Archived: Ashby House

Updated 21 May 2019

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out this inspection, supported by 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:

Ashby House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

We reviewed information we had received about the service, which included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We reviewed the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also considered other information sent to us, for example from the local authority and members of the public. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives to ask about their experience of the care provided. Most of the people using the service were unable to give us their views in detail because of their complex needs. We therefore spent time observing how staff interacted with people and how they supported and cared for them. We did this to understand people's experience of living at the service. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager and telephoned three professionals who were involved in people’s care.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and medication records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 21 May 2019

About the service:

Ashby House is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal care for six younger adults with a learning disability and autism. The service is provided in a large converted home, which has been adapted to provide en-suite bedrooms, two activity rooms, a quiet room and multi-purpose outside space. At the time of this inspection six people used the service.

People's experience of the service:

The service had been developed in line with values than underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

People received personalised care from staff who understood their needs well. There was a strong emphasis on fulfilling people's aspirations and supporting them to achieve their goals. People were supported to take part in activities that involved them in the local community and enabled them to build friendships outside of the home. Professionals were positive about the outcomes people achieved at the service.

The provider and registered manager used management systems to identify and manage risks to the quality of the service and drive continuous improvement. The registered manager promoted an open, and positive culture across the service which ensured people’s diverse needs were understood and respected.

The registered manager and staff worked collaboratively with other professionals to ensure people received effective care. Staff were trained and motivated to meet people’s individual needs and referred them to other health professionals to ensure their day-to-day healthcare needs were met.

People were treated with kindness and had warm, caring relationships with staff. Staff treated people with respect and promoted their privacy and dignity at all times.

People were supported to be as independent as possible and have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received safe care, with risks continually assessed to ensure both their home environment and outings in the community were safe. Staff developed innovative ways to support people to manage behaviour that challenged the service, whilst minimising restrictions on people.

The provider recorded and acted on complaints and sought the views of people, relatives, professionals and staff on how things could be improved at the service.

Rating at last inspection: This is the first inspection of the service, which registered with us in May 2018.

Why we inspected: To provide a rating for the service.

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

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk