Tickford Abbey

Updated 4 November 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Tickford Abbey is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Tickford Abbey is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We sought information from the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 7 September 2022.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people using the service and a family member. We spoke with the registered manager, a member of care staff and two visiting professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including minutes of meetings, and quality and performance audits.

Updated 4 November 2022

About the service

Tickford Abbey is a Grade II listed building in Newport Pagnell that has been adapted to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 32 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 27 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People’s safety was underpinned by the provider’s policies and processes. People’s care records were in the process of being written following a loss of electronically stored data. Potential risks to people were assessed and measures put in place to reduce these. Lessons were learnt and improvements made through the analysis and reporting of accidents and incidents. People were supported by sufficient staff who knew them well and who had undergone a robust recruitment process. Staff had undertaken training in topics to promote safety. Medicine systems were managed safely. People lived in an environment which was well maintained and clean, with safe infection and prevention measures.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People, a family member and staff were complimentary about the management of the service. Effective governance supported by systems and processes enabled the provider and registered manager to continually develop the service through proactive monitoring. People’s views and that of family members were sought and changes were made in response to their feedback to continually improve quality outcomes for people.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 7 April 2021)

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider considered guidance on safe staffing levels in care homes and to take action to update their practice based on their consideration of the guidance. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on our recommendation and reviewed staffing numbers and had increased staffing reflective of people’s needs.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good based on the findings of this inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.