What families say

People have mentioned the homely feel of the Victorian building, with activities forming part of daily life at the home. The manager has been noted for creating a welcoming environment and responding to family requests.

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth72
• Compassion & dignity72
• Cleanliness70
• Activities & engagement65
• Food quality65
• Healthcare68
• Management & leadership75
• Resident happiness70

What inspectors found

Inspected 2023-04-01

• Is this home safe?

  Good
  The Safe domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection, an improvement from the previous Inadequate rating. This means inspectors were satisfied that risks to residents were identified and managed, medicines were handled appropriately, and staffing was adequate for the number of people living in the home. The published text does not provide specific staffing ratios, night cover numbers, or details about falls management or infection control observations. The home supports 35 residents, including people with dementia and physical disabilities, groups for whom consistent, attentive staffing matters most.
  Verified by inspector

• Is the care effective?

  Good
  The Effective domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers whether staff have the training and knowledge to meet residents' needs, whether care plans are detailed and kept up to date, and whether residents receive appropriate healthcare including GP access and medicines management. The home lists dementia as a specialism, which means inspectors would have considered whether dementia-specific practice was in place. No specific training records, care plan examples, or healthcare access details are included in the published summary.
  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Good
  The Caring domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers whether staff treat residents with kindness, respect their dignity, and support their independence. A Good rating here means inspectors were satisfied with what they observed, including the way staff interacted with residents during the visit. No specific observations, such as whether staff used preferred names, knocked before entering rooms, or moved at a resident's own pace, are included in the published summary. No resident or relative quotes are recorded in the available text.
  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good
  The Responsive domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers whether the home tailors its support to individual needs, whether activities are meaningful and varied, and whether there are arrangements for end-of-life care. The home lists dementia and physical disabilities as specialisms, which raises particular questions about whether activities are accessible to people at different stages of dementia. No specific activity programmes, examples of individual engagement, or end-of-life care arrangements are described in the published summary.
  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good
  The Well-led domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection, having previously been rated Inadequate. There is a named Registered Manager, Mrs Alison Walker, and a named Nominated Individual, Mr Robert Noel, indicating that leadership responsibility is clearly assigned and recognised by inspectors. The improvement from Inadequate to Good in this domain is significant: it means inspectors were satisfied that governance systems, staff culture, and accountability had improved materially since the previous inspection. No detail about manager tenure, staff satisfaction, or specific governance changes is included in the published summary.
  Verified by inspector

Source: CQC inspection report →

Section 03

What the evidence base says

The home cares for adults over 65 with varying needs, including those living with dementia and physical disabilities. The Victorian building has been adapted to provide residential care. The Old Vicarage includes dementia care among its services. As with any care decision for someone with dementia, visiting in person will help you understand how they support residents with cognitive needs. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.