We carried out a review of the data available to us about Aycliffe Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Aycliffe Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
• Systems were in place to prevent visitors from catching and spreading infections. Only essential health and compliance visits could take place at the time of the inspection. Visitors were screened for Covid-19.
• Staff had undertaken training in infection prevention and control (IPC). Staff were seen wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The home had sufficient supplies of PPE and staff were trained in its use.
• The home supported people and staff as far as possible with social distancing. Dementia friendly signs were on the wall to support people’s understanding of the pandemic. Clear signage was in place throughout the home instructing and reminding staff of their responsibilities to ensure good practice was adhered to.
• The home carefully considered and supported the wellbeing of people and staff. One to one activities with people had increased to engage people and to minimise social isolation. People were supported and encouraged to have telephone and video contact with friends and relatives. Staff were able to access a number of wellbeing resources.
• Systems were in place to admit people safely into the home. People were isolated when needed.
• People and staff were regularly taking part in the Covid-19 testing programme.
• The home had robust IPC policies and risk assessments in place. The regional manager spoke positively about the strong team spirit which staff had shown.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Aycliffe care home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal and nursing care to 49 people at the time of the inspection. Aycliffe care home accommodates up to 54 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care and support they received. However, some people felt they had to wait a long time for staff to respond. Two relatives had raised concerns with the registered manager but felt their issues were not resolved.
People’s complaints were responded to by the registered manager. Actions taken were not always recorded. However, the registered manager and provider responded immediately to the concerns raised during our inspection. They took action to investigate relatives’ concerns and record the outcomes. We have made a recommendation that all complaints, actions and outcomes are recorded.
Feedback from people and their relatives regarding staffing levels was mixed. We have made a recommendation that staffing levels need to be reviewed in line with people’s needs.
Staff were recruited safely. People and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. Staff received support and a variety of training and more was planned to meet people’s needs.
People and relatives very positive feedback from people and their relatives regarding the range of activities available to people in the home to protect them from social isolation and keep them engaged. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and have an enjoyable dining experience.
People had care plans in place and these were written in a person-centred way that included life history, likes and dislikes. Medicines were managed well, administered and recorded accurately keeping people safe. People who received ‘when required’ medicines had clear instructions in place. Individualised risk assessments were in place. Staff were confident to raise concerns appropriately to safeguard people.
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. Appropriate healthcare professionals were included in people’s care and support, as and when this was needed.
There were systems in place for communicating with staff, people and their relatives to ensure they were fully informed via meetings and communications. People had good links to the local community through regular access to local services.
People were supported to be independent were they could, their rights were respected and access to advocacy was available.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 20 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Aycliffe Care Home is based in a residential area of West Auckland, County Durham. The home provides personal care and nursing care for older people and people living with dementia. The service is situated close to the local amenities and transport links. The service is registered for up to 54 people and at the time of our inspection there were 51 people using the service.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.
We last inspected the service in March 2015 and rated the service as ‘Good.’ At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’ and met all the fundamental standards we inspected against.
The atmosphere of the service was relaxed and welcoming. People who used the service and their relatives told us they felt at home and visitors were welcome.
We spent time observing the support that took place in the service. Without exception we saw staff interacting with people attentively with caring attitudes. People were always respected by staff and treated with kindness. We saw staff communicating with people well and at times used their skills positively to reassure people who used the service.
People were encouraged to enhance their wellbeing and to take part in occasional activities that were valued. Staff spent their time positively engaging with people as a group and on a one to one basis. People were supported to go out regularly too.
People’s care plans were written in plain English and in a person centred way and they also included a one page profile that gave information that included personal history and described individuals preferences and support needs. These were regularly reviewed.
Care plans contained risk assessments. The care plans showed that people’s health was monitored and referrals were made to other health care professionals where necessary, for example: their GP, dentist or optician.
Staff training records, showed staff were supported and able to maintain and develop their skills through training and development opportunities that were accessible at the service. The staff confirmed they attended a range of valuable learning opportunities. Some training was in need of refreshing and courses were already booked for staff to attend.
Staff had supervisions and appraisals with the registered manager where they had the opportunity to discuss their care practice and identify further mandatory and vocational training needs.
Records showed us there were robust recruitment processes in place.
We observed how the service administered medicines using an online system. We looked at how this worked and how records were kept and spoke with senior staff who administered medicines and we found that the process was safe.
People were encouraged to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. They were offered a varied selection of drinks and snacks.
A complaints and compliments procedure was in place. This provided information on the action to take if someone wished to make a complaint and what they should expect to happen next. The compliments we looked at were complimentary to the care staff, management and the service as a whole.
People had their rights respected and access to advocacy services if needed.
We found an effective quality assurance survey took place regularly using questionnaires. The service had also been regularly reviewed through a range of internal and external audits for example the local authority. We saw that action had been taken to improve the service or put right any issues found.
People who used the service and their representatives were regularly asked for their views about the care and service they received.
The premises were well presented, clean and infection control measures were in place throughout.
People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
This inspection took place on 2 and 3 March 2015 and was unannounced. This meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting.
Aycliffe Care Home provides care and accommodation for up to 54 people, including older people, people with a dementia type illness and people with nursing care needs. On the days of our inspection there were 51 people using the service.
The home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.
Aycliffe Care Home was last inspected by CQC on 11 November 2013 and was compliant.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff.
Thorough investigations had been carried out in response to safeguarding incidents or allegations.
Staff consistently managed medicines in a safe way, making sure that people who used the service received their medicines as prescribed.
Staff training was up to date and staff received regular supervisions and appraisals, which meant that staff were properly supported to provide care to people who used the service.
The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service.
CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They aim to make sure that people in care homes, hospitals and supported living are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom. We discussed DoLS with the registered manager and looked at records.
We found the provider was following the requirements in the DoLS. However, not all consent records were signed and best interest decision making records were not in place for all the people who required them.
People who used the service, and family members, were complimentary about the standard of care at Aycliffe Care Home.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.
There was a lack of activities in place for people who used the service however the registered manager was in the process of recruiting a new activities coordinator.
Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they moved into Aycliffe Care Home and care plans were written in a person centred way.
The provider had a complaints policy and procedure in place and complaints were fully investigated.
The provider had a robust quality assurance system in place and gathered information about the quality of their service from a variety of sources.
We spoke with five people who used the service, the relative of one person and a friend of another. They all told us that they thought the recent refurbishment of the home had gone well. Comments included, "The place is gorgeous" and "The place is lovely now. Lovely chairs and carpets." They also told us that they were happy with the care they received. For example, "I like the staff here", "It's the next best place to home" and "I am happy here."
We found before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. Also that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.
The provider had recently refurbished the home. We found people who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises.
The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.
People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.
People told us that they were happy with the care and treatment they were receiving. One person said "The staff look after me well" and another said "My time here has been happy since day one." People said they were happy with the staff and the care that they provided. One person said "I can't fault any one of the staff, they are great." They also said the staff knew them well and how best to support them.
People that we spoke with told us they felt safe at Aycliffe Care Home.
People said they were aware of the complaints system. They also said they would be happy to raise any concerns they had with the staff and these would be listened to and acted upon. All of the residents that we spoke with said they hadn't had any reason to complain.