CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashcroft Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff understood people's individual risks, staffing levels had improved, and medicines and infection control were managed safely. The home had also improved its premises and equipment.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's health, nutrition and hydration needs were supported, staff training had improved, and people were more involved in decisions. The home worked well with other professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as kind, attentive and respectful. People were supported to make choices, maintain their independence and have their privacy and dignity respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care and activities were more person-centred, with much more meaningful engagement. Care records were still being updated and inspectors recommended making them more accessible.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Leadership, communication, feedback and quality monitoring had improved significantly. Inspectors found that audit records did not always contain enough detail, although improvements were made during the inspection.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Rated Good and no longer in Special Measures; inspectors found safe, kind care with some records still being improved.
Inspectors visited without notice on 24 May and 7 June 2023. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safer medicines systems, improved training, kind care and better activities and communication.
The home had improved greatly since its previous Inadequate rating. It was previously in Special Measures, but inspectors found it was no longer breaching regulations and it was removed from Special Measures.
Some work was still under way. Care records needed to be easier for people and families to access, and quality checks needed clearer records.
Improved staffing
Staffing levels had increased and people did not have to wait for support. Staff also had more time for meaningful interaction.
“The provider had increased staffing levels immediately following the last inspection.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff listened, communicated patiently and treated the home as people's own home. People and relatives gave very positive feedback about how staff behaved.
“Staff in all roles within the home interacted with people in very kind, attentive and caring ways.” from the report
Meaningful activities
Activities and everyday interaction had improved greatly. People joined in with group activities and staff spent more informal time with them.
“There was a lively, jolly vibe in the home, with a good range of activities available.” from the report
Safer medicines
Medicines were ordered, stored and given correctly, with individual support and clearer guidance for medicines given when needed.
“People received safe support with their medicines.” from the report
Stronger management
Management oversight, communication and involvement of relatives had improved. Staff felt supported and more confident to raise concerns.
“There had been a significantly positive shift in the culture in the service.” from the report
Care records still developing
needs fixingCare records were being updated with more person-centred detail, but inspectors recommended making them easier for people, families and staff to access.
“Care records were in the process of being updated with greater detail to reflect the person centred approach which was being embedded in the service.” from the report
Audit records need more detail
needs fixingQuality checks were carried out, but the records did not always clearly show what had been checked. The manager improved the documentation during the inspection.
“Although records of these were kept, they did not always contain specific information about what had been checked.” from the report
Oral care consistency
minorOne relative felt toothbrushing was not always done, despite improvements in storage and support for people's oral health.
“One relative said there was still some room for improvement with toothbrushing, as thy felt this was not always done.” from the report
- 01How can my relative and our family see and contribute to their care records?
- 02How are you checking that care records contain enough detail about each person's preferences and needs?
- 03How do your quality audits show exactly what was checked and what action was taken?
- 04How do you make sure toothbrushing and other oral care are completed consistently?
- 05As the home no longer provides nursing care, how would you meet my relative's health and care needs?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; the home had stopped providing nursing care by the time of the visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 July 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.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Ashcroft Nursing Home was rated Inadequate and placed in special measures after inspectors found serious safety, care and management weaknesses.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 and 27 September 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine and other records.
People were at risk because risks were not properly assessed, staffing was not enough, medicines were not safely managed, and some equipment and parts of the building were unsafe. Staff training, safeguarding, infection control and care records also had important gaps.
Staff were seen to be calm, patient and caring, and some relatives trusted them. However, people were not always involved in decisions, activities were not meaningful for everyone, and communication with families was inconsistent.
The overall rating fell from Good at the previous inspection, published in March 2019, to Inadequate. The home was placed in special measures, with CQC asking for an action plan and saying it would monitor progress and normally re-inspect within six months.
Kind staff approach
Inspectors saw staff approach people calmly and patiently. Relatives also described staff as friendly, kind and welcoming.
“Staff told us they tried their best to be kind and caring and we saw staff approached people with a calm, patient and caring manner.” from the report
Some trusted relationships
Some relatives felt their family members were safe and well cared for overall, and trusted the staff.
“People's relatives said they thought their loved ones were safe and well cared for overall.” from the report
Meals enjoyed
People told inspectors they generally liked the meals, and staff tried to help people who needed support to eat.
“People enjoyed the meals in the home. One person said, "Oh I like the dinners.” from the report
Routine healthcare input
Records showed involvement from GPs and other healthcare professionals where needed, including support relating to mental health, feet and eye care.
“There was evidence of routine healthcare, for example GP and local healthcare team support.” from the report
Unsafe care and medicines
seriousRisks were not properly managed, including risks linked to diabetes, pressure injuries, weight loss and nutrition. Medicine stocks did not always match records, and staff could not explain some discrepancies.
“People's supplies of medicines did not always correspond with the records of what they had been given.” from the report
Not enough staff
seriousPeople sometimes waited a considerable time for basic care because staff were busy elsewhere. Relatives and staff raised concerns about staffing levels.
“There were insufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's care needs. This placed people at risk of harm.” from the report
Poorly matched activities
needs fixingActivities were not based consistently on people's interests, and some people sat without taking part. Inspectors found limited stimulation and choice.
“Activities were not meaningful to people and there was a lack of participation.” from the report
Weak management oversight
seriousQuality audits did not reliably identify problems, and records about care and communication were incomplete. The provider did not show that concerns were being used to improve the service.
“There was a lack of oversight from the provider to demonstrate quality assurance and ensure received safe care.” from the report
Limited involvement in decisions
needs fixingPeople were not always consulted about everyday choices or their care. Staff did not consistently understand or follow the principles of decision-making law.
“People were not always consulted and supported to make choices for themselves.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to medicine checks, stock records and guidance for medicines given as required?
- 02How many staff are now deployed on each shift, and how do you check that people are not waiting too long for care?
- 03How are risks such as pressure injuries, weight loss, diabetes and repositioning recorded and monitored?
- 04What meaningful activities are now available, and how are people's interests and choices used to plan them?
- 05What evidence can you show of the action plan and improvements found through your quality audits?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions after concerns about the environment and the quality and safety of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 November 2022 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 Ashcroft Nursing Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- July 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2022Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- February 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 June 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Kirklees
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 £1,260 a week. 86 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
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.