Abbotsbury

Updated 27 September 2022

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Abbotsbury 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. Abbotsbury 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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 since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with 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 six members of staff, including the registered manager, the general manager, the director of care quality and governance, the chef, a senior carer and a carer.

We looked at records in relation to people who used the service including four care plans and systems for monitoring the quality of the service provided and policies and procedures. We also spoke with 9 people who used the service and two relatives to help us understand their experience of the care and support their loved one received.

After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at staff training and quality assurance records. We also spoke with two relatives and two care staff on the telephone.

Updated 27 September 2022

About the service

Abbotsbury is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 21 people. The service provides support to older people including those living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service.

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

People living at Abbotsbury benefited from a service that was committed to providing safe and high-quality care and support.

Although we were assured people received their medicines as prescribed, we have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.

Risks to people were identified and managed by staff to lessen the risk of harm to people. People were supported by staff to manage risks and retain their independence as far as possible. People told us they felt Abbotsbury was a safe place in which to live.

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 and their relatives told us staff were kind, compassionate and treated them with dignity and respect. People were supported by staff who were familiar to them and knew their care and support needs well.

The service was committed to driving positive outcomes for people, and supported people to maintain links with their families and the local community and to pursue interests that were meaningful to them. There were plans to introduce an activity co-ordinator whose sole role would be to facilitate activities for people.

The service adopted an open culture which was committed to delivering high-quality person-centred care to people. This was underpinned by good governance and a shared staff culture of working to achieve the best outcomes for people. Both staff and the registered manager told us how people were treated as if they were a member of the family.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 20 August 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 14 August 2018.

Why we inspected

As the service has been registered with CQC for over one year, we carried out this comprehensive inspection to award a rating for the 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.