- Care home
Arden Park
Assessment report published 17 February 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Inspection: 9 December 2025 to 11 December. Arden Park is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 31 people. At the time of the inspection there were 26 people living at the home, including older people living with dementia, and physical disabilities.
During the inspection we spoke with people who lived at the service, their relatives, staff, the registered manager and the operations manager. Their key responsibility is to supervise the management of the regulated activities provided by the organisation. We also sought feedback from external health and social care professionals, and we looked at care plans, medicines records, recruitment files and quality assurance records.
Arden Park provided care and support to people in a warm, inclusive environment where staff knew people well and promoted kindness, dignity and respect. People consistently told us they felt safe, supported and happy living at the service. Relatives and health and social care professionals were largely positive about the quality of care provided.
There was a strong culture of person-centred care. Staff treated people as individuals, respected their choices and promoted independence wherever possible. People were supported to maintain meaningful activities, relationships and routines that reflected their preferences and life histories. Interactions between staff and people were observed to be caring and compassionate, and people felt listened to and involved in decisions about their care.
The service generally managed risks well, and systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff had received relevant training and understood their responsibilities. However, we identified some inconsistencies in risk management and environmental safety including fire safety issues, infection prevention concerns and gaps in care plan detail. While immediate action was taken during the inspection, these issues highlighted a need for stronger oversight and assurance.
Medicines were mostly managed safely, and staff were trained and competent. Some improvements were required to ensure clearer guidance and recording, particularly around topical medicines and PRN (people’s as and when medication) use. Infection prevention and control practices were generally effective, but some environmental cleanliness and audit follow-up required strengthening to reduce potential risks.
Leadership at the service was visible and approachable. People, relatives and staff felt able to raise concerns and were confident these would be listened to. Staff reported feeling mostly supported and valued, and there was evidence of learning and reflective practice. However, governance systems were not always effective in driving timely improvements or ensuring actions identified through audits were consistently completed and sustained.
Overall, Arden Park delivered a caring and supportive service where people experienced positive outcomes and relationships. To further strengthen the quality and sustainability of the service, the provider needs to improve governance, environmental risk management and follow-through of audit actions to ensure consistent safety and quality for everyone using the service.
People's experience of this service
People living at Arden Park consistently described positive experiences of care and support. They told us they felt safe, comfortable and well-cared for, and that staff were kind, patient and respectful. People spoke positively about their relationships with staff and felt listened to when expressing their wishes, preferences and day-to-day needs. Observations throughout the assessment confirmed that interactions between staff and people were warm, attentive and compassionate.
People were supported to remain as independent as possible. Staff worked at people’s pace, used appropriate equipment and provided encouragement to help people maintain their mobility and skills. People told us they did not have to wait long for assistance and felt staff were readily available to support them when needed.
Relative were generally positive about their family members’ experiences at the service. They felt welcomed, informed and involved, and were confident that staff knew people well and responded appropriately to changes in their needs. Relatives described good communication with the service and felt reassured that people were supported safely and respectfully.
People were supported to access healthcare services promptly and appropriately. They reported receiving help with managing long-term conditions, attending appointments and maintain their health and wellbeing. Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure continuity of care, which contributed to positive outcomes for people.
People’s privacy and dignity were respected. Staff were sensitive to people’s emotional and physical needs and responded quickly when people became anxious or distressed. For those approaching the end of life, people and relatives described compassionate, personalised care that respected people’s wishes and provided comfort and reassurance.
While people’s overall experiences were positive, some environmental and governance issues identified during the assessment had the potential to impact people’s safety if not consistently addressed. Immediate action was taken during the inspection, and people did not raise concerns about their direct experience because of these issues.
Overall, people experienced dignified, kind and person-centred care at Arden Park. Staff supported people to feel safe, valued and involved in decisions about their care, helping them to maintain choice, independence, and a good quality of life.