CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Melrose Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including visitors, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and the infection control policy.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not rated or covered by the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This area was not rated or covered by the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not rated or covered by the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- This area was not rated or covered by the targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Melrose Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 15 February 2021. It looked at how the home was preventing and controlling coronavirus infections.
Inspectors were assured that visitors were protected, people were admitted safely, and staff used personal protective equipment properly. They also found that testing followed government guidance and that the home was clean and tidy.
The home had created activities and a sealed visiting pod to reduce isolation while visits and outside activities were restricted. Staff had also received extra infection prevention and control training.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for the five areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infection, including safe visiting, admissions, testing and use of PPE.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and tidy, with housekeeping staff assigned to specific areas so cleaning tasks could be completed thoroughly.
“The home was clean and tidy. The housekeeping team were assigned to specific areas of the home” from the report
Activities and communication
Staff and residents created activities to support well-being and reduce isolation. A monthly newsletter kept relatives informed.
“Melrose had an active and extensive activities timetable.” from the report
Safer visiting
The home installed a sealed visiting pod so people could continue to see visitors without visitors entering the home.
“The home had installed a sealed 'pod' in a conservatory to enable visits to continue safely.” from the report
Support from staff
Relatives spoke positively about how the team had managed during the pandemic.
“Staff have been absolutely fantastic throughout a difficult year” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have visiting arrangements changed since the sealed visiting pod was inspected?
- 02How are activities and contact with relatives being provided now that external activities and visitor restrictions may have changed?
- 03Is testing still carried out by the same staff member where possible, and what testing arrangements are currently used?
- 04How much PPE is currently available, and what infection prevention and control training have staff completed recently?
- 05When was the infection prevention and control policy last reviewed?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 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, July 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led support, with safe and effective care rated Good.
This was an unannounced inspection on 27 and 28 March 2019. Two inspectors and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, incidents, complaints, staffing and other records.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity, involved in decisions and given care that was closely tailored to their needs.
Inspectors also found strong support for activities, independence, healthcare and end of life care. The home worked well with other professionals and had systems for learning from incidents and complaints.
At the previous inspection, published in July 2016, the overall rating was Good. Caring, Responsive and Well-led had each improved from Good to Outstanding. Safe and Effective remained Good.
Kind and respectful care
Staff showed strong compassion and knew people well. People said their individuality, privacy and dignity were respected.
“Without exception staff demonstrated an especially kind and compassionate, can-do attitude.” from the report
Personalised support
The home adapted care and equipment to help people keep doing things that mattered to them. Staff also used detailed life stories and care plans.
“People received an exceptionally personalised service that was very responsive to their care and support needs.” from the report
Activities and social contact
Activities were based on people's interests and included community visits, music, children visiting and opportunities to reduce social isolation.
“Activities were exceptionally person centred with a strong focus on improving people's well-being and reducing social isolation.” from the report
End of life care
Staff provided compassionate support to people and families at the end of life. Care plans included detailed information about preferences, comfort and pain.
“The registered manager and staff displayed an exceptionally compassionate and empathetic approach to people and their loved ones at the end of their lives.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team had detailed knowledge of the service and used meetings, audits and action plans to monitor quality and make improvements.
“Governance arrangements were thoroughly embedded and effective.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are risks such as falls, choking and pressure sores assessed and reviewed for my relative?
- 02How will you make sure medicines, including as-required medicines, are given and recorded safely?
- 03How will my relative's food preferences, dietary needs and support with eating be recorded and followed?
- 04What activities and equipment could you provide to support my relative's interests, independence and communication needs?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in end of life decisions and care planning?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care home and the registered home care service, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 July 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 Melrose Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West Sussex
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 £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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.