Chantry Gardens

Updated 17 January 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Chantry Gardens is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people living at the service and three members of staff. We also spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care plans and health plans and three people’s medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and training data were reviewed.

After the inspection

We contacted two relatives and three healthcare professionals for their feedback about the service.

Updated 17 January 2020

About the service

Chantry Gardens is a care home providing care and accommodation for three people with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of inspection there were three people living at the service. The property was a bungalow with its own gardens and parking. People had their own room and shared two lounges, bathrooms and a kitchen. There were no identifying signs, cameras or industrial bins to indicate this property was a care home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People and staff told us the service was safe. Systems were in place to protect people from abuse and staff understood how to report any concerns. Risks were identified and assessed, and all management plans were reviewed. Any incidents or accidents had been recorded and the registered manager reviewed them to identify any further risks. Staff had been recruited following pre-employment checks and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs.

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. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

Staff had been trained and were supported. Staff shared information with each other and made referrals to healthcare professionals. People had health action plans and needs had been assessed. Staff supported people to maintain a balanced diet and do their own shopping and meal preparation where appropriate.

People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. Staff supported people to access their local community and services. There was planned activities in place but also people could follow their own interests.

People had their own care plans which were regularly reviewed. Information was accessible to people and staff followed communication guidance. There was a complaints policy in place but there had been no complaints. People had opportunities to voice their opinions and ideas to improve the service.

There was a registered manager in post who had started at the service since our last inspection. They were supported in their role by a senior support worker and an operations manager who visited monthly. Quality assurance systems were in place and action plans were produced to identify improvements. People and staff had regular meetings to discuss their views which were recorded and if needed, actions identified.

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 1 June 2017).

Why we inspected - This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up - We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.