CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashfield House - Raunds
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, PPE, testing, cleaning, visiting arrangements and the use of isolation, cohorting and zoning. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Ashfield House - Raunds: targeted inspection found good infection-control arrangements, but the service was inspected and not rated.
Inspectors visited on 17 January 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
They found systems for visitor checks, testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning and social distancing. They were assured that infection risks were being managed and that visits were being supported in line with guidance.
The home had measures to manage staff shortages, including covering vacant shifts with existing, bank and sometimes agency staff. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a rating for Safe.
Visitor safety
Visitors were managed through booking, testing, vaccination checks, temperature checks, agreements and signing in.
“Safe arrangements were in place for visitors to the service including relatives and friends, professionals and others.” from the report
Infection control
The home used isolation, zoning, social distancing, enhanced cleaning and regular COVID-19 testing to reduce infection risks.
“Isolation, cohorting and zoning were used to manage the risk of infection spread.” from the report
PPE and hygiene
Inspectors found enough protective equipment and checks on hand hygiene and the safe use and disposal of PPE.
“There was plenty of personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser available.” from the report
Management oversight
The registered manager carried out regular checks, and infection-control policies and procedures were up to date.
“The registered manager had good oversight of infection prevention and control processes.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently checked and supported to visit safely?
- 02How do you manage infection outbreaks, including isolation, zoning and testing?
- 03How many staff vacancies or agency shifts do you currently have, and how do you make sure this does not affect care?
- 04How often are cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE practices checked?
- 05When was the last inspection that assessed care quality beyond infection control?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it did not rate the overall service or assess the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 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.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Ashfield House - Raunds was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 August 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, regular risk reviews and safe recruitment. People were supported by staff who knew their needs and preferences. Care was described as kind, respectful and person-centred.
People were supported with food, activities, healthcare and communication. The management team used audits, feedback, complaints and incidents to make improvements. The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
The previous inspection, published in February 2017, also rated the home Good. This was a planned inspection based on that previous rating.
Staff knew people well
People received care from a regular group of staff who understood their needs, choices and preferences.
“People received care from a regular group of staff who knew people well.” from the report
Personalised care
People and their representatives were involved in care planning. Plans included individual preferences, interests, cultural needs and important relationships.
“People were involved in the planning of their care; their care plans clearly showed how people preferred to receive their care.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring and friendly. Staff respected privacy, asked permission before care and encouraged independence.
“People told us staff were kind and friendly.” from the report
Good management oversight
The management team used audits, feedback, complaints and incidents to identify improvements and involved staff in finding solutions.
“The management team continually monitored the quality of the service, identifying issues and making changes to improve the care provided.” from the report
Medicine audits found issues
minorRegular medicines audits identified some issues. The report says these were corrected promptly, but families may wish to ask what the issues were and how medicines are checked now.
“Regular medicines' audits highlighted issues. These were rectified in a timely manner.” from the report
- 01The report says the home did not provide nursing care. Can you meet my relative's current and likely future health needs?
- 02What issues were found in recent medicines audits, and what checks are now in place to prevent them happening again?
- 03How will my relative's care plan be updated when their needs, preferences or risks change?
- 04Which activities would suit my relative's interests, and how can they choose whether to take part?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in care planning and decisions about end of life wishes?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with both the premises and care looked at; all five previous Good ratings remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 October 2019 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 Ashfield House - Raunds
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 December 2010.
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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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North Northamptonshire
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.