27 June 2018
During a routine inspection
Abbeyvale Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Abbeyvale Care Centre accommodates up to 42 older people, some of whom were living with dementia, others had personal care or mental health needs. On the day of our inspection there were 35 people using the service.
The home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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.
The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service.
People who used the service and their relatives were complimentary about the standard of care at Abbeyvale Care Centre. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Care records showed people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person-centred way and were reviewed regularly. Person-centred is about ensuring the person is at the centre of any care or support and their individual wishes, needs and choices are taken into account. Care plans were in place that recorded people’s plans and wishes for their end of life care.
People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs.
People had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support.
Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs, in the home and within the local community.
The provider had effective procedures in place for managing the maintenance of the premises and appropriate health and safety checks were carried out. The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service.
Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place. The registered manager understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults.
Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management and administration of medicines.
Staff were supported to provide care to people who used the service through a range of mandatory training, supervision and appraisal. Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager.
The provider had an effective complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and their relatives were aware of how to make a complaint.
The provider had an effective quality assurance process in place. People who used the service, relatives and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service through meetings and surveys.