CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Moreton Centre
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, October 2022
Rated Good overall, with safe care found, but the home still needs to improve its management checks and records.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 6 and 8 September 2022. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, staff, visitors, professionals and family members. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were handled safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs, including regular agency staff. The home was clean, comfortable and well maintained.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led. New electronic care planning, audit and medicine systems had improved the service, but they had not fully settled into everyday use. Two pressure mattresses were not set correctly, and records did not always explain what staff did when people refused food or drink. The overall rating was Good. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in 2019, and the two previous breaches had been met.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“People told us they felt safe. Comments included, "I am safe here," and "Staff are kind and listen to me.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors observed trained staff giving medicines safely. Electronic records helped staff identify possible missed doses.
“All medicine givers, senior care staff and registered nurses had the relevant knowledge, training and competency that ensured medicines were handled safely.” from the report
Individual risk planning
Care plans and risk assessments covered risks such as falls, diabetes, nutrition and skin damage, with guidance for staff.
“Care plans and risk assessments identified specific risks to each person and provided guidance for staff on how to minimise or prevent the risk of harm.” from the report
Previous problems addressed
The provider had improved its systems since the previous inspection and had met the two earlier regulatory breaches.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider had met the two breaches of regulation.” from the report
Pressure mattress settings
seriousTwo pressure mattresses were not set correctly. Although daily checks were taking place, staff did not know the correct settings. The issue was acted on during the inspection.
“For example, two pressure mattresses were not set correctly for the person.” from the report
Incomplete daily records
needs fixingRecords did not always say what staff did when people refused food or drink. Inspectors saw staff taking action, but this was not recorded consistently.
“Daily records whilst improved still need to be more detailed, for example, when people refuse to eat and drink.” from the report
Reliance on agency staff
minorThe home had enough staff, but relied on regular agency workers because recruitment had been difficult. One person mentioned seeing many changing faces.
“I don't have any grumbles, apart from lots of changing faces.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that every pressure mattress is set to the correct level for the person using it?
- 02What has changed to make sure staff record the action taken when someone refuses food or drink?
- 03How many regular agency staff are currently working at the home, and how do you make sure they know each person's needs?
- 04How will you check that the new care planning, audit and electronic medicines systems are fully embedded in everyday practice?
- 05Which areas of care were not reassessed during this focused inspection, and what were their previous ratings?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key questions were not reassessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 October 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, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about the home's infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 22 February 2021. It focused only on infection prevention and control because the home had experienced a coronavirus outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements for visitors, social distancing, admitting people safely, using protective equipment, testing, cleaning and managing outbreaks. They also found the home clean and well maintained.
The home was closed to most visitors at the time, apart from people visiting those receiving palliative or end-of-life care. Staff helped residents keep in touch with families by email, phone and video calls. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had systems to prevent and manage infections, including safe use of protective equipment and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and well maintained, with regular cleaning of frequently touched areas.
“The home was clean and well maintained.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home had adapted its outbreak plan after learning from experience. Its layout allowed areas and staff teams to be separated to reduce the spread of infection.
“In practice this had been adapted and updated to reflect what they had learnt from experiencing an outbreak.” from the report
Family contact
Although most visits were stopped during the outbreak, staff supported residents to keep in touch with relatives by email, phone and video calls. A visiting hub had also been created for safer future visits.
“Staff supported people to remain in contact with their families through emails, phone and video calls at this time.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, and can families use the visiting hub?
- 02How would you manage an outbreak now, including separating residents and staff teams?
- 03How do you safely admit new residents and support them to self-isolate before moving to their chosen room?
- 04How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 05How will my relative keep in contact with family if visits have to stop?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 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.
Every inspection of The Moreton Centre
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- October 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 December 2013.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.