CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ashton Court Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe recruitment, enough staff, regular risk checks, safe medicines management and suitable infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and choices. Staff were trained and supported, and people received help with eating, drinking, healthcare and decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- The report does not give a separate rating for Caring. It says people and relatives were positive about the care and that staff promoted people's independence and interests.
- Responsive?
- Good
- The report does not give a separate rating for Responsive. It says people had personalised care plans and were involved in care planning.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found approachable management, positive teamwork and effective audits. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was used to improve the service.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Ashton Court Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care.
The inspection visit took place on 6 October 2022 and was unannounced. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, care staff and the manager. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records, and observed care.
Inspectors found that people felt safe and received personalised care. Staff were recruited safely, trained and supported. Staffing levels met people's needs, medicines were managed safely, and risks, infections and accidents were monitored.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective and Well-led were each rated Good. This was the same overall rating and the same rating for these areas as at the previous inspection on 24 October 2019.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe and trusted staff to provide their care.
“People and their relatives were very positive about the care provided.” from the report
Trained staff and suitable staffing
Staff were safely recruited, received induction and ongoing training, and staffing levels were reviewed against people's needs.
“Staff were safely recruited and received an induction, followed by on-going training from the provider.” from the report
Personalised care
People and relatives were involved in care planning. Plans included individual needs, choices and information about what helped each person.
“People and relatives were involved in every stage of care planning.” from the report
Medicines were checked
The manager regularly checked medicines, and staff had training and competency checks for giving them.
“The manager carried out regular checks on people's medicines to make sure they were being administered in line with national best practice” from the report
Effective management
The manager used audits and checks covering areas such as care plans, medicines, staffing and the environment.
“The manager undertook a range of audits to assess care quality and safety” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure my relative's electronic care plan is reviewed promptly when their needs or choices change?
- 02How many staff would usually be available on the floor supporting residents, and how is this adjusted when people's needs change?
- 03How will you manage and review my relative's medicines, including any changes made by their GP or other health professionals?
- 04How would you support my relative to eat and drink safely if they developed difficulties or needed specialist advice?
- 05How would you involve our family if my relative could not make a particular care decision for themselves?
The report gives ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led; it does not give separate ratings for Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 January 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 27 January 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19-related staffing pressures affected people.
Inspectors found updated COVID-19 policies, regular testing, visitor screening, enough protective equipment and increased cleaning. Staff were observed using protective equipment correctly.
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives, including through an outdoor visiting pod. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed and that non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a full quality rating or new ratings for all five areas of care.
Updated infection policies
The home had detailed COVID-19 policies and procedures. These were updated when national guidance changed.
“Comprehensive policies and procedures were in place to manage any risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Protective equipment and cleaning
There was enough protective equipment and hand sanitiser. Inspectors saw staff using protective equipment correctly, and the home had increased cleaning schedules.
“There was an ample supply of PPE for staff and visitors to use.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
The home supported visits and contact with relatives, including through an outdoor visiting pod.
“The provider had installed an outdoor visiting pod so relatives could see their loved ones regularly.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing any current staffing pressures, and could they affect people's care?
- 02What testing and screening arrangements are currently used for staff, visitors and residents?
- 03How are visits arranged now, and what happens if there is an infection outbreak?
- 04How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination requirements or have a valid exemption?
- 05How often are high-touch areas cleaned, and how do you check that protective equipment is being used correctly?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 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.
Every inspection of Ashton Court Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 August 2017.
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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36 live-in carers within about an hour of Newcastle upon Tyne
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 £950 to £1,160 a week. 30 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.