Abbeygate

Abbeygate accommodates up to 20 older people in one adapted building, with 18 residents at the time of inspection. Inspectors identified safety concerns including exposed pipes in communal areas and hallways that posed risks of scalds and burns, areas of clutter that made cleaning difficult and increased cross-infection risks, and laundry handling that did not follow recommended guidance. The registered manager addressed these concerns during the inspection.

The home operates quality monitoring systems, though audits had not identified all safety issues found during inspection. Annual surveys and meetings with people, relatives and staff had not continued at frequent intervals, limiting opportunities to gather views and drive improvements. The service had experienced significant staff changes as people and staff moved from another provider location, resulting in high turnover. At the time of inspection, there was one staff vacancy remaining.