Buckingham Care Home

Buckingham Care Home provides accommodation and personal care to older people, including those living with dementia. The purpose-built home accommodates up to 72 people across 2 floors and 4 units, each with separate dining and lounge areas, ensuite bedrooms, and a secure garden. At the time of inspection, 36 people were living at the home.

During inspection, inspectors identified concerns regarding infection prevention and control, particularly following an outbreak affecting several residents and staff. Some areas required deep cleaning and outbreak management procedures were not sufficiently robust. Staffing levels were a significant concern raised by people, relatives, and staff alike, with worries about consistency and high agency usage. While inspectors observed positive interactions between staff and residents, staff were not appropriately deployed across all units. On one unit particularly, there were insufficient staff available to respond quickly when people needed care, support, or reassurance. The home uses a dependency tool to determine adequate staffing levels and was actively recruiting more permanent staff.