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What the CQC found at Shaws Wood Residential Care Home

Requires improvementpublished 8 December 2025, 9 months ago

Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2021

Shaws Wood Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control in most areas but cleaning records showed gaps.

The inspection took place on 13 January 2021 and was announced. One inspector checked infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff were seen using personal protective equipment. The home had PPE stations, gave people easy-to-read information, increased cleaning schedules and used audits to monitor cleanliness.

Inspectors found that some frequently touched areas, including door and toilet handles, call bells, bed rails and lift buttons, had not been cleaned in line with guidance. The home was assured in other areas, including visitor safety, testing, social distancing and the use of PPE.

This was not a full inspection. The service was inspected but not rated, and the other key questions will be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection.

What inspectors praised
  • Use of PPE

    Staff were observed wearing PPE when supporting people. PPE was available at stations around the home.

    “Staff were observed wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when supporting people.” from the report
  • Information for residents

    The manager provided information about COVID-19 in different formats, including easy-to-read guidance to help people understand the virus.

    “The registered manager provided information about Covid-19 in a variety of ways.” from the report
  • Wider infection controls

    Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing visitors from spreading infection, following social distancing rules, accessing testing and keeping its infection control policy up to date.

    “We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Gaps in cleaning records

    needs fixing

    Records showed that several frequently touched areas had not been cleaned in line with Public Health England guidance. This included door and toilet handles, call bells, bed rails and lift buttons.

    “However, cleaning records showed other frequently touched areas, such as door and toilet handles, call bells, bed rails and lift buttons had not been cleaned in line with Public Health England guidance.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01What action was taken after inspectors found that frequently touched areas were not being cleaned in line with guidance?
  2. 02How are door and toilet handles, call bells, bed rails and lift buttons cleaned and checked now?
  3. 03How often are the cleaning records and infection control audits reviewed?
  4. 04How does the home make sure PPE is available and used safely by staff?
  5. 05When will the next comprehensive inspection assess the other key questions?

This was a focused inspection of infection prevention and control, mainly under Safe; the service was not rated and all key questions will be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, September 2018

Shaws Wood Residential Care Home is rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, but responsiveness Requires Improvement because complaints information was not accessible to everyone.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 26 June 2018. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicines records, risk assessments, staff files, rotas and audits.

The home was rated Good for safety, effectiveness, caring and management. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable care plans, kind and respectful staff, good support with food and health needs, and effective checks on the quality of care.

The home was rated Requires Improvement for responsiveness. People and relatives were told how to complain, but the complaints information was not available in an accessible format. Inspectors made a recommendation about this. The overall rating remained Good.

What inspectors praised
  • Improved fire safety

    The home had addressed the earlier fire safety concerns. Evacuation equipment, personal emergency evacuation plans, fire checks and drills were in place.

    “Fire evacuation devices were in place on the upper floor to enable staff to safely evacuate people in the event of a fire.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful staff

    People appeared comfortable with staff. Inspectors saw staff being considerate and respectful, while protecting people's privacy and dignity.

    “We observed positive interactions between people and staff. People were at ease and comfortable in each staff member's presence.” from the report
  • Personalised care

    Care plans included people's needs, likes, dislikes, preferences and life histories. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviews.

    “Each care plan had a life history section, which had been completed with the involvement of the person and their relatives.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Complaints information was not accessible

    needs fixing

    The complaints policy was displayed, but it was not available in a format that all people could easily read or understand. Inspectors recommended that this be reviewed.

    “The complaints information was not available for people in an accessible format.” from the report
  • Some areas had an unpleasant odour

    minor

    Most areas were clean and tidy, but inspectors noticed stale urine in some areas. New flooring had been ordered and was due to be fitted the following week.

    “Some areas had an odour of stale urine, the provider had identified this and had ordered new flooring which was being delivered and fitted the following week.” from the report
  • Recent feedback surveys were not completed

    minor

    People could give feedback through meetings, but no surveys had been completed since the previous inspection. The management team said the surveys were being reviewed and amended.

    “No surveys had been completed since our last inspection.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01Can you show us the complaints information in a format that our relative can easily read or understand?
  2. 02What action was taken after the inspection about the stale urine odour and replacement flooring?
  3. 03How do you now collect and act on feedback, given that no surveys had been completed since the last inspection?
  4. 04Have all staff completed fire safety training, and how are any outstanding staff supported?
  5. 05How will you make sure each person's end of life wishes and preferences are discussed and recorded?

This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; the report used a shorter format because the overall rating had not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 September 2018 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Shaws Wood Residential Care Home

4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Shaws Wood Residential Care Home →

  2. September 2018Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Shaws Wood Residential Care Home →

  3. November 2017Goodstayed Good
    Safe: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. December 2016Goodstayed Good
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. March 2015Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. July 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. November 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. November 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  9. July 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  10. April 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 April 2011.

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.

Next steps

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