CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Meadowcroft Residential Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Medicines were not always stored safely and stock records were inaccurate. Inspectors also found enough staff, safe recruitment, risk assessments and infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this inspection.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- The home's systems had not identified unsafe medicines storage or inaccurate stock records. Other audits were effective, and people, relatives and staff said they were listened to and supported.
What inspectors found, February 2024
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and safe support overall, but medicines were not always stored or recorded safely.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 18 January 2024. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with 7 people, 3 relatives and 5 staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and quality audits.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Safe and Well-led. Medicines stock records did not always match the medicines held, and some medicines were stored in unlocked rooms. The home acted immediately to move medicines to locked storage and said it would investigate and improve its procedures.
Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and a clean home. People were supported to make choices, relatives and staff were involved, and the atmosphere was calm. The overall rating had fallen from Good at the previous inspection, published in December 2018.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely. People did not have to wait for support, and staff had been recruited using safety checks.
“Staff told us there were enough staff to support people safely and our observations supported this, people did not have to wait for support.” from the report
Risk planning
Risks such as moving and handling, nutrition and skin integrity had been assessed. Staff followed the plans they had been given.
“People had risks to their safety assessed and plans put in place to meet these.” from the report
Calm atmosphere
People and relatives said they were happy with the home. Inspectors saw a calm and relaxed atmosphere and a positive culture among staff.
“We saw the atmosphere at the service was calm and relaxed and there was a positive culture amongst staff.” from the report
Involvement
People, relatives and staff were involved in the service. The home used surveys and meetings to gather views and discuss improvements.
“People and their relatives were engaged and involved in the service.” from the report
Medicine records
seriousMedicine stock records did not always match the amount held at the home. This created a risk that people might not have their medicines in stock.
“Medicines stock counts were not accurate. Medicines stock checks showed records did not match the amount of stock of people's medicines at the home.” from the report
Medicine storage
seriousSome medicines were found in unlocked rooms, including bedrooms and bathrooms. This meant people could potentially access medicines not prescribed for them.
“Some medicines were found stored in unlocked rooms for example, people's bedrooms and bathrooms.” from the report
Incomplete medicine guidance
needs fixingInstructions for staff about some topical patches did not include all the manufacturer's directions. Inspectors said the patches had nevertheless been applied correctly.
“Medicines administration guidance for staff did not consistently include all the manufacturer's instructions to guide staff in safe administration of topical patches applied to people's skin.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to medicine stock counts since the inspection, and how do you check that records match the medicines held?
- 02How are all medicines now kept locked, including medicines previously found in bedrooms and bathrooms?
- 03How have you updated the guidance for staff applying topical patches?
- 04What evidence can you show that the new medicines checks are working?
- 05When will families be updated about progress on the action plan?
This inspection assessed and rated Safe and Well-led only; the other three key-question ratings were not given in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 February 2024 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 2021
Meadowcroft Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and ways to support family contact during coronavirus restrictions.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2021. It checked the home's infection prevention and control arrangements during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found that visits were managed safely, with some visits arranged by appointment and PPE available. People could also keep in touch with family and friends through video calls and social media.
The home had isolation procedures, regular cleaning and access to testing. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed in the areas they checked.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit was a focused check of infection control, not a full assessment of all five areas of care.
Safe visiting
Some visits went ahead by appointment despite restrictions, and PPE was available for visitors.
“Although visits were restricted due to local guidance, people's individual wellbeing was considered and some visits went ahead by appointment.” from the report
Family contact
People used video calls and the home's social media page to keep in touch with family and friends.
“People utilised technology such as video calls and a social media page hosted by the service to maintain contact with family and friends.” from the report
Infection control
Staff worked with infection control professionals and introduced isolation procedures to help prevent or manage outbreaks.
“Staff worked closely with infection control professionals and had introduced new isolation procedures to ensure infection outbreaks were effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found regular touch-point cleaning and deep cleaning intended to reduce the spread of infection.
“The environment was clean. Staff completed regular touch point cleaning and deep cleans to ensure the risk of cross transmission was reduced.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What visiting arrangements are in place now, and how are visits managed if there is an infection risk?
- 02How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens when someone tests positive?
- 03What PPE is available for visitors and staff, and how is it used?
- 04How are isolation procedures applied when someone may have an infection?
- 05How can residents keep in touch with relatives if face-to-face visits are restricted?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; it did not rate the service or assess the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 February 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.
Every inspection of Meadowcroft Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- February 2024Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Meadowcroft Residential Care Home →
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Meadowcroft Residential Care Home →
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 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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