Aspen House

Updated 24 February 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Aspen House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Aspen House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 7 February 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service. We made phone calls to 10 relatives of people who used the service. We also spoke with 2 care staff members, the deputy manager, and the registered manager. We reviewed multiple documents including 3 care plans, staff recruitment files, training files, audits and policies.

Updated 24 February 2023

About the service

Aspen House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 10 people. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our inspection there were 8 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support:

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received care and support to maintain an environment that suited their needs and preferences.

Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. People were

supported to carry out their daily living activities and pursue their hobbies and interests.

Staff supported people to access health and social care services. Staff supported people with their

medicines safely and in their preferred way.

Right Care:

People received care that was person-centred, and dignity, privacy and human rights were promoted.

Staff communicated with people in ways that met their individual needs.

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff understood and responded to people's individual needs. They protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. The service employed skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe.

People's care plans reflected their needs and wishes and promoted their wellbeing. Risks that people may face were appropriately managed.

Right Culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the registered manager and staff team ensured people lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

People received good quality care and support because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

People and those important to them, including social care professionals, were involved in planning their care. The registered manager and the staff team ensured people received support based on best practice, respect and inclusivity.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement, published 10 March 2022.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Aspen House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.