Archived: Meadow Court

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had met legal requirements and to confirm that they had followed their action plan and made improvements to the service. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Meadow Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Meadow Court is a care home with nursing divided in to five separate units known as clusters. The service is registered to accommodate a maximum of 70 people. At the time of the inspection there were 29 people using the service and one person was in hospital.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People using the service and relatives told us there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People told us staff were kind and responded promptly to their needs when they needed support. We observed staff were available to assist people with their meals and provide people with the care they needed. Staff told us that the staffing levels were sufficient at the home and reflected the needs of people. People and relatives were concerned about the changes being implemented in the deployment of staff. We recommended that the registered manager refers to best practices of management of change.

We noted that the service had various policies and procedures including adult safeguarding and whistle blowing. People’s care files also showed that care plans and risk assessments were regularly reviewed. Staff were aware of the provider's policies and had received training in areas such as moving and handling, infection control and medicine administration. We also noted that there was a good staff recruitment process in place. This showed that people were supported by staff who were appropriately checked and were suitable to provide safe care.

People told us staff administered their medicines. We found that medicines were administered and recorded by staff as prescribed by healthcare professionals. We also noted that all parts of the premises were clean and free from unpleasant odours. This ensured that any possible incidents of infections were controlled appropriately by staff.

During our observation we saw that people were treated with care and respect. We saw staff as they provided help at the meal-time. There was a care worker available to assist each person that required help with feeding. The deputy manager told us that one to one care was very important in the home. We spoke to three relatives of people who lived at the home. One relative said that staff were "brilliant."

We saw that there were plenty of activities available at the home for people to take part in. We saw that people were able to choose the activity that they enjoyed the most. Staff and relatives if people who used the service told us that the home was run like a large family. We found that staff worked in partnership with the people who used the service and their relatives so that people could live as independently as possible.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. Staff levels were flexible and increased if anyone who used the service needed one to one care.

People who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises. One person said they "loved looking at the garden." We saw that the outside areas of the home were very well maintained.

People told us that staff were friendly and that they worked hard. We were told that people were cared for. One relative said, 'I think he's lucky to be here. I've been to a number of them and this one is very good. I think the care is good'. Another relative said their relative experienced mixed standards that were good overall but the care could vary depending on the carer: 'If he has the right people with him he's alright. It can depend on who gets him ready in the morning and if staff have done it in a rushed way. Others do it quickly but in a caring way.'