Darnall Grange

Who the service is for

The service supports older people, younger people and people living with dementia. The service also had 20 beds commissioned for people who had been discharged from hospital and required rehabilitation support and to recuperate in a care environment. During this stay, professionals assessed their long-term health, and social care needs outside of a hospital setting.

Our view of the service

We carried out this assessment on 16 June 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.

People were supported by enough staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them safely. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed to keep people safe. Risk assessments were detailed and informative. There were effective systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about the safeguarding process and told us they would be able to identify and report abuse. Staff were confident swift and appropriate actions would be taken to keep people safe. Medicines were administered safely and there were systems in place to ensure the environment was safe.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives. Staff and leaders understood DoLS and ensured people were offered choices in line with their preferences. Care plans were detailed and gave clear guidance on how to support people in the least restrictive way and in line with any conditions of their DoLS. One staff member said, “I feel knowledgeable about safeguarding and would report any concerns immediately. I am aware of DoLS and know care plans include information about them.”

People’s needs were assessed and care delivered in line with them. A detailed assessment tool was in place to help staff understand people’s needs. Care plans were reviewed frequently, and staff were kept informed of any changes to people’s care. We observed lunch being served and found this was a pleasant experience for people. Staff supported people in line with their dietary requirements. The catering team were knowledgeable about people’s likes, dislikes and any modified diets. Staff included people as partners in their care. Staff sought people's consent prior to carrying out a task.

Staff were kind and caring and interacted with people in a calm and friendly way. People were supported to maintain their independence and were supported to make choices. Staff showed a true desire to provide supportive care in line with people's preferences. One staff member said, “[The provider] is interested in people who lived at the home and wants what is best for them. But they [provider] also value the staff, and they worked together well with the team.”

People received person centred care from staff who were keen to ensure their preferences were considered. One external professional said, “Staff seem kind, caring and knowledgeable about residents’ likes, dislikes, limitations and choices and encourage residents to achieve their goals.I have also found that they support residents with sensitivity when it becomes evident that they are deteriorating and their care needs are changing.”

Staff and leaders engaged well with external professionals to ensure people received the support they required in a timely way. One external professional said, “Darnall Grange maintains safe systems of care to ensure continuity of care. Communication and documentation is excellent. The care plans are of a high standard. The medication monitoring and management is very good. The nurses in charge are responsive and diligent with all changes in care or medication. Their communication with other health professionals is exemplary.” Another external professional said, “The staff and management are proactive in sharing relevant information and are responsive when medication-related actions are required. They follow advice provided regarding medicines optimisation and safety, helping to minimise the risk of medication errors and ensuring residents receive appropriate treatment following transitions between services.”

The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people felt able to freely raise issues. On the rare occasion people had raised concerns they were addressed in a timely way. Staff and leaders supported people to raise little niggles to minimise complaints. Several opportunities were available for people to feedback about the service, such as quality questionnaires and regular meetings. Feedback was used to reflect on practice, make changes where needed and to ensure the service was meeting the needs of people living there. People, relatives, staff and external professionals told us they felt as ease to speak with leaders about any aspect of the service. One staff member said, “The provider asks for feedback and listens to what we have to say.”

People had access to outside space and good signage was available to help people navigate around the home. People's goals and outcomes were recorded and monitored in people's care plans.

There was evidence of a shared direction and good culture where staff and leaders worked well together, and everyone was equally important and valued. The provider’s values were centred on promoting kindness, closeness, compassion and love through meaningful relationships and person-centred care. These values were visible throughout the service. One staff member said, “Staff get along well together, and it is a very homely and family orientated place to work.” Another staff member said, “I feel supported by [leaders] and I am very happy at work, I feel motivation is high and I feels valued.”

Audits were carried out and identified areas of improvement. Lessons were learnt and appropriate action taken to improve practice.