CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashley Gardens
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place.
Inspectors visited the home on 16 February 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic. They looked at infection prevention and control measures rather than the full range of care.
Inspectors were assured that visitors, new admissions, residents and staff were protected through testing, PPE, cleaning, risk assessments and updated infection control procedures. They also found measures to support social distancing where possible.
The home had experienced a high number of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff. Inspectors reported that staffing levels were maintained and that staff continued to support people during the outbreak.
The home was not given an overall quality rating or a rating for safe care. The service was marked “Inspected but not rated”, so this report does not provide a full assessment of the home.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including appropriate PPE use.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Staff commitment
Staff continued to support people during a serious outbreak, while the home took steps to maintain staffing levels.
“Despite a large number of people and staff being affected, staff had remained committed to providing care and support to people.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
The home had regular COVID-19 testing and checks for people and staff entering the building.
“A programme of regular COVID-19 testing was in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are infection outbreaks prevented and managed now, and what would happen if there were a new outbreak?
- 02What testing arrangements are currently used for residents, staff and visitors?
- 03How is PPE supplied, used and checked by staff?
- 04How do you maintain staffing levels when staff are absent because of illness or isolation?
- 05How are individual health risks and the risks of new admissions assessed before someone moves into the home?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. 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, June 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
The inspection took place without notice on 9 April 2019. One inspector and an expert by experience visited the home. They spoke with 10 residents, three relatives, six staff members and a healthcare professional. They also observed care and checked records, including four care plans and four staff recruitment files.
There were 38 people living at the home, which can provide care and accommodation for 47 older people, including some people living with dementia. Inspectors found that people felt safe, were treated kindly and had enough staff support. Medicines, risks, infection control, staff recruitment and care records were managed safely.
People's health, nutrition, communication needs and personal preferences were supported. Staff received training and worked with healthcare professionals. Residents had choices about their daily routines, care, activities and food. Inspectors saw respectful care that promoted dignity, independence and family relationships.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection, published in 2016, was also rated Good. Inspectors said improvements had been made in how the home responded to people's changing needs.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive relationships between people and staff. People were given choices and supported to remain as independent as possible.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained to give medicines and records were accurate. Medicines were stored securely, checked regularly and given discreetly.
“We observed a member of staff giving medicines sensitively and appropriately.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, interests, religious beliefs and communication requirements. Staff were said to know people well.
“Detailed individual person-centred care plans had been developed, enabling staff to support people in a personalised way that was specific to their needs and preferences” from the report
Improvement since the last inspection
The previous inspection identified improvements needed in responding to changing needs. Inspectors found that these improvements had been made.
“At the last inspection, we identified areas of improvement required in relation to the service responding to people's changing needs. We saw that improvements had been made.” from the report
Active management
The home used audits and feedback to monitor quality and identify trends. People, relatives and staff said the home was well managed.
“The service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high quality, person-centred care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check staffing levels each day when people's needs change or staff are absent?
- 02How are care plans updated when a person's health, communication needs or preferences change?
- 03What activities and support are currently available for residents with dementia, different interests or religious needs?
- 04How do you record and follow residents' wishes about end of life care?
- 05How can residents and relatives raise concerns, and how are complaints followed up?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care home covering all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 June 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 Ashley Gardens
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 November 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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.