• Care Home
  • Care home

Shaws Wood Residential Care Home

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Mill Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 3BU (01634) 721053

Provided and run by:
MDJ Homes Limited

Latest inspection summary

On this page

Our current view of the service

Requires improvement

Updated 28 July 2025

Date of assessment 27 August 2025 to 09 September 2025. We completed this assessment to follow up on concerns received about the service. We looked at how Shaws Wood Residential Care Home assessed and planned for people's care needs and how they trained and supervised staff to support people according to their needs and preferences. Shaws Wood Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require personal care. It can provide care for up to 39 people. The service is registered to provide support to older people, younger adults and people living with dementia. At the time of our assessment 38 people lived at the service.

We identified 3 breaches of regulations relating to safe environments and risk management and governance at the service. There had been a lack of oversight of constipation risks because systems had not been embedded to review bowel charts for people who suffered with constipation. People’s risk assessments had not always been updated to reflect their current needs. Risk assessments for falls had not always been reviewed and updated in response to people falling. 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. People’s dignity was not always respected. Some people were laid on their beds partially dressed, with their underwear exposed. Their bedroom doors were open, which meant people could be seen by other people, relatives and visitors. Staff treated people with kindness and knew people well. Staff supported people to maintain important relationships with their families and friends. Feedback from people and relatives was positive. Most relatives felt involved and told us communication was good. People were supported to have visits from religious ministers/clergy if this was their wish. 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.

People's experience of the service

Updated 28 July 2025

We carried out a short observational framework for inspection (SOFI) and observed staff engaging with people in a kind and patient way. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We observed some kind and caring interactions between staff and people. People's feedback about the service they received was generally positive. Comments included, “Its comfortable, staff are good”; “Everyone is friendly”; “They look after me well”; “I have capacity to make my own decisions and choices. I like to help the other residents if they need some help” and “I have everything I need. I am waited on hand and foot, no worries, no bills to pay, don’t have to cook or do the washing up.” Relatives told us, “They understand my mums needs far better than me and or my sister would and can pick up on signs when she’s not feeling very well because she is not doing things when she normally does”; “It’s an older building so they could do with maintenance staff but on the whole the house is maintained as well as they can do. They could do with a bit more money or more support. They look after the area good enough but could do more”; “I feel welcome there. In certain areas they have gone above and beyond for dad”; “I have peace of mind, I know that she is safe” and “It is a safe and secure environment; they have friendly and knowledgeable staff; they have a personal approach to working with families and keep me up to date with all matters".