Ashley Gardens

Updated 24 February 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 16 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 24 February 2021

About the service:

Ashley Gardens is a care home registered to provide care and accommodation for 47 older persons. There were 38 people living at the service on the day of our inspection. The service specialises in providing care for older people, some of whom were living with dementia. The service is a purpose-built care home providing private rooms and communal space and gardens for people.

People’s experience of using this service:

• People were happy with the care they received, felt relaxed with staff and told us they were treated with kindness. They said they felt safe, were well supported and there were sufficient staff to care for them.

• Our own observations supported this, and we saw friendly relationships had developed between people and staff. A visitor told us, “I know my friend is safe because she tells me she has every confidence in the staff”.

• People enjoyed an independent lifestyle and told us their needs were met. The enjoyed the food, drink and activities that took place daily. One person told us, “In my last care home, I fell and lost my confidence. Now I have regained it”. Another person said, “They bring drinks round every hour”.

• People felt the service was homely and welcoming and their health and wellbeing needs were met. One person told us, “They know about my health needs. A carer took me to the optician”.

• Staff had received essential training and it was clear from observing the care delivered and the feedback people and staff gave us, that they knew the best way to care for people in line with their needs and preferences. A member of staff told us, “Induction and training is good. There is a positive atmosphere here, with good support and we are helpful and patient”.

• The provider had systems of quality assurance to measure and monitor the standard of the service and drive improvement. These systems also supported people to stay safe by assessing and mitigating risks, ensuring that people were cared for in a person-centred way and that the provider learned from any mistakes.

• People told us they thought the service was well managed and they enjoyed living there. One person told us, “The care comes from the heart”.

• Our own observations and the feedback we received supported this. People received high quality care that met their needs and improved their wellbeing from dedicated and enthusiastic staff.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 25 August 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the intelligence we receive about this home and plan to inspect in line with our re-inspection schedule for those services rated Good.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk