Oakwell House, Retford
CQC Inspection Breakdown
| Safe | Requires improvement |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Requires improvement |
About Oakwell House
Oakwell House is a residential care home providing personal care to six people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people. Oakwell House is a detached house containing five en-suite bedrooms in the main house and an annex with a self-contained flat.
What residents and families say
People told us they did not always get the right support from staff because they were not always well matched with their designated support workers.
People told us staff had not always maintained confidentiality.
Source: CQC inspection report
Specialisms
About Oakwell House
Families in Retford, Nottinghamshire looking for residential care may wish to consider Oakwell House, a registered residential care home in the area. The home is operated by Creative Care (East Midlands) Limited and can accommodate up to 6 residents. Following their most recent inspection on 19/10/2022, the Care Quality Commission rated Oakwell House as Requires improvement. Across the five inspection categories, the home scored Good for Effective, Caring, Responsive; Requires Improvement for Safe and Well-led. The home caters to a range of care needs, including sensory impairments, caring for adults under 65 yrs, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, caring for adults over 65 yrs and physical disabilities. The service supports learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health, older people, physical disability, sensory impairment, younger adults. The DN22 postcode area has 20 registered care homes with a combined 441 beds — so there are options to compare in the local area.
Finding the right care home is a deeply personal decision, and we hope this information helps you and your family feel more confident as you explore your options. Every person deserves care that respects their individuality, and the right home will feel welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
Oakwell House is one of the care homes in Nottinghamshire — a local authority with 280 CQC-registered homes, 221 of which are rated Good or Outstanding.
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Further Reading & Official Sources
- Official CQC inspection report for Oakwell House
- View Oakwell House on Google Maps
- NHS care home finder near DN22 9LD
We link to official and independent sources so families can verify the information on this page.
What to Expect When Visiting
When visiting a residential care home, pay attention to the atmosphere as much as the facilities. The best homes feel warm, unhurried, and genuinely caring — like a place where your loved one could feel at home.
- Try to visit at different times of day, including mealtimes, to see the home in action.
- Speak with staff and, if possible, current residents or their families about their experience.
- Ask how the home supports residents who may need nursing care in the future.
- Look at the communal spaces — do they feel welcoming, clean, and well-used?
- Assess the accessibility of corridors, bathrooms, and outdoor areas for wheelchair users.
Questions to Ask When Visiting
It can be hard to know what to ask during a care home visit. Here are some questions tailored to Oakwell House's type of care that may help guide your conversation:
- 1 What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
- 2 How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
- 3 Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
- 4 What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
For a more complete checklist, see our guide to choosing a care home.
Official CQC Inspection Report
The Care Quality Commission last inspected Oakwell House on 19/10/2022 and rated it Requires improvement. The full report includes detailed findings on safety, staffing, and quality of care.
Read the full CQC reportWhat families typically look for
- - How friendly and attentive the care staff are day-to-day
- - What activities and social events are available for residents
- - How the home handles changing care needs over time
These reflect common priorities we see from families researching care homes. For personalised advice, we recommend visiting in person and speaking to current families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
CQC rated Oakwell House as Good for Responsive care on 19/10/2022, which includes how the home adapts to residents' changing needs. Ask what the home's protocol is when a resident needs a higher level of nursing care — whether they support a managed transition or have partnerships with local nursing homes.
How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
CQC rated Oakwell House as Good for Caring on 19/10/2022. This domain covers how staff support residents' emotional wellbeing, social connection, and sense of purpose. During your visit, ask to see the activities timetable and speak with current residents or their families about daily life.
Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
Most residential care homes encourage residents to bring personal furniture and belongings to make their room feel like home. When visiting Oakwell House, ask about room sizes, any restrictions on furniture, and whether residents can hang pictures and decorate their space as they wish. A personalised room can make a significant difference to a resident's sense of comfort and identity.
What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
With 6 residents and care tailored to sensory impairments, daily routines at Oakwell House will be shaped around individual needs. During your visit, observe the lunchtime atmosphere, ask about morning routines and whether residents have flexibility around wake-up times and meal choices, and check what a typical afternoon looks like.
What is the CQC rating for Oakwell House?
Oakwell House in Retford is rated Requires improvement by the Care Quality Commission. The most recent inspection was on 19/10/2022. The home has 6 beds.
How many beds does Oakwell House have?
Oakwell House has 6 beds and operates as a residential care home in Retford.
Location
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Other Care Homes in DN22
More from Creative Care (East Midlands) Limited
- Sheepwalk House Nottingham · Good
- The Spinnies Nottingham · Good
- The Old Vicarage Nottingham · Good
Similar Sensory impairments homes
- Heathlands Care Home London · Good
- Acorn Luxury Care Limited Bournemouth · Good
- Simone's House Uxbridge · Good
Data from the Care Quality Commission, last updated March 2026. View on CQC website → How we use this data