Marlborough Court

Updated 24 August 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector, a specialist professional advisor who was a qualified nurse 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

Marlborough Court 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.

The service had a manager who was in the process of being registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager is someone who with the registered provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service which included notifications of events and incidents at the service. We spoke to two relatives of people who had recently used the service and we received feedback from a member of the local authority commissioning team.

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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people and 14 relatives of people using the service, four care staff members, one qualified nurse, the manager and the regional support manager. We looked at six people’s care files,14 people’s medicines management records, four staff members supervision records, and incidents and accidents. Not everyone at the home could express their views about their care verbally so we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We reviewed quality assurance reports and other records relating to the management of the service, including safeguarding and complaints records.

Updated 24 August 2021

About the service

Marlborough Court is a care home providing personal and nursing care to people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The care home can support and accommodate up to 78 people across three separate wings, each of which has separate adapted facilities. One of the wings specialises in providing care to people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 41 people using the service.

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

Risks to people were managed effectively to reduce harm to them. Management plans provided guidance to staff to reduce risks to people. People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew the actions to take to report abuse.

Incidents and accidents were reported, and the registered manager reviewed, analysed and took actions to ensure learning from them. People’s medicines were administered and managed safely. Staff received support from staff when they needed it as there were enough staff available to support them. Staff were trained in infection control and followed procedures to reduce risks of infection.

People’s needs were assessed in line with best practice guidance and covered a range of people’s needs. People were supported to eat balanced diet and drink enough to keep hydrated. Staff had an induction when they started their jobs; and they were supported through regular training and supervision to deliver their roles effectively. People had access to healthcare services they needed to maintain good health; and staff liaised effectively with other services.

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’s consent was sought for the care and support they received.

The service complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Relatives and healthcare professionals were involved in making decisions for people in their best interests where this was appropriate.

People told us staff were kind and compassionate to them. People were treated with respect and dignity. People received care and support that met their individual needs. Care plans were up to date and reflected people’s needs. People’s end-of-life wishes were documented in their care plans and followed. People were engaged in activities to occupy them.

People and their relatives knew how to raise complaints about the service. The registered manager responded to complaints appropriately in line with the provider’s procedure. The provider worked in partnership with other organisations and services to develop and improve the service. The service had effective systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update) - The last rating for this service was inadequate (published14 November 2020). The service was put under Special Measures.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Marlborough Court Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.