CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Meadow Lodge Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control. They found safe arrangements for visitors, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning, ventilation and social distancing.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Requires improvement
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Meadow Lodge Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and caring support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors visited the home on 11 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They were assured that visitors were screened, people were admitted safely, PPE was used properly, and staff and residents had access to testing. The home was clean, well ventilated and arranged to support social distancing.
People said they were happy and that staff were caring. Staff were observed responding attentively to people's needs. The service was marked 'Inspected but not rated', so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
The home had infection prevention procedures that staff understood and followed. Policies were up to date and regular audits had been completed.
“The registered manager had established effective infection prevention and control procedures which were understood and followed by the staff.” from the report
PPE and testing
There were plentiful PPE supplies, safe disposal arrangements and regular COVID-19 testing for staff and residents.
“There were plentiful supplies of PPE and stocks were carefully monitored.” from the report
Clean and suitable environment
The home was clean and hygienic, with enhanced cleaning and good ventilation. Its layout supported social distancing.
“The premises had high level of cleanliness and was hygienic throughout.” from the report
Kind and attentive support
People said they were happy and found staff caring. Inspectors saw staff responding attentively to people's needs.
“We observed staff were attentive to people's needs throughout the inspection.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 02How are visitors currently screened and supported to see residents?
- 03How are new residents admitted safely and supported during any isolation period?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested for infections, and what happens after a positive result?
- 05What are the home's current ratings for areas that were not covered by this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 March 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, March 2019
Rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home did not always provide fully person-centred care and rated it Requires Improvement for responsiveness.
Inspectors visited on two days as part of a scheduled inspection. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with five residents, five relatives and four staff, and reviewed care plans, medicines, complaints, recruitment and quality records.
The home was rated Good for safety, effectiveness, caring and leadership. People said they felt safe, received kind care, had enough staff and were supported with their health, choices, meals and visitors.
The Responsive rating was Requires Improvement. Some care plans did not contain enough personal detail, and daily records did not always fully describe the care given or people's wellbeing. The home was also advised to improve its recording of formal complaints.
The overall Good rating means inspectors found the service was meeting legal requirements and generally providing good care. However, improvements were needed so care was recorded and delivered more consistently around each person's individual needs.
People felt safe
Residents and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and knew how to report concerns.
“People told us they felt safe at the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors observed respectful interactions. People said staff protected their privacy and dignity and supported their independence.
“We observed some respectful and sensitive interactions between people using the service and staff.” from the report
Healthcare support
People's health and wellbeing were monitored, with access to GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals when needed.
“People's health and wellbeing was monitored and they had access to healthcare services.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found sufficient staff to meet people's needs. Residents, relatives and staff did not raise concerns about staff availability.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people to stay safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Welcoming atmosphere
The home was described as friendly and homely. People and relatives expressed positive views about how it was managed.
“We found Meadow Lodge had a very welcoming, friendly and homely atmosphere.” from the report
Care plans lacked personal detail
needs fixingSome care plans did not explain people's backgrounds, wishes and needs in enough detail. Care given in practice was not always properly recorded and communicated in the plans.
“Information in some care plans was lacking in person centred detail.” from the report
Daily records were incomplete
needs fixingDaily and other records did not always give a full picture of the care delivered, people's experiences or their wellbeing.
“Daily and other records, were not always fully reflective of the care delivered, people's experiences and their general well-being.” from the report
Formal complaints were not fully recorded
needs fixingPeople knew how to complain and said concerns were dealt with, but the home did not have a structured system for recording and managing formal complaints.
“There were no structured systems in place for recording and managing formal complaints.” from the report
Some safety matters needed attention
needs fixingInspectors found issues involving safe surface temperatures and fire door closures. The provider had identified these matters and was taking action.
“We noted some health and safety matters were in need of attention, including safe surface temperatures and fire door closures.” from the report
Some recruitment records were incomplete
minorSome interview records were not readily available, and health information had not been obtained promptly. The provider said these procedures would be corrected.
“Some records of the interview process were not readily available and information on health matters had not been sought in a timely way.” from the report
- 01How have you improved care plans so they record each person's background, preferences, social, healthcare and religious needs?
- 02How do you check that daily records accurately reflect the care provided and each person's wellbeing?
- 03How are formal complaints now recorded, investigated and followed up?
- 04What action was taken about safe surface temperatures and fire door closures?
- 05How do you ensure meal choices are offered at lunchtime and staff use suitable protective clothing during meal service?
This inspection looked at the premises and care provided and assessed all five CQC questions; the report contains conflicting dates, stating both 15 and 16 January and 16 and 17 January 2019. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 March 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 Residential Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Meadow Lodge Residential Care Home →
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Meadow Lodge Residential Care Home →
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 December 2010.
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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.