- Care home
Cedar Grange
Assessment report published 23 December 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 21 and 24 November 2025
Cedar Grange is a residential care home providing support to up to 31 older people, some of whom were living with dementia. There were 27 people living at the home at the time of our inspection; 19 people in the main house and 8 people in a purpose-built separate facility called ‘the Lodge’.
This inspection was to follow up on actions from the last inspection in February 2022. At that inspection the provider was in breach of legal regulations relating to safety and governance at the service. We also made recommendations about the administration and recording of medicines.
This inspection has found Cedar Grange has made improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations. Cedar Grange has also improved the administration and recording of medicines.
People and relatives generally reported positive experiences. Safeguarding processes were robust, and staff were confident in raising concerns.
Care was person-centred, with staff promoting independence and routines. Activities such as baking and themed events were appreciated. Food was described as “good” and the chef was very knowledgeable, with lots of alternative meals available to accommodate people’s diets and preferences. However, some concerns were raised about meals not always being warm in the Lodge.
People enjoyed kind and compassionate care from a consistent staff team. Staff interactions were warm, friendly, calm and respectful.
Leadership and culture had improved. Staff described management as approachable, with an open-door policy. Governance systems were in place. The registered manager acknowledged there were some minor areas of weakness and was committed to strengthening oversight.
People's experience of this service
People and their relatives shared mixed but generally positive experiences of living at Cedar Grange. Most people felt safe, cared for, and respected, and relatives described staff as “kind and compassionate” and “beautiful people”.
People told us they felt safe and supported. A relative told us, “I feel my [relative] is well supported by staff to move around and prevent falls. I am confident that my [relative] is safe.” Another commented, “I feel [Name] is kept safe by the staff.” Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and accident procedures, and relatives confirmed they could raise concerns and felt listened to. However, 2 relatives expressed worries about staff presence in the Lodge. Although the issue had been resolved, relatives told us they felt their confidence in staffing levels had been affected.
People were supported to maintain routines and independence where possible. Staff described activities such as baking, games and themed events. Relatives praised the activities coordinator as “brilliant”. A relative said, “I know my [relative] gets staff spending time with them on a 1-to-1. It’s lovely for [Name]. They have a train set that the staff get out for them and set it up.” However, some relatives felt more could be done, with 1 noting, “[Name] gets attention, but they don’t do a lot of activities, a few more would be nice.”
Food was generally described as good, with positive comments about improvements in people’s diet and health. A relative said, “Routine and good food has definitely contributed to this improvement in [Name]’s health.” Staff demonstrated flexibility, for example, offering alternatives when someone changed their mind about a meal. The cook was experienced and keen to cater for all dietary needs and preferences. However, some relatives raised concerns about meals being “just ok” or “not always warm”, particularly for those people who lived in the Lodge.
Staff were observed to be kind, calm and respectful. Staff supported people at their own pace during meals and used gentle encouragement. For people unable to communicate verbally, staff monitored body language and facial expressions to gauge comfort and needs. A relative told us, “[Name] is treated with kindness and respect. [Name] does need a lot of patience shown to them and the staff do.” However, all the relatives we spoke with raised concerns about bathing and showering. The environment was noted as a factor, with limited facilities and bathrooms used for storage, which we discussed with the registered manager who told us they would use alternative storage to provide a better bathing experience. None of the people living at the service were observed to be unkempt.
People and relatives described staff as approachable and caring. Comments included, “The staff and management are very approachable. Always available if necessary” and “Most of the staff are very caring and compassionate.” Staff themselves spoke positively about teamwork and management support. A staff member said, “[The registered manager] has an open-door policy.” Relatives confirmed they knew how to complain and felt issues were addressed. Family feedback indicated confidence in staff capability. A relative said, “I have never had a time when I have questioned the staff’s capabilities.”