Willow Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 8 July 2026

This assessment took place between 23 to 29 September 2026. This service is a care home providing nursing and personal care to up to 28 people. People using the service have a range of needs, including learning disabilities, dementia and mental health needs.

We assessed the service against ‘right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people received respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were effectively managed, and systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. There were enough suitably trained staff to meet people’s needs and provide safe, effective and high-quality care. Staff were supported with their learning, development and wellbeing and worked well together and with others involved in people’s care to provide consistent support. Recruitment processes were robust and infection prevention and control measures were managed well.

People were involved in assessments of their needs and received person-centred care tailored to their individual needs and preferences. People’s care and support was regularly reviewed to ensure it remained effective and promoted positive outcomes. People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing and received their medicines as prescribed. Staff understood people’s communication needs and supported them to understand their care, enabling informed consent and helping people to make decisions and maintain choice and control over their care and support. People were treated fairly and equally, including in relation to protected equality characteristics, and were supported to access care and support when needed.

The service was led by an experienced registered manager who understood people’s needs and promoted an open and inclusive culture where people and staff could raise concerns, and these were listened to and acted upon. Staff felt valued and were supported in their roles. Effective governance systems helped identify and address shortfalls and supported a culture of learning, inclusion and partnership working. This helped drive continuous improvement and positive outcomes for people.

Updated 8 July 2026

People, their relatives and healthcare professionals spoke positively about the care provided by staff and the outcomes people experienced. A relative told us, “[Family member] has been here about 5 years. It’s really good. I think this is because for them it’s the continuity and consistency of the staff team, which is a real bonus.” A friend of a person using the service said, “We are all pleased with the place and care. It feels nice and homely and the staff are kind and friendly...[Person] is happy here.” A healthcare professional told us, “From my experience, the service takes the safety and wellbeing of the people they support seriously. I feel confident in the quality of care they provide and their commitment to maintaining good standards.”

We used a structured observation tool to assess whether people received good care. Our observations showed staff consistently interacted positively with people and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.

People were listened to and involved in decisions about their care. Staff understood people’s individual needs, choices, wishes and preferences and provided person-centred care that reflected these. People had choice and control over how their care was provided and were supported to take part in activities tailored to their needs. People’s health and wellbeing was monitored to ensure they experienced effective outcomes. People were supported to maintain relationships with those who mattered to them. Family and friends were welcomed at the service and faced no restrictions in maintaining contact with people. Staff worked effectively with other professionals, sharing information and acting on recommendations to ensure people received consistent, joined-up care.

People and their families were encouraged to provide feedback and raise concerns. Senior staff responded positively to feedback and took action to make improvements when needed. The service was well managed and promoted an open and inclusive culture focused on people’s safety, wellbeing and their experience of care.