Ashton Care Ltd

Updated 27 February 2024

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 2 inspectors. An Expert by Experience made phone calls to people using the service and their relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. This service also provides care and support to people living in a 'supported living' setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.

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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was to ensure that the provider/registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 15 March 2023 and ended on 13 April 2023. We visited the location’s office on 15 March 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, a senior care worker and 8 care workers. We reviewed 3 staff recruitment files and policies and procedures. We spoke to 1 person using the service and 9 relatives about people’s experience of using the service. We also viewed 3 people's care records, including care plans, risk assessments and daily notes. We reviewed 4 staff files, including training records and supervision. We also reviewed quality assurance documents in relation to the management of the service.

Updated 27 February 2024

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Ashton Care Limited is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people who live in their own home. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is to help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection 24 people received personal care, 3 were children under the age of 16.

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

Right support

People were supported by staff who knew them well and who promoted their independence. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs. People were involved in making decisions about the support they received. 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.

Right Care

People and relatives felt the service was safe. However, people were put at risk of harm or sustaining an injury because risks to them were not always fully assessed. People were supported by staff who told us they had not received relevant training or formal supervision. Staff promoted equality and diversity, they understood people’s cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.

Right culture

Systems to monitor the quality of the services were not robust and required improvement. The provider was keen to improve the service and receptive to make changes. The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of managers and staff ensured people led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. People and their relatives had opportunities to give feedback about the service and contribute their ideas for improvement. Most felt the service was good and the registered manager approachable.

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 good (published 20 May 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to governance at this inspection. We have made a recommendation in relation to staff training and supervision.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

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