- Care home
Beechwood Lodge
Assessment report published 2 December 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
This inspection was unannounced, with site visits undertaken between 21 October and 4 November 2025. Beechwood Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 66 people. There were 59 people living in the home at the time of the inspection.
People were supported safely by a consistent staff team who knew them well. People felt safe, and staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Staff were recruited safely. Appropriate checks of the premises were carried out, and the home was clean and tidy. Some improvements were needed in relation to guidance for staff on how to mitigate risks and manage medicines effectively.
Staff worked effectively with other healthcare services to meet people’s needs, and recognised signs of illness in those they were supporting. People’s needs were assessed, and staff and families were kept informed of any changes. People spoke positively about the food, which was available throughout the day. Those at risk of weight loss received additional support. Consent was sought when providing assistance.
People spoke highly of the staff team, describing them as kind and caring. People’s dignity and ability to make choices were respected, and independence was promoted. The registered manager took a flexible approach to supporting staff wellbeing.
People received personalised care that met their needs and preferences, although improvements were needed in record-keeping to ensure information about people’s preferences was readily available. Communication between teams was effective, and information was adapted to meet people’s needs. The registered manager and staff team took a positive approach to challenging inequality and supporting people to access the services they needed. People received good quality care at the end of life, and we received positive feedback from families in this area. However, further work was needed to ensure a proactive approach to conversations about wishes at the end of life, and to ensure records were updated to reflect changing needs.
The registered manager was visible across the home, and people, families, and staff found them approachable and responsive when concerns were raised. The registered manager was committed to ensuring people received good quality care and had an extensive system in place to maintain oversight of people’s safety. Staff spoke positively about how the service was run, and there was a culture of teamwork within the home. People and families spoke highly of the service.
People's experience of this service
People felt safe and well cared for at the home. One person commented, “I've been here for six years. It’s fantastic here. The place is immaculate, and the staff are great. I have no complaints about the place at all.” Another person commented, “The staff are very respectful and easy to get on with. They are as quick as they can be to assist me when I need them.”
Families felt confident in the staff and their ability to care for people. One relative commented, “I am really pleased with [family member’s] care here. The staff know their triggers, and they do know how to look after them really well. Staff do a great job.”
People told us the food was good, with one person commenting, “The food is excellent and there is a very good choice every day. When you want a drink, you ask, and it is there.” A relative commented, “The food always smells really good and looks really good. I would eat it every day from what I've seen of it and [family member] has gained a bit of weight here.”
There had been recent changes to the activity team and during our inspection we only observed limited activities and stimulation for people. However, people and staff spoke positively about the activities for people. One person commented, “There are activities. There are quizzes and the children from the school have been in three times. We have sing-a-longs and artist’s come in." Another person shared, “We enjoy doing crosswords. There are things to do but you have to pick the activities as some are geared towards those with more severe dementia. There is usually something on offer each day.”
We observed kind and caring interactions between people and staff, and staff understood people and their needs and preferences well. People looked well cared for.