A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has accused the owner of Elliscombe House, a care home in Wincanton, of threatening staff, barging into residents’ rooms without knocking, and evicting residents with little notice.
Staff members voiced serious concerns about the owner’s conduct, with one describing an environment of “constant fear” created by his behaviour. Elliscombe House, which can accommodate up to 35 older adults including dementia patients, had 28 residents during the inspection in March 2026.
While the CQC rated Elliscombe House as “Good” overall, including for safety, effectiveness, caring, and responsiveness, the home was marked “Requires Improvement” under the well-led category. This category evaluates leadership, management, governance, and the promotion of a positive and open culture.
The report detailed numerous incidents where the owner entered residents’ rooms uninvited. A relative called such behaviour “upsetting and humiliating,” especially when the owner failed to apologise. In one particularly troubling case, the owner entered a room without knocking while a resident was receiving intimate nursing care—an act staff described as “disgusting.”
Family members also expressed distress over the owner’s conduct, noting his lack of clinical knowledge and inappropriate remarks. Staff reported feeling intimidated, with one employee claiming the owner explicitly threatened their job security if they spoke to CQC inspectors.
Concerns about the owner’s behaviour were first raised during a previous inspection. An agreement was then made restricting his visits to once a month and limiting contact to the home manager. However, the latest report reveals this agreement was frequently ignored, exacerbating tensions within the home.
Despite these leadership failings, the report praised the care staff for their dedication and compassion. Relatives described the team as “marvellous” and committed to resident wellbeing.
In response to the findings, Elliscombe House management announced swift changes, including new senior leadership. Tina Welford, a former CQC inspector with extensive governance experience, has been appointed as the new Nominated Individual responsible for overseeing improvements. A new managing director has also joined the team.
The home emphasized that resident safety and wellbeing remain a top priority and highlighted that the CQC’s report noted positive feedback from residents and families, reflected in the home’s strong ratings across most categories. Elliscombe House maintains an overall “Good” rating from the CQC and holds a 9.9/10 score on carehome.co.uk based on family reviews.