Bowood Court & Mews

People's experience of the service and what we found: Care plans were comprehensive, personalised and detailed people's current care needs and included how to safely manage any identified risks. The management of medicines was not always safe, however the provider took immediate action following the inspection to address our concerns. Medicines administration was safe, and staff were trained and had their competency checked. There was a safeguarding policy in place and staff knew how to identify and report any concerns. The home was very clean and followed appropriate infection control practices.

There was a training program in place for all staff. Feedback we received about food and drink was mixed. However, kitchen staff were aware of people's preferences and individual risks around food and drink. People were supported to access healthcare and the service facilitated appropriate and timely referrals to other agencies and professionals.

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. Staff we spoke with talked about people in a kind and compassionate manner and were passionate about providing good care. Care plans provided guidance on how to support people, in accordance with their preferences, choices and communication needs. Activities were in the process of improvement and enrichment, and we observed people enjoying the new activities.

Staff were recruited safely as relevant background checks had been completed. Management systems, such as audits and quality assurance, were robust and were now actively used to monitor and improve the service. During this inspection the registered manager resigned, and new manager was employed. People and relatives provided mixed feedback about Bowood Court & Mews. The provider and management team were eager to make the necessary improvements in the service and were working with the local authority as well as external agencies to ensure people received safe and effective care.

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