Fir Trees

Fir Trees is a residential care home providing personal care and support for up to 46 older adults, younger adults, and people living with dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection, 41 people were living at the service. Overall, the home provides a compassionate environment with strong management oversight, though families and prospective residents should note several important areas identified for improvement during the recent inspection visit.

Regarding safety, risk management required further development to fully protect residents. Inspectors noted issues such as overly hot water temperatures, accessible disposable gloves that posed risks for residents with dementia, and unsecured items or unassessed risks for specific individuals. While staff recruitment followed general safety processes and medicines were securely stored, feedback on staffing levels was mixed, with some family members noting response times could occasionally be slow.

For effectiveness, residents' needs were properly assessed before moving in, and the home worked well with external healthcare professionals. Staff received regular training and supervision, and residents spoke positively about the quality and availability of food. However, the physical environment needed updates and better adaptation to meet the needs of people living with dementia and to ensure surfaces were easy to clean effectively.

In terms of being caring, residents and their families offered very positive feedback about the staff team. Observers and relatives noted that staff were consistently kind, knew individuals' personal preferences well, and respected residents' privacy and dignity while encouraging independence.

The service proved responsive by delivering personalised care and offering meaningful activities. Staff understood individual preferences well, and residents felt able to raise concerns with the confidence that they would be addressed. However, some care records lacked detail regarding specific communication needs, and daily documentation was not always fully personalised.

Finally, the home was well-led through an open management culture. The registered manager maintained an open-door policy, responded immediately to concerns raised during the inspection, and fostered a positive overall culture supported by regular safety and quality checks.