The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Bowens Field

24 Bowens Field, Wem, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 5AP

Provided and run by:
Voyage Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile
Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

15 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We inspected 24 Bowens Field to see if improvements had been made to the service following our last visit.

We spoke with everyone who received a service and they said that they were happy. People told us about activities and events that they were looking forward to. They said that staff supported them well. We saw that care and support plans were in the process of being improved to contain more information about people's individual needs and preferences.

We heard staff speak with people respectfully and encouraged people to be as independent as they were able. People were supported to do their own washing, cleaning and meal preparation.

Staffing levels within the home had improved since our last visit. One person now received one to one support at key times and this had a positive impact on opportunities for the other people who received a service. Despite this the service could not provide regular individualised activities for everyone who received a service.

People were supported by a full compliment of permanent staff. This had improved consistency and morale. The manager was now based at the home full time. This had enabled them to provide more effective support. Staff told us that they currently felt well supported in their roles.

There were effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. Records showed how checks were carried out to monitor systems and processes.

29 October 2012

During a routine inspection

Two of the three people who lived at 24 Bowens Field shared their views and experiences with us. They told us that they liked living at the home.

We saw how people were encouraged and supported to make their own decisions and be as independent as they were able. Staff were knowledge about their individual care and support needs. People were treated with dignity and respect.

We found that people could only access community facilities as a group due to staffing levels within the home. People told us that they did not mind this but it did not reflect the provider's ethos of providing an individualised service for people.

Not all care plans had been reviewed and updated. Assessments carried out to reduce risks to people's health and welfare had not been amended when support needs had changed.

People who received a service told us they felt safe. People were protected because staff were confident to recognise and report abuse. However we found that staff did not always take appropriate action to keep people safe.

We saw how recent staff shortages had impacted upon the home. We also found that recent interim management arrangements had not effectively supported the people who received a service or the staff team.

People told us that their views about the quality of the service provided were gathered and they said that they felt involved in the running of the home.

7 November 2011

During a routine inspection

Two of the three people we met were able to verbally share their experiences of living at Bowens Field. They told us about the holidays they had enjoyed and the busy lifestyles they led. They said they liked their meals and showed us their bedrooms that were personalised. The other person we met with appeared happy living at Bowens Field and was keen to show us around the home.

People told us they attended their reviews and talked about things important to them. They said they were supported to go shopping, planned and prepared meals and helped with keeping their home clean and tidy. They told us they were supported to keep in touch with their family and friends. People told us they liked the staff and said if they were unhappy they would speak to the manager.

We spent time observing how people were supported by the staff on duty. We spoke with staff during our visit and through telephone discussions following our visit. Staff demonstrated a sound understanding of people's needs and were confident that they continued to meet the individual needs of the people living at Bowens Field. Comments included, 'It's a fantastic home and I certainly enjoy my job, it's a pleasure to go to work'. 'People are very much part of their community'.

We also spoke with three relatives to gain their views about the service provided. The feedback gained overall was positive. All but one person considered the home met the individual needs of the people accommodated. Comments included, 'X is well looked after and leads an active lifestyle which is encouraging'. 'X is very happy and loves it'. 'X has a wonderful life and we are more than happy'.

The home had recently received a complaint in relation to some health and safety issues. The majority of issues had been addressed and the new provider had made immediate contact with the complainant to address any outstanding concerns.

The home has very recently been taken over by a new provider. People spoken with were enthusiastic about the change and were confident that Voyage will provide positive outcomes for the people living and working at Bowens Field. They reported the recent change had not impacted on the people who used the service. One person said, 'The new provider has been brilliant, they are on top of everything and are addressing some issues'.