Abbey Grange Nursing Home

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 63 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider did not always make sure people’s care and treatment were effective because they did not always check and discuss people’s health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. Staff and leaders carried out reviews of people’s needs, but care was not always delivered in line with them. For example, we found instances where people had been assessed to use a hoist and sling to assist them to transfer. However, the correct sling was not always used. Following our inspection the registered manager took timely and appropriate actions to ensure care plans reflected people’s needs, and the correct equipment was readily available for people to use.

The provider did not always plan and deliver people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. People's dining experience was not consistently positive. Observations indicated that staff were primarily focused on completing tasks rather than supporting an enjoyable and person-centred mealtime experience. Following our assessment the registered manager completed comprehensive mealtime observations during both lunch and the evening meal to evaluate the quality of people's dining experiences and identify areas for improvement. The catering team were knowledgeable about modified diets and ensured people had access to snacks and drinks throughout the day.

The provider did not always work well across teams and services to support people. They did not always share their assessment of people’s needs when people moved between different services. Staff did not always work effectively with each other to ensure consistency of care. Staff were task focused and needed to be deployed more effectively. Since our inspection we have received assurances that the management team are working with staff to improve communication and teamwork. Systems were in place to support staff to share and pass on important information about people’s care to enable them to offer consistent care. For example, shift handovers and daily flash meetings gave staff the opportunity to pass on information to their colleagues.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. People had access to healthcare professionals and staff listened to their advice. One professional said, “Abbey Grange work hard to maintain partnerships with us. The care home encourages residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle.” People told us they could see a doctor when needed. One person said, “I have seen the doctor for a couple of things whilst I have been here.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Staff and leaders gave examples where they had supported people to improve their outcomes. For example, 1 person came to live at the home after a long hospital stay and was struggling to come to terms with changes in their life. Over time, staff and leaders build a trusting relationship which helped the person become more confident and independent.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. We observed staff interacting with people and whilst they were often task focused, they did include people in decisions about their care. One staff member said, “Residents are actively involved in their care, and should be encouraged to do so to promote a sense of independence, autonomy, and self-worth within their personal abilities. Consent is obtained through a variety of ways and is dependent on how the residentexpresses consent.”