CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Meadows Short Break Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels were sufficient, medicines were stored and administered safely, and fire and safety checks were completed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff were trained and supported, and people were helped to make choices, maintain their health and access health and social care professionals. Some Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications were still awaiting authorisation.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well, were patient and involved people and their relatives in care decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans included people's histories, preferences and support needs. People were offered suitable activities, and relatives said staff responded well when needs changed.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager, supportive leadership and quality checks covering areas such as medicines, care plans, food hygiene and infection control.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some access and care-plan improvements still being developed.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 20 and 21 November 2017. The inspector spoke with staff, managers and a relative, observed people and staff, contacted relatives and health and social care professionals, and checked care and management records.
The home provides short breaks for adults with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines arrangements, managed risks, clean surroundings and good support from health professionals.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well, supported choice and independence, and offered activities based on people's interests. Relatives were positive about the service and knew how to raise concerns.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, so the overall rating remained Good.
Safe and suitable staffing
Inspectors found enough competent and experienced staff to support people when needed and to help them go outside if they wished.
“Staff told us there were always enough staff to meet people's needs and to enable people to go outside of the service if they chose.” from the report
Kind, respectful care
Staff were patient, did not rush people and supported their dignity, independence and involvement in care.
“We saw people were treated with kindness, care and dignity and had a relaxed and easy relationship with the staff members who clearly knew them well.” from the report
Good medicines and risk arrangements
The home assessed risks, involved health professionals and had systems for checking, storing and giving medicines safely.
“Staff were trained, and systems were in place to support people to take their medicines safely.” from the report
Positive leadership and checks
Managers promoted an open culture and used audits, surveys and meetings to review the quality and safety of the service.
“There were effective quality assurance systems in place that monitored people's care.” from the report
Care plans could be more accessible
minorManagers recognised that more pictorial information could help people understand and take part in their care plans. They said this was still being developed.
“The registered manager and deputy agreed that more use could be made of pictorial information to make peoples plan of care more accessible.” from the report
Limited upper-floor access
minorThere was no lift. Wheelchair users or people with restricted mobility could only be accommodated in the two ground-floor bedrooms.
“There was specialist equipment in place to support people such as hoists, rise and fall baths and height adjustable beds.” from the report
- 01How will you make my relative's care plan accessible if they need pictures or other communication support?
- 02Can you confirm that my relative's room and all needed equipment are on the ground floor if they use a wheelchair or have restricted mobility?
- 03If my relative cannot consent to some care arrangements, what is the current position of any Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards application?
- 04How will you keep us informed about changes in my relative's health, care plan or support needs?
- 05What activities and outings would be available during my relative's short break, and how would their preferences be recorded?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five ratings; inspectors observed four people at the home, and people using the service could not share their views directly. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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 The Meadows Short Break Centre
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Meadows Short Break Centre →
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.