Background to this inspection
Updated
6 August 2021
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
Two inspectors visited the service. After the inspection visit, an Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
The Chiltern Centre is a registered as a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a respite service and people were often out. We needed to be sure that the service would be supporting people on the day of the inspection and the registered manager available support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, administrator and two team leaders.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We observed two people interacting with staff at the service, although they could not tell us about their experiences, they appeared happy.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We contacted four relatives to seek their views and experiences of their family members care whilst visiting the service. We sought feedback from four professionals and received comments from two.
Updated
6 August 2021
About the service
The Chiltern Centre is a respite and day service run by The Chiltern Centre Limited. It is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four adults at any one time with a range of needs including, physical and learning disabilities. People could have support from a few hours a day or for longer periods. At the time of the inspection there were two people using the service for varying periods of time with 26 people registered for respite support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected by staff who knew how to report concerns relating to harm and abuse. There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed safely. People were supported in line with their care plans which meant risks to people were effectively managed and reviewed on a regular basis.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were involved in decisions about their care and supported to make choices about their day to day living. The culture of the service promoted independence, choices and empowerment for the people living in the service. Staff had a good understanding of how people communicated their needs and wishes and respected people's likes and dislikes. People's care was focused around their needs and staff supported people to engage in activities in the service and outside in the community.
People experienced person centred care from staff who were compassionate and knew people’s needs. The service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
The registered manager had a clear understanding of their responsibilities and a good overview of the service. Regular auditing took place to inform where improvements may be required.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
This service was registered with us on 08/07/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as this new service had been registered since 2019.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.