Avalon Park Care Home

Updated 28 January 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 7 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 28 January 2022

About the service

Avalon Park is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 60 people. At the time of our inspection there were 45 people living at the home. Accommodation is provided over two floors and consists of 60 single rooms with en-suite facilities.

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

There were systems in place to ensure only staff who were suitable to work with vulnerable people were recruited. There were enough staff to provide the appropriate level of support to people. The environment was clean, well-maintained and attractively decorated. Good infection control practices were followed. People had access to appropriate equipment where needed. Medicines were administered safely and as prescribed. Risks associated with people's needs had been assessed, were understood and managed by staff, which meant people were safe from harm.

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. Staff had completed appropriate training and received regular supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role. Staff helped people to access healthcare services and receive ongoing healthcare support.

People were supported by staff who showed kindness, compassion and respect towards them. However, several relatives told us they had concerns about the standard of personal care provided by staff and we noticed during our inspection that a number of people were unshaven and had dirty finger nails. Care documentation around people’s personal care was not always completed. We raised the matter with the registered manager and they took immediate steps to rectify it.

Care plans contained sufficient information to guide staff with how people wished to be supported. People were provided with opportunities to take part in activities to occupy their time and provide enjoyment and stimulation.

The registered manager was open and transparent. They understood their regulatory responsibility and engaged with people as much as possible. People were complimentary about the way the home was managed. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (report published 14 January 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.