Ashton Lane

Updated 28 March 2024

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

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and 1 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

Ashton Lane is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Ashton Lane is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ 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.

Inspection activity started on 16 January 2024 and ended on 23 January 2024. We visited the service on 16 and 17 January 2024.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke to 8 members of staff, including the registered manager, a deputy manager, an assistant head of care, a service manager and 3 care practitioners. We received feedback from 3 health professionals who visit the home regularly. We reviewed a range of records, including 2 people's care records and 4 people's medicines records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance were reviewed.

Updated 28 March 2024

About the service

Ashton Lane is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to people who require support with physical and sensory impairments, communication difficulties and moderate to severe learning impairments. Ashton Lane accommodates up to 6 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection, there were 5 people living in the home.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and 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 supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

Right Support:

The service gave people care and support in a safe and clean environment that had been adapted to meet their physical needs. The home environment was maintained to a high standard and included a new summer house. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. The provider had failed to identify shortfalls in the accuracy of people's medicines records.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Right Care:

The service had enough staff to meet people's needs. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse and worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

Right Culture:

There was a person-centred culture focused on maximising people’s quality of life. People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People and those important to them were involved in planning their care. Staff valued and acted upon people’s choices and preferences.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 21 November 2018)

Why we inspected

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

Enforcement

We identified a breach in relation to good governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.