Little Haven Residential Home

What families say

Based on 3 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth72
• Compassion & dignity72
• Cleanliness70
• Activities & engagement65
• Food quality65
• Healthcare70
• Management & leadership72
• Resident happiness70

What inspectors found

Inspected 2020-03-31 · Report published 2020-03-31 · Inspected 3 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Not yet rated

  {"found":"The Safe domain was rated Good at the June 2024 inspection. This means inspectors were satisfied that your parent would be protected from abuse and avoidable harm, that medicines were managed appropriately, and that staffing was sufficient for the people living there. No specific concerns about safety were recorded. However, the published summary does not include detail on night staffing ratios, agency staff use, or how the home responds to and learns from incidents such as falls.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating is meaningful u2014 it means the home passed the tests that matter most for your parent's basic protection. However, Good Practice evidence from the IFF Research and Leeds Beckett rapid review consistently identifies night-time as the period when safety is most at risk, particularly in homes caring for people with dementia who may be unsettled overnight. Our family review data shows that staff attentiveness u2014 the sense that someone is always around u2014 is one of the top concerns raised by families. Because the published report doesn't tell us the night staffing numbers, or how much the home relies on agency staff (who don't know your parent), these are the questions to press hardest on when you visit. A home that can give you specific numbers rather than reassuring generalities is one that takes this seriously.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base (IFF Research / Leeds Beckett, 2026) identifies night staffing ratios and agency staff reliance as two of the most significant predictors of safety risk in dementia care settings u2014 neither is addressed in the available inspection summary for this home.","watch_out":"When you visit, ask: 'How many staff are on duty overnight, and are they permanent members of the team or agency staff?' A confident, specific answer u2014 for example, 'two permanent carers and a nurse on nights for our 43 residents' u2014 is what you're looking for."}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Not yet rated

  {"found":"The Effective domain was rated Good, indicating inspectors were satisfied that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet your parent's needs, that care plans are in place, and that the home works well with GPs and other health professionals. Little Haven is registered as a nursing home with dementia as a specialism, which means there should be qualified nursing oversight at all times. The published summary does not, however, include detail on dementia-specific training, how care plans are personalised, or how frequently they are reviewed.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For a parent living with dementia, 'effective' care goes well beyond ticking training boxes u2014 it means staff who know your parent as an individual and can recognise when something has changed. Our family review data shows that dementia-specific care quality (12.7% of positive reviews) and healthcare access (20.2%) are both significant themes. Good Practice evidence is clear that care plans should function as living documents, updated with your parent's evolving needs and preferences, and that family involvement in those reviews makes a real difference. The nursing home registration is a positive indicator u2014 it means qualified nurses are available u2014 but you'll want to understand what dementia training actually looks like in practice at Little Haven, not just whether a training certificate exists.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice rapid evidence review found that care plans used as static paperwork rather than active tools are one of the most common failings in dementia care u2014 regular family-inclusive reviews are a marker of genuinely person-led practice.","watch_out":"Ask: 'When was my parent's care plan last reviewed, who was involved, and how would you tell me if their needs changed between formal reviews?' A good answer will mention a specific key worker, a review frequency, and a clear communication route to you."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Not yet rated

  {"found":"The Caring domain was rated Good at the June 2024 inspection. This means inspectors assessed that staff treat people with kindness, respect their dignity, and support their independence. For a home of 43 beds with multiple specialisms including dementia, a Good Caring rating means inspectors saw no evidence of poor treatment. The published summary does not include direct quotes from residents or relatives, specific observed interactions, or detail about how privacy is maintained during personal care.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Kindness is the single most important thing families tell us they look for u2014 staff warmth (57.3%) and compassion and dignity (55.2%) are by far the two highest-weighted themes in our family review data. A Good rating here is encouraging, but it is the texture of daily interactions u2014 whether a carer uses your parent's preferred name, whether they knock before entering, whether they sit at eye level rather than talking down u2014 that determines whether your parent feels genuinely cared for rather than just safely managed. Good Practice evidence highlights that non-verbal communication is as important as what is said, particularly for people with advanced dementia who may not be able to express distress verbally. Nothing in the published report tells us about these moments, so a visit during a quiet weekday morning u2014 when you can observe mealtimes and handovers u2014 is the most revealing thing you can do.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base (IFF Research / Leeds Beckett, 2026) identifies non-verbal communication skills and person-led knowledge of the individual as the two most important factors in caring interactions for people with dementia u2014 and these are rarely captured in inspection ratings alone.","watch_out":"On your visit, watch how staff greet your parent's peers in corridors and communal areas. Are they making eye contact, using names, pausing to listen? A rushed 'you alright?' without stopping is a warning sign. Unhurried, face-to-face interactions are what Good Practice looks like."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Not yet rated

  {"found":"The Responsive domain was rated Good, indicating inspectors were satisfied that the home meets people's individual needs, responds to complaints, and provides meaningful activities. Little Haven's registered specialisms u2014 including dementia, mental health conditions, and sensory impairments u2014 suggest the home should be equipped to tailor care to a range of complex needs. No detail about specific activities, individual engagement for people with advanced dementia, or how the home handles end-of-life planning is available in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For a parent with dementia, being 'responsive' means more than having a weekly bingo session. Our family review data shows activities and engagement (21.4%) and resident happiness (27.1%) are both significant themes. Good Practice evidence is particularly clear that people with advanced dementia u2014 who may not be able to join group activities u2014 need one-to-one, meaningful engagement, whether that is folding towels, looking at photographs, or simply sitting with someone who knows them. The Montessori-based approach, which uses familiar everyday tasks to provide purpose and calm, is one of the most well-evidenced approaches. Nothing in the available report tells us whether Little Haven does this. It is worth asking specifically about what happens for your parent on a day when they are not well enough to join a group activity.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice rapid evidence review (61 studies) found strong evidence that individual, task-based activities u2014 not just group programmes u2014 significantly reduce distress and improve wellbeing for people with moderate to advanced dementia.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator: 'If my parent can't join the group on a given day, what would happen u2014 who would spend time with them and what would that look like?' A specific answer with named staff involvement is what you're looking for, not a general reassurance."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Not yet rated

  {"found":"The Well-led domain was rated Good at the June 2024 inspection. Emma Young is the named registered manager, with Jamie Liam Young as nominated individual and The Wilverley Association as the operating organisation. A named manager in post u2014 rather than an acting or interim manager u2014 is a positive indicator of stability. The inspection found governance and leadership to be satisfactory. No detail about management culture, staff empowerment, complaint handling, or family communication is available in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Our family review data shows that management visibility and communication with families (11.5%) are important factors in family confidence. Good Practice evidence is clear that leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of quality trajectory u2014 homes with frequent manager changes often show declining standards. The fact that Emma Young is the named registered manager is positive, but you'll want to understand how long she has been in post and how accessible she is to families with concerns. Good Practice also emphasises a culture where staff can raise concerns without fear u2014 which you can test by asking a care assistant directly what they think of working there. Honest, positive answers given without looking over a shoulder are a good sign.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base (IFF Research / Leeds Beckett, 2026) identifies management tenure and a speak-up culture u2014 where frontline staff feel able to raise concerns u2014 as the two strongest predictors of sustained quality in care homes.","watch_out":"Ask: 'How long has Emma been the registered manager here, and how would I get hold of her if I had a concern about my parent's care?' Then, separately, ask a care assistant: 'What do you like most about working here?' Their body language and candour will tell you as much as the words."}

  Verified by inspector

Source: CQC inspection report →

What the evidence base says

Against the DCC Good Practice in Dementia Care standards, this home’s evidence aligns most strongly on The team at Little Haven supports residents with sensory impairments, physical disabilities, dementia, and mental health conditions. They welcome both younger adults under 65 and older residents, creating a mixed-age community.. Gaps or open questions remain on For residents living with dementia, the home provides specialist care tailored to individual needs. The team understands the importance of creating a supportive environment where people with dementia can maintain their sense of self and connection. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.