26 September 2019
During a routine inspection
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.