Albany Park Nursing Home

Updated 5 October 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

This inspection was carried out by 4 inspectors, 1 nurse specialist advisor and four Experts 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. Two Experts by Experience attended the home to gain feedback from people and two further Experts by Experience contacted people’s relatives by phone to gain their feedback.

Service and service type

Albany Park Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Albany Park Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 21 June 2023 and ended on 13 July 2023. We visited the home on 21 and 22 June 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and formal notifications that the service had sent to the CQC. Notifications are information that registered persons are required to tell us about by law that may affect people’s health and wellbeing. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the manager (who was also the clinical lead) and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with 14 people living at the home and used observations to understand people’s experience of their care. We also spoke with the activities coordinator, 1 nurse, 5 care staff, 1 domestic staff member and 16 relatives. We looked at 8 care records and risk assessments, 13 people’s medicine records, 5 staff files including supervision and recruitment records, and other paperwork related to the management of the service including staff training, quality assurance and rota systems.

Updated 5 October 2023

About the service

Albany Park Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to people aged 65 and over, some of whom were living with dementia. Albany Park Nursing Home accommodates up to 47 people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection there were 45 people living at the home.

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

Premises were not maintained to a standard which promoted a good atmosphere. We found significant issues around identifying and acting on maintenance issues. Auditing processes failed to identify the concerns found at the inspection.

We had received concerns around restrictions on visiting and relatives needing to call and make a 1-hour appointment slot. The manager assured us this had happened in the past and was no longer in place.

We have made a recommendation around visiting procedures.

People had clear risk assessments which provided staff with information on how to minimise risks. Staff knew how to effectively work with people to keep them safe. People received their medicines safely and on time. There were clear systems in place to manage medicines. Staff received training and competency check around administration of medicines. There were enough staff on duty to ensure people’s care and support needs were met. People told us they felt safe at Albany Park Nursing Home. Staff had received training in safeguarding and understood how to report any concerns.

Staff were well trained, and we saw records of regular staff training. People were fully involved in choosing what they wanted to eat. People were complimentary of the chef and the quality of food that was provided. People were supported to maintain their health and well-being through routine and specialist healthcare appointments. 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 told us they felt safe and staff were kind and friendly and treated them well. People were encouraged to be part of planning their care. People were treated with dignity and respect. Cultural and religious beliefs were supported. Staff encouraged people’s independence and helped them do things for themselves around daily activities.

There was an activities coordinator in post, and we saw numerous activities on offer. People were fully involved in planning activities during weekly meetings. People had detailed and person-centred care plans which clearly documented people’s care and support needs.

People had good outcomes of their care based on the person-centred care people received. People and relatives’ feedback was valued and used to improve the service. Staff were positive about working at the home and felt supported. Staff worked in partnership with other healthcare agencies to improve and maintain people’s quality of life.

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 July 2021). The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.

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 around person centred care, providing activities and adequate staffing levels.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider follow the guidance, at the time around proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Staff had not been wearing face masks properly which placed people at risk of infection. At this inspection there was no government guidance around the use of PPE as this had been lifted. Staff had access to face masks and wore them when appropriate.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to good governance of the home and maintaining the premises and equipment.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.