CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashton Way
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the use of protective equipment, visitor screening, testing, cleaning and outbreak arrangements. The provider also described measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak review.
The inspection took place on 3 February 2022 and was announced 24 hours in advance. It was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, including the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors found that staff used personal protective equipment correctly. The home was clean and tidy, with extra cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Visitors were screened and asked to use appropriate protective equipment.
The provider told inspectors that it had measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures. Inspectors were assured about testing, visiting, shielding, social distancing, safe admissions and managing outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care.
Correct use of protective equipment
Staff used protective equipment correctly to help reduce the spread of infection.
“Staff used PPE correctly to help keep reduce the spread of infections to keep people safe.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and tidy, with more frequent cleaning of surfaces that people often touch.
“The home was clean and tidy. During the current outbreak, the service were doing enhanced cleaning, which included more frequent cleaning of touchpoints.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors were screened and asked to use appropriate protective equipment before entering.
“All visitors were screened before entry and asked to wear appropriate PPE.” from the report
Contact and activities
People were supported to stay in contact with relatives and take part in activities while self-isolating.
“People were supported to maintain contact with relatives and activities were used to keep people engaged whilst they were self-isolating.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the inspection?
- 02How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 03What are the current rules for visiting during an infection outbreak?
- 04How do you support residents to stay in contact with relatives and remain occupied if they need to self-isolate?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 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 2020
Ashton Way was rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, personalised care, although the caring rating fell from Outstanding to Good.
The inspection took place on 25 February 2020. One inspector reviewed care, medicines, staff recruitment and training, incident records, audits and other records. They observed interactions and spoke with relatives, staff and health and social care professionals.
The home supported three people with autism spectrum conditions. Inspectors found that risks were reviewed, staffing was sufficient and medicines were managed safely. Staff understood people's communication needs and worked with health professionals to support their care.
People were treated with dignity and encouraged to make choices, build independence and take part in activities that interested them. Care plans were detailed and regularly updated. Relatives and professionals spoke positively about the home.
The overall rating was Good, as were Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating and four question ratings stayed the same as the previous inspection, but Caring fell from Outstanding to Good.
Positive risk taking
Staff supported people to pursue their interests safely while building independence. Risk assessments reflected people's preferences and goals.
“People were enabled to safely pursue their own interests by staff who understood how to minimise risks and maximise the opportunities open to people.” from the report
Personalised communication
Care plans gave staff detailed information about how each person communicated. Staff used communication aids and visual prompts to help people understand choices.
“Care plans contained detailed information about people's communication needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
Inspectors observed patient and dignified interactions. Relatives and professionals also said people were treated with respect.
“We observed a range of patient and dignified interactions by staff.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to develop interests, skills and relationships through varied activities and outings. Staff aimed to help people do as much as they could for themselves.
“Staff helped people take part in a range of activities so they could develop their interests, skills and relationships.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff were experienced and received refresher and specialist training. Training needs were tracked and additional training was arranged where needed.
“The provider managed training needs through a training matrix and monthly reporting.” from the report
Caring rating fell
minorAlthough inspectors still found caring to be Good, this was a fall from Outstanding at the previous inspection. Families may want to ask what changes led to the lower rating.
“At the last inspection this key question was rated as outstanding. At this inspection this key question is now rated good.” from the report
Audit improvement identified
minorInspectors suggested an improvement to one area of auditing. The manager accepted this suggestion.
“Where we suggest an improvement to one area of auditing, the registered manager was receptive and took this on board.” from the report
- 01What led to the Caring rating falling from Outstanding to Good, and what are you doing in response?
- 02How are positive risks assessed and reviewed when supporting people to become more independent?
- 03How do you make sure medicines are recorded correctly, including after the isolated error mentioned in the report?
- 04How will relatives be involved in the planned online portal and in reviewing changes to care?
- 05How are activities chosen to reflect my relative's interests, communication needs and preferred amount of time alone?
This was a planned inspection that looked at the overall service and all five CQC questions, including care, records, staffing and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 March 2020 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 Way
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 August 2014.
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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
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 £1,210 a week. 42 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.