CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Alban House Residential Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control during a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 11 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. They found suitable risk assessments, an up-to-date infection control policy, regular cleaning, testing, hand hygiene facilities and enough personal protective equipment. Staff were seen using protective equipment correctly.
The home had worked with health and social care professionals during the outbreak. It was following visitor guidance, screening visitors and preparing to reopen to visitors on 14 February 2022. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Managing the outbreak
The home worked with health and social care professionals and acted on their advice during a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
“The service had worked well with relevant health and social care professionals during a recent Covid-19 outbreak.” from the report
Protective equipment
Inspectors saw that protective equipment was available and that staff used and disposed of it appropriately.
“Staff were observed to be wearing PPE appropriately and disposed of it in clinical waste bins.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
The home had a cleaning schedule covering all areas and high-touch points, alongside handwashing and sanitising facilities.
“A cleaning schedule for all areas of the service was in place and implemented to ensure the whole service was effectively cleaned on a regular basis, including high touch points.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the February 2022 inspection?
- 02How would visits be managed if there were another COVID-19 outbreak?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures linked to illness or infection outbreaks?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested during an outbreak?
- 05How does the home make sure staff and visiting professionals meet vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. 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.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Alban House Residential Care Home is rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found clear improvements, but some safety, care planning and management systems were not yet fully reliable.
This was a focused inspection on 18 March and 8 April 2021. One inspector reviewed records, observed care, spoke with people, staff, relatives and health professionals, and checked the home’s infection control arrangements.
The home had improved since the previous inspection. Risk assessments, care plans, staff training, supervision, premises checks, medicines management and oversight were all better. The home was no longer in breach of the regulations checked at this visit.
However, inspectors still found that some individual risk assessments and care plan information were incomplete. Quality monitoring systems were improving but needed to become fully established. The overall rating remained Requires Improvement, as did Safe, Effective and Well-led.
Improved safety checks
Earlier health and safety problems and repairs had been addressed. Checks were scheduled, responsibilities were clear and repairs were being completed on time.
“Health and safety failings and areas of the home in need of repair had now been addressed.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were stored securely, records were signed correctly and audits checked that medicines were given as prescribed and remained in date.
“Medicines were safely administered. Medicines administration records were appropriately signed by staff when administering a person's medicines.” from the report
Better staff training
New staff had an improved induction, and staff had received more training, supervision and competency checks.
“Staff training on essential topics had improved, which enabled staff to feel confident in meeting people's needs and recognising changes in people's health.” from the report
Respect for consent
Staff asked for consent, followed people’s wishes and used mental capacity and best-interest processes where needed.
“Before people received any care and treatment they were asked for their consent and staff acted in accordance with their wishes.” from the report
Staffing met people’s needs
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people’s needs, including when people wanted support or activities.
“Staffing arrangements met people's needs. Staff confirmed people's needs were met promptly, and there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty.” from the report
Outstanding risk assessments
needs fixingSome personalised risk assessments had not yet been completed. This means families should ask how the home identifies and manages their relative’s specific risks.
“Latest audit shows that some bespoke risk assessments are outstanding.” from the report
Care plans still developing
needs fixingCare plans had improved, but more information was needed about people’s social needs, life histories, hobbies and preferences.
“Further work was underway to ensure care plans provided enough information to ensure staff delivered consistent care and support.” from the report
Management systems not fully embedded
needs fixingAudits and monitoring were in place, but inspectors could not yet be fully assured that these systems were consistently working in practice.
“Monitoring systems were now clearly in place, including a governance diary to ensure the quality and safety of the service. These systems needed to be fully embedded in practice.” from the report
Feedback surveys delayed
minorFormal surveys for people, relatives, staff and professionals had been delayed until April or May 2021.
“Due to other priorities and wanting to ensure systems and processes were in place, surveys to people, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals to seek their views had been delayed until April or May 2021.” from the report
- 01Have all outstanding bespoke risk assessments for my relative now been completed, and when are they reviewed?
- 02What information about my relative’s life history, hobbies and social needs is included in their care plan?
- 03How do managers check that staff follow each person’s care plan consistently every day?
- 04What did the delayed surveys in April or May 2021 show, and what changes were made as a result?
- 05Has the new manager completed registration with the CQC, and who is responsible for oversight while this is being completed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only, including infection prevention and control; Caring and Responsive were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 April 2021 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 Alban House Residential Care Home
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Alban House Residential Care Home →
- April 2021Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Alban House Residential Care Home →
- February 2021Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- October 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 May 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.
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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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