Updated 18 May 2026
Askham Court is a specialist care setting with nursing for adults with complex care and/or rehabilitation needs. There were 28 people using the service at the time of the inspection.Support was delivered within a ground floor building with gardens which were accessible for people.
People who live at Askham Court receive rehabilitation for a range of physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries and complex care needs.There was a team of rehabilitation staff on site as well as a gym and pool that people can use as part of an individual rehabilitation programme.
We carried out this inspection on 21 July 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
We found the environment to be calm, well managed and clean. Discussions with management and evidence from audits highlighted that the equipment and building was well maintained, safety checks were completed and staff knew how to report issues. Staffing levels were stable, with no recent agency use. Staff reported they felt well supported by management and they felt confident to raise concerns if needed.
Care Plans were in place for people at Askham Court and covered key areas of need and risk. Care and support needs, including identified risks, had been assessed with the involvement of people and, where appropriate, their relatives. However, 1 person's care plan lacked sufficient detail regarding their life history, interests, and cultural needs. We discussed this with the provider during the inspection, and the information was updated on the same day. The provider told us they would take steps to support staff to better recognise and understand cultural differences and to ensure these are appropriately reflected in people's care and support plans.
Staff supported people safely with mobility and equipment, explaining what they were doing clearly and providing reassurance. Call bells were responded to promptly and audits also reflected this. Staff knew people well and had the skills and knowledge to support people safely. Care was generally person centred with a good sense of people’s history and preferences. One relative reported that "The staff know them inside and out.” Our observations supported this feedback.
Medicines were managed safely across the service, with good systems in place with strong clinical oversight and effective involvement from GP’s and other health professionals. One minor issue around medication returns was rectified by the provider on the day of inspection. Feedback from health professionals showed positive regard for staff communication with them and commented how “responsive and caring” they were. Staff felt well supported by visible and approachable leaders.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA and had received the appropriate training. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.