Meridan House

Ratings

• Overall

  Requires improvement

• Safe

  Requires improvement

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Date of Assessment: 29 January to 2 March 2026. The service is a residential care home, providing support to people living with a range of mental health issues.

In 2024, the provider’s registration changed and the provider merged to form a new national charity, Waythrough. Despite changes to the provider’s registration, the governance and staff structure remained the same, however, from a registration perspective, Meridan House is a newly registered service. This inspection was prompted by a significant safety event which occurred in 2024 when the provider was operating under their previous registration and also due to the changes in the provider’s registration. We had attempted to carry out an assessment in September 2025, but the registered manager confirmed at that time there was no persons living at the home in receipt of the regulated activity of Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care.

When we visited the home on 29 January 2026, there were people living at the home, but only one of these people were in receipt of the regulated activity. The CQC only has a legal remit when people are in receipt of the regulated activity, so we only spoke with this person and looked at how the registered manager and provider supported this person.

There were some positive aspects to this newly registered service. However, the provider had not taken timely actions about a known event which had the potential to put people at risk. The provider had taken some actions, but this was not done in a timely way. They had not carried out any audits to ensure everyone was safe following this event and the actions they had taken had been effective. No one had come to harm during this time, but the provider had not assured themselves people were safe regarding this matter.

There were also shortfalls identified in infection protection control (IPC), some aspects of risk assessments and care plans, and some elements of how the service was audited.

These factors led to a breach ​of the legal regulation in relation to the governance of the service.

There were positives aspects of the ‘service’. There was a positive culture of staff being kind and considerate to people and each other. Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager and deputy managers. Staff received training and they had been safely recruited.

We asked the provider for an action plan in response to the issues found at this assessment.

People's experience of this service

The person in receipt of care spoke well of the staff. They said they were happy living at the home and felt free to go about their day as they wished. They also said the food was good and their room was fine. Their relative also spoke well of the staff and the care their loved one received.