8 July 2015
During a routine inspection
Ashlett Dale is a care home that provides care and support for up to 16 people some of whom may be living with dementia.
A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were not always treated with respect. Staff did not always consider people’s emotional wellbeing.
People were supported to take part in activities they had chosen. Records showed people’s hobbies and interests were documented and staff accurately described people’s preferred routines.
Staff were appropriately trained and skilled to deliver safe care. They all received a thorough induction before they started work and fully understood their responsibilities to report any concerns of possible abuse. Records showed staff received training in mental health, dementia and how to help people who display behaviours that may challenge others.
Information regarding diagnosed conditions was documented in people’s care plans and risks to health and wellbeing were discussed daily during staff meetings. Staff consistently told us they communicated risks associated with people health and behaviours frequently.
Referrals to health care professionals were made quickly when people became unwell. Each health care professional told us the staff were responsive to people’s changing health needs.
Care plans were reviewed regularly and people’s support was personalised and tailored to their individual needs.
The registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care provided by involving people, relatives and professionals. Each person and every relative told us they were regularly asked for feedback and were encouraged to voice their opinions about the quality of care provided. Records showed care plans had been reviewed regularly and people’s support was personalised and tailored to their individual needs.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. These safeguards protect the rights of people using services by ensuring that if there are any restrictions to their freedom and liberty, these have been authorised by the local authority as being required to protect the person from harm. We observed people’s freedoms were not unlawfully restricted and staff were knowledgeable about when a DoLS application should be made.
We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.