CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Abbey Chase Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. They found safe staffing, medicines management, risk assessments, emergency plans and infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Inspectors did observe kind and respectful interactions, but no new rating was given.
- Responsive?
- Requires improvement
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, regular audits, staff support and systems for listening to people, relatives and staff.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Abbey Chase Nursing Home is rated Good; inspectors found people were safe, treated kindly and supported by approachable management.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection after concerns were received about medicines, nursing care, staffing and infection control. Inspectors visited on 9 August 2022 and reviewed information, care records, medicines records, staff files and management records. They also spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff on the day, safe medicines arrangements, suitable infection control measures and care plans to manage known risks. People and relatives said they felt safe, and staff were kind and caring.
The overall rating was Good. However, this was not a full inspection of all five areas. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.
“People and their relatives told us they felt safe and that staff were kind and caring towards them.” from the report
Risks were managed
Care plans gave staff detailed instructions about risks such as falls, malnutrition, pressure areas and epilepsy.
“Care plans were in place to identify and manage risks to people. Risks were assessed and there was comprehensive information for staff to follow in order to ensure the individual was supported safely.” from the report
Medicines were managed safely
Medicines records included key information, and staff had training and competency checks. People could take their own medicines where they wished and were assessed as needing support.
“People's medicines were managed in a safe way. Medicines were recorded in medication administration records (MARs) which included their allergies and a recent photograph.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff communicating respectfully, asking permission before offering support and reassuring people.
“We observed kind interactions between staff and people who used the service.” from the report
Management listened and acted
People, relatives and staff said management was approachable. Audits, meetings and feedback were used to identify and address improvements.
“Audits of care took place including for care records, health and safety, weight loss and medicines.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently assessing and meeting each resident's nursing care needs?
- 02How do you check that medicines are given correctly, including 'as required' and topical medicines?
- 03How do you decide whether there are enough permanent and agency staff for residents' needs?
- 04What infection control and visiting arrangements are currently in place?
- 05What changes have been made since the concerns about medicines, nursing care, staffing and infection control were received?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 September 2022 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, February 2022
Abbey Chase Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and staffing arrangements during COVID-19 pressures.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 10 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Agency staff were used because of vacancies, but regular agency workers were used where possible and given information about people's needs.
The home had arrangements for testing, vaccinations, visiting, isolation and personal protective equipment. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed and that the premises were clean and hygienic.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Staffing plans
Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. The provider had plans for unexpected staff absence.
“There were enough staff available to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Agency staff arrangements
The home used regular agency staff where possible and gave them an induction and information about people's needs.
“The provider had minimised the impact of this on people's care by using regular agency staff where possible” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, supported testing and managed infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had screening, testing and visitor planning arrangements to reduce infection risks while allowing visits.
“The service had put measures in place to enable safe visiting.” from the report
Clean premises
The premises were clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning and regular infection control audits.
“The premises were clean and hygienic.” from the report
Vacancies and agency use
minorThere were vacancies for care, nursing and other staff. This meant agency staff were used regularly, which families may want to discuss in relation to continuity of care.
“There were vacancies for care, nursing and ancillary staff at the time of our inspection, which meant agency staff were used regularly.” from the report
- 01How many care, nursing and ancillary staff vacancies are there now?
- 02How often are agency staff used, and how do you make sure they know my relative's needs?
- 03What recruitment and staff retention steps have been successful since this inspection?
- 04What are the current arrangements for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and infection outbreaks?
- 05How can relatives visit, and what screening or testing is currently required?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it did not assess the other four key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2022 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 Abbey Chase Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 November 2010.
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
77 live-in carers within about an hour of Surrey
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 £1,250 a week. 66 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.