Background to this inspection
Updated
23 October 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type: Merlin Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The previous registered manager was no longer working in the service and the provider had appointed a new manager who had applied to the Care Quality Commission to become the registered manager. Throughout the report we refer to this person as the manager.
Notice of inspection: This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection: Before the inspection we reviewed information, we had received about the service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, for example, injuries that occur in the service and any allegations of abuse.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection: Some people using the service were not able to verbally express their views about the service. Therefore, we spent time observing interactions between staff and people within the communal areas of the home. We spoke with two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from eight members of staff including the manager, care staff, ancillary staff, senior management staff and the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and 10 people’s medication records; three staff files in relation to recruitment and all staff supervision records; a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including incidents, accidents, complaints and quality assurance records.
After the inspection
We received feedback about the service from two external health and social care professionals.
Updated
23 October 2019
About the service
Merlin Park is a residential care home providing personal care to people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection, there were 25 people being supported some of whom were living with dementia or other cognitive impairments. The service is registered to support up to 25 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There were enough staff available to support people. The environment was clean and people had access to appropriate equipment where needed. Risks to people and the environment were managed safely. People could be confident they were supported by staff who had access to appropriate guidance and understood how to keep them safe. Staff’s knowledge of the people they supported was good and they were able to tell us about the risks associated with their care and how to minimise these. Medicines were administered safely and as prescribed.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role.
People's needs were met in an individual and personalised way by staff who were kind, caring and responsive to their changing needs. We observed staff respecting people's privacy and protecting their dignity. People and their families were involved in the development of personalised care plans that were reviewed regularly. People were offered and took part in a range of meaningful activities. People felt listened to and knew how to raise concerns.
The provider had effective systems and processes to monitor quality within the home. The manager understood their regulatory responsibilities and shared information with stakeholders in a timely way. People, their families, staff and external professionals all told us that the manager and provider were very supportive, and the home was well led.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was good (published 26 April 2017).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. However, before the inspection we had received some information of concern relating to the care people received. We looked at these issues during this inspection. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.