Chocolate Works Care Village

Updated 9 January 2024

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by two inspectors, a pharmacist specialist, a medicines inspector, a regulatory coordinator 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

Chocolate Works Care Village 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. Chocolate Works Care Village 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 CQC 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

The first day of our inspection was unannounced. We told the provider we would be returning on the second day.

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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) before this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 17 people who used the service and 12 of their relatives, visitors or friends to gather their feedback about the service. We received feedback from 7 health and social care professionals who worked with the service. We also spoke with 15 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, clinical operations manager, wellbeing coordinator, nurses, senior carers and care workers.

We inspected the environment and observed the care and support provided to help us understand people’s experience of using the service. We reviewed 7 people’s care records, 14 people’s medicine administration records and 3 staff’s recruitment records. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 9 January 2024

About the service

Chocolate Works Care Village is a residential and nursing home providing support for up to 102 younger adults and older people who may be living with a physical disability, sensory impairment or dementia. At the time of our inspection, there were 86 mainly older people using the service.

Accommodation is provided in one adapted building over three floors. The ‘Knavesmire Community’ on the ground floor provides residential care; the ‘Riverside Community’ on the first floor provides dementia and nursing care; the ‘Minster Community’ on the second floor provides nursing care.

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

People felt safe living at the Chocolate Works Care Village.

The provider had systems and processes in place to assess people’s needs and risks. Care plans and risk assessments were generally detailed and person-centred and provided appropriate advice and guidance to staff on how best to support people to meet their individual needs whilst minimising risks to their safety.

Staff were safely recruited and completed an appropriate induction and training to support them to provide safe and effective care. This included training on how to identify and respond to any safeguarding concerns.

Staffing levels were safe, although people felt staff were sometimes busy and did not have time to sit and talk with them outside of planned activities. We made a recommendation about continuing to monitor this.

We also made a recommendation about completing timed simulated evacuations to help check and make sure people could be evacuated safely if there were a fire.

Accidents and incidents were responded to appropriately to help keep people safe and to identify any lessons that could be learned.

Medicines were managed and administered safely.

Staff worked with professionals to meet people’s health needs and respond quickly if their needs changed.

The environment was generally clean, tidy and well-maintained. Staff used personal protective equipment and regular audits were completed to help ensure safe infective prevention and control measures were followed.

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.

People were supported by kind and caring staff. Staff were mindful of supporting people in a way which maintained their privacy, dignity and promoted their independence.

People told us the service was well-led. Regular audits and checks were used to continually monitor and address any issues or concerns. This helped ensure people received safe and effective care and supported continuous improvements.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good (published on 16 August 2018). This was the first inspection of this service since the new provider took over on 3 July 2023.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of information we held about the service and based on when the service was registered under the new provider.

Follow up

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