The Meadows Residential Care Home

Updated 23 July 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors.

Service and service type

The Meadows Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included the last inspection report and notifications received from the provider. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the nominated individual, who was also the owner, the registered manager, a senior care worker and care workers. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. These included four people’s care records and four medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with three relatives and two professionals who visit the service.

Updated 23 July 2021

About the service

The Meadows Residential Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 21 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 25 people over three floors. It is owned by a family run limited company.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had systems and processes in place to help keep people safe including risk assessments and risk management plans. Medicines were generally managed safely. Where we found a discrepancy in medicines management, this was addressed immediately. People were well cared for and relatives told us they thought people were safe and supported by capable staff. Safe recruitment procedures were in place.

The provider had effective systems to manage infection prevention and control. These reflected risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately and visiting was managed safely in line with government guidance. COVID-19 testing and information around vaccinations was in place.

The provider had systems for managing incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns and complaints to help make improvements to the service. This included investigating the issue, identifying outcomes and liaising appropriately with other relevant agencies such as the local authority. There were also effective systems, such as audits and spot checks, for monitoring and improving the quality of the service.

The provider worked closely with external professionals to help ensure people’s health and wellbeing needs were met. Relatives, staff and other professionals said the registered manager was approachable, listened and responded appropriately to them.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 22 October 2019). At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 and 11 September 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Meadows Residential Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.