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Penrith DriveNorth Northamptonshire

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Rated:Requires ImprovementResidential

Penrith Drive

55 Penrith Drive, Queensway, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 3XL
01933678681
Care Type

Residential Care

Assessment date

27 March 2024

Provider

Royal Mencap Society

Beds

6 beds

About Penrith Drive

Penrith Drive is a residential care home in North Northamptonshire, providing personal care for autistic people and people with a learning disability. Further details on the CQC's most recent findings are set out below.

Penrith Drive provides personal care for up to six autistic people and people with a learning disability, supporting five people at the time of assessment. The CQC rated the service Requires Improvement, finding breaches relating to infection prevention, a poorly maintained environment and weak governance. Cleaning schedules were ineffective, some areas were visibly unclean, and repairs were not always dealt with promptly.

Inspectors found staff were caring and knew people well, using communication tools to support choice and independence, and following national guidance on medication. Relatives spoke positively about care and staff relationships. However, leaders had not identified some restrictions affecting people's wellbeing, and oversight of quality and safety needed improvement.

Source: CQC assessment, 5 June 2025

Specialist Care

Learning disabilities

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 21 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service
Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity
6 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked
Registered · NN8 3XL

Registered care categories

Learning disabilities.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Requires Improvement.

Assessment published 5 June 2025. Assessment date recorded: 27 March 2024.

Read CQC's assessment overview

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 5 June 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of assessment 27 August to 20 September 2024. Penrith Drive is a care home providing personal care for up to 6 autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of this assessment 5 people were living in the home. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. This assessment was undertaken in response to risks relating to on-going monitoring of people’s health needs. This service had made some improvements since the last inspection, however, new concerns were identified. The overall rating for the service is Requires Improvement based on the findings of this inspection. We found 3 breaches of regulation relating to infection prevention and control, safe environment and governance. Please see the Safe and Well led sections of this report. The environment required improving with more timely action when repairs were required. Cleaning schedules were not effective, and some parts of the home were visibly unclean. Leaders did not always have effective systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Staff followed national guidelines on stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and autistic people (STOMP). Staff used communication tools to enable people to express their views, wishes and to make decisions. People had access to external health and social care professionals when they needed them. Staff responded to changes in peoples’ wellbeing and needs and liaised with other services to help people live their best lives. People were supported to achieve independence with the support from staff who were caring and compassionate. Most concerns identified were addressed during the inspection which reduced the risks to people.

Safe
Requires Improvement
Effective
Good
Caring
Good
Responsive
Good
Well-led
Requires Improvement

Questions prompted by these ratings

  • Safe: What changes have been made to medicines, staffing and safeguarding since this rating?
  • Well-led: What has changed in management, checks and oversight since this rating?

These are questions for your visit, not a claim about conditions today.

Read Penrith Drive's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Penrith Drive, consider asking...

  1. 1.What happens if my relative's care needs increase significantly -- will they have to move?
  2. 2.How do you handle concerns or complaints from families?
  3. 3.What does the monthly fee cover and what will cost extra?
  4. 4.How do you keep families informed about their relative's day-to-day wellbeing?
  5. 5.What happens if my relative is unhappy here?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Penrith Drive, look out for...

  1. 1.Do staff greet residents by name and stop to chat?
  2. 2.Are residents dressed, up and occupied, or sitting alone in front of a TV?
  3. 3.Does the home smell fresh and feel clean without being clinical?
  4. 4.Do residents look comfortable and at ease, or anxious and withdrawn?
  5. 5.Does the manager answer your questions openly or deflect?

Could the NHS fund Penrith Drive's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Location

55 Penrith Drive, Queensway, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 3XL

CQC Logo

Penrith Drive

CQC overall rating

Requires Improvement

Assessment date: 27 March 2024

View full inspection report
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