CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bowden Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2017
Bowden Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some medicines and record-keeping checks needing attention.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 5 October 2017. They spoke with five people, five staff and the managers. They reviewed care records, staff files and other records, and observed daily care and the home’s environment.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding arrangements and safe systems for storing and giving medicines.
People were supported by staff who knew them well and treated them with dignity. Their care plans described their needs and preferences, and the home offered activities, health support and ways for people to share their views.
Inspectors found a few shortfalls. Some medicine storage temperature records had gaps, one as-needed medicine was given without the record being updated, and some monthly care record reviews were not consistently recorded. The managers had identified some of these issues and were taking action.
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and supported them to be independent. Inspectors saw positive, respectful interactions throughout the visit.
“We saw staff interact positively with people and they clearly knew people well.” from the report
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment checks helped ensure staff were suitable.
“There were enough staff to ensure people's care and support needs were met.” from the report
Personalised care
Care records included people’s preferences, what mattered to them and how best to support them. Activities and individual support were also available.
“People's care records were person centred.” from the report
Good management oversight
Managers were described as supportive and approachable. The home used meetings, surveys and audits to monitor quality.
“There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.” from the report
As-needed medicine record
needs fixingOne person was given an as-needed medicine, but the medicines record had not been updated at the time inspectors checked it. The manager said action would be taken.
“We were told one person was given their PRN medicines but their MAR had not been updated to reflect this.” from the report
Care record reviews
minorSome care records did not show that monthly evaluations had happened consistently. The manager had found this in an audit and work to update records was underway.
“However, this was not the case in all of the care records we looked at.” from the report
Keyworker meeting records
minorRecords did not always show that monthly meetings with people had taken place. Where a person did not want to meet, this was recorded.
“We found there was not always a record to evidence this happened every month.” from the report
- 01How do you now check and record the temperature of the medicine storage room and fridge?
- 02How do you make sure every as-needed medicine is recorded immediately on the medicines administration record?
- 03How often are care plans reviewed, and can families see evidence that reviews are completed?
- 04How do keyworkers record monthly meetings, including when someone chooses not to meet?
- 05What actions were completed after the inspection’s medicine and care-record findings?
This was the home’s first comprehensive inspection since registration in April 2016 and covered all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 November 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Bowden Lodge
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2017Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 March 2016.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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90 live-in carers within about an hour of Sheffield
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Beatrice was a talent dementia carer whose professionalism and dedication allowed mums wishes to remain in her own her come true.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.