CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at High Meadows
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and effective oversight, but some daily checks and communication about management changes were not consistent.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 4 August 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines administration, suitable infection control and systems to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, published in June 2019. The provider had completed an action plan, and inspectors found enough improvement for the home to no longer be in breach of regulations. This inspection did not assess all five key questions.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were adequate and people received help promptly.
“The service had adequate staffing levels to attend to the needs of people and keep them safe.” from the report
Medicines generally safe
Medicine records showed people received medicines as prescribed. Staff had training and competency checks.
“Records we viewed were completed appropriately and indicated that people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Good risk management
The home had assessments and plans covering risks such as falls, choking, pressure sores and weight loss.
“Risks to people's safety were assessed and recorded.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used audits and action plans to monitor care and make improvements.
“The provider had systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating risk and improving the quality of the service.” from the report
Some daily checks were missed
minorChecks on the suction machine and the temperature of the medicines room and fridge were not always done consistently.
“However, we saw some daily checks were not consistent.” from the report
Management change communication
minorSome relatives felt they should have been given more information about the registered manager leaving and the temporary arrangements.
“However, some felt they could have been better informed about the registered manager leaving and the interim arrangements.” from the report
- 01How are daily checks on the suction machine and medicines room and fridge temperatures now recorded and monitored?
- 02Who is currently managing the home, and what arrangements are in place until the new manager is established?
- 03How will relatives be kept informed about future management changes?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given as prescribed and that staff remain competent?
- 05What were the findings of the most recent care plan, medicines and infection control audits?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key question ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 August 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, with some COVID-19 risk assessments updated after the visit.
The inspection took place on 10 February 2022 and was announced with 24 hours' notice. It was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors found clear visiting procedures, suitable use of protective equipment, regular testing and good cleaning. The home also used social distancing measures, staff zones and safe arrangements for admissions and outings.
Some COVID-19 risk assessments were not detailed enough. The staff assessment was general, and residents' assessments did not include risk indicators such as age and ethnicity. The provider sent updated assessments immediately after the inspection.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a rated result for the five key questions.
Visitor infection controls
The home had clear entry checks and visiting arrangements to help reduce infection risks. Visitors completed forms, had lateral flow tests and showed vaccination evidence when required.
“The provider had clear procedures for visitors to help ensure infection was controlled and prevented.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff and visitors used and disposed of protective equipment appropriately. Managers also carried out daily checks and staff had completed infection control training.
“Staff and visitors wore and disposed of personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
People living in the home and staff took part in regular testing. The home responded appropriately to positive results and shared information with relevant agencies.
“The provider responded appropriately to people with positive test results.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean to a good standard. Cleaning records and monthly audits were used to monitor standards.
“We observed the home was cleaned to a good standard and the provider followed enhanced cleaning procedures.” from the report
Risk assessments needed more detail
needs fixingThe staff COVID-19 risk assessment was general, and residents' assessments did not include risk indicators such as age and ethnicity. The provider took immediate action and sent updated assessments after the inspection.
“The COVID-19 risk assessment for staff was a general one and the COVID-19 risk assessments for people who used the service did not have risk indicators such as age and ethnicity.” from the report
- 01How are the updated COVID-19 risk assessments kept current for each person?
- 02How do individual risk assessments take account of age, ethnicity and other relevant risk indicators?
- 03What staffing pressures is the home experiencing now, and how are these being managed?
- 04How are visitors checked and supported under the home's current visiting arrangements?
- 05How does the home respond when a resident or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full service assessment and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 March 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of High Meadows
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 May 2018.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hillingdon
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,320 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“She has an unusual combination of kindness and firmness, is quite unflappable, physically strong, extremely savvy”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.