CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Merrifield House Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using PPE effectively, managing admissions and visitors safely, and keeping its infection prevention and control policy up to date.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 review.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 28 January 2022. It was a targeted review of infection prevention and control, including how the home was managing COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, following hygiene guidance, managing visitors and admissions safely, and supporting testing, distancing and shielding. They also found that people could receive regular visitors in line with government guidance.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other care questions. It is evidence about infection control arrangements at the time of this visit, rather than a full review of all aspects of care.
Staff infection control training
Staff had received infection prevention and control training. Inspectors saw staff using the correct protective equipment and following hand hygiene guidance.
“Staff had received training in relation to infection prevention and control.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The provider had plans for managing the effects of COVID-19 and had a system for separating areas during outbreaks.
“The provider had developed a system to support staff with affective zoning of areas during outbreaks of COVID-19.” from the report
Maintaining family contact
The home had visitor pods and used video calls, voice messages and photographs to help people stay connected with family and friends during outbreaks.
“The provider has installed a number of visitor pods to ensure visiting for people during an outbreak of COVID-19 could be well supported.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staffing pressures managed now, and what impact would staff absence have on people's care?
- 02How would you support visits if there were another COVID-19 outbreak?
- 03How do you make sure staff use PPE and follow hand hygiene guidance every day?
- 04How are new residents admitted safely and tested for infections?
- 05How do you keep families connected if visiting is restricted?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 2022 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, October 2019
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding leadership; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 September 2019. Two inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all four care areas: Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, detailed care planning, good support with food and healthcare, and respectful care.
Well-led was rated Outstanding, improving from Good at the previous inspection. Inspectors found that people were actively involved in decisions, quality checks were strong, and the home had good links with the local community.
People involved in the home
People were involved in care reviews, meal planning and interviewing new staff. A resident representative also helped show people around the home.
“People play an active role in the running of the Care Home.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw calm, patient and respectful support. Staff knew people well and encouraged independence where possible.
“People were always treated with the utmost respect and kindness.” from the report
Strong leadership
Managers were visible and staff felt supported. The home used audits, feedback and research to improve care.
“The service was extremely well led by managers who were dedicated to providing a service which was responsive to need.” from the report
Good community links
The home supported people to stay connected with family and the local community. It also held events and offered a wide range of activities.
“The service had strong links with the village and local community.” from the report
Personalised care and activities
Care plans recorded people's choices, histories and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities and maintain relationships.
“People had excellent care to live as full a life as possible.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people and relatives currently involved in care plan reviews and decisions about their support?
- 02Has the electronic medicines records system continued to work well, and how are medicines checked now?
- 03What activities are currently available, and how do you support people to maintain family and community relationships?
- 04How do you make sure staffing levels and staff skills match the needs of people living here?
- 05How are feedback, complaints and quality checks used to make improvements?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive remained Good, while Well-led improved from Good to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 October 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 Merrifield House Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Merrifield House Residential Care Home →
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at Merrifield House Residential Care Home →
- June 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 December 2010.
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 West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“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.”
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.