Ashdown Lodge

Updated 15 April 2026

The assessment took place between 14 April 2026 to 14 May 2026. Ashdown Lodge is a small residential care home that is registered to support up to 13 people and provides care to older adults including people living with dementia and those with mild, moderate to severe frailty.

We undertook this inspection as part of our ongoing monitoring to provide an up-to-date assessment of compliance with regulatory requirements and to review the quality of care being delivered. On the day of our visit, the service was supporting 13 people.

There were shortfalls in aspects of the provider`s governance systems, including oversight, record keeping and the monitoring of care related improvements. Following feedback received during the assessment, the provider had begun reviewing governance systems and care records and had developed an action plan to address the areas for improvement. Despite these shortfalls, people’s needs continued to be met, in practice, by staff who knew them well and understood their needs, preferences and routines.

There was an established staff team who spoke confidently about their roles and responsibilities and demonstrated an understanding of how to protect people from harm. Systems were in place to support staff through training, supervision and ongoing development. Leaders promoted an inclusive and supportive culture where people and staff felt listened to, valued and able to raise concerns. Feedback channels were in place and there was evidence that suggestions, complaints and incidents were responded to appropriately with actions taken to support learning and improvements in practice.

The provider worked in partnership with healthcare professionals, including the GP practice and specialist NHS teams to support people's health and well-being. Systems were in place to monitor people`s health needs and support continuity of care, including at the end of life.

The provider took pride in maintaining a safe, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing environment that people had come to regard as their home. When asked about their experience of living at the service, a person summarised it as, “Great place, great staff, great food”.

Updated 15 April 2026

People were supported in a safe, caring and respectful environment, with a clear focus on maintaining their dignity, independence and quality of life. People told us they felt comfortable living at the service describing it as “homely”. People felt their dignity was respected and that their individual needs were understood and supported. People also told us the service felt like a family, which helped create a sense of belonging and reassurance.

We observed staff interacting with people in a warm and respectful manner, taking time to explain and involve them in decisions. People were relaxed in the company of staff and interactions were characterised by warmth, reassurance and familiarity. People spoke positively about staff being kind, caring and attentive, which helped people feel valued, reassured and comfortable within the service. A person told us, “There are a lot of good people here.”

People had access to activities and opportunities for social engagement based on their preferences and abilities. This included one to one interaction for people who chose to remain in their rooms or were cared for in bed. People told us they felt able to make day to day choices about their routines. A person told us, “I can get up when I want, and just do my own thing with just a little help.”

People, and where appropriate, their relatives, were involved in decisions about their health and well-being. People's religious and cultural needs were respected, and care was adapted to reflect what was important to them as individuals. People and their relatives told us they felt confident in staff skills and reassured that staff worked together with the shared intention of keeping people safe and protecting them from harm. A person told us, “They look after me very well, I consider myself to be very lucky.”

Systems were in place to manage concerns and complaints and to gather feedback from people. This feedback was used to make improvements within the service, including involving people in decisions about changes to the home environment. This helped people feel listened to, valued and reassured that their views mattered.

When asked about their overall experience of the service, a person told us, “I like it, friendly, warm, homely atmosphere. It has an open culture”.