CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Marlcroft
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe, including PPE, testing, visiting, hygiene and outbreak management. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the risks from COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not rated in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not rated in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
The inspection took place on 26 January 2022 and was announced three hours beforehand. It was a targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic, looking mainly at infection prevention and control and staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, arranged testing, managed visiting, followed social distancing guidance and kept its infection control policy up to date. They also found procedures for managing possible infections and safe admissions.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Infection control
The home had up-to-date infection control arrangements, regular audits and trained staff whose practice was checked.
“The provider had effective IPC audits in place to ensure good practice was maintained.” from the report
Personal protective equipment
Inspectors found that the home kept suitable PPE supplies and that staff used and disposed of PPE correctly.
“Stocks of the right standard of personal protective equipment (PPE) were well maintained and staff used and disposed of it correctly.” from the report
Testing and visiting
Visitors were checked and the home provided regular testing for people and staff. Visiting arrangements followed current guidance, including restrictions during outbreaks.
“People and staff had access to regular testing.” from the report
Contact with families
The home used newsletters, electronic forms and regular family contact to keep relatives updated and help people stay in touch.
“Staff reassured people throughout the pandemic and provided them with the support they needed to maintain regular contact with their family and friends through the use technology.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place to manage staffing pressures, and have these affected people's support?
- 02How would visits be managed if there was an infection outbreak at the home?
- 03How often are people and staff tested, and what happens after a positive or unclear result?
- 04What procedures would be followed if a new person needed to move into the home?
- 05How will you keep our family updated and help our relative maintain contact with us?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic; the home was inspected but not rated overall or in the other four areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 February 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Marlcroft rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with effective management and no breaches reported.
This was an announced inspection on 24 and 25 September 2018. The inspector reviewed records, observed care, spoke with staff and contacted three relatives. All the people living at the home were unable to give their views because of cognitive impairments.
Inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing, training and safeguarding arrangements were managed well. The home was clean, and people had suitable care plans, support with health needs and specialist diets.
Staff were seen to protect people's dignity, privacy and choices. Relatives spoke positively about the staff and manager. Care was tailored to people's communication, health needs, preferences and family relationships.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home had remained Good since the previous inspection in March 2016.
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and checked as competent to administer medicines. The medicine records inspected were accurate and audited.
“Medication was well managed. All staff had received training by a competent person in the administration of medication and additionally received annual updates and competency refreshers.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's health, behaviour, communication, preferences and background. They also gave specific guidance for individual needs such as epilepsy and communication using signs and gestures.
“Support plans provided detailed information about people's health, behaviours, communication and the way in which they wanted their support delivered.” from the report
Dignity and choice
Staff protected privacy and dignity and asked for consent before providing care. Inspectors also saw staff knocking before entering a person's room.
“We observed staff asking for consent before providing care to people.” from the report
Active oversight
The home used regular audits, meetings and action plans to check the service and follow up improvements.
“There were audits for the safety of the building, finances, care plans, medication and more regular checks like the water temperatures.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's specific communication needs, and what accessible information would you provide?
- 02How are specialist diets planned, prepared and reviewed with health professionals?
- 03How would you assess and support my relative if they had epilepsy or another particular health risk?
- 04How are relatives involved in care plan reviews and best-interest decisions?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient when people are out or when someone needs extra support?
This was an announced inspection covering all five key questions, with records reviewed, care observed, staff and relatives consulted, and a SOFI observation used because people could not share their views directly. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 October 2018 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Marlcroft
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 August 2015.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warrington
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.