Abbey House

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 3 July 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of assessment 6 May to 16 May 2025. Abbey House is a care home providing personal care for up to 37 older people living with dementia, mental health conditions, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. At the time of this assessment 34 people were living at the service. The provider was previously in breach of legal regulations in relation to dignity and respect, safe care and treatment, good governance and staffing. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care. People were protected from risk through the use of personalised care plans and risk assessments. The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. Service cleanliness was mostly maintained to high standard, however, there were some infection prevention and control shortfalls. The provider now made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Regular handovers and team meetings took place to ensure effective communication. Care staff proactively encouraged people to remain active and to engage with others. The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. The atmosphere within the service appeared one of warmth and attentiveness. Staff were knowledgeable about people's individual routines, personalities, likes and dislikes. The provider did not always ensure people’s immediate needs were responded to. The providers systems and processes supported person-centred care and made it easy for people to share feedback or raise complaints about their care. Staff were supported by capable and inclusive leaders who fostered a positive culture at the service. The providers systems and processes enabled continuous learning, innovation and service improvement.