CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Marley Grove
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staff understood safeguarding, staffing levels met people's needs and medicines were handled safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care was based on assessed physical, mental and social needs. Staff had induction and training, supported nutrition and healthcare, and worked within the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions, supported to communicate and encouraged to remain independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People had support with communication, activities, relationships, complaints and end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager and staff created a person-centred culture. Quality checks, feedback, incident reviews and links with health and social care professionals were used to improve care.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
The inspection took place over three visits in November 2019. One inspector spoke with one person, two staff members and four relatives. They also reviewed care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in every area. Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, well-managed risks, safe medicines practice and a clean environment. Staff supported people with health appointments, food, communication, activities and personal choices.
Inspectors saw caring relationships and respect for privacy, dignity and independence. Care plans were detailed and reviewed. The manager monitored the service, acted on feedback and shared learning when things went wrong.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's assessed needs and robust checks before staff started work.
“People were supported by enough numbers of staff that were safely recruited to meet their needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, protected their dignity and privacy, and supported their independence and relationships.
“People were supported by a caring and compassionate staff team.” from the report
Choice and consent
People were supported to make choices and have control over their lives. Staff followed the least restrictive approach and involved representatives in best-interest decisions.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.” from the report
Personalised communication
Care plans recorded people's communication needs. Staff used easy-read information, pictures, signs, gestures and body language to understand people.
“People's communication needs were detailed in their care plans, and staff knew how to communicate effectively with people.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents, incidents and complaints were reviewed for patterns and learning. A prompt system was introduced after a medicine error.
“Accident and incident forms were completed by staff and reviewed by the registered manager to identify trends, patterns and any learning from incidents.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are medicines currently checked, and what changes were made after the medication error mentioned in the report?
- 02How will you support my relative's particular communication needs, including the use of easy-read information, pictures, signs or gestures?
- 03What activities, day centres and community clubs are currently available, and how are they matched to each person's interests?
- 04How do you review care plans when someone's health or support needs change?
- 05How would you support someone who needs palliative or end of life care to remain at the home?
This was a planned inspection that examined the premises and care and rated all five areas; the previous inspection had also rated the service Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 2019 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, May 2017
Marley Grove was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas remaining Good.
This was a comprehensive inspection. The inspector visited on 19 April 2017 and made a call to a relative on 20 April 2017. They observed care, spoke with people, a relative and staff, and checked care, medicine, staff and quality records.
The home provides accommodation and personal care for up to nine adults with a learning disability across four homes. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicine systems, regular risk reviews and support for people to make choices and remain as independent as possible.
People were treated kindly and with dignity. Their care plans were personalised and reviewed, and they were supported with activities, food choices, healthcare appointments and contact with family and friends. The home had a complaints process and quality checks.
The overall rating was Good, and each of the five areas was rated Good. This means the service remained at the same rating as at the previous inspection in June 2015.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff with different skills to support people's needs and activities. Recruitment checks were completed before staff started work.
“It was obvious from our observations that there were enough staff of varying skills on duty to support people with their chosen activities.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were securely stored and stock matched the records checked. Medicine profiles also recorded important instructions such as allergies and how creams should be used.
“Medication was managed safely. Each person had their medication securely locked in their room.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their privacy, dignity, choices and independence. Inspectors observed calm and positive interactions.
“We observed positive interactions between staff and people who used the service.” from the report
Personalised support and activities
Care plans reflected individual needs and were reviewed with people where possible. People took part in activities such as gardening, life skills, bowling and snooker.
“Support plans were personalised and written for each individual and had been reviewed regularly.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager and provider carried out several audits. Where issues were found, action plans were put in place.
“A number of quality audits had been carried out by both the registered manager and a provider representative.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you involve my relative in reviewing their support plan and recording their views?
- 02How do you plan staffing around the activities and choices that my relative wants to make?
- 03How will you support my relative to manage medicines safely, including creams and allergies?
- 04What activities, healthcare appointments and opportunities to visit family would be available for my relative?
- 05How can my relative make a complaint or give feedback using the easy-read procedure?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 May 2017 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 Marley Grove
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 March 2011.
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.
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Milton Keynes
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. 11 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.