CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ashwood - Ware
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were in place. They checked testing, admissions, isolation, cleaning, social distancing, visitors and PPE.
- 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, April 2021
Ashwood - Ware was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
This was a targeted inspection on 22 March 2021. One inspector checked infection prevention and control arrangements because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes. The inspection was announced in advance.
Inspectors found effective arrangements for visitors, cleaning, testing, isolation, social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. The home was clean, and staff worked only on their allocated units.
People were supported to stay engaged, despite staff wearing masks. The home had policies and risk assessments for COVID-19, and staff had received relevant training.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide a new overall quality rating. It focused only on infection prevention and control.
Visitor safety
The home had processes for visitors entering safely and displayed clear information about COVID-19.
“There were effective process and systems in place for visitors entering the service, in line with the government guidance.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean, with cleaning taking place during the inspection. People were kept in cohorts on their units.
“The home was clean and there was cleaning ongoing during our visit.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had been trained in using PPE, infection control and COVID-19 procedures.
“Staff had received training on putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE), infection control and COVID-19.” from the report
Support against loneliness
People continued engaging with staff, and activities were provided to help reduce loneliness and boredom.
“The activities organiser was providing support to help prevent loneliness and boredom for people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently checked and supported to prevent infections entering the home?
- 02How do you test people living here and staff, and what happens when someone has symptoms or tests positive?
- 03How do you manage isolation for people returning from hospital or moving into the home?
- 04How often are staff trained in infection control and putting on and taking off PPE?
- 05Do staff still work only on their allocated units, and how are communal areas managed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only, so it did not provide an overall rating or assess the other quality questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 April 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, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 25 July 2018. Inspectors observed care, reviewed records and spoke with people living there, relatives, staff, managers and health and social care professionals. They also used a structured observation method for people who could not easily describe their experiences.
The home was supporting 53 older people, including some people living with dementia, and was registered for up to 64 people. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk assessments and staff who understood safeguarding. People were treated with kindness, involved in their care and supported with food, activities and healthcare.
The overall rating and all five key question ratings were Good. The previous inspection in July 2017 rated the home Requires Improvement and found breaches about safeguarding, risk assessment and governance. Inspectors said these areas had improved and were no longer in breach at this inspection.
Safe staffing
People and relatives said staff were available when needed. Inspectors saw call bells answered quickly and found that people were not kept waiting for care.
“People told us that call bells were answered promptly and on the day of the inspection people were not kept waiting for care.” from the report
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people well, used their names and adapted how they communicated. Inspectors saw warm, reassuring interactions and found that privacy and dignity were respected.
“We saw very caring interactions between care staff and people in the home.” from the report
Personalised records
Care plans included people's preferences, likes and dislikes, and were reviewed to reflect changing needs. Staff used these records to guide daily support.
“Care plans were regularly reviewed to ensure that they were reflective of people`s current needs.” from the report
Activities and choice
The home offered regular group activities, individual support and opportunities to use the gardens and communal areas. People could choose whether to take part.
“There were two organised activities a day in the morning and afternoon.” from the report
Improved management
The manager and deputy were visible and available at weekends. Governance checks, including care plan, medicines and infection control audits, were used to make improvements.
“The provider`s governance systems and processes were used effectively by the registered manager to ensure they could identify and improve the quality of the service.” from the report
Some bathroom bins
minorInspectors found the bathrooms and toilets clean, but noted that not all had pedal bins. This was a minor hygiene issue recorded during the inspection.
“Bathrooms and toilets appeared clean, although not all had pedal bins for hands free use which is more hygienic” from the report
Friendships for people with similar abilities
minorSome people wanted more help to form friendships with others who had similar abilities, outside organised activities. The manager said they would consider evening clubs or other events.
“Some people told us they would appreciate if staff could facilitate forming friendships with other people with similar abilities” from the report
- 01What improvements have been made to the environment where people living with dementia are accommodated?
- 02How do you help people with similar abilities to form friendships outside the organised activities?
- 03Are all bathrooms and toilets now fitted with pedal bins?
- 04How do you make sure the current staffing levels remain sufficient at all times, including weekends?
- 05How are falls monitored and what support is provided for someone who has repeated falls?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 August 2018 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 Ashwood - Ware
5 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 December 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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