The Chimneys Residential Care Home

Updated 6 February 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

The comprehensive inspection site visit took place on 4 and 5 January 2018 and was unannounced. One inspector and an expert-by-experience undertook the inspection. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection visit, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used information the provider sent us in the PIR in our inspection planning.

We also reviewed the information we held about the service. We looked at information received from the local authority commissioners and the statutory notifications the registered manager had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. Commissioners are people who work to find appropriate care and support services which are paid for by the local authority.

During the inspection visit we spoke with six people who lived at the home, five relatives and visitors and a visiting healthcare professional. We spoke with three care staff, the cook, a housekeeper, an activities coordinator, the registered manager and the provider’s area manager.

We observed care and support being delivered in communal areas and we observed how people were supported to eat and drink at lunch time. We reviewed two people’s care plans and daily records, three staff recruitment files and management records of the checks the registered manager made to assure themselves people received a safe, effective quality service.

Updated 6 February 2018

The Chimneys Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The care home accommodates up to 26 people in one adapted building. Twenty-four people were living at the home at the time of our inspection visit.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good in all five questions and Good overall.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Since our previous inspection in January 2016 we have reviewed and refined our assessment framework, which was published in October 2017. Under the new framework certain key areas have moved, such as support for people when behaviour challenges, which has moved from Effective to Safe. Therefore, for this inspection, we have inspected all key questions under the new framework, and also reviewed the previous key questions to make sure all areas were inspected to validate the ratings.

People were protected from the risks of abuse because staff were trained in recognising and reporting any safeguarding concerns. The registered manager checked staff were suitable for their role before they started working at the home and made sure there were enough staff to support people safely. Medicines were stored, administered and managed safely. The housekeeping staff followed best practice guidance to keep the home clean.

Risks to people’s individual health and wellbeing were identified with the person and their representative and care was planned to minimise the identified risks. The provider and registered manager regularly checked that the premises, essential supplies and equipment were safe for people to use.

People were cared for and supported by staff who had the skills and training to meet their needs effectively. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet that met their preferences. People were referred to other healthcare services when their health needs changed.

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, relatives and staff felt well cared for. The registered manager and staff understood people’s diverse needs and interests and encouraged them to maintain their independence according to their wishes and abilities. Staff were happy working at the home. People were supported and encouraged to maintain their interests and to socialise in the home and in the local community. Staff respected people’s right to privacy and supported people to maintain their dignity.

People and relatives knew the manager well and were confident any concerns or issues they raised would be dealt with promptly. People and their relatives were encouraged to share their opinions about the quality of the service. Staff were inspired by the registered manager’s leadership, skills and experience to provide a quality service. The service people received was in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

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