Ashlong Cottage

Ratings

• Overall

  Requires improvement

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Requires improvement

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Date of Assessment: 15 June to 13 July 2026. Ashlong Cottage is a care home providing support for autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of the assessment, there were 6 people using the service.

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgments about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

The service did not ensure people were consistently supported to access meaningful activities and community opportunities that reflected their interests and preferences. Governance processes required strengthening to ensure effective oversight of care delivery. The provider was in breach of the legal regulations relating to person-centred care and good governance.

Improvements were also required to ensure that mental capacity assessments were regularly reviewed and that people’s care plans accurately reflected their current support needs. The provider acted promptly to ensure people received appropriate support to maintain their nail care needs.

Since the last inspection, improvements had been made to ensure the safe storage of harmful substances. People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm through effective safeguarding systems and processes in place. Staff received appropriate training, supervision, and support to carry out their roles safely. People were supported to have their medicines as prescribed.

Staff knew people well and understood their preferences. Systems were in place to promote continuity of care and involve people and their relatives in decisions about the support provided. People were also supported to maintain important relationships and plan for their future needs.

Leaders were approachable and demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and the day-to-day operation of the service. The provider worked collaboratively with healthcare professionals to support positive outcomes for people.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

People's experience of this service

People appeared happy with the quality of care provided. One family member described the home environment, stating, “[The staff team] try very hard and as far as I can tell, it is relaxed and happy.” Staff were knowledgeable and treated people as individuals. They used people’s preferred communication methods to support effective engagement and involvement in their care. Some people were unable to directly tell us about their experiences, so we used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. Our observations indicated that people appeared comfortable in the presence of staff and sought support when needed. Family members told us they felt involved in and consulted about care delivery, with one commenting, “The care home manager keeps me very well informed at all times.”