Archived: Ashville House

Is the service safe?

People who lived at the home required support due to long-standing mental health needs and their care needs were reviewed regularly by mental health professionals.

Suitable fire precautions were in place and fire detection equipment was serviced regularly. Regular fire evacuation practises were held and recorded and these included the people who lived at the home.

Is the service effective?

People were registered with a local GP practice and the care plans recorded that people had a full health check at least once a year. People we spoke with were very satisfied with arrangements for their health and welfare and confirmed that there were no restrictions on their movements. The home had an activities co-ordinator who supported people to participate in social activities.

Is the service caring?

Staff provided encouragement to people to maintain an acceptable standard of personal care and to look after their health. They were available to accompany people to appointments if they wished. We observed that staff interacted positively and respectfully with the people who lived at the home.

Is the service responsive?

People who lived at the home had a monthly meeting and the minutes of the meetings showed that they were well-attended and that people were able to raise any issues that they wished to discuss. People had a weekly meeting with their key worker to discuss progress.

Is the service well led?

The manager had been in post for several years and was registered with CQC. Four senior support workers provided 24 hour cover for the home and all were qualified to NVQ level 4.

Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of service and to ensure that people had opportunities to express their views.

'I am very happy here'

'The staff are great'

'It is like a big family here'

'I can go out when I please and there is always something to do or somewhere to go'

'I really feel safe here'

'The staff help you'

'I have got a copy of my care plan and I know everything that is in it'

'Staff are always there ad listen to me'

We spoke to two members of staff. They considered that training in the organisation was very good and that they had had plenty of opportunities to develop their own professional practice and gain more relevant qualifications to enhance their role. They commented that they felt supported in their role and that they were part of a good team which focussed on ensuring that people had a good quality of life.

We were able to observe interactions within the service between staff and individuals. This was informal, friendly and involved a degree of light hearted banter. People were given choices to participate or otherwise in certain events and the atmosphere remained relaxed and informal throughout our visit.