Ashton Cross

The service provides specialist rehabilitation and support for people living with an acquired brain injury, across the Beeches and Woodland Units. The assessment was prompted due to an aged rating. The Beeches supports up to 6 people and offers a ‘home for life’ environment supporting people to be as independent as possible. The Woodlands supports up to 7 people who have completed their rehabilitation but require on-going support. There is a bungalow used to promote independent living.

We carried out this assessment on 29 September and 6 October 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.

People were supported by enough staff who had been safely recruited and had the skills and knowledge to support them safely.

People told us they felt safe living at Ashton Cross. We observed staff carrying out their duties diligently to ensure the home was clean, tidy, and comfortable. Staff demonstrated a proactive approach to risk management and spoke positively about the team's communication. One member of staff said, “The team works well together and we make sure any concerns are raised quickly so people remain safe and well supported.”

We found people received person-centred support that respected their dignity, privacy, and human rights. Staff were warm, respectful and attentive, taking care to communicate with people in ways that reflected their personal preferences and promoted positive engagement.

Staff were confident any safeguarding concerns would be responded to appropriately and investigated by the registered manager and provider. They understood how to escalate concerns externally and were able to identify relevant agencies, including the police and local authority safeguarding team, if action was not taken internally.

People's care plans and risk assessments were well developed and contained detailed information about their needs, strengths, preferences, and risks. This enabled staff to provide personalised support and respond consistently to people's individual requirements.

Care and support were effective and focused on achieving positive rehabilitation outcomes. Staff used their specialist knowledge of acquired brain injury to provide personalised support, while multidisciplinary working ensured care plans remained current and goal focused. People were actively involved in their recovery, and communication with families and professionals was well managed.

The multidisciplinary team worked collaboratively with people to develop and deliver personalised activity programmes that reflected their individual needs, interests, and rehabilitation goals. Activities were thoughtfully tailored to each person's abilities and stage of recovery, ensuring they remained meaningful, engaging, and aligned with identified outcomes. This rehabilitation-focused approach supported people to maximise their independence, build confidence, develop new skills, and make progress towards their personal aspirations and long-term recovery objectives.

Medicines were managed safely, with appropriate arrangements for ordering, storage, temperature monitoring, and disposal. Records showed people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff administered medicines safely and took the time to check whether people required ‘as required’ (PRN) medicines. PRN medicines are ‘as required’, for example paracetamol for pain relief. Staff respected people's choices and preferences regarding the way they preferred to take their medication.

Staff reported high levels of job satisfaction and said they felt valued by the organisation. They described receiving consistent support from the management team, enabling them to perform their roles confidently and effectively. Comments from staff reflected a positive culture, with one member of staff stating, “I feel listened to, clients are listened to and everything is client-led as it should be,” while others told us, “The manager is very approachable and is available at all times” and “I feel really well supported by the whole team.”

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the provider was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions, and they had choice, control and freedom over their lives. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen.

Governance systems were well established and provided effective oversight of the service. Audits and monitoring activities were used proactively to maintain standards, promote safety, and support continuous service development. Leaders were receptive to feedback and took action to further enhance quality assurance processes. The provider continued to demonstrate the characteristics of a good-rated provider, with strong leadership, knowledgeable staff, and a clear commitment to delivering person-centred, high-quality care.