Abbeyfield House - York

Updated 1 November 2019

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.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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 announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information available to us about this service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider sent us a provider information return prior to the inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does 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 the registered manager, the service manager, two support workers and a trustee was there to greet us at the start of the inspection. We spoke with five people during the inspection. We looked at two people’s care records in full. We also looked people’s medication administration records and a selection of documentation about the management and running of the service. We looked at recruitment information for two members of staff, staff training records, policies and procedures and records of complaints.

After the inspection

We reviewed training information further and contacted two visiting healthcare professionals, for feedback. Neither provided feedback.

Updated 1 November 2019

About the service

Abbeyfield House – York is based within an extra care complex made up of 21 ensuite studio flats. The service was registered to support older people. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection, nine people were in receipt of regulated care.

People’s experience of using this service

We received positive views from people about the support provided. Care and support was tailored to each person's needs and preferences. People were supported to remain independent and access to local activities with the community was promoted and supported.

People and their relatives were fully involved in developing and updating their planned care. Staff knew people’s likes and dislikes well and people felt happy with the support they received.

People were supported with their communication needs and staff demonstrated effective skills in communication. Recruitment checks were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Staff had received training and support to enable them to carry out their role.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received their medicines on time and their health was well managed. Some changes to medicines paperwork were being made. Staff had positive links with health care professionals which promoted people’s wellbeing.

Relatives and staff told us the registered manager was approachable. All feedback was used to make continuous improvements to the service. The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff demonstrated an awareness of safety and how to minimise risks.

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 good (published 21 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.