Ashfield Court

Updated 11 December 2020

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 2 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 11 December 2020

About the service: Ashfield Court Care Home (‘Ashfield Court’) provides personal care and accommodation to up to 46 older people across two floors in one purpose built home. There were 45 people living at the service at the time of our inspection, 23 of whom were living with dementia.

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

The new manager had made a range of improvements to record keeping and staffing to ensure people’s needs were safely and effectively met.

Risk assessments contained improved person-centred information. Daily recording information was accurate and up to date. People were kept safe through good staff knowledge and awareness.

The manager worked proactively in consultation with external healthcare professionals.

Feedback from people, their relatives and a range of external professionals was positive regarding the compassionate, affectionate and sensitive approach of staff. The service felt welcoming and calm as a result.

People were included in the running of the service. The manager had planned formal resident and relative meetings and was accessible and approachable.

People ate well and had a choice of meals and snacks. Menus were varied and staff were patient when helping people decide what meals to choose.

The premises were suitable and spacious. People’s rooms were clean and well decorated. The first floor was specifically for people living with dementia and areas could be improved with better regard to best practice about dementia friendly environments. We have made a recommendation about this.

The manager planned improvements in end of life care training. Currently, there was sufficient information gathered through discussion with people and their families about how they wanted to be supported at this time.

Activities were in place and there had been some recent improvements to community involvement. Feedback from people and relatives was consistent in that they felt there should be more outings. The manager had acknowledged this and was planning appropriately. We have made a recommendation about this.

The manager was well respected in the organisation and further afield. They were open and supportive with staff and liaised well with external professionals.

Training compliance had improved significantly under the new manager and further additional training was planned.

Clear systems were in place for the review and audit of all aspects of the service. Where auditing could be improved to focus more on quality, the manager took on board this advice.

Medicines were managed safely, in line with best practice. Covert medicines and medicines to be given ‘when required’ were well supported by clear paperwork. The premises were well maintained and appropriate health and safety checks were in place. Emergency procedures and contingency plans were in place.

People’s capacity was assumed and staff acted in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Best interest decision-making followed best practice guidance.

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 requires improvement (published 29 August 2018). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.