CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashley House Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures, testing, personal protective equipment, isolation procedures and visiting arrangements were in place. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 inspection.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
The home was clean, tidy and well ventilated. Visitors were checked for COVID-19 symptoms and asked for evidence of testing and vaccination where relevant. Staff and visitors had access to enough personal protective equipment.
The provider had plans for staff absences linked to COVID-19. Isolation procedures were in place for people who were infected. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a quality rating for the home.
Clean and well ventilated
Inspectors found the home clean, tidy and well ventilated, with communal furniture spaced to support social distancing.
“The home was clean, tidy and well ventilated.” from the report
Visitor checks
Visitors were asked for COVID-19 testing and vaccination evidence where relevant. Their temperatures and symptoms were also checked.
“Visitors to the home were asked to produce evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) and show their NHS COVID pass as evidence of vaccination, where relevant.” from the report
PPE supplies
Inspectors found that staff and visitors could access personal protective equipment, with enough supplies in stock and designated stations in the home.
“Staff and visitors had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and there was sufficient PPE supply in stock.” from the report
Managing infection risks
The home had isolation procedures for people who were infected and had arrangements to manage COVID-19-related staff absences.
“Isolation procedures were in place and implemented where people were infected to control the spread of infection.” from the report
Further development suggested
minorThe report says CQC signposted the provider to resources to develop its approach. It does not explain what specific changes were needed.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection in your approach to infection prevention and control?
- 02How do you cover staff absences caused by COVID-19 or other staffing pressures?
- 03How would you manage an infection outbreak or a person needing to isolate?
- 04What checks are currently required for visitors, including testing, vaccination evidence and symptoms?
- 05What resources did CQC recommend, and what improvements have you made as a result?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 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 11 March 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, March 2019
Ashley House Care Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and confirmed that a previous reporting failure had been fixed.
Inspectors visited on 21 February 2019. This was an announced inspection by one inspector. They spoke with all three people living there, staff and healthcare professionals, and reviewed care, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe, were treated with dignity and had their choices respected. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines practices, personalised care plans and effective links with healthcare services.
The home had previously been rated Requires improvement in March 2018. At this inspection, inspectors found that the earlier failure to notify CQC about incidents reported to the police had been corrected. No current legal breaches were identified in this report.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and knew how to report abuse or neglect.
“People told us they felt safe living at the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, communication needs and goals. Staff supported people to make choices and pursue their interests.
“People's care plans were person-centred and gave staff information in areas such as people's life history, medical and mental health history, likes and dislikes, healthcare needs, care outcomes and goals” from the report
Respect and independence
Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity and encouraging them to do things for themselves.
“During the inspection, we saw staff respected people's privacy, encouraged their independence, and provided care in a dignified way.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used audits, meetings and surveys to monitor care and involve people, relatives and staff in improvements.
“The provider had effective systems in place to ensure the safety and quality of the service.” from the report
Previous reporting failure
needs fixingAt the last inspection, the provider had not told CQC about incidents reported to the police. Inspectors said this had been corrected by this inspection, so it was not a current breach.
“At the last inspection, the provider had failed to notify CQC of incidents reported to the police.” from the report
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's physical, mental health, mobility, communication and dietary needs before they move in?
- 02How often would you review my relative's care plan and risk assessments, and how would my relative and family be involved?
- 03What activities and support would be available to help my relative maintain relationships, independence and interests?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given safely and that records remain accurate?
- 05How are complaints, incidents and safeguarding concerns recorded, reported and used to improve care?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home premises, using conversations, observations and records. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 March 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 House Care Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
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.
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 Haringey
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. 75 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Over the time he spent with them he got to know our parents very well and became like part of the family, even joining in family celebrations.”
“Violet is a kind and positive, caring person and we are lucky and delighted to have her caring for our 96 year old grandmother.”
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.