Updated 23 October 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.
This was a focused inspection to review the Key Questions of Safe and Well-led only. Our report is only based on the findings in those areas at this inspection. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for the Effective, Caring and Responsive key questions were not looked at on this occasion. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
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 undertaken by two inspectors and a specialist nurse advisor in the care of older people. An Expert by Experience supported the inspection by telephoning relatives of people living in the home to obtain feedback to support our findings. 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
Challoner House 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
This inspection was announced, we gave the provider 24 hours’ notice. This was due to the coronavirus pandemic. This was to ensure safe systems were in place to protect everyone.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
Some people were not able to fully share with us their experiences using the service. Therefore, we spent time observing interactions between people and the staff supporting them in communal areas. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records for four people and multiple medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and observed a medicines round. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We spoke to four members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, registered nurse and the maintenance manager.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback from 10 relatives and five staff members. We also received feedback from one professional.