Alan Morkill House

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

Date of assessment: 13/14 January 2026.

Alan Morkill House provides residential and dementia care for up to 49 older people who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 49 people using the service, all of whom were receiving personal care.

This was a focused assessment that focused on certain quality statements and not all quality statements were considered as part of this assessment. This assessment took place due to the length of time since the previous rated inspection in 2019.

During the assessment we spoke with people, their relatives, the registered manager, management team, and staff to get their feedback about the service regarding how people’s personal care needs were being met. We also contacted healthcare professionals for their feedback regarding care and support provided.

The care and support people received was of a good standard, safely delivered, and provided by professional, competent, and well-trained staff. The provider appropriately recruited staff, and people were enabled, and supported to take positive risks in a proactive, encouraging, manner that enhanced their quality of life. Staff were attentive to people not becoming socially isolated by fostering and promoting a community philosophy. Activities were tailored to people’s needs as individuals as well as in group settings. The care home was run along the lines of people and their wishes coming first rather than being task driven. Staff provided people with good support as a team, irrespective of their specific roles, in a joined up, integrated way. Where required this included involving external healthcare professionals. People’s independence was enhanced by staff providing them with choices and alternatives promoting a holistic approach to care. It included people having control over when they received care and support and how it was delivered with staff being aware of people’s preferences. People’s consent to care, and treatment was recorded in their care plans and they were encouraged and supported to maintain healthy diets whilst having a variety of meal choices. The provider systems monitored the support that staff provided to encourage and drive improved experiences, and outcomes for people. The service was well led, with good governance, communication, and effective monitoring systems.

People's experience of this service

People told us there was a positive management approach with attention to detail for each individual person. Staff made themselves available and responsive to any concerns or queries people and their relatives had which were acted upon. People, and their relatives told us the service was professionally managed, and staff treated people as individuals with kindness, compassion, and respect. They ensured people received good equitable service experiences. People told us that staff were respectful, friendly, and provided good care, and support. People said staff were skilled, well-trained, and provided a safe service, which enabled them to experience positive outcomes. People were able to live safely, by the support provided and they were protected from the risk of abuse and harm. The registered manager and staff team were responsive to people’s changing needs, concerns, and provided them and their relatives with support to understand safeguarding and how to keep safe. People knew how to raise concerns if they felt unsafe but added that this rarely happened. People and their relatives said support provided was responsive, prompt, attentive, and appropriate. Staff constantly monitored people’s needs, wishes, and worked well together as a team to meet them. People and their relatives had choice and control over the way staff provided care and support and when this happened. Staff encouraged and supported people to do as much as they could for themselves to maintain and improve their independence. They were supported to maintain social, and family contacts, and pursue interests, and hobbies to reduce social isolation. A person said, “I feel so safe here with [member of staff].” A relative told us, “More than happy, I can rely on the staff to keep [person using the service] safe.”