Arden Park

During the inspection we spoke with people who lived at the service, their relatives, staff, the registered manager and the operations manager. Their key responsibility is to supervise the management of the regulated activities provided by the organisation. We also sought feedback from external health and social care professionals, and we looked at care plans, medicines records, recruitment files and quality assurance records.

Arden Park provided care and support to people in a warm, inclusive environment where staff knew people well and promoted kindness, dignity and respect. People consistently told us they felt safe, supported and happy living at the service. Relatives and health and social care professionals were largely positive about the quality of care provided.

There was a strong culture of person-centred care. Staff treated people as individuals, respected their choices and promoted independence wherever possible. People were supported to maintain meaningful activities, relationships and routines that reflected their preferences and life histories. Interactions between staff and people were observed to be caring and compassionate, and people felt listened to and involved in decisions about their care.

The service generally managed risks well, and systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff had received relevant training and understood their responsibilities. However, we identified some inconsistencies in risk management and environmental safety including fire safety issues, infection prevention concerns and gaps in care plan detail. While immediate action was taken during the inspection, these issues highlighted a need for stronger oversight and assurance.

Medicines were mostly managed safely, and staff were trained and competent. Some improvements were required to ensure clearer guidance and recording, particularly around topical medicines and PRN (people’s as and when medication) use. Infection prevention and control practices were generally effective, but some environmental cleanliness and audit follow-up required strengthening to reduce potential risks.

Leadership at the service was visible and approachable. People, relatives and staff felt able to raise concerns and were confident these would be listened to. Staff reported feeling mostly supported and valued, and there was evidence of learning and reflective practice. However, governance systems were not always effective in driving timely improvements or ensuring actions identified through audits were consistently completed and sustained.

Overall, Arden Park delivered a caring and supportive service where people experienced positive outcomes and relationships. To further strengthen the quality and sustainability of the service, the provider needs to improve governance, environmental risk management and follow-through of audit actions to ensure consistent safety and quality for everyone using the service.