CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ascot Lodge Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough staff, safe recruitment systems, risk assessments and medicines procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received appropriate care, nutrition and support with healthcare needs. However, daily hydration records were not always accurate when thickener was used.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people's routines and preferences, and families were kept informed.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People's needs and preferences were met, and staff supported relationships, interests and communication. Some care plans and end-of-life records needed more person-centred detail.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open culture, clear management arrangements and systems for monitoring quality and safety. People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the management team.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with more detail needed in some records.
This was the first inspection since the service registered in March 2023. One inspector visited unannounced on 30 October 2023 and announced on 31 October 2023. They observed care, checked the home, reviewed three care plans, medicines records, staff training and quality records, and spoke with people, staff, managers and relatives.
Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe medicines support, safeguarding systems and good infection control. People said staff were kind, knew them well and respected their choices. Relatives also gave positive feedback about the care and management.
The main shortfall was that some care plans did not give enough person-specific instructions for staff. Some hydration records were not accurate, and some emergency evacuation and end-of-life records needed more detail. The overall rating and each of the five areas were Good.
Familiar staff
Many staff had worked at the home for several years. Inspectors found they knew people's needs and preferences well.
“Many of the staff were longstanding members who had worked at the home for several years.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and supportive. Inspectors observed warm interactions and found that people's dignity, privacy and independence were respected.
“We observed warm and positive interactions between staff and the people they supported.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff to meet people's needs promptly. Medicines records included guidance for medicines given when needed.
“The provider ensured there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff and people's needs were met in a timely way.” from the report
Open management
Inspectors found a positive culture and management that people, relatives and staff felt able to approach.
“The management team operated an 'open door' policy and were available for people and their relatives to speak to at any time.” from the report
Hydration records
needs fixingPeople were receiving the prescribed thickener, but staff did not always record each drink accurately. The manager said the paperwork would be amended.
“people's daily hydration records were not always accurate.” from the report
Some emergency plans needed more detail
needs fixingPersonal emergency evacuation plans were in place, but some lacked enough person-specific information. The manager said this would be added immediately.
“Although people had Personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) in place, some required further person-centred information.” from the report
End-of-life records
needs fixingSome records did not contain enough detail about people's preferences for end-of-life care. Inspectors discussed this with the manager.
“Some people's records required further details regarding their preferences for end-of-life care.” from the report
- 01How have you updated care plans to give staff clear, person-specific instructions, including how often night-time checks should happen?
- 02How do you make sure thickener is given and recorded every time a person receives a drink?
- 03Have all personal emergency evacuation plans been updated with the extra information identified by inspectors?
- 04How do you record and review each person's preferences for end-of-life care?
- 05How will you check that the improvements discussed during the inspection have been completed?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 November 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Ascot Lodge Nursing Home
6 rated inspections over 9 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2023
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 February 2023.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.