Chandlers Ford Care Home

Updated 25 January 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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

Chandlers Ford Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Chandlers Ford Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people and spent time in communal areas observing people being supported. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, a registered nurse, 2 care workers, a senior home manager, and the regional quality improvement lead. We reviewed a range of records, including medicines records, support plans and daily care records for 8 people. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision records. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including risk assessments, quality assurance records, training data and policies and procedures. We received feedback from 9 relatives and 2 professionals.

Updated 25 January 2023

About the service

Chandlers Ford Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 45 people. The service provides support to older people and younger adults, including those who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We received mixed feedback from people’s relatives about some aspects of the service. Some felt the service could improve in the ways it communicated with them. Some also felt there were sometimes not enough staff available, so that people were left waiting and did not receive support in a timely manner. Some said not enough was being done to provide people with activities for mental and social stimulation.

Positive comments from relatives included, for example, “They are respecting her…and she looks pleased to see them.” Also, “They have made him feel very welcome, all the staff, manager are friendly and easy to talk to” and “Overall feeling is they are kind and caring with her.”

We found there were inconsistencies and a lack of clarity in some of the care records, which meant we were not assured that people always received appropriate care and support. External health and social care professionals had also raised concerns around gaps in records putting people at risk of unsafe care. The service was working in partnership with the local authority and were making improvements as part of an action plan.

A dependency assessment was used to assess and monitor staffing levels and the registered manager was introducing an improved staff allocation system as part of their action plan. Safe recruitment practices were followed before new staff were employed to work with people.

People received their medicines in a safe and effective way from staff who had received appropriate training. The labelling of bottles with opening and expiry dates could be made clearer and the registered manager agreed to action this. We observed staff adhered to the provider’s infection prevention and control policy and procedures.

Staff received training in safeguarding and demonstrated their understanding of procedures for reporting and escalating any concerns. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were assessed, such as falling, choking, or developing pressure areas on their skin, and actions taken to minimise the risk were recorded. A range of systems and processes were in place to identify and manage environmental risks.

There were systems and processes in place for monitoring the quality and safety of care and used to plan improvements. Monthly meetings were held for the purpose of sharing learning across the organisation. The registered manager was promoting a positive culture that was open and person-centred. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and was making improvements to the service, such as daily meetings to communicate what needed to be done.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 2 June 2018)

Why we inspected

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.

We received concerns in relation to staffing, personal care and support to ensure people had enough to drink and were offered baths or showers, and activities to promote mental / social stimulation. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.

The provider has taken action to mitigate the risks.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Chandlers Ford Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.