- Care home
Sandpiper Care Home
Assessment report published 28 May 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of inspection: 7, 8 and 14 April 2026. The service is a care home without nursing, supporting older people and people living with dementia and physical disabilities.
Safeguarding, medicines management, infection control and the environment were safe and well managed. Systems for transitions and risk management worked well. However, staffing levels and some gaps in skills meant people were not always supported consistently at times of distress. Records and staff knowledge about responding to distress needed improvement, although action had started.
People’s needs were assessed and care was based on evidence and good partnership working. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and consent was managed well. Monitoring systems focused more on tasks than on people’s experiences and outcomes. Records were sometimes inconsistent and relatives did not always feel involved in reviews.
Most people experienced kind, respectful care and staff were observed to be warm and supportive. People were treated as individuals and supported to maintain choice, independence and control and gave positive feedback about their care. However, the language used in some records and by some staff was not always respectful. Support to anticipate and reduce emotional distress was not always effective and staff wellbeing was not consistently supported.
Person-centred care was promoted and coordinated, with good information sharing and accessible communication. People generally felt listened to. However, feedback and involvement did not always lead to clear improvements and outcomes were not consistently shared with people. The service planned well for future and end of life needs, though staff training in this area was limited.
Leaders promoted an open and inclusive vision and worked well with partners. Governance systems identified risks and learning and leaders responded quickly to concerns. However, the culture was not fully embedded. Some staff did not feel confident to speak up, felt unfairly treated and did not always feel supported. Governance and improvement work did not clearly show how actions improved people’s experiences or supported staff wellbeing, so it was not clear if care improved quality of life.
People's experience of this service
Overall people told us they experienced care that was warm, kind and focused on safety, dignity and individual needs. People felt safe inside and outside the home. They said staff were visible, alert and quick to respond if someone became distressed or confused. People were supported to walk or use mobility aids with appropriate supervision. Medicines were given on time and managed professionally. Most relatives trusted staff to manage this without needing regular updates.
Relatives told us care was person-centred. Staff knew people well, respected their preferences and communicated in a gentle and reassuring way. People were asked for consent before care was provided. Independence was encouraged while risks were managed. Changes were made quickly when needed to keep people safe and settled.
People consistently gave high praise for the food. People enjoyed meals, were shown choices and could eat what they wanted. Snacks and drinks were always available. The chef adapted meals to individual preferences and checked people had eaten enough. This supported people to maintain a healthy weight and enjoy mealtimes.
The service felt welcoming and homely. Visitors were greeted warmly and kept informed. People were clean and well cared for. Activities were mostly meaningful and inclusive with efforts made to involve people who could not easily join in. Community links and outdoor spaces were used when possible.
Most relatives felt confident in the care and leadership. Communication about health changes was timely and reassuring. Many described a strong sense of trust and relief knowing their family member was safe and happy.
Some concerns were raised. Two relatives felt their worries were not always taken seriously. Several relatives told us they did not have copies of care plans or were involved in reviews of information. However, overall experiences were very positive, with high levels of satisfaction, trust in staff and strong relationships, alongside some areas needing improvement.