Ashminster House

Updated 27 September 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by three inspectors.

Service and service type

Ashminster House 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. Ashminster House 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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

We reviewed the information we held on the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 16 people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, team leaders, registered nurses, and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 27 September 2022

About the service

Ashminster House is a care home registered to support people with nursing and care needs relating to their health conditions, such as dementia, and frailty of old age. At the time of our inspection there were 55 people using the service.

Ashminster House accommodates 57 people across three separate wings, each of which has separate adapted facilities. Two units provided nursing care with registered nurses leading the staff team on each of those units. One of these units was called 'memory lane', to care for people who were living with dementia in the more advanced stages. The third unit provided care for those people who required residential care.

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

People using the service told us they felt safe and listened to at Ashminster House. People were encouraged to raise concerns and told us action was taken when this happened. Safeguarding incidents and accidents/concerns were investigated thoroughly, and the registered manager worked closely with local authority safeguarding teams.

Care records were comprehensive and detailed risks people faced. Risks had been assessed and guidance was in place for staff to follow to minimise the risk of these occurring and to keep people safe. Risks were regularly reviewed and updated as required. People who were receiving support from external healthcare professionals had updates to their care plans and there was clear guidance in place for staff to support people appropriately.

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.

People were supported by trained staff who had been recruited safely. There was a clear structure in place for staff to report to and the registered manager had an ‘open door policy’ in place enabling staff to go straight to them if they were concerned.

People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed. Records reviewed were complete and up to date and medicines were stored and disposed of correctly.

Staff supported people to stay as safe as possible and minimise the risk of infections. Staff had access to Personal Protective Equipment and had completed infection control training.

The registered manager completed a range of checks and audits of the service to ensure any issues were identified quickly and actions were taken to put things right. Accidents and incidents were investigated fully, and any lessons learnt from these were shared with the wider staff teams to minimise the risk of reoccurrence.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 8 September 2018)

Why we inspected

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staff practice. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe section of this full report.

Follow up

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