Ashton Court Care Home

Updated 26 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Ashton Court Care Home 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. Ashton Court Care Home is a care home with 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

During the inspection

We spoke to the registered manager, 5 care staff, 4 relatives and 5 people who live in Ashton Court. We reviewed a range of records; this included 3 people's complete care records and the medication records for 3 people.

We carried out a visual inspection of the home and observed interactions between people who lived at the home and staff.

We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision as well as staff feedback forms. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 26 January 2023

About the service

Ashton Court Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 42 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom live with dementia, across four floors in one purpose-built home. At the time of our inspection there were 40 people using the service.

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

People and their relatives were very positive about the care provided. People told us they felt safe and staff had the skills to support them. Relatives provided positive examples of how staff had helped improve people’s lives since moving to the home.

Staff were safely recruited and received an induction, followed by on-going training from the provider. Training was monitored and staff were supported with regular meetings and supervisions. Staffing levels were appropriate and met people’s needs.

People and relatives were involved in every stage of care planning. People had personalised care plans and staff were delivering person-centred care.

The registered manager had an effective quality assurance system which included regular audits and checks. These were used to identify any areas for improvement.

Staff ensured people living at the home were happy. Staff promoted people’s independence, their passions and personal interests. People, relatives, staff and professionals were offered opportunities to provide feedback about the care provided at the home.

The service was following infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe

Medicines were managed safely. Risks to people were assessed and action was taken to reduce the chances of them occurring. The registered manager acted on feedback immediately. People were safeguarded from abuse.

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.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good. (24 October 2019)

Why we inspected

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

Follow up

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