CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ashfields Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, hygiene, admissions, visiting and managing outbreaks. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the risks from COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Ashfields Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, visiting and COVID-19 safety measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 31 January 2022. The CQC gave the home 72 hours’ notice.
Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19-related staffing pressures were affecting the home. They were assured that the home was using PPE safely, managing admissions, testing, hygiene and possible outbreaks appropriately.
The home was also meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including safe PPE use, testing and hygiene practices.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Inspectors were assured that visits were being supported in line with the guidance in place at the time.
“We were assured the provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with the current guidance.” from the report
COVID-19 vaccination requirement
The home was meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures affecting staffing levels and people's care now?
- 02How do you currently manage visits when there is an infection risk or outbreak?
- 03How do you check that PPE is used safely and that infection control procedures are followed?
- 04How are new residents admitted safely when there is a risk of infection?
- 05Are all non-exempt staff and visiting professionals currently meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 February 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, February 2020
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring and responsive support, with good safety, effectiveness and leadership.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 January 2020. The inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
Inspectors found people were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Care was tailored to people's histories, choices, communication needs and interests. People were supported to stay involved in decisions, maintain relationships and take part in activities. End of life care was also described as highly compassionate.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Caring and Responsive were rated Outstanding. Safe, Effective and Well-led were rated Good. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection, published on 23 August 2017.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found staff consistently showed compassion and treated people as individuals. People and relatives spoke very positively about the care.
“Staff showed compassion and consistently treated people with dignity and respect valuing them as individuals.” from the report
Personal choice
People were involved in their care and could choose how to spend their day, including when to get up, what to wear and whether to join activities.
“People were at the core of the decision making.” from the report
Activities and relationships
The home offered activities linked to people's interests and past lives. It also supported contact with relatives and developed links with local groups.
“A range of technology had been introduced to promote people's independence and interests.” from the report
End of life support
Inspectors found end of life care was exceptionally compassionate and focused on people's comfort and last wishes. Families were also supported after a person's death.
“The home optimised people's comfort and last wishes.” from the report
Communication support
Staff adapted communication methods as people's needs changed. They used pictures, letter boards, different written formats and electronic devices.
“People's communication needs were consistently met by staff who demonstrated enthusiasm to meet each persons communication needs to promote independence.” from the report
Learning and improvement
The home used audits, feedback and lessons from incidents to make changes. Staff were involved in improving medicines processes and other areas of care.
“We saw lessons had been learnt from incidents.” from the report
Medicines checks
needs fixingInspectors found some medicines stock and storage processes needed improvement. The manager had already identified this and created an action plan, with further checks introduced after the inspection.
“For some areas we saw improvements were needed, however these had already been identified by the registered manager through their audit process and an action plan developed.” from the report
Food choices
minorSome people said the food was sometimes less good. The home had started work on a wider menu and was taking account of people's views.
“Sometimes the food is good and sometimes it's less so. There's always a choice.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to medicines stock, storage and checking after the inspection?
- 02How do you now check that the medicines changes have stayed in place?
- 03What changes were made to the menu after people raised concerns about food?
- 04How are my relative's personal history, choices and communication needs recorded and shared with staff?
- 05What end of life support can you provide, and how would you involve our family in planning it?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care home covering all five key questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 2020 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 Ashfields Care Home
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Outstanding.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- August 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Requires improvementup from InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvement
- February 2017InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: InadequateResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- September 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 September 2014.
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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Most charge £1,010 to £1,260 a week. 51 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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