CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Signature at Ascot
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were administered safely and infection control arrangements were appropriate.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received care based on detailed assessments, trained staff and relevant health professional input. Food and drink support was well organised, and the home followed the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives spoke positively about staff's kindness and respect. Inspectors saw warm relationships, privacy being maintained and people being involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and communication requirements. Inspectors found a wide range of activities, support for relationships and an appropriate complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team had clear roles and used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor quality and make improvements. Staff and relatives described the home as well-led and supportive.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong management and activities.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection of the whole home. Inspectors visited on three days, observed care at lunchtime, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment records, training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, good infection control and appropriate management of risks.
People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and helpful. Inspectors also found good support with food, health care, dementia, communication, activities and end of life planning. This was the first inspection since the home was registered.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives consistently described staff as friendly, kind and respectful. Inspectors observed warm relationships and care that protected people's dignity.
“We observed care staff had developed good relationships with the people they supported. Their interactions with people were warm and friendly.” from the report
Safe care
Risks such as falls, pressure ulcers and poor nutrition were assessed. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicine administration and good infection control.
“Risks to people's health and welfare were assessed and managed appropriately.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, life stories, communication methods and cultural or spiritual practices. People were involved in care decisions.
“People received person-centred care that focused on their specific needs and preferences.” from the report
Good food and health support
Meals were freshly cooked and people had choices. Staff worked with health professionals, including dietitians, speech and language therapists and district nurses.
“We noted all meals were cooked from fresh to make sure people received all the important nutrients.” from the report
Activities and social life
The home offered varied activities, including music, quizzes, art, films and clubs linked to people's interests and cultures.
“The service took was pro-active stance in meeting the social needs of people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure there are enough suitably skilled staff on each shift, especially when agency staff are used?
- 02Have annual appraisals now been completed for staff who had worked at the home for less than a year at the inspection?
- 03How are care plans reviewed with people and their relatives, and how is their feedback recorded?
- 04How do you make sure activities continue to reflect each person's interests, culture and communication needs?
- 05How are complaints recorded, investigated and used to improve care?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home, including premises and care, and all five CQC questions were rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 April 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 Signature at Ascot
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- April 2020Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 November 2019.
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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83 live-in carers within about an hour of Windsor and Maidenhead
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.