• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Morton House Nursing and Rest Home

Morton House, Grange Lane, Fernhill Heath, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR3 7UR (01905) 754489

Provided and run by:
Mrs Narinder Sanghera

All Inspections

4 July 2013

During a routine inspection

When we carried out this inspection 26 people were using the service. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, three nurses and three care workers. We also spoke with six people who used the service and two relatives. One relative said: 'Couldn't be better anywhere else' and: 'Don't have any complaints what so ever'. One person who used the service told us that people were: 'Looked after very well' and described the staff as: 'Very good and very friendly'.

We observed how staff interacted with people. We saw that staff spoke with people in a respectful manner. From our observations we saw that people were provided with care that met their individual care needs. Staff knew about the needs of the people they were caring for. We looked at care records and found that these contained guidance for staff on how to meet their needs.

We found that systems were in place to keep people safe. Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew how to respond to concerns.

We found that appropriate arrangements were not in place that ensured the safe use and management of medicines.

We saw that improvements had taken place to the environment that people lived in. The registered manager told us of plans for further improvements.

We found that checks were in place to ensure that staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

There was a system in place for people to make complaints if they were not happy with the service.

8 May 2012

During a routine inspection

During this inspection we visited the home and spoke with people who lived there, as well as a relative. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the standard of the services they received. Comments we received included:

'Very happy, no complaints whatsoever.'

'Management are very helpful, if I ask for something it's done.'

'It's absolutely fine.'

We spoke with people about the staff. They reported that they got on well with staff and that staff were helpful to them. We found that people were treated with respect and were encouraged to make choices about how they wished to be cared for and the meals they preferred to have. One person said:

'Alright, we get on alright.'

'Staff are very good.'

We spoke with a specialist nurse who provided positive feedback about the home. She said that she had been going to the home regularly, she told us:

'I have no problems with staff, they contact me if they have a problem.'

22 March 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out this reviewing having received information which gave us concern about the standard of food available to people and the environment in which they were living.

One person described the dinners provided as 'excellent' and that they could have 'pretty much what they wanted'. We were informed that a cooked breakfast was available each day.

People who had their tea in the dining room were offered a choice of drink and asked whether they wanted soup. This was followed by a selection of sandwiches including egg, ham, salad, tuna and corned beef. We saw the availability of vegetarian rolls, jelly, ground rice and cakes.

The menu stated that a chicken and vegetable pie was available. We saw a baked dish which was described as 'the bake' by staff. We were informed that it consisted of chicken and potato. 'The bake' which appeared unappetising was served with gravy to people in the dining room who required assistance with feeding and to a number of people in their bedrooms.

We did not speak in detail with people who lived at Morton House about their views on the overall appearance of the home. On person did however describe the cleanliness as 'fantastic' and 'they (the staff) are always cleaning'.

Some areas of the home were in need of refurbishment. The floor covering in some bedrooms, the dining room and along some of the corridor areas was damaged. Tape was in place along the corridors to cover damage and therefore reduce the risk of accidents such as trips and falls.

We were shown three bedrooms where the flooring had been replaced. We were informed of a further bedroom due to have its flooring replaced in the foreseeable future. We were informed that the dining room floor and corridors around that area were to have a similar floor fitted.

1 August 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Generally people were positive about their experience at Morton House. One person told us that they 'appreciate what is done for us.' Another person confirmed that they felt safe living at Morton House.

We found staff to be kind and caring and generally respectful to people. Staff engaged positively to people. We noticed a lack of choice being made available to people at lunch time regarding both their meal and drink. We also highlighted a lack of awareness to respecting people's dignity regarding the use of underwear used to support continence aids.

Care plans were not always an accurate reflection of people's current needs. There was a lack of evidence to show that staff had followed up on issues regarding people's health care needs once identified and initially raised with health care professionals. Improvements are needed to ensure that people have creams and ointments applied as directed.

Most areas of the home were clean and tidy with some exceptions. One person told us that they are happy with the cleanliness of the home particularly their bedroom. The number of domestic staff had recently increased.

Regular audits are done of medication. Staff stated that improvements have taken place regarding medication management. We found shortfalls in the system to ensure that people were being given their prescribed medicines.

Other audits were in place and these identified areas needing further improvement as well as areas where improvement has happened.

8 March 2011 and 20 September 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with people who live at the home and with relatives. People told us that they were happy with the care provided at Morton House. One person said about the staff 'they're always cheerful and they work very hard'.

However we found areas of concern with the way in which care is provided. We are not confident that the home is providing a service which always meets people's needs.