing frailty associated with ageing.
People received good‑quality care which supported them to remain independent while having access to responsive and reliable support when needed. People were supported to live independently while having access to safe, responsive support, and leadership arrangements ensured ongoing oversight and development of the service.
People were supported safely. Risks to people’s health, wellbeing and environment were identified and managed through detailed care planning and ongoing review. Staff understood safeguarding processes and felt confident raising concerns. Systems were in place to record, review and learn from incidents, and leaders demonstrated oversight of key areas such as safeguarding, medicines and emergency response systems. This supported a service where risks were recognised and addressed in a timely way.
People’s needs were assessed before care commenced and reviewed when their needs changed. Staff demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to support people safely, including responding to changes in health and wellbeing. The provider worked collaboratively with healthcare professionals and other agencies to ensure care was coordinated and responsive to people’s needs.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff developed positive relationships with people and took time to understand their preferences and routines. The extra care model supported people to remain independent, and staff promoted choice and control in daily life.
Care was organised flexibly and adapted when people’s needs changed. People received care that reflected their individual preferences and were supported to access social opportunities within the building. Feedback from people was listened to and acted upon, leading to improvements in areas such as communication and activities.
Leaders were visible and approachable, and there was an open culture where staff felt supported to raise concerns. Governance systems were in place to monitor quality and safety, including incident reporting, audits and oversight from management. Learning from incidents and feedback was used to improve the service.