- Care home
Roche Abbey Care Home
Assessment report published 4 September 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 4 August to 12 August 2025. The service is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to older people and young adults. Some people were living with dementia. We carried out this assessment to check the service had continued to sustain improvements.
The provider had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. The management team investigated incidents thoroughly. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed to keep people safe. The facilities and equipment met people’s needs, were mainly clean and well-maintained. However, some areas required deep cleaning, some fire doors required replacement, and 2 rooms were without window restrictors. These issues were acted upon and have now been resolved. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. The management team made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who were trained and supported to administer them safely.
People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. People had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy and had access to nutrition and hydration which met their needs. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. They monitored people’s health to support healthy living. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people and took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff responded to people in a timely way. The provider supported staff wellbeing.
People were involved in decisions about their care. Staff provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the provider took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. Staff worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback.
The management team and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. The management team worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas.
People's experience of this service
People told us they felt safe living at Roche Abbey. One person said, “Yes, I feel very safe here and if you need them [staff], they come straight away. I have everything I need.” Another person said, “I have had no accidents or falls here. I feel safe and well looked after.” Some people and relatives commented that there were not enough staff. One relative said, “There is not enough staff and they [people] are not always supervised.” Another relative said, “I am concerned sometimes about people that are asleep when they [staff] take them a drink of tea, they don’t wake them just put it on the table and leave them and an hour later it is still there, so they are not getting their drink.” We spoke with the management team about these issues, and they agreed to look into them and find a resolution. However, other people told us there were enough staff. One person said, “There is enough staff, and you don’t have to wait around if you need someone.”
People told us that activities within the home could be improved. One person said, “The activity lady has not been in to see me for a while but when she does come, she gives me something to do.” Another person said, “There have been no trips here since January [2025], I do arts and crafts.” We spoke with the manager about these concerns and they had already acknowledged a lack of activities and had recently employed an additional activity co-ordinator in order to address this.
People told us they had access to healthcare professionals when they required their input. One person said, “The doctor comes out weekly. The chiropodist comes every 6 weeks.” People told us they enjoyed their meals and received plenty of drinks. One person said, “There is a good choice of food, and you get options.”
People and relatives commented positively about staff and told us they were kind and caring. One person said, “The staff are very good and caring and you can’t fault them they are excellent. They are patient and they spend time with you.” Another person said, “The staff are absolutely brilliant you could not ask for better staff. They have time to sit and talk with you if they are not busy.” One relative said, “The staff are lovely.”