The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Aspreys Torquay

1 Kents Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2NL (01803) 201500

Provided and run by:
Friendly Care Homes Limited

All Inspections

30 May 2013

During a routine inspection

People we met who were living at Aspreys were in some instances there for short periods of respite, rehabilitation or long term care. We saw that Aspreys were supporting people well. In particular staff had received training and could evidence good practice in supporting people at the end of their life.

One person we spoke with told us "this feels like my home now, and the girls who work here are like my family. I'm quite content they look after me very well." A visitor told us "(my relative) moved in and we were told we could come when we liked, and stay as long as we liked. That is a great comfort to both of us, to know that I can come whenever I want to. We have a laugh, but I wouldn't be worried about telling them that something was wrong." Another person told they had chosen the home for their relative because of the welcome they received, the quality of the adjustable beds, the spaciousness of the accommodation available and the home cooked food.

We saw that people's medication was being managed safely.

We saw that there were staff on duty in sufficient numbers and skills to support people. Staff we spoke with felt supported and told us they had received training to help them do their job. Clinical supervision of the registered nurses was overdue.

The home did not have a registered manager in post which is a condition of their registration. This is a long standing issue. We were told the home was still recruiting for the correct person for the post.

7, 12 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with 6 people receiving care at the home. People told us ' I only have to press the button and help is there', 'Everybody looks after me because they are all my family', and Staff are 'Very nice. Lovely' and they 'answer the bell and do their best to satisfy your needs'.

We observed people being given care over a lunchtime period, and saw people being supported to eat by the staff. This was done at a relaxed pace, and the staff talked to them about the food they were eating. We saw one meal had been pureed and this was presented well.

We saw people were given choices in relation to their meals. One person was offered lamb casserole. When they did not want this they were offered a choice of quiche or fish, which was freshly prepared for them. One person asked for bread to mop up their gravy as it was very tasty. They were offered a choice of brown or white bread which was brought to them.

Each person had a clear and updated care plan, indicating their needs and how they were to be met. Some decisions being made in the best interests of people lacking capacity to make that decision were not being recorded fully.

People told us the home was short of staff. We found that staff were very busy, as people's needs were very high. We observed staff in their interactions around the home, including answering the call bells and in their dealings with individuals in their rooms. They were at all times respectful, caring and patient. Staff were being well trained.

23 August 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On this visit we took with us an Expert by Experience. Experts are members of the public who through reason of their personal experience have an interest in or knowledge of care services.

On this visit the expert by experience spent two hours talking to the people at the home to gain their views about the service. She also looked around the accommodation and spent time talking to staff and the provider.

People we spoke to told us 'I feel comfortable here, they look after me very well and I can't complain about any of the staff or nurses'.

One resident in the lounge described the staff as being 'very efficient and friendly' and others present gave their agreement. The staff are apparently very visible as residents 'see them often throughout the day' and they encourage residents to 'have a laugh with them' even as they get on with the work.

A common description of the staff by those residents spoken to was that they were 'friendly and helpful', while one resident added that 'they are very good at explaining things to me when my tablets change'. The residents I spoke to were all aware of which nurse was on duty, and showed confidence in her abilities and when asked what they would do if they had a problem one gentleman answered 'oh just tell ***** [the nurse] about it, and she'll sort it out for me'.

The hairdresser that attends the home weekly was present at the time of the visit and told me that she had always found the staff 'very friendly and very helpful, the place is well run'.

One resident said that 'we're very fortunate with staff here, I'm happy with things as they are', while another said that 'they do their best and I like it here'.

The one negative comment received from one resident was that there was 'no change, no one takes you out or does anything interesting'. However, another resident pointed out that 'it's not practical to take us all out, there are too many of us that need wheelchairs and they'd need to get a special bus to do so'.

3, 7 March 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke to over half the people at the home on the first day we visited. Some other people were not able to hold conversations with us so we spent time observing their care and the interactions they had with staff. People who could converse with us told us:

'The staff have got to know the way I like things done. They all look after me wonderfully well" and 'We have two very good cooks here'

They also told us that sometimes it felt like the home was short of staff. People said 'They are often in a rush, but it isn't their fault. They need more staff' and another person said 'I don't bother the staff much as they are very busy with the people who need it.' But other people told us their needs were met in a timely fashion 'I only have to ring my bell and they come'.

We were told staff were kind to the people living at the home. One person told us 'They all look after me very well' and another 'They are very helpful', but another said that 'Some are better then others'. In general people seemed to agree that "the girls are nice, very caring" and "it is a pleasant place to be at the moment"

Most of the people we spoke to who were able to express an opinion told us that they knew how they would raise any concerns they had, although none could identify that they had seen the home's complaints procedure. One person said they did not know but would speak to their relative who dealt with their affairs. One other person told us that they didn't think things would change if they said anything.