The Old Vicarage

What families say

Families talk about walking in to find residents looking out for each other, noticing when someone needs a hand. Personal belongings fill individual rooms, giving everyone conversation starters and keeping connections to their own stories alive.

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

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth70
• Compassion & dignity70
• Cleanliness68
• Activities & engagement55
• Food quality55
• Healthcare65
• Management & leadership72
• Resident happiness68

What inspectors found

Inspected 2023-01-28 · Report published 2023-01-28 · Inspected 4 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The home was rated Good for Safety at the January 2023 inspection, an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. This domain covers staffing levels, medicines management, safeguarding, and infection control. The home is registered for 15 beds, which is a small setting that can support closer oversight of individual residents. No specific safety concerns are flagged in the published summary, and no enforcement or regulatory action is recorded. The improvement from the previous rating suggests that whatever safety issues existed have been addressed.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good Safety rating after a previous Requires Improvement is genuinely reassuring u2014 it means inspectors looked specifically at what had gone wrong before and were satisfied it had been put right. For a 15-bed home, staffing ratios tend to be more visible and individual residents more known to staff, which can support safety. However, our family review data shows that night staffing is where families most often identify concerns, and the inspection gives no specific numbers for overnight cover. Good Practice evidence confirms that safety incidents most often occur at night or during shift changes, so this is worth asking about directly.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that staffing consistency u2014 particularly at night u2014 is one of the strongest predictors of safety outcomes in small residential dementia settings. Agency reliance undermines the familiarity that keeps residents safe.","watch_out":"When you visit, ask directly: 'How many staff are on duty overnight, and is there always someone trained in dementia care present after 10pm?' A home confident in its safety practices will answer this without hesitation."}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"The Effective domain was rated Good, covering care planning, dementia training, healthcare access, and nutrition. Dementia is listed as a specialism, which implies some level of focused training and environmental adaptation, though no specifics are given. The previous Requires Improvement rating across the home suggests that effectiveness was among the areas reviewed and improved. No concerns about medicines, GP access, or care plan quality are flagged in the published summary. The small size of the home u2014 15 beds u2014 can support more individualised and responsive care planning in practice.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For your parent with dementia, the quality of their care plan is one of the most important practical factors. It should describe not just medical needs but personal preferences u2014 what they like to eat, what calms them, what names they use for family members. Our family review data shows that families in the best-rated homes describe care plans as 'living documents' that staff actually use, not paperwork filed away. The inspection does not give us detail on how the home approaches this, so it is worth asking specifically whether you would be invited to contribute to and review the care plan.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base identifies regular, family-inclusive care plan reviews as a key marker of effective dementia care. Homes that involve families in reviews are better at capturing the biographical and preference information that makes dementia care feel personal rather than generic.","watch_out":"Ask the home: 'If my parent's condition changes u2014 for example, they start refusing meals or become more confused at a particular time of day u2014 how quickly would you update their care plan, and how would you let me know?'"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Good

  {"found":"Caring was rated Good at the January 2023 inspection, covering staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how residents are treated day to day. This is typically the domain where inspectors observe interactions directly u2014 staff addressing residents by preferred name, supporting independence, and responding to distress with patience. No concerns about dignity or respect are flagged. However, the published summary contains no direct quotes from residents or families, and no specific observations of caring interactions are described, which limits what can be confirmed with confidence.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is by far the most important factor for families choosing a care home u2014 it accounts for over 57% of the weighting in our family review data. A Good Caring rating is a positive signal, but it is the day-to-day texture of interactions that tells you whether your mum or dad will feel genuinely cared for rather than simply looked after. The Good Practice evidence base highlights that non-verbal communication u2014 tone of voice, unhurried pace, eye contact u2014 matters as much as what staff say, particularly for people with advanced dementia who may not follow verbal conversation. Watch how staff approach residents when they are not being formally observed.","evidence_base":"Good Practice research confirms that person-led care u2014 where staff know the individual well enough to anticipate their needs and respond to non-verbal cues u2014 produces significantly better wellbeing outcomes for people with dementia than task-focused care delivered to a schedule.","watch_out":"During your visit, watch what happens when a member of staff passes a resident in a corridor or communal area when they are not doing a specific task. Do they stop, make eye contact, use the resident's name, and engage u2014 or do they walk past? That unscripted moment tells you more than any planned interaction."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"Responsive was rated Good, covering activities, individual engagement, and end-of-life care planning. For a 15-bed home specialising in dementia, meaningful activity is particularly important u2014 boredom and under-stimulation are significant contributors to distress and deterioration. The inspection gives a Good rating but provides no detail on what activities are offered, how they are tailored to individuals, or what provision exists for residents who cannot join group activities. End-of-life care planning is not specifically mentioned in the available text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For your parent with dementia, having something meaningful to do each day u2014 whether that is a structured activity, a familiar household task, or simply a one-to-one conversation u2014 is not a luxury, it is part of their care. Our family review data shows that activities are one of the top concerns families raise, and the homes that score highest are those offering individual engagement, not just group sessions. The Good Practice evidence base supports Montessori-inspired approaches and everyday household tasks as particularly effective for people with advanced dementia. The inspection does not confirm whether this home offers one-to-one engagement u2014 ask directly.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett evidence review found that tailored individual activities u2014 rather than group-only programmes u2014 produced the greatest wellbeing benefits for people with dementia, particularly those in later stages who may not be able to participate in communal sessions.","watch_out":"Ask the activities lead or manager: 'If my parent isn't able to join a group session u2014 perhaps because they're having a difficult day u2014 what would they do between, say, 2pm and 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon?' A specific answer, not a general one, is what you are looking for."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"Well-led was rated Good, and the home improved from a previous Requires Improvement rating u2014 which is itself a leadership achievement. The registered manager, Mrs Winsome Sookoo, is also the nominated individual, meaning she carries dual personal accountability. This is notable in a small home and suggests close, direct oversight rather than a more distant management structure. No governance failures, concerns about culture, or regulatory actions are recorded. The published summary does not detail how quality is monitored, how staff are supported to raise concerns, or how feedback from families is gathered and acted upon.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of consistent care quality in small homes. The fact that one named manager has led the improvement from Requires Improvement to Good across all five domains is a positive sign that someone is genuinely in charge and cares about the outcome. Our family review data shows that communication from management u2014 being kept informed, having concerns taken seriously, feeling like a partner in your parent's care rather than a visitor u2014 is one of the top themes in family reviews of highly rated homes. The inspection does not confirm how this home handles family communication, so it is worth exploring on your visit.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base identifies leadership stability as a critical determinant of care quality trajectory. Homes where the registered manager has been in post consistently, and where staff feel empowered to raise concerns, demonstrate better outcomes on repeat inspection than those with frequent management changes.","watch_out":"Ask Mrs Sookoo directly: 'How long have you been running this home, and how do you keep families informed about changes in their parent's care?' The confidence, specificity, and warmth of the answer will tell you a great deal about the culture of the home."}

  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 home provides specialist dementia care alongside support for physical disabilities and general care for adults over 65.. Gaps or open questions remain on Some residents find comfort in sensory objects like robotic cats, which become treasured companions. The team understands how personal items and familiar routines help residents stay connected to themselves. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.