Aurem Care (The Red House)

Welcome to our overview of The Red House in Ashtead, a residential care home registered to accommodate up to 26 people, which recently welcomed inspectors on the third of February 2022. This targeted inspection specifically focused on infection prevention and control measures, as well as checking how the home manages staffing pressures during the ongoing pandemic. While the visit did not result in a traditional numerical or descriptive score, the findings provide a clear picture of daily routines, hygiene practices, and the overall management approach at the home to help families make informed decisions.

When looking at how the home keeps residents and visitors protected, inspectors found that the premises were exceptionally clean and well maintained with extra cleaning schedules implemented for high touch areas like door handles and light switches. Clinical waste was safely disposed of, personal protective equipment was readily accessible, and laundry was carefully handled using red bags to prevent cross-contamination.

Regarding effective daily operations, the provider maintained a reliable testing programme for both staff and visitors in line with current government guidance, ensuring clinical needs were met properly.

For personal care and individual support, residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were assigned a dedicated staff team during their isolation period to handle all care and nursing needs without mixing groups.

When it comes to responding to changing guidelines and keeping people connected, the home followed government visiting rules smoothly, allowing residents to see family members safely either in their own rooms or inside a specially designed visiting pod in the garden.

On the leadership side, the registered manager and senior leadership team actively supported staff while remaining fully open to advice from external agencies such as the local health protection team and the council. Furthermore, the designated infection control lead kept both staff and family members promptly updated on policy changes, and the service successfully met the legal requirements regarding staff vaccinations.