Our current view of the service
Updated
10 August 2026
Our view of the service
About the service
Ashbury Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 29 people. At the time of this assessment there were 29 people using the service.
Who the service is for
The service supports older people, including people living with dementia, mental health needs and people with learning disabilities.
We carried out this assessment on 18 August 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.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found that the provider was working to this guidance.
People were supported in a service where safety remained a priority. Risks to people were assessed and managed in a way that balanced safety with independence and choice. Staffing levels were reviewed in line with people's needs and staff received training and support to carry out their roles safely. The provider had systems to learn from incidents, complaints and feedback and used this information to improve practice. Medicines were reviewed regularly with healthcare professionals and people were protected through safeguarding processes and partnership working with external agencies.
People received care from staff who understood their individual needs and preferences. Communication needs were assessed and supported through a range of accessible formats, assistive tools and personalised approaches. Staff worked collaboratively with healthcare professionals including GPs, community nursing teams, speech and language therapists, mental health services and learning disability teams to support people's health and wellbeing.
There was a caring culture throughout the home. People were supported to make choices, maintain relationships and participate in activities that were meaningful to them. Staff respected people's protected characteristics, cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs and personal preferences. The provider promoted dignity, autonomy and individual choice in day-to-day care.
Care was personalised and responsive to changes in people's needs. People received information in formats that met their communication needs and were encouraged to provide feedback about their experiences. The provider demonstrated a commitment to ensuring people had equitable access to care, support, activities and community opportunities.
Leaders had established governance systems to monitor quality and safety and promote continuous improvement. There was an open culture where learning, staff development and innovation were encouraged. The provider demonstrated a commitment to workforce wellbeing, inclusion and equality and worked collaboratively with external partners to improve outcomes for people.
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. 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. One professional described senior leaders as, "proactive", while another said they were, "Always wanting the best for people at Ashbury. They encourage people to live their own lives as they wish and if it involves risk, they handle that really well.”
People's experience of the service
Updated
10 August 2026
We gathered feedback from people living at the service, observed interactions between people and staff, and spoke with relatives and those important to people’s lives.
People felt safe, well cared for and supported by kind and responsive staff. People consistently told us they felt safe living at the home and had confidence that staff would respond quickly when they needed assistance. One person said, “I know staff will always come along when I need help.” Another person told us, “I feel very safe as there are always people around me who can help me.” People were reassured from staff's presence throughout the day and night. One person said, “I feel safe when I go to bed, knowing if there is an emergency people will deal with it.”
People and their relatives spoke positively about the caring nature of staff and management. Comments included, “Staff are so kind, there is nothing they will not do,” and “Everyone is so lovely and caring here.” One person told us, “I don't know what I would do without the staff, they make such a difference to my happiness.” Another person spoke warmly about an individual staff member and said, “She is so kind, understanding and caring with me and helps me so much.” Relatives echoed these views. One relative said, “Staff are very good to my relative and treat him with respect and dignity. I always feel I can talk to the staff and never have to worry about him, they are truly wonderful, a real family.” Another relative described the service as, “A real family here who care about everyone.”
People told us staff supported them to maintain their health and wellbeing and helped them access healthcare services when needed. One person said, “Having young staff here is good as they can help a lot. I'm going to the hospital for an appointment today and one of them is going with me. I feel safe with the staff as they also sort out all the paperwork to stop me worrying.” Another person told us, “If I am not happy, I will let staff know. I have no concerns about my health at the moment.” People described receiving reliable support with medicines and long-term health conditions. One person said, “I have my condition and staff look after me well, I have my medication when I need it. I've never missed my medication; staff know what to do.”
Relatives also highlighted positive outcomes for people’s health since moving into the home. One relative told us, “My [relative] had so much anxiety before and this has improved no end.” Another said, “I am kept updated with how [family member] is and he is happy here.
People were supported to maintain meaningful relationships, pursue their interests and take part in activities they enjoyed. People described positive experiences of one-to-one engagement and personalised activities that helped reduce social isolation and improve their wellbeing. One person told us, “I love to be read to as I spend all my time in my bedroom due to my health needs.”
People also spoke positively about the range of group activities available and how they were supported to make choices. One person said, “The staff give me goals and part of that is what activities I like to do. We go on trips to the Isle of Wight and the theatre and stuff like that.” Another said, "There is an activities programme so I can join in if I want to, which is great.” They have musicians in like today.” People were equally complimentary about the food provided, with people commenting, “The food here is lovely and tasty!”
People and relatives expressed confidence in the leadership of the service and the quality of care provided. Relatives consistently described the home as well managed and led by caring leaders who were approachable and responsive. One relative told us, “I know the manager very well, she is wonderful and cares so much about everyone and manages everything.” Another said, “If I had any concerns at all I would talk with Chloe, the manager.” Another said, “Ashbury is excellent and is managed so well,” and “It is such a good home, and I couldn't ask for a better managed home.”
Relatives were positive about the overall quality of care and support people received. One said, “I'd recommend this place to anyone.” Another said, “My loved one is safe, and staff are so kind, and I visit every day and have not had any complaints or worries.” These comments demonstrated people and those important to them felt reassured by the quality of care, support and leadership provided at the service.