Background to this inspection
Updated
8 January 2021
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
Ashfield House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. However, there was a manager in place who was in the process of registering with us. Their registration had been delayed within CQC due to COVID-19.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the area manager, manager, deputy manager, team leaders and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who are in contact with the service.
Updated
8 January 2021
About the service
Ashfield House is a residential care home providing personal care to eight people living with a learning disability, autism or mental health needs at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to eight people across two buildings, one main residence and a bungalow attached to this for people who wish to be supported more independently.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Quality assurance tools at the service had not consistently identified areas that required improvement and ensured these had been implemented effectively.
People were supported by trained staff who had been recruited safely. People were supported to receive their medicines as they were prescribed. People were supported in line with government guidance around COVID-19.
People were supported by sufficient staff to meet their needs in a timely and flexible way. People had access to their local community and could engage in activities of their choosing.
People were involved in their care planning to enable them to make choices in their care. People were encouraged to maximise their independence and living skills.
People were supported by staff who understood their communication needs and were meeting these. People knew who the management team were at the service and felt able to give feedback about their care.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture as the model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence.
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 requires improvement (published 24 December 2019).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about safeguarding, the quality of care provided at the home and infection prevention and control. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, responsive and well-led only.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
We have found evidence that the provider had made significant improvements to the culture and quality of care within the home. However, improvements were ongoing in relation to quality monitoring and oversight. Please see the well led sections of this full report.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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.