Haydock Lodge

Updated 3 March 2026

Haydock Lodge was assessed between 26 March and 2 April 2025. The service is a residential care home providing specialist rehabilitation and accommodation for up to 30 people living with an acquired brain injury, across the Newton, Willows and Lowton Units. At the time of inspection, 12 people were living at the service. The assessment was prompted due to an aged rating.

People were protected from harm because staff understood risks well, acted promptly when issues arose and used clear, regularly reviewed assessments to guide practice. The environment was clean, calm and well maintained, and staffing levels ensured people received consistent support from staff who knew them well. Medicines were managed safely, and incidents were reviewed to support learning and improvement.

Care and support were effective and led to positive rehabilitation outcomes. Staff had strong knowledge and skills in acquired brain injury and used this to tailor support around people’s strengths and aspirations. The multidisciplinary team worked cohesively, ensuring care plans were current, meaningful and centred on rehabilitation goals. People were supported to take an active role in their recovery, and communication with families and external professionals was well coordinated.

Staff were consistently kind, respectful and patient. People told us they felt listened to and valued, and we observed interactions which reflected warmth, understanding and trust. Privacy, dignity and individual identity were central to care, and people were supported to maintain relationships important to them.

The service responded well to people’s changing needs. Support plans were personalised, and therapeutic and daily living activities were tailored for each person. People felt their views were taken seriously, and concerns or complaints were handled appropriately. Transitions out of the service were planned carefully and thoughtfully.

The service was well led, with experienced and visible managers who promoted a positive, open and improvement‑focused culture. Governance systems provided strong oversight of quality and safety, and feedback from people and professionals was used to drive development. There was a clear commitment to independence, rehabilitation and person‑centred practice. Innovative therapeutic approaches and consistent staff engagement contributed to areas of outstanding practice, and people achieved meaningful, sustained progress as a result.

Updated 3 March 2026

People consistently reported excellent experiences of living at the service. They told us they had genuine choice and control over their daily lives and felt fully supported by staff who were caring, dedicated and highly motivated in their roles. Staff understood people’s needs in depth, knew their preferences extremely well and consistently took their wishes, goals and individual routines into account when planning and delivering care. People were treated with dignity and respect, and staff promoted independence at every appropriate opportunity, encouraging individuals to try new things and build confidence.

The feedback we received from people using the service was overwhelmingly positive. Many described feeling safe, valued and listened to. One person told us, “I am safe and happy,” while another said, “They help you a lot.” Several people told us they felt comfortable speaking up because they trusted staff to respond, with one person commenting, “I feel I can speak up and they will act.” People described staff as kind, patient and approachable, saying, “They are good people” and “It’s nice here.” Others told us they had developed positive relationships with staff, explaining, “I like the staff. I have a good relationship with them,” and emphasised support was always available when needed, saying, “They are there if I need anything” and “They will listen.” One person also highlighted the accessibility and supportiveness of management, telling us, “The registered manager is always there if I ever need anything.”

People told us they were “really happy” living at the service and spoke about how much they enjoyed having the freedom and opportunity to take part in activities meaningful to them. This included preparing their own meals, spending time in the community and engaging in hobbies or routines important to their wellbeing and sense of independence. Several people commented on how staff encouraged them to make their own choices and supported them to learn or develop new skills, which helped them feel more confident and in control of their daily lives.

Visiting professionals echoed this positive feedback. They praised the quality of staff engagement, the standard of communication across the team and the clear therapeutic progress people were making. Professionals noted staff demonstrated warmth, patience and consistency, contributing to people feeling secure and supported.

Staff spoke passionately and proudly about their work. They described a strong, supportive team culture where promoting positive outcomes for people was seen as a shared responsibility. Many told us how meaningful it was to see the people they supported develop new abilities, gain confidence and achieve personal goals. This collective sense of commitment and compassion was evident throughout the service and contributed significantly to the positive experiences reported by people, their relatives and professionals.