CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashton Manor Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines management and good infection control. They recommended better recording of pre-employment checks after one recruitment file did not confirm that a disclosure and barring check had been returned.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed carefully and staff had training and support. However, not all staff had received supervision as regularly as the home's policy required, and some face-to-face training had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with dignity, patience and kindness. Staff respected privacy, encouraged independence and involved people in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences, communication needs and life histories. People were offered activities and support to maintain relationships, and the home had a process for handling complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an accessible management team, positive staff culture and quality checks that identified and addressed issues. The home was reviewing its auditing systems to improve oversight further.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Ashton Manor Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with recommendations about recruitment records and staff supervision.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home. Inspectors visited on 14 and 15 December 2021 without prior notice for the first day. They spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a health professional. They also reviewed care, medicine and recruitment records, rotas, training information and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, detailed care plans and kind interactions. People were supported to make choices, keep relationships and take part in activities they enjoyed.
There were two recommendations rather than breaches. The home was asked to record pre-employment checks more fully and to provide staff supervision as regularly as its own policy says. Some relatives also found it difficult to contact the home at weekends, although the home had upgraded its telephone system.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people patiently and with dignity. Staff knew people well and supported them in an unrushed way.
“There was lots of laughter and friendly chatter going on and people were assisted in an unrushed manner that promoted their dignity and individuality.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records gave staff detailed information about people's needs, preferences and lifestyles. Records were reviewed and updated when people's needs changed.
“Care records were written respectfully and included detailed information about people's preferences and lifestyles.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
Medicines were administered and stored safely. Inspectors also found regular risk assessments, maintenance checks and learning from incidents.
“Medicines were administered safely as prescribed, using an electronic management system.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to take part in individual and group activities and to maintain important relationships with family and friends.
“We saw people taking part in activities of their choice both individually and in groups.” from the report
Open management
The management team was described as accessible and committed to improving care. People, relatives and staff had opportunities to give feedback.
“The registered manager was accessible in the home and promoted a positive and open culture.” from the report
Recruitment records
needs fixingMost recruitment files had the required checks, but one did not confirm that a disclosure and barring check had been returned. The check was reapplied for during the inspection, and the provider was advised to record checks more fully.
“one recruitment record we looked at did not have confirmation of the disclosure and barring check being returned.” from the report
Staff supervision
needs fixingNot all staff had supervision as regularly as the home's own policy required. Inspectors recommended that the home follow its policy.
“Not all staff had received supervision as regularly as the policy identified.” from the report
Weekend telephone access
minorRelatives had mixed views about staffing and some found it difficult to get through to the home at weekends. The manager said the telephone system had been upgraded in response.
“some felt it was difficult to get through to the home at the weekend.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure every recruitment file records all pre-employment checks, including disclosure and barring checks?
- 02How often does each member of staff receive supervision, and how do you check that this matches your policy?
- 03Has the upgraded telephone system made it easier for relatives to contact the home at weekends?
- 04Which face-to-face training was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has it now taken place?
- 05How often are relatives' meetings held, and how can families give feedback between meetings?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five CQC questions, including both the care and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 January 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 Manor Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 September 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.
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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.