Willowbrooke Residential Home

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 4 November 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of onsite Assessment: 14 and 16 October 2025. The service is a residential care home service providing support to older people, people living with a dementia and people living with physical disabilities. The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe, staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, and any risks were mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. There were some concerns regarding medicine practices which were promptly rectified.

People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments, taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on the latest evidence and good practice. People always had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. They monitored people’s health to support healthy living. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. We saw examples where people’s capacity had been assessed.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choices in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff responded to people in a timely way. The service supported staff wellbeing.

People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to promote equality. People received fair and equal care and treatment. People were involved in planning their care. The service was very considerate when dealing with end-of-life support and they went above and beyond to remember people.

Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Some minor improvements could be made to ensure audits were a little more robust. People with protected characteristics felt supported. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas.