Chilton Croft Nursing Home

Updated 9 March 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

This 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

Chilton Croft is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Chilton Croft is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Chilton Croft is also registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. The provider told us this regulated activity was dormant.

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 not a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 conducted care observations and a review of records including; staff training, staff recruitment records, care plans, incidents and audits. We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 3 relatives. We also spoke with the acting manager, clinical manager, HR manager, the nominated individual, nurse, activities coordinator and 6 care staff.

Updated 9 March 2023

About the service

Chilton Croft Nursing Home is a residential service providing personal and nursing care for up to 32 people, some of whom are living with dementia, in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

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

Since our last inspection the acting manager has worked along with support of partner agencies to make improvements to the quality and safety at Chilton Croft. Further work was needed to ensure all staff had access to care and risk management plans which reflected people’s current care needs.

We found some improvement in systems for auditing the quality and safety of the service. Further work was needed to ensure these included checks on all clinical equipment including suction machines.

Since the last inspection the registered manager had de-registered but remained a director. There had also been a number of changes in clinical leadership which did not ensure consistent, robust clinical oversight.

There were systems to ensure staff employed were suitable and had the skills and knowledge they needed. Staff told us they had received updated training and more regular supervision.

We received positive feedback from people and their relatives about the quality of care provided. We observed people being treated with respect and dignity. We recommended people’s preferences as to the gender of staff allocated to support them with personal care be assessed and reflected in care plans.

People were better supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the provider had accessed systems of support through the local authority to better address their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act.

There were effective procedures for preventing and controlling infection.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 6 August 2022). There were breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made but the provider remained in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 6 July 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, and well-led which contain those requirements.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found ongoing breaches in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance.

Full information about CQC's regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Chilton Croft on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.