We carried out a review of the data available to us about Annabel House Care Centre 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 Annabel House Care Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
Annabel House Care Centre is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 30 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection there were 21 people living at the home. The service is laid out over two floors, with communal areas such as two lounges and a dining room on the ground floor.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Changes had been made to COVID-19 testing systems and audits to ensure risks to people were managed and reduced.
People were happy and felt safe at the service. 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.
The service was clean, homely and well maintained. There was a happy and friendly atmosphere.
People were supported by staff who were kind and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect. People’s healthcare needs were met. Medicines were managed and administered safely.
Staff were responsive to people’s needs and knew them well. Care plans were person centred and supported people to retain their independence. Staff were supported in their roles by an induction, supervision and regularly training.
There was an open culture where feedback was welcomed. Audits monitored the quality of the service and improvements were made as needed. The service was well-led and managed.
We made a recommendation around supporting accessible communication.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
This service was registered with us on 22/07/2019. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 23/08/2018.
The service was rated requires improvement in the domains of safe and well-led (published 12 April 2021). An overall rating was not given at the time as the service had not been inspected across all five domains, due to CQC methodology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was found to be in breach of Regulation 17 (good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Annabel House Care Centre is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 30 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection there were 17 people living at the home. The service is laid out over two floors, with communal areas such as two lounges and a dining room on the ground floor.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and staff had been placed at risk of potential harm due to ineffective and inconsistent systems in place for COVID-19 testing for staff. Published guidance in relation to procedures to follow in the event of a positive COVID-19 result had not been followed.
As a result of these inspection findings, the provider took immediate action to ensure staff COVID-19 testing followed government guidelines. By the second day of the inspection changes were made to ensure tests were carried out systematically, with results recorded and overseen. During the inspection the senior management team changed.
Governance systems were in place. However, some management audits had not been completed in the latter part of 2020 as scheduled. There was a lack of provider audits which would support the overall oversight of the service. The provider said this would be addressed.
We received positive feedback about staffing levels at the service. New staff were recruited safely. Medicines were administered and managed well. There were regular checks on the environment and equipment.
People were happy and enjoyed living at Annabel House Care Centre. There was a friendly and calm atmosphere. Staff were valued by the provider and worked well as a team. The home was clean and well maintained.
We observed positive interactions during the inspection. Staff knew people well and had developed good rapports.
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 22/07/2019. An infection prevention control assurance inspection was conducted in January 2021, published 26/01/21.
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 23/08/2018.
This service has no overall rating, as it has not yet been inspected across all five domains.
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection to follow up on specific concerns we had received. The concerns referenced the service failing to follow government guidance relating to COVID-19 testing and isolation. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We inspected and found these concerns were substantiated. There were risks with the overall COVID-19 testing system for staff, so we widened the scope of the inspection to become a focused inspection which included the key questions of safe and well-led.
We found immediate improvements were needed in relation to effective systems in testing staff for COVID-19. We sent a letter requiring the provider to take prompt action to address these concerns. The provider sent us evidence of the measures they had implemented straight away.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.
We have identified a breach in relation to Regulation 17 (good governance) at this inspection.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Annabel House Care Centre is a care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 30 people. The service had 20 people living at the service at time of the inspection. The service is laid out over two floors, with communal areas on the ground floor.
We found the following examples of good practice.
The provider had an outbreak of Coronavirus within the home. The impact of the outbreak on staffing was being managed. There were currently no visitors to the service due to the national lockdown and COVID-19 outbreak, except in exceptional circumstances.
Procedures were in place for staff on entry to the service to minimise the risks of transmission.
Staff had received training in infection control, including how to use personal protective equipment (PPE). Staff we spoke with were clear on the procedures and systems in place.
Donning and doffing (this is where staff put on and take off their PPE) stations were in place. Clinical bags were used for PPE. However, these were not always in a clinical pedal bin. This was highlighted to the provider to address.
At the time of our inspection, the provider was not admitting people to the service because of the outbreak. Procedures were in place to ensure safe admission.
The registered manager had ensured regular testing was carried out for people and staff.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.