- Care home
Wilkinson Park
Assessment report published 10 November 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
The assessment was carried out between 1 September and 30 September 2025.
Wilkinson Park is a residential care home which provides personal care for up to 21 people, including people with learning disabilities and those with complex behaviours. Accommodation is provided over 2 floors and there are 3 separate accommodation areas where people live more independently. There were 17 people using the service at the time of our inspection, although only 7 people were receiving the regulated activity, ‘Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care,’ at the time of the assessment.
At the last inspection in June 2023, we rated the home as requires improvement. This assessment was undertaken to follow up on previous concerns and breaches of regulations. At this inspection we found changes had been made to systems within the service. The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to quality monitoring and safety. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.
The service had enough staff to support people who required personal care. Appropriate checks had been undertaken to ensure staff had the right skills and backgrounds. People, relatives and professionals all highlighted there were insufficient staff working at the service who could drive, which could limit people’s ability to access the community and attend appointments on time. Staff had received a range of training and supervision to allow them to support people.
Medicines were managed effectively and safely. An electronic reporting system was used to minimise errors and omissions. Safeguarding events were recorded, and action taken to ensure the local authority and CQC were informed. People’s needs were assessed prior to them coming to live at the home and care plans were reviewed and updated. People told us they were involved in reviews, although some relatives did not always feel involved.
Some areas of the home needed improving and the registered manager had a plan to address this. Developments that had been highlighted at the previous inspection, including the development of a gym area and allotment had not yet been fully implemented and the registered manager was aware of this. Advances had been made to try and improve the cleanliness of the home. We spoke with the registered manager about further action that could improve this area.
People were supported to have choice and control in their daily lives, as far as possible. Families and friends were able to visit at any time. People raised concerns about the difficulty of accessing the community, due to both the location of the service and the lack of drivers. These concerns were also raised by professionals and relatives. Some actions recorded as activities were hospital or health visits. Activities people were able to engage in were in line with responses people had made in satisfaction questionnaires.
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 respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. The registered manager had a good understanding of what the service needed to do to best support people, and this ethos was supported by all staff within the organisation.
The registered manager had instigated a range of systems to monitor the quality of the service and review its effectiveness. Staff said they were well supported by the registered manager and other senior staff and could raise concerns freely. The registered manager was actively trying to engage with the local community.
People's experience of this service
People told us they felt safe at the service and there were enough staff to support them with their needs. People told us about the difficulty accessing the community due to the lack of drivers on the staff roll. They told us staff were helpful, and when they did go out, supported them to engage in activities they enjoyed. They felt part of the issue was the isolation of the service. One person told us, “I can get out only if they have a driver. I have my own car, but I need a driver. There is not always a driver on the staff.”
Relatives also raised concerns about the location and the inability of people to be able to come and go as they pleased. Comments included, “They seem okay, but it is just too quiet for them. They can’t get out on their bike like they used to” and “They can’t really get out, because its in the middle of nowhere.”
People told us staff were kind and supportive. Comments included, “The staff are excellent. I get 1:1 support from the staff”, “The staff are good – caring – always listen” and “[Staff name] is absolutely fantastic – sticks up for me, looks after me, doesn’t abuse me. [Staff name] can be good as well.” Relatives felt the staff were kind and attentive. They told us, “The staff are great – very good. They are safe there.”
Relatives raised concerns about the cleanliness of the home, although also stated they visited infrequently. Comments included, “They seem to be alright, but it’s not the best place in the world. It never really looks clean” and “I’ve only been up 3 times, but it looks a bit smelly and dirty.” People did not raise concerns about the environment of the home. They told us they were able to keep their rooms as they wished.
People told us they felt well supported by the registered manager and that they would listen to any concerns they had and would act on them. One person told us, “[Registered manager] pops in to see me regularly, she is there if I need her.”