CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Mereside Care Home
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 the use of PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- This area was not covered by the targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Mereside Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 24 November 2020. It looked at infection prevention and control because the home had a COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, shielding, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and the outbreak. They also found the infection control policy was up to date.
Family visits and day-centre attendance had stopped because of the outbreak. Staff used video calls, communication aids and activities in the garden to help people stay connected and supported.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give ratings for the other care areas, so it is not a full assessment of the home's overall quality.
Keeping families connected
When visits were stopped, staff arranged regular video calls so people could stay in touch with family and friends.
“Staff arranged regular video calls to ensure people could maintain contact with family and their friends from the day centre.” from the report
Accessible communication
People were supported to understand the rules about visitors, social distancing and PPE using individual communication aids.
“People were supported, through the use of individual communication aids, to understand the restrictions on visitors, social distancing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment.” from the report
Activities during restrictions
People helped identify activities to support their wellbeing, including themed events and a beach day in the garden.
“The provider arranged a cheese and wine evening and a beach day where a beach was made in the garden including seaside cutout boards and fish and chips.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for preventing and managing infection, including PPE, testing, hygiene and outbreak control.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how are outbreaks managed?
- 02How would you help my relative keep in touch with family if visits were restricted?
- 03How do you use communication aids to explain health and safety restrictions to people?
- 04What activities are available to support residents' wellbeing when they cannot attend their usual day centre?
- 05How are staff working patterns changed if extra support is needed during an outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak; it did not provide a full rating of the other care areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 December 2020 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
Mereside Residential Home is rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, responsive care, but management checks were not yet consistently effective.
Inspectors made an unannounced, comprehensive visit on 4 December 2018. They spoke with six people, staff, the manager and two relatives. They reviewed care plans, medicine records, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, caring and responsive care. People were supported by enough staff who knew them well. Inspectors found safe medicines practice, personalised care, respectful relationships, activities and support to maintain health and independence.
The well-led rating was Requires Improvement. Some audits did not identify problems that inspectors found, including gaps in risk records, environmental issues and an old prescribed lotion. The home took immediate action on the issues raised, but its checking systems needed to become more reliable.
This was the first inspection under the current registration. The overall rating was Good, but the lower well-led rating shows that the management systems were not yet consistently effective.
Kind, respectful staff
People and relatives spoke highly of staff. Inspectors saw warm relationships and support that protected privacy, dignity and independence.
“People and relatives spoke highly of staff who they felt were caring, kind and friendly.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, communication needs and daily routines. People and families were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“Care plans were personalised and provided information about people's needs, life style choices, histories, preferences and daily routines.” from the report
Choice and activities
People were supported to choose how to spend their time, take part in activities, access the community and pursue work placements.
“People were supported to take part in a range of activities inside and outside the home which reflected their personal interests and hobbies.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Staffing was adjusted to people's needs and choices, including activities outside the home. Staff received induction and relevant ongoing training.
“There were enough staff available to provide the care and support people needed inside and outside the home, and to keep them safe.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicine records showed medicines were administered and signed for as prescribed. Staff were trained, observed and checked for competence.
“Medicine administration records (MARs) showed medicines had been administered and signed for as prescribed.” from the report
Risk instructions were not consistent
seriousA health professional's advice about choking risks was not fully included in one person's records. Staff gave different amounts of thickener and food was not cut as recommended at the visit.
“Risk management recommendations made by a health care professional were not clearly documented or consistently followed.” from the report
Management audits missed problems
needs fixingSome audits did not identify issues found by inspectors, including omissions in care records and environmental risks. The home said it was taking action to improve this.
“However, we saw other audits were either not always accurate or effective.” from the report
Out-of-date prescribed lotion
seriousInspectors found prescribed lotion with an expiry date in 2015. The management team said it was not being used, but the medicine checks had not covered creams and lotions in bedrooms.
“We saw a bottle of prescribed lotion with a dispensing date of 2012 and an expiry date of 2015.” from the report
Window safety issue
seriousTwo ground-floor bedrooms needed window restrictors because of the drop outside. This was addressed during the inspection.
“This was a concern because there was a substantial drop from the window to the ground which presented a potential risk to people.” from the report
- 01How are health professional recommendations, such as advice about choking risks and thickened drinks, recorded and checked now?
- 02How do you check prescribed creams and lotions kept in bedrooms, including their expiry dates?
- 03What changes have been made to quality audits so they identify problems with care records, infection control and the environment?
- 04Have all window restrictors and other environmental safety actions identified at the inspection been completed?
- 05How are staffing levels adjusted when people want to go out, attend college or take part in activities?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five areas of care and the overall rating, and it was the first inspection under the current registration. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 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 Mereside Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 September 2017.
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 Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.