Four Oaks Care Home

Updated 11 August 2026

Date of assessment: 27 August 2026 to 23 September 2026

Four Oaks Care Home is a care home providing accommodation, personal care and nursing care for older people, including people living with dementia. At the time of the assessment there were 57 people living at the service.

This assessment was prompted in part by information of concern, safeguarding activity, statutory notifications and the length of time since the previous assessment. Historical concerns had included medicines incidents, nutrition and hydration safeguarding concerns, governance weaknesses and a period of leadership instability. We found the provider had recognised these concerns and taken action to improve the quality and safety of care. Leaders demonstrated an understanding of previous weaknesses and could explain the measures introduced to address them.

People were supported by staff who were caring, respectful and familiar with their needs. During the assessment we observed positive interactions between staff and people using the service. People and their relatives generally spoke positively about the quality of care provided and the relationships they had developed with staff. The home was clean, well maintained and provided a calm and welcoming environment. Staffing arrangements were sufficient to meet people's needs and support the safe delivery of care.

People benefited from care that was supported by governance, monitoring and risk management arrangements. Improvements to medicines management, nutritional oversight, safeguarding review processes and clinical monitoring had strengthened the provider's ability to identify concerns, respond to risks and support people's safety and wellbeing. Staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals and specialist services to ensure care reflected people's changing needs and circumstances.

Although improvements were evident, some areas remained under development. Medicines governance continued to require close oversight, and the quality of documentation was not always consistent. The provider was continuing to embed improvements following recent leadership and workforce changes.

Overall, people received safe, effective, caring, responsive and increasingly well-led care. Risks were generally recognised, monitored and managed appropriately, and improvements introduced by the provider were helping to strengthen oversight, safety and quality across the service. While further work was required to embed some improvements fully, this did not detract from the positive care and support people were receiving.

Updated 11 August 2026

People and their relatives were positive about the care and support provided at Four Oaks Care Home; many described staff as kind, respectful and attentive, and spoke warmly about the relationships they had developed with them. One relative told us, "The staff take time to find out about individuals, I would highly recommend this home." Feedback consistently indicated people felt cared for by staff who knew them well and understood their individual needs, preferences and routines. We observed staff interactions with people were warm, respectful and supportive. People appeared comfortable and relaxed in their surroundings, and there was a calm atmosphere throughout the home.

People and their relatives told us they felt informed about important changes affecting their care, health and wellbeing. Families described communication as open and supportive and said staff kept them updated when concerns arose or healthcare professionals became involved. Many relatives spoke positively about the reassurance provided by staff and the confidence this gave them in the care their family member received.

People were supported to make choices about their daily lives, including meals, routines and activities. Residents described enjoying opportunities to socialise, participate in activities and spend time with family and friends. Relatives told us staff encouraged people to remain engaged and maintain important relationships. Although some relatives continued to express disappointment regarding the loss of a lounge space during building works, they also recognised the provider had listened to concerns, communicated plans and introduced alternative arrangements to minimise disruption.

People told us they felt safe living at the service. Relatives described improvements following previous concerns and said staff responded when issues were raised and took action to address them. People's feedback and our observations indicated people were receiving care from staff who were committed to their safety, wellbeing and quality of life.