CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Merryfield House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, effective safeguarding arrangements, safe medicines management and care plans that identified and managed risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and support. People received suitable food and healthcare, and the home worked with GPs and other professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. They and their representatives were involved in decisions about care.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was personalised and changed when people's needs changed. Inspectors found plentiful, meaningful group and one-to-one activities, including activities for people living with dementia.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The managers promoted a caring culture and used audits, feedback and incident monitoring to check and improve the service.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Merryfield House Nursing Home was rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsiveness; inspectors found safe, kind and effective care.
This was an unannounced inspection on 13 October 2017. One inspector and an expert by experience observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training and complaints records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines practice, suitable training, involvement in care decisions, respectful care and systems for monitoring quality.
Responsiveness was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found personalised care, prompt responses when people's needs changed, and a wide range of meaningful activities. These included one-to-one sessions, clubs, gardening, community visits and activities designed for people living with dementia.
The home was rated Good at its previous inspection and remained Good overall. The Outstanding rating for Responsiveness means inspectors found this area to be consistently exceptional during this inspection.
Personalised activities
The home offered many activities linked to people's interests, past lives and abilities. People who preferred individual support or could not leave their rooms were also included.
“People were encouraged to pursue personal interests and hobbies and to access activities in the service and community.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and found that medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people's needs. Staff were not rushed in their duties and could spare their time sitting and chatting with people.” from the report
Skilled support
Staff had induction, ongoing training and supervision. Inspectors found they had the knowledge and skills needed to support people.
“People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles and responsibilities.” from the report
Dignity and choice
People were involved in their care and were supported to make choices and remain as independent as possible. Staff respected privacy and dignity.
“People were treated with dignity and respect. When staff spoke about people to us or amongst themselves they were respectful and they displayed genuine affection.” from the report
Positive leadership
The managers promoted a culture that valued people, relatives and staff. Audits and reviews were used to identify improvements.
“The registered manager and the deputy manager promoted a culture that ensured people were seen as individuals.” from the report
DoLS applications awaiting authorisation
minorFifteen applications were still awaiting authorisation when inspectors visited. The report says the manager regularly checked their progress, but families should ask whether this affects their relative.
“At the time of our inspection there were 15 DoLS applications awaiting authorisation.” from the report
- 01Which, if any, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards application applies to my relative, and what is its current status?
- 02How will you update my relative's care plan if their health or care needs change?
- 03How will you provide meaningful one-to-one activities if my relative does not like groups or cannot leave their room?
- 04How many staff will be on duty for my relative's usual care needs, and how do you cover absences?
- 05How will you support my relative's particular communication, dietary and healthcare needs?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions; the home remained Good overall, with Responsiveness rated Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 2017 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 Merryfield House Nursing Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Merryfield House Nursing Home →
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Oxfordshire
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Most charge £980 to £1,300 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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