Wirral Care Home Remains in Special Measures Following Further Inadequate Inspection

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has again rated The Woodlands care home in Meols, Wirral, as Inadequate following inspections carried out in March and April 2026.

The Woodlands, operated by The Woodlands Care Home TWCH LLP, provides accommodation and personal care for up to 16 older people, including people living with sensory impairments.

The inspection was carried out to assess whether improvements had been made following previous concerns. However, inspectors found four continued breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment, safe staffing, fit and proper persons employed, and the overall management of the service.

As a result, the home’s ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led remain Inadequate, while the Caring and Responsivedomains have declined from Good to Requires Improvement.

The service remains in CQC’s Special Measures programme and the regulator has begun the process of taking further regulatory action. The provider has the right to appeal.

Inspectors found repeated concerns relating to people’s safety. The report states that some people experienced repeated falls and injuries without appropriate follow-up or timely safeguarding action. In one case, records showed repeated falls over a period of time, including incidents that resulted in fractures. A safeguarding referral was only made after intervention from the local authority.

The inspection also identified a number of environmental risks within the home, including damaged flooring, broken furniture, loose electrical fittings and other maintenance issues that could increase the risk of injury.

CQC inspectors also reported significant concerns about cleanliness and infection prevention. The report describes communal bathrooms and equipment that were heavily soiled, alongside visibly dirty pressure cushions and furniture requiring improved cleaning and maintenance.

Inspectors found that people at risk of falling were not always receiving the support they needed to remain safe, medicines were not always managed safely, and there were insufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs.

The report also identified wider governance concerns, including failures to learn from incidents, limited opportunities for meaningful activities to support people’s wellbeing, and feedback from some relatives that they were not fully involved in care planning and reviews.

Despite these concerns, the CQC noted that people using the service and their relatives spoke positively about frontline staff, describing them as kind and hardworking. However, inspectors concluded that staff were not being adequately supported by the home’s leadership.

The CQC says it will continue to monitor the service closely while regulatory action progresses and expects to see rapid and sustained improvements to ensure people receive safe, high-quality care.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.