Summerfield Private Residential Home

Updated 21 April 2026

Dates of assessment: 21 May to 10 June 2026. We visited the service on the 21 and 28 May 2026.Summerfield Private Residential Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 32 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. Accommodation is provided over 2 floors with single and 2 double rooms. At the time of the assessment the service was supporting 30 people.

The last comprehensive assessment was carried out in February 2018, and the service was rated Good. Our decision to inspect the service was due to the age of this rating.

The rating at this assessment has changed to Requires improvement. We identified 1 breach of regulation relating to governance.

Governance processes were not robust in identifying or addressing issues. Concerns we found during the assessment had not been identified or addressed through the provider's quality assurance audits. Accident and incident recording was not always robust, and analysis did not consider wider themes or shared learning. Risks to people were not always managed safely. People’s care records did not always reflect their current needs or the support they required. Where people lacked capacity, decision specific mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were not always in place. Medicines were not always managed safely. We made a safeguarding referral relating to omissions in people’s care records, environmental risks not fully assessed and incomplete accident reports.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, and they worked well together as a team. Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, respect and compassion. The service worked closely with other professionals to ensure people’s needs were being met in a timely and coordinated way. People’s nutritional needs were met with a variety of meals, snacks and drinks provided. A range of activities were provided both inhouse and out in the community.

The environment was homely, well-furnished and maintained to a good standard. Rooms were personalised, promoting individuality. Good standards of hygiene and cleanliness were maintained.

The management team were visible and approachable, working alongside staff providing support. The provider responded positively to the concerns we identified during the assessment. We requested an action plan which was provided, detailing the actions already taken and those in progress. An updated service improvement plan was also provided.

Updated 21 April 2026

People and relatives spoke positively about the service and the staff. People felt safe in the home and around the other people who lived there. One person said, “The staff seem to be able to divert residents who may be distressed by talking with them about happy memories or singing songs the resident likes.”

People said staff were very kind and caring and asked for their consent before proceeding with any support. One person told us they required help with washing and dressing and said the staff always asked if it was okay for them to do this. Another person said, “It’s lovely to have someone to help me when I have a shower as I can’t wash my back and they do it willingly.” People said staff were patient and did not rush them. One person said, “When they take me to the lounge or dining room in my wheelchair, they never go too fast and they always chat while we are moving.”

People and relatives, we spoke with all said they would recommend the home.

One relative said, “My [family member] has been here for [many] years. We’re happy with everything, [they’re] happy here and settled. We feel [family member] is safe.” Another relative told us they were very happy with how staff spoke to their [family member] about things that were happening in the service.

A further relative said, “I am very happy with the home. When we looked round before accepting a room here, both my [other relative] and I felt it was very homely and not at all institutionalised.”

Relatives were happy with visiting arrangements and said they were always made welcome. One relative said, “I can come anytime although the home does say they would prefer it if visitors didn’t come over mealtimes. As my [family member] eats in [their] room I still visit anytime.”