Heatherley - Care Home with Nursing Physical Disabilities

Heatherley is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 42 adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, or acquired brain injuries. People live either in the main building or in one of eight self-contained bungalows on the grounds. Following previous regulatory breaches, recent inspections show that the home has made meaningful progress and is no longer breaking regulations, though several new improvements are still in the process of becoming fully established across daily routines.

When it comes to safety, residents reported feeling secure and well-protected from abuse, supported by sufficient numbers of attentive staff and reliable recruitment checks. However, inspectors found gaps in tracking records for topical skin creams, meaning staff need to ensure application directions and charts are more consistently maintained.

The care provided is increasingly person-centred and flexible, featuring spacious wheelchair-friendly premises and regular access to meaningful activities like cinema trips and dance clubs. On the other hand, daily fluid intake records for residents at nutritional risk were not always properly totaled or meeting daily targets, highlighting an area that requires closer ongoing monitoring.

Residents benefit from a kind and caring staff team who treat them with respect, promote their rights, and protect them from discrimination. Relatives noted that staff give individuals appropriate space and privacy while still providing reliable support when needed.

The home is actively improving how residents are supported to identify personal goals, build independence, and take part in local community life. While these new outcome-planning measures are positive, time is still needed for them to be fully embedded so that every resident with a learning disability benefits equally.

There is a positive leadership ethos at the service, supported by regular team meetings, staff supervisions, and strong communication with visiting healthcare professionals and families. At the time of the inspection, the service did not have a registered manager in place, meaning the provider retains direct legal responsibility for the overall quality and safety of the care.