Meadowgate Intermediate Care Centre

What families say

People describe feeling genuinely cared for during their stays here. Families talk about seeing real progress in their relatives' recovery and rehabilitation. The atmosphere seems to encourage independence while providing the right level of support when needed.

Based on 4 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth70
• Compassion & dignity70
• Cleanliness65
• Activities & engagement65
• Food quality60
• Healthcare80
• Management & leadership72
• Resident happiness68

What inspectors found

Inspected 2021-06-02 · Report published 2021-06-02 · Inspected 1 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The Safe domain was rated Good at the May 2021 inspection. This indicates inspectors were satisfied that risks were being managed, medicines handled appropriately, and staffing was sufficient at the time of the visit. The home cares for people with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairment u2014 all of which require careful risk assessment. No specific concerns or notable findings are described in the published summary available.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating is reassuring, but it is a snapshot u2014 taken in May 2021 u2014 and the detail behind it is not publicly available in the summary report. For families choosing a dementia care home, safety is not just about falls or medicines: it is about whether your parent is safe at 3am as much as at 3pm. Our family review data shows that staff attentiveness is one of the factors families notice most clearly, and Good Practice evidence consistently highlights that night-time staffing is where safety most often falls short in care homes. You need specific answers, not just a rating.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review (2026) found that night staffing levels are the point at which safety incidents are most likely to occur in care homes, and that this is rarely captured in inspection ratings alone.","watch_out":"Ask the home: how many staff members are on duty overnight, specifically on any unit housing residents with dementia, and what is the ratio of permanent to agency staff on night shifts?"}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Outstanding

  {"found":"The Effective domain was rated Outstanding u2014 the highest possible rating u2014 at the May 2021 inspection. This is a significant finding. Outstanding in Effective typically requires inspectors to find strong, specific evidence of individualised care planning, good health outcomes, regular GP and specialist access, meaningful dementia training, and food and hydration that genuinely meets residents' needs. The home lists dementia as a core specialism. The published summary does not reproduce the specific evidence underpinning this rating, but the rating itself is credible and meaningful.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"An Outstanding rating for Effective is relatively rare and should be taken seriously. It suggests this home goes beyond simply following procedures u2014 inspectors found evidence that care is genuinely tailored to each person. For your parent living with dementia, this matters enormously: it means care plans should reflect who your parent is, not just their diagnosis. Our family review data shows that dementia-specific care quality is one of the themes families highlight most when things go well. Good Practice evidence confirms that care plans treated as living documents u2014 updated with family input u2014 are one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett evidence review (2026) found that homes with Outstanding Effective ratings consistently demonstrated that care plans were co-produced with residents and families, reviewed at least quarterly, and linked to observable improvements in resident wellbeing.","watch_out":"Ask to see how a care plan is structured, and ask specifically: when was the last time a resident's care plan was updated following a family conversation, and what changed as a result?"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Good

  {"found":"The Caring domain was rated Good at the May 2021 inspection. This means inspectors were satisfied that staff treated residents with dignity and respect, and that people's independence was promoted where possible. The published summary does not include specific observations of staff interactions, resident quotes about how they felt treated, or examples of privacy being maintained. A Good rating in Caring is positive, but without the detail, it is difficult to know what inspectors specifically observed.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For 57% of families in our review data, staff warmth is the single most important factor when choosing a care home u2014 and it is also the hardest thing to assess from a report. A Good Caring rating tells you inspectors did not find problems, but it does not tell you whether the staff on the dementia unit know your mum's preferred name, whether they sit down when they talk to her, or whether they notice when she is having a difficult morning. Good Practice evidence is clear that in dementia care, non-verbal warmth u2014 tone of voice, pace, physical proximity u2014 matters as much as spoken communication. This is something you can only assess by visiting.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett review (2026) identified that non-verbal communication quality u2014 pace, tone, touch, eye contact u2014 is a stronger predictor of resident wellbeing in dementia care than any documented care process.","watch_out":"During your visit, watch how staff greet your parent when you walk in together u2014 do they get to eye level, use your parent's preferred name, and speak directly to them rather than to you?"}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"The Responsive domain was rated Good at the May 2021 inspection. This indicates inspectors were satisfied that the home was meeting individual needs, offering meaningful activities, and had processes in place for responding to complaints and end-of-life care. The home supports people with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairment u2014 a complex mix of needs that requires genuinely responsive, tailored care. No specific activity examples, complaint outcomes, or individual stories are available in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good Responsive rating suggests the home has the structures in place to give your parent a life here, not just care. But our family review data shows that activities and engagement matter deeply to families u2014 not just whether a schedule exists, but whether someone checks that your parent is actually enjoying what is on offer, and whether there is something for them to do on a Tuesday afternoon when the group session is not for them. For people with more advanced dementia, one-to-one engagement u2014 a hand massage, folding towels, looking at old photographs u2014 can be the difference between a settled and an unsettled day. Good Practice evidence shows this is frequently underdone in homes that focus only on group activities.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett review (2026) found that homes achieving genuinely good outcomes for people with advanced dementia prioritised individual, task-based engagement u2014 drawing on Montessori-based approaches and familiar everyday activities u2014 rather than relying solely on group programmes.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator: what would happen for your parent on a day when they cannot engage with a group session u2014 who would spend time with them one-to-one, and what would that look like?"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The Well-led domain was rated Good at the May 2021 inspection. Two registered managers are named u2014 Jodie Ann Dunn and Lisa Jane Mussett u2014 alongside a nominated individual, suggesting a structured leadership and accountability arrangement. The home is run by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no reason to change the rating. No specific examples of leadership culture, staff feedback mechanisms, or governance processes are described in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Good leadership is the engine that keeps every other part of a care home working u2014 and Good Practice evidence is clear that management stability is one of the strongest predictors of consistent care quality. Having two named registered managers is unusual and worth understanding: ask whether both are actively present, how leadership is divided, and how long they have been in post. Our family review data shows that families value feeling that someone is genuinely in charge and contactable when things go wrong. The Council provider context means the home operates within a public sector governance framework, which can bring accountability structures u2014 but also bureaucratic constraints. Ask how quickly the manager responds when a family raises a concern.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett review (2026) found that leadership tenure u2014 specifically managers in post for more than two years u2014 was one of the most consistent predictors of quality trajectory in care homes, more so than provider type or size.","watch_out":"Ask how long each of the two registered managers has been in post, which one you would contact if you had a concern about your parent's care, and how quickly you could expect a response."}

  Verified by inspector

Source: CQC inspection report →

What the evidence base says

Against the DCC Good Practice in Dementia Care standards, this home’s evidence aligns most strongly on The home cares for adults both under and over 65, including those with physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They provide respite care and rehabilitation support.. Gaps or open questions remain on For those living with dementia, the team understands how to provide specialist support during respite stays. They work with families to maintain routines and ensure continuity of care. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.