Poplars Care Centre

Poplars Care Centre is a residential and nursing home that currently provides personal and medical care for up to 45 older adults, including individuals living with dementia. Recent findings from the care quality inspectors highlighted several areas requiring attention, particularly regarding administrative accuracy and internal oversight, even though many aspects of daily care and safety protocols remain well-managed. Families considering this home will find a dedicated care team and a secure environment, alongside specific operational gaps that the provider is expected to address.

When it comes to safety, the home effectively manages the physical building, fire safety equipment, and medical supplies, with trained nurses safely administering medications. Infection prevention and control measures are handled thoroughly, ensuring safe visits and proper hygiene practices during outbreaks. However, inspectors found concerning errors and gaps in residents' care records, such as conflicting medical details and outdated information about daily support needs, which create risks that the home's internal checks failed to catch.

The home performs effectively through strong collaboration with external healthcare professionals, including regular GP visits and prompt referrals for specialist support. Staff ensure that residents are supported to make choices about their daily lives in a way that respects their personal freedom and best interests.

Residents consistently speak fondly of the staff, and observations show that people are treated with genuine kindness, respect, and dignity. Families also report that day staff are pleasant and helpful during visits, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

To remain responsive to residents' needs, the home conducts daily feedback meetings to discuss meals and services, and maintains open communication lines for families. While overall staffing levels are monitored and adjusted to meet individual needs, some care records lacked person-centred details on how to support residents experiencing low moods.

Leadership within the service is currently inconsistent and requires strengthening. Although managers understand their regulatory duties and maintain an open-door policy, internal quality audits failed to identify the mistakes found in care records. Additionally, while the physical environment was noted as looking tired, management has broader plans in place for complete building redecoration.