Albury Care Homes Limited

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) details an inspection of Albury Care Home, focusing on the safety and leadership of the service. The inspection aimed to assess improvements made following a previous review. The report covers how well the home is run, the safety of care provided, and how effectively residents are supported. It highlights positive changes and specific areas where the home is meeting standards.

On safety, residents are well protected from harm, with staff understanding individual needs and risks to provide secure support. Clear care plans are in place, and medication management has significantly improved, with new systems ensuring accuracy and safety. Infection control measures are robust, and new staff are recruited safely, ensuring adequate staffing levels.

Regarding effectiveness, residents are empowered to make choices about their lives, with staff supporting them in the least restrictive way. Care plans are regularly updated to reflect changing needs, and staff are knowledgeable about residents' specific health conditions and preferences.

In terms of how caring the service is, residents feel safe and well-treated, with staff described as nice and genuinely concerned. Relatives also express confidence in the safety and well-being of their loved ones. Staff are trained in safeguarding and feel competent to report concerns.

Concerning responsiveness, the home has made positive changes based on feedback. For example, a resident-led initiative to improve food quality resulted in the employment of a cook and an in-house catering service. Residents and their families feel their feedback is heard and acted upon, contributing to a more personalised experience.

Finally, on how well-led the service is, management has implemented clear structures for quality and safety monitoring, supported by external consultants. A positive and supportive culture is evident, with managers actively involved in the day-to-day running of the home. Staff feel heard and supported, and the home works collaboratively with other health and social care professionals. Lessons learned from incidents are effectively shared and acted upon to continuously improve the service.