Care Home: Ashdene Care Home

What the care home does well The people live in comfortable, well maintained and clean accommodation. Each person is encouraged and supported to be independent and take part in meaningful activities. They are also offered choices about what they wish to do and to make decisions about how they spend their lives. Staff communicate well with them and respect their choices and decisions. People living in the home are cared for and supported by a caring, educated and committed team of staff. There is a comprehensive programme of education and training provided for staff, which ensures that staff know how to care and support the people who live at the home. This is continues to be a very well managed service. There are systems in place to check on the overall quality of the care and accommodation provided to ensure the high standards are maintained and improved. What the care home could do better: Ashdene have very well established systems in place to monitor quality and seeking the views of the people. Regular detailed annual questionnaires are sent out to obtain their views of the service. Where improvements are required they are either planned or being addressed by the management team and staff within the home. Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Ashdene Care Home 89 Eastgate Sleaford Lincs NG34 7EE three star excellent service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Tobias Payne Date: 3 0 0 6 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Ashdene Care Home 89 Eastgate Sleaford Lincs NG34 7EE 01529304872 01529414568 ashdene@onetel.net Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Anne Barwell Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Ashdene (Sleaford) Limited care home 40 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 dementia Conditions of registration: 40 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 40 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home only - Code PC to service users of the following gender: Either whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Dementia - Code DE Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Ashdene Care Home is registered to provide personal care for up to 40 people the majority who are over sixty five years of age, who have a dementia. The home is situated on the outskirts of the town of Sleaford within walking distance of the town centre. A new purpose built extension has provided an additional 14 bedrooms, an Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home assisted bathroom, dining and lounge area and further storage space. The additional bedrooms all provide en-suite facilities. Accommodation for people living in the home is on the ground and first floor. A shaft lift serves the first floor and car parking is available at the front of the home. Ashdene is set in its own grounds, which are laid to lawn at the front with an enclosed garden with seating, trees and flowerbeds, vegetable garden and raised gardens at the rear of the home.There is also an enclosed seating area with raised gardens with access at the side of the home. The directors of the home continue to visit regularly and work closely with the registered manager. One of them is in the home 4 days a week and is actively involved in the management of the home. The fee on the day of our inspection vist ranged from £367 to £551.25p each week. Extra costs were for hairdressing which ranged from £6 to £25, chiropody £10, personal newspapers and toiletries. Information about the home can be found in the statement of purpose and service users guide which, with a copy of the last inspection report, is available from the manager. Information about the home can be made available in large print, Braille and in other languages on request. The last key inspection took place on the 18/7/2007. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found: Where we or us is used throughout this report it refers to the Care Quality Commission. This was an unannounced visit which formed a random inspection visit and took place over 3 hours and took into account previous information held by us including the previous inspection report, their service history and records of any incidents that we had been notified of since the last inspection. An (AQAA) Annual quality assurance assessment was completed by the manager and sent to us before we made our inspection visit. This is a self assessment document completed by the manager of the care home. It sets out evidence from the provider to demonstrate that they are meeting the Care Home Regulations. The information was very clear, up to date and detailed. We also received comment cards from 2 people living in the home and 2 staff and their very positive comments are included in this report. During this visit we talked with 7 people living in the home and 5 visitors to obtain their views about whether they felt their needs were being met and about their quality of life. We also spoke with 5 staff to learn their views about how they felt their training and development needs were being met. We also saw how staff cared and supported people living in the home. We also spoke with the manager and one of the the owners who was present throughout our visit to learn of any changes which have taken place and if there were any risks to the people living in the home. Feedback was given about the outcomes at the end of the visit to the manager and owner. The manager told us that over the last year they have continued to develop person centred care by introducing life story books which give information about each persons past life, significant aspects of their life, their family and likes and interests. All staff have been registered as dignity champions to promote dignity. The outside gardens have been developed further to form a sensory garden with vegetable patch, raised flower beds, seated area with patio umbrellas and a never ending path. In addition themed corridors have been introduced which have included seaside, music and the seasons. The manager has improved staff training and development by introducing as part of each persons induction 2 days with her. This personal time focuses on developing their communication skills and providing good and up to date dementia care practise. We were told this initiative has proved very successful. On entry to the home we found it to be welcoming with information about the home and activities available as well as useful information about dementia. We saw people sat in lounges on the ground and first floors talking to one another or staff and staff sitting with people talking them or assisting them with breakfast. Everyone we saw was nicely dressed. The activity programme was clearly displayed throughout the home and was varied. The manager told us that some of the people had been on a very enjoyable boat trip to Newark. The people we spoke with and visitors told us that were very happy with the service they receive. Comments included, it is marvellous here,I can visit whenever I wish to do and everyone is so kind and keeps us fully informed about any changes, they look after us so well and are so kind and helpful, I like the food, I Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 have a room which is clean and comfortable, I am very happy here and I feel the home is fantastic. Other comments we received included, the staff are always helpful and caring. Different activities are also arranged most days, they make me feel safe and not a nuisance. Very friendly staff and owners who cannot do enough for me. We spoke with 4 staff who told us,I love working here knowing I am doing a good job, there is always a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere, I am very pleased at the way we provide care, we are responsive to peoples needs, the manager is very supportive and empowers us to meet the peoples needs, we get a lot of training and support and we work well as a team. Other comments included, Ashdene is committed to giving good quality of care to all service users to ensure their needs are met. Staff are regularly asked to sign up for courses which are beneficial to service users and improves the standard of care. Activities are based on what the people want to do and meals are well prepared with plenty of choice and we cater for all their needs and have excellent training. We saw during our visit all staff working with one another and the relaxing and friendly atmosphere throughout the home. We saw the home was well maintained, clean, odour free and an attractive place to work and live in. There were comfortable seating areas throughout the home. We saw that the people were being treated in a dignified manner. Staff spoke to them in a kind and caring way that was appropriate to the individual. We saw people walking around the corridors or sitting in comfortable chairs in parts of the home observing what was going on. We saw the people talking to another or to staff or going into the office to talk to staff. We saw staff stop what they were doing to have a chat or laugh with each person. We saw staff helping and reassuring those people who showed signs of distress in a calm and friendly manner again taking time to assist the person and find out what was causing their distress. We saw staff asking the people whether they would like to go a church service which was taking place during our visit. Those who did not want to go sat in the lounges and again we saw staff taking time to do individual activities with them and talking on an individual basis. We heard staff asking the people, what shall we do today and actively involved in individual activities with the emphasis on taking time to spend individual time. There was laughter and smiles and a very relaxing atmosphere. The staff knew what they were doing and showed this by the way they talked and helped the people in the home. They spoke of the support they received from the manager and owner who was in the home 4 days a week and was who was actively involved in caring and supporting those in the home. We saw over the past year they and us have received no complaints. We saw that they had 2 safeguarding adults referrals which were thoroughly investigated by Lincolnshire County Council with no concerns. During our visit no person had any concerns about the care and support offered or about the home. Staff we spoke with told that us they were correctly recruited with a check by the Criminal Records Bureau and a supported comprehensive induction. We saw that staff had continued to receive a lot of training over the last year. This had included, moving and handling, fire safety, safeguarding adults, infection control, medication administration, understanding dementia. In addition 95 of staff had obtained a qualification in care to national vocational qualifications standards level 2. In addition all the 14 senior care assistant had achieved NVQ level 3 and 2 staff had NVQ Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 9 level 4. All staff we spoke with told us they received regular one to one supervision and there were monthly minuted meetings. We saw that monthly monitoring visits took place and reports of these visits were available with action plans where there were any concerns. In addition as a result of one of the owners being in the home 4 days a week it was very clear that the owners are very actively involved in the day to day management of the home along the manager who is very experienced. Ashdene have very well established systems in place to monitor quality and seeking the views of the people. Regular detailed annual questionnaires are sent out to obtain their views of the service the last being in March 2010. All response were analysed and any issues of concern were acted upon, There were regular meetings with the people every 2 months and a relatives support group which meets monthly. There were also regular monthly audits carried out which covered pressure ulcers, care plans, accidents, weight, medication, bed rail safety and the kitchen. They had a quality assurance inspection by Lincolnshire County Council and scored an excellent rating with 97 . What the care home does well: What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These are requirements that were set at the previous inspection, but have still not been met. They say what the registered person had to do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 Requirements and recommendations from this inspection: Immediate requirements: These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Statutory requirements These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Recommendations These recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service. No Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 9 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. 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