Skelton Court – Sanctuary Supported Living

What families say

Based on 4 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth55
• Compassion & dignity55
• Cleanliness55
• Activities & engagement50
• Food quality50
• Healthcare50
• Management & leadership60
• Resident happiness55

What inspectors found

Inspected 2020-01-07 · Report published 2020-01-07 · Inspected 2 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection awarded Skelton Court a Good rating for safety. This typically requires inspectors to be satisfied with staffing levels, medicines management, infection control and how the home responds to safeguarding concerns. However, the published report does not provide any narrative detail, specific observations, or evidence to explain what underpinned this rating. We cannot confirm what the inspector saw.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating is reassuring, but for a home supporting people with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairment, the detail behind that rating matters enormously. Good Practice research consistently shows that night staffing is where safety most often slips u2014 yet we have no information about how many staff are on duty overnight in this 15-bed home. Agency staff reliance is another key risk factor, as unfamiliar faces are disorienting and sometimes unsafe for people with dementia u2014 again, nothing in the published findings tells you what the picture is here. Until you visit and ask directly, treat this Good rating as a starting point, not a full answer.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research / Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that night staffing ratios and agency staff reliance are two of the strongest predictors of safety failures in dementia care settings u2014 neither of which is addressed in the published inspection text for this home.","watch_out":"Ask the manager directly: 'How many staff are on duty overnight, and what proportion of shifts in the last three months have been covered by agency staff rather than permanent employees?'"}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"Skelton Court received a Good rating for Effective, which covers training, care planning, healthcare access and nutrition. The home lists dementia as a specialism, which implies relevant staff training is in place. No specific detail about care plan content, GP access arrangements, dementia training programmes, or food quality is provided in the published report text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"An Effective rating of Good tells you inspectors were broadly satisfied, but the most important question for your parent is whether their care plan is treated as a living document u2014 reviewed regularly and shaped by what your mum or dad actually tells staff, not just what was noted on admission. Good Practice evidence is clear that care plans updated less frequently than monthly are less likely to reflect a person's changing needs. Food quality is one of the most reliable indicators of genuine care, yet we have no evidence from this inspection about menu choice, dietary understanding, or whether mealtimes feel like a social occasion.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base found that dementia-specific training u2014 particularly in non-verbal communication and person-centred approaches u2014 significantly improves the quality of daily interactions, but training content and frequency must be verified by families directly.","watch_out":"Ask to see a sample care plan (with personal details removed) and find out when it was last updated and whether family members are routinely invited to contribute to reviews."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection awarded a Good rating for Caring, covering staff warmth, dignity, respect and independence. This is the domain families weight most heavily in their own reviews u2014 staff warmth and compassion together account for over 55% of what families value. However, the published report provides no direct observations, no resident feedback and no family testimony to illustrate what caring looks like day-to-day at Skelton Court.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"In DCC's analysis of over 3,600 positive family reviews across UK care homes, staff warmth was the single most frequently mentioned theme u2014 cited in 57.3% of positive reviews. That tells you something important: when families feel their parent is genuinely cared for, it almost always comes down to individual staff behaviour, not systems or ratings. The absence of any specific evidence here means you need to observe this yourself on a visit. Watch how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas u2014 not just in the formal room they show you. Are they unhurried? Do they use your mum's preferred name without being told?","evidence_base":"Good Practice research found that non-verbal communication u2014 tone of voice, physical proximity, eye contact u2014 is as important as words for people living with advanced dementia, and that person-led care requires staff to genuinely know each individual.","watch_out":"During your visit, pay attention to unplanned interactions: does a member of staff passing your parent in the corridor stop, make eye contact and greet them by name u2014 or walk past without acknowledgement?"}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"Skelton Court received a Good rating for Responsive, which covers activities, engagement, individuality and end-of-life planning. The home's wide specialism range u2014 dementia, learning disabilities, physical and sensory impairment u2014 suggests it aims to meet diverse individual needs. No specific detail about the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, or end-of-life care planning is provided in the published report.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"In DCC's family review data, resident happiness is cited in 27.1% of positive reviews u2014 and the most common driver of happiness is meaningful activity, not just being kept safe and fed. Good Practice evidence is particularly clear on one point: group activities alone are insufficient for people with more advanced dementia or those who cannot easily participate in communal settings. What matters for your parent is whether staff can offer genuine one-to-one engagement u2014 a conversation about a photograph, help folding laundry, tending a window box. Ask to see the activity schedule and find out what happens for residents who cannot join group sessions.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that Montessori-based and task-focused individual activities u2014 such as everyday household tasks u2014 significantly improve wellbeing for people with dementia who can no longer participate in structured group programmes.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator: 'What would you do to engage my parent one-to-one on a day when they don't want to join the group u2014 and can you give me an example of something you've done recently for a resident in that situation?'"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection awarded a Good rating for Well-led, with a named registered manager (Mrs Rachel Elizabeth Reeves) and nominated individual (Mr David Shaw) confirmed in post. Good leadership ratings typically reflect inspectors being satisfied with governance, culture and accountability. No narrative detail, staff feedback or specific governance examples are provided in the published report text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Good Practice research is unambiguous: leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of care quality over time. A home where the manager is visible, known to families and trusted by staff tends to maintain standards even when external pressures increase. The concern here is not the rating u2014 it is the age of this inspection. This report was published in January 2021, meaning over four years have passed since inspectors visited. Staff teams, managers and cultures change. The manager named in this report may or may not still be in post. When you visit, ask how long the current manager has been in role and whether there have been significant staff changes in the last 12 months.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base found that leadership stability u2014 measured by manager tenure and staff retention rates u2014 is a more reliable predictor of sustained quality than any single inspection rating.","watch_out":"Ask directly: 'How long has the current registered manager been in post, and what is your staff turnover rate over the past year?' High turnover or a recently appointed manager in a small specialist home warrants careful follow-up."}

  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 here works with people facing different challenges — whether that's dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or sensory impairments. They're set up to care for adults of all ages, not just older residents.. Gaps or open questions remain on For those living with dementia, the home provides specialist support. The staff understand how to help residents stay comfortable and engaged as their needs change. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.