This inspection took place on 10 and 11 January 2019 and was unannounced. The Meadows is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual arrangement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service is registered to accommodate up to 54 people and at the time of the inspection there were 54 people residing in the home. The registered manager has opened a waiting list of people who have enquired about a placement at The Meadows. The home is purpose built, and designed around the needs of older, infirm people some of who may have a degree of dementia. The home is run as ‘four separate houses’, three for 15 people and the fourth being for nine people. The four houses are on the ground and first floor with lifts and staircases available. An additional 30 beds on the second floor are block-contracted to Sirona Healthcare (a community health service provider) and do not come within the remit of the homes registration. Each of the house have their own lounge and dining room, and assisted bathroom. Each of the bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite shower facilities.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager is also the registered provider.

This is the first inspection of the service since it was registered by the Care Quality Commission in January 2018.

Why have we rated the service as Good?

People received a safe service. Staff received safeguarding vulnerable adults training and would know what to do if there were concerns raised regarding a person’s health and welfare. Staff also received moving and handling training and therefore assisted people safely. Any other risks to people’s health were assessed and management plans were in place to mitigate those risks. The premises were well maintained and safe for people to live in.

People were provided with an effective service. Feedback received from people who live in The Meadows, their relatives and health and social care professionals, was overwhelmingly positive. The staff team were well supported and trained to deliver exceptional care. The premises and facilities at The Meadows were spacious and designed to the promote well-being of people. The service was specifically designed for people living with dementia.

People received a service that was caring and supportive, not only to people who lived there but also to their family. The registered manager ensured each staff member delivered care which was exceptionally compassionate and kind, in a homely ‘family’ environment. Feedback we received included, “A very innovative and caring provider, who has put together a staff team of such high calibre. People are really well looked after”.

The Meadows provided a responsive service which took account of each person’s individual care and support needs. People were provided with ‘holistic’ person centred care which included their recreational needs. The care team spent time finding out what people had done in the past and accommodated this in the activities they helped them follow. The service participated in inter-generational activities and toddlers from a local nursery, and children from the primary school visited The Meadows.

The service was consistently managed and well-led. The management team, led by the registered manager (registered provider), had created a culture to ensure people were provided with high quality, person centred care. Feedback received from people who live in The Meadows, their relatives and health and social care pro