CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Meadow Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels met people's needs and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected at this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected at this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected at this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong management oversight, regular quality checks, staff involvement and an open, person-centred culture.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred respite care, with some mental capacity records still being reviewed.
The home provides short-term respite breaks for up to four adults with a learning disability and autism. Four people were using it during the inspection.
Inspectors visited on 21 February and 14 March 2023. They reviewed care plans, daily records, staff files, policies and quality checks. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and the manager.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were rated Good. The other three areas were not inspected at this visit, so their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection.
Safe support
Risks were assessed and care plans gave staff clear instructions, including for seizures, fire safety, cooking and activities in the community.
“Risk assessments outlined measures to help reduce the likelihood of people being harmed and care plans contained detailed guidance for staff to follow to keep people safe.” from the report
Kind and individual care
Staff understood people's needs and preferences, protected their dignity and supported independence and choice.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff who wanted to have a positive impact on people's lives.” from the report
Enough trained staff
The home adjusted staffing to the needs of the people staying there. Recruitment checks, induction and medicines training were in place.
“There was enough staff on duty to meet people's needs.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to take part in activities and visit places they enjoyed in the local community.
“People's independence was promoted.” from the report
Good management and feedback
The home used audits, surveys and staff meetings to monitor quality and involve people, relatives and staff in improvements.
“There were robust quality assurance processes in place.” from the report
Mental capacity records under review
minorThe manager said mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions were being reviewed. Refresher training for staff had been booked, so families may want to ask whether this work is complete.
“The registered manager told us the service was in the process of reviewing mental capacity assessments and best interest decision making.” from the report
- 01Have the reviews of mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now been completed?
- 02Has all the planned refresher Mental Capacity Act training been completed?
- 03How will you assess and record the risks and support needs for my relative before each respite stay?
- 04How will you support my relative to take part in activities and visit places they enjoy?
- 05How will you keep my relative's medicines information up to date between respite stays?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings carried over from the previous inspection in 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 2023 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, December 2017
Meadow Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but quality audits had not been completed regularly.
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection on 8 November 2017. The inspector spoke with people using the home, relatives, staff and the manager. They observed care, looked around the building and checked care plans, medicine records, staff records and quality checks.
The home provides short-term respite care for up to four adults with a learning disability. Inspectors found people were happy and relaxed. Staff supported people safely, treated them kindly and respected their choices, routines and independence.
Care plans described people's individual needs and preferences. Medicines, staffing, safeguarding, food, healthcare and emergency arrangements were found to be safe. The home also worked with families, health professionals and other services.
The home remained Good in all five areas and overall. Inspectors noted that quality audits had not been completed in 2016 and were not done regularly before 2017, but two audits had been completed in 2017 and senior management had changed.
Kind and respectful care
People appeared comfortable with staff and relatives spoke positively about the care. Staff supported people with warmth, reassurance and respect.
“We saw positive, caring interactions between staff and people using the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included detailed information about daily routines, preferences, health needs and activities. Staff used this information to provide care in the way people wanted.
“Care plans were person centred and information clearly explained how people would like to receive their care and support.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices about meals, rooms, activities and daily routines. They could take part in cooking, shopping and household tasks if they wished.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.” from the report
Safety arrangements
Inspectors found safeguarding, risk assessment, medicines, staffing, fire safety and infection control arrangements in place. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed for patterns.
“Processes and systems were in place to ensure people continued to be protected from potential harm and abuse.” from the report
Good relationships with families
Families were involved in care planning and contacted before visits so staff could respond to any changes. Relatives said they knew how to raise concerns.
“A courtesy call was made to families prior to each person's visit.” from the report
Irregular quality audits
needs fixingThe home had not completed any audits in 2016 and had completed only one in each of 2014 and 2015, although two had been completed in 2017. The manager said audits would now be completed regularly.
“However, no audits had been completed in 2016 and only one audit had been completed for 2015 and 2014.” from the report
- 01How often are quality audits completed now, and can you show us the most recent findings and action plan?
- 02How will you assess my relative's needs before their first respite stay and review them if their needs change?
- 03What staffing level would be provided if my relative's needs increased or they joined a day trip?
- 04How would you support my relative to make choices if they could not make a particular decision?
- 05How would you contact us and involve us if my relative became unwell during a stay?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and the overall rating; the report says the previous inspection in August 2015 was also rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 December 2017 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
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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.
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