Ashlar House

Updated 22 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Ashlar 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. Ashlar House is a care home with 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

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 6 November 2023 and ended on 13 November 2023. We visited the service on 8 November 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people who used the service and 9 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 members of staff, including the registered manager, a team leader and administration staff. We also received feedback from 4 health professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records and 5 people's medicines records. We looked at 5 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We looked at the provider's arrangements for managing risk and medicines management, staff training data, complaints and compliments records.

Updated 22 November 2023

About the service

Ashlar House is registered to provide accommodation for up to 44 people who are living with dementia. It is located in the grounds of St Margaret's hospital in Epping and provides nursing care. At the time of inspection there were 43 people living at the service. People's accommodation was situated on one floor.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

Effective arrangements were in place to ensure recruitment checks on staff were safe.

Minor improvements were required to staff recruitment files. We have made a recommendation about the management of staff recruitment files.

We received positive feedback about the service. A relative told us, "Staff are excellent. They have genuine concern for the resident's wellbeing. The manager is approachable, and I have no concerns."

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people's safety and welfare. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received appropriate training. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infections. There were safe medicine procedures for staff to follow.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff understood how to raise concerns and knew what to do to safeguard people.

The provider had monitoring and audit systems to ensure they provided good care and these were kept under regular review.

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 rating for this service was good (published 9 May 2018).

Why we inspected

We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. For those key question not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ashlar House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

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.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have made a recommendation in relation to recruitment practices.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help us inform when we next inspect.