CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Meadowbrook Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, October 2023
Meadowbrook Care Home is rated Good overall; this targeted inspection found systems to manage risks, but Safe was not re-rated.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 23 August 2023. Two inspectors spoke with three residents and two staff members. They reviewed six care plans and records about health, safety and how the home was managed.
The visit was targeted. It followed a specific concern about managing risks and did not cover the whole Safe question. Inspectors found people felt safe and that risk assessments and plans were in place.
The home kept its overall Good rating from the previous inspection. Safe was inspected but not rated because the inspectors did not review every part of that question.
Personal risk planning
The home had personalised assessments covering several risks, with plans intended to reduce those risks.
“Personalised risk assessments had been written for the people living there covering a range of risk including eating and drinking, skin care and mobility.” from the report
Fire safety arrangements
The home had fire detection and alarm checks, fire safety training and a fire risk assessment. Each resident had an evacuation plan.
“Each person had a personal evacuation plan which detailed the support they needed should they need to be evacuated in the event of an emergency.” from the report
Equipment and environment checks
Inspectors found regular checks of the environment and servicing of equipment used by residents.
“There were regular checks on the environment and equipment used by people had been regularly serviced to ensure they remained safe for people to use.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How often are my relative's risk assessments reviewed and updated?
- 02What specific plans are in place for my relative's eating and drinking, skin care or mobility risks?
- 03When was the fire risk assessment last reviewed, and what support would my relative receive during an evacuation?
- 04How often is equipment used by residents serviced and safety checked?
- 05What progress has been made with the new manager's registration?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns about risk management; Safe was not fully assessed and the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 October 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, January 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care and improvements since the last inspection, but identified two immediate safety issues.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 15 December 2022. They spoke with people living at the home and staff, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines records, training, recruitment, health and safety records and how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and were treated kindly. Inspectors found that medicines were given safely, staff were trained, people's needs and preferences were recorded, and people could see healthcare professionals when needed.
The inspection followed concerns about people's care and welfare and a recent fire. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from that concern. They did identify unattended drink thickeners and very hot radiators without covers, but the manager and staff took immediate action.
The previous overall rating was Requires Improvement, published on 27 January 2022. This inspection found improvements in care planning, food and mealtimes, and quality checks, so the overall rating changed to Good.
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as kind. Inspectors saw gentle, respectful and unhurried interactions.
“Staff interactions with people were kind and respectful. Staff supported people in a gentle and unhurried manner.” from the report
Improved care plans
Care plans had improved since the previous inspection and gave staff better information about people's distress, anxiety, history and preferences.
“People's care plans reflected their needs and preferences.” from the report
Better food and mealtimes
People were positive about the food. Inspectors found relaxed mealtimes, shorter waits and support for people who needed help.
“The atmosphere was relaxed, and people did not have to wait long for their meal.” from the report
Learning and improvement
The provider had acted on the previous inspection findings. Audits and checks were now identifying where improvements were needed.
“The provider had followed their action plan to address the shortfalls found at our last inspection.” from the report
Drink thickeners left unattended
seriousDrink thickeners were left in an unattended kitchenette. If swallowed, they could have harmed people's health, although staff acted immediately and the report says there was no known risk to people.
“On one of the units we found drink thickeners had been left out in an unattended kitchenette which, if ingested, could pose a risk to people's health and safety.” from the report
Hot radiators without covers
seriousNew radiators were very hot after heating works following a fire. Risk assessments and extra monitoring were in place, and the temperature was lowered while covers were being arranged.
“We found the new radiators were very hot to touch and had not been covered to protect people from the risk of surface burns.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure drink thickeners are locked away immediately after use?
- 02Have covers now been fitted to the new radiators, and how are people protected from burns?
- 03How are the improvements to care plans being checked and kept up to date?
- 04How are food quality, meal waiting times and people's nutrition being monitored?
- 05What changes were made after the previous inspection, and how do audits show that they are still working?
This was an unannounced inspection prompted by concerns about care and welfare and a recent fire; inspectors also checked infection prevention and control and rated all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 January 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.
Every inspection of Meadowbrook Care Home
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2023Goodup from Requires improvement
- January 2022Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 June 2020.
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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