The Willows
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 beds12
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions
- Last inspected2019-06-11
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families mention feeling genuinely welcomed when they visit. There's something reassuring about seeing your relative looking content and well-cared for, and that's what visitors often find here.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth55
- Compassion & dignity55
- Cleanliness55
- Activities & engagement50
- Food quality50
- Healthcare50
- Management & leadership60
- Resident happiness55
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-06-11
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was rated Good at the May 2019 inspection. This domain covers care planning, dementia-specific practice, staff training, healthcare access, and nutrition. The published report does not include specific observations on any of these areas. The home is registered as a dementia specialist, which means inspectors will have assessed training and care planning, but no detail from those assessments was published.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Good at the May 2019 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and independence. The published report does not include direct observations of staff interactions, resident quotes, or specific examples of dignified care. No concerns were raised. The previous Requires Improvement rating means that Caring has either been maintained or improved since the earlier inspection.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the May 2019 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, and responsiveness to personal preferences and complaints. The published report does not describe the activity programme, individual engagement approaches, or examples of care being tailored to specific residents. For a home with 12 beds and a dementia specialism, individual rather than group-based activity is particularly important.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the May 2019 inspection, up from what had been a Requires Improvement service. The home is run by S Kirk and G Kirk, with Gary Leslie Kirk named as the registered manager. This family-run, owner-managed structure can be a strength in a small home. The published report does not describe the governance systems, staff culture, or complaint handling processes in any detail. A July 2023 review found no new concerns.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The Willows specialises in caring for people over 65, including those living with dementia and mental health conditions. While the home lists dementia care as a specialism, visiting to see their specific approaches and activities would help you understand how they support residents with memory challenges. 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
The Willows Care Home holds a Good rating across all five inspection domains, but the published report contains very little specific detail, so scores reflect a baseline Good rather than strong observed evidence. Families should treat this score as a starting point and verify the detail in person.
Homes in West Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families mention feeling genuinely welcomed when they visit. There's something reassuring about seeing your relative looking content and well-cared for, and that's what visitors often find here.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to understand that good care means listening and responding quickly. When families ask for something specific, they find staff willing to make it happen without fuss.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the best measure of a care home is simply seeing how comfortable residents feel there.
Worth a visit
The Willows Care Home on Uttoxeter Road in Stoke-on-Trent was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last inspection in May 2019, an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The home is a small, 12-bed service registered to support adults over 65, people living with dementia, and people with mental health conditions. It is run by a family partnership, with a named registered manager. The inspection confirmed no domain-level concerns, and a review in July 2023 found no evidence to prompt a re-rating. The most significant uncertainty here is the age of the findings. The inspection took place in May 2019, which means the evidence is now more than five years old. A great deal can change in a small home over that period, including staffing, management continuity, and care culture. The published report also contains very little specific detail, so the Good rating tells you the direction of travel but not the texture of daily life. Before deciding, visit the home at a quieter time such as mid-morning, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota, and speak directly to the registered manager about what has changed since 2019.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how The Willows measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How The Willows describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where thoughtful care meets genuine warmth in Stoke
Dedicated residential home Support in Stoke On Trent
When families visit The Willows Care Home in Stoke On Trent, they often notice how settled their loved ones seem. This care home has built its reputation on responding quickly to what residents need, whether that's an extra pillow or a chat over tea. Set in the West Midlands, it's become a place where cleanliness and comfort go hand in hand.
Who they care for
The Willows specialises in caring for people over 65, including those living with dementia and mental health conditions.
While the home lists dementia care as a specialism, visiting to see their specific approaches and activities would help you understand how they support residents with memory challenges.
“Sometimes the best measure of a care home is simply seeing how comfortable residents feel there.”
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
The Willows Care Home holds a Good rating across all five inspection domains, but the published report contains very little specific detail, so scores reflect a baseline Good rather than strong observed evidence. Families should treat this score as a starting point and verify the detail in person.
Homes in West Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families mention feeling genuinely welcomed when they visit. There's something reassuring about seeing your relative looking content and well-cared for, and that's what visitors often find here.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to understand that good care means listening and responding quickly. When families ask for something specific, they find staff willing to make it happen without fuss.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the best measure of a care home is simply seeing how comfortable residents feel there.
Worth a visit
The Willows Care Home on Uttoxeter Road in Stoke-on-Trent was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last inspection in May 2019, an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The home is a small, 12-bed service registered to support adults over 65, people living with dementia, and people with mental health conditions. It is run by a family partnership, with a named registered manager. The inspection confirmed no domain-level concerns, and a review in July 2023 found no evidence to prompt a re-rating. The most significant uncertainty here is the age of the findings. The inspection took place in May 2019, which means the evidence is now more than five years old. A great deal can change in a small home over that period, including staffing, management continuity, and care culture. The published report also contains very little specific detail, so the Good rating tells you the direction of travel but not the texture of daily life. Before deciding, visit the home at a quieter time such as mid-morning, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota, and speak directly to the registered manager about what has changed since 2019.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how The Willows measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How The Willows describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where thoughtful care meets genuine warmth in Stoke
Dedicated residential home Support in Stoke On Trent
When families visit The Willows Care Home in Stoke On Trent, they often notice how settled their loved ones seem. This care home has built its reputation on responding quickly to what residents need, whether that's an extra pillow or a chat over tea. Set in the West Midlands, it's become a place where cleanliness and comfort go hand in hand.
Who they care for
The Willows specialises in caring for people over 65, including those living with dementia and mental health conditions.
While the home lists dementia care as a specialism, visiting to see their specific approaches and activities would help you understand how they support residents with memory challenges.
Management & ethos
Staff here seem to understand that good care means listening and responding quickly. When families ask for something specific, they find staff willing to make it happen without fuss.
The home & environment
The home takes real pride in keeping everything spotless, from communal areas right through to individual bedrooms. Home-cooked meals appear to be a particular strength, bringing that comforting touch to daily life.
“Sometimes the best measure of a care home is simply seeing how comfortable residents feel there.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
