- Care home
Ashlands Care Home
Assessment report published 18 December 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment:18 November to 3 December 2025.
Ashlands Care Home is a residential care home service providing support to older people and people living with dementia. At the start of the assessment the service was providing care and support to18 people. This assessment was unannounced which means the provider was not told an assessment was going to be starting beforehand.
Ashlands Care Home was last rated requires improvement (published 29 August 2025). We found breaches of regulations related to safe care and treatment, and governance at our previous assessment. Improvements had been made at this assessment, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Since our last assessment, the manager in post had become the registered manager of the service. The Registered Manager is the individual legally registered with CQC who holds day-to-day responsibility for operating the regulated service and ensuring it consistently meets CQC’s required standards of quality, safety, effectiveness, responsiveness, and leadership.
The provider had ensured the required improvements from our last visit had been embedded. The environment has improved and was more dementia-friendly, although some work was still being completed. Safety risks for people were managed robustly. People were supported by skilled, kind, and knowledgeable staff. Improvements were ongoing during our visit with painting and obtaining some new furniture. The Provider had a clear service improvement plan and ongoing action plan to ensure the improvements were prioritised. People received their medicines safely. The staff understood people’s needs well and respected their wishes and feelings. People were protected from harm by a staff team who understood the importance of upholding robust safeguarding practices. The newly Registered Manager had developed a positive culture amongst the staff team, who felt able to speak up and feel heard. Management was conducting regular audits of the service and addressing any actions from the audits. Management was working with other services and were starting to broaden their links in the community.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with people living in the home and visiting relatives to gather their views and feedback. People told us they felt safe and well cared for, and no concerns about safety were raised. Relatives also said they felt the home was a safe environment. Most people reported there were enough staff available, although one relative expressed concern about staffing levels. Call bells were answered promptly, and people said they did not have to wait long for assistance when they used the buzzer. People we spoke with commented on how the home was clean and fresh.
People told us they had no concerns about medicines and could access pain relief when needed. People felt staff were knowledgeable and were happy with the care provided. Families were encouraged to visit and join activities. People told us they enjoyed the meals and felt there was a good choice available. There was an activities coordinator employed at the home and plans for them to implement more activities including seated exercises.
We observed staff supporting people in a kind and respectful manner. Staff knocked before entering rooms. When incidents occurred, staff worked together and responded quickly and discreetly to incidents to minimise distress. Staff knew people well and accommodated individual preferences. We observed effective collaboration among staff, which contributed to smooth and responsive care.