Asterbury Place

Updated 4 April 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

Membership of the team consisted of three inspectors. Also, an expert by experience who is a person that has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Our expert by experience had a relative who used a similar service.

Service and service type:

Asterbury Place is a care home with nursing. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection visit we gathered information from a number of sources. We also looked at the information received about the service from notifications sent to the Care Quality Commission by the registered manager. We also looked at the provider information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also spoke with other professionals supporting people at the service, to gain further information about the service.

We met people who used the service and spoke in more detail with 16 people and 14 relatives. We spent time observing staff interacting with people, especially at lunchtime.

We spoke with 11 care and nursing staff, the registered manager and other managers supporting on the day. We looked at documentation relating to five people who used the service and information relating to the management of the service. We reviewed 12 medicine administration records and observed medicines storage and audit arrangements and spoke with staff involved in medicines management.

Updated 4 April 2019

About the service: Asterbury Place is a care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 80 people. On the day of our visit there were 76 people resident in total. There were four separate units named, Lily, Goldcrest, Robin and Rose. Each unit could accommodate up to 20 people in bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms. Lily was for people who were more independent and required support with care. Goldcrest accommodated people living with dementia. Robin supported people with nursing needs and had nursing staff on duty at all times. Rose accommodated people living with more advanced dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

We found that people living here experienced extremely good levels of care, support and had positive outcomes. The management of the service had not only sustained good practice but had gone on to enhance the service on offer.

• People benefitted from an outstanding responsive and well-led service. Care and support was tailored to meet people’s needs and to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care. People were involved in and consulted about all aspects of their care and support. People told us that staff had an excellent understanding of their social and cultural diversity, values and beliefs and how these might influence their decisions on how they wanted to receive care and support.

• The home promoted understanding and a positive attitude towards different types of disability and difference. Staff had opportunities for learning, development and reflective practice on equality and diversity, which influenced how the home was developed.

• Arrangements for social activities were innovative, met people’s individual needs, and followed best practice guidance so people could live as full a life as possible. People were consulted about events before and after the event. Photographs throughout the home showed people taking part in a wide range of activities, events and celebrations throughout the year. The home had a key role in the local community and links with other community organisations which provided information and support to people.

• The culture in the home focused high-quality, person-centred care. Staff put people at the heart of the service and their views were at the core of home’s quality monitoring and assurance arrangements. Staff were motivated by and proud of the home. Continuous learning was embedded in the home’s culture.

• People felt safe at the home and there were the systems and processes in place to safeguard them. People had risk assessments so staff knew how to keep them safe. The premises were safe for people. Regular safety checks were carried out on the environment and on the equipment used. There were enough suitable staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People were provided with their medicines in a safe way. All areas of the home were clean, fresh, and tidy. The provider and registered manager ensured lessons were learnt and improvements made when things went wrong.

• People’s social care, healthcare and cultural needs were assessed prior to them moving into the home. They told us staff supported them to access health care services when they needed to. The staff team were well-trained and knew how to meet people’s individual needs. People told us they liked the food served. The kitchen catered for a range of dietary and cultural needs including vegetarian, Caribbean, and diabetic. The home was purpose-built and provided people with spacious and accessible accommodation including a range of communal areas. Staff understood the importance of people consenting to their care and support.

• The atmosphere in the home was warm and friendly. People experienced positive caring relationships with the staff team. Staff assisted people in a kind and reassuring manner. People were encouraged to express their views and make decisions about their daily routines. They said staff helped them to maintain their independence. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People were supported to maintain relationships with relatives and friends. Visitors were made welcome by staff and invited to events and celebrations.

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

Rating at last inspection: We rated Asterbury Place as good and published our report on 2 July 2016.

Why we inspected: Previously we had rated this service as good and therefore have been back to check that it had remained a good quality service.

Follow up: Going forward we will continue to monitor this service and plan to inspect in line with our re-inspection schedule for those services rated outstanding.