- Homecare service
Creative Support - Sonali Gardens Extra Care Service
Assessment report published 9 October 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We assessed Sonali Gardens Extra Care Service on 29 July 2026. The service supported people to live as independently as possible in their own homes. People told us they felt safe and liked the staff who supported them, while relatives described staff as kind, patient and welcoming. Staff understood safeguarding, infection prevention and medicines management, and risks were assessed with people to balance safety, choice and independence. People’s health needs were recorded, staff worked with health and social care professionals, and consent was sought before care was provided.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect and encouraged their independence. Care plans were person-centred. The service provided extensive communication support, including translated and pictorial information, and recognised people’s cultural and religious needs. Systems were in place to monitor the environment and equipment. Staff were knowledgeable and trained, but some feedback identified limited support time, rushed care, inconsistent supervision for night staff, language barriers and unclear handwritten records. Leaders should ensure staffing deployment and communication consistently support safe, timely care.
Leaders were described as approachable and used audits, spot checks, meetings and feedback to monitor and improve the service. Staff who worked during the night did not always get to see the registered manager for support. People, relatives and staff were invited to share their views, although this was not always consistently experienced. Overall, the service had a welcoming, inclusive and person-centred culture.
People's experience of this service
People generally had a positive experience of living at the service. People told us they felt safe and liked the staff who supported them. Relatives described staff as kind, patient and welcoming, and we observed caring relationships had developed between people and staff. People’s privacy and dignity were respected, and staff encouraged them to remain independent.
A person told us, “I feel safe here,” and said staff were nice. A relative said, “I’m happy with the carers,” and confirmed their family member’s independence was promoted.
Staff supported people to make choices and maintain everyday skills. For example, 1 person was being helped to use an air fryer, while staff described encouraging people to prepare drinks, participate in personal care, go shopping and access activities or community facilities. Cultural and religious events were celebrated, and information was provided in different languages and accessible formats.