'˜Warm, homely' Worthing care home is rated good by inspectors

Ashdown Nursing Home in Shakespeare Road, which provides care and support for up to 31 people living with dementia, was placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection in January 2016.

But improvements were made and after the most recent unannounced inspection, the nursing home was given an overall rating of good.

The report said people at the home were treated ‘with dignity and respect’.

Observations showed staff treating people with kindness and compassion and being sensitive when supporting them, inspectors found.

People at the home were encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, external entertainment and meaningful occupation, according to the report.

The home was well-managed and people were complimentary about the leadership and management, inspectors said.

The home was rated good in most areas – for being safe, caring, responsive and well-led – but was told it still needed to improve in being effective.

Suran Wije, general manager at Ashdown, said: “I think the key factors of our success was strategic focus and leadership, attention to quality assurance and compliance and our long serving fantastic team, combined with the determination and the excellent support from our directors, especially our registered manager who is a director.”

He said Ashdown had transformed into ‘an affectionate home as opposed to an institution’ with ‘a fantastic, warm homely atmosphere’.

“Ashdown is a home with a big family and a strong team,” Mr Wije said.

“We are not only sensitive to our service user’s needs and relatives’ expectations but also, to our individual team members’ needs and wellbeing.

“Consequently, our staff turnover is diminutive, with nil agency costs and average occupancy levels at 99 per cent in the last two years.”

Mr Wije said further improvements had been made since the inspection, such as the introduction of service user and family consultation groups to promote transparency, which he said had had a ‘very positive impact’.

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