How a Fenton care home earned an outstanding rating

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-03 17:49 2 min read

Caregiver assisting elderly residents with knitting in a warm, welcoming care home setting.

By the demoduck.co.uk editorial team | Published 3 August 2026

A specialist care home in Fenton has been upgraded from good to outstanding after inspectors found that support was closely shaped around each resident’s life, choices and ambitions.

The Care Quality Commission announced the new rating for Choices Housing Association Limited – 1 William Street following an inspection in April. The Stoke-on-Trent home supports autistic people and people with learning disabilities, with five people living there when inspectors visited.

Care built around individual lives

Inspectors assessed the home under the CQC’s “right support, right care, right culture” guidance, which considers whether people receive dignity, equality, independence, choice and access to their community.

Staff were found to know residents’ needs, preferences and backgrounds in depth. The report described how they helped one person reconnect with an important family member and supported another to reduce medication safely, improving that person’s confidence and communication.

How a Fenton care home earned an outstanding rating

When a resident had concerns about receiving healthcare, the manager kept their wishes at the centre of decisions. People also took part in regular care reviews, giving them opportunities to discuss their goals and influence the support they received. Similar themes around independence have featured in other CQC assessments of adult social care.

Leadership and listening lifted the rating

The caring and well-led areas of the service were upgraded from good to outstanding. Its safe, effective and responsive ratings remain good.

Amanda Lyndon, the CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in the West Midlands, said relatives described staff as compassionate and highly attentive. External professionals also praised the standard of care and regarded the service as an example of best practice.

Inspectors found that the registered manager maintained visible leadership while encouraging staff to raise concerns and suggest improvements. Residents helped decide how communal rooms were decorated and contributed to redesigning the garden so it could be accessed by everyone.

Source: Care Quality Commission News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report follows the CQC’s account of its April inspection and the resulting rating changes.

Checks

Confirmed that the overall rating changed from good to outstanding.
Checked that caring and well-led were upgraded while safe, effective and responsive remain...
Confirmed that five people lived at the home when the inspection took place.
Kept examples of personalised support tied to the published inspection findings.

Care Quality Commission Check wider coverage