Background to this inspection
Updated
25 July 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
Ashcroft house is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This 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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection
People were not always able to talk to us to share their views of the service, due to complex communication and support needs. Therefore, we observed three people’s experiences living at Ashcroft House including meal-times, activities and interactions with staff. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, a senior care staff member and care staff. We observed and used alternative communication methods to understand people’s views of the service and staff. This included using pictorial tools.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We also pathway tracked two people. This is where we check that the records for people match the care and support they receive from staff.
After the inspection
We spoke with three health and social care professionals about their experience of the service and the lives of people.
Updated
25 July 2019
About the service
Ashcroft House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to eight people. At the time of inspection, three people were living at the service. People were living with learning disabilities, autism and/or a physical disability.
The building was situated over two floors. Bedrooms were spacious and there were communal areas for people to relax in. There was an accessible garden that we saw people using throughout the inspection.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and become more independent.
People received safe care and support by staff who had been appropriately recruited, trained to recognise signs of abuse or risk and understood what to do to safely support people. People were supported to take positive risks, to ensure they had as much choice and control of their lives as possible. We observed medicines being given safely to people by trained and knowledgeable staff, who had been assessed as competent.
Staff were committed to delivering care in a person-centred way based on people's preferences and wishes.
There was a stable staff team who were knowledgeable about the people they supported and had built
trusting and meaningful relationships with them.
Staff had all received training to meet people’s specific needs. During induction, they got to know people and their needs well. One staff member said, “It’s really lovely here, the people are so special and very individual.” People’s nutritional and health needs were consistently met with involvement from a variety of health and social care professionals.
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.
Everyone we spoke to was consistent in their views that staff were kind, caring and supportive. One health professional described the service as, “Like a big family, the atmosphere is so positive, you hear lots of laughter.” People were relaxed, comfortable and happy in the company of staff and engaged in a positive way. People’s independence was considered important by all staff and their privacy and dignity was also promoted.
Activities were tailor-made to people’s preferences and interests. People were encouraged to go out and form relationships with members of the community. Staff knew people’s communication needs well and we observed them using a variety of tools, such as sign language, pictures and objects of reference, to gain their views.
People were involved in their care planning. End of life care planning and documentation guided staff in providing care at this important stage of people’s lives. End of life care was delivered professionally and with compassion.
People, their relatives and health care professionals had the opportunity to share their views about the service. Complaints made by people or their relatives were taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
The provider used a range of quality assurance systems to check people and their relatives were satisfied and confident in the standard of care provided within the home. The service had systems to continuously monitor, assess and improve the service provided.
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 December 2016)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.