Archived: Chilton House

Updated 19 September 2019

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Chilton House is 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before this inspection, we reviewed the information we already held on the service. This included notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are information about specific incidents the service is required to tell us about. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke to ten members of staff. This included, care staff, housekeeping, hospitality, the activity co-ordinator, the owner of Chilton House, the operational director and the registered manager. We spoke to four people and one relative about their experience using the service. We reviewed a range of records, this included four care plans, four staff files and several documents relating to the management of the service and premises.

After the inspection

We requested feedback from the local safeguarding team and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

Updated 19 September 2019

About the service

Chilton House is a residential care home, based in a privately owned 18th century Manor house, in the village of Chilton. Chilton House was providing personal and nursing care to 17 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 45 people.

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

The service did not always comply with its regulatory responsibilities, we found that the service had failed to notify CQC of some reportable incidents.

We have made recommendations about the way the service manages accidents and incidents.

People were safe. There were systems in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding principles. Staff were recruited and trained safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. The service was clean and maintained good infection control practices.

People’s health and care needs were assessed in line with national guidance and people were supported to access healthcare services when required. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet, they told us they enjoyed meal times at the service and always had plenty of menu choices.

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.

Care was planned collaboratively with people who use the service and people were regularly consulted on future plans and development of the service. The service facilitated a wide range of activities and these were personalised to individuals’ hobbies and preferences.

People who use the service told us that staff were caring and treated them respectfully.

The service supported people at the end of their lives effectively and sensitively. The service tailored care provided to individuals religious, spiritual, cultural and personal differences.

The service was run by a registered manager whose staff described as supportive, approachable and ‘hands on’. Staff were supported by the registered manager to develop professionally.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.