Abbeyfield Silverdale & District Society Limited

Updated 6 May 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal

requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC's response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control

and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 13 April 2021 and was announced.

Updated 6 May 2021

Abbeyfield Silverdale & District Society Limited was inspected on the17 and 23 April 2018 and the first day of the inspection was unannounced. Abbeyfield Silverdale & District Society Limited is registered to provide personal care for up to 22 older people who require support with personal care. At the time of the inspection there were 21 people receiving support.

Abbeyfield Silverdale & District Society Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home is situated in the village of Silverdale. It is a large detached property in its own grounds in a residential area overlooking the sea. The home is set on two floors with a lift to the first floor. There are large gardens surrounding the home which are accessible to people who live at the home.

At our last inspection in April 2016 the service was rated ‘Good.’ At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The registered manager completed a series of checks and investigations to identify where improvements were required in the quality of the service provided. Staff told us they were informed of the outcomes of these. We noted some of the checks were not documented, therefore action plans were not developed. We have made a recommendation regarding improving the audit and investigation recording process.

The home was introducing an electronic care record system. We found that the system was in use and information from paper based records was being transferred to the electronic system. Care records contained information regarding risks and guidance for staff on how risks were to be managed. We found one care record required updating as information was not consistent with the person’s needs. Prior to the inspection concluding we were informed this had been done. We have made a recommendation regarding the documenting of people’s needs and wishes.

Staff we spoke with knew the needs and wishes of people who lived at the home. Staff spoke fondly of the people they supported and said they wanted to enable people to live happy lives. Staff were gentle and patient with people who lived at the home and people told us they felt respected and valued.

Relatives told us they were consulted and involved in their family members care. People we spoke with confirmed they were involved in their care planning if they wished to be and spoke highly of the level of involvement they were offered.

Staff we spoke with were able to describe the help and support people required to maintain their safety and people who lived at the home told us they felt safe.

People told us they were happy with the way their medicines were managed. We observed medicines being administered and saw this was carried out in a safe way. Access to medicines was restricted to staff who had received training to ensure medicines were administered and managed safely.

People told us they had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. Documentation we viewed showed people were supported to access further healthcare advice if this was appropriate. People and relatives told us they were happy with the care at support provided at Abbeyfield Silverdale & District Society Limited.

People told us they could raise their views on the service provided and they felt involved in the running of the home. We saw minutes of meetings where people at the home were informed of changes and were asked their opinion on the service provided.

People told us they had a choice of meals to choose from and they enjoyed the meals provided. People also told us they were offered more if they wanted this. We observed the lunchtime meal. We saw people were given the meal of their choice and were offered more if they finished their meal. Staff were available to help people if they needed support.

We found the environment was clean and we observed staff wearing protective clothing when required. This minimised the risk and spread of infection.

Staff told us they were committed to protecting people at the home from abuse and would raise any concerns with the registered manager or the Lancashire Safeguarding Authorities so people were protected.

There was a complaints procedure which was displayed in people’s rooms. People we spoke with told us they had no complaints, but they if they did these would be raised to the registered manager or staff.

Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure suitable people were employed to work at the service and staff told us they were supported to attend training to maintain and increase their skills.

People and relatives we spoke with told us they were happy with the staffing arrangements at the home. We observed staff spending time with people and the atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried. Staff we spoke with raised no concerns with the staffing arrangements at the home.

People told us there were a range of activities provided to take part in if they wished to do so. We found an activities schedule was displayed at the service and staff told us they reminded people of the activities available.

The registered manager demonstrated their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us they were enabled to make decisions and staff told us they would help people with decision making if this was required. People are supported to have maximum choice and control in their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.