Ashurst

Ashurst is a small care home providing personalized support and accommodation for up to five young people with complex mental health needs. The recent inspection highlights a warm, person-centered environment where residents feel safe, respected, and actively involved in shaping their daily lives and living spaces. While the home excels in many areas of daily care and safety, the report points out specific administrative and oversight inconsistencies that management needs to address to ensure fully robust operations moving forward.

Residents are supported by a visible and attentive staff team that understands how to promote independence and manage risks effectively. The home maintains safe medication storage and good infection control practices, and residents have quick access to external healthcare professionals when needed. However, the inspection noted inconsistencies in medication record-keeping, including occasional gaps when medicines were declined and minor discrepancies between actual stock levels and recorded balances.

Care is tailored closely to individual preferences, and staff receive adequate training and support in their roles. The home features clean, spacious living areas, and residents are given budgets to decorate and personalize their own rooms. While staff training programs are generally completed, inspectors found significant gaps in staff induction records and medication assessment workbooks, indicating a need for more consistent documentation.

Leadership and oversight require improvement due to inconsistencies in internal auditing and record-keeping systems. Although quality assurance checks are in place, some service audits failed to identify the gaps found during the inspection regarding staff inductions and medication records. Management is encouraged to strengthen these internal checks to ensure all administrative processes match the high standard of direct care provided.

The service fosters an open, inclusive, and empowering culture that encourages positive outcomes for residents. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to a least-restrictive approach, building trust, and respecting residents' choices and protected characteristics. Residents and available feedback confirm that they feel listened to, valued, and genuinely included in decisions about their support and care.