- Care home
Boston West Care
Assessment report published 4 November 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of onsite inspection 7 and 9 October 2025. Meadows Edge Care Home is a residential care home with nursing, accommodating up to 45 people. The service supports older people and younger adults, including individuals living with dementia and/or mental health needs. This was the provider’s first rated inspection since it changed its legal entity. At the time of the inspection, 19 people were living at the service.
Changes to the management team had affected the service. A new manager had been appointed who had developed an action plan to support and drive the required improvements, and these actions had commenced. New and improved systems and processes required further time to become fully embedded and sustained.
Guidance to support staff on how to meet people’s individual care and treatment needs, and how to manage and mitigate risks, was not consistently detailed and or up to date. Whilst we found examples of guidance that reflected important information to support staff in providing personalised care, this area also required further review and improvement, actions were well underway to make these required improvements.
Currently, clinical support, oversight and leadership were provided by the clinical lead from the provider’s other registered nursing home. The internal clinical lead position was being recruited to.
Staff had received safeguarding training and were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. Whilst safeguarding incidents had been reported to the local authority, and action taken to mitigate further risks, the provider had not always notified us, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as required.
There were enough staff available to meet people’s care and treatment needs, and safe staff recruitment checks were completed before staff commenced. Actions were being taken to assess staff and nursing competencies, and the manager informed us of their plan to further upskill staff training. Staff told us they felt supported.
Health and safety checks were completed on the environment, premises and equipment. The service was clean and hygienic.
People received their prescribed medicines when needed and were supported with their health conditions, including access to health services. People received sufficient food and drink, and plans were in place to review the menu options with them, offering an increase in variety and choice.
People were supported to participate in activities provided internally and by visiting entertainers.
Observations of staff engagement with people found staff to be kind, caring, and respectful.
Recent improvements had been implemented in internal communication systems and processes. This included a daily head of department meeting and a review of the ‘resident of the day’. People, staff, and relatives received opportunities to share their experiences of the service.
External partnership working was an area of continued development and improvement. The provider’s governance systems and processes, used to assess, review, and monitor quality, safety, and mitigate risks, were being reviewed to strengthen and improve their effectiveness.
People's experience of this service
We gathered feedback from individuals living at the service, visiting relatives, and additional family members who were spoken to off-site. We received consistent high praise for the staff’s caring approach and their understanding of people’s individual care and treatment needs.
Several relatives highlighted how Meadows Edge Care Home compared favourably to other care homes they had experienced. They expressed confidence in the quality of care provided and shared that they would gladly recommend the service to others.
We also completed our Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. Our observations showed how staff members were attentive, responsive, kind, and compassionate.
Relatives told us how their loved one received safe care from staff who knew them well and understood their individual needs. A relative said, “My family member receives a fantastic service; they are treated really well. I think the staff are amazing, they are very patient, kind, caring and supportive.”
Relatives believed, based on their experience, that there were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. A relative said, “I mostly attend every day at lunchtime to assist my family member; this is by choice. I always find there is enough staff. If I use the call bell to request anything, the staff respond straightaway.”
Relatives described the environment as clean and hygienic, reflecting on the improvements made through redecoration and refurbishment. A relative said, “Although the building is old, it's always clean and fresh. I think it's amazing how clean they keep it.”
Relatives were confident how health needs were monitored and changes responded to. A relative said,” My family member’s mobility has gradually reduced, and there's been lots of discussions with the staff; they used their own initiative and made a referral to the physiotherapist.”
Relatives were positive about the communication with staff, confirming that they were informed of any accidents and incidents. Relatives told us they were consulted about their family members' care and treatment and were invited to share their experience of the service.
Relatives told us how independence was promoted by encouraging people to make choices and by providing activities to support them in being active and enjoying different opportunities. A relative said, “My family member prefers to spend their time in their bedroom; however, when activities are happening, staff take the activities to them so they're not missing out. They often refuse, but staff continually offer and encourage.”