Meadowbeck

Updated 16 September 2020

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 as part of our Thematic Review of infection control and prevention in care homes.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors over two days.

Service and service type

Meadowbeck 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 announced from outside the service on the first day of inspection. We did this to discuss the safety of people, staff and inspectors with reference to Covid-19.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff including two regional managers, registered manager, clinical development lead, two unit leads, two care staff, activities coordinator, chef and maintenance person.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 15 people’s care records and multiple medication 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 looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with eight relatives about the experience of the care provided to their loved ones.

Updated 16 September 2020

About the service

Meadowbeck is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 52 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 60 people across three separate wings. One of the wings specialises in providing care to people living with dementia.

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

People were found to be safe at this inspection. However, a full record of the care people received, and assessment of risks were not always consistent. Oral health care assessments, care plans and risks were not completed for every resident. The registered manager and provider implemented new paperwork during the inspection and were looking at training for staff to enhance their skills and knowledge in relation to oral health care to ensure people’s needs were met and records were consistent.

We have made a recommendation about the management of oral health care.

At the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, bathing audits were not always completed making it difficult to identify the support people received with personal care needs. However, during the inspection daily records showed people had support with bathing and showering. The registered manager had also made changes to the documentation staff completed which identified people’s preferences.

Many of the residents using the service were affected by COVID 19 and records identified some people had lost weight due to lack of appetite. Staff used an appropriate tool to monitor weight loss and sought professional advice when needed to ensure appropriate diets were in place. Records seen on inspection showed residents were weighed regularly and highlighted weight gains. Relatives commented, “[Name of person] lost weight before they went in, they are now weighed every week and are on supplement drinks.” Another said, “[Name of person] has put weight on, they have what they want, the food is nice.”

There was a positive culture in the service. People were supported by a consistent group of staff who knew them well and enabled positive relationships to develop. The staff team were appreciative of the support they received and felt confident they could speak up and knew they would be listened to.

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.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 06 November 2018).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to people’s oral health care, personal care needs and weight loss. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has not changed. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and effective sections of this full report.

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

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