CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Abacus Quality Care Ltd T/A Abacus Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Risk assessments and records about incidents were not always complete or up to date. Inspectors found safe staffing, recruitment, safeguarding practice, medicines administration and infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- Consent was not always obtained in line with the Mental Capacity Act, and some Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications were missing. Care plans did not always contain current information, although staff training, food and drink support and partnership working were positive.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Audits and quality checks did not reliably identify missing updates or other shortfalls. Inspectors also found a positive, person-centred culture and people and staff were involved in running the home.
What inspectors found, June 2023
Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind staff and safe medicines, but gaps in risk records, consent paperwork and quality checks.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 18 and 20 April 2023. One inspector and one Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff. They reviewed care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Requires Improvement overall. Safe, Effective and Well-led were all rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found people were supported by enough staff, medicines were administered safely, food and drink needs were met, and the environment was clean and well maintained.
However, risk assessments and care plans were not always up to date. Some people did not have the required consent and best-interest records, and some Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications had not been made. The home's audits did not reliably identify these problems.
The previous overall rating was Good, published in August 2019. The provider had begun making changes during and after the inspection. CQC asked for an action plan and said it would monitor progress with the provider and local authority.
Medicines and staffing
Medicines were administered safely. Inspectors also found enough staff and safe recruitment checks.
“People's medicines were administered safely. People were supported by enough staff who were safely recruited to work at the home.” from the report
Food and drink
People were supported with a healthy diet and staff knew about individual dietary needs and preferences.
“People were supported to eat and drink and maintain a healthy diet.” from the report
Kind, person-centred staff
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Staff were described as calm, open and focused on individual needs.
“Staff shared a positive culture which was person-centred and met people's individual needs.” from the report
Environment
The home was clean and maintained, with adaptations such as picture signage and a secure outdoor space.
“People received care in a clean and well-maintained environment adapted and decorated to meet their needs.” from the report
Out-of-date risk information
seriousSome risk assessments did not give staff clear or consistent instructions. Inspectors said this could put people at risk of receiving the wrong support.
“People did not always have up to date risk assessments in place or clear information recorded to monitor identified risks.” from the report
Consent and liberty safeguards
seriousSome required mental-capacity and best-interest records were missing. Not all required Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications had been completed.
“The provider had not completed all required DoLS applications.” from the report
Care plans not current
needs fixingCare plans did not always include updated advice from health professionals or reflect people's current needs. This could lead to inconsistent care if regular staff were unavailable.
“People's care plans were not always up to date, and some required further information.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousAudits did not reliably find gaps in risk assessments, care plans, incident records and consent paperwork. This meant problems were not always identified and corrected promptly.
“Auditing systems were not always effectively completed to identify areas for improvement.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
minorThe home's visiting approach did not initially match government guidance. The provider reviewed it immediately after the first inspection day and updated its policy.
“The provider's visiting approach did not align to government guidance.” from the report
- 01Have all missing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications, mental-capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now been completed?
- 02How do you check that every person's risk assessment and care plan gives staff current and consistent instructions?
- 03How are updates from GPs and other health professionals added to care plans, and how is completion checked?
- 04What changes have been made to the audit system since the inspection, and can you show examples of problems it has identified and corrected?
- 05What are the current visiting arrangements, including visits during mealtimes?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Abacus Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with some work still needed on accessible information and end-of-life training.
This was an unannounced inspection on 2 and 5 August 2019. One inspector spoke with six people, two relatives, five care staff and managers. They also observed care and checked care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, clean surroundings and staff who understood safeguarding and people’s risks.
People were treated kindly and involved in decisions. Care plans were detailed, meals and healthcare were supported, and there were activities and ways to keep in touch with relatives. The home was described as dementia friendly.
Effective was previously rated Requires Improvement and had improved to Good. The other four ratings remained Good. The overall Good rating means inspectors found the service met the expected standard at this inspection, but it was not rated Outstanding.
Safe staffing and safeguarding
Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. Inspectors saw staff respond promptly and found staffing levels were sufficient for people’s needs.
“People were protected from the risk of potential abuse because staff knew how to recognise this and how to safeguard them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors observed kind, compassionate care and staff respecting privacy and dignity.
“We observed staff engaging with people in a kind and compassionate manner.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment
The home used signs, wall art and other features to help people living with dementia find their way around. It also had a secure garden and equipment to support mobility.
“A relative told us, "I think the attention to making the home dementia friendly is very impressive and it makes it a much safer place where people are less confused.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People could choose from social activities and events, and were supported to keep in contact with relatives and friends. Relatives could visit, subject to restrictions at meal times.
“A real effort is made to ensure people do not get bored, there is always something going on.” from the report
Improved effectiveness
The Effective rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good. Staff had better knowledge of mental capacity and liberty safeguards, and people received support with meals, drinks and healthcare.
“At this inspection this key question has now improved to Good.” from the report
Accessible information
needs fixingThe manager and staff did not know about the Accessible Information Standard. The manager said they would explore it further so people could receive information in suitable formats.
“The registered manager and staff were unaware of AIS.” from the report
End-of-life training
minorNo one was receiving end-of-life care during the inspection. The home was still arranging training for staff, people and relatives.
“The registered manager told us they were in the process of arranging end of life training for staff, people who use the service and their relatives.” from the report
- 01What has been done since the inspection to make sure staff understand the Accessible Information Standard?
- 02How would you provide information to my relative if they had difficulty reading, hearing, speaking or understanding information?
- 03Has the planned end-of-life training for staff, residents and relatives now been completed?
- 04How do you decide staffing levels when residents’ care and support needs change?
- 05How are activities matched to each resident’s interests, and how do you support people who prefer time alone?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care home covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 August 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Abacus Quality Care Ltd T/A Abacus Care Home
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- June 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Abacus Quality Care Ltd T/A Abacus Care Home →
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Abacus Quality Care Ltd T/A Abacus Care Home →
- November 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 July 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.