The Mead

The Mead is a residential care home in Hertfordshire providing personal care for up to 60 people, including some living with dementia. The CQC rated the home as Requires Improvement, a fall from its previous Good rating. Inspectors found breaches relating to safe care and treatment, and to good governance, with delays in managing risks, gaps in care planning and medicines management, and staffing levels that were not always sufficient.

Quality assurance systems had failed to pick up these issues, though a newly appointed manager was reviewing how care was delivered.

Despite this, the CQC found the home clean and homely, with people protected from harm and well supported with healthcare needs, food and drink. Staff were described as kind and respectful, and families spoke positively about the care provided, though activities and communal seating options were sometimes limited.