- Care home
Chelmsford Care Centre Ltd
Assessment report published 22 August 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
This assessment was conducted between 15 July and 30 July 2025, with site visits taking place on 15 and 21 July 2025, to follow up on the findings of the previous inspection. At the time of the assessment, Chelmsford Care Centre was providing nursing care to 48 people. The service is registered as a care home offering accommodation and nursing or personal care under a single contractual agreement. Both the care provided, and the premises were reviewed as part of this assessment.
Although the service did not have a registered manager in post at the time, a newly appointed manager had submitted their application to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). For the purposes of this report, they are referred to as the manager.
The assessment focused on whether improvements had been made following previous concerns, particularly regarding good governance. We found that the provider had taken effective action to improve oversight and monitoring of care records and risk management. As a result, the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.
People received safe, person-centred care, and staff demonstrated a strong understanding of individual needs and preferences. Care plans provided clear guidance to support safe and effective care delivery. Risks were well managed, and people’s health and wellbeing needs were met. People and their representatives were actively involved in planning and reviewing care.
Staff reported feeling supported in their roles and had access to training that enabled them to deliver care that was safe, effective, responsive, and caring. Recruitment processes were robust, helping to ensure the safety of people using the service.
The home was clean, welcoming, and well-suited to the needs of the people living there, including those with dementia. Systems were in place to ensure the safety of the environment and equipment, such as lifts and hoists.
People were supported to engage in meaningful activities and had access to a range of daily organised events. Staff knew people well and provided care in a way that respected their individuality. Staffing levels were appropriate to meet people’s needs safely.
The leadership team demonstrated a proactive approach, with a clear focus on delivering high-quality, person-centred care and driving continuous improvement across the service.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives were positive about the quality of their care, of the care their loved ones received. They felt safe and were fully involved in planning their care and understood their rights. People said they received high quality care from knowledgeable staff who treated them as individuals. A relative told us, “[Person] has been here a couple of years now and I must say I really can't fault this place.” People and relatives described how staff treated them kindly and made sure any personal care was done sensitively, respecting their privacy and dignity. They also said the service provided lots of interesting activities to keep people physically and mentally active.
Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. We used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. This approach showed people were included and listened to and staff interacted positively with them. People and relatives felt able to complain and were confident action would be taken, and improvements would be made. Another relative told us, “All the staff here make you feel welcome, which is important for us. When it was [persons] birthday, they [staff] put up balloons, so we and the carers had a birthday party with [person], and they made them a birthday cake. That sort of effort goes a long way in our book.”