Archived: Abbeyvale Care Centre

Updated 2 March 2016

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, 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 26 January 2016 and was unannounced. This meant the staff and the registered provider did not know we would be visiting. The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector, a specialist adviser in nursing and an expert by experience. The expert by experience had personal knowledge of caring for someone who used this type of care service.

Before we visited the home we checked the information we held about this location and the service provider, for example we looked at the inspection history, safeguarding notifications and complaints. We also contacted professionals involved in caring for people who used the service, including commissioners, safeguarding and infection control staff. No concerns were raised by any of these professionals.

During our inspection we spoke with six people who used the service and three relatives. We also spoke with the deputy manager, operations manager, five care staff, the maintenance worker and a kitchen assistant.

We looked at the personal care or treatment records of four people who used the service and observed how people were being cared for. We also looked at the personnel files for four members of staff.

We reviewed staff training and recruitment records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service such as audits and policies.

We spoke with the deputy manager and the operations manager about what was good about their service and any improvements they intended to make.

Updated 2 March 2016

This inspection took place on 26 January 2016 and was unannounced. This meant the staff and the provider did not know we would be visiting. The home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with 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 registered manager was not present during our visit however the deputy manager was present and was acting as manager at the time of the inspection.

Abbeyvale Care Centre was last inspected by CQC on 11 March 2014 and was compliant with the regulations in force at the time.

Abbeyvale Care Centre is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 56 people. The home is located in Blackhall near Hartlepool and is owned and run by Executive Health Care Limited. Accommodation is provided across two levels within four units. There are two general residential units, Brockwell and Granary, a unit for people with dementia-type illnesses, Beechwood and Cavendish, a unit with fourteen apartments for people who have acquired brain injuries. On the day of our inspection there were 41 people using the service. The home comprised of 42 bedrooms, all of which were en-suite and 14 apartments. Facilities included several lounges, dining rooms and kitchenettes, a hair salon and an enclosed garden area.

People who used the service and their relatives were complimentary about the standard of care at Abbeyvale Care Centre. We saw staff supported and helped to maintain people’s independence. People were encouraged to care for themselves where possible. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

The registered provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people using the service.

Training records were up to date and staff had regular supervision meetings and appraisals, which meant that staff were properly supported to provide care to people who used the service.

The layout of the building provided adequate space for people with walking aids or wheelchairs to mobilise safely around the home and most areas of the home were suitably designed for people with dementia type conditions.

The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and any conditions on authorisations to deprive a person of their liberty were being met.

We saw mental capacity assessments had been completed for people and best interest decisions made for their care and treatment. Care records contained evidence of consent.

People were protected against the risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medicines.

People had access to food and drink throughout the day and we saw staff supported people to eat at meal times when required.

People who used the service had access to a range of activities in the home.

All the care records we looked at showed people’s needs were assessed. Care plans and risk assessments were in place when required and daily records were up to date. Care plans were written in a person centred way and were reviewed regularly.

We saw staff used a range of assessment tools and kept clear records about how care was to be delivered and people who used the service had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support.

The registered provider had a complaints policy and procedure in place and complaints were fully investigated.

The registered provider had a quality assurance system in place and gathered information about the quality of their service from a variety of sources.