Marlborough House

This report provides an overview of Marlborough House, a care home for up to 40 older people. The inspection focused on the home's preparedness and practices regarding infection prevention and control, especially in the context of national policies. It highlights measures implemented to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, and staff, and assesses the effectiveness of these procedures. The aim is to offer a clear picture of the home's operational standards in critical areas to families seeking residential care.

Regarding safety, the home demonstrated strong measures to prevent the spread of infection. Visitors were managed safely with pre-booked appointments and required testing and PPE, while a thermal camera and temperature checks added further layers of protection. The home also ensured residents could maintain contact with loved ones through various means, including dedicated visiting spaces and technology. New admissions were handled with a focus on safe testing and isolation protocols. Staff practices were also robust, with agency staff not working elsewhere and staff allocated to specific floors to minimise cross-contamination. The premises were kept clean and hygienic, with attention to ventilation, separate dining arrangements, and effective laundry management. The registered manager actively sought and implemented guidance from specialist bodies to keep infection control policies and practices up-to-date and effective, ensuring adequate supplies of PPE were maintained.

In terms of how effective the care is, the home's infection control measures were found to be thoroughly implemented, ensuring that residents were well-protected. The system for admitting new residents included a COVID-19 test and a period of isolation, with ongoing monitoring of their wellbeing.

When considering how caring the service is, residents were able to maintain meaningful contact with their families and social connections, which is vital for their emotional wellbeing. Visitor care plans were in place to support these social needs.

In assessing how responsive the service is, the home adapted its visiting arrangements to ensure residents could see loved ones safely, including the use of a dedicated visiting pod. They also facilitated regular contact outside of formal visits through the use of phones and iPads.

Finally, in relation to how well-led the service is, the registered manager was proactive in seeking external support and guidance, attending regular meetings with specialists to stay informed about best practices. Regular audits and staff supervisions were conducted to ensure the home's infection control policies and processes were robust and consistently applied, and that the service was well-resourced with necessary PPE.