CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Merwood Rest Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing and safe admissions.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report, although two people said the support and care were good.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report. The home was using tablets and social media to help people keep in touch with relatives and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report. Inspectors described the infection-control processes and staff knowledge as comprehensive.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Merwood Rest Home: targeted infection-control inspection found people were protected, but the service was not rated overall.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 11 March 2021. It looked at how the home prevented and controlled infections during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. This included visitor checks, staff and resident testing, use of protective equipment, hand hygiene, cleaning, social distancing and safe admissions.
The home supported people's contact with relatives through socially distanced visits, a visiting area and electronic tablets. Inspectors also found enough staff, relevant training and support for staff wellbeing.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report gives an inspection finding about infection control, but it does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other care areas.
Infection prevention
The home had arrangements covering visitor checks, testing, PPE, hand hygiene, cleaning, social distancing and outbreak management.
“We were assured that the provider was preventing people and visitors to the home from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Safe admissions
People were tested before admission and had to shield from others when they arrived.
“The provider insisted people were tested before admission. They also had to shield from others on admission to the home.” from the report
Keeping in touch
The home used socially distanced visits and electronic tablets to help people stay connected with relatives and friends.
“People's mental wellbeing had been promoted by innovative use of social media and electronic tablets so people could contact their relatives and friends.” from the report
Staffing and training
Inspectors found enough staff to provide continuity and saw that staff had infection-control knowledge and specialist training.
“There were sufficient staff to provide continuity of support and ensure safeguards were in place should there be a staff shortage.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection-control arrangements are in place now, and what has changed since the inspection on 11 March 2021?
- 02How are visitors currently checked, and how can relatives visit inside the home?
- 03How are new residents tested and supported when they first move in?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested if there is a suspected infection or outbreak?
- 05How will the home help my relative keep in touch with family if visits are restricted?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide an overall rating or assess the other four key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 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, December 2017
Merwood Rest Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
Inspectors visited without notice on 7 November 2017. They spoke with five people living at the home, three relatives, the manager and three staff members. They reviewed four care records, staff files, medicines records, complaints, accidents, audits and maintenance records.
The home was rated Good for safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable care plans, kind staff and activities that people enjoyed.
The home had been rated Good at its previous inspection and remained Good. The provider could not complete its information return because of technical problems, but inspectors took this into account when making their judgements.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Risk assessments gave staff updated guidance to reduce risks.
“People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at the home.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity and respect. People and relatives described staff as kind and patient.
“Staff understood the needs of people they supported and it was apparent trusting relationships had been created.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and wishes. Staff followed the guidance in the records and reviewed them regularly.
“Each person had a care plan that was tailored to meet their individual needs.” from the report
Open leadership
People, relatives and staff described the home as well led. The home used audits, meetings and feedback to identify improvements.
“People who lived at the home and relatives told us the home was well led.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check that staffing levels remain enough for my relative's needs, especially at busy times?
- 02How will you record and review my relative's medicines, including any changes or medicines given only when needed?
- 03How will you support my relative's food, drink and personal preferences?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative, and how would you adapt them if their needs changed?
- 05How should we raise a concern or complaint, and how will you tell us what action was taken?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the overall service and all five CQC questions; the home was rated Good in each area. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 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 Merwood Rest Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 October 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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.