• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Damson Care - Merryfield

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

20 Merryfield Close, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 9PW (0121) 711 7274

Provided and run by:
Damson Care

All Inspections

15 May 2018

During a routine inspection

At the last inspection in August 2015, the service was rated 'Good'. This full comprehensive announced inspection took place on 15 May 2018. The service continued to be Good.

Merryfield is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Merryfield provides care and accommodation for up to three people with a diagnosis of a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. There were three people living in the home at the time of our visit.

The care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpinned the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values included choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service is required to have 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. At the time of our visit a registered manager was in post.

People told us they liked their support workers and felt safe living at Merryfield. The provider's recruitment procedures minimised, as far as possible, the risks to people safety and during our visit two support workers on duty to keep people safe. Procedures were in place to protect people from harm and support workers had received the training and support they needed to be effective in their roles which included how to safeguard people from abuse.

Support workers knew people well and were knowledgeable about the risks associated with their care. Detailed risk assessments were in place to reduce and manage risks. Processes were in place to keep people safe in the event of an emergency such as a fire.

People received their medicines as prescribed and were encouraged to eat nutritionally balanced meals. People had access to health professionals, when needed, to maintain their health.

People were involved in decisions about how their home was decorated and we saw the home was clean and well maintained. Regular checks of the building and equipment took place to make sure they were safe to use.

The provider was working within the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and were supported in the least restrictive way possible.

The atmosphere at Merryfield was relaxed and people’s right to privacy was respected by support workers. People were supported to be as independent as they wished to be.

People were encouraged to maintain relationships important to them and had been involved in planning their care. Care plans were person centred and contained detailed information about people's preferences and daily routines.

People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests and told us they knew how to make a complaint.

Support workers enjoyed working at the home and felt supported and valued by their managers. They had opportunities to attend team meetings and discuss their work practices and any developmental needs with their manager.

The management team completed effective checks of different aspects of the home to highlight any issues in the quality of the care provided, and to drive forward improvements.

26 August 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 26 August 2015 and was unannounced.

Merryfield is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for a maximum of three people. It supports the care and welfare of younger and older adults with learning disabilities. The home is located in Solihull. Three people were living at Merryfield at the time of our visit.

The home has a registered manager. 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.

People who lived at Merryfield felt safe, and were supported by a staff group who had been trained to work effectively with people who had learning disabilities.

Staff understood safeguarding policies and procedures, and followed people’s individual risk assessments to ensure they minimised any identified risks to people’s health and social care. Checks were carried out prior to staff starting work at Merryfield to ensure their suitability to work with people who lived in the home.

The provider understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and complied with these requirements. Medicines were administered safely to people, and people had good access to health care professionals when required.

There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs both in the home, and to support people with their hobbies and interests outside of the home. People received care and support which was tailored to their individual needs. People enjoyed the food provided at the home and were involved in menu planning and cooking.

Staff were motivated to work with people who lived at Merryfield, and were caring and understanding. They treated people with dignity and respect. There was a good rapport between people who lived at the home and the staff who supported them. We saw people and staff enjoy each other’s company.

The leadership team were open and accessible to both people and staff. The team leader provided good leadership to staff in the home, and there was good oversight of the service by the provider and registered manager.

10 October 2013

During a routine inspection

The three people who live at Damson Care - Merryfield have been there between 13 and 14 years. The manager of the home told us, 'We want this to be people's home rather than a residential placement.' During our visit we saw warm and friendly interactions between the care staff and the people living there. We spoke with two people who lived at the home. One person told us, 'I've been here 14 or 15 years. I like it. I've got no issues. I'm out and about doing my own thing.' We also spoke to two staff members, the manager and the registered manager of the home.

We saw support plans were written for individual needs and informed staff about how those needs were to be met on a daily basis. We saw that people were encouraged to support their own independence. One person told us how they received support with cooking and said, 'I do my own microwave meals.'

Care at the home was provided by a small, consistent team of staff who had worked at the home for a number of years. Staffing levels were based on the needs of the people living there and any planned activities.

The service was not regularly checking that medicine management was accurate so any errors could be identified promptly.

Records were well ordered and people could be confident their personal information was maintained securely and confidentially.

11 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We visited the home without letting anyone know in advance. All three people living at the home were at home on the morning of our visit. By the end of our visit all three had gone out with staff support to different activities.

One person made us a hot drink and told us about themselves and the home. They said they had lived there for many years, and liked it there. They said they liked the staff and had known them for a number of years. We spoke with the other two people who lived there. They also indicated they were happy at the home. One person showed us their room and told us how they spent their time. They had their own tea-making facilities in their room.

We spoke with the manager and a member of staff. Both showed a good knowledge of the needs of the people who lived at the home and how to meet them. People's physical and mental health needs were being met with the support of outside professionals as required.

The people who lived at the home benefited from consistent care by a small staff team who had worked there for several years. Staff had a thorough knowledge of their needs and how to meet them. This was evident from comments by the staff such as 'I'm happy here' and by people who lived at the home such as 'the staff are really good, I like it here'.