Updated 17 August 2025
Date of Assessment: 15 September to 27 October 2025. Applegarth Nursing Home is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 53 people who have complex physical health conditions. At the time of the inspection 39 people used the service.
At our previous inspection, the provider was in breach of the regulations relating to safe care and treatment and good governance. Although an action plan was submitted following the inspection, we found at this assessment, insufficient action had been taken to address the concerns identified.
We found 2 breaches of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment (which includes medicines and infection prevention and control), and good governance. There was continued breaches of safe care and treatment and good governance.
While initial steps, during the assessment, had been taken to address some of the identified concerns, it remained necessary for the provider to resolve all outstanding issues identified at our previous inspection published in March 2024. Improvements needed to be embedded into everyday practice and fully monitored.
Medicines management was inconsistent, with unsecured storage, posing a risk to safe care.
There was enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff training, in places, needed improved. Staff had not received support through regular supervisions or appraisals. Recruitment followed best practice, although interview records needed more detail.
We found safety issues, including unlocked hazardous storage areas.
Hygiene standards were insufficient in several areas, including essential care equipment, which compromised infection control and the overall safety of the environment. The home was in need of further updates to its decoration, particularly to chipped paintwork. Although some refurbishment and improvements had been made, further work was required, including to flooring.
Structured and regular audits were in place, but there were gaps in operational delivery in some key areas, particularly medicines. Governance systems were not effective in driving improvements, particularly in medication, environmental risks, and record keeping. Lessons from our previous assessment and internal reviews had not been fully embedded into practice.
Food and fluids provided people with adequate nutrition and met dietary requirements, although kitchen records needed updated.
Communication was mentioned by staff and healthcare professionals as an area which needed to be improved. This included answering healthcare professional queries in a timely manner and communication between staff and management. The provider produced a plan to address this.
Staff were kind and compassionate and this was confirmed by people, relatives, and healthcare professionals.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment. We will organise a meeting with the provider to understand how they plan to achieve a rating of at least good.