Abbey Court Nursing and Residential Home

Updated 22 December 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 and an Expert 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

Abbey Court Nursing and Residential Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager who had applied to register with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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 care commissioners 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 four people who used the service and nine relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, nurse, care workers and the cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication 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.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested further documents to support our evidence.

Updated 22 December 2021

About the service

Abbey Court Nursing and Residential Home is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care for up to 40 people. There were 27 people living at the home at the time of our inspection. The service provides support to older people with a range of support needs including complex health conditions and dementia.

The service is a large adapted property. Accommodation is split across three floors and there are communal living rooms and a dining room.

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

People were protected from the spread of infection, the service was clean and staff wore personal protective equipment which they changed regularly.

Risk assessments were regularly reviewed with people’s changing needs and care plans had relevant and up to date information. Care planning was being reviewed and updated to make it more relevant and user friendly.

Staffing levels were calculated using a dependency assessment. This calculated staffing hours required, and the manager ensured that they were staffed to people’s needs.

Staff were recruited safely. Appropriate checks were made prior to staff starting in post to ensure that they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

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.

People’s health and social care needs were managed well. There were positive relationships with professionals which supported people’s overall wellbeing. Medicine was administered safely and there were clear protocols in place for medicine which was taken when required.

People had enough to eat and drink. People were offered choices and the manager was planning further ways to involve people more.

Relatives told us that the staff and the management were kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect. People had consented to the care provided and information was available in accessible formats.

The manager and deputy were keen to drive continuous improvements and were working on developing systems to have better management oversight.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (Report published 20 August 2020).

Why we inspected

At our last inspection the service was rated as requires improvement so the inspection took place to ensure that improvements had been made.

Enforcement

The service was in breach of regulations in several areas at the time of our last inspection. At this inspection we found enough improvement had been made and the service was no longer in breach.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.