• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Moorlands Residential Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

2 Moorlands Road, Merriott, Somerset, TA16 5NF (01460) 74425

Provided and run by:
Darbyshire Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

16 February 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Moorlands Residential Home is a care home which is registered to provide personal care and accommodation to up to 16 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of the inspection there were 14 people living at the home.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff were following good infection prevention and control practices which helped to minimise risks to people. Staff had easy access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand gel and hand washing facilities.

Staff were making sure people had access to social stimulation. There was an activity programme which meant people continued to celebrate special occasions and events. This included inviting entertainers to perform in the car park area, where people could enjoy them through the conservatory windows.

Staff were supporting people to keep in touch with people who were important to them. There were safe ways for people to spend time with friends and family when national guidelines allowed. Staff assisted people to use technology such as video calls to keep in touch.

The home had a social media page where friends and family could keep up to date with what was happening at the home. There was also a regular newsletter to share information.

Staff and people who lived at the home were taking part in regular testing for Covid-19.

10 February 2020

During a routine inspection

Moorlands is a residential care home registered to provide personal care to 16 people at any time. The service specialises in providing long term and respite care to older people. At the time of this inspection there were 15 people living at the home. The home accommodates people across three separate adapted facilities.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People and their relatives were very positive about the service and the care provided. People were cared for by staff who knew how to keep them safe and protect them from avoidable harm. Sufficient staff were available to meet people's needs and people told us when they needed assistance, staff responded promptly.

People received their medicines regularly and systems were in place for the safe management and supply of medicines. Incidents and accidents were investigated, and actions were taken to prevent recurrence. Systems were in place to facilitate the analysis of incidents and accidents and the registered manager used this to identify themes and learning.

The service continued to be effective. People's needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered to meet legislation and good practice guidance. Care was delivered by staff who were well trained and knowledgeable about people's care and support needs. People were provided with a nutritious and varied diet and they were complimentary about the quality and choice of food offered.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people were unable to make decisions about their care and support, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and compassionate. The atmosphere within the home was friendly and welcoming and staff were warm and considerate towards the people they cared for. People and their relatives felt involved and supported in decision making. People's privacy was respected, and their dignity maintained.

People could be confident at the end of their lives they would be cared for with compassion and their wishes and values would be respected. People’s families and friends were fully supported by staff at times of bereavement.

Staff were responsive to people's individual needs and wishes and had an in-depth knowledge about each person. Staff engaged with people very well and offered them choices on an ongoing basis. People had access to a range of activities and entertainment that they enjoyed. People's views and concerns were listened to and action was taken to improve the service as a result.

People's needs were assessed, and care plans contained individual information about people which included personal histories, needs and lifestyle choices. This made sure staff had the information they required to support people.

The service was well managed with the provider’s support. The management team were open and honest. There were effective systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service. There was a commitment to improving the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The last rating for this service was good ( published 21 August 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

7 August 2017

During a routine inspection

Moorlands Residential Home is a care home for up to 16 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of this inspection there were 14 people living at the home.

At the last inspection of the service in July 2015, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

There were adequate numbers of staff to make sure people felt safe at the home. One person told us, “Knowing there is always someone here when I need them makes me feel safe.” The provider had policies and procedures which helped to minimise the risks of abuse to people. People’s medicines were safely administered by staff who had received appropriate training to carry out the task.

People received effective care and support because staff were well trained and supported. One person commented, “I don’t think it could be any better. The staff are very good and make you comfortable in every way.” People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and caring. People’s right to privacy and dignity was upheld and staff respected people’s wishes about how they spent their time. People were involved in decisions about the care and support they received by formal care reviews and informal chats with staff. One person said, “They always ask what you want and fit around you.”

Care and support was responsive to each individual’s wishes and needs. People continued to make choices about all aspects of their day to day lives. One person told us, “It’s up to me what I do. I’m still my own person.” People were able to take part in a range of organised activities or follow their own interests and hobbies. People told us they would be comfortable to make a complaint.

The service was well led by an experienced registered manager and the provider. People described the management of the home as very approachable. One person said, “From day one they have said - if there is anything wrong let us know.” There were regular checks to make sure the building and equipment was safe for people, staff and visitors.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

21 July 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 21 July 2015.

Moorlands Residential Home is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 16 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of this inspection there were 15 people at the home.

The last inspection of the home was carried out in December 2013. No concerns were identified with the care being provided to people at that inspection.

There is a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager had managed Moorlands Residential Home for a number of years and displayed an excellent knowledge of the people who lived there. They were very visible in the home which enabled people to approach them to ask questions and make suggestions. One person said “She’s an excellent manager, knows what she’s doing and knows everything that goes on.”

In addition to the registered manager a deputy manager had recently been appointed to make sure people always had access to senior staff. The deputy worked alongside care staff to enable them to constantly monitor people’s well-being and staff practices.

There was a stable staff team which helped people to build relationships with the staff who supported them. Interactions between staff and people were kind and personal. Throughout the inspection visit we saw many acts of kindness and understanding.

People felt safe at the home and comfortable with the staff who supported them. People told us they would be comfortable to raise any concerns or complaints with the registered manager or a member of staff.

The staff monitored people’s health and arranged for them to see health care professionals according to their individual needs. Records seen showed people had access to a range of healthcare professionals.

The majority of people’s medicines were administered by staff who had had their competency to carry out the task assessed by the registered manager. People told us they had confidence in the staff who administered their medicines. One person said “They seem to know what they are doing with the tablets.”

People were complimentary about the food served in the home and said there was always a choice of meals. Comments included; “The food is lovely,” “Good food” and “The food here is quite alright and no one will starve.”

People’s privacy was respected and all personal care was provided in private. People were able to socialise in communal areas of the home or spend time on their own.

People received care that was responsive to their needs and personalised to their wishes and preferences. Care was regularly reviewed and adjusted to meet people’s changing needs. One member of staff said “Everyone is different. We do what is right for each person.”

People continued to make choices about their day to day lives and were involved in all decisions about their care and support.

3 December 2013

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with were happy with the care they received at the home. One person told us 'I feel very well cared for here. I have nothing to worry about as everything is taken care of.' Another person said 'I get all the help I need and certainly have no complaints.'

Each person had a care plan which was personal to them. Care plans that we read gave information about people's preferences as well as their physical needs. This ensured that staff had information to enable them to provide care in line with people's wishes and assessed needs.

We observed that staff spoke with people in a kind and friendly manner and assisted people in a way that respected their dignity. All staff we observed appeared cheerful and competent in their roles.

The home had suitable facilities for the safe storage and administration of medication. The home used a monitored dosage system with printed medication administration records. We saw that all medicines were stored securely and there was additional security for controlled drugs.

There was equipment around the home to assist people to maintain independence, and to meet their specialist needs. Equipment was well maintained and regularly checked to ensure its safety.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service offered and ensure the safety of people who lived at the home.

29 January 2013

During a routine inspection

People told us they were able to make choices about their day to day lives. One person told us 'It's all very nice, you can do what you like.' Another person said 'I more or less do what I want. My family are able to come and go as they please which makes it very homely.'

People were very happy with the care that they received. One person said 'I couldn't wish for better care.' Another person commented 'I feel very well looked after.'

We were told that the home assisted people to make appointments with health and social care professionals from outside the home. We saw records of appointments with health care professionals. This meant that people had access to health care professionals according to their specific needs which ensured that their needs were met.

All areas of the home we saw were clean and fresh which provided a clean and hygienic environment for people. Several people who lived at the home made positive comments about the standard of cleanliness.

People were very complimentary about the staff who supported them. Comments included; 'All the staff are nice,' 'Staff are helpful and obliging' and 'They are helpful, respectful and always polite.'

We noticed that the manager was very visible in the home and very approachable. This meant that they were easily accessible to people who lived at, or visited the home, if anyone wished to make a complaint. One person said 'The manager is always about. I would talk with her if I had any worries.'

7 June 2011

During a routine inspection

People living at the home were all very happy with the care that they received. Comments included 'I feel very well looked after,' 'The staff are beyond marvellous, they are only concerned with you being comfortable' and 'You feel relaxed, they always say anything you want just ask.' Relatives spoken with said 'We are very satisfied the care and are always consulted.'

People said they were able to choose what time they got up, when they went to bed and how they spent their day. Some people said that they liked to spend time in the communal areas whilst others said they preferred to spend time alone in their rooms. Everyone felt that their privacy was respected.

Generally people spoken with were happy with the food served in the home. Everyone said that they had a choice at each meal. People said that the cook was always happy to make alternatives if they did not like anything on the menu.

People living at the home said that staff who supported them were always kind and polite. Everyone said that if they had any concerns they would be comfortable to speak with a member of staff. All said that they felt that they would be listened to and action would be taken to address their concerns. One person said 'They are always happy to listen to your moans,' another person said 'If I had a complaint I would go straight to the manager.'

Everyone asked was happy with their bedroom. Rooms seen had been personalised to reflect the needs and tastes of the occupant. One person said 'I've bought some of my own furniture to make it feel like my home.'

People living at the home were very positive about the staff who supported them with one person saying 'They are beyond marvellous.' Other comments included 'Staff are very good and kind,' 'Staff are all cheerful, you feel relaxed with them,' and 'Staff are always happy to help.'

11 November 2010

During an inspection in response to concerns

As part of the visit to the home we were able to spend time talking to the people who live there.

People living at the home were happy with the staff who supported them. One person said 'All staff are very helpful, willing and friendly, I never feel embarrassed to ask for anything.'

People living at the home were asked if all staff were able to communicate well with them. Everyone asked said that they were. One person said 'Everyone in the home speaks English but I think some staff may be able to speak another language as well.'

People said that if they needed help at night they were able to ring their bell and someone would come quickly to assist them.

The home holds bi-monthly meetings for the people who live at the home. People said that this was a chance to make comments and suggestions. Two people said that they would like the meetings to be held more frequently.

One person said 'The staff are lovely you can call them day or night.'