Alexandra Nursing Home - Poulton-le-Fylde

Updated 13 June 2025

Date of Assessment: 01 and 02 July 2025. Alexandra Nursing Home - Poulton-le-Fylde is a service that can support up to 117 older people, people living with dementia and or a physical disability. At the time of the assessment 100 people were living at the service.

We undertook this assessment following information of concern received about staffing levels, training, the management of people’s health needs, and the cleanliness of the home.

We assessed all quality statements from the key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

At this assessment we found three breaches of the legal regulations in relation to staffing levels, safe care and treatment and governance. Staffing levels were not consistently adequate to ensure people’s safety and meet their needs. Medicines were not consistently managed safely. People did not always have correct information in their care plans to guide safe practice. Governance systems and audits were not always effective in identifying or addressing areas for improvement.

Alexandra Nursing Home was separated into 4 different areas. These were known as communities, with each community having a community manager. People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated people as individuals and supported their preferences. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities to raise concerns with the safeguarding authorities if they felt people were at risk of harm or abuse. Information on safeguarding was available to people and those who were important to them, so they could raise concerns externally if they wished to do so.

People had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and to support smooth transitions when moving between services. They monitored people’s health to support healthy living. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved appropriate specialists to help make important decisions that were in people’s best interests.

In instances where CQC have decided to take civil enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.

Updated 13 June 2025

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. On day 1, on 1 community, observations showed a tranquil atmosphere and staff had the opportunity to spend time with people. On day 2, on the same community, staffing levels were lower. Staff interactions were task focussed and duties such as supporting people with meals or personal care were delayed.

In other communities, people told us staff had the skills and knowledge to support them effectively. One person commented, “I don’t see how they can do more. They are very good.”

People told us they felt safe and were involved in planning their care and treatment. One person told us, “I do feel safe, it is very secure here.” We asked if there were enough members of staff to provide support safely. Comments included, “From what I have seen there is plenty of staff.” And, “I think so, I have never had a problem.”

Several people described how staff treated them kindly and with respect. One said, “They are nice people, always asking if they can do things for you.” A second person commented, “They [staff] are all kind and caring, no problem at all.”

People told us it was a nice place to live and well managed. “ One person said, “I think it is well managed. I have found it good from day one.” A second person told us, “I couldn’t ask for anything nicer. It is a nice place in a nice area, and it is kept very clean. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The service provided a variety of activities to keep people mentally active. People were very complimentary about the food. One person said, “No problem at all with the food. The meals are on time and if you don’t want anything they will sort something else out for you.”