About the service: Asterbury Place is a care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 80 people. On the day of our visit there were 76 people resident in total. There were four separate units named, Lily, Goldcrest, Robin and Rose. Each unit could accommodate up to 20 people in bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms. Lily was for people who were more independent and required support with care. Goldcrest accommodated people living with dementia. Robin supported people with nursing needs and had nursing staff on duty at all times. Rose accommodated people living with more advanced dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

We found that people living here experienced extremely good levels of care, support and had positive outcomes. The management of the service had not only sustained good practice but had gone on to enhance the service on offer.

• People benefitted from an outstanding responsive and well-led service. Care and support was tailored to meet people’s needs and to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care. People were involved in and consulted about all aspects of their care and support. People told us that staff had an excellent understanding of their social and cultural diversity, values and beliefs and how these might influence their decisions on how they wanted to receive care and support.

• The home promoted understanding and a positive attitude towards different types of disability and difference. Staff had opportunities for learning, development and reflective practice on equality and diversity, which influenced how the home was developed.

• Arrangements for social activities were innovative, met people’s individual needs, and followed best practice guidance so people could live as full a life as possible. People were consulted about events before and after the event. Photographs throughout the home showed people taking part in a wide range of activities, events and celebrations throughout the year. The home had a key role in the local community and links with other community organisations which provided information and support to people.

• The culture in the home focused high-quality, person-centred care. Staff put people at the heart of the service and their views were at the core of home’s quality monitoring and assurance arrangements. Staff were motivated by and proud of the home. Continuous learning was embedded in the home’s culture.

• People felt safe at the home and there were the systems and processes in place to safeguard them. People had risk assessments so staff knew how to keep them safe. The premises were safe for people. Regular safety checks were carried out on the environment and on the equipment used. There were enough suitable staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People were provided with their medicines in a safe way. All areas of the home were clean, fresh, and tidy. The provider and registered manager ensured lessons were learnt and improvements made when things went wrong.

• People’s social care, healthcare and cultural needs were assessed prior to them moving into the home. They told us staff supported them to access health care services when they needed to. The staff team were well-trained and knew how to meet people’s individual needs. People told us they liked the food served. The kitchen catered for a range of dietary and cultural needs including vegetarian, Caribbean, and diabetic. The home was purpose-built and provided people with spacious and accessible accommodation including a range of communal areas. Staff understood the importance of people consenting to their care and support.

• The atmosphere in the home was warm and friendly. People experienced positive caring relationships with the staff team. Staff assisted people in a kind and reassuring manner. People were encouraged to express their views and make decisions about their daily routines. They said staff helped them to maintain their independence. Staff treated people with dignity and

This inspection took place on 24 February 2016 and was unannounced.

Asterbury Place is a care home which provides nursing care. When fully occupied the home provides personal and nursing care to up to 80 older people. During our inspection there were 77 people living in the home, some are living with dementia.

The service has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People living in the home told us that it is a good place to live, they like the environment and they told us the staff were kind and caring. There were enough staff to support people safely and staff knew what to do if they suspected someone may be being abused or harmed. Recruitment practices were robust and contributed to protecting people from staff who were unsuitable to work in care. Medicines were managed and stored properly and safely so that people received them as the prescriber intended.

Staff had received the training they needed to understand how to meet people’s needs. They understood the importance of gaining consent from people before delivering their care or treatment. Staff were clear about their roles. Where people were not able to give informed consent staff and the manager ensured their rights were protected.

People enjoyed their meals and had enough to eat and drink to meet their needs and staff assisted or prompted people with meals and fluids if they needed support.

Staff treated people with warmth and compassion. They were respectful of people’s privacy and dignity and offered comfort and reassurance when people were distressed or unsettled. Staff also made sure that people who were becoming unwell were referred promptly to healthcare professionals for treatment and advice about their health and welfare.

Staff showed commitment to understanding and responding to each person’s needs and preferences so that they could engage meaningfully with people. Outings and outside entertainment was offered to people and staff offered activities on a daily basis.

Staff understood the importance of responding to and resolving concerns quickly if they were able to do so. Staff also ensured that more serious complaints were passed on to the management team for investigation. People and their representatives told us that any complaints they made would be addressed by the manager.

The service had consistent leadership. The staff told us that the manager was supportive and easy to talk to. The manager was responsible for monitoring the quality and safety of the service and asked people for their views so that improvements identified were made where possible. The organisation also carried out quality assurance visits, set action plans and checked the actions had been undertaken.

This inspection took place on 28 and 29 October 2014 and was unannounced.

Asterbury Place is a new care home which provides nursing care, although currently the nursing suite is not open. Once fully occupied the home will provide personal and nursing care to up to 80 older people. During our inspection there were 51 people living in the home, some are living with dementia.

The service has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People living in the home told us that it is a good place to live, they like the environment, and that staff are kind and caring. People felt safe. The provider trained staff in how to recognise abuse and how to report it. Staff told us that if they ever see or suspect that people are being hurt or abused in any way, they will always report it to the registered manager.

Medicine is stored and administered effectively. It is locked away safely and is never left unattended when a medicine round is underway. Senior staff check the medicine to make sure it is being managed properly and that no mistakes have been made.

People receive care that is planned to keep them healthy and are supported to live in a way they want to. People are supported to continue activities which interest them and staff have time to spend with people to chat and get to know them. People are supported to keep in touch with their family and friends.

Staff are caring and support people in a way that is compassionate and protects people’s privacy and dignity. They take time to listen to people and do what they can to make their life comfortable.

Some staff need more training so that they know how to help people with dementia keep themselves active and interested in what is happening around them. The registered manager told us that they would make sure this is given to them.

People told us that they enjoy the food offered to them, have enough to eat and they are able to make choices between three different main meals offered at dinnertime. When people said that they wanted more choices added to the menu, it was done.

The home is well lead, the registered manager carries out checks to make sure the staff are looking after people properly and are meeting their needs. Where shortfalls are found they are dealt with and practices are changed to improve the quality of care people receive.

The registered manager is open and approachable and listens to complaints and suggestions for improvement. The registered manager spends some of their day working in communal areas of the home so that they are accessible to people and can monitor staff practice.