Ash Cottage

Updated 31 January 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by 1 inspector accompanied by an inspection manager and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Ash Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Ash Cottage is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The current manager had submitted an application to register. We are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 3 January 2023 and ended on 13 January 2023. We visited the service on 3 January 2023 and 5 January 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke to 7 members of staff including care staff, the manager, area manager and regional manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care and support records, and 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the home. These included policies and procedures, staffing rotas, medicines management, accident and incident records, training records, safeguarding records and infection control practices.

Updated 31 January 2023

About the service

Ash Cottage is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care to up to 24 people. The service provides support to older people and those living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Everyone we spoke with said that they felt safe living at Ash Cottage. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. Staff had received safeguarding training and there were policies and procedures to support this. Risks to people's health and wellbeing had been identified and plans were in place to mitigate risk.

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. Peoples needs were assessed, and staff had received training to support this. People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

People who used the service were treated with respect and equality. Care was person centred and staff understood the importance of promoting choice, consent and independence. Peoples dignity and privacy were maintained, and the staff approach was described as, “Patient” and “Helpful.”

Peoples were supported to maintain social relationships and their communication needs were being met. People and their relative’s views were sought, and they had opportunities to provide feedback. Meaningful activities were not always available to people, we made a recommendation about this. Recruitment for an activities co-ordinator was ongoing.

Staff members and people spoke positively about the management of the home. Relatives told us communication with management was open and frequent. Quality checks and auditing were in use and there was a lessons learned process for when things go wrong. Actions and improvements from these were recorded and completed.

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 21 May 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about providing meaningful activities for people.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.