Background to this inspection
Updated
9 November 2023
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.
Service and service type
Ashwood House 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. Ashwood House 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
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 also reviewed notifications that the registered provider had sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records, 6 staff files, training records, risk assessments and satisfaction surveys. We also looked at audits and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. We spoke with 5 people and 4 relatives by telephone to obtain their views of the service. We also spoke with 4 members of staff and 3 staff by telephone, to ask them questions about their roles and to confirm information we had received about them.
Updated
9 November 2023
About the service
Ashwood House is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation and support with personal care to a maximum of 17 adults with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection, there were 14 people using the service.
People’s experience of the service and what we found:
We saw people were protected from the risks of abuse and neglect, as staff were trained to identify signs and were clear of their roles and responsibilities to protect people from harm. The provider ensured staffing levels were appropriate to meet people's support needs and there were systems to recruit staff safely.
People’s risk assessments were completed, which guided staff on how to keep them safe from avoidable harm. The service had systems to record and monitor accidents and incidents. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection and the home was clean and tidy.
People’s needs assessments were completed prior to people moving to Ashwood House. People received support from staff who had the knowledge and skills to meet their individual support needs. Staff were supported to complete an induction programme when they first started at the service. Staff received regular training, and supervision. 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.
People told us they were treated with kindness and respect and that staff encouraged them to be as independent as possible and learn new skills. People felt they were supported to express their choice in areas such as how they wanted to be supported. Care documents were written to reflect people's individual needs and were regularly reviewed. The provider had a policy and procedure for addressing concerns or complaints.
We found the home to be clean and tidy, and well maintained to meet people physical needs. The provider ensured that there were systems in place for learning from accidents and incidents took place to prevent recurrence.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last inspection for this service was rated good (published 25 September 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.