Abbey House - Evesham

Updated 3 December 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Abbey House - Evesham is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time with people to see how they were cared for. We spoke with three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, [Senior Support Worker], four care workers and a member of the domestic staff. In addition, we spoke with a visiting physiotherapist.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We saw records relating to the management of the home. These included minutes of meetings with staff and checks undertaken by the manager and provider on the management of the home and safety and quality of care. We also saw systems used to manage complaints and concerns and any accidents and incidents which may occur.

Updated 3 December 2019

About the service

Abbey House – Evesham is a residential care home providing personal care to up to six people who live with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were six people living at the home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. The size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People showed us they liked the staff supporting them and had developed close bonds with staff caring for them. Relatives told us staff were exceptionally considerate and extended their caring approach to people’s relatives, too. Staff used their knowledge of people’s unique needs and preferences to ensure they were included in day to day decisions about their care. Staff treated people respectfully and assisted them to maintain as much independence as possible.

Staff understood people’s safety needs and assisted them to reduce risks to their safety. People were supported by staff who understood what action to take if they had any concerns for people’s well-being. Systems were in place to reduce the chance of infections and to ensure people had the medicines they needed to remain well, both at Abbey House – Evesham, and when people chose to spend time in the community.

People’s needs were assessed and reviewed as their needs changed. Staff were supported to provide good care to people through opportunities to develop their skills further. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink, based on their preferences. Staff supported people to attend appointments with other health and social care professionals, so they would enjoy the best health possible. 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’s preferences and needs were focused on when their care was planned. Relatives’ views were an integral part of care planning arrangements. The views and advice from other health and social care professionals was considered when people’s risk assessments and care plans were developed. This helped to ensure people would enjoy a good quality of life. Systems were in place for managing any complaints, concerns or suggestions and to take learning from these. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain enjoy new experiences and maintain their independence.

Staff had received compliments for the way they sensitively supported people at the end of their lives. The registered manager planned further development of people's care plans, to identify their wishes in the event of their sudden death, so people's preferences would be known.

Relatives were complimentary about the way care was organised and the home was led. Staff felt supported to provide good care, which was informed by best practice standards. The registered manager was supported by the provider to check the quality of the care provided and to drive through improvements to benefit people living at the home. This included continuing to develop ways of successfully working with other organisations.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 21 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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