Inspection Report on
Aston Hall Care Limited Lower Aston Hall Lane
Hawarden Deeside CH5 3EX
Date Inspection Completed
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About Aston Hall Care Limited
Type of care provided Care Home Service Adults Without Nursing Registered Provider Aston Hall Care Limited
Registered places 43
Language of the service English
Previous Care Inspectorate Wales inspection
30/9/2019
Does this service provide the Welsh Language active offer?
This is a service that does not provide an 'Active Offer' of the Welsh language. It does not anticipate, identify or meet the Welsh language needs of people who use, or intend to use their service. We recommend that the service provider considers Welsh Government’s ‘More Than Just Words’ follow on strategic guidance for Welsh language in social care.
Summary
Aston Hall provides accommodation and care for people over the age of 50, who have a wide variety of support needs. This was a focussed inspection, primarily to look at the quality of care and leadership and management. People feel safe and respected in Aston Hall and are happy with their care and support. They can join in with a range of activities if they choose. People have opportunities to express their views and influence matters that affect their daily lives.
Well-being
People feel safe and well supported. People told us they are treated with respect and
dignity, and staff are friendly. They told us they are able to say what they need and feel they are listened to. Regular resident meetings are held to enable people to voice their views on range of topics that affect them. People said they receive support when they want it, are able to follow their own routines and do not feel rushed. Staff are trained on the protection of vulnerable adults and understand the need to report any concerns.
Care and Support
Overall people receive good care in Aston Hall. There is a new digital care planning system in place, and care staff said this helps them in their work. Care staff have easy access to peoples care plans and notes to help them deliver personalised care. Care plans and risk assessments contain detailed information describing people’s individual needs. Care plans should contain more detail on how to support people with their mental health needs. One person receiving a service we spoke with did not remember they had a care plan and what it contained. However, they did tell us they had a good relationship with the manager and felt able to tell them what they wanted. Family members we spoke with said they had been consulted on the care their relative required but due to Covid 19 and visiting restrictions, had not been invited to review care plans as usual. Family members told us they were kept informed of any changes in their relative’s health. The service are committed to making improvements in the care planning process and advised us this will be addressed.
Environment
People’s individual’s care and support is provided in a location and environment with facilities and equipment that promotes achievement of their personal outcomes. Most accommodation and all communal areas are on one level and people can move around freely and independently. Bedrooms are spacious and people can personalise them as they wish. The necessary equipment to support people with their needs is in place. The service provider has plans to reopen some bedrooms on the first floor, and are consulting with the necessary agencies to ensure this is done safely.
Leadership and Management
The service has sufficient staff to meet the needs of people living in the home. People we spoke with told us their care is provided in a relaxed way, and when they want it. Care staff told us they feel they have time to do their jobs well. We saw staff are suitably vetted prior to taking up their employment. There is an induction process in place, however some new staff raised issues which highlighted this needs to be improved. We advise this is given further consideration, to ensure all new staff are supported to develop the required knowledge, competency and skills.
Recent safeguarding issues highlighted some care practices that needed improvement. The service needs to ensure they have a culture of openness, honesty and candour at all levels so that all staff feel comfortable in raising issues within the service. This will support the development of good care practices and improve the well-being outcomes for people who live in the home.
The service has a statement of purpose and service user guide which describes the service people can expect. Overall these documents provide a good description of the service, however they need to revise the information about staffing levels. We saw they had a range of policies which are regularly reviewed, however we have recommended they consider adding some more information to make some points clear in the induction policy.
Areas for improvement and action at the previous inspection None
Areas where immediate action is required None
Areas where improvement is required
Ensuring new staff are properly inducted so they are competent and knowledgeable about the people they are supporting needs to improve.
Regulation 36(2)(a)
We have not issued a priority action (non-compliance) notice on this occasion. This is because there is no immediate or significant risk to or poor outcomes for people using the service. We expect the registered provider to take action to rectify this and we will follow this up at the next inspection
