Ashfield Nursing Home

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.

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.

The management team completed detailed assessments of people’s needs prior to them moving into the service. This helped ensure the staff team could effectively support each person, and people were well suited to both the physical environment and the people already living there. Compatibility was carefully considered to promote positive relationships.

Assessments were comprehensive and captured important information about people’s wishes, needs, capacity, communication methods and the key people involved in their lives. This ensured care and support could be planned in a person-centred way from the outset.

We saw examples of how this thorough assessment process led to improved outcomes. For instance, one person was supported to develop their independence and confidence in the community. Staff worked with them to safely access local shops and visit the pub independently, in line with their preferences and assessed risks. As a result, the person became more confident, enjoyed greater choice and control over their daily life, and experienced improved wellbeing and social inclusion.

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.

People received care and treatment that was based on current guidance, best practice and their individual needs. Care plans were detailed, regularly reviewed and reflected people’s physical, emotional and psychological needs, which ensured staff had clear guidance to support safe and effective care.

Care plans were personalised and included evidence-based approaches to manage specific health conditions and risks. For example, one person was at risk of developing pressure ulcers and had a care plan informed by recognised clinical guidance. This included regular repositioning schedules, use of pressure-relieving equipment, and ongoing skin monitoring. As a result, the person’s skin integrity was maintained.

Care plans reflected people’s communication needs, with clear guidance on how to support individuals to understand information and express their views. This ensured people were actively involved in decisions about their care and treatment.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s care plans and how to apply them in practice. This meant people received consistent, effective support that was responsive to their needs and aligned with recognised best practice.

Overall, care and treatment were well planned, evidence-based and person-centred, supported positive outcomes and improved people’s quality of life.

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.

Staff worked well with a range of external professionals to deliver coordinated and consistent care. This included occupational therapists, physiotherapists, district nurses and speech and language therapists, whose guidance was clearly reflected in care plans and followed in practice. Staff liaised with GPs, behavioural specialists and community nurses to review people’s needs and adjust support where required.

Regular communication and shared decision-making ensured a joined-up approach to care. Professionals provided positive feedback about the staff team’s responsiveness and willingness to act on advice. This collaborative working supported safe, effective care and positive outcomes for people’s health, independence and wellbeing.

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.

People were supported to access a range of healthcare services, including GPs, dentists and opticians, to maintain their health and wellbeing. The service made timely referrals to specialists when needed, such as speech and language therapists, and sought support from healthcare professionals when there were changes in people’s health. For example, an optician visited the service to support with eye tests.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s individual health needs, and support plans contained detailed, person-centred information to guide practice. People were supported to have a balanced and nutritious diet. They were able to choose from a variety of meals and snacks, which included options tailored to meet specific needs, such as higher-calorie foods for those at risk of malnutrition. This supported people to maintain their health and overall wellbeing.

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.

We saw examples of the management team effectively monitoring people’s care and treatment through regular review of care records and actions taken to improve outcomes. For example, where a person required support with the management of their diabetes, care plans were promptly updated to provide clear guidance for staff and ensure safe, consistent support.

The service used a digital care planning system, which enabled the registered manager to oversee care plans and daily records in real time. This supported effective oversight and ensured information was accurate, up to date and reflective of people’s current needs.

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

People were supported to give consent to their care and treatment in line with legislation and best practice. Staff understood the importance of gaining consent and involved people in decisions about their care wherever possible. Where needed, people were supported using their preferred communication methods to help them understand choices and express their views.

We saw examples of this in practice, which included support provided for hospital appointments. Staff ensured people were prepared in advance, explained what would happen in a way they could understand and obtained their agreement. Staff we spoke with said, “We always ask for permission before helping someone. We explain what support we are offering and make sure the person understands as much as possible. If someone is unable to make certain decisions, we still talk to them about what we are doing and watch how they respond. If a person does not want support at that time, we respect their choice and try again later.”

Where people lacked capacity to make specific decisions, appropriate assessments were completed and decisions were made in their best interests, involved relevant professionals and relatives where appropriate.

Overall, people were supported to make informed choices about their care, and their rights and preferences were consistently respected.