The Old Vicarage

The Old Vicarage is a family-run residential care home located near Bolton, providing accommodation and personal care for up to 37 older people. Based on the latest inspection, residents and their families speak warmly about the supportive environment, well-trained staff, and clean facilities. While the service demonstrates strong standards across key areas, the report also highlights specific administrative points for improvement, offering families a balanced view of day-to-day life and management at the home.

When it comes to safety, residents consistently reported feeling secure and well looked after by a stable, experienced care team. The home maintained proper infection control standards with clean premises, and managed medicines safely, though inspectors noted that using a single overarching log for all accidents and incidents would further improve oversight and trend analysis.

Support for people's daily lives and decision-making was handled properly, respecting individual autonomy and legal frameworks. Staff understood mental capacity principles well, ensuring that any necessary restrictions or best-interest decisions were handled correctly and submitted for authorisation in a timely manner.

The atmosphere at the home was described as caring and respectful, with staff who knew residents well and treated them with dignity. Residents praised the dedication of the team, and a visiting professional confirmed that instructions regarding specialised care and end-of-life planning were consistently followed.

Care was tailored to individual preferences, supported by regular feedback initiatives like one-to-one chats over tea that helped arrange personal outings. Although residents could not always recall formal group meetings, surveys and recent resident gatherings showed positive feedback and proactive engagement from the management.

The service was led by an approachable registered manager who actively engaged with local health networks and professional groups to drive improvements. However, the inspection noted that the home's improvement plan focused heavily on business goals like recruitment, and it was not always clearly documented how feedback from audits and surveys translated into specific actions.