Ashley Gardens

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People’s needs were reviewed before admission to the home to ensure their needs could be safely met. Reviews of care needs were completed regularly, to ensure any changes were recorded. Reviews involved the person and their relative if appropriate.

Relatives confirmed they were kept updated of any changes in their loved one’s care and support needs. One said, “I am always kept updated, [relatives name] key worker has also been through their care plan with me in depth.”

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Care documentation was detailed and the home used a number of assessment tools to ensure evidence based practice and standards were met. Staff knew people well and were able to understand and anticipate their needs. This facilitated person centred care, based on people’s preferences and support needs.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services.

The registered manager and staff worked closely with other health professionals to ensure peoples care needs were met. Appropriate information was shared with relevant professionals to ensure joined up care for people.

One relative told us, “I'm regularly contacted by Mum's key worker to keep me up to date with Mum's medical developments, including concerns that they've had that have been resolved or treated following timely intervention from the visiting GP. Mum’s also recently had both dental and opticians’ appointments and treatment organised by the home.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

We observed staff responding to people and providing support in a kind and considerate manner. People were encouraged to make choices and remain as independent as possible. We saw staff encourage people and support them to safely access the garden or move around the home as they chose.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed to ensure people were supported to eat a healthy nutritious diet. People who had specific health needs, including those with diabetes had nutritional guidance in place to inform staff.

Feedback from relatives was positive, one told us, “[relatives name] used to come here for respite so they were used to everybody. They had a fall and went to hospital and came out with norovirus, they needed a lot of care. It was unclear if they if needed nursing or residential care. They came back here for a month and they pulled them through, I could never of done that. It was a natural progression that they stayed here. They are so good, they have looked after them, they are safe and I cannot fault them.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

People were supported by staff and management who knew them well. Staff worked well with GPs, community nursing teams and other health professionals involved in people’s care. Staff followed advice from other professionals to ensure people received the best care possible.

When people first moved into Ashley Gardens, following an initial assessment care plans were completed. Family input forms were then used to gain further information about people and their likes, dislikes and care needs. These were used to further enhance care plans and documentation. Care needs were regularly reviewed; care documentation was updated and changes made if required to ensure peoples care needs were continually met to a high standard.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Care was person centred and information was clearly recorded in care plans and daily records. We saw people’s consent being sought before care was provided by staff. We observed staff offering people choice in how they spent their time, activities and at mealtimes.

Mental Capacity assessments and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were in place for people when required and best interest meetings had taken place for specific decisions, for example, in relation to medicines administration, personal care, nutrition and sensor alarms. These involved health professionals and relatives when appropriate An Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) visited the home to support people when needed.IMCA’s support individuals who lack the capacity to make certain decisions about their care and treatment.They help to ensure that these individuals' views and wishes are taken into account during decision making processes.