Chantry

Updated 23 December 2021

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.

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

Two Inspectors carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Chantry 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 unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with CQC. 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. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke or communicated with six people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. People who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating including ABC communication boards, Makaton, pictures, photos, symbols, objects and their body language. We spoke with six members of staff including the operations manager, team leader, support workers and agency support workers. We spent time observing the support and communication between people and staff in shared areas of the house.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and six medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

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 spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 23 December 2021

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.

About the service

Chantry is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to six adults with learning disabilities and/or a variety of associated health and support needs. People live in one large house built to meet people’s mobility needs.

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

Right Support

People and relatives told us staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area and to interact online with people who had shared interests. People had staff that shared their interests, for example, one person spent time playing a specific online game, a staff member took time to learn about the game and was able to discuss in detail with the person which enhanced the person’s experience of the game.

The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment. This met their sensory and physical needs, while making it feel homely. One relative said, “It’s like a family home.”

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs with genuine regard for the person. One staff told us, “The people are absolutely amazing and the other staff so welcoming.” A relative said, “Care has been very good, [person] looks amazing, hair beautifully done, excellent.”

People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language), pictures and symbols could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. People and relatives told us they felt safe.

Right culture

Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The registered manager and staff understand the importance of family to the people and make communication a priority. A relative said, “Communication from the registered manager and staff is excellent, they phone as soon as possible. Teething problems at first but very fast to get on it. Very pleased.”

The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. One staff told us, “[Person] leads own support, tells us what they think and want and we try hard to get it just right for them.” People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 8 October 20 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a planned first inspection following registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

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.