Background to this inspection
Updated
2 December 2023
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.
Service and service type
Ashbridge Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager and provider, 3 staff members, 4 people who lived at the home and 3 relatives. We reviewed 3 people's care records including risk assessments and medicine records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
2 December 2023
About the service
Ashbridge Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 5 people. The home supported adults over the age of 65 and under the age of 65, people living with dementia and people with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were kept safe within the home and were protected from the risk of potential abuse.
Risk was assessed and regularly reviewed by the registered manager with the involvement of relevant health professionals. Relatives were assured their family member was kept safe. Health and safety was monitored within the home and audits were completed.
There were enough staff to provide safe care and support to people and the provider followed safe recruitment practices.
The home was clean and infection control practices were followed in line with the policy to reduce the risk of spreading or acquiring an infection.
People were supported to receive their medicines on time and registered manager regularly audited medicines and addressed any errors immediately.
People’s needs were assessed before they began to live in the home and equipment needed was obtained with support of health professionals. Staff received appropriate training relevant to their role and regular supervision and appraisal.
People’s nutrition and fluid needs were met. Consent to care was requested by staff before providing support and staff understood to respect people’s decisions. Best interest decisions were made on behalf of people to ensure they received care and support promptly.
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 and their relatives liked staff and told us staff were kind and respectful. Equality and diversity was respected and people’s privacy and dignity was maintained. People’s preferences were respected and care was planned around each persons needs.
People’s communication needs were met by the home and resources were available to support people to understand information presented to them. Relatives were actively encouraged to be involved and visit their family member. People could take part in different activities if they wished.
People’s end of life wishes were discussed if people and their relatives wanted to.
The atmosphere within the home was calm and staff were seen to be happy working with people.
Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and relatives were also pleased with the level of communication and support from the registered manager.
There were effective monitoring systems in place to check the quality of the home. The registered manager was open and transparent if anything went wrong within the service. Learning and development was important to the registered manager and they ensured their staff had the opportunity to develop further.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 10 November 2022 and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, on 1 November 2017.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.