Ashley Gardens

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

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 had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider had in-depth systems in place to identify areas of learning and take these forward to help forge continued improvement. This included clear oversight of accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns. Staff were aware how to report accident and incidents. Lessons learning were discussed and shared with the staff team. This meant that staff felt involved in any improvements. The Registered Manager nurtured and supported staff to learn and improve.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

People were assessed before they were admitted to Ashley Gardens to ensure their needs could be met. The home worked with other healthcare professionals to ensure people’s health needs were monitored effectively. Care documentation was up to date and accessible to ensure appropriate information could be shared with other professionals when required.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The Registered Manager demonstrated a clear understanding around safeguarding procedures and was quick to identify any concerns and referred these appropriately to other agencies if required.

Staff had received safeguarding training and were clear regarding their responsibilities to protect people from any risk of abuse. Staff told us they were confident to report any issues to the registered manager or senior staff on duty and that this would be responded to promptly and the appropriate actions taken to keep people safe.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People had up to date care plans and associated risk assessments for identified risks. These were reviewed and updated monthly or more frequently if any changes occurred.

People and families were involved in formulating and reviewing peoples care plans. Relatives felt staff knew and understood people and how they liked their care to be provided. Telling us, ‘Communication was excellent’. Relatives were regularly updated regarding their loved one’s care and support needs and how these were being met. One relative told us, “I have access to the home's app and I am sent regular emails regarding updates and activities” and “My sister does the care plan, we both look at it and take an active part in it.”

People had Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) in place to inform staff and emergency services in the event of an evacuation being required.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The home was clean and tidy throughout. All furniture and equipment was regularly checked and serviced. People had access to a number of communal areas and well-maintained gardens.

A relative told us, “The home environment is always very clean, well-presented and ordered and [relatives name] room is very personalised for her.”

The home had designated maintenance staff who carried out regular checks of equipment, services and general maintenance around the building. We saw that maintenance issues were addressed promptly.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The provider had safe recruitment processes in place. All staff completed a period of induction where they worked alongside current experienced staff. We observed a newly employed staff member shadowing another staff member throughout the inspection. Staff received training and ongoing support to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe, effective care. This included the Care Certificate. The Care Certificate is a framework to ensure all staff have the same introductory skills and knowledge to provide safe, high quality care. Staff were supported to develop and progress in their role. A number of staff had worked at the home for many years. We spoke to staff who were currently working in interim senior roles as part of their development with a view to becoming deputy managers.

The registered manager used a dependency tool to determine safe levels of staffing were in place to meet people’s needs. This included deputy managers and a night manager. This ensured a senior staff member was working to support staff on each shift. Staff told us they felt there were enough staff to enable them to meet people’s needs. We saw people were responded to promptly in communal areas when they required help or support and call bells were answered promptly. Staff worked well together as a team, supporting each other to ensure people received a consistently high standard of care. Staff spoke highly of the registered manager and told us they loved working at Ashley Gardens and enjoyed their role.

Relatives told us, “Mum is always very well presented and has been able to establish relationships with staff which tell me she trusts them. Her medical needs are met consistently” and “I know she’s safe well looked after and happy. I honestly could not be happier we are so lucky, staff are amazing here.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

Relatives told us “The home is always clean very welcoming” and “It is always clean and tidy when we visit. Lovely rooms and lounges for people.”

The home was well maintained and appeared clean and tidy throughout. Staff had completed infection control training and had access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We observed staff using PPE effectively when required.

There were designated housekeeping staff who ensured the home was kept to a high standard of cleanliness. The registered manager carried out a daily walk around, regular checks and cleaning audits to ensure high standards of cleanliness were maintained.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Staff administering medicines received medicines training and had their competencies assessed regularly to ensure safe practices were being followed at all times. We saw people being assisted with their medicines and staff were knowledgeable about the medicines people were prescribed.

Robust systems and processes were in place to record people’s medicines. Medicines were safely stored and recorded when administered to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. People who had ‘as required’ medicines (PRN) had clear protocols in place to inform staff of how and when this could be safely given. We saw that when people were receiving a course of antibiotics temporary care plans were implemented.

Staff observed people’s symptoms following administering medicines to monitor their effectiveness. Relatives told us, “Staff are so good, they sort out all the medications for my relative.” The home liaised with peoples GP’s when people became unwell or any changes to medication was required.