The Rowans Care Home in Wigan, operated by EQ Care Group Limited, has achieved an Outstanding rating in its first-ever inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) — an exceptional accomplishment for any care home.
The inspection, conducted in March & April 2025 and published in July, found that the home excelled across all areas, with praise given to its leadership and the quality of care provided. The home opened its doors to the people of Wigan in October 2023.
An Outstanding First Impression
The Rowans was rated Outstanding for both Caring and Well-led, with GOOD ratings in the remaining areas, achieving Outstanding as its Overall Rating.
Inspectors found the home not only safe and effective but deeply compassionate and thoughtfully led. The team was observed delivering care that was “exceptionally kind and respectful”, while leadership created “a culture of continuous improvement and accountability”.
Emotional Intelligence at the Core
Central to this achievement is the ethos of EQ Care Group, whose very name reflects its guiding philosophy: emotional intelligence, which runs through the veins of the organisation and is embedded in every aspect of its operations.
Before any prospective team member is offered an interview, they must first undergo testing for emotional intelligence. This deliberate and rigorous process ensures that only individuals with the right interpersonal qualities — empathy, compassion, self-awareness, and resilience — become part of the care team. EQ Care Group firmly believes that technical competence must be paired with emotional insight to deliver truly outstanding care.
This distinctive approach has created a cohesive, emotionally attuned team culture where people feel genuinely understood, supported, and valued. CQC inspectors observed that people living there were treated not just with professionalism, but with heart. Families echoed this, praising the home’s warm, respectful environment.
Strong Leadership and a Vision of Quality
The Outstanding rating for Well-led reflects the provider’s unwavering commitment to strong governance, accountability, and team development. The home’s leadership team was commended for being transparent, proactive, and focused on delivering person-centred care.
The Rowans is not only responsive to people’s evolving needs but anticipates them — adapting support in a way that honours each individual’s identity, choices, and life story.
Feedback from the people who live and work there, relatives, and professionals confirmed that the home provides a safe, enriching space where people flourish. One relative shared that the home had “transformed” their loved one’s life.
A Model for Excellence
Achieving an Outstanding rating at first inspection is rare — and The Rowans sets a benchmark for what newly registered homes can achieve. Its success stems not only from good systems and processes, but from a values-driven culture rooted in emotional intelligence and delivered by a passionate, skilled team.
All this was achieved in a home that was co-produced with Wigan Council’s Adult Social Care Commissioning team, as well as ICB colleagues, offering complex nursing and dementia care to the people of Wigan. A home that is not focused on private pay but offers support and care for people in the local area and is funded by the Local Authority and ICB.