CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Meadow Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, personalised risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and effective infection prevention and control.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit, although people and relatives gave positive feedback about the care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive, person-centred culture. Management had oversight of quality, risks and regulations, and involved people, relatives and staff in developing the service.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Meadow Lodge Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found people were safe, well cared for and supported by good management.
Inspectors visited on 24 February and 2 March 2021. They looked first at infection prevention and control during COVID-19, then extended the inspection to Safe and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines arrangements. They were also assured about the home's infection control, including PPE, testing, cleaning and visiting arrangements.
The home had a positive culture. The manager had good oversight through audits, checks, meetings and care monitoring. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in February 2019.
People felt safe
People and relatives reported feeling safe and well cared for. Inspectors found systems to identify and report safeguarding concerns.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse or neglect.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, followed distancing and shielding rules, supported testing and kept its infection control policy up to date.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Enough and suitable staff
There were enough staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment included interviews and DBS checks, and staff received initial training.
“Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found that people were offered choice and independence, and that staff treated people with dignity and respect.
“People benefitted from a positive culture within the service.” from the report
Management oversight
The manager monitored the service through audits, spot checks, meetings and care monitoring. Staff said management was open to ideas for improving care.
“The registered manager had a good oversight of quality performance, risk management and regulations to keep people safe.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you keep your infection prevention and control policy, PPE arrangements and testing processes up to date?
- 02How are each person's risks assessed and reviewed when their needs change?
- 03How do you make sure there are enough suitably trained staff on every shift?
- 04How are medicines checked, including when people are supported to manage their own medicines?
- 05What audits and checks do managers complete, and how are any problems followed up?
This was an inspection focused on Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key questions were not inspected during this visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 April 2021 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, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with accessible information still being developed.
This was a planned inspection on 3 January 2019. It included observations, discussions with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checks of care records, medicines, recruitment, training, complaints and other documents.
The home was caring for 25 older people, including some people living with dementia. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, clean surroundings, suitable training and good access to health professionals. People were involved in their care and treated with dignity and respect.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, published on 13 July 2016.
Enough staff
Inspectors found sufficient staff to meet people's needs and support social activities and medical appointments.
“There were sufficient staff on duty meet people's needs and to enable people to take part in social activities and to attend medical appointments.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were involved in decisions and staff supported them with compassion, dignity and respect.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans and risk assessments were current, and staff knew people's preferences, interests and support needs.
“Care plans and risk assessments contained relevant information and were up-to-date.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found the home welcoming and well run, with staff who felt listened to and worked as a team.
“The culture of the service was open, honest, caring and fully focused on people's individual needs.” from the report
Good meals
People's nutritional needs and preferences were considered, with choices and support available at mealtimes.
“People said they enjoyed the meals on offer.” from the report
Accessible information
minorThe manager said that making information available in formats people could understand was not yet complete. Families should ask what formats are available for their relative.
“The registered manager was aware of the need to make information for people available in formats they could understand.” from the report
- 01What information can you provide in formats my relative can understand, and what work remains to complete this?
- 02How will you support my relative's independence while managing their individual risks?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be suitable for my relative?
- 04How would you involve my family in reviews of the care plan and decisions about care?
- 05How would you support my relative's health needs and contact health professionals when needed?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC areas, including the premises, care, records, medicines, staffing, training, complaints and quality systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 2019 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 Meadow Lodge Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 2011.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
28 live-in carers within about an hour of North Yorkshire
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 £1,010 to £1,290 a week. 27 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.