Hillswood Lodge
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds21
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities
- Last inspected2019-07-26
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families describe feeling welcomed from their very first visit. The accommodation is kept clean and thoughtfully furnished, creating a comfortable setting for residents.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth55
- Compassion & dignity55
- Cleanliness55
- Activities & engagement50
- Food quality50
- Healthcare50
- Management & leadership65
- Resident happiness55
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-07-26
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Inspectors rated the effective domain Good at the November 2020 inspection. This domain covers staff training, care planning, healthcare access, nutrition, and how well the home uses information to deliver care. The published summary does not describe the content of care plans, the frequency of GP access, or the dementia training staff receive. No specific examples of effective practice are recorded in the available text.Is this home caring?
Inspectors rated the caring domain Good at the November 2020 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and whether residents are treated as individuals. The published text does not include any direct quotes from residents or relatives, and no specific observations about staff interactions are recorded. The Good rating suggests inspectors were satisfied with what they observed, but the absence of detail means families cannot assess the quality of caring from the published report alone.Is the home responsive?
Inspectors rated the responsive domain Good at the November 2020 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, and end-of-life care. The published text provides no detail about the activity programme, how one-to-one engagement is delivered, or how the home supports people at the end of life. The home supports people with dementia and learning disabilities, both of whom may need individually tailored engagement rather than group-only activities.Is the home well-led?
Inspectors rated the well-led domain Good at the November 2020 inspection, following a previous rating of Requires Improvement. A registered manager and a nominated individual are named in the inspection record, indicating a clear leadership structure. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good across all five domains simultaneously suggests that leadership took the previous findings seriously and made changes. The published text does not describe the management culture, staff feedback mechanisms, or governance systems in any detail.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home provides specialist support for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or learning disabilities. For residents living with dementia, the home offers dedicated support within their comfortable environment. The team understands the importance of creating familiar, reassuring surroundings. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Hillswood Lodge improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the published inspection text provides very little specific detail, so many scores reflect that positive ratings were confirmed without the granular evidence that would push them higher.
Homes in West Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe feeling welcomed from their very first visit. The accommodation is kept clean and thoughtfully furnished, creating a comfortable setting for residents.
What inspectors have recorded
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Hillswood Lodge for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Hillswood Lodge, a 21-bed care home in Stoke-on-Trent supporting people over 65, people under 65, those living with dementia, and people with learning disabilities, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in November 2020. Importantly, this represented an improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement, which is a concrete sign that leadership had identified problems and acted on them. A registered manager and nominated individual were in place at the time of inspection. The main limitation of this report is that very little specific detail was published. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no observations about staff interactions, and no descriptions of the activity programme, food, or the environment. A Good rating achieved after a period of Requires Improvement is encouraging, but it is now more than four years since that inspection, and a lot can change in a home of this size. Before making a decision, visit in person, ask to see the most recent staffing rota including overnight shifts, and ask the manager what specifically changed after the Requires Improvement rating to understand how the home responds when things go wrong.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Hillswood Lodge measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Hillswood Lodge describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Welcoming Stoke care home supports diverse needs with genuine warmth
Compassionate Care in Stoke On Trent at Hillswood Lodge
When families first arrive at Hillswood Lodge in Stoke On Trent, they often comment on the friendly reception they receive. This care home welcomes residents with varied needs, from younger adults with learning disabilities to older people living with dementia. While the home creates a clean, comfortable environment, some visitors have noted that staff availability can sometimes be stretched.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist support for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or learning disabilities.
For residents living with dementia, the home offers dedicated support within their comfortable environment. The team understands the importance of creating familiar, reassuring surroundings.
“If you're considering Hillswood Lodge for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Hillswood Lodge improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the published inspection text provides very little specific detail, so many scores reflect that positive ratings were confirmed without the granular evidence that would push them higher.
Homes in West Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe feeling welcomed from their very first visit. The accommodation is kept clean and thoughtfully furnished, creating a comfortable setting for residents.
What inspectors have recorded
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Hillswood Lodge for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Hillswood Lodge, a 21-bed care home in Stoke-on-Trent supporting people over 65, people under 65, those living with dementia, and people with learning disabilities, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in November 2020. Importantly, this represented an improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement, which is a concrete sign that leadership had identified problems and acted on them. A registered manager and nominated individual were in place at the time of inspection. The main limitation of this report is that very little specific detail was published. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no observations about staff interactions, and no descriptions of the activity programme, food, or the environment. A Good rating achieved after a period of Requires Improvement is encouraging, but it is now more than four years since that inspection, and a lot can change in a home of this size. Before making a decision, visit in person, ask to see the most recent staffing rota including overnight shifts, and ask the manager what specifically changed after the Requires Improvement rating to understand how the home responds when things go wrong.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Hillswood Lodge measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Hillswood Lodge describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Welcoming Stoke care home supports diverse needs with genuine warmth
Compassionate Care in Stoke On Trent at Hillswood Lodge
When families first arrive at Hillswood Lodge in Stoke On Trent, they often comment on the friendly reception they receive. This care home welcomes residents with varied needs, from younger adults with learning disabilities to older people living with dementia. While the home creates a clean, comfortable environment, some visitors have noted that staff availability can sometimes be stretched.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist support for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or learning disabilities.
For residents living with dementia, the home offers dedicated support within their comfortable environment. The team understands the importance of creating familiar, reassuring surroundings.
The home & environment
The home maintains clean, well-furnished spaces throughout the building. Visitors have noted the care taken to keep the environment pleasant and appropriate for residents' needs.
“If you're considering Hillswood Lodge for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
