CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rowland House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The inspector found robust safeguarding processes, suitable risk plans, enough staff, safe medicine systems and effective infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and support. People received help with eating, drinking and health needs, and staff followed the Mental Capacity Act principles.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect, supported cultural needs and encouraged independence. Communication aids were used to help people express their views.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences, histories and interests, and were updated when needs changed. Activities were available, although community access was limited during lockdown.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a person-centred culture, approachable leadership and systems for checking quality. Families and staff were encouraged to give feedback and suggest improvements.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rowland House was rated Good in all areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with community activities limited by lockdown.
This was the home's first inspection. It was unannounced and took place on 28 April 2021. One inspector spoke with one relative and four staff, and checked care, medicine, recruitment, training and management records.
The inspector found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient, and staff had suitable checks, training and support. Infection control arrangements for COVID-19 were also found to be effective.
Care was personalised and focused on people's choices, dignity and independence. Staff used communication aids and worked with health professionals. The home had a supportive culture and systems to review and improve its care.
All five areas were rated Good. This means the inspector found consistently good care at the time of the visit, but it does not mean that every part of the service was perfect or that future care is guaranteed to remain the same.
Safe care
The home had safeguarding procedures, detailed risk plans and regular safety checks. Staff understood how to report abuse and manage risks.
“People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse and robust safeguarding processes were in place.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and assessed before giving medicines. Records, storage and regular audits were found to be safe.
“Medicines records viewed were of good standard and medicines were stored safely in a lockable cupboard.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw friendly interactions and found that staff promoted dignity, privacy and independence.
“Positive and supportive relationships had been developed between people and staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's preferences, interests and support needs. They were reviewed when needs changed.
“People's unique characteristics were recorded and celebrated in their care records.” from the report
Supportive leadership
The manager and senior staff were described as approachable and committed. Staff, families and professionals were involved in reviewing the service.
“There was a person-centred culture which put people at the heart of the service.” from the report
Limited community access during lockdown
minorPeople had limited access to the community because of the COVID-19 lockdown. The home was still exploring suitable community activities.
“Due to the current lockdown people had limited access to the community.” from the report
- 01How have community activities and access changed since the COVID-19 lockdown?
- 02How would staffing levels change if more people moved into the home or people's needs changed?
- 03Can we see how the transition or 'test-drive' period would work for our relative?
- 04How would staff communicate with and involve our relative if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 05How are our relative's future preferences and choices, including end of life care, recorded and reviewed?
This was the first unannounced inspection and covered all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control; only one person was living at the home at the time. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 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 Rowland House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 January 2020.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Harrow
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 £1,330 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
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.