Chapel House

Updated 22 March 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Their area of expertise was brain injury in young adults.

Service and service type:

Chapel House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection.

Chapel House also offers a domiciliary care service. The service provides support and personal care to people living in their own homes.

The service had two managers registered with CQC. One managed the residential element of the service and the other was responsible for the domiciliary care 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.

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day.

What we did:

Our planning considered all the information we held about the service. This information included notifications the provider had sent us, to notify us about incidents such as safeguarding concerns, complaints and accidents. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted the commissioners of the service to gain their views.

The provider had completed a provider information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. This information formed part of our inspection planning document.

During the inspection, we spoke with 10 people who were living at Chapel House and one person supported to live in their own home. We spoke with two family members and both registered managers as well as six members of staff.

We looked at three care files and a selection of medication administration records (MARs). We looked at other records that related to the monitoring of the service, five staff recruitment records, training records for all staff, resident and staff meeting minutes and accident and incident records.

After the inspection the provider sent us some additional information about staff training, up to date policies and procedures and additional evidence for consideration as part of the inspection.

Updated 22 March 2019

About the service: Chapel House is a 'care home' supporting people that have experienced an acquired brain injury. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Chapel House consists of a residential care home supporting up to 18 people. They were supporting 14 people at the time of our inspection. They also support people living in their own home within the community through their domiciliary care service. There were eight people receiving support at the time of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

People received safe and effective care from kind and caring staff. People had been fully involved in the assessment and planning of their care prior to being supported by the service and throughout the first 12 weeks. Care plans were comprehensive and regularly reviewed to ensure the most up-to-date information was available for staff. Staff had a good understanding of people’s individual needs and had developed positive relationships with them.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed and people were supported by staff that were trained and supported. Staff and the management team worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people were supported.

Risks to people had been identified and clear guidance was in place to ensure staff could mitigate these risks. People were included in the development and review of their risk assessments.

An infection control policy and procedure was in place to minimise the risk of infection being spread. Staff had all undergone training and had access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff supported people with activities of their choice. People had access to education and volunteering placements. People spoke positively about the activities they participated in. The provider had organised and invited people who use the service to social events to help prevent social isolation.

Medication was managed safely by trained and competent staff. Staff had access to a selection of medication policies and best practice guidance.

People are protected from the risk of abuse by staff that had received safeguarding training and knew how to report any concerns they had. There was an up-to-date safeguarding policy available for staff to refer to.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected and their independence was promoted. People spoke positively about the staff that supported them. People told us their views were regularly sought regarding their care, activities and suggestions for changes.

The registered provider complied with the principles the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Staff understood and respected people’s right to make their own decisions where possible, and encouraged people to make decisions about the care they received. Mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were completed in line with the MCA.

Rating at last inspection: Good (Report published April 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating of the last inspection.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor all intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.