CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Asterbury Place
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe risk management and safe medicines procedures. The home was clean, and it had systems for learning from accidents and medicine errors.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff had suitable training and support. Inspectors found good access to healthcare, suitable food and support for people to make decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- People described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors observed respectful support, involvement in decisions, and attention to privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans were detailed, regularly updated and tailored to individual needs, preferences, languages and beliefs. Activities, community links and end of life support were especially personalised and flexible.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found strong leadership, motivated staff and a clear focus on person-centred care. Governance, feedback and learning systems were embedded in the running of the home.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found safe, kind and effective care, with especially strong personalised support and leadership.
This was an unannounced inspection on 27 February 2019. Inspectors spoke with 16 people, 14 relatives, staff and other professionals. They observed care, checked five people's records, reviewed 12 medicine records and examined how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe medicines practices, good training, clean surroundings, kind relationships and support for people's choices, health needs and independence.
The home was rated Outstanding for Responsive and Well-led. Care was highly personalised, activities were varied and shaped by people's views, and the home had strong community links. Inspectors also found strong leadership, staff involvement and systems for learning and improving.
The overall rating was Outstanding. The previous rating was Good, published on 2 July 2016. CQC said it would continue to monitor the home and inspect it according to its schedule for services rated Outstanding.
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's individual needs, routines, preferences, language and beliefs. Staff adapted support when people's needs changed.
“People received exceptionally personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences.” from the report
Activities and community links
People had a wide choice of activities, including music, trips, celebrations and links with local groups. People were consulted about activities and their feedback influenced what happened next.
“Arrangements for social activities were innovative, met people's individual needs, and followed best practice guidance so people could live as full a life as possible.” from the report
End of life support
Inspectors found that people's wishes were explored and recorded, with support for families and links with healthcare services. Care was planned around comfort, dignity, beliefs and communication needs.
“People were supported at the end of their lives to have a comfortable, extremely dignified and pain-free death.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described positive relationships with staff. Inspectors observed staff supporting people with kindness, dignity and respect.
“The atmosphere in the home was warm and friendly.” from the report
Strong leadership
The home had clear values, regular staff support and well-established systems for checking quality and making improvements. People and staff were involved in how the home developed.
“Governance systems were embedded into the running of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you tailor care for my relative's specific needs, routines, language, culture and beliefs?
- 02How are activities adapted for people living with dementia or people who prefer to stay in their rooms?
- 03How would you involve my relative and our family in writing and reviewing the care plan?
- 04How would you support my relative's end of life wishes, including religious or cultural preferences?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels and staff skills continue to meet people's changing needs?
This was an unannounced inspection of the care and premises, covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 April 2019 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 Asterbury Place
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- April 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015Insufficient evidence to rateSafe: Insufficient evidence to rateEffective: Insufficient evidence to rateCaring: Insufficient evidence to rateResponsive: Insufficient evidence to rateWell-led: Insufficient evidence to rate
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 July 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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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.