Barley Brook

Barley Brook is a residential home in Wigan that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 28 older people, younger adults, and individuals living with dementia. During our visit, there were 24 people living at the home. Families considering this service can expect a warm and welcoming environment where residents feel genuinely safe and supported by a compassionate team. While the home delivers strong day-to-day care and maintains a positive, inclusive atmosphere, the inspection highlighted important areas regarding administrative oversight that need attention and improvement.

Residents consistently shared that they feel safe living at the home, surrounded by staff they trust and know well. The team is properly trained in safeguarding procedures, and all accidents or incidents are thoroughly documented and analyzed to prevent future occurrences. Medicines are handled safely by competent staff, and the premises maintain clean, well-managed infection control practices.

The home achieves positive outcomes for residents through thorough pre-admission assessments and individualized care plans. Staff receive adequate supervision and training, and the home works well within legal frameworks to respect people's choices and manage consent appropriately. Residents enjoy a good selection of food and drinks, and the team successfully coordinates with external healthcare professionals to maintain overall health and wellbeing.

Staff show genuine kindness and attentiveness in their daily interactions with residents, creating a supportive and respectful atmosphere. People living at the home and their relatives feel comfortable approaching the management team, and regular meetings ensure that everyone's views are heard. The overall culture is open, inclusive, and centered around the happiness and comfort of the individuals living there.

Care is tailored to individual preferences, and daily routines are adapted to accommodate personal choices and diverse needs. Staff are responsive to requests for assistance and work flexibly to ensure residents remain as independent as possible while receiving the right level of support.

Administrative oversight and internal auditing processes require strengthening to ensure consistent record-keeping. Specifically, supplementary documents such as food, fluid, and repositioning charts need more accurate and detailed completion by staff. Additionally, some care plans contained minor inconsistencies, and resident and relative surveys for the current year had been delayed.