CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Myrtle Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some management changes and paperwork to keep under review.
This was an unannounced inspection on 28 July 2018. The inspector reviewed care files, medicines records, staff files, policies, risk assessments, incidents, complaints and quality checks. They also spoke with relatives, health and social care professionals, staff and management, and observed care.
The home supported four people with learning disabilities or autism and was registered for up to six people. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk plans and good infection control. Staff understood people's communication methods, health needs, choices and interests.
Relatives and professionals described staff as kind, caring and welcoming. People were supported with independence, family contact, health care, meals and activities. All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
Safe medicines
Medicines were securely stored, correctly recorded and given by trained staff whose competence had been checked.
“Medicines were administered and managed safely by trained staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff spent time with people, understood their needs and supported them in a calm and compassionate way.
“We observed staff interacting with people in a caring and compassionate manner.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make day-to-day choices, use their preferred communication methods and build independence at home and in the community.
“Promoting independence, involving people and using creative approaches was embedded and normal practice for staff.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People were supported to take part in activities linked to their interests and to keep in touch with family and friends.
“People were supported to access the community and participate in activities which matched their hobbies and interests” from the report
Quality checks
The home used audits and checks covering areas such as care plans, medicines, staff files, infection control and health and safety.
“Quality monitoring systems and processes were in place and up to date.” from the report
Long gap without a registered manager
needs fixingThe home had not had a registered manager since August 2017. A new manager had started and had begun the registration process before the inspection.
“The service had not had a registered manager in post since August 2017.” from the report
One person's paperwork was incomplete
minorOne person's mental capacity paperwork had not been completed on the inspection day, although the report says this was completed after the inspection.
“One person was receiving care inline with the MCA however paperwork had not been completed at the time of our inspection.” from the report
- 01Has the new manager now completed registration with the CQC, and how are management arrangements working?
- 02How do you check that each person's mental capacity assessments and best-interest records are complete and up to date?
- 03How do you decide staffing levels when people's needs or behaviour change, and how often are these reviewed?
- 04How are communication passports being developed and kept up to date with people and their families?
- 05How do you make sure activities continue to match each person's interests and support their independence?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 August 2018 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, August 2017
Myrtle Cottage was rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, but management and staff support needed improvement.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 11 July 2017. One inspector visited, observed care, spoke with the manager and staff, and reviewed care records, staffing records, meetings, policies, complaints and audits. Five people were living at the home at the time, which supports six people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge.
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Medicines, finances, health risks and staffing were managed safely. Staff treated people with dignity, knew their needs and supported their choices, activities and communication. Care plans were personalised and complaints were handled within the provider's timescales.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Safe, caring and responsive were rated Good. Effective and well-led were rated Requires Improvement. The home had been without a registered manager since March 2017, and the new manager had worked there for only one day when inspectors visited. Staff support and some provider audits had also not happened as regularly as required.
At the previous inspection in May 2016, there were breaches relating to safe care and treatment and accurate records and quality monitoring. Inspectors found the required action had been taken and there were no breaches at this inspection.
Safe medicines and finances
Medicines were given as prescribed, records matched stock levels and medicines were disposed of correctly. People's money was checked by two staff members.
“Medicines were administered safely and there were clear protocols in place for the administration of PRN medicines” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, respected their privacy and dignity, and supported them to make choices and remain independent.
“Staff used people's preferred form of address, showed them kindness, patience and respect.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans covered people's health needs, communication, routines, interests and preferences. People were supported with trips, holidays and daily activities.
“People received a personalised service that met their needs.” from the report
Improvements since the last inspection
Inspectors found that the two previous breaches had been addressed. Care records, risk assessments and quality monitoring had improved.
“At this inspection we found the required action had been taken and there were no longer any breaches of regulation.” from the report
No registered manager
needs fixingThe home had been without a manager since March 2017. The new manager had worked there for only one day when the inspection took place.
“The home had not had a manager since march 2017. There was a new manager in place.” from the report
Staff supervision was not complete
needs fixingStaff had received training, but regular one-to-one support and a probation meeting had not continued after the previous manager left.
“We saw that the probation meeting for a new member of staff had not been completed when it was due in June 2017 as there had not been a manager in post.” from the report
Provider audits were not regular enough
needs fixingProvider checks had not always been carried out as often as the provider's policy required because of vacancies in senior management. A later audit and action plan were provided after the inspection.
“The provider completed checks of the service provision, however these had not taken place as regularly as the provider required due to vacancies in the senior management team.” from the report
- 01Who is the registered manager now, and when did they become registered with the CQC?
- 02How often are provider audits now carried out, and can we see the most recent action plan?
- 03How are staff given regular one-to-one supervision and support?
- 04How do you check that medicines records, risk assessments and care plans remain accurate?
- 05How are people supported to choose activities and communicate their wishes?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall quality of the home covering all five key questions, with previous ratings and breaches also reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 August 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 Myrtle Cottage
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2018Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.