Ashchurch View

Updated 8 January 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors 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.

Service and service type

Ashchurch View 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.

There was a registered manager at Ashchurch View. A representative of the provider who was in day to day control of the home was in the process of applying to be registered with CQC. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider had not been asked to complete a provider information return prior to our inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received from the provider, including statutory notifications.

During the inspection

We spoke with 12 people who used the service and eight people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 15 members of staff including five care staff, an activity lead, the chef, head of housekeeping, a unit lead, three nurses, the registered manager and two representatives of the provider. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records; this included seven people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 8 January 2020

About the service

Ashchurch View is a residential care home which provides personal and nursing care to 60 older people and people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection 50 people were receiving care. Ashchurch View is located in Ashchurch, close to Tewkesbury. The home is set across three units, Lancaster, Red Rose and York. The home is set in well presented gardens which people could access. There was a range of communal areas that people and their relatives could use.

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

The registered manager and provider had carried out a number of improvements at Ashchurch View. This included a range of recruitment, which had improved people’s continuity of care. Management, activity and care staff had built strong links with the local community, improving people’s wellbeing. The registered manager was instilling a positive caring culture in the home which was welcomed by people, their relatives and staff.

The registered manager and provider had clear and robust systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality of care people received. Systems were designed to continuously improve the service and drive positive changes.

People, their relatives and healthcare professionals felt Ashchurch View was now a safe place. People received appropriate care and treatment, based on current guidance and best practice. People’s risks were known by care and nursing staff. Care and nursing staff were fully aware of their responsibilities to raise concerns and the registered manager and provider ensured lessons were learnt from any incidents or accidents.

Staff were well trained and had the skills to meet people’s needs. Staff had access to support, reflective practice and continued professional development they needed. People received effective care and treatment. The service worked alongside a range of healthcare professionals to ensure people’s health and wellbeing were maintained.

People told us care and nursing staff were kind, caring and compassionate. Staff were attentive to people’s needs and knew how to promote their wellbeing. When people were anxious, care staff took time to reassure them and promote their wellbeing. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People received care which was personalised to their needs. Where people’s needs changed or their health deteriorated, nursing and care staff took appropriate and effective action to ensure their health and wellbeing. People enjoyed an engaging and varied life at Ashchurch View. People and their relative’s spoke positively about the activities in the home as well as the one to one engagement they received. The registered manager and provider ensured people’s views were acted upon.

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.

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 15 January 2019) and we identified two breaches of regulation. 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 that improvements had been embedded and sustained.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating of “Requires Improvement”. At this inspection we found that the service had improved and was now rated as “Good”.

Follow up

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