Enter and view: Meadowbrook Care Home

Healthwatch Shropshire conducted an Enter and View visit. This is a way of ensuring that all services delivered are acceptable and the welfare of the resident, patient or other service-user is not compromised in any way.

Healthwatch Shropshire visited Meadowbrook Care Home, on 12/10/2018.

The summary of findings highlighted areas in relation to patient feedback, staff feedback and observation. These findings include the home is in a light, bright, spacious purpose-built building. There are easily accessible gardens and plans to improve and develop these spaces, including introducing animals and a covered walkway. Both the building and the gardens, though safe, need some maintenance. The home is in the process of recruiting a new gardener. A new door entry system had been installed because the old entry system was so well known locally it was no longer secure. However, at the time of our visit this was making access for visitors difficult, e.g. waiting for a member of staff to come and open the door. bedrooms are personalised and many are full of personal possessions and appear very homely. Bedrooms are clearly identified with names and photographs. The communal lounges and dining rooms are not very homely or welcoming due to their size and layout. There is not a continual staff presence in the lounges. There is a Bistro (café) area so residents and visitors can make their own drinks. This was not well stocked at the time of our visit. Staff supervision of communal spaces is not clearly defined. We saw care staff helping residents to eat and drink at lunch time. They did this sensitively and chatted with the residents. There was good informal social interaction during lunch on the Agnes Hunt unit. This was not obvious during lunch on the Mary Powell unit. Resident can choose where and what they eat. Preferences are recorded in their care plans and any requirements, e.g. soft food. Menus offer choice, including hot options. Visitors can stay at meal times to support residents to eat or eat with them. Food is provided by an outside caterer. There are mixed messages about the variety and quality of food on offer. Improvements have been noticed but the general view is that more needs to be done. Relatives raised issues around the quantity, presentation and edibility of the pureed food. Residents and visitors can bring in food and alcohol if it is safe medically. There are particular issues with pureed food and the use of hotplates to keep food warm. There are staff vacancies, including a unit Manager, cook, administrator, gardener and third activities coordinator. Rotation of staff between units has recently been introduced which has raised concerns among some residents, relatives and staff. There is Wi-Fi and internet access in the home. There are plans to create a study area for residents in partnership with Derwen College. A singer visits the home twice a week. A hair dresser is in the home on Thursdays. Four residents had gone on a boat trip on the day we visited. There were no organised activities within the home.

The recommendations within the report reflect the findings, and are in relation to themes of policy, staff feedback, food and drinks and activities.