Ashurst Park Care Home

Updated 23 September 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 registered 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 was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Ashurst Park Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the registered provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period of notice of the inspection to check if the service had active cases of COVID 19.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered on 3 June 2020. We used the information the registered provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information registered providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We sought feedback from the local authority and health care professionals who work with the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with nine people who lived in the service and observed some of the care six more people received in communal areas. We also met with four relatives. We spoke with a nurse, six care staff, a housekeeper, maintenance manager, clinical services lead and registered manager.

We reviewed the care plans for six people. We also looked at records relating to the management of medicines, health and safety records and key policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We contacted the Kent Fire and Rescue Service about our concerns relating to fire safety in the service. We also continued to seek clarification from the registered provider to validate evidence found. In addition, we spoke by telephone with a further member of staff who had not been present during the inspection visit.

Updated 23 September 2021

About the service

Ashurst Park Care Home is registered to provide nursing, personal care and accommodation for 53 older people and younger adults, people living with dementia and people with physical adaptive needs.

At this inspection there were 35 people living in the service all of whom were older people. Most people lived with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they were safe at the service. A person said, "The staff are good to me and I like them." Relatives were consistently positive about the service. A relative said, “They have managed to heal the pressure sores my family member got in hospital. And they have also persuaded my family member to eat properly getting special foods in. Staff are great. Even the cleaner noticed that something was wrong and they immediately changed the bed. This place has been an absolute godsend. I have not got a bad word to say.”

Fire safety arrangements were not robust, and some staff did not have all the knowledge and skills they needed to provide safe care and treatment. There were shortfalls in medicines management, enough staff were not always on duty and safe staff recruitment practices were not always followed.

People did not consistently receive person-centred care promoting their dignity. Information was not presented in an accessible way. People were not fully supported to engage in social activities and to be involved in making decisions about their care. Quality checks were not robust and had not identified the concerns we found.

There was a poor culture and some staff were not motivated to provide high-quality care.

The accommodation was not adapted for people living with dementia. We have made a recommendation about adapting the accommodation.

Infection was prevented and controlled. Lessons were learned when there were slips, trips and falls to reduce the risk of the same thing happening again. People were supported to eat and drink safely. The service ensured people received coordinated care including any medical attention they needed.

Complaints were properly managed, and people received safe end of life care in line with national guidelines. The registered manager had appropriately responded to a duty of candour event by being open and honest when something had gone wrong. The service worked in partnership with other agencies.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 3 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous registered provider was Good published on 24 October 2019.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the measures in place to safeguard people from abuse and provide safe care and treatment. There were also concerns about enough staff being on duty, the provision of person-centred care and the arrangements to supervise the running of the service. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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 COVID-19 and other infectious outbreaks effectively.

In view of the concerns we received we inspected all five key questions.

The overall rating for the service is Requires Improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection. Please see the Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led sections of the full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ashurst Park Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.

We have identified breaches of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, staffing, person-centred care and dignity and respect. There is also a breach of regulation in relation to the systems and processes used to monitor and evaluate the running of the service.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will meet with the registered provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.