- Care home
Delamere Lodge
Assessment report published 30 April 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Dates of assessment: 13 January 2026, 21 January 2026, and remote review 22 January–9 February 2026.
Delamere Lodge Care home is a Residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 41 older people, including people living with dementia. At the time of our assessment the service supported 29 people.
The inspection was prompted in part by notification of a serious incident. The incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should[KW1] be taken. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident. However, the information shared with CQC about the incident indicated potential concerns about risk management and the inspection examined this.
There was a manager at the home who was not registered with us but was supported by a regional manager and the provider.
We identified areas that needed to improve such as gaps in fire drills and issues
around environmental cleanliness, infection prevention and control (IPC) Although the provider had taken some action to address concerns during and after the inspection, we found that improvements were not yet fully sustained.
Staffing levels were appropriate, and people received care from experienced staff. However, the home was supporting people living with mental health issues and more specific training and changes to their registration with us was required for this.
Staff told us they felt more supported, recent changes in leadership had led to an increase in staff morale, and staff spoke positively about the new manager, describing them as approachable and responsive.
The service had made some progress addressing previous oversight issues. Audits, provider visits and governance checks were regular and documented. The management team were visible, and there were clear plans for further improvements, including staff supervision, training, and an environmental refurbishment.
Medicines were administered safely and well managed overall. Staff recruitment was carried out safely with the appropriate checks in place.
People experienced positive outcomes and told us they felt respected, supported, and able to maintain important relationships. Staff promoted people’s wellbeing, and we saw a caring, inclusive culture. The provider had taken meaningful steps to be responsive to concerns.
People's experience of this service
People told us they felt cared for and treated with kindness by staff who knew them well. They said they felt safe in the home and confident raising any concerns with staff or managers. Relatives shared similar views, describing staff as "very kind" and expressing confidence that their family members were supported appropriately and treated with respect. Overall, people and relatives spoke positively about the relationships with staff, describing them as approachable and helpful. People and relatives described kind, compassionate staff who treated them with dignity and respect. One person told us, "The staff are good, there's no bullies, nothing like that," and another relative said staff were "marvellous, very helpful." People were supported to make everyday choices about their routines and preferences. Several people told us they were asked about what they liked, including food choices, and felt staff respected their decisions. Those who needed support with communication were helped by staff who knew how to adapt their approach to meet people's individual needs. People enjoyed a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in communal areas. We observed warm interactions during activities, including karaoke and small group exercises. Staff encouraged people to join in, and we saw people smiling, singing and taking part at their own pace. Some people told us they preferred to spend time in their rooms and were provided with one‑to‑one engagement, such as hand massage, conversation or help watching preferred television programmes. People who had recently joined the home said staff were getting to know them well and helped them settle People said meals were generally enjoyable and they were offered choices. Those who required support at mealtimes received assistance, and people told us they were asked what they would like to eat or drink. Staff were knowledgeable about different dietary needs and textures. Some people told us they liked the food and felt there was enough variety. Relatives said staff kept them informed about changes in their family member's health. Several relatives told us staff contacted them promptly when needed and involved them in discussions about care. People and relatives said they felt able to speak openly with staff or the manager and felt listened to. Overall, feedback from people currently using the service and their relatives was mostly positive. People described kind staff, supportive relationships, and a homely environment. People and relatives were not always offered the opportunity to express their views about their care. However, this was something the manager was improving.