We carried out a review of the data available to us about Ascot House - Scunthorpe on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Ascot House - Scunthorpe, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
Visitors policies were in place to ensure everyone's safety. Visitors were temperature checked, completed a health questionnaire, hand hygiene and given information to remain safe during their visit
Flexible meal times had been introduced to promote social distancing.
Each resident in isolation had a COVID 19 care plan and risk assessments in place for the duration of their isolation which was removed once this period expired.
The service had good supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) readily available throughout the service. Clinical waste bins were positioned so that staff could access them when required.
Ascot House is a care home located in Scunthorpe, which provides accommodation over two floors. It was providing accommodation and personal care to 35 older people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 40 people. Ascot House is also registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. However, at the time of the inspection they were not providing this service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People did not always receive safe care because infection control practices required improving, mainly in the laundry. Action was taken by the management team to address our concerns.
Staff understood what action they must take to protect people from harm and abuse. Staffing levels provided met people’s needs. Medicine management was robust.
Induction was provided to support new staff working at the service. Staff training, supervision and appraisal took place to develop and maintain the staff’s skills. Issues with staff performance were addressed.
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.
There was a choice of food and special diets were catered for. People who had difficulty swallowing or weight loss were monitored by staff and input was sought from health care professionals to promote people’s health and wellbeing.
Signage was present to help people living with dementia find their way round. We found in some areas of the service contrasting colours could have been used more effectively to help people distinguish the hand rails to aid their mobility. This was discussed with the management team.
People told us staff were attentive, kind and caring. A programme of activities was provided for people and their relatives to take part in, if they wished. End of life care was provided at the service. People’s care records were person centred and highlighted risks to their wellbeing and what people could do for themselves to maintain their independence. Staff were aware of this information. Guidance to maintain people’s oral health was in use.
Information was provided to people in a format that met their needs in line with the Accessible Information Standards. People were provided with information which told them how to make a complaint. Complaints received were investigated and this information was used to improve the service.
Staff understood the vision and values of the service. The provider had Brexit plans in place to prevent any disruption to the service.
Quality monitoring checks and audits were undertaken. The infection control audit was strengthened during the inspection to make sure the issues we found would not occur again. We were informed a new laundry was to be created in outbuildings following our inspection. Data security was maintained.
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 19 April 2017).
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.
Ascot House is a care home registered to provide personal care and support to a maximum of 40 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. It is situated within walking distance of Scunthorpe town centre and its surrounding areas. There are a range of communal areas on the ground floor. Bedrooms are provided on the ground, first and upper floors with lift and stair access. At the time of our inspection visit there were 35 people using the service.
The service is also registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes, who may access the main service on a day care or respite basis, in order to give them continuity of provision. At the time of this inspection this facility was not being utilised.
This inspection took place over two days 6 and 9 March 2017 and was unannounced. At the last inspection in December 2014, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.
The service was safe. Care staff had received training to ensure they knew how to recognise and report potential abuse. Risks to people were identified and plans put in place to help manage and minimise these from occurring. Medicines were managed safely and checks were made to ensure staff were competent to administer people’s medication. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs.
The service was effective. Care staff were provided with effective training, development opportunities and support to enable them to meet people's needs. People were assisted to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The nutritional and hydration needs of people were appropriately supported and they were able to make choices about these from a variety of home cooked meals. People's medical needs were monitored with support and guidance sought from a range of health care professionals, including district nurses, GPs, speech and language and occupational and physiotherapists
The service was caring. People and their relatives were involved and included in decisions about the way their support was provided. People were treated with dignity and respect and care staff provided their support in a kind and compassionate manner. People were consulted and their opinions and views were considered to enable the service to learn and develop.
The service was responsive. People received their support in an individualised way, which was personalised to meet their needs. People’s support reflected their wishes, preferences and needs and this was updated and reviewed in a regular manner. People were provided with a range of activities to enable them to have opportunities for meaningful social interaction. People’s feedback, including complaints, were welcomed and acted upon by the service to help it to learn and develop.
The service was well-led. The service had an open and positive ethos and people, their relatives and staff were positive about the way it was managed. Systems were in place to ensure the quality of provision delivered to people was assessed and monitored and therefore enable the service to continually improve.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
This inspection took place over one day on 17 December 2014 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in November 2013 the service was meeting the regulations inspected.
Ascot House is registered to provide personal care and support to a maximum of 40 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. It is situated within walking distance of local facilities in the town centre and surrounding area.
There was a registered manager in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff received training about the protection of vulnerable adults to ensure people who used the service were safeguarded from abuse. Staff were familiar with their roles and responsibilities for reporting safeguarding or whistleblowing concerns about the service.
Recruitment checks were carried out on new staff to ensure they were safe to work with people who used the service and did not pose an identified risk to their wellbeing and safety.
A range of training was provided to enable staff to safely carry out their roles. Regular supervision and appraisals of staff skills were carried out to ensure individual staff performance was monitored and staff were able to develop their careers.
Information was available about the assessed needs of people who used the service to ensure staff supported and respected people’s wishes and feelings concerning their treatment. Details about known risks to people were recorded and monitored, together with guidance for staff on how these were to be safely managed and people were supported to make informed decisions about their lives. Staffing levels were assessed according to the individual needs and dependencies of the people who used the service.
Staff demonstrated a positive understanding for the promotion of people’s personal dignity and privacy, whilst involving them in making active choices about their lives.
A variety of opportunities were provided to people who used the service to engage and participate in meaningful activities.
People who had difficulty with making informed decisions were supported by staff who had received training about the promotion of people’s human rights to ensure their freedom was not restricted. Systems were in place to make sure decisions made on people’s behalf were in their best interests.
Medicines were handled safely by staff and systems were in place to ensure people’s medicines were appropriately stored.
Assessments about people’s nutritional needs and associated risks were monitored with involvement of specialist health care professionals when this was required. People were able to make choices from a variety of nutritious and wholesome meals.
A complaints procedure was in place to enable people to raise concerns about the service. People’s complaints were followed up and addressed and wherever possible resolved.
Regular management checks were carried out to assess the quality of the service people received and enable the identification of any changes when this was needed.
We found a homely and relaxed atmosphere throughout the service on the day of our visit. We saw that people looked comfortable, well cared for and that staff interacted with them in a sensitive and helpful manner. We observed staff providing support and gentle reassurance to people where this was required, to ensure their individual wishes and feelings were respected. People who used the service told us that staff answered their call bells promptly when this was needed and that they were, 'Friendly and kind.'
People told us they felt safe in the home and had confidence appropriate action would be taken to resolve any issues if it was required.
We found a variety of training was provided to staff to ensure people were effectively supported. People told us that staff were 'Very helpful." They said that staff provided support in a considerate way and were approachable.
People who used the service, their representatives and staff were asked for their views about their care and treatment and they were acted on. There was evidence of systems in place to enable risks to people to be monitored and analysed. There was evidence of an open and inclusive culture that welcomed the involvement and participation of people who used the service. We saw a relative comment in a recent survey that stated 'Thank you to all the staff for the understanding and care' that was provided.
The inspection team was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector joined by an expert by experience who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service and a practising professional.
During lunch we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
People spoken with told us that staff respected their privacy and dignity and helped them to remain as independent as possible. They said they could make choices about aspects of their lives. Two visitors spoken with said they were involved in their relatives care and were always kept informed. Comments included, 'They are very good to me and they give me the time that I need. They do it (personal care) at my pace', 'I have a beautiful room and I am due for redecoration. I have my own bar in my room and I'm going to get a little fridge to cool my drinks. I have my own pictures on the wall and I have made it personal to me' and 'They are respectful with my relative'
People spoken with told us they liked the meals and they had plenty to eat and drink. They also said they could have their meals wherever they chose. Comments included, 'I like to have fruit during the day and it is offered very often', 'They have a good appetite and they give them portions they want' and 'The food is just right. I am more than satisfied.'
People spoken with told us they would raise any concerns with staff or the manager. They said they had privacy locks on their bedroom doors and had a safe place to store valuables.
People spoken with told us the staff were kind and treated them well. They said staff were knowledgeable and explained the care tasks they were to carry out. Although they said the staff were busy they did not feel rushed during personal care.
Some people spoken with were aware that records were kept about their care needs and said that staff explained them to them.