A care home has again been ordered to improve following after a watchdog carried out a snap inspection. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced visit to Meadway Court, in Bramhall, Stockport, after concerns were raised over people’s care and a recent safeguarding issue.
The home - which cares for up to 42 older people, including those with dementia - was rated as ‘requires improvement’ when it was last inspected in February 2022. When inspectors returned last month they found the home remained ‘caring’ - noting residents were ‘supported and treated with dignity and respect’, by ‘committed’ and kind staff.
But provider Borough Care had not made enough improvement in other areas and the home remained in breach of some care regulations. At the previous inspection officials found medicines were being poorly managed, placing people ‘at risk of harm’.
READ MORE: Watchdog orders care home to improve for fourth time following latest inspection
A newly published report notes that this remained the case nearly 12 months later. “Medicines continued to be unsafely managed,” it reads. “Some issues identified at the last inspection had not been addressed.
“This included the management of variable doses of medicines, medicine storage and recording of creams and thickeners. These need to be in place to ensure these medicines were used as prescribed.”
“The provider did not ensure that sufficiently robust systems to ensure medicines were safely managed,” the report notes. This was a continued breach of care regulations - however the manager ‘was responsive to feedback and took immediate steps to address the concerns raised’.
The report also notes that some areas of the home were not suitably secure and action from risk assessments were not always followed. officials found the sluice room was not kept consistently locked, meaning 'people had access to chemicals which pose a risk and could become trapped in this room'.
And while equipment checks were completed, inspectors described these as ‘not robust’. Officials found that ‘people's safety was not always effectively managed and placed them at risk of harm’ - another breach of care regulations.
Staff generally felt there were not enough carers on duty, telling officials the number working on the day of inspection did not reflect the normal staffing levels. The CQC has recommended Borough Care reviews and closely monitors staffing levels and how staff are deployed to ensure they meet the needs of people living at the home.
A spokesperson for Borough Care said ‘significant efforts’ had been made over the last year to ensure that Meadway Court reaches the high standard of person-centred care it aims for throughout all of its care homes.
They said: “While the outcome of this latest report came as we worked through our action plan and is disappointing, it serves as a motivator to ensure that we continue to strive for excellence in the home.
We want to recognise our colleagues at Meadway Court who work incredibly hard, and to thank them for their continued efforts in supporting and encouraging their residents to live ‘life in colour.’
Borough Care adds that a new manager has been in post since January 2023, ‘and the wealth of experience she holds will continue to assist the home on an upward trajectory toward improving all aspects of the services it offers’.
The provider also notes the ‘lived experiences of our residents and their loved ones’ whose feedback has seen the home’s carehome.co.uk review score increase over the last 12 months from 8.9 to 9.7 (out of 10).
A spokesperson added: “We wish to assure our residents, their loved ones, and the team at Meadway that we are working closely with CQC to address the areas requiring improvement outlined in the report, and that we welcome anyone connected with the home who would like to, to speak to us directly.”
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