Ashwood Care Centre

We found the following examples of good practice:

● People were supported to have friends and family visit them safely. There were also plans for a permanent visitors room to be introduced at the home. Visits were supported by a staff member, to support social distancing. People were also supported to have phone and video calls with their relatives. ● Staff and visiting professionals were required to change their clothing when arriving at the home. They also had to adhere to thorough infection control measures upon entering the home. These included having their temperature taken, hand-washing, and putting on personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE available included gloves, aprons, and face coverings. ● Staff were tested weekly and people were tested monthly for COVID-19, or if they displayed symptoms. The registered manager had a thorough understanding of safe isolation processes in the event of a positive test result. Some people had been required to shield in the home and were supported in their bedrooms. People newly admitted to the home were tested and supported to isolate for the required period. ● The registered manager was kept up to date about all national guidance updates. This was communicated to people and staff at different meetings. People and staff from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and those in high-risk health categories were risk-assessed to ensure all required safety measures were put in place to support them. ● The home was clean throughout and thorough cleaning schedules were in place. We observed staff wearing face coverings, socially distancing and washing their hands thoroughly. Staff had received additional training specifically around the use of PPE, supporting people with COVID-19, and infection prevention and control. ●Staff spent time with people in communal areas, which were laid out to support safe social engagement. Activities took place in small groups, or on a one-to-one basis. Activity staff were allocated to a floor for the day, to avoid the risk of mixing with too many vulnerable people in one day.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found