Archived: Ashton Manor

Updated 27 November 2018

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 27 September 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one 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 care service. The Expert by Experience at this inspection had experience of dementia, elderly care and mental health.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service. This included previous inspection reports and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager. 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. Following the inspection, we contacted health and social care agencies to gather feedback from them about the service.

We spoke with people throughout the inspection and observed how staff interacted with them. We also spoke with 14 people individually and a visiting family member. Not everyone was able to tell us their experiences of the care and support provided. We spent time observing how people were cared for and their interactions with staff to understand their experience of living in the service. We spoke with three care staff, the activities coordinator, the provider, registered manager and area manager.

We spent time looking at electronic records, including six people’s care and support records, three staff recruitment files and staff training records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, such as policies and procedures, accident/incident recording and audit documentation. We reviewed other records, including the registered manager's internal checks and audits, medication administration records (MAR), health and safety maintenance checks, accident and incidents, compliments and complaints and staff rotas.

The service was last inspected on 8 March 2016 and was awarded the rating of Good.

Updated 27 November 2018

This inspection took place on 27 September 2018 and was unannounced.

Ashton Manor is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Ashton Manor is a care home, without nursing and accommodates up to 22 people in one adapted building, for people with mental health conditions, people living with dementia and older people. At the time of inspection, there were 22 people living at the service.

The home is situated in Bognor Regis, West Sussex and accommodation was provided over three floors. There were assisted bathrooms on each floor, a large dining room, leading to the garden and one lounge area on the ground floor.

Ashton Manor is one of four services owned by the provider, who have two other homes and a domiciliary care agency (DCA) in the local area.

At our last inspection on 08 March 2016 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The manager registered with the Care Quality Commission in October 2012. 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.

The service continued to have robust safeguarding systems, policies and procedures to protect people from abuse. Local safeguarding procedures were followed to respond to safeguarding concerns promptly.

Risks to people continued to be assessed and people were supported to take positive risks.

People were given their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were ordered, stored and disposed of safely, according to the provider’s policies and procedures.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people and meet their needs. The provider completed pre-employment checks for all new members of staff. These checks help the provider to make safer recruitment decisions and help prevent unsuitable staff from working with people.

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.

People’s care, treatment and support continued to be delivered to a high standard and in line with current legislation. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and had access to healthcare services, when needed.

People continued to be treated with kindness, respect and compassion. We saw people being actively involved in making decisions about their care, as far as possible, such as; choice over food and drinks, participating in activities and personal care.

People continued to receive good person-centred care and were involved in developing their care plans. People felt confident to raise a complaint and speak to the registered manager, if needed.

People received personalised care, that was responsive to their needs, in areas such as engagement with the local community and how people were supported to follow their interests and hobbies.

Ashton Manor continued to promote a positive culture that was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowered people to live healthy, active lives.

The registered manager and provider actively involved staff in opportunities to continuously learn and improve the quality of the service, taking on board feedback from people, relatives and professionals.