Abney Court

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Abney Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Abney Court is a care home which no longer provides nursing care and will be deregistering from this regulated activity. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager.

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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. This included any information of concern and notifications the service is required to submit regarding any significant events happening at the service. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 14 February 2023 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements.

During the inspection

We reviewed staffing levels and walked around the building to ensure it was clean and a safe place for people to live. We observed how staff supported people and provided care.

We spoke with 10 people who use the service, 5 relatives, and 19 members of staff, including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, care workers, and auxiliary staff. We spoke to 2 health care workers providing support to the intermediate care placements.

We reviewed a range of records including 7 people's care records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment, training, and support. We reviewed multiple medicine administration records and looked at medicines related documentation and management arrangements. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were examined.

Abney Court is registered to provide residential and nursing care for up to 80 older people. At the time of the inspection 58 people were using the service. The provider was not providing nursing care but was recruiting relevant staff in preparation for providing this service in the near future. The service had a registered manager. 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 felt safe living at Abney Court. The service had systems in place to keep people safe through appropriate risk assessment and management. Medicines were managed effectively which ensured people received them as prescribed. People lived in a very clean, pleasant, well maintained and spacious environment. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and the same workers provided support so people received consistent care.

Staff received appropriate training and support so they understood how to do their job well. 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 supported this practice. People had pleasant dining experiences. They enjoyed the food and received choice and varied meals. People's care files showed the service involved other professionals when appropriate.

People were complimentary about the staff who supported them and they told us they were well cared for. We observed staff were attentive and respected people's privacy and dignity. Staff told us they would recommend the service to their own relatives and felt the whole staff team were very caring.

People’s needs were assessed and managed through the support planning process. There was guidance around how people’s care needs should be met. People enjoyed the range of activities provided in the service and the local community. A system was in place to record and respond to complaints; this was being developed to ensure lessons were learned.

People who used the service, their relatives and staff told us the service was well led. The management team encouraged everyone to share their views through meetings and surveys. The provider had effective systems in place to monitor different areas of the service.