Residential care home · Kent

The Oast

2 Plains Avenue, Maidstone, ME15 7AT

Good Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good Rated 3 months ago

CQC rating

Good
Published 14 July 2026 Rated 3 months ago ?
  • SafeAre people protected from abuse and avoidable harm?66%Good
    See the breakdownHide the breakdown3 of 8 below good
    • Infection prevention and controlSome shortfalls
    • Safe and effective staffingSome shortfalls
    • Safe environmentsSome shortfalls
    • Involving people to manage risksGood
    • Learning cultureGood
    • Medicines optimisationGood
    • Safe systems, pathways and transitionsGood
    • SafeguardingGood
  • EffectiveDoes care achieve good outcomes and a good quality of life?75%Good
    See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 6 good
    • Assessing needsGood
    • Consent to care and treatmentGood
    • Delivering evidence-based care and treatmentGood
    • How staff, teams and services work togetherGood
    • Monitoring and improving outcomesGood
    • Supporting people to live healthier livesGood
  • CaringAre staff kind, compassionate and respectful?75%Good
    See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 5 good
    • Independence, choice and controlGood
    • Kindness, compassion and dignityGood
    • Responding to people's immediate needsGood
    • Treating people as individualsGood
    • Workforce wellbeing and enablementGood
  • ResponsiveAre services organised to meet people's needs?75%Good
    See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 7 good
    • Care provision, integration and continuityGood
    • Equity in accessGood
    • Equity in experiences and outcomesGood
    • Listening to and involving peopleGood
    • Person-centred careGood
    • Planning for the futureGood
    • Providing InformationGood
  • Well-ledIs the home well managed, with a culture of high-quality care?71%Good
    See the breakdownHide the breakdown1 of 7 below good
    • Governance, management and sustainabilitySome shortfalls
    • Capable, compassionate and inclusive leadersGood
    • Freedom to speak upGood
    • Learning, improvement and innovationGood
    • Partnerships and communitiesGood
    • Shared direction and cultureGood
    • Workforce equality, diversity and inclusionGood

Percentages are CQC scores from its newer way of assessing homes. ?

CQC scored 33 standards: 29 good, 4 below good. Use “See the breakdown” on each key question for its standards. ?

Earlier ratings ?

  • March 2022Inspected, no new rating
  • October 2017GoodSECRW

The home changed owner or registration. Earlier ratings are on the CQC website: previous registration ↗.

Read the full report on the CQC website ↗

How it compares in Kent

The Oast is in the Good tier ?, with 286 other homes in Kent. 79% of rated homes here are Good or Outstanding (England: 82%).

  • Outstanding 17 (4%)
  • Good, with Outstanding areas 15 (3%)
  • Good 287 (59%)
  • Good, with an area to improve 44 (9%)
  • Requires improvement 91 (19%)
  • Inadequate 8 (2%)
  • Not yet rated 23 (5%)

See all 485 care homes in Kent →

Care homes nearby

  • Betsy Clara Nursing Home
    Maidstone, Kent · ME15 6UW · Nursing home · 50 beds1.0 km
    Requires improvement S: Requires improvementE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Requires improvement Rated 10 months ago
  • Magnolia House
    Maidstone, Kent · ME15 6BA · Residential care home · 6 beds1.0 km
    Good S: GoodE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Good Rated 4 months ago
  • Loose Court
    Maidstone, Kent · ME15 9UD · Residential care home · 42 beds1.3 km
    Good S: GoodE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Good Rated 6 years ago
  • Maplewood Court Care Home
    Maidstone, Kent · ME15 7TA · Nursing home · 72 beds1.6 km
    Good S: GoodE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Good Rated 2 years ago
  • Glenhurst Lodge
    Maidstone, Kent · ME14 5DX · Nursing home · 23 beds1.7 km
    Good S: GoodE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Good Rated 6 years ago
  • The Vale Residential Care Home
    Maidstone, Kent · ME15 8ED · Residential care home · 28 beds1.8 km
    Inadequate S: InadequateE: GoodC: GoodR: GoodW: Inadequate Rated 9 months ago

More care homes near ME15 7AT →

The Oast in brief

Charing Oast Limited runs The Oast, a residential care home in Maidstone, Kent with room for 28 residents. It is registered to care for older people and younger adults.

Its kitchen was rated 5 for food hygiene in January 2025. 90% of homes in Kent also score 5. Across Kent, 79% of rated homes are Good or Outstanding, against 82% for England. Of the 6 closest rated homes, none is rated above it.

Its CQC rating, from July 2026, is Good across the board: overall and for every key question. It was also rated Good at the inspection before, in October 2017. Ratings in Kent are typically about 4 years old, which makes this one newer than most. 4 of its 33 scored standards were below good, including “infection prevention and control”.