The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Rutland Road Care Home

Overall: Outstanding read more about inspection ratings

37 Rutland Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1DG (01234) 344729

Provided and run by:
Bedfordshire Supported Housing Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

This assessment took place between 11 February 2026 and 25 March 2026. We visited the service on 11 and 17 February 2026.

Rutland Road Care Home is a care home supporting people who have a mental health need, are autistic or have a learning disability or may be living with dementia. It provides accommodation with personal care to up to 5 people in a Victorian style residential premises. At the beginning of this assessment 4 people were living at the service although another person moved in during the assessment period.

This was the first assessment of this service carried out under our single assessment framework and we looked at all quality statements. This was an unannounced assessment completed by 1 inspector.

We assessed the service against ‘Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

People were protected from avoidable harm through clear systems, exceptionally strong oversight and a positive safety culture. Staff fully understood safeguarding and responded promptly to concerns. Risks were assessed with people, promoting independence while ensuring safety, and the environment and staffing levels supported safe care.

Care was based on up to‑ date assessments and excellent communication within the team and with external professionals. Staff actively promoted informed decision‑making and applied the Mental Capacity Act correctly, supporting people to make decisions and respecting their choices without judgement. Staff always treated people with dignity and compassion and supported their individual preferences, culture and identity exceptionally well. People were truly empowered to make choices and access opportunities that developed their confidence and skills. Where suitable and meaningful opportunities were not available, the provider worked with people to understand what they needed and took action to create new opportunities to meet these needs. Staff responded quickly and with exceptional sensitivity to people’s needs and showed strong awareness of individual communication styles. Care plans were updated with people, and information was provided in accessible formats enabling them to be true partners in their care. People were supported to raise concerns and saw improvements as a result. Leadership was strong, inclusive and values driven. The provider promoted transparency, learning and continuous improvement. Exceptionally strong governance systems ensured effective oversight, and partnership working supported good outcomes. The service maintained a strongly positive culture focused on enabling people to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

11 August 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

About the service

Runtland Road Care Home is a care home providing accommodation for up to five people, for persons who require nursing or personal care, Learning disabilities, Mental health conditions.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service took names and contact details on arrival. Temperatures were taken and sanitiser was readily available.

The service had supported people to be educated about the virus and the importance of wearing masks when out of their house. This meant that people could go out independently again. One person said they enjoyed being in the home and they were happy that the restrictions had reduced so they could go out to the shops and cinema.

The accommodation does not support the recommended guidance; however the staff were proactively managing this as well as they could. This had been shown by the minimal impact that had occurred when there was an outbreak of the virus in the home.

People had access to activities of interest. For example, they had completed wall art in the garden and put together wellness envelops when a person was feeling low. The wellness envelops had supportive sentences and quotes. These were introduced if there was a time where the service user did not want to approach a staff member but wanted to hear something positive and supportive. This had been very popular for people living with in the home.

14 March 2018

During a routine inspection

Rutland Road Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The care home provides accommodation and care for up to five people living with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection five people were living in the home.

At our last inspection we rated the service 'good'. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of 'good' and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were safe because there were effective risk assessments in place, and systems to keep them safe from abuse or harm. There was sufficient numbers of staff to support people safely. Staff took appropriate precautions to ensure people were protected from the risk of acquired infections. People’s medicines were managed safely, and there was evidence of learning from incidents.

People’s needs had been assessed and they had care plans that took account of their individual needs, preferences, and choices. Staff had regular supervision and they had been trained to meet people’s individual needs effectively. The requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were being met, and staff understood their roles and responsibilities to seek people’s consent prior to care and support being provided. People had been supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their health and wellbeing. They were also supported to access healthcare services.

People were supported by caring, friendly and respectful staff. They were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff regularly reviewed the care provided to people with their input to ensure that this continued to meet their individual needs, in a person-centred way. The provider had an effective system to handle complaints and concerns. People had a choice about the care they wanted at the end of their lives.

The registered manager provided stable leadership and effective support to the staff. People, relatives and staff feedback was listened to and improvements made in a timely way. The provider had effective quality monitoring systems in place to ensure that they consistently provided a service that was safe, effective, compassionate and of good quality.

3 & 4 December 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 3 & 4 December 2015 and was unannounced.

Rutland Road Care Home is registered to provide care and support for up to five people who are living with mental illness. There were five people living at the service when we visited.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse and how to report them. People reported feeling safe in the company of staff.

There were processes in place to manage identifiable risks. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to maintain their independence.

The provider carried out recruitment checks on new staff to make sure they were fit to work at the service.

There were suitable and sufficient staff with the appropriate skill mix available to support people with their needs.

Systems were in place to ensure people were supported to take their medicines safely and at the appropriate times.

Staff had been provided with induction and on-going essential training to keep their skills up to date. They were also provided with regular supervision.

Staff ensured that people’s consent was gained before providing them with support.

People were supported to make decisions about their care and support needs; and this was underpinned by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were knowledgeable of the guidance and followed the correct processes to protect people.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and were able to make choices on what they wished to eat and drink.

If required, people were supported by staff to access other healthcare facilities and were registered with a GP.

Positive and caring relationships had been developed between people and staff.

There were processes in place to ensure that people’s views were acted on; and staff provided care and support to people in a meaningful way.

Where possible people were encouraged to maintain their independence and staff ensured their privacy and dignity were promoted.

To ensure people’s identified needs would be adequately met; pre-admission assessments were undertaken before they moved into the service.

A complaints procedure had been developed to enable people to raise concerns if they needed to.

There was a positive, open and inclusive culture at the service; and the leadership was transparent and visible, which inspired staff to provide a quality service.

Effective quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and to drive continuous improvements.

12 December 2013

During a routine inspection

People said they liked living at Rutland Road Care Home. They told us the home was close to the town centre which they liked. On the day we visited, one person was going to the local driving range. From their care records we saw they liked to do this on a regular basis. Staff were supportive in making these arrangements and accompanied the person.

We found the home to be relaxed and staff supportive of people's needs. We spoke with two people who said they were happy with the staff support. One person said, 'It's alright here.' Another person said, 'The staff are ok.'

We reviewed people's care records and found documents to show people gave consent to support. In the care plans we saw people had been involved in planning their care needs and consented to care when appropriate.

We found people had contact with professionals who supported them and staff deliver care appropriate to their needs. For instance, support was provided for people on Community Treatment Orders and after being detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

We spoke with two staff, who said they received guidance and support from the manager. They also said they received appropriate training and were supported to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Staff records we reviewed evidenced staff training and supervision.

We found the quality of the service provision was monitored on a regular basis, and that action plans were produced as a result of findings.