We carried out an unannounced inspection of this home on 4 September 2017. The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 13 older people, some of whom live with dementia. Accommodation is arranged over two floors with access to all areas by stairs, lift and stair lift. At the time of our inspection 12 people lived at the home.

A registered manager was 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.

Risk assessments in place informed plans of care for people to ensure their safety and welfare, and staff had a good awareness of these. Incidents and accidents were clearly documented and investigated. Actions and learning were identified from these and shared with all staff.

Medicines were administered, stored and ordered in a safe and effective way.

People were supported by staff who had a good understanding of how to keep them safe, identify signs of abuse and report these appropriately. Robust processes to check the suitability of staff to work with people were in place. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet the needs of people and they received appropriate training and support to ensure people were cared for in line with their needs and preferences.

People were encouraged and supported to make decisions about their care and welfare. Where people’s ability to consent to their care fluctuated, staff sought appropriate guidance and followed legislation designed to protect people’s rights and freedom.

People received nutritious meals in line with their needs and preferences, in an environment which had been adapted to provide a calm and relaxing dining experience for them. Those who required specific dietary requirements for a health need were supported to manage these.

Staff were calm, kind and gentle in their interactions with people and supported them to remain independent whilst maintain their safety and welfare. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and staff were caring and compassionate as they supported people. Staff knew people in the home very well and involved them and their relatives in the planning of their care.

Care plans in place for people reflected their identified needs and the associated risks. External health and social care professionals were involved in the care of people and care plans reflected this.

The registered manager promoted an open and honest culture for working which was fair and supportive to all staff. Staff felt supported in their roles and people and their relatives spoke highly of all staff. People and their relatives spoke highly of the registered manager and all their staff team.

Effective systems were in place to monitor and evaluate any concerns or complaints received and to ensure learning outcomes or improvements were identified from these. Staff encouraged people and their relatives to share their concerns and experiences with them.

The registered provider had a robust system of audit and review in place to ensure the safety and welfare of people.

At our last inspection of Brendoncare Meadway in April 2016 we found this service to be Good although improvement was required in the well led domain with record keeping. At this inspection the home remained Good and record keeping had improved.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of Brendoncare Meadway on 4 and 5 April 2016.

Brendoncare Meadway is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 13 older people. When we visited there were 10 people using the service. The service is located close to the town of Winchester.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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 service is required by a condition of its registration to have a registered manager.

Records relating to people’s care and treatment were not always accurate, complete and up to date. This included the decisions taken in relation to the care and treatment provided. A plan was in progress to review people’s care plans and provide training for staff in the completion of new care planning documentation. However, although staff knew people well, there was a risk if people were cared for by staff unfamiliar with their needs where people’s records were not accurately completed there could be a risk of people experiencing unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment

People told us they felt safe living at Meadway. People were safeguarded as staff understood the indicators of abuse and how to act on any concerns. Staff had completed relevant training and had access to written guidance on reporting procedures. The registered manager acted on concerns raised.

Risks to people had been assessed and action was taken by staff to ensure identified risks were managed safely in line with people’s preferences and decisions. The provider took action to address risks to people from environmental hazards and emergency situations such as evacuation in the event of a fire. Staff practised how to support people safely in accordance with their individual needs should an evacuation be necessary.

There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Additional staff were being recruited to support people at the busier times of the day to ensure people’s needs were met promptly. Recruitment procedures were in place and followed to protect people from the employment of unsuitable staff.

Some people managed their own medicines. People who were supported with their medicines by staff told us they were satisfied their medicines were properly managed. Staff completed training in medicine administration and procedures were in place and followed to ensure people’s medicines were managed safely.

Staff received an induction into their role and supervision and annual appraisal of their work. Staff completed training including professional development training to enable them to meet people’s needs competently. People received their care from staff who received appropriate support to carry out their role.

Staff had undertaken training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood the principles of the Act. All of the people accommodated had the capacity to consent to their care and treatment at the service. Restrictions were not in place and people could leave the service if they wished to go out. Entry to the service was restricted by a keypad for the security of people and premises.

People and their relatives were very complimentary about the chefs and the quality of the food provided. People confirmed their preferences and dietary needs were catered for. People were asked to give their feedback about the food provided and the chefs acted on this to provide a varied and individually tailored menu.

Staff arranged for people to be seen by a variety of health care professionals to meet their healthcare needs as required.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring and ‘bright helpful and cheerful’. People enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the home

At the time of our inspection Ms Pauline Forbes was the registered manager. The previous registered manager had not deregistered with CQC. Therefore their name also appears on the report. When we visited, thirteen people were living at Meadway. We spoke with eight people and asked them their views about the care and support provided. All were very complementary. One person said, for example "I feel lucky to be here." Another person said that they were" very satisfied" and said "You'll hear the same from everyone here."

People experienced effective, safe and appropriate care. People's needs had been assessed and staff followed plans of care that had been devised to ensure that they provided suitable and consistent support.

There were effective policies and procedures regarding infection control. Staff understood and followed the procedures.

There was an established staff team who knew the people who lived at Meadway well. Staff were provided with regular and appropriate training and were led by an experienced and competent manager.

People told us that they were always treated with respect and dignity. They told us they

were given choices about their daily life and were involved in the planning of their care.

People described the home as ''A wonderful place “ and told us that they ''Wouldn’t like to live anywhere else”. One person told us “I really feel that it is a home from home”.

People told us that they felt very safe in the home and could speak with the manager or staff if they had any concerns. They told us that staff were ''marvellous” and said they

were always around when they needed them.