Tegfield House Care Home – Hartford Care

What families say

Visitors notice the warm atmosphere straight away. Staff greet everyone with real friendliness, and there's a sense that this is more than just a workplace for them — they're genuinely committed to making life better for residents.

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

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth85
• Compassion & dignity88
• Cleanliness65
• Activities & engagement80
• Food quality55
• Healthcare62
• Management & leadership68
• Resident happiness78

What inspectors found

Inspected 2019-09-17 · Report published 2019-09-17 · Inspected 2 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection rated safety as Good, indicating that inspectors were satisfied with how the home manages risk, medicines and staffing. A Good rating in Safe means no significant concerns were identified around falls management, safeguarding or infection control. Specific detail about staffing ratios, agency use and night cover is not available in the published summary. The home is registered to care for people living with dementia, which means safe environments and risk management are particularly important.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating is reassuring u2014 it means inspectors did not find the kinds of gaps that put people at risk. However, for a home specialising in dementia care, the details behind this rating really matter. Research consistently shows that night-time is when safety incidents are most likely, and homes that rely heavily on agency staff often struggle to maintain consistent, familiar care. Our family review data shows that feeling safe is a threshold issue u2014 families will not consider any other qualities until they are confident on this one. Because the published summary does not include staffing numbers or agency usage, these are questions you must ask directly on your visit.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that night staffing ratios and agency staff reliance are two of the strongest predictors of safety incidents in care homes u2014 consistent, permanent staff who know your parent reduce risk significantly.","watch_out":"Ask: 'How many permanent staff are on the dementia unit after 8pm, and what proportion of shifts are covered by agency staff in a typical week?' Then compare the answer to the daytime staffing you observe."}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection rated effectiveness as Good, covering training, care planning, healthcare access and nutrition. A Good rating here means the home met expected standards across these areas. Specific detail about dementia training content, GP access frequency, food quality or care plan review schedules is not available in the published summary. The home's specialism in dementia care means the depth of dementia-specific training and care planning is particularly important.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Good in effectiveness means the basics are in place u2014 staff are trained, care plans exist and healthcare needs are being met. But for a home specialising in dementia, 'good enough' in this domain is worth probing further. Our family review data shows that food quality is a surprisingly powerful signal of how much a home genuinely cares u2014 it requires ongoing attention, investment and listening to individuals. Good Practice evidence shows that care plans should be living documents reviewed with families, not paperwork filed away. Ask to see your parent's care plan and ask when it was last updated with input from the family.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett evidence review found that dementia-specific training u2014 particularly in non-verbal communication and behavioural understanding u2014 significantly improves quality of life outcomes, but general care training is often insufficient for this specialist group.","watch_out":"Ask: 'What specific dementia training do your staff receive, and can you show me an example of how a care plan is updated when someone's needs change?' Look for whether families are actively involved in reviews."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Outstanding

  {"found":"The inspection rated Caring as Outstanding u2014 the highest possible rating, achieved by fewer than 5% of care homes in England. This domain covers how staff treat your parent, whether dignity and privacy are respected, and whether people are supported to maintain their independence. To achieve Outstanding, inspectors must find specific, compelling evidence through direct observation, resident testimony and family feedback u2014 general compliance is not enough. Specific quotes and examples from this inspection are not available in the published summary, but the rating itself is a strong signal.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"An Outstanding Caring rating is the single most important finding in this report for most families. Our family review data shows that staff warmth (57.3%) and compassion and dignity (55.2%) are by far the most influential factors in how families feel about a care home. This rating suggests inspectors saw u2014 and heard from residents and families u2014 that staff genuinely know and care for the people they support, not just as a group but as individuals. Good Practice research confirms that person-led care, where staff know your parent's history, preferences and personality, is what separates truly excellent dementia care from adequate care.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research evidence review found that non-verbal communication u2014 how staff approach, touch and respond to people who can no longer express themselves in words u2014 is as important as verbal interaction in dementia care, and is a key marker of genuinely person-centred practice.","watch_out":"On your visit, watch how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas when they think no one is observing. Do staff use your parent's preferred name? Do they crouch to eye level? Is the pace unhurried? These unscripted moments reveal more than any formal interaction."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Outstanding

  {"found":"The inspection rated Responsive as Outstanding, covering how well the home tailors care and activities to individual needs, including end-of-life care and complaint handling. This rating means inspectors found strong specific evidence that the home goes beyond a standard programme to genuinely respond to what each person needs and enjoys. Specific examples of activities, individual engagement or end-of-life planning are not available in the published summary, but the rating is a meaningful endorsement.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"An Outstanding Responsive rating matters enormously if your parent is living with dementia. One of the hardest things about this illness is the risk of a person becoming invisible u2014 defined by their condition rather than their personality and history. Our family review data shows that activities and engagement score 21.4% in family satisfaction, but resident happiness u2014 whether your parent seems content and engaged u2014 scores 27.1%. Good Practice research shows that individual, one-to-one activities tailored to a person's history are far more effective than group sessions alone, particularly for people in later stages of dementia. Ask specifically how the home engages people who can no longer participate in group activities.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett evidence review found that Montessori-based and life-history approaches u2014 using familiar objects, roles and tasks from a person's past u2014 significantly reduce distress and increase engagement in people living with dementia, and are a marker of truly responsive care.","watch_out":"Ask: 'For someone who can no longer join group activities, what does a typical Tuesday afternoon look like for them?' If the answer is vague, ask to see the activity records for one resident who has more advanced dementia."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The inspection rated Well-led as Good, indicating that leadership, governance and workplace culture met expected standards. The registered manager is named as Mrs Sarah Jane Robertson, with Mrs Lisa White listed as the nominated individual for the provider, Hartford Care Limited. A Good rating means the home has adequate oversight systems, manages risks at a service level and supports staff to do their jobs. Specific detail about management visibility, staff culture, incident learning or family communication is not available in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Good leadership is the engine that sustains everything else. Our family review data shows that management accountability scores 23.4% in family satisfaction u2014 families notice when a manager is visible and responsive, and they notice when they are not. Good Practice research is clear that leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of quality over time. The key question for Tegfield House is whether the leadership that earned this Outstanding rating in 2019 is still in place u2014 management changes can significantly alter a home's culture. The 2023 monitoring review found no cause for concern, but that is not the same as a fresh inspection.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research review found that leadership stability u2014 including manager tenure and staff retention u2014 is one of the most reliable predictors of sustained quality in care homes, with frequent management turnover consistently linked to declining standards.","watch_out":"Ask: 'Is Mrs Sarah Jane Robertson still the registered manager, and how long have your senior care staff been at the home?' High turnover among senior staff since the 2019 inspection would be a reason to ask more questions before making a decision."}

  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 Tegfield House provides specialist dementia care alongside general support for adults over 65. They also care for younger adults who need residential support.. Gaps or open questions remain on Living with dementia requires understanding and patience. The staff here show genuine investment in supporting residents through the challenges dementia brings, maintaining dignity while providing the specialized care needed. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.