Appleby

Appleby is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 53 older people, including those living with dementia. The home is arranged across three suites: Grace on the ground floor, and Armstrong and Laurel upstairs, with Laurel designated for men only. There were 51 people living at the home, most of whom were living with a dementia.

The assessment was completed in line with CQC methodology and considered the length of time the location had been registered. We also took into account concerns raised to CQC about the management and culture at the home.

The care home had come under new ownership in July 2024. People, relatives, staff and professionals gave positive feedback about the provider. One professional told us, “I have seen improvements over the last six months, such as more permanent staff and better décor.” A staff member told us, “Not only is the home very safe but the building is safe as they are investing money into it. Refurbishing is very active and they’re investing for the long term rather than sticking plaster fixes.”

The provider and registered manager promoted staff wellbeing and supported them to deliver person-centred care. Staff spoke positively about working at the home. One staff member told us, “The care has come on leaps and bounds. Morale is better now than it’s ever been.”

During our assessment we identified that the provider’s qualification verification process was not as robust as it could be. The provider acknowledged this oversight and took prompt action to strengthen their governance and checking procedures.

Records did not always evidence that an effective system was in place to ensure medicines were safely managed. The registered manager had started to take action to address the issues we identified.

There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs. Staff had access to training relevant to their roles and were supported through regular supervision and appraisal to deliver person-centred care. During our observations, we noted that not all moving and handling manoeuvres followed best practice. Following our feedback, the registered manager carried out checks on staff practices and told us that moving and handling leads were also in place to ensure safe procedures were consistently followed.

The home was undergoing redecoration and refurbishment. A significant amount of work had already been completed, and further improvements were planned.