Morris Care Centre

Updated 2 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 3 inspectors on each day.

Service and service type

Morris Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Morris Care Centre 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

The first day of the inspection was unannounced. We let the provider know when we would visit for the 2nd day of the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, Healthwatch and professionals who work with the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us 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 plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 17 people living at Morris Care Centre and observed care and support being given in communal areas of the home. We spoke to 5 friends and relatives.

We spoke to 17 members of staff including the Nominated Individual, Head of Care Quality, Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Nurses, Nursing assistants, Senior Care Assistants and Care Assistants. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a wide range of records, such as care plans, medication administration records, staff records, quality assurance documents and policies and procedures.

After the inspection we received further information from the provider regarding the governance of the service and obtained feedback from 5 healthcare professionals that work with the service.

Updated 2 December 2023

About the service

Morris Care Centre is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 96 people. The service provides support to older people, people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or autistic people and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 79 people using the service. The home was split into three separate units, each unit had kitchenettes and communal spaces.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

Right Support:

People did not always receive their medicines safely or as they were prescribed. Staff recruitment and induction training processes promoted safety. Staff knew how to consider people's individual needs, wishes and goals.

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 supported this practice.

Right Care:

Health professionals provided mixed feedback about their directions not always being followed. People’s mealtime experience required improvement so that people had an accurate menu. To choose from. People were not always treated with dignity and respect.

Right Culture:

The provider failed to ensure the governance systems in place were always effective in delivering high quality care and support. Appropriate incidents were being reported to the Care Quality Commission. The provider sought feedback from people and those important to them and used the feedback to develop the service. The principles of the duty of candour were being followed at the home.

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 this service was requires improvement (published 6 May 2023) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook a targeted inspection to follow up on specific concerns which we had received about the service. The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the safe administration of medicines, staffing levels and pressure care treatment. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We inspected and found there was a concern with the administration of medicines, so we widened the scope of the inspection to become a focused inspection which included the key questions of safe, effective, and well-led.

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.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to safe administration of medicines and the providers governance at this inspection.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.