CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Aspley House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were identified and managed in the least restrictive way. Staffing, recruitment, safeguarding, infection control and medicines arrangements were found to be safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments, health action plans and support based on person-centred planning and Positive Behavioural Support. Staff received induction, specialist training, supervision and support.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff knew people well, treated them with respect and supported their independence. People were given time and different tools to communicate, and were supported to maintain or rebuild relationships.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was shaped around people's wishes, communication and goals. People were helped to try new activities, develop daily living skills, raise concerns and plan for the end of their life.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had a clear focus on improving people's lives and opportunities. Inspectors found effective audits, regular feedback, open communication with professionals and a strong culture of learning.
What inspectors found, February 2018
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised, caring and well-led support, with Safe and Effective rated Good.
The inspection took place on 4 December 2017 and was announced. Two inspectors spent time with both people living in the home. They spoke with managers, staff and health and social care professionals, and reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff files, rotas, training records and quality checks.
The home supported two people with learning disabilities and behaviours which could challenge. Inspectors found that staff understood people's needs, managed risks safely and used Positive Behavioural Support to reduce distress and restrictive practices. People were supported to make choices, build independence, communicate in different ways and take part in activities.
Care was rated Outstanding for Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Safe and Effective were rated Good. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection to Outstanding.
Positive behaviour support
The home used Positive Behavioural Support and person-centred planning to reduce distress and restrictive practices. Staff looked for safer and less restrictive ways to support people.
“The providers had fully embraced the principles of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS).” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff built warm relationships, understood people's personalities and gave them time to communicate. People were encouraged to do more for themselves and take part in everyday life.
“Staff supported people with kindness and compassion using their knowledge of people to provide frequent gentle interactions that prevented people from becoming anxious or distressed.” from the report
Personalised opportunities
People were supported to choose activities, develop skills and achieve goals that had previously seemed difficult. This included shopping, meals, trips and planning holidays.
“People were supported to achieve things that had previously been thought of as 'impossible.'” from the report
Strong leadership and improvement
Managers and staff shared a clear vision and used specialist audits, feedback and incident reviews to improve support. Inspectors found a culture where staff learned from what happened.
“There was a clear focus on learning and using this to improve the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you use Positive Behavioural Support to meet my relative's specific needs and reduce any restrictive practices?
- 02What communication tools would you use if my relative has limited verbal communication?
- 03How would you support my relative to try activities, build independence and maintain relationships?
- 04How are medicines, including any 'as and when required' medicines, monitored and reviewed?
- 05How would my relative and our family be involved in care reviews and raising concerns?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering the care home, the accommodation and care provided, and all five CQC key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 February 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 Aspley House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- February 2018Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 March 2013.
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
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What to check when you visit
39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.