Ash-lee

Updated 11 December 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Ash-Lee is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file, for a person who had been recruited since the last inspection, in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records related to the management of the service, including audits, safety certification, policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received confirmation of safety inspections and risk assessments from the registered manager.

Updated 11 December 2019

About the service

Ash-Lee is a residential care home providing personal care to 6 adults with a learning disability at the time of the inspection.

The service is a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It is registered for the support of up to 10 people. Six people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

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

People received safe care. The provider had systems to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff assessed and managed risks to people to help keep them safe. Staff managed people’s medicines safely and kept the home clean and hygienic.

People were cared for by staff who were well supported and had the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs effectively, following good practice guidance. Staff supported people with their healthcare needs and worked well with external healthcare professionals. The service met people’s nutritional needs and worked with them to make sure food provision also reflected their preferences. 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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People were treated well, with kindness and compassion by staff who respected their privacy and dignity and promoted inclusion. The service supported people to be independent. We received positive feedback about the caring approach of staff.

The service put people at the centre of the care they received. Staff used detailed assessments to identify people’s needs and preferences and worked to ensure people were happy with the care they received. If people were not happy, they were confident they could speak with staff to make improvements. The service made sure people were supported to communicate and planned activities to enhance people’s wellbeing.

The service was led by a registered manager who people described as friendly and caring. People felt the care they received was of a good standard and liked living at the home. The culture was open and inclusive. The registered manager understood their responsibilities and monitored the quality of the service using a range of systems. Where areas for improvement were identified, the registered manager involved people who used the service and staff to shape improvements.

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 04 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.