Ashmead Care Centre

Ashmead Care Centre is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 108 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 108 people using the service including those living with dementia. The care home accommodates people in six units, two on the ground floor, two on the first floor and two on the second floor.

The home was not always responsive to people's activities needs. The home was updating the activity needs of people, had employed an activities co-ordinator and external training for staff was in place, although the current individual and group activities were not quite meeting people's needs. The registered manager and staff regularly assessed and reviewed people's care needs and updated their care plans accordingly. This included any communication needs. People were provided with person-centred care by staff who knew them and their preferences well. People were given choices, and encouraged to follow their routines, interests and maintain contact with friends and relatives to minimise social isolation. People and their relatives were given easy to understand information about the service to decide if they wanted to move in. Complaints were appropriately recorded, investigated and responded to.

People and their relatives said that the Ashmead Care Centre was a safe place to live and staff told us it was a safe place to work. People had any risks to them regularly assessed and reviewed. This meant they were able to take acceptable risks, enjoy their lives and live safely. Any accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns were reported, investigated and recorded. There were enough appropriately recruited staff to meet people's needs. Trained staff safely administered medicines. The home used Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) effectively and safely and the infection prevention and control policy were up to date.