Chichester Grange

Updated 1 February 2023

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors 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

Chichester Grange 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. Chichester Grange 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 the Care Quality Commission 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

This inspection was unannounced. We visited the location’s service on 15 December 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from Healthwatch, Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who used the service and 8 relatives of people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 3 health and social care professionals who regularly visits the service and 8 members of staff including the registered manager, members of the management team, registered nurses, care workers, the chef and housekeeping staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 1 February 2023

About the service

Chichester Grange is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 75 people. The service provides support to people with physical disabilities, people living with dementia and age-related frailties. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service.

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

People and their relatives spoke highly of the service, comments included, “I'm so lucky to be here I wouldn't want to be anywhere else there are no pressures they look after me so well.” And, “I would definitely recommend the home, no hesitation. It’s like a 5-star hotel and that’s the impression you get when you go in. The staff are so good and everything you need is there.”

People told us they felt safe and happy. People and their relatives said they felt comfortable to speak with staff or management if they had any worries or concerns. One person told us, “I love it here when I was in hospital, I wanted to come home and when I said home, I meant here.” Staff received safeguarding training and understood their role preventing and reporting potential abuse. Staff told us they were confident the registered manager would take any concerns seriously. A staff member said, “If I was worried about abuse, I would talk to my line manager.”

People received their medicines from registered nurses who were trained and competent to administer them safely. People’s relatives were kept informed of any changes. One relative said, “They are very good with the medication, keep on top of it. When my relative stays with us, they give us a list of what is taken and when.” The service was clean, staff practised good infection control to help protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases. A relative told us, “It’s spotless, like a top hotel, there’s no smell.”

People’s health risks were assessed and managed safely. Where people required support with equipment to move and position, staff followed care plans to ensure they were assisted safely. Some people were at risk of choking, risk assessments and care plans detailed how staff should support them with their meals. We observed people being served meals at the correct consistency and staff assisted them in line with their care plan.

People were supported by enough staff who knew them well. One relative described the staff as, “Very caring, couldn’t have been more caring.” Another relative said, “Staff are friendly, efficient, caring, they treat the residents really well, nothing is too much trouble.” We observed kind interactions throughout the inspection, people were treated with dignity and respect.

People and their relatives said they were involved in planning their care, this included life histories so staff could learn about people. The activity schedule was planned around people’s hobbies and interests. People were consulted on what they wanted to do and were free to use spaces in the service including, the pub, the cinema, the café and various activity rooms. People contributed towards the ‘wishing tree’ staff worked hard to grant wishes, such as, helping a person achieve a higher education and granting a life-long dream for a person to sing in a cathedral.

People, their relatives and staff told us they felt comfortable to make suggestions or complain if needed, they were confident the management team would deal with any problems. Relatives told us staff and management kept them up to date with changes to their loved ones. One relative said, “The manager is approachable, we asked about getting pictures put up in [person’s] room and it was done the next day.” People and their relatives were invited to meetings to discuss and contribute towards the running of the service, their views were listened to.

Quality assurance processes were robust and ensured effective managerial oversight. Audits of care records carried out, had identified some inconsistencies in people’s care records in comparison to planned care. The registered manager addressed shortfalls with staff and improvements had been made. Other quality assurance processes were effective in identifying areas for improvement.

Staff and the management team worked closely with health and social care professionals to improve people’s care, safety and well-being. Professionals spoke highly of the service. Comments included, “Staff interaction is good, I visited once and [person] was loving some activities. They were enjoying the ball game. [Person] got upset when we took them from the lounge to speak with them. A staff member came over and took them by the hand and calmed her down really well, some really good stuff there.” And, “When it comes to [registered manager], they are very engaging with any suggestions I have.”

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.

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 1 December 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection for this newly registered 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.