Northwood Nursing & Residential Care
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds27
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2023-09-07
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
The DCC shortlist gives every home you visit a structured record: the same twelve questions, answered the same way, every time. When you’re ready to choose, pull any two homes side by side and compare them directly. Same criteria, same evidence, your notes and your scores.
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
People talk about residents getting genuinely involved in activities that match what they can manage. The atmosphere seems to lift spirits, with families noticing their relatives becoming more engaged than they'd been in months. Staff appear to understand how to keep people occupied without overwhelming them.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth65
- Compassion & dignity65
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement55
- Food quality55
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership40
- Resident happiness60
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-09-07
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the July 2024 inspection. The home has registered to care for a wide range of needs including dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, which requires staff with a broad range of skills and knowledge. The published report does not include specific observations about care plan quality, GP access, dementia training content, or how food is managed for people with swallowing difficulties or specific dietary needs. No concerns were recorded under this domain.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the July 2024 inspection. The published report does not include direct inspector observations of staff interactions, resident testimony about how they are treated, or examples of dignity in practice such as preferred names being used or privacy being protected during personal care. No concerns were recorded under this domain. The home supports people with dementia and learning disabilities, where non-verbal communication and consistent relationships with familiar staff are particularly important.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the July 2024 inspection. The home is registered to support people with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical and sensory impairments, all of whom may have very different needs for meaningful occupation and individual engagement. The published report does not include specific observations about the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, or how the home supports residents who cannot participate in group activities. No concerns were recorded under this domain.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement at the July 2024 inspection, and this finding is what reduced the home's overall rating from its previous Good. The registered manager is Mr Munawar Hussain, with two nominated individuals also named. The published report does not set out the specific governance or leadership failures that led to this rating. This is a decline from the previous inspection and represents the most significant concern for families considering this home.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for younger adults with physical disabilities and learning difficulties alongside older residents. They support people with sensory impairments and provide specialist dementia care. Their dementia support focuses on maintaining dignity while managing complex needs. Staff work to keep residents engaged at whatever level they can manage, adapting activities to changing abilities. 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
Northwood Nursing and Residential Care scores 62 out of 100. The four care-facing domains (Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive) were rated Good at the most recent inspection, but the home's overall rating is Requires Improvement because Well-led was found wanting, and that concern pulls the overall picture down for families.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
People talk about residents getting genuinely involved in activities that match what they can manage. The atmosphere seems to lift spirits, with families noticing their relatives becoming more engaged than they'd been in months. Staff appear to understand how to keep people occupied without overwhelming them.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff seem to know residents' complex medical needs inside out, responding quickly when help's needed. Families feel included in care decisions and get regular updates about how their relative's doing. The team's described as proactive rather than just reactive, spotting issues before they become problems.
How it sits against good practice
Some families arrive expecting to say goodbye and instead find themselves planning birthday parties months later.
Worth a visit
Northwood Nursing and Residential Care, at 206 Preston New Road in Blackburn, was assessed in July 2024 and the report was published in September 2024. The inspection awarded Good ratings across Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive, which covers day-to-day care, medicine management, kindness of staff, and how the home responds to individual needs. However, the overall rating is Requires Improvement because the Well-led domain fell short of the standard required, representing a decline from the previous Good overall rating. The published report provides very limited specific detail about what inspectors actually observed, which makes it difficult to paint a full picture for you as a family member. The leadership concern is the key uncertainty: a home where governance and management are found wanting can see standards slip in other areas over time. Before visiting, prepare questions about the registered manager's day-to-day presence, how the home has addressed the Well-led concerns since the inspection, and what the staffing picture looks like on night shifts. On your visit, watch how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas, and ask to see evidence that the management issues identified are being actively resolved.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
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In Their Own Words
How Northwood Nursing & Residential Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where recovery surprises families who feared the worst
Northwood Nursing & Residential Care – Your Trusted nursing home
When someone you love needs complex care, finding the right place feels overwhelming. Northwood Nursing & Residential Care in Blackburn supports people facing serious health challenges, including those under 65 with physical disabilities or learning difficulties. Families describe watching their loved ones regain weight and strength here after arriving in poor health.
Who they care for
The home cares for younger adults with physical disabilities and learning difficulties alongside older residents. They support people with sensory impairments and provide specialist dementia care.
Their dementia support focuses on maintaining dignity while managing complex needs. Staff work to keep residents engaged at whatever level they can manage, adapting activities to changing abilities.
“Some families arrive expecting to say goodbye and instead find themselves planning birthday parties months later.”
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
Northwood Nursing and Residential Care scores 62 out of 100. The four care-facing domains (Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive) were rated Good at the most recent inspection, but the home's overall rating is Requires Improvement because Well-led was found wanting, and that concern pulls the overall picture down for families.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
People talk about residents getting genuinely involved in activities that match what they can manage. The atmosphere seems to lift spirits, with families noticing their relatives becoming more engaged than they'd been in months. Staff appear to understand how to keep people occupied without overwhelming them.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff seem to know residents' complex medical needs inside out, responding quickly when help's needed. Families feel included in care decisions and get regular updates about how their relative's doing. The team's described as proactive rather than just reactive, spotting issues before they become problems.
How it sits against good practice
Some families arrive expecting to say goodbye and instead find themselves planning birthday parties months later.
Worth a visit
Northwood Nursing and Residential Care, at 206 Preston New Road in Blackburn, was assessed in July 2024 and the report was published in September 2024. The inspection awarded Good ratings across Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive, which covers day-to-day care, medicine management, kindness of staff, and how the home responds to individual needs. However, the overall rating is Requires Improvement because the Well-led domain fell short of the standard required, representing a decline from the previous Good overall rating. The published report provides very limited specific detail about what inspectors actually observed, which makes it difficult to paint a full picture for you as a family member. The leadership concern is the key uncertainty: a home where governance and management are found wanting can see standards slip in other areas over time. Before visiting, prepare questions about the registered manager's day-to-day presence, how the home has addressed the Well-led concerns since the inspection, and what the staffing picture looks like on night shifts. On your visit, watch how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas, and ask to see evidence that the management issues identified are being actively resolved.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Northwood Nursing & Residential Care measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Northwood Nursing & Residential Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where recovery surprises families who feared the worst
Northwood Nursing & Residential Care – Your Trusted nursing home
When someone you love needs complex care, finding the right place feels overwhelming. Northwood Nursing & Residential Care in Blackburn supports people facing serious health challenges, including those under 65 with physical disabilities or learning difficulties. Families describe watching their loved ones regain weight and strength here after arriving in poor health.
Who they care for
The home cares for younger adults with physical disabilities and learning difficulties alongside older residents. They support people with sensory impairments and provide specialist dementia care.
Their dementia support focuses on maintaining dignity while managing complex needs. Staff work to keep residents engaged at whatever level they can manage, adapting activities to changing abilities.
Management & ethos
Staff seem to know residents' complex medical needs inside out, responding quickly when help's needed. Families feel included in care decisions and get regular updates about how their relative's doing. The team's described as proactive rather than just reactive, spotting issues before they become problems.
The home & environment
The kitchen gets particular praise for offering variety, including culturally specific options that matter to residents. Families mention improved menus and residents actually enjoying their meals again. The place stays clean and well-maintained, which matters when you're visiting someone vulnerable.
“Some families arrive expecting to say goodbye and instead find themselves planning birthday parties months later.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
