• Care Home
  • Care home

Marsden Heights Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

316 Kings Causeway, Brierfield, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0EY (01282) 697144

Provided and run by:
Marsden Healthcare Limited

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 12 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We visited Marsden Heights Care Home on 29 and 30 August 2018 to carry out an unannounced comprehensive inspection. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience who attended on the first day. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service, including notifications and previous inspection reports. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We contacted the local authority contract monitoring team, the local authority safeguarding team, social workers, district nurses and GP practices to obtain feedback about the service.

The provider sent us a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during the inspection.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. During the inspection visit we talked with nine people living at Marsden Heights about their experiences at the service and spoke with three visiting relatives. We looked round the premises and carried out observations in the communal areas of the service.

We spoke with three care workers, both deputy managers, the cook, a cleaner and the registered manager. We also talked with a visiting healthcare professional. We looked at a sample of records, including three care plans and other related care documentation, two staff recruitment records, training records, menus, complaints records, meeting records, policies and procedures, quality assurance records and audits.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 12 October 2018

We carried out an unannounced inspection of Marsden Heights Care Home on 29 and 30 August 2018.

Marsden Heights Care Home is an adapted residence located in a semi-rural area on the outskirts of Brierfield. There is a garden area and a small car parking space to the front of the property. The accommodation is mainly provided on one level and includes a lounge with linked dining area with a kitchenette and a separate ‘quite room’. There are 18 single bedrooms and one twin room. Further accommodation for up to four people is provided in a lower floor flat. This has two bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms and a shared lounge/dining room with kitchen area.

Marsden Heights is a 'care home' which is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 24 people including people living with a dementia. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. Nursing care is not provided at Marsden Heights Care Home. At the time of our inspection 20 people were using the service.

There was a registered manager at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

At the last inspection on 24, 25 and 26 May 2017 the service was rated overall Requires Improvement. We found the provider was in breach of one regulation of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This related to a lack of robust recruitment procedures prior to staff starting work at the service. Following the inspection, the provider sent us an action plan outlining the progress to be made. At this inspection we found action had been taken to make improvements.

We found there were management and leadership arrangements in place to support the effective day to day running of the service.

Processes were in place to make sure all appropriate checks were carried out before staff started working at the service. People told us they felt safe at the service.

Arrangements were in place to promote the safety of the premises, this included maintenance, servicing and checking systems. However during the inspection, we identified some areas were in need of attention.

Staff were aware of the signs and indicators of abuse and they knew what to do if they had any concerns. Staff had received training on safeguarding and protection matters.

There were some good processes in place to manage and store people's medicines safely. We found some improvements were needed with record keeping, this was put right during the inspection.

There were enough staff available to provide care and support; we found staffing arrangements were kept under review and additional staff were being recruited.

People's needs were being assessed and planned for before they moved into the service. Each person had a care plan, describing their individual needs, preferences, behaviours and routines. This provided guidance for staff on how to provide person centred support. People's needs and choices were kept under review.

People were supported with their healthcare needs. Changes in people's health and well-being were monitored and responded to. Where necessary, people received appropriate medical attention.

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 at the service supported this practice.

People made positive comments about the caring attitude of staff. They said their privacy and dignity was respected. Throughout the inspection we observed staff interacting with people in a kind, pleasant and friendly manner. They were respectful of people's choices and opinions.

Visiting arrangements were flexible; relatives and friends were made welcome at the service.

People had mixed views about the provision of activities and opportunities for social/emotional engagement. However, we found progress had been made and was ongoing. There were opportunities for people to engage in a range of group and individual activities.

Most people said they were satisfied with the variety and quality of the meals provided at the service. We found various choices were available and people’s individual needs and preferences were catered for. Arrangements to monitor an enhance people’s mealtime experience were ongoing.

People spoken with had an awareness of the service's complaints procedure and processes. They indicated they would be confident in raising concerns.

There were adaptations and equipment to assist people with mobility and orientation. There was a suitable standard of décor and furnishings to provide for people's comfort and wellbeing. We found action was being taken in response to people’s specific needs and preferences.

A variety of audits on quality, systems and processes were completed regularly. Arrangements were in place to encourage people to express their views and be consulted about Marsden Heights Care Home, they had opportunities to give feedback on their experience of the service. There were plans in place to make improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.