Background to this inspection
Updated
24 June 2021
The inspection
This was a targeted inspection to check whether the provider had met the requirements of the warning notice in relation to Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 on a specific concern we had about the prevention and control of infections, and administration of medicines.
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
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
Aberdeen House 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 registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven members of staff including the provider, registered manager, assistant manager, senior care workers, care workers and the housekeeper.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s medication records, staff and people temperature checks and cleaning records. We reviewed the provider's arrangements for infection prevention and control. We also observed staff providing care and support in communal areas.
Updated
24 June 2021
About the service
Aberdeen House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 12 people aged over 65 at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 18 people.
Aberdeen House accommodates people in one building. People have access to a communal lounge, conservatory and garden space. There is not a separate dining room, but people are able to use tables in a visitor’s room or the conservatory if they wish to.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff were not always following government guidance and the service’s procedures and policies around safely using personal protective equipment (PPE) upon entering and exiting the building. The service failed to ensure cleaning schedules of shared moving and handling equipment, and high touch point areas were in place and cleaned regularly. This meant there was a risk people and staff could be exposed to and transmit COVID-19.
People did not always receive their prescribed medicines safely and processes around the safe storage and administration of medicines were not always followed.
People’s care needs and risks were assessed, but staff did not always follow care plans to keep people safe.
Relatives told us they felt their family members were safe and cared for. However, while quality assurance audits and governance measures were in place, they were not sufficiently robust at identifying safety concerns that needed to be addressed. This meant opportunities to improve the service and the quality of care people received were sometimes missed.
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 June 2019) and the provider was in breach of regulation 18: Staffing and regulation 17: Good Governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Following the last inspection, the provider was asked to complete an action plan to CQC telling us what they would do and by when to improve. However, they did not submit an action plan to CQC.
At this inspection we found the provider was no longer in breach of regulation 18 but still in breach of regulation 17 as not enough improvement has been made.
We found at this inspection the provider was in breach of regulation 12: Safe care and treatment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and regulation 15: Premises and equipment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Why we inspected
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 the coronavirus pandemic and other infection outbreaks effectively.
We had received concerns in relation to staff not using PPE safely in line with government guidance. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for 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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.