Rowthorne Care Home

Updated 23 November 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Rowthorne Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Rowthorne is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Inspection activity started on 02 November 2023 and ended on 06 November 2023. We visited the service location on 02 November 2023. We spoke with 7 people who use the service and 11 relatives about the care. We spoke with 1 professional who visits the service. We spoke with 6 staff, including the registered manager and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care records, multiple medicine administration records, staff recruitment records and records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. Following the inspection, we continued to seek clarification from the provider, to validate evidence found.

Updated 23 November 2023

About the service

Rowthorne Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 40 people. The service provides support to older people, people with dementia, those with a mental health diagnosis, people with a physical disability and/or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people using the service. The care home accommodates people in one building, on one floor. There are separate wings, each with bedrooms, communal dining rooms and lounges. People have access to outdoor space.

People’s experience of the service and what we found:

People felt safe using the service. Safeguarding policies and procedures were in place, these were understood by staff. Risk assessments were in place to keep people safe. People were involved in managing their risks and restrictions to people were kept to a minimum. People’s requests for support were responded to promptly. Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed from trained staff. The home was clean, and staff followed infection prevention and control practices. Lessons were learnt and improvements were made when things went wrong.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service had a clear vision to deliver high quality care and support. There was a positive culture which was open and transparent with people. People were treated with kindness and staff knew the people they supported well. The service was well-led. Robust quality assurance systems were in place to demonstrate good management oversight.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 05 January 2018).

Why we inspected

We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. This was a planned inspection. For those key question not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Rowthorne Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.