Ash Tree House

Updated 18 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 8 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 18 March 2021

About the service:

Ash Tree House is a purpose-built facility in Hindley, Wigan. The service cares for people who have a dementia type illness and those who require only residential support and has the capacity for a maximum of 60 people to live there. At the time of the inspection there were 57 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

Systems and processes regarding safeguarding were in place and staff continued to receive appropriate training.

Risk assessments were in place, reviewed and updated regularly and risks were well managed at the home. The service encouraged positive risk taking, supporting people to be as independent as possible.

The premises were safe and well maintained and medicines systems were safe.

There were robust recruitment procedures in place and staffing levels were sufficient to ensure people’s needs were met.

The premises were exceptionally clean and infection prevention and control measures were in place.

Initial assessments prior to admission were comprehensive. Care plans were complete and up to date.

Staff had a thorough staff induction programme, on-going training and refreshers and were knowledgeable and competent.

People told us they enjoyed the food and there were lots of choices. The mealtime was calm and unhurried and was a very happy, relaxed and enjoyable experience. Where diet and fluids needed to be monitored, this was done.

The premises were bright, airy and decorated to a high standard. The building was well-maintained and well-lit, there were coloured doors and some signage for ease of recognition and access.

Verbal consent was sought by staff when offering support and assistance. Consent was referred to within care plans.

The service worked within the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2008) (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Equality and Diversity was embedded within the service’s induction programme and individuals were treated in a fair and equitable way.

There was evidence within the care files that people were fully involved in the planning of their care and support, where they were able.

People were treated with dignity and respect. The service was aware of the legal requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the need for confidentiality.

People were given full choice and control over their lives where possible.

Activities at the home were chosen by people who used the service in consultation with the lifestyle manager and there was a huge range of activities and outings on offer.

The complaints procedure was made available to everyone in the home and was on public display in the reception area of the home. Complaints and concerns were dealt with appropriately and we saw a number of compliments.

End of life wishes, where these had been expressed, were recorded within people’s care records and the service was committed to building staff skills in specialist areas, including end of life care.

People felt the service was high quality and person-centred. Staff felt well supported in their roles and told us training was plentiful and professional development was encouraged and supported.

The service had a registered manager in place, as required. CQC notifications of significant events that the service is required to tell us about, were sent in as required.

Staff felt the registered manager was very approachable and hands on.

Quality assurance systems were in place, regular audits completed, and any actions and lessons learned noted.

The service worked well with other professionals. There was an all-inclusive policy at the home, meaning that no additional costs were required for extra services.

Rating at last inspection:

Our last inspection of Ash Tree House was in August 2016. The overall rating was Good, and this report was published on 21 September 2016.

Why we inspected:

This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received. Inspection timescales are based on the rating awarded at the last inspection and any information and intelligence received since we inspected. As the previous inspection was Good this meant we needed to re-inspect within approximately 30 months of this date.

Follow up:

We did not identify any concerns at this inspection. Going forward we will continue to monitor this service and plan to inspect in line with our re-inspection schedule for services rated Good.

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