Chesford Grange Care Home

Updated 22 May 2026

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 27 May 2026 and 1 June 2026. Chesford Grange Care Home is a care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 74 people at the time of the inspection, 73 people were using the service. The service supports older people and younger adults living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments.

We carried out this inspection in response to previous enforcement action taken following the last inspection.

The provider had made significant improvements since the last inspection, particularly in relation to governance systems and the management of medicines. Safeguarding practices had also strengthened, with improvements in incident monitoring, oversight, and the timely submission of safeguarding referrals. Further progress had been made in escalating concerns to healthcare professionals and ensuring care plans were accurate, up to date, and reflected people's current needs.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of how to identify, raise and respond to safeguarding concerns. There were sufficient skilled staff to support people safely, medicines were managed appropriately and infection prevention and control practices had improved. The provider promoted learning from incidents and used this to improve practice. Although an environmental concern relating to overheating in communal areas was identified during the inspection, immediate action was taken to address it. Overall, systems and processes supported people to receive safe care while maintaining their independence, choice and wellbeing.

Staff knew people well and provided personalised support that reflected their needs, preferences and choices. People and relatives spoke positively about the care provided. People were involved in decisions about their care and encouraged to maintain their independence. Staff responded appropriately to people's wellbeing needs and were supported by the management team to deliver person-centred care.

Leadership, governance and oversight arrangements had strengthened since the last inspection. Staff felt able to raise concerns, share ideas and contribute to service development, creating an open and inclusive culture. Effective quality assurance systems were used to monitor performance, identify risks and drive improvement. The provider worked proactively with external professionals and used feedback, audits and learning to improve outcomes for people. Staff told us they felt valued and involved in the ongoing development of the service.

Updated 22 May 2026

People and their relatives spoke positively about living at Chesford Grange and told us they felt safe, cared for and well supported. One person said, “I love it here and the staff are so caring.” A relative told us, “The staff are brilliant and always helpful” while another said, “They go out of their way to help.”

Relatives told us staff knew their family members well, understood their needs and preferences, and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff were described as ‘compassionate, kind, caring and understanding’, and one relative told us, “Nothing is too much trouble for them.” Another relative said, “The staff are compassionate, kind, caring and understanding. They are always smiling and make visitors welcome. Everyone smiles and says hello. They all look out for each other. They know [family member] well and [family member] trusts them.”

Relatives were positive about how staff responded to people's health needs and worked alongside healthcare professionals when required. One relative told us, “The nurses here are good and they spot if [family member] has an infection starting.” Another said, “They are always on time with the medication.”

People and relatives told us they received kind and compassionate care from staff who treated them with dignity and respect. They also told us the home was well maintained and clean and that staff had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs. One relative said, “Every time I come, it is absolutely spotless.”

People, relatives, professionals and staff spoke positively about the management team, describing leaders as approachable, visible and supportive. Feedback highlighted improvements since the last inspection, particularly in relation to leadership and the culture within the service. One relative told us, “I've seen such a difference since the new manager came here. They have an open-door policy. It doesn’t matter what problems you’ve got; they will get to you and sort it out 100%.”

Feedback reflected a service where people felt safe, valued and respected, supported by caring staff and an approachable, responsive management team.