CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bowercroft Care Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, provided testing, maintained hygiene and had plans to prevent or manage infection outbreaks. They were also assured that visitors were protected from catching and spreading infections.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe ways for people to keep in touch with family.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 23 March 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than the full range of care.
The inspectors found good practice in keeping people safe from infection. There were supplies of protective equipment, regular testing, enhanced cleaning and plans to isolate people who had COVID-19.
The home supported contact with families through telephone and internet help, garden and conservatory visits, screening, temperature checks and lateral flow tests. The overall service and Safe rating were both recorded as inspected but not rated.
Family contact
The home used several ways to help people keep in touch with friends and family, including telephone and internet support and visits through the garden, drive through and conservatory.
“The service supported people to maintain safe contact with friends and family.” from the report
Infection control
There were isolation plans, protective equipment, testing and enhanced cleaning. The building was clean and free from clutter.
“The building was clean and free from clutter and there were enhanced cleaning practices.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened, had temperature checks and could wash their hands. Lateral flow tests and staggered visits were used to reduce infection risks.
“Lateral flow tests were carried out to check the COVID status of visitors and visits were staggered to minimise contact and enable cleaning between visits.” from the report
Support during isolation
People who were self-isolating received individual support with activities. Other socially distanced activities included quizzes and reminiscence discussions.
“People self-isolating received one to one support with activities.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are protective equipment supplies checked and kept available throughout the home now?
- 02How are residents and staff tested for COVID-19, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How are visits from family members managed now, including screening and infection control?
- 04How would you isolate and support a resident who had an infection?
- 05What activities and support are offered to residents who need to self-isolate?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide full ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 April 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.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care across all five areas.
The unannounced inspection took place on 29 April 2019. Inspectors reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, audits and safety checks. They spoke with people living there, relatives, staff, the manager, the provider and a GP, and observed care.
The home was caring and respectful. People said they felt safe and enjoyed living there. Staff knew people well, protected their privacy and dignity, and involved them in their care. Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed.
Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines arrangements and suitable risk assessments. People had access to food, drinks and healthcare. The home had systems to monitor quality and respond to feedback.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection, published on 22 August 2016, also rated the service Good.
People felt safe and settled
People said they enjoyed living at the home and felt safe. Inspectors also saw positive interactions between people and staff.
“People told us they enjoyed living at the service and felt safe.” from the report
Good risk management
Risk assessments covered areas such as mobility, health, nutrition, hydration and skin care. They were reviewed as people's needs changed.
“Risk assessments were person-centred and were kept under continuous review to meet people's changing needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people's histories and preferences. They protected privacy and dignity and encouraged people to remain as independent as they wished.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised care planning
People and relatives were involved in care plans. The plans included communication needs, choices, beliefs, health needs and personal histories.
“People were actively involved in the development of the care and support they received.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used regular internal and external audits, staff meetings, feedback and an improvement plan to monitor care and make changes.
“Regular audits and checks continued to be completed to monitor and improve the quality of the service people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01The report says the activities role was planned to extend into the afternoon. What afternoon activities are available now?
- 02How would you adjust staffing if my relative's needs increased or they needed respite support?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular food, drink, mobility and healthcare needs?
- 04How are care plans reviewed with residents and relatives, and how are changes communicated?
- 05How would you support someone who wanted to discuss or receive end of life care at the home?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at the overall service and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 June 2019 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 Bowercroft Care Limited
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 May 2015.
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
39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.