Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home

Updated 24 September 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 was made up of one inspector 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

Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 11 people and ten relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, nurse in charge, senior care worker, activities co-ordinator, admin worker and two care assistants. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed documentation, inspected the safety of the premises and carried out observations in communal areas. We reviewed a range of records including three people’s care records, medicines records and quality audits. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 24 September 2022

About the service

Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home is a care home that provides personal and nursing care for up to 65 people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 64 people living in the home.

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

People felt safe living in the home and with the support received from staff. People and relatives spoke very highly of the staff and said they were kind, caring and patient. Relative’s comments included, “The staff are kind, they are caring and they treat people as individuals and with dignity” and, “The staff are lovely with [family member]. It is a lovely, caring environment. The staff are nice and caring, there is never any shouting or saying ‘wait a minute’. All the staff are patient from the manager down.”

Staff safeguarded people from abuse. Risks to individuals and the environment were well managed. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. The provider learned from accidents and incidents to mitigate future risks. Medicines were safely managed. Staff followed infection control processes and government guidance in relation to infection control and prevention practices, in particular, relating to COVID-19. People and relatives told us, “It is very nice and clean. My room is cleaned every day” and, “I think it is clean. There are no smells, the floor is clean and the girls are often cleaning.”

People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the home and on an ongoing basis. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions. People were supported with their nutritional needs and to access other health care professionals. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were well supported and cared for. Staff treated people with respect and supported them in a dignified manner and in line with their wishes. One person told us, “The staff are lovely. I love them all, not just one. They are very caring.” People were encouraged to be independent, where it was safe to do so.

People had person-centred care plans that detailed how they wished to be supported. Staff knew how to communicate with people and most effective communication methods were detailed in care records. People and relatives had no complaints about the home but knew how to raise concerns. Any complaints received were fully investigated and actioned. People enjoyed a range of activities inside the home and accessed the local community.

The home was well managed. People and relatives were complimentary about the home and care people received. One person said, “I think the care is excellent here.” The provider had an effective quality assurance process in place which included regular audits. People, relatives and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service through meetings, surveys and reviews.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 15 September 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 5 April 2018.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.