Archived: Ashbury - Bognor Regis

Updated 15 June 2016

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.'

This inspection took place on 16 March 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of an inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.

Before the inspection we checked the information that we held about the service and the service provider. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.

During our inspection we observed how staff interacted with people who used the service. We looked at how people were supported in the communal areas of the home. We also looked at care plans, risk assessments, incident records and medicines records for three people. We looked at training and recruitment records for three members of staff. We also looked at staffing rotas, staff handover records, minutes of meetings with people and staff, records of activities undertaken, menus and records relating to the management of the service such as audits and policies.

During our inspection, we apokw with 10 people who used the service and one visitor we also spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, the quality assurance manager, the cook and six care staff.

The service was last inspected in July 2014 and no concerns were identified.

Updated 15 June 2016

Ashbury is a 29 bedded care home without nursing providing 24 hour care for people with mental health needs that include schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. The home also provides support to people who may have a learning disability. The home is situated in Bognor Regis. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We were assisted throughout the inspection by the deputy manager who told us they would be applying for the registered manager’s position in the near future. The current registered manager stayed on site to offer support but allowed the deputy manager to gain experience of the inspection process.

People told us they felt safe with staff. There were policies and procedures regarding the safeguarding of adults. Risks to people had been identified and assessed appropriately. There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people and safe recruitment practices were followed. Medicines were managed safely.

Staff had received training to meet people’s needs and staff were supported to undertake additional qualifications. Staff training was up-to-date and staff told us the training provided was good. Regular staff meetings were held and an effective handover took place between each shift.

The CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. We found the registered manager understood when an application should be made and how to submit one. We found the provider to be meeting the requirements of DoLS. The registered manager and staff were guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) regarding best interests decisions should anyone be deemed to lack capacity.

People were supported to have sufficient to eat and drink and to maintain a healthy diet. They had access to healthcare professionals. People’s rooms were decorated in line with their personal preferences.

People and staff got on well and there was a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the home. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and personal care was delivered in private.

Care plans were person-centred and informed staff of the support people needed. People’s preferences and likes and dislikes were documented so that staff knew how people wished to be supported. Some people went out into the community independently while others required staff support. There were a variety of activities and outings on offer which people could choose to do. Complaints were dealt with in line with the provider’s policy.

People could express their views and discuss any issues or concerns with their keyworker, who co-ordinated all aspects of their care. There were policies and procedures in place regarding quality assurance and regular audits measured the quality of the care provided.