Meadowcroft Care Home

Updated 6 April 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 undertaken by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Meadowcroft Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Meadowcroft Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. We visited the service on 6 March 2023 and 9 March 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from Healthwatch, Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who use the service and 3 relatives of people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. We sought feedback from 4 health and social care professionals who regularly visits the service and 7 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care workers, activity staff and the chef.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 6 April 2023

About the service

Meadowcroft is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 20 people. The service provides support to older people living with age related frailties or dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe and could speak with staff or management if they did not. One person told us, “I have no concerns and feel safe in their capable hands.” Staff understood their duty to recognise and report signs of potential abuse, they received training and had access to safeguarding procedures. People’s medicines were stored and administered safely. Staff had received relevant training and competency assessments prior to supporting people with their medicines.

People’s health risks were assessed and mitigated, care plans guided staff to support people safely. Where people were at risk of falls, the registered manager investigated possible causes and put measures in place to minimise reoccurrence. People were kept safe from the spread of infection, staff received infection prevention and control training and had appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

People were supported by enough staff who knew them well. Staff completed an induction period which included shadowing an experienced member of staff. The registered manager supervised staff and discussed further training opportunities with them.

People confirmed staff asked their consent before offering support. Staff told they always requesting permission before supporting a person, our observations confirmed this. People were cared for by staff who upheld their dignity and autonomy. When people spoke of the care staff, comments included, “I am very happy here, the staff are very helpful. They know me well.” A relative commented, “I have a lot of respect for the home and the staff, they have so much patience.”

People were able to freely move around the service as they pleased. Dementia friendly signage and clocks helped people remain orientated to time and place. People’s bedrooms were personalised to their needs and wishes. People had brought furniture from their previous residence, and their ornaments, paintings, and photographs were displayed.

People contributed to their care plans and received care tailored to their individual needs. Relatives were involved in their loved ones’ care and were kept well informed. One relative said, “I am kept up to date with changes or if the doctor is needed. They tell me everything including how much [person] has eaten.”

People were encouraged to plan and attend social activities; staff responded to people’s requests and met their wishes when they asked to spend time with staff on a one to one basis. The community was welcomed into the service, this included entertainment, visiting children and animals. The registered manager told us, “I personally believe that age is no barrier for living a full and active life. I really believe that is the truth." People could welcome their loved ones into the service and were enabled to go out with them.

People were complimentary about the registered manager’s leadership style. The registered manager involved people using the service and encouraged feedback, including complaints. One relative told us, “I think [registered manager] is very experienced, they run the home firmly and fairly, there is no doubt about who is boss, it’s good, you need a strong leader. They are very nice to residents and the staff seem happy.”

The registered manager undertook various quality assurance processes and had a clear vision for the service. The quality assurance processes were effective, findings contributed to an action plan for continued improvements. Staff and management were keen to learn and work with health and social care professionals. One social care professional told us, “I think since the new provider has taken over the staff are more approachable, you see staff around more.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 1 February 2022, and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 11 June 2019.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection for this newly registered service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.