During an assessment under our new approach
About the service
Bridgedale House, is a care Home. It provides accommodation and personal care to older people, including people living with dementia. It can accommodate up to 25 people in a converted older property. At the time of the assessment, 20 people were living at the service.
Who the service is for
The service supports older people and people living with dementia.
Key findings
We commenced this assessment on 1 September and completed on 8 September 2026, we carried out a site visit on 1 September 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
People received personalised care based on comprehensive assessments of their health, wellbeing, communication, and support needs. Where people were able they, were actively involved in planning and reviewing their care, with involvement of those important to them. We found care plans were person centred and provided staff with detailed information on how to support people based on their assessed needs, choices and preferences. A relative told us, “We found the whole admission experience wonderful. The manager and deputy manager visited us at home and arranged admission within the week. Could not have been smoother.”
Health and social care professionals spoke highly of the service’s partnership working, responsiveness and commitment to achieving positive outcomes. One said, “I’ve found it to be one of the most organised, calm, welcoming and friendly homes I visit. The staff take time with residents and visitors and whenever I’ve asked for something it is organised immediately.” Another said, “My experience working with the home is a positive one and the team seem responsive and organised in caring for people.”
Staff were exceptionally caring and treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and delivered support in line with people’s preferences. We saw evidence of people’s independence and choice being respected and promoted. Staff respected people and interactions we observed were inclusive. One staff member said, “If we are happy, work well as a team then the people we support are happy.”
Environmental risks were managed and appropriate risk assessments were carried out and reviewed. However, we identified moving and handling and nutritional risk assessments, care plans and food charts required more detail to ensure effective monitoring and people’s safety. These were addressed immediately by the management team to ensure people's safety.
The service demonstrated a positive learning culture, where feedback, training and reflective practice was used to continuously improve the quality of care being delivered. All feedback given to the management team during our assessment was acted on, the registered manager carried out lessons learnt and disseminated the learning to all staff. This ensured implemented improved systems of work were embedded into practice to achieve positive outcomes for people.
People told us they felt they could raise concerns and felt listened to. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent.
The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. People told us they felt safe when receiving care from the service. Management and staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and concerns were responded to appropriately.
We checked and found that staff and management worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
We found that staff had the appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality care. Where individuals required specialist support, this was effectively provided by the service. All staff we spoke with told us the training was very good. People spoke highly of the staff, one said, “The staff are very pleasant and well spoken. They treat you with respect. They seem to know what they are doing and work well as a team”.
Staff were recruited safely, with all necessary pre-employment checks completed. Staff also received regular competency assessments and supervision to ensure staff received the support they needed to carry out their roles confidently and safely. Staff spoke positively about working at Bridgedale House, one said, “We work really well together, and support each other.” Another said, “We are a good team, well supported by the manager.”
The service had effective systems in place to ensure people’s voices were heard and documented during the assessment and review process, this ensured people’s feedback was gathered and any concerns acted upon in a timely manner.
Leaders had clear roles, accountability, and effective governance systems in place to deliver high-quality care. They maintained strong oversight of performance and risks, using audits and reviews to drive continuous improvement. The registered manager was passionate and continually looked at ways to learn and improve the service.