Archived: Abbeyfield House - Alnwick

Updated 9 February 2024

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

The inspection was carried out by 1 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

Abbeyfield House 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. Abbeyfield House is a care home without 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We contacted the local authority commissioning team for their feedback about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who lived at Abbeyfield House and 6 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed interactions between staff and people in communal areas. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior carers and care staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care records and 8 people’s medication records. We looked at 3 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.

Updated 9 February 2024

About the service

Abbeyfield House – Alnwick is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 25 people, some of whom are living with a dementia related condition. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people living at the home.

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

Medicines were not always managed safely. Records for ‘as and when required’ medicines were not always in place. Other aspects of medicines were managed safely. Improvements had been made in the management of topical medicines.

People and their relatives were subject to restrictions on visiting which is contrary to current government guidance. There was no consultation with people about visiting restrictions.

Quality assurance checks were taking place, lessons had been learnt in a number of areas. However, checks had failed to identify issues relating to medicine records.

There had been a history of non-compliance with the regulations. The provider had been in breach of the regulations at 7 of their 8 inspections since 2015.

People were safe from the risk of abuse. Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed when people's needs changed. The building was well maintained, and health and safety risks were assessed.

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.

There was a positive and happy culture. People felt they received good quality care.

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 22 July 22). 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 some improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations in relation to topical medicines, duty of candour and risk assessments. However, at this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that safeguarding procedures were reviewed. At this inspection we found that improvements were still required.

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.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Abbeyfield House - Alnwick on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to visiting restrictions and medicines record management.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

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.