9 and 10 November 2015
During a routine inspection
This was an unannounced inspection which took place over two days on 9 and 10 November 2015. The service was last inspected in February 2014 and was compliant with the regulations in force at that time.
Abbeymoor Neurodisability Centre provides cares for up to forty people with complex neurological conditions. There are a number of people living there who have Huntingdon’s disease. It provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, diagnostic and screening procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury. There were 38 people living at the home at the time of inspection.
There was a registered manager who had been in post five years. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
People told us they felt safe living at the service and that staff knew how to act to keep them safe from harm. The building had some areas which were in need of repair and these were resolved during our inspection or actions agreed.
There were enough staff to meet people’s often complex needs and the staff were trained, supervised and supported to meet their needs. Staff we spoke with felt supported by the registered manager and senior staff team.
Medicines were mostly managed well by the staff and people received the help they needed to take them safely. Some records of the medicine storage areas needed to be improved. Where people’s needs changed the staff sought medical advice and encouraged people to maintain their well-being and independence.
People were supported by staff who knew their needs well and how best to support them. They were aware of individual’s choices and preferences and knew how to support those people who no longer had the capacity to make decisions for themselves. Families felt the service was effective and offered them reassurance that their relatives were being cared for.
People were supported to maintain a suitable food and fluid intake. Staff responded flexibly to ensure that people maintained their physical well-being and worked with people as individuals. Where decisions had to be made about people’s care, families and external professionals were involved and consulted as part of the process.
Staff were caring and valued the people they worked with. Staff showed kindness and empathy in dealing with people’s needs. Families felt their relatives were cared for by a staff team who valued them and would keep them safe.
People’s privacy and dignity were carefully considered by the staff team, who ensured that their choices and previous wishes and lifestyles were respected. The service was willing to challenge where they felt a person’s best interests were being overlooked or ignored by others.
People who were receiving end of life care had their needs appropriately assessed and met by effective multi-agency collaboration, co-ordinated by the service. Professional advice was sought where needed to promote advanced care planning if required.
The service responded to people’s needs as they changed over time, sometimes responding to emergencies. The service supported people to access appropriate support so the staff could keep them safe and well.
The registered manager led by example, supporting staff to consider the best ways to meet people’s needs and develop the service. The registered manager regularly consulted people, families and staff and looked for ways to improve the service through audits and regular reviews of care delivery.