Betsy Clara Nursing Home
- Care home
- 50 beds
- Nursing care
- Dementia care
- Registered since 2011
- Maidstone, Kent, South East
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
6 ratings
Its last inspection moved it down from Good to Requires improvement.
10 months
since the latest rating was published.
89 of 445
rated care homes in Kent are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Betsy Clara Nursing Home: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in December 2025, down from Good.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||||||||
| Safe | ||||||||||||
| Effective | ||||||||||||
| Caring | ||||||||||||
| Responsive | ||||||||||||
| Well-led |
Ratings published by the Care Quality Commission.
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: The Oast (Good, 0.6 miles away) and Magnolia House (Good, 0.7 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G The Oast Good, 0.6 miles away
- RI Lukestone Dementia Nursing Home Requires improvement, 0.7 miles away
- G Magnolia House Good, 0.7 miles away
- G Greenbanks Care Home Good, 0.7 miles away
- RI Mont Calm Residential Home Requires improvement, 0.9 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 23 December 2025 (assessment visit 21 August 2025). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of assessment 02 September 2025 to 19 September 2025. We completed this comprehensive assessment to follow up on concerns received about the service. Betsy Clara Nursing Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing and personal care for up to 50 people. The service is registered to provide support to older people, people with poor mental health and people living with dementia. A person had a learning disability as well as a mental health diagnosis. There were 40 people living at the service. An assessment has been undertaken of a service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability but is not registered as a specialist service. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
- Safe No rating
- Effective Good
- Caring Good
- Responsive Good
- Well-led No rating
Read the rest of CQC's summary
We identified breaches of regulations relating to infection control, consent, good governance and staffing. There had been a lack of clinical and management oversight of constipation risks because systems had not been embedded to review bowel charts for people who suffered with constipation. We observed some carpets and flooring around the service which required replacing due to stains and a strong smell. Some areas of the service required deep cleaning to control infection risks. Audit systems were in place. The audits were not always robust enough to highlight and manage shortfalls and areas for improvement in the service. People gave us mixed feedback about the staffing levels. The training matrix showed that most staff had completed mandatory training, however staff had not all completed training relevant to people’s additional health needs. The service worked with other health professionals involved in people’s care. People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.
-
Safe
No rating
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to requires improvement. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.
The service was in breach of legal regulations in relation to infection control and safe and effective staffing.
-
Effective
Good
Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this. However, the service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to consent to care and treatment.
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Caring
Good
Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and mostly treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.
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Responsive
Good
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.
-
Well-led
No rating
Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed requires improvement. This meant the management and leadership was inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance at the service.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 23 December 2025. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Well-led was rated Requires improvement on 23 December 2025. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
- Ask how nursing cover works at night and at weekends.
Registration details
- Registered manager
- Isabel Nyirenda
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Care home service with nursing
- Who it supports
- Dementia, Mental Health, Older People
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)8 inspection reports, latest 31 March 2023. Latest assessment published 23 December 2025; the Care Quality Commission's newer assessments are published on its website rather than as reports.
The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- 02808013 (opens Companies House)
Betsy Clara and Southdowns Limited runs 2 services, all in the South East. 1 is rated Good or Outstanding and 1 is rated Requires improvement or Inadequate.
Other services run by Betsy Clara and Southdowns Limited
- G Southdowns Nursing Home Good. Care home with nursing, East Sussex
Getting help from Kent County Council
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at Kent County Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 03000 41 61 61, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Contact adult social care online
- Support for carers
- Paying for care: Kent County Council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Betsy Clara Nursing Home provide nursing care?
- Yes. The Care Quality Commission lists Betsy Clara Nursing Home as a care home with nursing.
- How many beds does Betsy Clara Nursing Home have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 50 beds at Betsy Clara Nursing Home.
- When was Betsy Clara Nursing Home last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Betsy Clara Nursing Home was published on 23 December 2025.
- Who runs Betsy Clara Nursing Home?
- Betsy Clara Nursing Home is run by Betsy Clara and Southdowns Limited. It runs 2 services, all in the South East.
- What is Betsy Clara Nursing Home's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 23 December 2025.
Contact
- Phone
- 01622 687523
- Address
- Courtenay Road, Tovil, Maidstone, ME15 6UW Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: The Oast (Good, 0.6 miles away) and Magnolia House (Good, 0.7 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G The Oast Good, 0.6 miles away
- RI Lukestone Dementia Nursing Home Requires improvement, 0.7 miles away
- G Magnolia House Good, 0.7 miles away
- G Greenbanks Care Home Good, 0.7 miles away
- RI Mont Calm Residential Home Requires improvement, 0.9 miles away