CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Ashton Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors found problems with hygiene, 'as required' medicines records and covert medicines records. Some conditions attached to DoLS authorisations were not being met for one person.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers were accessible and supportive. Quality checks, staff meetings and feedback systems were used to identify issues and improve the service.
What inspectors found, May 2023
The Ashton Care Home was rated Good overall, but Safe requires improvement because hygiene, medicines records and some DoLS conditions needed attention.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 15 March 2023. Inspectors looked at Safe and Well-led because of concerns about medicines and behaviour support. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe was rated Requires Improvement, down from Good, because some hygiene standards, 'as required' medicines records and covert medicines records needed improvement. Conditions attached to some DoLS authorisations were not being met for one person.
Well-led remained Good. Inspectors found managers were accessible, staff were supported, people and relatives could give feedback, and audits usually identified issues and led to action. The ratings for Caring, Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit and carried over from the previous inspection.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and secure with the support they received.
“They told us they felt safe and secure with the care and support they received from staff.” from the report
Staff support
Managers supported staff through meetings, supervision and appraisals. Staff said this helped them provide good care.
“They told us their team meetings, supervision and appraisal meetings were effective and supported them to deliver a good standard of care.” from the report
Responsive management
People and relatives could speak to managers and raise concerns. The home acted on feedback, including concerns about meal temperatures.
“People and their relatives had easy access to the registered manager for support and feedback about the service.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used audits and checks to find problems and take action. Inspectors said managers responded promptly to issues identified during the visit.
“We found that these identified issues and areas of improvement, and actions were consistently taken to improve on areas identified.” from the report
Hygiene and premises
needs fixingInspectors found a cracked toilet in an unhygienic area and said the kitchen needed updating to meet required standards.
“We found a cracked WC in an unhygienic toilet area and a kitchen area which required updating to meet required standards.” from the report
DoLS conditions
needs fixingConditions linked to some DoLS authorisations were not being met for one person because staff were unclear whether an updated authorisation was in place.
“However, conditions relating to some DoLS authorisations were not being met for 1 person.” from the report
- 01What has been done to repair the cracked toilet and bring the kitchen up to the required hygiene standard?
- 02How do you check that 'as required' medicines are recorded accurately and that stock records are consistent?
- 03For anyone prescribed covert medicines, how are authorisations reviewed and recorded when they are admitted?
- 04How do you check that every condition attached to a DoLS authorisation is being met?
- 05What action has been taken since the inspection, and what evidence can you show that these improvements are being maintained?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 May 2023 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, April 2022
The Ashton Care Home rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home left Special Measures after significant improvement.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection on 7 March 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, staff and relatives, reviewed care and medicines records, checked recruitment and training records, and examined management systems. They also checked infection control and COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that medicines, risk assessments, staffing and infection control were managed safely. Staff knew people well, treated them with kindness and supported them with activities, communication, meals and healthcare.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement and had been in Special Measures since 30 December 2020. Inspectors found that improvements had been made and that the home was no longer in breach of regulations, no longer rated Inadequate and no longer in Special Measures.
Medicines now managed safely
Inspectors found that earlier medicines problems had been addressed. Storage checks, staff competency checks and audits were in place.
“At our previous inspection we identified several concerns with medicines management that placed people at risk. The provider acted on our concerns and at this inspection we found medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Kind and knowledgeable staff
Staff were seen providing warm, sensitive care and knew people's personal histories, preferences and routines.
“We observed warm interactions between staff and people living at the service.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could join group or individual activities and were supported to keep in touch with relatives and other important people.
“People were provided with access to a wide range of activities. People who could not take part in group sessions were provided with 1:1 support to enable them to participate.” from the report
Stronger management oversight
Audits, monitoring visits and action plans were being used to identify problems and improve care. Staff and relatives were encouraged to share their views.
“Quality assurance audits were completed. Findings from audits were analysed and action plans implemented to improve people's outcomes and quality of the care provided at the service.” from the report
Care-recording system still being replaced
needs fixingInspectors said the current system for recording care plans and risk assessments was not effective. A new system was planned, so families should check that records remain accurate and accessible during the change.
“The service had decided to implement a new system of recording care plans and risk assessments as the current system was not effective.” from the report
- 01How has the new system for care plans and risk assessments been introduced, and how do you check that records remain accurate?
- 02Has the new medicines management system been implemented, and what improvements or errors have been identified since the change?
- 03How do you monitor staffing levels and make sure there are enough suitably trained staff on every shift?
- 04What progress has been made with the planned environmental review and dementia-friendly décor?
- 05How are relatives kept informed about falls, illness, complaints and changes in care?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection after the previous inspection, covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control, rather than a routine first assessment. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 April 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.
Every inspection of The Ashton Care Home
10 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2022Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2021Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- February 2021Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2020Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 September 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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