- Care home
Archived: Lower Bowshaw View Nursing Home
Assessment report published 11 November 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 16 to 25 September 2025. The service is a nursing home providing support to older people, including people living with dementia. We carried out an assessment looking at all the quality statements and all key questions. Our decision to inspect the service was due to concerns we received from external professionals and to check improvements since our last assessment which resulted in enforcement action. At our last assessment the service was rated inadequate and was in breach of regulations regarding safe care and treatment and good governance.
Whilst some safe practices were in place, people were at risk of harm, and some regulations were not met due to the provider’s failure to consistently identify and mitigate risk. Where actions were taken, they were often unclear, uncoordinated, and lacked effective oversight. There were widespread shortfalls in the care and support provided. Care did not consistently reflect current evidence-based guidance, best practice, or recognised standards. The service did not always ensure they worked in line with legal requirements, including the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Our last assessment was in March 2025 and since then the provider had assigned a consultant to work with the management team to improve the service. The current manager and clinical lead commenced employment at the service in July 2025. When the new management team commenced at the home, there were minimal governance systems in place. The new management team was in the process of establishing systems and processes that would be efficient in identifying areas of improvement. Governance systems were still in their infancy and were in the process of being reviewed and amended. Some systems and processes were still ineffective and had failed to identify or address the significant concerns found during the assessment in a timely way. The culture within the service was poor. Staff did not always have the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles well and some staff were reluctant to change, therefore progression was slow.
The provider was previously in breach of legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance. At this assessment the provider did not make sufficient improvement and remained in breach of these regulations. We identified the provider was also in breach of regulation in respect of safe recruitment practices, staffing, safeguarding and person-centred care.
As a result, the service remains in special measures. The purpose of special measures is to ensure that services rated as inadequate make significant improvements. This framework allows CQC to use enforcement powers where necessary and sets a clear time frame for the provider to improve the quality of care delivered.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives, we spoke with expressed they were happy with the care they received. However, our assessment found elements of care and support which did not meet the expected standards. These issues are reported on throughout this report. We spoke with people and relatives, and they told us they felt safe living at the home. One person said, “Yes, I feel safe here. They [staff] look in every time they walk past. I know they keep an eye on me.” We observed falls mats in front of many people sitting in their rooms. People who stayed in their bedrooms had access to the call system to alert staff if they needed assistance. One person was waiting for a wheelchair assessment and at present, was confined to bed and unable to go into the lounge.
Everyone we spoke with felt there was usually enough staff but occasionally there were shortages especially in the evening and weekends. One person said, “When I ring my buzzer they [staff] come quickly, just sometimes I have to wait a bit if it’s busy.” Another person said, “One of the residents [name] often comes in my room and lies on my bed. I don’t mind. [Name] is harmless, but staff come in quickly and take them out. I think [person’s name] gets lost.”
People told us they thought the home was clean. People we spoke with told us they received their medicines as prescribed. They told us they could ask staff if they needed painkillers for any discomfort. One person said, “I can ask if I have a headache and they will give me something, I don’t often get headaches.” People were complimentary about the food and told us meals were good and served hot. People had a choice and if they didn’t like what was on offer, they could have an alternative. One person said, “The food is really lovey here. I am diabetic and also can’t eat gluten, so they [staff] always make me a special meal.”