CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Milford House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe arrangements for visitors, testing and daily life.
This was an announced inspection on 10 November 2020. It was part of CQC's coronavirus thematic review of infection prevention and control in care homes.
Inspectors found the home was clean and had well-monitored cleaning schedules. Visitors and staff had temperature checks, hand-washing instructions and personal protective equipment. People moving into the home were tested and supported to isolate.
People could see family and friends safely through visitor rooms with clear screens. They also continued social activities in small groups or one-to-one. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Safe family visits
The home adapted rooms so people could see visitors on opposite sides of a clear screen. Rooms were cleaned before and after each visit.
“The visitor rooms were cleaned thoroughly before and after every visit.” from the report
Testing and safe admissions
New residents were tested and supported to isolate. Regular COVID-19 testing took place for residents and staff and was monitored by the home.
“People moving into the home were supported to be tested for COVID-19 and to isolate for the required period.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, with cleaning schedules covering frequently touched surfaces several times each day.
“The home was clean throughout. There were thorough and well monitored cleaning schedules in place.” from the report
Protection for visitors and staff
People entering the home had temperature checks and were directed to wash their hands and use protective equipment.
“Visitors and staff were required to have their temperature taken upon entering the home.” from the report
Activities and communication
People received regular updates about COVID-19 measures and continued to take part in activities in small groups or one-to-one.
“People were supported to continue to participate in social engagement activities, in small groups and on a one-to-one basis.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now, and how are the results monitored?
- 02How can relatives visit safely, and how are visitor areas cleaned between visits?
- 03What personal protective equipment is available to visitors, and what are visitors expected to do when they arrive?
- 04How are social activities arranged when infection risks or restrictions change?
- 05What cleaning checks are carried out on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, light switches and lift buttons?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control; the service was inspected but not rated and the other questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 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.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Milford House was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some waiting times and activity opportunities needing attention.
This was an unannounced inspection on 7 November 2017, with return visits on 9 and 13 November. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, visitors, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care records and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found improvements in staffing, medicines and support with eating and drinking since the previous inspection in July 2016.
People generally felt safe and praised the staff. Care was described as kind and respectful. Inspectors also found good systems for medicines, staff training, health care, complaints and quality checks. Some people experienced delays with call bells, and more individual activities were still needed.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives praised the staff. Inspectors observed friendly interactions and care that respected people's choices and privacy.
“We observed staff interacting with people in a friendly and respectful way.” from the report
Safer medicines
Medicines were securely stored, administration records were complete, and people received help to take medicines as prescribed.
“Medicines administration records had been fully completed.” from the report
Good clinical support
Staff understood people's medical needs and worked with health professionals. Inspectors received strong feedback about clinical care and complex wound care.
“I have been very impressed with the standard of care, clinical competence and engagement of the staff.” from the report
Call bell waiting times
needs fixingMost people said staff responded promptly, but two people sometimes felt they waited a long time. Staff also said they could be very busy and sometimes had to rush.
“Two of the 18 people we spoke with said they sometimes had to wait for what felt like a long time when they used the call bell.” from the report
More individual activities needed
needs fixingGroup activities were popular, but some people who did not join them, including people cared for in bed, had fewer opportunities for individual activities.
“Some people told us they were bored and didn't see much of staff other than when they were receiving care.” from the report
One care plan missing medicines information
needs fixingOne care plan did not include all the information needed about medicines support. The home began correcting it during the inspection, and staff still understood the person's needs.
“There was one example of a care plan that did not contain all the necessary information about the support a person needed to manage their medicines.” from the report
Visitors' seating
minorTwo people said relatives could not always find enough chairs when visiting. The registered manager said action would be taken.
“Two people told us their relatives had brought in folding chairs as they couldn't always find enough chairs when they visited.” from the report
- 01How quickly do staff usually answer call bells during busy periods, such as mornings?
- 02What individual activities are available for people who do not join group activities or who are cared for in bed?
- 03How do you check that each care plan includes complete and up-to-date information about medicines support?
- 04What changes were made to staffing arrangements after the previous inspection, and how are staffing levels checked against people's needs?
- 05How will you make sure there are enough chairs for visitors?
This inspection covered all five CQC questions and the overall rating; inspectors also checked whether improvements had been made after three breaches identified in July 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 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 Milford House
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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