Archived: Avonbloom Retirement Home

Updated 30 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 21 April 2021 and was announced.

Updated 30 April 2021

This inspection visit took place on 09 January 2018 and was unannounced.

Avonbloom retirement home is a care home for up to fifteen older people situated in the south of Blackpool close to Blackpool airport. There are 14 single bedrooms and one double bedroom. The building has two floors with stair and lift access to the first floor. There are two communal lounges and a dining area. Car parking is available at the front of the home on a small forecourt. There are secure accessible gardens at the rear for the use of residents. At the time of the inspection visit there were 11 people who lived at the home.

The registered provider is an individual who has been assessed by CQC as fit to manage the day-to-day running of the service. 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 registered provider had owned and managed Avonbloom for many years.

At the last inspection, the service was rated overall as Good. The safe domain required improvement in relation to infection control. At this inspection we found infection control had improved and good infection control practices were in place. All domains were good and the service remained overall good on this inspection.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe at Avonbloom. There were procedures in place to minimise the risk of unsafe care or abuse. Staff knew the actions they needed to take and had received training on safeguarding vulnerable people.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been reviewed and monitored and were relevant to the care provided.

People told us there were enough staff on duty and they didn’t have to wait long for assistance. There was a stable staff team who had all worked at Avonbloom for a number of years.

Staff were appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care needs.

Medicines were managed safely. People received their medicines as prescribed and when needed and staff were trained and competent to administer them.

We looked around the building and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required. The design of the building and facilities provided were appropriate for the care and support provided.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff involved people in planning their care and sought their consent to provide this.

Staff supported people and met their nutrition and hydration needs. People told us they had frequent drinks and snacks and enjoyed their meals. One person told us, “We get plenty here and you can always ask for more if you want it. Another person said, “The food is good we get choices.”

Staff were knowledgeable about the needs of the people they supported and treated them with respect. People told us staff treated them as individuals and respected their diverse needs.

We saw staff interacted frequently with people and engaged them in activities. People told us staff often sat with them just to chat which they said they thoroughly enjoyed. A relative said, “The staff are wonderful. It’s like a home from home.”

People knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint and told us they were encouraged to raise any concerns. People told us they were happy with care and support they received and had no complaints.

People who lived at the home and relatives told us the home was well led. The registered provider monitored the home, sought people’s views and were receptive to feedback.

Further information is in the detailed findings below