Chalkwell Grange

Updated 29 September 2026

Date of assessment: 19 October to 2 November 2026.
Chalkwell Grange is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 48 people. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises, and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides support to older people some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, there were 46 people living in the service. This inspection was unannounced.

The inspection was completed to follow up on the last inspection to see if improvements had been made. At the last inspection the service was rated inadequate and had been in breach of legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment, staffing, premises and equipment, good governance and notification of incidents.

At this inspection, we found improvements had been made since May 2026 to address the previous concerns identified. The provider was no longer in breach of these regulations and evidence indicated that the improvements had been sustained over time and were being actively maintained through the service's governance and oversight processes.

The manager had commenced the application process with CQC to become the registered manager at Chalkwell Grange. A registered manager is a requirement under the service's registration.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way which was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff received the correct training and supervision to support people safely.

The manager had oversight of the service, they had encouraged a culture of learning and development. There were systems in place to monitor and review care and people’s experience at the service.
 

Updated 29 September 2026

People told us they were happy living at the service and felt well cared for. People and relatives consistently spoke positively about the care provided, the staff team and the management of the home. One person told us, “I am very happy here, it has become home now.” A relative said, “The care is very good, the staff know what they are doing and are very kind and respectful.” Relatives described staff as caring, attentive and responsive to people’s individual needs.

People had plans in place which recorded their interests, preferences and the activities they enjoyed. People and relatives told us there was a good range of activities and outings available and spoke positively about events organised by the service. Relatives also told us the environment was clean, people were well cared for, and meals were of a good quality.

Some people were unable to tell us directly about their experience of care. We therefore used a structured observation tool to understand their experiences. We observed staff supporting people patiently and at their own pace. Staff listened to people and responded promptly to their needs, helping to minimise distress or unnecessary delays.

This was consistent with feedback from relatives, who gave examples of staff recognising and responding promptly to changes in people’s health. This helped ensure people received appropriate medical attention when required.

People and relatives told us the management team was approachable, and staff were caring and considerate. Relatives described the manager as visible and approachable and told us they operated an open-door policy.