CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashlett Dale Rest Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured the home had good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 22 January 2021. It was carried out during the coronavirus pandemic and looked only at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and possible outbreaks. They also found that the infection prevention and control policy was up to date.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a standard rating for the five care questions.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had good infection prevention and control arrangements.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.” from the report
Maintaining contact
The home used video calls, garden visits and meetings through a closed window to help people stay in touch with relatives and friends.
“Alternative forms of maintaining social contact were used to ensure people were able to stay in touch with their friends and relatives” from the report
PPE and testing
Staff used appropriate PPE, and testing was in place for people living in the home and staff.
“Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when providing care and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How often are staff and residents tested now, and what happens if someone has symptoms?
- 02How can relatives visit or keep in contact with people living in the home now?
- 03How do you keep PPE use and infection prevention arrangements up to date?
- 04How are new residents tested and admitted safely?
- 05What has changed since the targeted inspection on 22 January 2021?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide a full service rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 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, February 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, responsive care, but medicines and risk records needed improvement.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 3 January 2018. They spoke with people living in the home, a relative, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, staff records, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. Safe was rated Requires Improvement because some medicines records and risk assessments were not complete or clear.
Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, a clean and well-maintained home, kind care and food that matched people's needs and preferences. The provider was working on updating care records and introducing a new format.
Enough suitable staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs safely. Recruitment checks were completed before staff started work.
“During our inspection there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to support people and meet their needs safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their choices, dignity and independence. People, relatives and professionals gave positive feedback about the care.
“People were cared for in a kind and sensitive way by staff who had a good understanding of their needs.” from the report
Food matched preferences
People were offered nutritious food based on their likes, dislikes and dietary needs. Alternative meals could be prepared when needed.
“People enjoyed a variety of meals in line with their likes, dislikes and preferences.” from the report
Open leadership
The provider was visible and approachable. Audits covered areas such as medicines, care records, infection control, equipment and fire safety.
“The provider was clearly visible in the home and they communicated in an open and transparent way” from the report
Medicines records and protocols
seriousRecords did not always accurately show medicines given as required. Staff did not always record or monitor the use and effect of medicines for pain, anxiety or agitation.
“For medicines which were prescribed to be given as required (PRN), protocols were not always in place to support staff in the safe administration of these.” from the report
Incomplete risk information
seriousSome risks linked to epilepsy and blood-thinning medicines were not clearly assessed or recorded, although staff understood what action to take.
“However, the risks associated with some people's health conditions and medicines had not always been assessed.” from the report
Limited privacy in communal areas
minorThe open-plan layout could make private conversations difficult. People could use their rooms when they wanted privacy.
“There was a calm and inclusive atmosphere in the home, although communal areas were very open plan which meant it was difficult at times if people wanted to have a private conversation.” from the report
Activities and family meetings
minorThere were no other set activities apart from some regular events, although staff based activities on what people wanted. Regular meetings with people and relatives were not being held.
“However there were no other set activities in the home.” from the report
- 01What has been done since the inspection to make sure as-required medicines are recorded accurately?
- 02How do you now record and review the effectiveness of medicines used for pain, anxiety or agitation?
- 03How are risks linked to epilepsy and blood-thinning medicines assessed and kept up to date?
- 04How do you provide privacy for people who need confidential conversations in the open-plan areas?
- 05What regular activities and ways of getting feedback from families are now available?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the care home; it was the first inspection under the registered provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 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 Ashlett Dale Rest Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2018GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 October 2016.
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.