Wolverhampton Care Home Remains Inadequate and in Special Measures

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has again rated Ashley Court Care Limited in Wolverhampton as inadequate, keeping the service in special measures following an inspection in July 2026.

The care home supports older and younger people, including people living with dementia. Inspectors returned to assess whether improvements had been made since the previous inspection but found the provider remained in breach of six regulations covering safe care and treatment, staffing, dignity and respect, person-centred care, consent and overall management.

The CQC rated the home inadequate for safety, effectiveness, caring and leadership, while responsiveness was rated requires improvement.

Inspectors identified concerns about care planning, monitoring and incident reporting. One person had experienced repeated falls from their bed, but staff could not demonstrate that equipment intended to alert them had worked. Records also showed lengthy gaps between repositioning checks for a person who needed regular support to protect their skin.

The inspection found that some incidents, including seizures and bruising, were not consistently recorded on the home’s reporting system. Inspectors also referred a concern about a person’s dietary requirements to the local safeguarding team after finding it had not been reported by staff.

Other findings included people not consistently meeting their prescribed fluid intake targets, inaccurate medicines management and conflicting information in care records about dietary needs. Inspectors also found that staff did not always respond promptly when people required assistance, including an incident in which a person became unresponsive while staff were nearby.

The CQC raised further concerns about the home’s reliance on agency staff and inconsistencies in shift records, which made it difficult for leaders to establish who was working and whether staff had the appropriate skills.

Feedback from relatives was mixed. While some praised staff and the care provided, others reported difficulties obtaining information about their family members or felt that concerns had not been followed up. Inspectors observed staff treating people kindly during medicine rounds and found that the home had effective systems for recording people’s wishes about future and end-of-life care. Staff also spoke positively about working at the home, and inspectors found they had been safely recruited.

The service will remain in special measures, with the CQC monitoring it closely while improvements are sought. The regulator is also preparing to propose further regulatory action to address the concerns. Ashley Court Care Limited has the right to appeal.

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