Background to this inspection
Updated
16 December 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
This inspection took place on 22 November 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We received the completed document prior to our visit and reviewed the content to help focus our planning and determine what areas we needed to look at during our inspection. We also reviewed other information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us.
During the inspection we spoke with one person who lived at the home, two staff and the registered manager. We also reviewed the last contract monitoring report carried out by the local authority.
We reviewed care records relating to two people who used the service and other documents central to people’s health and well-being. These included staff training records, medication records and quality audits. We also reviewed three staff employment files.
Updated
16 December 2017
Abbey Lodge Unit 1 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. They are registered to provide accommodation for up to three people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service.
At the last inspection on 22 September 2015 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
The provider owned another care home in the near vicinity of Abbey Lodge Unit 1 and people spent their time there when they were at home and not out and about. People told us that they liked to socialise with other people from the sister home because they knew each other well. Staff worked across both homes and were familiar with people`s needs. People told us that the care and support they received met their needs and they felt safe.
People told us they knew how to keep safe from risks when they were in the home and out and about in the community. Staff received appropriate training and had on-going support from managers to understand and carry out their roles effectively.
People had care plans in place with comprehensive guidance and risk assessments for staff to understand how to deliver care and support to people in a safe and effective way.
Medicines were managed safely by staff who were trained and followed best practice guidance when administering people`s medicines.
People were protected from the risk of infections by staff who ensured the environment people lived in was clean and infection control measures were followed.
There were enough staff to meet people`s needs. Recruitment processes were safe and ensured that staff employed were suitable to work in this type service.
People were involved in planning and reviewing the support they needed and wanted. They signed their own care plans and consented to the care and support they received.
People were able to plan their days as they wished and were supported and encouraged by staff to pursue their hobbies and interest.
People were involved in daily living tasks and were helped by staff to learn and develop new skills like cooking, cleaning and shopping for their own necessities.
People were asked for their feedback about the service they received in regular meetings and surveys so they could contribute to the running of the home.
People and staff told us they were happy with how the home was managed and they felt managers were approachable and listened to them.
The registered manager and the provider carried out regular audits to ensure they were able to check on the quality of the service people received.