19 December 2023
During a routine inspection
Meadowfield Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 24 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service. Accommodation is provided over three floors in an adapted building.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Risks to people were assessed and their safety monitored and managed. However, we identified some areas of some care plans where not all the information was consistent.
We have made a recommendation about how the provider reviews their approach to the management and oversight of care plans to ensure consistency.
Sufficient numbers of suitable staff were available to meet people's needs. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from abuse. Medicines were administered safely by trained and competent staff. Lessons learned were identified and improvements made when things went wrong.
People received support to eat and drink, where necessary, and staff prompted people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. People's needs and choices were assessed and people received care and support in line with current legislation and best practice guidance. Staff were trained and received additional training to support people's individual health conditions and needs. There was a strong staff team ethos, and staff worked consistently together to deliver effective care and support. People's health needs were recorded and monitored. Staff were vigilant in ensuring people received health professional visits and input when necessary. People's needs were met by the adaptation and design of the premises. Dementia-friendly signage was in place. The registered manager had identified a number of areas where the environment and its decoration could be improved. Consent to care and treatment was sought, recorded and monitored in line with legislation and guidance.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion. Staff understood people's emotional support needs and provided it. People were supported to express their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Staff treated people with dignity. People's privacy was respected and their independence promoted. Staff interactions with people were kind and compassionate.
People received personalised care which was responsive to their needs. Care plans were very person-centred. People's concerns and complaints were recorded, listened and responded to. Feedback was used to review and improve care delivery. People were supported at the end of their life and had their wishes recorded.
There was a clear vision for high-quality care in the home, led by the registered manager. The culture was positive, open and welcoming throughout. There was a governance framework in place to monitor and support quality care delivery. People, relatives and staff were invested and involved in the running of the service. Open communication was embedded in the home. The registered manager led by example to ensure the service continuously learned and improved care. The service worked closely with partner organisations to ensure people received care and support appropriate to their needs.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 21 November 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was undertaken as part of CQC’s scheduled inspection process.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.