CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Merstone House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and risks were reviewed. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine arrangements, appropriate recruitment checks and effective infection control measures.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager was approachable and the culture was open and inclusive. Quality checks were used to identify improvements, and people's views helped shape the service.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Merstone House is rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care with a consistent staff team.
The home provides personal care for up to eight older people and younger adults with mental health diagnoses. All eight places were occupied during the inspection.
The inspection was unannounced. One inspector visited on 23 May 2022 and reviewed care records, medicine records, recruitment checks and management records. The inspector also spoke with three people living at the home and four staff members.
Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were reviewed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff. Infection control arrangements, fire safety checks and recruitment processes were also satisfactory.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe and Well-led. This was a focused inspection of those two areas only. The other areas were not inspected at this visit, so earlier ratings were used in calculating the overall rating.
Safe support
Staff knew people well and understood safeguarding procedures. People told inspectors they felt safe receiving care and support.
“People were supported safely by staff who knew them well.” from the report
Consistent staffing
The home had enough staff and did not use agency staff. People said they knew the staff well, which helped them feel able to trust them.
“The service did not use agency staff and had a consistent team of staff.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicine records were completed appropriately. Staff received medicine training and regular checks of their competence.
“Staff received medication training and regular competency checks.” from the report
Positive leadership
People and staff were positive about the management. The home used audits, feedback and action plans to monitor and improve the service.
“Quality monitoring and governance was effective, and people's views were used to make changes and improvements.” from the report
Support with independence
People were supported to make choices and, where appropriate, take more responsibility for their medicines. Staff used the least restrictive approach and followed best-interest processes when needed.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you support my relative to make choices and remain as independent as possible?
- 02If my relative takes some medicines themselves, what checks will staff carry out?
- 03How are feedback from monthly keyworker meetings and family discussions turned into changes?
- 04What recent audits or action plans have identified improvements, and what has been completed?
- 05How would staff respond if my relative's mental health or behaviour changed and urgent help might be needed?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and earlier ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 August 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, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements during the pandemic.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 5 November 2020. Inspectors looked only at infection prevention and control measures as part of a coronavirus review.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. This included visitor checks, social distancing, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and an up-to-date infection control policy.
The report gives no overall quality rating. It also does not rate the other four key areas of care, so it is not a full assessment of the home.
Visitor infection checks
Visitors completed a health questionnaire and had their temperature recorded before visits took place.
“When visitors arrived at Merstone House they completed a Covid - 19 Health questionnaire and their temperature was recorded” from the report
Support during the pandemic
Staff shared information about the pandemic in creative ways, helping people manage fears and anxiety.
“Staff had created and shared information about the pandemic with people in creative ways.” from the report
Community contact
People were supported to keep contact with their local community and to take part in NHS social chat groups.
“People had been supported to maintain contact with people in their local community.” from the report
Cleaning and monitoring
Cleaning schedules had been increased and extra audits were used to check cleanliness and staff compliance.
“Cleaning schedules had been increased and additional audits had been implemented to monitor cleanliness and staff compliance” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the home's current arrangements for testing, personal protective equipment and managing infection outbreaks?
- 02How are visitors currently checked and supported to visit safely?
- 03What is the current cleaning schedule, and how are cleaning standards audited?
- 04What were the home's most recent ratings for caring, effective, responsive and well-led care, since this inspection did not assess those areas?
- 05How does the home currently support residents to keep in touch with their community and manage anxiety?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 November 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.
Every inspection of Merstone House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 May 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.