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CQC report explained · a nursing home

What the CQC found at Orchard Manor Care Home

Requires improvementpublished 22 January 2026, 8 months ago

Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, February 2021

Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.

This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2021. It checked infection prevention and control because of the coronavirus outbreak response.

Inspectors found that visitors were screened, PPE was available, cleaning had increased and people and staff were tested regularly. They were assured that the home was using PPE safely, managing outbreaks and keeping its infection control policy up to date.

Relatives spoke positively about kind care, communication and visiting arrangements. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide an overall quality rating.

What inspectors praised
  • Infection control

    Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infection, including PPE, testing, cleaning and an up-to-date policy.

    “We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
  • Visitor safety

    Visitors completed health screening, had their temperature checked and were given masks and access to PPE and hand hygiene facilities.

    “All visitors were asked to complete a health screening form, have their temperature checked and were provided with face masks to wear throughout their visit.” from the report
  • Kind care and communication

    Relatives spoke positively about staff being caring, knowing people's needs and keeping families informed.

    “Staff are always kind and caring. They know [Name] really well and fully meet their needs” from the report
  • Visiting arrangements

    Relatives said garden and indoor visits had been booked in advance and managed well, with screens used for indoor visits.

    “They said these were pre booked and well managed.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01Are visitors still screened, given masks and offered PPE before entering the home?
  2. 02How are people and staff currently tested for COVID-19 or other infections?
  3. 03How do you record and review each person's individual infection risks?
  4. 04How are visits currently arranged, and are screens or other safety measures still used?
  5. 05What arrangements are in place to prevent or manage an infection outbreak?

This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, November 2019

Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, caring support, but leadership and reporting of serious incidents required improvement.

This was an unannounced focused inspection on 25 and 26 September 2019. Inspectors visited in the morning and evening, spoke with people and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine, staffing and management records.

The home was rated Good for safety. People said they felt safe and received medicines on time. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe hoist use, good infection control and robust recruitment. However, one person was briefly left without their required one-to-one support on two occasions, and building security needed attention.

The home was rated Requires Improvement for being well-led. Deaths and physical assaults between people had not always been reported to CQC as required. Inspectors said this was due to misunderstanding the rules, not a deliberate attempt to withhold information.

The overall rating stayed Good because the other three areas were not inspected during this visit. Their previous ratings were carried forward from the last comprehensive inspection.

What inspectors praised
  • People felt safe

    People said they felt safe and comfortable with the staff team. They also said staff responded quickly to call bells and emergency alarms.

    “People told us they felt safe living at Orchard Manor.” from the report
  • Medicines were managed well

    Inspectors found medicines securely stored and records properly completed. Staff had medicine training and competency checks.

    “Medication was securely stored, and records were appropriately signed once medicines had been administered.” from the report
  • Clean environment

    The building was clean, tidy and hygienic during the visits. Staff used protective equipment when needed and supplies were available.

    “The building was visibly clean and tidy during our visits.” from the report
  • Caring atmosphere

    Inspectors found that people were treated as individuals and supported by staff. Staff told inspectors that managers were approachable.

    “There was a positive and caring atmosphere within the home.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Serious incidents were not always reported

    needs fixing

    Deaths and incidents involving physical assault had not always been reported to CQC as required. Inspectors recommended that the provider seek guidance on its regulatory responsibilities.

    “The registered provider had not always informed us about adverse incidents and deaths as legally required.” from the report
  • One-to-one support was interrupted

    needs fixing

    A person who needed continuous one-to-one support was left without that support on two occasions. Inspectors said the person was not harmed, but their safety was put at risk.

    “However, on two occasions a person was left without their one to one support.” from the report
  • Building security needed improvement

    needs fixing

    On arrival, a staff member gave inspectors the entry code without checking who they were or asking for identification. The manager addressed this during the visit.

    “On arrival at the service, a staff member gave us the code to enter without asking who we were or for identification.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01What changes have been made to make sure people receiving one-to-one support are never left without their allocated staff member?
  2. 02How do you now report deaths, physical assaults and other notifiable incidents to CQC?
  3. 03What checks are in place to control entry to the building, especially at night?
  4. 04What action has been taken following the Requires Improvement rating for well-led?
  5. 05How do you use feedback from people and relatives to check that improvements have been made?

This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 November 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Orchard Manor Care Home

7 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.

  1. February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Orchard Manor Care Home →

  2. November 2019Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read what inspectors found at Orchard Manor Care Home →

  3. June 2018Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. July 2017Requires improvementup from Inadequate
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. March 2017Inadequatedown from Requires improvement
    Safe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. June 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. November 2015Requires improvementstayed Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. August 2015Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  9. September 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  10. October 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  11. July 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  12. March 2011

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  13. December 2010

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 December 2010.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.

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