A parent has spoken out in defence of The Woodlarks Centre care home in Farnham following concerns raised in a recent inspection report.

As reported last week, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report highlighted restrictive practices, staff recruitment procedures, and governance issues, leading to the care home receiving a “requires improvement” rating.

Rafik Atanes-Sarkissian, whose son Armand Sarkissian is one of the youngest residents at the home, said Woodlarks remains a place of exceptional care and support.

Mr Atanes-Sarkissian, expressed disappointment at what he perceived to be a "skewed" representation of the home in the CQC report. He emphasised the positive changes that have taken place since the inspection and described the facility as a safe and nurturing environment.

"My son has been happily settled for almost three years now. Weekly visits to him have shown staff who go above and beyond to provide a comfortable, fun and safe ‘forever home.’ It is a place brimming with life, laughter, activities, and camaraderie," he said.

He said Armand, an only child, had difficulty socialising with others due to epilepsy and other disabilities.

Mr Atanes-Sarkissian said: “The burden of care placed on the families of the disabled is inordinate and causes indescribable hardship and suffering. As we aged, it became evident that the only future for all of us was to find and secure a safe and caring home.

“With heavy hearts we began a series of lengthy and somewhat soul destroying searches for an appropriate place. After several years, and many inadequate facilities, and much bureaucracy we eventually landed at The Woodlarks Centre.

“Several years on I am thrilled beyond measure to say that we have all settled with our ‘new normal’ and despite the empty nest, have enormous peace of mind. Our son is thriving at The Woodlarks and is forging friendships whilst developing a sense of independence which we could never have envisaged, let alone dreamt of.”

He added that as he knew the dedication of the team at Woodlarks, “I am absolutely certain that they will continue to go from strength to strength and prove to be an exceptional care home”.

The CQC inspection, conducted last spring, found that some residents were not always treated in a dignified way due to "inappropriate restrictions."

Additionally, lapses in medicine management and incomplete pre-employment checks for staff were identified. While the report acknowledged that residents and their families were generally happy with the care provided, it also noted that processes to address feedback were sometimes ineffective and that management was not always receptive to concerns.

The Woodlarks Centre retained a "good" rating in the Effective, Caring, and Responsive categories. Inspectors acknowledged that staff were "kind and caring and understood people’s individual needs," while residents’ medical needs were being met through strong partnerships with healthcare professionals. Family members also reported that staff communicated well and addressed concerns when raised.

The Woodlarks Centre has not provided an official comment regarding the report or the ongoing developments at the facility.