Old Alresford Cottage

This report provides an overview of Old Alresford Cottage, an older building across three floors that accommodates up to 35 residents while specializing in dementia support. While the service demonstrates areas of strength, particularly in its culture and management support, the recent findings highlight multiple critical shortcomings that require urgent attention from the provider to ensure proper standards of care and safety for everyone living there.

The service faced notable challenges regarding safety and daily operations. Inspectors found inconsistencies in how health and personal risks were managed, alongside incomplete water safety checks, unaddressed lift and window safety recommendations, and garden hazards from stored rubbish. Furthermore, housekeeping shortages initially led to cleanliness issues in communal areas and equipment, and medication records contained gaps, missing topical cream logs, and unrecorded PRN usage.

Regarding the effectiveness of the care provided, routines and support systems require stricter oversight. While staff received training and controlled drugs were properly checked, nutritional and fluid intake records lacked the necessary consistency for vulnerable individuals experiencing weight loss or nutritional risks, and the overall interior layout and design did not yet fully meet best practice standards for supporting people living with dementia or sensory deficits.

On a more positive note, the caring nature of the staff shines through in daily interactions. Residents and their relatives reported that staff are generally kind, friendly, and cheerful, and healthcare professionals praised the team for taking a person-centred approach that respects individual choices and personal capacity, even when managing complex situations or positive risks.

The service proved responsive in several areas, particularly in managing infection control challenges and welcoming visitors safely throughout the pandemic, backed by a top food hygiene rating in the kitchen. However, call bell response times were occasionally slow, and mixed feedback from families indicated that residents did not always receive prompt assistance with snacks, drinks, or call bells when staff were busy.

Finally, leadership and governance systems require strengthening to ensure consistent quality control. While the registered manager and team were described as approachable and worked hard through challenging cases with external professionals, internal audits and management oversight failed to catch missing recruitment references, incomplete safety checks, and inadequate record-keeping before the inspection took place.