Chard Manor

Updated 26 July 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

One inspector and 1 assistant inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Chard Manor 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. Chard Manor is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 8 June 2023 and ended on 7 July 2023. We visited the home on 14 June 2023.

What we did before inspection

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 reviewed all the information we had received about the service.

During the inspection

We met 8 people using the service. We spoke with 4 people about the care and support they received. Other people did not talk with us about their service directly, but we saw they communicated and interacted confidently with staff they knew well and trusted. We spent time observing staff supporting and communicating with people. We spoke with 5 members of care staff and with the registered manager.

We spoke with 1 relative on the same day as our visit to the home. We also spoke with 7 relatives on the phone to gain their views of the service.

We reviewed 5 people’s care plans, risk assessments, medicine records and medicine storage facilities. We also reviewed various quality assurance reports, staff training and supervision records, complaints, compliments and 2 staff recruitment records.

Updated 26 July 2023

About the service

Chard Manor is a care home providing personal care for up to 10 people. Care is provided to autistic people, people with a learning disability and/or a physical disability. There were 10 people living at the home when we inspected.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People had choice and control over their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received personalised care and support built around their needs and wishes. They had a staff team who they knew and trusted, although staff changes had affected them.

Staff were trained to support people. People were relaxed and comfortable with the staff who supported them. Staff now supported people with their medicines in a safe way.

Right Care

People's care plans described the care being delivered by staff and people’s chosen lifestyle. The staff team had a good understanding of people's needs and were flexible to enable them to meet changing needs and wishes.

People were once again enjoying regular activities and interests outside of the home. Staff had worked with people to help re-establish routines and activities, try new things and achieve their goals. People’s achievements were recorded and celebrated.

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. Staff were understanding and responded well to people’s needs.

People were kept safe from avoidable harm because the service had a clear policy to support staff to recognise and report abuse or poor care. Staff spoken with did not have any concerns about possible abuse or poor practice. Relatives had no concerns about people's safety.

Staff recognised signs when people experienced emotional distress and knew how to support them.

People’s individual ways of communicating had been focused upon recently. The training in, and improved use of, sign language by staff had been particularly beneficial. People interacted confidently with staff because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.

Staff felt well supported. There was ongoing training and supervision for staff to make sure practice always followed best practice guidelines.

Right culture

There had been significant changes in the home’s management team over a period of time. This had led to instability and a decline in the quality of the service. The service had been steadily improving since the current registered manager had been in post.

Relatives told us they had renewed confidence in the management of the home. Most relatives were closely involved with the service and had regular contact with staff.

People were supported by a small management team. The provider and registered manager consistently assessed, monitored and improved the quality of the service where possible. There had been cultural issues within the team, but these had been addressed and the culture had improved.

People and those important to them were involved in planning their care. Relatives told us they were involved in their loved one’s life and they were now being listened to once again.

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 outstanding (published 26 April 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed to good following this inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.