Meadowside Care Home

Meadowside is a care home for older people with dementia and physical frailty. The home has 68 beds split into six flats on three floors; each floor has its own dining area and lounge. On the day we inspected there were 50 people living in the home.

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

People and their relatives told us they felt people living at the service were safe. Staff and management knew how to identify potential signs of abuse and how to escalate concerns to keep people safe. Accidents and incidents were reviewed by management to ensure they were dealt with safely and prevent reoccurrences.

Recruitment processes and procedures were safe.

Risks identified with people’s health, medical and care needs had been assessed and documented with clear guidance on how to minimise the identified risk to keep people safe.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs.

The home was clean and odour free. There were increased infection control measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The provider reacted appropriately to keep people safe.

Staff received the training and support to carry out their role effectively. Care staff told us that they felt that the management team was very supportive especially during the recent months of the pandemic.

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.

People were satisfied with the food provided at the home and the support they received in relation to nutrition and hydration.

There was a positive culture throughout the service which focused on providing care that was personalised. The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. They were aware of their regulatory responsibilities associated with their role.

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 inspection was Good published on 23 November 2017.

Why we inspected

We carried out a focused inspection of this service on 29 November 2021. This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well Led as we were mindful of the impact and added pressures of Covid-19 pandemic on the 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 until we return to visit as per us inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.

We found the following examples of good practice.

•The provider had appropriate arrangements for visiting to help prevent the spread of Covid 19. All visitors were required to complete a risk assessment and a checklist, prior to entering the building. Visitors had their temperatures taken on arrival and were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before being allowed to enter the home. They were supported to wear a face covering and maintain hand hygiene during their visit.

•The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for Covid 19 and was following government guidance on testing. There was a designated team of staff that carried out all testing on people and staff at the home. This ensured that people and staff were tested for Covid 19 in a consistent way.

•The provider ensured that staff received appropriate training and support to manage Covid 19. All staff had received training on Covid 19, infection control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They received guidance on supporting people with dementia to understand Covid 19. Staff wellbeing was supported when they became unwell and when they returned to work.

•There were sanitiser points available throughout the building and thorough cleaning was done daily and a housekeeper was in place for each floor. Deep cleaning of the carpets were done on a regular basis

•Chairs in the lounge and dining areas had been arranged to ensure social distancing measures were in place.

•All people admitted to the home were required to have a test before admission and appropriate systems were in place to ensure safe transfer.

•The provider ensured that people using the service could maintain links with family members and friends. People were supported to keep in touch by phone and virtual technology. The service had a garden area with a portacabin to facilitate safe visiting for families and there was a safe visitors policy in place.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.