CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Meera House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing, infection control and accidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and staff had relevant training and supervision. People were supported with food, drink, healthcare, mobility and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Inspectors did observe kind and person-centred interactions, but the report does not give a current rating for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The report does not give a current rating for Responsive.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had quality checks, audits, staff meetings and systems for learning from incidents. The manager and staff understood their roles and sought feedback from people and relatives.
What inspectors found, September 2023
Meera House Nursing Home was rated Good after inspectors found improved, safe and kind care, although there was no registered manager in post.
Inspectors visited on 14 and 15 August 2023. The first day was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a visiting professional. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, policies and audit records.
The home was rated Good overall for the areas inspected: Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found personalised care plans, safely managed medicines, suitable staffing, infection control measures and staff who treated people with kindness and dignity.
This was a focused inspection because of earlier concerns about the environment, fire safety, cleanliness, staffing and safeguarding awareness. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. The previous Requires Improvement rating had improved, and the home was no longer in breach of regulations.
Personalised care
Care plans included detailed information about people's medical conditions, communication, nutrition, skin care and other needs. They were reviewed when people's needs changed.
“People's care plans were personalised and had detailed guidance and risk assessments in place.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff taking time to talk with people and supporting them in a way that respected their privacy and dignity.
“Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff followed systems for prescribing, giving, recording and storing medicines. Monthly audits were used to identify and deal with errors.
“People were supported by staff who followed systems and processes to prescribe, administer, record and store medicines safely.” from the report
Improved management
The home had introduced audits, action plans and systems for learning from incidents. Inspectors found that previous breaches had been addressed.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
No registered manager
minorThere was no registered manager in post when inspectors visited. A new home manager had applied to register, but the application was still being assessed.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
Further work planned
minorThe home had plans for more improvements, including work to the basement, further decorating and more accessible information around the home.
“However, the home manager had a plan in place to make more improvements such as: renovation of the basement area, decorating and displaying more accessible information around the home.” from the report
- 01Has the home manager's application to become registered been approved, and who is responsible for the home until then?
- 02What progress has been made with the planned basement renovation, decorating and accessible information?
- 03How are medicines audits used to identify and prevent any errors?
- 04How are relatives' views and suggestions about activities, worship and outings being acted on?
- 05What arrangements are in place to review care plans when a person's needs change?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected, and the overall rating used ratings from the previous inspection for any areas not inspected. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 September 2023 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, November 2021
Meera House Nursing Home is rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found unsafe medicines management, incomplete care planning and weak oversight, alongside kind care and good infection control.
Inspectors visited on 15 and 20 September 2021. Two inspectors, a pharmacist inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff. They toured the home and checked care files, medicine records, recruitment records, policies, audits and incident information.
The inspection found problems with medicines, personalised care plans, maintenance, communication and quality checks. Some people did not feel listened to or involved in their care. Some people were unhappy with the meals and said there was not enough to do.
The overall rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement. Safe, Effective and Well-led were all rated Requires Improvement. This means some aspects were not always safe or effective, and there was limited assurance about safety. Caring and Responsive were not assessed during this focused inspection, so their previous ratings were carried forward.
Kind staff
People said staff were kind, and relatives did not raise concerns about how people were treated.
“People told us that staff were kind to them, and people's relatives had no concerns about the way people were cared for and treated in the care home.” from the report
Safeguarding awareness
Staff had safeguarding training and understood how to report suspected abuse or other concerns.
“Care staff knew how to respond to and report abuse.” from the report
Cultural and religious support
The home supported people's religious and cultural needs, including preferred languages, different festivals and prayer.
“People's religious, cultural and other needs and preferences were supported.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that infection prevention arrangements, including PPE, testing, visiting and outbreak planning, were suitable.
“We were assured that the provider was using personal protective equipment (PPE) effectively and safely.” from the report
Healthcare access
People had access to healthcare services and support, including specialist clinics and chiropody.
“People told us and records showed that they had access to healthcare services and support.” from the report
Unsafe medicines processes
seriousThe home did not always assess capacity or involve families or advocates when medicines were given covertly. There was also missing or unclear guidance for several types of medicines.
“Medicines were not always managed and administered safely.” from the report
Care plans were not personal enough
seriousSome care plans did not explain how specific medical or mental health conditions affected the person. Records also did not show consistent involvement of people or relatives in reviews.
“There were not personalised care plans in place to ensure these needs and people's preferences were understood by staff and met.” from the report
Repairs and environment
needs fixingInspectors found many maintenance problems, including bathrooms needing repairs, a leaking shower, a broken fence and damaged locks affecting privacy.
“At the time of the inspection there were a significant number of maintenance issues.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousSome audits were missing or late. The provider did not consistently review incidents, complaints and feedback to identify patterns and improve the service.
“Records did not show that the provider had ensured that there was suitable oversight of the service and systems by carrying out regular comprehensive recorded checks of the service.” from the report
People and families were not always heard
needs fixingSome people and relatives said communication was poor and that they were not involved enough in care discussions. The keyworker system was not working effectively.
“Some people spoke about their experience of feeling they were not always listened to.” from the report
Meals and activities
minorSome people were unhappy with the variety and quality of meals, and some said there was not enough to do. The home did not have clear records showing regular feedback or action about activities and food.
“Some people told us there was not enough for them to do.” from the report
- 01How have you corrected the problems with covert, time-specific, variable-dose and eye-drop medicines?
- 02How will you make sure each person's care plan includes personalised guidance for their medical, mental health, oral care and diabetes needs?
- 03Which maintenance problems found in the report have now been repaired, including bathroom repairs, leaking showers, broken locks, the garden fence and railing?
- 04How are you now recording complaints, incidents, audits and family feedback, and how do you check that actions have been completed?
- 05How will people and relatives be involved in care plan reviews, residents' meetings and regular updates about care?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not looked at and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 November 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.
Every inspection of Meera House Nursing Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2021Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Brent
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. 74 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult 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.