CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Matson House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; the home had strong infection-control arrangements, but staffing plans during an outbreak needed further development.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 29 January 2021. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than carrying out a full inspection of all areas of care.
Inspectors were assured about most infection-control arrangements. These included PPE, testing, visiting arrangements, social distancing, cleaning, safe hospital returns and support for people's wellbeing and contact with relatives.
Inspectors were only somewhat assured about staffing contingencies. The provider had used external agencies during the outbreak and needed to review how enough staff would be available for extra cleaning. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection-control procedures
The home's COVID-19 policy and infection-control procedures had been reviewed and kept up to date. Staff understood how to reduce the risk of an outbreak.
“The provider's policy for managing COVID-19 and related infection prevention and control procedures had been reviewed and kept up to date.” from the report
Safe visiting
Visiting arrangements followed recognised guidance and included individual risk assessments. People could also stay in touch with relatives by telephone and video calls.
“The provider had adapted visiting arrangements in accordance with recognised safe visiting guidance.” from the report
Support for wellbeing
People were supported with activities that met their wellbeing needs while allowing for social distancing.
“People were engaged with activities which met their wellbeing needs, whilst promoting social distancing.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
People and staff were tested in line with national guidance. People's symptoms and health were monitored and information was shared with health professionals when needed.
“People and staff were tested for coronavirus in line with national guidance for care homes.” from the report
Staffing during outbreaks
needs fixingInspectors were only somewhat assured that the provider had developed enough staffing contingencies. The home also needed to review staffing capacity for the extra cleaning required during an outbreak.
“We were somewhat assured that the provider had taken steps to develop additional staffing contingencies and was reviewing pay arrangements for staff self-isolating.” from the report
- 01What is the current plan for covering staff shortages during an infection outbreak?
- 02How will the home make sure there are enough staff for the extra cleaning needed during an outbreak?
- 03How are visits arranged now, and how are individual risks assessed?
- 04How will my relative be supported to keep in contact with family if visits are restricted?
- 05What arrangements are in place if someone returns from hospital or tests positive for COVID-19?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not provide ratings for the other four questions or a full overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 March 2021 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, January 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some records and staffing arrangements still being developed.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 4 December 2018. One inspector observed care, spoke with a person, staff, managers and three relatives, and reviewed care records, staff files, medicines, incidents and other records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity, supported by staff who knew them well, and helped to make choices and take part in activities.
The inspection found improvements since the previous rating of Requires Improvement. Care and daily records had become more personalised, a more consistent staff team was being established, and management systems were being used to learn from incidents and improve care.
Kind and respectful care
Relatives spoke positively about the care. Inspectors saw calm interactions and staff respecting people's privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff understood people's communication, preferences, emotional needs and possible triggers. Care plans gave staff information to support people in an individual way.
“People's care plans reflected their support needs and preferences.” from the report
Safer medicines arrangements
Medicines were stored, recorded and given by trained staff. The home had changed its systems after earlier medicine errors.
“Effective systems were in place to manage people's medicines.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Managers reviewed incidents and near misses to identify patterns, understand possible causes and reduce the chance of problems happening again.
“The managers and senior staff proactively reviewed incidents and near misses to help prevent further incidents.” from the report
Activities and community links
People were supported to take part in activities suited to their interests and to try new opportunities, including going out and using local facilities.
“People enjoyed a wide range of activities which was dependent on their likes and interests.” from the report
Staffing had been unsettled
minorThe home had experienced changes in staffing and managers and sometimes used bank or agency staff. Inspectors said the team had stabilised, but families may want to check whether this remains the case.
“Two relatives commented about the turnover of staff but felt that the staff team had stabilised” from the report
Care plan reviews were ongoing
needs fixingCare records had improved, but reviews and updates were not yet complete. New detailed behaviour plans were also still being introduced.
“Progress was being made in the reviewing and updating of all care plans to ensure they remained current” from the report
Recruitment checks were being considered
minorThe main recruitment checks had been completed. However, the registered manager was considering how to show that new staff were of good character when references were not detailed enough.
“The registered manager was considering alternative ways of demonstrating that new staff were of good character when their references did not provide them with adequate information about their character.” from the report
End of life wishes were not yet recorded for everyone
minorNo one was receiving end of life care during the inspection. The manager said they planned to discuss and record people's end of life choices with them and their families.
“They explained that they planned to have these sensitive conversations with people and their families” from the report
- 01How have staffing levels, staff turnover and use of agency or bank staff changed since the inspection?
- 02Have all care plans and behaviour management plans now been reviewed and updated?
- 03How do you check that new staff are suitable when references do not give enough information about their character?
- 04Have people's end of life wishes been discussed and recorded with them and their families?
- 05What system do you now use to track actions from quality and safety checks?
This was an unannounced planned inspection of the care home, covering all five CQC questions and both the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 January 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.
Every inspection of Matson House
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.