Chalkwell Grange

Chalkwell Grange is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 48 people. The service provides support to older people some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, there were 41 people living in the service.

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

Medicines were not always managed safely. People did not always receive their medicines as prescribed as reconciliation of stock was inaccurate.

There was not always enough staff to meet the needs of people particularly on the first floor. This meant communal areas were not monitored effectively by staff.

Risk management was not always effective. Risks were identified, however controls in place were not followed effectively. Infection control processes were effective.

Governance systems and processes were in place. However, these did not always identify shortfalls effectively.

There were appropriate policies and systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Safe recruitment systems were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with people.

Staff were positive about the new manager at the service.

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 3 March 2023).

At our last inspection we recommended the provider seek independent advice and guidance to improve the service's medication practices. At this inspection we found the provider had not fully met this recommendation.

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the management of medicines and risk management. 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.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management, staffing and governance processes at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

Chalkwell Grange is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 48 people. The service provides support to older people and people who are living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people using the service.

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

Improvements were required to medicines management and we have made a recommendation about this. Care plans were in place to reflect how people would like to receive their care and support and covered most aspects of a person's individual circumstances. However, generic information was recorded relating to specific healthcare conditions and 1 person’s care plan did not reflect all of their care and support needs. We have made a recommendation about this.

Suitable arrangements were in place to keep people safe. Policies and procedures were followed by staff to safeguard people and staff understood these measures. Risks to people were identified and managed to prevent people from receiving unsafe care and support. The service was appropriately staffed to meet people’s needs. Recruitment procedures were followed to ensure the right staff were employed. People were protected by the providers arrangements for the prevention and control of infection. Arrangements were in place for learning and making improvements when things go wrong.

Staff received appropriate training opportunities. Suitable arrangements were in place for staff to receive regular formal supervision. People's nutritional and hydration needs were met, and they received appropriate healthcare support as and when needed from a variety of professional healthcare services. All areas of the service were maintained and decorated to a high standard. The space was maximised to ensure there were quiet areas, room for activities and areas for people to sit with their visitors. The service worked together with other organisations to ensure people received coordinated care and support. 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 treated with care, kindness, dignity and respect. People received a good level of care and support which met their needs and preferences. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people's specific care and support needs and how they wished to be cared for and supported. The rapport between staff and people using the service was positive.

People’s social care needs were met. Complaints were investigated and managed. Suitable arrangements were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. There was a positive culture within the service that was person-centred, open and inclusive.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 18 October 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

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