- Care home
The Old Vicarage Nursing and Residential Care Centre
Assessment report published 13 May 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
About the service
The Old Vicarage, a residential and nursing home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 60 people. At the time of the visit, 56 people were living at the service.
Support was delivered across 3 separate units across 2 floors. There were communal gardens around the building, which were accessible for people.
Who the service is for
The service supports older people including people living with dementia and people with physical health needs.
Our view of the service
We carried out this inspection on 29 April 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 told us they felt safe living at the home and relatives spoke positively about the care and support provided. We observed kind, respectful and unhurried interactions between staff and people throughout the day. Staff supported people safely with mobility and equipment, explaining what they were doing and offering reassurance. Medicines were managed safely across the home, with good systems in place, strong clinical oversight and effective involvement from GPs and other health professionals. The environment was clean, well maintained and free from hazards, with appropriate safety checks completed and equipment in good order. Staffing levels were stable, with no recent agency use, and staff described feeling well supported by visible and approachable leaders.
Care plans were generally in place and covered key areas of people’s needs and risks. However, some care records would benefit from further improvement to ensure information is clear, consistent and action-focused. Some minor inconsistencies were identified in areas such as mobility guidance, nutrition support, pressure care and emotional support, and there were gaps in some daily records. We fed this back and the provider has since taken action to address these issues.
The service was calm, with strong medicines management, stable staffing and positive leadership. Addressing the identified care planning and recording issues would strengthen assurance and help ensure people continue to receive safe, person-centred and consistent care.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen.
People's experience of this service
People told us they had a positive experience of living at The Old Vicarage and felt safe, comfortable and well cared for. During our visit, the atmosphere across most areas of the home was calm, welcoming and relaxed. People appeared settled and at ease in communal areas, and those who preferred quieter spaces were supported to spend time in their rooms.
People consistently described staff as kind, patient and caring. One person told us, “I love it here, everything is great, the staff are lovely and they look after me.” Another person said, “I feel very safe here, the staff are kind and they like me.” Relatives also spoke positively about the care provided and told us they felt confident raising any concerns if needed.
We carried out observations of care and saw staff interacting with people in a respectful, compassionate and unhurried way. Staff explained what they were doing, offered reassurance and used clear verbal prompts when supporting people with mobility. We observed people being supported using stand aids and hoists safely and with dignity. One person became anxious during lunchtime and staff responded promptly, offering reassurance and discreet support until they felt settled.
Mealtimes were observed to be well organised and responsive. People were offered choice and alternatives, and food looked fresh and appealing. Staff checked preferences, offered drinks regularly and supported people at their own pace. One person told us, “The food is nice and there’s plenty of choice.” Another said, “I enjoyed my breakfast, they bring the food to me.”
People were supported to take part in activities that interested them. During the visit, some people were engaged in creative activities such as painting, while others chose to watch television, read newspapers or spend time in the garden. People told us they enjoyed activities such as bingo, singers and themed events. One person said, “I like doing my drawing and colouring, I’ve got my books and pens.”
Throughout the day, people were supported in a way that respected their privacy, dignity and independence. Call bells were answered in a timely way, and staff were attentive to people’s comfort and personal care needs. People had a positive experience of care, supported by kind staff who knew them well and responded to their needs in a compassionate and person‑centred way.