Shepley House

Shepley House is a residential care home providing personal care and support for up to 43 older people, including those living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 38 people were using the service. Overall, the home provides a clean, tidy and welcoming environment where residents are encouraged to receive visits from friends and family, and relatives generally speak warmly about the kindness and dedication of the staff team. However, the inspection identified several areas requiring significant attention, particularly regarding safety oversight, administrative record-keeping, and management consistency.

When looking at safety, systems to protect people were not always fully effective. Certain recruitment checks lacked necessary details about previous employment, and staff were not always deployed well enough across communal areas to provide timely help with mobility or meals. Management of medicines also needed improvement, particularly around storage temperatures, the handling of thickening powders, and administering medication covertly without the proper legal frameworks in place.

Regarding effective care, routines and documentation did not always demonstrate that people's assessed needs were being fully met. Records tracking fluid intake were sometimes very low, and assistance with specialized pressure relief or modified meals was not always delivered consistently. Additionally, legal principles regarding mental capacity and making choices in people's best interests were not always properly documented or followed.

On a more caring level, residents and their families spoke very positively about the staff, describing them as kind, supportive, and familiar with individual needs. Staff worked well together as a team and tried hard to keep residents comfortable, though occasional daily tasks like moving and handling could be handled with more care and attention to preparation.

For being responsive to individual needs, the home supported open visiting and welcomed family involvement, but lacked structured activities during staff vacancies, leaving some residents without enough stimulation. Care records did not always clearly identify current risks or provide enough guidance to staff on how to support people appropriately.

Finally, regarding leadership, the service was operating without a formally registered manager at the time of the visit, and some required serious injury notifications were delayed. Internal quality checks failed to catch issues with medicines and care records, though families and staff expressed high confidence in the new manager and felt positive changes were already underway.