• Care Home
  • Care home

Burrows House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

12 Derwent Road, Penge, London, SE20 8SW (020) 8778 2625

Provided and run by:
GCH (North London) Ltd

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

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Burrows House is a 'care home'. The service supports older people and people living with dementia. Burrows House accommodates up to 54 people. There were 51 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

We carried out this assessment on 5 and 14 October 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the principles of MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.

People were supported by enough staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them safely. Appropriate recruitment checks had taken place before staff started working at the service. Risks to people had been assessed to ensure their needs were safely met. A staff member told us, “Where people are at risk of falls, we keep a close eye on them, we make sure they have access to walking aids, and they are wearing the right footwear.” There were safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these. People had access to health care professionals when they needed them, and they received their medicines when needed. The provider made sure the environment and equipment used was safe and regularly serviced, for example, on the fire alarm system, emergency lighting, portable appliances and gas safety.

The provider had used referral information from local authorities, health professionals and people’s relatives to create care plans and risk assessments which outlined their individual care and support needs. Care records included people’s life histories, plans that described their health and social care needs and guidelines for staff on how to best support them with their needs. People were supported to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence. Staff told us how they promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence by making sure doors and windows were closed and gaining consent from people before supporting them with personal care. People were encouraged to do what they could for themselves and make choices, for example with what they wanted to wear, eat and the activities they took part in. The service employed 2 activities coordinators. We saw an opera singer’s performance and observed an activities coordinator making cakes with people on National Cake Baking Day.

The registered manager demonstrated good knowledge of people’s needs and the needs of the staffing team. There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, and any learning was identified and acted on. The registered manager and staff had received certificates of appreciation from the local authority in 2026 for the manager, team, worker and dignity in care awards for older people’s care homes.

Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager and deputy manager, highlighting good training, career development opportunities and overall job satisfaction. One staff member told us, “The registered manager has supported me greatly with my career development, if I need anything at all she is there for me.” Another staff member said, “I get very good support from the managers. I get good training and I am very happy working here.”

23 October 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ There were effective systems in place to manage the spread of inspection. Visitor’s temperatures were checked on arrival, and asked a screening questionnaire to ensure they were safe to enter the service.

¿ Staff wore appropriate PPE and government guidance regarding social distancing was adhered to at all times.

¿The service had been effectively zoned to ensure that the area used as the designated setting for COVID-19 discharge was appropriately separate, including with separate entrances and exits.

¿ The provider had paved a separate outside area to allow people using the designated setting to sit outside.

¿ Staff working in the designated setting had a separate break area, and the registered manager had ensured they had access to tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge and a microwave.

We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

24 May 2018

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 24 May 2018 and was unannounced.

During our last inspection in May 2017, we found that improvements were needed as prescribed medicines were not stored securely. We found that Medicine Administration Records (MAR) for topical creams were either not signed or not completed as soon as the medicines were administered. We also found that the providers quality assurance systems had not picked up the issues we found at that inspection. At this inspection we found that the provider had acted to address these issues.

Burrows House is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing, or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Burrows House accommodates up to 54 people. There were 47 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place, who was supported by a deputy manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe. There were appropriate whistleblowing and adult safeguarding procedures in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff understood the types of abuse that could occur and the action to take if they had any concerns. Risks to people were assessed, identified and safely managed. The home had a system in place to record accidents and incidents and acted on them in a timely manner. Medicines were stored, administered, managed safely and accurate records were maintained. People were protected from risk of infection as staff followed practices that reduced the risk of infection. There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs in a timely manner and the provider followed safe recruitment practices.

Staff received an induction when they started work at the home and were supported through regular training and supervisions so that they were effectively able to carry out their roles. People's needs were assessed prior to moving into the home to ensure their needs could be met. The registered manager and staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff told us they asked for people’s consent before offering support. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and had access to healthcare professionals when required to maintain good health.

People told us staff were caring, considerate and respected their privacy, dignity and independence. They said staff involved them in making decisions about their daily care and support requirements. People were provided with information about the service when they joined in the form of a 'service user guide' so they were aware of the services and facilities on offer.

People’s care plans were reflective of their individual care needs and preferences and care plans were reviewed on a regular basis. A variety of activities were on offer and available for people to enjoy and take part in. People were aware of the home’s complaints procedures and knew how to raise a complaint. People's cultural needs and religious beliefs were recorded and they were supported to meet their individual needs. Where appropriate people had their end of life care wishes recorded in care plans.

The provider had effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Regular staff and residents' meetings were held and feedback was also sought from people about the service through annual surveys. Staff were complimentary about the registered manager and the home. The provider worked in partnership with the local authority to ensure people’s needs were planned and met.

17 May 2017

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 17 and 18 May 2017 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service as the provider GCH (Burrows House) Ltd applied to cancel its registration. This application has been granted and a new provider, GCH (North London) Ltd has been registered to provide the regulated activities 'Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care'.

Burrows House is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to 54 elderly people including people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

During our inspection we found that improvements were needed as prescribed medicines were not stored securely. We found that Medicine Administration Records (MAR) for topical creams were either not signed or not completed as soon as the medicines were administered. We found that although there were quality assurance systems in place to monitor the quality of the service, the issues we found at inspection had not been identified during these audits.

People using the service said they felt safe and cared for. The home had robust safeguarding adult's procedures in place and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported. Risks to people using the service were assessed and risk assessments and care plans provided clear information and guidance for staff. There were enough staff deployed to meet people's needs and the provider carried out appropriate recruitment checks before staff started work.

Staff were received appropriate training and regular supervision. Staff asked people for their consent before they provided care, and they demonstrated a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People received food and drink suitable to their needs and had access to healthcare when they needed it.

People and relatives said staff looked after them in a way which was kind, caring and respectful. Staff knew how to protect people’s privacy and dignity. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible, when carrying out activities and tasks.

People and their relatives were involved in their care planning. Care plans were reflective of people's individual care needs and preferences and were reviewed on a regular basis.

People's cultural needs and religious beliefs were recorded to ensure that staff took account of these areas when offering support.

People and their relatives knew about the complaints procedure and said they believed their complaints would be investigated and action taken if necessary.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the management and leadership of the service. The provider sought people's views about how the care and support people received and how it could be improved.