Types of Care Home Refurbishment

Not all care home refurbishments are the same. The scope, trigger, urgency, and design brief all vary depending on what’s driving the project. Understanding which type of refurbishment applies to your situation is the first step to scoping it correctly and budgeting for it accurately. These are the six main types of care home refurbishment we deliver, along with the situations in which each applies.

Compliance Led Refurbishment

Triggered by a CQC Inspection report identifying Non-Compliance Issues relating to the environment of your premises, a Regulation 15 Failure, and enforcement action

This is usually the most URGENT type of refurbishment. This occurs when a CQC Inspection identifies aspects of your physical environment as being unsafe/inadequate/not meeting the fundamental standards. Under Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Premises & Equipment MUST be suitable for their intended purpose, properly maintained AND meet the needs of residents. In such cases, you will need to take corrective action promptly after receiving a Regulation 15 Notice from the CQC.
Typically, compliance-led refurbishments focus on addressing specific failings identified during inspections. Examples include: Inaccessible Bathrooms/En-Suites/Wet Rooms that cannot be used by residents with mobility needs; Fire Doors that do not meet the Specification set out in HTM 60; Corridors lacking Handrails; Surfaces that provide inadequate infection control; Lighting Conditions that create Safety Risks. In these cases, the Inspection Report becomes the Design Brief.
We support Care Home Operators who have received 'Requires Improvement' or 'Inadequate' Ratings following CQC inspections related to their Environment. We use the Inspection Report to identify the aspects of your physical environment that are driving your Rating, and to develop a Prioritised Plan of Action to address them in order of Regulatory Impact.
• Typical Triggers: CQC Inspection Reports; Regulation 15 Notices; Local Authority Enforcement Action
• Common Scope: Bathroom & Wet Room Upgrades; Replacement of Fire Doors; Installation of Handrails; Flooring; Infection Control Surfaces; Lighting
• Programme: Typically delivered within an urgent timeframe (typically 4–12 weeks, depending upon Scale)
• We Can attend your re-inspection as the contractor of record to confirm that all works have been completed to standard.

Wet Room and Bathroom Refurbishment 

A bathroom/wet room refurbishment is the area of a care home that ages the quickest, takes the greatest amount of wear & tear, and is scrutinised more than any other area by CQC Inspectors. The poor condition of many care home bathrooms is a major reason why so many care homes are given 'Requires Improvement' status for their environment. Families looking for a suitable care home often have 'bathroom facilities' high up on their list of priorities when selecting a home. Equally, residents in care homes place great emphasis on the quality of their own bathrooms.

Care Home wet room refurbishments differ significantly from residential bathroom refurbishments. In addition to meeting all relevant Part M Accessibility Standards (e.g., level entry), we must also ensure our designs allow for profiling beds and/or ceiling hoists to be installed whilst the resident's personal care is taking place. Non-porous antimicrobial surface materials must also withstand clinical-grade cleaning and comply with relevant drainage, ventilation, and thermostatic control specifications. We provide full bathroom and wet room refurbishment services, including the design and installation of fully accessible bathrooms/wet rooms in occupied Care Homes. Where possible, we work on each room/floor of the building, minimising disruption to your operation. Residents will always have unrestricted access to toilet/bathroom facilities.

• All wet rooms and bathrooms are designed to be accessible with barrier-free entry and anti-slip rated floors
• Walls are reinforced for future grab rail/hoist track installations
• Shower/Bath controls are thermostatically controlled to prevent scalding
• Coved skirting/Sealed surfaces for infection control
• Extract ventilation sufficient enough to deal with moisture reduction/Legionella prevention
• Contrasting colour sanitary ware for Dementia residents
• Average Programme time: 2-4 Days per room, depending upon the location and relocation of residents within the home