This inspection took place on 14 October 2015 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in February 2014 we found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected.
Ashwood House (Ilford) provides personal care and accommodation for 17 people with mental health needs and mild learning difficulties.
There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff understood their responsibility to keep people safe and knew how to identify and report any abuse they may become aware of.
There were formal systems to assess people’s capacity for decision making and appropriate applications had been made to the authorising agencies for people who needed these safeguards.
People were cared for by staff who had been recruited safely and had received training about how to meet their needs. People were supported by staff in a caring and respectful way that also maintained their safety.
There were arrangements in place for the safe storage, disposal, management and administration of people’s prescribed medicines.
People were provided with a wholesome and nutritional diet of their choosing. People’s dietary needs were monitored by staff and referrals made to health care professionals when required.
People had individualised health care and support plans which recorded their likes and dislikes, needs and wishes. They were supported to make decisions about their care and could access health professionals when they wanted. They were supported by the staff to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Staff understood their role and responsibilities and were supported by the registered manager to maintain their skills through supervision, appraisals and training.
People and their relatives were able to raise any concerns or suggestions that they might have had with staff members or the registered manager.
The registered manager had an on-going quality monitoring process to identify areas of improvement required within the service.