Chelfham House Residential Home

Updated 10 March 2022

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 COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 17 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection.

Updated 10 March 2022

About the service

Chelfham House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 38 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 41 people.

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

The service provided safe care to people. Due to people living with a dementia they were unable to tell us in detail they felt safe. However, people appeared relaxed and settled with little evidence of anxiety regarding their surroundings. Measures to manage risk were as least restrictive as possible to protect people’s freedom. Medicines were safely managed on people’s behalf. Staffing levels ensured people’s needs could be met in a safe and timely manner. Staff ensured infection control procedures were in place.

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.

Care files were personalised to reflect people’s personal preferences. Their views and suggestions were taken into account to improve the service. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people’s care to ensure they received the care and treatment which was right for them.

Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. Staff provided care that was kind and compassionate. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.

There were effective staff recruitment and selection processes in place. People received effective care and support from staff who were well trained and competent.

Staff spoke positively about communication and how the management team worked well with them and encouraged their professional development.

A number of methods were used by the home to assess the quality and safety of the service people received. The service made continuous improvements in response to their findings.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (report published in July 2018). At that inspection we found four breaches of regulation. These were regards to risk management, infection control, governance arrangements and staffing levels. This inspection found improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach of regulation.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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

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.

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