During an assessment under our new approach
The assessment was carried out between 27 August 2026 – 18 September 2026. We undertook 2 visits to the home on 27 August and 3 September 2026 and reviewed information that the management team sent us electronically following our visits.
Bluebell Manor provides personal care for up to 67 people, including older and younger adults and people living with dementia. At the time of the assessment, 40 people were using the service. The home provides care across 3 suites, Millview, Wansbeck and Bluebell. Bluebell was a male-only suite.
The provider was registered to provide nursing care at the home; however, this was not being provided and no nurses were employed. The provider told us they would apply to remove nursing care from the home’s registration.
The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulations relating to staffing and good governance. We carried out this assessment to review whether the provider had made the required improvements. Improvements were found and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations.
The provider’s registration included a condition preventing them from providing a specialist service where a learning disability and/or autism was the person’s primary care need. A small number of people had a learning disability, however, their primary care needs arose from other conditions. We therefore considered how their needs were being met against the principles of ‘Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.’ These principles aim to ensure people with a learning disability and autism are supported to have choice, control, independence and access to their local community. We found the principles of ‘Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture’ were being met.
The environment met people's needs. The provider had invested in an extensive programme of redevelopment and improvements to the home, including the garden and outdoor areas. This included improvements to lighting, furniture and colour schemes, as well as adaptive seating with lumbar support to promote people’s comfort, wellbeing and safety.
Staff we spoke with demonstrated an understanding of safeguarding procedures. No safeguarding concerns were raised during our assessment.
Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff followed safe medicines processes and management provided examples of using STOMP (Stopping Over Medication of People with a Learning Disability, Autism or both) principles to reduce medicines where appropriate and support least restrictive practice.
There were sufficient staff deployed. We observed care and support being carried out in a calm unhurried manner. The provider completed a range of pre-employment checks to help ensure staff were suitable for their roles. They held a certificate of sponsorship, enabling the recruitment of overseas staff where required which helped to support workforce stability.
Systems were in place to enable staff to carry out their roles effectively. Staff told us they felt well supported. A staff member stated, “Overall, I am very pleased with my experience of working at Bluebell Manor. I feel supported, valued and proud to contribute to the care provided to the residents. I would be very happy to recommend Bluebell Manor as a positive place to work and receive care.”
Staff worked in line with best practice when supporting people who experienced distress or whose needs could sometimes be expressed in ways that others might find difficult to understand. We received positive feedback from health and social care professionals about the service and the improvements made since the provider acquired the home. A health and social care professional stated, “A wonderful turnaround where residents are looked after well and we get all the help we need to deliver oral care.”
Formal complaints were recorded and responses provided. We identified an opportunity to strengthen oversight of concerns raised informally and to ensure these were recorded. This would help identify any recurring trends or themes and demonstrate how feedback had been used to drive improvements within the service.
The provider had clear governance arrangements in place. Regular audits and quality reviews covered areas including medicines, infection prevention and control, and the dining experience. Oversight from senior leaders supported the monitoring of the quality and safety of the service and identified areas for improvement.