CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ashcombe
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed. This included visitor checks, personal protective equipment, testing, safe admissions, cleaning and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe arrangements for visitors during the pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 15 February 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good arrangements for visitors, including temperature and symptom checks, hand washing, lateral flow tests and a garden visiting pod. The home also supported video and telephone calls when visits could not happen.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, testing people and staff, admitting new residents safely, and keeping the building clean. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Safe visiting
The home used checks, testing and a separate garden pod to help people see their families safely. It also supported calls when visits were not possible.
“The provider had acted to make sure people could have visitors safely.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with cleaning checklists and attention to frequently touched areas.
“The appearance of the home was clean and hygienic.” from the report
Testing and admissions
New residents were tested and isolated on arrival. Staff had daily lateral flow tests before shifts, and regular whole-home testing was in place.
“When new people were admitted, they were tested and isolated upon arrival.” from the report
PPE and infection training
Staff followed guidance on personal protective equipment. The home provided infection prevention and control training and checked staff practice.
“Staff followed the provider's PPE guidance which reflected government guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control and visiting arrangements are in place now, and how do they compare with those described in the report?
- 02Are new residents still tested and isolated when they arrive?
- 03How are staff tested before shifts, and what happens if a staff member has symptoms or a positive test?
- 04How do you check that staff use personal protective equipment correctly in practice?
- 05What recent audits or checks have been carried out on cleaning, infection control and outbreak readiness?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 April 2021 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.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Ashcombe was rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with improvements since 2016.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 22 and 23 May 2018. Two inspectors and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and other records, and observed care and mealtimes.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found medicines were managed safely, staffing was consistent, risks were assessed, and the environment was clean and maintained.
People were treated kindly and with respect. They had personalised care plans, daily activities, support with food and drink, and access to healthcare professionals. The report says improvements had been made since the August 2016 inspection, when Safe and Effective required improvement.
Safe medicines
Registered nurses administered medicines after training and competency checks. Inspectors found complete medicines administration records with no unexplained gaps.
“People had individual medicines administration records that had been completed in full with no unexplained gaps.” from the report
Consistent staffing
Staffing levels were consistent and could be increased when people's needs changed. Recruitment checks had been completed before staff started work.
“There were sufficient staff available to people and staff rotas demonstrated consistency.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed kind interactions and found that staff respected people's privacy, dignity, choices and preferred names.
“We observed many positive social interactions which demonstrated that staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Daily activities
Two dedicated activity workers organised activities every day. Attendance and engagement were recorded to help assess whether activities met people's needs.
“Activities were structured and provided daily.” from the report
Strong management
The report describes visible management, positive teamwork and detailed quality checks. The home worked with healthcare professionals and other local services.
“Quality monitoring was robust and carried out by the service and the provider to improve quality and safety.” from the report
Further refurbishment was pending
minorThe environment had improved, but the registered manager was still waiting for provider approval for work in more areas. Ask what happened to these plans and whether the work was completed.
“The registered manager had also submitted requests to improve more areas and was waiting for approval from the provider.” from the report
- 01What further refurbishment was awaiting approval in May 2018, and was it completed?
- 02How do you check staffing levels when a person's care needs increase because of illness?
- 03How are medicines records checked now, and are registered nurses still responsible for administration?
- 04How are people's activity preferences and engagement used when planning the daily programme?
- 05How are complaints and feedback currently recorded, investigated and used to make improvements?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, the overall quality of the home, its care and its premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 June 2018 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 Ashcombe
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 2011.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.