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CQC report explained · a nursing home, run by Windsar Care

Heathlands Care Centre

Crossfell, Bracknell, RG12 7RX

Requires improvementpublished 17 April 2026, 4 months ago

Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the service was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, December 2023

Rated Requires Improvement and placed in special measures; inspectors found serious weaknesses in care records, risk management and leadership despite some improvements.

Inspectors visited unannounced on 30 August and 1 September 2023. They spoke with staff and 13 relatives, observed care, and checked care records, staff files, medicines records and management systems.

The home had improved since its previous Inadequate rating, but inspectors found that these improvements had not lasted long enough to show they were secure. All five areas were rated Requires Improvement except Well-led, which remained Inadequate.

Inspectors found unclear and conflicting care plans, weak risk guidance and gaps in fire evacuation planning. They also saw a staff member force a spoon into a person's mouth. The home did have enough staff, medicines were managed safely, infection controls had improved, and food and activities were generally positive.

The home was placed in special measures because it had an Inadequate rating in a key area at two consecutive comprehensive inspections. The provider must improve and will be monitored and re-inspected.

What inspectors praised
  • Medicines

    Inspectors found that medicines were given as prescribed, records were accurate for the six people checked, and staff training and medicine audits were in place.

    People's medicines were managed safely.from the report
  • Food and drinks

    The menu was varied, alternatives were offered, and snacks and drinks were available. Specialist diets were adapted to help people eat safely.

    There was a varied menu with alternatives offered at mealtimes.from the report
  • Activities and relationships

    People could take part in activities such as gardening, art, singing and cinema sessions. Relatives and visitors were welcomed, and important relationships were supported.

    People enjoyed a range of activities in the home including gardening, art sessions and singing entertainment.from the report
  • Staff training

    Staff had completed the required mandatory training and the Care Certificate. Supervisions and appraisals were up to date.

    We found staff had the training required to meets the needs of people using the service.from the report
  • Working with professionals

    The home worked with GPs, diabetic nurses, speech and language therapists and community psychiatric nurses to support people's health needs.

    People were supported to access health and other services to help meet their health and wellbeing needs.from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Unclear risk guidance

    serious

    Some care plans did not explain clearly what staff should do to manage risks such as seizures or moving and transferring people. This could leave people at risk of harm.

    People's care plans did not always contain clear guidance for staff to protect people from risks.from the report
  • Safeguarding and treatment

    serious

    Inspectors saw a staff member force a spoon into a person's mouth when the person kept their mouth shut. The home made a safeguarding referral, but the provider remained in breach.

    When the person kept their mouth shut the staff member forced a spoon into a person's mouth.from the report
  • Personal care needs

    serious

    One person did not always receive continence or personal hygiene support promptly. On one occasion, the person had not had their pad changed or used the toilet for six hours.

    On one occasion this person had not had their pad changed or used the toilet for 6 hours.from the report
  • Conflicting care plans

    serious

    Care records included contradictory information about allergies, pain and breathing problems. This could make it difficult for staff to provide the right care.

    People's care plans contained inaccurate and contradictory information.from the report
  • Weak governance

    serious

    The provider's checks had not identified or fixed important problems. There was also not enough evidence that people's views and concerns were recorded, investigated and used to improve care.

    The provider has failed to meet the requirements of the warning notice at this inspection.from the report
  • Fire evacuation planning

    serious

    Inspectors found no evidence that mock fire evacuations were taking place at night. The business continuity plan also lacked contact details for people responsible during an emergency.

    At this inspection there was no evidence mock fire evacuations were taking place at night.from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01What specific changes have you made to ensure every person's care plan gives clear, accurate instructions about risks and personal care?
  2. 02How do you prevent unsafe or forceful support during eating, and how are safeguarding concerns investigated and followed up?
  3. 03How are night-time fire evacuation arrangements tested, and what would happen in an emergency?
  4. 04How do you check that continence, hygiene and other personal care needs are met promptly when someone refuses support?
  5. 05What conditions have been placed on the provider's registration, and what progress will you show at the next monitoring or inspection visit?

This was an unannounced comprehensive follow-up inspection covering all five key questions, after the previous Inadequate rating and enforcement action. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 December 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Heathlands Care Centre

3 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Requires improvement.

  1. December 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingup from Inadequate
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate

    Read what inspectors found at Heathlands Care Centre

  2. February 2023Inadequatestayed Inadequate
    Safe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. August 2022Inadequate
    Safe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. April 2022

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 April 2022.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.

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Same provider

Other services run by Windsar Care Limited

2 other services on the CQC register. A pattern across a group tells you more than one report.

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