• Care Home
  • Care home

Surrey Heights

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Brook Road, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 5UA (01428) 682734

Provided and run by:
Surrey Heights Dementia Care Centre Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 14 and 15 April 2025.
Surrey Heights is a residential care home providing support to adults of all ages living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, the service was home to 25 people. Surrey Heights can accommodate a maximum of 39 people. This assessment was prompted following concerns received around people’s risk management, safeguarding people from risk of harm or abuse and governance of people’s care.
People were not always fully protected and kept safe. Medicines were not always managed or administered safely as prescribed. People and their relatives were not always involved in assessments and reviews of their needs. Some care plans lacked detail and were not always reflective of people’s most current needs. Risks to people around areas such as their mobility were not always safely managed to prevent risk of harm. Staff did not ensure people’s informed consent was always obtained, and decisions were not always taken in people’s best interest where they did not have mental capacity. The manager did not have effective oversight of all staff members training and competency assessments. The management team investigated most incidents. However, we found some incidents were not investigated and reported to the local authority safeguarding team when required. The service did not always work well with external health and social care partners, to ensure people were able to access services when they needed them.
There were generally enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. People were supported by a compassionate and knowledgeable management and staff team who showed kindness and empathy when engaging with people.
People were confident their privacy and dignity were being upheld. Staff mostly responded to people in a timely way. The provider supported staff wellbeing. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment.
At this inspection, we found breaches of regulations related to safe care and treatment, medicines management, safeguarding, consent and governance.

15 November 2022

During a routine inspection

About the service

Surrey Heights is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 39 people. The service provides support to older and younger adults with dementia and other health related support and care needs. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received safe care and their individual risks were assessed in their care plans. People and their relatives told us they felt safe in the home and with staff. Staff knew how to protect people from avoidable harm, abuse or neglect and were competent in their roles. Staff supported people with compassion and kindness, communicating well with them even when they were in distress.

New staff were recruited safely. There was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

People’s care was personalised. Staff knew them well and respected their wishes and preferences. People could choose how to spend their days and were encouraged to do different things. Support was available for social activities and if people wanted to do their own things. One person told us, “I don’t feel lonely or bored.” Visitors were welcomed and the home had good links with the local community, working in effective partnership with health and social care services in the area.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The management team listened to people, their relatives and staff and enabled all to be involved in the home. They also monitored quality and safety of the home and the care provided. The management team took action to improve people’s experience of care and safety. For example, they addressed people’s changing needs and implemented actions based on lessons learnt from accidents and incidents. The culture of the home was positive, friendly, calm and staff told us they enjoyed working as a team and were well supported by their managers.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 11 August 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 30 August 2018.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by the length of time since the changes in registration of this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.