Bright Meadows

Updated 2 September 2023

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

The inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors, a medicines inspector and 2 Experts by Experience. 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

Bright Meadows is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Bright Meadows is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We looked at 18 people’s care plans and associated records, we looked at 11 people’s medicines records. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, regional manager, 2 nurses, receptionist, office administrator, activities staff and laundry staff. We received additional feedback from 11 care staff members. We spoke with 12 people who used the service and 9 relatives about their experiences of care. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, auditing and governance records were reviewed.

Updated 2 September 2023

About the service

Bright Meadows is a purpose-built care home, registered to provide care and accommodation for up to a maximum of 121 people. The home provides residential, nursing, residential dementia and nursing dementia care and is split into five wings. On the day of the inspection there were 100 people using the service.

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

We have made a recommendation about prioritising record keeping, to ensure people’s care records are kept up to date.

Systems in place helped safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Assessments of risk and safety and supporting measures in place helped minimise risks. Staff managed people’s medicines safely. Staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and managers recruited staff safely. Staff followed an induction programme, and training was on-going throughout employment.

Staff made appropriate referrals to other agencies and professionals when required. The provider and registered manager followed governance systems which provided oversight and monitoring of the service. Care plans included information about support required in areas such as nutrition, mobility, and personal care to help inform care provision, however, some people's care records were not up to date or had missing information. Some areas of the environment needed improving.

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 told us they were well treated, and their equality and diversity respected. People felt staff respected their privacy and dignity and took into account their views when agreeing on the support required. Staff identified people’s communication needs and addressed these with appropriate actions.

The provider and registered manager responded to complaints appropriately and used these to inform improvements to care provision. The provider was open and honest, in dealing with concerns raised. The registered manager was available for people to contact, and managers undertook regular quality checks, to help promote good standards of care.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service under the previous provider was requires improvement (published 17 November 2020).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bright Meadows on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.