The Poplars Care Centre
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds71
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment, Substance misuse problems
- Last inspected2021-05-14
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Residents and their families frequently mention how staff check in throughout the day, creating a sense of being looked after. Several people have noticed their relatives appearing less lonely and more engaged since arriving. The atmosphere tends to feel friendly and approachable, with staff taking time to chat with both residents and visitors.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2021-05-14
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good for effectiveness at its July 2024 inspection. The home provides nursing care alongside personal care for a range of conditions including dementia. The published inspection text does not include specific detail on care plan quality, GP access arrangements, dementia training content, or how food quality and dietary needs are managed. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with the home's effectiveness, but this report cannot describe specific practices from the published evidence alone.Is this home caring?
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good for caring at its July 2024 inspection. The published inspection text does not include direct inspector observations of staff interactions, resident or relative quotes about warmth or dignity, or specific examples of how privacy and independence are protected. The Good rating in this domain indicates inspectors were satisfied with the quality of relationships and interactions at the home, but this report cannot describe what that looked like in practice.Is the home responsive?
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good for responsiveness at its July 2024 inspection. The home cares for people with a wide range of needs, including dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions, which means its activity and engagement programme needs to be genuinely varied and individually tailored rather than group-focused only. The published inspection text does not include detail on the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, outdoor access, or how end-of-life wishes are recorded and followed. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with the home's responsiveness to individual needs.Is the home well-led?
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good for well-led at its July 2024 inspection, having previously held a Requires Improvement overall rating. The registered manager is Mrs Dorcas Mukuzwazwa, and the nominated individual is Mr Jonathan Catterwell. The home is operated by Tamehaven Limited. The published inspection text does not include specific detail on manager visibility, staff culture, governance systems, or how the home has changed since its previous lower rating. The Good rating in this domain is significant given the prior decline and suggests effective leadership during a period of improvement.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The centre cares for people over 65 with a wide range of needs including sensory impairments, physical disabilities and substance misuse problems. They also support younger adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Staff here work with residents living with dementia, though specific approaches and facilities aren't detailed in family feedback. Given the complexity of dementia care, it's worth asking about their experience and training in this area. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good across all five domains at its most recent inspection in July 2024, which is a positive result and a recovery from the previous Requires Improvement rating. However, the published inspection report contains very limited specific detail, so scores reflect that positive rating without the confirming observations, quotes, or data points needed to push them higher.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Residents and their families frequently mention how staff check in throughout the day, creating a sense of being looked after. Several people have noticed their relatives appearing less lonely and more engaged since arriving. The atmosphere tends to feel friendly and approachable, with staff taking time to chat with both residents and visitors.
What inspectors have recorded
Communication with families varies considerably here. Some relatives receive regular updates and photos, while others have struggled to get responses to their concerns. The home has experienced some serious incidents including falls, which families considering Poplars should discuss thoroughly with management.
How it sits against good practice
Choosing care involves weighing many factors, and Poplars clearly works well for some families while others have had difficult experiences.
Worth a visit
Poplars Care Centre, at 158 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, was rated Good overall at its most recent inspection on 15 July 2024, published 12 August 2024. All five domains, Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led, were rated Good. Importantly, this represents a recovery from a previous Requires Improvement rating, which suggests the home has made meaningful progress under its current registered manager, Mrs Dorcas Mukuzwazwa, and nominated individual, Mr Jonathan Catterwell. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text available for this report contains very little specific detail: no direct inspector observations, no resident or relative quotes, and no examples of named practices. That absence does not mean the home is not doing well, it simply means this report cannot independently verify what Good looks like day to day at Poplars. Before placing your parent here, ask to see the full inspection report on the official regulator's website, speak to the manager about what changed since the previous Requires Improvement rating, and arrange a visit during an activity session and at a mealtime.
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In Their Own Words
How The Poplars Care Centre describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where residents find connection and families seek reassurance in Maidstone
Compassionate Care in Maidstone at Poplars Care Centre
Families choosing Poplars Care Centre in Maidstone often describe how their relatives seem happier and more settled after moving in. The centre supports people with various needs including dementia, learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Many visitors talk about the warm welcome they receive, though experiences can vary significantly.
Who they care for
The centre cares for people over 65 with a wide range of needs including sensory impairments, physical disabilities and substance misuse problems. They also support younger adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
Staff here work with residents living with dementia, though specific approaches and facilities aren't detailed in family feedback. Given the complexity of dementia care, it's worth asking about their experience and training in this area.
“Choosing care involves weighing many factors, and Poplars clearly works well for some families while others have had difficult experiences.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Poplars Care Centre was rated Good across all five domains at its most recent inspection in July 2024, which is a positive result and a recovery from the previous Requires Improvement rating. However, the published inspection report contains very limited specific detail, so scores reflect that positive rating without the confirming observations, quotes, or data points needed to push them higher.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Residents and their families frequently mention how staff check in throughout the day, creating a sense of being looked after. Several people have noticed their relatives appearing less lonely and more engaged since arriving. The atmosphere tends to feel friendly and approachable, with staff taking time to chat with both residents and visitors.
What inspectors have recorded
Communication with families varies considerably here. Some relatives receive regular updates and photos, while others have struggled to get responses to their concerns. The home has experienced some serious incidents including falls, which families considering Poplars should discuss thoroughly with management.
How it sits against good practice
Choosing care involves weighing many factors, and Poplars clearly works well for some families while others have had difficult experiences.
Worth a visit
Poplars Care Centre, at 158 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, was rated Good overall at its most recent inspection on 15 July 2024, published 12 August 2024. All five domains, Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led, were rated Good. Importantly, this represents a recovery from a previous Requires Improvement rating, which suggests the home has made meaningful progress under its current registered manager, Mrs Dorcas Mukuzwazwa, and nominated individual, Mr Jonathan Catterwell. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text available for this report contains very little specific detail: no direct inspector observations, no resident or relative quotes, and no examples of named practices. That absence does not mean the home is not doing well, it simply means this report cannot independently verify what Good looks like day to day at Poplars. Before placing your parent here, ask to see the full inspection report on the official regulator's website, speak to the manager about what changed since the previous Requires Improvement rating, and arrange a visit during an activity session and at a mealtime.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how The Poplars Care Centre measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How The Poplars Care Centre describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where residents find connection and families seek reassurance in Maidstone
Compassionate Care in Maidstone at Poplars Care Centre
Families choosing Poplars Care Centre in Maidstone often describe how their relatives seem happier and more settled after moving in. The centre supports people with various needs including dementia, learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Many visitors talk about the warm welcome they receive, though experiences can vary significantly.
Who they care for
The centre cares for people over 65 with a wide range of needs including sensory impairments, physical disabilities and substance misuse problems. They also support younger adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
Staff here work with residents living with dementia, though specific approaches and facilities aren't detailed in family feedback. Given the complexity of dementia care, it's worth asking about their experience and training in this area.
Management & ethos
Communication with families varies considerably here. Some relatives receive regular updates and photos, while others have struggled to get responses to their concerns. The home has experienced some serious incidents including falls, which families considering Poplars should discuss thoroughly with management.
The home & environment
The cleanliness and condition of rooms receives mixed feedback from families. Some describe bright, fresh spaces while others have raised concerns about standards. Food quality appears inconsistent too — an important consideration when choosing care.
“Choosing care involves weighing many factors, and Poplars clearly works well for some families while others have had difficult experiences.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
