Abbotsford Care Home - Manchester

Updated 7 January 2022

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 two inspectors, an Expert by Experience and an interpreter. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The interpreter was fluent in Cantonese and could speak to people living in the home whose first language was Cantonese. They were also able to translate these conversations to the Expert by Experience.

Service and service type

Abbotsford Nursing 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; they were not yet registered with the Care Quality Commission at the time of the inspection but had submitted an application. This means that the provider is 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 a short period of notice of the inspection because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We did not ask the provider to send 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the manager, administration manager, a senior carer, two care workers, an interpreter, the activity co-ordinator, chef, maintenance staff and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We observed staff interacting with people throughout the inspection and reviewed a range of records. This included a range of electronic care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance systems, maintenance records and policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at vaccination records, lessons learned, policies and procedures and audit records. We contacted members of the care team who work nights within the service for feedback.

Updated 7 January 2022

About the service

Abbotsford Care Home - Manchester is a residential care home. At the time of this inspection the home was registered to provide personal and nursing care nursing care. In May 2021 the provider had made the decision to provide residential care only and nurses were no longer employed by the service.

People receiving care and support at the time of this inspection did not require nursing care and all personal care needs were met by the service and other external health professionals. The service was providing personal care to 30 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 40 people.

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

Medicines were now being managed safely. Systems were in place to protect people from abuse. Practices and processes had improved. Risks to people's health, safety and well-being associated with their care needs were assessed and management plans were in place to ensure risks were reduced wherever possible. Premises checks and all maintenance records were up to date. Required test and safety certificates were in place.

People had their care and support needs met by sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff. The care environment was clean, and a programme of redecoration was in progress. Infection control procedures were in place and staff used PPE effectively. Cleaning regimes were in place to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

People were complimentary about the food on offer. Communal areas were comfortable, although we judged that the dining room décor could be improved to maximise a positive dining experience for people. There was signage and equipment to help support and orientate people living at Abbotsford, including signage for people whose first language was Cantonese.

Electronic care plans guided staff as to people’s care needs and preferences. The service was progressing with making care plans more person-centred. Electronic care plans and risk assessments provided staff with relevant information so that appropriate care could be provided for people. The service had good working relationships with local GP practices and healthcare professionals. The service worked in partnership with people, their families and staff. We received positive feedback from people and staff about the service.

People were complimentary of the care they received. People and their relatives had appreciated the efforts of the home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was keen to re-establish partnerships with professionals following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The service had good governance arrangements in place and completed regular internal quality checks at manager and provider level. Systems and processes for audit and quality assurance were in place. Findings from audits carried out by the nominated individual were reviewed by management and used to improve practice within the service.

We discussed the registration status of the home and the nominated individual addressed this during the inspection.

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.

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 (published 29 November 2019). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 22, 23 and 29 October 2019. Five breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment, premises and equipment, fit and persons employed and good governance.

We undertook this comprehensive inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Abbotsford Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.