Askham House

Updated 22 January 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 9 December 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 22 January 2021

About the service

Askham House is one of five care homes on one site, on the outskirts of the village of Doddington. Each home is registered as a separate location. There are some shared facilities such as a café and function room where some activities take place. Askham House accommodates up to 29 people in one adapted building. The home provides care to older people and people living with dementia.

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

People who lived at Askham House received care from staff who were passionate about delivering a service based on individual needs. Staff knew each person well. People’s views were respected, and they were involved in everything that happened in the service. People were happy living there and relatives trusted the staff team to look after their family members.

Staff delivered care and support that was personalised and responsive to people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. Staff were kind, caring and motivated. People, their relatives and external professionals were complimentary about the care provided. Staff respected people’s privacy, dignity and independence. Staff encouraged people to lead their life in the way they wanted to.

Staff understood the risks to people and the measures in place to keep them safe. Systems were in place to manage people's medicines safely and to reduce the risks associated with the spread of infection.

Enough staff were employed to meet people's needs. Staff received training that gave them the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their roles and meet people’s needs.

People were supported to maintain good health. Staff made referrals to health professionals when required. People were provided with the care, support and equipment they needed to stay independent. Staff were kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people using the service.

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 had food and drinks based on their individual choice and preferences. People enjoyed a wide range of activities in the community and within the service, that reflected their specific needs and interests.

Care plans were in place which guided staff to provide support that met people's needs which were in line with their preferences.

Systems were in place to monitor the service, which ensured that people's risks were mitigated, and lessons were learnt when things went wrong. There was an open culture within the service, where people and staff could approach the registered manager who acted on concerns raised to make improvements to people's care.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 25 June 2018)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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