- Care home
Ashley Lodge Care Home
Assessment report published 2 March 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of inspection: 06 and 07 January 2026. Ashley Lodge Care Home provides accommodation with personal care for up to 77 people. Accommodation is arranged over 2 floors with stair and lift access. At the time of this inspection there were 52 people using the service. Our inspection was prompted by concerns received about the safety of care being delivered. We reviewed all the quality statements and found no concerns about people’s safety.
Quality assurance processes were in place to monitor all aspects of the service; systems and processes were effective and there was a focus on driving improvement in service delivery. Incidents and accidents were reported, investigated and lessons learned formally shared with staff.
Safety checks had been carried out for the premises and equipment being used. Fire risks to people were assessed. Risk assessments had been completed and overall, care plans informed staff how to keep people safe from harm. Although some care plans lacked detail, staff we spoke with had a good understanding of people’s needs and knew them well.
The service was clean, and we observed staff following infection prevention and control guidelines. People had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff were working with all agencies involved in people’s care. Staff told us there was an open culture and they felt valued and respected by the management team. They referred to the registered manager as “lovely and helpful,” “very good” and “just brilliant.” They spoke positively about the changes being implemented by the new provider and told us they felt valued and listened to.
People's experience of this service
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from people and their relatives. All spoke positively about the quality of care they received. People told us they felt safe living at the service. One person said, “I was falling a lot at home, so moved here. Here, the staff keep me safe.”
Friends and relatives of people said the atmosphere at the service was “friendly” and “welcoming.” One person’s relative said, “It just seems a very warm and caring place. I don't think I've met any staff where I’ve had concerns. I love the manager; I think she is just brilliant.”
People told us staff were “very good,” and “very kind.”
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff understood how to protect people’s privacy and dignity. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. A relative said, “Staff are very welcoming when you go and visit, and there are no restrictions on visiting times.”
Relatives told us they were involved in care planning and were kept informed about changes to people’s care plans. Relatives said they felt confident the staff were trained to carry out their roles and spoke highly of them. Comments included, “I have no criticism of the care the staff provide” and “I am really happy that [relative] is in Ashley Lodge. Staff keep me well informed. I turn up to visit without telling them I’m coming and I’m always warmly welcomed, and [relative] always seems to be doing activities.”
Relatives of people told us the management team were visible, approachable, and responsive. One person’s relative said, “[Registered manager] always rushes out to see me and we exchange hugs. The relationship I have with Ashley Lodge is fantastic it really is, and to be honest, if I could, I’d go and live there myself.”