CQC report explained · a care home with nursing
What the CQC found at Bowe's Court Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Safeguarding and infection control systems were also in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received assessments and care plans that reflected their needs. Staff supported people's health, specialist diets and access to healthcare, and worked within the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, patient and caring. Staff knew people well, respected their privacy and supported choice, but this rating had fallen from Outstanding at the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and records included people's history, preferences and communication needs. People were supported to take part in activities, go out, keep relationships and express their wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective audits and quality checks, good communication and an open culture. People, relatives and staff said the manager was approachable and staff felt supported.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Bowe's Court Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, although the caring rating fell from Outstanding to Good.
Inspectors reviewed information, spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional, and examined care, medicine, recruitment and management records. They also checked infection prevention and control.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed care plans and kind, respectful support.
The inspection was partly prompted by concerns about staffing and people's care. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. The overall rating stayed Good, as it was at the previous inspection.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives consistently praised the staff. Inspectors observed positive interactions and found that staff knew people well.
“People and relatives were complimentary about the care provided by staff. They trusted the staff who supported them.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff and effective deployment. Medicines had systems for ordering, storage, administration and disposal.
“There were enough staff deployed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records described people's preferences, health needs and communication methods. Staff supported choice and helped people maintain relationships and community activities.
“Care and support was person-centred giving people choice and control in their lives.” from the report
Good support for health
People were supported with healthcare, specialist equipment, therapy and individual diets. Staff followed professional guidance.
“People were supported to maintain their health and well-being.” from the report
Effective oversight
The home used audits and meetings to monitor care and involve people and staff. Staff said communication was effective and they felt supported.
“An effective quality assurance system was in place and regular audits were completed to monitor service provision and to ensure the safety of people who used the service.” from the report
Caring rating reduced
minorThe caring rating fell from Outstanding to Good since the previous inspection. The current report still found kind and respectful care, so this is a change in rating rather than a reported breach.
“At this inspection the rating for this key question has changed to Good” from the report
- 01What has changed in the caring arrangements since the caring rating fell from Outstanding to Good?
- 02How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or behaviour changes?
- 03How is staffing kept sufficient at all times, including when staff are absent?
- 04How will the home support my relative's communication needs, activities and contact with family?
- 05What is the current registration status of the manager who had applied to become registered?
This inspection reviewed all five key questions and included infection prevention and control checks, with remote inspection activity on 16 June and a site visit on 29 June 2022. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 July 2022 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.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful care and improved management, with some follow-up needed on agency nurse handovers and risk records.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 25 May 2021. The inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and the service's GP. They reviewed care records, medicines information and records about how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were safe and infection control was effective. People were treated respectfully and were involved in their care and rehabilitation.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, with two breaches of regulations. Inspectors found that improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach. Some systems were still being developed, including accident monitoring, and the inspector asked for a checklist for risk assessments when people were admitted.
Safe medicines
Medicines systems were in place. Staff were trained and checked as competent, with extra support from a consultant pharmacist.
“Staff were trained and were assessed as competent to administer medicines.” from the report
Infection control
The home was clean and tidy. Inspectors found good infection control, correct use of protective equipment and enough supplies.
“Staff wore PPE correctly, and there was plenty of securely held stocks.” from the report
Respectful care
People were treated respectfully and were involved in decisions about their care. They were supported to access rehabilitation opportunities.
“People were treated in a respectful manner by all staff.” from the report
Improved management
The provider had acted on the previous governance breach. Inspectors found enough improvement for the breach to be cleared.
“Enough improvement had been made at this inspection and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation 17.” from the report
Agency nurse handovers
needs fixingThere was still a higher use of agency nurses. Inspectors discussed with the provider how handovers and communication could be made more effective.
“There was still a higher level of agency nurse usage and we discussed with the provider ways of ensuring effective handovers and communication.” from the report
New admission risk records
needs fixingInspectors asked the home to create a checklist so risk assessments were completed within 72 hours of a new admission.
“We asked the home to ensure that there was a checklist to ensure any new admissions had risk assessments in place within 72 hours.” from the report
Incident monitoring
minorSystems for monitoring accidents and incidents were still being developed so that follow-up actions and lessons were fully completed and embedded.
“The service was further developing systems such as accident and incident monitoring to ensure any follow up actions or lessons learnt were completed and embedded.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure agency nurses receive effective handovers and important information about people's care?
- 02What checklist do you now use to ensure risk assessments are completed within 72 hours of a new admission?
- 03How do you record and track accidents and incidents until all follow-up actions are completed?
- 04What is the current position on the manager's application to become the registered manager?
- 05What are the current ratings and findings for Caring, Effective and Responsive, which were not assessed in this inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 May 2021 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 Bowe's Court Care Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2021Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 December 2010.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.