Agnes Court, a care home for people with physical disabilities, was served the notice on July 30 after being inspected by the national watchdog from June 24 to July 15 this year.
The home, on Warwick Road in Banbury, is a dedicated nursing home for adults living with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and autism.
Inspectors assessed the home based on whether the provider guaranteed the 23 people living there were treated with respect, equality, dignity, given choices and independence and had good access to communities.
A warning notice was issued for failing to meet the regulations related to person-centred care and good governance at Agnes Court.
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Inspectors found four breaches of regulation in relation to safeguarding, consent, person-centred care and good governance.
One person told inspectors “it’s lovely” and said they felt safe, enjoyed activities and liked the food. Another person said, “I like it, it’s homely”.
However, people and relatives consistently raised concerns that staffing pressures were affecting their experiences.
Inspectors found all five areas measured required improvement, measuring it on safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership.
Allegations raised by staff in January 2026 in relation to people’s choice and control, were not treated as a safeguarding concern or formally investigated.
Not all relatives had experienced being involved in the review of their loved one’s care.
Multiple relatives also told inspectors they were never asked if they were happy with their relative’s care
Warwick Road in Banbury (Image: Google Maps)
Inspectors also found people at the home weren’t always given privacy, there were few outside trips, and opportunities for people to explore hobbies were reduced after a decrease in staff at the home.
A more alarming part of the report is that people and relatives described delays in receiving support, and staff were found to turn off a call bell so it didn’t go into emergency mode and not attend the person, resulting in discomfort and prolonged waits for assistance.
Some people spent prolonged periods without meaningful interaction and some claimed they wanted greater independence and choice, with several people lacking consistency in key workers and losing out on relationships and communication.
A spokesperson for Leonard Cheshire, who runs the care home, said: “We acknowledge the areas of concern highlighted by the regulator, many of which had been identified in our own internal monitoring.
“A comprehensive action plan is already delivering improvements for residents at Agnes Court. This includes increased oversight and assistance from senior staff and quality teams, as well as extra training.
“Residents and their families will receive regular updates as we continue to make progress in all areas.”
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