The Ferns Care Home

Updated 13 March 2026

Date of assessment: 21 April to 7 May 2026.

The Ferns Care Homeis a care home providing accommodation and personal care to older people including some people living with dementia. The service could accommodate up to 48 people; at the time of the assessment there were 34 people living at the service. This assessment was carried out due to the length of time since the previous assessment, based on the rating of the service.

We found concerns about how risks were identified, monitored and responded to. Risk assessments and checks were not always followed. Staffing was not always sufficient to meet people’s needs promptly, and staff did not always provide care in a way that respected people’s dignity and choice.

The care environment was not always safe or clean, infection prevention and control arrangements were not always safe, and governance systems had not identified or addressed a number of the concerns found during the assessment. Improvements made previously had not always been embedded or sustained.

We observed occasions where people’s preferences were not always respected. However, people had access to healthcare professionals, medicines were managed safely, staff understood safeguarding and consent processes, activities were available, and complaints were responded to appropriately.

Staff also told us they felt supported by the current management team. The management team began to address some issues during the assessment, but further improvement is needed to ensure people consistently receive safe, dignified and high-quality care.

Updated 13 March 2026

The feedback gathered from people and relatives was mixed with positives and negatives. People did not always feel listened to and felt they were ‘brushed under the carpet’ at times, when staff did not have enough time to see to their needs. One person said, “I suppose they do treat me with respect and dignity but definitely not when it comes to me needing a smoke. They say they are too busy.”

People were aware of the management team but did not know the home manager (who was new to the post). However, people knew how to complain, one person said, “I wouldn't hold back. I would definitely let them know if something was wrong.”

People enjoyed the activities, one person commented, “We do have trips out in a minibus. I like to get out and about.” Another said, “[The activities coordinator] takes me out to Morrisons so I can get bits and pieces.”

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection tool (SOFI) to observe care from the person’s perspective; this helps us understand how care is received by people unable to tell us themselves. We observed that some people had choices imposed on them such as only offering tea on the refreshment trolley. Staff were sometimes too brisk with people and did not communicate effectively with them during moving and handling activities. A relative raised concerns a person who had fallen and been injured and was concerned about the staff not taking action to stop this happening in the future.