What the CQC found at Abbots Lawn

People, relatives and professionals consistently described staff as caring. Inspectors observed patience, comfort and meaningful engagement.

“We observed that staff were caring, compassionate and responded to people with kindness and patience.” from the report

Staff knew people's backgrounds, interests and preferences. Care plans included personal details that helped staff adapt support.

“People received personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences.” from the report

Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Risks such as malnutrition, choking and skin problems had been assessed and monitored.

“There were enough staff available to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report

The home used recognised end of life care approaches and staff had training. Feedback from relatives was very positive.

“People received extremely compassionate and sensitive care, from compassionate staff, at the end of their lives.” from the report

People could take part in group and individual activities, outings and events that reflected their interests.

“People were provided with the opportunity to participate in a range of activities, including; quizzes, chair exercises, singing, pamper sessions and live music.” from the report

Some medicines records did not show clearly whether creams had been applied. There were also discrepancies between recorded and counted tablets, although the provider concluded people had received their medicines as prescribed.

“Some people were prescribed creams to alleviate skin conditions. Staff had not always recorded on the MAR that these had been applied for people.” from the report

Care records did not consistently show consent or mental capacity assessments for specific decisions. Inspectors recommended getting guidance to ensure the legal principles were followed and recorded.

“People's care plans did not contain a record that they or their legal representative had consented to their care.” from the report

The home's audits had not identified the medicines and Mental Capacity Act recording concerns. This led to a breach of the governance regulation.

“The providers quality assurance systems had also not identified the concerns we found regarding application of the MCA.” from the report

People at risk of dehydration had their intake monitored, but there was not always a daily target to guide staff about how much they should drink.

“However, we noted that a daily target intake was not in place which meant there was no guidance available to staff to inform them how much a person should be drinking.” from the report