The Chimes

Updated 17 April 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 7 April 2021 and was announced.

Updated 17 April 2021

About the service

The Chimes is a residential care home in an adapted domestic property in St Annes, providing personal care to 19 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection, some of whom were living with dementia. The service can support up to 20 people.

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

The service was safe. The provider had systems to protect people from the risk of abuse and improper treatment. Staff managed people’s medicines well and kept the home clean and tidy. Staff managed risks well and had plans to follow in case of emergencies.

People were cared for by staff who were well supported and had the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs effectively, following good practice guidance. Staff supported people with their healthcare needs and worked well with external healthcare professionals. The service met people’s nutritional needs and worked with them to make sure food provision also reflected their preferences. 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.

People were treated well, with kindness and compassion by staff who respected their privacy and dignity and promoted inclusion. The service supported people to be independent and to regain life skills. We received very positive feedback about the caring approach of staff.

The service put people at the heart of the care they received. Staff used detailed assessments to identify people’s needs and preferences and worked to ensure people were happy with the care they received. If people were not happy, they were confident they could speak with staff to make improvements. The service made sure people were supported to communicate and planned activities to enhance people’s wellbeing.

The service was led by a registered manager and senior staff who everyone described as approachable, well-organised and caring. The culture at the service was open and inclusive. Senior staff understood their responsibilities and monitored the quality of the service using a range of systems. Where areas for improvement were identified, the registered manager involved people who used the service and staff to shape improvements.

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 requires improvement (published 18 July 2018).

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.