Mercia Grange

Updated 9 December 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 was carried out by one inspector, one specialist advisor who was a nurse, and two Experts 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

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

Registered manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the Local Authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 11 people who used the service and 16 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the registered manager, regional director, area manager, senior care staff and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people's care records, quality assurance records and multiple medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found, including information about medicine administration, safeguarding records and best interest documentation.

Updated 9 December 2023

About the service

Mercia Grange is a care home providing personal care and accommodation to up to 67 people. The service provides support to older people and people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 56 people using the service.

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

The provider had safeguarding systems and processes to help keep people safe. Staff knew about the risks to people and followed the assessments to ensure they met people's needs. People felt safe and were supported by staff who knew how to protect them from avoidable harm.

People were supported to access healthcare professionals when their needs changed. Staff received training and competencies to ensure they were skilled to meet people’s needs. People were offered a choice of food and the environment was warm and welcoming.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service mainly supported this practice.

Staff sought people's consent before providing care and support. People's individual communication needs were considered to support them to be involved in their care.

Staff had been recruited appropriately and had received relevant training, so they were able to support people with their individual care and support needs.

Different activities were available for people to get involved with. Care plans contained information about people’s preferences and staff knew people well.

Complaints were responded to in a timely way and information about the support people wanted to receive at the end of their life was recorded.

Systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service required improvement. Audits undertaken in relation to accident and incidents required improvement to ensure the appropriate action had been completed. Audits were completed on care and medicines records however prompt action taken was not always taken where inconsistencies were identified.

Staff spoke positively about working for the provider and felt well supported. Staff were able to approach the management team at any time, feeling confident any concerns would be acted on promptly. They felt valued and happy in their role.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service was outstanding (published on 04 April 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine the information we had reviewed. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe, Effective and Well Led.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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.

The overall rating for the service has changed to good. This is based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.