CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashgrove Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, safe medicines management, safeguarding procedures, enough staff and systems to prevent and control infections.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's consent and best-interest decisions were recorded, staff training and supervision had improved, and people received support with meals, healthcare and oral care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and caring. Inspectors found that people's privacy, dignity, independence, equality and involvement in decisions were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People were supported with communication, activities, visitors, relationships and end of life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers had introduced audits, staff training and supervision systems, care plan checks and a digital care planning system. Feedback was used to improve the home.
What inspectors found, June 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 May 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers. They observed care and checked care plans, risk assessments, medicines, infection control and staff records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found robust risk assessments, safe medicines management, enough staff and suitable infection control arrangements. People were supported to make choices and staff treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement, with breaches linked to governance, consent, safe care and treatment, and staffing. Inspectors found that the required improvements had been made. The overall rating changed from Requires Improvement to Good.
Detailed risk planning
Risk assessments covered health conditions, falls, skin problems and depression. They explained what staff should do to reduce risks.
“At this inspection, we found risks assessments relating to people's health and care needs were robust.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw kind interactions and found that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“We observed staff had positive relationship with people and had a kind and caring approach towards them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, background, lifestyle and support needs. People were involved in decisions about their care.
“Care plans gave a person-centred profile of the person.” from the report
Improved management oversight
The management team introduced audits and checks covering areas such as medicines, infection control, staffing and care plans. Inspectors found that improvements had been made and sustained.
“At this inspection, we found improvements had been made and sustained.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People took part in activities and were supported to see family and friends. Inspectors saw activities including board games and chair exercises.
“People were supported to develop and maintain relationships with their family and friends.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure the improvements in risk assessments, infection control and medicines management continue?
- 02How far has the digital care planning system been implemented, and how are changes to care plans checked?
- 03How often will my relative receive staff supervision and how will you ensure staff training stays up to date?
- 04What work is included in the refurbishment plan, and when will it be completed?
- 05How will you record and respond if my relative or our family raises a complaint or concern?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; inspectors reviewed five care plans and four staff files. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 June 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, July 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found improved quality checks, but the home still needed to sustain them and complete respite risk assessments.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 4 July 2022. One inspector checked whether the home had improved its governance after the previous inspection. The inspector spoke with four people, the provider, managers and two staff, and reviewed audits, risk assessments, training, supervision and consent records.
The home had improved its quality checks. It was carrying out audits of medicines, care plans, infection control and nutrition, as well as daily walkarounds and night-time checks. The home was no longer in breach of Regulation 17, which covers good governance.
Inspectors found that infection prevention arrangements were in place, including safe use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning and visiting arrangements. However, detailed risk assessments were not yet in place for people staying at the home for respite care.
The service was inspected but not rated. Its previous overall rating of Requires Improvement remained unchanged because this targeted inspection did not assess the whole service.
Quality checks improved
The home had introduced several audits and checks to identify shortfalls and take action. Inspectors found enough improvement for the previous governance breach to be resolved.
“At this inspection we found enough improvement had been made and the service was no longer in breach of Regulation 17 and had complied with the requirement notice in this area.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including safe use of protective equipment and access to testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visits supported
The home was facilitating visits in line with the current guidance.
“The provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with the current guidance.” from the report
Respite risk assessments
needs fixingDetailed risk assessments were not in place for people staying at the home for respite care. Managers said this would be put in place immediately.
“Risk assessments were in place for people living at the home permanently However, we found detailed risk assessments were not in place for people living at the home on a respite basis.” from the report
Improvements must last
minorThe home had improved, but inspectors said it needed to make sure the new systems were used consistently and continued over time.
“However, the provider needs to ensure recent improvements are consistently implemented and sustained.” from the report
- 01How will you assess and record my relative's risks if they use respite care?
- 02What checks are now carried out on medicines, care plans, infection control and nutrition?
- 03How do daily walkarounds and night-time spot checks identify and resolve problems?
- 04How will you show that the recent improvements are being consistently maintained?
- 05What were the results of the external consultants' audits and what actions remain?
This was a targeted inspection of governance under Regulation 17 and infection prevention measures; it did not assess the whole of any key question, so the previous ratings remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 July 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 Ashgrove Residential Care Home
6 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- June 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Ashgrove Residential Care Home →
- July 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Ashgrove Residential Care Home →
- May 2022Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 November 2020.
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 Havering
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 £1,230 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Sidonia is a first class live-in carer whose dedication and thoughtfulness made her stay a happy experience.”
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
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.