Meesons Lodge

Updated 23 July 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Meesons Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Meesons Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 21 June 2022 and ended on 7 July 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service, including feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

Due to technical problems, we did not receive a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Where people were unable to talk with us, we used observation to help us understand their experience of using the service. We had contact with six relatives for feedback about the care their family members received.

We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, area manager and four members of care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care record, one person’s daily records and some medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback on the service from three professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 23 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Meesons Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to 11 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 12 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support

• The size of the service did not reflect best practice outlined in the Right Support Right Care Right Culture guidance. However, the service was set up prior to this guidance being issued and it was spacious which meant people were able to spend time on their own or as a group.

• Staff supported people to achieve their aspirations and goals. A member of staff told us, “We set goals to do with people’s interests and promoting independence.”

• The service worked with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress so that their freedoms were restricted only if there was no alternative.

• People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms. Feedback from a relative described, “...clean and pleasant surroundings, uncluttered layout…we also welcome the ongoing investment in upgrading rooms, results so far look pretty impressive”.

• Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area and to interact online with people. One relative told us, “All of them have got their own [tablets] and mobiles…Now we [video call] every Sunday. Staff read messages and show pictures.”

Right care

• People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. A relative told us, “The staff are lovely.”

• Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

• The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. A professional told us, “Staff retention seems good which is key to care provision and staff appear happy.”

• People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

• People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

• People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new activities that enhanced and enriched their lives. A relative told us there was, “An exciting range of activities for service users in house and in town.” However, we were concerned that the activities were not always person-centred and have made a recommendation about this.

Right culture

• People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

• Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. A professional told us, “I found the staff helpful and responsive to the needs of the individual I was visiting.”

• Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. A relative told us, “The good thing about Meesons is no turnover. You get to know people well. We call them our Meesons Family.”

• Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.

• People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care.

• The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating

The last rating for this service, under the previous provider was good (10 February 2020).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.