The Rookery Care Home

The service was previously inspected and rated requires improvement overall, following an assessment carried out on 17 December 2025 (published 12 February 2026).

Throughout our assessment of The Rookery Care Home, we identified shortfalls in the way the service was managed. We identified concerns relating to the environment, safe care and treatment, management of medicines, management of risks, fit and proper persons employed, management of the service and governance. We found the provider was in breach of the legal regulation relating to safe care and treatment and good governance.

We identified several environmental hazards throughout the service, alongside infection prevention and control issues including the cleanliness of the building. Records showed staff had out-of-date training, and some had not completed essential training in key areas required to keep people safe. The environment did not support the needs of people living with dementia, as it lacked appropriate dementia friendly features. There was limited use of clear signage or orientation aids which would help people maintain their independence.

Quality assurance processes were ineffective. Audits did not identify important shortfalls in care quality or safety, and risks were neither fully assessed nor adequately managed. Strategic priorities for improvement were unclear. This demonstrated a breakdown in the feedback and improvement cycle and limited the service’s ability to make meaningful, sustained progress. Prompt action to address issues was taken during and after our assessment of this service.

We served a warning notice to the provider of The Rookery on 7 January 2026, for failing to meet the regulations relating to good governance.

At this inspection, we found the provider had made improvements including key improvements to the safety of the environment relating to infection prevention and control, safety of equipment including fire evacuation equipment, and ensuring exits used in an emergency were accessible. Medicines management and systems for the oversight of the service has also improved. The provider was no longer in breach of regulations.