Albion House

Updated 28 April 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We visited the service on 27 February 2018 to see the manager, office staff and to review care records, policies and procedures. The inspection was not announced. After the site visit was complete we then made calls to care workers who were not present at the site visit.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service which included notifications that the provider is required to send to the CQC as well as the previous inspection report. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We spoke with four people using the service. We spoke with two care workers after our visit over the telephone. We spoke with the registered manager and another senior member of staff during our visit. We looked at a sample of seven people’s care records, two staff records and records related to the management of the service.

Updated 28 April 2018

We conducted an inspection of Albion House on 27 February 2018. We previously inspected the service on 19 January 2016 and found the service was meeting the regulations inspected. The service was rated good.

Albion House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides care for up to 24 people. There were 18 people using the service when we visited.

The service had a registered manager, which is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Risk assessments and care plans contained information about risks to people’s care and contained clear risk management guidelines for care staff to follow.

Staff followed safe practices for administering, storing and recording medicines given to people.

People told us care staff were kind and treated them with respect. Care staff were aware of people’s personal histories and had a good understanding of people’s personal preferences in relation to how they wanted their care delivered.

Care workers supported people to develop their independent living skills and encouraged them to maintain their personal and family relationships in accordance with their wishes.

People were supported to access activities they enjoyed. Care records included information about activities people attended and whether they enjoyed these.

People were supported with their nutritional needs. The service had a chef who prepared nutritious meals in accordance with people’s preferences and where people had specialist dietary needs, this was accommodated.

People received support with their healthcare needs. Care records included up to date information about people’s health conditions as well as the details of any treatment they were receiving. Care workers had a good level of knowledge about people’s requirements in relation to their health.

Care staff had received training in safeguarding adults from abuse and were aware of their responsibilities. People told us they felt safe using the service and there was an appropriate policy and procedure in place.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People’s capacity was assessed where necessary and care staff were aware of their responsibility to ensure care was delivered in accordance with people’s valid consent.

People told us they were involved in decisions about their care and how their needs were met.

The provider practiced safer recruitment procedures. Appropriate background checks were undertaken of prospective staff before they worked at the service.

The provider had an appropriate complaints procedure and process in place.

Care staff had the appropriate skills to deliver care as they had received an effective induction, ongoing training and management support through supervisions and appraisals. Care was delivered in line with current legislation and standards. There were appropriate policies and procedures in place which were appropriately communicated to care staff.

Quality assurance processes were thorough. The registered manager completed a variety of audits and ensured learning was undertaken from these.