Chilmington House

Updated 14 July 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was a comprehensive inspection which took place on 7 and 8 June 2017. The inspection was unannounced on the first day and was carried out by one inspector. We last inspected the service in April 2015, at which time it was rated good.

Before the inspection, the registered manager completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) which we received in March 2017. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the information provided in the PIR and used this to help us plan the inspection. Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the current information we held about the service. This included notifications that we received. Notifications are reports of events that the provider is required by law to inform us about. We also reviewed the last inspection report and contacted representatives of local authorities with people they funded in the service, for their feedback.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and four of the care staff. We ate lunch with people in the service on day one and spent other time in the house informally observing interactions between people and the staff supporting them. We spoke briefly to two of the people supported about their experience in the service.

We examined a sample of three care plans and other documents relating to people’s care. We looked at a sample of other records to do with the operation of the service, including health and safety certification, recruitment records for two recent recruits and medicines recording.

Updated 14 July 2017

Care service description.

Chilmington House is a care home providing accommodation and personal care support for up to seven people who have a learning disability and sometimes additional physical disabilities. The service is provided in a single story building to promote accessibility.

Rating at last inspection.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

Rating at this inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated good.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People’s rights and freedom were protected by staff who also advocated strongly with external services to ensure people’s needs were met.

People were kept safe by a staff team who understood how to do this and had attended relevant training. Health and safety and risk assessment systems also helped ensure people and staff were as safe as possible.

Staff were caring, involved people and their representatives in decision making and listened to their wishes. Relationships between people and staff were relaxed, positive and respectful. People’s dignity and privacy were promoted by the staff.

The service responded positively and in a timely way where people’s needs changed. People had access to a range of appropriate activities and events to reflect their culture, gender and interests.

The views of people and their representatives were listened to and the service took action to address any points raised.

The service was well led by a consistent management team who had effective system to monitor its day-to-day operation and the approach of staff.

Further information is in the detailed findings below